Chapter V (35)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 22.1% (1992)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 11% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 17.4 million (1998 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: industry and construction 29.9%,
agriculture 26%, services 44.1% (1996)

Unemployment rate: 10% (1998)

Budget:
revenues: $36.5 billion
expenditures: $38.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)

Industries: machine building, iron and steel, coal mining,
chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles

Industrial production growth rate: 7.9% (1998 est.)

Electricity--production: 134.731 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 97.09%
hydro: 2.91%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 132.291 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 7.925 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 5.485 billion kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: potatoes, fruits, vegetables, wheat;
poultry, eggs, pork, beef, milk, cheese

Exports: $27.2 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: manufactured goods, chemicals 57%, machinery
and equipment 21%, food and live animals 12%, mineral fuels 7%,
other 3%

Exports--partners: Germany 32.9%, Russia 8.4%, Italy 5.9%, Ukraine
4.7%, Netherlands 4.7%, France 4.4%

Imports: $38.5 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Imports--commodities: manufactured goods, chemical 43%, machinery
and equipment 36%, mineral fuels 9%, food and live animals 8%, other
4%

Imports--partners: Germany 24.1%, Italy 9.9%, Russia 6.3%, UK
5.5%, US 4.5%, France 5.9%

Debt--external: $42 billion (1997)

Economic aid--recipient: $4.312 billion (1995)

Currency: 1 zloty (Zl) = 100 groszy

Exchange rates: zlotych (Zl) per US$1--3.5409 (January 1999),
3.4754 (1998), 3.2793 (1997), 2.6961 (1996), 2.4250 (1995); note--a
currency reform on 1 January 1995 replaced 10,000 old zlotys with 1
new zloty; 22,723 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 8.2 million (1996)

Telephone system: underdeveloped and outmoded system; government
aims to have 10 million telephones in service by 2000; the process
of partial privatization of the state-owned telephone monopoly has
begun
domestic: cable, open wire, and microwave radio relay; 3 cellular
networks
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat, NA Eutelsat, 2
Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions), and 1 Intersputnik
(Atlantic Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 27, FM 75, shortwave 1 (1994 est.)

Radios: 9.9 million registered (1996)

Television broadcast stations: 150 (1997)

Televisions: 9.4 million registered (1996)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 24,313 km
broad gauge: 652 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge: 22,243 km 1.435-m gauge (11,648 km electrified;
8,978 km double track)
narrow gauge: 1,418 km various gauges including 1.000-m, 0.785-m,
0.750-m, and 0.600-m (1996)

Highways:
total: 377,048 km
paved: 247,721 km (including 264 km of expressways)
unpaved: 129,327 km (1997 est.)

Waterways: 3,812 km navigable rivers and canals (1996)

Pipelines: crude oil and petroleum products 2,280 km; natural gas
17,000 km (1996)

Ports and harbors: Gdansk, Gdynia, Gliwice, Kolobrzeg, Szczecin,
Swinoujscie, Ustka, Warsaw, Wrocaw

Merchant marine:
total: 61 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,162,954 GRT/1,866,462
DWT
ships by type: bulk 53, cargo 3, chemical tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off
cargo 1, short-sea passenger 2 (1998 est.)

Airports: 92 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 74
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 25
1,524 to 2,437 m: 38
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 3 (1998 est.)

Military

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

Military manpower--military age: 19 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 10,417,314 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 8,104,484 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 334,420 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $3.3 billion (1998)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.2% (1998)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

Illicit drugs: major illicit producer of amphetamines for the
international market; transshipment point for Asian and Latin
American illicit drugs to Western Europe

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

@Portugal --------

Geography

Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic
Ocean, west of Spain

Geographic coordinates: 39 30 N, 8 00 W

Map references: Europe

Area:
total: 92,391 sq km
land: 91,951 sq km
water: 440 sq km
note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Indiana

Land boundaries:
total: 1,214 km
border countries: Spain 1,214 km

Coastline: 1,793 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and
drier in south

Terrain: mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in
south

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Ponta do Pico (Pico or Pico Alto) on Ilha do Pico in
the Azores 2,351 m

Natural resources: fish, forests (cork), tungsten, iron ore,
uranium ore, marble

Land use:
arable land: 26%
permanent crops: 9%
permanent pastures: 9%
forests and woodland: 36%
other: 20% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 6,300 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: Azores subject to severe earthquakes

Environment--current issues: soil erosion; air pollution caused by
industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in
coastal areas

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

Geography--note: Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic
locations along western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar

People

Population: 9,918,040 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 17% (male 866,115; female 820,438)
15-64 years: 68% (male 3,283,345; female 3,428,427)
65 years and over: 15% (male 619,086; female 900,629) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.13% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 10.49 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 10.25 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 6.73 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.88 years
male: 72.51 years
female: 79.46 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.34 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Portuguese (singular and plural)
adjective: Portuguese

Ethnic groups: homogeneous Mediterranean stock; citizens of black
African descent who immigrated to mainland during decolonization
number less than 100,000

Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant denominations 1%, other
2%

Languages: Portuguese

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85%
male: 89%
female: 82% (1990 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Portuguese Republic
conventional short form: Portugal
local long form: Republica Portuguesa
local short form: Portugal

Data code: PO

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Lisbon

Administrative divisions: 18 districts (distritos,
singular--distrito) and 2 autonomous regions* (regioes autonomas,
singular--regiao autonoma); Aveiro, Acores (Azores)*, Beja, Braga,
Braganca, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria,
Lisboa, Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto, Santarem, Setubal, Viana do
Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu

Dependent areas: Macau (scheduled to revert to China on 20
December 1999)

Independence: 1140 (independent republic proclaimed 5 October
1910)

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

Constitution: 25 April 1976, revised 30 October 1982, 1 June
1989, 5 November 1992, and 3 September 1997

Legal system: civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal
reviews the constitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jorge SAMPAIO (since 9 March 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Antonio Manuel de Oliviera
GUTERRES (since 28 October 1995)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
note: there is also a Council of State that acts as a consultative
body to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 14 January 1996 (next to be held NA January
2001); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime
minister by the president
election results: Jorge SAMPAIO elected president; percent of
vote--Jorge SAMPAIO (Socialist) 53.8%, Anibal CAVACO SILVA (Social
Democrat) 46.2%

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the Republic or
Assembleia da Republica (230 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 1 October 1995 (next to be held by 1 October
1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--PSD 34.0%, PS 43.8%, CDU
8.6%, CDS/PP 9.1%; seats by party--PSD 88, PS 112, CDU 15, CDS/PP 15

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica,
judges appointed for life by the Conselho Superior da Magistratura

Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party or PSD
Popular Party or PP (formerly known as Center Democratic Party or
SERGIO]; United Democratic Coalition or CDU (communists; includes

International organization participation: AfDB, Australia Group,
BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
LAIA (observer), MINURCA, MINURSO, MONUA, MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO,
NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security
Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP,
UPU, WCL, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Fernando Antonio de Lacerda ANDRESEN
GUIMARAES
chancery: 2125 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), New
Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence (Rhode Island), and San Francisco
consulate(s): Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gerald S. MCGOWAN
embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600 Lisbon
mailing address: PSC 83, APO AE 09726
consulate(s): Ponta Delgada (Azores)

Flag description: two vertical bands of green (hoist side,
two-fifths) and red (three-fifths) with the Portuguese coat of arms
centered on the dividing line

Economy

Economy--overview: Portugal, in 1998, continued to see strong
economic growth, falling interest rates, and low unemployment. The
country qualified for the European Monetary Union (EMU) in 1998 and
joined with 10 other European countries in launching the euro on 1
January 1999. Portugal's inflation rate for 1998, 2.8%, was low but
higher than most of its European partners. The country continues to
run a trade deficit and a balance of payments deficit. The
government is working to modernize capital plant and increase the
country's competitiveness in the increasingly integrated world
markets. Growth is expected to slow to 3% in 1999 because of a
slowdown in public investment and sluggish demand for exports.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$144.8 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 4.2% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$14,600 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 36%
services: 60% (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 4.75 million (1998 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: services 56%, manufacturing 22%,
agriculture, forestry, fisheries 12%, construction 9%, mining 1%
(1998 est.)

Unemployment rate: 5% (August 1998)

Budget:
revenues: $48 billion
expenditures: $52 billion, including capital expenditures of $7.4
billion (1996 est.)

Industries: textiles and footwear; wood pulp, paper, and cork;
metalworking; oil refining; chemicals; fish canning; wine; tourism

Industrial production growth rate: 4.1% (1998 est.)

Electricity--production: 32.839 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 55%
hydro: 45%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998 est.)

Electricity--consumption: 31.92 billion kWh (1997)

Electricity--exports: 3 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 4.2 billion kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: grain, potatoes, olives, grapes; sheep,
cattle, goats, poultry, beef, dairy products

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

Exports--commodities: clothing and footwear, machinery, chemicals,
cork and paper products, hides

Exports--partners: EU 81% (Germany 20%, Spain 15%, France 14%, UK
12% Netherlands 5%, Benelux 5%, Italy 4%), US 5% (1997)

Imports: $34.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment,
chemicals, petroleum, textiles, agricultural products

Imports--partners: EU 76% (Spain 24%, Germany 15%, France 11%,
Italy 8%, UK 7%, Netherlands 5%), US 3%, Japan 2% (1997)

Debt--external: $13.1 billion (1997 est.)

Economic aid--donor: ODA, $271 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Portuguese escudo (Esc) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: Portuguese escudos (Esc) per US$1--172.78 (January
1999), 180.10 (1998), 175.31 (1997), 154.24 (1996), 151.11 (1995),
165.99 (1994)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common
currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some
member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed
rate of 200.482 escudos per euro; the euro will replace the local
currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 3.7 million (1996 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: generally adequate integrated network of coaxial cables,
open wire, microwave radio relay, and domestic satellite earth
stations
international: 6 submarine cables; satellite earth stations--3
Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat;
tropospheric scatter to Azores; note--an earth station for Inmarsat
(Atlantic Ocean region) is planned

Radio broadcast stations: AM 57, FM 66 (repeaters 22), shortwave 0

Radios: 2.2 million (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 36 (in addition, there are 62
repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 2,970,892 (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 3,072 km
broad gauge: 2,769 km 1.668-m gauge (528 km electrified; 426 km
double track)
narrow gauge: 303 km 1.000-m gauge (1996)

Highways:
total: 68,732 km
paved: 59,110 km (including 687 km of expressways)
unpaved: 9,622 km (1995 est.)

Waterways: 820 km navigable; relatively unimportant to national
economy, used by shallow-draft craft limited to 300 metric-ton cargo
capacity

Pipelines: crude oil 22 km; petroleum products 58 km; natural gas
700 km
note: the secondary lines for the natural gas pipeline that will be
300 km long have not yet been built

Ports and harbors: Aveiro, Funchal (Madeira Islands), Horta
(Azores), Leixoes, Lisbon, Porto, Ponta Delgada (Azores), Praia da
Vitoria (Azores), Setubal, Viana do Castelo

Merchant marine:
total: 132 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 894,640 GRT/1,366,955
DWT
ships by type: bulk 13, cargo 72, chemical tanker 14, container 7,
liquefied gas tanker 7, oil tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 1,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 3, short-sea passenger 4, vehicle carrier 2
note: Portugal has created a captive register on Madeira for
Portuguese-owned ships; ships on the Madeira Register (MAR) will
have taxation and crewing benefits of a flag of convenience (1998
est.)

Airports: 66 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 40
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 25 (1998 est.)

Military

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

Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,542,188 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,042,730 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 73,405 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $2.458 billion (1997)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.6% (1997)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: as former colonial power, Portugal plays
a key role in the issue of Indonesia's sovereignty over Timor Timur
(East Timor Province), which has not been recognized by the UN

Illicit drugs: important gateway country for Latin American
cocaine entering the European market; transshipment point for
hashish from North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest Asian
heroin

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

@Puerto Rico -----------

Geography

Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic

Geographic coordinates: 18 15 N, 66 30 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 9,104 sq km
land: 8,959 sq km
water: 145 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly less than three times the size of
Rhode Island

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 501 km

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

Climate: tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature
variation

Terrain: mostly mountains, with coastal plain belt in north;
mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most
coastal areas

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m

Natural resources: some copper and nickel; potential for onshore
and offshore oil

Land use:
arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 26%
forests and woodland: 16%
other: 49% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 390 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: periodic droughts; hurricanes

Environment--current issues: erosion; occasional drought causing
water shortages

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

Geography--note: important location along the Mona Passage?a key
shipping lane to the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest
and best natural harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and
high central mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast
relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north

People

Population: 3,887,652 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 24% (male 482,111; female 459,940)
15-64 years: 65% (male 1,220,682; female 1,323,787)
65 years and over: 11% (male 173,133; female 227,999) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.59% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 15.9 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 7.87 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.15 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: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 10.79 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.06 years
male: 70.95 years
female: 79.41 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.94 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Puerto Rican

Ethnic groups: Hispanic

Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant denominations and other
15%

Languages: Spanish, English

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 90%
female: 88% (1980 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
conventional short form: Puerto Rico

Data code: RQ

Dependency status: commonwealth associated with the US

Government type: commonwealth

Capital: San Juan

Administrative divisions: none (commonwealth associated with the
US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by
the US Government, but there are 78 municipalities (municipios,
singular--municipio) at the second order; Adjuntas, Aguada,
Aguadilla, Aguas Buenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo,
Barceloneta, Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy,
Canovanas, Carolina, Catano, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo,
Comerio, Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guanica,
Guayama, Guayanilla, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros,
Humacao, Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las
Marias, Las Piedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo,
Mayaguez, Moca, Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas,
Penuelas, Ponce, Quebradillas, Rincon, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande,
Salinas, San German, San Juan, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa
Isabel, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega
Baja, Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa, Yauco

Independence: none (commonwealth associated with the US)

National holiday: US Independence Day, 4 July (1776)

Constitution: ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3
July 1952; effective 25 July 1952

Legal system: based on Spanish civil code

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

Executive branch:
chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON of the US (since
20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January
1993)
head of government: Governor Pedro ROSSELLO (since 2 January 1993)
cabinet: NA
elections: US president and vice president elected on the same
ticket for four-year terms; governor elected by popular vote for a
four-year term; election last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held
7 November 2000)
election results: Pedro ROSSELLO reelected governor; percent of
vote--51.1%

Legislative branch: bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of
the Senate (28 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote
to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (54
seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 7
November 2000); House of Representatives--last held 5 November 1996
(next to be held 7 November 2000)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--PNP 19, PPD 8, PIP 1; House of Representatives--percent of vote
by party--NA; seats by party--PNP 37, PPD 16, PIP 1
note: Puerto Rico elects one nonvoting representative to the US
House of Representatives; elections last held 5 November 1996 (next
to be held 7 November 2000); results--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--PNP 1 (Carlos Romero BARCELO)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (justices appointed by the
governor with the consent of the Senate); Superior Courts (justices
appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate); Municipal
Courts (justices appointed by the governor with the consent of the
Senate)

Political parties and leaders: National Republican Party of

Political pressure groups and leaders: Armed Forces for National
Liberation or FALN; Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution;
Boricua Popular Army (also known as the Macheteros); Armed Forces of
Popular Resistance

International organization participation: Caricom (observer),
ECLAC (associate), FAO (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau),
IOC, WCL, WFTU, WHO (associate)

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (commonwealth
associated with the US)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (commonwealth
associated with the US)

Flag description: five equal horizontal bands of red (top and
bottom) alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on
the hoist side bears a large, white, five-pointed star in the
center; design based on the US flag

Economy

Economy--overview: Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic
economies in the Caribbean region. A diverse industrial sector has
surpassed agriculture as the primary locus of economic activity and
income. Encouraged by duty-free access to the US and by tax
incentives, US firms have invested heavily in Puerto Rico since the
1950s. US minimum wage laws apply. Sugar production has lost out to
dairy production and other livestock products as the main source of
income in the agricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an
important source of income for the island, with estimated arrivals
of nearly 4 million tourists in 1993. Construction and tourism were
the leading sectors in economic growth in 1998.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$34.7 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 3.1% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$9,000 (1998 est.)

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

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.7% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 1.3 million (1996)

Labor force--by occupation: government 19%, manufacturing 13%,
trade 17%, construction 5%, other 32%, unemployed 14% (1996)

Unemployment rate: 13% (FY96/97 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $6.7 billion
expenditures: $9.6 billion (FY 1999/2000

Industries: pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products;
tourism

Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1994 est.)

Electricity--production: 18.3 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 98.36%
hydro: 1.64%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 18.3 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains,
bananas; livestock products, chickens

Exports: $30.3 billion (f.o.b. 1998)

Exports--commodities: pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel,
canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment

Exports--partners: US 88% (1997 est.)

Imports: $21.8 billion (c.i.f. 1996)

Imports--commodities: chemicals, machinery and equipment,
clothing, food, fish, petroleum products

Imports--partners: US 62% (1997 est.)

Debt--external: $NA

Economic aid--recipient: $NA

Currency: 1 US dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June

Communications

Telephones: 1.389 million (1996 est.)

Telephone system: modern system, integrated with that of the US
by high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed data
capability
domestic: digital telephone system with about 1 million lines (1990
est.); cellular telephone service
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat; submarine cable
to US

Radio broadcast stations: AM 50, FM 63, shortwave 0
note: there were 118 radio stations in 1995

Radios: 2.6 million (1994 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 18 (in addition, there are three
stations of the US Armed Forces Radio and Television Service) (1997)

Televisions: 973,000 (1994 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 96 km
narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge, rural, narrow-gauge system for
hauling sugarcane; no passenger service

Highways:
total: 14,400 km
paved: 14,400 km
unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Guanica, Guayanilla, Guayama, Playa de Ponce,
San Juan

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 30 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 21
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 6 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: paramilitary National Guard, Police Force

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

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

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

@Qatar -----

Geography

Location: Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and
Saudi Arabia

Geographic coordinates: 25 30 N, 51 15 E

Map references: Middle East

Area:
total: 11,437 sq km
land: 11,437 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries:
total: 60 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km

Coastline: 563 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: desert; hot, dry; humid and sultry in summer

Terrain: mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand
and gravel

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish

Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 94% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 80 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: haze, dust storms, sandstorms common

Environment--current issues: limited natural fresh water resources
are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone
Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography--note: strategic location in central Persian Gulf near
major petroleum deposits

People

Population: 723,542 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 27% (male 99,232; female 95,421)
15-64 years: 71% (male 367,213; female 145,925)
65 years and over: 2% (male 11,047; female 4,704) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.62% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 16.75 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 3.57 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 23.03 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: 2.52 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.35 male(s)/female
total population: 1.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 17.25 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.23 years
male: 71.7 years
female: 76.89 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.42 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Qatari(s)
adjective: Qatari

Ethnic groups: Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%,
other 14%

Religions: Muslim 95%

Languages: Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second
language

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.4%
male: 79.2%
female: 79.9% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: State of Qatar
conventional short form: Qatar
local long form: Dawlat Qatar
local short form: Qatar
note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls
between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar

Data code: QA

Government type: traditional monarchy

Capital: Doha

Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (baladiyat,
singular--baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al
Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal,
Umm Salal

Independence: 3 September 1971 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 3 September (1971)

Constitution: provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972

Legal system: discretionary system of law controlled by the amir,
although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law is
significant in personal matters

Suffrage: none

Executive branch:
chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (since 27 June 1995
when, as crown prince, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad
Al Thani, in a bloodless coup); Crown Prince JASSIM bin Hamad bin
Khalifa Al Thani, third son of the monarch (selected crown prince by
the monarch 22 October 1996); note--Amir HAMAD also holds the
positions of minister of defense and commander-in-chief of the armed
forces
head of government: Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa Al Thani,
brother of the monarch (since 30 October 1996); Deputy Prime
Minister MUHAMMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the monarch
(since 20 January 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary

Legislative branch: unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis
al-Shura (35 seats; members appointed by the monarch)
note: the constitution calls for elections for part of this
consultative body, but no elections have been held since 1970, when
there were partial elections to the body; Council members have had
their terms extended every four years since

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders: none

International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF,
CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFAD,
IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW,
OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Saad Muhammad al-KUBAYSI
chancery: Suite 200, 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
consulate(s) general: Houston

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth MCKUNE
embassy: 149 Ahmed Bin Ali St., Fariq Bin Omran (opposite the
television station), Doha
mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha
note: work week is Saturday-Wednesday

Flag description: maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine
white points) on the hoist side

Economy

Economy--overview: Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts
for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 70% of export earnings, and 66% of
government revenues. Proved oil reserves of 3.7 billion barrels
should ensure continued output at current levels for 23 years. Oil
has given Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to the leading West
European industrial countries. Qatar's proved reserves of natural
gas exceed 7 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the world total,
third largest in the world. Production and export of natural gas are
becoming increasingly important. Long-term goals feature the
development of off-shore petroleum and the diversification of the
economy. Lower world oil prices brought GDP down in 1998.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$12 billion (1998 est.)

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

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$17,100 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 49%
services: 50% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.4% (1996)

Labor force: 233,000 (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $3.4 billion
expenditures: $4.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $700
million (FY98/99 budget est.)

Industries: crude oil production and refining, fertilizers,
petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement

Industrial production growth rate: -4% (1995)

Electricity--production: 5.2 billion kWh (1996)

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

Electricity--consumption: 5.2 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy
products, beef; fish

Exports: $5.6 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)

Exports--commodities: petroleum products 80%, fertilizers, steel

Exports--partners: Japan 49%, Singapore 12%, South Korea 12%,
Thailand 4%, US 3% (1997)

Imports: $4.4 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)

Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, consumer goods,
food, chemicals

Imports--partners: UK 25%, France 13%, Japan 10%, US 9%, Italy 6%
(1997)

Debt--external: $11 billion (1997 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $NA

Currency: 1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams

Exchange rates: Qatari riyals (QR) per US$1--3.6400 riyals (fixed
rate)

Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March

Communications

Telephones: 160,717 (1992 est.)

Telephone system: modern system centered in Doha
domestic: NA
international: tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio
relay to Saudi Arabia and UAE; submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE;
satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian
Ocean) and 1 Arabsat

Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0

Radios: 201,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 2 (in addition, there are three
repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 205,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 1,230 km
paved: 1,107 km
unpaved: 123 km (1996 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km

Ports and harbors: Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id

Merchant marine:
total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 713,014 GRT/1,112,829
DWT
ships by type: cargo 10, combination ore/oil 2, container 5, oil
tanker 5 (1998 est.)

Airports: 4 (1998 est.)

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

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

Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 301,451 (1999 est.)
note: includes non-nationals

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 158,114 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 6,125 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $940 million (FY98/99)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 9.6% (FY98/99)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: territorial dispute with Bahrain over the
Hawar Islands and maritime boundary dispute with Bahrain currently
before the International Court of Justice (ICJ); in 1996, agreed
with Saudi Arabia to demarcate border per 1992 accord; that process
is ongoing

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

@Reunion -------

Geography

Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of
Madagascar

Geographic coordinates: 21 06 S, 55 36 E

Map references: World

Area:
total: 2,510 sq km
land: 2,500 sq km
water: 10 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 201 km

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

Climate: tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool
and dry from May to November, hot and rainy from November to April

Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along
coast

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Piton des Neiges 3,069 m

Natural resources: fish, arable land

Land use:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 35%
other: 41% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 60 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: periodic, devastating cyclones (December to
April); Piton de la Fournaise on the southeastern coast is an active
volcano

Environment--current issues: NA

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

People

Population: 717,723 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 32% (male 118,401; female 112,878)
15-64 years: 62% (male 218,952; female 225,292)
65 years and over: 6% (male 17,506; female 24,694) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.75% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 22.16 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 4.64 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

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

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.73 years
male: 72.69 years
female: 78.93 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.64 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Reunionese (singular and plural)
adjective: Reunionese

Ethnic groups: French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani,
Indian

Religions: Roman Catholic 86%, Hindu, Islam, Buddhist (1995)

Languages: French (official), Creole widely used

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79%
male: 76%
female: 80% (1982 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Department of Reunion
conventional short form: Reunion
local long form: none
local short form: Ile de la Reunion

Data code: RE

Dependency status: overseas department of France

Government type: NA

Capital: Saint-Denis

Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France);
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the
US Government, but there are four arrondissements, 24 communes, and
47 cantons

Independence: none (overseas department of France)

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

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: French law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by Prefect Robert POMMIES (since NA 1996)
head of government: President of the General Council Christophe
PAYET (since 4 April 1994) and President of the Regional Council
Margarite SUDRE (since 25 June 1993)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the General and
Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council (47 seats; members
are elected by direct popular vote to serve six-year terms) and
unicameral Regional Council (45 seats; members are elected by direct
popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: General Council--last held NA March 1994 (next to be held
NA 2000); Regional Council--last held 25 June 1993 (next to be held
NA 1999)
election results: General Council--percent of vote by party--NA; seats
by party--PCR 12, PS 12, UDF 11, RPR 5, others 7; Regional
Council--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--UPF 17, Free-Dom
Movement 13, PCR 9, PS 6
note: Reunion elects three representatives to the French Senate;
elections last held 14 April 1996 (next to be held NA);
results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--RPR 1, PCR 2;
Reunion also elects five deputies to the French National Assembly;
elections last held 25 May and 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA2002);
results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PCR 3, PS 1, and
RPR-UDF 1

Judicial branch: Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel

Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic or RPR

International organization participation: FZ, InOC, WFTU

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

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

Flag description: the flag of France is used

Economy

Economy--overview: The economy has traditionally been based on
agriculture. Sugarcane has been the primary crop for more than a
century, and in some years it accounts for 85% of exports. The
government has been pushing the development of a tourist industry to
relieve high unemployment, which recently amounted to one-third of
the labor force. The gap in Reunion between the well-off and the
poor is extraordinary and accounts for the persistent social
tensions. The white and Indian communities are substantially better
off than other segments of the population, often approaching
European standards, whereas indigenous groups suffer the poverty and
unemployment typical of the poorer nations of the African continent.
The outbreak of severe rioting in February 1991 illustrates the
seriousness of socioeconomic tensions. The economic well-being of
Reunion depends heavily on continued financial assistance from
France.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$3.4 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 3.8% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,800 (1998 est.)

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

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Labor force: 261,000 (1995)

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 8%, industry 19%, services
73% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 35% (1994)

Budget:
revenues: $856.7 million
expenditures: $2.2437 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1993)

Industries: sugar, rum, cigarettes, handicraft items, flower oil
extraction

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 1.1 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 54.55%
hydro: 45.45%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 1.1 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: sugarcane, vanilla, tobacco, tropical
fruits, vegetables, corn

Exports: $171.78 million (f.o.b., 1994)

Exports--commodities: sugar 63%, rum and molasses 4%, perfume
essences 2%, lobster 3%, (1993)

Exports--partners: France 74%, Japan 6%, Comoros 4% (1994)

Imports: $2.35 billion (c.i.f., 1994)

Imports--commodities: manufactured goods, food, beverages,
tobacco, machinery and transportation equipment, raw materials, and
petroleum products

Imports--partners: France 67%, Bahrain 4%, Italy 3% (1994)

Debt--external: $NA

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

Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes

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

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 219,000 (1995)

Telephone system: adequate system; principal center is Saint-Denis
domestic: modern open wire and microwave radio relay network
international: radiotelephone communication to Comoros, France,
Madagascar; new microwave route to Mauritius; satellite earth
station--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 13, shortwave 0

Radios: 158,000 (1994)

Television broadcast stations: 22 (in addition, there are 18
low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 116,181 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 2,784 km
paved: 2,187 km
unpaved: 597 km (1987 est.)

Ports and harbors: Le Port, Pointe des Galets

Merchant marine:
total: 1 chemical tanker (l,000 GRT or over) totaling 28,264
GRT/44,885 DWT (1998 est.)

Airports: 2 (1998 est.)

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

Military

Military branches: French forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, and
Gendarmerie)

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 185,800 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 95,068 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 5,902 (1999 est.)

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

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

@Romania -------

Geography

Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between
Bulgaria and Ukraine

Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N, 25 00 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total: 237,500 sq km
land: 230,340 sq km
water: 7,160 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries:
total: 2,508 km
border countries: Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km, Moldova 450 km,
Serbia and Montenegro 476 km (all with Serbia), Ukraine (north) 362
km, Ukraine (east) 169 km

Coastline: 225 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and
fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms

Terrain: central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Plain
of Moldavia on the east by the Carpathian Mountains and separated
from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m

Natural resources: petroleum (reserves declining), timber,
natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt

Land use:
arable land: 41%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 21%
forests and woodland: 29%
other: 6% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 31,020 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: earthquakes most severe in south and southwest;
geologic structure and climate promote landslides

Environment--current issues: soil erosion and degradation; water
pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents;
contamination of Danube delta wetlands

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

Geography--note: controls most easily traversable land route
between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine

People

Population: 22,334,312 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 19% (male 2,117,289; female 2,027,940)
15-64 years: 68% (male 7,563,695; female 7,663,491)
65 years and over: 13% (male 1,234,760; female 1,727,137) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.23% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 10.09 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 11.55 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 18.12 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.83 years
male: 67.05 years
female: 74.81 years (1999 est.)

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

Nationality:
noun: Romanian(s)
adjective: Romanian

Ethnic groups: Romanian 89.1%, Hungarian 8.9%, German 0.4%,
Ukrainian, Serb, Croat, Russian, Turk, and Gypsy 1.6%

Religions: Romanian Orthodox 70%, Roman Catholic 6% (of which 3%
are Uniate), Protestant 6%, unaffiliated 18%

Languages: Romanian, Hungarian, German

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 98%
female: 95% (1992 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Romania
local long form: none
local short form: Romania

Data code: RO

Government type: republic

Capital: Bucharest

Administrative divisions: 40 counties (judete, singular--judet)
and 1 municipality* (municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor,
Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti*, Buzau,
Calarasi, Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dimbovita, Dolj,
Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi,
Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare,
Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Vilcea, Vrancea

Independence: 1881 (from Turkey; republic proclaimed 30 December
1947)

National holiday: National Day of Romania, 1 December (1990)

Constitution: 8 December 1991

Legal system: former mixture of civil law system and communist
legal theory; is now based on the constitution of France's Fifth
Republic

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Emil CONSTANTINESCU (since 29 November
1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Radu VASILE (since 17 April 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 3 November 1996, with runoff between the top two
candidates held 17 November 1996 (next to be held NA
November/December 2000); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: percent of vote--Emil CONSTANTINESCU 54.4%, Ion
ILIESCU 45.6%

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of
the Senate or Senat (143 seats; members are elected by direct
popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve
four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Adunarea Deputatilor
(343 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote on a
proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 3 November 1996 (next to be held NA
2000); Chamber of Deputies--last held 3 November 1996 (next to be
held NA 2000)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--CDR 30.7%, PDSR
23.1%, USD 13.2%, UDMR 6.8%, PRM 4.5%, PUNR 4.2%, others 17.5%;
seats by party--CDR 53, PDSR 41, USD 23, UDMR 11, PRM 8, PUNR 7;
Chamber of Deputies--percent of vote by party--CDR 30.2%, PDSR 21.5%,
USD 12.9%, UDMR 6.6% PRM 4.5%, PUNR 4.4%, others 19.9%; seats by
party--CDR 122, PDSR 91, USD 53, UDMR 25, PRM 19, PUNR 18, ethnic
minorities 15

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice, judges are appointed
by the president on the recommendation of the Superior Council of
Magistrates

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party or PD [Petre
DIACONESCU]; Romania Mare Party (Greater Romanian Party) or PRM
note: to increase their voting strength several of the
above-mentioned parties united under umbrella organizations: PNTCD,
PNL, and PNL-CD form the bulk of the Democratic Convention or CDR
other small parties failed to gain representation in the most recent
election

Political pressure groups and leaders: various human rights and
professional associations

International organization participation: ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CCC,
CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer),
MONUA, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UPU, WCL, WEU (associate partner),
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mircea Dan GEOANA
chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James C. ROSAPEPE
embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest
mailing address: American Embassy Bucharest, Department of State,
Washington, DC 20521-5260 (pouch)
branch office: Cluj-Napoca

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist
side), yellow, and red; the national coat of arms that used to be
centered in the yellow band has been removed; now similar to the
flags of Andorra and Chad

Economy

Economy--overview: After the collapse of the Soviet Bloc in
1989-91, Romania was left with an obsolete industrial base and a
pattern of industrial capacity wholly unsuited to its needs. In
February 1997, Romania embarked on a comprehensive macroeconomic
stabilization and structural reform program, but reform subsequently
has been a stop-and-go process. Restructuring programs include
liquidating large energy-intensive industries and major agricultural
and financial sector reforms. Today, Romania is continuing its
difficult transition to a market-based economy. GDP contracted by an
estimated 7.3% in 1998 after a 6.6% decline in 1997. Tight monetary
policy and slower exchange rate depreciation earlier in 1998 helped
lower inflation to an estimated 41% from 152% in 1997. The large
current account deficit and concerns about meeting debt payments in
1999 contributed to increased pressure on the exchange rate towards
the end of 1998. Replacing the IMF standby agreement (suspended
because of lack of progress on structural reforms), servicing large
debt payments, and bringing the budget under control are key
priorities for 1999.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$90.6 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: -7.3% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,050 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 19%
industry: 41%
services: 40% (1997)

Population below poverty line: 21.5% (1994 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.8%
highest 10%: 20.2% (1992)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 41% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 10.1 million (1996 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: NA%

Unemployment rate: 9% (1998 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $10 billion
expenditures: $11.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.3
billion (1997 est.)

Industries: mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy,
chemicals, machine building, food processing, petroleum production
and refining

Industrial production growth rate: -17% (1998 est.)

Electricity--production: 59.245 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 72.11%
hydro: 26.35%
nuclear: 1.54%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 60.045 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 800 million kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed,
potatoes, grapes; milk, eggs, beef

Exports: $8.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports--commodities: textiles and footwear 23%, metals and metal
products 18%, machinery and equipment 9%, chemicals 7% (1997)

Exports--partners: Italy 20%, Germany 17%, France 6%, Turkey 4%
(1997)

Imports: $10.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment 23%, fuels and
minerals 19%, chemicals 8%, foodstuffs (1997)

Imports--partners: Germany 16%, Italy 16%, Russia 12%, France 6%
(1997)

Debt--external: $10 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $510.1 million (1995)

Currency: 1 leu (L) = 100 bani

Exchange rates: lei (L) per US$1--11,353.6 (January 1999), 8,875.6
(1998), 7,167.9 (1997), 3,084.2 (1996), 2,033.3 (1995), 1,655.1
(1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 2.6 million (1993 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: poor service; 89% of telephone network is automatic; trunk
network is microwave radio relay; roughly 3,300 villages with no
service (February 1990 est.)
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat; new digital
international direct-dial exchanges are in Bucharest (1993 est.)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 5, shortwave 0
note: in 1995, 135 local radio stations were registered

Radios: 4.64 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 130 (in addition, there are about
400 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 4.58 million (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 11,376 km
broad gauge: 60 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge: 10,889 km 1.435-m gauge (3,723 km electrified; 3,060
km double track)
narrow gauge: 427 km 0.760-m gauge (1994)

Highways:
total: 153,358 km
paved: 78,213 km (including 113 km of expressways)
unpaved: 75,145 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: 1,724 km (1984)

Pipelines: crude oil 2,800 km; petroleum products 1,429 km;
natural gas 6,400 km (1992)

Ports and harbors: Braila, Constanta, Galati, Mangalia, Sulina,
Tulcea

Merchant marine:
total: 199 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,996,157
GRT/2,917,895 DWT
ships by type: bulk 35, cargo 141, container 2, oil tanker 7,
passenger 1, passenger-cargo 1, railcar carrier 2, roll-on/roll-off
cargo 9, specialized tanker 1 (1998 est.)

Airports: 27 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 21
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 (1998 est.)

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

Heliports: 2 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces,
Paramilitary Forces, Civil Defense

Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 5,876,912 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,938,953 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 193,264 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $650 million (1996)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.5% (1996)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: dispute with Ukraine over continental
shelf of the Black Sea under which significant gas and oil deposits
may exist; agreed in 1997 to two-year negotiating period, after
which either party can refer dispute to the International Court of
Justice

Illicit drugs: important transshipment point for Southwest Asian
heroin transiting the Balkan route and small amounts of Latin
American cocaine bound for Western Europe

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

@Russia ------

Introduction

Background: Russia, a vast Eurasian expanse of field, forest,
desert, and tundra, has endured many "times of trouble"--the Mongol
rule of the 13th to 15th century; czarist reigns of terror; massive
invasions by Swedes, French, and Germans; and the deadly communist
period (1917-91) in which Russia dominated an immense Soviet Union.
General Secretary Mikhail GORBACHEV, in charge during 1985-91,
introduced glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in an
attempt to modernize communism, but also inadvertently released
forces that shattered the USSR into 15 independent republics in
December 1991. Russia has struggled in its efforts to build a
democratic political system and market economy to replace the strict
social, political, and economic controls of the communist period.
These reform efforts have resulted in contradictory and confusing
economic and political regulations and practices. Industry,
agriculture, the military, the central government, and the ruble
have suffered, but Russia has successfully held one presidential,
two legislative, and numerous regional elections since 1991. The
severe illnesses of President Boris YEL'TSIN have contributed to a
lack of policy focus at the center.

Geography

Location: Northern Asia (that part west of the Urals is sometimes
included with Europe), bordering the Arctic Ocean, between Europe
and the North Pacific Ocean

Geographic coordinates: 60 00 N, 100 00 E

Map references: Asia

Area:
total: 17,075,200 sq km
land: 16,995,800 sq km
water: 79,400 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly less than 1.8 times the size of the US

Land boundaries:
total: 19,917 km
border countries: Azerbaijan 284 km, Belarus 959 km, China
(southeast) 3,605 km, China (south) 40 km, Estonia 294 km, Finland
1,313 km, Georgia 723 km, Kazakhstan 6,846 km, North Korea 19 km,
Latvia 217 km, Lithuania (Kaliningrad Oblast) 227 km, Mongolia 3,441
km, Norway 167 km, Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Ukraine 1,576
km

Coastline: 37,653 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: ranges from steppes in the south through humid
continental in much of European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to
tundra climate in the polar north; winters vary from cool along
Black Sea coast to frigid in Siberia; summers vary from warm in the
steppes to cool along Arctic coast