Chapter V (31)

Economy--overview: Nepal is among the poorest and least developed
countries in the world with nearly half of its population living
below the poverty line. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy,
providing a livelihood for over 80% of the population and accounting
for 41% of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing
of agricultural produce including jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and
grain. Production of textiles and carpets has expanded recently and
accounted for about 80% of foreign exchange earnings in the past
three years. Apart from agricultural land and forests, exploitable
natural resources are mica, hydropower, and tourism. Agricultural
production is growing by about 5% on average as compared with annual
population growth of 2.5%. Since May 1991, the government has been
moving forward with economic reforms particularly those that
encourage trade and foreign investment, e.g., by eliminating
business licenses and registration requirements in order to simplify
investment procedures. The government has also been cutting
expenditures by reducing subsidies, privatizing state industries,
and laying off civil servants. More recently, however, political
instability--five different governments over the past few years--has
hampered Kathmandu's ability to forge consensus to implement key
economic reforms. Nepal has considerable scope for accelerating
economic growth by exploiting its potential in hydropower and
tourism, areas of recent foreign investment interest. Prospects for
foreign trade or investment in other sectors will remain poor,
however, because of the small size of the economy, its technological
backwardness, its remoteness, its landlocked geographic location,
and its susceptibility to natural disaster. The international
community's role of funding more than 60% of Nepal's development
budget and more than 28% of total budgetary expenditures will likely
continue as a major ingredient of growth.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$26.2 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 4.9% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,100 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 41%
industry: 22%
services: 37% (1997)

Population below poverty line: 42% (1995-96 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 29.8% (1995-96)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.8% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 10 million (1996 est.)
note: severe lack of skilled labor

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 81%, services 16%,
industry 3%

Unemployment rate: NA%; substantial underemployment (1996)

Budget:
revenues: $536 million
expenditures: $818 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY96/97 est.)

Industries: tourism, carpet, textile; small rice, jute, sugar,
and oilseed mills; cigarette; cement and brick production

Industrial production growth rate: 14.7% (FY94/95 est.)

Electricity--production: 1.032 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 3.1%
hydro: 96.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 1.013 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 89 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 70 million kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops;
milk, water buffalo meat

Exports: $394 million (f.o.b., 1997), but does not include
unrecorded border trade with India

Exports--commodities: carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute
goods, grain

Exports--partners: India, US, Germany, UK

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

Imports--commodities: petroleum products 20%, fertilizer 11%,
machinery 10%

Imports--partners: India, Singapore, Japan, Germany

Debt--external: $2.4 billion (1997)

Economic aid--recipient: $411 million (FY97/98)

Currency: 1 Nepalese rupee (NR) = 100 paisa

Exchange rates: Nepalese rupees (NRs) per US$1--67.675 (January
1999), 65.976 (1998), 58.010 (1997), 56.692 (1996), 51.890 (1995),
49.398 (1994)

Fiscal year: 16 July--15 July

Communications

Telephones: 115,911 (1996 est.)

Telephone system: poor telephone and telegraph service; fair
radiotelephone communication service
domestic: NA
international: radiotelephone communications; satellite earth
station--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 88, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios: 690,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 6 (1998 est.)

Televisions: 45,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 101 km; note--all in Kosi close to Indian border
narrow gauge: 101 km 0.762-m gauge

Highways:
total: 7,700 km
paved: 3,196 km
unpaved: 4,504 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: none

Airports: 45 (1998 est.)

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

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 40
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 29 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Royal Nepalese Army, Royal Nepalese Army Air
Service, Nepalese Police Force

Military manpower--military age: 17 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 5,924,732 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,079,569 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 281,658 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $44 million (FY96/97)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.9% (FY96/97)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: with Bhutan over 91,000 Bhutanese
refugees in Nepal

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic and
international drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast
Asia to the West

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

@Netherlands -----------

Geography

Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between
Belgium and Germany

Geographic coordinates: 52 30 N, 5 45 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total: 41,532 sq km
land: 33,889 sq km
water: 7,643 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Land boundaries:
total: 1,027 km
border countries: Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km

Coastline: 451 km

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

Climate: temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters

Terrain: mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders);
some hills in southeast

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Prins Alexanderpolder -7 m
highest point: Vaalserberg 321 m

Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, fertile soil

Land use:
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 8%
other: 39% (1996 est.)

Irrigated land: 6,000 sq km (1996 est.)

Natural hazards: the extensive system of dikes and dams protects
nearly one-half of the total area from being flooded

Environment--current issues: water pollution in the form of heavy
metals, organic compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and
phosphates; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities;
acid rain

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

Geography--note: located at mouths of three major European rivers
(Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)

People

Population: 15,807,641 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 1,475,606; female 1,410,088)
15-64 years: 68% (male 5,482,193; female 5,288,948)
65 years and over: 14% (male 875,847; female 1,274,959) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.47% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 11.36 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 8.69 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 1.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 5.11 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.15 years
male: 75.28 years
female: 81.17 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.49 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)
adjective: Dutch

Ethnic groups: Dutch 94%, Moroccans, Turks, and other 6% (1988)

Religions: Roman Catholic 34%, Protestant 25%, Muslim 3%, other
2%, unaffiliated 36% (1991)

Languages: Dutch

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1979 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands
conventional short form: Netherlands
local long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden
local short form: Nederland

Data code: NL

Government type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government

Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (provincien,
singular--provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland,
Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel,
Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland

Dependent areas: Aruba, Netherlands Antilles

Independence: 1579 (from Spain)

National holiday: Queen's Day, 30 April

Constitution: adopted 1814; amended many times, last time 17
February 1983

Legal system: civil law system incorporating French penal theory;
constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States
General; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April
1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), Prince
of Orange, son of the monarch
head of government: Prime Minister Wim KOK (since 22 August 1994)
and Vice Prime Ministers Annemarie JORRITSMA (since 3 August 1998)
and Els BORST-EILERS (since 3 August 1998)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following Second Chamber
elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority
coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; vice
prime ministers appointed by the monarch
note: there is a Council of State composed of the monarch, heir
apparent, and councillors consulted by the executive on legislative
and administrative policy

Legislative branch: bicameral States General or Staten Generaal
consists of the First Chamber or Eerste Kamer (75 seats; members
indirectly elected by the country's 12 provincial councils for
four-year terms) and the Second Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats;
members directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: First Chamber--last held 9 June 1995 (next to be held 25
May 1999); Second Chamber--last held 6 May 1998 (next to be held May
2002)
election results: First Chamber--percent of vote by party--NA; seats
by party--VVD 23, CDA 19, PvdA 14, D'66 7, other 12; Second
Chamber--percent of vote by party--PvdA 30.0%, VVD 25.3%, CDA 19.3%,
D'66 9.3%, other 16.1%; seats by party--PvdA 45, VVD 38, CDA 29, D'66
14, other 24

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Hoge Raad, justices are
nominated for life by the monarch

Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA

Political pressure groups and leaders: large multinational firms;
Federation of Netherlands Trade Union Movement (comprising Socialist
and Catholic trade unions) and a Protestant trade union; Federation
of Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations; the
nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises; and
Interchurch Peace Council or IKV

International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia
Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB,
EMU, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO,
NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joris M. VOS
chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Cynthia P. SCHNEIDER
embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague
mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715
consulate(s) general: Amsterdam

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top),
white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a
lighter blue and is longer

Economy

Economy--overview: This prosperous and open economy is based on
private enterprise with the government's presence felt in many
aspects of the economy. Industrial activity features food
processing, petroleum refining, and metalworking. The highly
mechanized agricultural sector employs only 4% of the labor force,
but provides large surpluses for export and the domestic
food-processing industry. As a result, the Netherlands ranks third
worldwide in value of agricultural exports, behind the US and
France. Sharp cuts in subsidy and social security spending since the
1980s helped the Dutch achieve sustained economic growth combined
with falling unemployment and moderate inflation. The economy
achieved a strong 3.7% growth in 1998; a dip in the business cycle
probably will cause the economy to decelerate to slightly over 2%
growth in 1999. Unemployment in 1999 is expected to be less than 5%
of the labor force, and inflation probably will decline. The Dutch
joined the first wave of 11 EU countries launching the euro system
on 1 January 1999.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$348.6 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 3.7% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$22,200 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.2%
industry: 27.5%
services: 69.3% (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 24.7% (1991)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1998)

Labor force: 7 million (1998 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: services 73%, manufacturing and
construction 23%, agriculture 4% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate: 4.1% (1998 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $163 billion
expenditures: $170 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999 est.)

Industries: agroindustries, metal and engineering products,
electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum,
construction, microelectronics, fishing

Industrial production growth rate: 2.4% (1998)

Electricity--production: 83.3 billion kWh (1997)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 94.51%
hydro: 0.1%
nuclear: 4.95%
other: 0.44% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 90.366 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 700 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 11.3 billion kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits,
vegetables; livestock

Exports: $160 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels,
food and tobacco

Exports--partners: EU 78% (Germany 27%, Belgium-Luxembourg 13%,
France 11%, UK 10%, Italy 6%), Central and Eastern Europe, US (1997)

Imports: $142 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment,
chemicals, foodstuffs, fuels, consumer goods

Imports--partners: EU 61% (Germany 21%, Belgium-Luxembourg 11%, UK
10%), US 9%, Central and Eastern Europe (1997)

Debt--external: $0

Economic aid--donor: ODA, $2.9 billion (1997)

Currency: 1 Netherlands guilder, gulden, or florin (f.) = 100
cents; note--on 1 January 2002 to be replaced by the euro

Exchange rates: Netherlands guilders, gulden, or florins (f.) per
US$1--1.8904 (January 1999), 1.9837 (1998), 1.9513 (1997), 1.6859
(1996), 1.6057 (1995), 1.8200 (1994)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common
currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some
member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed
rate of 2.20371 guilders per euro; the euro will replace the local
currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 8.431 million (1998 est.); 3.4 million cellular
telephone subscribers (1998 est.)

Telephone system: highly developed and well maintained; system of
multi-conductor cables gradually being supplemented/replaced by a
glass-fiber based telecommunication infrastructure; Mobile GSM-based
mobile telephony density rapidly growing; third generation Universal
Mobile Telecommunications System expected for introduction by the
year 2001
domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; microwave radio relay
international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations--3
Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1
Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean Regions)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 3 (relays 3), FM 12 (repeaters 39),
shortwave 0

Radios: 14 million (1994 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 15 (in addition, there are five
low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 7.6 million (1994 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 2,813 km
standard gauge: 2,813 km 1.435-m gauge; (1,991 km electrified) (1996)

Highways:
total: 127,000 km
paved: 114,427 km (including 2,360 km of expressways)
unpaved: 12,573 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: 5,046 km, of which 47% is usable by craft of 1,000
metric ton capacity or larger

Pipelines: crude oil 418 km; petroleum products 965 km; natural
gas 10,230 km

Ports and harbors: Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Dordrecht, Eemshaven,
Groningen, Haarlem, Ijmuiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Terneuzen,
Utrecht

Merchant marine:
total: 510 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,632,477
GRT/4,097,328 DWT
ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 303, chemical tanker 42, combination
bulk 1, container 52, liquefied gas tanker 17, livestock carrier 1,
multifunction large-load carrier 9, oil tanker 24, passenger 8,
refrigerated cargo 30, roll-on/roll-off cargo 12, short-sea
passenger 3, specialized tanker 4
note: many Dutch-owned ships are also operating under the registry
of Netherlands Antilles (1998 est.)

Airports: 28 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 19
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 6 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy
(includes Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air
Force, Royal Constabulary

Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 4,117,376 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,595,693 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 95,368 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $6.604 billion (FY97)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.1% (1995)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

Illicit drugs: important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish
entering Europe; major European producer of illicit amphetamines and
other synthetic drugs

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

@Netherlands Antilles --------------------

Geography

Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea--one
includes Curacao and Bonaire north of Venezuela and the other is
east of the Virgin Islands

Geographic coordinates: 12 15 N, 68 45 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 960 sq km
land: 960 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint
Maarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin)

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

Land boundaries:
total: 10.2 km
border countries: Guadeloupe (Saint Martin) 10.2 km

Coastline: 364 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds

Terrain: generally hilly, volcanic interiors

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Scenery 862 m

Natural resources: phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only)

Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 90% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean
hurricane belt and are rarely threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and
Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October

Environment--current issues: NA

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

People

Population: 207,827 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 26% (male 27,160; female 26,149)
15-64 years: 67% (male 65,781; female 73,054)
65 years and over: 7% (male 6,538; female 9,145) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.01% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 17.11 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 6.58 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.43 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: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 12.59 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.25 years
male: 72.19 years
female: 76.41 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.09 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Netherlands Antillean(s)
adjective: Netherlands Antillean

Ethnic groups: mixed black 85%, Carib Amerindian, white, East
Asian

Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Seventh-Day
Adventist

Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a
Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) predominates, English
widely spoken, Spanish

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 99% (1981 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Netherlands Antilles
local long form: none
local short form: Nederlandse Antillen

Data code: NT

Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full
autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954

Government type: parliamentary

Capital: Willemstad

Administrative divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of the
Netherlands)
note: each island has its own government

Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

National holiday: Queen's Day, 30 April (1938)

Constitution: 29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the
Netherlands, as amended

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard of the Netherlands
(since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Jaime SALEH
(since NA October 1989)
head of government: Prime Minister Miguel POURIER (since 25 February
1994)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch for a six-year term; following legislative elections,
the leader of the majority party is usually elected prime minister
by the Staten; election last held 30 January 1998 (next to be held
by NA 2002)
election results: Miguel POURIER elected prime minister; percent of
legislative vote--NA

Legislative branch: unicameral States or Staten (22 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 30 January 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PAR 4,
PNP 3, SPA 1, PDB 2, UPB 1, MAN 2, PLKP 3, WIPM 1, SEA 1, DP-St.M 2,
FOL 2; no party won enough seats to form a government
note: the government of Prime Minister Miguel POURIER is a coalition
of several parties

Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by
the monarch)

Political parties and leaders:
Sint Eustatius: Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E
WESTCOTT-WILLIAMS]; Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten or SPA
ROLLOCKS]
note: political parties are indigenous to each island

International organization participation: Caricom (observer),
ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WMO, WToO
(associate)

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (represented by the
Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Consul General James L. WILLIAMS
consulate(s) general: J.B. Gorsiraweg #1, Curacao
mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao

Flag description: white, with a horizontal blue stripe in the
center superimposed on a vertical red band, also centered; five
white, five-pointed stars are arranged in an oval pattern in the
center of the blue band; the five stars represent the five main
islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten

Economy

Economy--overview: Tourism, petroleum transshipment, and offshore
finance are the mainstays of this small economy, which is closely
tied to the outside world. The islands enjoy a high per capita
income and a well-developed infrastructure as compared with other
countries in the region. Almost all consumer and capital goods are
imported, with Venezuela, the US, and Mexico being the major
suppliers. Poor soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the
development of agriculture.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$2.4 billion (1997 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: -1.8% (1997)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$11,500 (1997 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 15%
services: 84% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.3% (1997)

Labor force: 89,000

Labor force--by occupation: government 65%, industry and commerce
28% (1983)

Unemployment rate: 14.9% (1998 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $710.8 million
expenditures: $741.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)

Industries: tourism (Curacao, Sint Maarten, and Bonaire),
petroleum refining (Curacao), petroleum transshipment facilities
(Curacao and Bonaire), light manufacturing (Curacao)

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 1.4 billion kWh (1996)

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

Electricity--consumption: 1.4 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables,
tropical fruit

Exports: $268.2 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: petroleum products 98% (1993)

Exports--partners: US 28.6%, Honduras 6.4%, Belgium-Luxembourg 6%,
Italy 4.9%, Guatemala 4.5%, Costa Rica 4% (1996)

Imports: $1.4 billion (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports--commodities: crude petroleum 64%, food, manufactures
(1993)

Imports--partners: Venezuela 34%, US 16.4%, Mexico 15.5%,
Netherlands 5%, Italy 3.5%, Brazil 2.8% (1996)

Debt--external: $1.35 billion (1996)

Economic aid--recipient: $NA; note?the Netherlands provided a $97
million aid package in 1996

Currency: 1 Netherlands Antillean guilder, gulden, or florin
(NAf.) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Netherlands Antillean guilders, gulden, or
florins (NAf.) per US$1--1.790 (fixed rate since 1989)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: NA

Telephone system: generally adequate facilities
domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth stations--2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios: 205,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 3 (in addition, there is a cable
service which supplies programs received from various US satellite
networks) (1997)

Televisions: 64,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 600 km
paved: 300 km
unpaved: 300 km (1992 est.)

Ports and harbors: Kralendijk, Philipsburg, Willemstad

Merchant marine:
total: 95 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 811,782 GRT/1,045,989
DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 26, chemical tanker 2, combination
ore/oil 3, container 10, liquefied gas tanker 4, multifunction
large-load carrier 19, oil tanker 4, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo
18, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 2 countries:
Belgium owns 9 ships, Germany 1 (1998 est.)

Airports: 5 (1998 est.)

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

Military

Military branches: Royal Netherlands Navy, Marine Corps, Royal
Netherlands Air Force, National Guard, Police Force

Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-47: 53,285 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 29,888 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 1,457 (1999 est.)

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of
the Netherlands

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

Illicit drugs: money-laundering center; transshipment point for
South American drugs bound for the US and Europe

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

@New Caledonia -------------

Geography

Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of
Australia

Geographic coordinates: 21 30 S, 165 30 E

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total: 19,060 sq km
land: 18,575 sq km
water: 485 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 2,254 km

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

Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid

Terrain: coastal plains with interior mountains

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m

Natural resources: nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese,
silver, gold, lead, copper

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 12%
forests and woodland: 39%
other: 49% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: typhoons most frequent from November to March

Environment--current issues: NA

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

People

Population: 197,361 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 29% (male 29,610; female 28,485)
15-64 years: 65% (male 64,552; female 63,229)
65 years and over: 6% (male 5,443; female 6,042) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.59% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 20.68 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 4.82 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.08 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: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 12.15 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.35 years
male: 72.1 years
female: 78.77 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.43 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: New Caledonian(s)
adjective: New Caledonian

Ethnic groups: Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%,
Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3%

Religions: Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%

Languages: French, 28 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91%
male: 92%
female: 90% (1976 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies
conventional short form: New Caledonia
local long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances
local short form: Nouvelle-Caledonie

Data code: NC

Dependency status: overseas territory of France since 1956

Government type: NA

Capital: Noumea

Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France);
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the
US Government, but there are 3 provinces named Iles Loyaute, Nord,
and Sud

Independence: none (overseas territory of France); note--a
referendum on independence was held in 1998 but did not pass

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

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial
autonomy to the islands; formerly under French law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by High Commissioner and President of the Council
of Government Dominque BUR (since NA August 1995)
head of government: President of the Territorial Congress Simon
LOUECKHOTE (since NA 1998)
cabinet: Consultative Committee
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year
term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the
advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the
Territorial Congress elected by the members of the congress

Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Congress or Congres
Territorial (54 seats; members are members of the three Provincial
Assemblies or Assemblees Provinciales elected by popular vote to
serve six-year terms)
elections: last held 9 July 1995 (next to be held NA July 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--RPR
22, FLNKS 12, UNCT 9, UNI 5, DEPCA 2, FN 2, RCF 2, and other 2
note: New Caledonia elects 1 seat to the French Senate; elections
last held 27 September 1992 (next to be held NA September 2001);
results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--RPR 1; New
Caledonia also elects 2 seats to the French National Assembly;
elections last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002);
results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--RPR 2

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel

Political parties and leaders: Progressive Melanesian Union or
POSTIC]; Union des Synicates de Travailleurs Kanaks Exploites or
Caledonia in the Republic or RPCR is a coalition of 5 parties: Union

International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), FZ,
ICFTU, SPC, WFTU, WMO

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

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

Flag description: three horizontal bands, blue (top), red, and
green, with a yellow disk enclosing a black symbol centered to the
hoist side; the flag of France is used for official occasions

Economy

Economy--overview: New Caledonia has more than 20% of the world's
known nickel resources. In recent years, the economy has suffered
because of depressed international demand for nickel, the principal
source of export earnings. Only a negligible amount of the land is
suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 25% of
imports. In addition to nickel, financial support from France and
tourism are key to the health of the economy. Performance in 1998
was hampered by the spillover of financial problems in East Asia and
by lower expected prices for nickel.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$2.1 billion (1996 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$11,400 (1996 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 25%
services: 72% (1996)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (1996 est.)

Labor force: 70,044 (1988)

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 20%, industry 16%,
services 60%, mining 4% (1996)

Unemployment rate: 15% (1994)

Budget:
revenues: $755.6 million
expenditures: $755.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995 est.)

Industries: nickel mining and smelting

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 1.145 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 69.87%
hydro: 30.13%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 1.145 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: vegetables; beef, other livestock products

Exports: $500 million (f.o.b., 1996)

Exports--commodities: ferronickels, nickel ore

Exports--partners: Japan 31%, France 29%, US 12%, Australia 7%,
Taiwan 6% (1996 est.)

Imports: $845 million (c.i.f., 1996)

Imports--commodities: foods, transport equipment, machinery and
electrical equipment, fuels, minerals

Imports--partners: France 45%, Australia 18%, Singapore 7%, New
Zealand 6%, Japan 4% (1996 est.)

Debt--external: $NA

Economic aid--recipient: $446.3 million (1995); note?about $50
million yearly support from France for government operations

Currency: 1 Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (CFPF) = 100
centimes

Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per
US$1--102.72 (January 1999), 107.25 (1998), 106.11 (1997), 93.00
(1996), 90.75 (1995), 100.93 (1994); note--linked at the rate of
18.18 to the French franc

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 38,748 (1993 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0

Radios: 97,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 6 (in addition, there are 25
low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 47,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 5,562 km
paved: 975 km
unpaved: 4,587 km (1993)

Ports and harbors: Mueo, Noumea, Thio

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 27 (1998 est.)

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

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 11 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 7 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: French Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force,
Gendarmerie); Police Force

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: Matthew and Hunter Islands claimed by
France and Vanuatu

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

@New Zealand -----------

Geography

Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast
of Australia

Geographic coordinates: 41 00 S, 174 00 E

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total: 268,680 sq km
land: 268,670 sq km
water: 10 sq km
note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands,
Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands

Area--comparative: about the size of Colorado

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 15,134 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 with sharp regional contrasts

Terrain: predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Cook 3,764 m

Natural resources: natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber,
hydropower, gold, limestone

Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 50%
forests and woodland: 28%
other: 8% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 2,850 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: earthquakes are common, though usually not
severe; volcanic activity

Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; native
flora and fauna hard-hit by species introduced from outside

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life
Conservation

Geography--note: about 80% of the population lives in cities

People

Population: 3,662,265 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 23% (male 430,105; female 409,302)
15-64 years: 65% (male 1,202,762; female 1,195,006)
65 years and over: 12% (male 184,048; female 241,042) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.99% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 14.42 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 7.53 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 3.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 6.22 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.82 years
male: 74.55 years
female: 81.27 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.85 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: New Zealander(s)
adjective: New Zealand

Ethnic groups: New Zealand European 74.5%, Maori 9.7%, other
European 4.6%, Pacific Islander 3.8%, Asian and others 7.4%

Religions: Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%,
Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none
33% (1986)

Languages: English (official), Maori

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

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: New Zealand
abbreviation: NZ

Data code: NZ

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Wellington

Administrative divisions: 93 counties, 9 districts*, and 3 town
districts**; Akaroa, Amuri, Ashburton, Bay of Islands, Bruce,
Buller, Chatham Islands, Cheviot, Clifton, Clutha, Cook, Dannevirke,
Egmont, Eketahuna, Ellesmere, Eltham, Eyre, Featherston, Franklin,
Golden Bay, Great Barrier Island, Grey, Hauraki Plains, Hawera*,
Hawke's Bay, Heathcote, Hikurangi**, Hobson, Hokianga, Horowhenua,
Hurunui, Hutt, Inangahua, Inglewood, Kaikoura, Kairanga, Kiwitea,
Lake, Mackenzie, Malvern, Manaia**, Manawatu, Mangonui, Maniototo,
Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata, Mount Herbert, Ohinemuri, Opotiki,
Oroua, Otamatea, Otorohanga*, Oxford, Pahiatua, Paparua, Patea,
Piako, Pohangina, Raglan, Rangiora*, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua*,
Runanga, Saint Kilda, Silverpeaks, Southland, Stewart Island,
Stratford, Strathallan, Taranaki, Taumarunui, Taupo, Tauranga,
Thames-Coromandel*, Tuapeka, Vincent, Waiapu, Waiheke, Waihemo,
Waikato, Waikohu, Waimairi, Waimarino, Waimate, Waimate West,
Waimea, Waipa, Waipawa*, Waipukurau*, Wairarapa South, Wairewa,
Wairoa, Waitaki, Waitomo*, Waitotara, Wallace, Wanganui, Waverley**,
Westland, Whakatane*, Whangarei, Whangaroa, Woodville
note: there may be a new administrative structure of 16 regions
(Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay,
Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman,
Waikato, Wanganui-Manawatu, Wellington, West Coast) that are
subdivided into 57 districts and 16 cities* (Ashburton, Auckland*,
Banks Peninsula, Buller, Carterton, Central Hawke's Bay, Central
Otago, Christchurch*, Clutha, Dunedin*, Far North, Franklin,
Gisborne, Gore, Grey, Hamilton*, Hastings, Hauraki, Horowhenua,
Hurunui, Hutt*, Invercargill*, Kaikoura, Kaipara, Kapiti Coast,
Kawerau, Mackenzie, Manawatu, Manukau*, Marlborough, Masterton,
Matamata Piako, Napier*, Nelson*, New Plymouth, North Shore*,
Opotiki, Otorohanga, Palmerston North*, Papakura*, Porirua*,
Queenstown Lakes, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua, Ruapehu, Selwyn,
Southland, South Taranaki, South Waikato, South Wairarapa,
Stratford, Tararua, Tasman, Taupo, Tauranga, Thames Coromandel,
Timaru, Upper Hutt*, Waikato, Waimakariri, Waimate, Waipa, Wairoa,
Waitakere*, Waitaki, Waitomo, Wanganui, Wellington*, Western Bay of
Plenty, Westland, Whakatane, Whangarei)

Dependent areas: Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau

Independence: 26 September 1907 (from UK)

National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of
Waitangi established British sovereignty)

Constitution: no formal, written constitution; consists of
various documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand
Parliaments; Constitution Act 1986 was to have come into force 1
January 1987, but has not been enacted

Legal system: based on English law, with special land legislation
and land courts for Maoris; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir Michael HARDIE BOYS (since 21
March 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Jenny SHIPLEY (since 8 December
1997) and Deputy Prime Minister Wyatt CREECH (since NA August 1998);
note--the coalition government of the National Party and the New
Zealand First Party was dissolved on 18 August 1998
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition
is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general for a
three-year term; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor
general

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives--commonly
called Parliament (120 seats; members elected by popular vote in
single-member constituencies to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 12 October 1996 (next must be called by October
1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NP 34.1%, NZLP 28.3%,
NZFP 13.1%, Alliance 10.1%, ACT 6.17%, UNZ 0.91%; seats by party--NP
44, NZLP 37, NZFP 17, Alliance 13, ACT 8, UNZ 1

Judicial branch: High Court; Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders: National Party or NP [Jenny
coalition of the Christian Democrats and Christian Heritage Party)

International organization participation: ANZUS (US suspended
security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, AsDB, Australia
Group, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MONUA, MTCR, NAM (guest),
NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNMOP, UNOMSIL, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James Brendan BOLGER
chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Josiah Horton BEEMAN
embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington
mailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, FPO AP
96531-1001
consulate(s) general: Auckland

Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white
centered in the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the
Southern Cross constellation

Economy

Economy--overview: Since 1984 the government has accomplished
major economic restructuring, moving an agrarian economy dependent
on a concessionary British market access toward a more
industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. This
dynamic growth has boosted real incomes, broadened and deepened the
technological capabilities of the industrial sector, and contained
inflationary pressures. Inflation remains among the lowest in the
industrial world. Per capita GDP has been moving up toward the
levels of the big West European economies. New Zealand's heavy
dependence on trade leaves its growth prospects vulnerable to
economic performance in Asia, Europe, and the US. The slump in
demand in Asian markets largely explains the slight drop in GDP in
1998.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$61.1 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: -0.2% (1998)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$17,000 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 9%
industry: 25%
services: 66% (1997)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.1% (1998)

Labor force: 1.86 million (1998)

Labor force--by occupation: services 65.1%, industry 25.1%,
agriculture 9.8% (1995)

Unemployment rate: 7.6% (1998)

Budget:
revenues: $24.9 billion
expenditures: $23.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY97/98 est.)

Industries: food processing, wood and paper products, textiles,
machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism,
mining

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 35.534 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 18.72%
hydro: 75.67%
nuclear: 0%
other: 5.61% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 35.534 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits,
vegetables; wool, beef, dairy products; fish

Exports: $12.9 billion (1998 est.)

Exports--commodities: wool, lamb, mutton, beef, fish, cheese,
chemicals, forestry products, fruits and vegetables, manufactures,
dairy products, wood

Exports--partners: Australia 20%, Japan 15%, US 10%, UK 6% (1997)

Imports: $13 billion (1998 est.)

Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles and
aircraft, petroleum, consumer goods, plastics

Imports--partners: Australia 27%, US 19%, Japan 12%, UK 6% (1997)

Debt--external: $53.2 billion (March 1998)

Economic aid--donor: ODA, $123 million (1995)

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

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1--1.85 (February
1999), 1.8629 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995),
1.6844 (1994)

Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June

Communications

Telephones: 1.7 million (1986 est.)

Telephone system: excellent international and domestic systems
domestic: NA
international: submarine cables to Australia and Fiji; satellite
earth stations--2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 64, FM 2, shortwave 0

Radios: 3.215 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 41 (in addition, there are 52
medium-power repeaters and over 650 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 1.53 million (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 3,973 km
narrow gauge: 3,973 km 1.067-m gauge (519 km electrified)

Highways:
total: 92,200 km
paved: 53,568 km (including at least 144 km of expressways)
unpaved: 38,632 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: 1,609 km; of little importance to transportation

Pipelines: petroleum products 160 km; natural gas 1,000 km;
liquefied petroleum gas or LPG 150 km

Ports and harbors: Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Tauranga,
Wellington

Merchant marine:
total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 138,687 GRT/183,372 DWT
ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 1, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker
3, railcar carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4 (1998 est.)

Airports: 111 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 44
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 29
under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 67
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 43 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy,
Royal New Zealand Air Force

Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 943,624 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 793,814 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 26,046 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $562 million (FY97/98)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.05% (FY97/98)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross
Dependency)

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

@Nicaragua ---------

Geography

Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and
the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras

Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 85 00 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 129,494 sq km
land: 120,254 sq km
water: 9,240 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than the state of New York

Land boundaries:
total: 1,231 km
border countries: Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km

Coastline: 910 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 25-nm security zone
continental shelf: natural prolongation
territorial sea: 200 nm

Climate: tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands

Terrain: extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central
interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by
volcanoes

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mogoton 2,438 m

Natural resources: gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc,
timber, fish

Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 46%
forests and woodland: 27%
other: 17% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 880 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides,
and occasionally severe hurricanes

Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water
pollution; Hurricane Mitch damage

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

People

Population: 4,717,132 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 44% (male 1,037,269; female 1,018,909)
15-64 years: 54% (male 1,236,326; female 1,297,356)
65 years and over: 2% (male 54,706; female 72,566) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.84% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 35.04 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 5.6 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 40.47 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.08 years
male: 64.7 years
female: 69.56 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.14 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Nicaraguan(s)
adjective: Nicaraguan

Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white
17%, black 9%, Amerindian 5%

Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant 5%

Languages: Spanish (official)
note: English- and Amerindian-speaking minorities on Atlantic coast

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 65.7%
male: 64.6%
female: 66.6% (1995 est.)

Government

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

Data code: NU

Government type: republic

Capital: Managua

Administrative divisions: 15 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento), 2 autonomous regions* (regiones
autonomistas, singular--region autonomista); Boaco, Carazo,
Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz,
Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas,
Atlantico Norte*, Atlantico Sur*

Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution: 9 January 1987

Legal system: civil law system; Supreme Court may review
administrative acts

Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January 1997);
Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (10 January 1997); note--the
president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January
1997); Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (10 January 1997);
note--the president is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 20 October
1996 (next to be held NA 2001); note--in July 1995 the term of the
office of the president was amended to five years
party]--includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 51.03%, Daniel ORTEGA
Saavedra (FSLN) 37.75%, Guillermo OSORNO (PCCN) 4.10%, Noel VIDAURRE
(PCN) 2.26%, Benjamin LANZAS (PRONAL) 0.53%, other (18 other
candidates) remaining 4.33%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea
Nacional (93 seats; members are elected by proportional
representation to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 20 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--Liberal Alliance (ruling
party--includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 46.03%, FSLN 36.55%, PCCN
3.73%, PCN 2.12%, MRS 1.33%; seats by party--Liberal Alliance 42,
FSLN 36, PCCN 4, PCN 3, PRONAL 2, MRS 1, PRN 1, PNC 1, PLI 1, AU 1,
UNO-96 Alliance 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), 12 judges elected
for seven-year terms by the National Assembly

Political parties and leaders:
OSORNO, Roberto RODRIGUEZ]; Liberal Constitutionalist Party or PLC
Saavedra]

Political pressure groups and leaders: National Workers Front or
FNT is a Sandinista umbrella group of eight labor unions: Sandinista
Workers Central or CST; Farm Workers Association or ATC; Health
Workers Federation or FETASALUD; National Union of Employees or UNE;
National Association of Educators of Nicaragua or ANDEN; Union of
Journalists of Nicaragua or UPN; Heroes and Martyrs Confederation of
Professional Associations or CONAPRO; and the National Union of
Farmers and Ranchers or UNAG; Permanent Congress of Workers or CPT
is an umbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor unions:
Confederation of Labor Unification or CUS; Autonomous Nicaraguan
Workers Central or CTN-A; Independent General Confederation of Labor
or CGT-I; and Labor Action and Unity Central or CAUS; Nicaraguan
Workers' Central or CTN is an independent labor union; Superior
Council of Private Enterprise or COSEP is a confederation of
business groups

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco AGUIRRE Sacasa
chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New
York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lino GUTIERREZ
embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua
mailing address: APO AA 34021
666026, 666027, 666032, 666033

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top),
white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white
band; the coat of arms features a triangle encircled by the words
REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom;
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
Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern
centered in the white band

Economy

Economy--overview: Prior to Hurricane Mitch in the fall of 1998,
Nicaragua had been pursuing a number of impressive economic reforms
and had begun to shed the legacy of a decade of civil war and
economic mismanagement by posting strong annual growth numbers. The
storm has put the reform effort on hold and has changed economic
forecasts for the foreseeable future--Nicaragua, the poorest country
in Central America was one of the hardest hit by the hurricane.
Nicaragua sustained approximately $1 billion in damages and will
probably see GDP growth slow by at least one percentage point in
1999. Hardest hit was the all-important agriculture sector, which is
responsible for the majority of exports. As a result, the trade
deficit is likely to balloon in 1999 to roughly $900 million.
Significant aid and relief have helped to stabilize the country. In
addition, the Paris Club and other creditors have offered
substantial debt relief. Nevertheless, additional financing will be
needed to restore the economy to its pre-Mitch condition.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$11.6 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,500 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 32%
industry: 24%
services: 44% (1997)

Population below poverty line: 50.3% (1993 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 39.8% (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 16% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 1.5 million

Labor force--by occupation: services 54%, agriculture 31%,
industry 15% (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate: 14%; underemployment 36% (1997 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $389 million
expenditures: $551 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1996 est.)

Industries: food processing, chemicals, metal products, textiles,
clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear

Industrial production growth rate: 1.4% (1994 est.)

Electricity--production: 1.665 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 48.95%
hydro: 21.02%
nuclear: 0%
other: 30.03% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 1.665 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice,
corn, cassava (tapioca), citrus, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry,
dairy products

Exports: $704 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: coffee, seafood, meat, sugar, gold, bananas

Exports--partners: US, Central America, Germany, Canada

Imports: $1.45 billion (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports--commodities: consumer goods, machinery and equipment,
petroleum products

Imports--partners: Central America, US, Venezuela, Japan

Debt--external: $6 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $839.9 million (1995)

Currency: 1 gold cordoba (C$) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: gold cordobas (C$) per US$1--11.14 (December
1998), 10.58 (1998), 9.45 (1997), 8.44 (1996), 7.55 (1995), 6.72
(1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 66,810 (1993 est.)

Telephone system: low-capacity microwave radio relay and wire
system being expanded; connected to Central American Microwave System
domestic: wire and microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth stations--1 Intersputnik (Atlantic
Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 45, FM 0, shortwave 3

Radios: 1.037 million (1992 est.)

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

Televisions: 260,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Highways:
total: 16,382 km
paved: 1,818 km
unpaved: 14,564 km (1998 est.)

Waterways: 2,220 km, including 2 large lakes

Pipelines: crude oil 56 km

Ports and harbors: Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas,
Puerto Sandino, Rama, San Juan del Sur

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 184 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 13
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 171
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 27
under 914 m: 143 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,108,146 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 681,495 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 53,508 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $26 million (1998)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.2% (1998)

Transnational Issues