Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 135
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 154
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 133
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 138
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 139
Current account balance:
-$149 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 83
Exports:
$193 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 181
Exports - commodities:
bananas, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch; tennis racquets
Exports - partners:
Greece 40.04%, Poland 11.78%, France 9.05%, China 8.53%, India 4.71% (2009)
Imports:
$578 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 185
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels
Imports - partners:
Singapore 16.16%, Trinidad and Tobago 13.71%, US 13.41%, China 10.9%, Italy 8.89%, Turkey 6.6%, France 5.64%, Romania 4.44% (2009)
Debt - external:
$479 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 163 $223 million (2004)
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)
Communications ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Telephones - main lines in use:
23,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 187
Telephones - mobile cellular:
121,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 182
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate system
domestic: islandwide, fully automatic telephone system; VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to the other islands of the Grenadines; mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 100 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 1-784; the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF) submarine cables carry international calls; connectivity also provided by VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to Barbados; SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and Saint Lucia; access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia
Broadcast media:
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Broadcasting Corporation operates 1 television station and 5 repeater stations that give near total coverage to the multi-island state; multi-channel cable TV service is obtainable; a partially government-funded national radio service broadcasts on 1 station and has 2 repeater stations; about a dozen privately-owned radio stations and repeater stations operate (2007)
Internet country code:
.vc
Internet hosts:
211 (2010) country comparison to the world: 192
Internet users:
76,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 168
Transportation ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Airports:
6 (2010) country comparison to the world: 171
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 829 km country comparison to the world: 185 paved: 580 km
unpaved: 249 km (2003)
Merchant marine:
total: 444 country comparison to the world: 23 by type: bulk carrier 76, cargo 274, carrier 16, chemical tanker 4, container 21, liquefied gas 3, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 10, refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 15, specialized tanker 2
foreign-owned: 382 (Austria 2, Bangladesh 1, Belgium 6, Bermuda 1,Bulgaria 10, China 82, Croatia 8, Cyprus 2, Czech Republic 1,Denmark 19, Dominica 1, Egypt 4, Estonia 10, France 2, Germany 2,Greece 63, Guyana 2, Hong Kong 4, Israel 3, Italy 5, Japan 3, Kenya2, Latvia 15, Lebanon 4, Lithuania 10, Monaco 3, Netherlands 2,Nigeria 1, Norway 12, Oman 1, Pakistan 1, Poland 1, Romania 1,Russia 15, Slovenia 2, Sweden 2, Switzerland 5, Syria 13, Turkey 18,UAE 4, UK 7, Ukraine 12, US 19, Venezuela 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Kingstown
Military ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, Coast Guard; for national defense, Saint Vincent relies on the Regional Security System, headquartered in Barbados (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 27,940 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 22,932
females age 16-49: 22,134 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 990
female: 979 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
Transnational Issues ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Disputes - international:
joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; small-scale cannabis cultivation
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Samoa (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Samoa
Background:
New Zealand occupied the German protectorate of Western Samoa at the outbreak of World War I in 1914. It continued to administer the islands as a mandate and then as a trust territory until 1962, when the islands became the first Polynesian nation to reestablish independence in the 20th century. The country dropped the "Western" from its name in 1997.
Geography ::Samoa
Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 2,831 sq km country comparison to the world: 177 land: 2,821 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
403 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October)
Terrain:
two main islands (Savaii, Upolu) and several smaller islands and uninhabited islets; narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Silisili 1,857 m
Natural resources:
hardwood forests, fish, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 21.13%
permanent crops: 24.3%
other: 54.57% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Natural hazards:
occasional typhoons; active volcanism
volcanism: Savai'I Island (elev. 1,858 m, 6,096 ft), which last erupted in 1911, is historically active
Environment - current issues:
soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
occupies an almost central position within Polynesia
People ::Samoa
Population:
192,001 country comparison to the world: 184 note: prior estimates used official net migration data by sex, but a highly unusual pattern for 1993 lead to a significant imbalance in the sex ratios (more men and fewer women) and a seeming reduction in the female population; the revised total was calculated using a 1993 number that was an average of the 1992 and 1994 migration figures (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.6% (male 42,117/female 40,603)
15-64 years: 56.7% (male 65,541/female 59,292)
65 years and over: 5.7% (male 5,538/female 6,907) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.8 years
male: 21.7 years
female: 21.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.605% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 148
Birth rate:
22.92 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 75
Death rate:
5.36 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 177
Net migration rate:
-11.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 216
Urbanization:
urban population: 23% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 23.21 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 89 male: 27.42 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.13 years country comparison to the world: 126 male: 69.28 years
female: 75.13 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.32 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 51
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Nationality:
noun: Samoan(s)
adjective: Samoan
Ethnic groups:
Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians (persons of European and Polynesian blood) 7%, Europeans 0.4% (2001 census)
Religions:
Congregationalist 34.8%, Roman Catholic 19.6%, Methodist 15%, Latter-Day Saints 12.7%, Assembly of God 6.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.5%, Worship Centre 1.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)
Languages:
Samoan (Polynesian) (official), English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.6%
female: 99.7% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2001)
Education expenditures:
5.4% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 50
Government ::Samoa
Country name:
conventional long form: Independent State of Samoa
conventional short form: Samoa
local long form: Malo Sa'oloto Tuto'atasi o Samoa
local short form: Samoa
former: Western Samoa
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Apia
geographic coordinates: 13 50 S, 171 44 W
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
+1hr, begins last Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April
Administrative divisions:
11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua, Fa'asaleleaga, Gaga'emauga, Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga, Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano
Independence:
1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Independence Day Celebration, 1 June (1962); note - 1 January 1962 is the date of independence from the New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship; it is observed in June
Constitution:
1 January 1962
Legal system:
based on English common law and local customs; judicial review of legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: TUIATUA Tupua Tamasese Efi (since 20 June 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Sailele Malielegaoi TUILA'EPA (since 1998); Deputy Prime Minister MISA Telefoni (since 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of 12 members appointed by the chief of state on the prime minister's advice (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: chief of state elected by the Legislative Assembly to serve a five-year term (no term limits); election last held on 15 June 2007 (next to be held in 2012); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually appointed prime minister by the chief of state with the approval of the Legislative Assembly
election results: TUIATUA Tupua Tamasese Efi unanimously elected by the Legislative Assembly
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (49 seats, 47 members elected by voters affiliated with traditional village-based electoral districts, 2 elected by independent, mostly non-Samoan or part-Samoan, voters who cannot, (or choose not to) establish a village affiliation; only chiefs (matai) may stand for election to the Fono from the 47 village-based electorates; members serve five-year terms)
elections: election last held on 31 March 2006 (next election to be held not later than March 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - HRPP 35, SDUP 10, independents 4
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; District Court; Land and Titles Court
Political parties and leaders:
Human Rights Protection Party or HRPP [Sailele MalielegaoiTUILA'EPA]; Samoa Christian Party or TCP [Tuala Tiresa MALIETOA];Samoa Democratic United Party or SDUP [LE MAMEA Ropati]; Samoa Partyor SP [Su'a Rimoni Ah CHONG]; Samoa Progressive Political Party orSPPP [Toeolesulusulu SIUEVA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Aliioaiga Feturi ELISAIA
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 599-6196 through 6197
consulate(s) general: Pago Pago (American Samoa)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: US Ambassador to New Zealand is accredited to Samoa
embassy: Accident Corporation Building, 5th Floor, Matafele, Apia
mailing address: P. O. Box 3430, Matafele, Apia
telephone: [685] 21436/21631/21452/22696
Flag description:
red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross constellation; red stands for courage, blue represents freedom, and white signifies purity
National anthem:
name: "O le Fu"a o le Sa"olotoga o Samoa" (The Banner of Freedom)
lyrics/music: Sauni Iiga KURESA
note: adopted 1962; the anthem is also known as "Samoa Tula'i" (Samoa Arise)
Economy ::Samoa
Economy - overview:
The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development aid, family remittances from overseas, agriculture, and fishing. The country is vulnerable to devastating storms. Agriculture employs two-thirds of the labor force and furnishes 90% of exports, featuring coconut cream, coconut oil, and copra. The manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural products. One factory in the Foreign Trade Zone employs 3,000 people to make automobile electrical harnesses for an assembly plant in Australia. Tourism is an expanding sector accounting for 25% of GDP; 122,000 tourists visited the islands in 2007. In late September 2009, an earthquake and the resulting tsunami severely damaged Samoa, and nearby American Samoa, disrupting transportation and power generation, and resulting in about 200 deaths. The Samoan Government has called for deregulation of the financial sector, encouragement of investment, and continued fiscal discipline, while at the same time protecting the environment. Observers point to the flexibility of the labor market as a basic strength for future economic advances. Foreign reserves are in a relatively healthy state, the external debt is stable, and inflation is low.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.002 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 200 $1.022 billion (2009 est.)
$1.059 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$550 million (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 206 -3.5% (2009 est.)
-3.4% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,200 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 143 $5,400 (2009 est.)
$5,600 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 11.6%
industry: 13.1%
services: 75.3% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
66,270 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 184
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 162
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
12.08% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 65 12.66% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$80.56 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 182 $60.13 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$283.2 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 178 $222.9 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$243 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 172 $208.9 million (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, bananas, taro, yams, coffee, cocoa
Industries:
food processing, building materials, auto parts
Industrial production growth rate:
2.8% (2000) country comparison to the world: 115
Electricity - production:
109 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 189
Electricity - consumption:
101.4 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 190
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 134
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 194
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 177
Oil - imports:
1,105 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 187
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 127
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 134
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 153
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 132
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 137
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 138
Current account balance:
-$24 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 66
Exports:
$131 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 186
Exports - commodities:
fish, coconut oil and cream, copra, taro, automotive parts, garments, beer
Exports - partners:
American Samoa 41.12%, Australia 24.74%, Taiwan 6.24%, China 5.61%,US 4.07% (2009)
Imports:
$324 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 193
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, industrial supplies, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
NZ 24.13%, Fiji 17.34%, Singapore 12.54%, China 10.02%, Australia 9.85%, US 5.95% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$70.15 million (FY03/04) country comparison to the world: 130
Debt - external:
$177 million (2004) country comparison to the world: 175
Exchange rates:
tala (SAT) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2.7594 (2006), 2.7103 (2005), 2.7807 (2004), 2.9732 (2003)
Communications ::Samoa
Telephones - main lines in use:
31,900 (2009) country comparison to the world: 176
Telephones - mobile cellular:
151,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 176
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 85 telephones per 100 persons; coverage extended to roughly 95 percent of the country
international: country code - 685; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Broadcast media:
state-owned television station privatized in 2008; 4 privately-owned television broadcast stations; about a half dozen privately-owned radio stations and one state-owned radio station; television and radio broadcasts of several stations from American Samoa are available (2009)
Internet country code:
.ws
Internet hosts:
17,044 (2010) country comparison to the world: 114
Internet users:
9,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 201
Transportation ::Samoa
Airports:
4 (2010) country comparison to the world: 187
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 2,337 km country comparison to the world: 170 paved: 332 km
unpaved: 2,005 km (2001)
Merchant marine:
total: 2 country comparison to the world: 143 by type: passenger/cargo 1, cargo 1
foreign-owned: 1 (NZ 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Apia
Military ::Samoa
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Samoa Police Force (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 47,423 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 37,674
females age 16-49: 37,492 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 2,219
female: 2,058 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
Military - note:
Samoa has no formal defense structure or regular armed forces; informal defense ties exist with NZ, which is required to consider any Samoan request for assistance under the 1962 Treaty of Friendship
Transnational Issues ::Samoa
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@San Marino (Europe)
Introduction ::San Marino
Background:
The third smallest state in Europe (after the Holy See and Monaco), San Marino also claims to be the world's oldest republic. According to tradition, it was founded by a Christian stonemason named Marinus in A.D. 301. San Marino's foreign policy is aligned with that of Italy; social and political trends in the republic also track closely with those of its larger neighbor.
Geography ::San Marino
Location:
Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 61 sq km country comparison to the world: 228 land: 61 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about one third times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 39 km
border countries: Italy 39 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers
Terrain:
rugged mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Torrente Ausa 55 m
highest point: Monte Titano 755 m
Natural resources:
building stone
Land use:
arable land: 16.67%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 83.33% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Natural hazards:
Environment - current issues:
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution
Geography - note:
landlocked; smallest independent state in Europe after the Holy See and Monaco; dominated by the Apennines
People ::San Marino
Population:
31,477 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 212
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.9% (male 2,635/female 2,452)
15-64 years: 66.2% (male 9,538/female 10,429)
65 years and over: 16.9% (male 2,188/female 2,925) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 42.1 years
male: 41.3 years
female: 42.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.106% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 114
Birth rate:
9.18 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 209
Death rate:
7.75 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 114
Net migration rate:
9.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 8
Urbanization:
urban population: 94% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.086 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.79 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 188 male: 4.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 82.95 years country comparison to the world: 3 male: 80.45 years
female: 85.68 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.46 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 191
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Nationality:
noun: Sammarinese (singular and plural)
adjective: Sammarinese
Ethnic groups:
Sammarinese, Italian
Religions:
Roman Catholic
Languages:
Italian
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 97%
female: 95%
Education expenditures:
Government ::San Marino
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of San Marino
conventional short form: San Marino
local long form: Repubblica di San Marino
local short form: San Marino
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: San Marino
geographic coordinates: 43 56 N, 12 25 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
9 municipalities (castelli, singular - castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Montegiardino, San Marino Citta, Serravalle
Independence:
3 September 301
National holiday:
Founding of the Republic, 3 September (AD 301)
Constitution:
8 October 1600; electoral law of 1926 serves some of the functions of a constitution
Legal system:
based on civil law system with Italian law influences; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Co-chiefs of State Captain Regent Giovanni Francesco UGOLINI and Captain Regent Andrea ZAFFERANI (for the period 1 October 2010-1 April 2011)
head of government: Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs Antonella MULARONI (since 3 December 2008)
cabinet: Congress of State elected by the Great and General Council for a five-year term (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: co-chiefs of state (captains regent) elected by the Great and General Council for a six-month term; election last held in September 2009 (next to be held in March 2010); secretary of state for foreign and political affairs elected by the Great and General Council for a five-year term; election last held on 9 November 2008 (next to be held by 2013)
election results: Francesco MUSSONI and Stefano PALMIERI elected captains regent; percent of legislative vote - NA; Antonella MULARONI elected secretary of state for foreign and political affairs; percent of legislative vote - NA
note: the popularly elected parliament (Grand and General Council) selects two of its members to serve as the Captains Regent (co-chiefs of state) for a six-month period; they preside over meetings of the Grand and General Council and its cabinet (Congress of State), which has 10 other members, all are selected by the Grand and General Council; assisting the captains regent are 10 secretaries of state; the secretary of state for Foreign Affairs has assumed some prime ministerial roles
Legislative branch:
unicameral Grand and General Council or Consiglio Grande e Generale (60 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 9 November 2008 (next to be held by June 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - Pact for San Marino coalition 54.2%: PDCS 31.9%, AP 11.5%, Freedom List 6.3%, San Marino Union of Moderates 4.2%; Reforms and Freedom coalition 45.8%: Party of Socialists and Democrats 32%, United Left 8.6%, Democrats of the Center 4.9%; seats by party - Pact for San Marino coalition 35: PDCS 22, AP 7, the Freedom List 4, San Marino Union of Moderates 2; Reforms and Freedom coalition 25: Party of Socialists and Democrats 18, United Left 5, Democrats of the Center 2
Judicial branch:
Council of Twelve or Consiglio dei XII
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democrats or PDCS [Pasquale VALENTINI]; CommunistRefoundation or RC [Ivan FOSHI]; Democrats of the Center or DdC[Giovanni LONGERNINI]; Freedom List (including NPS and WeSammarinesi) or NS [Gabriele GATTEI]; New Socialist Party or NPS[Augusto CASALI]; Party of Socialists and Democrats or PDS [ParideANDREOLI]; Popular Alliance or AP [Carlo FRANCIOSI]; Union ofModerates (including National Alliance or ANS [Glcuco SANSOVINI] andSan Marino Populars or pop [Romeo MORRI and Angela VENTURINI];United Left of SU [Alessandro ROSSI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
International organization participation:
CE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), OPCW, OSCE,Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UnionLatina, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Paolo RONDELLI
chancery: 888 27th Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: 202-337-2260
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in San Marino; the ambassador to Italy is accredited to San Marino
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the main colors derive from the shield of the coat of arms, which features three white towers on three peaks on a blue field; the towers represent three castles built on San Marino's highest feature Mount Titano: Guaita, Cesta, and Montale; the coat of arms is flanked by a wreath, below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS (Liberty); the white and blue colors are also said to stand for peace and liberty respectively
National anthem:
name: "Inno Nazionale della Repubblica" (National Anthem of the Republic)
lyrics/music: none/Federico CONSOLO
note: adopted 1894; the music for the lyric-less anthem is based on a 10th century chorale piece
Economy ::San Marino
Economy - overview:
San Marino's economy relies heavily on its tourism and banking industries, as well as on the manufacture and export of ceramics, clothing, fabrics, furniture, paints, spirits, tiles, and wine. The per capita level of output and standard of living are comparable to those of the most prosperous regions of Italy, which supplies much of its food. San Marino boasts the world's longest life expectancy for men with 80 years. The economy benefits from foreign investment due to its relatively low corporate taxes and low taxes on interest earnings. San Marino has recently faced increased international pressure to improve cooperation with foreign tax authorities and transparency within its own banking sector, which generates about one-fifth of the country's tax revenues. Italy's implementation in October 2009 of a tax amnesty to repatriate untaxed funds held abroad has resulted in financial outflows from San Marino to Italy worth more than $4.5 billion. Such outflows, combined with a money-laundering scandal at San Marino's largest financial institution and the recent global economic downturn, have contributed to a deep recession and growing budget deficit. However, San Marino has no national debt, and an unemployment rate half the size of Italy's. The San Marino government has adopted measures to counter the downturn, including subsidized credit to businesses. San Marino also continues to work towards harmonizing its fiscal laws with EU members and international standards. In September 2009, the OECD removed San Marino from its list of tax havens that have yet to fully implement global tax standards.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.662 billion (2007) country comparison to the world: 191 $850 million (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.048 billion (2004)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.3% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 70
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$41,900 (2007) country comparison to the world: 16
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 46.5%
services: 53.4% (2007)
Labor force:
22,660 (2008) country comparison to the world: 208
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 37.7%
services: 62.2% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.1% (2008) country comparison to the world: 24
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-3.5% (2008) country comparison to the world: 1 -1.5% (2006)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$1.326 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of broad money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$4.584 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$7.875 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 103 $7.511 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Agriculture - products:
wheat, grapes, corn, olives; cattle, pigs, horses, beef, cheese, hides
Industries:
tourism, banking, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine
Industrial production growth rate:
3.1% (2007) country comparison to the world: 101
Exports:
$4.628 billion (2007) country comparison to the world: 110 $1.291 billion (2004)
Exports - commodities:
building stone, lime, wood, chestnuts, wheat, wine, baked goods, hides, ceramics
Imports:
$3.744 billion (2007) country comparison to the world: 130 $2.035 billion (2004)
Imports - commodities:
wide variety of consumer manufactures, food
Debt - external: