The 1997 CIA World FactbookPart 10 out of 47permanent pastures: 36% forests and woodland: 26% other: 35% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 140 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues Environment - current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping Geography - note: landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the Sahel @Chad:People Population: 7,166,023 (July 1997 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 44% (male 1,586,873; female 1,579,086) 15-64 years: 53% (male 1,854,645; female 1,931,519) 65 years and over: 3% (male 94,516; female 119,384) (July 1997 est.) Population growth rate: 2.67% (1997 est.) Birth rate: 43.85 births/1,000 population (1997 est.) Death rate: 17.15 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.) Sex ratio: at birth : 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1997 est.) Infant mortality rate: 118.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 47.88 years male: 45.49 years female: 50.37 years (1997 est.) Total fertility rate: 5.79 children born/woman (1997 est.) Nationality: noun : Chadian(s) adjective: Chadian Ethnic groups: Muslims (Arabs, Toubou, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Kanembou, Baguirmi, Boulala, Zaghawa, and Maba), non-Muslims (Sara, Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye, Moundang, Moussei, Massa), nonindigenous 150,000 (of whom 1,000 are French) Religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs (mostly animism) 25% Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Sara and Sango (in south), more than 100 different languages and dialects Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write in French or Arabic total population: 48.1% male : 62.1% female: 34.7% (1995 est.) @Chad:Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Chad conventional short form: Chad local long form : Republique du Tchad local short form: Tchad Data code: CD Government type: republic National capital: N'Djamena Administrative divisions: 14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture); Batha, Biltine, Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mayo-Kebbi, Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjile Independence: 11 August 1960 (from France) National holiday: Independence Day, 11 August (1960) Constitution: 31 March 1995, passed by referendum Legal system: based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (since 4 December 1990) head of government : Prime Minister Djimasta KOIBLA (since 9 April 1995); appointed by the president cabinet: Council of State appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: the constitution provides for the election of a president by direct popular vote to serve a term of five years; if no candidate receives at least 50% of the total vote, the two candidates receiving the most votes must stand for a second round of voting; last held 2 June and 11 July 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); the prime minister is appointed by the president election results: in the first round of voting none of the 15 candidates received the required 50% of the total vote; percent of vote, first round - Lt. Gen. Idress DEBY 47.8 %; percent of vote, second round - Lt. Gen. DEBY 69.1%, Wadal Abdelkader KAMOUGUE 30.9%; President DEBY reappointed Prime Minister Djimasta KOIBLA Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (125 seats; members serve four-year terms); replaces the Higher Transitional Council or the Conseil Superieur de Transition elections: National Assembly - last held in two rounds on 5 January and 23 February 1997, (next to be held NA 2001); in the first round of voting on 5 January 1997 some candidates won clear victories by receiving 50% or more of the vote; where that did not happen, the two highest scoring candidates stood for a second round of voting election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MPS 65, URD 29, UNDR 15, RDP 3, others 13 Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Magistrate Courts Political parties and leaders: Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS [Maldom Bada ABBAS, chairman], originally in opposition but now the party in power and the party of the president; National Union for Development and Renewal or UNDR [Saleh KEBZABO, leader]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Lal Mahamat CHOUA, leader]; Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD [Gen. Wadal Abdelkader KAMOUGUE, leader]; note - in mid-1996 Chad had about 60 political parties, of which these are the most prominent in the new National Assembly Political pressure groups and leaders: NA International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission : Ambassador Mahamat Saleh AHMAT chancery: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 462-4009 FAX: [1] (202) 265-1937 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David C. HALSTED embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena mailing address : B. P. 413, N'Djamena telephone: [235] (51) 70-09, (51) 90-52, (51) 92-33 FAX: [235] (51) 56-54 Flag description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flag of Andorra, which has a national coat of arms featuring a quartered shield centered in the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France Economy Economy - overview: Unfavorable climate, geographic remoteness, poor resource endowment, and lack of infrastructure make Chad one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world. Its economy is hobbled by political turmoil, drought, and food shortages. Consequently the economy has shown little progress in recent years in overcoming a severe setback brought on by civil war in the late 1980s. About 85% of the work force is involved in subsistence farming and fishing. Cotton is the major cash crop, accounting for at least half of exports. Chad is highly dependent on foreign aid, especially food credits, given chronic food shortages in several regions. Of all the Francophone countries in Africa, Chad has benefited the least from the 50% devaluation of their currencies on 12 January 1994. Despite an increase in external financial aid and price increases for cotton - the primary source of foreign exchange - the corrupt and enfeebled government bureaucracy continues to postpone payment of public sector salaries and to dampen economic enterprise by neglecting payments to domestic suppliers. The devaluation resulted in stepped-up inflation of 41% in 1994; inflation fell to 9% in 1995 but it remains high compared with other Francophone countries. In one favorable development, Chad in December 1996 concluded an agreement with ESSO/Chad (EXXON) for drilling and extracting petroleum at Doba. Oil will be piped through Cameroon for export. GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.3 billion (1995 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 2.6% (1995 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $600 (1995 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 48% industry: 18% services : 34% (1995 est.) Inflation rate - consumer price index: 9% (1995 est.) Labor force: NA by occupation : agriculture 85% (subsistence farming, herding, and fishing) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues : $136 million expenditures: $222 million, including capital expenditures of $107 million (1994 est.) Industries: cotton textiles, meat packing, beer brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - capacity: 40,000 kW (1991) Electricity - production: 70 million kWh (1991) Electricity - consumption per capita: 14 kWh (1991 est.) Agriculture - products: cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels Exports: total value: $226 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: cotton, cattle, textiles, fish partners : Portugal 30%, Germany 18%, South Africa 16%, France 7% Imports: total value: $225 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: machinery and transportation equipment 39%, industrial goods 20%, petroleum products 13%, foodstuffs 9%; textiles; note - excludes military equipment partners: France 34%, Cameroon 24%, Nigeria 7%, US 6% Debt - external: $875 million (1995 est.) Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: CFA Francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 541.69 (January 1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992) note: beginning 12 January 1994 the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948 Fiscal year: calendar year @Chad:Communications Telephones: 5,000 (1987 est.) Telephone system: primitive system domestic: fair system of radiotelephone communication stations international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 1, shortwave 0 Radios: NA Television broadcast stations: 1 (1987 est.) note: limited TV service; many facilities are inoperative Televisions: 7,000 (1991 est.) @Chad:Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total: 32,700 km paved: 262 km unpaved : 32,438 km (1995 est.) Waterways: 2,000 km navigable Ports and harbors: none Airports: 46 (1996 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 15 over 3,047 m : 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 10 (1996 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total : 31 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 17 (1996 est.) Military Military branches: Armed Forces (includes Ground Force, Air Force, and Gendarmerie), Republican Guard, Police Military manpower - military age: 20 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,603,194 (1997 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 830,777 (1997 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males : 65,906 (1997 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $74 million (1994) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 11.1% (1994) Transnational Issues Disputes - international: demarcation of international boundaries in the vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which has led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaiting ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria ______________________________________________________________________ CHILE @Chile:Geography Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean and South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru Geographic coordinates: 30 00 S, 71 00 W Map references: South America Area: total : 756,950 sq km land: 748,800 sq km water: 8,150 sq km note: includes Isla de Pascua (Easter Island) and Isla Sala y Gomez Area - comparative: slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana Land boundaries: total : 6,171 km border countries: Argentina 5,150 km, Bolivia 861 km, Peru 160 km Coastline: 6,435 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: temperate; desert in north; cool and damp in south Terrain: low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in east Elevation extremes: lowest point : Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,962 m Natural resources: copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum Land use: arable land: 5% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 18% forests and woodland: 22% other : 55% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 12,650 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis Environment - current issues: air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation contributing to loss of biodiversity; soil erosion; desertification Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Desertification, Law of the Sea Geography - note: strategic location relative to sea lanes between Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage); Atacama Desert is one of world's driest regions @Chile:People Population: 14,508,158 (July 1997 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 28% (male 2,057,633; female 2,031,588) 15-64 years: 65% (male 4,684,158; female 4,734,170) 65 years and over: 7% (male 416,047; female 584,562) (July 1997 est.) Population growth rate: 1.18% (1997 est.) Birth rate: 17.53 births/1,000 population (1997 est.) Death rate: 5.68 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years : 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1997 est.) Infant mortality rate: 13.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.73 years male: 71.5 years female: 77.95 years (1997 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.17 children born/woman (1997 est.) Nationality: noun: Chilean(s) adjective: Chilean Ethnic groups: white and white-Amerindian 95%, Amerindian 3%, other 2% Religions: Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish Languages: Spanish Literacy: definition : age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.2% male : 95.4% female: 95% (1995 est.) @Chile:Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Chile conventional short form: Chile local long form: Republica de Chile local short form: Chile Data code: CI Government type: republic National capital: Santiago Administrative divisions: 13 regions (regiones, singular - region); Aisen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania, Atacama, Bio-Bio, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Los Lagos, Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena, Maule, Region Metropolitana, Tarapaca, Valparaiso note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica Independence: 18 September 1810 (from Spain) National holiday: Independence Day, 18 September (1810) Constitution: 11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981; amended 30 July 1989 Legal system: based on Code of 1857 derived from Spanish law and subsequent codes influenced by French and Austrian law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory Executive branch: chief of state: President Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (since 11 March 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government : President Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (since 11 March 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 11 December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1999) election results: Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle elected president; percent of vote - Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (PDC) 58%, Arturo ALESSANDRI 24.4%, other 17.6% Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (46 seats, 38 elected by popular vote; members serve eight-year terms - one half elected every four years) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections : Senate - last held 11 December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1997); Chamber of Deputies - last held 11 December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1997) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Coalition of Parties for Democracy 21 (PDC 13, PS 4, PPD 3, PR 1), Union for the Progress of Chile 15 (RN 11, UDI 3, UCC 1), right-wing independents 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - Coalition of Parties for Democracy 53.95% (PDC 27.16%, PS 12.01%, PPD 11.82%, PR 2.96%), Union for the Progress of Chile 30.57% (RN 15.25%, UDI 12.13%, UCC 3.19%); seats by party - Coalition of Parties for Democracy 70 (PDC 37, PPD 15, PR 2, PS 15, left-wing independent 1), Union for the Progress of Chile 47 (RN 30, UDI 15, UCC 2), right-wing independents 3; note - subsequent to the election, the Radical Party (PR) became the Radical Social Democratic Party (PRSD) Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are appointed by the president, the president of the Supreme Court is elected by the 17-member court Political parties and leaders: Coalition of Parties for Democracy or CPD consists mainly of: Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Enrique KRAUSS]; Socialist Party or PS [Camilo ESCALONA]; Party for Democracy or PPD [Sergio BITAR]; Radical Social Democratic Party or PRSD [Anselmo SULE]; Union for the Progress of Chile or UPP consists mainly of three parties: National Renewal or RN [Alberto ESPINA]; Independent Democratic Union or UDI [Jovino NOVOA]; Center Center Union or UCC [Francisco Javier ERRAZURIZ] Political pressure groups and leaders: revitalized university student federations at all major universities; labor - United Labor Central or CUT includes trade unionists from the country's five largest labor confederations; Roman Catholic Church International organization participation: APEC, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John BIEHL Del Rios chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 785-1746 FAX: [1] (202) 887-5579 consulate(s) general : Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Gabriel GUERRA-MONDRAGON embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Santiago mailing address : APO AA 34033 telephone: [56] (2) 232-2600 FAX: [56] (2) 330-3710 Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; there is a blue square the same height as the white band at the hoist-side end of the white band; the square bears a white five-pointed star in the center; design was based on the US flag Economy Economy - overview: Chile has a prosperous, essentially free market economy. Civilian governments - which took over from the military in March 1990 - have continued to reduce the government's role in the economy while shifting the emphasis of public spending toward social programs. Growth in real GDP averaged more than 6.5% in 1991-1996, and inflation is nearing a 40-year low. Chile's currency and foreign reserves also are strong, as sustained foreign capital inflows - driven in part by state privatizations - have more than offset occasional current account deficits and public debt buybacks. President FREI, who took office in March 1994, has placed improving Chile's education system and developing foreign export markets at the top of his economic agenda. Despite this progress, the Chilean economy remains largely dependent on a few sectors - particularly copper mining, fishing, and forestry. Success in meeting the government's goal of sustained annual economic growth of 5% depends largely on world prices for these commodities, continued foreign investor confidence, and the government's ability to maintain a conservative fiscal stance. In 1996, Chile became an associate member of Mercosur and concluded a Free Trade Agreement with Canada. GDP: purchasing power parity - $120.6 billion (1996 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 6.5% (1996 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $8,400 (1996 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture : 8% industry: 33% services: 59% (1995 est.) Inflation rate - consumer price index: 6.7% (1996 est.) Labor force: total: 5.5 million (1996 est.) by occupation: services 38.3% (includes government 12%), industry and commerce 33.8%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 19.2%, mining 2.3%, construction 6.4% (1990) Unemployment rate: 6.5% (1996 est.) Budget: revenues: $17 billion expenditures: $17 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.) Industries: copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles Industrial production growth rate: 4.8% (1995) Electricity - capacity: 5.964 million kW (1995) Electricity - production: 27.908 billion kWh (1995) Electricity - consumption per capita: 1,662 kWh (1995 est.) Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, grapes, beans, sugar beets, potatoes, fruit; beef, poultry, wool; timber; 1991 fish catch of 6.6 million metric tons Exports: total value: $15.2 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: copper 37%, other metals and minerals 8.2%, wood products 7.1%, fish and fishmeal 9.8%, fruits 8.4% (1994) partners: EU 25%, US 15%, Asia 34%, Latin America 20% (1995 est.) Imports: total value : $16.5 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: capital goods 25.2%, spare parts 24.8%, raw materials 15.4%, petroleum 10%, foodstuffs 5.7% (1994) partners: EU 18%, US 25%, Asia 16%, Latin America 26% (1995 est.) Debt - external: $22.3 billion (1995 est.) Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $50.3 million (1996 est.) Currency: 1 Chilean peso (Ch$) = 100 centavos Exchange rates: Chilean pesos (Ch$) per US$1 - 423.79 (January 1997), 412.27(1996), 396.78 (1995), 420.08 (1994), 404.35 (1993), 362.59 (1992) Fiscal year: calendar year @Chile:Communications Telephones: 1.5 million (1994 est.) Telephone system: modern system based on extensive microwave radio relay facilities domestic: extensive microwave radio relay links; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 179, FM 614, shortwave 11 Radios: NA Television broadcast stations: 11 Televisions: 2.85 million (1992 est.) @Chile:Transportation Railways: total: 6,782 km broad gauge: 3,743 km 1.676-m gauge (1,653 km electrified) narrow gauge: 116 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,923 km 1.000-m gauge (40 km electrified) (1995) Highways: total : 79,750 km paved: 11,006 km unpaved: 68,744 km (1995 est.) Waterways: 725 km Pipelines: crude oil 755 km; petroleum products 785 km; natural gas 320 km Ports and harbors: Antofagasta, Arica, Chanaral, Coquimbo, Iquique, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, San Antonio, San Vicente, Talcahuano, Valparaiso Merchant marine: total: 38 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 520,710 GRT/865,867 DWT ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 8, chemical tanker 4, combination ore/oil 1, container 2, liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 4, passenger 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3, vehicle carrier 2 (1996 est.) Airports: 343 (1996 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total : 259 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m : 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 214 (1996 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total : 84 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 71 (1996 est.) Military Military branches: Army of the Nation, National Navy (includes Naval Air, Coast Guard, and Marines), Air Force of the Nation, Carabineros of Chile (National Police), Investigations Police Military manpower - military age: 19 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 3,867,676 (1997 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males : 2,874,235 (1997 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 125,586 (1997 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $2.8 billion (1997); note - includes earnings from CODELCO Company; may exclude costs of pensions and internal security Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 3.5% (1997) Transnational Issues Disputes - international: short section of the southern boundary with Argentina is indefinite; Bolivia has wanted a sovereign corridor to the South Pacific Ocean since the Atacama area was lost to Chile in 1884; dispute with Bolivia over Rio Lauca water rights; territorial claim in Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory) partially overlaps Argentine and British claims Illicit drugs: a minor transshipment country for cocaine destined for the US and Europe; booming economy has made it more attractive to traffickers seeking to launder drug profits ______________________________________________________________________ CHINA (also see separate Taiwan entry) @China:Geography Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 105 00 E Map references: Asia Area: total: 9,596,960 sq km land : 9,326,410 sq km water: 270,550 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than the US Land boundaries: total: 22,143.34 km border countries: Afghanistan 76 km, Bhutan 470 km, Burma 2,185 km, Hong Kong 30 km, India 3,380 km, Kazakstan 1,533 km, North Korea 1,416 km, Kyrgyzstan 858 km, Laos 423 km, Macau 0.34 km, Mongolia 4,673 km, Nepal 1,236 km, Pakistan 523 km, Russia (northeast) 3,605 km, Russia (northwest) 40 km, Tajikistan 414 km, Vietnam 1,281 km Coastline: 14,500 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone : 24 nm continental shelf: claim to shallow areas of East China Sea and Yellow Sea territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north Terrain: mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills in east Elevation extremes: lowest point: Turpan Pendi -154 m highest point: Mount Everest 8,848 m Natural resources: coal, iron ore, petroleum, mercury, tin, tungsten, antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead, zinc, uranium, hydropower potential (world's largest) Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 43% forests and woodland: 14% other : 33% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 498,720 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: frequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts Environment - current issues: air pollution from the overwhelming use of high-sulfur coal as a fuel, produces acid rain which is damaging forests; water shortages experienced throughout the country, particularly in urban areas; future growth in water usage threatens to outpace supplies; water pollution from industrial effluents; much of the population does not have access to potable water; less than 10% of sewage receives treatment; deforestation; estimated loss of one-fifth of agricultural land since 1949 to soil erosion and economic development; desertification; trade in endangered species Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified : Desertification Geography - note: world's fourth-largest country (after Russia, Canada, and US) @China:People Population: 1,221,591,778 (July 1997 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years : 26% (male 166,319,939; female 150,125,798) 15-64 years: 68% (male 427,340,489; female 393,914,502) 65 years and over: 6% (male 36,201,623; female 41,689,427) (July 1997 est.) Population growth rate: 0.93% (1997 est.) Birth rate: 16.52 births/1,000 population (1997 est.) Death rate: 6.87 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.) Net migration rate: -0.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.) Sex ratio: at birth : 1.11 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (1997 est.) Infant mortality rate: 37.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.98 years male: 68.61 years female: 71.5 years (1997 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (1997 est.) Nationality: noun : Chinese (singular and plural) adjective: Chinese Ethnic groups: Han Chinese 91.9%, Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities 8.1% Religions: Daoism (Taoism), Buddhism, Muslim 2%-3%, Christian 1% (est.) note: officially atheist, but traditionally pragmatic and eclectic Languages: Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghaiese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages (see Ethnic divisions entry) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population : 81.5% male: 89.9% female: 72.7% (1995 est.) @China:Government Country name: conventional long form : People's Republic of China conventional short form: China local long form: Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo local short form: Zhong Guo abbreviation: PRC Data code: CH Government type: Communist state National capital: Beijing Administrative divisions: 23 provinces (sheng, singular and plural), 5 autonomous regions* (zizhiqu, singular and plural), and 3 municipalities** (shi, singular and plural); Anhui, Beijing**, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi*, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol*, Ningxia*, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanghai**, Shanxi, Sichuan, Tianjin**, Xinjiang*, Xizang* (Tibet), Yunnan, Zhejiang note: China considers Taiwan its 23rd province Independence: 221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch'in Dynasty 221 BC; Qing or Ch'ing Dynasty replaced by the Republic on 12 February 1912; People's Republic established 1 October 1949) National holiday: National Day, 1 October (1949) Constitution: most recent promulgated 4 December 1982 Legal system: a complex amalgam of custom and statute, largely criminal law; rudimentary civil code in effect since 1 January 1987; new legal codes in effect since 1 January 1980; continuing efforts are being made to improve civil, administrative, criminal, and commercial law Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President JIANG Zemin (since 27 March 1993) and Vice President RONG Yiren (since 27 March 1993) head of government: Premier LI Peng (acting premier since 24 November 1987, premier since 9 April 1988); Vice Premiers ZHU Rongji (since 8 April 1991), ZOU Jiahua (since 8 April 1991), QIAN Qichen (since 29 March 1993), LI Lanqing (29 March 1993), WU Bangguo (since 17 March 1995), and JIANG Chunyun (since 17 March 1995) cabinet: State Council appointed by the National People's Congress (NPC) elections: president and vice president elected by the National People's Congress for five-year terms; election last held 27 March 1993 (next to be held NA March 1998); premier and vice premiers nominated by the president, confirmed by the National People's Congress election results: JIANG Zemin elected by the Eighth National People's Congress; percent of National People's Congress vote - NA Legislative branch: unicameral National People's Congress or Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui (2,977 seats; members indirectly elected at county or xian level to serve five-year terms) elections: last held NA March 1993 (next to be held NA March 1998) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - NA Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court, judges appointed by the National People's Congress Political parties and leaders: Chinese Communist Party (CCP), JIANG Zemin, general secretary of the Central Committee; eight registered small parties controlled by CCP Political pressure groups and leaders: no meaningful political opposition groups exist International organization participation: AfDB, APEC, AsDB, BIS (pending member), CCC, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), Mekong Group, MINURSO, NAM (observer), PCA, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador LI Daoyu chancery : 2300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 328-2500 through 2502 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James R. SASSER embassy: Xiu Shui Bei Jie 3, 100600 Beijing mailing address: PSC 461, Box 50, FPO AP 96521-0002 telephone: [86] (10) 6532-3831 FAX : [86] (10) 6532-6422 consulate(s) general: Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang Flag description: red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller yellow five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the middle of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner Economy Economy - overview: Beginning in late 1978 the Chinese leadership has been trying to move the economy from a sluggish Soviet-style centrally planned economy to one that is more market-oriented but still within a rigid political framework of Communist Party control. To this end the authorities switched to a system of household responsibility in agriculture in place of the old collectivization, increased the authority of local officials and plant managers in industry, permitted a wide variety of small-scale enterprise in services and light manufacturing, and opened the economy to increased foreign trade and investment. The result has been a quadrupling of GDP since 1978. Agricultural output doubled in the 1980s, and industry also posted major gains, especially in coastal areas near Hong Kong and opposite Taiwan, where foreign investment helped spur output of both domestic and export goods. On the darker side, the leadership has often experienced in its hybrid system the worst results of socialism (bureaucracy, lassitude, corruption) and of capitalism (windfall gains and stepped-up inflation). Beijing thus has periodically backtracked, retightening central controls at intervals. In 1992-96 annual growth of GDP accelerated, particularly in the coastal areas - averaging more than 10% annually according to official figures. In late 1993 China's leadership approved additional long-term reforms aimed at giving still more play to market-oriented institutions and at strengthening the center's control over the financial system; state enterprises would continue to dominate many key industries in what was now termed "a socialist market economy." In 1995-96 inflation dropped sharply, reflecting tighter monetary policies and stronger measures to control food prices. At the same time, the government struggled to (a) collect revenues due from provinces, businesses, and individuals; (b) reduce corruption and other economic crimes; and (c) keep afloat the large state-owned enterprises, most of which had not participated in the vigorous expansion of the economy and many of which have been losing the ability to pay full wages and pensions. From 60 to 100 million surplus rural workers are adrift between the villages and the cities, many subsisting through part-time low-paying jobs. Popular resistance, changes in central policy, and loss of authority by rural cadres have weakened China's population control program, which is essential to maintaining growth in living standards. Another long-term threat to continued rapid economic growth is the deterioration in the environment, notably air pollution, soil erosion, and the steady fall of the water table especially in the north. China continues to lose arable land because of erosion and economic development; furthermore, the regime gives insufficient priority to agricultural research. The next few years will witness increasing tensions between a highly centralized political system and an increasingly decentralized economic system. Rapid economic growth likely will continue but at a declining rate. GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.39 trillion (1996 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1995 with use of official Chinese growth figure for 1996; the result may overstate China's GDP by as much as 25%) GDP - real growth rate: 9.7% (1996 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,800 (1996 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 20% industry: 49% services : 31% (1995 est.) Inflation rate - consumer price index: 10% (1996 est.) Labor force: total : 614.7 million (1994) by occupation: agriculture and forestry 54%, industry and commerce 26%, construction and mining 7%, social services 6%, other 7% (1994) Unemployment rate: officially 3% in urban areas; probably 8%-10%; substantial unemployment and underemployment in rural areas (1996 est.) Budget: revenues : $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Industries: iron and steel, coal, machine building, armaments, textiles and apparel, petroleum, cement, chemical fertilizers, consumer durables, food processing, autos, consumer electronics, telecommunications Industrial production growth rate: 13% (1996 est.) Electricity - capacity: 210 million kW (1995) Electricity - production: 859 billion kWh (1994) Electricity - consumption per capita: 684 kWh (1995 est.) Agriculture - products: rice, wheat, potatoes, sorghum, peanuts, tea, millet, barley, cotton, other fibers, oilseed; pork and other livestock products; fish Exports: total value : $151.07 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: clothing, miscellaneous consumer goods, fabrics, footwear, toys, electrical machinery and switchgear (1995) partners: Hong Kong, Japan, US, South Korea, Germany, Singapore (1995) Imports: total value : $138.83 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: plastics, fabrics, telecommunications equipment, electrical machinery and switchgear, transistors, other industrial machinery (1995) partners: Japan, US, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Germany, Russia (1995) Debt - external: $92 billion (1994 est.) Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $1.977 billion (1993) Currency: 1 yuan (¥) = 10 jiao Exchange rates: yuan (¥) per US$1 - 8.2963 (January 1997), 8.3142 (1996), 8.3514 (1995), 8.6187 (1994), 5.7620 (1993), 5.5146 (1992) note: beginning 1 January 1994, the People's Bank of China quotes the midpoint rate against the US dollar based on the previous day's prevailing rate in the interbank foreign exchange market Fiscal year: calendar year @China:Communications Telephones: 20 million (1994 est.) Telephone system: domestic and international services are increasingly available for private use; unevenly distributed domestic system serves principal cities, industrial centers, and most townships domestic: telephone lines are being expanded to 100 million by 1996; interprovincial fiber-optic trunk lines and cellular telephone systems have been installed; a domestic satellite system with 55 earth stations is in place international: satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region) and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean Regions); several international fiber-optic links to Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong Radio broadcast stations: AM 274, FM NA, shortwave 0 Radios: 216.5 million (1992 est.) Television broadcast stations: 202 (repeaters 2,050) Televisions: 75 million @China:Transportation Railways: total : 62,500 km (including 5,400 km of provincial "local" rails) standard gauge: 58,900 km 1.435-m gauge (9,700 km electrified; 18,100 km double track) narrow gauge: 3,600 km 0.750-m gauge local industrial lines (1996 est.) Highways: total: 1.117 million km paved: 239,500 km unpaved: 877,500 km (1996 est.) Waterways: 138,600 km; about 110,600 km navigable Pipelines: crude oil 9,700 km; petroleum products 1,100 km; natural gas 6,200 km (1990) Ports and harbors: Dalian, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Haikou, Lianyungang, Nanjing, Nantong, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Shantou, Tianjin, Xiamen, Yantain, Zhanjiang Merchant marine: total: 1,736 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,749,069 GRT/25,196,607 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 325, cargo 883, chemical tanker 16, combination bulk 11, container 109, liquefied gas tanker 9, multifunction large-load carrier 6, oil tanker 232, passenger 6, passenger-cargo 47, refrigerated cargo 24, roll-on/roll-off cargo 22, short-sea passenger 43, specialized tanker 1 note: China owns an additional 270 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 8,754,413 DWT operating under the registries of Panama, Hong Kong, Malta, Liberia, Vanuatu, Cyprus, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Marshall Islands, and Singapore (1996 est.) Airports: 206 (1996 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 192 over 3,047 m: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 65 1,524 to 2,437 m: 90 914 to 1,523 m : 13 under 914 m: 6 (1996 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 14 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m : 1 (1996 est.) Military Military branches: People's Liberation Army (PLA), which includes the Ground Forces, Navy (includes Marines and Naval Aviation), Air Force, Second Artillery Corps (the strategic missile force), People's Armed Police (internal security troops, nominally subordinate to Ministry of Public Security, but included by the Chinese as part of the "armed forces" and considered to be an adjunct to the PLA in wartime) Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49 : 356,848,321 (1997 est.) Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 196,780,527 (1997 est.) Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males : 9,872,055 (1997 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: the officially announced but suspect figure is 70.2 billion yuan (1995 est.); note - conversion of the defense budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA% Transnational Issues Disputes - international: boundary with India in dispute; disputed sections of the boundary with Russia remain to be settled; boundary with Tajikistan in dispute; short section of the boundary with North Korea is indefinite; involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; maritime boundary dispute with Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin; Paracel Islands occupied by China, but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; claims Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Tai), as does Taiwan Illicit drugs: major transshipment point for heroin produced in the Golden Triangle; growing domestic drug abuse problem ______________________________________________________________________ CHRISTMAS ISLAND (territory of Australia) @Christmas Island:Geography Location: Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia Geographic coordinates: 10 30 S, 105 40 E Map references: Southeast Asia Area: total: 135 sq km land: 135 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 138.9 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone : 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm Climate: tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds Terrain: steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Murray Hill 361 m Natural resources: phosphate Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland : NA% other: 100% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard Environment - current issues: NA Environment - international agreements: party to : NA signed, but not ratified: NA Geography - note: located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean @Christmas Island:People Population: 743 (July 1997 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA Population growth rate: -8.98% (1997 est.) Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population Sex ratio: at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female total population : NA male(s)/female Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman Nationality: noun: Christmas Islander(s) adjective: Christmas Island Ethnic groups: Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%, no indigenous population Religions: Buddhist 55%, Christian 15%, Muslim 10%, other 20% (1991) Languages: English @Christmas Island:Government Country name: conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island conventional short form : Christmas Island Data code: KT Dependency status: territory of Australia Government type: NA National capital: The Settlement Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia) Independence: none (territory of Australia) National holiday: NA Constitution: Christmas Island Act of 1958 Legal system: under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general head of government : Administrator (vacant); Official Secretary Merrilyn CHILVERS (since NA) is serving as acting administrator elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the queen and Australia Legislative branch: unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve one-year terms) elections: last held NA December 1996 (next to be held NA December 1997) election results : percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9 Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: none International organization participation: none Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of Australia) Flag description: the flag of Australia is used Economy Economy - overview: Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In 1990, the mine was reopened by private operators. Australian-based Casinos Austria International Ltd. built a $45 million casino on Christmas Island. GDP: purchasing power parity - $NA GDP - real growth rate: NA% GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $NA GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA% Inflation rate - consumer price index: NA% Labor force: total: NA by occupation: tourism 400 people, mining 100 people Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Industries: phosphate extraction (near depletion) Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - capacity: NA kW Electricity - production: NA kWh Electricity - consumption per capita: NA kWh Agriculture - products: NA Exports: $NA commodities: phosphate partners: Australia, NZ Imports: $NA commodities : consumer goods partners: principally Australia Debt - external: $NA Economic aid: none Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.2735 (January 1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704, (1993), 1.3600 (1992) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June @Christmas Island:Communications Telephones: NA Telephone system: domestic: NA international : NA note: external telephone and telex services are provided by INTELSAT satellite Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 Radios: 500 (1992) Television broadcast stations: 1 Televisions: 350 (1992) @Christmas Island:Transportation Railways: 24 km to serve phosphate mines Highways: total: NA km paved : NA km unpaved: NA km Ports and harbors: Flying Fish Cove Merchant marine: none Airports: 1 Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1996 est.) Military Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________ CLIPPERTON ISLAND (possession of France) @Clipperton Island:Geography Location: Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120 km southwest of Mexico Geographic coordinates: 10 17 N, 109 13 W Map references: World Area: total: 7 sq km land : 7 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 11.1 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: tropical, humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees C, rains May-October Terrain: coral atoll Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point : Rocher Clipperton 29 m Natural resources: none Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops : 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (all coral) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993) Natural hazards: subject to tornadoes Environment - current issues: NA Environment - international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified : NA Geography - note: reef about 8 km in circumference @Clipperton Island:People Population: uninhabited @Clipperton Island:Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Clipperton Island local long form: none local short form : Ile Clipperton former: sometimes called Ile de la Passion Data code: IP Dependency status: possession of France; administered by France from French Polynesia by a high commissioner of the Republic Flag description: the flag of France is used Economy Economy - overview: The only economic activity is a tuna fishing station. @Clipperton Island:Transportation Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only Military Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________ COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS (territory of Australia) @Cocos (Keeling) Islands:Geography Location: Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia, about one-half of the way from Australia to Sri Lanka Geographic coordinates: 12 30 S, 96 50 E Map references: Southeast Asia Area: total: 14 sq km land: 14 sq km water: 0 sq km note : includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island Area - comparative: about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 2.6 km Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone : 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm Climate: pleasant, modified by the southeast trade wind for about nine months of the year; moderate rainfall Terrain: flat, low-lying coral atolls Elevation extremes: lowest point : Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m Natural resources: fish Land use: arable land : NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other : 100% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: cyclones may occur in the early months of the year Environment - current issues: fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs Environment - international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified : NA Geography - note: two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation @Cocos (Keeling) Islands:People Population: 617 (July 1997 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years : NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA Population growth rate: 0.98% (1997 est.) Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population Sex ratio: at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years : NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female total population: NA male(s)/female Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman Nationality: noun: Cocos Islander(s) adjective : Cocos Islander Ethnic groups: Europeans, Cocos Malays Religions: Sunni Muslim 57%, Christian 22%, other 21% (1981 est.) Languages: English, Malay @Cocos (Keeling) Islands:Government Country name: conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands Data code: CK Dependency status: territory of Australia Government type: NA National capital: West Island Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia) Independence: none (territory of Australia) National holiday: NA Constitution: Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955 Legal system: based upon the laws of Australia and local laws Suffrage: NA Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general head of government : Administrator (acting) Jarl ANDERSSON (since NA) cabinet: NA elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the queen and Australia Legislative branch: unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (NA seats) Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: none International organization participation: WMO Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of Australia) Flag description: the flag of Australia is used Economy Economy - overview: Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the sole cash crop. Copra and fresh coconuts are the major export earners. Small local gardens and fishing contribute to the food supply, but additional food and most other necessities must be imported from Australia. GDP: purchasing power parity - $NA GDP - real growth rate: NA% GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $NA GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry : NA% services: NA% Inflation rate - consumer price index: NA% Labor force: NA note: the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage worker operations; tourism employs others Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures : $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Industries: copra products and tourism Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - capacity: NA kW Electricity - production: NA kWh Electricity - consumption per capita: NA kWh Agriculture - products: vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts Exports: $NA commodities: copra partners: Australia Imports: $NA commodities: foodstuffs partners: Australia Debt - external: $NA Economic aid: none Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.2835 (January 1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June @Cocos (Keeling) Islands:Communications Telephones: NA Telephone system: domestic: NA international: telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; 1 satellite earth station of NA type Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 Radios: 300 (1992 est.) Television broadcast stations: 0 note: intermittent television service via satellite Televisions: NA @Cocos (Keeling) Islands:Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total : NA km paved: NA km unpaved : NA km Ports and harbors: none; lagoon anchorage only Merchant marine: none Airports: 1 Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1996 est.) Military Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________ COLOMBIA @Colombia:Geography Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama Geographic coordinates: 4 00 N, 72 00 W Map references: South America Area: total : 1,138,910 sq km land: 1,038,700 sq km water: 100,210 sq km note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and Serranilla Bank Area - comparative: slightly less than three times the size of Montana Land boundaries: total : 7,408 km border countries: Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km, Peru 2,900 km, Venezuela 2,050 km Coastline: 3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km) Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands Terrain: flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Nevado del Huila 5,750 m Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures : 39% forests and woodland: 48% other: 8% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 5,300 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions Environment - international agreements: party to : Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping Geography - note: only South American country with coastlines on both North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea @Colombia:People Population: 37,418,290 (July 1997 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years : 31% (male 5,959,141; female 5,816,751) 15-64 years: 64% (male 11,756,893; female 12,146,103) 65 years and over: 5% (male 769,724; female 969,678) (July 1997 est.) Population growth rate: 1.61% (1997 est.) Birth rate: 20.78 births/1,000 population (1997 est.) Death rate: 4.62 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.) Net migration rate: -0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years : 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.) Infant mortality rate: 24.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.14 years male: 70.28 years female : 76.09 years (1997 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.31 children born/woman (1997 est.) Nationality: noun: Colombian(s) adjective: Colombian Ethnic groups: mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1% Religions: Roman Catholic 95% Languages: Spanish Literacy: definition : age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91.3% male: 91.2% female: 91.4% (1995 est.) @Colombia:Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Colombia conventional short form: Colombia local long form: Republica de Colombia local short form : Colombia Data code: CO Government type: republic; executive branch dominates government structure National capital: Bogota
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