Chapter V (9)

Independence: 221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch'in Dynasty
221 BC; Qing or Ch'ing Dynasty replaced by the Republic on 12
February 1912; People's Republic established 1 October 1949)

National holiday: National Day, 1 October (1949)

Constitution: most recent promulgated 4 December 1982

Legal system: a complex amalgam of custom and statute, largely
criminal law; rudimentary civil code in effect since 1 January 1987;
new legal codes in effect since 1 January 1980; continuing efforts
are being made to improve civil, administrative, criminal, and
commercial law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President JIANG Zemin (since 27 March 1993) and Vice
President RONG Yiren (since 27 March 1993) elected by the National
People's Congress; election last held 27 March 1993 (next to be held
NA 1998); results - JIANG Zemin was nominally elected by the Eighth
National People's Congress
head of government: Premier LI Peng (Acting Premier since 24
November 1987, Premier since 9 April 1988) nominated by the
president, decided by the National People's Congress; Vice Premiers
ZHU Rongji (since 8 April 1991), ZOU Jiahua (since 8 April 1991),
QIAN Qichen (since 29 March 1993), LI Lanqing (29 March 1993), WU
Bangguo (since 17 March 1995), and JIANG Chunyun (since 17 March
1995) nominated by the president, decided by the National People's
Congress
cabinet: State Council appointed by the National People's Congress
(NPC)

Legislative branch: unicameral
National People's Congress (Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui): elections
last held NA March 1993 (next to be held NA March 1998); results -
CCP is the only party but there are also independents; seats -
(2,977 total) (elected at county or xian level)

Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court, judges appointed by the
National People's Congress

Political parties and leaders: Chinese Communist Party (CCP),
JIANG Zemin, general secretary of the Central Committee; eight
registered small parties controlled by CCP

Other political or pressure groups: such meaningful opposition as
exists consists of loose coalitions, usually within the party and
government organization, that vary by issue

International organization participation: AfDB, APEC, AsDB, CCC,
ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer),
Mekong Group, MINURSO, NAM (observer), PCA, UN, UN Security Council,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNOMIL, UNTSO, UNU,
UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador LI Daoyu
chancery: 2300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 328-2500 through 2502
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and
San Francisco

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador James R. SASSER
embassy: Xiu Shui Bei Jie 3, 100600 Beijing
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 50, FPO AP 96521-0002
telephone: [86] (10) 5323831
FAX: [86] (10) 5326422
consulate(s) general: Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang

Flag: red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller
yellow five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the
middle of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner

Economy -------

Economic overview: Beginning in late 1978 the Chinese leadership
has been trying to move the economy from a sluggish Soviet-style
centrally planned economy to one that is more market-oriented, but
still within a rigid political framework of Communist Party control.
To this end the authorities switched to a system of household
responsibility in agriculture in place of the old collectivization,
increased the authority of local officials and plant managers in
industry, permitted a wide variety of small-scale enterprise in
services and light manufacturing, and opened the economy to
increased foreign trade and investment. The result has been a strong
surge in production. Agricultural output doubled in the 1980s, and
industry also posted major gains, especially in coastal areas near
Hong Kong and opposite Taiwan, where foreign investment and modern
production methods helped spur output of both domestic and export
goods. GDP has more than tripled since 1978. On the darker side, the
leadership has often experienced in its hybrid system the worst
results of socialism (bureaucracy, lassitude, corruption) and of
capitalism (windfall gains and stepped-up inflation). Beijing thus
has periodically backtracked, retightening central controls at
intervals. In 1992-95 annual growth of GDP accelerated, particularly
in the coastal areas - averaging more than 10% annually according to
official figures. In late 1993 China's leadership approved
additional long-term reforms aimed at giving still more play to
market-oriented institutions and at strengthening the center's
control over the financial system; state enterprises would continue
to dominate many key industries in what was now termed "a socialist
market economy." In 1995 inflation dropped sharply, reflecting
tighter monetary policies and stronger measures to control food
prices. At the same time, the government struggled to (a) collect
revenues due from provinces, businesses, and individuals; (b) reduce
extortion and other economic crimes; and (c) keep afloat the large
state-owned enterprises, most of which had not participated in the
vigorous expansion of the economy. From 60 to 100 million surplus
rural workers are adrift between the villages and the cities, many
subsisting through part-time low-pay jobs. Popular resistance,
changes in central policy, and loss of authority by rural cadres
have weakened China's population control program, which is essential
to the nation's long-term economic viability. One of the most
dangerous long-term threats to continued rapid economic growth is
the deterioration in the environment, notably air pollution, soil
erosion, and the steady fall of the water table especially in the
north. The amount of arable land continues to decline because of
erosion and economic development, the cumulative loss since the
Communist takeover in 1949 being more than 15%. The next few years
will witness increasing tensions between a highly centralized
political system and an increasingly decentralized economic system.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.5 trillion (1995 estimate as
extrapolated from World Bank estimate with use of official Chinese
growth figures for 1993-95; the result may overstate China's GDP by
as much as 25%)

GDP real growth rate: 10.3% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $2,900 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 19%
industry: 48%
services: 33% (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.1% (December 1995 over
December 1994)

Labor force: 583.6 million (1991)
by occupation: agriculture and forestry 60%, industry and commerce
25%, construction and mining 5%, social services 5%, other 5% (1990
est.)

Unemployment rate: 5.2% in urban areas (1995 est.); substantial
underemployment

Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Industries: iron and steel, coal, machine building, armaments,
textiles and apparel, petroleum, cement, chemical fertilizers,
consumer durables, food processing, autos, consumer electronics,
telecommunications

Industrial production growth rate: 13.4% (1995 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 162,000,000 kW
production: 746 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 593 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: rice, potatoes, sorghum, peanuts, tea, millet,
barley, cotton, other fibers, oilseed; pork and other livestock
products; fish

Illicit drugs: major transshipment point for heroin produced in
the Golden Triangle; growing domestic drug abuse problem

Exports: $148.8 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: garments, textiles, footwear, toys, machinery and
equipment (1994)
partners: Hong Kong, Japan, US, Germany, South Korea, Singapore
(1994)

Imports: $132.1 billion (c.i.f., 1995)
commodities: industrial machinery, textiles, plastics,
telecommunications equipment, steel bars, aircraft (1994)
partners: Japan, Taiwan, US, Hong Kong, South Korea, Germany (1994)

External debt: $92 billion (1994 est.)

Economic aid:
donor: to less developed countries (1970-89) $NA
recipient: ODA, $1.977 billion (1993)

Currency: 1 yuan (Y) = 10 jiao

Exchange rates: yuan (Y) per US$1 - 8.3186 (January 1996), 8.3514
(1995), 8.6187 (1994), 5.7620 (1993), 5.5146 (1992), 5.3234 (1991)
note: beginning 1 January 1994, the People's Bank of China quotes
the midpoint rate against the US dollar based on the previous day's
prevailing rate in the interbank foreign exchange market

Fiscal year: calendar year

Transportation --------------

Railways:
total: 58,399 km
standard gauge: 54,799 km 1.435-m gauge (7,174 km electrified; more
than 11,000 km double track)
narrow gauge: 3,600 km 0.762-m gauge local industrial lines (1995)

Highways:
total: 1.029 million km
paved: 170,000 km
unpaved: 859,000 km (1990 est.)

Waterways: 138,600 km; about 109,800 km navigable

Pipelines: crude oil 9,700 km; petroleum products 1,100 km;
natural gas 6,200 km (1990)

Ports: Aihui, Changsha, Dalian, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Hangzhou,
Harbin, Huangpu, Nanning, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai,
Shantou, Tanggu, Xiamen, Xingang, Zhanjiang

Merchant marine:
total: 1,700 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,663,260
GRT/25,026,090 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 316, cargo 876, chemical tanker
15, combination bulk 11, container 103, liquefied gas tanker 4,
multifunction large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 227, passenger 24,
passenger-cargo 28, refrigerated cargo 22, roll-on/roll-off cargo
24, short-sea passenger 45
note: China owns an additional 267 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 9,044,039 DWT operating under the registries of Panama,
Hong Kong, Malta, Liberia, Vanuatu, Cyprus, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, The Bahamas, Marshall Islands, and Singapore (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 204
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 17
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 69
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 89
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 9
with paved runways under 914 m: 7
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 7
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
with unpaved runways under 914 m: 3 (1994 est.)

Communications --------------

Telephones: 20 million (1994 est.)

Telephone system: domestic and international services are
increasingly available for private use; unevenly distributed
domestic system serves principal cities, industrial centers, and
most townships
domestic: telephone lines are being expanded; interprovincial
fiber-optic trunk lines and cellular telephone systems have been
installed; a domestic satellite system with 55 earth stations is in
place
international: satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 Pacific
Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region) and
1 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean Regions); several international
fiber-optic links to Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong

Radio broadcast stations: AM 274, FM NA, shortwave 0

Radios: 216.5 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 202 (repeaters 2,050)

Televisions: 75 million

Defense -------

Branches: People's Liberation Army (PLA), which includes the
Ground Forces, Navy (includes Marines and Naval Aviation), Air
Force, Second Artillery Corps (the strategic missile force),
People's Armed Police (internal security troops, nominally
subordinate to Ministry of Public Security, but included by the
Chinese as part of the "armed forces" and considered to be an
adjunct to the PLA in wartime)

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 352,506,948
males fit for military service: 194,589,216
males reach military age (18) annually: 9,763,916 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: the officially announced but suspect figure
is 70.2 billion yuan, NA% of GDP (1995 est.); note - conversion of
the defense budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate
could produce misleading results

======================================================================

@Christmas Island ----------------

(territory of Australia)

Map ---

Location: 10 30 S, 105 40 E -- Southeastern Asia, island in the
Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia

Flag ----

Description: the flag of Australia is used

Geography ---------

Location: Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of
Indonesia

Geographic coordinates: 10 30 S, 105 40 E

Map references: Southeast Asia

Area:
total area: 135 sq km
land area: 135 sq km
comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 138.9 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds

Terrain: steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Murray Hill 361 m

Natural resources: phosphate

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can
be a maritime hazard
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean

People ------

Population: 813 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate: -8.98% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population

Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population

Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Sex ratio:
at birth: NA male(s)/female
under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
all ages: NA male(s)/female

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman

Nationality:
noun: Christmas Islander(s)
adjective: Christmas Island

Ethnic divisions: Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%,
no indigenous population

Religions: Buddhist 55%, Christian 15%, Muslim 10%, other 20%
(1991)

Languages: English

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form: Christmas Island

Data code: KT

Type of government: territory of Australia

Capital: The Settlement

Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)

Independence: none (territory of Australia)

National holiday: NA

Constitution: Christmas Island Act of 1958

Legal system: under the authority of the governor general of
Australia

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6
February 1952) is a hereditary monarch
head of government: Administrator Danny Ambrose GILLESPIE (since NA)
was appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents
the queen and Australia
cabinet: Christmas Island Shire Council

Legislative branch: none

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: none

International organization participation: none

Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of Australia)

US diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)

Flag: the flag of Australia is used

Economy -------

Economic overview: Phosphate mining had been the only significant
economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government
closed the mine as no longer economically viable. Private operators
reopened the mine in 1990 under strict environmental controls, in
particular to preserve the rain forest. A hotel and casino complex
opened in 1993, and tourism is a likely growth sector.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $NA

GDP real growth rate: NA%

GDP per capita: $NA

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Labor force: NA
by occupation: all workers are employees of the Phosphate Mining
Company of Christmas Island, Ltd.

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Industries: phosphate extraction (near depletion)

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 11,000 kW
production: 30 million kWh
consumption per capita: 17,800 kWh (1990)

Agriculture: NA

Exports: $NA
commodities: phosphate
partners: Australia, NZ

Imports: $NA
commodities: consumer goods
partners: principally Australia

External debt: $NA

Economic aid: none

Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3477 (January
1996),1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704, (1993), 1.3600 (1992),
1.2836 (1991)

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Transportation --------------

Railways: 24 km to serve phosphate mines

Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km

Ports: Flying Fish Cove

Merchant marine: none

Airports:
total: 1
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Communications --------------

Telephones: NA

Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios: 500 (1992)

Television broadcast stations: 1

Televisions: 350 (1992)

Defense -------

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of Australia

======================================================================

@Clipperton Island -----------------

(possession of France)

Map ---

Location: 10 17 N, 109 13 W -- Middle America, atoll in the North
Pacific Ocean, 1,120 km southwest of Mexico

Flag ----

Description: the flag of France is used

Geography ---------

Location: Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120
km southwest of Mexico

Geographic coordinates: 10 17 N, 109 13 W

Map references: World

Area:
total area: 7 sq km
land area: 7 sq km
comparative area: about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 11.1 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: claimed by Mexico

Climate: tropical, humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees C,
rains May-October

Terrain: coral atoll
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Rocher Clipperton 21 m

Natural resources: none

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (all coral)

Irrigated land: 0 sq km

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: subject to tornadoes
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: reef about 8 km in circumference

People ------

Population: uninhabited

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Clipperton Island
local long form: none
local short form: Ile Clipperton
former: sometimes called Ile de la Passion

Data code: IP

Type of government: French possession administered by France from
French Polynesia by the High Commissioner of the Republic

Capital: none; administered by France from French Polynesia

Independence: none (possession of France)

Flag: the flag of France is used

Economy -------

Economic overview: The only economic activity is a tuna fishing
station.

Transportation --------------

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

Defense -------

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of France

======================================================================

@Cocos (Keeling) Islands -----------------------

(territory of Australia)

Map ---

Location: 12 30 S, 96 50 E -- Southeastern Asia, group of islands
in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia, about one-half of the way
from Australia to Sri Lanka

Flag ----

Description: the flag of Australia is used

Geography ---------

Location: Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean,
south of Indonesia, about one-half of the way from Australia to Sri
Lanka

Geographic coordinates: 12 30 S, 96 50 E

Map references: Southeast Asia

Area:
total area: 14 sq km
land area: 14 sq km
comparative area: about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 2.6 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: pleasant, modified by the southeast trade wind for about
nine months of the year; moderate rainfall

Terrain: flat, low-lying coral atolls
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Natural resources: fish

Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
meadows and pastures: NA%
forest and woodland: NA%
other: NA%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: fresh water resources are limited to rainwater
accumulations in natural underground reservoirs
natural hazards: cyclones may occur in the early months of the year
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut
palms and other vegetation

People ------

Population: 609 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate: 0.94% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population

Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population

Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Sex ratio:
at birth: NA male(s)/female
under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
all ages: NA male(s)/female

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman

Nationality:
noun: Cocos Islander(s)
adjective: Cocos Islander

Ethnic divisions:
West Island: Europeans
Home Island: Cocos Malays

Religions: Sunni Muslim 57%, Christian 22%, other 21% (1981 est.)

Languages: English

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Data code: CK

Type of government: territory of Australia

Capital: West Island

Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)

Independence: none (territory of Australia)

National holiday: NA

Constitution: Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955

Legal system: based upon the laws of Australia and local laws

Suffrage: NA

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6
February 1952) is a hereditary monarch
head of government: Administrator John Bell READ (since NA) was
appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the
queen and Australia

Legislative branch: unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire
Council; President of the Islands Council Ronald GRANT (since NA)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: none

International organization participation: WMO

Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of Australia)

US diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)

Flag: the flag of Australia is used

Economy -------

Economic overview: Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the
sole cash crop. Copra and fresh coconuts are the major export
earners. Small local gardens and fishing contribute to the food
supply, but additional food and most other necessities must be
imported from Australia.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $NA

GDP real growth rate: NA%

GDP per capita: $NA

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Labor force: NA

Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Industries: copra products

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 1,000 kW
production: 2 million kWh
consumption per capita: 2,980 kWh (1990)

Agriculture: vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts

Exports: $NA
commodities: copra
partners: Australia

Imports: $NA
commodities: foodstuffs
partners: Australia

External debt: $NA

Economic aid: none

Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3477 (January
1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992),
1.2836 (1991)

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Transportation --------------

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km

Ports: none; lagoon anchorage only

Merchant marine: none

Airports:
total: 1
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Communications --------------

Telephones: NA

Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with
Australia via satellite; 1 satellite earth station of NA type

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios: 300 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 0
note: intermittent television service via satellite

Televisions: NA

Defense -------

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of Australia

======================================================================

@Colombia --------

Map ---

Location: 4 00 N, 72 00 W -- Northern South America, bordering the
Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North
Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama

Flag ----

Description: three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width),
blue, and red; similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and
bears the Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center

Geography ---------

Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea,
between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean,
between Ecuador and Panama

Geographic coordinates: 4 00 N, 72 00 W

Map references: South America

Area:
total area: 1,138,910 sq km
land area: 1,038,700 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Montana
note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and
Serranilla Bank

Land boundaries:
total: 7,408 km
border countries: Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km,
Peru 2,900 km, Venezuela 2,050 km

Coastline: 3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean
1,448 km)

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Venezuela
in the Gulf of Venezuela; territorial dispute with Nicaragua over
Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank

Climate: tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in
highlands

Terrain: flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes
Mountains, eastern lowland plains
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Nevado del Huila 5,750 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel,
gold, copper, emeralds

Land use:
arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 2%
meadows and pastures: 29%
forest and woodland: 49%
other: 16%

Irrigated land: 5,150 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: deforestation; soil damage from overuse of
pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle
emissions
natural hazards: highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional
earthquakes; periodic droughts
international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Tropical Timber 94

Geographic note: only South American country with coastlines on
both North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea

People ------

Population: 36,813,161 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 32% (male 5,948,599; female 5,806,450)
15-64 years: 64% (male 11,496,931; female 11,890,875)
65 years and over: 4% (male 741,788; female 928,518) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.66% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 21.34 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 4.65 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 25.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.81 years
male: 69.97 years
female: 75.73 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.35 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Colombian(s)
adjective: Colombian

Ethnic divisions: mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%,
mixed black-Indian 3%, Indian 1%

Religions: Roman Catholic 95%

Languages: Spanish

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 91.3%
male: 91.2%
female: 91.4%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Colombia
conventional short form: Colombia
local long form: Republica de Colombia
local short form: Colombia

Data code: CO

Type of government: republic; executive branch dominates
government structure

Capital: Bogota

Administrative divisions: 32 departments (departamentos, singular
- departamento) and 1 capital district* (distrito capital);
Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico, Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyaca,
Caldas, Caqueta, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba,
Cundinamarca, Guainia, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta,
Narino, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindio, Risaralda, San Andres
y Providencia, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes,
Vichada

Independence: 20 July 1810 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Day, 20 July (1810)

Constitution: 5 July 1991

Legal system: based on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled
after US procedures was enacted in 1992-93; judicial review of
executive and legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Ernesto SAMPER
Pizano (since 7 August 1994) elected for a four-year term by popular
vote; election last held 29 May 1994 (next to be held NA May 1998)
results - no candidate received more than 50% of the total vote; a
run-off election to select a president from the two leading
candidates was held 19 June 1994; results - Ernesto SAMPER Pizano
(Liberal Party) 50.4%, Andres PASTRANA Arango (Conservative Party)
48.6%, blank votes 1%; Humberto de la CALLE Lombana elected vice
president for a four-year term by popular vote in a new procedure
that replaces the traditional designation of vice presidents by
newly elected presidents
cabinet: Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Congress (Congreso)
Senate (Senado): elections last held 13 March 1994 (next to be held
NA March 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (102
total) Liberal Party 59, conservatives (includes PC, MSN, and NDF)
31, other 12
House of Representatives (Camara de Representantes): elections last
held 13 March 1994 (next to be held NA March 1998); seats - (161
total) Liberal Party 89, conservatives (includes PC, MSN, and NDF)
53, AD/M-19 2, other 17

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justical), highest court of criminal law, judges are selected from
the nominees of the Higher Council of Justice for eight-year terms;
Council of State, highest court of administrative law, judges are
selected from the nominees of the Higher Council of Justice for
eight-year terms; Constitutional Court, guards integrity and
supremacy of the constitution, rules on constitutionality of laws,
amendments to the constitution, and international treaties

Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party (PL), Luis Fernando
JARAMILLO; Conservative Party (PC), Jaime ARIAS; New Democratic
Force (NDF), Andres PASTRANA Arango; Democratic Alliance M-19
(AD/M-19) is a coalition of small leftist parties and dissident
liberals and conservatives; Patriotic Union (UP) is a legal
political party formed by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
(FARC) and Colombian Communist Party (PCC), Aida ABELLA; National
Salvation Movement (MSN) Alvaro GOMEZ Hurtado

Other political or pressure groups: three insurgent groups are
active in Colombia - Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC);
National Liberation Army (ELN); and dissidents of the recently
demobilized People's Liberation Army (EPL/D)

International organization participation: AG, CCC, CDB, ECLAC,
FAO, G- 3, G-11, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos LLERAS de la Fuente
chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338
FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and
Washington, DC
consulate(s): Atlanta and Tampa

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Myles R. R. FRECHETTE
embassy: Calle 22D-BIS, No. 47-51, Apartado Aereo 3831
mailing address: APO AA 34038
telephone: [57] (1) 315-0811
FAX: [57] (1) 315-2197
consulate(s): Barranquilla

Flag: three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue,
and red; similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears
the Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center

Economy -------

Economic overview: Boasting a diversified and stable economy,
Colombia has enjoyed Latin America's most consistent record of
growth over the last several decades. Gross domestic product (GDP)
has expanded every year for more than 25 years, and unlike many
other South American countries, Colombia did not default on any of
its official debts during the "lost decade" of the 1980s. Since
1990, when Bogota introduced a comprehensive reform program that
opened the economy to foreign trade and investment, GDP growth has
averaged more than 4% annually. Growth has been fueled in recent
years by the expansion of the construction and financial service
industries and an influx of foreign capital. Some foreign investors
have been deterred by an inadequate energy and transportation
infrastructure and the violence stemming from drug trafficking and
persistent rural guerrilla warfare, but direct foreign investment,
especially in the oil industry, is still rising at a rapid rate.
Although oil consequently is overtaking coffee as the main legal
export, earnings from illicit drugs probably exceed those from any
other export. Non-petroleum economic growth has been slowing,
however, in part because the tight monetary policies adopted to
offset the inflationary impact of high capital inflows and rising
government spending have slowed local sales and investment. Business
confidence also has been damaged by a political crisis stemming from
allegations that senior government officials, including President
SAMPER, solicited contributions from drug traffickers during the
1994 election campaign. The slowdown in the growth of
labor-intensive industries such as manufacturing has caused a small
rise in unemployment and interfered with President SAMPER'S plans to
lower the country's poverty rate, which has remained at about 40%
despite the expanding economy. Nevertheless, the booming oil sector,
growing foreign investment, and the fundamental stability of the
economy promise to keep growth positive for the foreseeable future,
barring severe, unpredictable shocks from developments in the
political or international arenas.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $192.5 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 5.3% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $5,300 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 21.5%
industry: 29%
services: 49.5%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 19.5% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 12 million (1990)
by occupation: services 46%, agriculture 30%, industry 24% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 9.5% (1995)

Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $24 billion including capital expenditures of $NA
(1996 est.)

Industries: textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear,
beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds

Industrial production growth rate: 3.5% (1995 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 10,220,000 kW
production: 33 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 890 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn,
sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp
farming

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of coca, opium poppies, and
cannabis; about 50,900 hectares of coca under cultivation in 1995;
the world's largest processor of coca derivatives into cocaine;
supplier of cocaine to the US and other international drug markets;
active aerial eradication program seeks to virtually eliminate coca
and opium crops by 1997

Exports: $10.5 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: petroleum, coffee, coal, bananas, fresh cut flowers
partners: US 39%, EC 25.7%, Japan 2.9%, Venezuela 8.5% (1992)

Imports: $13.5 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
commodities: industrial equipment, transportation equipment,
consumer goods, chemicals, paper products
partners: US 36%, EC 18%, Brazil 4%, Venezuela 6.5%, Japan 8.7%
(1992)

External debt: $14 billion (1995 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $30 million (1993)

Currency: 1 Colombian peso (Col$) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: Colombian pesos (Col$) per US$1 - 1,011.11
(January 1996), 912.83 (1995), 844.84 (1994), 863.06 (1993), 759.28
(1992), 633.05 (1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Transportation --------------

Railways:
total: 3,386 km
standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge (connects Cerrejon coal mines
to maritime port at Bahia Portete)
narrow gauge: 3,236 km 0.914-m gauge (1830 km in use) (1995)

Highways:
total: 107,200 km
paved: 12,600 km
unpaved: 94,600 km

Waterways: 14,300 km, navigable by river boats

Pipelines: crude oil 3,585 km; petroleum products 1,350 km;
natural gas 830 km; natural gas liquids 125 km

Ports: Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Leticia, Puerto
Bolivar, San Andres, Santa Marta, Tumaco, Turbo

Merchant marine:
total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 97,037 GRT/129,404 DWT
ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 8, container 3, oil tanker 3 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 989
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 9
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 33
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 35
with paved runways under 914 m: 557
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 41
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 311 (1995 est.)

Communications --------------

Telephones: 1.89 million (1986 est.)

Telephone system: modern system in many respects
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system; domestic
satellite system with 11 earth stations
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 413 (licensed), FM 217 (licensed),
shortwave 28

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 33

Televisions: 5.5 million (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada Nacional,
includes Marines and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea
Colombiana), National Police (Policia Nacional)

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 10,067,538
males fit for military service: 6,774,105
males reach military age (18) annually: 346,372 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2 billion, 2.8%
of GDP (1995)

======================================================================

@Comoros -------

Map ---

Location: 12 10 S, 44 15 E -- Southern Africa, group of islands in
the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern
Madagascar and northern Mozambique

Flag ----

Description: green with a white crescent in the center of the
field, its points facing downward; there are four white five-pointed
stars placed in a line between the points of the crescent; the
crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam;
the four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago -
Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (a territorial collectivity of
France, but claimed by Comoros); the design, the most recent of
several, is described in the constitution approved by referendum on
7 June 1992

Geography ---------

Location: Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique
Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and
northern Mozambique

Geographic coordinates: 12 10 S, 44 15 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total area: 2,170 sq km
land area: 2,170 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than 12 times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 340 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: claims French-administered Mayotte

Climate: tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)

Terrain: volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to
low hills
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Kartala 2,360 m

Natural resources: negligible

Land use:
arable land: 35%
permanent crops: 8%
meadows and pastures: 7%
forest and woodland: 16%
other: 34%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: soil degradation and erosion results from crop
cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation
natural hazards: cyclones and tsunamis possible during rainy season
(December to April); Mount Kartala on Grand Comore is an active
volcano
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection; signed, but not ratified - Desertification

Geographic note: important location at northern end of Mozambique
Channel

People ------

Population: 569,237 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 48% (male 137,235; female 136,207)
15-64 years: 49% (male 138,447; female 142,058)
65 years and over: 3% (male 7,242; female 8,048) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.55% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 45.82 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 10.28 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 75.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 58.7 years
male: 56.43 years
female: 61.05 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.65 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Comoran(s)
adjective: Comoran

Ethnic divisions: Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava

Religions: Sunni Muslim 86%, Roman Catholic 14%

Languages: Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a blend
of Swahili and Arabic)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 57.3%
male: 64.2%
female: 50.4%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros
conventional short form: Comoros
local long form: Republique Federale Islamique des Comores
local short form: Comores

Data code: CN

Type of government: independent republic

Capital: Moroni

Administrative divisions: three islands; Grand Comore (Njazidja),
Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali)
note: there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni,
Moroni, and Mutsamudu

Independence: 6 July 1975 (from France)

National holiday: Independence Day, 6 July (1975)

Constitution: 7 June 1992

Legal system: French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim (since 16 March
1996) was elected by popular vote; election last held 16 March 1996
(next to be held March 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister MASSOUNDI Tadjidine Ben Said
(since March 1996) was appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
Federal Assembly (Assemblee Federale): elections last held 12-20
December 1993 (next to be held by NA January 1998); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (42 total) ruling coalition:
RDR 15, UNDC 5, MWANGAZA 2; opposition: UDZIMA 8; other smaller
parties: 10; two seats remained unfilled

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme), two members are
appointed by the president, two members are elected by the Federal
Assembly, one by the Council of each island, plus all the former
presidents of the republic

Political parties and leaders: Islands' Fraternity and Unity Party
(CHUMA), Said Ali KEMAL; over 20 political parties are currently
active, the most important of which are Comoran Union for Progress
(UDZIMA), Omar TAMOU; Comoran Party for Democracy and Progress
(PCDP), Ali MROUDJAE; Realizing Freedom's Capability (UWEZO),
Mouazair ABDALLAH; Democratic Front of the Comoros (FDR), Moustapha
CHELKH; Dialogue Proposition Action (DPA/MWANGAZA), Said MCHAWGAMA;
Rally for Change and Democracy (RACHADE), Hassan HACHIM; Union for
Democracy and Decentralization (UNDC), Mohamed Taki Halidi IBRAHAM;
Rally for Democracy and Renewal (RDR); Comoran Popular Front (FPC),
Mohamed HASSANALI, Mohamed El Arif OUKACHA, Abdou MOUSTAKIM
(Secretary General)

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AL,
CCC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Ahamada DJIMBANAOU (ambassador
to the US and Canada)
chancery: (temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of the Federal
and Islamic Republic of the Comoros to the United Nations, 336 East
45th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 972-8010
FAX: [1] (212) 983-4712

US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
Comoros; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Comoros

Flag: green with a white crescent in the center of the field, its
points facing downward; there are four white five-pointed stars
placed in a line between the points of the crescent; the crescent,
stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam; the four
stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago - Mwali,
Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (a territorial collectivity of France,
but claimed by Comoros); the design, the most recent of several, is
described in the constitution approved by referendum on 7 June 1992

Economy -------

Economic overview: One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros
is made up of several islands that have poor transportation links, a
young and rapidly increasing population, and few natural resources.
The low educational level of the labor force contributes to a
subsistence level of economic activity, high unemployment, and a
heavy dependence on foreign grants and technical assistance.
Agriculture, including fishing, hunting, and forestry, is the
leading sector of the economy. It contributes 40% to GDP, employs
80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports. The
country is not self-sufficient in food production; rice, the main
staple, accounts for 90% of imports. The government is struggling to
upgrade education and technical training, to privatize commercial
and industrial enterprises, to improve health services, to diversify
exports, and to reduce the high population growth rate. Continued
foreign support is essential if the goal of 4% annual GDP growth is
to be reached in the late 1990s.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $370 million (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 0.9% (1994 est.)

GDP per capita: $700 (1994 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15% (1993 est.)

Labor force: 140,000 (1982)
by occupation: agriculture 80%, government 3%

Unemployment rate: 15.8% (1989)

Budget:
revenues: $83 million
expenditures: $92 million, including capital expenditures of $32
million (1992)

Industries: tourism, perfume distillation, textiles, furniture,
jewelry, construction materials, soft drinks

Industrial production growth rate: -6.5% (1989 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 16,000 kW
production: 17 million kWh
consumption per capita: 27 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts,
bananas, cassava (tapioca)

Exports: $13.7 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities: vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, copra
partners: US 44%, France 40%, Germany 6%, Africa 5% (1992)

Imports: $40.9 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities: rice and other foodstuffs, petroleum products, cement,
consumer goods
partners: France 34%, South Africa 14%, Kenya 8%, Japan 4% (1992)

External debt: $160 million (1992 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 Comoran franc (CF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Comoran francs (CF) per US$1 - 375.42 (January
1996), 374.36 (1995), 416.40 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),
282.11 (1991)
note: beginning 12 January 1994, the Comoran franc was devalued to
75 per French franc from 50 per French franc at which it had been
fixed since 1948

Fiscal year: calendar year

Transportation --------------

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 1,104 km
paved: 400 km
unpaved: 704 km (1988 est.)

Ports: Fomboni, Moroni, Mutsamudu

Merchant marine: none

Airports:
total: 4
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 (1995 est.)

Communications --------------

Telephones: 3,770 (1991 est.)

Telephone system: sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF
radiotelephone communication stations
domestic: HF radiotelephone communications and microwave radio relay
international: HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and
Reunion

Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 0

Televisions: 200 (1991 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Comoran Security Force

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 121,854
males fit for military service: 72,873 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

======================================================================

@Congo -----

Map ---

Location: 1 00 S, 15 00 E -- Western Africa, bordering the South
Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon

Flag ----

Description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a
yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower
triangle is red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Geography ---------

Location: Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean,
between Angola and Gabon

Geographic coordinates: 1 00 S, 15 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total area: 342,000 sq km
land area: 341,500 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Montana

Land boundaries:
total: 5,504 km
border countries: Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km, Central African
Republic 467 km, Gabon 1,903 km, Zaire 2,410 km

Coastline: 169 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm

International disputes: long segment of boundary with Zaire along
the Congo River is indefinite (no division of the river or its
islands has been made)

Climate: tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June
to October); constantly high temperatures and humidity; particularly
enervating climate astride the Equator

Terrain: coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern
basin
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m

Natural resources: petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium,
copper, phosphates, natural gas

Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 29%
forest and woodland: 62%
other: 7%

Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1989)

Environment:
current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water
pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable;
deforestation
natural hazards: seasonal flooding
international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Ozone Layer
Protection, Tropical Timber 83; signed, but not ratified -
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea,
Tropical Timber 94

Geographic note: about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville,
Pointe Noire, or along the railroad between them

People ------

Population: 2,527,841 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 550,971; female 545,096)
15-64 years: 53% (male 657,035; female 688,441)
65 years and over: 4% (male 34,973; female 51,325) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.19% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 39.19 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 17.35 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 108.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 45.77 years
male: 44.21 years
female: 47.37 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.15 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Congolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Congolese or Congo

Ethnic divisions:
south: Kongo 48%
north: Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%
center: Teke 17%, Europeans 8,500 (mostly French)

Religions: Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%

Languages: French (official), African languages (Lingala and
Kikongo are the most widely used)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 74.9%
male: 83.1%
female: 67.2%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of the Congo
conventional short form: Congo
local long form: Republique Populaire du Congo
local short form: Congo
former: Congo/Brazzaville

Data code: CF

Type of government: republic

Capital: Brazzaville

Administrative divisions: 9 regions (regions, singular - region)
and 1 commune*; Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou,
Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha

Independence: 15 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday: Congolese National Day, 15 August (1960)

Constitution: new constitution approved by referendum March 1992

Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Pascal LISSOUBA (since August 1992);
elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last
held NA August 1992 (next to be held NA August 1997); results -
President Pascal LISSOUBA won 61% of the vote
head of government: Prime Minister Jacques Joachim YHOMBI-OPANGO
(since 23 June 1993) appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

Legislative branch: bicameral
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): election last held 3
October 1993 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (125 total) UPADS 64, URD/PCT 58, others 3
Senate: election last held 26 July 1992 (next to be held NA July
1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total)
UPADS 23, MCDDI 14, RDD 8, RDPS 5, PCT 2, others 8

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Political parties and leaders: of Congo's many political parties,
the most important are Congolese Labor Party (PCT), Denis
SASSOU-NGUESSO, president; Association for Democracy and Development
(RDD), Joachim Yhombi OPANGO, president; Association for Democracy
and Social Progress (RDPS), Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA,
president; Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development
(MCDDI), Bernard KOLELAS, leader; Pan-African Union for Social
Development (UPADS), Pascal LISSOUBA, leader; Union of Democratic
Forces (UFD), David Charles GANAO, leader; Union for Democratic
Renewal (URD); Union for Development and Social Progress (UDPS),
Jean-Michael BOKAMBA-YANGOUMA, leader

Other political or pressure groups: Union of Congolese Socialist
Youth (UJSC); Congolese Trade Union Congress (CSC); Revolutionary
Union of Congolese Women (URFC); General Union of Congolese Pupils
and Students (UGEEC)

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UDEAC,
UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Daniel
MOUELLET
chancery: 4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 726-0825
FAX: [1] (202) 726-1860

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador William C. RAMSEY
embassy: Avenue Amilcar Cabral, Brazzaville
mailing address: B. P. 1015, Brazzaville
telephone: [242] 83 20 70
FAX: [242] 83 63 38

Flag: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow
band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower
triangle is red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy -------

Economic overview: Congo's economy is a mixture of village
agriculture and handicrafts, an industrial sector based largely on
oil, support services, and a government characterized by budget
problems and overstaffing. Oil has supplanted forestry as the
mainstay of the economy, providing about 90% of government revenues
and exports. In the early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues enabled
Congo to finance large-scale development projects with GDP growth
averaging 5% annually, one of the highest rates in Africa.
Subsequently, falling oil prices cut GDP growth by half. Moreover,
the Congolese Government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its
oil earnings, contributing to the government's shortage of revenues.
The 12 January 1994 devaluation of Franc Zone currencies by 50%
resulted in inflation of 61% in 1994. Recent efforts to implement
economic reforms have begun to show progress; the IMF has
recommended approval of an Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility
agreement in 1996.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $7.7 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 3.3% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $3,100 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 11.4%
industry: 35.2%
services: 53.4% (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 61% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 79,100 wage earners
by occupation: agriculture 75%, commerce, industry, and government
25%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $2.18 billion (1994 est.)
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Industries: petroleum extraction, cement kilning, lumbering,
brewing, sugar milling, palm oil, soap, cigarette making

Industrial production growth rate: 3.7% (estimated average annual
growth rate for 1980-92)

Electricity:
capacity: 120,000 kW
production: 400 million kWh
consumption per capita: 201 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: cassava (tapioca) accounts for 90% of food output,
sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest
products

Exports: $1 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: crude oil 90%, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee,
diamonds
partners: Italy, France, Spain, other EU countries, US, Taiwan

Imports: $600 million (c.i.f., 1995)
commodities: intermediate manufactures, capital equipment,
construction materials, foodstuffs, petroleum products
partners: France, Italy, other EU countries, US, Japan, Thailand

External debt: $5 billion (1993)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes

Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 500.56 (January
1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),
282.11 (1991)
note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF
100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since
1948

Fiscal year: calendar year

Transportation --------------

Railways:
total: 795 km (1995 est.)
narrow gauge: 795 km 1.067-m gauge (includes 285 km that are
privately owned)

Highways:
total: 12,745 km
paved: 1,236 km
unpaved: 11,509 km (1992 est.)

Waterways: the Congo and Ubangi (Oubangui) Rivers provide 1,120 km
of commercially navigable water transport; other rivers are used for
local traffic only

Pipelines: crude oil 25 km

Ports: Brazzaville, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire

Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,218 GRT/4,100 DWT
(1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 34
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
with paved runways under 914 m: 9
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 7
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 14 (1995 est.)

Communications --------------

Telephones: 18,000 (1983 est.)

Telephone system: services adequate for government use; key
exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo
domestic: primary network consists of microwave radio relay and
coaxial cable
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 4 (1987 est.)

Televisions: 8,500 (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, National Police

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 582,103
males fit for military service: 296,602
males reach military age (20) annually: 25,247 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $110 million,
3.8% of GDP (1993)

======================================================================

@Cook Islands ------------

(free association with New Zealand)

Map ---

Location: 21 14 S, 159 46 W -- Oceania, group of islands in the
South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New
Zealand

Flag ----

Description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and a large circle of 15 white five-pointed stars (one for
every island) centered in the outer half of the flag

Geography ---------