Chapter V (43)

Telephone system: poorly developed
domestic: NMT-450 analog cellular network established in Tashkent
international: linked by landline or microwave radio relay with CIS
member states and to other countries by leased connection via the
Moscow international gateway switch; new Intelsat links to Tokyo and
Ankara give Uzbekistan international access independent of Russian
facilities; satellite earth stations - NA Orbita and NA Intelsat

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note - there
is at least one state-owned broadcast station of NA type

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 2

Televisions: NA

Defense -------

Branches: Army, Air and Air Defense, Security Forces (internal and
border troops), National Guard

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 5,672,621
males fit for military service: 4,623,960
males reach military age (18) annually: 231,293 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: 164 million soms, 3.7% of GDP (1993); note -
conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current
exchange rate could produce misleading results

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

@Vanuatu -------

Map ---

Location: 16 00 S, 167 00 E -- Oceania, group of islands in the
South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to
Australia

Flag ----

Description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green
with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all
separated by a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a
horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face the hoist side and
enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk
encircling two crossed namele leaves, all in yellow

Geography ---------

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean,
about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Geographic coordinates: 16 00 S, 167 00 E

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total area: 14,760 sq km
land area: 14,760 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Connecticut
note: includes more than 80 islands

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 2,528 km

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
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: claims Matthew and Hunter Islands east of
New Caledonia

Climate: tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds

Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Tabwemasana 1,877 m

Natural resources: manganese, hardwood forests, fish

Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 5%
meadows and pastures: 2%
forest and woodland: 1%
other: 91%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: a majority of the population does not have access to
a potable and reliable supply of water
natural hazards: tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April);
volcanism causes minor earthquakes
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea

People ------

Population: 177,504 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 40% (male 36,409; female 35,105)
15-64 years: 57% (male 51,969; female 48,901)
65 years and over: 3% (male 2,802; female 2,318) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.17% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 30.57 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 8.84 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: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.21 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 64.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 60.13 years
male: 58.27 years
female: 62.09 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.01 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)
adjective: Ni-Vanuatu

Ethnic divisions: indigenous Melanesian 94%, French 4%,
Vietnamese, Chinese, Pacific Islanders

Religions: Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Catholic 15%,
indigenous beliefs 7.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of
Christ 3.8%, other 15.7%

Languages: English (official), French (official), pidgin (known as
Bislama or Bichelama)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1979 est.)
total population: 53%
male: 57%
female: 48%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu
conventional short form: Vanuatu
former: New Hebrides

Data code: NH

Type of government: republic

Capital: Port-Vila

Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma,
Shefa, Tafea, Torba

Independence: 30 July 1980 (from France and UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 30 July (1980)

Constitution: 30 July 1980

Legal system: unified system being created from former dual French
and British systems

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jean Marie LEYE (since 2 March 1994) was
elected for a five-year term by an electoral college consisting of
Parliament and the presidents of the regional councils
head of government: Prime Minister Maxime Carlot KORMAN (since 23
February 1996) was elected by Parliament from among its members;
Deputy Prime Minister Donald KALPOKAS (since 23 February 1996) was
appointed by the prime minister from among members of Parliament;
note - Prime Minister VOHOR resigned 7 February 1996 when faced with
a no-confidence vote in Parliament; Parliament then convened an
extraordinary session and voted 30 to 20 to elect Maxime Carlot
KORMAN as the new prime minister
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister,
responsible to Parliament

Legislative branch: unicameral
Parliament: elections last held 30 November 1995 (next to be held NA
November 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (50
total) UMP 17, VP 14, NUP 9, MPP 5, TU 2, Na-Griamel Movement 1,
Friend Melanesian Party 1, independent 1; note - after the election,
a coalition was formed by the Union of Moderate Parties and the
National United Party to form a new government on 14 December 1995,
but political party associations are fluid
note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom
and land

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice is appointed by the
president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader
of the opposition, three other justices are appointed by the
president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission

Political parties and leaders: Union of Moderate Parties (UMP),
Serge VOHOR; National United Party (NUP), Walter LINI; Unity Front
(UF) includes the Vanuatu Party (VP), Donald KALPOKAS, Melanesian
Progressive Party (MPP), Barak SOPE, Tan Union (TU), Vincent
BOULEKONE, and the Na-Griamel Movement, Frankie STEVENS; Friend
Melanesian Party, leader NA; People's Democratic Party (PDP), Sethy
REGENVANU; Independence Front (IF), Patrick CROWBY

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

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

US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
Vanuatu; the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a
black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by
a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two
points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle);
centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed
namele leaves, all in yellow

Economy -------

Economic overview: The economy is based primarily on subsistence
farming which provides a living for the bulk of the population.
Fishing and tourism are the other mainstays of the economy, with
43,000 visitors in 1992. Mineral deposits are negligible; the
country has no known petroleum deposits. A small light industry
sector caters to the local market. Tax revenues come mainly from
import duties.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $210 million (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 2% (1994 est.)

GDP per capita: $1,220 (1994 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 66,597 (1989 est.)
by occupation: agriculture 65%, services 32%, industry 3% (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $74.8 million
expenditures: $76.1 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1994 est.)

Industries: food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning

Industrial production growth rate: 3.4% (1993 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 17,000 kW
production: 30 million kWh
consumption per capita: 181 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, coconuts,
fruits, vegetables; fish

Exports: $24.6 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: copra, beef, cocoa, timber, coffee
partners: EU 32%, Japan 29%, Australia 11%, New Caledonia 7% (1993)

Imports: $78.6 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: machines and vehicles, food and beverages, basic
manufactures, raw materials and fuels, chemicals
partners: Australia 41%, France 15%, NZ 11%, Japan 9%, Fiji 6% (1992)

External debt: $38.2 million (yearend 1993)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 vatu (VT) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: vatu (VT) per US$1 - 114.40 (January 1996), 112.11
(1995), 116.41 (1994), 121.58 (1993), 113.39 (1992), 111.68 (1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 1,021 km
paved: 238 km
unpaved: 783 km (1987 est.)

Ports: Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo)

Merchant marine:
total: 112 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,587,286
GRT/2,173,970 DWT
ships by type: bulk 38, cargo 29, chemical tanker 3, combination
bulk 1, container 3, liquefied gas tanker 5, livestock carrier 1,
oil tanker 6, refrigerated cargo 16, vehicle carrier 10
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 20
countries among which are Japan 37, US 19, Netherlands 10, Greece 6,
Hong Kong 6, China 4, Canada 4, UAE 3, Russia 2, and Australia 2
(1995 est.)

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

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

Telephones: 3,000 (1987 est.)

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

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

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 0 (1987 est.)

Televisions: 2,000 (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF;
includes the paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force or VMF)

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

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

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

@Venezuela ---------

Map ---

Location: 8 00 N, 66 00 W -- Northern South America, bordering the
Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and
Guyana

Flag ----

Description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue,
and red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band
and an arc of seven white five-pointed stars centered in the blue
band

Geography ---------

Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and
the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana

Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 66 00 W

Map references: South America

Area:
total area: 912,050 sq km
land area: 882,050 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of California

Land boundaries:
total: 4,993 km
border countries: Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km

Coastline: 2,800 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 15 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: claims all of Guyana west of the Essequibo River; maritime boundary dispute with Colombia in the Gulf of ======================================================================

@Vietnam -------

Map ---

Location: 16 00 N, 106 00 E -- Southeastern Asia, bordering the
Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, between China
and Cambodia

Flag ----

Description: red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the
center

Geography ---------

Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf
of Tonkin, and South China Sea, between China and Cambodia

Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N, 106 00 E

Map references: Southeast Asia

Area:
total area: 329,560 sq km
land area: 325,360 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries:
total: 3,818 km
border countries: Cambodia 982 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 1,555 km

Coastline: 3,444 km (excludes islands)

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: maritime boundary with Cambodia not
defined; involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands in
the South China Sea with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and
possibly Brunei; unresolved maritime boundary with Thailand;
maritime boundary dispute with China in the Gulf of Tonkin; Paracel
Islands in the South China Sea occupied by China but claimed by
Vietnam and Taiwan; offshore islands and sections of boundary with
Cambodia are in dispute

Climate: tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy
season (mid-May to mid-September) and warm, dry season (mid-October
to mid-March)

Terrain: low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands;
hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Ngoc Linh 3,143 m

Natural resources: phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate,
offshore oil deposits, forests

Land use:
arable land: 22%
permanent crops: 2%
meadows and pastures: 1%
forest and woodland: 40%
other: 35%

Irrigated land: 18,300 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices
are contributing to deforestation; soil degradation; water pollution
and overfishing threatening marine life populations; inadequate
supplies of potable water because of groundwater contamination
natural hazards: occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive
flooding
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not
ratified - Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban

People ------

Population: 73,976,973 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 36% (male 13,739,304; female 12,988,929)
15-64 years: 59% (male 20,956,735; female 22,448,944)
65 years and over: 5% (male 1,548,513; female 2,294,548) (July 1996
est.)

Population growth rate: 1.57% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 23 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 6.95 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.35 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: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 38.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.02 years
male: 64.69 years
female: 69.48 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.69 children born/woman (1996 est.)

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

Ethnic divisions: Vietnamese 85%-90%, Chinese 3%, Muong, Thai,
Meo, Khmer, Man, Cham

Religions: Buddhist, Taoist, Roman Catholic, indigenous beliefs,
Islam, Protestant

Languages: Vietnamese (official), French, Chinese, English, Khmer,
tribal languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 93.7%
male: 96.5%
female: 91.2%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnam
conventional short form: Vietnam
local long form: Cong Hoa Chu Nghia Viet Nam
local short form: Viet Nam
abbreviation: SRV

Data code: VM

Type of government: Communist state

Capital: Hanoi

Administrative divisions: 50 provinces (tinh, singular and
plural), 3 municipalities* (thu do, singular and plural); An Giang,
Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Bac Thai, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Thuan, Can Tho,
Cao Bang, Dac Lac, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Bac, Ha Giang,
Ha Noi*, Ha Tay, Ha Tinh, Hai Hung, Hai Phong*, Ho Chi Minh*, Hoa
Binh, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son,
Lao Cai, Long An, Minh Hai, Nam Ha, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan,
Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam-Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Quang Ninh,
Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La, Song Be, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thanh
Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Long,
Vinh Phu, Yen Bai

Independence: 2 September 1945 (from France)

National holiday: Independence Day, 2 September (1945)

Constitution: 15 April 1992

Legal system: based on communist legal theory and French civil law
system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Le Duc ANH (since 23 September 1992) was
elected for a five-year term by the National Assembly from among its
members
head of government: Prime Minister Vo Van KIET (since 9 August 1991)
was appointed by the president from among the members of the
National Assembly; First Deputy Prime Minister Phan Van KHAI (since
10 August 1991) and Deputy Prime Ministers Nguyen KHANH (since NA
February 1987) and Tran Duc LUONG (since NA February 1987) were
appointed by the prime minister
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president on proposal of the
prime minister and ratification of the National Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Quoc-Hoi): elections last held 19 July 1992 (next
to be held NA July 1997); results - CPV is the only party; seats -
(395 total) CPV or CPV-approved 395

Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court, chief justice is elected
for a five-year term by the National Assembly on the recommendation
of the president

Political parties and leaders: only party - Communist Party of
Vietnam (CPV), DO MUOI, general secretary

International organization participation: ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC,
ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU,
Mekong Group, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim
Le Van BANG
chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036, Suite 501
telephone: [1] (202) 861-0737
FAX: [1] (202) 861-0917
note: on 11 July 1995, President CLINTON announced the normalization
of diplomatic relations with Vietnam; the liaison offices in both
countries were upgraded to full embassies on 5 August 1995

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires L. Desaix
ANDERSON
embassy: 7 Lang Ha Road, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002
telephone: [84] (4) 431500
FAX: [84] (4) 350484
note: on 11 July 1995, President CLINTON announced the normalization
of diplomatic relations with Vietnam; the liaison offices in both
countries were upgraded to full embassies on 5 August 1995

Flag: red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center

Economy -------

Economic overview: Vietnam's economic performance has been
impressive in 1990-95, with real growth averaging over 8% annually.
Much of this growth comes from a surge in foreign investment outlays
which are estimated at $750 million in 1995, up 50% from 1993
levels. Utilization rates for official development assistance are
also increasing, rising to an estimated $535 million in 1995.
Foreign capital is contributing to a boom in commercial construction
and strong growth in services and industrial output. Crude oil
remains the country's largest single export but now accounts for
only one-quarter of total exports, slightly more than manufactures.
Imports are dominated by capital and intermediate goods closely
related to investment outlays. Vietnamese authorities may not be
moving quickly enough to establish the financial and legal
infrastructure needed to sustain growth through the remainder of the
decade. Reform of the banking sector is proceeding slowly, raising
concerns that the country will be unable to tap sufficient domestic
savings to maintain rapid growth. Administrative and legal barriers
are leading to costly delays for foreign investors, raising doubts
about Vietnam's ability to maintain the inflow of foreign capital.
While government officials are leading an effort to accelerate
reform, their continuing ideological bias in favor of state
intervention and control of the economy may slow progress toward a
more liberalized investment environment. Even with the strong growth
of the economy, unemployment at 25% remains a major problem.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $97 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 9.5% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $1,300 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 28%
industry: 28%
services: 44% (1995 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14% (1995)

Labor force: 32.7 million
by occupation: agricultural 65%, industrial and service 35% (1990
est.)

Unemployment rate: 25% (1995 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $4.67 billion
expenditures: $5 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.36
billion (1995 est.)

Industries: food processing, textiles, machine building, mining,
cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil

Industrial production growth rate: 14% (1995 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 4,470,000 kW
production: 20 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 200 kWh (1995 est.)

Agriculture: paddy rice, corn, potatoes, rubber, soybeans, coffee,
tea, bananas; poultry, pigs; fish catch of 943,100 metric tons (1989
est.)

Illicit drugs: opium producer and increasingly important transit
point for Southeast Asian heroin destined for the US and Europe;
growing opium addiction; possible small-scale heroin production

Exports: $5.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: crude oil, rice, marine products, coffee, rubber, tea,
and garments
partners: Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, France, South Korea

Imports: $7.5 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: petroleum products, machinery and equipment, steel
products, fertilizer, raw cotton, grain
partners: Singapore, South Korea, Japan, France, Hong Kong, Taiwan

External debt: $7.3 billion Western countries; $4.5 billion CEMA
debts primarily to Russia; $9 billion to $18 billion nonconvertible
debt (former CEMA, Iraq, Iran)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $57 million (1993)
note: $2.31 billion in credits and grants pledged by international
donors for 1996

Currency: 1 new dong (D) = 100 xu

Exchange rates: new dong (D) per US$1 - 11,193 (1995 average),
11,000 (October 1994), 10,800 (November 1993), 8,100 (July 1991),
7,280 (December 1990), 3,996 (March 1990)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 2,835 km (in addition, there are 224 km not restored to
service after war damage)
standard gauge: 151 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 2,454 km 1.000-m gauge
other gauge: 230 km NA-m dual gauge (three rails)

Highways:
total: 105,000 km
paved: 10,500 km
unpaved: 94,500 km (1993 est.)

Waterways: 17,702 km navigable; more than 5,149 km navigable at
all times by vessels up to 1.8 m draft

Pipelines: petroleum products 150 km

Ports: Da Nang, Haiphong, Ho Chi Minh City, Hon Gai, Qui Nhon, Nha
Trang

Merchant marine:
total: 112 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 569,269 GRT/947,938 DWT
ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 95, oil tanker 10, refrigerated cargo
3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
note: Vietnam owns an additional 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 120,320 DWT operating under the registries of Honduras,
Panama, The Bahamas, and Malta (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 48
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 8
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 5
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 13
with paved runways under 914 m: 7
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5
with unpaved runways under 914 m: 5 (1994 est.)

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

Telephones: 800,000 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: while Vietnam's telecommunication sector lags
far behind other countries in Southeast Asia, Hanoi has made
considerable progress since 1991 in upgrading the system; Vietnam
has digitized fully 100% of provincial switch boards, while
fiber-optic and microwave transmission systems have been extended
from Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City to all provinces; the
density of telephone receivers nationwide doubled from 1993 to 1995,
but is still far behind other countries in the region; Vietnam's
telecommunications strategy aims to increase telephone density to 30
per 1,000 inhabitants by the year 2000 and authorities estimate that
approximately $2.7 billion will be spent on telecommunications
upgrades through the end of the decade
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Indian
Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM 228, shortwave 0

Radios: 7.215 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 36 (repeaters 77)

Televisions: 2.9 million (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) (includes Ground Forces,
Navy, and Air Force)

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 18,593,129
males fit for military service: 11,769,955
males reach military age (17) annually: 796,312 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $544 million,
2.7% of GDP (1995)

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

@Virgin Islands --------------

(territory of the US)

Map ---

Location: 18 20 N, 64 50 W -- Caribbean, islands between the
Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

Flag ----

Description: white with a modified US coat of arms in the center
between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a
yellow eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows
in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white
stripes below a blue panel

Geography ---------

Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

Geographic coordinates: 18 20 N, 64 50 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total area: 352 sq km
land area: 349 sq km
comparative area: twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 188 km

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

International disputes: none

Climate: subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively
low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season
May to November

Terrain: mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level
land
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m

Natural resources: sun, sand, sea, surf

Land use:
arable land: 15%
permanent crops: 6%
meadows and pastures: 26%
forest and woodland: 6%
other: 47%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources
natural hazards: rarely affected by hurricanes; frequent and severe
droughts, floods, and earthquakes
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: important location along the Anegada Passage - a
key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the
best natural, deepwater harbors in the Caribbean

People ------

Population: 97,120 (July 1996 est.)
note: West Indian (45% born in the Virgin Islands and 29% born
elsewhere in the West Indies) 74%, US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 5%,
other 8%

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

Population growth rate: -0.06% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 17.57 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -12.94 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: 12.54 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.29 years
male: 73.6 years
female: 77.2 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.29 children born/woman (1996 est.)

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

Ethnic divisions: black 80%, white 15%, other 5%

Religions: Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%,
other 7%

Languages: English (official), Spanish, Creole

Literacy: NA

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Virgin Islands of the United States
conventional short form: Virgin Islands
former: Danish West Indies

Data code: VQ

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

Capital: Charlotte Amalie

Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)

National holiday: Transfer Day, 31 March (1917) (from Denmark to
US)

Constitution: Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954

Legal system: based on US laws

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous
inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential
elections

Executive branch:
chief of state: President (of the United States) William Jefferson
CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr.
(since 20 January 1993)
head of government: Governor Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER (since 5 January
1995) and Lieutenant Governor Kenneth E. MAPP (since 5 January 1995)
were elected for four-year terms by universal suffrage; election
last held 22 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998);
results - Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER (ICM) 54.7%, former Lieutenant
Governor Derek HODGE 42.6%

Legislative branch: unicameral
Senate: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held 5
November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15
total) Democrats 7, independents 7, Republican 1
US House of Representatives: elections last held 8 November 1994
(next to be held 5 November 1996); results - Victor O. FRAZER (ICM)
54.5%, Eileen R. PETERSON (Democrat) 45.5%; seats - (1 total) ICM 1;
note - the Virgin Islands elects one representative to the US House
of Representatives

Judicial branch: US District Court, handles civil matters over
$50,000, felonies (persons 15 years of age and over), and federal
cases, judges are appointed by the president; Territorial Court,
handles civil matters up to $50,000, small claims, juvenile,
domestic, misdemeanors, and traffic cases, judges appointed by the
governor

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party, Marilyn
STAPLETON; Independent Citizens' Movement (ICM), Virdin C. BROWN;
Republican Party, Charlotte-Poole DAVIS

International organization participation: ECLAC (associate), IOC

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

US diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US)

Flag: white with a modified US coat of arms in the center between
the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow
eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the
other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes
below a blue panel

Economy -------

Economic overview: Tourism is the primary economic activity,
accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The
manufacturing sector consists of textile, electronics,
pharmaceutical, and watch assembly plants. The agricultural sector
is small, most food being imported. International business and
financial services are a small but growing component of the economy.
One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.2 billion (1987 est.)

GDP real growth rate: NA%

GDP per capita: $12,500 (1987 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Labor force: 47,443 (1990 est.)
by occupation: agriculture, industry, services, other (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 3.7% (1992)

Budget:
revenues: $364.4 million
expenditures: $364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1990 est.)

Industries: tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum
distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics

Industrial production growth rate: 12% (year NA)

Electricity:
capacity: 320,000 kW
production: 970 million kWh
consumption per capita: 9,172 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: truck garden products, fruit, vegetables, sorghum;
Senepol cattle

Exports: $2.8 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
commodities: refined petroleum products
partners: US, Puerto Rico

Imports: $3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1990)
commodities: crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building
materials
partners: US, Puerto Rico

External debt: $NA

Economic aid: $NA

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: 856 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km

Ports: Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix

Merchant marine: none

Airports:
total: 2
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
note: international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix (1995
est.)

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

Telephones: 60,000 (1990 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay
international: submarine cable and satellite communications;
satellite earth stations - NA

Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 8, shortwave 0 (1988)

Radios: 105,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 4 (1988 est.)

Televisions: 65,000 (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the US

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

@Wake Island -----------

(territory of the US)

Map ---

Location: 19 17 N, 166 36 E -- Oceania, island in the North
Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the
Northern Mariana Islands

Flag ----

Description: the flag of the US is used

Geography ---------

Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about
two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands

Geographic coordinates: 19 17 N, 166 36 E

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total area: 6.5 sq km
land area: 6.5 sq km
comparative area: about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 19.3 km

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

International disputes: claimed by the Republic of the Marshall
Islands

Climate: tropical

Terrain: atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater
volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 6 m

Natural resources: none

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

Irrigated land: 0 sq km

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

Geographic note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean;
emergency landing location for transpacific flights

People ------

Population: no indigenous inhabitants; there are 302 US military
and contract personnel (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate: 0% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population

Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population

Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman

Government ----------

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

Data code: WQ

Type of government: unincorporated territory of the US
administered by the US Army and Strategic Defense Command since 1
October 1994

Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC

Independence: none (territory of the US)

Flag: the flag of the US is used

Economy -------

Economic overview: Economic activity is limited to providing
services to US military personnel and contractors located on the
island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

Electricity: supplied by US military

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

Railways: 0 km

Ports: none; two offshore anchorages for large ships

Merchant marine: none

Airports:
total: 1
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Transportation note: formerly an important commercial aviation
base, now used by US military, some commercial cargo planes, as well
as the US Army Space and Strategic Defense Command for missile
launches

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

Telephones: NA

Telephone system: satellite communications; 1 DSN circuit off the
Overseas Telephone System (OTS)
domestic: NA
international: NA

Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM NA, shortwave NA
note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio service
provided by satellite

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: NA
note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) television
service provided by satellite

Televisions: NA

Defense -------

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the US

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

@Wallis and Futuna -----------------

(overseas territory of France)

Map ---

Location: 13 18 S, 176 12 W -- Oceania, islands in the South
Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Flag ----

Description: a white modified Maltese cross centered on a red
background; the flag of France outlined in white on two sides is in
the upper hoist quadrant; the flag of France is used for official
occasions

Geography ---------

Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Geographic coordinates: 13 18 S, 176 12 W

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total area: 274 sq km
land area: 274 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC
note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island),
Ile Alofi, and 20 islets

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 129 km

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

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool,
dry season (May to October); rains 2,500-3,000 mm per year (80%
humidity); average temperature 26.6 degrees C

Terrain: volcanic origin; low hills
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Singavi 765 m

Natural resources: NEGL

Land use:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 20%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 75%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: deforestation (only small portions of the original
forests remain) largely as a result of the continued use of wood as
the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests,
the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion;
there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of
natural fresh water resources
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: both island groups have fringing reefs

People ------

Population: 14,659 (July 1996 est.)

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

Population growth rate: 1.11% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 24.38 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 5.02 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -8.23 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: 23.59 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.76 years
male: 72.16 years
female: 73.4 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders
adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander

Ethnic divisions: Polynesian

Religions: Roman Catholic 100%

Languages: French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1969 est.)
total population: 50%
male: 50%
female: 50%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands
conventional short form: Wallis and Futuna
local long form: Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna
local short form: Wallis et Futuna

Data code: WF

Type of government: overseas territory of France

Capital: Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)

Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France);
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the
US Government, but there are three kingdoms named Wallis, Sigave, Alo

Independence: none (overseas territory of France)

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: French legal system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May
1995), represented by High Administrator Leon-Alexandre LEGRAND
(since NA) was appointed by the French Ministry of the Interior
head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Mikaele
TAUHAVILI (since NA)
cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of three kings and three
members appointed by the high administrator on advice of the
Territorial Assembly
note: there are three traditional kings with limited powers

Legislative branch: unicameral
Territorial Assembly (Assemblee Territoriale): elections last held
22 March 1992 (next to be held NA March 1997); results - percent of
vote by party NA; seats - (20 total) RPR 9, Taumu'a Lelei 11
French Senate: elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be
held by NA September 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (1 total) RPR 1
French National Assembly: elections last held 21 and 28 March 1992
(next to be held by NA September 1996); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (1 total) MRG 1; note - Wallis and Futuna elect
one deputy

Judicial branch: none; justice generally administered under French
law by the high administrator, but the three traditional kings
administer customary law and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu

Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic (RPR); Union
Populaire Locale (UPL); Union Pour la Democratie Francaise (UDF);
Lua kae tahi (Giscardians); Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche (MRG);
Taumu'a Lelei

International organization participation: FZ, SPC

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

US diplomatic representation: none (overseas territory of France)

Flag: a white modified Maltese cross centered on a red background;
the flag of France outlined in white on two sides is in the upper
hoist quadrant; the flag of France is used for official occasions

Economy -------

Economic overview: The economy is limited to traditional
subsistence agriculture, with about 80% of the labor force earning
its livelihood from agriculture (coconuts and vegetables), livestock
(mostly pigs), and fishing. About 4% of the population is employed
in government. Revenues come from French Government subsidies,
licensing of fishing rights to Japan and South Korea, import taxes,
and remittances from expatriate workers in New Caledonia. Wallis and
Futuna imports food - particularly sugar, rice, and beef - fuel,
clothing, machinery, and transport equipment, but its exports are
negligible, consisting of copra and handicrafts.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $28.7 million (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: NA%

GDP per capita: $2,500 (1995 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Labor force: NA
by occupation: agriculture, livestock, and fishing 80%, government
4% (est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $14.04 million
expenditures: $14.04 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1994 est.)

Industries: copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 1,200 kW
production: 1 million kWh
consumption per capita: 70 kWh (1990)

Agriculture: yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats

Exports: $370,000 (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: copra, handicrafts
partners: NA

Imports: $13.5 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods, transportation
equipment, fuel, clothing
partners: France, Australia, New Zealand

External debt: $NA

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per
US$1 - 91.00 (January 1996), 90.75 (1995), 100.94 (1994), 102.96
(1993), 96.24 (1992), 102.57 (1991); note - linked at the rate of
18.18 to the French franc

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 120 km (Ile Uvea 100 km, Ile Futuna 20 km)
paved: 16 km (all on Ile Uvea)
unpaved: 104 km (Ile Uvea 84 km, Ile Futuna 20 km)

Waterways: none

Ports: Leava, Mata-Utu

Merchant marine:
total: 1 oil tanker (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 26,000 GRT/40,000
DWT (1995 est.)

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

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

Telephones: 340 (1985 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA

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

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 0

Televisions: NA

Defense -------

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of France

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

@West Bank ---------

The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements ("the DOP"), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993, provides for a transitional period not exceeding five years of Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Permanent status negotiations began on 5 May 1996.

Map ---

Location: 32 00 N, 35 15 E -- Middle East, west of Jordan

Geography ---------

Location: Middle East, west of Jordan

Geographic coordinates: 32 00 N, 35 15 E

Map references: Middle East

Area:
total area: 5,860 sq km
land area: 5,640 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Delaware
note: includes West Bank, Latrun Salient, and the northwest quarter
of the Dead Sea, but excludes Mt. Scopus; East Jerusalem and
Jerusalem No Man's Land are also included only as a means of
depicting the entire area occupied by Israel in 1967

Land boundaries:
total: 404 km
border countries: Israel 307 km, Jordan 97 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

International disputes: West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli
occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian
Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through
further negotiation

Climate: temperate, temperature and precipitation vary with
altitude, warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters

Terrain: mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west,
but barren in east
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Tall Asur 1,022 m

Natural resources: NEGL

Land use:
arable land: 27%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 32%
forest and woodland: 1%
other: 40%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

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

Geographic note: landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for
Israel's coastal aquifers; there are 202 Israeli settlements and
civilian land use sites in the West Bank and 26 in East Jerusalem
(August 1995 est.)

People ------

Population: 1,427,741 (July 1996 est.)
note: in addition, there are 127,600 Israeli settlers in the West
Bank and 153,700 in East Jerusalem (August 1995 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 332,628; female 315,968)
15-64 years: 51% (male 368,180; female 362,880)
65 years and over: 4% (male 20,495; female 27,590) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 4.99% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 38.78 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 4.66 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 15.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 28.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.76 years
male: 70.17 years
female: 73.44 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.2 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: NA
adjective: NA

Ethnic divisions: Palestinian Arab and other 83%, Jewish 17%

Religions: Muslim 75% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 17%, Christian
and other 8%

Languages: Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers), English
(widely understood)

Literacy: NA

Government ----------

Government note: Under the Israeli-PLO Declaration of Principles
on Interim Self-Government Arrangements ("the DOP"), Israel agreed
to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian
Authority, a Palestinian Legislative Council, elected in January
1996, as part of interim self-governing arrangements in the West
Bank and Gaza Strip. A transfer of powers and responsibilities for
the Gaza Strip and Jericho has taken place pursuant to the
Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the
Jericho Area. A transfer of powers and responsibilities in certain
spheres for the rest of the West Bank has taken place pursuant to
the Israel-PLO 29 August 1994 Agreement on Preparatory Transfer of
Powers and Responsibilities. A transfer of powers and
responsibilities in additional areas of the West Bank has taken
place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28 September 1995 Interim
Agreement. The DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility
during the transitional period for external security and for
internal security and public order of settlements and Israelis.
Permanent status is to be determined through direct negotiations
within five years.

Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: West Bank

Data code: WE

Economy -------

Economic overview: Economic progress in the West Bank has been
hampered by Israeli military administration and the effects of the
Palestinian uprising (intifadah). Industries using advanced
technology or requiring sizable investment have been discouraged by
a lack of local capital and restrictive Israeli policies. Capital
investment consists largely of residential housing, not productive
assets that would enable local Palestinian firms to compete with
Israeli industry. GDP has been substantially supplemented by
remittances of workers employed in Israel and Persian Gulf states.
Such transfers from the Gulf dropped after Iraq invaded Kuwait in
August 1990. In the wake of the Persian Gulf crisis, many
Palestinians have returned to the West Bank, increasing
unemployment, and export revenues have dropped because of the
decline of markets in Jordan and the Gulf states. The area's
economic situation has worsened since Israel imposed stringent
border restrictions in 1995 and 1996.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.7 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 3%-4% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $2,500 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 33%
industry: 7%
services: 60% (1995 est., includes Gaza Strip)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14% (1995 est.)

Labor force: NA
by occupation: construction 28.2%, agriculture 21.8%, industry
14.5%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 12.6%, other services 22.9%
(1991)
note: excluding Israeli settlers

Unemployment rate: 25%-30% (1995 est.)

Budget: $NA

Industries: generally small family businesses that produce cement,
textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs;
the Israelis have established some small-scale, modern industries in
the settlements and industrial centers

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: NA kW
production: NA kWh
consumption per capita: NA kWh
note: most electricity imported from Israel; East Jerusalem Electric
Company buys and distributes electricity to Palestinians in East
Jerusalem and its concession in the West Bank; the Israel Electric
Company directly supplies electricity to most Jewish residents and
military facilities; at the same time, some Palestinian
municipalities, such as Nabulus and Janin, generate their own
electricity from small power plants

Agriculture: olives, citrus and other fruits, vegetables; beef,
dairy products

Exports: $116 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: olives, fruit, vegetables
partners: Jordan, Israel

Imports: $791 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
commodities: food, consumer goods, construction materials
partners: Jordan, Israel

External debt: $NA

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
note: $410 million (est.) disbursed from international aid pledged
in 1995 (includes aid to Gaza Strip)

Currency: 1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot; 1 Jordanian
dinar (JD) = 1,000 fils

Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 3.1295
(January 1996), 3.0113 (1995), 3.0111 (1994), 2.8301 (1993), 2.4591
(1992), 2.2791 (1991); Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1 - 0.7090
(January 1996), 0.7005 (1995), 0.6987 (1994), 0.6928 (1993), 0.6797
(1992), 0.6808 (1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year (since 1 January 1992)

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

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
note: small road network; Israelis have developed many highways to
service Jewish settlements

Ports: none

Airports:
total: 2
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: NA
note: 8% of Palestinian households have telephones (1992 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA
note: Israeli company BEZEK is responsible for communication
services in the West Bank

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

Radios: NA; note - 82% of Palestinian households have radios (1992
est.)

Television broadcast stations: 0
note: 1 broadcast station is planned for Jericho

Televisions: NA; note - 54% of Palestinian households have
televisions (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: NA

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

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

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

@Western Sahara --------------

Map ---

Location: 24 30 N, 13 00 W -- Northern Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco

Geography ---------

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Mauritania and Morocco

Geographic coordinates: 24 30 N, 13 00 W

Map references: Africa

Area:
total area: 266,000 sq km
land area: 266,000 sq km
comparative area: about the size of Colorado

Land boundaries:
total: 2,046 km
border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km

Coastline: 1,110 km

Maritime claims: contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue

International disputes: claimed and administered by Morocco, but
sovereignty is unresolved and the UN is attempting to hold a
referendum on the issue; the UN-administered cease-fire has been in
effect since September 1991

Climate: hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents
produce fog and heavy dew

Terrain: mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or
sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast
lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m
highest point: unnamed location 463 m

Natural resources: phosphates, iron ore

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 19%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 81%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: sparse water and arable land
natural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur
during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of
time, often severely restricting visibility
international agreements: NA

People ------

Population: 222,631 (July 1996 est.)

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

Population growth rate: 2.46% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 46.51 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 18.02 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -3.94 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: 145.82 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 47.01 years
male: 46 years
female: 48.34 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.85 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)
adjective: Sahrawian, Sahraouian

Ethnic divisions: Arab, Berber

Religions: Muslim

Languages: Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic

Literacy: NA

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Western Sahara

Data code: WI

Type of government: legal status of territory and question of
sovereignty unresolved; territory contested by Morocco and Polisario
Front (Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and
Rio de Oro), which in February 1976 formally proclaimed a
government-in-exile of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR);
territory partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania in April 1976,
with Morocco acquiring northern two-thirds; Mauritania, under
pressure from Polisario guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its
portion in August 1979; Morocco moved to occupy that sector shortly
thereafter and has since asserted administrative control; the
Polisario's government-in-exile was seated as an OAU member in 1984;
guerrilla activities continued sporadically, until a UN-monitored
cease-fire was implemented 6 September 1991

Capital: none

Administrative divisions: none (under defacto control of Morocco)

Executive branch: none

International organization participation: none

Diplomatic representation in US: none

US diplomatic representation: none

Economy -------

Economic overview: Western Sahara, a territory poor in natural
resources and having little rainfall, depends on pastoral nomadism,
fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for
the population. Most of the food for the urban population must be
imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by
the Moroccan Government. Incomes and standards of living are
substantially below the Moroccan level.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $NA

GDP real growth rate: NA%

GDP per capita: $NA

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Labor force: 12,000
by occupation: animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50%

Unemployment rate: NA%

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

Industries: phosphate mining, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 60,000 kW
production: 79 million kWh
consumption per capita: 339 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases);
camels, sheep, goats (kept by the nomads)

Exports: $NA
commodities: phosphates 62%
partners: Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade
partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts

Imports: $NA
commodities: fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
partners: Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade
partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts

External debt: $NA

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1 - 8.607 (January
1996), 8.540 (1995), 9.203 (1994), 9.299 (1993), 8.538 (1992), 8.707
(1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways: 0 km