Chapter V (3)

National holiday: Flag Day, 18 March

Constitution: 1 January 1986

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (of the Netherlands
since 30 April 1980), a constitutional monarch, is represented by
Governor General Olindo KOOLMAN (since 1 January 1992) who was
appointed for a six-year term by the queen
head of government: Prime Minister Jan (Henny) H. EMAN (since 29
July 1994) and Deputy Prime Minister Glenbert F. CROES were
appointed by the legislature
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the legislature

Legislative branch: unicameral
Legislature (Staten): elections last held 29 July 1994 (next to be
held by NA July 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats
- (21 total) AVP 10, MEP 9, OLA 2

Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice

Political parties and leaders: Electoral Movement Party (MEP),
Nelson ODUBER; Aruban People's Party (AVP), Jan (Henny) H. EMAN;
National Democratic Action (ADN), Pedro Charro KELLY; New Patriotic
Party (PPN), Eddy WERLEMEN; Aruban Patriotic Party (PPA), Benny
NISBET; Aruban Democratic Party (PDA), Leo BERLINSKI; Democratic
Action '86 (AD '86), Arturo ODUBER; Aruban Liberal Party (OLA),
Glenbert CROES
note: governing coalition includes the AVP and OLA

International organization participation: ECLAC (associate),
Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WToO (associate)

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

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

Flag: blue with two narrow horizontal yellow stripes across the
lower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the
upper hoist-side corner

Economy -------

Economic overview: Tourism is the mainstay of the Aruban economy,
although offshore banking and oil refining and storage are also
important. The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last
decade has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities.
Construction has boomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985
level. In addition, the reopening of the country's oil refinery in
1993, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings,
has further spurred growth. Aruba's small labor force and less than
1% unemployment rate have led to a large number of unfilled job
vacancies despite sharp rises in wage rates in recent years.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.2 billion (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 6.1% (1994 est.)

GDP per capita: $18,000 (1994 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.1% (1994)

Labor force: NA
by occupation: most employment is in the tourist industry (1995)

Unemployment rate: 0.5% (1994)

Budget:
revenues: $145 million
expenditures: $185 million, including capital expenditures of $42
million (1988)

Industries: tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 90,000 kW
production: 330 million kWh
consumption per capita: 4,761 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: aloes; livestock; fishing

Illicit drugs: major drug money laundering center and minor
transit point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe

Exports: $1.3 billion (including oil re-exports) (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: mostly refined petroleum products
partners: US 64%, EU

Imports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: food, consumer goods, manufactures, petroleum products,
crude oil for refining and reexport
partners: US 8%, EU

External debt: $669 million (December 1995)

Economic aid: $NA

Currency: 1 Aruban florin (Af.) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Aruban florins (Af.) per US$1 - 1.7900 (fixed rate
since 1986)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways: 0 km

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

Ports: Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas

Merchant marine: none

Airports:
total: 2
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
note: government-owned airport east of Oranjestad accepts
transatlantic flights (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 22,922 (1993 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: more than adequate
international: 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten (Netherlands
Antilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relay links

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

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 1

Televisions: 19,000 (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands

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

@Ashmore and Cartier Islands ---------------------------

(territory of Australia)

Map ---

Location: 12 14 S, 123 05 E -- Southeastern Asia, islands in the
Indian Ocean, northwest of Australia

Flag ----

Description: the flag of Australia is used

Geography ---------

Location: Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean,
northwest of Australia

Geographic coordinates: 12 14 S, 123 05 E

Map references: Southeast Asia

Area:
total area: 5 sq km
land area: 5 sq km
comparative area: about eight times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and
Cartier Island

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 74.1 km

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

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical

Terrain: low with sand and coral
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m

Natural resources: fish

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (all grass and sand)

Irrigated land: 0 sq km

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose
maritime hazards
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established
in August 1983

People ------

Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are only
seasonal caretakers

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Data code: AT

Type of government: territory of Australia administered by the
Australian Ministry for the Environment, Sport, and Territories

Capital: none; administered from Canberra, Australia

Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)

Independence: none (territory of Australia)

Legal system: relevant laws of the Northern Territory of Australia

Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of Australia)

US diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)

Flag: the flag of Australia is used

Economy -------

Economic overview: no economic activity

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

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

Defense -------

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic
visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force

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

@Atlantic Ocean --------------

Map ---

Location: 0 00 N, 25 00 W -- body of water between Africa, Europe,
Antarctica, and the Western Hemisphere

Geography ---------

Location: body of water between Africa, Europe, Antarctica, and
the Western Hemisphere

Geographic coordinates: 0 00 N, 25 00 W

Map references: World

Area:
total area: 82.217 million sq km
comparative area: slightly less than nine times the size of the US;
second-largest of the world's four oceans (after the Pacific Ocean,
but larger than Indian Ocean or Arctic Ocean)
note: includes Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait,
Denmark Strait, Drake Passage, Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean Sea,
North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Scotia Sea, Weddell Sea, and other
tributary water bodies

Coastline: 111,866 km

International disputes: some maritime disputes (see littoral
states)

Climate: tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of
Africa near Cape Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea;
hurricanes can occur from May to December, but are most frequent
from August to November

Terrain: surface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea,
Denmark Strait, and Baltic Sea from October to June; clockwise warm
water gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the northern
Atlantic, counterclockwise warm water gyre in the southern Atlantic;
the ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged
north-south centerline for the entire Atlantic basin
lowest point: Puerto Rico Trench -8,605 m
highest point: sea level 0 m

Natural resources: oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals
and whales), sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits,
polymetallic nodules, precious stones

Environment:
current issues: endangered marine species include the manatee,
seals, sea lions, turtles, and whales; drift net fishing is
hastening the decline of fish stocks and contributing to
international disputes; municipal sludge pollution off eastern US,
southern Brazil, and eastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean
Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North
Sea; industrial waste and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea,
North Sea, and Mediterranean Sea
natural hazards: icebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait,
and the northwestern Atlantic Ocean from February to August and have
been spotted as far south as Bermuda and the Madeira Islands;
icebergs from Antarctica occur in the extreme southern Atlantic
Ocean; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme northern
Atlantic from October to May and extreme southern Atlantic from May
to October; persistent fog can be a maritime hazard from May to
September
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: major choke points include the Dardanelles,
Strait of Gibraltar, access to the Panama and Suez Canals; strategic
straits include the Strait of Dover, Straits of Florida, Mona
Passage, The Sound (Oresund), and Windward Passage; the Equator
divides the Atlantic Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South
======================================================================

@Australia ---------

Map ---

Location: 27 00 S, 133 00 E -- Oceania, continent between the
Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean

Flag ----

Description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side
quadrant; the remaining half is a representation of the Southern
Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and
four, larger, seven-pointed stars

Geography ---------

Location: Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the
South Pacific Ocean

Geographic coordinates: 27 00 S, 133 00 E

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total area: 7,686,850 sq km
land area: 7,617,930 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than the US
note: includes Macquarie Island

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 25,760 km

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

International disputes: territorial claim in Antarctica
(Australian Antarctic Territory)

Climate: generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east;
tropical in north

Terrain: mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in
southeast
lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 m
highest point: Mount Kosciusko 2,229 m

Natural resources: bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver,
uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds,
natural gas, petroleum

Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 58%
forest and woodland: 14%
other: 22%

Irrigated land: 18,800 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial
development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity
rising due to the use of poor quality water; desertification;
clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of
many unique animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the
northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened
by increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited
natural fresh water resources
natural hazards: cyclones along the coast; severe droughts
international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification

Geographic note: world's smallest continent but sixth-largest
country; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern
coasts; regular, tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as "the
Doctor" occurs along the west coast in the summer

People ------

Population: 18,260,863 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 21% (male 2,009,915; female 1,912,605)
15-64 years: 66% (male 6,129,285; female 5,980,315)
65 years and over: 13% (male 967,291; female 1,261,452) (July 1996
est.)

Population growth rate: 0.99% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 13.99 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 6.88 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 2.74 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: 0.77 male(s)/female
all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 5.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.39 years
male: 76.44 years
female: 82.5 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.84 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Australian(s)
adjective: Australian

Ethnic divisions: Caucasian 95%, Asian 4%, aboriginal and other 1%

Religions: Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian
24.3%

Languages: English, native languages

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia
conventional short form: Australia

Data code: AS

Type of government: federal parliamentary state

Capital: Canberra

Administrative divisions: 6 states and 2 territories*; Australian
Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*,
Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Dependent areas: Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island,
Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and
McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island

Independence: 1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)

National holiday: Australia Day, 26 January (1788)

Constitution: 9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a
hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General Sir William
DEANE (since 16 February 1996) who was appointed by the queen
head of government: Prime Minister John Winston HOWARD (since 11
March 1996) was appointed by the governor general; Deputy Prime
Minister Timothy Andrew FISCHER (since 11 March 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet was selected from among the members of Federal
Parliament by the governor general on the advice of the prime
minister

Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Parliament
Senate: elections last held 2 March 1996 (next to be held NA 1999);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (76 total)
Liberal-National 37, Labor 29, Australian Democrats 8, Greens 1,
independent 1
House of Representatives: elections last held 2 March 1996 (next to
be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
(148 total) Liberal-National 94, Labor 49, independent 5

Judicial branch: High Court, the Chief Justice and six other
justices are appointed by the governor general

Political parties and leaders:
government: coalition of Liberal Party, John Winston HOWARD and
National Party, Timothy Andrew FISCHER
opposition: Australian Labor Party, Kim BEAZLEY; Australian
Democratic Party, Cheryl KERNOT; Green Party, Bob BROWN

Other political or pressure groups: Australian Democratic Labor
Party (anti-Communist Labor Party splinter group); Peace and Nuclear
Disarmament Action (Nuclear Disarmament Party splinter group)

International organization participation: AG (observer), ANZUS,
APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-
8, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM
(guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAMIR,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John Phillip MCCARTHY
chancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 797-3000
FAX: [1] (202) 797-3168
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New
York, Pago Pago (American Samoa), and San Francisco

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Edward J. PERKINS
embassy: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital
Territory 2600
mailing address: APO AP 96549
telephone: [61] (6) 270-5000
FAX: [61] (6) 270-5970
consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney
consulate(s): Brisbane

Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side
quadrant; the remaining half is a representation of the Southern
Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and
four, larger, seven-pointed stars

Economy -------

Economic overview: Australia has a prosperous Western-style
capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP comparable to levels in
highly industrialized West European countries. Rich in natural
resources, Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products,
minerals, metals, and fossil fuels. Commodities account for more
than 80% of the value of total exports, so that, as in 1983-84, a
downturn in world commodity prices can have a big impact on the
economy. The government is pushing for increased exports of
manufactured goods, but competition in international markets
continues to be severe. Australia has suffered from the low growth
and high unemployment characterizing the OECD countries in the early
1990s. In 1992-93 the economy recovered slowly from the prolonged
recession of 1990-91, a major restraining factor being weak world
demand for Australia's exports. Growth picked up so strongly in 1994
that the government felt the need for fiscal and monetary tightening
by yearend. Australia's GDP grew 6.4% in 1994, largely due to
increases in industrial output and business investment. A severe
drought in 1994 reduced the value of Australia's net farm
production, but rising world commodity prices are likely to boost
commodity exports by 15% to $42.4 billion in 1995/96, according to
government statistics. Short-term economic problems include a
balancing of output growth and inflationary pressures and the
stimulation of exports to offset rising imports.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $405.4 billion (1995 est.)

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

GDP per capita: $22,100 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.1%
industry: 27.7%
services: 69.2% (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.75% (1995)

Labor force: 8.63 million (September 1991)
by occupation: finance and services 33.8%, public and community
services 22.3%, wholesale and retail trade 20.1%, manufacturing and
industry 16.2%, agriculture 6.1% (1987)

Unemployment rate: 8.1% (December 1995)

Budget:
revenues: $95.69 billion
expenditures: $95.15 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY95/96 est.)

Industries: mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food
processing, chemicals, steel

Industrial production growth rate: 3.9% (FY93/94)

Electricity:
capacity: 34,540,000 kW
production: 155 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 8,021 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep,
poultry

Illicit drugs: Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of
licit opiate products; government maintains strict controls over
areas of opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw
concentrate

Exports: $51.57 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and
transport equipment
partners: Japan 25%, US 11%, South Korea 6%, NZ 5.7%, UK, Taiwan,
Singapore, Hong Kong (1992)

Imports: $57.41 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: machinery and transport equipment, computers and office
machines, crude oil and petroleum products
partners: US 23%, Japan 18%, UK 6%, Germany 5.7%, NZ 4% (1992)

External debt: $147.2 billion (1994)

Economic aid:
donor: ODA, $953 million (1993)

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

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3477 (January
1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3668 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992),
1.2835 (1991)

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

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

Railways:
total: 38,563 km (2,914 km electrified; 172 km dual gauge)
broad gauge: 6,083 km 1.600-m gauge
standard gauge: 16,752 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 15,728 km 1.067-m gauge

Highways:
total: 810,264 km
paved: 283,592 km (including 1,200 km of expressways)
unpaved: 526,672 km (1989 est.)

Waterways: 8,368 km; mainly by small, shallow-draft craft

Pipelines: crude oil 2,500 km; petroleum products 500 km; natural
gas 5,600 km

Ports: Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Devonport, Fremantle,
Geelong, Hobart (Tasmania), Launceton (Tasmania), Mackay, Melbourne,
Sydney, Townsville

Merchant marine:
total: 76 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,547,869 GRT/3,679,534
DWT
ships by type: bulk 30, cargo 4, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk
1, container 6, liquefied gas tanker 6, oil tanker 18,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea passenger 1 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 442
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 9
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 13
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 106
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 116
with paved runways under 914 m: 30
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 22
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 146 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 8.7 million (1987 est.)

Telephone system: good domestic and international service
domestic: domestic satellite system
international: submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea,
and Indonesia; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (4 Indian
Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean), 2 Inmarsat (Indian and Pacific Ocean
Regions)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 258, FM 67, shortwave 0

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 134 (1987 est.)

Televisions: 9.2 million (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian
Air Force

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 4,848,777
males fit for military service: 4,192,250
males reach military age (17) annually: 127,569 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $7.3 billion,
2.0% of GDP (FY95/96)

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

@Austria -------

Map ---

Location: 47 20 N, 13 20 E -- Central Europe, north of Italy

Flag ----

Description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and
red

Geography ---------

Location: Central Europe, north of Italy

Geographic coordinates: 47 20 N, 13 20 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total area: 83,850 sq km
land area: 82,730 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Maine

Land boundaries:
total: 2,558 km
border countries: Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366
km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 37 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 324
km, Switzerland 164 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

International disputes: none

Climate: temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with
frequent rain in lowlands and snow in mountains; cool summers with
occasional showers

Terrain: in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the
eastern and northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping
lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m
highest point: Grossglockner 3,797 m

Natural resources: iron ore, oil, timber, magnesite, lead, coal,
lignite, copper, hydropower

Land use:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 24%
forest and woodland: 39%
other: 19%

Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1989)

Environment:
current issues: some forest degradation caused by air and soil
pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural
chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and
oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from trucks
transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur
94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol

Geographic note: landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads
of central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and
valleys; major river is the Danube; population is concentrated on
eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low
temperatures elsewhere

People ------

Population: 8,023,244 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 720,696; female 685,179)
15-64 years: 67% (male 2,726,122; female 2,659,162)
65 years and over: 15% (male 451,231; female 780,854) (July 1996
est.)

Population growth rate: 0.41% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 11.19 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 10.43 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 3.34 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: 0.58 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 6.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.53 years
male: 73.38 years
female: 79.84 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.49 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Austrian(s)
adjective: Austrian

Ethnic divisions: German 99.4%, Croatian 0.3%, Slovene 0.2%, other
0.1%

Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 6%, other 9%

Languages: German

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1974 est.)
total population: 99%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Austria
conventional short form: Austria
local long form: Republik Oesterreich
local short form: Oesterreich

Data code: AU

Type of government: federal republic

Capital: Vienna

Administrative divisions: 9 states (bundeslaender, singular -
bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten, Niederoesterreich,
Oberoesterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien

Independence: 12 November 1918 (from Austro-Hungarian Empire)

National holiday: National Day, 26 October (1955)

Constitution: 1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1 May 1945)

Legal system: civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial
review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court; separate
administrative and civil/penal supreme courts; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; compulsory for presidential
elections

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Thomas KLESTIL (since 8 July 1992) was
elected for a six-year term by popular vote; election last held 24
May 1992 (next to be held 1998); results of second ballot - Thomas
KLESTIL 57%, Rudolf STREICHER 43%
head of government: Chancellor Franz VRANITZKY (since 16 June 1986)
was chosen by the president from the majority party in the National
Council; Vice Chancellor Wolfgang SCHUESSEL (since 22 April 1995)
was chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor
cabinet: Council of Ministers was chosen by the president on the
advice of the chancellor

Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung)
Federal Council (Bundesrat): consists of 63 members representing
each of the provinces on the basis of population, but with each
province having at least three representatives
National Council (Nationalrat): elections last held 17 December 1995
(next to be held Fall 1999); results - SPOE 38.3%, OEVP 28.3%, FPOE
22.1%, Greens 4.6%, LF 5.3%, other 1.4%; seats - (183 total) SPOE
71, OEVP 53, FPOE 40, Greens 9, LF 10

Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for
civil and criminal cases; Administrative Court
(Verwaltungsgerichtshof) for bureaucratic cases; Constitutional
Court (Verfassungsgerichtshof) for constitutional cases

Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party of Austria
(SPOE), Franz VRANITZKY, chairman; Austrian People's Party (OEVP),
Wolfgang SCHUESSEL, chairman; Freedom Movement (F, formerly the
Freedom Party of Austria or FPOE), Joerg HAIDER, chairman; Communist
Party (KPOE), Walter SILBERMAYER, chairman; The Greens, Madeleine
PETROVIC; Liberal Forum (LF), Heide SCHMIDT

Other political or pressure groups: Federal Chamber of Commerce
and Industry; Austrian Trade Union Federation (primarily Socialist);
three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party (OEVP)
representing business, labor, and farmers; OEVP-oriented League of
Austrian Industrialists; Roman Catholic Church, including its chief
lay organization, Catholic Action

International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),
AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA,
EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,
ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIH, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU
(observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Helmut TUERK
chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035
telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700
FAX: [1] (202) 895-6750
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Swanee G. HUNT
chancery: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1091, Vienna
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [43] (1) 313-39
FAX: [43] (1) 310-0682

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red

Economy -------

Economic overview: Austria has a well-developed market economy
with a sizable - but falling - proportion of nationalized industry,
an extensive social system, and a high standard of living. Austria's
economy is closely integrated with Germany and other EU members -
Austria joined the EU on 1 January 1995. Since the early 1980s, the
Austrian economy has experienced stable growth. Following a mild
recession in 1993, Austria's economy - driven by strong exports,
investment, and private consumption - expanded 2.7% in 1994 and
about 2.4% in 1995. The slowdown in 1995 was largely due to an
appreciation of the Austrian schilling and its negative effect on
exports and tourism. EU membership has had a positive impact on
foreign investment and has helped to lower inflation. Despite
Austria's generally favorable economic prospects, the government
faces a number of economic challenges, especially budget
consolidation. Smaller than expected revenues and rising welfare
payments caused the budget deficit to climb to 7.1% of GDP in 1995.
Austria also faces a growing unemployment problem. Although low by
European standards, Austria's unemployment rate has risen gradually
during the 1990s as companies restructured to meet competition from
the EU single market and Eastern Europe.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $152 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 2.4% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $19,000 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 34%
services: 64% (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.3% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 3.47 million (1989)
by occupation: services 56.4%, industry and crafts 35.4%,
agriculture and forestry 8.1%
note: an estimated 200,000 Austrians are employed in other European
countries; foreign laborers in Austria number 177,840, about 5% of
labor force (1988)

Unemployment rate: 4.6% (1995 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $65 billion
expenditures: $75.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995 est.)

Industries: food, iron and steel, machines, textiles, chemicals,
electrical, paper and pulp, tourism, mining, motor vehicles

Industrial production growth rate: 7.7% (first half 1995)

Electricity:
capacity: 17,230,000 kW
production: 50.2 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 5,824 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: grains, fruit, potatoes, sugar beets; cattle, pigs,
poultry; sawn wood

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin
transiting the Balkan route and Eastern Europe

Exports: $45.2 billion (1994)
commodities: machinery and equipment, iron and steel, lumber,
textiles, paper products, chemicals
partners: EU 64.8% (Germany 38.1%, Italy 8.1%), Eastern Europe
11.8%, Japan 1.6%, US 3.5% (1994)

Imports: $55.3 billion (1994)
commodities: petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment,
vehicles, chemicals, textiles and clothing, pharmaceuticals
partners: EU 68.4% (Germany 40%, Italy 8.8%), Eastern Europe 6.55%,
Japan 4.3%, US 4.4% (1994)

External debt: $28.7 billion (1995 est.)

Economic aid:
donor: ODA, $544 million (1993)

Currency: 1 Austrian schilling (S) = 100 groschen

Exchange rates: Austrian schillings (S) per US$1 - 10.314 (January
1996), 10.081 (1995), 11.422 (1994), 11.632 (1993), 10.989 (1992),
11.676 (1991)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 5,624 km
standard gauge: 5,269 km 1.435-m gauge (3,263 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 355 km 1.000-m and 0.760-m gauge (86 km electrified)
(1995)

Highways:
total: 108,000 km
paved: 22,000 km (including 1,800 km of expressways)
unpaved: 86,000 km (1992 est.)

Waterways: 446 km

Pipelines: crude oil 554 km; petroleum products 171 km; natural
gas 2,611 km

Ports: Linz, Vienna

Merchant marine:
total: 29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 88,617 GRT/122,475 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 23, combination bulk 2, container 1,
refrigerated cargo 2 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 55
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 5
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
with paved runways under 914 m: 41
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4 (1995 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 3.47 million (1986 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: highly developed and efficient
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic
Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 2 Eutelsat

Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 21 (repeaters 545), shortwave 0

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 47 (repeaters 870)

Televisions: 2,418,584 (1984 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Army (includes Flying Division)

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 2,084,827
males fit for military service: 1,741,068
males reach military age (19) annually: 45,628 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.1 billion,
1.0% of GDP (1995)

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

@Azerbaijan ----------

Azerbaijan continues to be plagued by an unresolved eight-year-old conflict with Armenian separatists over its Nagorno-Karabakh region. The Karabakh Armenians have declared independence and seized almost 20% of the country's territory, creating almost 1 million Azeri refugees in the process. Both sides have generally observed a Russian-mediated cease-fire in place since May 1994, and support the OSCE-mediated peace process, now entering its fifth year. Nevertheless, Baku and Xankandi (Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh region) remain far apart on most substantive issues from the placement and composition of a peacekeeping force to the enclave's ultimate political status, and prospects for a negotiated settlement remain dim.

Map ---

Location: 40 30 N, 47 30 E -- Southwestern Asia, bordering the
Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia

Flag ----

Description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and
green; a crescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in
red band

Geography ---------

Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between
Iran and Russia

Geographic coordinates: 40 30 N, 47 30 E

Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States

Area:
total area: 86,600 sq km
land area: 86,100 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Maine
note: includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and the
Nagorno-Karabakh region; the region's autonomy was abolished by
Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991

Land boundaries:
total: 2,013 km
border countries: Armenia (with Azerbaijan-proper) 566 km, Armenia
(with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran
(with Azerbaijan-proper) 432 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan
exclave) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
note: Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (800 km, est.)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

International disputes: violent and longstanding dispute with
ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh over its status; Caspian Sea
boundaries are not yet determined

Climate: dry, semiarid steppe

Terrain: large, flat Kur-Araz Lowland (much of it below sea level)
with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag (Karabakh)
Upland in west; Baku lies on Abseron (Apsheron) Peninsula that juts
into Caspian Sea
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous
metals, alumina

Land use:
arable land: 18%
permanent crops: 4%
meadows and pastures: 25%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 53%

Irrigated land: 14,010 sq km (1990)

Environment:
current issues: local scientists consider the Abseron (Apsheron)
Peninsula (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be
the ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe
air, water, and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use
of DDT as a pesticide and also from toxic defoliants used in the
production of cotton
natural hazards: droughts; some lowland areas threatened by rising
levels of the Caspian Sea
international agreements: party to - Climate Change; signed, but not
ratified - Biodiversity

Geographic note: landlocked

People ------

Population: 7,676,953 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 32% (male 1,270,812; female 1,215,781)
15-64 years: 61% (male 2,293,688; female 2,423,222)
65 years and over: 7% (male 179,048; female 294,402) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.78% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 22.28 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 8.69 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -5.8 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: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 74.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.84 years
male: 60.13 years
female: 69.78 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.64 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Azerbaijani(s)
adjective: Azerbaijani

Ethnic divisions: Azeri 90%, Dagestani Peoples 3.2%, Russian 2.5%,
Armenian 2.3%, other 2% (1995 est.)
note: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh
region

Religions: Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox
2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.)
note: religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan; actual
practicing adherents are much lower

Languages: Azeri 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other 6% (1995 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)
total population: 97%
male: 99%
female: 96%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Azerbaijani Republic
conventional short form: Azerbaijan
local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi
local short form: none
former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic

Data code: AJ

Type of government: republic

Capital: Baku (Baki)

Administrative divisions: 59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular),
11 cities* (saharlar; sahar - singular), 1 autonomous republic**
(muxtar respublika); Abscron Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu,
Agdas Rayonu, Agstafa Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu, AliBayramli Sahari*,
Astara Rayonu, Baki Sahari*, Balakan Rayonu, Barda Rayonu, Beylaqan
Rayonu, Bilasuvar Rayonu, Cabrayil Rayonu, Calilabad Rayonu,
Daskasan Rayonu, Davaci Rayonu, Fuzuli Rayonu, Gadabay Rayonu, Ganca
Sahari*, Goranboy Rayonu, Goycay Rayonu, Haciqabul Rayonu, Imisli
Rayonu, Ismayilli Rayonu, Kalbacar Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu, Lacin
Rayonu, Lankaran Rayonu, Lankaran Sahari*, Lerik Rayonu, Masalli
Rayonu, Mingacevir Sahari*, Naftalan Sahari*, Naxcivan Muxtar
Respublikasi**, Neftcala Rayonu, Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu, Qax
Rayonu, Qazax Rayonu, Qobustan Rayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu,
Qusar Rayonu, Saatli Rayonu, Sabirabad Rayonu, Saki Rayonu, Saki
Sahari*, Salyan Rayonu, Samaxi Rayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Samux Rayonu,
Siyazan Rayonu, Sumqayit Sahari*, Susa Rayonu, Susa Sahari*, Tartar
Rayonu, Tovuz Rayonu, Ucar Rayonu, Xacmaz Rayonu, Xankandi Sahari*,
Xanlar Rayonu, Xizi Rayonu, Xocali Rayonu, Xocavand Rayonu, Yardimb
Rayonu, Yevlax Rayonu, Yevlax Sahari*, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala
Rayonu, Zardab Rayonu

Independence: 30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day, 28 May

Constitution: adopted 12 November 1995

Legal system: based on civil law system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Heydar ALIYEV (since 18 June 1993) was
elected by popular vote; election last held 3 October 1993 (next to
be held 1997 or 1998); results - Heydar ALIYEV won 97% of vote
head of government: Prime Minister Fuad QULIYEV (since 9 October
1994), First Deputy Prime Ministers Abbas ABBASOV (since NA), Samed
SADYKOV (since NA), Vahid AKHMEDOV (since NA), Elchin EFENDIYEV
(since NA) were appointed by the president and confirmed by the
Milli Mejlis
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president and
confirmed by the Mejlis

Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Milli Mejlis): elections last held 12 and 26
November 1995 (next to be held NA); percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (125 total) number of seats by party NA

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: Azerbaijan Popular Front (APF),
Ebulfez ELCIBEY, chairman; Musavat Party, Isa GAMBAR, chairman;
National Independence Party, Etibar MAMEDOV, chairman; Social
Democratic Party (SDP), Araz ALIZADE, chairman; Communist Party,
Ramiz AKHMEDOV, chairman; People's Freedom Party, Yunus OGUZ,
chairman; Independent Social Democratic Party, Arif YUNUSOV and
Leila YUNOSOVA, cochairmen; New Azerbaijan Party, Heydar ALIYEV,
chairman; Boz Gurd Party, Iskander HAMIDOV, chairman; Azerbaijan
Democratic Independence Party, Qabil HUSEYNLI, chairman; Islamic
Party of Azerbaijan, Ali Akram, chairman; Ana Veten Party, Fazail
AGAMALIYEV; Azerbaijan Democratic Party, Sardar Jalaloglu MAMEDOV;
Azerbaijan Democratic Party of Proprietors (DPOP), Makhmud MAMEDOV;
Azerbaijan Patriotic Solidarity Party, Sabir RUSTAMHANLI; Azerbaijan
Republic Reform Party, Fuad ASADOV; Communist Party of Azerbaijan
(unregistered), Sayad SAYADOV; Equality of the Peoples Party,
Faukhraddin AYDAYEV; Independent Azerbaijan Party, Nizami
SULEYMANOV; Labor Party of Azerbaijan, Sabutai HAJIYEV;
Liberal-Democratic Party of Azerbaijan, Lyudmila NIKOLAYEVNA;
National Enlightenment Party, Hajy Osman EFENDIYEV; National
Liberation Party, Panak SHAKHSEVEV; Peasant Party, Firuz MUSTAFAYEV;
Radical Party of Azerbaijan, Malik SHARIFOV; United Azerbaijan
Party, Kerrar ABILOV; Vetan Adzhagy Party, Zakir TAGIYEV

Other political or pressure groups: self-proclaimed Armenian
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic; Talysh independence movement

International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CIS, EBRD,
ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NACC, NAM (observer), OIC, OSCE,
PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Hafiz Mir Jalal PASHAYEV
chancery: (temporary) Suite 700, 927 15th Street NW, Washington, DC
20005
telephone: [1] (202) 842-0001
FAX: [1] (202) 842-0004

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard D. KAUZLARICH
embassy: Azadliq Prospekti 83, Baku
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [9] (9412) 96-00-19, 98-03-37, 98-03-36, 93-64-80,
96-36-21
FAX: [9] (9412) 98-37-55

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green;
a crescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in red band

Economy -------

Economic overview: Azerbaijan is less developed industrially than
either Armenia or Georgia, the other Transcaucasian states. It
resembles the Central Asian states in its majority nominally Muslim
population, high structural unemployment, and low standard of
living. The economy's most prominent products are oil, cotton, and
gas. Production from the Caspian oil and gas field has been in
decline for several years, but the November 1994 ratification of the
$7.5 billion oil deal with a consortium of Western companies should
generate the funds needed to spur future industrial development.
Azerbaijan shares all the formidable problems of the ex-Soviet
republics in making the transition from a command to a market
economy, but its considerable energy resources brighten its
long-term prospects. Baku has only recently begun making progress on
economic reform, and old economic ties and structures have yet to be
replaced. Whereas the economies of most of the former Soviet
republics had begun to bottom out in 1995, Azerbaijan's economy
continued to plummet because of its late start on economic reform.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $11.5 billion (1995 estimate as
extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)

GDP real growth rate: -17% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $1,480 (1995 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 85% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 2.789 million
by occupation: agriculture and forestry 32%, industry and
construction 26%, other 42% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 2.3% includes officially registered unemployed;
also large numbers of unregistered unemployed and underemployed
workers (December 1995)

Budget:
revenues: $465 million
expenditures: $488 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995 est.)

Industries: petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products,
oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore, cement; chemicals and
petrochemicals; textiles

Industrial production growth rate: -21% (1995 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 4,900,000 kW
production: 17 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 2,200 kWh (1995 est.)

Agriculture: cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea,
tobacco; cattle, pigs, sheep, goats

Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy,
mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program;
transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe

Exports: $549.9 million (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: oil and gas, chemicals, oilfield equipment, textiles,
cotton
partners: mostly CIS and European countries

Imports: $681.5 million (c.i.f., 1995)
commodities: machinery and parts, consumer durables, foodstuffs,
textiles
partners: European countries

External debt: $100 million (of which $75 million to Russia)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $14 million (1993)
note: commitments, 1992-95, $1,000 million ($185 million in
disbursements); wheat from Turkey

Currency: 1 manat = 100 gopik

Exchange rates: manats per US$1 - 4,375 (April 1996), 4,500 (April
1995), 4,168 (end of December 1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways:
total: 2,125 km in common carrier service; does not include
industrial lines
broad gauge: 2,125 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (1993)

Highways:
total: 36,700 km
paved: 31,800 km (includes graveled)
unpaved: 4,900 km (1990 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 1,130 km; petroleum products 630 km; natural
gas 1,240 km

Ports: Baku (Baki)

Airports:
total: 69
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 6
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 17
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
with paved runways under 914 m: 1
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 7
with unpaved runways under 914 m: 33 (1994 est.)

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

Telephones: 710,000 (1991 est.)

Telephone system: 202,000 persons waiting for telephone
installations (January 1991 est.)
domestic: telephone service is of poor quality and inadequate; a
joint venture to establish a cellular telephone system in the Baku
area was supposed to become operational in 1994
international: cable and microwave radio relay connections to former
Soviet republics; connection through Moscow international gateway
switch to other countries; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat and
1 Intersputnik (Intelsat provides service to Turkey and through
Turkey to 200 more countries; Intersputnik provides direct service
to New York)

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA (1
state-owned radio broadcast station)

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 2
note: domestic and Russian TV programs are received locally and
Turkish and Iranian TV is received from an Intelsat satellite
through a receive-only earth station

Televisions: NA

Defense -------

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Maritime Border Guard

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 1,952,390
males fit for military service: 1,574,813
males reach military age (18) annually: 68,006 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: 33.5 billion manats, NA% of GDP (1994); note
- conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the
current exchange rate could produce misleading results

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

@Bahrain -------

Map ---

Location: 26 00 N, 50 33 E -- Middle East, archipelago in the
Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia

Flag ----

Description: red with a white serrated band (eight white points)
on the hoist side

Geography ---------

Location: Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of
Saudi Arabia

Geographic coordinates: 26 00 N, 50 33 E

Map references: Middle East

Area:
total area: 620 sq km
land area: 620 sq km
comparative area: 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 161 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: territorial dispute with Qatar over the
Hawar Islands; maritime boundary with Qatar

Climate: arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers

Terrain: mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central
escarpment
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m

Natural resources: oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas,
fish

Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 2%
meadows and pastures: 6%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 90%

Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: desertification resulting from the degradation of
limited arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal
degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation)
resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers,
oil refineries, and distribution stations; no natural fresh water
resources so that groundwater and sea water are the only sources for
all water needs
natural hazards: periodic droughts; dust storms
international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not
ratified - Biodiversity

Geographic note: close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum
sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf which much of Western
world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean

People ------

Population: 590,042 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 31% (male 92,455; female 89,554)
15-64 years: 67% (male 236,048; female 156,556)
65 years and over: 2% (male 7,956; female 7,473) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.27% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 23.58 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 3.29 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 2.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.51 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.33 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 17.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.27 years
male: 71.78 years
female: 76.83 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.08 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Bahraini(s)
adjective: Bahraini

Ethnic divisions: Bahraini 63%, Asian 13%, other Arab 10%, Iranian
8%, other 6%

Religions: Shi'a Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim 25%

Languages: Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 85.2%
male: 89.1%
female: 79.4%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: State of Bahrain
conventional short form: Bahrain
local long form: Dawlat al Bahrayn
local short form: Al Bahrayn

Data code: BA

Type of government: traditional monarchy

Capital: Manama

Administrative divisions: 12 municipalites (manatiq, singular -
mintaqah); Al Hadd, Al Manamah, Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al
Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah ash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar
Rifa'wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat
'Isa, Juzur Hawar, Sitrah; note - all municipalities administered
from Manama

Independence: 15 August 1971 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 16 December (1971)

Constitution: 26 May 1973, effective 6 December 1973

Legal system: based on Islamic law and English common law

Suffrage: none

Executive branch:
chief of state: Amir ISA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 2 November
1961) is a traditional Arab monarch; Heir Apparent HAMAD bin Isa bin
Salman Al Khalifa (son of the Amir, born 28 January 1949)
head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa
(since 19 January 1970) was appointed by the amir
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the amir

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly was dissolved 26
August 1975 and legislative powers were assumed by the Cabinet;
appointed Advisory Council established 16 December 1992

Judicial branch: High Civil Appeals Court

Political parties and leaders: political parties prohibited

Other political or pressure groups: several small, clandestine
leftist and Islamic fundamentalist groups are active; following the
arrest of a popular Shi'a cleric, Shi'a activists fomented unrest
sporadically from late 1994 to September 1995, demanding the return
of an elected National Assembly and an end to unemployment

International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF,
ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM,
OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Muhammad ABD AL-GHAFFAR al-Abdallah
chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 342-0741, 342-0742
FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192
consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador David M. RANSOM
embassy: Building No. 979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club),
Zinj District, Manama
mailing address: FPO AE 09834-5100; P.O. Box 26431, Manama
(International Mail)
telephone: [973] 273-300
FAX: [973] 272-594

Flag: red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on the
hoist side

Economy -------

Economic overview: In Bahrain, petroleum production and processing
account for about 80% of export receipts, 60% of government
revenues, and 30% of GDP. Economic conditions have fluctuated with
the changing fortunes of oil since 1985, for example, during and
following the Gulf crisis of 1990-91. With its highly developed
communication and transport facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous
multinational firms with business in the Gulf. A large share of
exports consists of petroleum products made from imported crude.
Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of both
oil and underground water resources are major long-term economic
problems.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $7.3 billion (1995 est.)

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

GDP per capita: $12,000 (1995 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 140,000
by occupation: industry and commerce 85%, agriculture 5%, services
5%, government 3% (1982)
note: 42% of labor force is Bahraini

Unemployment rate: 25% (1994 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.38 billion
expenditures: $1.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995 est.)

Industries: petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting,
offshore banking, ship repairing

Industrial production growth rate: 13% (1992)

Electricity:
capacity: 1,050,000 kW
production: 3.3 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 5,453 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp,
fish

Exports: $3.2 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 80%, aluminum 7%
partners: India 20%, Japan 14%, Saudi Arabia 7%, US 6%, UAE 5% (1994)

Imports: $3.29 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
commodities: nonoil 59%, crude oil 41%
partners: Saudi Arabia 37%, US 12%, UK 6%, Japan 5%, Germany 4%
(1994)

External debt: $2.6 billion (1993)

Economic aid: $NA

Currency: 1 Bahraini dinar (BD) = 1,000 fils

Exchange rates: Bahraini dinars (BD) per US$1 - 0.3760 (fixed rate)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 2,671 km
paved: 2,011 km
unpaved: 660 km (1991 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 56 km; petroleum products 16 km; natural gas
32 km

Ports: Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah

Merchant marine:
total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 117,060 GRT/194,061 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 3, chemical tanker 1, oil tanker 1
(1995 est.)

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

Heliports: 1 (1995 est.)

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

Telephones: 73,552 (1987 est.)

Telephone system: modern system; good domestic services and
excellent international connections
domestic: NA
international: tropospheric scatter to Qatar and UAE; microwave
radio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable to Qatar, UAE, and
Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic
Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat

Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0

Radios: 320,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 2 (1988 est.)

Televisions: 270,000 (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense, Coast Guard,
Police Force

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 213,792
males fit for military service: 118,702 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $247 million,
5.5% of GDP (1994)

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

@Baker Island ------------

(territory of the US)

Map ---

Location: 0 13 N, 176 31 W -- Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific
Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Flag ----

Description: the flag of the US is used

Geography ---------

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

Geographic coordinates: 0 13 N, 176 31 W

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total area: 1.4 sq km
land area: 1.4 sq km
comparative area: about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 4.8 km

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

International disputes: none

Climate: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun

Terrain: low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow
fringing reef
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 8 m

Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until 1891)

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: no natural fresh water resources
natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can
be a maritime hazard
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation
consisting of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs;
primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds,
shorebirds, and marine wildlife

People ------

Population: uninhabited; note - American civilians evacuated in
1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II;
occupied by US military during World War II, but abandoned after the
war; public entry is by special-use permit only and generally
restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery and cemetery
ruins are located near the middle of the west coast

Government ----------

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

Data code: FQ