Chapter V (18)

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (200 seats; members are
elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 7 December 1996 (next to be held NA December
2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NDC
133, NPP 61, PCP 5, PNC 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Congress or

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNPREDEP, UNU, UPU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kobena KOOMSON
chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kathryn Dee ROBINSON
embassy: Ring Road East, East of Danquah Circle, Accra
mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top),
yellow, and green with a large black five-pointed star centered in
the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia;
similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in
the yellow band

Economy

Economy--overview: Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has
twice the per capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa.
Even so, Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial
and technical assistance. Gold, timber, and cocoa production are
major sources of foreign exchange. The domestic economy continues to
revolve around subsistence agriculture, which accounts for 41% of
GDP and employs 60% of the work force, mainly small landholders. In
1995-97, Ghana made mixed progress under a three-year structural
adjustment program in cooperation with the IMF. On the minus side,
public sector wage increases and regional peacekeeping commitments
have led to continued inflationary deficit financing, depreciation
of the cedi, and rising public discontent with Ghana's austerity
measures. Power shortages also helped slow growth in 1998.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$33.6 billion (1998 est.)

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

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,800 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 41%
industry: 14%
services: 45% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line: 31.4% (1992 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 27.3% (1992)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 27.7% (1997 est.)

Labor force: NA

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture and fishing 61%, industry
10%, services 29% (1996 est.)

Unemployment rate: 20% (1997 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.39 billion
expenditures: $1.47 billion, including capital expenditures of $370
million (1996 est.)

Industries: mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum
smelting, food processing

Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (1996 est.)

Electricity--production: 6.1 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.66%
hydro: 99.34%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 5.88 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 225 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 5 million kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava (tapioca),
peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber

Exports: $1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: gold 39%, cocoa 35%, timber 9.4%, tuna,
bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, and diamonds (1996 est.)

Exports--partners: UK, Germany, US, Netherlands, Japan, Nigeria

Imports: $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Imports--commodities: capital equipment, petroleum, consumer
goods, foods, intermediate goods

Imports--partners: UK, Nigeria, US, Germany, Japan, Netherlands

Debt--external: $5.2 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $477.3 million (1995)

Currency: 1 new cedi (C) = 100 pesewas

Exchange rates: new cedis per US$1--2,324.70 (September 1998),
2,050.17 (1997), 1,637.23 (1996), 1,200.43 (1995), 956.71 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 100,000 (1997 est.)

Telephone system: poor to fair system
domestic: primarily microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 23, shortwave 0 (1997)

Radios: 12.5 million (1997 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 7 (in addition, there are eight
repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 1.9 million (1997 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 953 km (undergoing major rehabilitation)
narrow gauge: 953 km 1.067-m gauge (32 km double track) (1997 est.)

Highways:
total: 39,409 km
paved: 11,653 km (including 30 km of expressways)
unpaved: 27,756 km (1997 est.)

Waterways: Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers provide 168 km of
perennial navigation for launches and lighters; Lake Volta provides
1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways

Pipelines: 0 km

Ports and harbors: Takoradi, Tema

Merchant marine:
total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 10,552 GRT/14,839 DWT
ships by type: oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 3 (1998 est.)

Airports: 12 (1998 est.)

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

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

Military

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force,
Palace Guard, Civil Defense

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 4,520,125 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,507,954 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 184,360 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $53 million (1999)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.7% (1999)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international
drug trade; transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and
South American cocaine destined for Europe and the US

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

@Gibraltar ---------

Geography

Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar,
which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on
the southern coast of Spain

Geographic coordinates: 36 11 N, 5 22 W

Map references: Europe

Area:
total: 6.5 sq km
land: 6.5 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: about 11 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
total: 1.2 km
border countries: Spain 1.2 km

Coastline: 12 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers

Terrain: a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m

Natural resources: NEGL

Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 100% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: limited natural freshwater resources;
large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rain water

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

Geography--note: strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that
links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

People

Population: 29,165 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 3,129; female 2,749)
15-64 years: 66% (male 10,888; female 8,247)
65 years and over: 14% (male 1,729; female 2,423) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.39% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 12.65 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 8.81 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.32 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 1.17 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 6.47 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.37 years
male: 75.1 years
female: 81.81 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.16 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Gibraltarian(s)
adjective: Gibraltar

Ethnic groups: Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, Spanish

Religions: Roman Catholic 74%, Protestant 11% (Church of England
8%, other 3%), Muslim 8%, Jewish 2%, none or other 5% (1981)

Languages: English (used in schools and for official purposes),
Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian

Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: above 95%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Gibraltar

Data code: GI

Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK

Government type: NA

Capital: Gibraltar

Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK)

Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday: Commonwealth Day (second Monday of March)

Constitution: 30 May 1969

Legal system: English law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal, plus other UK subjects who
have been residents six months or more

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor and Commander-in-Chief, the Right Honorable
Sir Richard LUCE (since 24 February 1997)
head of government: Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the elected
members of the House of Assembly by the governor in consultation
with the chief minister
note: there is also a Gibraltar Council that advises the governor
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (18 seats--15
elected, on for the Speaker, and two ex officio; members are elected
by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 16 May 1996 (next to be held NA May 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--SD 53%, SL 42%, NP 3%;
seats by party--SD 8, SL 7

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders: Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or

Political pressure groups and leaders: Housewives Association;
Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization

International organization participation: Interpol (subbureau)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory
of the UK)

Flag description: two horizontal bands of white (top, double
width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the
white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in
the red band

Economy

Economy--overview: Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping
trade, offshore banking, and its position as an international
conference center. The British military presence has been sharply
reduced and now contributes about 11% to the local economy. The
financial sector accounts for 15% of GDP; tourism (more than 5
million visitors in 1995), shipping services fees, and duties on
consumer goods also generate revenue. Because more than 70% of the
economy is in the public sector, changes in government spending have
a major impact on the level of employment.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$500 million (1997 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$17,500 (1997 est.)

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

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.1% (1996)

Labor force: 14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers)

Labor force--by occupation: services 60%, industry 40%,
agriculture NEGL%

Unemployment rate: 13.5% (1996)

Budget:
revenues: $111.6 million
expenditures: $115.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY95/96)

Industries: tourism, banking and finance, ship-building and
repairing; support to large UK naval and air bases; tobacco, mineral
water, beer, canned fish

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 85 million kWh (1996)

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

Electricity--consumption: 85 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: none

Exports: $83.7 million (f.o.b., 1995)

Exports--commodities: (principally reexports) petroleum 51%,
manufactured goods 41%, other 8%

Exports--partners: UK, Morocco, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, US,
FRG

Imports: $778 million (c.i.f., 1995)

Imports--commodities: fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs

Imports--partners: UK, Spain, Japan, Netherlands

Debt--external: $NA

Economic aid--recipient: $NA

Currency: 1 Gibraltar pound (LG) = 100 pence

Exchange rates: Gibraltar pounds (LG) per US$1--0.6057 (January
1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995),
0.6529 (1994); note--the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British
pound

Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June

Communications

Telephones: 19,356 (1994)

Telephone system: adequate, automatic domestic system and
adequate international facilities
domestic: automatic exchange facilities
international: radiotelephone; microwave radio relay; satellite
earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are 3
low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: NA

Transportation

Railways:
total: NA km; 1.000-m gauge system in dockyard area only

Highways:
total: 49.9 km
paved: 49.9 km
unpaved: 0 km

Pipelines: 0 km

Ports and harbors: Gibraltar

Merchant marine:
total: 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 346m951 GRT/588,765 DWT
ships by type: chemical tanker 2, container 4, oil tanker 11,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)

Airports: 1 (1998 est.)

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

Military

Military branches: British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: source of friction between Spain and the
UK

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

@Glorioso Islands ----------------

Geography

Location: Southern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean,
northwest of Madagascar

Geographic coordinates: 11 30 S, 47 20 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total: 5 sq km
land: 5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock,
and South Rock

Area--comparative: about eight times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 35.2 km

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

Climate: tropical

Terrain: NA

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 12 m

Natural resources: guano, coconuts

Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms)

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)

Natural hazards: periodic cyclones

Environment--current issues: NA

People

Population: uninhabited

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Glorioso Islands
local long form: none
local short form: Iles Glorieuses

Data code: GO

Dependency status: possession of France; administered by a high
commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion

Legal system: NA

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (possession of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (possession of France)

Flag description: the flag of France is used

Economy

Economy--overview: no economic activity

Transportation

Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only

Airports: 1 (1998 est.)

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

Military

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: claimed by Madagascar

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

@Greece ------

Geography

Location: Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea,
and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey

Geographic coordinates: 39 00 N, 22 00 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total: 131,940 sq km
land: 130,800 sq km
water: 1,140 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Alabama

Land boundaries:
total: 1,210 km
border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km,
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 228 km

Coastline: 13,676 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 6 nm

Climate: temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers

Terrain: mostly mountains with ranges extending into sea as
peninsulas or chains of islands

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m

Natural resources: bauxite, lignite, magnesite, petroleum, marble

Land use:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 8%
permanent pastures: 41%
forests and woodland: 20%
other: 12% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 13,140 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: severe earthquakes

Environment--current issues: air pollution; water pollution

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, 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: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography--note: strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and
southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country,
possessing an archipelago of about 2,000 islands

People

Population: 10,707,135 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 16% (male 878,349; female 818,311)
15-64 years: 67% (male 3,619,982; female 3,587,591)
65 years and over: 17% (male 799,053; female 1,003,849) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.41% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 9.54 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 9.44 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 4.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 7.13 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.43 years
male: 75.87 years
female: 81.18 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.3 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Greek(s)
adjective: Greek

Ethnic groups: Greek 98%, other 2%
note: the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions in
Greece

Religions: Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%

Languages: Greek (official), English, French

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95%
male: 98%
female: 93% (1991 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Hellenic Republic
conventional short form: Greece
local long form: Elliniki Dhimokratia
local short form: Ellas or Ellada
former: Kingdom of Greece

Data code: GR

Government type: parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by
referendum 8 December 1974

Capital: Athens

Administrative divisions: 51 prefectures (nomoi,
singular--nomos)and 1 autonomous region*; Ayion Oros* (Mt. Athos),
Aitolia kai Akarnania, Akhaia, Argolis, Arkadhia, Arta, Attiki,
Dhodhekanisos, Drama, Evritania, Evros, Evvoia, Florina, Fokis,
Fthiotis, Grevena, Ilia, Imathia, Ioannina, Irakleion, Kardhitsa,
Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkyra, Khalkidhiki, Khania, Khios,
Kikladhes, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi,
Lesvos, Levkas, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Preveza,
Rethimni, Rodhopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Trikala,
Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakinthos

Independence: 1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)

National holiday: Independence Day, 25 March (1821) (proclamation
of the war of independence)

Constitution: 11 June 1975

Legal system: based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into
civil, criminal, and administrative courts

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Konstandinos (Kostis) STEPHANOPOULOS
(since 10 March 1995)
head of government: Prime Minister Konstandinos SIMITIS (since 19
January 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of
the prime minister
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term;
election last held 10 March 1995 (next to be held by NA March 2000);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Konstandinos STEPHANOPOULOS elected president;
percent of Parliament vote--NA

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon
(300 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: elections last held 22 September 1996 (next to be held by
NA September 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--PASOK 41.5%, ND 38.1%,
KKE 5.6%, Coalition of the Left and Progress 5.1%, DIKKI 4.4%,
Political Spring 2.9%; seats by party--PASOK 162, ND 108, KKE 11,
Coalition of the Left and Progress 10, DIKKI 9; note--seating has
subsequently changed as a result of disciplinary actions by PASOK,
ND, and DIKKI; 1998 seating is PASOK 162, ND 105, KKE 11, Coalition
of the Left and Progress 10, DIKKI 8, independents 4

Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court, judges appointed for
life by the president after consultation with a judicial council;
Special Supreme Tribunal, judges appointed for life by the president
after consultation with a judicial council

Political parties and leaders: New Democracy or ND (conservative)

International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
BSEC, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EU, FAO, G- 6, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO,
MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE,
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UPU,
WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alexandre PHILON
chancery: 2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and
San Francisco
consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, and New Orleans

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador R. Nicholas BURNS
embassy: 91 Vasilissis Sophias Boulevard, 10160 Athens
mailing address: PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108
consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki

Flag description: nine equal horizontal stripes of blue
alternating with white; there is a blue square in the upper
hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the cross symbolizes Greek
Orthodoxy, the established religion of the country

Economy

Economy--overview: Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the
public sector accounting for about half of GDP, although the
government plans to privatize some leading state enterprises.
Tourism is a key industry, providing a large portion of GDP and
foreign exchange earnings. Greece is a major beneficiary of EU aid,
equal to about 4% of GDP. The economy has improved steadily over the
last few years, as the government has tightened policy with the goal
of qualifying Greece to join the EU's single currency (the euro) in
2001. In particular, Greece has cut its budget deficit to just over
2% of GDP and tightened monetary policy, with the result that
inflation fell below 4% by the end of 1998--the lowest rate in 26
years. The outlook for 1999 is good with the budget deficit and
inflation both expected to decline further, while GDP growth stays
near 3% and the current account deficit remains below 2% of GDP.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$143 billion (1998 est.)

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

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$13,400 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.5%
industry: 23.5%
services: 68% (1996)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.9% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 4.28 million (1998)

Labor force--by occupation: services 59.2%, agriculture 19.8%,
industry 21% (1998)

Unemployment rate: 10% (1998 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $45 billion
expenditures: $47.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)

Industries: tourism; food and tobacco processing, textiles;
chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum

Industrial production growth rate: 7.3% (1998 est.)

Electricity--production: 40.028 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 89.16%
hydro: 10.75%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.09% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 41.388 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 1.3 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 2.66 billion kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives,
tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; beef, dairy products

Exports: $12.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities: manufactured goods, foodstuffs, fuels (1998)

Exports--partners: EU 56% (Germany 25%, Italy 11%, UK 8%, France
6%), US 16% (1997)

Imports: $27.7 billion (c.i.f., 1998)

Imports--commodities: manufactured goods, foodstuffs, fuels,
chemicals (1998)

Imports--partners: EU 61% (Italy 16%, Germany 16%, France 8%, UK
7%, Netherlands 5%) US 11% (1997)

Debt--external: $40.8 billion (1997)

Economic aid--recipient: $5.4 billion from EU (1997 est.)

Currency: 1 drachma (Dr) = 100 lepta

Exchange rates: drachmae (Dr) per US$1--278.78 (January 1999),
295.53 (1998), 273.06 (1997), 240.71 (1996), 231.66 (1995), 242.60
(1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 5,571,293 (1993 est.)

Telephone system: adequate, modern networks reach all areas;
microwave radio relay carries most traffic; extensive open-wire
network; submarine cables to off-shore islands
domestic: microwave radio relay, open wire, and submarine cable
international: tropospheric scatter; 8 submarine cables; satellite
earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1
Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 29, FM 17 (repeaters 20), shortwave 0

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 64 (in addition, there are about
1,000 low-power repeaters and two stations in the US armed forces
network) (1997)

Televisions: 2.3 million (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 2,548 km
standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge (36 km electrified; 23 km
double track)
narrow gauge: 961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge (a rack type
railway for steep grades)

Highways:
total: 117,000 km
paved: 107,406 km (including 470 km of expressways)
unpaved: 9,594 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: 80 km; system consists of three coastal canals;
including the Corinth Canal (6 km) which crosses the Isthmus of
Corinth connecting the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf and
shortens the sea voyage from the Adriatic to Peiraiefs (Piraeus) by
325 km; and three unconnected rivers

Pipelines: crude oil 26 km; petroleum products 547 km

Ports and harbors: Alexandroupolis, Elefsis, Irakleion (Crete),
Kavala, Kerkyra, Chalkis, Igoumenitsa, Lavrion, Patrai, Peiraiefs
(Piraeus), Thessaloniki, Volos

Merchant marine:
total: 810 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,798,431
GRT/44,056,618 DWT
ships by type: bulk 307, cargo 66, chemical tanker 19, combination
bulk 9, combination ore/oil 12, container 45, liquefied gas tanker
5, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 229, passenger 15,
passenger-cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 17,
short-sea passenger 76, specialized tanker 3 (1998 est.)

Airports: 78 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 63
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 9 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 11 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 2 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air
Force, National Guard, Police

Military manpower--military age: 21 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,707,628 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,071,670 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 79,376 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $4.04 billion (1998 est.)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: complex maritime, air, and territorial
disputes with Turkey in Aegean Sea; Cyprus question with Turkey;
dispute with The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia over name; in
September 1995, Skopje and Athens signed an interim accord resolving
their dispute over symbols and certain constitutional provisions;
Athens also lifted its economic embargo on The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia

Illicit drugs: a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling
cannabis and heroin from the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the
West and precursor chemicals to the East; some South American
cocaine transits or is consumed in Greece

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

@Greenland ---------

Geography

Location: Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean
and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada

Geographic coordinates: 72 00 N, 40 00 W

Map references: Arctic Region

Area:
total: 2,175,600 sq km
land: 2,175,600 sq km (341,600 sq km ice-free, 1,834,000 sq km
ice-covered) (est.)

Area--comparative: slightly more than three times the size of Texas

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 44,087 km

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

Climate: arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters

Terrain: flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a
narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Gunnbjorn 3,700 m

Natural resources: zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, gold,
platinum, uranium, fish, seals, whales

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 99% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds
of the island

Environment--current issues: protection of the arctic environment;
preservation of their traditional way of life, including whaling;
note--Greenland participates actively in Inuit Circumpolar Conference
(ICC)

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

Geography--note: dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North
America and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements
along coast

People

Population: 59,827 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 26% (male 7,789; female 7,728)
15-64 years: 68% (male 22,248; female 18,678)
65 years and over: 6% (male 1,562; female 1,822) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.84% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 15.23 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 6.79 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 20.06 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.1 years
male: 65.98 years
female: 74.24 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.14 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Greenlander(s)
adjective: Greenlandic

Ethnic groups: Greenlander 87% (Eskimos and Greenland-born
whites), Danish and others 13%

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran

Languages: Eskimo dialects, Danish, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect)

Literacy: NA
note: similar to Denmark proper

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Greenland
local long form: none
local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat

Data code: GL

Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing
overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979

Government type: NA

Capital: Nuuk (Godthab)

Administrative divisions: 3 districts (landsdele); Avannaa
(Nordgronland), Tunu (Ostgronland), Kitaa (Vestgronland)

Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark;
self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since
1979)

National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)

Constitution: 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)

Legal system: Danish

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January
1972), represented by High Commissioner Gunnar MARTENS (since NA
1995)
head of government: Prime Minister Jonathan MOTZFELDT (since NA
September 1997)
cabinet: Landsstyre is formed from the Parliament on the basis of
the strength of parties
elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by
the monarch; prime minister is elected by the Parliament (usually
the leader of the majority party); election last held 11 March 1999
(next to be held NA 2003)
election results: Jonathan MOTZFELDT reelected prime minister;
percent of parliamentary vote--23 out of 31 votes

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Landsting (31 seats;
members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional
representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 17 February 1999 (next to be held by NA 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party--Siumut 35.2%, Inuit
Ataqatigiit 22%, Atassut Party 25.2%, Candidates' League 12.3%;
seats by party--Siumut 11, Atassut Party 8, Inuit Ataqatigiit 7,
Candidates' League 4, independent 1
note: 2 representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or
Folketing on NA March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002); percent of
vote by party--Siumut 35.6%, Atassut 35.2%; seats by party--Siumut 1,
Atassut 1; Greenlandic representatives are affiliated with Danish
political parties

Judicial branch: High Court or Landsret

Political parties and leaders: two-party ruling coalition; Siumut
(Forward Party, a moderate socialist party that advocates more
distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark)
Brotherhood, a Marxist-Leninist party that favors complete
Atassut Party (Solidarity, a more conservative party that favors

International organization participation: NC, NIB

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing
overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (self-governing
overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and
red with a large disk slightly to the hoist side of center--the top
half of the disk is red, the bottom half is white

Economy

Economy--overview: Greenland suffered negative economic growth in
the early 1990s, but since 1993 the economy has improved. The
Greenland Home Rule Government (GHRG) has pursued a light fiscal
policy since the late 1980s which has helped create surpluses in the
public budget and low inflation. Since 1990, Greenland has
registered a foreign trade deficit following the closure of the last
remaining lead and zinc mine in 1989. Greenland today is critically
dependent on fishing and fish exports; the shrimp fishery is by far
the largest income earner. Despite resumption of several interesting
hydrocarbon and minerals exploration activities, it will take
several years before production can materialize. Tourism is the only
sector offering any near-term potential and even this is limited due
to a short season and high costs. The public sector, including
publicly owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays the
dominant role in Greenland's economy. About half the government
revenues come from grants from the Danish Government, an important
supplement of GDP.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$945 million (1997 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 0.6% (1997 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$16,100 (1997 est.)

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

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.6% (1997 est.)

Labor force: 24,500 (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate: 10.5% (1995 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $706 million
expenditures: $697 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995)

Industries: fish processing (mainly shrimp), handicrafts, furs,
small shipyards

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 245 million kWh (1996)

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

Electricity--consumption: 245 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: forage crops, garden vegetables; sheep; fish

Exports: $363.4 million (f.o.b., 1995)

Exports--commodities: fish and fish products 95%

Exports--partners: Denmark 89%, Japan 5%, UK 5%

Imports: $421 million (c.i.f., 1995)

Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment 25%,
manufactured goods 18%, food and live animals 11%, petroleum
products 6%

Imports--partners: Denmark 7.5%, Iceland 3.8%, Japan 3.3%, Norway
3.1%, US 2.4%, Germany 2.4%, Sweden 1.8%

Debt--external: $243 million (1995)

Economic aid--recipient: $427 million (annual subsidy from
Denmark) (1995)

Currency: 1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere

Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1--6.401 (January
1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1996), 5.602 (1995), 6.361
(1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 19,600 (1995 est.)

Telephone system: adequate domestic and international service
provided by cables and microwave radio relay; totally digitalized in
1995
domestic: microwave radio relay
international: 2 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station--1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: 1 publicly-owned station and some local
radio and TV stations

Radios: 23,000 (1991 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1 publicly-owned station and some
local low-power stations; in addition, there are three AFRTS (US Air
Force) stations which broadcast in the NTSC system (1997)

Televisions: 12,000 (1991 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 150 km
paved: 60 km
unpaved: 90 km

Ports and harbors: Kangerluarsoruseq, Kangerlussuaq, Nanortalik,
Narsarsuaq, Nuuk (Godthab), Sisimiut

Merchant marine:
total: 1 passenger (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,211 GRT/162 DWT
(1998 est.)

Airports: 13 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 9
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

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

@Grenada -------

Geography

Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and
Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates: 12 07 N, 61 40 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 340 sq km
land: 340 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 121 km

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

Climate: tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds

Terrain: volcanic in origin with central mountains

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Saint Catherine 840 m

Natural resources: timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors

Land use:
arable land: 15%
permanent crops: 18%
permanent pastures: 3%
forests and woodland: 9%
other: 55% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season
lasts from June to November

Environment--current issues: NA

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the
Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography--note: the administration of the islands of the
Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
and Grenada

People

Population: 97,008 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 21,055; female 20,365)
15-64 years: 53% (male 27,524; female 23,766)
65 years and over: 4% (male 2,034; female 2,264) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.87% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 27.62 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 5.15 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -13.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.16 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.09 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 11.13 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.6 years
male: 68.97 years
female: 74.29 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.57 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Grenadian(s)
adjective: Grenadian

Ethnic groups: black

Religions: Roman Catholic 53%, Anglican 13.8%, other Protestant
sects 33.2%

Languages: English (official), French patois

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1970 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Grenada

Data code: GJ

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Saint George's

Administrative divisions: 6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou
and Petit Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George,
Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick

Independence: 7 February 1974 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 7 February (1974)

Constitution: 19 December 1973

Legal system: based on English common law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Daniel WILLIAMS (since 9 August 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Keith MITCHELL (since 22 June
1995)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the monarch; prime minister appointed by the governor
general from among the members of the House of Assembly

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
(a 13-member body, 10 appointed by the government and three by the
leader of the opposition) and the House of Representatives (15
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 18 January 1999 (next to be held by NA
October 2004)
election results: House of Representatives--percent of vote by
party--NA; seats by party--NNP 15

Judicial branch: West Indies Associate States Supreme Court (an
associate judge resides in Grenada)

Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Congress or

International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB,
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS,
OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WToO,
WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Denis G. ANTOINE
chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: the ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Grenada
embassy: Point Salines, Saint George's
mailing address: P. O. Box 54, Saint George's, Grenada, West Indies

Flag description: a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow
triangles (top and bottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer
side), with a red border around the flag; there are seven yellow,
five-pointed stars with three centered in the top red border, three
centered in the bottom red border, and one on a red disk
superimposed at the center of the flag; there is also a symbolic
nutmeg pod on the hoist-side triangle (Grenada is the world's
second-largest producer of nutmeg, after Indonesia); the seven stars
represent the seven administrative divisions

Economy

Economy--overview: In this island economy progress in fiscal
reforms and prudent macroeconomic management have boosted annual
growth to nearly 5% in 1997-98. The increase in economic activity
has been led by construction and trade. Tourist facilities are being
expanded; tourism is the leading foreign exchange earner. Major
short-term concerns are the rising fiscal deficit and the
deterioration in the external account balance. Grenada shares a
common central bank and a common currency with seven other members
of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

GDP: purchasing power parity--$340 million (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 5% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,500 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 9.7%
industry: 15%
services: 75.3% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.4% (1998)

Labor force: 36,000

Labor force--by occupation: services 31%, agriculture 24%,
construction 8%, manufacturing 5%, other 32% (1985)

Unemployment rate: 20% (1 October 1996)

Budget:
revenues: $85.8 million
expenditures: $102.1 million, including capital expenditures of $28
million (1997)

Industries: food and beverages, textiles, light assembly
operations, tourism, construction

Industrial production growth rate: 0.7% (1997 est.)

Electricity--production: 70 million kWh (1996)

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

Electricity--consumption: 70 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus,
avocados, root crops, sugarcane, corn, vegetables

Exports: $22 million (1997)

Exports--commodities: bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and
vegetables, clothing, mace

Exports--partners: Caricom 32.3%, UK 20%, US 13%, Netherlands 8.8%
(1991)

Imports: $166.5 million (1997)

Imports--commodities: food 25%, manufactured goods 22%, machinery
20%, chemicals 10%, fuel 6% (1989)

Imports--partners: US 31.2%, Caricom 23.6%, UK 13.8%, Japan 7.1%
(1991)

Debt--external: $74 million (1997 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $8.3 million (1995)

Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.7000
(fixed rate since 1976)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 5,650 (1988 est.)

Telephone system: automatic, islandwide telephone system
domestic: interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone links
international: new SHF radiotelephone links to Trinidad and Tobago
and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to Trinidad

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

Radios: 80,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)

Televisions: 30,000 (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 1,040 km
paved: 638 km
unpaved: 402 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Grenville, Saint George's

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 3 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Royal Grenada Police Force (includes Special
Service Unit), Coast Guard

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

Illicit drugs: small-scale cannabis cultivation; lesser
transshipment point for marijuana and cocaine to US

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

@Guadeloupe ----------

Geography

Location: Caribbean, islands in the eastern Caribbean Sea,
southeast of Puerto Rico

Geographic coordinates: 16 15 N, 61 35 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 1,780 sq km
land: 1,706 sq km
water: 74 sq km
note: Guadeloupe is an archipelago of nine inhabited islands,
including Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, Marie-Galante, La Desirade,
Iles des Saintes, Saint Barthelemy, and part of Saint Martin

Area--comparative: 10 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
total: 10.2 km
border countries: Netherlands Antilles (Sint Maarten) 10.2 km

Coastline: 306 km

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

Climate: subtropical tempered by trade winds; moderately high
humidity

Terrain: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior
mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the
seven other islands are volcanic in origin

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Soufriere 1,467 m

Natural resources: cultivable land, beaches and climate that
foster tourism

Land use:
arable land: 14%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 14%
forests and woodland: 39%
other: 29% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: hurricanes (June to October); Soufriere is an
active volcano

Environment--current issues: NA

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

People

Population: 420,943 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 25% (male 53,427; female 51,234)
15-64 years: 66% (male 138,215; female 141,243)
65 years and over: 9% (male 15,536; female 21,288) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.06% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 16.33 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 5.62 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 8.54 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.01 years
male: 74.98 years
female: 81.18 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Guadeloupian(s)
adjective: Guadeloupe

Ethnic groups: black or mulatto 90%, white 5%, East Indian,
Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%

Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 4%,
Protestant sects 1%

Languages: French (official) 99%, Creole patois

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90%
male: 90%
female: 90% (1982 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Department of Guadeloupe
conventional short form: Guadeloupe
local long form: Departement de la Guadeloupe
local short form: Guadeloupe

Data code: GP

Dependency status: overseas department of France

Government type: NA

Capital: Basse-Terre

Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)

Independence: none (overseas department of France)

National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July
(1789)

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: French legal system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by Prefect Jean FEDINI (since NA 1996)
head of government: President of the General Council Marcellin
LUBETH (since NA 1998); President of the Regional Council Lucette
MICHAUX-CHEVRY (since 22 March 1992)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General and
Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils
election results: NA

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General
(42 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year
terms) and the unicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (41
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: General Council--last held 22 March 1998 (next to be held
by NA 2002); Regional Council--last held 15 March 1998 (next to be
held NA 2004)
election results: General Council--percent of vote by party--NA; seats
by party--various left parties 11, PS 8, RPR 8, PPDG 6, various right
parties 5, PCC 3, UDF 1; Regional Council--percent of vote by
party--RPR 48.03%, PS/PPDG/DVG 24.49%, PCG 5.29%, DVD 5.73%; seats by
party--RPR 25, PS/PPDG/DVG 12, PCG 2, DVD 2
note: Guadeloupe elects two representatives to the French Senate;
elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September
2004); percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--RPR 1, FGPS 1;
Guadeloupe elects four representatives to the French National
Assembly; elections last held 25 May--1 June 1997 (next to be held NA
2002); percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--FGPS 2, RPR 1,
PPDG 1

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel with
jurisdiction over Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique

Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic or RPR
REIETTE]; Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or
IBO]

Political pressure groups and leaders: Movement for Independent
Guadeloupe or MPGI; General Union of Guadeloupe Workers or UGTG;
General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers or CGT-G; Christian
Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or KLPG

International organization participation: FZ, WCL, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas department of
France)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas department
of France)

Flag description: three horizontal bands, a narrow green band
(top), a wide red band, and a narrow green band; the green bands are
separated from the red band by two narrow white stripes; a
five-pointed gold star is centered in the red band toward the hoist
side; the flag of France is used for official occasions

Economy

Economy--overview: The economy depends on agriculture, tourism,
light industry, and services. It also depends on France for large
subsidies and imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most tourists
from the US; an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit the
islands. The traditional sugarcane crop is slowly being replaced by
other crops, such as bananas (which now supply about 50% of export
earnings), eggplant, and flowers. Other vegetables and root crops
are cultivated for local consumption, although Guadeloupe is still
dependent on imported food, mainly from France. Light industry
features sugar and rum production. Most manufactured goods and fuel
are imported. Unemployment is especially high among the young.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$3.7 billion (1996 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$9,000 (1996 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 9%
services: 85% (1993 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (1990)

Labor force: 128,000

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 15%, industry 20%,
services 65% (1993)

Unemployment rate: 29.5% (1997)

Budget:
revenues: $200 million
expenditures: $350 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997)

Industries: construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 960 million kWh (1996)

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

Electricity--consumption: 960 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: bananas, sugarcane, tropical fruits and
vegetables; cattle, pigs, goats

Exports: $133 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: bananas, sugar, rum

Exports--partners: France 75%, Martinique 13% (1994)

Imports: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, fuels, vehicles, clothing and
other consumer goods, construction materials

Imports--partners: France 64%, EU 13%, Martinique 4%, US, Japan
(1994)

Debt--external: $NA

Economic aid--recipient: $NA; note?substantial annual French
subsidies

Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.65 (January 1999),
5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155(1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520
(1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 64,916 (1984 est.)

Telephone system: domestic facilities inadequate
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
microwave radio relay to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and
Martinique

Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 8 (private stations licensed
to broadcast FM 30), shortwave 0

Radios: 100,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 5 (in addition, there are several
low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 150,000 (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: NA km; privately owned, narrow-gauge plantation lines

Highways:
total: 2,082 km
paved: 1,742 km
unpaved: 340 km (1985 est.)
note: in 1996 there were a total of 3,200 km of roads

Ports and harbors: Basse-Terre, Gustavia (on Saint Barthelemy),
Marigot, Pointe-a-Pitre

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 9 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 8
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: French Forces, Gendarmerie

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

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

@Guam ----

Geography

Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about
three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 144 47 E

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total: 541.3 sq km
land: 541.3 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: three times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 125.5 km

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

Climate: tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by
northeast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season
from July to December; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively
flat coralline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water), with
steep coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low-rising
hills in center, mountains in south

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m

Natural resources: fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism
(especially from Japan)

Land use:
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: 11%
permanent pastures: 15%
forests and woodland: 18%
other: 45% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively
rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in
August)

Environment--current issues: extirpation of native bird population
by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic species

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

Geography--note: largest and southernmost island in the Mariana
Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific
Ocean

People

Population: 151,716 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 35% (male 27,301; female 25,106)
15-64 years: 60% (male 47,691; female 42,714)
65 years and over: 5% (male 4,486; female 4,418) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.67% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 26.52 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 4.35 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -5.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.11 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

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

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.78 years
male: 74.6 years
female: 81.31 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.92 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Guamanian(s)
adjective: Guamanian

Ethnic groups: Chamorro 47%, Filipino 25%, white 10%, Chinese,
Japanese, Korean, and other 18%

Religions: Roman Catholic 98%, other 2%

Languages: English, Chamorro, Japanese

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1990 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Guam
conventional short form: Guam

Data code: GQ

Dependency status: organized, unincorporated territory of the US
with policy relations between Guam and the US under the jurisdiction
of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior

Government type: NA

Capital: Hagatna (Agana)

Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)

Independence: none (territory of the US)

National holiday: Guam Discovery Day (first Monday in March)
(1521); Liberation Day, 21 July (1944)

Constitution: Organic Act of 1 August 1950

Legal system: modeled on US; US federal laws apply

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not
vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch:
chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON of the US (since
20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January
1993)
head of government: Governor Carl GUTIERREZ (since 8 November 1994)
and Lieutenant Governor Madeleine BORDALLO (since 8 November 1994)
cabinet: executive departments; heads appointed by the governor with
the consent of the Guam legislature
elections: US president and vice president elected on the same
ticket for a four-year term; governor and lieutenant governor
elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms;
election last held 3 November 1998 (next to be held NA November 2002)
election results: Carl GUTIERREZ reelected governor; percent of
vote--Carl GUTIERREZ (Democrat) 53.2%, Joseph ADA (Republican) 46.8%

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature (15 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: last held 3 November 1998 (next to be held NA November
2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--Republican 12, Democratic 3
note: Guam elects one delegate to the US House of Representatives;
election last held 3 November 1998 (next to be held NA November
2000); results--Robert UNDERWOOD was reelected as delegate; percent
of vote by party--NA; seats by party--Democratic 1

Judicial branch: Federal District Court (judge is appointed by
the president); Territorial Superior Court (judges appointed for
eight-year terms by the governor)

Political parties and leaders: Republican Party (controls the

International organization participation: ESCAP (associate),
Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC

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

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