Chapter XXII: Part 22

Population:
1,574,927 (July 1992), growth rate 3.5% (1992)
Birth rate:
45 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
9 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
66 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
58 years male, 63 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
6.5 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Namibian(s); adjective - Namibian
Ethnic divisions:
black 86%, white 6.6%, mixed 7.4%; about 50% of the population belong to the
Ovambo tribe and 9% from the Kavangos tribe
Religions:
predominantly Christian
Languages:
English is official language; Afrikaans is common language of most of
population and about 60% of white population, German 32%, English 7%;
several indigenous languages
Literacy:
38% (male 45%, female 31%) age 15 and over can read and write (1960)
Labor force:
500,000; agriculture 60%, industry and commerce 19%, services 8%, government
7%, mining 6% (1981 est.)
Organized labor:
20 trade unions representing about 90,000 workers

:Namibia Government

Long-form name:
Republic of Namibia
Type:
republic
Capital:
Windhoek
Administrative divisions:
the former administrative structure of 26 districts has been abolished and
14 temporary regions are still being determined; note - the 26 districts
were Bethanien, Boesmanland, Caprivi Oos, Damaraland, Gobabis, Grootfontein,
Hereroland Oos, Hereroland Wes, Kaokoland, Karasburg, Karibib, Kavango,
Keetmanshoop, Luderitz, Maltahohe, Mariental, Namaland, Okahandja, Omaruru,
Otjiwarongo, Outjo, Owambo, Rehoboth, Swakopmund, Tsumeb, Windhoek
Independence:
21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
Constitution:
ratified 9 February 1990
Legal system:
based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution
National holiday:
Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
Executive branch:
president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
bicameral; House of Review (upper house, to be established with elections in
late 1992 by planned new regional authorities); National Assembly (lower
house elected by universal suffrage)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990)
Political parties and leaders:
South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), Sam NUJOMA; Democratic
Turnhalle Alliance (DTA), Dirk MUDGE; United Democratic Front (UDF), Justus
GAROEB; Action Christian National (ACN), Kosie PRETORIUS; National Patriotic
Front (NPF), Moses KATJIUONGUA; Federal Convention of Namibia (FCN), Hans
DIERGAARDT; Namibia National Front (NNF), Vekuii RUKORO
Suffrage:
universal at age 18
Elections:
President:
last held 16 February 1990 (next to be held March 1995); results - Sam
NUJOMA was elected president by the Constituent Assembly (now the National
Assembly)
National Assembly:
last held on 7-11 November 1989 (next to be held by November 1994); results
- percent of vote by party NA; seats - (72 total) SWAPO 41, DTA 21, UDF 4,
ACN 3, NNF 1, FCN 1, NPF 1
Other political or pressure groups:
NA
Member of:
ACP, AfDB, CECA (associate), ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ILO,
IMF, ITU, NAM, SACU, SADCC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, WCL, WFTU, WHO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Tuliameni KALOMOH; Chancery at 1605 New Hampshire Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20009 (mailing address is PO Box 34738, Washington, DC
20043); telephone (202) 986-0540

:Namibia Government

US:
Ambassador Genta Hawkins HOLMES; Embassy at Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen St.,
Windhoek (mailing address is P. O. Box 9890, Windhoek 9000, Namibia);
telephone [264] (61) 221-601, 222-675, 222-680; FAX [264] (61) 229-792
Flag:
a large blue triangle with a yellow sunburst fills the upper left section,
and an equal green triangle (solid) fills the lower right section; the
triangles are separated by a red stripe that is contrasted by two narrow
white-edge borders

:Namibia Economy

Overview:
The economy is heavily dependent on the mining industry to extract and
process minerals for export. Mining accounts for almost 25% of GDP. Namibia
is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals in Africa and the world's
fifth-largest producer of uranium. Alluvial diamond deposits are among the
richest in the world, making Namibia a primary source for gem-quality
diamonds. Namibia also produces large quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver,
and tungsten, and it has substantial resources of coal. More than half the
population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence agriculture) for its
livelihood.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $2 billion, per capita $1,400; real growth rate
5.1% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
17% (1991 - Windhoek)
Unemployment rate:
over 25% (1991)
Budget:
revenues $864 million; expenditures $1,112 million, including capital
expenditures of $144 million (FY 92)
Exports:
$1,021 million (f.o.b., 1989)
commodities:
uranium, diamonds, zinc, copper, cattle, processed fish, karakul skins
partners:
Switzerland, South Africa, FRG, Japan
Imports:
$894 million (f.o.b., 1989)
commodities:
foodstuffs, petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment
partners:
South Africa, FRG, US, Switzerland
External debt:
about $250 million; under a 1971 International Court of Justice (ICJ)
ruling, Namibia may not be liable for debt incurred during its colonial
period
Industrial production:
growth rate - 6% (1990 est.); accounts for 35% of GDP, including mining
Electricity:
490,000 kW capacity; 1,290 million kWh produced, 850 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products, mining (copper, lead, zinc,
diamond, uranium)
Agriculture:
mostly subsistence farming; livestock raising major source of cash income;
crops - millet, sorghum, peanuts; fish catch potential of over 1 million
metric tons not being fulfilled, 1988 catch reaching only 384,000 metric
tons; not self-sufficient in food
Economic aid:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87),
$47.2 million
Currency:
South African rand (plural - rand); 1 South African rand (R) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
South African rand (R) per US$1 - 2.8809 (March 1992), 2.7653 (1991), 2.5863
(1990), 2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988), 2.0350 (1987), 2.2685 (1986)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

:Namibia Communications

Railroads:
2,341 km 1.067-meter gauge, single track
Highways:
54,500 km; 4,079 km paved, 2,540 km gravel, 47,881 km earth roads and tracks
Ports:
Luderitz; primary maritime outlet is Walvis Bay (South Africa)
Civil air:
NA major transport aircraft
Airports:
137 total, 112 usable; 21 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways
over 3,659 m; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 63 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
good urban, fair rural services; radio relay connects major towns, wires
extend to other population centers; 62,800 telephones; broadcast stations -
4 AM, 40 FM, 3 TV

:Namibia Defense Forces

Branches:
National Defense Force (Army), Police
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, 320,277; 189,997 fit for military service
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $66 million, 3.4% of GDP (FY 92)

:Nauru Geography

Total area:
21 km2
Land area:
21 km2
Comparative area:
about one-tenth the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
none
Coastline:
30 km
Maritime claims:
Exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
Territorial sea:
12 nm
Disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; monsoonal; rainy season (November to February)
Terrain:
sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs with phosphate
plateau in center
Natural resources:
phosphates
Land use:
arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and
woodland 0%; other 100%
Environment:
only 53 km south of Equator
Note:
located 500 km north-northeast of Papua New Guinea, Nauru is one of the
three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are
Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Makatea in French Polynesia

:Nauru People

Population:
9,460 (July 1992), growth rate 1.3% (1992)
Birth rate:
18 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
5 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
41 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
64 years male, 69 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
2.1 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Nauruan(s); adjective - Nauruan
Ethnic divisions:
Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%, Chinese 8%, European 8%
Religions:
Christian (two-thirds Protestant, one-third Roman Catholic)
Languages:
Nauruan, a distinct Pacific Island language (official); English widely
understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial purposes
Literacy:
NA% (male NA%, female NA%)
Labor force:
NA
Organized labor:
NA

:Nauru Government

Long-form name:
Republic of Nauru
Type:
republic
Capital:
no capital city as such; government offices in Yaren District
Administrative divisions:
14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare, Baiti, Boe, Buada, Denigomodu,
Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren
Independence:
31 January 1968 (from UN trusteeship under Australia, New Zealand, and UK);
formerly Pleasant Island
Constitution:
29 January 1968
Legal system:
own Acts of Parliament and British common law
National holiday:
Independence Day, 31 January (1968)
Executive branch:
president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
President Bernard DOWIYOGO (since 12 December 1989)
Political parties and leaders:
none
Suffrage:
universal and compulsory at age 20
Elections:
President:
last held 9 December 1989 (next to be held December 1992); results - Bernard
DOWIYOGO elected by Parliament
Parliament:
last held on 9 December 1989 (next to be held December 1992); results -
percent of vote NA; seats - (18 total) independents 18
Member of:
C (special), ESCAP, ICAO, INTERPOL, ITU, SPC, SPF, UPU
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador-designate Theodore Conrad MOSES resident in Melbourne
(Australia); there is a Nauruan Consulate in Agana (Guam)
US:
the US Ambassador to Australia is accredited to Nauru
Flag:
blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe across the center and a large
white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side; the star indicates
the country's location in relation to the Equator (the yellow stripe) and
the 12 points symbolize the 12 original tribes of Nauru

:Nauru Economy

Overview:
Revenues come from the export of phosphates, the reserves of which are
expected to be exhausted by the year 2000. Phosphates have given Nauruans
one of the highest per capita incomes in the Third World - $10,000 annually.
Few other resources exist, so most necessities must be imported, including
fresh water from Australia. The rehabilitation of mined land and the
replacement of income from phosphates are serious long-term problems.
Substantial amounts of phosphate income are invested in trust funds to help
cushion the transition.
GNP:
exchange rate conversion - over $90 million, per capita $10,000; real growth
rate NA% (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Unemployment rate:
0%
Budget:
revenues $69.7 million; expenditures $51.5 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (FY86 est.)
Exports:
$93 million (f.o.b., 1984)
commodities:
phosphates
partners:
Australia, NZ
Imports:
$73 million (c.i.f., 1984)
commodities:
food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery
partners:
Australia, UK, NZ, Japan
External debt:
$33.3 million
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
14,000 kW capacity; 50 million kWh produced, 5,430 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
phosphate mining, financial services, coconuts
Agriculture:
negligible; almost completely dependent on imports for food and water
Economic aid:
Western (non-US) countries (1970-89), $2 million
Currency:
Australian dollar (plural - dollars); 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3177 (March 1992), 1.2834 (1991),
1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

:Nauru Communications

Railroads:
3.9 km; used to haul phosphates from the center of the island to processing
facilities on the southwest coast
Highways:
about 27 km total; 21 km paved, 6 km improved earth
Ports:
Nauru
Merchant marine:
1 bulk ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,426 GRT/5,750 DWT
Civil air:
3 major transport aircraft, one on order
Airports:
1 with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
adequate local and international radio communications provided via
Australian facilities; 1,600 telephones; 4,000 radios; broadcast stations -
1 AM, no FM, no TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

:Nauru Defense Forces

Branches:
no regular armed forces; Directorate of the Nauru Police Force
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, NA; NA fit for military service
Defense expenditures:
$NA - no formal defense structure

:Navassa Island Geography

Total area:
5.2 km2
Land area:
5.2 km2
Comparative area:
about nine times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
none
Coastline:
8 km
Maritime claims:
Contiguous zone:
12 nm
Continental shelf:
200 m (depth)
Exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
Territorial sea:
12 nm
Disputes:
claimed by Haiti
Climate:
marine, tropical
Terrain:
raised coral and limestone plateau, flat to undulating; ringed by vertical
white cliffs (9 to 15 meters high)
Natural resources:
guano
Land use:
arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 10%; forest and
woodland 0%; other 90%
Environment:
mostly exposed rock, but enough grassland to support goat herds; dense
stands of fig-like trees, scattered cactus
Note:
strategic location between Cuba, Haiti, and Jamaica in the Caribbean Sea;
160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo, Cuba

:Navassa Island People

Population:
uninhabited; transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the island

:Navassa Island Government

Long-form name:
none (territory of the US)
Type:
unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Coast Guard
Capital:
none; administered from Washington, DC

:Navassa Island Economy

Overview:
no economic activity

:Navassa Island Communications

Ports:
none; offshore anchorage only

:Navassa Island Defense Forces

Note:
defense is the responsibility of the US

:Nepal Geography

Total area:
140,800 km2
Land area:
136,800 km2
Comparative area:
slightly larger than Arkansas
Land boundaries:
2,926 km total; China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km
Coastline:
none - landlocked
Maritime claims:
none - landlocked
Disputes:
none
Climate:
varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers
and mild winters in south
Terrain:
Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region,
rugged Himalayas in north
Natural resources:
quartz, water, timber, hydroelectric potential, scenic beauty; small
deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
Land use:
arable land 17%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 13%; forest and
woodland 33%; other 37%; includes irrigated 2%
Environment:
contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks; deforestation; soil erosion;
water pollution
Note:
landlocked; strategic location between China and India

:Nepal People

Population:
20,086,455 (July 1992), growth rate 2.4% (1992)
Birth rate:
38 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
14 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
90 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
51 years male, 51 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
5.4 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Nepalese (singular and plural); adjective - Nepalese
Ethnic divisions:
Newars, Indians, Tibetans, Gurungs, Magars, Tamangs, Bhotias, Rais, Limbus,
Sherpas, as well as many smaller groups
Religions:
only official Hindu state in world, although no sharp distinction between
many Hindu (about 90% of population) and Buddhist groups (about 5% of
population); Muslims 3%, other 2% (1981)
Languages:
Nepali (official); 20 languages divided into numerous dialects
Literacy:
26% (male 38%, female 13%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Labor force:
8,500,000 (1991 est.); agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry 2%; severe
lack of skilled labor
Organized labor:
Teachers' Union and many other nonofficially recognized unions

:Nepal Government

Long-form name:
Kingdom of Nepal
Type:
parliamentary democracy as of 12 May 1991
Capital:
Kathmandu
Administrative divisions:
14 zones (anchal, singular and plural); Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri,
Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi, Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti,
Sagarmatha, Seti
Independence:
1768, unified by Prithyi Narayan Shah
Constitution:
9 November 1990
Legal system:
based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Birthday of His Majesty the King, 28 December (1945)
Executive branch:
monarch, prime minister, Council of Ministers
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or National Council and a
lower house or House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Sarbochha Adalat)
Leaders:
Chief of State:
King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev (since 31 January 1972, crowned King 24
February 1985); Heir Apparent Crown Prince DIPENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev, son
of the King (born 21 June 1971)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Girija Prasad KOIRALA (since 29 May 1991)
Political parties and leaders:
ruling party:
Nepali Congress Party (NCP), Girija Prasad KOIRALA, Ganesh Man SINGH,
Krishna Prasad BHATTARAI
center:
the NDP has two factions: National Democratic Party/Chand (NDP/Chand),
Lokinra Bahadur CHAND, and National Democratic Party/Thapa (NDP/Thapa),
Surya Bahadur THAPA - the two factions announced a merger in late 1991;
Terai Rights Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party, G. N. Naryan SINGH
Communist:
Communist Party of Nepal/United Marxist and Leninist (CPN/UML), Man Mohan
ADIKHARY; United People's Front (UPF), N. K. PRASAI, Lila Mani POKHAREL;
Nepal Workers and Peasants Party, leader NA; Rohit Party, N. M. BIJUKCHHE;
Democratic Party, leader NA
Suffrage:
universal at age 18
Elections:
House of Representatives:
last held on 12 May 1991 (next to be held May 1996); results - NCP 38%,
CPN/UML 28%, NDP/Chand 6%, UPF 5%, NDP/Thapa 5%, Terai Rights Sadbhavana
Party 4%, Rohit 2%, CPN (Democratic) 1%, independents 4%, other 7%; seats -
(205 total) NCP 110, CPN/UML 69, UPF 9, Terai Rights Sadbhavana Party 6,
NDP/Chand 3, Rohit 2, CPN (Democratic) 2, NDP/Thapa 1, independents 3; note
- the new Constitution of 9 November 1990 gives Nepal a multiparty democracy
system for the first time in 32 years

:Nepal Government

Communists:
Communist Party of Nepal (CPN)
Other political or pressure groups:
numerous small, left-leaning student groups in the capital; several small,
radical Nepalese antimonarchist groups
Member of:
AsDB, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNIFIL, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Yog Prasad UPADHYAYA; Chancery at 2131 Leroy Place NW,
Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 667-4550; there is a Nepalese
Consulate General in New York
US:
Ambassador Julia Chang BLOCH; Embassy at Pani Pokhari, Kathmandu; telephone
[977] (1) 411179 or 412718, 411604, 411613, 413890; FAX [977] (1) 419963
Flag:
red with a blue border around the unique shape of two overlapping right
triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylized moon and the
larger, lower triangle bears a white 12-pointed sun

:Nepal Economy

Overview:
Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world.
Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for over
90% of the population and accounting for 60% of GDP. Industrial activity is
limited, mainly involving the processing of agricultural produce (jute,
sugarcane, tobacco, and grain). Production of textiles and carpets has
expanded recently and accounted for 87% of foreign exchange earnings in
FY89. Apart from agricultural land and forests, the only other exploitable
natural resources are mica, hydropower, and tourism. Agricultural production
in the late 1980s grew by about 5%, as compared with annual population
growth of 2.6%. Forty percent or more of the population is undernourished
partly because of poor distribution. Since May 1991, the government has been
encouraging privatization and foreign investment. It has introduced policies
to eliminate many business licenses and registration requirements in order
to simplify domestic and foreign investment procedures. Economic prospects
for the 1990s remain poor because the economy starts from such a low base.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $3.2 billion, per capita $165; real growth rate
3.5% (FY91)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15.0% (December 1991)
Unemployment rate:
5%; underemployment estimated at 25-40% (1987)
Budget:
revenues $294.0 million; expenditures $624.0 million, including capital
expenditures of $396 (FY92 est.)
Exports:
$180 million (f.o.b., FY91) but does not include unrecorded border trade
with India
commodities:
clothing, carpets, leather goods, grain
partners:
US, India, Germany, UK
Imports:
$545 million (c.i.f., FY91 est.)
commodities:
petroleum products 20%, fertilizer 11%, machinery 10%
partners:
India, Singapore, Japan, Germany
External debt:
$2.5 billion (April 1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 6% (FY91 est.); accounts for 7% of GDP
Electricity:
280,000 kW capacity; 540 million kWh produced, 30 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarette, textile, carpet,
cement, and brick production; tourism
Agriculture:
accounts for 60% of GDP and 90% of work force; farm products - rice, corn,
wheat, sugarcane, root crops, milk, buffalo meat; not self-sufficient in
food, particularly in drought years
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic and international drug markets
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $304 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $2,230 million; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $30 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $286
million

:Nepal Economy

Currency:
Nepalese rupee (plural - rupees); 1 Nepalese rupee (NR) = 100 paisa
Exchange rates:
Nepalese rupees (NRs) per US$1 - 42.7 (January 1992), 37.255 (1991), 29.370
(1990), 27.189 (1989), 23.289 (1988), 21.819 (1987)
Fiscal year:
16 July - 15 July

:Nepal Communications

Railroads:
52 km (1990), all 0.762-meter narrow gauge; all in Terai close to Indian
border; 10 km from Raxaul to Birganj is government owned
Highways:
7,080 km total (1990); 2,898 km paved, 1,660 km gravel or crushed stone;
also 2,522 km of seasonally motorable tracks
Civil air:
5 major and 11 minor transport aircraft
Airports:
37 total, 37 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways
over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 8 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
poor telephone and telegraph service; fair radio communication and broadcast
service; international radio communication service is poor; 50,000
telephones (1990); broadcast stations - 88 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 Indian Ocean
INTELSAT earth station

:Nepal Defense Forces

Branches:
Royal Nepalese Army, Royal Nepalese Army Air Service, Nepalese Police Force
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, 4,798,984; 2,488,749 fit for military service; 225,873 reach
military age (17) annually
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $34 million, 2% of GDP (FY92)

:Netherlands Geography

Total area:
37,330 km2
Land area:
33,920 km2
Comparative area:
slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries:
1,027 km total; Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km
Coastline:
451 km
Maritime claims:
Continental shelf:
not specific
Territorial sea:
12 nm
Disputes:
none
Climate:
temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters
Terrain:
mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast
Natural resources:
natural gas, crude oil, fertile soil
Land use:
arable land 26%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 32%; forest and
woodland 9%; other 32%; includes irrigated 16%
Environment:
27% of the land area is below sea level and protected from the North Sea by
dikes
Note:
located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse,
Schelde)

:Netherlands People

Population:
15,112,064 (July 1992), growth rate 0.6% (1992)
Birth rate:
13 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
8 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
1 migrant/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
7 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
75 years male, 81 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
1.6 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women); adjective - Dutch
Ethnic divisions:
Dutch 96%, Moroccans, Turks, and other 4% (1988)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 36%, Protestant 27%, other 6%, unaffiliated 31% (1988)
Languages:
Dutch
Literacy:
99% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write (1979 est.)
Labor force:
5,300,000; services 50.1%, manufacturing and construction 28.2%, government
15.9%, agriculture 5.8% (1986)
Organized labor:
29% of labor force

:Netherlands Government

Long-form name:
Kingdom of the Netherlands
Type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government
Administrative divisions:
12 provinces (provincien, singular - provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland,
Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland,
Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland
Independence:
1579 (from Spain)
Constitution:
17 February 1983
Dependent areas:
Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
Legal system:
civil law system incorporating French penal theory; judicial review in the
Supreme Court of legislation of lower order rather than Acts of the States
General; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
Queen's Day, 30 April (1938)
Executive branch:
monarch, prime minister, vice prime minister, Cabinet, Cabinet of Ministers
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature (Staten Generaal) consists of an upper chamber or
First Chamber (Eerste Kamer) and a lower chamber or Second Chamber (Tweede
Kamer)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (De Hoge Raad)
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980); Heir Apparent
WILLEM-ALEXANDER, Prince of Orange, son of Queen Beatrix (born 27 April
1967)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Ruud (Rudolph) F. M. LUBBERS (since 4 November 1982); Vice
Prime Minister Wim KOK (since 2 November 1989)
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), Willem van VELZEN; Labor (PvdA), Wim KOK;
Liberal (VVD), Joris VOORHOEVE; Democrats '66 (D'66), Hans van MIERIO; a
host of minor parties
Suffrage:
universal at age 18
Elections:
First Chamber:
last held on 9 June l991 (next to be held 9 June 1995); results - elected by
the country's 12 provincial councils; seats - (75 total) percent of seats by
party NA
Second Chamber:
last held on 6 September 1989 (next to be held by September 1993); results -
CDA 35.3%, PvdA 31. 9%, VVD 14.6%, D'66 7.9%, other 10.3%; seats - (150
total) CDA 54, PvdA 49, VVD 22, D'66 12, other 13
Communists:
about 6,000

:Netherlands Government

Other political or pressure groups:
large multinational firms; Federation of Netherlands Trade Union Movement
(comprising Socialist and Catholic trade unions) and a Protestant trade
union; Federation of Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations; the
nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises; and IKV -
Interchurch Peace Council
Member of:
AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN,
COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMS, ESA, ESCAP, FAO, G-10, GATT,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NATO,
NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Johan Hendrick MEESMAN; Chancery at 4200 Linnean Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 244-5300; there are Dutch Consulates
General in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco
US:
Ambassador C. Howard WILKINS, Jr.; Embassy at Lange Voorhout 102, The Hague
(mailing address PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715); telephone [31] (70)
310-9209; FAX [31] (70) 361-4688; there is a US Consulate General in
Amsterdam
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the
flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer

:Netherlands Economy

Overview:
This highly developed and affluent economy is based on private enterprise.
The government makes its presence felt, however, through many regulations,
permit requirements, and welfare programs affecting most aspects of economic
activity. The trade and financial services sector contributes over 50% of
GDP. Industrial activity provides about 25% of GDP and is led by the
food-processing, oil-refining, and metalworking industries. The highly
mechanized agricultural sector employs only 5% of the labor force, but
provides large surpluses for export and the domestic food-processing
industry. An unemployment rate of 6.2% and a sizable budget deficit are
currently the most serious economic problems.
GDP:
purchasing power equivalent - $249.6 billion, per capita $16,600; real
growth rate 2.2% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.6% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6.2% (1991 est.)
Budget:
revenues $98.7 billion; expenditures $110.8 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1991)
Exports:
$131.5 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
commodities:
agricultural products, processed foods and tobacco, natural gas, chemicals,
metal products, textiles, clothing
partners:
EC 74.9% (FRG 28.3%, Belgium-Luxembourg 14.2%, France 10.7%, UK 10.2%), US
4.7% (1988)
Imports:
$125.9 billion (c.i.f., 1990)
commodities:
raw materials and semifinished products, consumer goods, transportation
equipment, crude oil, food products
partners:
EC 63.8% (FRG 26.5%, Belgium-Luxembourg 23.1%, UK 8.1%), US 7.9% (1988)
External debt:
none
Industrial production:
growth rate 1.7% (1991 est.); accounts for 25% of GDP
Electricity:
22,216,000 kW capacity; 63,570 million kWh produced, 4,300 kWh per capita
(1991)
Industries:
agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and
equipment, chemicals, petroleum, fishing, construction, microelectronics
Agriculture:
accounts for 4% of GDP; animal production predominates; crops - grains,
potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; shortages of grain, fats, and
oils
Illicit drugs:
European producer of illicit amphetamines and other synethic drugs
Economic aid:
donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $19.4 billion
Currency:
Netherlands guilder, gulden, or florin (plural - guilders, gulden, or
florins); 1 Netherlands guilder, gulden, or florin (f.) = 100 cents

:Netherlands Economy

Exchange rates:
Netherlands guilders, gulden, or florins (f.) per US$1 - 1.7753 (January
1992), 1.8697 (1991), 1.8209 (1990), 2.1207 (1989), 1.9766 (1988), 2.0257
(1987)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

:Netherlands Communications

Railroads:
3,037 km track (includes 1,871 km electrified and 1,800 km double track);
2,871 km 1.435-meter standard gauge operated by Netherlands Railways (NS);
166 km privately owned
Highways:
108,360 km total; 92,525 km paved (including 2,185 km of limited access,
divided highways); 15,835 km gravel, crushed stone
Inland waterways:
6,340 km, of which 35% is usable by craft of 1,000 metric ton capacity or
larger
Pipelines:
crude oil 418 km; petroleum products 965 km; natural gas 10,230 km
Ports:
maritime - Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Den Helder, Dordrecht, Eemshaven, Ijmuiden,
Rotterdam, Scheveningen, Terneuzen, Vlissingen; inland - 29 ports
Merchant marine:
345 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,630,962 GRT/3,687,598 DWT; includes
3 short-sea passenger, 191 cargo, 30 refrigerated cargo, 24 container, 12
roll-on/roll-off, 2 livestock carrier, 10 multifunction large-load carrier,
22 oil tanker, 27 chemical tanker, 10 liquefied gas, 2 specialized tanker, 9
bulk, 3 combination bulk; note - many Dutch-owned ships are also registered
on the captive Netherlands Antilles register
Civil air:
98 major transport aircraft
Airports:
28 total, 28 usable; 19 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways
over 3,659 m; 11 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 6 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
highly developed, well maintained, and integrated; extensive redundant
system of multiconductor cables, supplemented by radio relay links;
9,418,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 3 (3 relays) AM, 12 (39
repeaters) FM, 8 (7 repeaters) TV; 5 submarine cables; 1 communication
satellite earth station operating in INTELSAT (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic
Ocean antenna) and EUTELSAT systems; nationwide mobile phone system

:Netherlands Defense Forces

Branches:
Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (including Naval Air Service
and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Constabulary
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, 4,144,477; 3,649,746 fit for military service; 111,952 reach
military age (20) annually
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $7.2 billion, 2.9% of GDP (1991)

:Netherlands Antilles Geography

Total area:
960 km2
Land area:
960 km2; includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten
(Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin)
Comparative area:
slightly less than 5.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
none
Coastline:
364 km
Maritime claims:
Exclusive fishing zone:
12 nm
Territorial sea:
12 nm
Disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds
Terrain:
generally hilly, volcanic interiors
Natural resources:
phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only)
Land use:
arable land 8%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and
woodland 0%; other 92%
Environment:
Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean hurricane belt, so rarely
threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes
from July to October
Note:
consists of two island groups - Curacao and Bonaire are located off the
coast of Venezuela, and Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius lie 800 km to
the north

:Netherlands Antilles People

Population:
184,325 (July 1992), growth rate 0.3% (1992)
Birth rate:
18 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
6 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
-9 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
11 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
73 years male, 77 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
2.0 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Netherlands Antillean(s); adjective - Netherlands Antillean
Ethnic divisions:
mixed African 85%; remainder Carib Indian, European, Latin, and Oriental
Religions:
predominantly Roman Catholic; Protestant, Jewish, Seventh-Day Adventist
Languages:
Dutch (official); Papiamento, a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect
predominates; English widely spoken; Spanish
Literacy:
94% (male 94%, female 93%) age 15 and over can read and write (1981)
Labor force:
89,000; government 65%, industry and commerce 28% (1983)
Organized labor:
60-70% of labor force

:Netherlands Antilles Government

Long-form name:
none
Digraph:
political parties are indigenous to each island ***
Type:
part of the Dutch realm - full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954
Capital:
Willemstad
Administrative divisions:
none (part of the Dutch realm)
Independence:
none (part of the Dutch realm)
Constitution:
29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the Netherlands, as amended
Legal system:
based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence
National holiday:
Queen's Day, 30 April (1938)
Executive branch:
Dutch monarch, governor, prime minister, vice prime minister, Council of
Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
legislature (Staten)
Judicial branch:
Joint High Court of Justice
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980), represented by
Governor General Jaime SALEH (since October 1989)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Maria LIBERIA-PETERS (since 17 May 1988, previously served
from September 1984 to November 1985)
Political parties and leaders:
political parties are indigenous to each island
Bonaire:
Patriotic Union of Bonaire (UPB), Rudy ELLIS; Democratic Party of Bonaire
(PDB), Franklin CRESTIAN
Curacao:
National People's Party (PNP), Maria LIBERIA-PETERS; New Antilles Movement
(MAN), Domenico Felip Don MARTINA; Workers' Liberation Front (FOL), Wilson
(Papa) GODETT; Socialist Independent (SI), George HUECK and Nelson MONTE;
Democratic Party of Curacao (DP), Augustin DIAZ; Nos Patria, Chin BEHILIA
Saba:
Windward Islands People's Movement (WIPM Saba), Will JOHNSON; Saba
Democratic Labor Movement, Vernon HASSELL; Saba Unity Party, Carmen SIMMONDS
Sint Eustatius:
Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius (DP-St.E), K. Van PUTTEN; Windward
Islands People's Movement (WIPM); St. Eustatius Alliance (SEA), Ralph BERKEL
Sint Maarten:
Democratic Party of Sint Maarten (DP-St.M), Claude WATHEY; Patriotic
Movement of Sint Maarten (SPA), Vance JAMES
Suffrage:
universal at age 18

:Netherlands Antilles Government

Elections:
Staten:
last held on 16 March 1990 (next to be held March 1994); results - percent
of vote by party NA; seats - (22 total) PNP 7, FOL-SI 3, UPB 3, MAN 2,
DP-St. M 2, DP 1, SPM 1, WIPM 1, DP-St. E 1, Nos Patria 1; note - the
government of Prime Minister Maria LIBERIA-PETERS is a coalition of several
parties
Member of:
CARICOM (observer), ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, INTERPOL, IOC, UNESCO
(associate), UPU, WCL, WMO, WTO (associate)
Diplomatic representation:
as an autonomous part of the Netherlands, Netherlands Antillean interests in
the US are represented by the Netherlands
US:
Consul General Sharon P. WILKINSON; Consulate General at Sint Anna Boulevard
19, Willemstad, Curacao (mailing address P. O. Box 158, Willemstad,
Curacao); telephone [599] (9) 613066; FAX [599] (9) 616489
Flag:
white with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed on a vertical
red band also centered; five white five-pointed stars are arranged in an
oval pattern in the center of the blue band; the five stars represent the
five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint
Maarten

:Netherlands Antilles Economy

Overview:
Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the mainstays of the
economy. The islands enjoy a high per capita income and a well-developed
infrastructure as compared with other countries in the region. Unlike many
Latin American countries, the Netherlands Antilles has avoided large
international debt. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with
the US being the major supplier.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $1.4 billion, per capita $7,600; real growth rate
1.5% (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate:
21% (1991)
Budget:
revenues $454 million; expenditures $525 million, including capital
expenditures of $42 million (1989 est.)
Exports:
$1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1988)
commodities:
petroleum products 98%
partners:
US 40%, Italy 6%, The Bahamas 5%
Imports:
$1.4 billion (c.i.f., 1988)
commodities:
crude petroleum 64%, food, manufactures
partners:
Venezuela 42%, US 18%, Netherlands 6%
External debt:
$701.2 million (December 1987)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
125,000 kW capacity; 365 million kWh produced, 1,985 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
tourism (Curacao and Sint Maarten), petroleum refining (Curacao), petroleum
transshipment facilities (Curacao and Bonaire), light manufacturing
(Curacao)
Agriculture:
hampered by poor soils and scarcity of water; chief products - aloes,
sorghum, peanuts, fresh vegetables, tropical fruit; not self-sufficient in
food
Economic aid:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
$513 million
Currency:
Netherlands Antillean guilder, gulden, or florin (plural - guilders, gulden,
or florins); 1 Netherlands Antillean guilder, gulden, or florin (NAf.) = 100
cents
Exchange rates:
Netherlands Antillean guilders, gulden, or florins (NAf.) per US$1 - 1.79
(fixed rate since 1989; 1.80 fixed rate 1971-88)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

:Netherlands Antilles Communications

Highways:
950 km total; 300 km paved, 650 km gravel and earth
Ports:
Willemstad, Philipsburg, Kralendijk
Merchant marine:
80 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 607,010 GRT/695,864 DWT; includes 4
passenger, 27 cargo, 13 refrigerated cargo, 7 container, 9 roll-on/roll-off,
11 multifunction large-load carrier, 4 chemical tanker, 3 liquefied gas, 1
bulk, 1 oil tanker; note - all but a few are foreign owned, mostly in the
Netherlands
Civil air:
8 major transport aircraft
Airports:
7 total, 6 usable; 6 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over
3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
generally adequate facilities; extensive interisland radio relay links;
broadcast stations - 9 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV; 2 submarine cables; 2 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT earth stations

:Netherlands Antilles Defense Forces

Branches:
Royal Netherlands Navy, Marine Corps, Royal Netherlands Air Force, National
Guard, Police Force
Manpower availability:
males 15-49 49,082; 27,656 fit for military service; 1,673 reach military
age (20) annually
Note:
defense is responsibility of the Netherlands

:New Caledonia Geography

Total area:
19,060 km2
Land area:
18,760 km2
Comparative area:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
none
Coastline:
2,254 km
Maritime claims:
Exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
Territorial sea:
12 nm
Disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
Terrain:
coastal plains with interior mountains
Natural resources:
nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper
Land use:
arable land NEGL%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 14%; forest
and woodland 51%; other 35%
Environment:
typhoons most frequent from November to March
Note:
located 1,750 km east of Australia in the South Pacific Ocean

:New Caledonia People

Population:
174,805 (July 1992), growth rate 1.9% (1992)
Birth rate:
23 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
5 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
1 migrant/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
17 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
70 years male, 76 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
2.7 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - New Caledonian(s); adjective - New Caledonian
Ethnic divisions:
Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%,
Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3.0%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%
Languages:
French; 28 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
Literacy:
91% (male 91%, female 90%) age 15 and over can read and write (1976)
Labor force:
50,469; foreign workers for plantations and mines from Wallis and Futuna,
Vanuatu, and French Polynesia (1980 est.)
Organized labor:
NA

:New Caledonia Government

Long-form name:
Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies
Type:
overseas territory of France since 1956
Capital:
Noumea
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative
divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 provinces named
Iles Loyaute, Nord, and Sud
Independence:
none (overseas territory of France); note - a referendum on independence
will be held in 1998, with a review of the issue in 1992
Constitution:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands;
formerly under French law
National holiday:
Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Executive branch:
French President, high commissioner, Consultative Committee (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Territorial Assembly
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
Head of Government:
High Commissioner and President of the Council of Government Alain
CHRISTNACHT (since 15 January 1991)
Suffrage:
universal adult at age 18
Elections:
Territorial Assembly:
last held 11 June 1989 (next to be held 1993); results - RPCR 44.5%, FLNKS
28.5%, FN 7%, CD 5%, UO 4%, other 11%; seats - (54 total) RPCR 27, FLNKS 19,
FN 3, other 5; note - election boycotted by FULK
French Senate:
last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1992); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) RPCR 1
French National Assembly:
last held 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held June 1993); results - RPR
83.5%, FN 13.5%, other 3%; seats - (2 total) RPCR 2
Member of:
FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WMO
Diplomatic representation:
as an overseas territory of France, New Caledonian interests are represented
in the US by France
Flag:
the flag of France is used

:New Caledonia Economy

Overview:
New Caledonia has more than 25% of the world's known nickel resources. In
recent years the economy has suffered because of depressed international
demand for nickel, the principal source of export earnings. Only a
negligible amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts
for about 25% of imports.
GNP:
exchange rate conversion - $1.0 billion, per capita $6,000 (1991 est.); real
growth rate 2.4% (1988)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.1% (1989)
Unemployment rate:
16.0% (1989)
Budget:
revenues $224.0 million; expenditures $211.0 million, including capital
expenditures of NA (1985)
Exports:
$671 million (f.o.b., 1989)
commodities:
nickel metal 87%, nickel ore
partners:
France 52.3%, Japan 15.8%, US 6.4%
Imports:
$764 million (c.i.f., 1989)
commodities:
foods, fuels, minerals, machines, electrical equipment
partners:
France 44.0%, US 10%, Australia 9%
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
400,000 kW capacity; 2,200 million kWh produced, 12,790 kWh per capita
(1990)
Industries:
nickel mining
Agriculture:
large areas devoted to cattle grazing; coffee, corn, wheat, vegetables; 60%
self-sufficient in beef
Illicit drugs:
illicit cannabis cultivation is becoming a principal source of income for
some families
Economic aid:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
$4,185 million
Currency:
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (plural - francs); 1 CFP franc (CFPF)
= 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
Comptoirs Francais duPacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 97.81 (January
1992), 102.57 (1991), 99.00 (1990), 115.99 (1989), 108.30 (1988), 109.27
(1987); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc
Fiscal year:
calendar year

:New Caledonia Communications

Highways:
6,340 km total; only about 10% paved (1987)
Ports:
Noumea, Nepoui, Poro, Thio
Civil air:
1 major transport aircraft
Airports:
29 total, 27 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways
over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
32,578 telephones (1987); broadcast stations - 5 AM, 3 FM, 7 TV; 1 Pacific
Ocean INTELSAT earth station

:New Caledonia Defense Forces

Branches:
Gendarmerie, Police Force
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, 46,388; NA fit for military service
Note:
defense is the responsibility of France

:New Zealand Geography

Total area:
268,680 km2
Land area:
268,670 km2; includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands,
Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands
Comparative area:
about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries:
none
Coastline:
15,134 km
Maritime claims:
Continental shelf:
edge of continental margin or 200 nm
Exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
Territorial sea:
12 nm
Disputes:
territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)
Climate:
temperate with sharp regional contrasts
Terrain:
predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains
Natural resources:
natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone
Land use:
arable land 2%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 53%; forest and
woodland 38%; other 7%; includes irrigated 1%
Environment:
earthquakes are common, though usually not severe

:New Zealand People

Population:
3,347,369 (July 1992), growth rate 0.7% (1992)
Birth rate:
16 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
8 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
-2 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
9 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
72 years male, 80 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
2.1 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - New Zealander(s); adjective - New Zealand
Ethnic divisions:
European 88%, Maori 8.9%, Pacific Islander 2.9%, other 0.2%
Religions:
Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%, Baptist
2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 9% (1986)
Languages:
English (official), Maori
Literacy:
99% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write (1970)
Labor force:
1,603,500 (June 1991); services 67.4%, manufacturing 19.8%, primary
production 9.3% (1987)
Organized labor:
681,000 members; 43% of labor force (1986)

:New Zealand Government

Long-form name:
none; abbreviated NZ
Type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Wellington
Administrative divisions:
93 counties, 9 districts*, and 3 town districts**; Akaroa, Amuri, Ashburton,
Bay of Islands, Bruce, Buller, Chatham Islands, Cheviot, Clifton, Clutha,
Cook, Dannevirke, Egmont, Eketahuna, Ellesmere, Eltham, Eyre, Featherston,
Franklin, Golden Bay, Great Barrier Island, Grey, Hauraki Plains, Hawera*,
Hawke's Bay, Heathcote, Hikurangi**, Hobson, Hokianga, Horowhenua, Hurunui,
Hutt, Inangahua, Inglewood, Kaikoura, Kairanga, Kiwitea, Lake, Mackenzie,
Malvern, Manaia**, Manawatu, Mangonui, Maniototo, Marlborough, Masterton,
Matamata, Mount Herbert, Ohinemuri, Opotiki, Oroua, Otamatea, Otorohanga*,
Oxford, Pahiatua, Paparua, Patea, Piako, Pohangina, Raglan, Rangiora*,
Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua*, Runanga, Saint Kilda, Silverpeaks, Southland,
Stewart Island, Stratford, Strathallan, Taranaki, Taumarunui, Taupo,
Tauranga, Thames-Coromandel*, Tuapeka, Vincent, Waiapu, Waiheke, Waihemo,
Waikato, Waikohu, Waimairi, Waimarino, Waimate, Waimate West, Waimea, Waipa,
Waipawa*, Waipukurau*, Wairarapa South, Wairewa, Wairoa, Waitaki, Waitomo*,
Waitotara, Wallace, Wanganui, Waverley**, Westland, Whakatane*, Whangarei,
Whangaroa, Woodville
Independence:
26 September 1907 (from UK)
Constitution:
no formal, written constitution; consists of various documents, including
certain acts of the UK and New Zealand Parliaments; Constitution Act 1986
was to have come into force 1 January 1987, but has not been enacted
Dependent areas:
Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
Legal system:
based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts for
Maoris; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty), 6
February (1840)
Executive branch:
British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Representatives (commonly called Parliament)
Judicial branch:
High Court, Court of Appeal
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General
Dame Catherine TIZARD (since 12 December 1990)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister James BOLGER (since 29 October 1990); Deputy Prime Minister
Donald McKINNON (since 2 November 1990)
Political parties and leaders:
National Party (NP; government), James BOLGER; New Zealand Labor Party
(NZLP; opposition), Michael MOORE; NewLabor Party (NLP), Jim ANDERTON;
Democratic Party, Dick RYAN; New Zealand Liberal Party, Hanmish MACINTYRE
and Gilbert MYLES; Green Party, no official leader; Mana Motuhake, Martin
RATA; Socialist Unity Party (SUP; pro-Soviet), Kenneth DOUGLAS; note - the
New Labor, Democratic, and Mana Motuhake parties formed a coalition in
September 1991; the Green Party joined the coalition in May 1992

:New Zealand Government

Suffrage:
universal at age 18
Elections:
House of Representatives:
last held on 27 October 1990 (next to be held October 1993); results - NP
49%, NZLP 35%, Green Party 7%, NLP 5%; seats - (97 total) NP 67, NZLP 29,
NLP 1
Member of:
ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC,
AsDB, Australia Group, C, CCC, CP, COCOM, (cooperating country), EBRD,
ESCAP, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS,
MTCR, OECD, PCA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIIMOG, UNTSO, UPU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador - Denis Bazely Gordon McLEAN; Chancery at 37 Observatory Circle
NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 328-4800; there are New Zealand
Consulates General in Los Angeles and New York
US:
Ambassador Della M. NEWMAN; Embassy at 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon,
Wellington (mailing address is P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1,
FPO AP 96531-1001); telephone [64] (4) 722-068; FAX [64] (4) 723-537; there
is a US Consulate General in Auckland
Flag:
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with four red
five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer half of the flag;
the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation

:New Zealand Economy

Overview:
Since 1984 the government has been reorienting an agrarian economy dependent
on a guaranteed British market to an open free market economy that can
compete on the global scene. The government has hoped that dynamic growth
would boost real incomes, reduce inflationary pressures, and permit the
expansion of welfare benefits. The results have been mixed: inflation is
down from double-digit levels, but growth has been sluggish and
unemployment, always a highly sensitive issue, has exceeded 10% since May
1991. In 1988, GDP fell by 1%, in 1989 grew by a moderate 2.4%, and was flat
in 1990-91.
GDP:
purchasing power equivalent - $46.2 billion, per capita $14,000; real growth
rate - 0.4% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.0% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
10.7% (September 1991)
Budget:
revenues $17.6 billion; expenditures $18.3 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (FY91 est.)
Exports:
$9.4 billion (f.o.b., FY91)
commodities:
wool, lamb, mutton, beef, fruit, fish, cheese, manufactures, chemicals,
forestry products
partners:
EC 18.3%, Japan 17.9%, Australia 17.5%, US 13.5%, China 3.6%, South Korea
3.1%
Imports:
$8.4 billion (f.o.b., FY91)
commodities:
petroleum, consumer goods, motor vehicles, industrial equipment
partners:
Australia 19.7%, Japan 16.9%, EC 16.9%, US 15.3%, Taiwan 3.0%
External debt:
$17.4 billion (1989)
Industrial production:
growth rate 1.9% (1990); accounts for about 20% of GDP
Electricity:
7,800,000 kW capacity; 28,000 million kWh produced, 8,500 kWh per capita
(1990)
Industries:
food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery,
transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining
Agriculture:
accounts for about 9% of GDP and 10% of the work force; livestock
predominates - wool, meat, dairy products all export earners; crops - wheat,
barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, and vegetables; surplus producer of farm
products; fish catch reached a record 503,000 metric tons in 1988
Economic aid:
donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $526 million
Currency:
New Zealand dollar (plural - dollars); 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100
cents
Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.8245 (March 1992), 1.7265 (1991),
1.6750 (1990), 1.6711 (1989), 1.5244 (1988), 1.6886 (1987)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

:New Zealand Communications

Railroads:
4,716 km total; all 1.067-meter gauge; 274 km double track; 113 km
electrified; over 99% government owned
Highways:
92,648 km total; 49,547 km paved, 43,101 km gravel or crushed stone
Inland waterways:
1,609 km; of little importance to transportation
Pipelines:
natural gas 1,000 km; petroleum products 160 km; condensate 150 km
Ports:
Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington, Tauranga
Merchant marine:
18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 182,206 GRT/246,446 DWT; includes 2
cargo, 5 roll-on/roll-off, 1 railcar carrier, 4 oil tanker, 1 liquefied gas,
5 bulk
Civil air:
about 40 major transport aircraft
Airports:
118 total, 118 usable; 34 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways
over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 43 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
excellent international and domestic systems; 2,110,000 telephones;
broadcast stations - 64 AM, 2 FM, 14 TV; submarine cables extend to
Australia and Fiji; 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

:New Zealand Defense Forces

Branches:
New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, 874,703; 739,923 fit for military service; 30,297 reach
military age (20) annually
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $792 million, 2% of GDP (FY92)

:Nicaragua Geography

Total area:
129,494 km2
Land area:
120,254 km2
Comparative area:
slightly larger than New York State
Land boundaries:
1,231 km total; Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km
Coastline:
910 km
Maritime claims:
Contiguous zone:
25 nm security zone (status of claim uncertain)
Continental shelf:
not specified
Territorial sea:
200 nm
Disputes:
territorial disputes with Colombia over the Archipelago de San Andres y
Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank; unresolved maritime boundary in Golfo de
Fonseca
Climate:
tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
Terrain:
extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains;
narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes
Natural resources:
gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish
Land use:
arable land 9%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 43%; forest and
woodland 35%; other 12%; including irrigated 1%
Environment:
subject to destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and occasional
severe hurricanes; deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution

:Nicaragua People

Population:
3,878,150 (July 1992), growth rate 2.8% (1992)
Birth rate:
37 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
7 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
-1 migrant/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
57 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
60 years male, 66 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
4.6 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Nicaraguan(s); adjective - Nicaraguan
Ethnic divisions:
mestizo 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Indian 5%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant 5%
Languages:
Spanish (official); English- and Indian-speaking minorities on Atlantic
coast
Literacy:
57% (male 57%, female 57%) age 15 and over can read and write (1971)
Labor force:
1,086,000; service 43%, agriculture 44%, industry 13% (1986)
Organized labor:
35% of labor force

:Nicaragua Government

Long-form name:
Republic of Nicaragua
Type:
republic
Capital:
Managua
Administrative divisions:
9 administrative regions encompassing 17 departments (departamentos,
singular - departamento); Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli,
Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, North Atlantic
Coast Autonomous Zone (RAAN), Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas, South
Atlantic Coast Autonomous Zone (RAAS)
Independence:
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Constitution:
January 1987
Legal system:
civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts
National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Executive branch:
president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Corte Suprema) and municipal courts
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
President Violeta Barrios de CHAMORRO (since 25 April 1990); Vice President
Virgilio GODOY (since 25 April 1990)
Political parties and leaders:
ruling coalition:
National Opposition Union (UNO) is a 14-party alliance - National
Conservative Party (PNC), Silviano MATAMOROS; Conservative Popular Alliance
Party (PAPC), Myriam ARGUELLO; National Conservative Action Party (PANC),
Hernaldo ZUNIGA; National Democratic Confidence Party (PDCN), Augustin
JARQUIN; Independent Liberal Party (PLI), Wilfredo NAVARRO; Neo-Liberal
Party (PALI), Andres ZUNIGA; Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC), Jose
Ernesto SOMARRIBA; National Action Party (PAN), Eduardo RIVAS; Nicaraguan
Socialist Party (PSN), Gustavo TABLADA; Communist Party of Nicaragua
(PCdeN), Eli ALTIMIRANO; Popular Social Christian Party (PPSC), Luis
Humberto GUZMAN; Nicaraguan Democratic Movement (MDN), Roberto URROZ; Social
Democratic Party (PSD), Guillermo POTOY; Central American Integrationist
Party (PIAC), Alejandro PEREZ
opposition parties:
Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), Daniel ORTEGA; Central American
Unionist Party (PUCA), Blanca ROJAS; Democratic Conservative Party of
Nicaragua (PCDN), Jose BRENES; Liberal Party of National Unity (PLUIN),
Eduardo CORONADO; Movement of Revolutionary Unity (MUR), Francisco SAMPER;
Social Christian Party (PSC), Erick RAMIREZ; Revolutionary Workers' Party
(PRT), Bonifacio MIRANDA; Social Conservative Party (PSOC), Fernando
AGUERRO; Popular Action Movement - Marxist-Leninist (MAP-ML), Isidro TELLEZ;
Popular Social Christian Party (PPSC), Mauricio DIAZ
Suffrage:
universal at age 16

:Nicaragua Government