Chapter V (34)

Economy--overview: Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural
resources, but exploitation has been hampered by the rugged terrain
and the high cost of developing infrastructure. Agriculture provides
a subsistence livelihood for the bulk of the population. Mineral
deposits, including oil, copper, and gold, account for 72% of export
earnings. Budgetary support from Australia and development aid under
World Bank auspices have helped sustain the economy. In 1995, Port
Moresby reached agreement with the IMF and World Bank on a
structural adjustment program, of which the first phase was
successfully completed in 1996. In 1997, droughts caused by the El
Nino weather pattern wreaked havoc on Papua New Guinea's coffee,
cocoa, and coconut production, the mainstays of the
agricultural-based economy and major sources of export earnings. The
coffee crop was slashed by up to 50% in 1997. Despite problems with
drought, the year 1998 saw a small recovery in GDP.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$11.1 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 1.6% (1998 est.)

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

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 28.2%
industry: 34.5%
services: 37.3% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12% (FY97/98 est.)

Labor force: 1.941 million

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 64% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $1.5 billion
expenditures: $1.35 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)

Industries: copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood
production, wood chip production; mining of gold, silver, and
copper; crude oil production; construction, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 1.7 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 70.59%
hydro: 29.41%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 1.7 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, tea,
rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables; poultry, pork

Exports: $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: gold, copper ore, oil, logs, palm oil,
coffee, cocoa, crayfish and prawns

Exports--partners: Australia, Japan, Germany, UK, South Korea,
China

Imports: $1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment,
manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals

Imports--partners: Australia, Singapore, Japan, US, New Zealand,
Malaysia

Debt--external: $3.2 billion (1995)

Economic aid--recipient: $376.3 million (1995)

Currency: 1 kina (K) = 100 toea

Exchange rates: kina (K) per US$1--0.47 (December 1998), 0.6975
(1997), 0.7588 (1996), 0.7835 (1995), 0.9950 (1994); note--the
government floated the kina on 10 October 1994

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 63,212 (1986 est.)

Telephone system: services are adequate and being improved;
facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio,
aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services
domestic: mostly radiotelephone
international: submarine cables to Australia and Guam; satellite
earth station--1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); international radio
communication service

Radio broadcast stations: AM 31, FM 2, shortwave 0

Radios: 298,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 3 (1997)

Televisions: 10,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 19,600 km
paved: 686 km
unpaved: 18,914 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: 10,940 km

Ports and harbors: Kieta, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul

Merchant marine:
total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 35,400 GRT/50,869 DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 6, chemical tanker 1, combination
ore/oil 5, container 1, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off 3 (1998 est.)

Airports: 492 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 19
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 473
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 60
under 914 m: 400 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 2 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Papua New Guinea Defense Force (includes
Ground, Naval, and Air Forces, and Special Forces Unit)

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,238,683 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 687,978 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $41.5 million (1998)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1% (1998)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

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

@Paracel Islands ---------------

Geography

Location: Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in
the South China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam
to the northern Philippines

Geographic coordinates: 16 30 N, 112 00 E

Map references: Southeast Asia

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

Area--comparative: NA

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 518 km

Maritime claims: NA

Climate: tropical

Terrain: NA

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m

Natural resources: none

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

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)

Natural hazards: typhoons

Environment--current issues: NA

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

People

Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Paracel Islands

Data code: PF

Economy

Economy--overview: China announced plans in 1997 to open the
islands for tourism.

Transportation

Ports and harbors: small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island
and Duncan Island being expanded

Airports: 1 (1998 est.)

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

Military

Military--note: occupied by China

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan
and Vietnam

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

@Paraguay --------

Geography

Location: Central South America, northeast of Argentina

Geographic coordinates: 23 00 S, 58 00 W

Map references: South America

Area:
total: 406,750 sq km
land: 397,300 sq km
water: 9,450 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than California

Land boundaries:
total: 3,920 km
border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: subtropical; substantial rainfall in the eastern
portions, becoming semiarid in the far west

Terrain: grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay;
Gran Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near
the river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m
highest point: Cerro San Rafael 850 m

Natural resources: hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese,
limestone

Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 55%
forests and woodland: 32%
other: 7% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 670 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: local flooding in southeast (early September to
June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)

Environment--current issues: deforestation (an estimated 2 million
hectares of forest land have been lost from 1958-85); water
pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal present health risks
for many urban residents

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

Geography--note: landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and
Brazil

People

Population: 5,434,095 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 39% (male 1,086,107; female 1,049,833)
15-64 years: 56% (male 1,528,127; female 1,517,213)
65 years and over: 5% (male 116,761; female 136,054) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.65% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 31.87 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 5.23 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 36.35 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.43 years
male: 70.47 years
female: 74.49 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.22 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Paraguayan(s)
adjective: Paraguayan

Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, white
plus Amerindian 5%

Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant
denominations

Languages: Spanish (official), Guarani

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.1%
male: 93.5%
female: 90.6% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay
conventional short form: Paraguay
local long form: Republica del Paraguay
local short form: Paraguay

Data code: PA

Government type: republic

Capital: Asuncion

Administrative divisions: 18 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento); Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay,
Asuncion, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central,
Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu,
Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro

Independence: 14 May 1811 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Days, 14-15 May (1811)

Constitution: promulgated 20 June 1992

Legal system: based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French
codes; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of
Justice; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 60

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Luis GONZALEZ Macchi (since 28 March
1999); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Luis GONZALEZ Macchi (since 28 March
1999); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 10 May 1998
(next to be held NA May 2003)
election results: Raul CUBAS Grau elected president; percent of
vote--55.3%; resigned 28 March 1999
note: President Luis GONZALEZ Macchi, formerly president of the
Chamber of Senators, constitutionally succeeded President Raul CUBAS
Grau, who resigned following the assassination of Vice President
Luis Maria ARGANA; the successor to ARGANA will be decided in an
election to be held in late 1999

Legislative branch: bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of
the Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the
Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (80 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators--last held 10 May 1998 (next to be
held NA May 2003); Chamber of Deputies--last held 10 May 1998 (next
to be held NA May 2003)
election results: Chamber of Senators--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--Colorado Party 24, PLRA/PEN 20, other 1; Chamber of
Deputies--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--Colorado Party
45, PLRA/PEN 35

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justicia), judges appointed on the proposal of the Counsel of
Magistrates (Consejo de la Magistratura)

Political parties and leaders: National Republican
Maria LJUBETIC]

Political pressure groups and leaders: Unitary Workers Central or
CUT; Roman Catholic Church; National Workers Central or CNT;
Paraguayan Workers Confederation or CPT

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Maura A. HARTY
embassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncion
mailing address: Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001

Flag description: three equal, horizontal bands of red (top),
white, and blue with an emblem centered in the white band; unusual
flag in that the emblem is different on each side; the obverse
(hoist side at the left) bears the national coat of arms (a yellow
five-pointed star within a green wreath capped by the words
REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles); the reverse (hoist
side at the right) bears the seal of the treasury (a yellow lion
below a red Cap of Liberty and the words Paz y Justicia (Peace and
Justice) capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two
circles)

Economy

Economy--overview: Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large
informal sector. The informal sector features both reexport of
imported consumer goods (electronics, whiskeys, perfumes,
cigarettes, and office equipment) to neighboring countries as well
as the activities of thousands of microenterprises and urban street
vendors. The formal sector is largely oriented toward services. A
large percentage of the population derive their living from
agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. The formal
economy has grown an average of about 3% over the past six years,
but GDP declined in 1998. However, population has increased at about
the same rate over the same period, leaving per capita income nearly
stagnant. The new government of Raul CUBAS Grau was pursuing an
economic reform agenda, albeit with limited success because of
in-fighting in the ruling party and resistance from the opposition.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$19.8 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: -0.5% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,700 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 27%
industry: 30%
services: 43% (1997)

Population below poverty line: 21.8% (1991 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 46.6% (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14.6% (1998)

Labor force: 1.8 million (1995 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 45%

Unemployment rate: 8.2% (urban) (1996 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.25 billion
expenditures: $1.66 billion, including capital expenditures of $357
million (1995 est.)

Industries: meat packing, oilseed crushing, milling, brewing,
textiles, other light consumer goods, cement, construction

Industrial production growth rate: 5.1% (1995)

Electricity--production: 45.03 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.07%
hydro: 99.93%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 4.768 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 40.262 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat,
tobacco, cassava (tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs,
milk; timber

Exports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)

Exports--commodities: cotton, soybeans, timber, vegetable oils,
meat products, coffee, tung oil

Exports--partners: Brazil 48%, Netherlands 22%, Argentina 9%, US
4%, Uruguay 3%, Chile 2% (1997)

Imports: $2.5 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.)

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

Imports--partners: Brazil 29%, US 22%, Argentina 14%, Hong Kong 9%
(1995)

Debt--external: $1.3 billion (1996)

Economic aid--recipient: $180.4 million (1995)

Currency: 1 guarani (G) = 100 centimos

Exchange rates: guaranies (G) per US$--2,866.3 (January 1999),
2,755.7 (1998), 2,191.0 (1997), 2,062.8 (1996), 1,970.4 (1995),
1,911.5 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 88,730 (1985 est.)

Telephone system: meager telephone service; principal switching
center is Asuncion
domestic: fair microwave radio relay network
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 40, FM 0, shortwave 7

Radios: 775,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 10 (1997)

Televisions: 370,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 971 km
standard gauge: 441 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 60 km 1.000-m gauge
note: there are 470 km of various gauges that are privately owned

Highways:
total: 29,500 km
paved: 2,803 km
unpaved: 26,697 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: 3,100 km

Ports and harbors: Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion

Merchant marine:
total: 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 30,287 GRT/32,510 DWT
ships by type: cargo 15, chemical tanker 1, oil tanker 4,
roll-on/roll-off 1 (1998 est.)

Airports: 941 (1998 est.)

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

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 931
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 29
914 to 1,523 m: 349
under 914 m: 552 (1998 est.)

Military

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

Military manpower--military age: 17 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,311,382 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 947,347 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 55,065 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $125 million (1998)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.4% (1998)

Transnational Issues

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international
drug trade; transshipment country for Bolivian cocaine headed for
Europe and the US

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

@Peru ----

Geography

Location: Western South America, bordering the South Pacific
Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador

Geographic coordinates: 10 00 S, 76 00 W

Map references: South America

Area:
total: 1,285,220 sq km
land: 1.28 million sq km
water: 5,220 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Alaska

Land boundaries:
total: 6,940 km
border countries: Bolivia 900 km, Brazil 1,560 km, Chile 160 km,
Colombia 2,900 km, Ecuador 1,420 km

Coastline: 2,414 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm
territorial sea: 200 nm

Climate: varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west

Terrain: western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in
center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m

Natural resources: copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish,
iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash

Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 21%
forests and woodland: 66%
other: 10% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 12,800 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides,
mild volcanic activity

Environment--current issues: deforestation; overgrazing of the
slopes of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion;
desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and
coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography--note: shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest
navigable lake, with Bolivia

People

Population: 26,624,582 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 35% (male 4,786,048; female 4,637,280)
15-64 years: 60% (male 8,045,747; female 7,939,760)
65 years and over: 5% (male 557,252; female 658,495) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.93% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 26.09 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 5.7 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 38.97 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.38 years
male: 68.08 years
female: 72.78 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.23 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Peruvian(s)
adjective: Peruvian

Ethnic groups: Amerindian 45%, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and
white) 37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%

Religions: Roman Catholic

Languages: Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.7%
male: 94.5%
female: 83% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Peru
conventional short form: Peru
local long form: Republica del Peru
local short form: Peru

Data code: PE

Government type: republic

Capital: Lima

Administrative divisions: 24 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento) and 1 constitutional province* (provincia
constitucional); Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho,
Cajamarca, Callao*, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huanuco, Ica, Junin, La
Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua, Pasco,
Piura, Puno, San Martin, Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali
note: the 1979 constitution mandated the creation of regions
(regiones, singular--region) to function eventually as autonomous
economic and administrative entities; so far, 12 regions have been
constituted from 23 of the 24 departments--Amazonas (from Loreto),
Andres Avelino Caceres (from Huanuco, Pasco, Junin), Arequipa (from
Arequipa), Chavin (from Ancash), Grau (from Tumbes, Piura), Inca
(from Cusco, Madre de Dios, Apurimac), La Libertad (from La
Libertad), Los Libertadores-Huari (from Ica, Ayacucho,
Huancavelica), Mariategui (from Moquegua, Tacna, Puno), Nor Oriental
del Maranon (from Lambayeque, Cajamarca, Amazonas), San Martin (from
San Martin), Ucayali (from Ucayali); formation of another region has
been delayed by the reluctance of the constitutional province of
Callao to merge with the department of Lima; because of inadequate
funding from the central government and organizational and political
difficulties, the regions have yet to assume major responsibilities;
the 1993 constitution retains the regions but limits their
authority; the 1993 constitution also reaffirms the roles of
departmental and municipal governments

Independence: 28 July 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Day, 28 July (1821)

Constitution: 31 December 1993

Legal system: based on civil law system; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since 28
July 1990); note--the president is both the chief of state and head
of government
head of government: President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since
28 July 1990); note--the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
note: Prime Minister Victor JOYWAY (since 4 January 1999) does not
exercise executive power; this power is in the hands of the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 9 April 1995 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: President FUJIMORI reelected; percent of
vote--Alberto FUJIMORI 64.42%, Javier PEREZ de CUELLAR 21.80%,
Mercedes CABANILLAS 4.11%, other 9.67%

Legislative branch: unicameral Democratic Constituent Congress or
Congresso Constituyente Democratico (120 seats; members are elected
by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 9 April 1995 (next to be held NA April 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--C90/NM 52.1%, UPP 14%,
other parties 33.9%; seats by party--C90/NM 67, UPP 17, APRA 8, FIM
6, CODE-Pais Posible 5, AP 4, PPC 3, Renovation 3, IU 2, OBRAS 2,
other parties 3

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justicia), judges are appointed by the National Council of the
Judiciary

Political parties and leaders: Change 90-New Majority or C90/NM

Political pressure groups and leaders: leftist guerrilla groups
RAMIREZ Durand (top leader at-large)]; Tupac Amaru Revolutionary
(top leader at-large)]

International organization participation: APEC, CAN, CCC, ECLAC,
FAO, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA,
NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ricardo V. LUNA MENDOZA
chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
York, Paterson (New Jersey), San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis C. JETT
embassy: Avenida Encalada, Cuadra 17, Monterrico, Lima
mailing address: P. O. Box 1995, Lima 1; American Embassy (Lima),
APO AA 34031-5000

Flag description: three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist
side), white, and red with the coat of arms centered in the white
band; the coat of arms features a shield bearing a llama, cinchona
tree (the source of quinine), and a yellow cornucopia spilling out
gold coins, all framed by a green wreath

Economy

Economy--overview: The Peruvian economy has become increasingly
market-oriented, with major privatizations completed since 1990 in
the mining, electricity, and telecommunications industries. An
austerity program implemented shortly after the FUJIMORI government
took office in July 1990 contributed to a short-lived contraction of
economic activity, but the slide came to a halt late that year, and
in 1991 output rose 2.4%. By working with the IMF and World Bank on
new financial conditions and arrangements, the government succeeded
in ending its arrears by March 1993. In 1992, GDP fell by 2.8%, in
part because a warmer-than-usual El Nino current resulted in a 30%
drop in the fish catch, but the economy rebounded as strong foreign
investment helped push growth to 7% in 1993, about 13% in 1994, and
6.8% in 1995. Growth slowed to 2.8% in 1996 as the government
adopted tight fiscal and monetary policy to reduce the current
account deficit and meet its IMF targets. Growth then rebounded to
7.3% in 1997 even as inflation fell to its lowest level in 23 years.
Capital inflows surged to record levels in early 1997 and have
remained strong. In 1998, El Nino's impact on agriculture, the
financial crisis in Asia, and instability in Brazilian markets
undercut growth. While Lima publicly projects a rebound to 5% in
1999, private sector analysts believe this figure is overly
optimistic.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$111.8 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 1.8% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,300 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 7%
industry: 37%
services: 56% (1997)

Population below poverty line: 54% (1991 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 34.3% (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.7% (1997 est.)

Labor force: 7.6 million (1996 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture, mining and quarrying,
manufacturing, construction, transport, services

Unemployment rate: 8.2%; extensive underemployment (1996)

Budget:
revenues: $8.5 billion
expenditures: $9.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $2
billion (1996 est.)

Industries: mining of metals, petroleum, fishing, textiles,
clothing, food processing, cement, auto assembly, steel,
shipbuilding, metal fabrication

Industrial production growth rate: 1.2% (1996)

Electricity--production: 16.211 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 19.25%
hydro: 80.75%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 16.211 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, wheat,
potatoes, plantains, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products, wool; fish

Exports: $6.8 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: copper, zinc, fishmeal, crude petroleum and
byproducts, lead, refined silver, coffee, cotton

Exports--partners: US 20%, Japan 7%, UK 7%, China 7%, Germany 5%
(1996)

Imports: $10.3 billion (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports--commodities: machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs,
petroleum, iron and steel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals

Imports--partners: US 31%, Colombia 7%, Chile 6%, Venezuela 6%, UK
6% (1996)

Debt--external: $25.7 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $895.1 million (1995)

Currency: 1 nuevo sol (S/.) = 100 centimos

Exchange rates: nuevo sol (S/.) per US$1--3.250 (January 1999),
2.930 (1998), 2.664 (1997), 2.453 (1996), 2.253 (1995), 2.195 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 779,306 (1990 est.)

Telephone system: adequate for most requirements
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system and a domestic
satellite system with 12 earth stations
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 273, FM 0, shortwave 144

Radios: 5.7 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 13 (in addition, there are 112
repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 2 million (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 2,041 km
standard gauge: 1,726 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 315 km 0.914-m gauge (1997)

Highways:
total: 72,146 km
paved: 7,353 km
unpaved: 64,793 km (1998 est.)

Waterways: 8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon system and
208 km of Lago Titicaca

Pipelines: crude oil 800 km; natural gas and natural gas liquids
64 km

Ports and harbors: Callao, Chimbote, Ilo, Matarani, Paita, Puerto
Maldonado, Salaverry, San Martin, Talara, Iquitos, Pucallpa,
Yurimaguas
note: Iquitos, Pucallpa, and Yurimaguas are all on the upper reaches
of the Amazon and its tributaries

Merchant marine:
total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 51,518 GRT/75,018 DWT
ships by type: cargo 6, oil tanker 1 (1998 est.)

Airports: 244 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 44
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 200
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 73
under 914 m: 99 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army (Ejercito Peruano), Navy (Marina de
Guerra del Peru; includes Naval Air, Marines, and Coast Guard), Air
Force (Fuerza Aerea del Peru), National Police

Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 6,913,471 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,657,649 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 268,624 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $913 million (1998);
note--may not include off-budget purchases related to military
modernization program

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.4% (1998)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: on 26 October 1998, Peru and Ecuador
concluded treaties on commerce and navigation and on boundary
integration, to complete a package of agreements settling the
long-standing boundary dispute between them; demarcation of the
agreed-upon boundary was scheduled to begin in mid-January 1999

Illicit drugs: until recently the world's largest coca leaf
producer, Peru has reduced the area of coca under cultivation by
26%, from 68,800 hectares in 1997 to 51,000 hectares at the end of
1998; most of cocaine base is shipped to neighboring Colombia and
Brazil for processing into cocaine for the international drug
market, but exports of finished cocaine are increasing

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

@Philippines -----------

Geography

Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine
Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam

Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 122 00 E

Map references: Southeast Asia

Area:
total: 300,000 sq km
land: 298,170 sq km
water: 1,830 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly larger than Arizona

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 36,289 km

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm from
coastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also
claimed polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea up to 285 nm in
breadth

Climate: tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April);
southwest monsoon (May to October)

Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal
lowlands

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m

Natural resources: timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver,
gold, salt, copper

Land use:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 12%
permanent pastures: 4%
forests and woodland: 46%
other: 19% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 15,800 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and
struck by five to six cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active
volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis

Environment--current issues: uncontrolled deforestation in
watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in Manila;
increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps which are important
fish breeding grounds

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
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,
Desertification

People

Population: 79,345,812 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 37% (male 15,057,698; female 14,555,430)
15-64 years: 59% (male 23,168,043; female 23,715,877)
65 years and over: 4% (male 1,269,522; female 1,579,242) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.04% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 27.88 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 6.45 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 33.89 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 66.58 years
male: 63.79 years
female: 69.5 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.46 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Filipino(s)
adjective: Philippine

Ethnic groups: Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay 4%, Chinese
1.5%, other 3%

Religions: Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist
and other 3%

Languages: Pilipino (official, based on Tagalog), English
(official)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.6%
male: 95%
female: 94.3% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines
conventional short form: Philippines
local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas
local short form: Pilipinas

Data code: RP

Government type: republic

Capital: Manila

Administrative divisions: 72 provinces and 61 chartered cities*;
Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay, Angeles*,
Antique, Aurora, Bacolod*, Bago*, Baguio*, Bais*, Basilan, Basilan
City*, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Batangas City*, Benguet, Bohol,
Bukidnon, Bulacan, Butuan*, Cabanatuan*, Cadiz*, Cagayan, Cagayan de
Oro*, Calbayog*, Caloocan*, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur,
Camiguin, Canlaon*, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cavite City*, Cebu,
Cebu City*, Cotabato*, Dagupan*, Danao*, Dapitan*, Davao City*
Davao, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Dipolog*, Dumaguete*, Eastern
Samar, General Santos*, Gingoog*, Ifugao, Iligan*, Ilocos Norte,
Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Iloilo City*, Iriga*, Isabela, Kalinga-Apayao,
La Carlota*, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Laoag*,
Lapu-Lapu*, La Union, Legaspi*, Leyte, Lipa*, Lucena*, Maguindanao,
Mandaue*, Manila*, Marawi*, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental,
Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain,
Naga*, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato, Northern
Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Olongapo*, Ormoc*, Oroquieta*,
Ozamis*, Pagadian*, Palawan, Palayan*, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Pasay*,
Puerto Princesa*, Quezon, Quezon City*, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon,
Roxas*, Samar, San Carlos* (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos* (in
Pangasinan), San Jose*, San Pablo*, Silay*, Siquijor, Sorsogon,
South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao*,
Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tacloban*, Tagaytay*,
Tagbilaran*, Tangub*, Tarlac, Tawitawi, Toledo*, Trece Martires*,
Zambales, Zamboanga*, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur

Independence: 4 July 1946 (from US)

National holiday: Independence Day, 12 June (1898) (from Spain)

Constitution: 2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987

Legal system: based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June
1998) and Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 30 June
1998); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June
1998) and Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 30 June
1998); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with the consent of the
Commission of Appointments
elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets
by popular vote for six-year terms; election last held 11 May 1998
(next to be held 11 May 2004)
election results: Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA elected president; percent
of vote--NA%; Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO elected vice president; percent
of vote--NA%

Legislative branch: bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of
the Senate or Senado (24 seats--one-half elected every three years;
members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the
House of Representatives or Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan (221 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; note--an
additional 50 members may be appointed by the president)
elections: Senate--last held 11 May 1998 (next to be held 11 May
2001); House of Representatives--elections last held 11 May 1998
(next to be held 11 May 2001)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--LAMP 12, Lakas 5, PRP 2, LP 1, other 3; note--the Senate now
has only 23 members with one seat vacated when Gloria
MACAPAGAL-ARROYO became vice president; the seat can only be filled
by election and is likely to remain open until the next regular
election in 2001; House of Representatives--percent of vote by
party--NA; seats by party--LAMP 135, Lakas 37, LP 13, Aksyon
Demokratiko 1, other 35

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices are appointed for
four-year terms by the president on the recommendation of the
Judicial and Bar Council

Political parties and leaders: Laban Ng Masang Pilipino or LAMP
Eduardo "Danding" COJUANGO, chairman, Edgardo ANGARA, party
MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, secretary general, Jose DE VENECIA, party
SALONGA, chairman, Florencio ABAD, secretary general]; People's

International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC,
CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Raul Chaves RABE
chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San
Francisco, and Tamuning (Guam)
consulate(s): San Diego and Susupe (Saipan)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. HUBBARD
embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita Manila 1000
mailing address: FPO 96515

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and
red with a white equilateral triangle based on the hoist side; in
the center of the triangle is a yellow sun with eight primary rays
(each containing three individual rays) and in each corner of the
triangle is a small yellow five-pointed star

Economy

Economy--overview: In 1998 the Philippine economy?a mixture of
agriculture, light industry, and supporting services--deteriorated as
a result of spillover from the Asian financial crisis and poor
weather conditions. Growth fell to about -0.5% in 1998 from 5% in
1997, but is expected to recover to more than 2% in 1999. The
government has promised to continue its economic reforms to help the
Philippines match the pace of development in the newly
industrialized countries of East Asia. The strategy includes
improving infrastructure, overhauling the tax system to bolster
government revenues, and moving toward further deregulation and
privatization of the economy.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$270.5 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: -0.5% (1998 est.)

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

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 32%
services: 48% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: 32% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 33.5% (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.7% (1998)

Labor force: 31.3 million (1998 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 39.8%, government and
social services 19.4%, services 17.7%, manufacturing 9.8%,
construction 5.8%, other 7.5% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate: 9.6% (October 1998)

Budget:
revenues: $14.5 billion
expenditures: $12.6 billion (1998 est.)

Industries: textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products,
food processing, electronics assembly, petroleum refining, fishing

Industrial production growth rate: -1.7% (1998 est.)

Electricity--production: 32.2 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 62.11%
hydro: 20.19%
nuclear: 0%
other: 17.7% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 32.2 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: rice, coconuts, corn, sugarcane, bananas,
pineapples, mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish

Exports: $25 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports--commodities: electronics and telecommunications 51%,
machinery and transport 10%, garments 9%, other 30%

Exports--partners: US 34%, Japan 17%, EU 17%, ASEAN 14%, Hong Kong
4%, Taiwan 4% (1997 est.)

Imports: $29 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Imports--commodities: raw materials and intermediate goods 43%,
capital goods 36%, consumer goods 9%, fuels 9%

Imports--partners: Japan 21%, US 20%, ASEAN 12%, EU 10%, Taiwan
5%, Hong Kong 4%, Saudi Arabia 4% (1997 est.)

Debt--external: $46.4 billion (September 1998)

Economic aid--recipient: ODA, $1.1 billion (1998)

Currency: 1 Philippine peso (P) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: Philippine pesos (P) per US$1--38.404 (January
1999), 40.893 (1998), 29.471 (1997), 26.216 (1996), 25.714 (1995),
26.417 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 1.9 million (1997)

Telephone system: good international radiotelephone and submarine
cable services; domestic and interisland service adequate
domestic: domestic satellite system with 11 earth stations
international: submarine cables to Hong Kong, Guam, Singapore,
Taiwan, and Japan; satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (1 Indian
Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 261, FM 55, shortwave 0

Radios: 9.03 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 37 (includes six stations of the
US Armed Forces Radio and TV Service) (1997)

Televisions: 9.2 million (1998)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 897 km of which 492 km in operation
narrow gauge: 492 km 1.067-m gauge (1996)

Highways:
total: 161,313 km
paved: 290 km
unpaved: 161,023 km (1997)

Waterways: 3,219 km; limited to shallow-draft (less than 1.5 m)
vessels

Pipelines: petroleum products 357 km

Ports and harbors: Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao,
Guimaras Island, Iligan, Iloilo, Jolo, Legaspi, Manila, Masao,
Puerto Princesa, San Fernando, Subic Bay, Zamboanga

Merchant marine:
total: 513 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,544,029
GRT/10,052,418 DWT
ships by type: bulk 179, cargo 131, chemical tanker 6, combination
bulk 13, container 9, liquefied gas tanker 12, livestock carrier 10,
oil tanker 48, passenger 4, passenger-cargo 13, refrigerated cargo
19, roll-on/roll-off cargo 17, short-sea passenger 31, specialized
tanker 1, vehicle carrier 20
note: a flag of convenience registry; Japan owns 19 ships, Hong Kong
5, Cyprus 1, Denmark 1, Greece 1, Netherlands 1, Singapore 1, and UK
1 (1998 est.)

Airports: 260 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 75
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 30
under 914 m: 10 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 185
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 61
under 914 m: 121 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Coast Guard and Marine
Corps), Air Force

Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 20,228,797 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 14,261,514 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 818,006 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $995 million (1998)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.5% (1998)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: involved in a complex dispute over the
Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly
Brunei; claim to Malaysia's Sabah State has not been fully revoked

Illicit drugs: exports locally produced marijuana and hashish to
East Asia, the US, and other Western markets; serves as a transit
point for heroin and crystal methamphetamine

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

@Pitcairn Islands ----------------

Geography

Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from Peru to New Zealand

Geographic coordinates: 25 04 S, 130 06 W

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total: 47 sq km
land: 47 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 51 km

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

Climate: tropical, hot, humid; modified by southeast trade winds;
rainy season (November to March)

Terrain: rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pawala Valley Ridge 347 m

Natural resources: miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish
note: manganese, iron, copper, gold, silver, and zinc have been
discovered offshore

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

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: typhoons (especially November to March)

Environment--current issues: deforestation (only a small portion
of the original forest remains because of burning and clearing for
settlement)

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

People

Population: 49 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate: -2.04% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population

Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population

Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman

Nationality:
noun: Pitcairn Islander(s)
adjective: Pitcairn Islander

Ethnic groups: descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their
Tahitian wives

Religions: Seventh-Day Adventist 100%

Languages: English (official), Pitcairnese, Tahitian, 18th
century English dialect

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands
conventional short form: Pitcairn Islands

Data code: PC

Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK

Government type: NA

Capital: Adamstown

Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK)

Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen
(second Saturday in June)

Constitution: Local Government Ordinance of 1964

Legal system: local island by-laws

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal with three years residency

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by UK High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor
(nonresident) of the Pitcairn Islands Robert John ALSTON (since NA
August 1994); Commissioner (nonresident) G. D. HARRAWAY (since NA;
is the liaison person between the governor and the Island Council)
head of government: Island Magistrate and Chairman of the Island
Council Jay WARREN (since NA)
cabinet: NA
elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner and
commissioner appointed by the monarch; island magistrate elected by
popular vote for a three-year term; last known election held NA
December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1996)
election results: Jay WARREN reelected island magistrate; percent of
vote--NA

Legislative branch: unicameral Island Council (10 seats--6 elected
by popular vote, 1 appointed by the 6 elected members, 2 appointed
by the governor, and 1 seat for the Island Secretary; members serve
one-year terms)
elections: take place each December; last held NA December 1998
(next to be held NA December 1999)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--all independents

Judicial branch: Island Court, island magistrate presides over
the court and is elected every three years

Political parties and leaders: none

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: SPC

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

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

Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and the Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered
on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms is yellow, green,
and light blue with a shield featuring a yellow anchor

Economy

Economy--overview: The inhabitants exist on fishing and
subsistence farming. The fertile soil of the valleys produces a wide
variety of fruits and vegetables, including citrus, sugarcane,
watermelons, bananas, yams, and beans. Bartering is an important
part of the economy. The major sources of revenue are the sale of
postage stamps to collectors and the sale of handicrafts to passing
ships.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$NA

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$NA

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): NA%

Labor force: 14 able-bodied men (1993)

Labor force--by occupation: no business community in the usual
sense; some public works; subsistence farming and fishing

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $729,884
expenditures: $878,119, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY94/95 est.)

Industries: postage stamps, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: NA kWh

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

Electricity--consumption: NA kWh

Electricity--exports: NA kWh

Electricity--imports: NA kWh

Agriculture--products: wide variety of fruits and vegetables

Exports: $NA

Exports--commodities: fruits, vegetables, curios

Exports--partners: NA

Imports: $NA

Imports--commodities: fuel oil, machinery, building materials,
flour, sugar, other foodstuffs

Imports--partners: NA

Debt--external: $NA

Economic aid--recipient: $NA

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

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

Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March

Communications

Telephones: 24

Telephone system: party line telephone service on the island
domestic: NA
international: radiotelephone

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

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997)

Televisions: NA

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 6.4 km
paved: 0 km
unpaved: 6.4 km

Ports and harbors: Bounty Bay

Merchant marine: none

Airports: none

Military

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

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

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

@Poland ------

Geography

Location: Central Europe, east of Germany

Geographic coordinates: 52 00 N, 20 00 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total: 312,683 sq km
land: 304,510 sq km
water: 8,173 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than New Mexico

Land boundaries:
total: 2,888 km
border countries: Belarus 605 km, Czech Republic 658 km, Germany 456
km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Slovakia
444 km, Ukraine 428 km

Coastline: 491 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters
with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and
thundershowers

Terrain: mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
highest point: Rysy 2,499 m

Natural resources: coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver,
lead, salt

Land use:
arable land: 47%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 13%
forests and woodland: 29%
other: 10% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 1,000 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: situation has improved since 1989 due
to decline in heavy industry and increased environmental concern by
postcommunist governments; air pollution nonetheless remains serious
because of sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants,
and the resulting acid rain has caused forest damage; water
pollution from industrial and municipal sources is also a problem,
as is disposal of hazardous wastes

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, 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, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography--note: historically, an area of conflict because of flat
terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain

People

Population: 38,608,929 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 3,921,093; female 3,734,223)
15-64 years: 68% (male 13,076,231; female 13,243,716)
65 years and over: 12% (male 1,762,135; female 2,871,531) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.05% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 10.61 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 9.72 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 12.76 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.06 years
male: 68.93 years
female: 77.41 years (1999 est.)

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

Nationality:
noun: Pole(s)
adjective: Polish

Ethnic groups: Polish 97.6%, German 1.3%, Ukrainian 0.6%,
Byelorussian 0.5% (1990 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing), Eastern
Orthodox, Protestant, and other 5%

Languages: Polish

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1978 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Poland
conventional short form: Poland
local long form: Rzeczpospolita Polska
local short form: Polska

Data code: PL

Government type: democratic state

Capital: Warsaw

Administrative divisions: 16 provinces (wojewodztwa,
singular--wojewodztwo); Dolnoslaskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Lodzkie,
Lubelskie, Lubuskie, Malopolskie, Mazowieckie, Opolskie,
Podkarpackie, Podlaskie, Pomorskie, Slaskie, Swietokrzyskie,
Warminsko-Mazurskie, Wielkopolskie, Zachodniopomorskie

Independence: 11 November 1918 (independent republic proclaimed)

National holiday: Constitution Day, 3 May (1791); Independence
Day, November 11 (1918)

Constitution: 16 October 1997; adopted by the National Assembly
on 2 April 1997; passed by national referendum 23 May 1997

Legal system: mixture of Continental (Napoleonic) civil law and
holdover communist legal theory; changes being gradually introduced
as part of broader democratization process; limited judicial review
of legislative acts although under the new constitution, the
Constitutional Tribunal ruling will become final as of October 1999;
court decisions can be appealed to the European Court of Justice in
Strasbourg

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI (since 23 December
1995)
head of government: Prime Minister Jerzy BUZEK (since NA October
1997), Deputy Prime Ministers Leszek BALCEROWICZ (since 31 October
1997), Janusz TOMASZEWSKI (since 31 October 1997)
cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the prime minister and
the Sejm; the prime minister proposes, the president appoints, and
the Sejm approves the Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election first round held 5 November 1995, second round held 19
November 1995 (next to be held NA November 2000); prime minister and
deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by
the Sejm
election results: Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI elected president in 1995;
percent of popular vote, second round--Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI 51.7%,
Lech WALESA 48.3%; Jerzy BUZEK selected prime minister in 1997

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly or Zgromadzenie
Narodowe consists of the Sejm (460 seats; members are elected under
a complex system of proportional representation to serve four-year
terms) and the Senate or Senat (100 seats; members are elected by a
majority vote on a provincial basis to serve four-year terms)
elections: Sejm elections last held 21 September 1997 (next to be
held by NA September 2001); Senate--last held 21 September 1997 (next
to be held by NA September 2001)
election results: Sejm--percent of vote by party--AWS 33.8%, SLD
27.1%, UW 13.4%, PSL 7.3%, ROP 5.6%, MN 0.4%, other 12.4%; seats by
party--AWS 201, SLD 164, UW 60, PSL 27, ROP 6, MN 2; Senate--percent
of vote by party--NA; seats by party--AWS 51, SLD 28, UW 8, ROP 5, PSL
3, independents 5; note--seats by party in the Sejm as of December
1997: AWS 200, SLD 164, UW 60, PSL 26, ROP 4, MN 2, other 4
note: four seats are constitutionally assigned to ethnic German
parties

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
president on the recommendation of the National Council of the
Judiciary for an indefinite period; Constitutional Tribunal, judges
are chosen by the Sejm for nine-year terms

Political parties and leaders:
post-Communist: Democratic Left Alliance or SLD (Social Democracy of
KALINOWSKI]
post-Solidarity parties: Freedom Union or UW; note--Democratic Union
non-Communist, non-Solidarity: Movement for the Reconstruction of

Political pressure groups and leaders: powerful Roman Catholic
Church; Solidarity (trade union); All Poland Trade Union Alliance or
OPZZ (trade union)

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jerzy KOZMINSKI
chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel FRIED
embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31 00-054, Warsaw P1
mailing address: American Embassy Warsaw, US Department of State,
Washington, DC 20521-5010 (pouch)
consulate(s) general: Krakow

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and
red; similar to the flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red
(top) and white

Economy

Economy--overview: Poland today stands out as one of the most
successful and open transition economies. The privatization of small
and medium state-owned companies and a liberal law on establishing
new firms marked the rapid development of a private sector now
responsible for 70% of economic activity. In contrast to the vibrant
expansion of private non-farm activity, the large agriculture
component remains handicapped by structural problems, surplus labor,
inefficient small farms, and lack of investment. The government's
determination to enter the EU as soon as possible affects all
aspects of its economic policies. Improving Poland's worsening
current account deficit also is a priority. To date, the government
has resisted pressure for protectionist solutions and continues to
support regional free trade initiatives. The government export
strategy emphasizes a more aggressive export assistance program.
Warsaw continues to hold the budget deficit to less than 2% of GDP.
Further progress on public finance depends mainly on comprehensive
reform of the social welfare system and privatization of Poland's
remaining state sector. Restructuring and privatization of
"sensitive sectors" (e.g., coal, steel, and telecommunications) has
begun. Long-awaited privatizations in aviation and energy are
scheduled for 1999.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$263 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 5.6% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$6,800 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.1%
industry: 26.6%
services: 68.3% (1997)

Population below poverty line: 23.8% (1993 est.)