Chapter V (19)

Economic overview: The Indian Ocean provides major sea routes
connecting the Middle East, Africa, and East Asia with Europe and
the Americas. It carries a particularly heavy traffic of petroleum
and petroleum products from the oilfields of the Persian Gulf and
Indonesia. Its fish are of great and growing importance to the
bordering countries for domestic consumption and export. Fishing
fleets from Russia, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan also exploit the Indian
Ocean, mainly for shrimp and tuna. Large reserves of hydrocarbons
are being tapped in the offshore areas of Saudi Arabia, Iran, India,
and western Australia. An estimated 40% of the world's offshore oil
production comes from the Indian Ocean. Beach sands rich in heavy
minerals and offshore placer deposits are actively exploited by
bordering countries, particularly India, South Africa, Indonesia,
Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

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

Ports: Calcutta (India), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Durban (South
Africa), Jakarta (Indonesia), Madras (India), Melbourne (Australia),
Mumbai (Bombay; India), Richard's Bay (South Africa)

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

Telephone system:
international: submarine cables from India to UAE and Malaysia and
from Sri Lanka to Djibouti and Indonesia

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

@Indonesia ---------

Map ---

Location: 5 00 S, 120 00 E -- Southeastern Asia, archipelago
between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean

Flag ----

Description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white;
similar to the flag of Monaco, which is shorter; also similar to the
flag of Poland, which is white (top) and red

Geography ---------

Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean
and the Pacific Ocean

Geographic coordinates: 5 00 S, 120 00 E

Map references: Southeast Asia

Area:
total area: 1,919,440 sq km
land area: 1,826,440 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Texas

Land boundaries:
total: 2,602 km
border countries: Malaysia 1,782 km, Papua New Guinea 820 km

Coastline: 54,716 km

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: sovereignty over Timor Timur (East Timor
Province) disputed with Portugal and not recognized by the UN; two
islands in dispute with Malaysia

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior
mountains
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Puncak Jaya 5,030 m

Natural resources: petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber,
bauxite, copper, fertile soils, coal, gold, silver

Land use:
arable land: 8%
permanent crops: 3%
meadows and pastures: 7%
forest and woodland: 67%
other: 15%

Irrigated land: 75,500 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: deforestation; water pollution from industrial
wastes, sewage; air pollution in urban areas
natural hazards: occasional floods, severe droughts, and tsunamis
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
Desertification, Marine Life Conservation

Geographic note: archipelago of 13,500 islands (6,000 inhabited);
straddles Equator; strategic location astride or along major sea
lanes from Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean

People ------

Population: 206,611,600 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 32% (male 33,354,840; female 32,414,363)
15-64 years: 64% (male 66,385,852; female 66,827,085)
65 years and over: 4% (male 3,380,567; female 4,248,893) (July 1996
est.)

Population growth rate: 1.53% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 23.67 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 8.38 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

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

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 63.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 61.64 years
male: 59.51 years
female: 63.88 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.7 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Indonesian(s)
adjective: Indonesian

Ethnic divisions: Javanese 45%, Sundanese 14%, Madurese 7.5%,
coastal Malays 7.5%, other 26%

Religions: Muslim 87%, Protestant 6%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 2%,
Buddhist 1%, other 1% (1985)

Languages: Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay),
English, Dutch, local dialects the most widely spoken of which is
Javanese

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 83.8%
male: 89.6%
female: 78%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Indonesia
conventional short form: Indonesia
local long form: Republik Indonesia
local short form: Indonesia
former: Netherlands East Indies; Dutch East Indies

Data code: ID

Type of government: republic

Capital: Jakarta

Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (propinsi-propinsi,
singular - propinsi), 2 special regions* (daerah-daerah istimewa,
singular - daerah istimewa), and 1 special capital city district**
(daerah khusus ibukota); Aceh*, Bali, Bengkulu, Irian Jaya, Jakarta
Raya**, Jambi, Jawa Barat, Jawa Tengah, Jawa Timur, Kalimantan
Barat, Kalimantan Selatan, Kalimantan Tengah, Kalimantan Timur,
Lampung, Maluku, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Riau,
Sulawesi Selatan, Sulawesi Tengah, Sulawesi Tenggara, Sulawesi
Utara, Sumatera Barat, Sumatera Selatan, Sumatera Utara, Timor
Timur, Yogyakarta*

Independence: 17 August 1945 (proclaimed independence; on 27
December 1949, Indonesia became legally independent from the
Netherlands)

National holiday: Independence Day, 17 August (1945)

Constitution: August 1945, abrogated by Federal Constitution of
1949 and Provisional Constitution of 1950, restored 5 July 1959

Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by
indigenous concepts and by new criminal procedures code; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal and married persons
regardless of age

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Gen. (Ret.)
SOEHARTO (since 27 March 1968) and Vice President Gen. (Ret.) Try
SUTRISNO (since 11 March 1993) were elected for five-year terms by
the People's Consultative Assembly
cabinet: Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral
House of Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat or DPR): elections
last held 8 June 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); results - GOLKAR
68%, PPP 17%, PDI 15%; seats - (500 total, 400 elected, 100 military
representatives appointed) GOLKAR 282, PPP 62, PDI 56
note: the People's Consultative Assembly (Majelis Permusyawaratan
Rakyat or MPR) includes the DPR plus 500 indirectly elected members
who meet every five years to elect the president and vice president
and, theoretically, to determine national policy

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Mahkamah Agung), the judges are
appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders: GOLKAR (quasi-official party based
on functional groups), HARMOKO, general chairman; Indonesia
Democracy Party (PDI - federation of former Nationalist and
Christian Parties), Megawati SUKARNOPUTRI, chairman; Development
Unity Party (PPP, federation of former Islamic parties), Ismail
Hasan METAREUM, chairman

International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC,
CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, Mekong Group, NAM, OIC,
OPEC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Arifin Mohamad SIREGAR
chancery: 2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 775-5200
FAX: [1] (202) 775-5365
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San
Francisco

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador J. Stapleton ROY
embassy: Medan Merdeka Selatan 5, Jakarta
mailing address: Box 1, APO AP 96520
telephone: [62] (21) 360360
FAX: [62] (21) 3862259
consulate(s) general: Medan, Surabaya

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar
to the flag of Monaco, which is shorter; also similar to the flag of
Poland, which is white (top) and red

Economy -------

Economic overview: Indonesia is a mixed economy with some central
planning but with an emphasis on rapid deregulation and private
enterprise. Real GDP growth in 1985-95 averaged about 7%, quite
impressive, but not sufficient to both slash underemployment and
absorb the 2.3 million workers annually entering the labor force.
Plantation crops - rubber and palm oil - and textiles and plywood
are being encouraged for both export and job generation. Industrial
output is based on a supply of diverse natural resources, including
crude oil, natural gas, timber, metals, and coal. Foreign investment
has also boosted manufacturing output and exports in recent years.
Indeed, the economy's growth is highly dependent on the continuing
expansion of nonoil exports. Japan remains Indonesia's most
important customer and supplier of aid. Like some other rapidly
developing countries in Southeast Asia, Indonesia is struggling to
keep the economy from overheating.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $710.9 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 7.5% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $3,500 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 17%
industry: 32.6%
services: 50.4%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.6% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 67 million
by occupation: agriculture 55%, manufacturing 10%, construction 4%,
transport and communications 3% (1985 est.)

Unemployment rate: 3% official rate; underemployment 40% (1994
est.)

Budget:
revenues: $38.1 billion
expenditures: $38.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $14.5
billion (FY96/97 est.)

Industries: petroleum and natural gas, textiles, mining, cement,
chemical fertilizers, plywood, food, rubber

Industrial production growth rate: 13.9% (1995 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 12,100,000 kW
production: 44 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 207 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: rice, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, rubber, cocoa,
coffee, palm oil, copra, other tropical products; poultry, beef,
pork, eggs

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis largely for domestic
use; government actively eradicating plantings and prosecuting
traffickers; minor role as transshipment point for Golden Triangle
heroin

Exports: $39.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: manufactures 51.9%, fuels 26.4%, foodstuffs 12.7%, raw
materials 9.0%
partners: Japan 27.4%, US 14.6%, Singapore 10.1%, South Korea 6.5%,
Taiwan 4.1%, Netherlands 3.3%, China 3.3%, Hong Kong 3.3%, Germany
3.2%

Imports: $32 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: manufactures 75.3%, raw materials 9.0%, foodstuffs
7.8%, fuels 7.7%
partners: Japan 24.2%, US 11.2%, Germany 7.7%, South Korea 6.8%,
Singapore 5.9%, Australia 4.8%, Taiwan 4.5%, China 4.3%

External debt: $97.6 billion (1995 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $1.542 billion (1993)

Currency: Indonesian rupiah (Rp)

Exchange rates: Indonesian rupiahs (Rp) per US$1 - 2,306.3
(January 1996), 2,248.6 (1995), 2,160.8 (1994), 2,087.1 (1993),
2,029.9 (1992), 1,950.3 (1991)

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

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

Railways:
total: 6,458 km
narrow gauge: 5,961 km 1.067-m gauge (101 km electrified; 101 km
double track); 497 km 0.750-m gauge (1995)

Highways:
total: 283,516 km
paved: 125,051 km
unpaved: 158,465 km (1995 est.)

Waterways: 21,579 km total; Sumatra 5,471 km, Java and Madura 820
km, Kalimantan 10,460 km, Celebes 241 km, Irian Jaya 4,587 km

Pipelines: crude oil 2,505 km; petroleum products 456 km; natural
gas 1,703 km (1989)

Ports: Cilacap, Cirebon, Jakarta, Kupang, Palembang, Semarang,
Surabaya, Ujungpandang

Merchant marine:
total: 457 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,098,958
GRT/3,056,040 DWT
ships by type: bulk 30, cargo 265, chemical tanker 6, container 11,
liquefied gas tanker 5, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 98,
passenger 5, passenger-cargo 12, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea
passenger 6, specialized tanker 7, vehicle carrier 4 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 414
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 4
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 9
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 35
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 41
with paved runways under 914 m: 299
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 23 (1995 est.)

Heliports: 4 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 1,276,600 (1993 est.)

Telephone system: domestic service fair, international service good
domestic: interisland microwave system and HF radio police net;
domestic satellite communications system
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
and 1 Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 618, FM 38, shortwave 0

Radios: 28.1 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 9

Televisions: 11.5 million (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 57,222,025
males fit for military service: 33,702,395
males reach military age (18) annually: 2,280,360 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.7 billion,
1.4% of GNP (FY95/96)

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

@Iran ----

Map ---

Location: 32 00 N, 53 00 E -- Middle East, bordering the Gulf of
Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and
Pakistan

Flag ----

Description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white,
and red; the national emblem (a stylized representation of the word
Allah) in red is centered in the white band; ALLAH AKBAR (God is
Great) in white Arabic script is repeated 11 times along the bottom
edge of the green band and 11 times along the top edge of the red
band

Geography ---------

Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian
Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan

Geographic coordinates: 32 00 N, 53 00 E

Map references: Middle East

Area:
total area: 1.648 million sq km
land area: 1.636 million sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Alaska

Land boundaries:
total: 5,440 km
border countries: Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km,
Azerbaijan-proper 432 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 179 km, Iraq
1,458 km, Pakistan 909 km, Turkey 499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km

Coastline: 2,440 km
note: Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km)

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: natural prolongation
exclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements, or median lines in
the Persian Gulf
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic
relations in 1990 but are still trying to work out written
agreements settling outstanding disputes from their eight-year war
concerning border demarcation, prisoners-of-war, and freedom of
navigation and sovereignty over the Shatt al-Arab waterway; Iran
occupies two islands in the Persian Gulf claimed by the UAE: Lesser
Tunb (called Tunb as Sughra in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e
Kuchek in Persian by Iran) and Greater Tunb (called Tunb al Kubra in
Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg in Persian by Iran); it
jointly administers with the UAE an island in the Persian Gulf
claimed by the UAE (called Abu Musa in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye
Abu Musa in Persian by Iran); in 1992 the dispute over Abu Musa and
the Tunb islands became more acute when Iran unilaterally tried to
control the entry of third country nationals into the UAE portion of
Abu Musa island, Tehran subsequently backed off in the face of
significant diplomatic support for the UAE in the region, but in
1994 it increased its military presence on the disputed islands;
periodic disputes with Afghanistan over Helmand water rights;
Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined; support to clients in
Afghanistan

Climate: mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast

Terrain: rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with
deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Qolleh-ye Damavand 5,671 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper,
iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur

Land use:
arable land: 8%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 27%
forest and woodland: 11%
other: 54%

Irrigated land: 57,500 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: air pollution, especially in urban areas, from
vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents;
deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the
Persian Gulf; inadequate supplies of potable water
natural hazards: periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms;
earthquakes along the Western border
international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Hazardous
Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed,
but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation

People ------

Population: 66,094,264 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 15,166,131; female 14,289,283)
15-64 years: 52% (male 17,326,388; female 16,731,470)
65 years and over: 3% (male 1,327,718; female 1,253,274) (July 1996
est.)

Population growth rate: 2.21% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 33.67 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 6.61 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -5 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: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.05 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 52.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.39 years
male: 66.12 years
female: 68.72 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.72 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Iranian(s)
adjective: Iranian

Ethnic divisions: Persian 51%, Azerbaijani 24%, Gilaki and
Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%, Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%,
other 1%

Religions: Shi'a Muslim 89%, Sunni Muslim 10%, Zoroastrian,
Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i 1%

Languages: Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic
dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Baloch 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%,
other 2%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1994 est.)
total population: 72.1%
male: 78.4%
female: 65.8%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Iran
conventional short form: Iran
local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran
local short form: Iran

Data code: IR

Type of government: theocratic republic

Capital: Tehran

Administrative divisions: 25 provinces (ostanha, singular -
ostan); Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr,
Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Hamadan,
Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshahan, Khorasan, Khuzestan,
Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi,
Mazandaran, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan

Independence: 1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)

National holiday: Islamic Republic Day, 1 April (1979)

Constitution: 2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of
the presidency and eliminate the prime ministership

Legal system: the Constitution codifies Islamic principles of
government

Suffrage: 15 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
supreme leader (rahbar-e moazam) and functional chief of sta: Leader
of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4
June 1989) was appointed for life by Council of Experts
head of government: President Ali Akbar Hashemi-RAFSANJANI (since 3
August 1989) was elected for a four-year term by universal suffrage;
First Vice President Hasan Ebrahim HABIBI (since NA August 1989);
election last held 11 June 1993 (next to be held NA May 1997);
results - Ali Akbar Hashemi-RAFSANJANI was elected with 63% of the
vote
cabinet: Council of Ministers was selected by the president with
legislative approval

Legislative branch: unicameral
Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami): elections
last held 8 March and 19 April 1996 (next to be held NA March 2000);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (270 seats total)
number of seats by party NA

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: there are at least 76 licensed
parties, none are, as yet, openly active; the most important
groupings are - Tehran Militant Clergy Association, leader NA;
Militant Clerics Association, Mehdi MAHDAVI-KARUBI and Mohammad
Asqar MUSAVI-KHOINIHA; Servants of Reconstruction (G-6), leader NA

Other political or pressure groups: groups that generally support
the Islamic Republic include Ansar-e Hizballah, Mojahedin of the
Islamic Revolution, Muslim Students Following the Line of the Imam,
and the Islamic Coalition Association; opposition groups include the
Liberation Movement of Iran and the Nation of Iran party; armed
political groups that have been almost completely repressed by the
government include Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK), People's
Fedayeen, Kurdish Democratic Party of Iran; the Society for the
Defense of Freedom

International organization participation: CCC, CP, ECO, ESCAP,
FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in US: none; note - Iran has an
Interests Section in the Pakistani Embassy, headed by Faramarz
FATH-NEJAD; address: Iranian Interests Section, Pakistani Embassy,
2209 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007; telephone: [1] (202)
965-4990

US diplomatic representation: none; note - protecting power in
Iran is Switzerland

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red;
the national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah) in
red is centered in the white band; ALLAH AKBAR (God is Great) in
white Arabic script is repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of
the green band and 11 times along the top edge of the red band

Economy -------

Economic overview: Iran's economy is a mixture of central
planning, state ownership of oil and other large enterprises,
village agriculture, and small-scale private trading and service
ventures. Over the past several years, the government has introduced
several measures to liberalize the economy and reduce government
intervention, but most of these changes have moved slowly or have
been reversed because of political opposition. Iran has faced
increasingly severe financial difficulties since mid-1992 due to an
import surge that began in 1989 and general financial mismanagement.
At yearend 1993 the Iranian Government estimated that it owed
foreign creditors about $30 billion; an estimated $8 billion of this
debt was in arrears. At yearend 1994, Iran rescheduled $12 billion
in debt. Earnings from oil exports - which provide 85% of Iran's
export revenues - are providing less relief to Iran than usual
because of reduced oil prices. Iran's financial situation will
remain tight in 1996 because the bulk of payments due under its
rescheduling agreements in 1993-94 will be coming due.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $323.5 billion (1995 est.)

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

GDP per capita: $4,700 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 21%
industry: 37%
services: 42% (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 60% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 15.4 million
by occupation: agriculture 33%, manufacturing 21%
note: shortage of skilled labor (1988 est.)

Unemployment rate: over 30% (1995 est.)

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

Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and other
construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining
and vegetable oil production), metal fabricating, armaments

Industrial production growth rate: 4.3% (1994 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 19,080,000 kW
production: 50.8 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 745 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets, fruits, nuts,
cotton; dairy products, wool; caviar

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of opium poppy for the domestic
and international drug trade; produced 35-70 metric tons in 1993;
net opiate importer but also a key transshipment point for Southwest
Asian heroin to Europe

Exports: $16 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: petroleum 85%, carpets, fruits, nuts, hides, iron, steel
partners: Japan, Italy, France, Netherlands, Belgium/Luxembourg,
Spain, and Germany

Imports: $13 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
commodities: machinery, military supplies, metal works, foodstuffs,
pharmaceuticals, technical services, refined oil products
partners: Germany, Japan, Italy, UK, UAE

External debt: $30 billion (1995 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $40 million (1993)

Currency: 10 Iranian rials (IR) = 1 toman; note - domestic figures
are generally referred to in terms of the toman

Exchange rates: Iranian rials (IR) per US$1 - 1,750 (January
1996), 1,747.93 (1995), 1,748.75 (1994), 1,267.77 (1993), 65.55
(1992), 67.51 (1991); black market rate: 4,000 rials per US$1
(December 1995); note - as of May 1995, the "official rate" of 1,750
rials per US$1 is used for imports of essential goods and services
and for oil exports, wheras the "official export rate" of 3,000
rials per US$1 is used for non-oil exports and imports not covered
by the official rate

Fiscal year: 21 March - 20 March

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

Railways:
total: 5,093 km
broad gauge: 96 km 1.676-m gauge
standard gauge: 4,997 km 1.432-m gauge (146 km electrified) (1995)

Highways:
total: 140,200 km
paved: 42,700 km
unpaved: 97,500 km (1995 est.)

Waterways: 904 km; the Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by
maritime traffic for about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3 m
and is in use

Pipelines: crude oil 5,900 km; petroleum products 3,900 km;
natural gas 4,550 km

Ports: Abadan (largely destroyed in fighting during 1980-88 war),
Ahvaz, Bandar Beheshti, Bandar-e 'Abbas, Bandar-e Anzali, Bandar-e
Bushehr, Bandar-e Khomeyni, Bandar-e Mah Shahr, Bandar-e Torkeman,
Jazireh-ye Khark, Jazireh-ye Lavan, Jazireh-ye Sirri, Khorramshahr
(limited operation since November 1992), Now Shahr

Merchant marine:
total: 130 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,791,892
GRT/4,891,615 DWT
ships by type: bulk 47, cargo 41, chemical tanker 5, combination
bulk 2, liquefied gas tanker 1, multifunction large-load carrier 1,
oil tanker 19, refrigerated cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 9,
short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 212
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 30
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 11
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 31
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 17
with paved runways under 914 m: 22
with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 10
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 88 (1995 est.)

Heliports: 12 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 3.02 million (1992 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: microwave radio relay extends throughout country; system
centered in Tehran
international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic
Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean Region); HF
radio and microwave radio relay to Turkey, Pakistan, Syria, Kuwait,
Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; submarine fiber-optic cable to UAE

Radio broadcast stations: AM 77, FM 3, shortwave 0

Radios: 14.3 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 28

Televisions: 3.9 million (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Islamic Republic of Iran regular forces (includes Ground
Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces), Revolutionary Guards
(includes Ground, Air, Navy, Qods, and Basij-mobilization-forces),
Law Enforcement Forces

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 15,157,796
males fit for military service: 9,010,648
males reach military age (21) annually: 632,602 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: according to official Iranian data, Iran in
1994 budgeted 4,377 billion rials and in 1993 spent 2,182 billion
rials, including $850 million in hard currency; note - conversion of
defense expenditures into US dollars using current exchange rates
could produce misleading results

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

@Iraq ----

Map ---

Location: 33 00 N, 44 00 E -- Middle East, bordering the Persian
Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait

Flag ----

Description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and
black with three green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line
centered in the white band; the phrase ALLAHU AKBAR (God is Great)
in green Arabic script - Allahu to the right of the middle star and
Akbar to the left of the middle star - was added in January 1991
during the Persian Gulf crisis; similar to the flag of Syria that
has two stars but no script and the flag of Yemen that has a plain
white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt that has a symbolic
eagle centered in the white band

Geography ---------

Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran
and Kuwait

Geographic coordinates: 33 00 N, 44 00 E

Map references: Middle East

Area:
total area: 437,072 sq km
land area: 432,162 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Idaho

Land boundaries:
total: 3,631 km
border countries: Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait 242 km, Saudi
Arabia 814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 331 km

Coastline: 58 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: not specified
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic
relations in 1990 but are still trying to work out written
agreements settling outstanding disputes from their eight-year war
concerning border demarcation, prisoners-of-war, and freedom of
navigation and sovereignty over the Shatt al Arab waterway; in
November 1994, Iraq formally accepted the UN-demarcated border with
Kuwait which had been spelled out in Security Council Resolutions
687 (1991), 773 (1993), and 883 (1993); this formally ends earlier
claims to Kuwait and to Bubiyan and Warbah islands; dispute over
water development plans by Turkey for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

Climate: mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot,
cloudless summers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian and
Turkish borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy
snows which melt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive
flooding in central and southern Iraq

Terrain: mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border
in south; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Gundah Zhur 3,608 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur

Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 9%
forest and woodland: 3%
other: 75%

Irrigated land: 25,500 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: government water control projects have drained most
of the inhabited marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up or
diverting the feeder streams and rivers; a once sizable population
of Shi'a Muslims, who have inhabited these areas for thousands of
years, has been displaced; furthermore, the destruction of the
natural habitat poses serious threats to the area's wildlife
populations; inadequate supplies of potable water; development of
Tigris-Euphrates Rivers system contingent upon agreements with
upstream riparian Turkey; air and water pollution; soil degradation
(salinization) and erosion; desertification
natural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms, floods
international agreements: party to - Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test
Ban; signed, but not ratified - Environmental Modification

People ------

Population: 21,422,292 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 48% (male 5,179,240; female 5,014,141)
15-64 years: 49% (male 5,342,529; female 5,228,802)
65 years and over: 3% (male 307,097; female 350,483) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.69% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 43.07 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 6.57 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 60 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 66.95 years
male: 65.92 years
female: 68.03 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.41 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Iraqi(s)
adjective: Iraqi

Ethnic divisions: Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman,
Assyrian or other 5%

Religions: Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or
other 3%

Languages: Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions),
Assyrian, Armenian

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 58%
male: 70.7%
female: 45%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Iraq
conventional short form: Iraq
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah
local short form: Al Iraq

Data code: IZ

Type of government: republic

Capital: Baghdad

Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (muhafazat, singular -
muhafazah); Al Anbar, Al Basrah, Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah, An
Najaf, Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, At Ta'mim, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk, Dhi
Qar, Diyala, Karbala', Maysan, Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit

Independence: 3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under
British administration)

National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 17 July (1968)

Constitution: 22 September 1968, effective 16 July 1970
(provisional Constitution); new constitution drafted in 1990 but not
adopted

Legal system: based on Islamic law in special religious courts,
civil law system elsewhere; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President SADDAM Husayn (since 16 July 1979); Vice
President Taha Muhyi al-Din MARUF (since 21 April 1974); Vice
President Taha Yasin RAMADAN (since 23 March 1991) were elected by a
two-thirds majority of the Revolutionary Command Council
head of government: Prime Minister SADDAM Husayn (since NA May
1994); Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Mikhail AZIZ (since NA 1979)
Revolutionary Command Council: Chairman SADDAM Husayn, Vice Chairman
Izzat IBRAHIM al-Duri
cabinet: Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Majlis al-Watani): elections last held 24 March
1996 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote NA; seats -
(250 total, 30 appointed by SADDAM Husayn to represent three
northern provonces of Dahuk, Arbil, and As Sulaymaniyah)
note: in northern Iraq, a "Kurdish Assembly" was elected in May 1992
and calls for Kurdish self-determination within a federated Iraq;
the assembly is not recognized by the Baghdad government

Judicial branch: Court of Cassation

Political parties and leaders: Ba'th Party, SADDAM Husayn, central
party leader

Other political or pressure groups: political parties and activity
severely restricted; opposition to regime from disaffected members
of the Ba'th Party, Army officers, tribes, and Shi'a religious and
ethnic Kurdish dissidents; the Green Party (government-controlled)

International organization participation: ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL,
AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in US: none; note - Iraq has an Interest
Section in the Algerian Embassy; address: Iraqi Interests Section,
Algerian Embassy, 1801 P Street NW, Washington, DC 20036; telephone:
[1] (202) 483-7500; FAX: [1] (202) 462-5066

US diplomatic representation: none; note - the US has an Interests
Section in the Polish Embassy in Baghdad, which is in the Masbah
Quarter (opposite the Foreign Ministry Club); address: P. O. Box
2447 Alwiyah, Baghdad; telephone: [964] (1) 719-6138, 719-6139,
718-1840, 719-3791; Telex 212287

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black
with three green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in
the white band; the phrase ALLAHU AKBAR (God is Great) in green
Arabic script - Allahu to the right of the middle star and Akbar to
the left of the middle star - was added in January 1991 during the
Persian Gulf crisis; similar to the flag of Syria that has two stars
but no script and the flag of Yemen that has a plain white band;
also similar to the flag of Egypt that has a symbolic eagle centered
in the white band

Economy -------

Economic overview: The Ba'thist regime engages in extensive
central planning and management of industrial production and foreign
trade while leaving some small-scale industry and services and most
agriculture to private enterprise. The economy has been dominated by
the oil sector, which has traditionally provided about 95% of
foreign exchange earnings. In the 1980s, financial problems caused
by massive expenditures in the eight-year war with Iran and damage
to oil export facilities by Iran, led the government to implement
austerity measures and to borrow heavily and later reschedule
foreign debt payments; Iraq suffered economic losses of at least
$100 billion from the war. After the end of hostilities in 1988, oil
exports gradually increased with the construction of new pipelines
and restoration of damaged facilities. Agricultural development
remained hampered by labor shortages, salinization, and dislocations
caused by previous land reform and collectivization programs. The
industrial sector, although accorded high priority by the
government, also was under financial constraints. Iraq's seizure of
Kuwait in August 1990, subsequent international economic embargoes,
and military action by an international coalition beginning in
January 1991 drastically changed the economic picture. Industrial
and transportation facilities, which suffered severe damage, have
been partially restored. Oil exports remain at less than 5% of the
previous level. Shortages of spare parts continue. Living standards
deteriorated even further in 1994 and 1995; consumer prices have
more than doubled in both 1994 and 1995. The UN-sponsored economic
embargo has reduced exports and imports and has contributed to the
sharp rise in prices. The Iraqi Government has been unwilling to
abide by UN resolutions so that the economic embargo can be removed.
The government's policies of supporting large military and internal
security forces and of allocating resources to key supporters of the
regime have exacerbated shortages. In brief, per capita output for
1994-95 is well below the 1989-90 level, but any estimate has a wide
range of error.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $41.1 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: NA%

GDP per capita: $2,000 (1995 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Labor force: 4.4 million (1989)
by occupation: services 48%, agriculture 30%, industry 22%
note: severe labor shortage; expatriate labor force was about
1,600,000 (July 1990); since then, it has declined substantially

Unemployment rate: NA%

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

Industries: petroleum, chemicals, textiles, construction
materials, food processing

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 7,170,000 kW
production: 25.7 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 1,247 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, other fruit,
cotton; cattle, sheep

Exports: $NA
commodities: crude oil and refined products, fertilizer, sulfur
partners: US, Brazil, Turkey, Japan, Netherlands, Spain (1990)

Imports: $NA
commodities: manufactures, food
partners: Germany, US, Turkey, France, UK (1990)

External debt: $50 billion (1989 est.), excluding debt of about
$35 billion owed to Gulf Arab states

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 Iraqi dinar (ID) = 1,000 fils

Exchange rates: Iraqi dinars (ID) per US$1 - 3.2169 (fixed
official rate since 1982); black-market rate (December 1995) US$1 =
2,900 Iraqi dinars; semi-official rate US$1 = 1,000 Iraqi dinars

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 2,032 km
standard gauge: 2,032 km 1.435-m gauge

Highways:
total: 45,554 km
paved: 38,402 km (including 976 km of expressways)
unpaved: 7,152 km (1989 est.)

Waterways: 1,015 km; Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by
maritime traffic for about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3
meters and is in use; Tigris and Euphrates Rivers have navigable
sections for shallow-draft watercraft; Shatt al Basrah canal was
navigable by shallow-draft craft before closing in 1991 because of
the Persian Gulf war

Pipelines: crude oil 4,350 km; petroleum products 725 km; natural
gas 1,360 km

Ports: Umm Qasr, Khawr az Zubayr, and Al Basrah have limited
functionality

Merchant marine:
total: 36 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 795,346 GRT/1,432,292
DWT
ships by type: cargo 14, oil tanker 16, passenger 1, passenger-cargo
1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 102
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 21
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 34
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 8
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6
with paved runways under 914 m: 16
with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 2
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 9 (1995 est.)

Heliports: 5 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 632,000 (1987 est.)

Telephone system: reconstitution of damaged telecommunication
facilities began after the Gulf war; most damaged facilities have
been rebuilt
domestic: the network consists of coaxial cables and microwave radio
relay links
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic
Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region)
and 1 Arabsat; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Jordan,
Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey; Kuwait line is probably nonoperational

Radio broadcast stations: AM 16, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios: 4.02 million (1991 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 13

Televisions: 1 million (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Army, Republican Guard and Special Republican Guard,
Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Border Guard Force, Internal
Security Forces

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 4,832,001
males fit for military service: 2,711,312
males reach military age (18) annually: 237,843 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

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

@Ireland -------

Map ---

Location: 53 00 N, 8 00 W -- Western Europe, occupying five-sixths
of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great
Britain

Flag ----

Description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side),
white, and orange; similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire, which is
shorter and has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white,
and green; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and
has colors of green (hoist side), white, and red

Geography ---------

Location: Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of
Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain

Geographic coordinates: 53 00 N, 8 00 W

Map references: Europe

Area:
total area: 70,280 sq km
land area: 68,890 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries:
total: 360 km
border country: UK 360 km

Coastline: 1,448 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: not specified
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

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

Climate: temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current;
mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half
the time

Terrain: mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by
rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Carrauntoohill 1,041 m

Natural resources: zinc, lead, natural gas, petroleum, barite,
copper, gypsum, limestone, dolomite, peat, silver

Land use:
arable land: 14%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 71%
forest and woodland: 5%
other: 10%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: water pollution, especially of lakes, from
agricultural runoff
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Climate Change, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling;
signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life
Conservation

Geographic note: strategic location on major air and sea routes
between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the
population resides within 60 miles of Dublin

People ------

Population: 3,566,833 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 23% (male 424,558; female 402,062)
15-64 years: 65% (male 1,175,383; female 1,157,960)
65 years and over: 12% (male 173,150; female 233,720) (July 1996
est.)

Population growth rate: -0.22% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 13.22 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 8.93 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -6.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.58 years
male: 72.88 years
female: 78.46 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.83 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(men), Irish (collective plural)
adjective: Irish

Ethnic divisions: Celtic, English

Religions: Roman Catholic 93%, Anglican 3%, none 1%, unknown 2%,
other 1% (1981)

Languages: Irish (Gaelic), spoken mainly in areas located along
the western seaboard, English is the language generally used

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1981 est.)
total population: 98%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government ----------

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

Data code: EI

Type of government: republic

Capital: Dublin

Administrative divisions: 26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork,
Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim,
Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon,
Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow

Independence: 6 December 1921 (from UK)

National holiday: Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March

Constitution: 29 December 1937; adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite

Legal system: based on English common law, substantially modified
by indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in
Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mary Bourke ROBINSON (since 9 November
1990) was elected for a seven-year term by popular vote; election
last held 9 November 1990 (next to be held NA November 1997);
results - Mary Bourke ROBINSON 52.8%, Brian LENIHAN 47.2%
head of government: Prime Minister John BRUTON (since 15 December
1994) was nominated by the House of Representatives and appointed by
the president
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by president with previous nomination
of the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Oireachtas)
Senate (Seanad Eireann): elections last held NA February 1992 (next
to be held NA February 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (60 total, 49 elected) Fianna Fail 26, Fine Gael 16, Labor
9, Progressive Democrats 2, Democratic Left 1, independents 6
House of Representatives (Dail Eireann): elections last held 25
November 1992 (next to be held by NA November 1997); results -
Fianna Fail 39.1%, Fine Gael 24.5%, Labor Party 19.3%, Progressive
Democrats 4.7%, Democratic Left 2.8%, Sinn Fein 1.6%, Workers' Party
0.7%, independents 5.9%; seats - (166 total) Fianna Fail 68, Fine
Gael 45, Labor Party 33, Progressive Democrats 10, Democratic Left
4, Greens 1, independents 5

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president
on the advice of the government (prime minister and cabinet)

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Left, Proinsias DE
ROSSA; Fianna Fail, Bertie AHERN; Labor Party, Richard SPRING; Fine
Gael, John BRUTON; Communist Party of Ireland, Michael O'RIORDAN;
Sinn Fein, Gerry ADAMS; Progressive Democrats, Mary HARNEY; The
Workers' Party, Marion DONNELLY; Green Alliance, Bronwen MAHER
note: Prime Minister BRUTON heads a three-party coalition consisting
of the Fine Gael, the Labor Party, and the Democratic Left

International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM,
IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NEA, NSG, OECD, OSCE, UN, UNCRO, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIH, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR,
UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dermot A. GALLAGHER
chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-3939
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jean Kennedy SMITH
embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [353] (1) 6688777
FAX: [353] (1) 6689946

Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and
orange; similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and
has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green;
also similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has colors
of green (hoist side), white, and red

Economy -------

Economic overview: The economy is small and trade dependent.
Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by
industry, which accounts for 38% of GDP, about 80% of exports, and
employs 28% of the labor force. Although exports remain the primary
engine for Ireland's robust growth, the economy is also benefiting
from a rise in consumer spending and recovery in both construction
and business investment. Ireland has substantially reduced its
external debt since 1987, to 40% of GDP in 1994. Over the same
period, inflation has fallen sharply and chronic trade deficits have
been transformed into annual surpluses. Unemployment remains a
serious problem, however, and job creation is the main focus of
government policy. To ease unemployment, Dublin aggressively courts
foreign investors and recently created a new industrial development
agency to aid small indigenous firms. Government assistance is
constrained by Dublin's continuing deficit reduction measures.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $54.6 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 7% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $15,400 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 6.8%
industry: 35.3%
services: 57.9% (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 1.37 million
by occupation: services 57.0%, manufacturing and construction 28%,
agriculture, forestry, and fishing 13.5%, energy and mining 1.5%
(1992)

Unemployment rate: 13.5% (1995 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $19.3 billion
expenditures: $20.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.6
billion (1994)

Industries: food products, brewing, textiles, clothing, chemicals,
pharmaceuticals, machinery, transportation equipment, glass and
crystal

Industrial production growth rate: 8.9% (1995 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 3,930,000 kW
production: 14.9 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 3,938 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; meat
and dairy products

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for hashish from North Africa
to the UK and Netherlands

Exports: $29.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: chemicals, data processing equipment, industrial
machinery, live animals, animal products
partners: EU 73% (UK 27%, Germany 14%, France 9%), US 9%

Imports: $25.3 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
commodities: food, animal feed, data processing equipment, petroleum
and petroleum products, machinery, textiles, clothing
partners: EU 58% (UK 36%, Germany 7%, France 4%), US 18%

External debt: $19.5 billion (1994 est.)

Economic aid:
donor: ODA, $81 million (1993)

Currency: 1 Irish pound (LIr) = 100 pence

Exchange rates: Irish pounds (LIr) per US$1 - 0.6315 (January
1996), 0.6235 (1995), 0.6676 (1994), 0.6816 (1993), 0.5864 (1992),
0.6190 (1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 1,944 km
broad gauge: 1,944 km 1.600-m gauge (37 km electrified; 485 km
double track) (1995)

Highways:
total: 92,327 km
paved: 86,787 km (including 32 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,540 km (1992 est.)

Waterways: limited for commercial traffic

Pipelines: natural gas 225 km

Ports: Arklow, Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Foynes, Galway, Limerick,
New Ross, Waterford

Merchant marine:
total: 42 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 129,027 GRT/155,371 DWT
ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 27, chemical tanker 1, container 3, oil
tanker 2, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 2 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 40
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: 3
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
with paved runways under 914 m: 29
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 900,000 (1987 est.)

Telephone system: modern digital system using cable and microwave
radio relay
domestic: microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 45, shortwave 0

Radios: 2.2 million (1991 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 86 (1987 est.)

Televisions: 1.025 million (1990 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Army (includes Naval Service and Air Corps), National
Police (Garda Siochana)

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 939,237
males fit for military service: 761,048
males reach military age (17) annually: 35,904 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $618 million,
1.3% of GDP (1994)

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

@Israel ------

(also see separate Gaza Strip and West Bank entries)

Note: The territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war are
not included in the data below. In keeping with the framework
established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral
negotiations are being conducted between Israel and Palestinian
representatives, and Israel and Syria, to achieve a permanent
settlement between them. On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the
Sinai pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace treaty. Outstanding
territorial and other disputes with Jordan were resolved in the 26
October 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace.

Map ---

Location: 31 30 N, 34 45 E -- Middle East, bordering the
Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon

Flag ----

Description: white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star)
known as the Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two
equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag

Geography ---------

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

Geographic coordinates: 31 30 N, 34 45 E

Map references: Middle East

Area:
total area: 20,770 sq km
land area: 20,330 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than New Jersey

Land boundaries:
total: 1,006 km
border countries: Egypt 255 km, Gaza Strip 51 km, Jordan 238 km,
Lebanon 79 km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km

Coastline: 273 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 nm

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; Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; Israeli
troops in southern Lebanon since June 1982

Climate: temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert
areas

Terrain: Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central
mountains; Jordan Rift Valley
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Har Meron 1,208 m

Natural resources: copper, phosphates, bromide, potash, clay,
sand, sulfur, asphalt, manganese, small amounts of natural gas and
crude oil

Land use:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 5%
meadows and pastures: 40%
forest and woodland: 6%
other: 32%

Irrigated land: 2,140 sq km (1989)

Environment:
current issues: limited arable land and natural fresh water
resources pose serious constraints; desertification; air pollution
from industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from
industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides
natural hazards: sandstorms may occur during spring and summer
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change,
Desertification, Marine Life Conservation

Geographic note: there are 202 Israeli settlements and civilian
land use sites in the West Bank, 42 in the Israeli-occupied Golan
Heights, 24 in the Gaza Strip, and 26 in East Jerusalem (August 1995
est.)

People ------

Population: 5,421,995 (July 1996 est.)
note: includes 127,600 Israeli settlers in the West Bank, 14,800 in
the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 5,000 in the Gaza Strip, and
153,700 in East Jerusalem (August 1995 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 29% (male 793,712; female 756,735)
15-64 years: 62% (male 1,670,082; female 1,669,481)
65 years and over: 9% (male 230,082; female 301,903) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.11% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 20.31 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 6.26 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 7.03 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: 0.76 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 8.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.01 years
male: 76.16 years
female: 79.96 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.77 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Israeli(s)
adjective: Israeli

Ethnic divisions: Jewish 82% (Israel-born 50%,
Europe/Americas/Oceania-born 20%, Africa-born 7%, Asia-born 5%),
non-Jewish 18% (mostly Arab) (1993 est.)

Religions: Judaism 82%, Islam 14% (mostly Sunni Muslim), Christian
2%, Druze and other 2%

Languages: Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab
minority, English most commonly used foreign language

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1992 est.)
total population: 95%
male: 97%
female: 93%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: State of Israel
conventional short form: Israel
local long form: Medinat Yisra'el
local short form: Yisra'el

Data code: IS

Type of government: republic

Capital: Jerusalem
note: Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital in 1950, but the
US, like nearly all other countries, maintains its Embassy in Tel
Aviv

Administrative divisions: 6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz);
Central, Haifa, Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv

Independence: 14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under
British administration)

National holiday: Independence Day, 14 May 1948 (Israel declared
independence on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and
the holiday may occur in April or May)