Chapter V (18)

Ports: La Ceiba, Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo,
Tela, Puerto Lempira

Merchant marine:
total: 257 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 769,518 GRT/1,148,423
DWT
ships by type: bulk 29, cargo 165, chemical tanker 2, combination
bulk 1, container 7, liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 3,
oil tanker 19, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 3, refrigerated cargo
16, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea passenger 2, vehicle carrier
1
note: a flag of convenience registry; Russia owns 8 ships, Vietnam
4, North Korea 2, Greece 1, Japan 1, US 1, Iran 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 111
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5
with paved runways under 914 m: 79
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 21 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 105,000 (1992 est.)

Telephone system: inadequate system
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System

Radio broadcast stations: AM 176, FM 0, shortwave 7

Radios: 2.115 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 28

Televisions: 400,000 (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, Public
Security Forces (FUSEP)

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 1,322,525
males fit for military service: 787,889
males reach military age (18) annually: 64,378 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $41 million,
about 0.4% of GDP (1994)

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

@Hong Kong ---------

(dependent territory of the UK)

Map ---

Location: 22 15 N, 114 10 E -- Eastern Asia, bordering the South
China Sea and China

Flag ----

Description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant with the Hong Kong coat of arms on a white disk centered on
the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a shield
(bearing two junks below a crown) held by a lion (representing the
UK) and a dragon (representing China) with another lion above the
shield and a banner bearing the words HONG KONG below the shield

Geography ---------

Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

Geographic coordinates: 22 15 N, 114 10 E

Map references: Southeast Asia

Area:
total area: 1,040 sq km
land area: 990 sq km
comparative area: six times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
total: 30 km
border country: China 30 km

Coastline: 733 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy
from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall

Terrain: hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m

Natural resources: outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar

Land use:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 1%
forest and woodland: 12%
other: 79%

Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1989)

Environment:
current issues: air and water pollution from rapid urbanization
natural hazards: occasional typhoons
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: more than 200 islands

People ------

Population: 6,305,413 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 19% (male 609,493; female 593,687)
15-64 years: 70% (male 2,312,141; female 2,094,156)
65 years and over: 11% (male 307,186; female 388,750) (July 1996
est.)

Population growth rate: 1.77% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 10.5 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 5.23 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 12.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.05 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 82.19 years
male: 78.88 years
female: 85.71 years (1996 est.)

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

Nationality:
noun: Chinese
adjective: Chinese

Ethnic divisions: Chinese 95%, other 5%

Religions: eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%

Languages: Chinese (Cantonese), English

Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1995 est.)
total population: 92.2%
male: 96%
female: 88.2%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Hong Kong
abbreviation: HK

Data code: HK

Type of government: dependent territory of the UK scheduled to
revert to China on 1 July 1997

Capital: Victoria

Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK; the UK signed
an agreement with China on 19 December 1984 to return Hong Kong to
China on 1 July 1997; in the joint declaration, China promises to
respect Hong Kong's existing social and economic systems and
lifestyle)

National holiday: Liberation Day, 29 August (1945)

Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and
practice; new Basic Law approved in March 1990 in preparation for
1997

Legal system: based on English common law

Suffrage: direct election 18 years of age; universal for permanent
residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven
years; indirect election limited to about 100,000 professionals of
electoral college and functional constituencies

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6
February 1952) is a hereditary monarch
head of government: Governor and President of the Executive Council
Christopher Francis PATTEN (since 9 July 1992) was appointed by the
Queen; Chief Secretary Anson CHAN Fang On-Sang (since 29 November
1993)
cabinet: Executive Council was appointed by the Governor

Legislative branch: unicameral
Legislative Council: indirect and direct elections last held 17
September 1995 (next to be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote
by party NA; seats - (60 total, 30 indirectly elected by functional
constituencies, 20 directly elected, 10 elected by election
committee) Democratic Party 21, Liberal Party 10, Democratic
Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong 6, other parties and
independents 23

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party, Martin LEE,
chairman; Liberal Party, Allen LEE, chairman; Democratic Alliance
for the Betterment of Hong Kong, TSANG Yuk-shing, chairman; Hong
Kong Democratic Foundation, Dr. Patrick SHIU Kin-ying, chairman

Other political or pressure groups: Association for Democracy and
People's Livelihood (ADPL), Frederick FUNG Kin Kee, chairman;
Liberal Democratic Federation, HU Fa-kuang, chairman; Federation of
Trade Unions (pro-China), LEE Chark-tim, president; Hong Kong and
Kowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Confederation of Trade
Unions (pro-democracy), LEE Cheuk-yan, chairman; Hong Kong General
Chamber of Commerce; Chinese General Chamber of Commerce
(pro-China); Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Chinese
Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Professional
Teachers' Union, CHEUNG Man-kwong, president; Hong Kong Alliance in
Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China, Szeto WAH,
chairman

International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, CCC, ESCAP
(associate), ICFTU, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ISO
(correspondent), WCL, WMO, WTrO

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

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Consul General Richard W. MUELLER
consulate general(s): 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong
mailing address: PSC 464, Box 30, FPO AP 96522-0002
telephone: [852] 2523-9011
FAX: [852] 2845-1598

Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant with the Hong Kong coat of arms on a white disk centered on
the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a shield
(bearing two junks below a crown) held by a lion (representing the
UK) and a dragon (representing China) with another lion above the
shield and a banner bearing the words HONG KONG below the shield

Economy -------

Economic overview: Hong Kong has a bustling free market economy
with few tariffs or nontariff barriers. Natural resources are
limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. Manufacturing
and construction account for about 18% of GDP. Goods and services
exports account for about 50% of GDP. Real GDP growth averaged a
remarkable 8% in 1987-88, slowed to 3.0% in 1989-90, and picked up
to 4.2% in 1991, 5.0% in 1992, 5.2% in 1993, 5.5% in 1994, and 5.0%
in 1995. Unemployment, which has been declining since the mid-1980s,
edged up from 2% to 3.5% in 1995. Notwithstanding, a shortage of
labor continues to put upward pressure on prices and the cost of
living. Prospects for 1996 remain bright so long as major trading
partners continue to be reasonably prosperous and so long as
investors feel China will support free market practices after the
takeover in 1997.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $152.4 billion (1995 est.)

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

GDP per capita: $27,500 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.2%
industry: 18.4%
services: 81.4% (1995 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.4% (1995)

Labor force: 2,915,400 (1994)
by occupation: manufacturing 28.5%, wholesale and retail trade,
restaurants, and hotels 27.9%, services 17.7%, financing, insurance,
and real estate 9.2%, transport and communications 4.5%,
construction 2.5%, other 9.7% (1989)

Unemployment rate: 3.5% (1995 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $19 billion
expenditures: $14.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $289
million (FY94/95)

Industries: textiles, clothing, tourism, electronics, plastics,
toys, watches, clocks

Industrial production growth rate: 2% (1993 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 8,930,000 kW
production: 33 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 4,628 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: fresh vegetables; poultry

Illicit drugs: a hub for Southeast Asian heroin trade;
transshipment and money-laundering center; increasing indigenous
amphetamine abuse

Exports: $177.1 billion (including re-exports)(f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: clothing, textiles, yarn and fabric, footwear,
electrical appliances, watches and clocks, toys
partners: China 33%, US 22%, Germany 5%, Japan 5%, UK 3% (1993)

Imports: $195.4 billion (c.i.f., 1995)
commodities: foodstuffs, transport equipment, raw materials,
semimanufactures, petroleum; a large share is re-exported
partners: China 38%, Japan 17%, Taiwan 9%, US 7% (1993)

External debt: none (1995)

Economic aid: $NA

Currency: 1 Hong Kong dollar (HK$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Hong Kong dollars (HK$) per US$ - 7.800 (1995),
7.800 (1994), 7.800 (1993), 7.741 (1992), 7.771 (1991); note -
linked to the US dollar at the rate of about 7.8 HK$ per 1 US$ since
1985

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

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

Railways:
total: 35 km
standard gauge: 35 km 1.435-m gauge

Highways:
total: 1,661 km
paved: 1,661 km
unpaved: 0 km (1994 est.)

Ports: Hong Kong

Merchant marine:
total: 238 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 8,632,224
GRT/14,820,657 DWT
ships by type: bulk 129, cargo 32, chemical tanker 1, combination
bulk 4, combination ore/oil 3, container 39, liquefied gas tanker 3,
multifunction large load carrier 1, oil tanker 17, refrigerated
cargo 5, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 3
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 17
countries among which are UK 51, China 11, Belgium 8, South Africa
8, US 8, Japan 7, Bermuda 6, Switzerland 6, Germany 3, and Israel 3
(1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 2
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)
note: new international airport to be commissioned in 1997/98

Heliports: 1 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 4.13 million (1995 est.)

Telephone system: modern facilities provide excellent domestic and
international services
domestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic
network
international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific
Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China; access
to 5 international submarine cables providing connections to ASEAN
member nations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, and Western
Europe

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

Radios: 3 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 4 (British Broadcasting Corporation
repeater 1; British Forces Broadcasting Service repeater 1)

Televisions: 1.75 million (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Headquarters of British Forces, Army, Royal Navy, Royal
Air Force, Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force, Royal Hong Kong
Police Force

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 1,895,535
males fit for military service: 1,442,072
males reach military age (18) annually: 46,248 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $207 million,
0.2% of GDP (FY92/93); this represents 65% of the total cost of
defending the colony, the remainder being paid by the UK

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the UK until 1 July
1997, when China will assume command

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

@Howland Island --------------

(territory of the US)

Map ---

Location: 0 48 N, 176 38 W -- Oceania, island in the North Pacific
Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Flag ----

Description: the flag of the US is used

Geography ---------

Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Geographic coordinates: 0 48 N, 176 38 W

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total area: 1.6 sq km
land area: 1.6 sq km
comparative area: about three times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 6.4 km

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

International disputes: none

Climate: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun

Terrain: low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded
by a narrow fringing reef; depressed central area
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m

Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 5%
other: 95%

Irrigated land: 0 sq km

Environment:
current issues: no natural fresh water resources
natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can
be a maritime hazard
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate
vines, and low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center;
primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds,
shorebirds, and marine wildlife; feral cats

People ------

Population: uninhabited; note - American civilians evacuated in
1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II;
occupied by US military during World War II, but abandoned after the
war; public entry is by special-use permit only and generally
restricted to scientists and educators

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Howland Island

Data code: HQ

Type of government: unincorporated territory of the US
administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department
of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System

Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC

Flag: the flag of the US is used

Economy -------

Economic overview: no economic activity

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

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one boat
landing area along the middle of the west coast

Airports: airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling
stop on the round-the-world flight of Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan
- they left Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never seen
again; the airstrip is no longer serviceable

Transportation note: Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle
of the west coast that was partially destroyed during World War II,
but has since been rebuilt; named in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia
Earhart

Defense -------

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited
annually by the US Coast Guard

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

@Hungary -------

Map ---

Location: 47 00 N, 20 00 E -- Central Europe, northwest of Romania

Flag ----

Description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and
green

Geography ---------

Location: Central Europe, northwest of Romania

Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 20 00 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total area: 93,030 sq km
land area: 92,340 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Indiana

Land boundaries:
total: 2,009 km
border countries: Austria 366 km, Croatia 329 km, Romania 443 km,
Serbia and Montenegro 151 km (all with Serbia), Slovakia 515 km,
Slovenia 102 km, Ukraine 103 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

International disputes: Gabcikovo Dam dispute with Slovakia

Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers

Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on
the Slovakian border
lowest point: Tisza River 78 m
highest point: Kekes 1,014 m

Natural resources: bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils

Land use:
arable land: 51%
permanent crops: 6%
meadows and pastures: 13%
forest and woodland: 18%
other: 12%

Irrigated land: 1,750 sq km (1989)

Environment:
current issues: an early-1996 government study identified 179 areas
that suffer from air pollution, 54 areas with polluted soil, and 32
areas with polluted underground water; the study estimated clean-up
costs at $350 million, but the 1996 government budget allocates only
about $7 million for this purpose
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, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not
ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Law of the Sea

Geographic note: landlocked; strategic location astride main land
routes between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as
between Ukraine and Mediterranean basin

People ------

Population: 10,002,541 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 907,963; female 867,536)
15-64 years: 68% (male 3,325,529; female 3,464,588)
65 years and over: 14% (male 538,106; female 898,819) (July 1996
est.)

Population growth rate: -0.68% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 10.72 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 15.06 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.48 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: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.91 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 12.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.02 years
male: 64.23 years
female: 74.04 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.51 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Hungarian(s)
adjective: Hungarian

Ethnic divisions: Hungarian 89.9%, Gypsy 4%, German 2.6%, Serb 2%,
Slovak 0.8%, Romanian 0.7%

Religions: Roman Catholic 67.5%, Calvinist 20%, Lutheran 5%,
atheist and other 7.5%

Languages: Hungarian 98.2%, other 1.8%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 98%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Hungary
conventional short form: Hungary
local long form: Magyar Koztarsasag
local short form: Magyarorszag

Data code: HU

Type of government: republic

Capital: Budapest

Administrative divisions: 38 counties (megyek, singular - megye)
and 1 capital city* (fovaros); Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes,
Bekescsaba, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Budapest*, Csongrad, Debrecen,
Dunaujvaros, Eger, Fejer, Gyor, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar,
Heves, Hodmezovasarhely, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Kaposvar, Kecskemet,
Komarom-Esztergom, Miskolc, Nagykanizsa, Nograd, Nyiregyhaza, Pecs,
Pest, Somogy, Sopron, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Szeged,
Szekesfehervar, Szolnok, Szombathely, Tatabanya, Tolna, Vas,
Veszprem, Zala, Zalaegerszeg

Independence: 1001 (unification by King Stephen I)

National holiday: St. Stephen's Day (National Day), 20 August
(commemorates the founding of Hungarian state circa 1000 AD)

Constitution: 18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949, revised 19
April 1972; 18 October 1989 revision ensured legal rights for
individuals and constitutional checks on the authority of the prime
minister and also established the principle of parliamentary
oversight

Legal system: in process of revision, moving toward rule of law
based on Western model

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Arpad GONCZ (since 3 August 1990;
previously interim president from 2 May 1990) was elected for a
four-year term by the National Assembly; election last held 19 June
1995 (next to be held NA 1999); results - President GONCZ elected by
parliamentary vote with a total of 259 votes out of 335
head of government: Prime Minister Gyula HORN (since 15 July 1994)
was elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the
president
cabinet: Council of Ministers was elected by the National Assembly
on recommendation of the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Orszaggyules): elections last held on 8 and 29
May 1994 (next to be held spring 1998); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (386 total) MSzP 209, SzDSz 70, MDF 37, FKgP 26,
KDNP 22, FiDeSz 20, other 2

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the
National Assembly

Political parties and leaders: Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF),
Lajos FUR, chairman; Independent Smallholders (FKgP), Jozsef
TORGYAN, president; Hungarian Socialist Party (MSzP), Gyula HORN,
president; Christian Democratic People's Party (KDNP), Gyorgy GICZY,
president; Federation of Young Democrats (FiDeSz), Viktor ORBAN,
chairman; Alliance of Free Democrats (SzDSz), Ivan PETO, chairman
note: the Hungarian Socialist (Communist) Workers' Party (MSzMP)
renounced Communism and became the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSzP)
in October 1989; there is still a small MMP

International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG,
OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNU, UPU, WEU
(associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gyorgy BANLAKI
chancery: 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 362-6730
FAX: [1] (202) 966-8135
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald M. BLINKEN
embassy: V. Szabadsag Ter 12, Budapest
mailing address: Am Embassy, Unit 1320, APO AE 09213-1320
telephone: [36] (1) 267-4400, 269-9331
FAX: [36] (1) 269-9326

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green

Economy -------

Economic overview: Hungary, probably the most Western-oriented
economy in East Europe before the transition to a market system
began in 1990, made good progress in the initial years of
transition. The reform process slowed in 1993-94, however, in part
because of the May 1994 elections and the resulting change in
government. By 1994 the privatization of state firms had ground to a
halt, while both the budget and current account deficits soared to
unsustainable levels - about 8% and 10% of GDP, respectively. The
situation improved sharply in 1995; an austerity program introduced
in March reduced both deficits, and a renewed privatization effort
later in 1995 resulted in more than $3 billion worth of sales of
state firms to foreign investors - money that will be used to reduce
Hungary's large foreign debt. As for other macroeconomic
developments, real GDP increased 2.9% in 1994 - following several
years of steep decline - and about 1.5% in 1995. Unemployment
reached 14% in early 1993 before gradually falling back to 10% in
1995. Inflation has oscillated; it reached 40% in mid-1991, dropped
to 17% in early 1994, and then jumped back to 31% by mid-1995.
Prospects for 1996 are good. With the government still committed to
austerity, both the budget and current account deficits should fall
to about 4% of GDP. Economic growth is expected to be about 2% and
unemployment at about 10%, with inflation falling to 20% by yearend.
In March 1996 the IMF signed a new standby loan agreement with
Budapest, and the OECD approved Hungary's application for admission.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $72.5 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 1.5% (1995)

GDP per capita: $7,000 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 7.3%
industry: 37.5%
services: 55.2%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 28.3% (1995)

Labor force: 4.8 million (1995)
by occupation: services, trade, government, and other 47.2%,
industry 29.7%, agriculture 16.1%, construction 7.0% (1991)

Unemployment rate: 10.4% (yearend 1995)

Budget:
revenues: $12.6 billion
expenditures: $13.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995)

Industries: mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed
foods, textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor
vehicles

Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1995 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 6,740,000 kW
production: 31 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 3,012 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: wheat, corn, sunflower seed, potatoes, sugar beets;
pigs, cattle, poultry, dairy products

Illicit drugs: major transshipment point for Southwest Asian
heroin and transit point for South American cocaine destined for
Western Europe; limited producer of precursor chemicals

Exports: $13 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: raw materials and semi-finished goods 36.4%, consumer
goods 26.7%, food and agriculture 20.5%, capital goods 13.1%, fuels
and energy 3.3% (1994)
partners: Germany 28.2%, Austria 10.9%, Italy 8.5%, Russia 7.5%, US
4.0% (1994)

Imports: $15 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: fuels and energy 11.0%, raw materials and semi-finished
goods 36.9%, capital goods 23.3%, consumer goods 22.0%, food and
agriculture 6.8% (1994)
partners: Germany 23.4%, Austria 12.0%, Russia 12.0%, Italy 7.0%, UK
4.0% (1994)

External debt: $32.7 billion (October 1995)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $136 million (1993)
note: assistance received from OECD countries and international
organizations, $3,700 million (1990-93)

Currency: 1 forint (Ft) = 100 filler

Exchange rates: forints per US$1 - 144 (January 1996), 125.681
(1995),105.160 (1994), 91.933 (1993), 78.988 (1992), 74.735 (1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 7,685 km
broad gauge: 35 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge: 7,474 km 1.435-m gauge (2,162 km electrified; 1,236
km double track)
narrow gauge: 176 km mostly 0.760-m gauge (1995)
note: Hungry and Austria jointly manage the cross-border
standard-gauge railway between Gyor, Sopron, Ebenfurti, and Vasut, a
distance of about 100 km

Highways:
total: 158,711 km
paved: 69,992 km (including 441 km of expressways)
unpaved: 88,719 km (1992 est.)

Waterways: 1,622 km (1988)

Pipelines: crude oil 1,204 km; natural gas 4,387 km (1991)

Ports: Budapest, Dunaujvaros

Merchant marine:
total: 10 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 46,121 GRT/61,613
DWT (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 78
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 7
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
with paved runways under 914 m: 1
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 7
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 9
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 14
with unpaved runways under 914 m: 34 (1994 est.)

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

Telephones: 1.52 million (1993 est.)

Telephone system: 14,213 telex lines; automatic telephone network
based on microwave radio relay system; 608,000 telephones on order;
12-15 year wait for a telephone; 49% of all telephones are in
Budapest (1991 est.); note - the former state-owned
telecommunications firm MATAV - now privatized and managed by a
US/German consortium - has ambitious plans to upgrade the inadequate
system, including a contract with the German firm Siemens and the
Swedish firm Ericsson to provide 600,000 new phone lines during
1996-98
domestic: microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat and 1
Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 32, FM 15, shortwave 0

Radios: 6 million (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 41 (Russian repeaters 8)

Televisions: 4.38 million (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Guard,
Territorial Defense

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 2,552,794
males fit for military service: 2,036,399
males reach military age (18) annually: 82,040 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $620 million,
1.7% of GDP (1995)

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

@Iceland -------

Map ---

Location: 65 00 N, 18 00 W -- Northern Europe, island between the
Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK

Flag ----

Description: blue with a red cross outlined in white 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, island between the Greenland Sea and
the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK

Geographic coordinates: 65 00 N, 18 00 W

Map references: Arctic Region

Area:
total area: 103,000 sq km
land area: 100,250 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Kentucky

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 4,988 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: Rockall continental shelf dispute
involving Denmark, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have
signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)

Climate: temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild,
windy winters; damp, cool summers

Terrain: mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks,
icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,119 m

Natural resources: fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite

Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 20%
forest and woodland: 1%
other: 78%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate
wastewater treatment
natural hazards: earthquakes and volcanic activity
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not
ratified - Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life
Conservation

Geographic note: strategic location between Greenland and Europe;
westernmost European country; more land covered by glaciers than in
all of continental Europe

People ------

Population: 270,292 (July 1996 est.)
note: population data estimates based on average growth rate may
differ slightly from official population data because of volatile
migration rates

Age structure:
0-14 years: 24% (male 33,605; female 31,933)
15-64 years: 64% (male 88,064; female 85,724)
65 years and over: 12% (male 13,916; female 17,050) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.83% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 16.94 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 6.17 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.5 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: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.08 years
male: 77.68 years
female: 82.6 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.24 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Icelander(s)
adjective: Icelandic

Ethnic divisions: homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norwegians
and Celts

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 96%, other Protestant and Roman
Catholic 3%, none 1% (1988)

Languages: Icelandic

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1976 est.)
total population: 100%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Iceland
conventional short form: Iceland
local long form: Lyoveldio Island
local short form: Island

Data code: IC

Type of government: republic

Capital: Reykjavik

Administrative divisions: 23 counties (syslar, singular - sysla)
and 14 independent towns* (kaupstadhir, singular - kaupstadhur);
Akranes*, Akureyri*, Arnessysla, Austur-Bardhastrandarsysla,
Austur-Hunavatnssysla, Austur-Skaftafellssysla, Borgarfjardharsysla,
Dalasysla, Eyjafjardharsysla, Gullbringusysla, Hafnarfjordhur*,
Husavik*, Isafjordhur*, Keflavik*, Kjosarsysla, Kopavogur*,
Myrasysla, Neskaupstadhur*, Nordhur-Isafjardharsysla,
Nordhur-Mulasys-la, Nordhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Olafsfjordhur*,
Rangarvallasysla, Reykjavik*, Saudharkrokur*, Seydhisfjordhur*,
Siglufjordhur*, Skagafjardharsysla, Snaefellsnes-og Hnappadalssysla,
Strandasysla, Sudhur-Mulasysla, Sudhur-Thingeyjarsysla,
Vesttmannaeyjar*, Vestur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Vestur-Hunavatnssysla,
Vestur-Isafjardharsysla, Vestur-Skaftafellssysla

Independence: 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)

National holiday: Anniversary of the Establishment of the
Republic, 17 June (1944)

Constitution: 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944

Legal system: civil law system based on Danish law; does not
accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR (since 1 August
1980) was elected for a four-year term by universal suffrage;
election last held 29 June 1988 (next to be held June 1996); results
- there was no election in 1992 as President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR
was unopposed
head of government: Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since 30 April
1991) was appointed by the president
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
Parliament (Althing): elections last held on 8 April 1995 (next to
be held by April 1999); results - Independence Party 37.1%,
Progressive Party 23.3%, Social Democratic Party 11.4%, Socialists
14.3%, People's Movement 7.2%, Women's Party 4.9%; seats - (63
total) Independence 25, Progressive 15, Social Democratic 7,
Socialists 9, People's Movement 4, Women's Party 3

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Haestirettur), justices are
appointed for life by the president

Political parties and leaders: Independence Party (conservative),
David ODDSSON; Progressive Party (liberal), Halldor ASGRIMSSON;
Social Democratic Party, Jon Baldvin HANNIBALSSON; People's Alliance
(left socialist), Margret FRIMANNSDOTTIR; Women's Party, Kristin
ASTGEIRSDOTTIR; People's Movement (centrist); National Awakening
(People's Revival Party), Johanna SIGURDARDOTTIR

International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNU, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Einar BENEDIKTSSON
chancery: Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653 through 6655
FAX: [1] (202) 265-6656
consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Parker W. BORG
embassy: Laufasvegur 21, Reykjavik
mailing address: US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340
telephone: [354] 5629100
FAX: [354] 5629139

Flag: blue with a red cross outlined in white 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: Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is
basically capitalistic, but with an extensive welfare system, low
unemployment, and comparatively even distribution of income. The
economy is heavily dependent on the fishing industry, which provides
nearly 75% of export earnings and employs 12% of the work force. In
the absence of other natural resources - except energy - Iceland's
economy is vulnerable to changing world fish prices. The economy, in
recession since 1988, began to recover in 1993, posting 0.4% growth,
but was still hampered by cutbacks in fish quotas as well as falling
world prices for its main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum,
and ferrosilicon. The center-right government plans to continue its
policies of reducing the budget and current account deficits,
limiting foreign borrowing, containing inflation, revising
agricultural and fishing policies, diversifying the economy, and
privatizing state-owned industries. The government, however, remains
divided on the issue of EU membership, primarily because of
Icelanders' concern about losing control over their fishing
resources.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $5 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 3.2% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $18,800 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 9.6%
industry: 22.1%
services: 68.3% (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 127,900
by occupation: commerce, transportation, and services 60.0%,
manufacturing 12.5%, fishing and fish processing 11.8%, construction
10.8%, agriculture 4.0%, other 0.9% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 3.9% (December 1995)

Budget:
revenues: $1.9 billion
expenditures: $2.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $297
million (1994 est.)

Industries: fish processing, aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon
production, geothermal power

Industrial production growth rate: 1.75% (1991 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 1,070,000 kW
production: 4.7 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 16,458 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: potatoes, turnips; cattle, sheep; fish catch of about
1.1 million metric tons in 1992

Exports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: fish and fish products, animal products, aluminum,
ferrosilicon, diatomite
partners: EC 68% (UK 25%, Germany 12%), US 11%, Japan 8% (1992)

Imports: $1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum
products, foodstuffs, textiles
partners: EC 53% (Germany 14%, Denmark 10%, UK 9%), Norway 14%, US
9% (1992)

External debt: $2.5 billion (1993 est.)

Economic aid: $NA

Currency: 1 Icelandic krona (IKr) = 100 aurar

Exchange rates: Icelandic kronur (IKr) per US$1 - 65.970 (January
1996), 64.692 (1995), 69.944 (1994), 67.603 (1993), 57.546 (1992),
58.996 (1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 11,373 km
paved: 2,513 km
unpaved: 8,860 km (1992 est.)

Ports: Akureyri, Hornafjordur, Isafjordur, Keflavik, Raufarhofn,
Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Straumsvik, Vestmannaeyjar

Merchant marine:
total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 30,025 GRT/40,410 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, oil tanker 1,
refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 84
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5
with paved runways under 914 m: 49
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 22 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 143,600 (1993 est.)

Telephone system: adequate domestic service
domestic: the trunk network consists of coaxial and fiber-optic
cables and microwave radio relay links
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean Regions); note -
Iceland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic
countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 147 (transmitters and
repeaters), shortwave 0

Radios: 91,500 licensed (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 202 (transmitters and repeaters)

Televisions: 96,100 licensed (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: no regular armed forces; Police, Coast Guard; note -
Iceland's defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense
Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 71,317
males fit for military service: 63,126 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: none

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

@India -----

Map ---

Location: 20 00 N, 77 00 E -- Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian
Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan

Flag ----

Description: three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white,
and green with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white
band; similar to the flag of Niger, which has a small orange disk
centered in the white band

Geography ---------

Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of
Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan

Geographic coordinates: 20 00 N, 77 00 E

Map references: Asia

Area:
total area: 3,287,590 sq km
land area: 2,973,190 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than one-third the size of the US

Land boundaries:
total: 14,103 km
border countries: Bangladesh 4,053 km, Bhutan 605 km, Burma 1,463
km, China 3,380 km, Nepal 1,690 km, Pakistan 2,912 km

Coastline: 7,000 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: boundaries with Bangladesh and China in
dispute; status of Kashmir with Pakistan; water-sharing problems
with downstream riparians, Bangladesh over the Ganges and Pakistan
over the Indus (Wular Barrage)

Climate: varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in
north

Terrain: upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling
plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Kanchenjunga 8,598 m

Natural resources: coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world),
iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, natural
gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestone

Land use:
arable land: 55%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 4%
forest and woodland: 23%
other: 17%

Irrigated land: 430,390 sq km (1989)

Environment:
current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing;
desertification; air pollution from industrial effluents and vehicle
emissions; water pollution from raw sewage and runoff of
agricultural pesticides; tap water is not potable throughout the
country; huge and rapidly growing population is overstraining
natural resources
natural hazards: droughts, flash floods, severe thunderstorms
common; earthquakes
international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber, Wetlands; signed, but
not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification

Geographic note: dominates South Asian subcontinent; near
important Indian Ocean trade routes

People ------

Population: 952,107,694 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 34% (male 168,030,766; female 159,283,151)
15-64 years: 62% (male 304,805,787; female 281,311,834)
65 years and over: 4% (male 19,148,385; female 19,527,771) (July
1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.64% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 25.94 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 9.61 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.07 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 71.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 59.71 years
male: 59.12 years
female: 60.32 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.2 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Indian(s)
adjective: Indian

Ethnic divisions: Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and
other 3%

Religions: Hindu 80%, Muslim 14%, Christian 2.4%, Sikh 2%,
Buddhist 0.7%, Jains 0.5%, other 0.4%

Languages: English enjoys associate status but is the most
important language for national, political, and commercial
communication, Hindi the national language and primary tongue of 30%
of the people, Bengali (official), Telugu (official), Marathi
(official), Tamil (official), Urdu (official), Gujarati (official),
Malayalam (official), Kannada (official), Oriya (official), Punjabi
(official), Assamese (official), Kashmiri (official), Sindhi
(official), Sanskrit (official), Hindustani a popular variant of
Hindu/Urdu, is spoken widely throughout northern India
note: 24 languages each spoken by a million or more persons;
numerous other languages and dialects, for the most part mutually
unintelligible

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 52%
male: 65.5%
female: 37.7%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of India
conventional short form: India

Data code: IN

Type of government: federal republic

Capital: New Delhi

Administrative divisions: 25 states and 7 union territories*;
Andaman and Nicobar Islands*, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh,
Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh*, Dadra and Nagar Haveli*, Daman and Diu*,
Delhi*, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachel Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir,
Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep*, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Pondicherry*, Punjab,
Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal

Independence: 15 August 1947 (from UK)

National holiday: Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic,
26 January (1950)

Constitution: 26 January 1950

Legal system: based on English common law; limited judicial review
of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Shankar Dayal SHARMA (since 25 July 1992)
was elected for a five-year term by an electoral college consisting
of elected members of both houses of Parliament and the legislatures
of the states; Vice President Kicheril Raman NARAYANAN (since 21
August 1992) was elected by both houses of Parliament
head of government: Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha RAO (since 21
June 1991) was appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president on
recommendation of the prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Sansad)
Council of States (Rajya Sabha): body consisting of not more than
250 members, up to 12 appointed by the president, the remainder
chosen by the elected members of the state and territorial assemblies
People's Assembly (Lok Sabha): elections last held 21 May, 12 and 15
June 1991 (next to be held 27 April through May 1996); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (545 total, 543 elected, 2
appointed) Congress (I) Party 245, BJP 119, Janata Dal Party 39,
Janata Dal (Ajit Singh) 20, CPI/M 35, CPI 14, Telugu Desam 13,
AIADMK 11, Samajwadi Janata Party 5, Shiv Sena 4, RSP 4, BSP 1,
Congress (S) Party 1, other 23, vacant 9; note - the distribution of
seats as of 18 January 1995 is as follows: Congress (I) Party 260,
BJP 117, CPI/M 36, Janata Dal Party 24, Samata Party 14, CPI 14,
AIADMK 12, Janata Dal (Ajit) 7, Telugu Desam 7, RSP 4, Janata Dal
(Ex-Ajit) 3, Samajwadi Party 3, BSP 3, AIFB 3, Shiv Sena 2, Congress
(S) Party 1, Kerala Congress (Mani faction) 1, Bihar Peoples Party
1, India National League 1, other 14, vacant 16

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
president

Political parties and leaders: Congress (I) Party, P. V. Narasimha
RAO, president; Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), L.K. ADVANI; Janata
Dal Party, Laloo Prasad YADAV; Janata Dal (Ajit), Ajit SINGH; Janata
Dal (Ex-Ajit), leader NA; Communist Party of India/Marxist (CPI/M),
Harkishan Singh SURJEET; Communist Party of India (CPI), Indrajit
GUPTA; Telugu Desam (Naidu) (a regional party in Andhra Pradesh),
Chandrababu NAIDU; All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (AIADMK;
a regional party in Tamil Nadu), Jayaram JAYALALITHA; Samajwadi
Party (SP), Mulayam Singh YADAV (president), Om Prakash CHAUTALA,
Devi LAL; Shiv Sena, Bal THACKERAY; Revolutionary Socialist Party
(RSP), Tridip CHOWDHURY; Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Kanshi RAM;
Congress (S) Party, leader NA; Communist Party of
India/Marxist-Leninist (CPI/ML), Vinod MISHRA; Dravida Munnetra
Kazagham (a regional party in Tamil Nadu), M. KARUNANIDHI; Akali Dal
factions representing Sikh religious community in the Punjab;
National Conference (NC; a regional party in Jammu and Kashmir),
Farooq ABDULLAH; Bihar Peoples Party, Lovely ANAND; Samata Party
(formerly Janata Dal members), George FERNANDES; Indian National
League, Suliaman SAIT; Kerala Congress (Mani faction), K.M. MANI;
All India Forward Bloc (AIFB), Prem Dutta PALIWAL (chairman), Chitta
BASU (general secretary); Congress (Tiwari), Arjun SINGH and N.D.
TIWARI

Other political or pressure groups: various separatist groups
seeking greater communal and/or regional autonomy; numerous
religious or militant/chauvinistic organizations, including Adam
Sena, Ananda Marg, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and Rashtriya Swayamsevak
Sangh

International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),
AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G- 6, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM,
OAS (observer), PCA, SAARC, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNOMIL, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Naresh CHANDRA
chancery: 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; note -
Embassy located at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-7000
consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York, and San Francisco

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Frank G. WISNER
embassy: Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri 110021, New Delhi
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [91] (11) 600651
FAX: [91] (11) 6872028
consulate(s) general: Calcutta, Madras, Mumbai (Bombay)

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and
green with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white
band; similar to the flag of Niger, which has a small orange disk
centered in the white band

Economy -------

Economic overview: India's economy is a mixture of traditional
village farming, modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of
modern industries, and a multitude of support services. Faster
economic growth in the 1980s permitted a significant increase in
real per capita private consumption. A large share of the
population, perhaps as much as 40%, remains too poor to afford an
adequate diet. Financial strains in 1990 and 1991 prompted
government austerity measures that slowed industrial growth but
permitted India to meet its international payment obligations
without rescheduling its debt. Production, trade, and investment
reforms since 1991 have provided new opportunities for Indian
businessmen and an estimated 200 million plus middle class
consumers. New Delhi has always paid its foreign debts on schedule
and has stimulated exports, attracted foreign investment, and
revived confidence in India's economic prospects. GDP growth in
1992-95 has averaged nearly 5%. Most of the country's external
fundamentals - including the current account balance and reserves
(now nearly $17 billion) are healthy. Party politics is increasingly
shaping the debate over economic reforms. In addition, the 25 Indian
states and several union territories, which are playing a more
active role in determining economic policy, are further complicating
the economic climate. The Indian Government will also have to watch
closely rising government expenditures and higher debt servicing
which could create a debt trap by the turn of the century.
Nevertheless, India should achieve economic growth of 5.5%-6.5%
annually through the next several years. Even if a weak coalition
government comes to power in 1996 and is unable to push reforms
aggressively, parts of the economy that have already benefited from
deregulation will continue to grow. Moreover, the country can build
on other strengths, including its diverse industrial base, large
scientific and technical pool, well-developed legal system, and its
large middle class to achieve higher growth.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.4087 trillion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 5.5% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $1,500 (1995 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% (1995)

Labor force: 314.751 million (1990)
by occupation: agriculture 65% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $36.5 billion
expenditures: $54.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $11.4
billion (FY94/95)

Industries: textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel,
transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery

Industrial production growth rate: 10% (1995 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 81,200,000 kW (March 1995)
production: 314 billion kWh (1993)
consumption per capita: 324 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane,
potatoes; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, poultry; fish catch
of about 3 million metric tons ranks India among the world's top 10
fishing nations

Illicit drugs: licit producer of opium for the pharmaceutical
trade, but an undetermined quantity of opium is diverted to illicit
international drug markets; major transit country for illicit
narcotics produced in neighboring countries; illicit producer of
hashish and methaqualone; produced 70 metric tons of illicit opium
in 1995

Exports: $29.96 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: clothing, gems and jewelry, engineering goods,
chemicals, leather manufactures, cotton yarn, and fabric
partners: US, Japan, Germany, UK, Hong Kong

Imports: $33.5 billion (c.i.f., 1995)
commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, machinery, gems,
fertilizer, chemicals
partners: US, Germany, Saudi Arabia, UK, Belgium, Japan

External debt: $97.9 billion (March 1995)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $1.237 billion (1993); US ODA bilateral commitments
$171 million; US Ex-Im bilateral commitments $680 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA bilateral commitments $2.48 billion; OPEC
bilateral aid $200 million; World Bank (IBRD) multilateral
commitments $2.8 billion; Asian Development Bank (AsDB) multilateral
commitments $760 million; International Finance Corporation (IFC)
multilateral commitments $200 million; other multilateral
commitments $554 million (1995-96)

Currency: 1 Indian rupee (Re) = 100 paise

Exchange rates: Indian rupees (Rs) per US$1 - 35.766 (January
1996), 32.427 (1995), 31.374 (1994), 30.493 (1993), 25.918 (1992),
22.742 (1991)

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

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

Railways:
total: 62,462 km (11,793 km electrified; 12,617 km double track)
broad gauge: 37,824 km 1.676-m gauge
narrow gauge: 20,653 km 1.000-m gauge; 3,985 km 0.762-m and 0.610-m
gauge (1995 est.)

Highways:
total: 2.037 million km
paved: 981,834 km
unpaved: 1,055,166 km (1995 est.)

Waterways: 16,180 km; 3,631 km navigable by large vessels

Pipelines: crude oil 3,005 km; petroleum products 2,687 km;
natural gas 1,700 km (1995)

Ports: Calcutta, Cochin, Jawaharal Nehru, Kandla, Madras, Mumbai
(Bombay), Vishakhapatnam

Merchant marine:
total: 310 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,787,834
GRT/11,296,222 DWT
ships by type: bulk 133, cargo 65, chemical tanker 10, combination
bulk 2, combination ore/oil 3, container 11, liquefied gas tanker 6,
oil tanker 73, passenger-cargo 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1,
short-sea passenger 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 288
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 11
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 48
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 59
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 68
with paved runways under 914 m: 62
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 36 (1995 est.)

Heliports: 15 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 9.8 million (1995)

Telephone system: probably the least adequate telephone system of
any of the industrializing countries; three of every four villages
have no telephone service; only 5% of India's villages have
long-distance service; poor telephone service significantly impedes
commercial and industrial growth and penalizes India in global
markets; slow improvement is taking place with the recent admission
of private and private-public investors, but demand for
communication services is also growing rapidly
domestic: local service is provided mostly by open wire and obsolete
electromechanical and manual switchboard systems; within the last 10
years a substantial amount of digital switch gear has been
introduced for local service; long-distance traffic is carried
mostly by open wire, coaxial cable, and low-capacity microwave radio
relay; since 1985, however, significant trunk capacity has been
added in the form of fiber-optic cable and a domestic satellite
system with over 100 earth stations
international: satellite earth stations - 8 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean Region); submarine cables to Malaysia
and UAE

Radio broadcast stations: AM 96, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios: 70 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 274 (government controlled)

Televisions: 33 million (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, various security or paramilitary
forces (includes Border Security Force, Assam Rifles, and Coast
Guard)

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 260,624,007
males fit for military service: 153,176,413
males reach military age (17) annually: 9,770,331 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $8.0 billion,
2.7% of GDP (FY95/96)

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

@Indian Ocean ------------

Map ---

Location: 30 00 S, 80 00 E -- body of water between Africa,
Antarctica, Asia, and Australia

Geography ---------

Location: body of water between Africa, Antarctica, Asia, and
Australia

Geographic coordinates: 30 00 S, 80 00 E

Map references: World

Area:
total area: 73.6 million sq km
comparative area: slightly less than eight times the size of the US;
third-largest ocean (after the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, but
larger than the Arctic Ocean)
note: includes Arabian Sea, Bass Straight, Bay of Bengal, Great
Australian Bight, Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Strait of
Malacca, and other tributary water bodies

Coastline: 66,526 km

International disputes: some maritime disputes (see littoral
states)

Climate: northeast monsoon (December to April), southwest monsoon
(June to October); tropical cyclones occur during May/June and
October/November in the northern Indian Ocean and January/February
in the southern Indian Ocean

Terrain: surface dominated by counterclockwise gyre (broad,
circular system of currents) in the southern Indian Ocean; unique
reversal of surface currents in the northern Indian Ocean; low
atmospheric pressure over southwest Asia from hot, rising, summer
air results in the southwest monsoon and southwest-to-northeast
winds and currents, while high pressure over northern Asia from
cold, falling, winter air results in the northeast monsoon and
northeast-to-southwest winds and currents; ocean floor is dominated
by the Mid-Indian Ocean Ridge and subdivided by the Southeast Indian
Ocean Ridge, Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge, and Ninety East Ridge
lowest point: Java Trench -7,258 m
highest point: sea level 0 m

Natural resources: oil and gas fields, fish, shrimp, sand and
gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules

Environment:
current issues: endangered marine species include the dugong, seals,
turtles, and whales; oil pollution in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf,
and Red Sea
natural hazards: ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme
south near Antarctica from May to October
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: major chokepoints include Bab el Mandeb, Strait
of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, southern access to the Suez Canal, and
the Lombok Strait

Government ----------

Data code: none; the US Government has not approved a standard for
hydrographic codes - see the Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic
Codes appendix

Economy -------