Chapter V (36)

Legislative branch: unicameral
National Parliament (Narodni Rada): elections last held 30
September-1 October 1994 (next to be held by October 1998); results
- HZDS 35%, SDL 10.4%, Hungarian coalition (Hungarian Christian
Democrats, Hungarian Civic Party, Coexistence) 10.2%, KDH 10.1%, DU
8.6%, ZRS 7.3%, SNS 5.4%; seats - (150 total) governing coalition 83
(HZDS 61, ZRS 13, SNS 9), opposition 67 (SDL 18, Hungarian coalition
17, KDH 17, DU 15)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are elected by the National
Parliament

Political parties and leaders: Movement for a Democratic Slovakia
(HZDS), Vladimir MECIAR, chairman; Common Choice/Party of the
Democratic Left (SDL), Peter WEISS, chairman; Hungarian Christian
Democrats, Vojtech BUGAR; Hungarian Civic Party; Coexistence, Miklos
DURAY, chairman; Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), Jan
CARNOGURSKY; Democratic Union (DU), Jozef MORAVCIK, chairman;
Association of Slovak Workers (ZRS), Jan LUPTAK, chairman; Slovak
National Party (SNS), Jan SLOTA, chairman

Other political or pressure groups: Green Party; Social Democratic
Party of Slovakia; Slovak Christian Union

International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
BSEC (observer), CCC, CE (guest), CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EU
(applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarset, Intelsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NACC, NSG, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAVEM
III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate partner),
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Branislav LICHARDUS
chancery: (temporary) Suite 380, 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 965-5161
FAX: [1] (202) 965-5166

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph JOHNSON
embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [42] (7) 533-0861, 533-3338
FAX: [42] (7) 533-5439

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red
superimposed with the Slovak cross in a shield centered on the hoist
side; the cross is white centered on a background of red and blue

Economy -------

Economic overview: Since its separation from the Czech Republic on
1 January 1993, Slovakia has continued the difficult transformation
from a centrally controlled economy to a modern market-oriented
economy. Macroeconomic performance improved steadily in 1994 and
1995 - with 4.8% and 6% growth, respectively. But privatization
progressed only in fits and starts. Strong export performance
boosted growth in both years, with consumption and investment
rebounding. Unemployment fell to 12.8% in November 1995, the lowest
level since mid-1993, and inflation dropped from 26% in 1993 to 7.5%
in 1995. The federal government deficit fell from 7% of GDP in 1993
to less than 2% in 1994-95, as growth boosted revenues. Positive
international financial performance led Standard & Poor's to raise
its rating of the National Bank of Slovakia's foreign currency debt
to just one step below investment grade. The trade and current
accounts are both in surplus, and foreign currency reserves held by
the central bank have climbed to $3.5 billion. Foreign debt of $4.6
billion - about the same as Romania's - is the lowest in Central and
Eastern Europe and the second lowest per capita. Bratislava made the
Slovak crown convertible for current account transactions on 1
October 1995. Slovakia continued to have difficulty attracting
foreign investment, however, because of perceived political
uncertainty and vacillations in privatization policy. The government
as well as the OECD projects 5% growth in 1996 and 1997.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $39 billion (1995 est.)

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

GDP per capita: $7,200 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 6.7%
industry: 47.6%
services: 45.7% (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.5% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 2.484 million
by occupation: industry 33.2%, agriculture 12.2%, construction
10.3%, communication and other 44.3% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 13% (1995 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $6.1 billion
expenditures: $6.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995 est.)

Industries: metal and metal products; food and beverages;
electricity, gas, coke, oil, and nuclear fuel; chemicals and manmade
fibers; machinery; paper and printing; earthenware and ceramics;
transport vehicles; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus;
rubber products

Industrial production growth rate: 7.8% (January-August 1995)

Electricity:
capacity: 6,300,000 kW
production: 20.9 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 3,609 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; hogs,
cattle, poultry; forest products

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin
bound for Western Europe

Exports: $8.8 billion (f.o.b., January-November 1995)
commodities: machinery and transport equipment; chemicals; fuels,
minerals, and metals; agricultural products
partners: Czech Republic 35.4%, Germany 18.9%, Austria 5.0%, Italy
4.7%, Hungary 4.6%, Poland 4.4%, Russia 3.6%, Ukraine 2.1%, France
2.0%, Netherlands 1.7% (January-October 1995)

Imports: $8.7 billion (f.o.b., January-November 1995)
commodities: machinery and transport equipment; fuels and
lubricants; manufactured goods; raw materials; chemicals;
agricultural products
partners: Czech Republic 28.1%, Russia 16.8%, Germany 14.3%, Austria
5.2%, Italy 4.5%, Poland 2.9%, US 2.3%, France 2.3%, Hungary 2.2%,
Netherlands 1.7%, Ukraine 1.5% (January-October 1995)

External debt: $4.6 billion hard currency indebtedness (1995 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $104 million (1993)

Currency: 1 koruna (Sk) = 100 halierov

Exchange rates: koruny (Sk) per US$1 - 29.587 (August 1995),
29.447 (November 1994), 32.045 (1994), 30.770 (1993), 28.26 (1992),
29.53 (1991); note - values before 1993 reflect Czechoslovak
exchange rate

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 3,660 km
broad gauge: 102 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge: 3,507 km 1.435-m gauge (1378 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 51 km (46 km 1,000-m gauge; 5 km 0.750-m gauge) (1995)

Highways:
total: 17,737 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km (1993 est.)

Waterways: 172 km on the Danube

Pipelines: petroleum products NA km; natural gas 2,700 km

Ports: Bratislava, Komarno

Merchant marine:
total: 4 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 17,010 GRT/22,039
DWT (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 37
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
with paved runways under 914 m: 4
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 10
with unpaved runways under 914 m: 11 (1994 est.)

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

Telephones: 1,362,178 (1992 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note - there
is 1 station of NA type

Radios: 1.1 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1

Televisions: 1.6 million (1994 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Civil Defense,
Railroad Units

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 1,442,321
males fit for military service: 1,104,901
males reach military age (18) annually: 48,695 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $430 million,
3.0% of GDP (1995)

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

@Slovenia --------

Map ---

Location: 46 00 N, 15 00 E -- Southeastern Europe, bordering the
Adriatic Sea, between Croatia and Italy

Flag ----

Description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue,
and red with the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav
in white against a blue background at the center, beneath it are two
wavy blue lines depicting seas and rivers, and around it, there are
three six-sided stars arranged in an inverted triangle); the seal is
located in the upper hoist side of the flag centered in the white
and blue bands

Geography ---------

Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between
Croatia and Italy

Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N, 15 00 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total area: 20,256 sq km
land area: 20,256 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than New Jersey

Land boundaries:
total: 1,207 km
border countries: Austria 324 km, Croatia 546 km, Italy 235 km,
Hungary 102 km

Coastline: 46.6 km

Maritime claims: NA

International disputes: maritime border dispute with Croatia over
direct access to the sea in the Adriatic; the border issue is
currently under negotiation

Climate: Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate
with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and
valleys to the east

Terrain: a short coastal strip on the Adriatic, an alpine mountain
region adjacent to Italy, mixed mountain and valleys with numerous
rivers to the east
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Triglav 2,864 m

Natural resources: lignite coal, lead, zinc, mercury, uranium,
silver

Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 2%
meadows and pastures: 20%
forest and woodland: 45%
other: 23%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial
waste; pollution of coastal waters with heavy metals and toxic
chemicals; forest damage near Koper from air pollution (originating
at metallurgical and chemical plants) and resulting acid rain
natural hazards: flooding and earthquakes
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Climate Change,
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Air
Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Law of the Sea

People ------

Population: 1,951,443 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 17% (male 172,778; female 163,695)
15-64 years: 70% (male 682,501; female 678,781)
65 years and over: 13% (male 91,819; female 161,869) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.27% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 8.27 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 9.4 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.57 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 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.09 years
male: 71.4 years
female: 79 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.13 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Slovene(s)
adjective: Slovenian

Ethnic divisions: Slovene 91%, Croat 3%, Serb 2%, Muslim 1%, other
3%

Religions: Roman Catholic 96% (including 2% Uniate), Muslim 1%,
other 3%

Languages: Slovenian 91%, Serbo-Croatian 7%, other 2%

Literacy: NA

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia
conventional short form: Slovenia
local long form: Republika Slovenije
local short form: Slovenija

Data code: SI

Type of government: emerging democracy

Capital: Ljubljana

Administrative divisions: 60 provinces (pokajine, singular -
pokajina) Ajdovscina, Brezice, Celje, Cerknica, Crnomelj, Dravograd,
Gornja Radgona, Grosuplje, Hrastnik Lasko, Idrija, Ilirska Bistrica,
Izola, Jesenice, Kamnik, Kocevje, Koper, Kranj, Krsko, Lenart,
Lendava, Litija, Ljubljana-Bezigrad, Ljubljana-Center,
Ljubljana-Moste-Polje, Ljubljana-Siska, Ljubljana-Vic-Rudnik,
Ljutomer, Logatec, Maribor, Metlika, Mozirje, Murska Sobota, Nova
Gorica, Novo Mesto, Ormoz, Pesnica, Piran, Postojna, Ptuj, Radlje Ob
Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne Na Koroskem, Ribnica, Ruse, Sentjur Pri
Celju, Sevnica, Sezana, Skofja Loka, Slovenj Gradec, Slovenska
Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje Pri Jelsah, Tolmin, Trbovlje,
Trebnje, Trzic, Velenje, Vrhnika, Zagorje Ob Savi, Zalec

Independence: 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

National holiday: National Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)

Constitution: adopted 23 December 1991, effective 23 December 1991

Legal system: based on civil law system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Milan KUCAN (since 22 April 1990) was
reelected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last
held 6 December 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); results - Milan
KUCAN reelected
head of government: Prime Minister Janez DRNOVSEK (since 14 May
1992) was nominated by the president and elected by the National
Assembly
cabinet: Council of Ministers was nominated by the prime minister
and elected by the National Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral; advisory National Council
National Assembly: elections last held 6 December 1992 (next to be
held Fall 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (90
total) LDS 22, SKD 15, ZLSD 14, SNS 12, SLS 10, DSS 6, ZS 5, SDSS 4,
Hungarian minority 1, Italian minority 1; note - seating as of
January 1996 is as follows: LDS 30, SKD 15, ZLSD 14, SLS 12, DSS 4,
SDSS 4, SNS 4, SND 3, Hungarian minority 1, Italian minority 1,
independents 2
National Council: the Council is an advisory body with no direct
legislative powers; in the election of 6 December 1992, 40 members
were elected to represent local, professional, and socioeconomic
interests (next election to be held NA Fall 1996)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are elected by the National
Assembly on recommendation of the Judicial Council; Constitutional
Court, judges elected for nine-year terms by the National Assembly
and nominated by the president

Political parties and leaders: Liberal Democratic (LDS), Janez
DRNOVSEK, chairman; Slovene Christian Democrats (SKD), Lozje
PETERLE, chairman; Social Democratic Party of Slovenia (SDSS), Janez
JANSA, chairman; Slovene People's Party (SLS), Marjan PODOBNIK,
chairman; United List (former Communists and allies - ZLSD), Janez
KOCIJANCIC, chairman; Slovene National Party (SNS), Zmago JELINCIC,
chairman; Democratic Party (DSS), Tone PERSAK, chairman; Greens of
Slovenia (ZS), Dusan PLUT, chairman, note - Greens merged with the
LDS; Slovene National Right (SND), Saso LAP, chairman
note: parties have changed as of the December 1992 elections

Other political or pressure groups: none

International organization participation: CCC, CE, CEI, EBRD, ECE,
FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO,
ITU, NACC, NAM (guest), OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ernest PETRIC
chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 667-5363
FAX: [1] (202) 667-4563
consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Victor JACKOVICH
embassy: address NA, Ljubljana
mailing address: P.O. Box 254, Prazakova 4, 61000 Ljubljana;
American Embassy, Ljubljana, Department of State, Washington, DC
20521-7140
telephone: [386] (61) 301-427, 472, 485
FAX: [386] (61) 301-401

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red
with the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav in white
against a blue background at the center, beneath it are two wavy
blue lines depicting seas and rivers, and around it, there are three
six-sided stars arranged in an inverted triangle); the seal is
located in the upper hoist side of the flag centered in the white
and blue bands

Economy -------

Economic overview: Slovenia appears to be making a solid economic
recovery, fulfilling the promise it showed at the time of
Yugoslavia's breakup. Its per capita GDP is now the highest in
Central and Eastern Europe and not far below the levels in the
poorer West European countries. Slovenia has benefited from strong
ties to Western Europe and suffered comparatively small physical
damage during Yugoslavia's breakup. The beginning was difficult,
however. Real GDP fell 15% in 1991-92, while inflation soared to
200% in 1992 and unemployment reached 9%. The turning point came in
1993, when real GDP grew 1%, unemployment leveled off, and inflation
slowed dramatically. In 1994, real GDP rose 5.5%, tapering off to an
estimated 4.8% in 1995, while inflation and unemployment both were
down to about 8% by late 1995. The government gets good marks from
foreign observers for fiscal policy - the budget deficit has not
exceeded 1% of GDP in any year since 1991, and the current account
balance has remained in surplus throughout the transition period,
with the exception of 1995. The Slovene privatization program, which
began in 1994, involves about 1,400 firms, but only 412 have been
privatized. The rest are expected to reach private hands by
end-1996, but that does not include firms in so-called strategic
industries, such as telecommunications and energy. Foreign
investment jumped to an estimated $150 million in 1995 from $83.7
million in 1994. With inflation and unemployment expected to
continue edging down, the outlook for 1996 is generally good. A
slowdown in Western Europe - which buys 70% of Slovenia's exports -
could hurt exports, however, lowering GDP growth to about 4% and
perhaps pushing the current account into a small deficit.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $22.6 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 4.8% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $11,000 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.3%
industry: 39.9%
services: 54.8% (1992 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8% (December 1995 est.)

Labor force: 786,036
by occupation: agriculture 2%, manufacturing and mining 46%

Unemployment rate: 8% (December 1995 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $6.6 billion
expenditures: $6.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1993)

Industries: ferrous metallurgy and rolling mill products, aluminum
reduction and rolled products, lead and zinc smelting, electronics
(including military electronics), trucks, electric power equipment,
wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine tools

Industrial production growth rate: 2% (1995 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 2,700,000 kW
production: 8.9 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 4,470 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: potatoes, hops, wheat, sugar beets, corn, grapes;
cattle, sheep, poultry

Illicit drugs: transit point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for
Western Europe

Exports: $8.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: machinery and transport equipment 27%, intermediate
manufactured goods 26%, chemicals 9%, food 4.8%, raw materials 3%,
consumer goods 26% (1993)
partners: Germany 30.9%, former Yugoslavia 14.0%, Italy 14.1%,
France 8.9%, Austria 6.4%, CEFTA (Central European Free Trade
Agreement) countries 5% (January-August 1995 est.)

Imports: $9.1 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: machinery and transport equipment 30%, intermediate
manufactured goods 17.6%, chemicals 11.5%, raw materials 5.3%, fuels
and lubricants 10.8%, food 8.4% (1993)
partners: Germany 23.3%, Italy 16.8%, former Yugoslavia 7.0%, France
8.5%, Austria 9.7% (January-August 1995 est.)

External debt: $2.9 billion (1995)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $5 million (1993)

Currency: 1 tolar (SlT) = 100 stotins

Exchange rates: tolars (SlT) per US$1 - 121.27 (November 1995),
118.9 (1995), 128.81 (1994), 113.24 (1993), 81.29 (1992), 27.57
(1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 1,201 km
standard gauge: 1,201 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified 499 km) (1994)

Highways:
total: 14,794 km
paved: 13,314 km (including 187 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,480 km (1994 est.)

Waterways: NA

Pipelines: crude oil 290 km; natural gas 305 km

Ports: Izola, Koper, Piran

Merchant marine:
total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 229,727 GRT/290,456 DWT
(controlled by Slovenian owners)
ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 1, container 4
note: ships operate under the flags of Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Singapore, Liberia, and Antigua and Barbuda; no ships
remain under the Slovenian flag (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 14
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
with paved runways under 914 m: 5
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 527,800 (1993 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA

Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 0
note: there are more than 20 regional and local radio broadcast
stations

Radios: 596,100 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 7
note: there are more than 20 local cable television broadcast
stations

Televisions: 454,400 (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Slovene Defense Forces

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 525,925
males fit for military service: 419,456
males reach military age (19) annually: 15,350 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: 13.5 billion tolars, 3.6% of GDP (1995
est.); note - conversion of the military budget into US dollars
using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

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

@Solomon Islands ---------------

Map ---

Location: 8 00 S, 159 00 E -- Oceania, group of islands in the
South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea

Flag ----

Description: divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the
lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue
with five white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the
lower triangle is green

Geography ---------

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean,
east of Papua New Guinea

Geographic coordinates: 8 00 S, 159 00 E

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total area: 28,450 sq km
land area: 27,540 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 5,313 km

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

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather

Terrain: mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Makarakomburu 2,447 m

Natural resources: fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead,
zinc, nickel

Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 1%
forest and woodland: 93%
other: 4%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; much of the surrounding
coral reefs are dead or dying
natural hazards: typhoons, but they are rarely destructive;
geologically active region with frequent earth tremors; volcanic
activity
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling; signed, but not
ratified - Law of the Sea

People ------

Population: 412,902 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 46% (male 96,241; female 92,722)
15-64 years: 51% (male 107,482; female 104,293)
65 years and over: 3% (male 6,129; female 6,035) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.35% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 37.91 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 4.41 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: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 25.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.14 years
male: 68.67 years
female: 73.74 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.43 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Solomon Islander(s)
adjective: Solomon Islander

Ethnic divisions: Melanesian 93%, Polynesian 4%, Micronesian 1.5%,
European 0.8%, Chinese 0.3%, other 0.4%

Religions: Anglican 34%, Roman Catholic 19%, Baptist 17%, United
(Methodist/Presbyterian) 11%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10%, other
Protestant 5%, traditional beliefs 4%

Languages: Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua
franca, English spoken by 1%-2% of population
note: 120 indigenous languages

Literacy: NA

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Solomon Islands
former: British Solomon Islands

Data code: BP

Type of government: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Honiara

Administrative divisions: 7 provinces and 1 town*; Central,
Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Temotu, Western
note: there may be two new provinces of Choiseul (Lauru) and
Rennell/Bellona and the administrative unit of Honiara may have been
abolished

Independence: 7 July 1978 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 7 July (1978)

Constitution: 7 July 1978

Legal system: common law

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a
hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General Moses PITAKAKA
(since 10 June 1994) who was appointed for up to five years by the
queen on the advice of Parliament
head of government: Prime Minister Solomon MAMALONI (since 7
November 1994) was elected by and from Parliament; Deputy Prime
Minister Danny PHILIP (since NA October 1995) was appointed by the
governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the
members of Parliament
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on the advice
of the prime minister from among the members of Parliament

Legislative branch: unicameral
National Parliament: elections last held 26 May 1993 (next to be
held NA 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (47
total) GNUR 21, PAP 7, NAPSI 5, SILP 4, UP 4, independents 6

Judicial branch: High Court

Political parties and leaders: National Unity and Reconciliation
Group (GNUR), Solomon MAMALONI; People's Alliance Party (PAP);
National Action Party (NAPSI), leader NA; Solomon Islands Labor
Party (SILP), leader NA; United Party (UP), leader NA; Nationalist
Front for Progress (NFP), Andrew NORI; Labor Party (LP), Joses
TUHANUKU; Christian Fellowship, leader NA

International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US: Solomon Islands do not have an
embassy in the US; the ambassador to the US traditionally resides in
Honiara (Solomon Islands)

US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
Solomon Islands (embassy closed July 1993); the ambassador to Papua
New Guinea is accredited to the Solomon Islands

Flag: divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower
hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five
white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the lower
triangle is green

Economy -------

Economic overview: The bulk of the population depend on
subsistence agriculture, fishing, and forestry for at least part of
their livelihood. Most manufactured goods and petroleum products
must be imported. The islands are rich in undeveloped mineral
resources such as lead, zinc, nickel, and gold. The government of
the Solomon Islands is nearing financial insolvency. In mid-1995 the
central bank suspended interest and principal payments on government
bonds and treasury bills held by financial institutions and the
general public. The government has taken no steps to restrain
expenditure or address the deficit, which is expected to be
considerably higher than the $20 million forecasted in the 1996
budget.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $1 billion (1992 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 8% (1992 est.)

GDP per capita: $2,590 (1992 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 13% (1994)

Labor force: 26,842
by occupation: services 41.5%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing
23.7%, commerce, transport, and finance 21.7%, construction,
manufacturing, and mining 13.1% (1992 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $81.3 million
expenditures: $101.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995 est.)

Industries: copra, fish (tuna)

Industrial production growth rate: -3.8% (1991 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 21,000 kW
production: 30 million kWh
consumption per capita: 80 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: cocoa, beans, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, potatoes,
vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs; timber; fish

Exports: $94 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: fish 46%, timber 31%, palm oil 5%, cocoa, copra
partners: Japan 39%, UK 23%, Thailand 9%, Australia 5%, US 2% (1991)

Imports: $101 million (c.i.f., 1993)
commodities: plant and machinery, manufactured goods, food and live
animals, fuel
partners: Australia 34%, Japan 16%, Singapore 14%, NZ 9%

External debt: $128 million (1988 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 Solomon Islands dollar (SI$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Solomon Islands dollars (SI$) per US$1 - 3.3713
(2d quarter 1995), 3.2914 (1994), 3.1877 (1993), 2.9281 (1992),
2.7148 (1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 1,300 km
paved: 30 km
unpaved: 1,270 km
note: in addition, there are 800 km of private logging and
plantation roads of varied surface (1982 est.)

Ports: Aola Bay, Honiara, Lofung, Noro, Viru Harbor, Yandina

Merchant marine: none

Airports:
total: 30
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: 18
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 9 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 5,000 (1991 est.)

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

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

Radios: 38,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 0 (1987 est.)

Televisions: 2,000 (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: no regular military forces; Solomon Islands National
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Force; Royal Solomon Islands Police
(RSIP)

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

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

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

@Somalia -------

Map ---

Location: 10 00 N, 49 00 E -- Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf
of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia

Flag ----

Description: light blue with a large white five-pointed star in
the center; design based on the flag of the UN (Italian Somaliland
was a UN trust territory)

Geography ---------

Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the
Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia

Geographic coordinates: 10 00 N, 49 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total area: 637,660 sq km
land area: 627,340 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:
total: 2,366 km
border countries: Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,626 km, Kenya 682 km

Coastline: 3,025 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm

International disputes: southern half of boundary with Ethiopia is
a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Ethiopia
over the Ogaden

Climate: principally desert; December to February - northeast
monsoon, moderate temperatures in north and very hot in south; May
to October - southwest monsoon, torrid in the north and hot in the
south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili)
between monsoons

Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Shimbiris 2,450 m

Natural resources: uranium and largely unexploited reserves of
iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt

Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 46%
forest and woodland: 14%
other: 38%

Irrigated land: 1,600 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: famine; use of contaminated water contributes to
human health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion;
desertification
natural hazards: recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over
eastern plains in summer
international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the
Sea; signed, but not ratified - Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban

Geographic note: strategic location on Horn of Africa along
southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and
Suez Canal

People ------

Population: 9,639,151 (July 1996 est.)
note: this estimate was derived from an official census taken in
1987 by the Somali Government with the cooperation of the UN and the
US Bureau of the Census; population estimates are updated year by
year between census years by factoring growth rates into them, and
by taking account of refugee movements, and of losses due to famine;
lower estimates of Somalia's population in mid-1996 (on the order of
6.0 to 6.5 million) have been made by aid and relief agencies, based
on the number of persons being fed; population counting in Somalia
is complicated by the large numbers of nomads and by refugee
movements in response to famine and clan warfare

Age structure:
0-14 years: 44% (male 2,143,775; female 2,139,104)
15-64 years: 52% (male 2,609,911; female 2,387,620)
65 years and over: 4% (male 182,991; female 175,750) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.1% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 44.17 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 13.22 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

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

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.05 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 121.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 55.49 years
male: 55.18 years
female: 55.8 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 7.01 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Somali(s)
adjective: Somali

Ethnic divisions: Somali 85%, Bantu, Arabs 30,000

Religions: Sunni Muslim

Languages: Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population: 24%
male: 36%
female: 14%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Somalia
former: Somali Republic

Data code: SO

Type of government: none

Capital: Mogadishu

Administrative divisions: 18 regions (plural - NA, singular -
gobolka); Awdal, Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo,
Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe, Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag,
Shabeellaha Dhexe, Shabeellaha Hoose, Sool, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed

Independence: 1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland,
which became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian
Somaliland, which became independent from the Italian-administered
UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to form the Somali Republic)

National holiday: NA

Constitution: 25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September
1979

Legal system: NA

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: Somalia has no functioning government; the
United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the regime of Major General
Mohamed SIAD Barre on 27 January 1991; the present political
situation is one of anarchy, marked by interclan fighting and random
banditry

Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly
People's Assembly (Golaha Shacbiga): not functioning

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (not functioning)

Political parties and leaders: the United Somali Congress (USC)
ousted the former regime on 27 January 1991; formerly the only party
was the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party (SRSP), headed by
former President and Commander in Chief of the Army Major General
Mohamed SIAD Barre

Other political or pressure groups: numerous clan and subclan
factions are currently vying for power

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL,
AMF, CAEU, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in US: Somalia does not have an embassy
in the US (ceased operations on 8 May 1991)

US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
Somalia; US interests are represented by the US Embassy in Nairobi
at Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue; mail address: P. O. Box
30137, Unit 64100, Nairobi; APO AE 09831; telephone: [254] (2)
334141; FAX [254] (2) 340838

Flag: light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the
center; design based on the flag of the UN (Italian Somaliland was a
UN trust territory)

Economy -------

Economic overview: One of the world's poorest and least developed
countries, Somalia has few resources. Moreover, much of the economy
has been devastated by the civil war. Agriculture is the most
important sector, with livestock accounting for about 40% of GDP and
about 65% of export earnings. Nomads and seminomads, who are
dependent upon livestock for their livelihood, make up a large
portion of the population. Crop production generates only 10% of GDP
and employs about 20% of the work force. The main export crop is
bananas; sugar, sorghum, and corn are grown for the domestic market.
The small industrial sector is based on the processing of
agricultural products and accounts for less than 10% of GDP; most
facilities have been shut down because of the civil strife. The
greatly increased political turmoil of 1991-93 resulted in a
substantial drop in agricultural output, with widespread famine. In
1994 economic conditions stabilized in the countryside, followed in
1995 by slight improvements. However, ongoing civil strife in
Mogadishu and outlying areas is interfering with any substantial
recovery.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.6 billion (1995 est.)

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

GDP per capita: $500 (1995 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA

Labor force: 3.7 million (very few are skilled laborers)(1993 est.)
by occupation: agriculture (mostly pastoral nomadism) 71%, industry
and services 29%

Unemployment rate: NA%

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

Industries: a few small industries, including sugar refining,
textiles, petroleum refining (mostly shut down)

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 75,000 kW prior to the civil war, but now largely shut
down due to war damage; some localities operate their own generating
plants, providing limited municipal power; note - UN and relief
organizations use their own portable power systems
production: NA kWh
consumption per capita: NA kWh

Agriculture: bananas, sorghum, corn, mangoes, sugarcane; cattle,
sheep, goats; fishing potential largely unexploited

Exports: $100 million (1995 est.)
commodities: bananas, live animals, fish, hides
partners: Saudi Arabia, other Gulf states, Italy, US (bananas)

Imports: $249 million (1990 est.)
commodities: petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials
partners: US 13%, Italy, FRG, Kenya, UK, Saudi Arabia (1986)

External debt: $1.9 billion (1989)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 Somali shilling (So. Sh.) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1 -
approximately 7,000 (January 1996), 5,000 (1 January 1995), 2,616 (1
July 1993), 4,200 (December 1992), 3,800.00 (December 1990), 490.7
(1989),

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 22,500 km
paved: 2,700 km
unpaved: 19,800 km (1992 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 15 km

Ports: Bender Cassim (Boosaaso), Berbera, Chisimayu (Kismaayo),
Merca, Mogadishu

Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,529 GRT/6,892 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 52
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 3
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 6
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 4
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 15
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 20 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 9,000 (1991 est.)

Telephone system: the public telecommunications system was
completely destroyed or dismantled by the civil war factions; all
relief organizations depend on their own private systems
domestic: recently, local cellular telephone systems have been
established in Mogadishu and in several other population centers
international: international connections are available from
Mogadishu by satellite

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA (there are at
least five radio broadcast stations of NA type)

Radios: 350,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 0 (Somalia's only TV station was
demolished during the civil strife, sometime in 1991)

Televisions: 113,000 (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: NA; note - no functioning central government military
forces; clan militias continue to battle for control of key economic
or political prizes

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 2,333,994
males fit for military service: 1,301,954 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

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

@South Africa ------------

Map ---

Location: 29 00 S, 24 00 E -- Southern Africa, at the southern tip
of the continent of Africa

Flag ----

Description: two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and
blue separated by a central green band which splits into a
horizontal Y, the arms of which end at the corners of the hoist
side, embracing a black isoceles triangle from which the arms are
separated by narrow yellow bands; the red and blue bands are
separated from the green band and its arms by narrow white stripes

Geography ---------

Location: Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of
Africa

Geographic coordinates: 29 00 S, 24 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total area: 1,219,912 sq km
land area: 1,219,912 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince
Edward Island)

Land boundaries:
total: 4,750 km
border countries: Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491
km, Namibia 855 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km

Coastline: 2,798 km

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

International disputes: Swaziland has asked South Africa to open
negotiations on reincorporating some nearby South African
territories that are populated by ethnic Swazis or that were long
ago part of the Swazi Kingdom

Climate: mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny
days, cool nights

Terrain: vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow
coastal plain
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m

Natural resources: gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore,
manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum,
copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas

Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 65%
forest and woodland: 3%
other: 21%

Irrigated land: 11,280 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires
extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water
usage threatens to outpace supply; pollution of rivers from
agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in
acid rain; soil erosion; desertification
natural hazards: prolonged droughts
international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling;
signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Desertification, Law of
the Sea

Geographic note: South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and
almost completely surrounds Swaziland

People ------

Population: 41,743,459 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 36% (male 7,578,639; female 7,428,123)
15-64 years: 60% (male 12,356,753; female 12,516,467)
65 years and over: 4% (male 744,806; female 1,118,671) (July 1996
est.)

Population growth rate: 1.76% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 27.91 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 10.32 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

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

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 48.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 59.47 years
male: 57.21 years
female: 61.8 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.43 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: South African(s)
adjective: South African

Ethnic divisions: black 75.2%, white 13.6%, Colored 8.6%, Indian
2.6%

Religions: Christian (most whites and Coloreds and about 60% of
blacks), Hindu (60% of Indians), Muslim 2%

Languages: 11 official languages, including Afrikaans, English,
Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 81.8%
male: 81.9%
female: 81.7%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of South Africa
conventional short form: South Africa
abbreviation: RSA

Data code: SF

Type of government: republic

Capital: Pretoria (administrative); Cape Town (legislative);
Bloemfontein (judicial)

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Free State,
Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, North-West, Northern Cape,
Northern Province, Western Cape

Independence: 31 May 1910 (from UK)

National holiday: Freedom Day, 27 April (1994)

Constitution: 27 April 1994 (interim constitution, replacing the
constitution of 3 September 1984); note - on 8 May 1996, the
Constitutional Assembly voted 421 to two to pass a new constitution
which, after certification by the Constitutional Court, will
gradually go into effect over a three-year period and come into full
force with the next national elections in April 1999

Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Nelson MANDELA
(since 10 May 1994); Deputy Executive Presidents Thabo MBEKI (since
10 May 1994) and Frederik W. DE KLERK (since 10 May 1994) were
elected by the National Assembly
note: any political party that wins 20% or more of the National
Assembly votes in a general election is entitled to name a deputy
executive president; moreover, any party that wins 20 or more seats
in the National Assembly is entitled to become a member of the
governing coalition; currently, the ANC, the IFP, and the NP
constitute a Government of National Unity (GNU)
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president

Legislative branch: bicameral
National Assembly: elections last held 26-29 April 1994 (next to be
held NA April 1999); results - ANC 62.6%, NP 20.4%, IFP 10.5%, FF
2.2%, DP 1.7%, PAC 1.2%, ACDP 0.5%, other 0.9%; seats - (400 total)
ANC 252, NP 82, IFP 43, FF 9, DP 7, PAC 5, ACDP 2
Senate: the Senate is composed of members who are nominated by the
nine provincial parliaments (which are elected in parallel with the
National Assembly) and has special powers to protect regional
interests, including the right to limited self-determination for
ethnic minorities; seats - (90 total) ANC 61, NP 17, FF 4, IFP 5, DP
3
note: when the National Assembly meets in joint session with the
Senate to consider the provisions of the constitution, the combined
group is referred to as the Constitutional Assembly

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: African National Congress (ANC),
Nelson MANDELA, president; National Party (NP), Frederik W. DE
KLERK, president; Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Mangosuthu BUTHELEZI,
president; Freedom Front (FF), Constand VILJOEN, president;
Democratic Party (DP), Tony LEON, president; Pan-Africanist Congress
(PAC), Clarence MAKWETU, president; African Christian Democratic
Party (ACDP), Kenneth MESHOE, president
note: in addition to these seven parties which received seats in the
National Assembly, 11 other parties won votes in the national
elections in April 1994

Other political or pressure groups: NA

International organization participation: BIS, C, CCC, ECA, FAO,
G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM, OAU, SACU,
SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Franklin SONN
chancery: 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-4400
consulate(s) general: Beverly Hills (California), Chicago, and New
York

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador James A. JOSEPH
embassy: 877 Pretorius St., Arcadia 0083
mailing address: P.O. Box 9536, Pretoria 0001
telephone: [27] (12) 342-1048
FAX: [27] (12) 342-2244
consulate(s) general: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg

Flag: two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue
separated by a central green band which splits into a horizontal Y,
the arms of which end at the corners of the hoist side, embracing a
black isoceles triangle from which the arms are separated by narrow
yellow bands; the red and blue bands are separated from the green
band and its arms by narrow white stripes
note: prior to 26 April 1994, the flag was actually four flags in
one - three miniature flags reproduced in the center of the white
band of the former flag of the Netherlands, which has three equal
horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and blue; the miniature
flags are a vertically hanging flag of the old Orange Free State
with a horizontal flag of the UK adjoining on the hoist side and a
horizontal flag of the old Transvaal Republic adjoining on the other
side

Economy -------

Economic overview: Many of the white one-seventh of the South
African population enjoy incomes, material comforts, and health and
educational standards equal to those of Western Europe. In contrast,
most of the remaining population suffers from the poverty patterns
of the Third World, including unemployment and lack of job skills.
The main strength of the economy lies in its rich mineral resources,
which provide two-thirds of exports. Economic developments for the
remainder of the 1990s will be driven largely by the new
government's attempts to improve black living conditions, to set the
country on a steady export-led growth path, and to cut back the
enormous numbers of unemployed. The economy in recent years has
absorbed less than 5% of the more than 300,000 workers entering the
labor force annually. Local economists estimate that the economy
must grow between 5% and 6% in real terms annually to absorb all of
the new entrants, much less reduce the accumulated total.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $215 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 3.3% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $4,800 (1995 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.7% (1995)

Labor force: 14.2 million economically active (1996)
by occupation: services 35%, agriculture 30%, industry 20%, mining
9%, other 6%

Unemployment rate: 32.6% (1996 est.); an additional 11%
underemployment

Budget:
revenues: $30.5 billion
expenditures: $38 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.6
billion (FY94/95 est.)

Industries: mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold,
chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textile,
iron and steel, chemical, fertilizer, foodstuffs

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 39,750,000 kW
production: 163 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 3,482 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; cattle,
poultry, sheep, wool, milk, beef

Illicit drugs: transshipment center for heroin and cocaine;
cocaine consumption on the rise; world's largest market for illicit
methaqualone, usually imported illegally from India through various
east African countries; illicit cultivation of marijuana

Exports: $27.9 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: gold 27%, other minerals and metals 20%-25%, food 5%,
chemicals 3% (1994)
partners: Italy, Japan, US, Germany, UK, other EU countries, Hong
Kong

Imports: $27 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: machinery 32%, transport equipment 15%, chemicals 11%,
oil, textiles, scientific instruments (1994)
partners: Germany, US, Japan, UK, Italy

External debt: $22 billion (1995 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
note: current aid pledges include US $600 million over three years
ending in 1996; UK $150 million over three years; Australia $21
million over three years; Japan $1.3 billion over two years ending
in 1996; EU $833 million over five years

Currency: 1 rand (R) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: rand (R) per US$1 - 3.6417 (January 1996), 3.6266
(1995), 3.5490 (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7563 (1991)

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

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

Railways:
total: 21,431 km
narrow gauge: 20,995 km 1.067-m gauge (9,087 km electrified); 436 km
0.610-m gauge (1995)

Highways:
total: 182,329 km
paved: 55,428 km (including 2,040 km of expressways)
unpaved: 126,901 km (1991 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 931 km; petroleum products 1,748 km; natural
gas 322 km

Ports: Cape Town, Durban, East London, Mosselbaai, Port Elizabeth,
Richards Bay, Saldanha

Merchant marine:
total: 4 container ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 211,276
GRT/198,602 DWT (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 667
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 10
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 4
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 44
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 75
with paved runways under 914 m: 221
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 33
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 280 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 5,206,235 (1993 est.)

Telephone system: the system is the best developed, most modern,
and has the highest capacity in Africa
domestic: consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines, coaxial
cables, microwave radio relay links, fiber-optic cable, and
radiotelephone communication stations; key centers are Bloemfontein,
Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria
international: 1 submarine cable; satellite earth stations - 3
Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 14, FM 286, shortwave 0

Radios: 12.1 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 67 (1987 est.)

Televisions: 3.45 million (1990 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: South African National Defense Force (SANDF; includes
Army, Navy, Air Force, and Medical Services), South African Police
Service (SAPS)

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 10,686,976
males fit for military service: 6,502,265
males reach military age (18) annually: 424,854 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.9 billion,
2.2% of GDP (FY95/96)

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

@South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands --------------------------------------------

(dependent territory of the UK)

Map ---

Location: 54 30 S, 37 00 W -- Southern South America, islands in
the South Atlantic Ocean, east of the tip of South America

Flag ----

Description: the flag of the UK is used

Geography ---------

Location: Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic
Ocean, east of the tip of South America

Geographic coordinates: 54 30 S, 37 00 W

Map references: Antarctic Region

Area:
total area: 4,066 sq km
land area: 4,066 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Rhode Island
note: includes Shag Rocks, Clerke Rocks, Bird Island

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: NA km

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

International disputes: administered by the UK, claimed by
Argentina

Climate: variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year,
interspersed with periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as
snow

Terrain: most of the islands, rising steeply from the sea, are
rugged and mountainous; South Georgia is largely barren and has
steep, glacier-covered mountains; the South Sandwich Islands are of
volcanic origin with some active volcanoes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Paget 2,915 m

Natural resources: fish

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (largely covered by permanent ice and snow with some
sparse vegetation consisting of grass, moss, and lichen)

Irrigated land: 0 sq km

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: the South Sandwich Islands have prevailing weather
conditions that generally make them difficult to approach by ship;
they are also subject to active volcanism
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: the north coast of South Georgia has several
large bays, which provide good anchorage; reindeer, introduced early
in this century, live on South Georgia

People ------

Population: no indigenous population; there is a small military
garrison on South Georgia, and the British Antarctic Survey has a
biological station on Bird Island; the South Sandwich Islands are
uninhabited

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
conventional short form: none

Data code: SX

Type of government: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: none; Grytviken on South Georgia is the garrison town

Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

National holiday: Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

Constitution: 3 October 1985

Legal system: English common law

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6
February 1952), a hereditary monarch, is represented by Commissioner
David Everard TATHAM (since August 1992; resident at Stanley,
Falkland Islands)

Legislative branch: no elections

Judicial branch: none

Flag: the flag of the UK is used

Economy -------

Economic overview: Some fishing takes place in adjacent waters.
There is a potential source of income from harvesting fin fish and
krill. The islands receive income from postage stamps produced in
the UK.

Budget:
revenues: $291,777
expenditures: $451,000, including capital expenditures of $NA (1988
est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 900 kW
production: 2 million kWh
consumption per capita: NA kWh (1992)

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

Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km

Ports: Grytviken

Airports: none

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

Telephones: NA

Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: coastal radiotelephone station at Grytviken

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

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 0

Televisions: NA

Defense -------

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

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

@Spain -----

Map ---

Location: 40 00 N, 4 00 W -- Southwestern Europe, bordering the
Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea, and North Atlantic Ocean,
southwest of France

Flag ----

Description: three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double
width), and red with the national coat of arms on the hoist side of
the yellow band; the coat of arms includes the royal seal framed by
the Pillars of Hercules, which are the two promontories (Gibraltar
and Ceuta) on either side of the eastern end of the Strait of
Gibraltar

Geography ---------

Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay,
Mediterranean Sea, and North Atlantic Ocean, southwest of France