The World Factbook 1998
by
The United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Part 18 out of 51
election results: NA
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General (42
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
and the unicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (41 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: General Council-last held 22 March 1992 (next to be held by
NA 1996); Regional Council-last held 16 March 1998 (next to be held NA
2004)
election results: General Council-percent of vote by party-NA; seats
by party-FRUI.G 13, RPR/DUD 13, PPDG 8, FGPS 3, PCG 3, UPLG 1, PSG 1,
independent 1; Regional Council-percent of vote by party-RPR 48.03%,
PS/PPDG/DVG 24.49%, PCG 5.29%, DVD 5.73%; seats by party-RPR 25,
PS/PPDG/DVG 12, PCG 2, DVD 2
note: Guadeloupe elects two representatives to the French Senate;
elections last held in September 1995 (next to be held NA September
2004); percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-RPR 1, FGPS 1;
Guadeloupe elects four representatives to the French National
Assembly; elections last held on 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held
NA 2002); percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-FGPS 2, RPR 1,
PCG 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel with jurisdiction
over Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique
Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic or RPR [Lucette
MICHAUX-CHEVRY]; Communist Party of Guadeloupe or PCG [Mona CADOCE];
Socialist Party or PS [Georges LOUISOR]; Popular Union for the
Liberation of Guadeloupe or UPLG [Claude MAKOUKE]; FGPS Dissidents or
FRUI.G [Dominique LARIFLA]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Marcel
ESDRAS]; Progressive Democratic Party or PPDG [Henri BANGOU]; Movement
for an Independent Guadeloupe or MPGI [Luc REIETTE]; Christian
Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or KLPG; DVG [Jacques
GILLOT]; DVD [Simon IBO]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Movement for Independent
Guadeloupe or MPGI; General Union of Guadeloupe Workers or UGTG;
General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers or CGT-G; Christian Movement
for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or KLPG
International organization participation: FZ, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas department of
France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas department of
France)
Flag description: three horizontal bands, a narrow green band (top), a
wide red band, and a narrow green band; the green bands are separated
from the red band by two narrow white stripes; a five-pointed gold
star is centered in the red band toward the hoist side; the flag of
France is used for official occasions
@Guadeloupe:Economy
Economy-overview: The economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light
industry, and services. It is also dependent upon France for large
subsidies and imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most tourists
from the US; an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit the
islands. The traditional sugarcane crop is slowly being replaced by
other crops, such as bananas (which now supply about 50% of export
earnings), eggplant, and flowers. Other vegetables and root crops are
cultivated for local consumption, although Guadeloupe is still
dependent on imported food, mainly from France. Light industry
features sugar and rum production. Most manufactured goods and fuel
are imported. Unemployment is especially high among the young.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$3.7 billion (1995 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: NA%
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$9,200 (1995 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 9%
services: 85% (1993 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 3.7% (1990)
Labor force:
total: 128,000
by occupation: agriculture 15%, industry 20%, services 65% (1993)
Unemployment rate: 31.3% (1995)
Budget:
revenues: $300 million
expenditures: $460 million, including capital expenditures of $90
million (1995)
Industries: construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: 388,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 1 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 2,483 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: bananas, sugarcane, tropical fruits and
vegetables; cattle, pigs, goats
Exports:
total value: $145 million (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: bananas, sugar, rum
partners: France 75%, Martinique 13% (1994)
Imports:
total value: $1.6 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
commodities: foodstuffs, fuels, vehicles, clothing and other consumer
goods, construction materials
partners: France 64%, EU 13%, Martinique 4%, US, Japan (1994)
Debt-external: $NA
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
note: substantial annual French subsidies
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1-6.0836 (January 1998),
5.8367 (1997), 5.1155(1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632
(1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 64,916 (1984 est.)
Telephone system: domestic facilities inadequate
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
microwave radio relay to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Martinique
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 8 (private stations licensed to
broadcast FM 30), shortwave 0
Radios: 100,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 9
Televisions: 150,000 (1993 est.)
@Guadeloupe:Transportation
Railways:
total: NA km; privately owned, narrow-gauge plantation lines
Highways:
total: 2,082 km (national 329 km, regional 582 km, community/local
1,171 km)
paved: 1,742 km
unpaved: 340 km (1985 est.)
note: in 1996 there were 3,200 km of roads
Ports and harbors: Basse-Terre, Gustavia (on Saint Barthelemy),
Marigot, Pointe-a-Pitre
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 9 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 8
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 5 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@Guadeloupe:Military
Military branches: French Forces, Gendarmerie
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of France
@Guadeloupe:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
______________________________________________________________________
GUAM
(territory of the US)
@Guam:Geography
Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about
three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 144 47 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 541.3 sq km
land: 541.3 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: three times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 125.5 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by
northeast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season
from July to December; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat
coralline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water) with steep
coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low-rising hills in
center, mountains in south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m
Natural resources: fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially
from Japan)
Land use:
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: 11%
permanent pastures: 15%
forests and woodland: 18%
other: 45% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively
rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in August)
Environment-current issues: NA
Environment-international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography-note: largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands
archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean
@Guam:People
Population: 148,060 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34% (male 25,972; female 24,097)
15-64 years: 60% (male 47,357; female 42,189)
65 years and over: 6% (male 4,244; female 4,201) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.5% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 25.04 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 4.42 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.28 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.7 years
male: 74.12 years
female: 79.44 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.58 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Guamanian(s)
adjective: Guamanian
Ethnic groups: Chamorro 47%, Filipino 25%, white 10%, Chinese,
Japanese, Korean, and other 18%
Religions: Roman Catholic 98%, other 2%
Languages: English, Chamorro, Japanese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1990 est.)
@Guam:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Guam
conventional short form: Guam
Data code: GQ
Dependency status: organized, unincorporated territory of the US with
policy relations between Guam and the US under the jurisdiction of the
Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Government type: NA
National capital: Hagatna (Agana)
Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)
Independence: none (territory of the US)
National holiday: Guam Discovery Day (first Monday in March) (1521);
Liberation Day, 21 July (1944)
Constitution: Organic Act of 1 August 1950
Legal system: modeled on US; US federal laws apply
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not vote in
US presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: President of the US William Jefferson CLINTON (since
20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January
1993)
head of government: Governor Carl GUTIERREZ (since 8 November 1994)
and Lieutenant Governor Madeleine BORDALLO (since 8 November 1994)
cabinet: executive departments; heads appointed by the governor with
the consent of the Guam legislature
elections: governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket
by popular vote and serve four-year terms; election last held 8
November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998)
election results: Carl GUTIERREZ elected governor of Guam; percent of
vote-Carl GUTIERREZ (Democrat) 54.6%, Tommy TANAKA (Republican) NA%
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature (21 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held NA November
1998)
election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by
party-Republican 11, Democratic 10
note: Guam elects one delegate to the US House of Representatives;
elections last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held NA November
1998); results-Robert UNDERWOOD was reelected as delegate; percent of
vote by party-NA; seats by party-Democrat 1
Judicial branch: Federal District Court, judge is appointed by the
president; Territorial Superior Court, judges appointed for eight-year
terms by the governor
Political parties and leaders: Republican Party (controls the
legislature); Democratic Party (party of the Governor)
International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), IOC, SPC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of the US)
Flag description: territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red
border on all four sides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed,
vertical ellipse containing a beach scene, outrigger canoe with sail,
and a palm tree with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters;
US flag is the national flag
@Guam:Economy
Economy-overview: The economy depends mainly on US military spending
and on revenue generated by the tourism industry. Over the past 20
years, the tourist industry has grown rapidly, creating a construction
boom for new hotels and the expansion of older ones. More than one
million tourists visit Guam each year. Most food and industrial goods
are imported, with about 75% from the US. Guam faces the problem of
building up the civilian economic sector to offset the impact of
military downsizing.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$3 billion (1996 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: NA%
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$19,000 (1996 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 4% (1992 est.)
Labor force:
total: 65,660 (1995)
by occupation: federal and territorial government 31%, private 69%
(trade 21%, services 33%, construction 12%, other 3%) (1995)
Unemployment rate: 2% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $524.3 million
expenditures: $361.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995)
Industries: US military, tourism, construction, transshipment
services, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing,
textiles
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: 302,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 755 million kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 4,925 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: fruits, copra, vegetables; eggs, pork, poultry,
beef
Exports:
total value: $86.1 million (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities: mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products,
construction materials, fish, food and beverage products
partners: US 25%, former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands 63%,
other 12%
Imports:
total value: $202.4 million (c.i.f., 1992)
commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured
goods
partners: US 23%, Japan 19%, other 58%
Debt-external: $NA
Economic aid:
recipient: although Guam receives no foreign aid, it does receive
large transfer payments from the general revenues of the US Federal
Treasury into which Guamanians pay no income or excise taxes; under
the provisions of a special law of Congress, the Guamanian Treasury,
rather than the US Treasury, receives federal income taxes paid by
military and civilian Federal employees stationed in Guam
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September
Communications
Telephones: 74,317 (March 1997)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean);
submarine cables to US and Japan
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 206,000 (1994)
Television broadcast stations: 3
Televisions: 97,000 (1994 est.)
@Guam:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 885 km
paved: 675 km
unpaved: 210 km
note: there is another 685 km of roads classified non-public,
including roads located on federal government installations
Ports and harbors: Apra Harbor
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 5 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@Guam:Military
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of the US
@Guam:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
______________________________________________________________________
GUATEMALA
@Guatemala:Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between
Honduras and Belize and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El
Salvador and Mexico
Geographic coordinates: 15 30 N, 90 15 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 108,890 sq km
land: 108,430 sq km
water: 460 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
total: 1,687 km
border countries: Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km,
Mexico 962 km
Coastline: 400 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; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling
limestone plateau (Peten)
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m
Natural resources: petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle
Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 24%
forests and woodland: 54%
other: 5% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,250 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional
violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other
tropical storms
Environment-current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water
pollution
Environment-international agreements:
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
Geography-note: no natural harbors on west coast
@Guatemala:People
Population: 12,007,580 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 2,629,861; female 2,522,112)
15-64 years: 54% (male 3,213,744; female 3,216,415)
65 years and over: 3% (male 199,738; female 225,710) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.71% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 36.02 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 6.96 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 47.68 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 66.04 years
male: 63.4 years
female: 68.81 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.81 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Guatemalan(s)
adjective: Guatemalan
Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish-in local Spanish
called Ladino) 56%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 44%
Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, traditional Mayan
Languages: Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 Amerindian
languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 55.6%
male: 62.5%
female: 48.6% (1995 est.)
@Guatemala:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala
conventional short form: Guatemala
local long form: Republica de Guatemala
local short form: Guatemala
Data code: GT
Government type: republic
National capital: Guatemala
Administrative divisions: 22 departments (departamentos,
singular-departamento); Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango,
Chiquimula, El Progreso, Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal,
Jalapa, Jutiapa, Peten, Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu,
Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez,
Totonicapan, Zacapa
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986
note: suspended 25 May 1993 by President SERRANO; reinstated 5 June
1993 following ouster of president
Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Alvaro Enrique ARZU Irigoyen (since 14
January 1996); Vice President Luis Alberto FLORES Asturias (since 14
January 1996); note-the president is both the chief of state and head
of government
head of government: President Alvaro Enrique ARZU Irigoyen (since 14
January 1996); Vice President Luis Alberto FLORES Asturias (since 14
January 1996); note-the president is both the chief of state and head
of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 12 November 1995; runoff held 7 January 1996 (next
to be held NA November 1999)
election results: Alvaro Enrique ARZU Irigoyen elected president;
percent of vote-Alvaro Enrique ARZU Irigoyen (PAN) 51.2%, Jorge
PORTILLO Cabrera (FRG) 48.8%
Legislative branch: unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de
la Republica (80 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held on 12 November 1995 to select 80 new congressmen
(next to be held in November 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-PAN 43,
FRG 21, FDNG 6, DCG 4, UCN 3, UD 2, MLN 1
note: on 11 November 1993 the congress approved a procedure that
reduced its number from 116 seats to 80; the procedure provided for a
special election in mid-1994 to elect an interim congress of 80
members to serve until replaced in the November 1995 general election;
the plan was approved in a general referendum in January 1994 and the
special election was held on 14 August 1994
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia);
additionally the Court of Constitutionality is presided over by the
President of the Supreme Court, judges are elected for a five-year
term by Congress
Political parties and leaders: National Centrist Union or UCN [Juan
AYERDI Aguilar]; Christian Democratic Party or DCG [Alfonso CABRERA
Hidalgo]; National Advancement Party or PAN [Raphael BARRIOS Flores];
National Liberation Movement or MLN [Mario SANDOVAL Alarcon]; Social
Democratic Party or PSD [Sergio FLORES Cruz]; Revolutionary Party or
PR [Carlos CHAVARRIA Perez]; Guatemalan Republican Front or FRG
[Efrain RIOS Montt]; Democratic Union or UD [Jose CHEA Urruela]; New
Guatemalan Democratic Front or FDNG [Rafael ARRIAGA Martinez]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Coordinating Committee of
Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations or
CACIF; Mutual Support Group or GAM; Agrarian Owners Group or UNAGRO;
Committee for Campesino Unity or CUC; Alliance Against Impunity or AAI
note: former guerrillas known as Guatemalan National Revolutionary
Union or URNG signed peace treaty with government on 29 December 1996;
URNG guerrillas formally disbanded 29-30 March 1997 and are in the
process of forming a political party of the same name
International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, CCC, ECLAC, FAO,
G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES,
LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Pedro Miguel LAMPORT Kelsall
chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 745-4952 through 4954
FAX: [1] (202) 745-1908
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York,
and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald J. PLANTY (18 July 1996)
embassy: 7-01 Avenida de la Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City
mailing address: APO AA 34024
telephone: [502] (2) 31-15-41
FAX: [502] (2) 31-88-85
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist
side), white, and light blue with the coat of arms centered in the
white band; the coat of arms includes a green and red quetzal (the
national bird) and a scroll bearing the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE
SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from Spain) all
superimposed on a pair of crossed rifles and a pair of crossed swords
and framed by a wreath
@Guatemala:Economy
Economy-overview: The agricultural sector accounts for one-fourth of
GDP and two-thirds of exports and employs more than half of the labor
force. Coffee, sugar, and bananas are the main products. Manufacturing
and construction account for one-fifth of GDP. Since assuming office
in January 1996, President ARZU has worked to implement a program of
economic liberalization and political modernization. The signing of
the Peace Accords in December 1996, which ended 36 years of civil war,
removed a major obstacle to foreign investment. In 1997, Guatemala met
its economic targets when GDP growth accelerated to 4.1% and inflation
fell to 9%. The government also increased tax revenues-historically
the lowest in Latin America-to 9% of GDP and created a new tax
administration. It also successfully placed $150 million in
dollar-denominated notes in the international markets. Debt service
costs should decline in 1998. Remaining challenges for the
administration in 1998 include completing a deal with the IMF and
stabilizing monetary policy. Throughout 1997, the Central Bank
maintained a tight money supply, helping to control inflation, but it
also caused high interest rates and led to operating losses for the
bank. Early in 1998, it relaxed its monetary policy in an effort to
correct these problems, but increased pressure on the quetzal has
prompted the bank to intervene to prop up its value.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$45.8 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 4.1% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$4,000 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 24%
industry: 21%
services: 55% (1997 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 9% (1997 est.)
Labor force:
total: 3.32 million (1997 est.)
by occupation: agriculture 58%, services 14%, manufacturing 14%,
commerce 7%, construction 4%, transport 2.6%, utilities 0.3%, mining
0.1% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 5.2% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA
Industries: sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals,
petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 1.9% (1996)
Electricity-capacity: 766,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 3.1 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 282 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans,
cardamom; cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens
Exports:
total value: $2.9 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
commodities: coffee, sugar, bananas, cardamom, petroleum
partners: US 37%, El Salvador 13%, Honduras 7%, Costa Rica 5%, Germany
5%
Imports:
total value: $3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.)
commodities: fuel and petroleum products, machinery, grain,
fertilizers, motor vehicles
partners: US 44%, Mexico 10%, Venezuela 4.6%, Japan, Germany
Debt-external: $3.38 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $274 million (1994)
Currency: 1 quetzal (Q) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: free market quetzales (Q) per US$1-6.2580 (January
1998), 6.0653 (1997), 6.0495 (1996), 5.8103 (1995), 5.7512 (1994),
5.6354 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 210,000 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: fairly modern network centered in the city of
Guatemala
domestic: NA
international: connected to Central American Microwave System;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 91, FM 0, shortwave 15
Radios: 400,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 25
Televisions: 475,000 (1993 est.)
@Guatemala:Transportation
Railways:
total: 884 km (102 km privately owned)
narrow gauge: 884 km 0.914-m gauge (single track)
Highways:
total: 13,100 km
paved: 3,616 km (including 140 km of expressways)
unpaved: 9,484 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable
during high-water season
Pipelines: crude oil 275 km
Ports and harbors: Champerico, Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, San
Jose, Santo Tomas de Castilla
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 479 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 12
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 2 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 467
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 124
under 914 m: 333 (1997 est.)
@Guatemala:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability:
males age 15-49: 2,827,992 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service:
males: 1,846,963 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually:
males: 132,208 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $132.9 million (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 0.66% (1998 est.)
@Guatemala:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: border with Belize in dispute; talks to
resolve the dispute are ongoing
Illicit drugs: transit country for cocaine shipments; illicit producer
of opium poppy and cannabis for the international drug trade; active
eradication program of cannabis and opium poppy
______________________________________________________________________
GUERNSEY
(British crown dependency)
@Guernsey:Geography
Location: Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of
France
Geographic coordinates: 49 28 N, 2 35 W
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 194 sq km
land: 194 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller
islands
Area-comparative: slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 50 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of
days are overcast
Terrain: mostly level with low hills in southwest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Sark 114 m
Natural resources: cropland
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: NA
Environment-international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography-note: large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port
@Guernsey:People
Population: 64,555 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 5,856; female 5,721)
15-64 years: 67% (male 21,094; female 21,939)
65 years and over: 15% (male 4,001; female 5,944) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.28% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 13.91 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 9.53 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 8.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.67 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.55 years
male: 75.61 years
female: 81.6 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.68 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Channel Islander(s)
adjective: Channel Islander
Ethnic groups: UK and Norman-French descent
Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist,
Congregational, Methodist
Languages: English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country
districts
Literacy: NA
@Guernsey:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey
conventional short form: Guernsey
Data code: GK
Dependency status: British crown dependency
Government type: NA
National capital: Saint Peter Port
Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency)
Independence: none (British crown dependency)
National holiday: Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and
practice
Legal system: English law and local statute; justice is administered
by the Royal Court
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief
Vice-Admiral Sir John COWARD (since NA 1994) and Bailiff Mr. Graham
Martyn DOREY (since February 1992)
cabinet: Advisory and Finance Committee (other committees) appointed
by the Assembly of the States
elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; lieutenant
governor appointed by the queen; bailiff appointed by the queen
Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the States (60 seats, 33
popularly elected; members serve six-year terms)
elections: last held 20 April 1994 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: percent of vote-NA; seats-all independents
Judicial branch: Royal Court
Political parties and leaders: none; all independents
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (British crown dependency)
Flag description: white with the red cross of Saint George (patron
saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag
@Guernsey:Economy
Economy-overview: Financial services account for about 55% of total
income. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and
cut flowers, have been declining. Bank profits (1992) registered a
record 26% growth. Fund management and insurance are the two other
major income generators. Light tax and death duties make the island a
popular tax-haven.
GDP: $NA
GDP-real growth rate: NA%
GDP-per capita: $NA
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 7% (1988)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: 3%-4% (1994 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $277.9 million
expenditures: $248.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995 est.)
Industries: tourism, banking
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: NA kW
Electricity-production: NA kWh
Electricity-consumption per capita: NA kWh
Agriculture-products: tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers,
eggplant, other vegetables, fruit; Guernsey cattle
Exports: $NA
commodities: tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant,
other vegetables
partners: UK (regarded as internal trade)
Imports: $NA
commodities: coal, gasoline, oil, machinery and equipment
partners: UK (regarded as internal trade)
Debt-external: $NA
Economic aid: none
Currency: 1 Guernsey (ŁG) pound = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Guernsey pounds (ŁG) per US$1-0.6115 (January 1998),
0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658
(1993); note - the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 41,850 (1983 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: 1 submarine cable
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: NA
@Guernsey:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 2 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@Guernsey:Military
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
@Guernsey:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
______________________________________________________________________
GUINEA
@Guinea:Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone
Geographic coordinates: 11 00 N, 10 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 245,860 sq km
land: 245,860 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
total: 3,399 km
border countries: Guinea-Bissau 386 km, Cote d'Ivoire 610 km, Liberia
563 km, Mali 858 km, Senegal 330 km, Sierra Leone 652 km
Coastline: 320 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to
November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with
northeasterly harmattan winds
Terrain: generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m
Natural resources: bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium,
hydropower, fish
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 22%
forests and woodland: 59%
other: 17% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 930 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility
during dry season
Environment-current issues: deforestation; inadequate supplies of
potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion;
overfishing, overpopulation in forest region
Environment-international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Guinea:People
Population: 7,477,110 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44% (male 1,634,344; female 1,644,863)
15-64 years: 53% (male 1,952,442; female 2,044,363)
65 years and over: 3% (male 83,616; female 117,482) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.83% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 41.28 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 17.76 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -15.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
note: in prior years Guinea received several hundred thousand refugees
from the civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone, some of whom are now
returning to their own countries
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 128.92 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 46.01 years
male: 43.58 years
female: 48.52 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.59 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Guinean(s)
adjective: Guinean
Ethnic groups: Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller tribes 10%
Religions: Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%
Languages: French (official), each tribe has its own language
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 35.9%
male: 49.9%
female: 21.9% (1995 est.)
@Guinea:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Guinea
conventional short form: Guinea
local long form: Republique de Guinee
local short form: Guinee
former: French Guinea
Data code: GV
Government type: republic
National capital: Conakry
Administrative divisions: 33 prefectures (prefectures,
singular-prefecture) and 1 national capital* (capitale d'etat); Beyla,
Boffa, Boke, Conakry*, Coyah, Dabola, Dalaba, Dinguiraye, Dubreka,
Faranah, Forecariah, Fria, Gaoual, Gueckedou, Kankan, Kerouane,
Kindia, Kissidougou, Koubia, Koundara, Kouroussa, Labe, Lelouma, Lola,
Macenta, Mali, Mamou, Mandiana, Nzerekore, Pita, Siguiri, Telimele,
Tougue, Yomou
note: the 33 prefectures may have been reorganized into four new
first-order administrative divisions called administrative regions
(regions administrative, singular-region administrative) named
Guinee-Forestiere, Guinee-Maritime, Haute-Guinee, and Moyenne-Guinee
Independence: 2 October 1958 (from France)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Second Republic, 3 April (1984)
Constitution: 23 December 1990 (Loi Fundamentale)
Legal system: based on French civil law system, customary law, and
decree; legal codes currently being revised; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lansana CONTE (head of military government
since 5 April 1984, elected president 19 December 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Sidya TOURE (since July 1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast to be elected
president; election last held 19 December 1993 (next to be held NA
December 1998); the prime minister was appointed by President CONTE
election results: Lansana CONTE elected president; percent of
vote-Lansana CONTE (PUP) 51.7%, Alpha CONDE (RPG) 19.55%, Mamadou Boye
BA (UNR) 13.37%, Siradiou DIALLO (PRP) 11.86%; note-the country's
first-ever multi-party elections for president
Legislative branch: unicameral People's National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale Populaire (114 seats; members are elected by direct popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 11 June 1995 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-PUP 71,
RPG 19, PRP 9, UNR 9, UPG 2, PDG 1, UNP 1, PDG-RDA 1, other 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: political parties were legalized on 1
April 1992; of the more than 40 with legal status, the following won
seats in the legislature in the 11 June 1995 elections
other: Democratic Party of Guinea-African Democratic Rally or PDG-RDA
[El Hadj Ismael Mohamed Gassim GUSHEIN]; Democratic Party of Guinea or
PDG-AST [Marcel CROS]; National Union for the Prosperity of Guinea or
UNPG [Lt. Col. Facine TOURE]; Party for Renewal and Progress or PRP
[Siradiou DIALLO]
pro-government: Party for Unity and Progress or PUP [Gen. Lansana
CONTE]
other: Rally for the Guinean People or RPG [Alpha CONDE]; Union for
Progress of Guinea or UPG [Jean-Marie DORE, secretary-general]; Union
for a New Republic or UNR [Mamadou Boye BA']
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU,
MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Aly THIAM
chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-9420
FAX: [1] (202) 483-8688
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tibor P. NAGY, Jr. (5 July 1996)
embassy: Rue Ka 038, Conakry
mailing address: B. P. 603, Conakry
telephone: [224] 41 15 20, 41 15 21, 41 15 23
FAX: [224] 41 15 22
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side),
yellow, and green; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia;
similar to the flag of Rwanda, which has a large black letter R
centered in the yellow band
@Guinea:Economy
Economy-overview: Although possessing major mineral, hydropower, and
agricultural resources, Guinea remains one of the poorest countries in
the world. The agricultural sector employs 80% of the work force.
Guinea possesses over 25% of the world's bauxite reserves and is the
second largest bauxite producer. The mining sector accounted for about
75% of exports in 1995. Long-run improvements in government fiscal
arrangements, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if the
country is to move out of poverty. The government made encouraging
progress in budget management in 1997. Except in the mining industry,
foreign investment remains minimal.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$8.3 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 4.8% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$1,100 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 24%
industry: 31%
services: 45% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 3.5% (1996 est.)
Labor force:
total: 2.4 million (1983)
by occupation: agriculture 80.0%, industry and commerce 11.0%,
services 5.4%, civil service 3.6%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $553 million
expenditures: $652 million, including capital expenditures of $317
million (1995 est.)
Industries: bauxite, gold, diamonds; alumina refining; light
manufacturing and agricultural processing industries
Industrial production growth rate: 3.2% (1994)
Electricity-capacity: 176,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 500 million kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 76 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava
(tapioca), bananas, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber
Exports:
total value: $748 million (1995 est.)
commodities: bauxite, alumina, diamonds, gold, coffee, fish,
agricultural products
partners: US 21%, Belgium-Luxembourg 21%, Ireland 15%, Spain 15%
(1995)
Imports:
total value: $809 million (1995 est.)
commodities: petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport
equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs
partners: France 35%, Cote d'Ivoire 31%, US 14%, Belgium-Luxembourg
10%, Hong Kong 10% (1995)
Debt-external: $3 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Guinean franc (FG) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Guinean francs (FG) per US$1-1,004.0 (January 1997),
1,004.0 (1997), 991.4 (1995), 976.6 (1994), 955.5 (1993), 902.0 (1992)
note: the official exchange rate of the Guinean franc was set and
quoted weekly against the US dollar until the end of October 1993;
since 1 November 1994, the exchange rate is determined in the
interbank market for foreign exchange
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 18,000 (1994 est.)
Telephone system: poor to fair system of open-wire lines, small
radiotelephone communication stations, and new microwave radio relay
system
domestic: microwave radio relay and radiotelephone communication
international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 257,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: 65,000 (1993 est.)
@Guinea:Transportation
Railways:
total: 1,086 km
standard gauge: 279 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 807 km 1.000-m gauge (includes 662 km in common carrier
service from Kankan to Conakry)
Highways:
total: 30,500 km
paved: 5,033 km
unpaved: 25,467 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,295 km navigable by shallow-draft native craft
Ports and harbors: Boke, Conakry, Kamsar
Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,722 GRT/6,226 DWT
(1997 est.)
Airports: 15 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@Guinea:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (acts primarily as a coast guard), Air
Force, Republican Guard, Presidential Guard, paramilitary National
Gendarmerie, National Police Force (Surete National)
Military manpower-availability:
males age 15-49: 1,706,395 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service:
males: 861,036 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $50 million (1994)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 1.6% (1994)
@Guinea:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
______________________________________________________________________
GUINEA-BISSAU
@Guinea-Bissau:Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Guinea and Senegal
Geographic coordinates: 12 00 N, 15 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 36,120 sq km
land: 28,000 sq km
water: 8,120 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly less than three times the size of
Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total: 724 km
border countries: Guinea 386 km, Senegal 338 km
Coastline: 350 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy
season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season
(December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
Terrain: mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location in the northeast corner of the country
300 m
Natural resources: fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, unexploited
deposits of petroleum
Land use:
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 38%
forests and woodland: 38%
other: 12% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 17 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility
during dry season; brush fires
Environment-current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing;
overfishing
Environment-international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Guinea-Bissau:People
Population: 1,206,311 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42% (male 256,315; female 255,208)
15-64 years: 55% (male 313,270; female 347,431)
65 years and over: 3% (male 15,986; female 18,101) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.32% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 38.67 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 15.48 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 111.61 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 49.14 years
male: 47.47 years
female: 50.85 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.17 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Guinean (s)
adjective: Guinean
Ethnic groups: African 99% (Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%,
Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1%
Religions: indigenous beliefs 50%, Muslim 45%, Christian 5%
Languages: Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 53.9%
male: 67.1%
female: 40.7% (1997 est.)
@Guinea-Bissau:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Guinea-Bissau
conventional short form: Guinea-Bissau
local long form: Republica da Guine-Bissau
local short form: Guine-Bissau
former: Portuguese Guinea
Data code: PU
Government type: republic, multiparty since mid-1991
National capital: Bissau
Administrative divisions: 9 regions (regioes, singular-regiao);
Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali
note: Bolama is reported to be renamed Bolama/Bijagos
Independence: 24 September 1973 (unilaterally declared by
Guinea-Bissau); 10 September 1974 (recognized by Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 24 September (1973)
Constitution: 16 May 1984, amended 4 May 1991, 4 December 1991, 26
February 1993, 9 June 1993 and 1996
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Joao Bernardo VIEIRA (initially assumed
power 14 November 1980 in a coup d'etat)
head of government: Prime Minister Carlos CORREIA (since 30 May 1997)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on advice of
the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 3 July and 7 August 1994 (next to be held July
1999); prime minister appointed by the president after consultation
with party leaders in the legislature
election results: Joao Bernardo VIEIRA elected president; percent of
vote-Joao Bernardo VIEIRA 52%, Koumba YALLA 48%
Legislative branch: unicameral National People's Assembly or
Assembleia Nacional Popular (100 seats; members are popularly elected
to serve a maximum of four years)
elections: last held 3 July and 7 August 1994 (next to be held by NA
1998; the president determines the date for each legislature election,
which must be held within four years of the last election)
election results: percent of vote by party-PAIGC 46.0%, RGB-MB 19.2%,
PRS 10.3%, UM 12.8%, FLING 2.5%, PCD 5.3%, PUSD 2.9%, FCG 0.2%, others
0.8%; seats by party - PAIGC 62, RGB 19, PRS 12, UM 6, FLING 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal da Justica,
consists of 9 justices who are appointed by the president and serve at
his pleasure, final court of appeals in criminal and civil cases;
Regional Courts, supposed to be one in each of nine regions, first
court of appeals for sectoral court decisions, hear all felony cases
and civil cases valued at over $1,000; Sectoral Courts, supposed to be
24 of them, judges are not necessarily trained lawyers, hear civil
cases under $1,000 and misdemeanor criminal cases
Political parties and leaders: African Party for the Independence of
Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde or PAIGC [Manuel Saturnino da COSTA,
secretary general]; Front for the Liberation and Independence of
Guinea or FLING [Jose Katengul M. ENDES]; Guinea-Bissau Resistance-Ba
Fata Movement or RGB-MB [Domingos FERNANDES Gomes]; Guinean Civic
Forum or FCG [Antonieta Rosa GOMES]; International League for
Ecological Protection or LIPE [Alhaje Bubacar DJALO, president];
National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Abubacer BALDE,
secretary general]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Victor
MANDINGA]; Social Renovation Party or PRS [Koumba YALLA, leader];
Union for Change or UM [Jorge MANDINGA, president and Dr. Anne SAAD
secretary general]; United Social Democratic Party or PUSD [Victor
Sau'de MARIA]
International organization participation: ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB,
ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ITU, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mario LOPEZ DA ROSA
chancery: Suite 519, 1511K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 347-3950
FAX: [1] (202) 347-3954
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Peggy BLACKFORD
embassy: 1 Rua Ulysses S. Grant, Bairro de Penha, Bissau
mailing address: C.P. 297, 1067 Codex, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
telephone: [245] 252273, 252274, 252275, 252276
FAX: [245] 252282
Flag description: 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
@Guinea-Bissau:Economy
Economy-overview: One of the 20 poorest countries in the world,
Guinea-Bissau depends mainly on farming and fishing. Cashew crops have
increased remarkably in recent years, and the country now ranks sixth
in cashew production. Guinea-Bissau exports fish and seafood along
with small amounts of peanuts, palm kernels, and timber. Rice is the
major crop and staple food. Trade reform and price liberalization are
the most successful part of the country's structural adjustment
program under IMF sponsorship. The tightening of monetary policy and
the development of the private sector have begun to reinvigorate the
economy. Inflation dropped sharply in the first quarter of 1997.
Membership in the WAMU (West African Monetary Union), begun in May
1997, should help support 5% annual growth and contribute to fiscal
discipline. Because of high costs, the development of petroleum,
phosphate, and other mineral resources is not a near-term prospect.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$1.15 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 5% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$975 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 45%
industry: 18%
services: 37% (1997 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 65% (1996)
Labor force: 480,000
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: $NA
Industries: agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks
Industrial production growth rate: 2.6% (1997 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 11,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 45 million kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 40 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: rice, corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), cashew
nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, cotton; fishing and forest potential not
fully exploited
Exports:
total value: $25.8 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities: cashews 95%, fish, peanuts, palm kernels, sawn lumber
(1994)
partners: Spain 35%, India 30%, Thailand 10%, Italy 10% (1995)
Imports:
total value: $63 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities: foodstuffs, transport equipment, petroleum products,
machinery and equipment (1994)
partners: Thailand 27%, Portugal 23%, Japan 6%, Cote d'Ivoire 7%
(1995)
Debt-external: $953 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes; note - on 1 May 1997, Guinea-Bissau adopted as its currency
the CFA franc following its membership into the BCEAO
Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1-608.36 (January 1998),
583.67 (1997); Guinea-Bissauan pesos (PG) per US$1-26,373 (1996),
18,073 (1995), 12,892 (1994), 10,082 (1993)
note: as of 2 May 1997, Guinea-Bissau has adopted the CFA franc as the
national currency following its membership in BCEAO
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 13,120 (1997 est.)
Telephone system: small system; only 11 telephones per 1,000 persons
domestic: combination of microwave radio relay, open-wire lines,
radiotelephone, and cellular communications
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 40,000 (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2
Televisions: NA
@Guinea-Bissau:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 4,400 km
paved: 453 km
unpaved: 3,947 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: several rivers are accessible to coastal shipping
Ports and harbors: Bissau, Buba, Cacheu, and Farim
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 30 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 22 (1997 est.)
@Guinea-Bissau:Military
Military branches: People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP; includes
Army, Navy, and Air Force), paramilitary force
Military manpower-availability:
males age 15-49: 276,417 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service:
males: 157,674 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $9 million (1994)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 4.5% (1994)
@Guinea-Bissau:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
______________________________________________________________________
GUYANA
@Guyana:Geography
Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Suriname and Venezuela
Geographic coordinates: 5 00 N, 59 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:
total: 214,970 sq km
land: 196,850 sq km
water: 18,120 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Idaho
Land boundaries:
total: 2,462 km
border countries: Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 km
Coastline: 459 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental
margin
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
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
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Roraima 2,835 m
Natural resources: bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp,
fish
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 6%
forests and woodland: 84%
other: 8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,300 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: flash floods are a constant threat during rainy
seasons
Environment-current issues: water pollution from sewage and
agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation
Environment-international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Guyana:People
Population: 707,954 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31% (male 112,339; female 108,095)
15-64 years: 64% (male 228,719; female 226,309)
65 years and over: 5% (male 14,652; female 17,840) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.47% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 18.49 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 8.72 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
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