Chapter V (1)

Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands

W

Wake Island Wallis and Futuna West Bank Western Sahara Western Samoa World

Y

Yemen

Z

Zaire Zambia Zimbabwe

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

@Afghanistan -----------

Map ---

Location: 33 00 N, 65 00 E -- Southern Asia, north of Pakistan

Flag ----

Description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white,
and black with a gold emblem centered on the three bands; the emblem
features a temple-like structure with Islamic inscriptions above and
below, encircled by a wreath on the left and right and by a bolder
Islamic inscription above, all of which are encircled by two crossed
scimitars

Geography ---------

Location: Southern Asia, north of Pakistan

Geographic coordinates: 33 00 N, 65 00 E

Map references: Asia

Area:
total area: 647,500 sq km
land area: 647,500 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:
total: 5,529 km
border countries: China 76 km, Iran 936 km, Pakistan 2,430 km,
Tajikistan 1,206 km, Turkmenistan 744 km, Uzbekistan 137 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

International disputes: periodic disputes with Iran over Helmand
water rights; Iran supports clients in country, private Pakistani
and Saudi sources also are active; power struggles among various
groups for control of Kabul, regional rivalries among emerging
warlords, traditional tribal disputes continue; support to Islamic
fighters in Tajikistan's civil war; border dispute with Pakistan
(Durand Line); support to Islamic militants worldwide by some
factions

Climate: arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers

Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest
lowest point: Amu Darya 258 m
highest point: Nowshak 7,485 m

Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, talc,
barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and
semiprecious stones

Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 46%
forest and woodland: 3%
other: 39%

Irrigated land: 26,600 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much
of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building
materials); desertification
natural hazards: damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains;
flooding
international agreements: party to - Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban;
signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life
Conservation

Geographic note: landlocked

People ------

Population: 22,664,136 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 4,972,469; female 4,784,900)
15-64 years: 54% (male 6,377,231; female 5,916,954)
65 years and over: 3% (male 325,808; female 286,774) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 4.78% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 43.03 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 18.16 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 22.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.14 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 149.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 45.85 years
male: 46.43 years
female: 45.24 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.14 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Afghan(s)
adjective: Afghan

Ethnic divisions: Pashtun 38%, Tajik 25%, Uzbek 6%, Hazara 19%,
minor ethnic groups (Chahar Aimaks, Turkmen, Baloch, and others)

Religions: Sunni Muslim 84%, Shi'a Muslim 15%, other 1%

Languages: Pashtu 35%, Afghan Persian (Dari) 50%, Turkic languages
(primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (primarily
Balochi and Pashai) 4%, much bilingualism

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 31.5%
male: 47.2%
female: 15%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Islamic State of Afghanistan
conventional short form: Afghanistan
local long form: Dowlat-e Eslami-ye Afghanestan
local short form: Afghanestan
former: Republic of Afghanistan

Data code: AF

Type of government: transitional government

Capital: Kabul

Administrative divisions: 30 provinces (velayat, singular -
velayat); Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamian, Farah,
Faryab, Ghazni, Ghowr, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabol, Kandahar,
Kapisa, Konar, Kondoz, Laghman, Lowgar, Nangarhar, Nimruz, Oruzgan,
Paktia, Paktika, Parvan, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Takhar, Vardak, Zabol
note: there may be two new provinces of Nurestan (Nuristan) and
Khowst

Independence: 19 August 1919 (from UK)

National holiday: Victory of the Muslim Nation, 28 April;
Remembrance Day for Martyrs and Disabled, 4 May; Independence Day,
19 August

Constitution: none

Legal system: a new legal system has not been adopted but the
transitional government has declared it will follow Islamic law
(Shari'a)

Suffrage: undetermined; previously males 15-50 years of age

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Burhanuddin RABBANI (interim president
July-December 1992, president since 2 January 1993) was elected to a
two-year term (later amended by multi-party agreement to 18 months)
by a national shura (council); election last held 31 December 1992
(next to be held NA); results - percent of vote NA; Vice President
Mohammad NABI MOHAMMADI (since NA) was appointed by the president;
note - in June 1994 failure to agree on a transfer mechanism
resulted in RABBANI's extending his term to 28 December 1994;
following the expiration of the term and while negotiations on the
formation of a new government go on, RABBANI continues in office
head of government: Prime Minister Ahmad Shah AHMADZAI (since NA)
was appointed by President RABBANI as de facto prime minister, but
does not have any real authority; First Deputy Prime Minister
Qutbuddin HELAL (since 17 March 1993) and Deputy Prime Minister
Arsala RAHMANI (since 17 March 1993)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; note - term of present government
expired 28 December 1994; factional fighting since 1 January 1994
has kept government officers from actually occupying ministries and
discharging government responsibilities; the government's authority
to remove cabinet members, including the prime minister, following
the expiration of their term is questionable

Legislative branch: a unicameral parliament consisting of 205
members was chosen by a national shura (council) in January 1993;
non-functioning as of June 1993

Judicial branch: an interim Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has
been appointed by the president in consultation with the prime
minister, but a new court system has not yet been organized

Political parties and leaders: current political organizations
include Jamiat-i-Islami (Islamic Society), Burhanuddin RABBANI,
Ahmad Shah MASOOD; Hizbi Islami-Gulbuddin (Islamic Party), Gulbuddin
HIKMATYAR faction; Hizbi Islami-Khalis (Islamic Party), Yunis KHALIS
faction; Ittihad-i-Islami Barai Azadi Afghanistan (Islamic Union for
the Liberation of Afghanistan), Abdul Rasul SAYYAF;
Harakat-Inqilab-i-Islami (Islamic Revolutionary Movement), Mohammad
Nabi MOHAMMADI; Jabha-i-Najat-i-Milli Afghanistan (Afghanistan
National Liberation Front), Sibghatullah MOJADDEDI;
Mahaz-i-Milli-Islami (National Islamic Front), Sayed Ahamad GAILANI;
Hizbi Wahdat-Khalili faction (Islamic Unity Party), Abdul Karim
KHALILI; Hizbi Wahdat-Akbari faction (Islamic Unity Party), Mohammad
Akbar AKBARI; Harakat-i-Islami (Islamic Movement), Mohammed Asif
MOHSENI; Jumbesh-i-Milli Islami (National Islamic Movement), Abdul
Rashid DOSTAM; Taliban (Religious Students Movement), Mohammad OMAR
note: the former ruling Watan Party has been disbanded

Other political or pressure groups: the former resistance
commanders are the major power brokers in the countryside and their
shuras (councils) are now administering most cities outside Kabul;
tribal elders and religious students are trying to wrest control
from them; ulema (religious scholars); tribal elders; religious
students (talib)

International organization participation: AsDB, CP, ECO, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, Intelsat, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Abdul RAHIM
chancery: 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-3770, 3771
FAX: [1] (202) 328-3516
consulate(s) general: New York
consulate(s): Washington, DC

US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
Afghanistan (embassy closed January 1989)

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and
black with a gold emblem centered on the three bands; the emblem
features a temple-like structure with Islamic inscriptions above and
below, encircled by a wreath on the left and right and by a bolder
Islamic inscription above, all of which are encircled by two crossed
scimitars

Economy -------

Economic overview: Afghanistan is an extremely poor, landlocked
country, highly dependent on farming (wheat especially) and
livestock raising (sheep and goats). Economic considerations have
played second fiddle to political and military upheavals during more
than 16 years of war, including the nearly 10-year Soviet military
occupation (which ended 15 February 1989). Over the past decade,
one-third of the population fled the country, with Pakistan and Iran
sheltering more than 6 million refugees. Now, only 1.0 million
Afghan refugees remain in Pakistan and about 1.3 million in Iran.
Another 1 million probably moved into and around urban areas within
Afghanistan. Gross domestic product has fallen substantially over
the past 15 years because of the loss of labor and capital and the
disruption of trade and transport. Millions of people continue to
suffer from insufficient food, clothing, housing, and lack of
medical care. Numerical data are extremely shaky.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $12.8 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: NA%

GDP per capita: $600 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 65%
industry: 15%
services: 20%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Labor force: 4.98 million
by occupation: agriculture and animal husbandry 67.8%, industry
10.2%, construction 6.3%, commerce 5.0%, services and other 10.7%
(1980 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

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

Industries: small-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture,
shoes, fertilizer, and cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, oil,
coal, copper

Electricity:
capacity: 480,000 kW
production: 550 million kWh
consumption per capita: 39 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: wheat, fruits, nuts, karakul pelts; wool, mutton

Illicit drugs: an illicit cultivator of opium poppy and cannabis
for the international drug trade; world's second-largest opium
producer after Burma (1,250 metric tons in 1995) and a major source
of hashish

Exports: $188.2 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities: fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides
and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
partners: FSU countries, Pakistan, Iran, Germany, India, UK,
Belgium, Luxembourg, Czechoslovakia

Imports: $616.4 million (c.i.f., 1991)
commodities: food and petroleum products; most consumer goods
partners: FSU countries, Pakistan, Iran, Japan, Singapore, India,
South Korea, Germany

External debt: $2.3 billion (March 1991 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
note: US provided $450 million assistance (1985-93); the UN provides
assistance in the form of food aid, immunization, land mine removal,
and a wide range of aid to refugees and displaced persons

Currency: 1 afghani (AF) = 100 puls

Exchange rates: afghanis (Af) per US$1 - 7,000 (January 1995),
1,900 (January 1994), 1,019 (March 1993), 850 (1991); note - these
rates reflect the free market exchange rates rather than the
official exchange rate, which is a fixed rate of 50.600 afghanis to
the dollar

Fiscal year: 21 March - 20 March

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

Railways:
total: 24.6 km
broad gauge: 9.6 km 1.524-m gauge from Gushgy (Turkmenistan) to
Towraghondi; 15 km 1,524-m gauge from Termiz (Uzbekistan) to
Kheyrabad transshipment point on south bank of Amu Darya

Highways:
total: 21,000 km
paved: 2,800 km
unpaved: 18,200 km (1984 est.)

Waterways: 1,200 km; chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up
to about 500 DWT

Pipelines: petroleum products - Uzbekistan to Bagram and
Turkmenistan to Shindand; natural gas 180 km

Ports: Kheyrabad, Shir Khan

Airports:
total: 35
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 3
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 4
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with paved runways under 914 m: 7
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 13
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 (1995 est.)

Heliports: 3 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 31,200 (1983 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: very limited telephone and telegraph service; 1 public
telephone in Kabul
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
linked only to Iran and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region)

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

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: NA
note: several television stations run by factions and local councils
which provide intermittent service

Televisions: 100,000 (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: NA; note - the military still does not exist on a
national scale; some elements of the former Army, Air and Air
Defense Forces, National Guard, Border Guard Forces, National Police
Force (Sarandoi), and tribal militias still exist but are
factionalized among the various mujahedin and former regime leaders

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 5,549,602
males fit for military service: 2,976,741
males reach military age (22) annually: 220,532 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

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

@Albania -------

Map ---

Location: 41 00 N, 20 00 E -- Southeastern Europe, bordering the
Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece and Serbia and Montenegro

Flag ----

Description: red with a black two-headed eagle in the center

Geography ---------

Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and
Ionian Sea, between Greece and Serbia and Montenegro

Geographic coordinates: 41 00 N, 20 00 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total area: 28,750 sq km
land area: 27,400 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

Land boundaries:
total: 720 km
border countries: Greece 282 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia 151 km, Serbia and Montenegro 287 km (114 km with Serbia,
173 km with Montenegro)

Coastline: 362 km

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

International disputes: the Albanian Government supports
protection of the rights of ethnic Albanians outside of its borders;
Albanian majority in Kosovo seeks independence from Serbian
Republic; Albanians in Macedonia claim discrimination in education,
access to public-sector jobs and representation in government;
Albania is involved in negotiations with Greece over border
demarcation, the treatment of Albania's ethnic Greek minority, and
migrant Albanian workers in Greece

Climate: mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear,
dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter

Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Maja e Korabit 2,753 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper,
timber, nickel

Land use:
arable land: 21%
permanent crops: 4%
meadows and pastures: 15%
forest and woodland: 38%
other: 22%

Irrigated land: 4,230 sq km (1989)

Environment:
current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from
industrial and domestic effluents
natural hazards: destructive earthquakes; tsunami occur along
southwestern coast
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change

Geographic note: strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links
Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)

People ------

Population: 3,249,136 (July 1996 est.)
note: the IMF, working with Albanian government figures, estimates
that the population was 3,120,000 in 1993 and that it has fallen
since 1990

Age structure:
0-14 years: 34% (male 570,978; female 529,147)
15-64 years: 60% (male 910,873; female 1,049,662)
65 years and over: 6% (male 77,799; female 110,677) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.34% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 22.21 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 7.64 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.92 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 49.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.92 years
male: 64.91 years
female: 71.17 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.65 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Albanian(s)
adjective: Albanian

Ethnic divisions: Albanian 95%, Greeks 3%, other 2% (Vlachs,
Gypsies, Serbs, and Bulgarians) (1989 est.)
note: in 1989, other estimates of the Greek population ranged from
1% (official Albanian statistics) to 12% (from a Greek organization)

Religions: Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%
note: all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious
observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing
private religious practice

Languages: Albanian (Tosk is the official dialect), Greek

Literacy: age 9 and over can read and write (1955 est.)
total population: 72%
male: 80%
female: 63%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Albania
conventional short form: Albania
local long form: Republika e Shqiperise
local short form: Shqiperia
former: People's Socialist Republic of Albania

Data code: AL

Type of government: emerging democracy

Capital: Tirane

Administrative divisions: 26 districts (rrethe, singular - rreth);
Berat, Dibre, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Gramsh, Kolonje,
Korce, Kruje, Kukes, Lezhe, Librazhd, Lushnje, Mat, Mirdite, Permet,
Pogradec, Puke, Sarande, Shkoder, Skrapar, Tepelene, Tirane,
Tropoje, Vlore; note - some new administrative units may have been
created

Independence: 28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)

National holiday: Independence Day, 28 November (1912)

Constitution: an interim basic law was approved by the People's
Assembly on 29 April 1991; a draft constitution was rejected by
popular referendum in the fall of 1994 and a new draft is pending

Legal system: has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state: President of the Republic Sali BERISHA (since 9
April 1992) was elected for a five-year term by the People's Assembly
head of government: Prime Minister of the Council of Ministers
Aleksander Gabriel MEKSI (since 10 April 1992) was appointed by the
president
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
People's Assembly (Kuvendi Popullor): elections last held 22 March
1992; results - DP 62.29%, ASP 25.57%, SDP 4.33%, RP 3.15%, UHP
2.92%, other 1.74%; seats - (140 total) DP 92, ASP 38, SDP 7, RP 1,
UHP 2
note: six members of the Democratic Party defected, making the
present seating in the Assembly DP 86, ASP 38, SDP 7, DAP 6, RP 1,
UHP 2

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chairman of the Supreme Court is
elected by the People's Assembly

Political parties and leaders: there are at least 28 political
parties; most prominent are the Albanian Socialist Party (ASP;
formerly the Albania Workers Party), Fatos NANO, first secretary;
Democratic Party (DP); Albanian Republican Party (RP), Sabri GODO;
Omonia (Greek minority party), Sotir QIRJAZATI, first secretary;
Social Democratic Party (SDP), Skender GJINUSHI; Democratic Alliance
Party (DAP), Neritan CEKA, chairman; Unity for Human Rights Party
(UHP), Vasil MELO, chairman; Ecology Party (EP), Namik HOTI, chairman

International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE, EBRD,
ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NACC, OIC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNOMIG, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lublin DILJA
chancery: Suite 1000, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942, 8187
FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph E. LAKE
embassy: Rruga E. Labinoti 103, Tirane
mailing address: PSC 59, Box 100 (A), APO AE 09624
telephone: [355] (42) 328-75, 335-20
FAX: [355] (42) 322-22

Flag: red with a black two-headed eagle in the center

Economy -------

Economic overview: An extremely poor country by European
standards, Albania is making the difficult transition to a more
open-market economy. The economy rebounded in 1993-95 after a severe
depression accompanying the collapse of the previous centrally
planned system in 1990 and 1991. Stabilization policies - including
a strict monetary policy, public sector layoffs, and reduced social
services - have improved the government's fiscal situation and
reduced inflation. The recovery has been spurred by the remittances
of some 20% of the labor force which works abroad, mostly in Greece
and Italy. These remittances supplement GDP and help offset the
large foreign trade deficit. Foreign assistance and humanitarian aid
also supported the recovery. Most agricultural land was privatized
in 1992, substantially improving peasant incomes. Albania's
industrial sector ended its five-year, 78% decline in 1995,
recording roughly 6% growth. A sharp fall in chromium prices has
reduced hard currency receipts from the mining sector. Large
segments of the population, especially those living in urban areas,
continue to depend on humanitarian aid to meet basic food
requirements. Unemployment remains a severe problem accounting for
approximately one-fifth of the work force. Now that sanctions on
Serbia have been suspended, the falloff in hard currency earnings
from smuggling will aggravate unemployment problems. Growth is
expected to continue in 1996, but could falter if workers'
remittances from Greece are reduced or foreign assistance declines.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $4.1 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 6% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $1,210 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 55%
industry: NA%
services: NA% (1995 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 16% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 1.692 million (1994 est.) (including 352,000 emigrant
workers and 261,000 domestically unemployed)
by occupation (of those domestically employed): agriculture (nearly
all private) 49.5%, private sector 22.2%, state (nonfarm) sector
28.3% (including state-owned industry 7.8%)

Unemployment rate: 19% (1994 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $486.3 million
expenditures: $550.4 million, including capital expenditures of $124
million (1994)

Industries: food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil,
cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower

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

Electricity:
capacity: 1,662,000 kW
production: 3.9 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 1,219 kWh (1994 est.)

Agriculture: wide range of temperate-zone crops and livestock

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin
transiting the Balkan route and cocaine from South America destined
for Western Europe; limited opium production

Exports: $141 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: asphalt, metals and metallic ores, electricity, crude
oil, vegetables, fruits, tobacco
partners: Italy, US, Greece, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia

Imports: $601 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities: machinery, consumer goods, grains
partners: Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia

External debt: $977 million (1994 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 lek (L) = 100 qintars

Exchange rates: leke (L) per US$1 - 95.65 (January 1996), 100.00
(January 1995), 99.00 (January 1994), 97.00 (January 1993), 50.00
(January 1992), 25.00 (September 1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 670 km
standard gauge: 670 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)

Highways:
total: 18,450 km
paved: 17,450 km
unpaved: 1,000 km (1991 est.)

Waterways: 43 km plus Albanian sections of Lake Scutari, Lake
Ohrid, and Lake Prespa (1990)

Pipelines: crude oil 145 km; petroleum products 55 km; natural gas
64 km (1991)

Ports: Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore

Merchant marine:
total: 11 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 52,967 GRT/76,887
DWT (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 11
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 2
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 (1994 est.)

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

Telephones: 55,000

Telephone system:
domestic: obsolete wire system; no longer provides a telephone for
every village; in 1992, following the fall of the communist
government, peasants cut the wire to about 1,000 villages and used
it to build fences
international: inadequate; international traffic carried by
microwave radio relay from the Tirane exchange to Italy and Greece

Radio broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios: 577,000 (1991 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 9

Televisions: 300,000 (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Interior
Ministry Troops, Border Guards

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 723,231
males fit for military service: 588,304
males reach military age (19) annually: 29,340 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $45 million, 2.5%
of GDP (1995)

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

@Algeria -------

Map ---

Location: 28 00 N, 3 00 E -- Northern Africa, bordering the
Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia

Flag ----

Description: two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and
white with a red, five-pointed star within a red crescent; the
crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam
(the state religion)

Geography ---------

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea,
between Morocco and Tunisia

Geographic coordinates: 28 00 N, 3 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total area: 2,381,740 sq km
land area: 2,381,740 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas

Land boundaries:
total: 6,343 km
border countries: Libya 982 km, Mali 1,376 km, Mauritania 463 km,
Morocco 1,559 km, Niger 956 km, Tunisia 965 km, Western Sahara 42 km

Coastline: 998 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 32-52 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: part of southeastern region claimed by
Libya; land boundary dispute with Tunisia settled in 1993

Climate: arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers
along coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high
plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in
summer

Terrain: mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow,
discontinuous coastal plain
lowest point: Chott Melrhir -40 m
highest point: Tahat 3,003 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates,
uranium, lead, zinc

Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 13%
forest and woodland: 2%
other: 82%

Irrigated land: 3,360 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming
practices; desertification; dumping of raw sewage, petroleum
refining wastes, and other industrial effluents is leading to the
pollution of rivers and coastal waters; Mediterranean Sea, in
particular, becoming polluted from oil wastes, soil erosion, and
fertilizer runoff; inadequate supplies of potable water
natural hazards: mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes;
mud slides
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
Desertification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban

Geographic note: second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)

People ------

Population: 29,183,032 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 40% (male 5,910,543; female 5,701,647)
15-64 years: 56% (male 8,319,650; female 8,162,816)
65 years and over: 4% (male 510,308; female 578,068) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.21% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 28.51 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 5.9 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 48.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.31 years
male: 67.22 years
female: 69.46 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.59 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Algerian(s)
adjective: Algerian

Ethnic divisions: Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1%

Religions: Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish
1%

Languages: Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 61.6%
male: 73.9%
female: 49%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria
conventional short form: Algeria
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash
Shabiyah
local short form: Al Jaza'ir

Data code: AG

Type of government: republic

Capital: Algiers

Administrative divisions: 48 provinces (wilayas, singular -
wilaya); Adrar, Ain Defla, Ain Temouchent, Alger, Annaba, Batna,
Bechar, Bejaia, Biskra, Blida, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Bouira,
Boumerdes, Chlef, Constantine, Djelfa, El Bayadh, El Oued, El Tarf,
Ghardaia, Guelma, Illizi, Jijel, Khenchela, Laghouat, Mascara,
Medea, Mila, Mostaganem, M'Sila, Naama, Oran, Ouargla, Oum el
Bouaghi, Relizane, Saida, Setif, Sidi Bel Abbes, Skikda, Souk Ahras,
Tamanghasset, Tebessa, Tiaret, Tindouf, Tipaza, Tissemsilt, Tizi
Ouzou, Tlemcen

Independence: 5 July 1962 (from France)

National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 1 November (1954)

Constitution: 19 November 1976, effective 22 November 1976;
revised 3 November 1988 and 23 February 1989

Legal system: socialist, based on French and Islamic law; judicial
review of legislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed
of various public officials, including several Supreme Court
justices; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Liamine ZEROUAL (appointed president 31
January 1994, elected president 16 November 1995) was elected for a
five-year term by universal suffrage; election last held 16 November
1995 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote NA
head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed OUYAHIA (since 31 December
1995) was appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral; note - suspended since 1992
National People's Assembly (Al-Majlis Ech-Chaabi Al-Watani):
first-round elections held 26 December 1991; second round canceled
by the military after President BENDJEDID resigned 11 January 1992,
effectively suspending the assembly (next election promised by late
1996 or early 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
(281 total) the fundamentalist FIS won 188 of the 231 seats
contested in the first round

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Political parties and leaders: Islamic Salvation Front (FIS,
outlawed April 1992), Ali BELHADJ, Dr. Abassi MADANI, Rabeh KEBIR
(self-exile in Germany); National Liberation Front (FLN), Boualem
BENHAMOUDA, secretary general; Socialist Forces Front (FFS), Hocine
Ait AHMED, secretary general (self-exile in Switzerland); Hamas,
Mahfoud NAHNAH, chairman; Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD),
Said SAADI, secretary general; Algerian Renewal Party (PRA),
Noureddine BOUKROUH, chairman
note: the government established a multiparty system in September
1989 and, as of 31 December 1990, over 50 legal parties existed

International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL,
AMF, AMU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPEC, OSCE
(partner), UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU,
WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Osmane BENCHERIF
chancery: 2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-2800

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald E. NEUMANN
embassy: 4 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi, Algiers
mailing address: B. P. Box 549, Alger-Gare, 16000 Algiers
telephone: [213] (2) 69-11-86, 69-18-54, 69-38-75, 69-12-55
FAX: [213] (2) 69-39-79

Flag: two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white
with a red, five-pointed star within a red crescent; the crescent,
star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam (the state
religion)

Economy -------

Economic overview: The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the
economy, accounting for roughly 57% of government revenues, 25% of
GDP, and almost all export earnings; Algeria has the fifth-largest
reserves of natural gas in the world and ranks fourteenth for oil.
Algiers' efforts to reform one of the most centrally planned
economies in the Arab world began after the 1986 collapse of world
oil prices plunged the country into a severe recession. In 1989, the
government launched a comprehensive, IMF-supported program to
achieve economic stabilization and to introduce market mechanisms
into the economy. Despite substantial progress toward economic
adjustment, in 1992 the reform drive stalled as Algiers became
embroiled in political turmoil. In September 1993, a new government
was formed, and one priority was the resumption and acceleration of
the structural adjustment process. Buffeted by the slump in world
oil prices and burdened with a heavy foreign debt, Algiers concluded
a one-year standby arrangement with the IMF in April 1994. Following
a Paris Club debt rescheduling in 1995 and a robust harvest, the
economy experienced a strong recovery and key economic improvements.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $108.7 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 3.5% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $3,800 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 12%
industry: 50%
services: 38%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 28% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 6.2 million (1992 est.)
by occupation: government 29.5%, agriculture 22%, construction and
public works 16.2%, industry 13.6%, commerce and services 13.5%,
transportation and communication 5.2% (1989)

Unemployment rate: 25% (1995 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $14.3 billion
expenditures: $17.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995 est.)

Industries: petroleum, light industries, natural gas, mining,
electrical, petrochemical, food processing

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 5,370,000 kW
production: 18.3 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 587 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits;
sheep, cattle

Exports: $9.5 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: petroleum and natural gas 97%
partners: Italy 21%, France 16%, US 14%, Germany 13%, Spain 9%

Imports: $10.6 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: capital goods 39.7%, food and beverages 21.7%, consumer
goods 11.8% (1990)
partners: France 29%, Italy 14%, Spain 9%, US 9%, Germany 7%

External debt: $26 billion (1994)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $316 million (1993)

Currency: 1 Algerian dinar (DA) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Algerian dinars (DA) per US$1 - 53.003 (January
1996), 47.663 (1995), 35.059 (1994), 23.345 (1993), 21.836 (1992),
18.473 (1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 4,772 km
standard gauge: 3,616 km 1.435-m gauge (301 km electrified; 215 km
double track)
narrow gauge: 1,156 km 1.055-m gauge

Highways:
total: 95,576 km
paved: 63,080 km (including 400 km of expressways)
unpaved: 32,496 km (1992 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 6,612 km; petroleum products 298 km; natural
gas 2,948 km

Ports: Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Beni Saf, Dellys,
Djendjene, Ghazaouet, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda, Tenes

Merchant marine:
total: 77 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 916,701 GRT/1,086,324
DWT
ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 27, chemical tanker 7, liquefied gas
tanker 10, oil tanker 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 13, short-sea
passenger 5, specialized tanker 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 119
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 8
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 24
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 13
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4
with paved runways under 914 m: 17
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 19
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 31 (1995 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 862,000 (1991 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: excellent service in north but sparse in south; domestic
satellite system with 12 earth stations (20 additional domestic
earth stations are planned)
international: 5 submarine cables; microwave radio relay to Italy,
France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; coaxial cable to Morocco and
Tunisia; participant in Medarabtel; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik, and
1 Arabsat

Radio broadcast stations: AM 26, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios: 6 million (1991 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 18

Televisions: 2 million (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: National Popular Army, Navy, Air Force, Territorial Air
Defense, National Gendarmerie

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 7,391,946
males fit for military service: 4,534,267
males reach military age (19) annually: 326,229 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.3 billion,
2.7% of GDP (1994)

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

@American Samoa --------------

(territory of the US)

Map ---

Location: 14 20 S, 170 00 W -- Oceania, group of islands in the
South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New
Zealand

Flag ----

Description: blue with a white triangle edged in red that is based
on the outer side and extends to the hoist side; a brown and white
American bald eagle flying toward the hoist side is carrying two
traditional Samoan symbols of authority, a staff and a war club

Geography ---------

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean,
about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Geographic coordinates: 14 20 S, 170 00 W

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total area: 199 sq km
land area: 199 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC
note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 116 km

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

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds;
annual rainfall averages 124 inches; rainy season from November to
April, dry season from May to October; little seasonal temperature
variation

Terrain: five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited
coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Lata 966 m

Natural resources: pumice, pumicite

Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 5%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 75%
other: 10%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; in many areas
of the island, water supplies come from roof catchments
natural hazards: typhoons common from December to March
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: Pago Pago has one of the best natural deepwater
harbors in the South Pacific Ocean, sheltered by shape from rough
seas and protected by peripheral mountains from high winds;
strategic location in the South Pacific Ocean

People ------

Population: 59,566 (July 1996 est.)

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

Population growth rate: 3.77% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 35.75 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 4.01 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

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

Infant mortality rate: 18.78 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.91 years
male: 71.03 years
female: 74.85 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.24 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: American Samoan(s)
adjective: American Samoan

Ethnic divisions: Samoan (Polynesian) 89%, Caucasian 2%, Tongan
4%, other 5%

Religions: Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%,
Protestant denominations and other 30%

Languages: Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other
Polynesian languages), English
note: most people are bilingual

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
total population: 97%
male: 98%
female: 97%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa
conventional short form: American Samoa
abbreviation: AS

Data code: AQ

Type of government: unincorporated and unorganized territory of
the US; administered by the US Department of Interior, Office of
Territorial and International Affairs

Capital: Pago Pago

Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)

Independence: none (territory of the US)

National holiday: Territorial Flag Day, 17 April (1900)

Constitution: ratified 1966, in effect 1967

Legal system: NA

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President (of the US) William Jefferson CLINTON
(since 20 January 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since
20 January 1993) are popularly elected by the citizens of the US
head of government: Governor A. P. LUTALI (since 3 January 1993) and
Lieutenant Governor Tauese P. SUNIA (since 3 January 1993) were
elected for a four-year term by popular vote; election last held 3
November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - A. P.
LUTALI (Democrat) 53%, Peter Tali COLEMAN (Republican) 36%

Legislative branch: bicameral Legislative Assembly (Fono)
House of Representatives: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next
to be held NA November 1996); results - representatives popularly
elected from 17 house districts; percent of vote by party NA; seats
- (21 total, 20 elected, and 1 nonvoting delegate from Swains
Island); number of seats by party NA
Senate: elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA
November 1996); results - senators elected by village chiefs from 12
senate districts; percent of vote by party NA; seats - (18 total)
number of seats by party NA
US House of Representatives: elections last held 8 November 1994
(next to be held NA November 1996); results - Eni R. F. H.
FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate

Judicial branch: High Court, chief justice and associate justices
are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior

Political parties and leaders: NA

International organization participation: ESCAP (associate),
Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC

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

US diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US)

Flag: blue with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the
outer side and extends to the hoist side; a brown and white American
bald eagle flying toward the hoist side is carrying two traditional
Samoan symbols of authority, a staff and a war club

Economy -------

Economic overview: Economic activity is strongly linked to the US,
with which American Samoa conducts 80%-90% of its foreign trade.
Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are the backbone of the
private sector, with canned tuna the primary export. The tuna
canneries and the government are by far the two largest employers.
Other economic activities include a slowly developing tourist
industry. Transfers from the US Government add substantially to
American Samoa's economic well-being.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $128 million (1991 est.)

GDP real growth rate: NA%

GDP per capita: $2,600 (1991 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA

Labor force: 14,400 (1990)
by occupation: government 33%, tuna canneries 34%, other 33% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 12% (1991)

Budget:
revenues: $97 million ($43 million in local revenue and $54 million
in grant revenue)
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90/91)

Industries: tuna canneries (largely dependent on foreign fishing
vessels), meat canning, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 30,000 kW
production: 90 million kWh
consumption per capita: 1,505 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit,
yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy farming

Exports: $306 million (f.o.b., 1989)
commodities: canned tuna 93%
partners: US 99.6%

Imports: $360.3 million (c.i.f., 1989)
commodities: materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum
products 7%, machinery and parts 6%
partners: US 62%, Japan 9%, NZ 7%, Australia 11%, Fiji 4%, other 7%

External debt: $NA

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
note: $21 million in operational funds and $1.2 million in
construction funds for capital improvement projects from the US
Department of Interior (1991)

Currency: 1 US dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

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

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 350 km
paved: 150 km
unpaved: 200 km

Ports: Aanu'u (new construction), Auasi, Faleosao, Ofu, Pago Pago,
Ta'u

Merchant marine: none

Airports:
total: 3
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 2
note: small airstrips on Fituita and Ofu (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 8,399

Telephone system:
domestic: good telex, telegraph, and facsimile services; domestic
satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

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

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 1

Televisions: 8,000 (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the US

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

@Andorra -------

Map ---

Location: 42 30 N, 1 30 E -- Southwestern Europe, between France
and Spain

Flag ----

Description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side),
yellow, and red with the national coat of arms centered in the
yellow band; the coat of arms features a quartered shield; similar
to the flags of Chad and Romania that do not have a national coat of
arms in the center

Geography ---------

Location: Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain

Geographic coordinates: 42 30 N, 1 30 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total area: 450 sq km
land area: 450 sq km
comparative area: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
total: 125 km
border countries: France 60 km, Spain 65 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

International disputes: none

Climate: temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers

Terrain: rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys
lowest point: Riu Valira 840 m
highest point: Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m

Natural resources: hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore,
lead

Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 56%
forest and woodland: 22%
other: 20%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows
contributes to soil erosion
natural hazards: snowslides, avalanches
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: landlocked

People ------

Population: 72,766 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 16% (male 5,829; female 5,851)
15-64 years: 73% (male 28,724; female 24,757)
65 years and over: 11% (male 3,718; female 3,887) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.96% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 10.2 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 2.9 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 22.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 0.96 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.16 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.11 male(s)/female

Infant mortality rate: 2.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 90.94 years
male: 86.47 years
female: 95.2 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.14 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Andorran(s)
adjective: Andorran

Ethnic divisions: Spanish 61%, Andorran 30%, French 6%, other 3%

Religions: Roman Catholic (predominant)

Languages: Catalan (official), French, Castilian

Literacy: NA

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Principality of Andorra
conventional short form: Andorra
local long form: Principat d'Andorra
local short form: Andorra

Data code: AN

Type of government: parliamentary democracy (since March 1993)
that retains as its heads of state a coprincipality; the two princes
are the president of France and Spanish bishop of Seo de Urgel, who
are represented locally by officials called veguers

Capital: Andorra la Vella

Administrative divisions: 7 parishes (parroquies, singular -
parroquia); Andorra, Canillo, Encamp, La Massana, Les Escaldes,
Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria

Independence: 1,278

National holiday: Mare de Deu de Meritxell, 8 September

Constitution: Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in
1991; adopted 14 March 1993

Legal system: based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial
review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chiefs of state: French Coprince Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995)
and Spanish Episcopal Coprince Monseigneur Juan MARTI Alanis (since
31 January 1971); each coprince is represented by a veguer (current
names NA)
head of government: Executive Council President Marc FORNE Molne
(since 21 December 1994) was elected by the General Council and
formally appointed by the coprinces
cabinet: Executive Council was designated by the executive council
president

Legislative branch: unicameral
General Council of the Valleys (Consell General de las Valls:
elections last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held NA 1997);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (28 total) AND 8, UL
5, ND 5, CNA 2, IDN 2, other 6

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Andorra at Perpignan (France)
for civil cases, two civil judges appointed by the veguers, one
appeals judge appointed by the co-princes alternately;
Ecclesiastical Court of the Bishop of Seo de Urgel (Spain) for civil
cases; Tribunal of the Courts (Tribunal des Cortes) for criminal
cases, presided over by the two civil judges, one appeals judge, the
veguers, and two members of the General Council

Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Group (AND),
Oscar RIBAS Reig and Jordi FARRAS; Liberal Union (UL), Francesc
CERQUEDA; New Democracy (ND), Jaume BARTOMEU; Andorran National
Coalition (CNA), Antoni CERQUEDA; National Democratic Initiative
(IDN), Vincenc MATEU; Liberal Union (UL), Marc FORNE
note: there are two other small parties

International organization participation: CE, ECE, IFRCS,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, UN, UNESCO, WIPO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Juli MINOVES-TRIQUELL (also Permanent
Representative to the UN)
embassy: 2 United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10017
telephone: (212) 750-8064
FAX: (212) 750-6630

US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
Andorra; US interests in Andorra are represented by the Consulate
General's office in Barcelona (Spain); mailing address: Paseo Reina
Elisenda, 23, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; telephone: (343) 280-2227;
FAX: (343) 205-7705; note - Consul General Maurice S. PARKER makes
periodic visits to Andorra

Flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and
red with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; the
coat of arms features a quartered shield; similar to the flags of
Chad and Romania that do not have a national coat of arms in the
center

Economy -------

Economic overview: Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny,
well-to-do economy, accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 13
million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free
status and by its summer and winter resorts. Andorra's comparative
advantage has recently eroded as the economies of neighboring France
and Spain have been opened up, providing broader availability of
goods and lower tariffs. The banking sector, with its "tax haven"
status, also contributes substantially to the economy. Agricultural
production is limited by a scarcity of arable land, and most food
has to be imported. The principal livestock activity is sheep
raising. Manufacturing consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and
furniture. Andorra is a member of the EU Customs Union and is
treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs)
and as a non-EU member for agricultural products.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $1 billion (1993 est.)

GDP real growth rate: NA%

GDP per capita: $16,200 (1993 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Labor force: NA

Unemployment rate: 0%

Budget:
revenues: $138 million
expenditures: $177 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1993)

Industries: tourism (particularly skiing), sheep, timber, tobacco,
banking

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 35,000 kW
production: 140 million kWh
consumption per capita: 2,570 kWh (1992)

Agriculture: small quantities of tobacco, rye, wheat, barley,
oats, vegetables; sheep raising

Exports: $46.2 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: electricity, tobacco products, furniture
partners: France 35%, Spain 59%

Imports: $920.2 million (1993)
commodities: consumer goods, food
partners: France, Spain, US 2.6% (1992)

External debt: $NA

Economic aid: none

Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes; 1 peseta (Pta) = 100
centimos; the French and Spanish currencies are used

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.0056 (January
1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992),
5.6421 (1991); Spanish pesetas (Ptas) per US$1 - 123.19 (January
1996), 124.69 (1995), 133.96 (1994), 127.26 (1993), 102.38 (1992),
103.91 (1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 269 km
paved: 198 km
unpaved: 71 km (1991 est.)

Ports: none

Airports: none

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

Telephones: 21,258 (1983 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: modern system with microwave radio relay connections
between exchanges
international: landline circuits to France and Spain

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

Radios: 10,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 0

Televisions: 7,000 (1991 est.)

Defense -------

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of France and Spain

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

@Angola ------

Civil war has been the norm since independence from Portugal on 11 November 1975; a cease-fire lasted from 31 May 1991 until October 1992 when the insurgent National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) refused to accept its defeat in internationally monitored elections and fighting resumed throughout much of the countryside. The two sides signed another peace accord on 20 November 1994; the cease-fire is generally holding, but most provisions of the accord remain to be implemented.

Map ---

Location: 12 30 S, 18 30 E -- Southern Africa, bordering the South
Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Zaire

Flag ----

Description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black
with a centered yellow emblem consisting of a five-pointed star
within half a cogwheel crossed by a machete (in the style of a
hammer and sickle)

Geography ---------

Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean,
between Namibia and Zaire

Geographic coordinates: 12 30 S, 18 30 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total area: 1,246,700 sq km
land area: 1,246,700 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries:
total: 5,198 km
border countries: Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km, Zaire 2,511 km,
Zambia 1,110 km

Coastline: 1,600 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 20 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has
cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to
April)

Terrain: narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior
plateau
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Moro de Moco 2,620 m

Natural resources: petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates,
copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium

Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 23%
forest and woodland: 43%
other: 32%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: population pressures contributing to overuse of
pastures and subsequent soil erosion; desertification; deforestation
of tropical rain forest attributable to the international demand for
tropical timber and domestic use as a fuel; deforestation
contributing to loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to
water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate
supplies of potable water
natural hazards: locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on
the plateau
international agreements: party to - Law of the Sea; signed, but not
ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification

Geographic note: Cabinda is separated from rest of country by Zaire

People ------

Population: 10,342,899 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 2,340,804; female 2,275,689)
15-64 years: 53% (male 2,748,417; female 2,706,295)
65 years and over: 2% (male 128,067; female 143,627) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.68% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 44.58 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 17.66 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.14 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: 0.89 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 138.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 46.8 years
male: 44.65 years
female: 49.06 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.35 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Angolan(s)
adjective: Angolan

Ethnic divisions: Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%,
mestico (mixed European and Native African) 2%, European 1%, other
22%

Religions: indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant
15% (est.)

Languages: Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population: 42%
male: 56%
female: 28%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Angola
conventional short form: Angola
local long form: Republica de Angola
local short form: Angola
former: People's Republic of Angola

Data code: AO

Type of government: transitional government nominally a multiparty
democracy with a strong presidential system

Capital: Luanda

Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (provincias, singular -
provincia); Bengo, Benguela, Bie, Cabinda, Cuando Cubango, Cuanza
Norte, Cuanza Sul, Cunene, Huambo, Huila, Luanda, Lunda Norte, Lunda
Sul, Malanje, Moxico, Namibe, Uige, Zaire

Independence: 11 November 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday: Independence Day, 11 November (1975)

Constitution: 11 November 1975; revised 7 January 1978, 11 August
1980, 6 March 1991, and 26 August 1992

Legal system: based on Portuguese civil law system and customary
law; recently modified to accommodate political pluralism and
increased use of free markets