Chapter V (20)

Exports--commodities: light manufactures 80.5%, coffee 7.6%, other
agriculture 7.2%

Exports--partners: US 76%, EU 19% (1997)

Imports: $486 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Imports--commodities: machines and manufactures 50%, food and
beverages 39%, petroleum products 2%, chemicals 5%, fats and oils 4%

Imports--partners: US 60%, EU 12% (1997)

Debt--external: $1 billion (1997 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $730.6 million (1995)

Currency: 1 gourde (G) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: gourdes (G) per US$1--16.778 (January 1999),
16.205 (1998), 17.311 (1997), 15.093 (1996), 16.160 (1995), 12.947
(1994)

Fiscal year: 1 October--30 September

Communications

Telephones: 50,000 (1990 est.)

Telephone system: domestic facilities barely adequate;
international facilities slightly better
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 33, FM 0, shortwave 2

Radios: 320,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 2 (in addition, there is a cable
TV station) (1997)

Televisions: 32,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 40 km (single track; privately owned industrial line)--closed
in early 1990s
narrow gauge: 40 km 0.760-m gauge

Highways:
total: 4,160 km
paved: 1,011 km
unpaved: 3,149 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: NEGL; less than 100 km navigable

Ports and harbors: Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, Jacmel, Jeremie, Les
Cayes, Miragoane, Port-au-Prince, Port-de-Paix, Saint-Marc

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 13 (1998 est.)

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

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Haitian National Police (HNP)
note: the regular Haitian Army, Navy, and Air Force have been
demobilized but still exist on paper until/unless constitutionally
abolished

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,541,402 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 835,578 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 80,158 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA; note?mainly for police
and security activities

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%

Military--note: the Haitian Armed Forces have been demobilized and
replaced by the Haitian National Police

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: claims US-administered Navassa Island

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana en
route to the US and Europe

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

@Heard Island and McDonald Islands ---------------------------------

Geography

Location: Southern Africa, islands in the Indian Ocean, about
two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica

Geographic coordinates: 53 06 S, 72 31 E

Map references: Antarctic Region

Area:
total: 412 sq km
land: 412 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly more than 2 times the size of
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 101.9 km

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

Climate: antarctic

Terrain: Heard Island--bleak and mountainous, with a quiescent
volcano; McDonald Islands--small and rocky

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Big Ben 2,745 m

Natural resources: none

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

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)

Natural hazards: Heard Island is dominated by a dormant volcano
called Big Ben

Environment--current issues: NA

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

Geography--note: primarily used for research stations

People

Population: uninhabited

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald
Islands
conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Data code: HM

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

Legal system: NA

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

Transportation

Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only

Military

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of Australia

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

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

@Holy See (Vatican City) -----------------------

Introduction

Background: Popes in their secular role ruled much of the Italian
peninsula, including Rome, for about a thousand years, until 1870. A
dispute between a series of popes and Italy was settled in 1929 by
treaties that recognized the Vatican City as an independent
sovereignty and gave Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. The
US established formal diplomatic relationships with the Vatican in
1984. Present issues in the Vatican concern the ill health of Pope
John Paul II, who turns 79 on 20 May 1999, inter-religious dialogue
and reconciliation, and the adjustment of church doctrine in an era
of rapid change. About 1 billion people worldwide profess the Roman
Catholic faith.

Geography

Location: Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)

Geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 27 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total: 0.44 sq km
land: 0.44 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
total: 3.2 km
border countries: Italy 3.2 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May)
with hot, dry summers (May to September)

Terrain: low hill

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: unnamed location 19 m
highest point: unnamed location 75 m

Natural resources: none

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (urban area)

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: NA

Environment--international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification

Geography--note: urban; landlocked; enclave of Rome, Italy;
world's smallest state; outside the Vatican City, 13 buildings in
Rome and Castel Gandolfo (the pope's summer residence) enjoy
extraterritorial rights

People

Population: 870 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.15% (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: none
adjective: none

Ethnic groups: Italians, Swiss, other

Religions: Roman Catholic

Languages: Italian, Latin, various other languages

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)
conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City)
local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)

Data code: VT

Government type: monarchical-sacerdotal state

Capital: Vatican City

Independence: 11 February 1929 (from Italy)

National holiday: Installation Day of the Pope (John Paul II), 22
October (1978)

Constitution: Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March
1968)

Legal system: NA

Suffrage: limited to cardinals less than 80 years old

Executive branch:
chief of state: Pope JOHN PAUL II (since 16 October 1978)
head of government: Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo Cardinal
SODANO (since 2 December 1990)
cabinet: Pontifical Commission appointed by the pope
elections: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals;
election last held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after the death
of the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the pope
election results: Karol WOJTYLA elected pope

Legislative branch: unicameral Pontifical Commission

Judicial branch: none; normally handled by Italy

Political parties and leaders: none

Political pressure groups and leaders: none (exclusive of
influence exercised by church officers)

International organization participation: IAEA, ICFTU, Intelsat,
IOM (observer), ITU, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer),
UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WToO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gabriel MONTALVO
chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Corrine C. BOGGS
embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via Delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome
mailing address: PSC 59, Box F, APO AE 09624

Flag description: two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and
white with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter
centered in the white band

Economy

Economy--overview: This unique, noncommercial economy is supported
financially by contributions (known as Peter's Pence) from Roman
Catholics throughout the world, the sale of postage stamps and
tourist mementos, fees for admission to museums, and the sale of
publications. The incomes and living standards of lay workers are
comparable to, or somewhat better than, those of counterparts who
work in the city of Rome.

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Labor force: NA

Labor force--by occupation: dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards,
and 3,000 lay workers who live outside the Vatican

Budget:
revenues: $175.5 million
expenditures: $175 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1994)

Industries: printing and production of a small amount of mosaics
and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities

Electricity--production: 0 kWh

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%

Electricity--consumption: NA kWh

Electricity--exports: NA kWh

Electricity--imports: NA kWh; note?electricity supplied by Italy

Economic aid--recipient: none

Currency: 1 Vatican lira (VLit) = 100 centesimi

Exchange rates: Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1--1,688.7 (January
1998), 1,736.2 (1998), 1,703.1 (1997), 1,542.9 (1996), 1,628.9
(1995), 1,612.4 (1994); note--the Vatican lira is at par with the
Italian lira which circulates freely

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 2,000

Telephone system: automatic exchange
domestic: tied into Italian system
international: uses Italian system

Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 1 (1996)

Televisions: NA

Transportation

Railways:
total: 862 m; note--connects to Italy's network at Rome's Saint
Peter's station
narrow gauge: 862 m 1.435-m gauge

Highways: none; all city streets

Ports and harbors: none

Airports: none

Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss
Papal Guards are posted at entrances to the Vatican City

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

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

@Honduras --------

Geography

Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between
Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the North Pacific Ocean,
between El Salvador and Nicaragua

Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 86 30 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 112,090 sq km
land: 111,890 sq km
water: 200 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly larger than Tennessee

Land boundaries:
total: 1,520 km
border countries: Guatemala 256 km, El Salvador 342 km, Nicaragua
922 km

Coastline: 820 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: natural extension of territory or to 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains

Terrain: mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m

Natural resources: timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron
ore, antimony, coal, fish

Land use:
arable land: 15%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 14%
forests and woodland: 54%
other: 14% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 740 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes;
damaging hurricanes and floods along Caribbean coast

Environment--current issues: urban population expanding;
deforestation results from logging and the clearing of land for
agricultural purposes; further land degradation and soil erosion
hastened by uncontrolled development and improper land use practices
such as farming of marginal lands; mining activities polluting Lago
de Yojoa (the country's largest source of fresh water) as well as
several rivers and streams with heavy metals; severe Hurricane Mitch
damage

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, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

People

Population: 5,997,327 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 41% (male 1,262,190; female 1,217,752)
15-64 years: 55% (male 1,643,550; female 1,665,666)
65 years and over: 4% (male 98,715; female 109,454) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.24% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 30.98 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 7.14 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.46 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: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 40.84 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.68 years
male: 63.16 years
female: 66.27 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.97 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Honduran(s)
adjective: Honduran

Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%,
Amerindian 7%, black 2%, white 1%

Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant minority

Languages: Spanish, Amerindian dialects

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 72.7%
male: 72.6%
female: 72.7% (1995 est.)

Government

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

Data code: HO

Government type: republic

Capital: Tegucigalpa

Administrative divisions: 18 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento) plus probable Central District (Tegucigalpa);
Atlantida, Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes, El Paraiso,
Francisco Morazan, Gracias a Dios, Intibuca, Islas de la Bahia, La
Paz, Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho, Santa Barbara, Valle, Yoro

Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution: 11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982

Legal system: rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law; some
influence of English common law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Carlos Roberto FLORES Facusse (since 27
January 1998); note--the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Carlos Roberto FLORES Facusse (since
27 January 1998); note--the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 30 November 1997 (next to be held NA November
2001)
election results: Carlos Roberto FLORES Facusse elected president;
percent of vote--Carlos Roberto FLORES Facusse (PLH) 53%, Nora de
MELGAR (PNH) 42%, other 5%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea
Nacional (128 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held on 30 November 1997 (next to be held November
2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--PLH 50%, PNH 42%, PINU-SD
4%, PDCH 2%, other 2%; seats by party--PLH 70, PNH 55, PINU-SD 3

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justica), judges are elected for four-year terms by the National
Assembly

Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party or PLH [Raphael
MELGAR, president]; National Innovation and Unity Party-Social

Political pressure groups and leaders: National Association of
Honduran Campesinos or ANACH; Honduran Council of Private Enterprise
or COHEP; Confederation of Honduran Workers or CTH; National Union
of Campesinos or UNC; General Workers Confederation or CGT; United
Federation of Honduran Workers or FUTH; Committee for the Defense of
Human Rights in Honduras or CODEH; Coordinating Committee of Popular
Organizations or CCOP

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: 3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
consulate(s): Boston, Detroit, and Jacksonville

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James Francis CREAGAN
embassy: Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No. 3453, Tegucigalpa
mailing address: American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top),
white, and blue with five blue five-pointed stars arranged in an X
pattern centered in the white band; the stars represent the members
of the former Federal Republic of Central America--Costa Rica, El
Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; similar to the flag of
El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words
REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white
band; also similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features a
triangle encircled by the word REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and
AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band

Economy

Economy--overview: Prior to Hurricane Mitch in the fall of 1998,
Honduras had been pursuing a moderate economic reform program and
had posted strong annual growth numbers. The storm has dramatically
changed economic forecasts for Honduras, one of the poorest
countries in Central America and the hardest hit by Mitch. Honduras
sustained approximately $3 billion in damages and will probably see
GDP shrink by 2% in 1999 and unemployment rise. Hardest hit was the
all-important agricultural sector, which is responsible for the
majority of exports. As a result, the trade deficit is likely to
balloon in 1999 to $445 million. However, significant aid has helped
to stabilize the country. In addition, the Paris Club and bilateral
creditors have offered substantial debt relief, and Tegucigalpa is
currently under consideration for inclusion in the IMF-World Bank
Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC). Additional
financing will be needed to restore the economy to its pre-Mitch
level.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$14.4 billion (1998 est.)

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

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,400 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 19%
services: 61% (1997)

Population below poverty line: 50% (1992 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 42.1% (1996)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14.5% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 1.3 million (1997 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 37%, services 39%,
industry 24% (1996)

Unemployment rate: 6.3% (1997); underemployed 30% (1997 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $655 million
expenditures: $850 million, including capital expenditures of $150
million (1997 est.)

Industries: sugar, coffee, textiles, clothing, wood products

Industrial production growth rate: 10% (1992 est.)

Electricity--production: 2.73 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 12.09%
hydro: 87.91%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 2.734 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 4 million kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: bananas, coffee, citrus; beef; timber;
shrimp

Exports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1996)

Exports--commodities: bananas, coffee, shrimp, lobster, minerals,
meat, lumber

Exports--partners: US 54%, Germany 7%, Belgium 5%, Japan 4%, Spain
3% (1995)

Imports: $1.8 billion (c.i.f. 1996)

Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment,
industrial raw materials, chemical products, manufactured goods,
fuel and oil, foodstuffs

Imports--partners: US 43%, Guatemala 5%, Japan 5%, Germany 4%,
Mexico 3%, El Salvador 3% (1995)

Debt--external: $4.1 billion (1995)

Economic aid--recipient: $418.7 million (1995)

Currency: 1 lempira (L) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: lempiras (L) per US$1 (end of period)--13.8076
(December 1998), 13.8076 (1998), 13.0942 (1997), 12.8694 (1996),
10.3432 (1995), 9.4001 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 105,000 (1992 est.)

Telephone system: inadequate system
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
connected to Central American Microwave System

Radio broadcast stations: AM 176, FM 0, shortwave 7

Radios: 2.115 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 11 (in addition, there are 17
repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 400,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 595 km
narrow gauge: 190 km 1.067-m gauge; 128 km 1.057-m gauge; 277 km
0.914-m gauge

Highways:
total: 14,173 km
paved: 3,126 km
unpaved: 11,047 km (1998 est.)

Waterways: 465 km navigable by small craft

Ports and harbors: La Ceiba, Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, San
Lorenzo, Tela, Puerto Lempira

Merchant marine:
total: 247 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 555,534 GRT/730,602 DWT
ships by type: bulk 21, cargo 157, chemical tanker 4, container 7,
livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 25, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 4,
refrigerated cargo 15, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, short-sea passenger
5, vehicle carrier 1
note: a flag of convenience registry; Russia owns 6 ships, Vietnam
1, Singapore 3, North Korea 1 (1998 est.)

Airports: 122 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 111
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 21
under 914 m: 87 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,455,053 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 866,492 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 69,646 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $33 million (1998)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.6% (1998)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: demarcation of boundary with El Salvador
defined by 1992 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision has
not been completed; small boundary section left unresolved by ICJ
decision not yet reported to have been settled; with respect to the
maritime boundary in the Golfo de Fonseca, ICJ referred to an
earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite
resolution among El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua likely would
be required; maritime boundary dispute with Nicaragua

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for drugs and narcotics;
illicit producer of cannabis, cultivated on small plots and used
principally for local consumption

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

@Hong Kong ---------

Introduction

Background: Pursuant to the agreement signed by China and the UK
on 19 December 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 1 July 1997. Under the terms
of this agreement, China has promised that under its "one country,
two systems" formula its socialist economic system will not be
practiced in Hong Kong, and that Hong Kong shall enjoy a high degree
of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs.

Geography

Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

Geographic coordinates: 22 15 N, 114 10 E

Map references: Southeast Asia

Area:
total: 1,092 sq km
land: 1,042 sq km
water: 50 sq km

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

Land boundaries:
total: 30 km
border countries: China 30 km

Coastline: 733 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and
rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall

Terrain: hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m

Natural resources: outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar

Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 20%
other: 72% (1997 est.)

Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1997 est.)

Natural hazards: occasional typhoons

Environment--current issues: air and water pollution from rapid
urbanization

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

Geography--note: more than 200 islands

People

Population: 6,847,125 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 644,982; female 598,188)
15-64 years: 71% (male 2,397,277; female 2,490,745)
65 years and over: 11% (male 323,949; female 391,984) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.9% (1999 est.)

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

Death rate: 5.96 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 12.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.91 years
male: 76.15 years
female: 81.85 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.39 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Chinese
adjective: Chinese

Ethnic groups: Chinese 95%, other 5%

Religions: eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%

Languages: Chinese (Cantonese), English

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 92.2%
male: 96%
female: 88.2% (1996 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
conventional short form: Hong Kong
local long form: Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengqu
local short form: Xianggang
abbreviation: HK

Data code: HK

Dependency status: special administrative region of China

Government type: NA

Capital: Victoria

Administrative divisions: none (special administrative region of
China)

Independence: none (special administrative region of China)

National holiday: National Day, 1-2 October; note--1 July 1997 is
celebrated as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment
Day

Constitution: Basic Law approved in March 1990 by China's
National People's Congress is Hong Kong's "mini-constitution"

Legal system: based on English common law

Suffrage: direct election 18 years of age; universal for
permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the
past seven years; indirect election limited to about 100,000 members
of functional constituencies and an 800-member Election Commission
drawn from broad regional groupings and other central government
bodies

Executive branch:
chief of state: President of China JIANG Zemin (since 27 March 1993)
head of government: Chief Executive TUNG Chee-hwa (since 1 July 1997)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex-officio members and
10 appointed members; ex-officio members are: Chief Secretary Anson
CHAN (since 29 November 1993), Financial Secretary Donald TSANG
(since 7 March 1995), and Secretary of Justice Elsie LEUNG (since 1
July 1997)
elections: NA

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (60
seats; 30 indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 20
elected by popular vote, and 10 elected by an 800-member election
committee; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 25 May 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--Democratic Party 13, Liberal Party 9, Democratic Alliance for
the Betterment of Hong Kong 9, Hong Kong Progressive Alliance 5,
Frontier Party 3, Citizens Party 1, independents 20

Judicial branch: The Court of Final Appeal in the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party [Martin LEE,

Political pressure groups and leaders: Association for Democracy
Kowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Confederation of Trade
Chamber of Commerce; Chinese General Chamber of Commerce
(pro-China); Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Chinese
Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Professional
chairman]

International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, BIS, CCC,
ESCAP (associate), ICFTU, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau),
IOC, ISO (correspondent), WCL, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (special administrative
region of China)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Consul General Richard A. BOUCHER
consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong
mailing address: PSC 464, Box 30, FPO AP 96522-0002

Flag description: red with a stylized, white, five-petal bauhinia
flower in the center

Economy

Economy--overview: Hong Kong has a bustling free market economy
highly dependent on international trade. Natural resources are
limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. Indeed,
imports and exports, including reexports, each exceed GDP in dollar
value. Even before Hong Kong reverted to Chinese administration on 1
July 1997 it had extensive trade and investment ties with China.
Real GDP growth averaged a remarkable 8% in 1987-88 and a still
strong 5% in 1989-97. The widespread Asian economic difficulties in
1998 hit this trade-dependent economy quite hard, with GDP down 5%.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$168.1 billion (1998 est.)

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

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$25,100 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 15.9%
services: 84% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.9% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 3.216 million (1998 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: wholesale and retail trade,
restaurants, and hotels 31.9%, social services 9.9%, manufacturing
9.2%, financing, insurance, and real estate 13.1%, transport and
communications 5.7%, construction 2.6%, other 27.6% (October 1998)

Unemployment rate: 5.5% (1998 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $30.1 billion
expenditures: $26 billion, including capital expenditures of $289
million (FY97/98)

Industries: textiles, clothing, tourism, electronics, plastics,
toys, watches, clocks

Industrial production growth rate: -3.7% (1998)

Electricity--production: 27 billion kWh (1996)

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

Electricity--consumption: 28.598 billion kWh (1997)

Electricity--exports: 1.483 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 5.875 billion kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: fresh vegetables; poultry

Exports: $188.08 billion (including reexports; f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: clothing, textiles, yarn and fabric,
footwear, electrical appliances, watches and clocks, toys

Exports--partners: China 35%, US 22%, Japan 6%, Germany 4%, UK 4%
(1997)

Imports: $208.63 billion (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, transport equipment, raw
materials, semimanufactures, petroleum; a large share is reexported

Imports--partners: China 38%, Japan 14%, Taiwan 8%, US 8%,
Singapore 5% (1997)

Debt--external: none (1996)

Economic aid--recipient: none

Currency: 1 Hong Kong dollar (HK$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Hong Kong dollars (HK$) per US$--7.74 (1997-99),
7.730 (1996), 7.800 (1995), 7.800 (1994); note--linked to the US
dollar at the rate of about 7.8 HK$ per 1 US$

Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March

Communications

Telephones: 4.47 million (1998)

Telephone system: modern facilities provide excellent domestic
and international services
domestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic
network
international: satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean
and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China; access to 5
international submarine cables providing connections to ASEAN member
nations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe

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

Radios: 3 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 4 (in addition, there are two
repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 1.75 million (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 34 km
standard gauge: 34 km 1.435-m gauge (all electrified) (1996 est.)

Highways:
total: 1,831 km
paved: 1,831 km
unpaved: 0 km (1997)

Ports and harbors: Hong Kong

Merchant marine:
total: 195 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,075,304
GRT/10,133,186 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 117, cargo 18, chemical tanker
2, combination bulk 2, container 40, liquefied gas tanker 1,
multifunction large-load carrier 2, oil tanker 6, refrigerated cargo
1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 3
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 13
countries among which are UK 16, South Africa 3, China 9, Japan 6,
Bermuda 2, Germany 3, Canada 2, Cyprus 1, Belgium 1, and Norway 1
(1998 est.)

Airports: 3 (1998 est.)

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

Heliports: 2 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Hong Kong garrison of the PLA including
elements of the PLA Army, the PLA Navy and PLA Air Force; these
forces are under the direct leadership of the Central Military
Commission in Beijing and under administrative control of the
adjacent Guangzhou Military Region

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,924,304 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,452,110 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 45,656 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of China

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

Illicit drugs: a hub for Southeast Asian heroin trade;
transshipment and money-laundering center; increasing indigenous
amphetamine abuse

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

@Howland Island --------------

Geography

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

Geographic coordinates: 0 48 N, 176 38 W

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total: 1.6 sq km
land: 1.6 sq km
water: 0 sq km

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

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 6.4 km

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

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

Terrain: low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded
by a narrow fringing reef; depressed central area

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m

Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 5%
other: 95%

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998)

Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island
can be a maritime hazard

Environment--current issues: no natural fresh water resources

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

Geography--note: almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate
vines, and low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center;
primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds,
shorebirds, and marine wildlife

People

Population: uninhabited
note: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and
naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during
World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by
special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and
generally restricted to scientists and educators; visited annually
by US Fish and Wildlife Service

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Howland Island

Data code: HQ

Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US;
administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service
of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National
Wildlife Refuge system

Legal system: NA

Flag description: the flag of the US is used

Economy

Economy--overview: no economic activity

Transportation

Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only; note--there is
one boat landing area along the middle of the west coast

Airports: airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling
stop on the round-the-world flight of Amelia Earhart and Fred
Noonan--they left Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never
seen again; the airstrip is no longer serviceable

Transportation--note: Earhart Light is a day beacon near the
middle of the west coast that was partially destroyed during World
War II, but has since been rebuilt; named in memory of famed
aviatrix Amelia Earhart

Military

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited
annually by the US Coast Guard

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

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

@Hungary -------

Introduction

Background: After World War II Hungary became part of
Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe, and its government and economy were
refashioned on the communist model. Increased nationalist
opposition, which culminated in the government's announcement of
withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact in 1956, led to massive military
intervention by Moscow and the swift crushing of the revolt. In the
more open GORBACHEV years, Hungary led the movement to dissolve the
Warsaw Pact and steadily moved toward multiparty democracy and a
market-oriented economy. Following the collapse of the USSR in 1991,
Hungary has developed close political and economic relations with
western Europe and is now being considered a possible future member
of the European Union.

Geography

Location: Central Europe, northwest of Romania

Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 20 00 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total: 93,030 sq km
land: 92,340 sq km
water: 690 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Indiana

Land boundaries:
total: 2,009 km
border countries: Austria 366 km, Croatia 329 km, Romania 443 km,
Serbia and Montenegro 151 km (all with Serbia), Slovakia 515 km,
Slovenia 102 km, Ukraine 103 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers

Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains
on the Slovakian border

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Tisza River 78 m
highest point: Kekes 1,014 m

Natural resources: bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils

Land use:
arable land: 51%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 13%
forests and woodland: 19%
other: 15% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 2,060 sq km (1993 est.)

Environment--current issues: the approximation of Hungary's
standards in waste management, energy efficiency, and air, soil, and
water pollution with environmental requirements for EU accession
will require large investments, estimated by the Government of
Hungary at $4 billion over six years; the 1997 budget allocated $9.7
million for this purpose; the 1998 budget allocated $11.3 million;
the Central Environmental Fund, which collects monies from product
charges, environmental fines, and mining taxes, provided
approximately $76.2 million in 1997 and is expected to provide
$109.5 million in 1998

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Law of the Sea

Geography--note: landlocked; strategic location astride main land
routes between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as
between Ukraine and Mediterranean basin

People

Population: 10,186,372 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 17% (male 908,434; female 865,621)
15-64 years: 68% (male 3,406,512; female 3,524,260)
65 years and over: 15% (male 552,337; female 929,208) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.2% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 10.8 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 13.29 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.5 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: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 9.46 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.18 years
male: 66.85 years
female: 75.74 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.45 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Hungarian(s)
adjective: Hungarian

Ethnic groups: Hungarian 89.9%, Gypsy 4%, German 2.6%, Serb 2%,
Slovak 0.8%, Romanian 0.7%

Religions: Roman Catholic 67.5%, Calvinist 20%, Lutheran 5%,
atheist and other 7.5%

Languages: Hungarian 98.2%, other 1.8%

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1980 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Hungary
conventional short form: Hungary
local long form: Magyar Koztarsasag
local short form: Magyarorszag

Data code: HU

Government type: republic

Capital: Budapest

Administrative divisions: 19 counties (megyek, singular--megye),
20 urban counties* (singular--megyei varos), and 1 capital city**
(fovaros); Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Bekescsaba*,
Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Budapest**, Csongrad, Debrecen*, Dunaujvaros*,
Eger*, Fejer, Gyor*, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves,
Hodmezovasarhely*, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Kaposvar*, Kecskemet*,
Komarom-Esztergom, Miskolc*, Nagykanizsa*, Nograd, Nyiregyhaza*,
Pecs*, Pest, Somogy, Sopron*, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Szeged*,
Szekesfehervar*, Szolnok*, Szombathely*, Tatabanya*, Tolna, Vas,
Veszprem, Veszprem*, Zala, Zalaegerszeg*

Independence: 1001 (unification by King Stephen I)

National holiday: St. Stephen's Day, 20 August (commemorates the
coronation of King Stephen in 1000 AD)

Constitution: 18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949, revised
19 April 1972; 18 October 1989 revision ensured legal rights for
individuals and constitutional checks on the authority of the prime
minister and also established the principle of parliamentary
oversight; 1997 amendment streamlined the judicial system

Legal system: in process of revision, moving toward rule of law
based on Western model

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Arpad GONCZ (since 3 August 1990;
previously interim president since 2 May 1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Viktor ORBAN (since 6 July 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly on
the recommendation of the president
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
four-year term; election last held 19 June 1995 (next to be held NA
1999); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on the
recommendation of the president
election results: Arpad GONCZ reelected president; a total of 335
votes were cast by the National Assembly, Arpad GONCZ received 259;
Viktor ORBAN elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote--NA

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Orszaggyules
(386 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a system of
proportional and direct representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 10 and 24 May 1998 (next to be held May/June
2002)
election results: percent of vote by party (5% or more of the vote
required for parliamentary representation in the first round)--MSZP
32.0%, FIDESZ 28.2%, FKGP 13.8%, SZDSZ 7.9%, MIEP 5.5%, MMP 4.1%,
MDF 2.8%, KDNP 2.3%, MDNP 1.5%; seats by party--MSZP 134, FIDESZ 148,
FKGP 48, SZDSZ 24, MDF 17, MIEP 14, independent 1; note--the MDF won
17 single-member district seats

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the
National Assembly for a nine-year term

Political parties and leaders: Hungarian Democratic Forum or MDF
GICZY, president]; Hungarian Democratic People's Party or MDNP
note: the Hungarian Socialist (Communist) Workers' Party or MSZMP
renounced communism and became the Hungarian Socialist Party or MSZP
in October 1989; the MDNP was formed in March 1996 by breakaway
members of the Hungarian Democratic Forum

International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUA, MTCR, NAM
(guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UNU,
UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Geza JESZENSZKY
chancery: 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter F. TUFO
embassy: V. 1054 Szabadsag Ter 12, Budapest
mailing address: pouch: American Embassy Budapest, Department of
State, Washington, DC 20521-5270

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

Economy

Economy--overview: Hungary has consolidated its March 1995
stabilization program and undergone enough restructuring to become
an established market economy. The country appears to have entered a
period of sustainable growth, gradually falling inflation, and
stable external balances. The government's main economic priorities
are to complete structural reforms, particularly the implementation
of the 1997 pension reform act (the first in the region), taxation
reform, and planning for comprehensive health care, local government
finance reform, and the reform of education at all levels. Foreign
investment has totaled more than $17 billion through 1998. In
recognition of Hungary's improved macroeconomic situation, all major
credit-rating agencies listed the country's foreign currency debt
issuances as investment grade in 1996. The current IMF stand-by
arrangement expired in February 1998, and Budapest and the IMF agree
that there is no need to renew it. The OECD welcomed Hungary as a
member in May 1996, and in December 1997 the EU invited Hungary to
begin the accession process. Forecasters expect 4%-5% growth in 1999.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$75.4 billion (1998 est.)

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

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$7,400 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 30.3%
services: 66.7% (1996)

Population below poverty line: 25.3% (1993 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 24% (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 4.2 million (1997)

Labor force--by occupation: services 65%, industry 26.7%,
agriculture 8.3 (1996)

Unemployment rate: 10.8% (1997)

Budget:
revenues: $11.2 billion
expenditures: $13.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)

Industries: mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed
foods, textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor
vehicles

Industrial production growth rate: 11.1% (1997 est.)

Electricity--production: 33.162 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 58.76%
hydro: 0.62%
nuclear: 40.62%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 35.362 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 2.2 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 4.4 billion kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: wheat, corn, sunflower seed, potatoes,
sugar beets; pigs, cattle, poultry, dairy products

Exports: $20.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities: machinery and equipment 51.9%, other
manufactures 32.7%, agriculture and food products 10.5%, raw
materials 2.9%, fuels and electricity 1.9% (1998)

Exports--partners: Germany 37.3%, Austria 11.4%, Italy 6.1%,
Russia 5.0% (1997)

Imports: $22.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment 46.5%, other
manufactures 40.2%, fuels and electricity 6.6%, agricultural and
food products 3.7%, raw materials 3.0% (1998)

Imports--partners: Germany 26.7%, Austria 10.5%, Italy 9.5%,
Russia 7.4% (1997)

Debt--external: $22.1 billion (1997)

Economic aid--recipient: $122.7 million (1995)

Currency: 1 forint (Ft) = 100 filler

Exchange rates: forints per US$1--215.960 (January 1999), 214.402
(1998), 186.789 (1997), 152.647 (1996), 125.681 (1995),105.160 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 2.16 million (267,000 cellular telephone subscribers)
(1996)

Telephone system: 14,213 telex lines; automatic telephone network
based on microwave radio relay system; the average waiting time for
telephones is expected to drop to one year by the end of 1997 (down
from over 10 years in the early 1990s); note--the former state-owned
telecommunications firm MATAV--now privatized and managed by a
US/German consortium--has ambitious plans to upgrade the inadequate
system, including a contract with the German firm Siemens and the
Swedish firm Ericsson to provide 600,000 new telephone lines
domestic: microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat and 1
Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 32, FM 15, shortwave 0

Radios: 6 million (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 39 (in addition, there are
low-power stations) (1997)

Televisions: 4.38 million (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 7,606 km
broad gauge: 36 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge: 7,394 km 1.435-m gauge (2,207 km electrified; 1,236
km double track)
narrow gauge: 176 km 0.760-m gauge (1996)
note: Hungary and Austria jointly manage the cross-border
standard-gauge railway between Gyor, Sopron, Ebenfurt
(Gyor-Sopron-Ebenfurti Vasut Rt) a distance of about 101 km in
Hungary and 65 km in Austria

Highways:
total: 188,203 km
paved: 81,680 km (including 438 km of expressways)
unpaved: 106,523 km (1997 est.)

Waterways: 1,622 km (1988)

Pipelines: crude oil 1,204 km; natural gas 4,387 km (1991)

Ports and harbors: Budapest, Dunaujvaros

Merchant marine:
total: 3 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,210 GRT/19,810
DWT (1998 est.)

Airports: 25 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 15
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Ground Forces, Air Force, Border Guard

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,601,741 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,073,419 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 70,393 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $645 million (1997)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.4% (1997)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: ongoing Gabcikovo Dam dispute with
Slovakia is before the International Court of Justice

Illicit drugs: major transshipment point for Southwest Asian
heroin and cannabis and transit point for South American cocaine
destined for Western Europe; limited producer of precursor
chemicals, particularly for amphetamines and methamphetamines

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

@Iceland -------

Introduction

Background: Iceland boasts the oldest surviving parliament in the
world, the Althing, established in 930. Subsequently this Nordic
island, whose small population has largely depended on fishing and
sheep-herding for a living, came under the rule of Norway and then
Denmark. It gained home rule in 1874 and full independence in 1944.
Literacy, longevity, and social cohesion are topnotch by world
standards. Tensions continue with Norway, Russia, and other nearby
countries over fishing rights in the North Atlantic and adjacent
seas.

Geography

Location: Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and
the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK

Geographic coordinates: 65 00 N, 18 00 W

Map references: Arctic Region

Area:
total: 103,000 sq km
land: 100,250 sq km
water: 2,750 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Kentucky

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 4,988 km

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

Climate: temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild,
windy winters; damp, cool summers

Terrain: mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks,
icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,119 m

Natural resources: fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 23%
forests and woodland: 1%
other: 76% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: earthquakes and volcanic activity

Environment--current issues: water pollution from fertilizer
runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment

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

Geography--note: strategic location between Greenland and Europe;
westernmost European country; more land covered by glaciers than in
all of continental Europe

People

Population: 272,512 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 23% (male 32,608; female 31,061)
15-64 years: 65% (male 89,258; female 87,449)
65 years and over: 12% (male 14,510; female 17,626) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.57% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 14.87 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 7.01 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.17 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: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 5.22 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.96 years
male: 76.85 years
female: 81.19 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.03 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Icelander(s)
adjective: Icelandic

Ethnic groups: homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norwegians
and Celts

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 96%, other Protestant and Roman
Catholic 3%, none 1% (1988)

Languages: Icelandic

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100% (1976 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Iceland
conventional short form: Iceland
local long form: Lyoveldio Island
local short form: Island

Data code: IC

Government type: constitutional republic

Capital: Reykjavik

Administrative divisions: 23 counties (syslar, singular--sysla)
and 14 independent towns* (kaupstadhir, singular--kaupstadhur);
Akranes*, Akureyri*, Arnessysla, Austur-Bardhastrandarsysla,
Austur-Hunavatnssysla, Austur-Skaftafellssysla, Borgarfjardharsysla,
Dalasysla, Eyjafjardharsysla, Gullbringusysla, Hafnarfjordhur*,
Husavik*, Isafjordhur*, Keflavik*, Kjosarsysla, Kopavogur*,
Myrasysla, Neskaupstadhur*, Nordhur-Isafjardharsysla,
Nordhur-Mulasys-la, Nordhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Olafsfjordhur*,
Rangarvallasysla, Reykjavik*, Saudharkrokur*, Seydhisfjordhur*,
Siglufjordhur*, Skagafjardharsysla, Snaefellsnes-og Hnappadalssysla,
Strandasysla, Sudhur-Mulasysla, Sudhur-Thingeyjarsysla,
Vesttmannaeyjar*, Vestur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Vestur-Hunavatnssysla,
Vestur-Isafjardharsysla, Vestur-Skaftafellssysla

Independence: 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)

National holiday: Anniversary of the Establishment of the
Republic, 17 June (1944)

Constitution: 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944

Legal system: civil law system based on Danish law; does not
accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (since 1 August
1996)
head of government: Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since 30 April
1991)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 29 June 1996 (next to be held NA June 2000);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON elected president; percent
of vote--41.4%

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Althing (63 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 8 April 1995 (next to be held by April 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--Independence Party 37.1%,
Progressive Party 23.3%, Social Democratic Party 11.4%, Socialists
14.3%, People's Movement 7.2%, Women's Party 4.9%; seats by
party--Independence 25, Progressive 15, Social Democratic 7,
Socialists 9, People's Movement 4, Women's Party 3

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Haestirettur, justices are
appointed for life by the president

Political parties and leaders: Independence Party (conservative)

International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD,
OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNU, UPU, WEU
(associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jon-Baldvin HANNIBALSSON
chancery: Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Day Olin MOUNT
embassy: Laufasvegur 21, Reykjavik
mailing address: US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340

Flag description: blue with a red cross outlined in white that
extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is
shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy

Economy--overview: Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is
basically capitalistic, yet with an extensive welfare system, low
unemployment, and remarkably even distribution of income. The
economy depends heavily on the fishing industry, which provides 75%
of export earnings and employs 12% of the work force. In the absence
of other natural resources--except energy--Iceland's economy is
vulnerable to changing world fish prices. The economy remains
sensitive to declining fish stocks as well as to drops in world
prices for its main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and
ferrosilicon. The center-right government plans to continue its
policies of reducing the budget and current account deficits,
limiting foreign borrowing, containing inflation, revising
agricultural and fishing policies, diversifying the economy, and
privatizing state-owned industries. The government remains opposed
to EU membership, primarily because of Icelanders' concern about
losing control over their fishing resources. Iceland's economy has
been diversifying into manufacturing and service industries in the
last decade, and new developments in software production,
biotechnology, and financial services are taking place. The tourism
sector is also expanding, with the recent trends in ecotourism and
whale-watching. Growth is likely to slow in 1999, to a still
respectable 4.6%.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$6.06 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 5.1% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$22,400 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 13%
industry: 24%
services: 63% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (1998)

Labor force: 130,000 (1998 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: manufacturing 12.9%, fishing and fish
processing 11.8%, construction 10.7%, other services 59.5%,
agriculture 5.1% (1996 est.)

Unemployment rate: 3% (1998 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.9 billion
expenditures: $2.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $146
million (1996 est.)

Industries: fish processing; aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon
production, geothermal power; tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 5.048 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.06%
hydro: 93.43%
nuclear: 0%
other: 6.51%

Electricity--consumption: 5.532 billion kWh (1997)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: potatoes, turnips; cattle, sheep; fish

Exports: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities: fish and fish products 70%, animal products,
aluminum, diatomite and ferrosilicon

Exports--partners: EU 60% (UK 19%, Germany 13%, France 6%, Denmark
6%), US 14% (1997)

Imports: $2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, petroleum products,
foodstuffs, textiles

Imports--partners: EU 58% (Germany 12%, Norway 12%, UK 10%,
Denmark 9%, Sweden 7%), US 9% (1997)

Debt--external: $2.2 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $NA

Currency: 1 Icelandic krona (IKr) = 100 aurar

Exchange rates: Icelandic kronur (IKr) per US$1--69.250 (January
1999), 70.958 (1998), 70.904 (1997), 66.500 (1996), 64.692 (1995),
69.944 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 143,600 (1993 est.)

Telephone system: adequate domestic service
domestic: the trunk network consists of coaxial and fiber-optic
cables and microwave radio relay links
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean),
1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note--Iceland shares
the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark,
Finland, Norway, and Sweden)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 147 (transmitters and
repeaters), shortwave 0

Radios: 91,500 licensed (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 14 (in addition, there are 156
low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 96,100 (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 12,691 km
paved: 3,262 km
unpaved: 9,429 km (1997 est.)

Ports and harbors: Akureyri, Hornafjordur, Isafjordhur, Keflavik,
Raufarhofn, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Straumsvik, Vestmannaeyjar

Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 13,085 GRT/16,938 DWT
ships by type: chemical tanker 1, container 1, oil tanker 1 (1998
est.)

Airports: 87 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 10
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 5 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 77
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 21
under 914 m: 53 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: no regular armed forces; Police, Coast Guard;
note--Iceland's defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic
Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik