Chapter V (30)

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

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

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 381.5 km (1991 est.)
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km

Waterways: none

Ports: Saipan, Tinian

Merchant marine: none

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

Heliports: 1 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 13,618 (1993 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1984)

Radios: 15,350 (1987 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1
note: there are 2 cable TV stations

Televisions: 10,650 (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the US

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

@Norway ------

Map ---

Location: 62 00 N, 10 00 E -- Northern Europe, bordering the North
Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden

Flag ----

Description: red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends
to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted
to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Geography ---------

Location: Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden

Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 10 00 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total area: 324,220 sq km
land area: 307,860 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries:
total: 2,515 km
border countries: Finland 729 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 167 km

Coastline: 21,925 km (includes mainland 3,419 km, large islands
2,413 km, long fjords, numerous small islands, and minor
indentations 16,093 km)

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 10 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 4 nm

International disputes: territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen
Maud Land); maritime boundary dispute with Russia over portion of
Barents Sea

Climate: temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic
Current; colder interior; rainy year-round on west coast

Terrain: glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains
broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply
indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north
lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point: Glittertinden 2,472 m

Natural resources: petroleum, copper, natural gas, pyrites,
nickel, iron ore, zinc, lead, fish, timber, hydropower

Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 27%
other: 70%

Irrigated land: 950 sq km (1989)

Environment:
current issues: water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and
adversely affecting lakes, threatening fish stocks; air pollution
from vehicle emissions
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law
of the Sea

Geographic note: about two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands
off its much indented coastline; strategic location adjacent to sea
lanes and air routes in North Atlantic; one of most rugged and
longest coastlines in world; Norway and Turkey only NATO members
having a land boundary with Russia

People ------

Population: 4,383,807 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 19% (male 434,848; female 411,668)
15-64 years: 65% (male 1,446,746; female 1,396,150)
65 years and over: 16% (male 288,789; female 405,606) (July 1996
est.)

Population growth rate: 0.48% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 11.96 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 10.68 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 3.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 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: 77.53 years
male: 74.63 years
female: 80.61 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.63 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Norwegian(s)
adjective: Norwegian

Ethnic divisions: Germanic (Nordic, Alpine, Baltic), Lapps (Sami)
20,000

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 87.8% (state church), other
Protestant and Roman Catholic 3.8%, none 3.2%, unknown 5.2% (1980)

Languages: Norwegian (official)
note: small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1976 est.)
total population: 99%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Norway
conventional short form: Norway
local long form: Kongeriket Norge
local short form: Norge

Data code: NO

Type of government: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Oslo

Administrative divisions: 19 provinces (fylker, singular - fylke);
Akershus, Aust-Agder, Buskerud, Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, More
og Romsdal, Nordland, Nord-Trondelag, Oppland, Oslo, Ostfold,
Rogaland, Sogn og Fjordane, Sor-Trondelag, Telemark, Troms,
Vest-Agder, Vestfold

Dependent areas: Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard

Independence: 26 October 1905 (from Sweden)

National holiday: Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)

Constitution: 17 May 1814, modified in 1884

Legal system: mixture of customary law, civil law system, and
common law traditions; Supreme Court renders advisory opinions to
legislature when asked; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991) is a
hereditary monarch; Heir Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS (born
20 July 1973)
head of government: Prime Minister Gro Harlem BRUNDTLAND (since 3
November 1990) was appointed by the king with the approval of the
Storting
cabinet: State Council was appointed by the king with the approval
of the Storting

Legislative branch: modified unicameral Parliament (Storting)
which, for certain purposes, divides itself into two chambers
Storting: elections last held 13 September 1993 (next to be held NA
September 1997); results - Labor 37.1%, Center Party 18.5%,
Conservatives 15.6%, Christian People's 8.4%, Socialist Left 7.9%,
Progress 6%, Left Party 3.6%, Red Electoral Alliance 1.2%; seats -
(165 total) Labor 67, Center Party 32, Conservatives 18, Christian
People's 13, Socialist Left 13, Progress 10, Left Party 1, Red
Electoral Alliance 1, unawarded 10
note: for certain purposes, the Storting divides itself into two
chambers and elects one-fourth of its membership to an upper house
or Lagting

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Hoyesterett), justices appointed
by the king

Political parties and leaders: Labor Party, Thorbjorn JAGLAND;
Conservative Party, Jan PETERSEN; Center Party, Anne ENGER
LAHNSTEIN; Christian People's Party, Valgerd HAUGLAND; Socialist
Left, Erik SOLHEIM; Norwegian Communist, Kare Andre NILSEN; Progress
Party, Carl I. HAGEN; Liberal, Odd Einar DORUM; Left Party; Red
Electoral Alliance, Erling FOLKVORD

International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia
Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO,
MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA,
UN, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR,
UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kjeld VIBE
chancery: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 333-6000
FAX: [1] (202) 337-0870
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York,
and San Francisco
consulate(s): Miami

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas A. LOFTUS
embassy: Drammensveien 18, 0244 Oslo
mailing address: PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707
telephone: [47] 22 44 85 50
FAX: [47] 22 44 33 63

Flag: red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the
edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the
hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy -------

Economic overview: Norway has a mixed economy involving a
combination of free market activity and government intervention. The
government controls key areas, such as the vital petroleum sector
(through large-scale state enterprises), and extensively subsidizes
agriculture, fishing, and areas with sparse resources. Norway also
maintains an extensive welfare system that helps propel public
sector expenditures to more than 50% of GDP and results in one of
the highest average tax burdens in the world (46%). A small country
with a high dependence on international trade, Norway is basically
an exporter of raw materials and semiprocessed goods, with an
abundance of small- and medium-sized firms, and is ranked among the
major shipping nations. The country is richly endowed with natural
resources - petroleum, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals - and
is highly dependent on its oil sector. Norway imports more than half
its food needs. Economic growth, only 1.6% in 1993, moved up to 5.5%
in 1994 and remained strong in 1995. Oslo opted to stay out of the
EU during a referendum in November 1994.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $106.2 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 4.5% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $24,500 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.9%
industry: 34.7%
services: 62.4% (1991)

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

Labor force: 2.13 million
by occupation: services 71%, industry 23%, agriculture, forestry,
and fishing 6% (1993)

Unemployment rate: 8% (including people in job-training programs;
November 1995)

Budget:
revenues: $48.6 billion
expenditures: $53 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1994 est.)

Industries: petroleum and gas, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp
and paper products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles,
fishing

Industrial production growth rate: 7.4% (1994)

Electricity:
capacity: 27,280,000 kW
production: 118 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 23,735 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: oats, other grains; beef, milk; livestock output
exceeds value of crops; among world's top 10 fishing nations; fish
catch of 1.76 million metric tons in 1989

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for drugs shipped via the CIS
and Baltic states for the European market

Exports: $34.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 43%, metals and
products 11%, foodstuffs (mostly fish) 9%, chemicals and raw
materials 25%, natural gas 6.0%, ships 5.4%
partners: EU 77.8% (UK 20.8%, Germany 12.4%, France 8.12%), Sweden
9.4%, US 6.7%, Japan 1.9% (1994)

Imports: $27.3 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
commodities: machinery and equipment and manufactured consumer goods
54%, chemicals and other industrial inputs 39%, foodstuffs 6%
partners: EU 68.9% (Germany 13.9%, UK 10.4%, Denmark 7.4%), Sweden
15%, US 7.4%, Japan 6.0% (1994)

External debt: $NA

Economic aid:
donor: ODA, $1.014 billion (1993)

Currency: 1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 oere

Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1 - 6.4160 (January
1996), 6.3352 (1995), 7.0576 (1994), 7.0941 (1993), 6.2145 (1992),
6.4829 (1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 4,027 km
standard gauge: 4,027 km 1.435-m gauge (2422 km electrified; 96 km
double track) (1995)

Highways:
total: 88,922 km
paved: 61,356 km (including 75 km of expressways)
unpaved: 27,566 km (1990 est.)

Waterways: 1,577 km along west coast; 2.4 m draft vessels maximum

Pipelines: refined products 53 km

Ports: Bergen, Drammen, Flora, Hammerfest, Harstad, Haugesund,
Kristiansand, Larvik, Narvik, Oslo, Porsgrunn, Stavanger, Tromso,
Trondheim

Merchant marine:
total: 712 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 19,278,205
GRT/32,209,679 DWT
ships by type: bulk 114, cargo 98, chemical tanker 83, combination
bulk 10, combination ore/oil 31, container 15, liquefied gas tanker
87, oil tanker 148, passenger 10, passenger-cargo 2, railcar carrier
1, refrigerated cargo 13, roll-on/roll-off cargo 49, short-sea
passenger 21, vehicle carrier 30
note: the government has created an internal register, the Norwegian
International Ship Register (NIS), as a subset of the Norwegian
register; ships on the NIS enjoy many benefits of flags of
convenience and do not have to be crewed by Norwegians (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 102
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 12
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 13
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 11
with paved runways under 914 m: 60
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5 (1995 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 2.39 million (1986 est.)

Telephone system: high-quality domestic and international
telephone, telegraph, and telex services
domestic: NA domestic satellite earth stations
international: 2 buried coaxial cable systems; 4 coaxial submarine
cables; satellite earth stations - NA Eutelsat, NA Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean), and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean
Regions); note - Norway shares the Inmarsat earth station with the
other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 46, FM 493 (350 private and 143
government), shortwave 0

Radios: 3.3 million (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 54 (repeaters 2,100)

Televisions: 1.5 million (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Norwegian Army, Royal Norwegian Navy (includes Coast
Artillery and Coast Guard), Royal Norwegian Air Force, Home Guard

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 1,125,302
males fit for military service: 937,309
males reach military age (20) annually: 28,328 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.7 billion,
2.9% of GDP (1995)

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

@Oman ----

Map ---

Location: 21 00 N, 57 00 E -- Middle East, bordering the Arabian
Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE

Flag ----

Description: three horizontal bands of white (top, double width),
red, and green (double width) with a broad, vertical, red band on
the hoist side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath
superimposed on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is
centered at the top of the vertical band

Geography ---------

Location: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman,
and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE

Geographic coordinates: 21 00 N, 57 00 E

Map references: Middle East

Area:
total area: 212,460 sq km
land area: 212,460 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Kansas

Land boundaries:
total: 1,374 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km

Coastline: 2,092 km

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

International disputes: no defined boundary with most of UAE, but
Administrative Line in far north

Climate: dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior;
strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south

Terrain: vast central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and
south
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal ash Sham 2,980 m

Natural resources: petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble,
limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas

Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 5%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 93%

Irrigated land: 410 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil
spills; very limited natural fresh water resources
natural hazards: summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust
storms in interior; periodic droughts
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ship Pollution; signed, but not
ratified - Hazardous Wastes

Geographic note: strategic location with small foothold on
Musandam Peninsula controlling Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit
point for world crude oil

People ------

Population: 2,186,548 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 46% (male 511,664; female 493,369)
15-64 years: 51% (male 609,423; female 513,042)
65 years and over: 3% (male 26,623; female 32,427) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.53% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 37.86 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 4.44 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 1.84 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: 1.19 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 27.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.53 years
male: 68.59 years
female: 72.57 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.09 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Omani(s)
adjective: Omani

Ethnic divisions: Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani,
Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African

Religions: Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu

Languages: Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian
dialects

Literacy: NA

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman
conventional short form: Oman
local long form: Saltanat Uman
local short form: Uman

Data code: MU

Type of government: monarchy

Capital: Muscat

Administrative divisions: 6 regions (mintaqah, singular -
mintaqat) and 2 governorates* (muhafazah, singular - muhafazat) Ad
Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat,
Musandam*, Zufar*

Independence: 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)

National holiday: National Day, 18 November (1940)

Constitution: none

Legal system: based on English common law and Islamic law;
ultimate appeal to the sultan; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Suffrage: none

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister
QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970) is a hereditary monarch;
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the sultan

Legislative branch: unicameral
Consultative Council (Majlis ash Shura): a 60-member body with
advisory powers only

Judicial branch: none; traditional Islamic judges and a nascent
civil court system, administered by region

Political parties and leaders: none

Other political or pressure groups: NA

International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF,
ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
NAM, OIC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Abdallah bin Muhammad bin Aqil al-DHAHAB
chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980 through 1982
FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Frances D. COOK
embassy: address NA, Muscat
mailing address: P. O. Box 202, Code No. 115, Medinat Qaboos, Muscat
telephone: [968] 698989
FAX: [968] 699779

Flag: three horizontal bands of white (top, double width), red,
and green (double width) with a broad, vertical, red band on the
hoist side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath
superimposed on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is
centered at the top of the vertical band

Economy -------

Economic overview: Economic performance is closely tied to the
fortunes of the oil industry. Petroleum accounts for nearly 90% of
export earnings, about 75% of government revenues, and roughly 40%
of GDP. Oman has proved oil reserves of 4 billion barrels,
equivalent to about 20 years' supply at the current rate of
extraction. Agriculture is carried on at a subsistence level and the
general population depends on imported food. The government is
encouraging private investment, both domestic and foreign, as a
prime force for further economic development.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $19.1 billion (1995 est.)

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

GDP per capita: $10,800 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 60%
services: 37%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.7% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 454,000
by occupation: agriculture 37% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $4.7 billion
expenditures: $5.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995 est.)

Industries: crude oil production and refining, natural gas
production, construction, cement, copper

Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1994 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 1,540,000 kW
production: 6 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 3,407 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels,
cattle; annual fish catch averages 100,000 metric tons

Exports: $4.8 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: petroleum 87%, reexports, fish, processed copper,
textiles
partners: Japan 35%, South Korea 15.8%, US 9%, China 8%, Thailand 5%
(1994)

Imports: $4 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
commodities: machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured
goods, food, livestock, lubricants
partners: UAE 27% (largely reexports), Japan 20%, UK 15%, US 5%,
Germany 4% (1993)

External debt: $3 billion (1993)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $82 million (1993)

Currency: 1 Omani rial (RO) = 1,000 baiza

Exchange rates: Omani rials (RO) per US$1 - 0.3845 (fixed rate
since 1986)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 25,948 km
paved: 4,930 km (including 413 km of expressways)
unpaved: 21,018 km (1992 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 1,300 km; natural gas 1,030 km

Ports: Matrah, Mina' al Fahl, Mina' Raysut

Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,306 GRT/8,210 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 129
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 4
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 34
with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 3
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 57
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 26 (1995 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 150,000 (1994 est.)

Telephone system: modern system consisting of open wire,
microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited
coaxial cable
domestic: open wire, microwave, radiotelephone communications, and a
domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
and 1 Arabsat

Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 1

Radios: 1.043 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 9

Televisions: 1.195 million (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary (includes Royal Oman
Police)

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 532,113
males fit for military service: 301,747 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.82 billion,
13.7% of GDP (1996)

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

@Pacific Ocean -------------

Map ---

Location: 0 00 N, 160 00 W -- body of water between Antarctica,
Asia, Australia, and the Western Hemisphere

Geography ---------

Location: body of water between Antarctica, Asia, Australia, and
the Western Hemisphere

Geographic coordinates: 0 00 N, 160 00 W

Map references: World

Area:
total area: 165.384 million sq km
comparative area: about 18 times the size of the US; the largest
ocean (followed by the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and the
Arctic Ocean); covers about one-third of the global surface; larger
than the total land area of the world
note: includes Bali Sea, Bellingshausen Sea, Bering Sea, Bering
Strait, Coral Sea, East China Sea, Flores Sea, Gulf of Alaska, Gulf
of Tonkin, Java Sea, Philippine Sea, Ross Sea, Savu Sea, Sea of
Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, South China Sea, Tasman Sea, Timor Sea, and
other tributary water bodies

Coastline: 135,663 km

International disputes: some maritime disputes (see littoral
states)

Climate: planetary air pressure systems and resultant wind
patterns exhibit remarkable uniformity in the south and east; trade
winds and westerly winds are well-developed patterns, modified by
seasonal fluctuations; tropical cyclones (hurricanes) may form south
of Mexico from June to October and affect Mexico and Central
America; continental influences cause climatic uniformity to be much
less pronounced in the eastern and western regions at the same
latitude in the North Pacific Ocean; the western Pacific is
monsoonal - a rainy season occurs during the summer months, when
moisture-laden winds blow from the ocean over the land, and a dry
season during the winter months, when dry winds blow from the Asian
land mass back to the ocean; tropical cyclones (typhoons) may strike
southeast and East Asia from May to December

Terrain: surface currents in the northern Pacific are dominated by
a clockwise, warm-water gyre (broad circular system of currents) and
in the southern Pacific by a counterclockwise, cool-water gyre; in
the northern Pacific, sea ice forms in the Bering Sea and Sea of
Okhotsk in winter; in the southern Pacific, sea ice from Antarctica
reaches its northernmost extent in October; the ocean floor in the
eastern Pacific is dominated by the East Pacific Rise, while the
western Pacific is dissected by deep trenches, including the
Marianas Trench, which is the world's deepest
lowest point: Marianas Trench -10,924 m
highest point: sea level 0 m

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

Environment:
current issues: endangered marine species include the dugong, sea
lion, sea otter, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in
Philippine Sea and South China Sea
natural hazards: surrounded by a zone of violent volcanic and
earthquake activity sometimes referred to as the "Pacific Ring of
Fire"; subject to tropical cyclones (typhoons) in southeast and east
Asia from May to December (most frequent from July to October);
tropical cyclones (hurricanes) may form south of Mexico and strike
Central America and Mexico from June to October (most common in
August and September); southern shipping lanes subject to icebergs
from Antarctica; occasional El Nino phenomenon occurs off the coast
of Peru, when the trade winds slacken and the warm Equatorial
Countercurrent moves south, killing the plankton that is the primary
food source for anchovies; consequently, the anchovies move to
better feeding grounds, causing resident marine birds to starve by
the thousands because of the loss of their food source; ships
subject to superstructure icing in extreme north from October to May
and in extreme south from May to October; persistent fog in the
northern Pacific can be a maritime hazard from June to December
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: the major choke points are the Bering Strait,
Panama Canal, Luzon Strait, and the Singapore Strait; the Equator
divides the Pacific Ocean into the North Pacific Ocean and the South
Pacific Ocean; dotted with low coral islands and rugged volcanic
islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean

Government ----------

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

Economy -------

Economic overview: The Pacific Ocean is a major contributor to the
world economy and particularly to those nations its waters directly
touch. It provides low-cost sea transportation between East and
West, extensive fishing grounds, offshore oil and gas fields,
minerals, and sand and gravel for the construction industry. In 1985
over half (54%) of the world's fish catch came from the Pacific
Ocean, which is the only ocean where the fish catch has increased
every year since 1978. Exploitation of offshore oil and gas reserves
is playing an ever-increasing role in the energy supplies of
Australia, NZ, China, US, and Peru. The high cost of recovering
offshore oil and gas, combined with the wide swings in world prices
for oil since 1985, has slowed but not stopped new drillings.

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

Ports: Bangkok (Thailand), Hong Kong, Kao-hsiung (Taiwan), Los
Angeles (US), Manila (Philippines), Pusan (South Korea), San
Francisco (US), Seattle (US), Shanghai (China), Singapore, Sydney
(Australia), Vladivostok (Russia), Wellington (NZ), Yokohama (Japan)

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

Telephone system:
international: several submarine cables with network nodal points on
Guam and Hawaii

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

@Pakistan --------

Map ---

Location: 30 00 N, 70 00 E -- Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian
Sea, between India and Iran

Flag ----

Description: green with a vertical white band (symbolizing the
role of religious minorities) on the hoist side; a large white
crescent and star are centered in the green field; the crescent,
star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam

Geography ---------

Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India
and Iran

Geographic coordinates: 30 00 N, 70 00 E

Map references: Asia

Area:
total area: 803,940 sq km
land area: 778,720 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of California

Land boundaries:
total: 6,774 km
border countries: Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912
km, Iran 909 km

Coastline: 1,046 km

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

International disputes: status of Kashmir with India; border
dispute with Afghanistan (Durand Line); water-sharing problems over
the Indus (Wular Barrage) with upstream riparian India

Climate: mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in
north

Terrain: flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and
northwest; Balochistan plateau in west
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m

Natural resources: land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited
petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone

Land use:
arable land: 23%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 6%
forest and woodland: 4%
other: 67% (1993)

Irrigated land: 170,000 sq km (1992)

Environment:
current issues: water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes,
and agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh water resources; a
majority of the population does not have access to potable water;
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification
natural hazards: frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe
especially in north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy
rains (July and August)
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands;
signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine
Life Conservation

Geographic note: controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional
invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent

People ------

Population: 129,275,660 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 42% (male 28,286,823; female 26,640,019)
15-64 years: 53% (male 35,396,281; female 33,733,798)
65 years and over: 5% (male 2,621,721; female 2,597,018) (July 1996
est.)

Population growth rate: 2.24% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 36.16 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 11.22 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.05 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 96.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 58.46 years
male: 57.7 years
female: 59.25 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.25 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Pakistani(s)
adjective: Pakistani

Ethnic divisions: Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch,
Muhajir (immigrants from India and their descendants)

Religions: Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a 20%), Christian, Hindu,
and other 3%

Languages: Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant)
10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui
1%, English (official and lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most
government ministries), Burushaski, and other 8%

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 37.8%
male: 50%
female: 24.4%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan
conventional short form: Pakistan
former: West Pakistan

Data code: PK

Type of government: republic

Capital: Islamabad

Administrative divisions: 4 provinces, 1 territory*, and 1 capital
territory**; Balochistan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas*,
Islamabad Capital Territory**, North-West Frontier, Punjab, Sindh
note: the Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed Jammu and
Kashmir region includes Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas

Independence: 14 August 1947 (from UK)

National holiday: Pakistan Day, 23 March (1956) (proclamation of
the republic)

Constitution: 10 April 1973, suspended 5 July 1977, restored with
amendments 30 December 1985

Legal system: based on English common law with provisions to
accommodate Pakistan's stature as an Islamic state; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal; separate electorates and
reserved parliamentary seats for non-Muslims

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Sardar Farooq LEGHARI (since 13 November
1993) was elected for a five-year term by Parliament; election last
held 13 November 1993 (next to be held no later than 14 October
1998); results - LEGHARI was elected by Parliament and the four
provincial assemblies
head of government: Prime Minister Benazir BHUTTO (since 19 October
1993) was elected by the National Assembly
cabinet: Cabinet was elected by the National Assembly

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Majlis-e-Shoora)
Senate: elections last held NA March 1994 (next to be held NA March
1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (87 total) PPP
22, PML/N 17; Tribal Area Representatives (nonparty) 8, ANP 6, PML/J
5, JWP 5, MQM/A 5, JUI/F 2, PKMAP 2, JI 2, NPP 2, BNM/H 1, BNM/M 1,
JUP/NI 1, JUP/NO 1, JAH 1, JUI/S 1, PML/F 1, PNP 1, independents 2,
vacant 1
National Assembly: elections last held 6 October 1993 (next to be
held by October 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats
- (217 total) PPP 92, PML/N 75, PML/J 6, IJM-Islamic Democratic
Front 4, ANP 3, PKMAP 4, PIF 3, JWP 2, MDM 2, BNM/H 1, BNM/M 1, NDA
1, NPP 1, PKQP 1, religious minorities 10 reserved seats,
independents 9, results pending 2

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judicial chiefs are appointed by
the president; Federal Islamic (Shari'at) Court

Political parties and leaders:
government: Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Benazir BHUTTO; Pakistan
Muslim League, Junejo faction (PML/J), Hamid Nasir CHATTHA; National
People's Party (NPP), Ghulam Mustapha JATOI; Pakhtun Khwa Milli
Awami Party (PKMAP), Mahmood Khan ACHAKZAI; Balochistan National
Movement, Hayee Group (BNM/H), Dr. HAYEE Baluch; National Democratic
Alliance (NDA); Pakhtun Quami Party (PKQP), Mohammed AFZAL Khan
opposition: Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif faction (PML/N),
Nawaz SHARIF; Awami National Party (ANP), Ajmal Khan KHATTAK;
Pakistan Islamic Front (PIF); Balochistan National Movement, Mengal
Group (BNM/M), Sardar Akhtar MENGAL; Mohajir Quami Movement, Altaf
faction (MQM/A), Altaf HUSSAIN; Jamiat-al-Hadith (JAH); Jamhoori
Watan Party (JWP), Akbar Khan BUGTI
frequently shifting: Mutaheda Deeni Mahaz (MDM), Maulana
Sami-ul-HAQ, the MDM includes Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Niazi faction
(JUP/NI) and Anjuman Sepah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (ASSP);
Islami-Jamhoori-Mahaz (IJM-Islamic Democratic Front) includes Jamiat
Ulema-i-Islami, Fazlur Rehman group (JUI/F); Pakistan Muslim League,
Functional Group (PML/F), Pir PAGARO; Pakistan National Party (PNP);
Milli Yakjheti Council (MYC) is an umbrella organization which
includes Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Qazi Hussain AHMED, Jamiat
Ulema-i-Islam, Sami-ul-Haq faction (JUI/S), Tehrik-I-Jafria Pakistan
(TJP), Allama Sajid NAQVI, and Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Noorani
faction (JUP/NO)
note: political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently

Other political or pressure groups: military remains important
political force; ulema (clergy), landowners, industrialists, and
small merchants also influential

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

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Maleeha LODHI
chancery: 2315 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6200
FAX: [1] (202) 387-0484
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas SIMONS, Jr.
embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad
mailing address: P. O. Box 1048, Unit 6220, APO AE 09812-2200
telephone: [92] (51) 826161 through 826179
FAX: [92] (51) 214222
consulate(s) general: Karachi, Lahore
consulate(s): Peshawar

Flag: green with a vertical white band (symbolizing the role of
religious minorities) on the hoist side; a large white crescent and
star are centered in the green field; the crescent, star, and color
green are traditional symbols of Islam

Economy -------

Economic overview: Pakistan is a poor, highly populated Third
World country struggling to make the difficult transition to the
modern world of high technology and internationalized markets. Prime
Minister Benazir BHUTTO has been under pressure from the IMF and
other donors to continue the economic reforms and austerity measures
begun by her predecessor, caretaker Prime Minister Moeen QURESHI
(July-October 1993). The IMF suspended a $1.5 billion Enhanced
Structural Adjustment Facility (ESAF) in mid-1995 because Pakistan
slowed the pace of economic reform. Islamabad's most recent budget -
announced in June 1995 - reversed some reforms agreed to by the IMF
earlier that year, including a slowing of tariff reform. In
mid-December 1995, however, the IMF approved a $600 million standby
arrangement and urged Pakistan to move forward with economic
liberalization. Islamabad has agreed to new economic targets with
the IMF, which could lay the basis for a return to an ESAF in 1996.
Little progress was made in the privatization of large state-owned
units in 1995. The sale of the power plant Kot Addu - scheduled for
April 1995 - was stalled by opposition from labor unions. The sale
of a 26% share of United Bank Limited and the Pakistan
Telecommunications Corporation to strategic investors was due to
take place in 1995 but has been pushed back to 1996. On the plus
side real GDP grew 4.7% in 1995, up from 3.9% in 1994: GDP should
grow even faster in 1996 as a result of an above average cotton
crop. Secondly, Islamabad reduced the budget deficit to 5.6% of GDP
at the end of FY94/95, down from 8% two years earlier. Thirdly,
Pakistan attracted $1.6 billion in foreign direct and portfolio
investment in FY94/95, more than double inflows of $650 million in
the previous fiscal year; financial agreements were reached on five
power projects in 1995, including the 1,300-MW $1.8 billion Hab
River project. Despite these improvements, the economy remains
vulnerable to crisis. Foreign exchange reserves fell dramatically in
1995, reaching a low of about $1 billion in early December 1995 -
only five weeks of import cover - before rising to $1.5 billion by
yearend. The trade deficit rose to $2 billion for the first six
months of FY94/95, triple the deficit of $600 million during the
same period in FY93/94. The government responded to this situation
with a package of stabilization reforms on 28 October 1995 which
included a 7% devaluation of the rupee, supplementary duties of 10%
on many imports, and higher petroleum prices. Islamabad hopes these
moves will help make its exports more competitive. For the long run,
Pakistan must deal with serious problems of deteriorating
infrastructure, low literacy levels, and persistent law and order
problems in Karachi.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $274.2 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 4.7% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $2,100 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 24%
industry: 27%
services: 49% (1995 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 13% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 36 million
by occupation: agriculture 46%, mining and manufacturing 18%,
services 17%, other 19%
note: extensive export of labor

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $11.9 billion
expenditures: $12.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY94/95)

Industries: textiles, food processing, beverages, construction
materials, clothing, paper products, shrimp

Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1995 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 12,530,000 kW (1995)
production: 43.3 billion kWh (1995)
consumption per capita: 389 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables;
milk, beef, mutton, eggs

Illicit drugs: major illicit producer of opium and hashish for the
international drug trade; remains world's fourth largest opium
producer (155 metric tons in 1995); major center for processing
Afghan heroin and key transit area for Southwest Asian heroin moving
to Western market

Exports: $8.7 billion (1995 est.)
commodities: cotton, textiles, clothing, rice, leather, carpets
partners: US, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, UK, UAE, France

Imports: $10.7 billion (1995 est.)
commodities: petroleum, petroleum products, machinery,
transportation equipment, vegetable oils, animal fats, chemicals
partners: Japan, US, Germany, UK, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, South Korea

External debt: $26 billion (1995 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $697 million (1993)
note: $2.5 billion (includes bilateral and multilateral aid but no
US commitments) (FY93/94); $3 billion (includes bilateral and
multilateral aid but no US commitments) (FY94/95)

Currency: 1 Pakistani rupee (PRe) = 100 paisa

Exchange rates: Pakistani rupees (PRs) per US$1 - 34.339 (January
1996), 31.643 (1995), 30.567 (1994), 28.107 (1993), 25.083 (1992),
23.801 (1991)

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

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

Railways:
total: 8,163 km
broad gauge: 7,718 km 1.676-m gauge (293 km electrified; 1,037 km
double track)
narrow gauge: 445 km 1.000-m gauge; 661 km less than 1.000-m gauge
(1995 est.)

Highways:
total: 205,304 km
paved: 104,735 km
unpaved: 100,569 km (1995 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 250 km; petroleum products 885 km; natural
gas 4,044 km (1987)

Ports: Karachi, Port Muhammad bin Qasim

Merchant marine:
total: 24 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 345,606 GRT/560,641 DWT
ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 19, oil tanker 1, passenger-cargo 1
(1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 100
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 12
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 19
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 25
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 11
with paved runways under 914 m: 18
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 7
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 8 (1995 est.)

Heliports: 6 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 1.572 million (1993 est.)

Telephone system: the domestic system is mediocre, but adequate
for government and business use, in part because major businesses
have established their own private systems; since 1988, the
government has promoted investment in the national
telecommunications system on a priority basis; despite major
improvements in trunk and urban systems, telecommunication services
are still not readily available to the major portion of the
population
domestic: microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic
Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); microwave radio relay to neighboring
countries

Radio broadcast stations: AM 26, FM 8, shortwave 11

Radios: 11.3 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 29

Televisions: 2.08 million (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Armed Forces, National Guard

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 30,519,339
males fit for military service: 18,720,175
males reach military age (17) annually: 1,437,208 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.1 billion,
5.3% of GDP (FY95/96)

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

@Palau -----

Map ---

Location: 7 30 N, 134 30 E -- Oceania, group of islands in the
North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines

Flag ----

Description: light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the
moon) shifted slightly to the hoist side

Geography ---------

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean,
southeast of the Philippines

Geographic coordinates: 7 30 N, 134 30 E

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total area: 458 sq km
land area: 458 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1,519 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
extended fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: wet season May to November; hot and humid

Terrain: varying geologically from the high, mountainous main
island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large
barrier reefs
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Ngerchelchauus 242 m

Natural resources: forests, minerals (especially gold), marine
products, deep-seabed minerals

Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
meadows and pastures: NA%
forest and woodland: NA%
other: NA%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste;
threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging and
illegal fishing practices that involve the use of dynamite
natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: includes World War II battleground of Beliliou
(Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands; archipelago of six island
groups totaling over 200 islands in the Caroline chain

People ------

Population: 16,952 (July 1996 est.)

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

Population growth rate: 1.71% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 21.61 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

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

Net migration rate: 2.12 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: 25.07 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.01 years
male: 69.14 years
female: 73.02 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.79 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Palauan(s)
adjective: Palauan

Ethnic divisions: Palauans are a composite of Polynesian, Malayan,
and Melanesian races

Religions: Christian (Catholics, Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah's
Witnesses, the Assembly of God, the Liebenzell Mission, and
Latter-Day Saints), Modekngei religion (one-third of the population
observes this religion which is indigenous to Palau)

Languages: English (official in all of Palau's 16 states),
Sonsorolese (official in the state of Sonsoral), Angaur and Japanese
(in the state of Anguar), Tobi (in the state of Tobi), Palauan (in
the other 13 states)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
total population: 92%
male: 93%
female: 90%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Palau
conventional short form: Palau
local long form: Beluu er a Belau
local short form: Belau
former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

Data code: PS

Type of government: constitutional government in free association
with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 1
October 1994

Capital: Koror
note: a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast in eastern
Babelthuap

Administrative divisions: there are no first-order administrative
divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 16 states:
Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard,
Ngardmau, Ngaremlengui, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngerchelong, Ngiwal,
Peleliu, Sonsorol, Tobi

Independence: 1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN
Trusteeship)

National holiday: Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)

Constitution: 1 January 1981

Legal system: based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the
legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Kuniwo NAKAMURA
(since 1 January 1993) and Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr.
(since 1 January 1993) were elected for four-year terms by popular
vote; election last held 4 November 1992 (next to be held NA
November 1996); results - Kuniwo NAKAMURA 50.7%, Johnson TORIBIONG
49.3%
cabinet: Cabinet

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Olbiil Era Kelulau or
OEK)
Senate: elections last held 4 November 1992 (next to be held NA
November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (14
total) number of seats by party NA
House of Delegates: elections last held 4 November 1992 (next to be
held NA November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats
- (16 total) number of seats by party NA

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; National Court; Court of Common
Pleas

Political parties and leaders: Palau Nationalist Party, Polycarp
BASILIUS

International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), SPC,
SPF, UN, WHO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim
Isaac Ngewakl SOALADAOB
chancery: 2000 L Street NW, Suite 407, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 452-6814
FAX: [1] (202) 452-6281

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Richard G.
WATKINS
embassy: address NA, Koror
mailing address: P.O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940
telephone: [680] 488-2920, 2990
FAX: [680] 488-2911

Flag: light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon)
shifted slightly to the hoist side

Economy -------

Economic overview: The economy consists primarily of subsistence
agriculture and fishing. The government is the major employer of the
work force, relying heavily on financial assistance from the US. The
population, in effect, enjoys a per capita income of $5,000, twice
that of the Philippines and much of Micronesia. Long-run prospects
for the tourist sector have been greatly bolstered by the expansion
of air travel in the Pacific and the rapidly rising prosperity of
leading East Asian countries. Reducing budgeted operating
expenditures - which have increased 56% from 1989 to 1993 - will be
the biggest challenge for the government over the next several years.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $81.8 million (1994 est.)
note: GDP numbers reflect US spending

GDP real growth rate: NA%

GDP per capita: $5,000 (1994 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Labor force: NA
by occupation: NA

Unemployment rate: 20% (1986)

Budget:
revenues: $17 million
expenditures: $57 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995 est.)

Industries: tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), some
commercial fishing and agriculture

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 16,000 kW
production: 22 million kWh
consumption per capita: 1,540 kWh (1990)

Agriculture: coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes

Exports: $600,000 (f.o.b., 1989)
commodities: trochus (type of shellfish), tuna, copra, handicrafts
partners: US, Japan

Imports: $24.6 million (c.i.f., 1989)
commodities: NA
partners: US

External debt: about $100 million (1989)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
note: the compact of "free association" with the US, entered into
after the end of the UN trusteeship on 1 October 1994, provides
Palau with $500 million in US aid over 15 years in return for
furnishing military facilities

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

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

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

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 61 km
paved: 36 km
unpaved: 25 km

Ports: Koror

Merchant marine: none

Airports:
total: 3
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 1,500 (1988 est.)

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

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

Radios: 9,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 2

Televisions: 1,600 (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: NA

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the US

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

@Palmyra Atoll -------------

(territory of the US)

Map ---

Location: 5 52 N, 162 06 W -- Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific
Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to American Samoa

Flag ----

Description: the flag of the US is used

Geography ---------

Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from Hawaii to American Samoa

Geographic coordinates: 5 52 N, 162 06 W

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total area: 11.9 sq km
land area: 11.9 sq km
comparative area: about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 14.5 km

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

International disputes: none

Climate: equatorial, hot, and very rainy

Terrain: very low
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 2 m

Natural resources: none

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 100%
other: 0%

Irrigated land: 0 sq km

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

Geographic note: about 50 islets covered with dense vegetation,
coconut trees, and balsa-like trees up to 30 meters tall

People ------

Population: uninhabited

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Palmyra Atoll

Data code: LQ

Type of government: incorporated territory of the US; privately
owned, but administered by the Office of Territorial and
International Affairs, US Department of the Interior

Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC

Flag: the flag of the US is used

Economy -------

Economic overview: no economic activity

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

Highways: much of the road and many causeways built during World
War II are unserviceable and overgrown

Ports: West Lagoon

Airports: airstrip has been overgrown by vegetation and is no
longer serviceable

Defense -------

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the US

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

@Panama ------

Map ---

Location: 9 00 N, 80 00 W -- Middle America, bordering both the
Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and
Costa Rica

Flag ----

Description: divided into four, equal rectangles; the top
quadrants are white (hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in
the center and plain red, the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist
side) and white with a red five-pointed star in the center

Geography ---------

Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the
North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica

Geographic coordinates: 9 00 N, 80 00 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total area: 78,200 sq km
land area: 75,990 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries:
total: 555 km
border countries: Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km

Coastline: 2,490 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May
to January), short dry season (January to May)

Terrain: interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected,
upland plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan de Chiriqui 3,475 m

Natural resources: copper, mahogany forests, shrimp

Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 2%
meadows and pastures: 15%
forest and woodland: 54%
other: 23%

Irrigated land: 320 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens
fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land
degradation
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the
Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Tropical Timber 94

Geographic note: strategic location on eastern end of isthmus
forming land bridge connecting North and South America; controls
Panama Canal that links North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with
North Pacific Ocean

People ------

Population: 2,655,094 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 33% (male 445,382; female 426,111)
15-64 years: 62% (male 828,384; female 806,205)
65 years and over: 5% (male 71,823; female 77,189) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.64% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 23.2 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 5.42 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.42 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: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 29.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.92 years
male: 71.19 years
female: 76.75 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.71 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Panamanian(s)
adjective: Panamanian

Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Indian and European ancestry)
70%, West Indian 14%, white 10%, Indian 6%

Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%

Languages: Spanish (official), English 14%
note: many Panamanians bilingual

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 90.8%
male: 91.4%
female: 90.2%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Panama
conventional short form: Panama
local long form: Republica de Panama
local short form: Panama

Data code: PM

Type of government: constitutional republic

Capital: Panama

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (provincias, singular -
provincia) and 1 territory* (comarca); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui,
Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, San Blas*,
Veraguas

Independence: 3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent
from Spain 28 November 1821)

National holiday: Independence Day, 3 November (1903)

Constitution: 11 October 1972; major reforms adopted April 1983

Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory