Chapter V (15)

Legislative branch: unicameral; note - the provision of the
constitution for the establishment of a senate has not been
implemented
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held on 5
December 1993 (next to be held by July 1996, according to the
October 1994 Paris Accords; however, President BONGO has indicated
that date might slip); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats
- (120 total) PDG 64, National Recovery Movement - Lumberjacks
(Morena-Bucherons/RNB) 17, PGP 12, National Recovery Movement
(Morena-Original) 2, PUP 4, CLR 1, FAR 4, UPG 1, independents 15

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Political parties and leaders: Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG,
former sole party), Simplice Guedet MANZELA, secretary general;
Circle of Liberal Reformers (CLR), General Jean Boniface ASSELE;
People's Unity Party (PUP), Louis Gaston MAYILA; Gabonese Socialist
Union (USG), Dr. Serge Mba BEKALE; National Recovery Movement -
Lumberjacks (Morena-Bucherons/RNB), Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE; Gabonese
Party for Progress (PGP), Pierre-Louis AGONDHO-OKAWE, president;
National Recovery Movement (Morena-Origina), note - this party won 2
seats in the 5 December 1993 elections for the National Assembly but
is no longer very active; Gabonese Party for Progress (PGP), Pierre
Louis AGONDJO OKAWE; African Forum for Reconstruction (FAR), Leon
MBOU-YEMBI, secretary general; Gabonese People's Union (UPG), Pierre
MAMBOUNDOU

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPEC, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Paul BOUNDOUKOU-LATHA
chancery: Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 797-1000
FAX: [1] (202) 332-0668

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth RASPOLIC
embassy: Boulevard de la Mer, Libreville
mailing address: B. P. 4000, Libreville
telephone: [241] 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, 74 34 92
FAX: [241] 74 55 07

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

Economy -------

Economic overview: Notwithstanding its serious ongoing economic
problems, Gabon enjoys a per capita income more than three times
that of most nations of sub-Saharan Africa. Gabon depended on timber
and manganese until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s.
The oil sector now accounts for 50% of GDP. Real GDP growth has been
feeble since 1992 and Gabon continues to face the problem of
fluctuating prices for its oil, timber, manganese, and uranium
exports. Despite an abundance of natural wealth, and a manageable
rate of population growth, the economy is hobbled by poor fiscal
management. In 1992, the fiscal deficit widened to 2.4% of GDP, and
Gabon failed to settle arrears on its bilateral debt, leading to a
cancellation of rescheduling agreements with official and private
creditors. Devaluation of its Francophone currency by 50% on 12
January 1994 sparked a one-time inflationary surge, to 35%; the rate
dropped to 15% in 1995. Nevertheless, the government must continue
to keep a tight rein on spending and wage increases. The IMF and
France are considering offering financial assistance in 1996 if
Gabon shows progress in privatization and fiscal discipline.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $6 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 2% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $5,200 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.2%
industry: 44.7%
services: 47.1% (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 120,000 salaried
by occupation: agriculture 65.0%, industry and commerce 30.0%,
services 2.5%, government 2.5%

Unemployment rate: 10%-14% (1993 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.3 billion
expenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $311
million (1993 est.)

Industries: food and beverage; textile; lumbering and plywood;
cement; petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, uranium, and
gold mining; chemicals; ship repair

Industrial production growth rate: -3% (1991)

Electricity:
capacity: 315,000 kW
production: 910 million kWh
consumption per capita: 757 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil; rubber; okoume (a
tropical softwood); cattle; small fishing operations (provide a
catch of about 20,000 metric tons)

Exports: $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: crude oil 80%, timber 14%, manganese 6%, uranium
partners: US 50%, France 16%, Japan 8%, Spain 6%, Germany NA (1994
est.)

Imports: $800 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: foodstuffs, chemical products, petroleum products,
construction materials, manufactures, machinery
partners: France 35%, African countries, US, Japan, Netherlands
(1994)

External debt: $3.8 billion (1993 )

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $75 million (1993)

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: 649 km Gabon State Railways (OCTRA)
standard gauge: 649 km 1.435-m gauge; single track (1994)

Highways:
total: 7,456 km
paved: 560 km
unpaved: 6,896 km (1988 est.)

Waterways: 1,600 km perennially navigable

Pipelines: crude oil 270 km; petroleum products 14 km

Ports: Cape Lopez, Kango, Lambarene, Libreville, Mayumba, Owendo,
Port-Gentil

Merchant marine:
total: 3 bulk (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 36,976 GRT/60,319 DWT
(1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 54
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 7
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 21
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 8
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 15 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 22,000 (1991 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay,
tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a
domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

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

Radios: 250,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 3 (repeaters 5)

Televisions: 40,000 (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential Guard, National
Gendarmerie, National Police

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 273,662
males fit for military service: 139,439
males reach military age (20) annually: 10,966 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $154 million,
2.4% of GDP (1993)

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

@Gaza Strip ----------

The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements ("the DOP"), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993, provides for a transitional period not exceeding five years of Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Permanent status negotiations began on 5 May 1996.

Map ---

Location: 31 25 N, 34 20 E -- Middle East, bordering the
Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Israel

Geography ---------

Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Egypt and Israel

Geographic coordinates: 31 25 N, 34 20 E

Map references: Middle East

Area:
total area: 360 sq km
land area: 360 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
total: 62 km
border countries: Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km

Coastline: 40 km

Maritime claims: Israeli occupied with current status subject to
the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be
determined through further negotiation

International disputes: West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli
occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian
Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through
further negotiation

Climate: temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers

Terrain: flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Auda) 105 m

Natural resources: NEGL

Land use:
arable land: 13%
permanent crops: 32%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 55%

Irrigated land: 115 sq km (1992 est.)

Environment:
current issues: desertification
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: there are 24 Israeli settlements and civilian
land use sites in the Gaza Strip (August 1995 est.)

People ------

Population: 923,940 (July 1996 est.)
note: in addition, there are 5,000 Israeli settlers in the Gaza
Strip (August 1995 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 52% (male 244,026; female 231,976)
15-64 years: 46% (male 210,706; female 210,764)
65 years and over: 2% (male 11,553; female 14,915) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 6.79% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 50.67 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 4.4 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 21.65 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: 0.78 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 27.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.98 years
male: 70.69 years
female: 73.34 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 7.79 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: NA
adjective: NA

Ethnic divisions: Palestinian Arab and other 99.4%, Jewish 0.6%

Religions: Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 98.7%, Christian 0.7%,
Jewish 0.6%

Languages: Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers), English
(widely understood)

Literacy: NA

Government ----------

Government note: Under the Israeli-PLO Declaration of Principles
on Interim Self-Government Arrangements ("the DOP"), Israel agreed
to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian
Authority, which includes a Palestinian Legislative Council elected
in January 1996, as part of interim self-governing arrangements in
the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A transfer of powers and
responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho has taken place
pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza
Strip and the Jericho Area and in additional areas of the West Bank
pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28 September 1995 Interim Agreement. The
DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility during the
transitional period for external security and for internal security
and public order of settlements and Israelis. Permanent status is to
be determined through direct negotiations within five years.

Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Gaza Strip
local long form: none
local short form: Qita Ghazzah

Data code: GZ

Economy -------

Economic overview: In 1991 roughly 40% of Gaza Strip workers were
employed across the border by Israeli industrial, construction, and
agricultural enterprises, with worker remittances supplementing GDP
by roughly 50%. Gaza has depended upon Israel for nearly 90% of its
external trade. Aggravating the impact of Israeli military
administration, unrest in the territory from 1988 to 1993
(intifadah) raised unemployment and lowered the standard of living
of Gazans. The Persian Gulf crisis and its aftershocks also dealt
blows to Gaza since August 1990. Worker remittances from the Gulf
states have dropped, unemployment has increased, and exports have
fallen. The withdrawal of Israel from the Gaza Strip in May 1994 has
brought a new set of adjustment problems. The stringent border
restrictions have held back economic growth in 1995 and 1996.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $1 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 3%-4% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $1,200 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 33%
industry: 7%
services: 60% (1995 est., includes West Bank)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14% (1995 est.)

Labor force: NA
by occupation: construction 33.4%, agriculture 20.0%, commerce,
restaurants, and hotels 14.9%, industry 10.0%, other services 21.7%
(1991)
note: excluding Israeli settlers

Unemployment rate: 30%-45% (1995 est.)

Budget: $NA

Industries: generally small family businesses that produce
textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs;
the Israelis have established some small-scale modern industries in
an industrial center

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity: power supplied by Israel

Agriculture: olives, citrus, other fruits, vegetables; beef, dairy
products

Exports: $49 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: citrus
partners: Israel, Egypt

Imports: $339 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
commodities: food, consumer goods, construction materials
partners: Israel, Egypt

External debt: $NA

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
note: $410 million (est.) disbursed from international aid pledges
in 1995 (includes aid to West Bank)

Currency: 1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot

Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 3.1295
(January 1996), 3.0113 (1995), 3.0111 (1994), 2.8301 (1993), 2.4591
(1992), 2.2791 (1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year (since 1 January 1992)

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

Railways:
total: NA km; note - one line, abandoned and in disrepair, little
trackage remains

Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
note: small, poorly developed road network

Ports: Gaza

Airports:
total: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: NA
note: 10% of Palestinian households have telephones (1992 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA

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

Radios: NA; note - 95% of Palestinian households have radios (1992
est.)

Television broadcast stations: 0

Televisions: NA; note - 59% of Palestinian households have
televisions (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: NA

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: NA
males fit for military service: NA

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

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

@Georgia -------

Beset by ethnic and civil strife since independence in 1991, Georgia began to stabilize in 1994. Separatist conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia have been dormant for more than two years, although political settlements remain elusive. Russian peacekeepers are deployed in both regions and a UN Observer Mission is operating in Abkhazia. As a result of these conflicts, Georgia still has about 250,000 internally displaced people. In November 1995, Georgia held peaceful, generally free and fair nationwide presidential and parliamentary elections. Although the country continues to suffer from a crippling economic crisis, aggravated by a severe energy shortage, some progress has been made and the Georgian Government remains committed to economic reform in cooperation with the IMF and the World Bank. Violence and organized crime were sharply curtailed in 1995.

Map ---

Location: 42 00 N, 43 30 E -- Southwestern Asia, bordering the
Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia

Flag ----

Description: maroon field with small rectangle in upper hoist side
corner; rectangle divided horizontally with black on top, white below

Geography ---------

Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between
Turkey and Russia

Geographic coordinates: 42 00 N, 43 30 E

Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States

Area:
total area: 69,700 sq km
land area: 69,700 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than South Carolina

Land boundaries:
total: 1,461 km
border countries: Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km,
Turkey 252 km

Coastline: 310 km

Maritime claims: NA

International disputes: none

Climate: warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast

Terrain: largely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the
north and Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the south; Kolkhida Lowland
opens to the Black Sea in the west; Mtkvari River Basin in the east;
good soils in river valley flood plains, foothills of Kolkhida
Lowland
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Mt'a Mqinvartsveri (Gora Kazbek) 5,048 m

Natural resources: forests, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron
ore, copper, minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils
allow for important tea and citrus growth

Land use:
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: 4%
meadows and pastures: 29%
forest and woodland: 38%
other: 18%

Irrigated land: 4,660 sq km (1990)

Environment:
current issues: air pollution, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy
pollution of Mtkvari River and the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of
potable water; soil pollution from toxic chemicals
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Desertification

People ------

Population: 5,219,810 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 22% (male 595,524; female 571,207)
15-64 years: 66% (male 1,643,506; female 1,784,286)
65 years and over: 12% (male 229,910; female 395,377) (July 1996
est.)

Population growth rate: -1.02% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 12.81 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 12.21 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -10.82 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: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.9 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 22.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.09 years
male: 63.43 years
female: 72.98 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.69 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Georgian(s)
adjective: Georgian

Ethnic divisions: Georgian 70.1%, Armenian 8.1%, Russian 6.3%,
Azeri 5.7%, Ossetian 3%, Abkhaz 1.8%, other 5%

Religions: Christian Orthodox 75% (Georgian Orthodox 65%, Russian
Orthodox 10%), Muslim 11%, Armenian Apostolic 8%, unknown 6%

Languages: Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, Georgian 71% (official), Russian
9%, other 7%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)
total population: 99%
male: 100%
female: 98%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Georgia
conventional short form: Georgia
local long form: Sak'art'velos Respublika
local short form: Sak'art'velo
former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic

Data code: GG

Type of government: republic

Capital: T'bilisi

Administrative divisions: 2 autonomous republics (avtomnoy
respubliki, singular - avtom respublika); Abkhazia (Sokhumi), Ajaria
(Bat'umi)
note: the administrative centers of the autonomous republics are
included in parentheses; there are no oblasts - the rayons around
T'bilisi are under direct republic jurisdiction

Independence: 9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day, 26 May (1991)

Constitution: adopted 17 October 1995

Legal system: based on civil law system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Eduard
Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE (previously elected Chairman of the
Government Council 10 March 1992, Council has since been disbanded;
previously elected Chairman of Parliament 11 October 1992);
presidential election last held 5 November 1995 (next to be held NA
April 2001); results - Eduard SHEVARDNADZE 74%; president's term to
last five years
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral
Georgian Parliament: elections last held 5 November 1995 (next to be
held NA November 2000); results - CUG 24%, NDP 8%, All Georgia
Revival Union 7%, all other parties received less than 5% each;
seats - (235 total) number of seats by party NA

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: Citizens Union of Georgia (CUG),
Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, Zurab ZHVANIA, general secretary; National
Democratic Party (NDP), Irina SARISHVILI-CHANTARIA; United
Republican Party, umbrella organization for parties including the
GPF and the Charter 1991 Party, Notar NATADZE, chairman; Georgian
Popular Front (GPF), Nodar NATADZE, chairman; Charter 1991 Party,
Tedo PAATASHVILI; Georgian Social Democratic Party (GSDP), Guram
MUCHAIDZE, secretary general; All Georgia Union for Revival, Alsan
ABASHIDZE; Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Irakli SHENGELAYA;
Democratic Georgia Union (DGU), Avtandil MARGIANI; National
Independence Party (NIP), Irakliy TSERETELI, chairman; Georgian
Monarchists' Party (GMP), Temur ZHORZHOLIANI; Greens Party; Agrarian
Party of Georgia (APG), Roin LIPARTELIANI; United Communist Party of
Georgia (UCP), Panteleimon GIORGADZE, chairman

Other political or pressure groups: supporters of ousted President
Zviad GAMSAKHURDIA (deceased 1 January 1994) remain a source of
opposition; separatist elements in the breakaway region of Abkhazia

International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CIS, EBRD,
ECE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tedo JAPARIDZE
chancery: (temporary) Suite 424, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC
20005
telephone: [1] (202) 393-5959
FAX: [1] (202) 393-6060

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador William H. COURTNEY
embassy: #25 Antoneli Street, T'bilisi 380026
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [7] (8832) 98-99-67, 93-38-03
FAX: [7] (8832) 93-37-59

Flag: maroon field with small rectangle in upper hoist side
corner; rectangle divided horizontally with black on top, white below

Economy -------

Economic overview: Georgia's economy has traditionally revolved
around Black Sea tourism; cultivation of citrus fruits, tea, and
grapes; mining of manganese and copper; and a small industrial
sector producing wine, metals, machinery, chemicals, and textiles.
The country imports the bulk of its energy needs, including natural
gas and oil products. Its only sizable internal energy resource is
hydropower. Since 1991 the economy has sustained severe damage from
civil strife. Georgia has been suffering from acute energy
shortages, as it is having problems paying for even minimal imports.
Georgia is pinning its hopes for long-term recovery largely on
reestablishing trade ties with Russia and on developing
international transportation through the key Black Sea ports of
P'ot'i and Bat'umi. Statistical estimates on Georgia are subject to
a particularly wide margin of error, even compared with other FSU
countries. The GDP estimate below probably does not reflect much of
its grass roots economic activity. GDP is supplemented by
considerable EU and US humanitarian aid.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $6.2 billion (1995 estimate as
extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)

GDP real growth rate: -11% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $1,080 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 70.4%
industry: 10.2%
services: 19.4% (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% monthly average (first half
1995 est.)

Labor force: 2.763 million
by occupation: industry and construction 31%, agriculture and
forestry 25%, other 44% (1990)

Unemployment rate: officially less than 5% but real unemployment
may be more than 20%, with even larger numbers of underemployed
workers

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

Industries: steel, aircraft, machine tools, foundry equipment,
electric locomotives, tower cranes, electric welding equipment,
machinery for food preparation and meat packing, electric motors,
process control equipment, trucks, tractors, textiles, shoes,
chemicals, wood products, wine

Industrial production growth rate: -10% (1995)

Electricity:
capacity: 4,410,000 kW
production: 9.1 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 1,526 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: citrus, grapes, tea, vegetables, potatoes; small
livestock sector

Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy;
mostly for domestic consumption; used as transshipment point for
illicit drugs to Western Europe

Exports: $140 million (c.i.f., 1995)
commodities: citrus fruits, tea, wine, other agricultural products;
diverse types of machinery; ferrous and nonferrous metals; textiles;
chemicals; fuel re-exports
partners: Russia, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan

Imports: $250 million (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: fuel, grain and other foods, machinery and parts,
transport equipment
partners: Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey; note - EU and US send
humanitarian food shipments

External debt: $1.2 billion (of which $135 million to Russia)
(1995 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $28 million (1993)
note: commitments, 1992-95, $1,200 million ($675 million
disbursements)

Currency: lari introduced September 1995 replacing the coupon

Exchange rates: laris per US$1 - 1.24 (end December 1995)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 1,570 km in common carrier service; does not include
industrial lines
broad gauge: 1,570 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)

Highways:
total: 35,100 km
paved: 31,200 km
unpaved: 3,900 km (1990 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 370 km; refined products 300 km; natural gas
440 km (1992)

Ports: Bat'umi, P'ot'i, Sokhumi

Merchant marine:
total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 307,765 GRT/483,567 DWT
ships by type: bulk 8, cargo 2, oil tanker 12, short-sea passenger 1
(1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 28
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 7
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 1
with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5
with unpaved runways under 914 m: 6 (1994 est.)

Transportation note: transportation network is in poor condition
and disrupted by ethnic conflict, criminal activities, and fuel
shortages; network lacks maintenance and repair

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

Telephones: 672,000 (1993 est.)

Telephone system: poor service; 339,000 unsatisfied applications
for telephones (December 1990 est.)
domestic: NA
international: landline to CIS members and Turkey; satellite earth
station - 1 Eutelsat; leased connections with other countries via
the Moscow international gateway switch; international electronic
mail and telex service available

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

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 3

Televisions: NA

Defense -------

Branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces,
Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops)

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 1,288,291
males fit for military service: 1,021,632
males reach military age (18) annually: 40,654 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $60 million to
$65 million, NA% of GDP (1995)

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

@Germany -------

Map ---

Location: 51 00 N, 9 00 E -- Central Europe, bordering the Baltic
Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of
Denmark

Flag ----

Description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and
yellow

Geography ---------

Location: Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North
Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark

Geographic coordinates: 51 00 N, 9 00 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total area: 356,910 sq km
land area: 349,520 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Montana
note: includes the formerly separate Federal Republic of Germany,
the German Democratic Republic, and Berlin, following formal
unification on 3 October 1990

Land boundaries:
total: 3,621 km
border countries: Austria 784 km, Belgium 167 km, Czech Republic 646
km, Denmark 68 km, France 451 km, Luxembourg 138 km, Netherlands 577
km, Poland 456 km, Switzerland 334 km

Coastline: 2,389 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: none

Climate: temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and
summers; occasional warm, tropical foehn wind; high relative humidity

Terrain: lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in
south
lowest point: Freepsum Lake -2 m
highest point: Zugspitze 2,962 m

Natural resources: iron ore, coal, potash, timber, lignite,
uranium, copper, natural gas, salt, nickel

Land use:
arable land: 34%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 16%
forest and woodland: 30%
other: 19%

Irrigated land: 4,800 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: emissions from coal-burning utilities and industries
and lead emissions from vehicle exhausts (the result of continued
use of leaded fuels) contribute to air pollution; acid rain,
resulting from sulfur dioxide emissions, is damaging forests; heavy
pollution in the Baltic Sea from raw sewage and industrial effluents
from rivers in eastern Germany
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Desertification, Tropical Timber 94

Geographic note: strategic location on North European Plain and
along the entrance to the Baltic Sea

People ------

Population: 83,536,115 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.15% (male 6,928,750; female 6,563,026)
15-64 years: 68.52% (male 29,339,780; female 27,902,549)
65 years and over: 15.33% (male 4,658,014; female 8,143,996) (July
1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.67% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 9.66 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 12.21 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 8.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.95 years
male: 72.8 years
female: 79.27 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.3 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: German(s)
adjective: German

Ethnic divisions: German 95.1%, Turkish 2.3%, Italians 0.7%,
Greeks 0.4%, Poles 0.4%, other 1.1% (made up largely of people
fleeing the war in the former Yugoslavia)

Religions: Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 37%, unaffiliated or
other 18%

Languages: German

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1977 est.)
total population: 99%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Federal Republic of Germany
conventional short form: Germany
local long form: Bundesrepublik Deutschland
local short form: Deutschland

Data code: GM

Type of government: federal republic

Capital: Berlin
note: the shift from Bonn to Berlin will take place over a period of
years, with Bonn retaining many administrative functions and several
ministries

Administrative divisions: 16 states (laender, singular - land);
Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bayern, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg,
Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen,
Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt,
Schleswig-Holstein, Thueringen

Independence: 18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided
into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and later, France) in
1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or
West Germany) proclaimed 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US,
and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany)
proclaimed 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone;
unification of West Germany and East Germany took place 3 October
1990; all four power rights formally relinquished 15 March 1991

National holiday: German Unity Day (Day of Unity), 3 October (1990)

Constitution: 23 May 1949, known as Basic Law; became constitution
of the united German people 3 October 1990

Legal system: civil law system with indigenous concepts; judicial
review of legislative acts in the Federal Constitutional Court; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Roman HERZOG (since 1 July 1994) was
elected by the Federal Convention including members of the Bundestag
and an equal number of members elected by the Land Parliaments
head of government: Chancellor Dr. Helmut KOHL (since 4 October
1982) was elected by an absolute majority of the Bundestag
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president upon the proposal of
the chancellor

Legislative branch: bicameral chamber (no official name for the
two chambers as a whole)
Federal Assembly (Bundestag): election last held 16 October 1994
(next to be held by NA 1998); results - CDU 34.2%, SPD 36.4%,
Alliance 90/Greens 7.3%, CSU 7.3%, FDP 6.9%, PDS 4.4%, Republicans
1.9%; seats - (usually 656 total, but 672 for the 1994 term) CDU
244, SPD 252, Alliance 90/Greens 49, CSU 50, FDP 47, PDS 30; elected
by direct popular vote under a system combining direct and
proportional representation; a party must win 5% of the national
vote or three direct mandates to gain representation
Federal Council (Bundesrat): State governments are directly
represented by votes; each has 3 to 6 votes depending on size and
are required to vote as a block; current composition: votes - (68
total) SPD-led states 41, CDU-led states 27

Judicial branch: Federal Constitutional Court
(Bundesverfassungsgericht), half the judges are elected by the
Bundestag and half by the Bundesrat

Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Union (CDU),
Helmut KOHL, chairman; Christian Social Union (CSU), Theo WAIGEL,
chairman; Free Democratic Party (FDP), Wolfgang GERHARDT, chairman;
Social Democratic Party (SPD), Oskar LA FONTAINE, chairman; Alliance
'90/Greens, Krista SAGER, Juergen TRITTIN, cochairpersons; Party of
Democratic Socialism (PDS), Lothar BISKY, chairman; Republikaner,
Rolf SCHLIERER, chairman; National Democratic Party (NPD),
Ellen-Doris SCHERER; Communist Party (DKP), Rolf PRIEMER and Heinz
STEHR, cochairpersons

Other political or pressure groups: expellee, refugee, and
veterans groups

International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),
AsDB, Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CDB (non-regional),
CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, 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, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE,
PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMIR, UNCRO, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNOMIG, UNPROFOR, UPU, WEU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Juergen CHROBOG
chancery: 4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 298-4000
FAX: [1] (202) 298-4249
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston,
Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Seattle

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles E. REDMAN
embassy: Deichmanns Aue 29, 53170 Bonn
mailing address: APO AE 09080, PSC 117, Bonn
telephone: [49] (228) 3391
FAX: [49] (228) 339-2663
branch office: Berlin
consulate(s) general: Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Leipzig,
Munich, and Stuttgart

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and yellow

Economy -------

Economic overview: Germany, the world's third-most powerful
economy, faces its own unique problem of bringing its eastern area
up to scratch after 45 years of communist rule. Despite substantial
progress toward economic integration, the eastern states will
continue to rely on subsidies from the federal government into the
next century. Assistance to the east of about $100 billion annually
has helped the region average nearly 8% annual economic growth since
1991, even though the overall German economy has averaged less than
2% growth. The economic recovery in the east has been led by the
construction industries, with growth increasingly supported by the
service sectors and light manufacturing industries. Western Germany,
which accounts for 90% of overall German GDP and has three times the
per capita income of eastern Germany, is perennially the first- or
second-largest exporter, after the US, in the world. Nonetheless,
business and political leaders have in recent years become
increasingly concerned about Germany's apparent decline in
attractiveness as a business location. They cite the increasing
preference of German companies to locate manufacturing facilities -
long the strength of the postwar economy - to foreign countries,
including the US, rather than in Germany, so they can be closer to
their markets and avoid Germany's high production costs. The
conditions under which European economic integration - especially
movement toward a single European currency - will proceed will be
another key issue facing Germany in the next few years.

GDP:
Germany: purchasing power parity - $1.4522 trillion (1995 est.)
western: purchasing power parity - $1.3318 trillion (1995 est.)
eastern: purchasing power parity - $120.4 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate:
Germany: 1.8% (1995 est.)
western: 1.5% (1995 est.)
eastern: 6.3% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita:
Germany: $17,900 (1995 est.)
western: $21,100 (1995 est.)
eastern: $6,600 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 34.2%
services: 64.8% (1994)

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

Labor force: 36.75 million
by occupation: industry 41%, agriculture 6%, other 53% (1987)

Unemployment rate:
western: 8.7% (December 1995)
eastern: 14.9% (December 1995)

Budget:
revenues: $690 billion
expenditures: $780 billion, including capital expenditures of $96.5
billion (1994)

Industries:
western: among world's largest and technologically advanced
producers of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery,
vehicles, machine tools, electronics, food and beverages
eastern: metal fabrication, chemicals, brown coal, shipbuilding,
machine building, food and beverages, textiles, petroleum refining

Industrial production growth rate:
western: 2.8% (1994)
eastern: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 115,430,000 kW
production: 493 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 5,683 kWh (1993)

Agriculture:
western: potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruit, cabbage;
cattle, pigs, poultry
eastern: wheat, rye, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, fruit; pork,
beef, chicken, milk, hides

Illicit drugs: source of precursor chemicals for South American
cocaine processors; transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin
and Latin American cocaine for West European markets

Exports: $437 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: manufactures 89.3% (including machines and machine
tools, chemicals, motor vehicles, iron and steel products),
agricultural products 5.5%, raw materials 2.7%, fuels 1.3% (1993)
partners: EC 47.9% (France 11.7%, Netherlands 7.4%, Italy 7.5%, UK
7.7%, Belgium-Luxembourg 6.6%), EFTA 15.5%, US 7.7%, Eastern Europe
5.2%, OPEC 3.0% (1993)

Imports: $362 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: manufactures 75.1%, agricultural products 10.0%, fuels
8.3%, raw materials 5.0% (1993)
partners: EC 46.4% (France 11.3%, Netherlands 8.4%, Italy 8.1%, UK
6.0%, Belgium-Luxembourg 5.7%), EFTA 14.3%, US 7.3%, Japan 6.3%,
Eastern Europe 5.1%, OPEC 2.6% (1993)

External debt: $NA

Economic aid:
donor: ODA, $6.954 billion (1993)

Currency: 1 deutsche mark (DM) = 100 pfennige

Exchange rates: deutsche marks (DM) per US$1 - 1.4617 (January
1996), 1.4331 (1995), 1.6228 (1994), 1.6533 (1993), 1.5617 (1992),
1.6595 (1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 43,966 km
standard gauge: 43,531 km 1.435-m; 40,355 km are owned by Deutsche
Bahn AG (DB); 17,015 km of the DB system are electrified and 16,941
km are double- or more-tracked
narrow gauge: 389 km 1.000-m gauge (DB operates 146 km of 1.000-m
gauge); 7 km 0.900-m gauge; 39 km 0.750-m gauge
note: in addition to the DB system there are 54 privately-owned
industrial or excursion railways, ranging in route length from 2 km
to 632 km, with a total length of 3,465 km (1995)

Highways:
total: 636,282 km
paved: 531,018 km (including 10,955 km of expressways)
unpaved: 105,264 km (1991 est.)

Waterways:
western: 5,222 km, of which almost 70% are usable by craft of
1,000-metric-ton capacity or larger; major rivers include the Rhine
and Elbe; Kiel Canal is an important connection between the Baltic
Sea and North Sea
eastern: 2,319 km (1988)

Pipelines: crude oil 3,644 km; petroleum products 3,946 km;
natural gas 97,564 km (1988)

Ports: Berlin, Bonn, Brake, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Cologne, Dresden,
Duisburg, Emden, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Kiel, Lubeck, Magdeburg,
Mannheim, Rostock, Stuttgart

Merchant marine:
total: 452 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,054,327
GRT/6,367,036 DWT
ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 193, chemical tanker 15, combination
bulk 4, combination ore/oil 5, container 166, liquefied gas tanker
12, multifunction large-load carrier 6, oil tanker 11, passenger 3,
railcar carrier 3, refrigerated cargo 7, roll-on/roll-off cargo 14,
short-sea passenger 7 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 617
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 13
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 65
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 67
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 51
with paved runways under 914 m: 351
with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 2
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 6
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 7
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 55 (1995 est.)

Heliports: 55 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 44 million

Telephone system: Germany has one of the world's most
technologically advanced telecommunications systems; as a result of
intensive capital expenditures since reunification, the formerly
backward system of the eastern part of the country is being rapidly
modernized and integrated with that of the western part
domestic: the region which was formerly West Germany is served by an
extensive system of automatic telephone exchanges connected by
modern networks of fiber-optic cable, coaxial cable, microwave radio
relay, and a domestic satellite system; cellular telephone service
is widely available and includes roaming service to many foreign
countries; since the reunification of Germany, the telephone system
of the eastern region has been upgraded and enjoys many of the
advantages of the national system
international: satellite earth stations - 14 Intelsat (12 Atlantic
Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean
region), 2 Intersputnik (1 Atlantic Ocean region and 1 Indian Ocean
region); 6 submarine cable connections; 2 HF radiotelephone
communication centers; tropospheric scatter links

Radio broadcast stations:
western: AM 80, FM 470, shortwave 0
eastern: AM 23, FM 17, shortwave 0

Radios: 70 million (1991 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 246 (repeaters 6,000); note - there
are 15 Russian repeaters in eastern Germany

Televisions: 44.8 million (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air Arm), Air Force, Border
Police, Coast Guard

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 21,540,919
males fit for military service: 18,537,347
males reach military age (18) annually: 449,292 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $42.8 billion,
1.5% of GDP (1995)

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

@Ghana -----

Map ---

Location: 8 00 N, 2 00 W -- Western Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo

Flag ----

Description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow,
and green with a large black five-pointed star centered in the
yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia;
similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in
the yellow band

Geography ---------

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo

Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 2 00 W

Map references: Africa

Area:
total area: 238,540 sq km
land area: 230,020 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries:
total: 2,093 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 548 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo
877 km

Coastline: 539 km

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

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast
coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north

Terrain: mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central
area
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Afadjato 880 m

Natural resources: gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite,
manganese, fish, rubber

Land use:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 7%
meadows and pastures: 15%
forest and woodland: 37%
other: 36%

Irrigated land: 80 sq km (1989)

Environment:
current issues: recent drought in north severely affecting
agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion;
poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations;
water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water
natural hazards: dry, dusty, harmattan winds occur from January to
March; droughts
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not
ratified - Desertification, Marine Life Conservation

Geographic note: Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial
lake; northeasterly harmattan wind (January to March)

People ------

Population: 17,698,271 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 3,856,673; female 3,819,946)
15-64 years: 54% (male 4,658,142; female 4,814,060)
65 years and over: 3% (male 262,159; female 287,291) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.29% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 35 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 11.15 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.94 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: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 80.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 56.17 years
male: 54.18 years
female: 58.22 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.59 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Ghanaian(s)
adjective: Ghanaian

Ethnic divisions: black African 99.8% (major tribes - Akan 44%,
Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga 8%), European and other 0.2%

Religions: indigenous beliefs 38%, Muslim 30%, Christian 24%,
other 8%

Languages: English (official), African languages (including Akan,
Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 64.5%
male: 75.9%
female: 53.5%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Ghana
conventional short form: Ghana
former: Gold Coast

Data code: GH

Type of government: constitutional democracy

Capital: Accra

Administrative divisions: 10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo,
Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West,
Volta, Western

Independence: 6 March 1957 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 6 March (1957)

Constitution: new constitution approved 28 April 1992

Legal system: based on English common law and customary law; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Jerry John RAWLINGS
(since 3 November 1992); elected for a four-year term by direct
universal suffrage; the president can appoint a vice president;
election last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA December 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet; president nominates members subject to approval by
the Parliament

Legislative branch: unicameral
Parliament: elections last held 29 December 1992 (next to be held NA
December 1996); results - opposition boycotted the election, the
National Democratic Congress won 198 of the total 200 seats and 2
seats were won by independents; because of interim bye-elections,
the National Democratic Congress and its remaining coalition
partner, Every Ghanian Living Everywhere (EGLE), now control 189
seats; former coalition partner, NCP, has 8 seats; independents hold
3

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Congress (NDC),
Jerry John RAWLINGS; New Patriotic Party (NPP), Peter Ala ADJETY;
People's Heritage Party (PHP), Alex ERSKINE; National Convention
Party (NCP), Kow ARKAAH; Every Ghanian Living Everywhere (EGLE),
Ashang OKINE; Peoples Convention Party (PCP), B.K. NKETSIA; Peoples
National Convention (PNC), Alhaji Asuma BANDA

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, UN, UNAMIR, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ekwow SPIO-GARBRAH
chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520
FAX: [1] (202) 686-4527
consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Edward BRYNN
embassy: Ring Road East, East of Danquah Circle, Accra
mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra
telephone: [233] (21) 775348
FAX: [233] (21) 775747

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green
with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band;
uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag
of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band

Economy -------

Economic overview: Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has
twice the per capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa.
Heavily reliant on international assistance, Ghana has made steady
progress in liberalizing its economy since 1983. Overall growth
continued at a rate of approximately 5% in 1995, due largely to
increased gold, timber, and cocoa production - major sources of
foreign exchange. The economy, however, continues to revolve around
subsistence agriculture, which accounts for almost half of GDP and
employs 55% of the work force, mainly small landholders. Public
sector wage increases, regional peacekeeping commitments, and the
containment of internal unrest in the underdeveloped north have
placed substantial demands on the government's budget and have led
to inflationary deficit financing, depreciation of the cedi, and
rising public discontent with Ghana's austerity program.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $25.1 billion (1995 est.)

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

GDP per capita: $1,400 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 47%
industry: 16%
services: 37% (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 69% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 3.7 million
by occupation: agriculture and fishing 54.7%, industry 18.7%, sales
and clerical 15.2%, professional 3.7%, services, transportation, and
communications 7.7%

Unemployment rate: 10% (1993 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.05 billion
expenditures: $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $178
million (1993)

Industries: mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum, food
processing

Industrial production growth rate: 2.8% (1994 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 1,180,000 kW
production: 6.1 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 323 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava (tapioca), peanuts,
corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international
drug trade; transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin
destined for Europe and the US

Exports: $1 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities: cocoa 40%, gold, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum,
manganese ore, and diamonds
partners: Germany , US , UK , Netherlands , Japan (1995)

Imports: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities: petroleum, consumer goods, foods, intermediate goods,
capital equipment
partners: UK, US, Germany, Japan, Netherlands (1995)

External debt: $4.6 billion (December 1993 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $472 million (1993)

Currency: 1 new cedi (C) = 100 pesewas

Exchange rates: new cedis per US$1 - 1,246.11 (September 1995),
956.71 (1994), 649.06 (1993), 437.09 (1992), 367.83 (1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 953 km; note - undergoing major renovation (1995 est.)
narrow gauge: 953 km 1.067-m gauge; 32 km double track

Highways:
total: 38,145 km
paved: 7,476 km (including 21 km of expressways)
unpaved: 30,669 km (1990 est.)

Waterways: Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers provide 168 km of
perennial navigation for launches and lighters; Lake Volta provides
1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways

Pipelines: none

Ports: Takoradi, Tema

Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 27,427 GRT/35,894 DWT
ships by type: cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 12
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
with paved runways under 914 m: 2
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 70,000 (1988 est.)

Telephone system: poor to fair system
domestic: primarily microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

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

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 4 (repeaters 8)

Televisions: 250,000 (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force, Palace Guard, Civil
Defense

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 4,135,538
males fit for military service: 2,303,423
males reach military age (18) annually: 176,332 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $30 million, 0.8%
of GDP (1994)

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

@Gibraltar ---------

(dependent territory of the UK)

Map ---

Location: 36 11 N, 5 22 W -- Southwestern Europe, bordering the
Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain

Flag ----

Description: two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and
red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band;
hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band

Geography ---------

Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar,
which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on
the southern coast of Spain

Geographic coordinates: 36 11 N, 5 22 W

Map references: Europe

Area:
total area: 6.5 sq km
land area: 6.5 sq km
comparative area: about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC

Land boundaries:
total: 1.2 km
border country: Spain 1.2 km

Coastline: 12 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm

International disputes: source of friction between Spain and the UK

Climate: Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers

Terrain: a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m

Natural resources: NEGL

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: limited natural freshwater resources, so large
concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rain water
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that
links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

People ------

Population: 28,765 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 3,109; female 2,728)
15-64 years: 66% (male 10,668; female 8,292)
65 years and over: 14% (male 1,582; female 2,386) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.54% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 13.94 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 8.73 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.29 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.15 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.83 years
male: 74.5 years
female: 81.31 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.26 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Gibraltarian(s)
adjective: Gibraltar

Ethnic divisions: Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, Spanish

Religions: Roman Catholic 74%, Protestant 11% (Church of England
8%, other 3%), Muslim 8%, Jewish 2%, none or other 5% (1981)

Languages: English (used in schools and for official purposes),
Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian

Literacy: NA

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Gibraltar

Data code: GI

Type of government: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: Gibraltar

Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

National holiday: Commonwealth Day (second Monday of March)

Constitution: 30 May 1969

Legal system: English law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal, plus other UK subjects
resident six months or more

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6
February 1952), a hereditary monarch, is represented by Governor and
Commander in Chief Field Marshal Sir John CHAPPLE (since NA March
1993)
head of government: Chief Minister Joe BOSSANO (since 25 March 1988)
was appointed by the governor
Gibraltar Council: advises the governor
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed from the elected members
of the House of Assembly by the governor in consultation with the
chief minister

Legislative branch: unicameral
House of Assembly: elections last held 16 January 1992 (next to be
held NA January 1996); results - SL 73.3%, SD 20.2%, NP 4.7%,
independents 1.8%; seats - (18 total, 15 elected) SL 8, SD 7

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders: Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party
(SL), Joe BOSSANO; Gibraltar Labor Party/Association for the
Advancement of Civil Rights (GCL/AACR), leader Adolfo CANEPA;
Gibraltar Social Democrats (SD), Peter CARUANA; Gibraltar National
Party (NP), Joe GARCIA

Other political or pressure groups: Housewives Association;
Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization

International organization participation: Interpol (subbureau)

Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the
UK)

US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Flag: two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red
with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band;
hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band

Economy -------

Economic overview: Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping
trade and offshore banking. The British military presence has been
sharply reduced and now contributes about 11% to the local economy.
The financial sector accounts for 15% of GDP; tourism, shipping
services fees, and duties on consumer goods also generate revenue.
Because more than 70% of the economy is in the public sector,
changes in government spending have a major impact on the level of
employment.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $205 million (1993 est.)

GDP real growth rate: NA%

GDP per capita: $6,600 (1993 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Labor force: 14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers)
note: UK military establishments and civil government employ nearly
50% of the labor force

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $116 million
expenditures: $124 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1992-93)

Industries: tourism, banking and finance, construction, commerce;
support to large UK naval and air bases; tobacco, mineral waters,
beer, canned fish

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 47,000 kW
production: 90 million kWh
consumption per capita: 2,539 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: none

Exports: $57 million (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities: (principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured
goods 41%, other 8%
partners: UK, Morocco, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, US, FRG

Imports: $420 million (c.i.f., 1992)
commodities: fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs
partners: UK, Spain, Japan, Netherlands