males age 16-49: 344,147
females age 16-49: 345,292 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 198,970
females age 16-49: 192,807 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 17,283
female: 17,276 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.9% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 145
Transnational Issues ::Gabon
Disputes - international:
UN urges Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to resolve the sovereignty dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane Island and lesser islands and to establish a maritime boundary in hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 7,178 (Republic of Congo) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Gabon is predominantly a destination country for children trafficked from other African countries for the purpose of forced labor; girls are primarily trafficked for domestic servitude, forced market vending, forced restaurant labor, and sexual exploitation, while boys are trafficked for forced street hawking and forced labor in small workshops
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Gabon is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking in 2007, particularly in terms of efforts to convict and punish trafficking offenders; the government has not reported the convictions or sentences of any trafficking offenders; the government did not take steps to reduce demand for commercial sex acts (2008)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Gambia, The (Africa)
Introduction ::Gambia, The
Background:
The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty, but tensions have flared up intermittently since then. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH led a military coup in 1994 that overthrew the president and banned political activity. A new constitution and presidential elections in 1996, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. JAMMEH has been elected president in all subsequent elections including most recently in late 2006.
Geography ::Gambia, The
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 11,295 sq km country comparison to the world: 166 land: 10,000 sq km
water: 1,295 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
Land boundaries:
total: 740 km
border countries: Senegal 740 km
Coastline:
80 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: extent not specified
Climate:
tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)
Terrain:
flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation 53 m
Natural resources:
fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon
Land use:
arable land: 27.88%
permanent crops: 0.44%
other: 71.68% (2005)
Irrigated land:
20 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
8 cu km (1982)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.03 cu km/yr (23%/12%/65%)
per capita: 20 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years)
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa
People ::Gambia, The
Population:
1,824,158 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 147
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.6% (male 389,877/female 386,218)
15-64 years: 53.5% (male 472,216/female 479,595)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 24,985/female 25,190) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 18 years
male: 17.9 years
female: 18.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.528% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 29
Birth rate:
37.31 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 22
Death rate:
12.03 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 29
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 86
Urbanization:
urban population: 57% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 67.49 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 22 male: 73.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 61.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.07 years country comparison to the world: 201 male: 52.32 years
female: 55.86 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.96 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 25
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.9% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 55
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
8,200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 111
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
600 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 81
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Gambian(s)
adjective: Gambian
Ethnic groups:
African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1% (2003 census)
Religions:
Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%
Languages:
English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.1%
male: 47.8%
female: 32.8% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9 years
male: 7 years
female: 7 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
2% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 170
Government ::Gambia, The
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form: The Gambia
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Banjul
geographic coordinates: 13 27 N, 16 34 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, Western
Independence:
18 February 1965 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Constitution:
approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; effective 16 January 1997
Legal system:
based on a composite of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996); note - from 1994 to 1996 he was chairman of the junta; Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996); Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held on 22 September 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president; percent of vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 67.3%, Ousainou DARBOE 26.6%, Halifa SALLAH 6%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 members elected by popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; members to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 25 January 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APRC 47, UDP 4, NADD 1, independent 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [YahyaA. J. J. JAMMEH] (the ruling party); Gambia People's DemocraticParty or GPDP [Henry GOMEZ]; National Alliance for Democracy andDevelopment or NADD [Halifa SALLAH]; National Convention Party orNCP [Sheriff DIBBA]; National Reconciliation Party or NRP [Hamat N.K. BAH]; People's Democratic Organization for Independence andSocialism or PDOIS [Halifa SALLAH]; United Democratic Party or UDP[Ousainou DARBOE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
National Environment Agency or NEA; West African Peace BuildingNetwork-Gambian Chapter or WANEB-GAMBIA; Youth Employment NetworkGambia or YENGambia
other: special needs group advocates; teachers and principals
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alieu Momodou NGUM
chancery: Suite 240, Georgetown Plaza, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379, 1399, 1425
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Cindy GREGG
embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul
mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
telephone: [220] 439-2856, 437-6169, 437-6170
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green; red stands for the sun and the savannah, blue represents the Gambia River, and green symbolizes forests and agriculture; the white stripes denote unity and peace
National anthem:
name: "For The Gambia, Our Homeland"
lyrics/music: Virginia Julie HOWE/adapted by Jeremy Frederick HOWE
note: adopted 1965; the music is an adaptation of the traditional Mandinka song "Foday Kaba Dumbuya"
Economy ::Gambia, The
Economy - overview:
The Gambia has sparse natural resource deposits and a limited agricultural base, and relies in part on remittances from workers overseas and tourist receipts. About three-quarters of the population depends on the agricultural sector for its livelihood. Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of peanuts, fish, and hides. The Gambia's natural beauty and proximity to Europe has made it one of the larger markets for tourism in West Africa, boosted by government and private sector investments in eco-tourism and upscale facilities. In the past few years, The Gambia's re-export trade - traditionally a major segment of economic activity - has declined, but its banking sector has grown rapidly. Unemployment and underemployment rates remain high; economic progress depends on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid, on responsible government economic management, and on continued technical assistance from multilateral and bilateral donors. The quality of fiscal management, however, is weak. The government has promised to raise civil service wages over the next two years and the deficit is projected to worsen.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$3.406 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 173 $3.244 billion (2009 est.)
$3.073 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.04 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 57 5.6% (2009 est.)
6.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,900 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 190 $1,800 (2009 est.)
$1,800 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 30.1%
industry: 16.3%
services: 53.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
777,100 (2007) country comparison to the world: 146
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 75%
industry: 19%
services: 6% (1996)
Unemployment rate:
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 36.9% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
50.2 (1998) country comparison to the world: 23
Investment (gross fixed):
28% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 25
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 152 4.6% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
9% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 38 11% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
27% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 6 27.92% (31 December 2007)
Stock of narrow money:
$222.9 million (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 172 $210.2 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$453.9 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 172 $438.9 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$293.5 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 169 $283.7 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Agriculture - products:
rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats
Industries:
processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing
Industrial production growth rate:
8.9% country comparison to the world: 21 note: although The Gambia had the highest industrial growth rate in the world in 2009, this growth is from a tiny industrial base (2010 est.)
Electricity - production:
160 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 180
Electricity - consumption:
148.8 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 182
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 193
Oil - consumption:
2,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 189
Oil - exports:
42 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 134
Oil - imports:
2,266 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 173
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 177
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 193
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 182
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 175
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 176
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 176
Current account balance:
-$90 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 76 -$81 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$107 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 191 $95 million (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels, re-exports
Exports - partners:
India 42.06%, France 15.34%, UK 9.03%, China 7.38%, Hong Kong 4.55%,Belgium 3.97% (2009)
Imports:
$306 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 195 $280 million (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment
Imports - partners:
China 20.45%, Senegal 11.97%, Brazil 8.48%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.71%,Netherlands 4.68%, US 4.49% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$203 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 127 $224 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$530 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 159 $489 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
dalasis (GMD) per US dollar - 28.5193 (2010), 26.67 (2009), 22.75 (2008), 27.79 (2007), 28.066 (2006)
Communications ::Gambia, The
Telephones - main lines in use:
49,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 162
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.433 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 140
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate microwave radio relay and open-wire network; state-owned Gambia Telecommunications partially privatized in 2007
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity, aided by multiple mobile-cellular providers, approached 85 per 100 persons in 2009
international: country code - 220; microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; a landing station for the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) undersea fiber-optic cable is scheduled for completion in 2011; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
state-owned, single-channel TV service; state-owned radio station and 4 privately-owned radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available, some via shortwave radio; foreign cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable in some parts of the country (2007)
Internet country code:
.gm
Internet hosts:
1,453 (2010) country comparison to the world: 162
Internet users:
130,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 150
Transportation ::Gambia, The
Airports:
1 (2010) country comparison to the world: 211
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 3,742 km country comparison to the world: 159 paved: 723 km
unpaved: 3,019 km (2004)
Waterways:
390 km (on River Gambia; small ocean-going vessels can reach 190 km) (2008) country comparison to the world: 90
Merchant marine:
total: 5 country comparison to the world: 130 by type: passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Banjul
Military ::Gambia, The
Military branches:
Office of the Chief of Defense Staff: Gambian National Army (GNA),Gambian Navy (GN) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 402,073
females age 16-49: 406,100 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 238,006
females age 16-49: 248,065 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 20,858
female: 20,762 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.9% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 139
Transnational Issues ::Gambia, The
Disputes - international:
attempts to stem refugees, cross-border raids, arms smuggling, and other illegal activities by separatists from southern Senegal's Casamance region, as well as from conflicts in other west African states
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 5,955 (Sierra Leone) (2007)
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Gaza Strip (Middle East)
Introduction ::Gaza Strip
Background:
The September 1993 Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements provided for a transitional period of Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Under a series of agreements signed between May 1994 and September 1999, Israel transferred to the Palestinian Authority (PA) security and civilian responsibility for many Palestinian-populated areas of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Negotiations to determine the permanent status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip stalled following the outbreak of an intifada in September 2000. In April 2003, the Quartet (US, EU, UN, and Russia) presented a roadmap to a final settlement of the conflict by 2005 based on reciprocal steps by the two parties leading to two states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. Following Palestinian leader Yasir ARAFAT's death in late 2004, Mahmud ABBAS was elected PA president in January 2005. A month later, Israel and the PA agreed to the Sharm el-Sheikh Commitments in an effort to move the peace process forward. In September 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew all its settlers and soldiers and dismantled its military facilities in the Gaza Strip and withdrew settlers and redeployed soldiers from four small northern West Bank settlements. Nonetheless, Israel still controls maritime, airspace, and most access to the Gaza Strip; and it enforces a restricted zone along the border inside Gaza. In January 2006, the Islamic Resistance Movement, HAMAS, won control of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). HAMAS took control of the PA government in March 2006, but President ABBAS had little success negotiating with HAMAS to present a political platform acceptable to the international community so as to lift economic sanctions on Palestinians. Violent clashes between Fatah and HAMAS supporters in the Gaza Strip in 2006 and early 2007 resulted in numerous Palestinian deaths and injuries. In February 2007, ABBAS and HAMAS Political Bureau Chief MISHAL signed the Mecca Agreement in Saudi Arabia that resulted in the formation of a Palestinian National Unity Government (NUG) headed by HAMAS member Ismail HANIYA. However, fighting continued in the Gaza Strip, and in June 2007, HAMAS militants succeeded in a violent takeover of all military and governmental institutions in the Gaza Strip. ABBAS dismissed the NUG and through a series of presidential decrees formed a PA government in the West Bank led by independent Salam FAYYAD. HAMAS rejected the NUG's dismissal, and despite multiple rounds of Egyptian-brokered reconciliation negotiations, the two groups have failed to bridge their differences. Late November 2007 through June 2008 witnessed a substantial increase in Israeli-Palestinian violence. An Egyptian-brokered truce in June 2008 between Israel and HAMAS brought about a five-month pause in hostilities, but spiraling end-of-year violence resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1,100 to 1,400 Palestinians and left tens of thousands of people homeless. International donors pledged $4.5 billion in aid to rebuild the Gaza Strip, but by the end of 2010 large-scale reconstruction had not begun.
Geography ::Gaza Strip
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt andIsrael
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 360 sq km country comparison to the world: 205 land: 360 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 62 km
border countries: Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km
Coastline:
40 km
Maritime claims:
Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation
Climate:
temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers
Terrain:
flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Awdah) 105 m
Natural resources:
arable land, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 29%
permanent crops: 21%
other: 50% (2002)
Irrigated land:
155 sq km; (note - includes West Bank) (2003)
Natural hazards:
droughts
Environment - current issues:
desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage treatment; water-borne disease; soil degradation; depletion and contamination of underground water resources
Geography - note:
strategic strip of land along Mideast-North African trade routes has experienced an incredibly turbulent history; the town of Gaza itself has been besieged countless times in its history
People ::Gaza Strip
Population:
1,604,238 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 149
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.4% (male 353,489/female 334,770)
15-64 years: 53% (male 420,618/female 402,297)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 16,483/female 24,202) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.5 years
male: 17.4 years
female: 17.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.29% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 6
Birth rate:
36.26 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 28
Death rate:
3.36 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 217
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 85
Urbanization:
urban population: 72% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 17.71 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 107 male: 18.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.68 years country comparison to the world: 111 male: 72.05 years
female: 75.4 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.9 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 27
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Nationality:
noun: NA
adjective: NA
Ethnic groups:
Palestinian Arab
Religions:
Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 99.3%, Christian 0.7%
Languages:
Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by many Palestinians), English (widely understood)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.4%
male: 96.7%
female: 88% (2004 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
Government ::Gaza Strip
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Gaza Strip
local long form: none
local short form: Qita' Ghazzah
Economy ::Gaza Strip
Economy - overview:
High population density, limited land and sea access, continuing isolation, and strict internal and external security controls have degraded economic conditions in the Gaza Strip - the smaller of the two areas in the Palestinian Territories. Israeli-imposed crossings closures, which became more restrictive after HAMAS violently took over the territory in June 2007, and fighting between HAMAS and Israel during December 2008-January 2009, resulted in the near collapse of most of the private sector, extremely high unemployment, and high poverty rates. Shortages of goods are met through large-scale humanitarian assistance - led by UNRWA - and the HAMAS-regulated black market tunnel trade that flourishes under the Gaza Strip's border with Egypt. However, chnages to the blockade in 2010 included moving from a white list - in which only approved items were allowed into Gaza through the crossings - to a black list, where all but non-approved items were allowed into Gaza through the crossings. Israeli authorities have recently signaled that exports from the territory might be possible in the future, but currently regular exports from Gaza are not permitted.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
see entry for West Bank
GDP - real growth rate:
see entry for West Bank
GDP - per capita (PPP):
see entry for West Bank
GDP - composition by sector:
see entry for West Bank
Labor force:
339,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 160
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 12%
industry: 5%
services: 83% (June 2008)
Unemployment rate:
40% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 186 40% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
70% (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.9% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 199 11.5% (2008)
note: includes West Bank
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
see entry for West Bank
Stock of domestic credit:
note: see entry for West Bank
Agriculture - products:
olives, fruit, vegetables, flowers; beef, dairy products
Industries:
textiles, food processing
Industrial production growth rate:
see entry for West Bank
Electricity - production:
65,000 kWh (2009) country comparison to the world: 212
Electricity - consumption:
202,000 kWh (2009) country comparison to the world: 213
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
120,000 kWh; note - from Israeli Electric Company (2009)
Oil - production:
See entry for West Bank
Oil - consumption:
See entry for West Bank
Oil - exports:
See entry for West Bank
Oil - imports:
See entry for West Bank
Oil - proved reserves:
NA bbl NA bbl
Exports - commodities:
strawberries, carnations
Imports:
see entry for West Bank
Imports - commodities:
food, consumer goods
note: Israel permits limited imports through crossings with Gaza, but many "dual use" goods, such as construction materials, are smuggled through tunnels beneath Gaza's border with Egypt
Debt - external:
see entry for West Bank
Exchange rates:
new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar - 3.7461 (2010), 3.9326 (2009), 3.56 (2008), 4.14 (2007), 4.4565 (2006)
Communications ::Gaza Strip
Telephones - main lines in use:
360,400 (includes West Bank) (2010) country comparison to the world: 108
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.405 million (includes West Bank) (2010) country comparison to the world: 124
Telephone system:
general assessment: Gaza continues to repair the damage to its telecommunications infrastructure caused by fighting in 2009
domestic: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL are responsible for fixed line services; the Palestinian JAWWAL company provides cellular services
international: country code - 970 (2009)
Broadcast media:
1 television station and about 10 radio stations (2008)
Internet country code:
.ps; note - same as West Bank
Internet users:
1.379 million (includes West Bank) (2009) country comparison to the world: 87
Transportation ::Gaza Strip
Airports:
1 (2010) country comparison to the world: 223
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Roadways:
note: see entry for West Bank
Ports and terminals:
Gaza
Military ::Gaza Strip
Military branches:
Palestinian Authority security forces have operated only in the West Bank, not in the Gaza Strip, since HAMAS seized power in June 2007; law and order and other security functions are performed by HAMAS security organizations (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 372,843 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 324,203
females age 16-49: 308,835 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 18,931
female: 18,010 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
Transnational Issues ::Gaza Strip
Disputes - international:
West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; Israel removed settlers and military personnel from the Gaza Strip in August 2005
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 1.017 million (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)) (2007)
page last updated on January 11, 2011
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@Georgia (Middle East)
Introduction ::Georgia
Background:
The region of present day Georgia contained the ancient kingdoms of Colchis and Kartli-Iberia. The area came under Roman influence in the first centuries A.D. and Christianity became the state religion in the 330s. Domination by Persians, Arabs, and Turks was followed by a Georgian golden age (11th-13th centuries) that was cut short by the Mongol invasion of 1236. Subsequently, the Ottoman and Persian empires competed for influence in the region. Georgia was absorbed into the Russian Empire in the 19th century. Independent for three years (1918-1921) following the Russian revolution, it was forcibly incorporated into the USSR until the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. An attempt by the incumbent Georgian government to manipulate national legislative elections in November 2003 touched off widespread protests that led to the resignation of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, president since 1995. New elections in early 2004 swept Mikheil SAAKASHVILI into power along with his National Movement party. Progress on market reforms and democratization has been made in the years since independence, but this progress has been complicated by Russian assistance and support to the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. After a series of Russian and separatist provocations in summer 2008, Georgian military action in South Ossetia in early August led to a Russian military response that not only occupied the breakaway areas, but large portions of Georgia proper as well. Russian troops pulled back from most occupied Georgian territory, but in late August 2008 Russia unilaterally recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This action was strongly condemned by most of the world's nations and international organizations.
Geography ::Georgia
Location:
Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey andRussia, with a sliver of land north of the Caucasus extending intoEurope
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 69,700 sq km country comparison to the world: 120 land: 69,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
total: 1,461 km
border countries: Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km, Turkey 252 km
Coastline:
310 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast
Terrain:
largely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the north and Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the south; Kolkhet'is Dablobi (Kolkhida Lowland) opens to the Black Sea in the west; Mtkvari River Basin in the east; good soils in river valley flood plains, foothills of Kolkhida Lowland
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Mt'a Shkhara 5,201 m