Chapter V (26)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 38.3%
male: 53.9%
female: 22.4% (1995 est.)
note: these figures are increasing because of the improving school
system

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Liberia
conventional short form: Liberia

Data code: LI

Government type: republic

Capital: Monrovia

Administrative divisions: 13 counties; Bomi, Bong, Grand Bassa,
Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland,
Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, Sinoe

Independence: 26 July 1847

National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1847)

Constitution: 6 January 1986

Legal system: dual system of statutory law based on
Anglo-American common law for the modern sector and customary law
based on unwritten tribal practices for indigenous sector

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (since 2 August
1997); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (since 2 August
1997); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term
(renewable); election last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held NA
July 2001)
election results: Charles Ghankay TAYLOR elected president; percent
of vote--Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (NPP) 75.3%, Ellen Johnson SIRLEAF
(UP) 9.6%, Alhaji KROMAH (ALCOP) 4%, other 11.1%

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of the
Senate (26 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year
terms) and the House of Representatives (64 seats; members elected
by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held in NA
2001); House of Representatives--last held 19 July 1997 (next to be
held in NA 2001)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--NPP 21, UP 3, ALCOP 2; House of Representatives--percent of
vote by party--NA; seats by party--NPP 49, UP 7, ALCOP 3, Alliance of
Political Parties 2, UPP 2, LPP 1; note--the Alliance of Political
Parties was a coalition of the LAP and the LUP

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:
TAYLOR]

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rachel DIGGS
chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Donald
PETTERSON
embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, Mamba Point, Monrovia
mailing address: use embassy street address

Flag description: 11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and
bottom) alternating with white; there is a white five-pointed star
on a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner; the design was
based on the US flag

Economy

Economy--overview: A civil war in 1989-97 has destroyed much of
Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around
Monrovia. Many businessmen have fled the country, taking capital and
expertise with them. Some returned during 1997. Many will not
return. Richly endowed with water, mineral resources, forests, and a
climate favorable to agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and
exporter of basic products, while local manufacturing, mainly
foreign owned, had been small in scope. The democratically elected
government, installed in August 1997, inherited massive
international debts and currently relies on revenues from its
maritime registry to provide the bulk of its foreign exchange
earnings. The restoration of the infrastructure and the raising of
incomes in this ravaged economy depends on the implementation of
sound macro- and micro-economic policies of the new government,
including the encouragement of foreign investment.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$2.8 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,000 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 30%
industry: 36%
services: 34%

Population below poverty line: 80%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 70%

Unemployment rate: 70%

Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA

Industries: rubber processing, palm oil processing, diamonds

Industrial production growth rate: 0%

Electricity--production: 480 million kWh (1996)

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

Electricity--consumption: 480 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava
(tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber

Exports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports--commodities: diamonds, iron ore, rubber, timber, coffee

Exports--partners: Belgium, Norway, Ukraine, Singapore (1997)

Imports: $3.65 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Imports--commodities: fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation
equipment, manufactured goods; rice and other foodstuffs

Imports--partners: South Korea, Japan, Italy, Singapore (1997)

Debt--external: $2 billion (1997 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $122.8 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Liberian dollar (L$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Liberian dollars (L$) per US$1--1.0000 (officially
fixed rate since 1940); market exchange rate: Liberian dollars (L$)
per US$1--40 (December 1998), 50 (October 1995), 7 (January 1992);
market rate floats against the US dollar

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: fewer than 25,000 (1998 est.)

Telephone system: telephone and telegraph service via microwave
radio relay network; main center is Monrovia
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0
note: two of the FM radio stations are limited to a small area

Radios: 675,000 (1995 est.); note--10,000 windup radios were
distributed in the country prior to the 1997 election

Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are four
low-power repeaters; the station is located in Monrovia) (1997)

Televisions: 56,000 (1995 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 480 km (328 km single track); note--three rail systems owned
and operated by foreign steel and financial interests in conjunction
with the Liberian Government; one of these, the Lamco Railroad,
closed in 1989 after iron ore production ceased; the other two were
shut down by the civil war; large sections of the rail lines have
been dismantled; approximately 60 km of railroad track was exported
for scrap
standard gauge: NA km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: NA km 1.067-m gauge

Highways:
total: 10,037 km (there is major deterioration on all highways due
to lack of maintenance since the civil war began)
paved: 603 km
unpaved: 9,434 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Buchanan, Greenville, Harper, Monrovia

Merchant marine:
total: 1,651 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 59,804,012
GRT/96,650,752 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 4, bulk 408, cargo 106, chemical tanker
176, combination bulk 25, combination ore/oil 50, container 193,
liquefied gas tanker 89, multifunction large-load carrier 2, oil
tanker 413, passenger 37, refrigerated cargo 69, roll-on/roll-off
cargo 19, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 12, vehicle
carrier 45
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 54
countries among which are Germany 186, US 161, Norway 142, Greece
144, Japan 124, Hong Kong 100, China 53, UK 32, Singapore 39, and
Monaco 38 (1998 est.)

Airports: 45 (1998 est.)

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

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 43
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 35 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Air Force, Navy

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 667,032 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 356,825 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $1.4 million (1998)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2% (1998)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

Illicit drugs: increasingly a transshipment point for Southeast
and Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine for the
European and US markets

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

@Libya -----

Geography

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea,
between Egypt and Tunisia

Geographic coordinates: 25 00 N, 17 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total: 1,759,540 sq km
land: 1,759,540 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly larger than Alaska

Land boundaries:
total: 4,383 km
border countries: Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,150 km,
Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km

Coastline: 1,770 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
note: Gulf of Sidra closing line--32 degrees 30 minutes north

Climate: Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior

Terrain: mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus,
depressions

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m
highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, gypsum

Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 8%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 91% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 4,700 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind
lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms

Environment--current issues: desertification; very limited natural
fresh water resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest
water development scheme in the world, is being built to bring water
from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Desertification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the
Sea

People

Population: 4,992,838 (July 1999 est.)
note: includes 161,251 non-nationals (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 36% (male 930,661; female 891,046)
15-64 years: 60% (male 1,545,958; female 1,437,120)
65 years and over: 4% (male 93,726; female 94,327) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.4% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 27.33 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 3.35 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 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: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 28.15 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.73 years
male: 73.81 years
female: 77.74 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.79 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Libyan(s)
adjective: Libyan

Ethnic groups: Berber and Arab 97%, Greeks, Maltese, Italians,
Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, Tunisians

Religions: Sunni Muslim 97%

Languages: Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in
the major cities

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.2%
male: 87.9%
female: 63% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
conventional short form: Libya
local long form: Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah
al Ishtirakiyah
local short form: none

Data code: LY

Government type: Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory,
governed by the populace through local councils; in fact, a military
dictatorship

Capital: Tripoli

Administrative divisions: 25 municipalities (baladiyat,
singular--baladiyah); Ajdabiya, Al 'Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al
Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, Al Kufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash
Shati', Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi, Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan,
Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt, Tarabulus, Tarhunah,
Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan
note: the 25 municipalities may have been replaced by 13 regions

Independence: 24 December 1951 (from Italy)

National holiday: Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)

Constitution: 11 December 1969, amended 2 March 1977

Legal system: based on Italian civil law system and Islamic law;
separate religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial
review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state: Revolutionary Leader Col. Muammar Abu Minyar
al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969); note--holds no official title,
but is de facto chief of state
head of government: Secretary of the General People's Committee
(Premier) Muhammad Ahmad al-MANQUSH (since NA January 1998)
cabinet: General People's Committee established by the General
People's Congress
elections: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of
peoples' committees; head of government elected by the General
People's Congress; election last held NA (next to be held NA)
election results: Muhammad Ahmad al-MANQUSH elected head of
government; percent of General People's Congress vote--NA

Legislative branch: unicameral General People's Congress (NA
seats; members elected indirectly through a hierarchy of peoples'
committees)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: none

Political pressure groups and leaders: various Arab nationalist
movements with almost negligible memberships may be functioning
clandestinely, as well as some Islamic elements

International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL,
AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO,
ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAU, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNITAR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

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

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US suspended all
embassy activities in Tripoli on 2 May 1980

Flag description: plain green; green is the traditional color of
Islam (the state religion)

Economy

Economy--overview: The socialist-oriented economy depends
primarily upon revenues from the oil sector, which contributes
practically all export earnings and about one-third of GDP. These
oil revenues and a small population give Libya one of the highest
per capita GDPs in Africa, but little of this income flows down to
the lower orders of society. Low oil prices in 1998 cut back revenue
sharply, and GDP growth fell by 1%. In this statist society, import
restrictions and inefficient resource allocations have led to
periodic shortages of basic goods and foodstuffs. The nonoil
manufacturing and construction sectors, which account for about 20%
of GDP, have expanded from processing mostly agricultural products
to include the production of petrochemicals, iron, steel, and
aluminum. Agriculture accounts for only 5% of GDP; it employs 18% of
the labor force. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit
farm output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food requirements.
The UN sanctions imposed in April 1992 do not have a major impact on
the economy although they have increased transaction and
transportation costs.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$38 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: -1% (1998 est.)

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

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 55%
services: 40% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 24.2% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 1 million

Labor force--by occupation: industry 31%, services 27%, government
24%, agriculture 18%

Unemployment rate: 30% (1998 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $3.6 billion
expenditures: $5.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)

Industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, handicrafts,
cement

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 17 billion kWh (1996)

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

Electricity--consumption: 17 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus,
vegetables, peanuts; beef, eggs

Exports: $6.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports--commodities: crude oil, refined petroleum products,
natural gas

Exports--partners: Italy, Germany, Spain, France, Turkey, Greece,
Egypt

Imports: $6.9 billion (c.i.f., 1998 est.)

Imports--commodities: machinery, transport equipment, food,
manufactured goods

Imports--partners: Italy, Germany, UK, France, Spain, Turkey,
Tunisia, Eastern Europe

Debt--external: $4 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $8.4 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Libyan dinar (LD) = 1,000 dirhams

Exchange rates: Libyan dinars (LD) per US$1--0.3799 (November
1998), 0.3891 (1997), 0.3651 (1996), 0.3532 (1995), 0.3596 (1994);
official rate: 0.45 (December 1998)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 411,000 (1999 est.)

Telephone system: telecommunications system is being modernized;
cellular telephone system became operational in 1996
domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, cellular,
tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth
stations
international: satellite earth stations--4 Intelsat, NA Arabsat, and
NA Intersputnik; submarine cables to France and Italy; microwave
radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece;
participant in Medarabtel

Radio broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 3, shortwave 3 (1998 est.)

Radios: 1 million (1998 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 12 (in addition, there is one
low-power repeater) (1997)

Televisions: 550,000 (1998 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
note: Libya has had no railroad in operation since 1965, all
previous systems having been dismantled; current plans are to
construct a 1.435-m standard gauge line from the Tunisian frontier
to Tripoli and Misratah, then inland to Sabha, center of a
mineral-rich area, but there has been no progress; other plans made
jointly with Egypt would establish a rail line from As Sallum,
Egypt, to Tobruk with completion set for mid-1994; no progress has
been reported

Highways:
total: 83,200 km
paved: 47,590 km
unpaved: 35,610 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: none

Pipelines: crude oil 4,383 km; petroleum products 443 km
(includes liquefied petroleum gas or LPG 256 km); natural gas 1,947
km

Ports and harbors: Al Khums, Banghazi, Darnah, Marsa al Burayqah,
Misratah, Ra's Lanuf, Tobruk, Tripoli, Zuwarah

Merchant marine:
total: 30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 588,928 GRT/989,662 DWT
ships by type: cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 3,
oil tanker 9, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, short-sea passenger 4 (1998
est.)

Airports: 143 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 60
over 3,047 m: 24
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 83
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 42
under 914 m: 19 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Command

Military manpower--military age: 17 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,372,261 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 816,186 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 62,098 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: maritime boundary dispute with Tunisia;
Libya claims about 19,400 sq km in northern Niger and part of
southeastern Algeria

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

@Liechtenstein -------------

Geography

Location: Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland

Geographic coordinates: 47 10 N, 9 32 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total: 160 sq km
land: 160 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
total: 76 km
border countries: Austria 35 km, Switzerland 41 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or
rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers

Terrain: mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western
third

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m
highest point: Grauspitz 2,599 m

Natural resources: hydroelectric potential

Land use:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 16%
forests and woodland: 35%
other: 25% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: NA

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea

Geography--note: along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly
landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic
variations based on elevation

People

Population: 32,057 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 19% (male 3,076; female 2,949)
15-64 years: 70% (male 11,209; female 11,247)
65 years and over: 11% (male 1,484; female 2,092) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.08% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 12.23 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 7.33 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 5.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 5.23 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.11 years
male: 75.64 years
female: 80.69 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Liechtensteiner(s)
adjective: Liechtenstein

Ethnic groups: Alemannic 87.5%, Italian, Turkish, and other 12.5%

Religions: Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 7.4%, unknown 7.7%,
other 4.9% (1996)

Languages: German (official), Alemannic dialect

Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (1981 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein
conventional short form: Liechtenstein
local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein
local short form: Liechtenstein

Data code: LS

Government type: hereditary constitutional monarchy

Capital: Vaduz

Administrative divisions: 11 communes (Gemeinden,
singular--Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken,
Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz

Independence: 23 January 1719 (Imperial Principality of
Liechtenstein established)

National holiday: Assumption Day, 15 August

Constitution: 5 October 1921

Legal system: local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Prince Hans ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed
executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS von und
zu Liechtenstein, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968)
head of government: Head of Government Mario FRICK (since 15
December 1993) and Deputy Head of Government Michael RITTER (since 2
February 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Diet; confirmed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party in the Diet is usually
appointed the head of government by the monarch and the leader of
the largest minority party in the Diet is usually appointed the
deputy head of government by the monarch

Legislative branch: unicameral Diet or Landtag (25 seats; members
are elected by direct popular vote under proportional representation
to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 2 February 1997 (next to be held by NA 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--VU 50.1%, FBPL 41.3%, FL
8.5%; seats by party - VU 13, FBPL 10, FL 2

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Superior
Court or Obergericht

Political parties and leaders: Fatherland Union or VU [Dr. Oswald

International organization participation: CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA,
IAEA, ICRM, IFRCS, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: Liechtenstein does not have
an embassy in the US, but is represented by the Swiss embassy in
routine diplomatic matters

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Liechtenstein, but the US Ambassador to Switzerland is
also accredited to Liechtenstein

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and
red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band

Economy

Economy--overview: Despite its small size and limited natural
resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly
industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital financial
service sector and living standards on a par with the urban areas of
its large European neighbors. Low business taxes--the maximum tax
rate is 18%--and easy incorporation rules have induced about 73,700
holding or so-called letter box companies to establish nominal
offices in Liechtenstein, providing 30% of state revenues. The
country participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses
the Swiss franc as its national currency. It imports more than 90%
of its energy requirements. Liechtenstein is a member of the
European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between
European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and EU) since May 1995. The
government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those
of an integrated Europe.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$730 million (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$23,000 (1998 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): 0.5% (1997 est.)

Labor force: 22,891 of which 13,847 are foreigners; 8,231 commute
from Austria and Switzerland to work each day

Labor force--by occupation: industry, trade, and building 45%,
services 53%, agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture 2%
(1997 est.)

Unemployment rate: 1.6% (1997)

Budget:
revenues: $455 million
expenditures: $435 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1996 est.)

Industries: electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics,
pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 150 million kWh (1995)

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

Agriculture--products: wheat, barley, maize, potatoes; livestock,
dairy products

Exports: $2.47 billion (1996)

Exports--commodities: small specialty machinery, dental products,
stamps, hardware, pottery

Exports--partners: EU and EFTA countries 60.57% (Switzerland
15.7%) (1995)

Imports: $917.3 million (1996)

Imports--commodities: machinery, metal goods, textiles,
foodstuffs, motor vehicles

Imports--partners: EU countries, Switzerland (1996)

Debt--external: $0 (1996)

Economic aid--recipient: none

Currency: 1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes,
rappen, or centesimi

Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per
US$1--1.3837 (January 1999), 1.4498 (1998), 1.4513 (1997), 1.2360
(1996), 1.1825 (1995), 1.3677 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 22,857 (1996 est.)

Telephone system: automatic telephone system
domestic: NA
international: linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio
relay

Radio broadcast stations: 1 broadcast station in Triesen
note: linked to Swiss networks

Radios: 12,134 (1996)

Television broadcast stations: NA (linked to Swiss networks)
(1997)

Televisions: 11,785 (1996)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 18.5 km; note--owned, operated, and included in statistics of
Austrian Federal Railways
standard gauge: 18.5 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)

Highways:
total: 250 km
paved: 250 km
unpaved: 0 km

Ports and harbors: none

Airports: none

Military

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of Switzerland

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: claims 1,600 sq km of property in the
Czech Republic confiscated from its royal family in 1918; the Czech
Republic insists that restitution does not go back before February
1948, when the communists seized power

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

@Lithuania ---------

Geography

Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between
Latvia and Russia

Geographic coordinates: 56 00 N, 24 00 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total: 65,200 sq km
land: 65,200 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries:
total: 1,273 km
border countries: Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km,
Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km

Coastline: 99 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: transitional, between maritime and continental; wet,
moderate winters and summers

Terrain: lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Juozapines/Kalnas 292 m

Natural resources: peat

Land use:
arable land: 35%
permanent crops: 12%
permanent pastures: 7%
forests and woodland: 31%
other: 15% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 430 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater
with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

People

Population: 3,584,966 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 365,149; female 350,070)
15-64 years: 67% (male 1,156,161; female 1,239,145)
65 years and over: 13% (male 160,963; female 313,478) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.4% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 10.52 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 12.93 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.58 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: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female
total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 14.71 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.96 years
male: 62.91 years
female: 75.31 years (1999 est.)

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

Nationality:
noun: Lithuanian(s)
adjective: Lithuanian

Ethnic groups: Lithuanian 80.6%, Russian 8.7%, Polish 7%,
Byelorussian 1.6%, other 2.1%

Religions: primarily Roman Catholic, others include Lutheran,
Russian Orthodox, Protestant, evangelical Christian Baptist, Islam,
Judaism

Languages: Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1989 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania
conventional short form: Lithuania
local long form: Lietuvos Respublika
local short form: Lietuva
former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic

Data code: LH

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Vilnius

Administrative divisions: 44 regions (rajonai, singular--rajonas)
and 11 municipalities*: Akmenes Rajonas, Alytaus Rajonas, Alytus*,
Anyksciu Rajonas, Birstonas*, Birzu Rajonas, Druskininkai*,
Ignalinos Rajonas, Jonavos Rajonas, Joniskio Rajonas, Jurbarko
Rajonas, Kaisiadoriu Rajonas, Kaunas*, Kauno Rajonas, Kedainiu
Rajonas, Kelmes Rajonas, Klaipeda*, Klaipedos Rajonas, Kretingos
Rajonas, Kupiskio Rajonas, Lazdiju Rajonas, Marijampole*,
Marijampoles Rajonas, Mazeikiu Rajonas, Moletu Rajonas, Neringa*
Pakruojo Rajonas, Palanga*, Panevezio Rajonas, Panevezys*, Pasvalio
Rajonas, Plunges Rajonas, Prienu Rajonas, Radviliskio Rajonas,
Raseiniu Rajonas, Rokiskio Rajonas, Sakiu Rajonas, Salcininku
Rajonas, Siauliai*, Siauliu Rajonas, Silales Rajonas, Silutes
Rajonas, Sirvintu Rajonas, Skuodo Rajonas, Svencioniu Rajonas,
Taurages Rajonas, Telsiu Rajonas, Traku Rajonas, Ukmerges Rajonas,
Utenos Rajonas, Varenos Rajonas, Vilkaviskio Rajonas, Vilniaus
Rajonas, Vilnius*, Zarasu Rajonas

Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Statehood Day, 16 February (1918)

Constitution: adopted 25 October 1992

Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of
legislative acts

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Valdas ADAMKUS (since 26 February 1998)
head of government: Premier Gediminas VAGNORIUS (since 28 November
1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
nomination of the premier
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 21 December 1997 and 5 January 1998 (next to be
held NA 2003); premier appointed by the president on the approval of
the Parliament
election results: Valdas ADAMKUS elected president; percent of
vote--Valdas ADAMKUS 50.37%, Arturas PAULAUSKAS 49.7%

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats,
71 members are directly elected by popular vote, 70 are elected by
proportional representation; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 October and 10 November 1996 (next to be
held NA October 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--TS 69,
LKDP 15, LCS 15, LDDP 12, LSDP 10, DP 2, independents 12, others 6

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the
Parliament; Court of Appeal, judges appointed by the Parliament

Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party or LKDP

Political pressure groups and leaders: Lithuanian Future Forum

International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE,
EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE,
PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stasys SAKALAUSKAS
chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
consulate(s) general: Chicago and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Keith C. SMITH
embassy: Akmenu 6, 2600 Vilnius
mailing address: American Embassy, Vilnius, PSC 78, Box V, APO AE
09723

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

Economy

Economy--overview: Lithuania has benefited from its disciplined
approach to market reform and its adherence to strict fiscal and
monetary policies imposed by the IMF, measures that have helped
constrain the growth of the money supply, reduce inflation to 5.1%,
and support GDP growth of 6% in 1997 and 4.5% in 1998. Foreign
direct investment and the privatization program maintained their
momentum in 1998. However, the current account deficit has hovered
around 8% to 10% of GDP annually since 1995--the result of greater
demand for consumer goods and falling growth in exports. Reducing
this deficit is the immediate economic challenge for 1999.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$17.6 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 4.5% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,900 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 13%
industry: 32%
services: 55% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 28% (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.1% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 1.8 million

Labor force--by occupation: industry and construction 42%,
agriculture and forestry 20%, other 38% (1997)

Unemployment rate: 6.7% (January 1998)

Budget:
revenues: $1.5 billion
expenditures: $1.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)

Industries: metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors,
television sets, refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining,
shipbuilding (small ships), furniture making, textiles, food
processing, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, optical equipment,
electronic components, computers, amber

Industrial production growth rate: 4.7% (1998 est.)

Electricity--production: 14.51 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 9.65%
hydro: 3.03%
nuclear: 87.32%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 9.58 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 5.23 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 300 million kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: grain, potatoes, sugar beets, flax,
vegetables; beef, milk, eggs; fish

Exports: $4.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities: machinery and equipment 19%, mineral
products 16%, textiles 15%, chemicals 8%, foodstuffs 8% (1997)

Exports--partners: Russia 24%, Germany 11%, Belarus 10%, Latvia
9%, Ukraine 9% (1997)

Imports: $5.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment 30%, mineral
products 18%, chemicals 9%, textiles 8%, foodstuffs (1997)

Imports--partners: Russia 24%, Germany 19%, Poland, Denmark,
Finland (1997)

Debt--external: $NA

Economic aid--recipient: $228.5 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Lithuanian litas = 100 centas

Exchange rates: litai per US$1--4.000 (fixed rate since 1 May
1994), 3.978 (1994), 4.344 (1993), 1.773 (1992)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 1.08 million (1998)

Telephone system: the Ministry of Communications and Informatics,
Ministry of Defense, and Ministry of Internal Affairs oversee
Lithuania's telecommunications; the national operator is Lietuvos
Telomas; Internet is available
domestic: local--three cellular service providers; NMT-450 and GSM
standards provide services nationwide; 80% of customers are on the
two GSM networks; 157,000 cellular customers; intercity--Lithuania is
close to completing its fiber-optic backbone consisting of two small
rings inside a larger ring
international: Lithuania has international fiber-optic connectivity
to Latvia, Poland, and an undersea fiber-optic cable to Sweden

Radio broadcast stations: AM 13, FM 26, shortwave 1

Radios: 1.42 million (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 3

Televisions: NA; note--93% of the population have TV, 30% have
cable or satellite dish, and 16% own VCRs (1996)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 2,002 km
broad gauge: 2,002 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified) (1994)

Highways:
total: 68,161 km
paved: 60,527 km (including 410 km of expressways)
unpaved: 7,634 km (1997 est.)

Waterways: 600 km perennially navigable

Pipelines: crude oil, 105 km; natural gas 760 km (1992)

Ports and harbors: Kaunas, Klaipeda

Merchant marine:
total: 54 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 316,616 GRT/353,683 DWT
ships by type: cargo 26, combination bulk 11, oil tanker 2, railcar
carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1,
short-sea passenger 3 (1998 est.)

Airports: 96 (1994 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 14 (1994 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 71
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 63 (1994 est.)

Military

Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense
Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard
(Skat)

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 906,687 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 713,436 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 26,168 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $181 million (1999)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.5% (1999)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: ongoing talks over maritime boundary
dispute with Latvia (primary concern is oil exploration rights);
1997 border agreement with Russia not yet ratified

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and other illicit
drugs from Southwest Asia, Latin America, and Western Europe to
Western Europe and Scandinavia

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

@Luxembourg ----------

Geography

Location: Western Europe, between France and Germany

Geographic coordinates: 49 45 N, 6 10 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total: 2,586 sq km
land: 2,586 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Land boundaries:
total: 359 km
border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: modified continental with mild winters, cool summers

Terrain: mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow
valleys; uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope
down to Moselle floodplain in the southeast

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Moselle River 133 m
highest point: Burgplatz 559 m

Natural resources: iron ore (no longer exploited)

Land use:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 21%
other: 34%

Irrigated land: 10 sq km (including Belgium (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: air and water pollution in urban areas

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Environmental
Modification, Law of the Sea

Geography--note: landlocked

People

Population: 429,080 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 39,701; female 37,998)
15-64 years: 67% (male 146,336; female 140,717)
65 years and over: 15% (male 26,201; female 38,127) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.88% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 10.35 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 9.32 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 7.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 4.99 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.65 years
male: 74.58 years
female: 80.83 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.57 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Luxembourger(s)
adjective: Luxembourg

Ethnic groups: Celtic base (with French and German blend),
Portuguese, Italian, and European (guest and worker residents)

Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant and Jewish 3%

Languages: Luxembourgian, German, French, English

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

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
conventional short form: Luxembourg
local long form: Grand-Duche de Luxembourg
local short form: Luxembourg

Data code: LU

Government type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Luxembourg

Administrative divisions: 3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher,
Luxembourg

Independence: 1839 (from the Netherlands)

National holiday: National Day, 23 June (1921) (public
celebration of the Grand Duke's birthday)

Constitution: 17 October 1868, occasional revisions

Legal system: based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state: Grand Duke JEAN (since 12 November 1964); Heir
Apparent Prince HENRI (son of the monarch, born 16 April 1955)
head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 1
January 1995) and Vice Prime Minister Jacques F. POOS (since 21 July
1984)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch, responsible
to the Chamber of Deputies
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and vice
prime minister appointed by the monarch but are responsible to the
Chamber of Deputies

Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des
Deputes (60 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 12 June 1994 (next to be held by 13 June 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--CSV
21, LSAP 17, DP 12, Action Committee for Democracy and Pension
Rights 5, Greens 5
note: the Council of State or Conseil d'Etat, which has 21 members
who are appointed for life, is an advisory body whose views are
considered by the Chamber of Deputies

Judicial branch: Superior Court of Justice or Cour Superieure de
Justice, judges are appointed for life by the monarch;
Administrative Court or Tribunale Administratin, judges are
appointed for life by the monarch

Political parties and leaders: Christian Social People's Party or

Political pressure groups and leaders: group of steel companies
representing iron and steel industry; Centrale Paysanne representing
agricultural producers; Christian and Socialist labor unions;
Federation of Industrialists; Artisans and Shopkeepers Federation

International organization participation: ACCT, Australia Group,
Benelux, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MTCR, NATO, NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Arlette CONZEMIUS
chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: New York and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Marie MURRAY
embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel-Servais, 2535 Luxembourg City
mailing address: American Embassy Luxembourg, Unit 1410, APO AE
09126-1410 (official mail); American Embassy Luxembourg, PSC 9, Box
9500, APO AE 09123 (personal mail)

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top),
white, and light blue; similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which
uses a darker blue and is shorter; design was based on the flag of
France

Economy

Economy--overview: The stable, prosperous economy features
moderate growth, low inflation, and low unemployment. The industrial
sector, until recently dominated by steel, has become increasingly
more diversified. During the past decades, growth in the financial
sector has more than compensated for the decline in steel. Services,
especially banking, account for a growing proportion of the economy.
Agriculture is based on small family-owned farms. Luxembourg has
especially close trade and financial ties to Belgium and the
Netherlands, and as a member of the EU, enjoys the advantages of the
open European market. It joined with 10 other EU members to launch
the euro on 1 January 1999.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$13.9 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 2.9% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$32,700 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 22%
services: 77% (1998 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: 226,500 (one-third of labor force is foreign
workers, mostly from Portugal, Italy, France, Belgium, and Germany)
(1998 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: services 83.2%, industry 14.3%,
agriculture 2.5% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate: 3% (1998 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $5.46 billion
expenditures: $5.44 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)

Industries: banking, iron and steel, food processing, chemicals,
metal products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum

Industrial production growth rate: 3.3% (1995 est.)

Electricity--production: 1.158 billion kWh (1997)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 90.12%
hydro: 9.88%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 5.381 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 800 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 5.8 billion kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine
grapes; livestock products

Exports: $7.1 billion (f.o.b., 1996)

Exports--commodities: finished steel products, chemicals, rubber
products, glass, aluminum, other industrial products

Exports--partners: Germany 28%, France 18%, Belgium 15%, UK 7%,
Netherlands 5%

Imports: $9.4 billion (c.i.f., 1996)

Imports--commodities: minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality
consumer goods

Imports--partners: Belgium 38%, Germany 25%, France 11%,
Netherlands 4%

Debt--external: $NA

Economic aid--donor: ODA, $65 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Luxembourg franc (LuxF) = 100 centimes; note--centimes
no longer in use

Exchange rates: Luxembourg francs (LuxF) per US$1--34.77 (January
1999), 36.299 (1998), 35.774 (1997), 30.962 (1996), 29.480 (1995),
33.456 (1994); note--the Luxembourg franc is at par with the Belgian
franc, which circulates freely in Luxembourg
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common
currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some
member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed
rate of 40.3399 francs per euro; the euro will replace the local
currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 279,736 (1997)

Telephone system: highly developed, completely automated and
efficient system, mainly buried cables
domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; buried cable
international: 3 channels leased on TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable
(Europe to North America)

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

Radios: 230,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 5 (1997)

Televisions: 100,500 (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 275 km
standard gauge: 275 km 1.435-m gauge (262 km electrified; 178 km
double track) (1995)

Highways:
total: 5,137 km
paved: 5,086 km (including 123 km of expressways)
unpaved: 51 km (1996 est.)
note: one source lists roads 2,863 km; expressways 115 km

Waterways: 37 km; Moselle

Pipelines: petroleum products 48 km

Ports and harbors: Mertert

Merchant marine:
total: 37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,033,045 GRT/1,480,023
DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, chemical tanker 6, liquefied gas tanker 13,
oil tanker 6, passenger 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, vehicle carrier
1 (1998 est.)

Airports: 2 (1998 est.)

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

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

Military

Military branches: Army, National Gendarmerie

Military manpower--military age: 19 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 108,285 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 88,813 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 2,452 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $124 million (FY97)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.8% (1995)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

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

@Macau -----

Geography

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

Geographic coordinates: 22 10 N, 113 33 E

Map references: Southeast Asia

Area:
total: 21 sq km
land: 21 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
total: 0.34 km
border countries: China 0.34 km

Coastline: 40 km

Maritime claims: not specified

Climate: subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers

Terrain: generally flat

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Coloane Alto 174 m

Natural resources: NEGL

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 98% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: NA

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Ozone Layer Protection (extended from Portugal)
signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography--note: essentially urban; one causeway and two bridges
connect the two islands of Coloane and Taipa to the peninsula on
mainland

People

Population: 437,312 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 24% (male 54,456; female 50,912)
15-64 years: 69% (male 142,575; female 158,132)
65 years and over: 7% (male 12,547; female 18,690) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.86% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 12.5 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 3.48 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 9.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 4.23 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 81.88 years
male: 78.79 years
female: 85.13 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.27 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Macanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Macau

Ethnic groups: Chinese 95%, Portuguese 3%, other 2%

Religions: Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none and other 35%
(1997 est.)

Languages: Portuguese, Chinese (Cantonese)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90%
male: 93%
female: 86% (1981 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Macau
local long form: none
local short form: Ilha de Macau

Data code: MC

Dependency status: Chinese territory under Portuguese
administration; note--scheduled to revert to China on 20 December 1999

Government type: NA

Capital: Macau

Administrative divisions: 2 districts (concelhos,
singular--concelho); Ilhas, Macau

Independence: none (Chinese territory under Portuguese
administration; Portugal signed an agreement with China on 13 April
1987 to return Macau to Chinese administration on 20 December 1999;
in the joint declaration, China promises to respect Macau's existing
social and economic systems and lifestyle for 50 years after
transition)

National holiday: Day of Portugal, 10 June (1580)

Constitution: 17 February 1976, Organic Law of Macau; Macau's
future constitution, the "Basic Law", promulgated by China's
National People's Congress on 31 March 1993, will go into effect 20
December 1999

Legal system: Portuguese civil law system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jorge SAMPAIO of Portugal (since 9 March
1996)
head of government: Governor General Vasco Joachim Rocha VIEIRA
(since 20 March 1991)
cabinet: Consultative Council consists of a total of 15 members--five
appointed by the governor, two nominated by the governor, five
elected for a four-year term (two represent administrative bodies,
one represents moral, cultural, and welfare interests, and two
represent economic interests), and three statutory members
elections: Portuguese president elected by popular vote for a
five-year term; governor general appointed by the Portuguese
president after consultation with the Legislative Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (23 seats; 8
elected by popular vote, 8 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the
governor; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 22 September 1996 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--APPEM
2, CODEM 1, UDM 1, UNIPRO 2, UPD 1, ANMD 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, consisting of five magistrates
including the president; lower court judges appointed for three-year
terms by the governor

Political parties and leaders: Uniao Promotora para o Progresso
note: there are no formal political parties, but civic associations
are used instead

Political pressure groups and leaders: wealthy Macanese and
Chinese representing local interests, wealthy procommunist merchants
representing China's interests; in January 1967 the Macau Government
acceded to Chinese demands that gave China veto power over
administration

International organization participation: CCC, ESCAP (associate),
IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), UNESCO (associate), WMO, WToO
(associate), WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (Chinese territory
under Portuguese administration)

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US has no offices in
Macau, and US interests are monitored by the US Consulate General in
Hong Kong

Flag description: the flag of Portugal is used

Economy

Economy--overview: The economy is based largely on tourism
(including gambling) and textile and fireworks manufacturing.
Efforts to diversify have spawned other small industries--toys,
artificial flowers, and electronics. The tourist sector has
accounted for roughly 25% of GDP, and the clothing industry has
provided about two-thirds of export earnings; the gambling industry
probably represents over 40% of GDP. Macau depends on China for most
of its food, fresh water, and energy imports. Japan and Hong Kong
are the main suppliers of raw materials and capital goods. Macau is
scheduled to revert to Chinese administration on 20 December 1999.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$6.9 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: -0.1% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$16,000 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 40%
services: 59% (1997)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.5% (1997)

Labor force: 277,676 (1997)

Labor force--by occupation: industry 28%, restaurants and hotels
28%, other services 44%

Unemployment rate: 3.8% (1998 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.3 billion
expenditures: $1.07 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995 est.)

Industries: clothing, textiles, toys, electronics, footwear,
tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 1.125 billion kWh (1996)

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

Electricity--consumption: 1.522 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 3 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 400 million kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: rice, vegetables

Exports: $2.14 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: textiles, clothing, toys, electronics,
cement, footwear, machinery

Exports--partners: US 45%, EU 24%, Hong Kong 8%, China 6% (1997)

Imports: $2.075 billion (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports--commodities: raw materials, foodstuffs, capital goods,
fuels, lubricants

Imports--partners: China 29%, Hong Kong 25%, EU 12.4%, Japan 9%
(1997)

Debt--external: $0 (1996)

Economic aid--recipient: $NA

Currency: 1 pataca (P) = 100 avos

Exchange rates: patacas (P) per US$1--7.74 (1998), 7.99 (1997),
7.962 (1996), 8.034 (1993-95), 7.973 (1992); note--linked to the Hong
Kong dollar at the rate of 1.03 patacas per Hong Kong dollar

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 200,000 (1997 est.)

Telephone system: fairly modern communication facilities
maintained for domestic and international services
domestic: NA
international: HF radiotelephone communication facility; access to
international communications carriers provided via Hong Kong and
China; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

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

Radios: 135,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 0 (receives Hong Kong broadcasts)
(1997)

Televisions: 34,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 50 km
paved: 50 km
unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Macau

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 1 (1998 est.)

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

Military

Military branches: no regular military forces, Police Force

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 121,355 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 66,744 (1999 est.)

Military--note: defense is currently the responsibility of
Portugal, but will become the responsibility of China on 20 December
1999

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

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

@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of ------------------------------------------

Geography

Location: Southeastern Europe, north of Greece

Geographic coordinates: 41 50 N, 22 00 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total: 25,333 sq km
land: 24,856 sq km
water: 477 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly larger than Vermont

Land boundaries:
total: 748 km
border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 228 km,
Serbia and Montenegro 221 km (all with Serbia)

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: warm, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold
winters with heavy snowfall

Terrain: mountainous territory covered with deep basins and
valleys; three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country
bisected by the Vardar River

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Vardar River 50 m
highest point: Golem Korab (Majae Korabit) 2,753 m

Natural resources: chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, tungsten,
nickel, low-grade iron ore, asbestos, sulfur, timber

Land use:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 39%
other: 10% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 830 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: high seismic risks

Environment--current issues: air pollution from metallurgical
plants

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

Geography--note: landlocked; major transportation corridor from
Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to
Western Europe

People

Population: 2,022,604 (July 1999 est.)
note: the Macedonian Government census of July 1994 put the
population at 1.94 million, but ethnic allocations were likely
undercounted

Age structure:
0-14 years: 23% (male 243,190; female 228,491)
15-64 years: 67% (male 680,692; female 673,923)
65 years and over: 10% (male 88,116; female 108,192) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.64% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 15.21 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 8.03 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 18.68 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.05 years
male: 70.93 years
female: 75.34 years (1999 est.)

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

Nationality:
noun: Macedonian(s)
adjective: Macedonian

Ethnic groups: Macedonian 66%, Albanian 23%, Turkish 4%, Serb 2%,
Gypsies 3%, other 2%

Religions: Eastern Orthodox 67%, Muslim 30%, other 3%