Chapter V (14)

Flag: light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the
flag; the shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered
by the cross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm
tree, bananas, and a white dove

Economy -------

Economic overview: Fiji, richly endowed with forest, mineral, and
fish resources, is one of the most developed of the Pacific island
economies, though still with a large subsistence sector. Sugar
exports and tourism are the major sources of foreign exchange.
Industry contributes 17% to GDP; sugar processing makes up one-third
of industrial activity. Roughly 250,000 tourists visit each year.
Political uncertainty and drought, however, contribute to
substantial fluctuations in earnings from tourism and sugar and to
the emigration of skilled workers. In 1992, growth was approximately
3%, based on growth in tourism and a lessening of labor-management
disputes in the sugar and gold-mining sectors. In 1993, the
government's budgeted growth rate of 3% was not achieved because of
a decline in non-sugar agricultural output and damage from Cyclone
Kina. Growth in 1994 of 5% was largely attributable to increased
tourism and expansion in the manufacturing sector.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $4.7 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 2.2% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $6,100 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 22%
industry: 17%
services: 61% (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1995)

Labor force: 235,000
by occupation: subsistence agriculture 67%, wage earners 18%, salary
earners 15% (1987)

Unemployment rate: 5.4% (1992)

Budget:
revenues: $495.6 million
expenditures: $591.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995 est.)

Industries: sugar, tourism, copra, gold, silver, clothing, lumber,
small cottage industries

Industrial production growth rate: 0% (1993 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 200,000 kW
production: 480 million kWh
consumption per capita: 581 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet
potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish catch nearly
33,000 tons (1989)

Exports: $571.8 million (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: sugar 40%, clothing, gold, processed fish, lumber
partners: EC 26%, Australia 15%, Pacific Islands 11%, Japan 6%

Imports: $864.3 million (c.i.f., 1995)
commodities: machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products,
food, consumer goods, chemicals
partners: Australia 30%, NZ 17%, Japan 13%, EC 6%, US 6%

External debt: $670 million (1994 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 Fijian dollar (F$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Fijian dollars (F$) per US$1 - 1.4347 (January
1996), 1.4063 (1995), 1.4641 (1994), 1.5418 (1993), 1.5030 (1992),
1.4756 (1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 597 km; note - belongs to the government-owned Fiji Sugar
Corporation
narrow gauge: 597 km 0.610-m gauge (1995)

Highways:
total: 4,800 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km

Waterways: 203 km; 122 km navigable by motorized craft and
200-metric-ton barges

Ports: Labasa, Lautoka, Levuka, Savusavu, Suva

Merchant marine:
total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,267 GRT/17,884 DWT
ships by type: chemical tanker 2, oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off
cargo 2 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 21
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 15
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 60,017 (1987 est.)

Telephone system: modern local, interisland, and international
(wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone,
telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio communications
center
domestic: NA
international: access to important cable link between US and Canada
and NZ and Australia; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific
Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 0

Televisions: 12,000 (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF; includes army,
navy, and air elements)

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 205,616
males fit for military service: 113,339
males reach military age (18) annually: 8,746 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $28 million, 2.5%
of GDP (1995)

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

@Finland -------

Map ---

Location: 64 00 N, 26 00 E -- Northern Europe, bordering the
Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and
Russia

Flag ----

Description: white with a blue cross that extends to the edges of
the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist
side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Geography ---------

Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of
Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia

Geographic coordinates: 64 00 N, 26 00 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total area: 337,030 sq km
land area: 305,470 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Montana

Land boundaries:
total: 2,628 km
border countries: Norway 729 km, Sweden 586 km, Russia 1,313 km

Coastline: 1,126 km (excludes islands and coastal indentations)

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 6 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
territorial sea: 4 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: cold temperate; potentially subarctic, but comparatively
mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current,
Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes

Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with
lakes and low hills
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Haltiatunturi 1,328 m

Natural resources: timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver

Land use:
arable land: 8%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 76%
other: 16%

Irrigated land: 620 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: air pollution from manufacturing and power plants
contributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes,
agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not
ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea

Geographic note: long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is
northernmost national capital on European continent; population
concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain

People ------

Population: 5,105,230 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 19% (male 492,616; female 471,736)
15-64 years: 67% (male 1,725,113; female 1,687,974)
65 years and over: 14% (male 275,927; female 451,864) (July 1996
est.)

Population growth rate: 0.1% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 11.32 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 10.92 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 4.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.47 years
male: 73.82 years
female: 77.18 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.68 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Finn(s)
adjective: Finnish

Ethnic divisions: Finn, Swede, Lapp, Gypsy, Tatar

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Greek Orthodox 1%, none 9%,
other 1%

Languages: Finnish 93.5% (official), Swedish 6.3% (official),
small Lapp- and Russian-speaking minorities

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
total population: 100%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Finland
conventional short form: Finland
local long form: Suomen Tasavalta
local short form: Suomi

Data code: FI

Type of government: republic

Capital: Helsinki

Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (laanit, singular - laani);
Ahvenanmaa, Hame, Keski-Suomi, Kuopio, Kymi, Lappi, Mikkeli, Oulu,
Pohjois-Karjala, Turku ja Pori, Uusimaa, Vaasa

Independence: 6 December 1917 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day, 6 December (1917)

Constitution: 17 July 1919

Legal system: civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court
may request legislation interpreting or modifying laws; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Martti AHTISAARI (since 1 March 1994) was
elected for a six-year term by popular vote; election last held 31
January-6 February 1994 (next to be held NA January 2000); results -
Martti AHTISAARI 54%, Elisabeth REHN 46%
head of government: Prime Minister Paavo LIPPONEN (since 13 April
1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sauli NIINISTO (since 13 April 1995)
were appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of State (Valtioneuvosto) was appointed by the
president, responsible to Parliament

Legislative branch: unicameral
Parliament (Eduskunta): elections last held 19 March 1995 (next to
be held NA March 1999); results - Social Democratic Party 28.3%,
Center Party 19.9%, National Coalition (Conservative) Party 17.9%,
Leftist Alliance (Communist) 11.2%, Swedish People's Party 5.1%,
Green League 6.5%, Ecology Party 0.3%, Rural 1.3%, Finnish Christian
League 3.0%, Liberal People's Party 0.6%, Young Finns 2.8%; seats -
(200 total) Social Democratic Party 63, Center Party 44, National
Coalition (Conservative) Party 39, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 22,
Swedish People's Party 11, Green League 9, Ecology Party 1, Rural 1,
Finnish Christian League 7, Young Finns 2, Aaland Islands 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Korkein Oikeus), judges appointed
by the president

Political parties and leaders:
government coalition: Social Democratic Party, Paavo LIPPONEN;
National Coalition (conservative) Party, Sauli NIINISTO; Leftist
Alliance (Communist) People's Democratic League and Democratic
Alternative, Claes ANDERSSON; Swedish People's Party, (Johan) Ole
NORRBACK; Green League, Pekka HAAVISTO
other: Center Party, Esko AHO; Finnish Christian League, Toimi
KANKAANNIEMI; Rural Party, Raimo VISTBACKA; Liberal People's Party,
Tuulikki UKKOLA; Greens Ecological Party (EPV); Young Finns, Risto
PENTTILAE

Other political or pressure groups: Finnish Communist Party-Unity,
Yrjo HAKANEN; Constitutional Rightist Party; Finnish Pensioners
Party; Communist Workers Party, Timo LAHDENMAKI

International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),
AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EIB,
ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR,
UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jaakko LAAJAVA
chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 298-5800
FAX: [1] (202) 298-6030
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Derek N. SHEARER
embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14A, FIN-00140, Helsinki
mailing address: APO AE 09723
telephone: [358] (0) 171931
FAX: [358] (0) 174681

Flag: white with a blue cross that extends to the edges of the
flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in
the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy -------

Economic overview: Finland has a highly industrialized, largely
free-market economy, with per capita output equaling that of the UK,
France and Italy. Its key economic sector is manufacturing -
principally the wood, metals, and engineering industries. Trade is
important, with the export of goods representing about 30% of GDP.
Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends on imports
of raw materials, energy, and some components for manufactured
goods. Because of the climate, agricultural development is limited
to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products. Forestry, an
important export earner, provides a secondary occupation for the
rural population. The economy, which experienced an average of 4.9%
annual growth between 1987 and 1989, sank into deep recession in
1991 as GDP contracted by 6.5%. The recession - which continued in
1992 with GDP contracting by 4.1% - has been caused by economic
overheating, depressed foreign markets, and the dismantling of the
barter system between Finland and the former Soviet Union under
which Soviet oil and gas had been exchanged for Finnish manufactured
goods. The Finnish Government has proposed efforts to increase
industrial competitiveness and efficiency by an increase in exports
to Western markets, cuts in public expenditures, partial
privatization of state enterprises, and changes in monetary policy.
In June 1991 Helsinki had tied the markka to the European Union's
(EU) European Currency Unit (ECU) to promote stability. Ongoing
speculation resulting from a lack of confidence in the government's
policies forced Helsinki to devalue the markka by about 12% in
November 1991 and to indefinitely break the link in September 1992.
The devaluations have boosted the competitiveness of Finnish
exports. The recession bottomed out in 1993, and Finland
participated in the general European upturn of 1994. Unemployment
probably will remain a serious problem during the next few years;
the majority of Finnish firms face a weak domestic market and the
troubled German and Swedish export markets. The Finns voted in an
October 1994 referendum to enter the EU, and Finland officially
joined the Union on 1 January 1995. Increasing integration with
Western Europe will dominate the economic picture over the next few
years.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $92.4 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 5% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $18,200 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.6%
industry: 28%
services: 67.4% (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 2.533 million
by occupation: public services 30.4%, industry 20.9%, commerce
15.0%, finance, insurance, and business services 10.2%, agriculture
and forestry 8.6%, transport and communications 7.7%, construction
7.2%

Unemployment rate: 17% (1995)

Budget:
revenues: $21.7 billion
expenditures: $31.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1993 est.)

Industries: metal products, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, copper
refining, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing

Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1993 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 13,360,000 kW
production: 58 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 12,196 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: cereals, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; annual
fish catch about 160,000 metric tons

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Latin American cocaine for
the West European market

Exports: $29.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: paper and pulp, machinery, chemicals, metals, timber
partners: EU 46.5% (Germany 13.4%, UK 10.3%), Sweden 11%, US 7.2%,
Japan 2.1%, FSU 8.6% (1994)

Imports: $23.2 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products,
chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile
yarn and fabrics, fodder grains
partners: EU 44% (Germany 15%, UK 8.3%), Sweden 10.4%, US 7.6%,
Japan 6.5%, FSU 10.3 (1994)

External debt: $30 billion (December 1993)

Economic aid:
donor: ODA, $355 million (1993)

Currency: 1 markka (FMk) or Finmark = 100 pennia

Exchange rates: markkaa (FMk) per US$1 - 4.4425 (January 1996),
4.3667 (1995), 5.2235 (1994), 5.7123 (1993), 4.4794 (1992), 4.0440
(1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 5,895 km
broad gauge: 5,895 km 1.524-m gauge (1,993 km electrified; 480 km
double- or more-track) (1995)

Highways:
total: 76,755 km
paved: 47,588 km (including 318 km of expressways)
unpaved: 29,167 km (1992 est.)

Waterways: 6,675 km total (including Saimaa Canal); 3,700 km
suitable for steamers

Pipelines: natural gas 580 km

Ports: Hamina, Helsinki, Kokkola, Kotka, Loviisa, Oulu, Pori,
Rauma, Turku, Uusikaupunki, Varkaus

Merchant marine:
total: 92 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,051,231 GRT/1,075,397
DWT
ships by type: bulk 8, cargo 20, chemical tanker 5, oil tanker 12,
passenger 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 31,
short-sea passenger 12, vehicle carrier 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 157
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 3
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 23
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 13
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 21
with paved runways under 914 m: 92
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 2.78 million (1986 est.)

Telephone system: good service from cable and microwave radio
relay network
domestic: cable and microwave radio relay
international: 1 submarine cable; satellite earth stations - access
to Intelsat transmission service via a Swedish satellite earth
station, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean Regions); note -
Finland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic
countries (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 105, shortwave 0

Radios: 4.98 million (1991 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 235

Televisions: 2.1 million (1983 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Frontier Guard (includes Sea
Guard)

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 1,307,128
males fit for military service: 1,074,540
males reach military age (17) annually: 32,760 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.9 billion,
1.6% of GDP (1995)

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

@France ------

Map ---

Location: 46 00 N, 2 00 E -- Western Europe, bordering the Bay of
Biscay and English Channel, between Belgium and Spain southeast of
the UK; bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain

Flag ----

Description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side),
white, and red; known as the French Tricouleur (Tricolor); the
design and colors are similar to a number of other flags, including
those of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire, and Luxembourg; the
official flag for all French dependent areas

Geography ---------

Location: Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English
Channel, between Belgium and Spain southeast of the UK; bordering
the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain

Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N, 2 00 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total area: 547,030 sq km
land area: 545,630 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Colorado
note: includes only metropolitan France (which includes Corsica),
but excludes the overseas administrative divisions

Land boundaries:
total: 2,892.4 km
border countries: Andorra 60 km, Belgium 620 km, Germany 451 km,
Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Spain 623 km,
Switzerland 573 km

Coastline: 3,427 km (mainland 2,783 km, Corsica 644 km)

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa
Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island;
Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; Seychelles
claims Tromelin Island; Suriname claims part of French Guiana;
Mexico claims Clipperton Island; territorial claim in Antarctica
(Adelie Land); Saint Pierre and Miquelon is focus of maritime
boundary dispute between Canada and France; claims Matthew and
Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia

Climate: generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters
and hot summers along the Mediterranean

Terrain: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and
west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps
in east
lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m
highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m

Natural resources: coal, iron ore, bauxite, fish, timber, zinc,
potash

Land use:
arable land: 32%
permanent crops: 2%
meadows and pastures: 23%
forest and woodland: 27%
other: 16%
note: includes Corsica

Irrigated land: 14,850 sq km (1993 est.); note - includes Corsica

Environment:
current issues: some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution
from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban
wastes, agricultural runoff
natural hazards: flooding
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine
Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not
ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
Compounds, Desertification, Law of the Sea

Geographic note: largest West European nation; occasional strong,
cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral

People ------

Population: 58,317,450 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.04% (male 5,688,505; female 5,417,355)
15-64 years: 65.62% (male 19,147,369; female 19,120,935)
65 years and over: 15.34% (male 3,589,100; female 5,354,186) (July
1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.34% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 10.82 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 9.27 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 1.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.93 years
male: 73.98 years
female: 82.11 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.49 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
adjective: French

Ethnic divisions: Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North
African, Indochinese, Basque minorities

Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim
(North African workers) 1%, unaffiliated 6%

Languages: French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and
languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque,
Flemish)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
total population: 99%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: French Republic
conventional short form: France
local long form: Republique Francaise
local short form: France

Data code: FR

Type of government: republic

Capital: Paris

Administrative divisions: 22 regions (regions, singular - region);
Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne,
Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse, Franche-Comte, Haute-Normandie,
Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine,
Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie,
Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Rhone-Alpes
note: metropolitan France is divided into 22 regions (including the
"territorial collectivity" of Corse or Corsica) and are subdivided
into 96 departments; see separate entries for the overseas
departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion) and the
territorial collectivities (Mayotte, Saint Pierre and Miquelon)

Dependent areas: Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa
Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands,
Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, New Caledonia, Tromelin
Island, Wallis and Futuna
note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica

Independence: 486 (unified by Clovis)

National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July
(1789)

Constitution: 28 September 1958, amended concerning election of
president in 1962, amended to comply with provisions of EC
Maastricht Treaty in 1992; amended to tighten immigration laws 1993

Legal system: civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of
administrative but not legislative acts

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995) was
elected for a seven-year term by direct universal suffrage; election
last held 17 May 1995 (next to be held by May 2002); results -
Second Ballot Jacques CHIRAC 52.64%, Lionel JOSPIN 47.36%
head of government: Prime Minister Alain JUPPE (since 18 May 1995)
was appointed by the president
cabinet: the Council of Ministers was appointed by the president on
the suggestion of the prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlement)
Senate (Senat): elections last held 24 September 1995 (next to be
held September 1998; nine-year term, elected by thirds every three
years); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (321 total;
296 metropolitan France, 13 for overseas departments and
territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad) RPR 91, UDF 132, PS
75, PCF 16, other 7
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 21 and
28 March 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results - percent of vote
by party NA; seats - (577 total) RPR 247, UDF 213, PS 67, PCF 24,
independents 26; note - seating as of 24 September 1995: RPR 247,
UDF 208, PS 71, PCF 24, independents 27

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Appeals (Cour de Cassation),
judges are appointed by the president from nominations of the High
Council of the Judiciary

Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic (RPR), Alain
JUPPE, president; Union for French Democracy (UDF - coalition of PR,
FD, RAD, PSD), Francois LEOTARD; Republican Party (PR), Francois
LEOTARD; Democratic Force (FD), Francois BAYROU; Radical (RAD),
Andre ROSSINOT; Socialist Party (PS), Lionel JOSPIN; Left Radical
Movement (MRG); Communist Party (PCF), Robert HUE; National Front
(FN), Jean-Marie LE PEN; The Greens, Dominique VOYNET; Generation
Ecology (GE), Brice LALONDE; Citizens Movement (MDC), Jean Pierre
CHEVENEMENT

Other political or pressure groups: Communist-controlled labor
union (Confederation Generale du Travail - CGT) nearly 2.4 million
members (claimed); Socialist-leaning labor union (Confederation
Francaise Democratique du Travail - CFDT) about 800,000 members
(est.); independent labor union (Force Ouvriere) 1 million members
(est.); independent white-collar union (Confederation Generale des
Cadres) 340,000 members (claimed); National Council of French
Employers (Conseil National du Patronat Francais - CNPF or Patronat)

International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, AG
(observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, CCC, CDB
(non-regional), CE, CERN, EBRD, ECA (associate), ECE, ECLAC, EIB,
ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, FZ, G- 5, G- 7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR,
NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN, UN
Security Council, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNRWA,
UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Francois BUJON DE L'ESTANG
chancery: 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 944-6000
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston,
Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San
Juan (Puerto Rico)

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela C. HARRIMAN
embassy: 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08
mailing address: PSC 116, APO AE 09777
telephone: [33] (1) 43-12-22-22
FAX: [33] (1) 42 66 97 83
consulate(s) general: Marseille, Strasbourg

Flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and
red; known as the French Tricouleur (Tricolor); the design and
colors are similar to a number of other flags, including those of
Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire, and Luxembourg; the official
flag for all French dependent areas

Economy -------

Economic overview: One of the four West European trillion-dollar
economies, the French economy features considerable - albeit
diminishing - state control over its capitalistic market system. In
running important industrial segments (railways, airlines,
electricity, telecommunications), administrating an exceptionally
generous social welfare system, and staffing an enormous
bureaucracy, the state spends about 55% of GDP. France has
substantial agricultural resources and a diversified modern
industrial sector. Large tracts of fertile land, the application of
modern technology, and subsidies have combined to make it the
leading agricultural producer in Western Europe. Largely
self-sufficient in agricultural products, France is a major exporter
of wheat and dairy products. The industrial sector generates about
one-quarter of GDP, and the growing services sector has become
crucial to the economy. Following stagnation and recession in
1991-93, French GDP expanded 2.4% in 1994 and in 1995. Persistently
high unemployment still poses a major problem for the government, as
will the need to cut back on welfare benefits and bureaucratic
budgets. Paris remains committed to maintaining the franc-deutsche
mark parity, which has kept French interest rates high at the
expense of jobs. Although the pace of economic and financial
integration within the European Union has slowed down, integration
will remain a major force in France, shaping the fortunes of the
various economic sectors over the next few years.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.173 trillion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 2.4% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $20,200 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.4%
industry: 26.5%
services: 71.1% (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (1995)

Labor force: 24.17 million
by occupation: services 61.5%, industry 31.3%, agriculture 7.2%
(1987)
note: includes Corsica

Unemployment rate: 11.7% (yearend 1995)

Budget:
revenues: $220.5 billion
expenditures: $249.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $47
billion (1993 budget)

Industries: steel, machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy,
aircraft, electronics, mining, textiles, food processing, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: 2.6% (1994 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 105,250,000 kW
production: 447 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 6,149 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes;
beef, dairy products; fish catch of 850,000 metric tons ranks among
world's top 20 countries and is all used domestically

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American cocaine and
Southwest Asian heroin

Exports: $235.5 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals,
foodstuffs, agricultural products, iron and steel products, textiles
and clothing
partners: Germany 17.1%, Italy 9.3%, Spain 7.1%, Belgium-Luxembourg
8.7%, UK 9.9%, Netherlands 4.6%, US 7.0%, Japan 2.0%, Russia 0.5%

Imports: $229.3 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
commodities: crude oil, machinery and equipment, agricultural
products, chemicals, iron and steel products
partners: Germany 17.8%, Italy 10.1%, US 8.5%, Netherlands 4.9%,
Spain 8.8%, Belgium-Luxembourg 9.1%, UK 7.9%, Japan 3.7%, Russia 1.2%

External debt: $300 billion (1993 est.)

Economic aid:
donor: ODA, $7.915 billion (1993)

Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.0056 (January
1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992),
5.6421 (1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 33,891 km
standard gauge: 33,524 km 1.435-m gauge; 32,275 km are operated by
French National Railways (SNCF); 13,741 km of SNCF routes are
electrified and 12,132 km are double- or multiple-tracked
narrow gauge: 367 km 1.000-m gauge
note: includes Corsica; does not include 33 tourist railroads,
totalling 469 km, many being of very narrow gauge (1995)

Highways:
total: 1,511,200 km
paved: 811,200 km (including 7,700 km of expressways)
unpaved: 700,000 km (1992 est.)
note: includes Corsica

Waterways: 14,932 km; 6,969 km heavily traveled

Pipelines: crude oil 3,059 km; petroleum products 4,487 km;
natural gas 24,746 km

Ports: Bordeaux, Boulogne, Cherbourg, Dijon, Dunkerque, La
Pallice, Le Havre, Lyon, Marseille, Mullhouse, Nantes, Paris, Rouen,
Saint Nazaire, Saint Malo, Strasbourg

Merchant marine:
total: 55 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,203,086 GRT/1,779,263
DWT
ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 5, chemical tanker 5, container 7,
liquefied gas tanker 3, oil tanker 16, passenger 1, roll-on/roll-off
cargo 6, short-sea passenger 5, specialized tanker 1
note: France also maintains a captive register for French-owned
ships in the Kerguelen Islands (French Southern and Antarctic Lands)
(1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 460
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 13
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 26
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 91
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 73
with paved runways under 914 m: 179
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 75 (1995 est.)
note: includes Corsica

Heliports: 3 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 35 million (1987 est.)

Telephone system: highly developed
domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay; extensive
introduction of fiber-optic cable; domestic satellite system
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (with total of
5 antennas - 2 for Indian Ocean and 3 for Atlantic Ocean), NA
Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean Region); HF radiotelephone
communications with more than 20 countries

Radio broadcast stations: AM 41, FM 800 (mostly repeaters),
shortwave 0

Radios: 49 million (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 846 (mostly repeaters)
note: Eutelsat receive-only TV service

Televisions: 29.3 million (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air), Air Force and Air
Defense, National Gendarmerie

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 14,782,577
males fit for military service: 12,299,651
males reach military age (18) annually: 383,252 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $47.7 billion,
2.5% of GDP (1995)

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

@French Guiana -------------

(overseas department of France)

Map ---

Location: 4 00 N, 53 00 W -- Northern South America, bordering the
North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname

Flag ----

Description: the flag of France is used

Geography ---------

Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic
Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname

Geographic coordinates: 4 00 N, 53 00 W

Map references: South America

Area:
total area: 91,000 sq km
land area: 89,150 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Indiana

Land boundaries:
total: 1,183 km
border countries: Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km

Coastline: 378 km

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

International disputes: Suriname claims area between Riviere
Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa)

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature
variation

Terrain: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small
mountains
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Bellevue de l'Inini 851 m

Natural resources: bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered),
cinnabar, kaolin, fish

Land use:
arable land: NEGL%
permanent crops: NEGL%
meadows and pastures: NEGL%
forest and woodland: 88%
other: 12% (1992)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: high frequency of heavy showers and severe
thunderstorms; flooding
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: mostly an unsettled wilderness

People ------

Population: 151,187 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 32% (male 24,447; female 23,378)
15-64 years: 63% (male 52,061; female 43,726)
65 years and over: 5% (male 3,784; female 3,791) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.86% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 24.68 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 4.59 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 18.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.13 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 14.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.79 years
male: 72.55 years
female: 79.19 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.42 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: French Guianese (singular and plural)
adjective: French Guianese

Ethnic divisions: black or mulatto 66%, white 12%, East Indian,
Chinese, Amerindian 12%, other 10%

Religions: Roman Catholic

Languages: French

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1982 est.)
total population: 83%
male: 84%
female: 82%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Department of Guiana
conventional short form: French Guiana
local long form: none
local short form: Guyane

Data code: FG

Type of government: overseas department of France

Capital: Cayenne

Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)

Independence: none (overseas department of France)

National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July
(1789)

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: French legal system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May
1995); represented by Prefect Pierre DARTOUT who was appointed by
the French Ministry of Interior
head of government: President of the General Council Stephan
PHINERA-HORTH (since March 1994)

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council and a unicameral
Regional Council
General Council: elections last held NA March 1994 (next to be held
NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (19 total) PSG
8, RPR 2, UDF 1, other right 1, other 7
Regional Council: elections last held 22 March 1992 (next to be held
NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (31 total) PSG
16, FDG 10, RPR 2, independents 3
French Senate: elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be
held September 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
(1 total) PSG 1
French National Assembly: elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993
(next to be held NA 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (2 total) RPR 1, independent 1

Judicial branch: Court of Appeals (highest local court based in
Martinique with jurisdiction over Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French
Guiana)

Political parties and leaders: Guianese Socialist Party (PSG),
Raymond TRACY; Conservative Union for the Republic (UPR), Leon
BERTRAND; Rally for the Center Right (URC); Rally for the Republic
(RPR); Guyana Democratic Front (FDG), Georges OTHILY; Walwari
Committee, Christine TAUBIRA-DELANON; Socialist Party (PS), Jean
BART; Union for French Democracy (UDF), R. CHOW-CHINE

International organization participation: FZ, WCL, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in US: none (overseas department of
France)

US diplomatic representation: none (overseas department of France)

Flag: the flag of France is used

Economy -------

Economic overview: The economy is tied closely to that of France
through subsidies and imports. Besides the French space center at
Kourou, fishing and forestry are the most important economic
activities, with exports of fish and fish products (mostly shrimp)
accounting for more than 60% of total revenue in 1992. The large
reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an
expanding sawmill industry that provides sawn logs for export.
Cultivation of crops is limited to the coastal area, where the
population is largely concentrated. French Guiana is heavily
dependent on imports of food and energy. Unemployment is a serious
problem, particularly among younger workers.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $800 million (1993 est.)

GDP real growth rate: NA%

GDP per capita: $6,000 (1993 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1992)

Labor force: 36,597 (1993)
by occupation: services, government, and commerce 60.6%, industry
21.2%, agriculture 18.2% (1980)

Unemployment rate: 24.1% (1993 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $133 million
expenditures: $284 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1992 est.)

Industries: construction, shrimp processing, forestry products,
rum, gold mining

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 180,000 kW
production: 450 million kWh
consumption per capita: 3,149 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: rice, corn, manioc, cocoa, vegetables, bananas,
sugar; cattle, pigs, poultry

Illicit drugs: small amount of marijuana grown for local
consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe

Exports: $110 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: shrimp, timber, rum, rosewood essence
partners: France 52%, Spain 15%, US 5% (1992)

Imports: $719 million (c.i.f., 1992)
commodities: food (grains, processed meat), other consumer goods,
producer goods, petroleum
partners: France 77%, Germany 11%, US 5% (1992)

External debt: $1.2 billion (1988)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.0056 (January
1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992),
5.6421 (1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways: 0 km (1995)

Highways:
total: 1,817 km (national 432 km, departmental 385 km, community
1,000 km)
paved: 727 km
unpaved: 1,090 km (1995 est.)

Waterways: 460 km, navigable by small oceangoing vessels and river
and coastal steamers; 3,300 km navigable by native craft

Ports: Cayenne, Degrad des Cannes, Saint-Laurent du Maroni

Merchant marine: none

Airports:
total: 10
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
with paved runways under 914 m: 4
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 31,000 (1990 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: fair open wire and microwave radio relay system
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 7, shortwave 0

Radios: 79,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 9

Televisions: 22,000 (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: French Forces, Gendarmerie

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 43,412
males fit for military service: 28,171 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of France

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

@French Polynesia ----------------

(overseas territory of France)

Map ---

Location: 15 00 S, 140 00 W -- Oceania, archipelago in the South
Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from South America to
Australia

Flag ----

Description: two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white
band; centered on the white band is a disk with blue and white wave
pattern on the lower half and gold and white ray pattern on the
upper half; a stylized red, blue and white ship rides on the wave
pattern; the French flag is used for official occasions

Geography ---------

Location: Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from South America to Australia

Geographic coordinates: 15 00 S, 140 00 W

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total area: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls)
land area: 3,660 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than one-third the size of
Connecticut

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 2,525 km

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

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical, but moderate

Terrain: mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Orohena 2,241 m

Natural resources: timber, fish, cobalt

Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 19%
meadows and pastures: 5%
forest and woodland: 31%
other: 44%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: occasional cyclonic storms in January
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: includes five archipelagoes; Makatea in French
Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the
Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and
Nauru

People ------

Population: 224,911 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 35% (male 40,450; female 39,038)
15-64 years: 61% (male 70,506; female 65,620)
65 years and over: 4% (male 4,636; female 4,661) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.19% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 27.15 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 5.27 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

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

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 14.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.94 years
male: 68.49 years
female: 73.5 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.26 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: French Polynesian(s)
adjective: French Polynesian

Ethnic divisions: Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%,
metropolitan French 4%

Religions: Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 16%

Languages: French (official), Tahitian (official)

Literacy: age 14 and over can read and write, but definition of
literacy not available (1977 est.)
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Territory of French Polynesia
conventional short form: French Polynesia
local long form: Territoire de la Polynesie Francaise
local short form: Polynesie Francaise

Data code: FP

Type of government: overseas territory of France since 1946

Capital: Papeete

Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France);
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the
US Government, but there are 5 archipelagic divisions named Archipel
des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du
Vent, and Iles Sous-le-Vent
note: Clipperton Island is administered by France from French
Polynesia

Independence: none (overseas territory of France)

National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July
(1789)

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: based on French system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May
1995); represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Paul
RONCIERE (since 8 August 1994) who was appointed by the French
Ministry of Interior
head of government: President of the Territorial Government of
French Polynesia Gaston FLOSSE (since 4 April 1991); President of
the Territorial Assembly Tinomana EBB (since NA)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members
of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as
ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral
Territorial Assembly: elections last held 17 March 1991 (next to be
held NA March 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
(41 total) People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 18, Polynesian
Union Party 12, New Fatherland Party 7, other 4
French Senate: elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be
held NA September 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (1 total) party NA
French National Assembly: elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993
(next to be held NA March 1998); results - percent of vote by party
NA; seats - (2 total) People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 2

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal; Court of the First Instance;
Court of Administrative Law

Political parties and leaders: People's Rally for the Republic
(Tahoeraa Huiraatira), Gaston FLOSSE; Polynesian Union Party
(includes Te Tiarama and Here Ai'a Party), Jean JUVENTIN; New
Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api), Emile VERNAUDON; Independent Party (Ia
Mana Te Nunaa), Jacques DROLLET; Te Aratia Ote Nunaa, Tinomana EBB;
Haere i Mua, Alexandre LEONTIEFF; other small parties

International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), FZ,
ICFTU, SPC, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US: none (overseas territory of
France)

US diplomatic representation: none (overseas territory of France)

Flag: two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white band;
centered on the white band is a disk with blue and white wave
pattern on the lower half and gold and white ray pattern on the
upper half; a stylized red, blue and white ship rides on the wave
pattern; the French flag is used for official occasions

Economy -------

Economic overview: Since 1962, when France stationed military
personnel in the region, French Polynesia has changed from a
subsistence economy to one in which a high proportion of the work
force is either employed by the military or supports the tourist
industry. Tourism accounts for about 20% of GDP and is a primary
source of hard currency earnings. The territory will continue to
benefit from a five-year (1994-98) development agreement with France
aimed principally at creating new jobs.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.76 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: NA%

GDP per capita: $8,000 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 18%
services: 78% (1992 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1994)

Labor force: 76,630 employed (1988)
by occupation: agriculture 13%, industry 19%, services 68% (1992
est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $686 million
expenditures: $884 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1989)

Industries: tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 75,000 kW
production: 334 million kWh
consumption per capita: 1,189 kWh (1994)

Agriculture: coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits; poultry, beef,
dairy products

Exports: $230 million (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: cultured pearls 41.6%, coconut products,
mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat (1992)
partners: France 34%, US 10% (1992)

Imports: $912 million (c.i.f., 1994)
commodities: fuels, foodstuffs, equipment
partners: ECE 64% (France 45.4%), US 13.6%, Australia 6.9%, NZ 5.8%,
Japan 5% (1992)

External debt: $NA

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per
US$1 - 91.00 (January 1996), 90.75 (1995), 100.94 (1994), 102.96
(1993), 96.24 (1992), 102.57 (1991); note - linked at the rate of
18.18 to the French franc

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 792 km
paved: 792 km (1995 est.)

Ports: Mataura, Papeete, Rikitea, Uturoa

Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,127 GRT/6,710 DWT
ships by type: passenger-cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 41
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 5
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 13
with paved runways under 914 m: 15
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 33,200 (1983 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 2, shortwave 0

Radios: 116,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 6

Televisions: 35,000 (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: French Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force),
Gendarmerie

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of France

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

@French Southern and Antarctic Lands -----------------------------------

(overseas territory of France)

Map ---

Location: 43 00 S, 67 00 E -- Southern Africa, islands in the
southern Indian Ocean, about equidistant between Africa, Antarctica,
and Australia; note - French Southern and Antarctic Lands includes
Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet, and Iles Kerguelen in
the southern Indian Ocean, along with the French-claimed sector of
Antarctica, "Adelie Land"; the US does not recognize the French
claim to "Adelie Land"

Flag ----

Description: the flag of France is used

Geography ---------

Location: Southern Africa, islands in the southern Indian Ocean,
about equidistant between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia; note -
French Southern and Antarctic Lands includes Ile Amsterdam, Ile
Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet, and Iles Kerguelen in the southern Indian
Ocean, along with the French-claimed sector of Antarctica, "Adelie
Land"; the US does not recognize the French claim to "Adelie Land"

Geographic coordinates: 43 00 S, 67 00 E

Map references: Antarctic Region

Area:
total area: 7,781 sq km
land area: 7,781 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Delaware
note: includes Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet and Iles
Kerguelen; excludes "Adelie Land" claim of about 500,000 sq km in
Antarctica that is not recognized by the US

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1,232 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm from Iles Kerguelen only
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: "Adelie Land" claim in Antarctica is not
recognized by the US

Climate: antarctic

Terrain: volcanic
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Ross on Kerguelen 1,850 m

Natural resources: fish, crayfish

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

Irrigated land: 0 sq km

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct
volcanoes
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: remote location in the southern Indian Ocean

People ------

Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there were 145
(1995) mostly researchers whose numbers vary from winter (July) to
summer (January)

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Territory of the French Southern and
Antarctic Lands
conventional short form: French Southern and Antarctic Lands
local long form: Territoire des Terres Australes et Antarctiques
Francaises
local short form: Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises

Data code: FS

Type of government: overseas territory of France since 1955;
governed by High Administrator Christian DORS (since 4 December 1991)

Capital: none; administered from Paris, France

Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France);
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the
US Government, but there are 3 districts named Ile Crozet, Iles
Kerguelen, and Iles Saint-Paul et Amsterdam; excludes "Adelie Land"
claim in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US

Independence: none (overseas territory of France)

Flag: the flag of France is used

Economy -------

Economic overview: Economic activity is limited to servicing
meteorological and geophysical research stations and French and
other fishing fleets. The fish catches landed on Iles Kerguelen by
foreign ships are exported to France and Reunion.

Budget:
revenues: $22.6 million
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)

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

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

Merchant marine:
total: 66 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,133,942 GRT/3,617,863
DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 6, chemical tanker 7, container 10,
liquefied gas tanker 4, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil
tanker 18, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 13,
specialized tanker 1
note: a subset of the French register allowing French-owned ships to
operate under more liberal taxation and manning regulations than
permissable under the main French register (1995 est.)

Airports: none (1994 est.)

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

Telephones: NA

Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA

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

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: NA

Televisions: NA

Defense -------

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of France

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

@Gabon -----

Map ---

Location: 1 00 S, 11 45 E -- Western Africa, bordering the
Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Congo and Equatorial Guinea

Flag ----

Description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow,
and blue

Geography ---------

Location: Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the
Equator, between Congo and Equatorial Guinea

Geographic coordinates: 1 00 S, 11 45 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total area: 267,670 sq km
land area: 257,670 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Colorado

Land boundaries:
total: 2,551 km
border countries: Cameroon 298 km, Congo 1,903 km, Equatorial Guinea
350 km

Coastline: 885 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial
Guinea because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay

Climate: tropical; always hot, humid

Terrain: narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and
south
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m

Natural resources: petroleum, manganese, uranium, gold, timber,
iron ore

Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 18%
forest and woodland: 78%
other: 2%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: deforestation; poaching
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber 94

People ------

Population: 1,172,798 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 34% (male 197,188; female 196,562)
15-64 years: 61% (male 364,033; female 353,451)
65 years and over: 5% (male 30,270; female 31,294) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.47% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 28.22 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 13.56 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 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 90.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 55.59 years
male: 52.72 years
female: 58.56 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.89 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Gabonese (singular and plural)
adjective: Gabonese

Ethnic divisions: Bantu tribes including four major tribal
groupings (Fang, Eshira, Bapounou, Bateke), other Africans and
Europeans 100,000, including 27,000 French

Religions: Christian 55%-75%, Muslim less than 1%, animist

Languages: French (official), Fang, Myene, Bateke,
Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 63.2%
male: 73.7%
female: 53.3%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Gabonese Republic
conventional short form: Gabon
local long form: Republique Gabonaise
local short form: Gabon

Data code: GB

Type of government: republic; multiparty presidential regime
(opposition parties legalized 1990)

Capital: Libreville

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue,
Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo,
Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem

Independence: 17 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday: Renovation Day, 12 March (1968) (Gabonese
Democratic Party established)

Constitution: adopted 14 March 1991

Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law;
judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the
Supreme Court; compulsory ICJ jurisdiction not accepted

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President El Hadj Omar BONGO (since 2 December 1967)
was elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage on 5 December
1993 (next election to be held 1998); results - President Omar BONGO
received 51% of the vote
head of government: Prime Minister Paulin OBAME Nguema (since 9
December 1994) was appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister in
consultation with the president