Chapter V (12)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 6,601 (1993)

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 29%, government 27%,
services 25%, industry 15%, other 4% (1981)

Unemployment rate: NA%

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

Industries: fruit processing, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 15 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 15 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans,
pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee

Exports: $4.2 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)

Exports--commodities: copra, fresh and canned citrus fruit,
coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing

Exports--partners: NZ 80%, Japan, Hong Kong (1993)

Imports: $85 million (c.i.f., 1994)

Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital
goods

Imports--partners: NZ 49%, Italy, Australia (1993)

Debt--external: $160 million (1994)

Economic aid--recipient: $13.1 million (1995); note?New Zealand
furnishes the greater part

Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1--1.8560
(January 1999), 1.8629 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235
(1995), 1.6844 (1994)

Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March

Communications

Telephones: 4,180 (1994)

Telephone system:
domestic: the individual islands are connected by a combination of
satellite earth stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HF
radiotelephone; within the islands, service is provided by small
exchanges connected to subscribers by open wire, cable, and
fiber-optic cable
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

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

Radios: 13,000 (1994 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 2 (in addition, eight low-power
repeaters provide good coverage on the island of Rarotonga) (1997)

Televisions: 3,500 (1995 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 187 km
paved: 35 km
unpaved: 152 km (1980 est.)

Ports and harbors: Avarua, Avatiu

Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,310 GRT/2,181 DWT
(1998 est.)

Airports: 7 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Military

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in
consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

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

@Coral Sea Islands -----------------

Geography

Location: Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of
Australia

Geographic coordinates: 18 00 S, 152 00 E

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total: less than 3 sq km
land: less than 3 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea
area of about 1 million sq km, with the Willis Islets the most
important

Area--comparative: NA

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 3,095 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: tropical

Terrain: sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays)

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m

Natural resources: NEGL

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover)

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)

Natural hazards: occasional, tropical cyclones

Environment--current issues: no permanent fresh water resources

Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography--note: important nesting area for birds and turtles

People

Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory
conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands

Data code: CR

Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered from
Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories

Legal system: the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply

Executive branch: administered from Canberra by the Department of
the Environment, Sport and Territories

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

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of
Australia)

Flag description: the flag of Australia is used

Economy

Economy--overview: no economic activity

Communications

Communications--note: there are automatic weather relay stations
on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland

Transportation

Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only

Military

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of Australia;
visited regularly by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has
control over the activities of visitors

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

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

@Costa Rica ----------

Introduction

Background: Costa Rica declared its independence from Spain in
1821. After a turbulent beginning it inaugurated an era of peaceful
democracy in 1889, subsequently interrupted only twice, by a
dictatorial interlude in 1917-19 and an armed uprising in 1948.
Increasing the role of the private sector while maintaining the
government's social safety net and keeping under control the budget
deficit, unemployment, and inflation are key current issues.

Geography

Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and
the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama

Geographic coordinates: 10 00 N, 84 00 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 51,100 sq km
land: 50,660 sq km
water: 440 sq km
note: includes Isla del Coco

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries:
total: 639 km
border countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km

Coastline: 1,290 km

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

Climate: tropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season
(May to November)

Terrain: coastal plains separated by rugged mountains

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m

Natural resources: hydropower

Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 46%
forests and woodland: 31%
other: 12% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 1,200 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along
Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy
season; active volcanoes

Environment--current issues: deforestation, largely a result of
the clearing of land for cattle ranching; soil erosion

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life
Conservation

People

Population: 3,674,490 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 33% (male 622,260; female 593,720)
15-64 years: 62% (male 1,150,900; female 1,121,970)
65 years and over: 5% (male 85,526; female 100,114) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.89% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 22.46 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 4.16 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 12.89 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.04 years
male: 73.6 years
female: 78.61 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.76 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Costa Rican(s)
adjective: Costa Rican

Ethnic groups: white (including mestizo) 96%, black 2%,
Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%

Religions: Roman Catholic 95%

Languages: Spanish (official), English spoken around Puerto Limon

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.8%
male: 94.7%
female: 95% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica
conventional short form: Costa Rica
local long form: Republica de Costa Rica
local short form: Costa Rica

Data code: CS

Government type: democratic republic

Capital: San Jose

Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias,
singular--provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon,
Puntarenas, San Jose

Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution: 9 November 1949

Legal system: based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review
of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (since 8 May 1998);
First Vice President Astrid FISCHEL Volio (since 8 May 1998), Second
Vice President Elizabeth ODIO Benito (since 8 May 1998);
note--president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (since 8 May
1998); First Vice President Astrid FISCHEL Volio (since 8 May 1998),
Second Vice President Elizabeth ODIO Benito (since 8 May 1998);
note--president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president
elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 1 February
1998 (next to be held NA February 2002)
election results: Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ elected president; percent
of vote--Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (PUSC) 46.6%, Jose Miguel CORRALES
(PLN) 44.6%

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea
Legislativa (57 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 1 February 1998 (next to be held NA February
2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--PUSC 41%, PLN 35%,
minority parties 24%; seats by party--PUSC 27, PLN 23, minority
parties 7

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), justices are
elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly

Political parties and leaders: Social Christian Unity Party or
NA]
note: mainly a two-party system--PUSC and PLN; numerous small parties
share less than 25% of population's support

Political pressure groups and leaders: Costa Rican Confederation
of Democratic Workers or CCTD (Liberation Party affiliate);
Confederated Union of Workers or CUT (Communist Party affiliate);
Authentic Confederation of Democratic Workers or CATD (Communist
Party affiliate); Chamber of Coffee Growers; National Association
for Economic Development or ANFE; Free Costa Rica Movement or MCRL
(rightwing militants); National Association of Educators or ANDE;
Federation of Public Service Workers or FTSP

International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO,
G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UN
Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime DAREMBLUM
chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Chicago, Durham,
Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia,
San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and
Tampa
consulate(s): Austin

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas J. DODD
embassy: Pavas Road, San Jose
mailing address: APO AA 34020

Flag description: five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red
(double width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white
disk on the hoist side of the red band

Economy

Economy--overview: Costa Rica's basically stable economy depends
on tourism, agriculture, and electronics exports. Poverty has been
substantially reduced over the past 15 years and a strong social
safety net has been put into place. Economic growth has rebounded
from -0.9% in 1996 to 3% in 1997 and an estimated 5.5% in 1998.
Inflation rose to 22.5% in 1995, dropped to 11.1% in 1997, and
reached an estimated 12% in 1998. Unemployment appears moderate at
5.6%, but substantial underemployment continues. Furthermore, large
government deficits--fueled by interest payments on the massive
internal debt--have undermined efforts to maintain the quality of
social services. Curbing inflation, reducing the deficit, and
improving public sector efficiency remain key challenges to the
government. President RODRIGUEZ has called for an increased economic
role for the private sector, but political resistance to
privatization has stalled much of his economic program.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$24 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 5.5% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$6,700 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 15%
industry: 24%
services: 61% (1997)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.3%
highest 10%: 34.7% (1996)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 868,300

Labor force--by occupation: industry and commerce 23.3%,
government and services 55.1%, agriculture 21.6% (1996 est.)

Unemployment rate: 5.6% (1998 est.); much underemployment

Budget:
revenues: $1.1 billion
expenditures: $1.34 billion, including capital expenditures of $110
million (1991 est.)

Industries: food processing, textiles and clothing, construction
materials, fertilizer, plastic products

Industrial production growth rate: 10.5% (1992)

Electricity--production: 4.785 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 14.11%
hydro: 75.44%
nuclear: 0%
other: 10.45% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 4.931 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 44 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 190 million kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: coffee, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans,
potatoes; beef; timber

Exports: $3.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities: manufactured products, coffee, bananas,
textiles, sugar (1997)

Exports--partners: US, Benelux, Germany, Italy, Guatemala, El
Salvador, Netherlands, UK, France (1997)

Imports: $4.5 billion (c.i.f., 1998)

Imports--commodities: raw materials, consumer goods, capital
equipment, petroleum (1997)

Imports--partners: US, Japan, Mexico, Venezuela, Guatemala,
Germany (1997)

Debt--external: $3.2 billion (October 1996 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $107.1 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Costa Rican colon (C) = 100 centimos

Exchange rates: Costa Rican colones (C) per US$1--272.58 (January
1999), 257.23 (1998), 232.60 (1997), 207.69 (1996), 179.73 (1995),
157.07 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 281,042 (1983 est.)

Telephone system: very good domestic telephone service
domestic: NA
international: connected to Central American Microwave System;
satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 71, FM 0, shortwave 13

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 6 (in addition, there are 11
repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 340,000 (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 950 km
narrow gauge: 950 km 1.067-m gauge (260 km electrified)

Highways:
total: 35,597 km
paved: 6,051 km
unpaved: 29,546 km (1997 est.)

Waterways: about 730 km, seasonally navigable

Pipelines: petroleum products 176 km

Ports and harbors: Caldera, Golfito, Moin, Puerto Limon, Puerto
Quepos, Puntarenas

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 156 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 28
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 128
914 to 1,523 m: 29
under 914 m: 99 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Coast Guard, Air Section, Ministry of Public
Security Force (Fuerza Publica); note--during 1996, the Ministry of
Public Security reorganized and eliminated the Civil Guard, Rural
Assistance Guard, and Frontier Guards as separate entities; they are
now under the Ministry and operate on a geographic command basis
performing ground security, law enforcement, counternarcotics, and
national security (border patrol) functions; the constitution
prohibits armed forces

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 988,887 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 662,827 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 36,751 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $55 million (1995)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2% (1995)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

Illicit drugs: transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from
South America; illicit production of cannabis on small, scattered
plots

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

@Cote d'Ivoire -------------

Geography

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Ghana and Liberia

Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 5 00 W

Map references: Africa

Area:
total: 322,460 sq km
land: 318,000 sq km
water: 4,460 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries:
total: 3,110 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 584 km, Ghana 668 km, Guinea 610 km,
Liberia 716 km, Mali 532 km

Coastline: 515 km

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

Climate: tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three
seasons--warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to
May), hot and wet (June to October)

Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Gulf of Guinea 0 m
highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m

Natural resources: petroleum, diamonds, manganese, iron ore,
cobalt, bauxite, copper

Land use:
arable land: 8%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 41%
forests and woodland: 22%
other: 25% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 680 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors;
during the rainy season torrential flooding is possible

Environment--current issues: deforestation (most of the country's
forests--once the largest in West Africa--have been cleared by the
timber industry); water pollution from sewage and industrial and
agricultural effluents

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber
83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

People

Population: 15,818,068 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 47% (male 3,702,051; female 3,664,672)
15-64 years: 51% (male 4,154,440; female 3,952,999)
65 years and over: 2% (male 174,065; female 169,841) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.35% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 41.76 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 16.17 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
note: after Liberia's civil war started in 1990, more than 350,000
refugees fled to Cote d'Ivoire and, by September 1998, according to
the UNHCR, about 85,000 remain

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 94.17 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 46.05 years
male: 44.48 years
female: 47.67 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.89 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Ivorian(s)
adjective: Ivorian

Ethnic groups: Baoule 23%, Bete 18%, Senoufou 15%, Malinke 11%,
Agni, Africans from other countries (mostly Burkinabe and Malians,
about 3 million), non-Africans 130,000 to 330,000 (French 30,000 and
Lebanese 100,000 to 300,000)

Religions: Muslim 60%, Christian 22%, indigenous 18% (some of
these are also numbered among the Christians and Muslims)

Languages: French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the
most widely spoken

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 48.5%
male: 57%
female: 40%

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cote d'Ivoire
conventional short form: Cote d'Ivoire
local long form: Republique de Cote d'Ivoire
local short form: Cote d'Ivoire
former: Ivory Coast

Data code: IV

Government type: republic; multiparty presidential regime
established 1960

Capital: Yamoussoukro
note: although Yamoussoukro has been the capital since 1983, Abidjan
remains the administrative center; the US, like other countries,
maintains its Embassy in Abidjan

Administrative divisions: 50 departments (departements,
singular--departement); Abengourou, Abidjan, Aboisso, Adzope,
Agboville, Agnibilekrou, Bangolo, Beoumi, Biankouma, Bondoukou,
Bongouanou, Bouafle, Bouake, Bouna, Boundiali, Dabakala, Daloa,
Danane, Daoukro, Dimbokro, Divo, Duekoue, Ferkessedougou, Gagnoa,
Grand-Lahou, Guiglo, Issia, Katiola, Korhogo, Lakota, Man, Mankono,
Mbahiakro, Odienne, Oume, Sakassou, San-Pedro, Sassandra, Seguela,
Sinfra, Soubre, Tabou, Tanda, Tingrela, Tiassale, Touba, Toumodi,
Vavoua, Yamoussoukro, Zuenoula
note: Cote d'Ivoire may have a new administrative structure
consisting of 58 departments; the following additional departments
have been reported but not yet confirmed by the US Board on
Geographic Names (BGN); Adiake', Ale'pe', Dabon, Grand Bassam,
Jacqueville, Tiebissou, Toulepleu, Bocanda

Independence: 7 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday: National Day, 7 August

Constitution: 3 November 1960; has been amended numerous times,
last time July 1998

Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law;
judicial review in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Henri Konan BEDIE (since 7 December 1993);
note--succeeded to the presidency following the death of President
Felix HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY, who had served continuously since November
1960
head of government: Prime Minister Daniel Kablan DUNCAN (since 10
December 1993)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 22 October 1995 (next to be held October 2000);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Henri Konan BEDIE elected president; percent of
vote--Henri Konan BEDIE 96%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (175 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: elections last held 27 November 1995 (next to be held NA
November 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PDCI
150, RDR 13, FPI 12
note: a Senate will be created in 2000

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of the Cote

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MINURCA, NAM, OAU, OPCW,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Koffi Moise KOUMOUE-KOFFI
chancery: 2424 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador George MU
embassy: 5 Rue Jesse Owens, Abidjan
mailing address: 01 B. P. 1712, Abidjan

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist
side), white, and green; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is
longer and has the colors reversed--green (hoist side), white, and
orange; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is green (hoist
side), white, and red; design was based on the flag of France

Economy

Economy--overview: Cote d'Ivoire is among the world's largest
producers and exporters of coffee, cocoa beans, and palm oil.
Consequently, the economy is highly sensitive to fluctuations in
international prices for these products and to weather conditions.
Despite attempts by the government to diversify the economy, it is
still largely dependent on agriculture and related activities, which
engage roughly 68% of the population. After several years of lagging
performance, the Ivorian economy began a comeback in 1994, due to
the devaluation of the CFA franc and improved prices for cocoa and
coffee, growth in nontraditional primary exports such as pineapples
and rubber, limited trade and banking liberalization, offshore oil
and gas discoveries, and generous external financing and debt
rescheduling by multilateral lenders and France. The 50% devaluation
of Franc Zone currencies on 12 January 1994 caused a one-time jump
in the inflation rate to 26% in 1994, but the rate fell sharply in
1996-98. Moreover, government adherence to donor-mandated reforms
led to a jump in growth to 6% annually in 1996-98. Growth may slow
in 1999-2000 because of the difficulty of meeting the conditions of
international donors and continued low prices of key exports.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$24.2 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 6% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,680 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 31%
industry: 20%
services: 49% (1995)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 28.5% (1988)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (1998 est.)

Labor force: NA

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $2.3 billion
expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $640
million (1997 est.)

Industries: foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining,
automobile assembly, textiles, fertilizer, construction materials,
electricity

Industrial production growth rate: 15% (annual rate, first half
1998)

Electricity--production: 1.88 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 22%
hydro: 47%
nuclear: 0%
other: 31% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 1.88 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: coffee, cocoa beans, bananas, palm kernels,
corn, rice, manioc (tapioca), sweet potatoes, sugar, cotton, rubber;
timber

Exports: $4.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities: cocoa 36%, coffee, tropical woods,
petroleum, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm oil, cotton, fish

Exports--partners: Netherlands 17%, France 15%, Germany 7%, US 6%,
Italy 5% (1997)

Imports: $2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports--commodities: food, consumer goods; capital goods, fuel,
transport equipment

Imports--partners: France 28%, Nigeria 20%, US 6%, Italy 5%,
Germany 4% (1997)

Debt--external: $16.8 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: ODA, $1 billion (1996 est.)

Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes

Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1--560.01 (January 1999),
589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20
(1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 200,000 (1988 est.)

Telephone system: well-developed by African standards but
operating well below capacity
domestic: open-wire lines and microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean
and 1 Indian Ocean); 2 coaxial submarine cables

Radio broadcast stations: AM 71, FM 4, shortwave 13

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 14 (1997)

Televisions: 810,000 (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 660 km
narrow gauge: 660 km 1.000-meter gauge; 25 km double track (1995
est.)

Highways:
total: 50,400 km
paved: 4,889 km
unpaved: 45,511 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: 980 km navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastal
lagoons

Ports and harbors: Abidjan, Aboisso, Dabou, San-Pedro

Merchant marine:
total: 1 oil tanker (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,200 GRT/1,500 DWT
(1998 est.)

Airports: 36 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 29
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 9 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary
Gendarmerie, Republican Guard (includes Presidential Guard),
Sapeur-Pompier (Military Fire Group)

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 3,677,627 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,917,433 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 178,860 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $94 million (1998)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.9% (1996)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for local
consumption; minor transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast
Asian heroin to Europe and occasionally to the US, and for Latin
American cocaine destined for Europe

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

@Croatia -------

Geography

Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea,
between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia

Geographic coordinates: 45 10 N, 15 30 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total: 56,538 sq km
land: 56,410 sq km
water: 128 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries:
total: 2,197 km
border countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, Hungary 329 km,
Serbia and Montenegro 266 km (241 km with Serbia; 25 km with
Montenegro), Slovenia 670 km

Coastline: 5,790 km (mainland 1,778 km, islands 4,012 km)

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

Climate: Mediterranean and continental; continental climate
predominant with hot summers and cold winters; mild winters, dry
summers along coast

Terrain: geographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarian
border, low mountains and highlands near Adriatic coast, coastline,
and islands

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Dinara 1,830 m

Natural resources: oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore,
calcium, natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt

Land use:
arable land: 21%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 38%
other: 19% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: frequent and destructive earthquakes

Environment--current issues: air pollution (from metallurgical
plants) and resulting acid rain is damaging the forests; coastal
pollution from industrial and domestic waste; widespread casualties
and destruction of infrastructure in border areas affected by civil
strife

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification

Geography--note: controls most land routes from Western Europe to
Aegean Sea and Turkish Straits

People

Population: 4,676,865 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 17% (male 404,761; female 383,088)
15-64 years: 68% (male 1,591,831; female 1,591,106)
65 years and over: 15% (male 272,219; female 433,860) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.1% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 10.34 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 11.14 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 1.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 7.84 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74 years
male: 70.69 years
female: 77.52 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.52 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Croat(s)
adjective: Croatian

Ethnic groups: Croat 78%, Serb 12%, Muslim 0.9%, Hungarian 0.5%,
Slovenian 0.5%, others 8.1% (1991)

Religions: Catholic 76.5%, Orthodox 11.1%, Muslim 1.2%,
Protestant 0.4%, others and unknown 10.8%

Languages: Serbo-Croatian 96%, other 4% (including Italian,
Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 99%
female: 95% (1991 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Croatia
conventional short form: Croatia
local long form: Republika Hrvatska
local short form: Hrvatska

Data code: HR

Government type: presidential/parliamentary democracy

Capital: Zagreb

Administrative divisions: 21 counties (zupanije,
zupanija--singular): Bjelovar-Bilogora, City of Zagreb,
Dubrovnik-Neretva, Istra, Karlovac, Koprivnica-Krizevci,
Krapina-Zagorje, Lika-Senj, Medimurje, Osijek-Baranja,
Pozega-Slavonia, Primorje-Gorski Kotar, Sibenik, Sisak-Moslavina,
Slavonski Brod-Posavina, Split-Dalmatia, Varazdin,
Virovitica-Podravina, Vukovar-Srijem, Zadar-Knin, Zagreb
note: there are two special self-governing districts (kotari,
kotar--singular) under local Serb control: Glina, Knin

Independence: 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

National holiday: Statehood Day, 30 May (1990)

Constitution: adopted on 22 December 1990

Legal system: based on civil law system

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

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Franjo TUDJMAN (since 30 May 1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Zlatko MATESA (since 7 November
1995); Deputy Prime Ministers Mate GRANIC (since 8 September 1992),
Ivica KOSTOVIC (since 14 October 1993), Jure RADIC (since NA October
1994), Borislav SKEGRO (since 3 April 1993), and Ljerka MINTAS-HODAK
(since November 1995)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 15 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); prime
minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
election results: President Franjo TUDJMAN reelected; percent of
vote--Franjo TUDJMAN 61%, Zdravko TOMAC 21%, Vlado GOTOVAC 18%

Legislative branch: bicameral Assembly or Sabor consists of the
House of Counties or Zupanijski Dom (68 seats--63 directly elected by
popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; members serve four-year
terms) and House of Representatives or the Zastupnicki Dom (127
seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: House of Counties--last held 13 April 1997 (next to be
held NA 2001); House of Representatives--last held 29 October 1995
(next to be held NA 1999)
election results: House of Counties--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--HDZ 42, HDZ/HSS 11, HSS 2, IDS 2, SDP/PGS/HNS 2,
SDP/HNS 2, HSLS/HSS/HNS 1, HSLS 1; note--in some districts certain
parties ran as coalitions, while in others they ran alone; House of
Representatives--percent of vote by party--HDZ 45.23%,
HSS/IDS/HNS/HKDU/SBHS 18.26%, HSLS 11.55%, SDP 8.93%, HSP 5.01%;
seats by party--HDZ 75, HSLS 12, HSS 10, SDP 10, IDS 4, HSP 4, HNS 2,
SNS 2, HND 1, ASH 1, HKDU 1, SBHS 1, independents 4

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed for eight-year
terms by the Judicial Council of the Republic, which is elected by
the House of Representatives; Constitutional Court, judges appointed
for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the Republic, which
is elected by the House of Representatives

Political parties and leaders: Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: BIS (pending member),
CCC, CE, CEI, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OPCW,
OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
(applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Miomir ZUZUL
chancery: 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Cleveland, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William D. MONTGOMERY
embassy: Andrije Hebranga 2, Zagreb
mailing address: use street address

Flag description: red, white, and blue horizontal bands with
Croatian coat of arms (red and white checkered)

Economy

Economy--overview: Before the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the
Republic of Croatia, after Slovenia, was the most prosperous and
industrialized area, with a per capita output perhaps one-third
above the Yugoslav average. Croatia faces considerable economic
problems stemming from: the legacy of longtime communist
mismanagement of the economy; damage during the internecine fighting
to bridges, factories, power lines, buildings, and houses; the large
refugee and displaced population, both Croatian and Bosnian; and the
disruption of economic ties. Western aid and investment, especially
in the tourist and oil industries, would help restore the economy.
The government has been successful in some reform efforts--partially
macroeconomic stabilization policies--and it has normalized relations
with its creditors. Yet it still is struggling with privatization of
large state enterprises and with bank reform. In 1998, Croatia made
progress in reducing its current account deficit to about 8% of GDP
from 12% the previous year. Economic growth continues to lag,
however, and growing levels of inter-enterprise debt plague the
domestic economy. Four commercial banks were put under government
control and a major conglomerate is teetering on collapse.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$23.6 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$5,100 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 12%
industry: 24%
services: 64% (1995 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.4% (1998)

Labor force: 1.63 million (1998)

Labor force--by occupation: industry and mining 31.1%, agriculture
4.3%, government 19.1% (including education and health), other 45.5%
(1993)

Unemployment rate: 18.6% (yearend 1998)

Budget:
revenues: $5.3 billion
expenditures: $6.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $78.5
million (1997 est.)

Industries: chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated
metal, electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum,
paper, wood products, construction materials, textiles,
shipbuilding, petroleum and petroleum refining, food and beverages;
tourism

Industrial production growth rate: 3.7% (1998 est.)

Electricity--production: 10.682 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 29.25%
hydro: 70.75%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 14.632 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 1 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 4.95 billion kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed,
alfalfa, clover, olives, citrus, grapes, vegetables; livestock,
dairy products

Exports: $4.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment 13.6%,
miscellaneous manufactures 27.6%, chemicals 14.2%, food and live
animals 12.2%, raw materials 6.1%, fuels and lubricants 9.4%,
beverages and tobacco 2.7% (1993)

Exports--partners: Germany 22%, Italy 21%, Slovenia 18% (1994)

Imports: $8.4 billion (c.i.f., 1998)

Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment 23.1%,
fuels and lubricants 8.8%, food and live animals 9.0%, chemicals
14.2%, miscellaneous manufactured articles 16.0%, raw materials
3.5%, beverages and tobacco 1.4% (1993)

Imports--partners: Germany 21%, Italy 19%, Slovenia 10% (1994)

Debt--external: $8 billion (October 1998)

Economic aid--recipient: $NA

Currency: 1 Croatian kuna (HRK) = 100 lipas

Exchange rates: Croatian kuna per US$1--6.317 (January 1999),
6.362 (1998), 6.157 (1997), 5.434 (1996), 5.230 (1995), 5.996 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 1.216 million (1993 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: no satellite earth stations

Radio broadcast stations: AM 14, FM 8, shortwave 0

Radios: 1.1 million

Television broadcast stations: 18 (in addition, there are 145
repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 1.52 million (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 2,296 km
standard gauge: 2,296 km 1.435-m gauge (796 km electrified)
note: some lines remain inoperative or not in use; disrupted by
territorial dispute (1997)

Highways:
total: 27,840 km
paved: 22,690 km (including 330 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,150 km (1997 est.)

Waterways: 785 km perennially navigable; large sections of Sava
blocked by downed bridges, silt, and debris

Pipelines: crude oil 670 km; petroleum products 20 km; natural
gas 310 km (1992); note--under repair following territorial dispute

Ports and harbors: Dubrovnik, Dugi Rat, Omisalj, Ploce, Pula,
Rijeka, Sibenik, Split, Vukovar (inland waterway port on Danube),
Zadar

Merchant marine:
total: 64 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 810,226 GRT/1,227,468
DWT
ships by type: bulk 15, cargo 26, chemical tanker 2, combination
bulk 5, container 5, liquefied gas 1, multifunction large-load
carrier 3, oil tanker 1, passenger 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2,
short-sea passenger 3 (1998 est.)

Airports: 72 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 21
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 51
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 42 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air and Air
Defense Forces, Frontier Guard, Home Guard

Military manpower--military age: 19 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,188,898 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 943,719 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 33,722 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $950 million (1999)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 5% (1999)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: Eastern Slavonia, which was held by
ethnic Serbs during the ethnic conflict, was returned to Croatian
control by the UN Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia
on 15 January 1998; Croatia and Italy made progress toward resolving
a bilateral issue dating from World War II over property and ethnic
minority rights; significant progress has been made with Slovenia
toward resolving a maritime border dispute over direct access to the
sea in the Adriatic; Serbia and Montenegro is disputing Croatia's
claim to the Prevlaka Peninsula in southern Croatia because it
controls the entrance to Boka Kotorska in Montenegro; Prevlaka is
currently under observation by the UN military observer mission in
Prevlaka (UNMOP)

Illicit drugs: transit point along the Balkan route for Southwest
Asian heroin to Western Europe; a minor transit point for maritime
shipments of South American cocaine bound for Western Europe

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

@Cuba ----

Introduction

Background: Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959, and
his guiding vision has defined Cuba's Communist revolution while his
iron will has held the country together for more than four decades.
CASTRO brought Cuba onto the world stage by inviting Soviet support
in the 1960s, inciting revolutionary movements throughout Latin
America and Africa in the 1970s, and sending his army to fight in
Angola in the 1980s. At home, Havana provided Cubans with high
levels of healthcare, education, and social security while
suppressing the Roman Catholic Church and arresting political
dissidents. Cuba is slowly recovering from severe economic recession
following the withdrawal of former-Soviet subsidies, worth
$4billion-$6 billion per year, in 1990.

Geography

Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, south of Florida

Geographic coordinates: 21 30 N, 80 00 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 110,860 sq km
land: 110,860 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries:
total: 29 km
border countries: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 km
note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remains
part of Cuba

Coastline: 3,735 km

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

Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November
to April); rainy season (May to October)

Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and
mountains in the southeast

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Turquino 2,005 m

Natural resources: cobalt, nickel, iron ore, copper, manganese,
salt, timber, silica, petroleum

Land use:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 7%
permanent pastures: 27%
forests and woodland: 24%
other: 18% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 9,100 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: the east coast is subject to hurricanes from
August to October (in general, the country averages about one
hurricane every other year); droughts are common

Environment--current issues: pollution of Havana Bay; overhunting
threatens wildlife populations; deforestation

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Marine
Life Conservation

Geography--note: largest country in Caribbean

People

Population: 11,096,395 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 22% (male 1,236,899; female 1,172,560)
15-64 years: 69% (male 3,820,255; female 3,801,768)
65 years and over: 9% (male 496,772; female 568,141) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.4% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 12.9 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 7.38 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 7.81 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.78 years
male: 73.41 years
female: 78.3 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.58 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Cuban(s)
adjective: Cuban

Ethnic groups: mulatto 51%, white 37%, black 11%, Chinese 1%

Religions: nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming
power; Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also
represented

Languages: Spanish

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.7%
male: 96.2%
female: 95.3% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cuba
conventional short form: Cuba
local long form: Republica de Cuba
local short form: Cuba

Data code: CU

Government type: Communist state

Capital: Havana

Administrative divisions: 14 provinces (provincias,
singular--provincia) and 1 special municipality* (municipio
especial); Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Ciudad de La
Habana, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla de la Juventud*, La
Habana, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio, Sancti Spiritus,
Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara

Independence: 20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898;
administered by the US from 1898 to 1902)

National holiday: Rebellion Day, 26 July (1953); Liberation Day,
1 January (1959)

Constitution: 24 February 1976

Legal system: based on Spanish and American law, with large
elements of Communist legal theory; does not accept compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President of the Council of State and President of
the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from
February 1959 until 24 February 1976, when office was abolished;
president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the
Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of
Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note--the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President of the Council of State and President
of the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from
February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished;
president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the
Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of
Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note--the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president of the
Council of State, appointed by the National Assembly
note: there is also a Council of State whose members are elected by
the National Assembly
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly; election last held 24 February 1998 (next election
unscheduled)
election results: Fidel CASTRO Ruz elected president; percent of
legislative vote--100%; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president;
percent of legislative vote--100%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly of People's
Power or Asemblea Nacional del Poder Popular (601 seats, elected
directly from slates approved by special candidacy commissions;
members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 11 January 1998 (next to be held in 2003)
election results: percent of vote--PCC 94.39%; seats--PCC 601

Judicial branch: People's Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo
Popular (president, vice president, and other judges are elected by
the National Assembly)

Political parties and leaders: only party--Cuban Communist Party

International organization participation: CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77,
IAEA, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat
(nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES,
LAIA, NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962),
OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note--Cuba has an
Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer
Fernando REMIREZ DE ESTENOZ; address: Cuban Interests Section, Swiss
(202) 797-8518

Diplomatic representation from the US: none; note--the US has an
Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer
Michael G. KOZAK; address: USINT, Swiss Embassy, Calzada between L
and M Streets, Vedado Seccion, Havana; telephone: 33-3551 through
3559 and 33-3543 through 3547 (operator assistance required); FAX:
33-3700; protecting power in Cuba is Switzerland

Flag description: five equal horizontal bands of blue (top and
bottom) alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on
the hoist side bears a white, five-pointed star in the center

Economy

Economy--overview: The state plays the primary role in the economy
and controls practically all foreign trade. The government has
undertaken several reforms in recent years to stem excess liquidity,
increase labor incentives, and alleviate serious shortages of food,
consumer goods, and services. The liberalized agricultural markets
introduced in October 1994, at which state and private farmers sell
above-quota production at unrestricted prices, have broadened legal
consumption alternatives and reduced black market prices. Government
efforts to lower subsidies to unprofitable enterprises and to shrink
the money supply caused the semi-official exchange rate for the
Cuban peso to move from a peak of 120 to the dollar in the summer of
1994 to 21 to the dollar by yearend 1998. New taxes introduced in
1996 helped drive down the number of self-employed workers from
208,000 in January 1996 to 155,000 by July 1998. Havana announced in
1995 that GDP declined by 35% during 1989-93, the result of lost
Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. The drop in GDP apparently
halted in 1994, when Cuba reported 0.7% growth, followed by
increases of 2.5% in 1995 and 7.8% in 1996. Growth slowed again in
1997 and 1998 to 2.5% and 1.2% respectively. Export earnings
declined 22% in 1998, to $1.4 billion, the result of lower sugar
export volume and lower world prices for nickel and sugar. Import
expenditures also fell 15% to $3.0 billion, in part due to lower
world oil prices. Tourism and remittances play a key role in foreign
currency earnings. Living standards for the average Cuban remain at
a depressed level compared with 1990.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$17.3 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 1.2% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,560 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 7.4%
industry: 36.5%
services: 56.1% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Labor force: 4.5 million economically active population (1996
est.)
note: state sector 76%, non-state sector 24% (1996 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: services and government 30%, industry
22%, agriculture 20%, commerce 11%, construction 10%, transportation
and communications 7% (June 1990)

Unemployment rate: 6.8% (1997 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $12.3 billion
expenditures: $13 billion , including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)

Industries: sugar, petroleum, food, tobacco, textiles, chemicals,
paper and wood products, metals (particularly nickel), cement,
fertilizers, consumer goods, agricultural machinery

Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1995 est.)

Electricity--production: 14.1 billion kWh (1997)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 98.96%
hydro: 1.04%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 14.1 billion kWh (1997)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: sugarcane, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice,
potatoes, beans; livestock

Exports: $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports--commodities: sugar, nickel, tobacco, shellfish, medical
products, citrus, coffee

Exports--partners: Russia 27%, Canada 18%, Spain 8% (1998 est.)

Imports: $3 billion (c.i.f., 1998 est.)

Imports--commodities: petroleum, food, machinery, chemicals

Imports--partners: Spain 17%, France 9%, Canada 9% (1998 est.)

Debt--external: $10.1 billion (convertible currency, 1997);
another $20 billion owed to Russia (1997)

Economic aid--recipient: $46 million (1997 est.)

Currency: 1 Cuban peso (Cu$) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: Cuban pesos (Cu$) per US$1--1.0000
(nonconvertible, official rate, linked to the US dollar)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 229,000

Telephone system: among the world's least developed telephone
systems
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station--1 Intersputnik (Atlantic
Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 150, FM 5, shortwave 1

Radios: 2.14 million (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 58 (1997)

Televisions: 2.5 million (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 4,807 km
standard gauge: 4,807 km 1.435-m gauge (147 km electrified)
note: a large amount of track is in private use by sugar plantations

Highways:
total: 60,858 km
paved: 29,820 km (including 638 km of expressway)
unpaved: 31,038 km (1997 est.)

Waterways: 240 km

Ports and harbors: Cienfuegos, Havana, Manzanillo, Mariel,
Matanzas, Nuevitas, Santiago de Cuba

Merchant marine:
total: 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 89,091 GRT/125,463 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 9, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker
2, refrigerated cargo 5 (1998 est.)

Airports: 170 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 77
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 36 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 93
914 to 1,523 m: 32
under 914 m: 61 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) includes
ground forces, Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force
(DAAFAR), Territorial Troops Militia (MTT), and Youth Labor Army
(EJT); the Border Guard (TGF) is controlled by the Interior Ministry

Military manpower--military age: 17 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 3,068,140
females age 15-49: 3,014,686 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,900,893
females age 15-49: 1,862,411 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 76,328
females: 72,551 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: roughly 4% (1995 est.)

Military--note: Moscow, for decades the key military supporter and
supplier of Cuba, cut off almost all military aid by 1993

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased
to US and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can
terminate the lease

Illicit drugs: territory serves as transshipment zone for cocaine
bound for the US and Europe

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

@Cyprus ------

Geography

Location: Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of
Turkey

Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 33 00 E

Map references: Middle East

Area:
total: 9,250 sq km (note--of which 3,355 sq km are in the Turkish
Cypriot area)
land: 9,240 sq km
water: 10 sq km

Area--comparative: about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 648 km

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

Climate: temperate, Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool,
wet winters

Terrain: central plain with mountains to north and south;
scattered but significant plains along southern coast

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Olympus 1,952 m

Natural resources: copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber,
salt, marble, clay earth pigment

Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 13%
other: 70% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 390 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: moderate earthquake activity

Environment--current issues: water resource problems (no natural
reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall; sea water
intrusion to island's largest aquifer; increased salination in the
north); water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal
degradation; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

People

Population: 754,064 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 24% (male 92,626; female 88,127)
15-64 years: 65% (male 249,083; female 244,750)
65 years and over: 11% (male 34,612; female 44,866) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.67% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 13.64 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 7.42 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 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
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 7.68 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.1 years
male: 74.91 years
female: 79.39 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Cypriot(s)
adjective: Cypriot

Ethnic groups: Greek 78% (99.5% of the Greeks live in the Greek
Cypriot area; 0.5% of the Greeks live in the Turkish Cypriot area),
Turkish 18% (1.3% of the Turks live in the Greek Cypriot area; 98.7%
of the Turks live in the Turkish Cypriot area), other 4% (99.2% of
the other ethnic groups live in the Greek Cypriot area; 0.8% of the
other ethnic groups live in the Turkish Cypriot area)

Religions: Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian
Apostolic, and other 4%

Languages: Greek, Turkish, English

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94%
male: 98%
female: 91% (1987 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus
conventional short form: Cyprus
note: the Turkish Cypriot area refers to itself as the "Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)

Data code: CY

Government type: republic
note: a disaggregation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the
island began after the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this
separation was further solidified following the Turkish intervention
in July 1974 following a Greek junta-based coup attempt, which gave
the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots
control the only internationally recognized government; on 15
November 1983 Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTASH declared
independence and the formation of a "Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus" (TRNC), which has been recognized only by Turkey; both sides
publicly call for the resolution of intercommunal differences and
creation of a new federal system of government

Capital: Nicosia
note: the Turkish Cypriot area's capital is Lefkosa (Nicosia)

Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia,
Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos; note--Turkish Cypriot area's
administrative divisions include Kyrenia, all but a small part of
Famagusta, and small parts of Lefkosa (Nicosia) and Larnaca

Independence: 16 August 1960 (from UK)
note: Turkish Cypriot area proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975
from Republic of Cyprus

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October; note--Turkish
Cypriot area celebrates 15 November as Independence Day

Constitution: 16 August 1960; negotiations to create the basis
for a new or revised constitution to govern the island and to better
relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held
intermittently; in 1975 Turkish Cypriots created their own
constitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish Federated
State of Cyprus," which was renamed the "Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus" in 1983; a new constitution for the Turkish Cypriot
area passed by referendum on 5 May 1985

Legal system: based on common law, with civil law modifications

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal