The 1994 Edition of the CIA World FactbookPart 17 out of 46
Names: conventional long form: Republic of Guinea-Bissau conventional short form: Guinea-Bissau local long form: Republica de Guine-Bissau local short form: Guine-Bissau former: Portuguese Guinea Digraph: PU Type: republic formerly highly centralized, multiparty since mid-1991 Capital: Bissau Administrative divisions: 9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali Independence: 10 September 1974 (from Portugal) National holiday: Independence Day, 10 September (1974) Constitution: 16 May 1984, amended 4 May 1991 (currently undergoing revision to liberalize popular participation in the government) Legal system: NA Suffrage: 15 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: President of the Council of State Gen. Joao Bernardo VIEIRA (assumed power 14 November 1980 and was elected President of Council of State on 16 May 1984); election last held 19 June 1989 (next to be held 3 July 1994); results - Gen. Joao Bernardo VIEIRA was reelected without opposition by the National People's Assembly Council of State: this body is elected by the National People's Assembly from among its own members to legislate between sessions of the National People's Assembly cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president Legislative branch: unicameral National People's Assembly: (Assembleia Nacional Popular) elections last held 15 June 1989 (next to be held 3 July 1994); results - PAIGC was the only party; seats - (150 total) PAIGC 150 Judicial branch: none; there is a Ministry of Justice in the Council of Ministers Political parties and leaders: African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC), President Joao Bernardo VIEIRA, leader; Democratic Social Front (FDS), Rafael BARBOSA, leader; Bafata Movement, Domingos Fernandes GARNER, leader; Democratic Front (FD), Aristides MENEZES, leader note: PAIGC is still the major party (of 10 parties) and controls all aspects of the government Member of: ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alfredo Lopes CABRAL chancery: 918 16th Street NW, Mezzanine Suite, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: (202) 872-4222 FAX: (202) 872-4226 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Roger A. McGUIRE embassy: Barrio de Penha, Bissau mailing address: C.P. 297, 1067 Bissau Codex, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau telephone: [245] 25-2273, 25-2274, 25-2275, 25-2276 FAX: [245] 25-2282 Flag: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Cape Verde, which has the black star raised above the center of the red band and is framed by two corn stalks and a yellow clam shell @Guinea-Bissau, Economy Overview: Guinea-Bissau ranks among the poorest countries in the world, with a per capita GDP of roughly $800. Agriculture and fishing are the main economic activities. Cashew nuts, peanuts, and palm kernels are the primary exports. Exploitation of known mineral deposits is unlikely at present because of a weak infrastructure and the high cost of development. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $860 million (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: NA National product per capita: $800 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 55% (1991 est.) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $33.6 million expenditures: $44.8 million, including capital expenditures of $570,000 (1991 est.) Exports: $20.4 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.) commodities: cashews, fish, peanuts, palm kernels partners: Portugal, Spain, Senegal, India, Nigeria Imports: $63.5 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, transport equipment, petroleum products, machinery and equipment partners: Portugal, Netherlands, China, Germany, Senegal External debt: $462 million (December 1990 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 0.1% (1991 est.); accounts for 5% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 22,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 30 kWh (1991) Industries: agricultural processing, beer, soft drinks Agriculture: accounts for over 45% of GDP, nearly 100% of exports, and 90% of employment; rice is the staple food; other crops include corn, beans, cassava, cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, and cotton; not self-sufficient in food; fishing and forestry potential not fully exploited Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $49 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $615 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $41 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $68 million Currency: 1 Guinea-Bissauan peso (PG) = 100 centavos Exchange rates: Guinea-Bissauan pesos (PG) per US$1 - 11,850 (December 1993), 10,082 (1993), 6,934 (1992), 3,659 (1991), 2,185 (1990), 1,810 (1989) Fiscal year: calendar year @Guinea-Bissau, Communications Highways: total: 3,218 km paved: bituminous 2,698 km unpaved: earth 520 km Inland waterways: scattered stretches are important to coastal commerce Ports: Bissau Airports: total: 32 usable: 16 with permanent-surface runways: 4 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 5 Telecommunications: poor system of radio relay, open-wire lines, and radiocommunications; 3,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, 1 TV @Guinea-Bissau, Defense Forces Branches: People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP; including Army, Navy, Air Force), paramilitary force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 243,715; fit for military service 139,161 Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $9.3 million, 5%-6% of GDP (1987) @Guyana, Geography Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Suriname and Venezuela Map references: South America, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 214,970 sq km land area: 196,850 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Idaho Land boundaries: total 2,462 km, Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 km Coastline: 459 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nm or the outer edge of continental margin exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: all of the area west of the Essequibo River claimed by Venezuela; Suriname claims area between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Kutari Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne) Climate: tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-January) Terrain: mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south Natural resources: bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 6% forest and woodland: 83% other: 8% Irrigated land: 1,300 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation natural hazards: flash floods a constant threat during rainy seasons international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber; signed, but not ratifed - Biodiversity, Climate Change @Guyana, People Population: 729,425 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: -0.75% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 19.95 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 7.36 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -20.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 48.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.9 years male: 61.66 years female: 68.3 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.29 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Guyanese (singular and plural) adjective: Guyanese Ethnic divisions: East Indian 51%, black and mixed 43%, Amerindian 4%, European and Chinese 2% Religions: Christian 57%, Hindu 33%, Muslim 9%, other 1% Languages: English, Amerindian dialects Literacy: age 15 and over having ever attended school (1990 est.) total population: 95% male: 98% female: 96% Labor force: 268,000 by occupation: industry and commerce 44.5%, agriculture 33.8%, services 21.7% note: public-sector employment amounts to 60-80% of the total labor force (1985) @Guyana, Government Names: conventional long form: Co-operative Republic of Guyana conventional short form: Guyana former: British Guiana Digraph: GY Type: republic Capital: Georgetown Administrative divisions: 10 regions; Barima-Waini, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Demerara-Mahaica, East Berbice-Corentyne, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Mahaica-Berbice, Pomeroon-Supenaam, Potaro-Siparuni, Upper Demerara-Berbice, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Independence: 26 May 1966 (from UK) National holiday: Republic Day, 23 February (1970) Constitution: 6 October 1980 Legal system: based on English common law with certain admixtures of Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Executive President Cheddi JAGAN (since 5 October 1992); First Vice President Sam HINDS (since 5 October 1992); election last held on 5 October 1992; results - Cheddi JAGAN was elected president since he was leader of the party with the most votes in the National Assembly elections head of government: Prime Minister Sam HINDS (since 5 October 1992) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers; appointed by the president, responsible to the legislature Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly: elections last held on 5 October 1992 (next to be held in 1997); results - PPP 53.4%, PNC 42.3%, WPA 2%, TUF 1.2%; seats - (65 total, 53 elected) PPP 36, PNC 26, WPA 2, TUF 1 Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Judicature Political parties and leaders: People's Progressive Party (PPP), Cheddi JAGAN; People's National Congress (PNC), Hugh Desmond HOYTE;; People's National Congress (PNC), Hugh Desmond HOYTE; Working People's Alliance (WPA), Eusi KWAYANA, Rupert ROOPNARINE; Democratic Labor Movement (DLM), Paul TENNASSEE; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Llewellyn JOHN; National Democratic Front (NDF), Joseph BACCHUS; The United Force (TUF), Manzoor NADIR; United Republican Party (URP), Leslie RAMSAMMY; National Republican Party (NRP), Robert GANGADEEN; Guyana Labor Party (GLP), Nanda GOPAUL Other political or pressure groups: Trades Union Congress (TUC); Guyana Council of Indian Organizations (GCIO); Civil Liberties Action Committee (CLAC) note: the latter two organizations are small and active but not well organized Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, ONUSAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Ali Odeen ISHMAEL chancery: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 265-6900 through 6903 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador George F. Jones embassy: 99-100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingstown, Georgetown mailing address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown telephone: [592] (2) 54900 through 54909 and 57960 through 57969 FAX: [592] (2) 58497 Flag: green with a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a long yellow arrowhead; there is a narrow black border between the red and yellow, and a narrow white border between the yellow and the green @Guyana, Economy Overview: Guyana, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, has pushed ahead strongly in 1991-93, at 7% average annual growth rate. Favorable factors include recovery in the key agricultural and mining sectors, a more favorable atmosphere for business initiative, a more realistic exchange rate, a sharp drop in the inflation rate, and the continued support of international organizations. Serious underlying economic problems will continue. Electric power has been in short supply and constitutes a major barrier to future gains in national output. The government will have to persist in efforts to control external debt and inflation and to extend the privatization program. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.4 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: 8.3% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $1,900 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1993 Unemployment rate: 12% (1992 est.) Budget: revenues: $121 million expenditures: $225 million, including capital expenditures of $50 million (1990 est.) Exports: $400 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: sugar, bauxite/alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses partners: UK 33%, US 31%, Canada 9%, France 5%, Japan 3%, (1992) Imports: $520 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.) commodities: manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food partners: US 37%, Trinidad and Tobago 13%, UK 11%, Italy 8%, Japan 5% (1992) External debt: $1.9 billion including arrears (1992 est) Industrial production: growth rate 11% (1991 est.); accounts for about 11% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 253,500 kW production: 276 million kWh consumption per capita: 370 kWh (1992) Industries: bauxite mining, sugar, rice milling, timber, fishing (shrimp), textiles, gold mining Agriculture: most important sector, accounting for 25% of GDP and about half of exports; sugar and rice are key crops; development potential exists for fishing and forestry; not self-sufficient in food, especially wheat, vegetable oils, and animal products Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $116 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $325 million; Communist countries 1970-89, $242 million Currency: 1 Guyanese dollar (G$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Guyanese dollars (G$) per US$1 - 130.7 (January 1994), 126.7 (1993), 125.0 (1992), 111.8 (1991), 39.533 (1990), 27.159 (1989) Fiscal year: calendar year @Guyana, Communications Railroads: no public railroads; about 100 km of narrow gauge industrial railroads to transport minerals, including bauxite Highways: total: 7,665 km paved: 550 km unpaved: gravel 5,000 km; earth 2,115 km Inland waterways: 6,000 km total of navigable waterways; Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo Rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km, respectively Ports: Georgetown, New Amsterdam Merchant marine: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,317 GRT/2,558 DWT Airports: total: 53 usable: 48 with permanent-surface runways: 5 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 12 Telecommunications: fair system with radio relay network; over 27,000 telephones; tropospheric scatter link to Trinidad; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 3 FM, no TV, 1 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station @Guyana, Defense Forces Branches: Guyana Defense Force (GDF; including the Ground Forces, Coast Guard and Air Corps), Guyana People's Militia (GPM), Guyana National Service (GNS) Manpower availability: males age 15-49 197,802; fit for military service 150,072 Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP @Haiti, Geography Location: Caribbean, in the northern Caribbean Sea, about 90 km southeast of Cuba Map references: Central America and the Caribbean, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 27,750 sq km land area: 27,560 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland Land boundaries: total 275 km, Dominican Republic 275 km Coastline: 1,771 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: claims US-administered Navassa Island Climate: tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds Terrain: mostly rough and mountainous Natural resources: bauxite Land use: arable land: 20% permanent crops: 13% meadows and pastures: 18% forest and woodland: 4% other: 45% Irrigated land: 750 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: deforestation; soil erosion natural hazards: lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes international agreements: party to - Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban Note: shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (western one-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic) @Haiti, People Population: 6,491,450 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 1.63% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 39.72 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 18.78 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -4.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 108.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.11 years male: 43.45 years female: 46.85 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 5.94 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Haitian(s) adjective: Haitian Ethnic divisions: black 95%, mulatto and European 5% Religions: Roman Catholic 80% (of which an overwhelming majority also practice Voodoo), Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3% (1982) Languages: French (official) 10%, Creole Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 53% male: 59% female: 47% Labor force: 2.3 million by occupation: agriculture 66%, services 25%, industry 9% note: shortage of skilled labor, unskilled labor abundant (1982) @Haiti, Government Names: conventional long form: Republic of Haiti conventional short form: Haiti local long form: Republique d'Haiti local short form: Haiti Digraph: HA Type: republic Capital: Port-au-Prince Administrative divisions: 9 departments, (departements, singular - departement); Artibonite, Centre, Grand'Anse, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est Independence: 1 January 1804 (from France) National holiday: Independence Day, 1 January (1804) Constitution: constitution approved March 1987, suspended June 1988, most articles reinstated March 1989; October 1991, government claims to be observing the Constitution Legal system: based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE (since 7 February 1991), ousted in a coup in September 1991, but still recognized by international community as Chief of State; election last held 16 December 1990 (next to be held by December 1995); results - Rev. Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE 67.5%, Marc BAZIN 14.2%, Louis DEJOIE 4.9% head of government: acting Prime Minister Robert MALVAL (since August 1993) cabinet: Cabinet; chosen by prime minister in consultation with the president Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale) Senate: elections last held 18 January 1993, widely condemned as illegitimate (next to be held December 1994); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (27 total) FNCD 12, ANDP 8, PAIN 2, MRN 1, RDNP 1, PNT 1, independent 2 Chamber of Deputies: elections last held 16 December 1990, with runoff held 20 January 1991 (next to be held by December 1994); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (83 total) FNCD 27, ANDP 17, PDCH 7, PAIN 6, RDNP 6, MDN 5, PNT 3, MKN 2, MODELH 2, MRN 1, independents 5, other 2 Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (Cour de Cassation) Political parties and leaders: National Front for Change and Democracy (FNCD), including National Congress of Democratic Movements (CONACOM), Victor BENOIT, and National Cooperative Action Movement (MKN), Volvick Remy JOSEPH; Movement for the Installation of Democracy in Haiti (MIDH), Marc BAZIN; National Progressive Revolutionary Party (PANPRA), Serge GILLES; National Patriotic Movement of November 28 (MNP-28), Dejean BELIZAIRE; National Agricultural and Industrial Party (PAIN), Louis DEJOIE; Movement for National Reconstruction (MRN), Rene THEODORE; Haitian Christian Democratic Party (PDCH), Joseph DOUZE; Assembly of Progressive National Democrats (RDNP), Leslie MANIGAT; National Party of Labor (PNT), Thomas DESULME; Mobilization for National Development (MDN), Hubert DE RONCERAY; Democratic Movement for the Liberation of Haiti (MODELH), Francois LATORTUE; Haitian Social Christian Party (PSCH), Gregoire EUGENE; Movement for the Organization of the Country (MOP), Gesner COMEAU and Jean MOLIERE Other political or pressure groups: Democratic Unity Confederation (KID); Roman Catholic Church; Confederation of Haitian Workers (CTH); Federation of Workers Trade Unions (FOS); Autonomous Haitian Workers (CATH); National Popular Assembly (APN); Revolutionary Front for Haitian Advancement and Progress (FRAPH) Member of: ACCT, ACP, CARICOM (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LAES, LORCS, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jean CASIMIR chancery: 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 332-4090 through 4092 FAX: (202) 745-7215 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador William Lacy SWING embassy: Harry Truman Boulevard, Port-au-Prince mailing address: P. O. Box 1761, Port-au-Prince telephone: [509] 22-0354, 22-0368, 22-0200, or 22-0612 FAX: [509] 23-1641 Flag: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a centered white rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains a palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength) @Haiti, Economy Overview: About 75% of the population live in abject poverty. Agriculture is mainly small-scale subsistence farming and employs nearly three-fourths of the work force. The majority of the population does not have ready access to safe drinking water, adequate medical care, or sufficient food. Few social assistance programs exist, and the lack of employment opportunities remains one of the most critical problems facing the economy, along with soil erosion and political instability. Trade sanctions applied by the Organization of American States in response to the September 1991 coup against President ARISTIDE have further damaged the economy. Output continued to drop in 1993 although not as sharply as in 1992. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $5.2 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: -13% (FY92 est.) National product per capita: $800 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% (FY92 est.) Unemployment rate: 25%-50% (1991) Budget: revenues: $300 million expenditures: $416 million, including capital expenditures of $145 million (1990 est.) Exports: $135 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: light manufactures 65%, coffee 19%, other agriculture 8%, other 8% partners: US 84%, Italy 4%, France 3%, other industrial countries 6%, less developed countries 3% (1987) Imports: $423 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: machines and manufactures 34%, food and beverages 22%, petroleum products 14%, chemicals 10%, fats and oils 9% partners: US 64%, Netherlands Antilles 5%, Japan 5%, France 4%, Canada 3%, Germany 3% (1987) External debt: $838 million (December 1990) Industrial production: growth rate -2% (1991 est.); accounts for 15% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 217,000 kW production: 480 million kWh consumption per capita: 75 kWh (1992) Industries: sugar refining, textiles, flour milling, cement manufacturing, tourism, light assembly industries based on imported parts Agriculture: accounts for 28% of GDP and employs around 70% of work force; mostly small-scale subsistence farms; commercial crops - coffee, mangoes, sugarcane, wood; staple crops - rice, corn, sorghum; shortage of wheat flour Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana en route to the US and Europe Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (1970-89), $700 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $770 million Currency: 1 gourde (G) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: gourdes (G) per US$1 - 12.00 (1 July 1993), 8.4 (December 1991), fixed rate of 5.000 through second quarter of 1991 Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September @Haiti, Communications Railroads: 40 km 0.760-meter narrow gauge, single-track, privately owned industrial line Highways: total: 4,000 km paved: 950 km unpaved: otherwise improved 900 km; unimproved earth 2,150 km Inland waterways: negligible; less than 100 km navigable Ports: Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haitien; six minor ports Airports: total: 14 usable: 11 with permanent-surface runways: 3 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 3 Telecommunications: domestic facilities barely adequate, international facilities slightly better; 36,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 33 AM, no FM, 4 TV, 2 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station @Haiti, Defense Forces Branches: Army (including Police), Navy, Air Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,313,265; fit for military service 709,712; reach military age (18) annually 62,488 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $34 million, 1.5% of GDP (1988 est.) @Heard Island and McDonald Islands Header Affiliation: (territory of Australia) @Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Geography Location: Southern Africa, in the Indian Ocean, 4,100 km southwest of Australia Map references: Antarctic Region Area: total area: 412 sq km land area: 412 sq km comparative area: slightly less than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 101.9 km Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm International disputes: none Climate: antarctic Terrain: Heard Island - bleak and mountainous, with an quiescent volcano; McDonald Islands - small and rocky Natural resources: none Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% Irrigated land: 0 sq km Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA Note: primarily used for research stations @Heard Island and McDonald Islands, People Population: uninhabited @Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Government Names: conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands Digraph: HM Type: territory of Australia administered by the Ministry for Environment, Sport, and Territories Capital: none; administered from Canberra, Australia Independence: none (territory of Australia) @Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Economy Overview: no economic activity @Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Communications Ports: none; offshore anchorage only @Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Defense Forces Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia @Holy See (Vatican City), Geography Location: Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome - central Italy Map references: Europe Area: total area: 0.44 sq km land area: 0.44 sq km comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: total 3.2 km, Italy 3.2 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: none Climate: temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers (May to September) Terrain: low hill Natural resources: none Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% Irrigated land: 0 sq km Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution, Environmental Modification Note: urban; landlocked; enclave of Rome, Italy; world's smallest state; outside the Vatican City, 13 buildings in Rome and Castel Gandolfo (the pope's summer residence) enjoy extraterritorial rights @Holy See (Vatican City), People Population: 821 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 1.15% (1994 est.) Birth rate: NA Death rate: NA Net migration rate: NA Infant mortality rate: NA Life expectancy at birth: NA Total fertility rate: NA Nationality: noun: none adjective: none Ethnic divisions: Italians, Swiss Religions: Roman Catholic Languages: Italian, Latin, various other languages Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: NA by occupation: dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers who live outside the Vatican @Holy See (Vatican City), Government Names: conventional long form: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City) conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City) local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano) local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano) Digraph: VT Type: monarchical-sacerdotal state Capital: Vatican City Independence: 11 February 1929 (from Italy) National holiday: Installation Day of the Pope, 22 October (1978) (John Paul II) note: Pope John Paul II was elected on 16 October 1978 Constitution: Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968) Legal system: NA Suffrage: limited to cardinals less than 80 years old Executive branch: chief of state: Pope JOHN PAUL II (Karol WOJTYLA; since 16 October 1978); election last held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after the death of the current pope); results - Karol WOJTYLA was elected for life by the College of Cardinals head of government: Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo Cardinal SODANO (since NA 1991) cabinet: Pontifical Commission; appointed by Pope Legislative branch: unicameral Pontifical Commission Judicial branch: none; normally handled by Italy Political parties and leaders: none Other political or pressure groups: none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers) Member of: CSCE, IAEA, ICFTU, IMF (observer), INTELSAT, IOM (observer), ITU, OAS (observer), UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WTO (observer) Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Apostolic Pro-Nuncio Archbishop Agostino CACCIAVILLAN chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 333-7121 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond L. FLYNN embassy: Villino Pacelli, Via Aurelia 294, 00165 Rome mailing address: PSC 59, APO AE 09624 telephone: [396] 46741 FAX: [396] 638-0159 Flag: two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter centered in the white band @Holy See (Vatican City), Economy Overview: This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by contributions (known as Peter's Pence) from Roman Catholics throughout the world, the sale of postage stamps and tourist mementos, fees for admission to museums, and the sale of publications. The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to, or somewhat better than, those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome. Budget: revenues: $86 million expenditures: $178 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.) Electricity: capacity: 5,000 kW standby production: power supplied by Italy consumption per capita: NA (1992) Industries: printing and production of a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities Currency: 1 Vatican lira (VLit) = 100 centesimi Exchange rates: Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1 - 1,700.2 (January 1994), 1,573.7 (1993), 1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6 (1991), 1,198.1 (1990), 1,372.1 (1989); note - the Vatican lira is at par with the Italian lira which circulates freely Fiscal year: calendar year @Holy See (Vatican City), Communications Railroads: 850 m, 750-mm gauge (links with Italian network near the Rome station of Saint Peter's) Highways: none; all city streets Telecommunications: broadcast stations - 3 AM, 4 FM, no TV; 2,000-line automatic telephone exchange; no communications satellite systems @Holy See (Vatican City), Defense Forces Note: defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal Guards are posted at entrances to the Vatican City @Honduras, Geography Location: Middle America, between Guatemala and Nicaragua Map references: Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 112,090 sq km land area: 111,890 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Tennessee Land boundaries: total 1,520 km, Guatemala 256 km, El Salvador 342 km, Nicaragua 922 km Coastline: 820 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: land boundary dispute with El Salvador mostly resolved by 11 September 1992 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision; ICJ referred the maritime boundary in the Golfo de Fonseca to an earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua likely would be required Climate: subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains Terrain: mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains Natural resources: timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal, fish Land use: arable land: 14% permanent crops: 2% meadows and pastures: 30% forest and woodland: 34% other: 20% Irrigated land: 900 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: urban population expanding; deforestation results from logging and the clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further land degradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled development and improper land use practices such as farming of marginal lands; mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largest source of freshwater) with heavy metals as well as several rivers and streams natural hazards: subject to frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; damaging hurricanes and floods along Caribbean coast international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Tropical Timber @Honduras, People Population: 5,314,794 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 2.73% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 34.97 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 6.22 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 45.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.6 years male: 65.23 years female: 70.08 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.71 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Honduran(s) adjective: Honduran Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Indian and European) 90%, Indian 7%, black 2%, white 1% Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant minority Languages: Spanish, Indian dialects Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 73% male: 76% female: 71% Labor force: 1.3 million by occupation: agriculture 62%, services 20%, manufacturing 9%, construction 3%, other 6% (1985) @Honduras, Government Names: conventional long form: Republic of Honduras conventional short form: Honduras local long form: Republica de Honduras local short form: Honduras Digraph: HO Type: republic Capital: Tegucigalpa Administrative divisions: 18 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Atlantida, Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes, El Paraiso, Francisco Morazan, Gracias a Dios, Intibuca, Islas de la Bahia, La Paz, Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho, Santa Barbara, Valle, Yoro Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain) National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821) Constitution: 11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982 Legal system: rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law; some influence of English common law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: President Carlos Roberto REINA Idiaquez (since 27 January 1994); election last held on 28 November 1993 (next to be held November 1997); results - Carlos Roberto REINA Idiaquez (PLH) 53%, Oswaldo RAMOS Soto (PNH) 41%, other 6% cabinet: Cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional): elections last held on 27 November 1993 (next to be held November 1997); results - PNH 53%, PLH 41%, PDCH 1.0%, PINU-SD 2.5%, other 2.5%; seats - (134 total) PNH 55, PLH 77, PINU-SD 2 Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justica) Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party (PLH), Rafael PINEDA Ponce, president; National Party (PN) has two factions: Movimiento Nacional de Reivindication Callejista (Monarca), Rafael Leonardo CALLEJAS, and Oswaldista, Oswaldo RAMOS Soto, presidential candidate; National Innovation and Unity Party (PINU), Olban VALLADARES, president; Christian Democratic Party (PDCH), Efrain DIAZ Arrivillaga, president Other political or pressure groups: National Association of Honduran Campesinos (ANACH); Honduran Council of Private Enterprise (COHEP); Confederation of Honduran Workers (CTH); National Union of Campesinos (UNC); General Workers Confederation (CGT); United Federation of Honduran Workers (FUTH); Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Honduras (CODEH); Coordinating Committee of Popular Organizations (CCOP) Member of: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS, MINURSO, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Rene Arturo BENDANA chancery: 3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 966-7702, 2604, 5008, 4596 FAX: (202) 966-9751 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Boston, Detroit, and Jacksonville US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador William PRYCE embassy: Avenida La Paz, Tegucigalpa mailing address: American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa telephone: [504] 32-3120 FAX: [504] 32-0027 Flag: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with five blue five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band; the stars represent the members of the former Federal Republic of Central America - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features a triangle encircled by the word REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band @Honduras, Economy Overview: Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Agriculture, the most important sector of the economy, accounts for more than 25% of GDP, employs 62% of the labor force, and produces two-thirds of exports. Productivity remains low. Industry, still in its early stages, employs nearly 9% of the labor force, accounts for 15% of GDP, and generates 20% of exports. The service sectors, including public administration, account for 50% of GDP and employ 20% of the labor force. Basic problems facing the economy include rapid population growth, high unemployment, a lack of basic services, a large and inefficient public sector, and the dependence of the export sector mostly on coffee and bananas, which are subject to sharp price fluctuations. A far-reaching reform program initiated by former President CALLEJAS in 1990 is beginning to take hold. In 1993 the large fiscal deficit emerged as a key economic problem, the result of improvident state spending. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $10 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: 3.7% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $1,950 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 13% (1993 est.) Unemployment rate: 10%; underemployed 30%-40% (1992) Budget: revenues: $1.4 billion expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $511 million (1990 est.) Exports: $850 million (f.o.b., 1993 est) commodities: bananas, coffee, shrimp, lobster, minerals, meat, lumber partners: US 53%, Germany 11%, Belgium 8%, UK 5% Imports: $1.1 billion (c.i.f. 1993 est) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, chemical products, manufactured goods, fuel and oil, foodstuffs partners: US 50%, Mexico 8%, Guatemala 6% External debt: $2.8 billion (1990) Industrial production: growth rate 0.8% (1990 est.); accounts for 15% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 575,000 kW production: 2 billion kWh consumption per capita: 390 kWh (1992) Industries: agricultural processing (sugar and coffee), textiles, clothing, wood products Agriculture: most important sector, accounting for more than 25% of GDP, more than 60% of the labor force, and two-thirds of exports; principal products include bananas, coffee, timber, beef, citrus fruit, shrimp; importer of wheat Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine; illicit producer of cannabis, cultivated on small plots and used principally for local consumption Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.4 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.1 billion Currency: 1 lempira (L) = 100 centavos Exchange rates: lempiras (L) per US$1 - 7.2600 (December 1993), 7.2600 (1993), 5.8300 (1992), 5.4000 (1991); 2.0000 (fixed rate until 1991) 5.70 parallel black-market rate (November 1990); the lempira was allowed to float in 1992 Fiscal year: calendar year @Honduras, Communications Railroads: 785 km total; 508 km 1.067-meter gauge, 277 km 0.914-meter gauge Highways: total: 8,950 km paved: 1,700 km unpaved: otherwise improved 5,000 km; unimproved earth 2,250 km Inland waterways: 465 km navigable by small craft Ports: Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo Merchant marine: 270 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 831,856 GRT/1,248,186 DWT, bulk 25, cargo 177, chemical tanker 2, combination bulk 1, container 7, liquified gas 1, oil tanker 22, passenger 2, passenger-cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 20, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, short-sea passenger 2, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 1 note: a flag of convenience registry; Russia owns 14 ships under the Honduran flag Airports: total: 160 usable: 133 with permanent-surface runways: 11 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 14 Telecommunications: inadequate system with only 7 telephones per 1,000 persons; international services provided by 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations and the Central American microwave radio relay system; broadcast stations - 176 AM, no FM, 7 SW, 28 TV @Honduras, Defense Forces Branches: Army, Navy (including Marines), Air Force, Public Security Forces (FUSEP) Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,229,777; fit for military service 732,866; reach military age (18) annually 60,445 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $42.8 million, about 1.3% of GDP (1993 est.) @Hong Kong Header Affiliation: (dependent territory of the UK) @Hong Kong, Geography Location: Eastern Asia, on the southeast coast of China bordering the South China Sea Map references: Asia, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 1,040 sq km land area: 990 sq km comparative area: slightly less than six times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total 30 km, China 30 km Coastline: 733 km Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 3 nm territorial sea: 3 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall Terrain: hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north Natural resources: outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar Land use: arable land: 7% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 1% forest and woodland: 12% other: 79% Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1989) Environment: current issues: air and water pollution from rapid urbanization natural hazards: occasional typhoons international agreements: NA Note: more than 200 islands @Hong Kong, People Population: 5,548,754 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: -0.09% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 12.16 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 5.85 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -7.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 80.09 years male: 76.67 years female: 83.71 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.37 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Chinese adjective: Chinese Ethnic divisions: Chinese 95%, other 5% Religions: eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10% Languages: Chinese (Cantonese), English Literacy: age 15 and over having ever attended school (1971) total population: 77% male: 90% female: 64% Labor force: 2.8 million (1990) by occupation: manufacturing 28.5%, wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels 27.9%, services 17.7%, financing, insurance, and real estate 9.2%, transport and communications 4.5%, construction 2.5%, other 9.7% (1989) @Hong Kong, Government Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Hong Kong Abbreviation: HK Digraph: HK Type: dependent territory of the UK scheduled to revert to China in 1997 Capital: Victoria Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK) Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK; the UK signed an agreement with China on 19 December 1984 to return Hong Kong to China on 1 July 1997; in the joint declaration, China promises to respect Hong Kong's existing social and economic systems and lifestyle) National holiday: Liberation Day, 29 August (1945) Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice; new Basic Law approved in March 1990 in preparation for 1997 Legal system: based on English common law Suffrage: direct election 21 years of age; universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years; indirect election limited to about 100,000 professionals of electoral college and functional constituencies Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Governor Chris PATTEN (since 9 July 1992); Chief Secretary Anson CHAN Fang On-Sang (since 29 November 1993) cabinet: Executive Council; appointed by the governor Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council: indirect elections last held 12 September 1991 and direct elections were held for the first time 15 September 1991 (next to be held in September 1995 when the number of directly-elected seats increases to 20); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total; 21 indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 18 directly elected, 18 appointed by governor, 3 ex officio members); indirect elections - number of seats by functional constituency NA; direct elections - UDHK 12, Meeting Point 3, ADPL 1, other 2 Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: United Democrats of Hong Kong, Martin LEE, chairman; Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, TSANG Yuk-shing, chairman; Hong Kong Democratic Foundation, Dr. Patrick SHIU Kin-ying, chairman note: in April 1994, the United Democrats of Hong Kong and Meeting Point merged to form the "Democratic Party;" the merger becomes effective in October 1994 Other political or pressure groups: Liberal Party, Allen LEE, chairman; Meeting Point, Anthony CHEUNG Bing-leung, chairman; Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood, Frederick FUNG Kin Kee, chairman; Liberal Democratic Federation, HU Fa-kuang, chairman; Federation of Trade Unions (pro-China), LEE Chark-tim, president; Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Confederation of Trade Unions (pro-democracy), LAU Chin-shek, chairman; Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce; Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China); Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union, CHEUNG Man-kwong, president; Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China, Szeto WAH, chairman note: in April 1994, the United Democrats of Hong Kong and Meeting Point merged to form the "Democratic Party;" the merger becomes effective in October 1994 Member of: COCOM (cooperating), APEC, AsDB, CCC, ESCAP (associate), GATT, ICFTU, IMO (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), WCL, WMO Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK) US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Consul General Richard MUELLER consulate general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong mailing address: PSC 464, Box 30, Hong Kong, or FPO AP 96522-0002 telephone: [852] 523-9011 FAX: [852] 845-1598 Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with the Hong Kong coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a shield (bearing two junks below a crown) held by a lion (representing the UK) and a dragon (representing China) with another lion above the shield and a banner bearing the words HONG KONG below the shield @Hong Kong, Economy Overview: Hong Kong has a bustling free market economy with few tariffs or nontariff barriers. Natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. Manufacturing accounts for about 17% of GDP. Goods and services exports account for about 50% of GDP. Real GDP growth averaged a remarkable 8% in 1987-88, slowed to 3.0% in 1989-90, and picked up to 4.2% in 1991, 5.0% in 1992, and 5.2% in 1993. Unemployment, which has been declining since the mid-1980s, is now about 2%. A shortage of labor continues to put upward pressure on prices and the cost of living. Short-term prospects remain bright so long as major trading partners continue to be reasonably prosperous. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $119 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: 5.2% (1993) National product per capita: $21,500 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.5% (1993) Unemployment rate: 2.3% (1993 est.) Budget: revenues: $19.2 billion expenditures: $19.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY94) Exports: $145.1 billion (including re-exports of $104.2 billion )(f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: clothing, textiles, yarn and fabric, footwear, electrical appliances, watches and clocks, toys partners: China 32%, US 23%, Germany 5%, Japan 5%, UK 3% (1993 est.) Imports: $149.6 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, transport equipment, raw materials, semimanufactures, petroleum partners: China 36%, Japan 19%, Taiwan 9%, US 7% (1993 est.) External debt: none (1993) Industrial production: growth rate 2% (1993 est.) Electricity: capacity: 9,566,000 kW production: 29.4 billion kWh consumption per capita: 4,980 kWh (1992) Industries: textiles, clothing, tourism, electronics, plastics, toys, watches, clocks Agriculture: minor role in the economy; local farmers produce 26% fresh vegetables, 27% live poultry; 8% of land area suitable for farming Illicit drugs: a hub for Southeast Asian heroin trade; transshipment and major financial and money-laundering center Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $152 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $923 million Currency: 1 Hong Kong dollar (HK$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Hong Kong dollars (HK$) per US$ - 7.800 (1993), 7.741 (1992), 7.771 (1991), 7.790 (1990), 7.800 (1989); note - linked to the US dollar at the rate of about 7.8 HK$ per 1 US$ since 1985 Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March @Hong Kong, Communications Railroads: 35 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, government owned Highways: total: 1,100 km paved: 794 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, earth 306 km Ports: Hong Kong Merchant marine: 201 ships (1,000 GRT or over), totaling 6,972,233 GRT/11,965,809 DWT, bulk 105, cargo 23, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk 2, combination ore/oil 6, container 29, liquefied gas 7, oil tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 7, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 2 note: a flag of convenience registry; ships registered in Hong Kong fly the UK flag, and an estimated 500 Hong Kong-owned ships are registered elsewhere Airports: total: 2 usable: 2 with permanent-surface runways: 2 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 0 Telecommunications: modern facilities provide excellent domestic and international services; 3,000,000 telephones; microwave transmission links and extensive optical fiber transmission network; broadcast stations - 6 AM, 6 FM, 4 TV; 1 British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) repeater station and 1 British Forces Broadcasting Service repeater station; 2,500,000 radio receivers; 1,312,000 TV sets (1,224,000 color TV sets); satellite earth stations - 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT and 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT; coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China; links to 5 international submarine cables providing access to ASEAN member nations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe @Hong Kong, Defense Forces Branches: Headquarters of British Forces, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force, Royal Hong Kong Police Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,636,397; fit for military service 1,251,901; reach military age (18) annually 42,044 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $300 million, 0.5% of GDP (1989 est.); this represents one-fourth of the total cost of defending itself, the remainder being paid by the UK Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK @Howland Island Header Affiliation: (territory of the US) @Howland Island, Geography Location: Oceania, Polynesia, in the North Pacific Ocean, 2,575 km southwest of Honolulu, just north of the Equator, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia Map references: Oceania Area: total area: 1.6 sq km land area: 1.6 sq km comparative area: about 2.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 6.4 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun Terrain: low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef; depressed central area Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until late 1800s) Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 5% other: 95% Irrigated land: 0 sq km Environment: current issues: lacks freshwater natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA Note: almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife; feral cats @Howland Island, People Population: uninhabited; note - American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit only and generally restricted to scientists and educators @Howland Island, Government
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