election results: Marcus STEPHEN reelected in a parliamentary vote of 11 to 6
Legislative branch:
unicameral parliament (18 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held on 19 June 2010 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 18
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party [Kennan ADEANG]; Nauru First (Naoero Amo) Party;Nauru Party (informal); note - loose multiparty system
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Woman Information and News Agency (women's issues)
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF,Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Marlene I. MOSES
chancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400 D, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 937-0074
consulate(s): Agana (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Nauru
Flag description:
blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe across the center and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side; blue stands for the Pacific Ocean, the star indicates the country's location in relation to the Equator (the yellow stripe) and the 12 points symbolize the 12 original tribes of Nauru
National anthem:
name: "Nauru Bwiema" (Song of Nauru)
lyrics/music: Margaret HENDRIE/Laurence Henry HICKS
note: adopted 1968
Economy ::Nauru
Economy - overview:
Revenues of this tiny island have traditionally come from exports of phosphates now significantly depleted. An Australian company in 2005 entered into an agreement intended to exploit remaining supplies. Few other resources exist with most necessities being imported, mainly from Australia its former occupier and later major source of support. The rehabilitation of mined land and the replacement of income from phosphates are serious long-term problems. Reserves of phosphates may only last until 2010 at current mining rates. In anticipation of the exhaustion of Nauru's phosphate deposits, substantial amounts of phosphate income were invested in trust funds to help cushion the transition and provide for Nauru's economic future. As a result of heavy spending from the trust funds, the government faces virtual bankruptcy. To cut costs the government has frozen wages and reduced overstaffed public service departments. Nauru lost further revenue in 2008 with the closure of Australia's refugee processing center, making it almost totally dependent on food imports and foreign aid. Housing, hospitals, and other capital plant is deteriorating. The cost to Australia of keeping the government and economy afloat continues to climb. Few comprehensive statistics on the Nauru economy exist with estimates of Nauru's GDP varying widely.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$60 million (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 221
GDP (official exchange rate):
GDP - real growth rate:
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,000 (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 145
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force - by occupation:
note: employed in mining phosphates, public administration, education, and transportation (1992)
Unemployment rate:
90% (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 199
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Agriculture - products:
coconuts
Industries:
phosphate mining, offshore banking, coconut products
Industrial production growth rate:
Electricity - production:
31 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 202
Electricity - consumption:
28.83 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 202
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 143
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 197
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 160
Oil - imports:
1,026 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 188
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 152
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 158
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 132
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 89
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 149
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 153
Exports:
$64,000 (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 221
Exports - commodities:
phosphates
Imports:
$20 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 217
Imports - commodities:
food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery
Debt - external:
$33.3 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 189
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.1151 (2010), 1.2822 (2009), 1.2059 (2008), 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006)
Communications ::Nauru
Telephones - main lines in use:
1,900 (2009) country comparison to the world: 225
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,500 (2002) country comparison to the world: 216
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate local and international radiotelephone communication provided via Australian facilities
domestic: NA
international: country code - 674; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Broadcast media:
1 government-owned television station broadcasting programs from New Zealand sent via satellite or on videotape; 1 government-owned radio station, broadcasting on AM and FM, utilizes Australian and British programs (2009)
Internet country code:
.nr
Internet hosts:
4,158 (2010) country comparison to the world: 140
Transportation ::Nauru
Airports:
1 (2010) country comparison to the world: 215
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 24 km country comparison to the world: 219 paved: 24 km (2002)
Ports and terminals:
Nauru
Military ::Nauru
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Nauru Police Force (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,682 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,683
females age 16-49: 3,059 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 174
female: 168 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
Military - note:
Nauru maintains no defense forces; under an informal agreement, defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues ::Nauru
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Navassa Island (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Navassa Island
Background:
This uninhabited island was claimed by the US in 1857 for its guano. Mining took place between 1865 and 1898. The lighthouse, built in 1917, was shut down in 1996 and administration of Navassa Island transferred from the Coast Guard to the Department of the Interior. A 1998 scientific expedition to the island described it as a unique preserve of Caribbean biodiversity; the following year it became a National Wildlife Refuge and annual scientific expeditions have continued.
Geography ::Navassa Island
Location:
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, 35 miles west of TiburonPeninsula of Haiti
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 5.4 sq km country comparison to the world: 245 land: 5.4 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
8 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
marine, tropical
Terrain:
raised coral and limestone plateau, flat to undulating; ringed by vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 m high)
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation on southwest side 77 m
Natural resources:
guano
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Natural hazards:
hurricanes
Environment - current issues:
Geography - note:
strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock with numerous solution holes but with enough grassland to support goat herds; dense stands of fig trees, scattered cactus
People ::Navassa Island
Population:
uninhabited
note: transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the island
Government ::Navassa Island
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Navassa Island
Dependency status:
unorganized, unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service, US Department of the Interior from the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge in Boqueron, Puerto Rico; in September 1996 the Coast Guard ceased operations and maintenance of Navassa Island Light a 46-meter-tall lighthouse on the southern side of the island; there has also been a private claim advanced against the island
Legal system:
the laws of the US where applicable apply
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of the US)
Flag description:
the flag of the US is used
Economy ::Navassa Island
Economy - overview:
Subsistence fishing and commercial trawling occur within refuge waters.
Communications ::Navassa Island
Broadcast media:
no television or radio broadcast stations (2009)
Transportation ::Navassa Island
Ports and terminals:
none; offshore anchorage only
Military ::Navassa Island
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues ::Navassa Island
Disputes - international:
claimed by Haiti, source of subsistence fishing
page last updated on November 17, 2010
======================================================================
@Nepal (South Asia)
Introduction ::Nepal
Background:
In 1951, the Nepalese monarch ended the century-old system of rule by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system of government. Reforms in 1990 established a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. An insurgency led by Maoist extremists broke out in 1996. The ensuing ten-year civil war between insurgents and government forces witnessed the dissolution of the cabinet and parliament and assumption of absolute power by the king. Several weeks of mass protests in April 2006 were followed by several months of peace negotiations between the Maoists and government officials, and culminated in a November 2006 peace accord and the promulgation of an interim constitution. Following a nation-wide election in April 2008, the newly formed Constituent Assembly declared Nepal a federal democratic republic and abolished the monarchy at its first meeting the following month. The Constituent Assembly elected the country's first president in July. The Maoists, who received a plurality of votes in the Constituent Assembly election, formed a coalition government in August 2008, but resigned in May 2009 after the president overruled a decision to fire the chief of the army staff. The Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist-Leninist and the Nepali Congress party then formed a new coalition government with several smaller parties. In June 2010, the prime minister resigned but, as of December 2010, continued to lead a caretaker government while the parties debate who should lead the next government. Disagreements among the political parties over issues such as the future of former Maoist combatants has hindered the drafting of a new constitution — due in May 2011 — and the formal conclusion of the peace process.
Geography ::Nepal
Location:
Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 147,181 sq km country comparison to the world: 93 land: 143,351 sq km
water: 3,830 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Arkansas
Land boundaries:
total: 2,926 km
border countries: China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south
Terrain:
Tarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m
highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m
Natural resources:
quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
Land use:
arable land: 16.07%
permanent crops: 0.85%
other: 83.08% (2005)
Irrigated land:
11,700 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
210.2 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 10.18 cu km/yr (3%/1%/96%)
per capita: 375 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
severe thunderstorms; flooding; landslides; drought and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons
Environment - current issues:
deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga - the world's tallest and third tallest - on the borders with China and India respectively
People ::Nepal
Population:
28,951,852 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 42
Age structure:
0-14 years: 36.6% (male 5,327,484/female 5,127,178)
15-64 years: 59.2% (male 8,094,494/female 8,812,675)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 566,666/female 634,880) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.2 years
male: 20.2 years
female: 22.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.419% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 87
Birth rate:
22.43 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 79
Death rate:
6.89 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 141
Net migration rate:
-1.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 167
Urbanization:
urban population: 17% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 46 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 56 male: 45.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 46.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 65.81 years country comparison to the world: 163 male: 64.62 years
female: 67.05 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.53 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 87
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 79
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
70,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 56
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
5,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 45
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: Japanese encephalitis, malaria, and dengue fever (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Nepalese (singular and plural)
adjective: Nepalese
Ethnic groups:
Chhettri 15.5%, Brahman-Hill 12.5%, Magar 7%, Tharu 6.6%, Tamang 5.5%, Newar 5.4%, Muslim 4.2%, Kami 3.9%, Yadav 3.9%, other 32.7%, unspecified 2.8% (2001 census)
Religions:
Hindu 80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)
Languages:
Nepali (official) 47.8%, Maithali 12.1%, Bhojpuri 7.4%, Tharu (Dagaura/Rana) 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.6%, Magar 3.3%, Awadhi 2.4%, other 10%, unspecified 2.5% (2001 census)
note: many in government and business also speak English (2001 est.)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 48.6%
male: 62.7%
female: 34.9% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 8 years (2003)
Education expenditures:
3.8% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 116
Government ::Nepal
Country name:
conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
conventional short form: Nepal
local long form: Sanghiya Loktantrik Ganatantra Nepal
local short form: Nepal
Government type:
federal democratic republic
Capital:
name: Kathmandu
geographic coordinates: 27 43 N, 85 19 E
time difference: UTC+5.75 (10.75 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
14 zones (anchal, singular and plural); Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi, Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti
Independence:
1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 29 May; Democracy Day, 24 April
Constitution:
15 January 2007 (interim Constitution); note - in April 2008, a Constituent Assembly was elected to draft and promulgate a new constitution by May 2010, but the deadline has been extended to May 2011
Legal system:
based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ram Baran YADAV (since 23 July 2008); Vice President Paramananda JHA (since 23 July 2008)
head of government: vacant; Prime Minister Madhav Kumar NEPAL resigned on 30 June 2010 but leads a caretaker government
cabinet: cabinet was formed in May 2009 by a majority coalition made up of the Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist-Leninist, Nepali Congress, Madhesi People's Rights Forum, Nepal-Democratic, and several smaller parties (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by Parliament; term extends until the new constitution is promulgated; election last held on 21 July 2008; date of next election NA
election results: Ram Baran YADAV elected president by the Constituent Assembly in a second round of voting on 21 July 2008; Ram Baran YADAV 308, Ram Jaja Prasad SINGH 282
Legislative branch:
unicameral Constituent Assembly (601 seats; 240 members elected by direct popular vote, 335 by proportional representation, and 26 appointed by the Cabinet (Council of Ministers))
elections: last held on 10 April 2008 (next to be held NA)
election results: percent of vote by party - CPN-M 38%, NC 19%, CPN-UML 19%,Madhesi People's Right Forum 9%, Terai Madhes Democratic Party and Sadbhawana Party 5%, other 15%; seats by party - CPN-M 220, NC 110, CPN-UML 103, Madhesi People's Rights Forum 52, Terai Madhes Democratic Party 20, Sadbhawana Party 9, other smaller parties 56; note - 26 seats filled by the new Cabinet and are included in the seat totals above
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Sarbochha Adalat (the president appoints the chief justice on recommendation of the Constitutional Council; the chief justice appoints other judges on the recommendation of the Judicial Council)
Political parties and leaders:
Chure Bhawar Rastriya Ekata Party [Keshav Prasad MAINALI]; CommunistParty of Nepal-Maoist (inactive); Communist Party of Nepal-MarxistLeninist or CPN-ML [C.P. MAINALI]; Communist Party of Nepal-Unified[Raj Singh SHRIS]; Communist Party of Nepal-United [Chandra DevJOSHI]; Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist-Leninist or CPN-UML[Jhalanath KHANAL]; Dalit Janajati Party [Vishwendraman PASHWAN];Federal Democratic National Forum; Madhesi People's RightsForum-Democratic [Bijay Kumar GACHHADAR]; Madhesi People's RightsForum-Nepal [Upendra YADAV]; Nepal Loktantrik Samajbadi Dal [UpendraGACHCHHADAR]; Nepal Pariwar Dal [Eknath DHAKAL]; Nepal SadbhavanaParty-Anandi Devi [Sarita GIRI]; Nepal Workers and Peasants Party or[Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE]; Nepali Congress or NC [Sushil KOIRALA];Nepali Janata Dal [Harish Chandra SHA]; Newa Rastriya Party [KeshavMan SHAKYA]; Rastriya Janamorcha [Chitra Bahadur K.C.]; RastriyaJanamukti Party [Malwar Singh THAPA]; Rastriya Janashakti Party orRJP [Surya Bahadur THAPA]; Rastriya Prajantantra Party [PashupatiShumsher RANA]; Rastriya Prajantantra Party Nepal [Kamal THAPA];Sadbhavana Party [Rajendra MAHATO]; Samajbadi Prajatantrik JanataParty Nepal [Prem Bahadur SINGH]; Terai Madhes Democratic Party[Mahantha THAKUR]; Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) [PushpaKamal DAHAL, also known as PRACHANDA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: several small armed Madhesi groups along the southern border with India; a variety of groups advocating regional autonomy for individual ethnic groups
International organization participation:
ADB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO,NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL,UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Shankar Prasad SHARMA
chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 667-4550
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Scott H. DELISI
embassy: Maharajgunj, Kathmandu
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [977] (1) 400-7200
Flag description:
red with a blue border around the unique shape of two overlapping right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylized moon and the larger, lower triangle displays a white 12-pointed sun; the color red represents the rhododendron (Nepal's national flower) and is a sign of victory and bravery, the blue border signifies peace and harmony; the two right triangles are a combination of two single pennons (pennants) that originally symbolized the Himalaya Mountains while their charges represented the families of the king (upper) and the prime minister, but today they are understood to denote Hinduism and Buddhism, the country's two main religions; the moon represents the serenity of the Nepalese people and the shade and cool weather in the Himalayas, while the sun depicts the heat and higher temperatures of the lower parts of Nepal; the moon and the sun are also said to express the hope that the nation will endure as long as these heavenly bodies
note: Nepal is the only country in the world whose flag is not rectangular or square
National anthem:
name: "Sayaun Thunga Phool Ka" (Hundreds of Flowers)
lyrics/music: Pradeep Kumar RAI/Ambar GURUNG
note: adopted 2007; after the abolition of the monarchy in 2006, a new anthem was required because of the previous anthem's praise for the king
Economy ::Nepal
Economy - overview:
Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world, with almost one-quarter of its population living below the poverty line. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for three-fourths of the population and accounting for about one-third of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural products, including pulses, jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. Nepal has considerable scope for exploiting its potential in hydropower, with an estimated 42,000 MW of feasible capacity, but political instability hampers foreign investment. Additional challenges to Nepal's growth include its landlocked geographic location, civil strife and labor unrest, and its susceptibility to natural disaster.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$35.31 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102 $34.11 billion (2009 est.)
$32.58 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$15.11 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102 4.7% (2009 est.)
5.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,200 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 208 $1,200 (2009 est.)
$1,200 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 33%
industry: 15%
services: 52% (FY09 est.)
Labor force:
18 million country comparison to the world: 32 note: severe lack of skilled labor (2009 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 75%
industry: 7%
services: 18% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
46% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 190 42% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
24.7% (2008)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 6%
highest 10%: 40.6% (2008)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
47.2 (2008) country comparison to the world: 34 36.7 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.6% (September 2010) country comparison to the world: 193 13.2% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 66 6.5% (31 December 2009)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 118 8% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$3.03 billion (July 2010) country comparison to the world: 110 $2.72 billion (July 2009)
Stock of broad money:
$10.01 billion (July 2010) country comparison to the world: 99 $10.67 billion (July 2009)
Stock of domestic credit:
$9 billion (July 2010) country comparison to the world: 96 $7.7 billion (July 2009)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$5.2 billion (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 78 $5.485 billion (31 December 2009)
$4.894 billion (31 December 2008)
Agriculture - products:
pulses, rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, jute, root crops; milk, water buffalo meat
Industries:
tourism, carpets, textiles; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarettes, cement and brick production
Industrial production growth rate:
1.8% (FY08) country comparison to the world: 135
Electricity - production:
2.6 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 128
Electricity - consumption:
2.243 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 132
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
213 million kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 142
Oil - consumption:
18,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 131
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 159
Oil - imports:
16,920 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 118
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 151
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 157
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 131
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 88
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 148
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 152
Current account balance:
-$449 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 114 $537 million (2009)
Exports:
$849 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 156 $907 million (2008)
Exports - commodities:
clothing, pulses, carpets, textiles, juice, pashima, jute goods
Exports - partners:
India 65.6%, US 8%, Bangladesh 6.04%, Germany 5% (2009)
Imports:
$5.26 billion (2009) country comparison to the world: 110 $4.1 billion (2008)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, machinery and equipment, gold, electrical goods, medicine
Imports - partners:
India 57%, China 13% (2009)
Debt - external:
$4.5 billion (2009) country comparison to the world: 108 $3.285 billion (2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Exchange rates:
Nepalese rupees (NPR) per US dollar - 72.56 (2010), 77.44 (2009), 65.21 (2008), 70.35 (2007), 72.446 (2006)
Communications ::Nepal
Telephones - main lines in use:
820,500 (2009) country comparison to the world: 85
Telephones - mobile cellular:
7.618 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 77
Telephone system:
general assessment: poor telephone and telegraph service; fair radiotelephone communication service and mobile-cellular telephone network
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone service subscribership base only about 30 per 100 persons
international: country code - 977; radiotelephone communications; microwave landline to India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2008)
Broadcast media:
state operates 2 television stations as well as national and regional radio stations; more than 60 independent radio stations and a small number of independent television stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.np
Internet hosts:
43,928 (2010) country comparison to the world: 91
Internet users:
577,800 (2009) country comparison to the world: 116
Transportation ::Nepal
Airports:
47 (2010) country comparison to the world: 93
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 31 (2010)
Railways:
total: 59 km country comparison to the world: 130 narrow gauge: 59 km 0.762-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 17,282 km country comparison to the world: 119 paved: 10,142 km
unpaved: 7,140 km (2007)
Military ::Nepal
Military branches:
Nepal Army (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of age for military training; no conscription (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,699,614
females age 16-49: 7,388,240 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,053,600
females age 16-49: 5,730,116 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 374,882
female: 361,848 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.6% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 93
Transnational Issues ::Nepal
Disputes - international:
joint border commission continues to work on contested sections of boundary with India, including the 400 square kilometer dispute over the source of the Kalapani River; India has instituted a stricter border regime to restrict transit of Maoist insurgents and illegal cross-border activities; approximately 106,000 Bhutanese Lhotshampas (Hindus) have been confined in refugee camps in southeastern Nepal since 1990
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 107,803 (Bhutan); 20,153 (Tibet/China)
IDPs: 50,000-70,000 (remaining from ten-year Maoist insurgency that officially ended in 2006; displacement spread across the country) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis and hashish for the domestic and international drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast Asia to the West
page last updated on January 20, 2011
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@Netherlands (Europe)
Introduction ::Netherlands
Background:
The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain in 1579; during the 17th century, they became a leading seafaring and commercial power, with settlements and colonies around the world. After a 20-year French occupation, a Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed in 1815. In 1830 Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I, but suffered invasion and occupation by Germany in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding member of NATO and the EEC (now the EU), and participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999. In October 2010, the former Netherlands Antilles was dissolved and the three smallest islands - Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba - became special municipalities in the Netherlands administrative structure. The larger islands of Sint Maarten and Curacao joined the Netherlands and Aruba as constituent countries forming the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Geography ::Netherlands
Location:
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 41,543 sq km country comparison to the world: 134 land: 33,893 sq km
water: 7,650 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 1,027 km
border countries: Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km
Coastline:
451 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters
Terrain:
mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Zuidplaspolder -7 m
highest point: Mount Scenery 862 m (on the island of Saba in the Caribbean, now considered an integral part of the Netherlands following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles)
note: the highest point on continental Netherlands is Vaalserberg at 322 m
Natural resources:
natural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 21.96%
permanent crops: 0.77%
other: 77.27% (2005)
Irrigated land:
5,650 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
89.7 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 8.86 cu km/yr (6%/60%/34%)
per capita: 544 cu m/yr (2001)
Natural hazards:
flooding
Environment - current issues: