Chapter V (28)

Infant mortality rate: 40.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 66.68 years
male: 64.3 years
female: 69.18 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.08 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Nauruan(s)
adjective: Nauruan

Ethnic divisions: Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%, Chinese
8%, European 8%

Religions: Christian (two-thirds Protestant, one-third Roman
Catholic)

Languages: Nauruan (official, a distinct Pacific Island language),
English widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and
commercial purposes

Literacy: NA

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Nauru
conventional short form: Nauru
former: Pleasant Island

Data code: NR

Type of government: republic

Capital: no official capital; government offices in Yaren District

Administrative divisions: 14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan,
Anibare, Baiti, Boe, Buada, Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok,
Uaboe, Yaren

Independence: 31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, New Zealand-,
and UK-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday: Independence Day, 31 January (1968)

Constitution: 29 January 1968

Legal system: acts of the Nauru Parliament and British common law

Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Lagumot HARRIS
(since 22 November 1995) was elected by Parliament; election last
held 18 November 1995 (next to be held NA November 1998)
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president from among members
of Parliament

Legislative branch: unicameral
Parliament: election last held 18 November 1995 (next to be held NA
November 1998); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (18 total)
independents 18

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: none

International organization participation: AsDB, C (special),
ESCAP, ICAO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, ITU, Sparteca,
SPC, SPF, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation in US: Nauru does not have an embassy in
the US

US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Nauru

Flag: blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe across the
center and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the
hoist side; the star indicates the country's location in relation to
the Equator (the yellow stripe) and the 12 points symbolize the 12
original tribes of Nauru

Economy -------

Economic overview: Revenues come from the export of phosphates,
the reserves of which are expected to be exhausted by the year 2000.
Phosphates have given Nauruans one of the highest per capita incomes
in the Third World. Few other resources exist, so most necessities
must be imported, including fresh water from Australia. The
rehabilitation of mined land and the replacement of income from
phosphates are serious long-term problems. Substantial amounts of
phosphate income are invested in trust funds to help cushion the
transition. However, dividends from the trusts have declined sharply
since 1990 and the government has been borrowing from the trusts to
finance fiscal deficits.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $100 million (1993 est.)

GDP real growth rate: NA%

GDP per capita: $10,000 (1993 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): -3.6% (1993)

Labor force:
by occupation: NA

Unemployment rate: 0%

Budget:
revenues: $23.8 million
expenditures: $69.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY92/93)

Industries: phosphate mining, financial services, coconut products

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 14,000 kW
production: 30 million kWh
consumption per capita: 3,036 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: coconuts predominate

Exports: $25.3 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities: phosphates
partners: Australia, NZ

Imports: $21.1 million (c.i.f., 1991)
commodities: food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery
partners: Australia, UK, NZ, Japan

External debt: $33.3 million

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3477 (January
1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992),
1.2834 (1991)

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

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

Railways:
total: 3.9 km; note - used to haul phosphates from the center of the
island to processing facilities on the southwest coast

Highways:
total: 27 km
paved: 21 km
unpaved: 6 km (1986 est.)

Ports: Nauru

Merchant marine: none

Airports:
total: 1
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 2,000 (1989 est.)

Telephone system: adequate local and international radiotelephone
communications provided via Australian facilities
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

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

Radios: 4,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 0 (1986 est.)

Televisions: NA

Defense -------

Branches: no regular armed forces; Directorate of the Nauru Police
Force

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

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

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

@Navassa Island --------------

(territory of the US)

Map ---

Location: 18 25 N, 75 02 W -- Caribbean, island in the Caribbean
Sea, about one-fourth of the way from Haiti to Jamaica

Flag ----

Description: the flag of the US is used

Geography ---------

Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, about one-fourth
of the way from Haiti to Jamaica

Geographic coordinates: 18 25 N, 75 02 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total area: 5.2 sq km
land area: 5.2 sq km
comparative area: about nine times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 8 km

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

International disputes: claimed by Haiti

Climate: marine, tropical

Terrain: raised coral and limestone plateau, flat to undulating;
ringed by vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 meters high)
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on southwest side 77 m

Natural resources: guano

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 10%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 90%

Irrigated land: 0 sq km

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

Geographic note: strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval
Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock, but enough
grassland to support goat herds; dense stands of fig-like trees,
scattered cactus

People ------

Population: uninhabited; note - transient Haitian fishermen and
others camp on the island

Government ----------

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

Data code: BQ

Type of government: unincorporated territory of the US
administered by the US Coast Guard

Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC

Flag: the flag of the US is used

Economy -------

Economic overview: no economic activity

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

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

Defense -------

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the US

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

@Nepal -----

Map ---

Location: 28 00 N, 84 00 E -- Southern Asia, between China and
India

Flag ----

Description: red with a blue border around the unique shape of two
overlapping right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a
white stylized moon and the larger, lower triangle bears a white
12-pointed sun

Geography ---------

Location: Southern Asia, between China and India

Geographic coordinates: 28 00 N, 84 00 E

Map references: Asia

Area:
total area: 140,800 sq km
land area: 136,800 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Arkansas

Land boundaries:
total: 2,926 km
border countries: China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

International disputes: none

Climate: varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to
subtropical summers and mild winters in south

Terrain: Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central
hill region, rugged Himalayas in north
lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m
highest point: Mount Everest 8,848 m

Natural resources: quartz, water, timber, hydropower potential,
scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore

Land use:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 13%
forest and woodland: 33%
other: 37%

Irrigated land: 9,430 sq km (1989)

Environment:
current issues: the almost total dependence on wood for fuel and
cutting down trees to expand agricultural land without replanting
has resulted in widespread deforestation; soil erosion; water
pollution (use of contaminated water presents human health risks)
natural hazards: severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides,
drought, and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration
of the summer monsoons
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation

Geographic note: landlocked; strategic location between China and
India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks

People ------

Population: 22,094,033 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 42% (male 4,776,245; female 4,563,000)
15-64 years: 55% (male 6,172,821; female 5,945,626)
65 years and over: 3% (male 320,350; female 315,991) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.45% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 37 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 12.56 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: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.04 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 79 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 53.63 years
male: 53.35 years
female: 53.93 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.06 children born/woman (1996 est.)

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

Ethnic divisions: Newars, Indians, Tibetans, Gurungs, Magars,
Tamangs, Bhotias, Rais, Limbus, Sherpas

Religions: Hindu 90%, Buddhist 5%, Muslim 3%, other 2% (1981)
note: only official Hindu state in world, although no sharp
distinction between many Hindu and Buddhist groups

Languages: Nepali (official), 20 other languages divided into
numerous dialects

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 27.5%
male: 40.9%
female: 14%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Nepal
conventional short form: Nepal

Data code: NP

Type of government: parliamentary democracy as of 12 May 1991

Capital: Kathmandu

Administrative divisions: 14 zones (anchal, singular and plural);
Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi,
Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti

Independence: 1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah)

National holiday: Birthday of His Majesty the King, 28 December
(1945)

Constitution: 9 November 1990

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev (succeeded to the
throne 31 January 1972 following the death of his father King
MAHENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev, crowned king 24 February 1975) is a
constitutional monarch; Heir Apparent Crown Prince DIPENDRA Bir
Bikram
head of government: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur DEUBA (since 12
September 1995); note - in 1994, the king appointed Man Mohan
ADHIKARI to be prime minister using the standard criterion - he was
the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives
following the last election; however, in September 1995, a
parliamentary coalition of the Nepali Congress Party, the Rastriya
Prajantra Party, the Nepal Sadbhavana Party, and independents voted
against Prime Minister ADHIKARI; Sher Bahadur DEUBA, the leader of
the Nepali Congress Party, then formed the new government and was
appointed the new prime minister by the king
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the king on recommendation of the
prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
National Council: consists of 60 members (50 appointed by House of
Representatives and 10 by the king)
House of Representatives: elections last held 15 November 1994 (next
to be held NA); results - NCP 33%, CPN/UML 31%, NDP 18%, Terai
Rights Sadbhavana Party 3%, NWPP 1%; seats - (205 total) CPN/UML 88,
NCP 83, NDP 20, NWPP 4, Terai Rights Sadbhavana Party 3,
independents 7

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Sarbochha Adalat), chief justice
is appointed by the king on recommendation of the Constitutional
Council, the other judges are appointed by the king on the
recommendation of the Judicial Council

Political parties and leaders: Communist Party of Nepal/United
Marxist and Leninist (CPN/UML), Man Mohan ADHIKARI, president;
Nepali Congress Party (NCP), Krishna Prasad BHATTARAI (president),
Girija Prasad KOIRALA, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur DEUBA; National
Democratic Party (NDP), leader NA; Terai Rights Sadbhavana
(Goodwill) Party, Gajendra Narayan SINGH; Nepal Workers and Peasants
Party (NWPP), leader NA; Nepal Sadbhavana Party, leader NA; Rastriya
Prajantra Party, leader NA

Other political or pressure groups: numerous small, left-leaning
student groups in the capital; several small, radical Nepalese
antimonarchist groups

International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CP, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, SAARC, UN,
UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIH, UNPROFOR, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Basudev Prasad DHUNGANA
chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 667-4550
consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Sandra L. VOGELGESANG
embassy: Pani Pokhari, Kathmandu
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [977] (1) 411179
FAX: [977] (1) 419963

Flag: red with a blue border around the unique shape of two
overlapping right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a
white stylized moon and the larger, lower triangle bears a white
12-pointed sun

Economy -------

Economic overview: Nepal is among the poorest and least developed
countries in the world. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy,
providing a livelihood for over 80% of the population and accounting
for about one-half of GDP. Industrial activity is limited, mainly
involving the processing of agricultural produce (jute, sugarcane,
tobacco, and grain). Production of textiles and carpets has expanded
recently and accounted for 85% of foreign exchange earnings in
FY93/94. Apart from agricultural land and forests, exploitable
natural resources are mica, hydropower, and tourism. Agricultural
production in the late 1980s grew by about 5%, as compared with
annual population growth of 2.6%. More than 40% of the population is
undernourished. Since May 1991, the government has been moving
forward with economic reforms particularly those that encourage
trade and foreign investment, e.g., by eliminating business licenses
and registration requirements in order to simplify investment
procedures. The government has also been cutting public expenditures
by reducing subsidies, privatizing state industries, and laying off
civil servants. (In 1995 little progress was made in these areas
because the communist government had trouble formulating and
implementing policies.) The new coalition government is planning to
pick up the pace of reforms in 1996, focusing primarily on raising
revenues to develop the rural sector by increasing taxation and
privatization. Prospects for foreign trade and investment,
particularly in areas other than power development and tourism, will
continue to remain poor because of the small size of the economy,
its technological backwardness, its remoteness, and its
susceptibility to natural disaster. The international community
provides funding for 62% of Nepal's developmental budget and for 34%
of total budgetary expenditures.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $25.2 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 2.3% (1995 est.)

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

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 49.3%
industry: 18.4%
services: 32.3% (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.7% (FY94/95)

Labor force: 8.5 million (1991 est.)
by occupation: agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry 2%
note: severe lack of skilled labor

Unemployment rate: NA%; substantial underemployment (1995)

Budget:
revenues: $645 million
expenditures: $1.05 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY94/95 est.)

Industries: tourism, carpet, textile; small rice, jute, sugar, and
oilseed mills; cigarette; cement and brick production

Industrial production growth rate: 14.7% (FY94/95 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 280,000 kW
production: 920 million kWh
consumption per capita: 41 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops; milk, water
buffalo meat

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic and
international drug markets; transit point for heroin from Southeast
Asia to the West

Exports: $430 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.) but does not include
unrecorded border trade with India
commodities: carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain
partners: India, US, Germany, UK

Imports: $1.4 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
commodities: petroleum products 20%, fertilizer 11%, machinery 10%
partners: India, Singapore, Japan, Germany

External debt: $2.3 billion (FY94/95 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $310 million (1993)
note: western and Japanese bilateral aid $215 million; multilateral
aid $43 million (1994-95)

Currency: 1 Nepalese rupee (NR) = 100 paisa

Exchange rates: Nepalese rupees (NRs) per US$1 - 56.636 (January
1996), 51.890 (1995), 49.398 (1994), 48.607 (1993), 42.718 (1992),
37.255 (1991)

Fiscal year: 16 July - 15 July

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

Railways:
total: 101 km; note - all in Terai close to Indian border
narrow gauge: 101 km 0.762-m gauge

Highways:
total: 9,933 km
paved: 3,421 km
unpaved: 6,512 km (1995 est.)

Ports: none

Airports:
total: 43
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 27
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 10 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 82,774 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: poor telephone and telegraph service; fair
radiotelephone communication service
domestic: NA
international: radiotelephone communications; satellite earth
station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 88, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios: 690,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (1988 est.)

Televisions: 45,000 (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Royal Nepalese Army, Royal Nepalese Army Air Service,
Nepalese Police Force

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 5,329,345
males fit for military service: 2,768,887
males reach military age (17) annually: 254,590 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $36 million, 1.2%
of GDP (FY92/93)

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

@Netherlands -----------

Map ---

Location: 52 30 N, 5 45 E -- Western Europe, bordering the North
Sea, between Belgium and Germany

Flag ----

Description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and
blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue
and is longer

Geography ---------

Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium
and Germany

Geographic coordinates: 52 30 N, 5 45 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total area: 37,330 sq km
land area: 33,920 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Land boundaries:
total: 1,027 km
border countries: Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km

Coastline: 451 km

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

International disputes: none

Climate: temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters

Terrain: mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some
hills in southeast
lowest point: Prins Alexanderpolder -7 m
highest point: Vaalserberg 321 m

Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, fertile soil

Land use:
arable land: 26%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 32%
forest and woodland: 9%
other: 32%

Irrigated land: 5,500 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic
compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air
pollution from vehicles and refining activities; acid rain
natural hazards: the extensive system of dikes and dams, protects
nearly one-half of the total area from being flooded
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine
Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling;
signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity,
Desertification, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber 94

Geographic note: located at mouths of three major European rivers
(Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)

People ------

Population: 15,568,034 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 1,457,694; female 1,393,402)
15-64 years: 68% (male 5,412,402; female 5,228,579)
65 years and over: 14% (male 836,934; female 1,239,023) (July 1996
est.)

Population growth rate: 0.56% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 12.08 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 8.7 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 2.25 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: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

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

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.73 years
male: 74.91 years
female: 80.68 years (1996 est.)

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

Nationality:
noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)
adjective: Dutch

Ethnic divisions: Dutch 96%, Moroccans, Turks, and other 4% (1988)

Religions: Roman Catholic 34%, Protestant 25%, Muslim 3%, other
2%, unaffiliated 36% (1991)

Languages: Dutch

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1979 est.)
total population: 99%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands
conventional short form: Netherlands
local long form: Koninkrijk de Nederlanden
local short form: Nederland

Data code: NL

Type of government: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government

Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (provincien, singular -
provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen,
Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland,
Zuid-Holland

Dependent areas: Aruba, Netherlands Antilles

Independence: 1579 (from Spain)

National holiday: Queen's Day, 30 April (1938)

Constitution: 17 February 1983

Legal system: civil law system incorporating French penal theory;
judicial review in the Supreme Court of legislation of lower order
rather than Acts of the States General; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April
1980) is a constitutional monarch; Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER
(born 27 April 1967), Prince of Orange, son of Queen BEATRIX
head of government: Prime Minister Willem (Wim) KOK (since 22 August
1994) and Vice Prime Ministers Hans DIJKSTAL (since 22 August 1994)
and Hans VAN MIERLO (since 22 August 1994) were appointed by the
queen
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral legislature (Staten Generaal)
First Chamber (Eerste Kamer): members indirectly elected by the
country's 12 provincial councils for four-year terms; election last
held 9 June 1995 (next to be held 9 June 1999); results - percent of
vote by party NA; seats - (75 total) number of seats by party NA
Second Chamber (Tweede Kamer): members directly elected for
four-year terms; elections last held 3 May 1994 (next to be held in
1998); results - PvdA 24.3%, CDA 22.3%, VVD 20.4%, D'66 16.5%, other
16.5%; seats - (150 total) PvdA 37, CDA 34, VVD 31, D'66 24, other 24

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (De Hoge Raad), justices are
nominated for life by the crown from a list compiled by the Second
Chamber of the Staten Generaal

Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA),
Hans HELGERS; Labor (PvdA), Felix ROTTENBERG; Liberal (VVD), Frits
BOLKESTEIN; Democrats '66 (D66), Hans VAN MIERLO; a host of minor
parties

Other political or pressure groups: large multinational firms;
Federation of Netherlands Trade Union Movement (comprising Socialist
and Catholic trade unions) and a Protestant trade union; Federation
of Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations; the
nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises; and
Interchurch Peace Council (IKV)

International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),
AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE,
ECLAC, EIB, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest),
NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNAVEM III,
UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNPREDEP,
UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Adriaan JACOBOVITS DE SZEGED
chancery: (temporary) 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 244-5300
FAX: [1] (202) 362-3430
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kirk Terry DORNBUSH
embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ The Hague
mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715
telephone: [31] (70) 310-9209
FAX: [31] (70) 361-4688
consulate(s) general: Amsterdam

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue;
similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is
longer

Economy -------

Economic overview: This highly developed and affluent economy is
based on private enterprise. The government makes its presence felt,
however, through many regulations, permit requirements, and welfare
programs affecting most aspects of economic activity. The trade and
financial services sector contributes over 50% of GDP. Industrial
activity provides about 25% of GDP and is led by the
food-processing, oil-refining, and metalworking industries. The
highly mechanized agricultural sector employs only 4% of the labor
force, but provides large surpluses for export and the domestic
food-processing industry. Indeed, the Netherlands ranks third
worldwide in value of agricultural exports, behind the US and
France. High unemployment and a sizable budget deficit are currently
the most serious economic problems. Many of the economic issues of
the 1990s will reflect the course of European economic integration.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $301.9 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 2.5% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $19,500 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.4%
industry: 26.9%
services: 69.7% (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.25% (1995)

Labor force: 6.4 million (1993)
by occupation: services 73%, manufacturing and construction 23%,
agriculture 4% (1994)

Unemployment rate: 7.1% (fourth quarter 1995)

Budget:
revenues: $109.9 billion
expenditures: $122.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1992 est.)

Industries: agroindustries, metal and engineering products,
electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, fishing,
construction, microelectronics

Industrial production growth rate: 1% (1995 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 17,520,000 kW
production: 72.4 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 5,100 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables;
livestock

Illicit drugs: important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish
entering Europe; European producer of illicit amphetamines and other
synthetic drugs

Exports: $146 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: metal products, chemicals, processed food and tobacco,
agricultural products
partners: EU 73% (Germany 28%, Belgium-Luxembourg 13%, UK 9%),
Central and Eastern Europe 2%, US 5% (1994)

Imports: $133 billion (c.i.f., 1995)
commodities: raw materials and semifinished products, consumer
goods, transportation equipment, crude oil, food products
partners: EU 56% (Germany 21%, Belgium-Luxembourg 11%, UK 8.5%), US
8.6% (1994)

External debt: 0

Economic aid:
donor: ODA, $2.525 billion (1993)

Currency: 1 Netherlands guilder, gulden, or florin (f.) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Netherlands guilders, gulden, or florins (f.) per
US$1 - 1.6365 (January 1996), 1.6057 (1995), 1.8200 (1994), 1.8573
(1993), 1.7585 (1992), 1.8697 (1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 2,891 km
standard gauge: 2,891 km 1.435-m gauge; 2857 km are in common
carrier service (1,991 km electrified) and 34 km serve tourists

Highways:
total: 104,831 km
paved: 92,251 km (including 2,118 km of expressways)
unpaved: 12,580 km (1992 est.)

Waterways: 6,340 km, of which 35% is usable by craft of 1,000
metric ton capacity or larger

Pipelines: crude oil 418 km; petroleum products 965 km; natural
gas 10,230 km

Ports: Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Dordrecht, Eemshaven, Groningen,
Haarlem, Ijmuiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Utrecht

Merchant marine:
total: 352 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,681,133
GRT/3,379,762 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 206, chemical tanker 21, combination
bulk 3, container 34, liquefied gas tanker 13, livestock carrier 1,
multifunction large-load carrier 2, oil tanker 38, railcar carrier
1, refrigerated cargo 16, roll-on/roll-off cargo 11, short-sea
passenger 3, specialized tanker 2
note: many Dutch-owned ships are operating under the registry of
Netherlands Antilles (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 28
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 8
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 6
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
with paved runways under 914 m: 7
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 (1995 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 8.272 million (1983 est.)

Telephone system: highly developed and well maintained; extensive
redundant system of multiconductor cables, supplemented by microwave
radio relay
domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; microwave radio relay
international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3
Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1
Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean Regions)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 3 (relays 3), FM 12 (repeaters 39),
shortwave 0

Radios: 13.755 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 8 (repeaters 7)

Televisions: 7.4 million (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes
Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force,
Royal Constabulary

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 4,191,998
males fit for military service: 3,670,253
males reach military age (20) annually: 94,013 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $8.2 billion,
2.1% of GDP (1995)

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

@Netherlands Antilles --------------------

(part of the Dutch realm)

Map ---

Location: 12 15 N, 68 45 W -- Caribbean, two island groups in the
Caribbean Sea - one includes Curacao and Bonaire north of Venezuela
and the other is east of the Virgin Islands

Flag ----

Description: white with a horizontal blue stripe in the center
superimposed on a vertical red band also centered; five white
five-pointed stars are arranged in an oval pattern in the center of
the blue band; the five stars represent the five main islands of
Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten

Geography ---------

Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea - one
includes Curacao and Bonaire north of Venezuela and the other is
east of the Virgin Islands

Geographic coordinates: 12 15 N, 68 45 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total area: 960 sq km
land area: 960 sq km
comparative area: more than five times the size of Washington, DC
note: includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint
Maarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin)

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 364 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds

Terrain: generally hilly, volcanic interiors
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Scenery 862 m

Natural resources: phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only)

Land use:
arable land: 8%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 92%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean
hurricane belt, so are rarely threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and
Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October
international agreements: party to - Whaling (extended from
Netherlands)

People ------

Population: 208,968 (July 1996 est.)

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

Population growth rate: 1.03% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 15.98 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 5.29 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: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 8.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.06 years
male: 74.78 years
female: 79.46 years (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Netherlands Antillean(s)
adjective: Netherlands Antillean

Ethnic divisions: mixed African 85%, Carib Indian, European,
Latin, Oriental

Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Seventh-Day
Adventist

Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento a
Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect predominates, English
widely spoken, Spanish

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1981 est.)
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 99%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Netherlands Antilles
local long form: none
local short form: Nederlandse Antillen

Data code: NT

Type of government: part of the Dutch realm; full autonomy in
internal affairs granted in 1954

Capital: Willemstad

Administrative divisions: none (part of the Dutch realm)

Independence: none (part of the Dutch realm)

National holiday: Queen's Day, 30 April (1938)

Constitution: 29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the
Netherlands, as amended

Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system, with some English
common law influence

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (of the Netherlands
since 30 April 1980) is a constitutional monarch, represented by
Governor General Jaime SALEH (since NA October 1989), who was
appointed for a six-year term by the queen
head of government: Prime Minister Miguel POURIER (since 25 February
1994) was appointed by the Staten
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the Staten

Legislative branch: unicameral
Staten: elections last held 25 February 1994 (next to be held NA
March 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (23
total) PAR 8, PNP 3, SPA 2, PDB 2, UPB 1, MAN 2, DP 1, WIPM 1,
DP-St.E 1, DP-St.M 1, Nos Patria 1
note: the government of Prime Minister Miguel POURIER is a coalition
of several parties

Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice

Political parties and leaders: political parties are indigenous to
each island
Bonaire: Patriotic Union of Bonaire (UPB), Rudy ELLIS; Democratic
Party of Bonaire (PDB), Broertje JANJA
Curacao: Antillean Restructuring Party (PAR), Miguel POURIER;
National People's Party (PNP), Maria LIBERIA-PETERS; New Antilles
Movement (MAN), Domenico Felip Don MARTINA; Workers' Liberation
Front (FOL), Wilson (Papa) GODETT; Socialist Independent (SI),
George HUECK and Nelson MONTE; Democratic Party of Curacao (DP),
Augustin DIAZ; Nos Patria, Chin BEHILIA
Saba: Windward Islands People's Movement (WIPM Saba), Ray HASSELL;
Saba Democratic Labor Movement, Steve HASSELL; Saba Unity Party,
Carmen SIMMONDS
Sint Eustatius: Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius (DP-St.E), Julian
WOODLEY; Windward Islands People's Movement (WIPM); St. Eustatius
Alliance (SEA), Ingrid WHITFIELD
Sint Maarten: Democratic Party of Sint Maarten (DP-St.M), Sarah
WESTCOTT-WILLIAMS; Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten (SPA), Vance
JAMES; Serious Alternative People's Party (SAPP) Julian ROLLOCKS

International organization participation: Caricom (observer),
ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WMO, WToO
(associate)

Diplomatic representation in US: none (self-governing part of the
Netherlands)

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Consul General James L. WILLIAMS
consulate general(s): J.B. Gorsiraweg #1, Curacao
mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao
telephone: [599] (9) 61-3066
FAX: [599] (9) 61-6489

Flag: white with a horizontal blue stripe in the center
superimposed on a vertical red band also centered; five white
five-pointed stars are arranged in an oval pattern in the center of
the blue band; the five stars represent the five main islands of
Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten

Economy -------

Economic overview: Tourism and offshore finance are the mainstays
of this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world.
The islands enjoy a high per capita income and a well-developed
infrastructure as compared with other countries in the region.
Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with Venezuela
and the US being the major suppliers. Poor soils and inadequate
water supplies hamper the development of agriculture.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.92 billion (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 1.8% (1994 est.)

GDP per capita: $10,400 (1994 est.)

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

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

Labor force: 89,000
by occupation: government 65%, industry and commerce 28% (1983)

Unemployment rate: 13.4% (1993 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $209 million
expenditures: $232 million, including capital expenditures of $8
million (1992 est.)

Industries: tourism (Curacao and Sint Maarten), petroleum refining
(Curacao), petroleum transshipment facilities (Curacao and Bonaire),
light manufacturing (Curacao)

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 200,000 kW
production: 810 million kWh
consumption per capita: 4,054 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit

Illicit drugs: money-laundering center; transshipment point for
South American cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and Europe

Exports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: petroleum products 98%
partners: US 39%, Brazil 9%, Colombia 6%

Imports: $1.8 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: crude petroleum 64%, food, manufactures
partners: Venezuela 26%, US 18%, Colombia 6%, Netherlands 6%, Japan
5%

External debt: $1.95 billion (December 1995)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 Netherlands Antillean guilder, gulden, or florin
(NAf.) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Netherlands Antillean guilders, gulden, or florins
(NAf.) per US$1 - 1.790 (fixed rate since 1989)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 944 km
paved: 299 km
unpaved: 645 km (1985 est.)

Ports: Kralendijk, Philipsburg, Willemstad

Merchant marine:
total: 119 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,141,003
GRT/1,490,958 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 38, chemical tanker 7, combination bulk
1, container 2, liquefied gas tanker 4, multifunction large-load
carrier 18, oil tanker 9, passenger 4, refrigerated cargo 27,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 8 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 4
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: NA

Telephone system: generally adequate facilities
domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios: 205,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1

Televisions: 64,000 (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Royal Netherlands Navy, Marine Corps, Royal Netherlands
Air Force, National Guard, Police Force

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands

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

@New Caledonia -------------

(overseas territory of France)

Map ---

Location: 21 30 S, 165 30 E -- Oceania, islands in the South
Pacific Ocean, east of Australia

Flag ----

Description: three horizontal bands, blue (top), red, and green,
with a yellow disk enclosing a black symbol centered to the hoist
side; the flag of France is used for official occasions

Geography ---------

Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of
Australia

Geographic coordinates: 21 30 S, 165 30 E

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total area: 19,060 sq km
land area: 18,575 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 2,254 km

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

International disputes: Matthew and Hunter Islands claimed by
France and Vanuatu

Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid

Terrain: coastal plains with interior mountains
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m

Natural resources: nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese,
silver, gold, lead, copper

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 14%
forest and woodland: 51%
other: 35%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: typhoons most frequent from November to March
international agreements: NA

People ------

Population: 187,784 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 30% (male 28,941; female 27,929)
15-64 years: 64% (male 61,263; female 59,673)
65 years and over: 6% (male 4,750; female 5,228) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.72% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 21.75 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 4.88 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.31 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: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 13.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.35 years
male: 71.06 years
female: 77.8 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.53 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: New Caledonian(s)
adjective: New Caledonian

Ethnic divisions: Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian
8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3%

Religions: Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%

Languages: French, 28 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1976 est.)
total population: 91%
male: 92%
female: 90%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies
conventional short form: New Caledonia
local long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances
local short form: Nouvelle-Caledonie

Data code: NC

Type of government: overseas territory of France since 1956

Capital: Noumea

Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France);
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the
US Government, but there are 3 provinces named Iles Loyaute, Nord,
and Sud

Independence: none (overseas territory of France; a referendum on
independence will be held in 1998)

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

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy
to the islands; formerly under French law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May
1995) represented by High Commissioner and President of the Council
of Government Dominque BUR (since NA), who was appointed by the
French Ministry of the Interior
head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Pierre
FROGIER (since NA) was elected by the members of the Assembly
cabinet: Consultative Committee

Legislative branch: unicameral
Territorial Assembly: elections last held 9 July 1995 (next to be
held NA July 2001); results - percent by party NA; seats - (54
total) RPCR 22, NCPT 7, other anti-independence parties 6, FLNKS 12,
other pro-independence parties 7
French Senate: elections last held 27 September 1992 (next to be
held NA September 2001); results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (1 total) RPCR 1
French National Assembly: elections last held 21 March 1993 (next to
be held 21 and 28 March 1998); results - percent of vote by party
NA; seats - (2 total) RPCR 2

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders: white-dominated Rassemblement pour
la Caledonie dans la Republique (RPCR), conservative, Jacques
LAFLEUR, president - affiliated to France's Rassemblement pour la
Republique (RPR; also called South Province Party); Melanesian
proindependence Kanaka Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS),
Rock WAMYTAN; Melanesian moderate Kanak Socialist Liberation (LKS),
Nidoish NAISSELINE; National Front (FN), extreme right, Guy GEORGE;
Caledonie Demain (CD), right-wing, Bernard MARANT; Union Oceanienne
(UO), conservative, Michel HEMA; Front Uni de Liberation Kanak
(FULK), proindependence, Clarence UREGEI; Union Caledonian (UC),
Francois BURCK, president; "1999" (new party calling for an
autonomous state), Philippe PENTECOST; Nouvelle-Caledonie Pour Toute
(NCPT)

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

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

US diplomatic representation: none (overseas territory of France)

Flag: three horizontal bands, blue (top), red, and green, with a
yellow disk enclosing a black symbol centered to the hoist side; the
flag of France is used for official occasions

Economy -------

Economic overview: New Caledonia has more than 20% of the world's
known nickel resources. In recent years, the economy has suffered
because of depressed international demand for nickel, the principal
source of export earnings. Only a negligible amount of the land is
suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 25% of imports.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.5 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: NA%

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

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 35%
services: 60% (1992 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.4% (1990)

Labor force: 70,044 (1988)
by occupation: agriculture 32%, industry 20%, services 40%, mines 8%
(1992)

Unemployment rate: 15% (1994)

Budget:
revenues: $540 million
expenditures: $540 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1991 est.)

Industries: nickel mining and smelting

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 250,000 kW
production: 1.2 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 6,178 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: vegetables; beef, other livestock products

Exports: $477 million (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities: nickel metal 22%, nickel ore
partners: France 32.2%, Japan 23.5%, Germany 6.7%, US 3.6%, India
1.2%

Imports: $926 million (c.i.f., 1992)
commodities: foods, fuels, minerals, machines, electrical equipment
partners: France 46.3%, ECE 14.9%, Australia 10.2%, Japan 6.3%, New
Zealand 4.4%

External debt: $NA

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per
US$1 - 91.00 (January 1996), 90.75 (1995), 100.93 (1994), 102.96
(1993), 96.24 (1992), 102.57 (1991); note - linked at the rate of
18.18 to the French franc

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 6,340 km
paved: 634 km
unpaved: 5,706 km (1987 est.)

Ports: Mueo, Noumea, Thio

Merchant marine:
total: 1 roll-on/roll-off ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,079
GRT/724 DWT (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 28
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
with paved runways under 914 m: 12
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 12 (1995 est.)

Heliports: 7 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 38,748 (1993 est.)

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

Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0

Radios: 97,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 7

Televisions: 47,000 (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: French Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force,
Gendarmerie); Police Force

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of France

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

@New Zealand -----------

Map ---

Location: 41 00 S, 174 00 E -- Oceania, islands in the South
Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia

Flag ----

Description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in
the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross
constellation

Geography ---------

Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast
of Australia

Geographic coordinates: 41 00 S, 174 00 E

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total area: 268,680 sq km
land area: 268,670 sq km
comparative area: about the size of Colorado
note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands,
Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 15,134 km

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

International disputes: territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross
Dependency)

Climate: temperate with sharp regional contrasts

Terrain: predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Cook 3,764 m

Natural resources: natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber,
hydropower, gold, limestone

Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 53%
forest and woodland: 38%
other: 7%

Irrigated land: 2,800 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna
hard-hit by species introduced from outside
natural hazards: earthquakes are common, though usually not severe;
volcanic activity
international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber
83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea,
Marine Life Conservation, Tropical Timber 94

Geographic note: about 80% of the population lives in cities

People ------

Population: 3,547,983 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 23% (male 420,900; female 400,159)
15-64 years: 65% (male 1,161,522; female 1,154,536)
65 years and over: 12% (male 177,182; female 233,684) (July 1996
est.)

Population growth rate: 1.12% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 15.78 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 7.72 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 3.17 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: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 6.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.01 years
male: 73.96 years
female: 80.21 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.01 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: New Zealander(s)
adjective: New Zealand

Ethnic divisions: European 88%, Maori 8.9%, Pacific Islander 2.9%,
other 0.2%

Religions: Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%,
Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none
33% (1986)

Languages: English (official), Maori

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

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: New Zealand
abbreviation: NZ

Data code: NZ

Type of government: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Wellington

Administrative divisions: 93 counties, 9 districts*, and 3 town
districts**; Akaroa, Amuri, Ashburton, Bay of Islands, Bruce,
Buller, Chatham Islands, Cheviot, Clifton, Clutha, Cook, Dannevirke,
Egmont, Eketahuna, Ellesmere, Eltham, Eyre, Featherston, Franklin,
Golden Bay, Great Barrier Island, Grey, Hauraki Plains, Hawera*,
Hawke's Bay, Heathcote, Hikurangi**, Hobson, Hokianga, Horowhenua,
Hurunui, Hutt, Inangahua, Inglewood, Kaikoura, Kairanga, Kiwitea,
Lake, Mackenzie, Malvern, Manaia**, Manawatu, Mangonui, Maniototo,
Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata, Mount Herbert, Ohinemuri, Opotiki,
Oroua, Otamatea, Otorohanga*, Oxford, Pahiatua, Paparua, Patea,
Piako, Pohangina, Raglan, Rangiora*, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua*,
Runanga, Saint Kilda, Silverpeaks, Southland, Stewart Island,
Stratford, Strathallan, Taranaki, Taumarunui, Taupo, Tauranga,
Thames-Coromandel*, Tuapeka, Vincent, Waiapu, Waiheke, Waihemo,
Waikato, Waikohu, Waimairi, Waimarino, Waimate, Waimate West,
Waimea, Waipa, Waipawa*, Waipukurau*, Wairarapa South, Wairewa,
Wairoa, Waitaki, Waitomo*, Waitotara, Wallace, Wanganui, Waverley**,
Westland, Whakatane*, Whangarei, Whangaroa, Woodville
note: there may be a new administrative structure of 16 regions
(Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay,
Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman,
Waikato, Wanganui-Manawatu, Wellington, West Coast) that are
subdivided into 57 districts and 16 cities* (Ashburton, Auckland*,
Banks Peninsula, Buller, Carterton, Central Hawke's Bay, Central
Otago, Christchurch*, Clutha, Dunedin*, Far North, Franklin,
Gisborne, Gore, Grey, Hamilton*, Hastings, Hauraki, Horowhenua,
Hurunui, Hutt*, Invercargill*, Kaikoura, Kaipara, Kapiti Coast,
Kawerau, Mackenzie, Manawatu, Manukau*, Marlborough, Masterton,
Matamata Piako, Napier*, Nelson*, New Plymouth, North Shore*,
Opotiki, Otorohanga, Palmerston North*, Papakura*, Porirua*,
Queenstown Lakes, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua, Ruapehu, Selwyn,
Southland, South Taranaki, South Waikato, South Wairarapa,
Stratford, Tararua, Tasman, Taupo, Tauranga, Thames Coromandel,
Timaru, Upper Hutt*, Waikato, Waimakariri, Waimate, Waipa, Wairoa,
Waitakere*, Waitaki, Waitomo, Wanganui, Wellington*, Western Bay of
Plenty, Westland, Whakatane, Whangarei)

Dependent areas: Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau

Independence: 26 September 1907 (from UK)

National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of
Waitangi established British sovereignty)

Constitution: no formal, written constitution; consists of various
documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand
Parliaments; Constitution Act 1986 was to have come into force 1
January 1987, but has not been enacted

Legal system: based on English law, with special land legislation
and land courts for Maoris; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a
hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General Sir Michael
HARDIE BOYS (since 21 March 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister James BOLGER (since 29 October
1990) and Deputy Prime Minister Donald McKINNON (since 2 November
1990) were appointed by the governor general
cabinet: Executive Council was appointed by the governor general on
the recommendation of the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral
House of Representatives (commonly called Parliament): elections
last held 6 November 1993 (next must be called by November 1996);
results - NP 35.2%, NZLP 34.7%, Alliance 18.3%, New Zealand First
8.3%; seats - (99 total) NP 50, NZLP 45, Alliance 2, New Zealand
First Party 2

Judicial branch: High Court; Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders: National Party (NP, government),
James BOLGER; New Zealand Labor Party (NZLP, opposition), Helen
CLARK; Alliance, Jim ANDERTON; Democratic Party, Dick RYAN; New
Zealand Liberal Party, Hanmish MACINTYRE and Gilbert MYLES; Green
Party, no official leader; Mana Motuhake, Sandra LEE; Socialist
Unity Party (SUP, pro-Soviet), leader NA; New Zealand First, Winston
PETERS; United New Zealand (UNZ), Clive MATTHEWSON; Conservative
Party (formerly Right of Centre Party), Trevor ROGERS; Association
of Consumers and Taxpayers, New Zealand (ACT), Richard PREBBLE;
Christian Democrats, Graeme LEE; Christian Heritage Party (CH), Rev.
Graham CAPILL
note: the New Zealand Liberal, New Labor, Democratic, and Mana
Motuhake parties formed a coalition called the Alliance Party in
September 1991; the Green Party joined the coalition in May 1992;
the National Party government formed a coalition with the United New
Zealand Party in February 1996; the coalition will be valid through
the 1996 elections

International organization participation: ANZUS (US suspended
security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, AsDB, Australia
Group, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM (guest), OECD,
PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lionel John WOOD
chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800
consulate(s) general: Apia (Western Samoa), Los Angeles

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Josiah Horton BEEMAN
embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington
mailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, FPO AP
96531-1001
telephone: [64] (4) 472-2068
FAX: [64] (4) 472-3537
consulate(s) general: Auckland

Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in
the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross
constellation

Economy -------

Economic overview: Since 1984 the government has been reorienting
an agrarian economy dependent on a guaranteed British market toward
a more industrialized, open, free market economy that can compete on
the global scene. The government has hoped that dynamic growth would
boost real incomes, broaden and deepen the technological
capabilities of the industrial sector, reduce inflationary
pressures, and permit the expansion of welfare benefits. The initial
results were mixed: inflation is down from double-digit levels, but
growth was sluggish in 1988-91. In 1992-93, growth picked up to 3%
annually, a sign that the new economic approach was beginning to pay
off. Business confidence strengthened in 1994, and export demand
picked up in the Asia-Pacific region, resulting in 6.2% growth.
Growth continued strong in 1995, and inflation remains among the
lowest in the industrial world. The government announced its first
budget surplus in 16 years in FY94/95 and forecasts a surplus of
$5.0 billion in FY97/98. The government intends to use the surplus
to reduce the debt, increase social spending, and cut taxes - by
$1.35 billion over two years beginning in 1996. Per capita GDP now
is up to the levels of the big West European economies.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $62.3 billion (1995 est.)

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

GDP per capita: $18,300 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 7.3%
industry: 25.9%
services: 66.8% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (FY95/96)

Labor force: 1,634,500 (September 1995)
by occupation: services 64.6%, industry 25.0%, agriculture 10.4%
(1994)

Unemployment rate: 6.1% (October 1995)

Budget:
revenues: $22.18 billion
expenditures: $20.28 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY95/96 est.)

Industries: food processing, wood and paper products, textiles,
machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism,
mining

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 7,520,000 kW
production: 30.5 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 8,401 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables;
wool, meat, dairy products; fish catch reached a record 503,000
metric tons in 1988