$139.3 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats
Industries:
textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, hydrocarbons, construction, cement, metals, light manufactures
Industrial production growth rate:
5.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 60
Electricity - production:
118.4 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 28
Electricity - consumption:
104.1 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 29
Electricity - exports:
814 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
251 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
680,500 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 29
Oil - consumption:
683,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 25
Oil - exports:
89,300 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 67
Oil - imports:
48,450 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 85
Oil - proved reserves:
4.3 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 27
Natural gas - production:
62.7 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 14
Natural gas - consumption:
42.5 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 20
Natural gas - exports:
8.55 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 23
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 87
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.656 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 22
Current account balance:
$270 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 -$3.195 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$25.34 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 64 $23.09 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals, processed food
Exports - partners:
US 7.95%, Italy 7.26%, Spain 6.78%, India 6.69%, Saudi Arabia 5.53%,Syria 5.3%, France 4.39%, South Korea 4.27% (2009)
Imports:
$46.52 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 49 $45.56 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products, fuels
Imports - partners:
US 9.92%, China 9.63%, Germany 6.98%, Italy 6.88%, Turkey 4.94% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$35.72 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 32 $33.93 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$30.61 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 65 $29.66 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$72.41 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 46 $66.71 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$4.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 59 $4.272 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Egyptian pounds (EGP) per US dollar - 5.6124 (2010), 5.545 (2009), 5.4 (2008), 5.67 (2007), 5.725 (2006)
Communications ::Egypt
Telephones - main lines in use:
10.313 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 21
Telephones - mobile cellular:
55.352 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 19
Telephone system:
general assessment: underwent extensive upgrading during 1990s; principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah, Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable and microwave radio relay
domestic: largest fixed-line system in the region; as of 2010 there were three mobile-cellular networks with a total of more than 55 million subscribers
international: country code - 20; landing point for Aletar, the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks, Link Around the Globe (FLAG) Falcon and FLAG FEA; satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean, 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat); tropospheric scatter to Sudan; microwave radio relay to Israel; a participant in Medarabtel (2009)
Broadcast media:
mix of state-run and private broadcast media; state-run TV operates 2 national and 6 regional terrestrial networks as well as a few satellite channels; about 20 private satellite channels and a large number of Arabic satellite channels are available via subscription; state-run radio operates about 70 stations belonging to 8 networks; 2 privately-owned radio stations operational (2008)
Internet country code:
.eg
Internet hosts:
187,197 (2010) country comparison to the world: 67
Internet users:
20.136 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 21
Transportation ::Egypt
Airports:
86 (2010) country comparison to the world: 66
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 73
over 3,047 m: 15
2,438 to 3,047 m: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 5 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 4 (2010)
Heliports:
6 (2010)
Pipelines:
condensate 320 km; condensate/gas 13 km; gas 6,262 km; liquid petroleum gas 956 km; oil 4,319 km; oil/gas/water 3 km; refined products 895 km; unknown 59 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 5,500 km country comparison to the world: 33 standard gauge: 5,500 km 1.435-m gauge (62 km electrified) (2009)
Roadways:
total: 65,050 km country comparison to the world: 71 paved: 47,500 km
unpaved: 17,550 km (2009)
Waterways:
3,500 km country comparison to the world: 30 note: includes Nile River, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, and numerous smaller canals in delta; Suez Canal (193.5 km including approaches) navigable by oceangoing vessels drawing up to 17.68 m (2010)
Merchant marine:
total: 66 country comparison to the world: 63 by type: bulk carrier 11, cargo 24, container 3, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 12, roll on/roll off 9
foreign-owned: 13 (Denmark 1, France 1, Greece 8, Jordan 2, Lebanon 1)
registered in other countries: 52 (Cambodia 12, Cook Islands 1,Georgia 11, Honduras 2, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 1, Moldova 5,Panama 11, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4, Saudi Arabia 1,Sierra Leone 2, unknown 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Ayn Sukhnah, Alexandria, Damietta, El Dekheila, Port Said, SidiKurayr, Suez
Military ::Egypt
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command
Military service age and obligation:
18-30 years of age for male conscript military service; service obligation 12-36 months, followed by a 9-year reserve obligation (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 20,619,887
females age 16-49: 19,785,004 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 17,733,851
females age 16-49: 16,942,010 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 799,377
female: 764,602 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.4% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 35
Transnational Issues ::Egypt
Disputes - international:
Sudan claims but Egypt de facto administers security and economic development of Halaib region north of the 22nd parallel boundary; Egypt no longer shows its administration of the Bir Tawil trapezoid in Sudan on its maps; Gazan breaches in the security wall with Egypt in January 2008 highlight difficulties in monitoring the Sinai border; Saudi Arabia claims Egyptian-administered islands of Tiran and Sanafir
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 60,000 - 80,000 (Iraq); 70,198 (Palestinian Territories); 12,157 (Sudan) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
transit point for cannabis, heroin, and opium moving to Europe, Israel, and North Africa; transit stop for Nigerian drug couriers; concern as money laundering site due to lax enforcement of financial regulations
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@El Salvador (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::El Salvador
Background:
El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and from the Central American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war, which cost about 75,000 lives, was brought to a close in 1992 when the government and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided for military and political reforms.
Geography ::El Salvador
Location:
Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, betweenGuatemala and Honduras
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 21,041 sq km country comparison to the world: 153 land: 20,721 sq km
water: 320 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries:
total: 545 km
border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km
Coastline:
307 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands
Terrain:
mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m
Natural resources:
hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 31.37%
permanent crops: 11.88%
other: 56.75% (2005)
Irrigated land:
450 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
25.2 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.28 cu km/yr (25%/16%/59%)
per capita: 186 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanes
volcanism: El Salvador experiences significant volcanic activity; San Salvador (elev. 1,893 m, 6,211 ft), which last erupted in 1917, has the potential to cause major harm to the country's capital, which lies just below the volcano's slopes; San Miguel (elev. 2,130 m, 6,988 ft), which last erupted in 2002, is one of the most active volcanoes in the country; other historically active volcanoes include Conchaguita, Ilopango, Izalco, and Santa Ana
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on Caribbean Sea
People ::El Salvador
Population:
6,052,064 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 106
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35.4% (male 1,299,608/female 1,245,617)
15-64 years: 59.3% (male 2,033,423/female 2,225,810)
65 years and over: 5.3% (male 166,224/female 214,536) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 23.9 years
male: 22.5 years
female: 25.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.332% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 171
Birth rate:
18.06 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 109
Death rate:
5.61 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 174
Net migration rate:
-9.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 212
Urbanization:
urban population: 61% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 20.97 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 98 male: 23.01 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.18 years country comparison to the world: 116 male: 69.91 years
female: 76.62 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.12 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 119
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.8% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 61
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
35,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 67
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,700 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 64
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Salvadoran(s)
adjective: Salvadoran
Ethnic groups:
mestizo 90%, white 9%, Amerindian 1%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 21.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.9%,Mormon 0.7%, other religions 2.3%, none 16.8% (2003 est.)
Languages:
Spanish (official), Nahua (among some Amerindians)
Literacy:
definition: age 5 and over can read and write
total population: 81.1%
male: 82.8%
female: 79.6% (2007 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
3.6% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 128
Government ::El Salvador
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador
conventional short form: El Salvador
local long form: Republica de El Salvador
local short form: El Salvador
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: San Salvador
geographic coordinates: 13 42 N, 89 12 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Ahuachapan,Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union,Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, San Vicente, Santa Ana,Sonsonate, Usulutan
Independence:
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:
20 December 1983
Legal system:
based on civil and Roman law with traces of common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mauricio FUNES Cartagena (since 1 June 2009); Vice President Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN (since 1 June 2009); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Mauricio FUNES Cartagena (since 1 June 2009); Vice President Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN (since 1 June 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held on 15 March 2009 (next to be held in March 2014)
election results: Mauricio FUNES Cartagena elected president; percent of vote - Mauricio FUNES Cartagena 51.3%, Rodrigo AVILA 48.7%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held on 18 January 2009 (next to be held in March 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FMLN 35, ARENA 32, PCN 11, PDC 5, CD 1; note - as of 1 January 2011, the current composition of the legislature by seats is as follows: FMLN 35, ARENA 19, GANA 16, PCN 10, PDC 2, CD 1, Independent 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (15 judges are selected by theLegislative Assembly; the 15 judges are assigned to four SupremeCourt chambers - constitutional, civil, penal, and administrativeconflict)
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Rodolfo PARKER]; DemocraticConvergence or CD [Oscar KATTAN] (formerly United Democratic Centeror CDU); Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN [MedardoGONZALEZ]; National Conciliation Party or PCN [Ciro CRUZ ZEPEDA];Nationalist Republican Alliance or ARENA [Alfredo CRISTIANI]; GreatAlliance for National Unity or GANA [Andres ROVIRA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
labor organizations - Electrical Industry Union of El Salvador or SIES; Federation of the Construction Industry, Similar Transport and other activities, or FESINCONTRANS; National Confederation of Salvadoran Workers or CNTS; National Union of Salvadoran Workers or UNTS; Port Industry Union of El Salvador or SIPES; Salvadoran Union of Ex-Petrolleros and Peasant Workers or USEPOC; Salvadoran Workers Central or CTS; Workers Union of Electrical Corporation or STCEL; business organizations - National Association of Small Enterprise or ANEP; Salvadoran Assembly Industry Association or ASIC; Salvadoran Industrial Association or ASI
International organization participation:
BCIE, CACM, CD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA,MINURSO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, SICA, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI,UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco Robert ALTSCHUL Fuentes
chancery: Suite 100, 1400 16th Street, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 265-9671
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Dallas, Duluth (Georgia), Houston,Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York (2), Nogales (Arizona),Santa Ana (California), San Francisco, Washington (DC), Woodbridge(Virginia)
consulate(s): Boston, Elizabeth (New Jersey)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Robert BLAU
embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena Sur, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, San Salvador
mailing address: Unit 3450, APO AA 34023; 3450 San Salvador Place, Washington, DC 20521-3450
telephone: [503] 2501-2999
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; the banner is based on the former blue-white-blue flag of the Federal Republic of Central America; the blue bands symbolize the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, while the white band represents the land between the two bodies of water, as well as peace and prosperity
note: similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band - it features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
National anthem:
name: "Himno Nacional de El Salvador" (National Anthem of El Salvador)
lyrics/music: Juan Jose CANAS/Juan ABERLE
note: officially adopted 1953, in use since 1879; the anthem of El Salvador is one of the world's longest
Economy ::El Salvador
Economy - overview:
Despite being the smallest country geographically in Central America, El Salvador has the third largest economy in the region. The economy took a hit from the global recession and real GDP contracted by 3.5% in 2009. The economy began a slow recovery in 2010 on the back of improved export and remittances figures. Remittances accounted for 16% of GDP in 2009, and about a third of all households receive these transfers. In 2006 El Salvador was the first country to ratify the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), which has bolstered the export of processed foods, sugar, and ethanol, and supported investment in the apparel sector amid increased Asian competition and the expiration of the Multi-Fiber Agreement in 2005. El Salvador has promoted an open trade and investment environment, and has embarked on a wave of privatizations extending to telecom, electricity distribution, banking, and pension funds. In late 2006, the government and the Millennium Challenge Corporation signed a five-year, $461 million compact to stimulate economic growth and reduce poverty in the country's northern region, the primary conflict zone during the civil war, through investments in education, public services, enterprise development, and transportation infrastructure. With the adoption of the US dollar as its currency in 2001, El Salvador lost control over monetary policy. Any counter-cyclical policy response to the downturn must be through fiscal policy, which is constrained by legislative requirements for a two-thirds majority to approve any international financing.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$43.98 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 $43.46 billion (2009 est.)
$45.04 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$21.8 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 174 -3.5% (2009 est.)
2.4% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$7,300 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 129 $7,200 (2009 est.)
$7,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 11%
industry: 29.1%
services: 59.9% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
2.94 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 104
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 19%
industry: 23%
services: 58% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 72 7.2% (2009 est.)
note: data are official rates; but the economy has much underemployment
Population below poverty line:
30.7% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 37% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
52.4 (2002) country comparison to the world: 18 52.5 (2001)
Investment (gross fixed):
13.7% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 140
Public debt:
55% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 45 52.3% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 16 -0.2% (2009)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
12.33% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 120 7.81% (31 December 2007)
Stock of narrow money:
$2.534 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 117 $2.153 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$9.666 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 101 $9.011 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$10.01 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 95 $9.867 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$4.432 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 82 $4.656 billion (31 December 2008)
$6.743 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; beef, dairy products
Industries:
food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals
Industrial production growth rate:
0.9% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 149
Electricity - production:
5.559 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 110
Electricity - consumption:
4.676 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 111
Electricity - exports:
7 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
38 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 179
Oil - consumption:
46,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 98
Oil - exports:
1,927 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 114
Oil - imports:
46,310 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 87
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 184
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 176
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 189
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 62
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 86
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 184
Current account balance:
-$907 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 132 -$374 million (2009)
Exports:
$4.377 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 113 $3.797 billion (2009)
Exports - commodities:
offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, textiles and apparel, gold, ethanol, chemicals, electricity, iron and steel manufactures
Exports - partners:
US 43.86%, Guatemala 13.92%, Honduras 13.22%, Nicaragua 5.65% (2009)
Imports:
$7.98 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 99 $7.255 billion (2009)
Imports - commodities:
raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs, petroleum, electricity
Imports - partners:
US 29.79%, Mexico 10.26%, Guatemala 9.7%, China 4.5%, Honduras 4.4% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.819 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 86 $2.985 billion (31 December 2009)
Debt - external:
$11.45 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 87 $10.83 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$7.522 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 82 $7.132 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$273 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 $333 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
the US dollar became El Salvador's currency in 2001
Communications ::El Salvador
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.099 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 75
Telephones - mobile cellular:
7.566 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 78
Telephone system:
general assessment: multiple mobile-cellular providers are expanding services rapidly and in 2009 teledensity exceeded 100 per 100 persons; growth in fixed-line services has slowed in the face of mobile-cellular competition
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system
international: country code - 503; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System (2009)
Broadcast media:
multiple privately-owned national terrestrial television networks, supplemented by cable TV networks that carry international channels; hundreds of commercial radio broadcast stations and 1 government-owned radio broadcast station (2007)
Internet country code:
.sv
Internet hosts:
13,849 (2010) country comparison to the world: 119
Internet users:
746,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 107
Transportation ::El Salvador
Airports:
65 (2010) country comparison to the world: 75
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 61
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 47 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Railways:
total: 283 km country comparison to the world: 122 narrow gauge: 283 km 0.914-m gauge
note: railways have been inoperable since 2005 because of disuse and high costs that led to a lack of maintenance (2008)
Roadways:
total: 10,886 km country comparison to the world: 134 paved: 2,827 km (includes 327 km of expressways)
unpaved: 8,059 km (2000)
Waterways:
Rio Lempa is partially navigable for small craft (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco
Military ::El Salvador
Military branches:
Salvadoran Army (ES), Salvadoran Navy (FNES), Salvadoran Air Force(Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena, FAS) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 16-22 years of age for voluntary male or female service; service obligation - 12 months, with 11 months for officers and NCOs (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,426,142
females age 16-49: 1,590,778 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,056,532
females age 16-49: 1,356,824 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 71,292
female: 68,821 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.6% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 160
Transnational Issues ::El Salvador
Disputes - international:
International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras boundary, in 1992, with final agreement by the parties in 2006 after an Organization of American States (OAS) survey and a further ICJ ruling in 2003; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca advocating Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not identified in the ICJ decision, off Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for cocaine; small amounts of marijuana produced for local consumption; significant use of cocaine
page last updated on January 19, 2011
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@Equatorial Guinea (Africa)
Introduction ::Equatorial Guinea
Background:
Equatorial Guinea gained independence in 1968 after 190 years of Spanish rule. This tiny country, composed of a mainland portion plus five inhabited islands, is one of the smallest on the African continent. President Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO has ruled the country since 1979 when he seized power in a coup. Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, the 1996, 2002, and 2009 presidential elections - as well as the 1999 and 2004 legislative elections - were widely seen as flawed. The president exerts almost total control over the political system and has discouraged political opposition. Equatorial Guinea has experienced rapid economic growth due to the discovery of large offshore oil reserves, and in the last decade has become Sub-Saharan Africa's third largest oil exporter. Despite the country's economic windfall from oil production resulting in a massive increase in government revenue in recent years, there have been few improvements in the population's living standards.
Geography ::Equatorial Guinea
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon andGabon
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 28,051 sq km country comparison to the world: 145 land: 28,051 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 539 km
border countries: Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km
Coastline:
296 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain:
coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite, diamonds, tantalum, sand and gravel, clay
Land use:
arable land: 4.63%
permanent crops: 3.57%
other: 91.8% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Total renewable water resources:
26 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.11 cu km/yr (83%/16%/1%)
per capita: 220 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
violent windstorms; flash floods
volcanism: Santa Isabel (elev. 3,007 m, 9,865 ft), which last erupted in 1923, is the country's only historically active volcano; Santa Isabel, along with two dormant volcanoes, forms Bioko Island in the Gulf of Guinea
Environment - current issues:
tap water is not potable; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
insular and continental regions widely separated
People ::Equatorial Guinea
Population:
650,702 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 166
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.9% (male 134,823/female 130,308)
15-64 years: 54% (male 167,820/female 174,238)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 11,574/female 14,678) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 19 years
male: 18.4 years
female: 19.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.674% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 24
Birth rate:
36 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 30
Death rate:
9.26 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 67
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 74
Urbanization:
urban population: 39% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 79.47 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 14 male: 80.55 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 78.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 61.98 years country comparison to the world: 182 male: 61.05 years
female: 62.94 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 22
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3.4% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 20
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
11,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 98
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
370 (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 101
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria and yellow fever
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)
adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
Ethnic groups:
Fang 85.7%, Bubi 6.5%, Mdowe 3.6%, Annobon 1.6%, Bujeba 1.1%, other 1.4% (1994 census)
Religions:
nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices
Languages:
Spanish 67.6% (official), other 32.4% (includes French (official),Fang, Bubi) (1994 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87%
male: 93.4%
female: 80.5% (2000 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 8 years
male: 9 years
female: 7 years (2000)
Education expenditures:
0.6% of GDP (2003) country comparison to the world: 185
Government ::Equatorial Guinea