Chapter V (37)

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General
(19 seats--15 from Saint Pierre and 4 from Miquelon; members are
elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: elections last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA
April 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--RPR
15, other 4
note: Saint Pierre and Miquelon elect 1 seat to the French Senate;
elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September
2004); results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--RPR 1;
Saint Pierre and Miquelon also elects 1 seat to the French National
Assembly; elections last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held NA
2002); results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--UDF 1

Judicial branch: Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal
Superieur d'Appel

Political parties and leaders: Socialist Party or PS [leader NA];

International organization participation: FZ, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territorial
collectivity of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territorial
collectivity of France)

Flag description: a yellow sailing ship rides on a dark blue
background with a black wave line under the ship; on the hoist side,
a vertical band is divided into three parts: the top part is red
with a green diagonal cross extending to the corners overlaid by a
white cross dividing the square into four sections; the middle part
has a white background with an ermine pattern; the third part has a
red background with two stylized yellow lions outlined in black, one
on top of the other; the flag of France is used for official
occasions

Economy

Economy--overview: The inhabitants have traditionally earned their
livelihood by fishing and by servicing fishing fleets operating off
the coast of Newfoundland. The economy has been declining, however,
because the number of ships stopping at Saint Pierre has dropped
steadily over the years. In 1992, an arbitration panel awarded the
islands an exclusive economic zone of 12,348 sq km to settle a
longstanding territorial dispute with Canada, although it represents
only 25% of what France had sought. The islands are heavily
subsidized by France. Imports come primarily from Canada and France.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$74 million (1996 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$11,000 (1996 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: 3,000 (1996)

Labor force--by occupation: NA

Unemployment rate: 9.8% (1997)

Budget:
revenues: $70 million
expenditures: $60 million, including capital expenditures of $24
million (1996 est.)

Industries: fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets;
tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 39 million kWh (1996)

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

Electricity--consumption: 39 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs; fish

Exports: $1.2 million (f.o.b., 1996)

Exports--commodities: fish and fish products, fox and mink pelts

Exports--partners: US 58%, France 17%, UK 11%, Canada, Portugal
(1990)

Imports: $60.5 million (c.i.f., 1996)

Imports--commodities: meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment,
machinery, building materials

Imports--partners: Canada, France, US, Netherlands, UK

Debt--external: $NA

Economic aid--recipient: $NA

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: 3,650 (1994 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: radiotelephone communication with most countries in
the world; 1 earth station in French domestic satellite system

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0

Radios: 3,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 0 (there are, however, two
repeaters which rebroadcast programs from France, Canada, and the
US) (1997)

Televisions: 2,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 114 km
paved: 69 km
unpaved: 45 km (1994 est.)

Ports and harbors: Saint Pierre

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 2 (1998 est.)

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

Military

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

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

@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines --------------------------------

Geography

Location: Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, north of
Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates: 13 15 N, 61 12 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 340 sq km
land: 340 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 84 km

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

Climate: tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy
season (May to November)

Terrain: volcanic, mountainous

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Soufriere 1,234 m

Natural resources: NEGL

Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 18%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 36%
other: 31% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of
Saint Vincent is a constant threat

Environment--current issues: pollution of coastal waters and
shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents;
in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming
prohibitive

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

Geography--note: the administration of the islands of the
Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
and Grenada

People

Population: 120,519 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 30% (male 18,160; female 17,524)
15-64 years: 65% (male 39,448; female 38,672)
65 years and over: 5% (male 2,762; female 3,953) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.57% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 18.34 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

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

Net migration rate: -7.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 15.16 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.8 years
male: 72.29 years
female: 75.36 years (1999 est.)

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

Nationality:
noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)
adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian

Ethnic groups: black, white, East Indian, Carib Amerindian

Religions: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Seventh-Day
Adventist

Languages: English, French patois

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 96%
male: 96%
female: 96% (1970 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Data code: VC

Government type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Kingstown

Administrative divisions: 6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines,
Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick

Independence: 27 October 1979 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 27 October (1979)

Constitution: 27 October 1979

Legal system: based on English common law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General David JACK (since NA)
head of government: Prime Minister James F. MITCHELL (since 30 July
1984)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party is usually appointed prime minister by
the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the
governor general on the advice of the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats, 15
elected representatives and 6 appointed senators; representatives
are elected by popular vote from single-member constituencies to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 15 June 1998 (next to be held by NA May 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NDP 8,
ULP 7

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint
Lucia); one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Vincent

Political parties and leaders: New Democratic Party or NDP [James
Party or SVLP and the Movement for National Unity or MNU)

International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB,
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, OAS,
OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kingsley C. A. LAYNE
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the Ambassador to Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines resides in Bridgetown (Barbados)

Flag description: three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold
(double width), and green; the gold band bears three green diamonds
arranged in a V pattern

Economy

Economy--overview: Agriculture, dominated by banana production, is
the most important sector of this lower-middle-income economy. The
services sector, based mostly on a growing tourist industry, is also
important. The government has been relatively unsuccessful at
introducing new industries, and high unemployment rates of 35%-40%
continue. The continuing dependence on a single crop represents the
biggest obstacle to the islands' development; tropical storms wiped
out substantial portions of crops in both 1994 and 1995. The tourism
sector has considerable potential for development over the next
decade. Recent growth has been stimulated by strong activity in the
construction sector and an improvement in tourism.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$289 million (1998 est.)

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

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

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 10.6%
industry: 17.5%
services: 71.9% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.6% (1996)

Labor force: 67,000 (1984 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 26%, industry 17%,
services 57% (1980 est.)

Unemployment rate: 35%-40% (1994 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $85.7 million
expenditures: $98.6 million, including capital expenditures of $25.7
million (1997 est.)

Industries: food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch

Industrial production growth rate: -0.9% (1997 est.)

Electricity--production: 62 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 67.74%
hydro: 32.26%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 62 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices;
small numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats; fish

Exports: $47.3 million (1997)

Exports--commodities: bananas 39%, eddoes and dasheen (taro),
arrowroot starch, tennis racquets

Exports--partners: Caricom countries 49%, UK 16%, US 10% (1995)

Imports: $158.8 million (1997)

Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment,
chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels

Imports--partners: US 36%, Caricom countries 28%, UK 13% (1995)

Debt--external: $83.6 million (1997)

Economic aid--recipient: $47.5 million (1995); note?Stabex (EU),
$34.5 million (1998)

Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.7000
(fixed rate since 1976)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 6,189 (1983 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: islandwide, fully automatic telephone system; VHF/UHF
radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to the other islands of the
Grenadines
international: VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to
Barbados; new SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and to Saint Lucia;
access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia

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

Radios: 76,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are three
repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 20,600 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 1,040 km
paved: 320 km
unpaved: 720 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Kingstown

Merchant marine:
total: 814 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,726,930
GRT/11,835,144 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 138, cargo 402, chemical tanker
26, combination bulk 11, combination ore/oil 7, container 47,
liquefied gas tanker 3, livestock carrier 4, multifunction
large-load carrier 2, oil tanker 64, passenger 2, refrigerated cargo
40, roll-on/roll-off cargo 51, short-sea passenger 10, specialized
tanker 5, vehicle carrier 1
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 20
countries among which are Croatia 17, Slovenia 7, China 5, Greece 5,
UAE 3, Norway 2, Japan 2, and Ukraine 2 (1998 est.)

Airports: 6 (1998 est.)

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

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

Military

Military branches: Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police
Force (includes Special Service Unit), Coast Guard

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs
destined for the US and Europe

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

@Samoa -----

Geography

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

Geographic coordinates: 13 35 S, 172 20 W

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total: 2,860 sq km
land: 2,850 sq km
water: 10 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 403 km

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

Climate: tropical; rainy season (October to March), dry season
(May to October)

Terrain: narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged
mountains in interior

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mauga Silisili 1,857 m

Natural resources: hardwood forests, fish

Land use:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 24%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 47%
other: 10%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: occasional typhoons; active volcanism

Environment--current issues: soil erosion

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

People

Population: 229,979 (July 1999 est.)
note: other estimates range as low as 162,000

Age structure:
0-14 years: 39% (male 45,647; female 44,141)
15-64 years: 57% (male 68,054; female 62,612)
65 years and over: 4% (male 4,477; female 5,048) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.3% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 28.81 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 5.4 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.39 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: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 30.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.82 years
male: 67.43 years
female: 72.33 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.61 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Samoan(s)
adjective: Samoan

Ethnic groups: Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians 7% (persons of European
and Polynesian blood), Europeans 0.4%

Religions: Christian 99.7% (about one-half of population
associated with the London Missionary Society; includes
Congregational, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Latter-Day Saints,
Seventh-Day Adventist)

Languages: Samoan (Polynesian), English

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97% (1971 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Independent State of Samoa
conventional short form: Samoa
former: Western Samoa

Data code: WS

Government type: constitutional monarchy under native chief

Capital: Apia

Administrative divisions: 11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai,
Atua, Fa'asaleleaga, Gaga'emauga, Gagaifomauga, Palauli,
Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga, Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano

Independence: 1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN
trusteeship)

National holiday: National Day, 1 June (1962)

Constitution: 1 January 1962

Legal system: based on English common law and local customs;
judicial review of legislative acts with respect to fundamental
rights of the citizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Chief Susuga MALIETOA Tanumafili II (cochief of
state from 1 January 1962 until becoming sole chief of state 5 April
1963)
head of government: Prime Minister TUILA'EPA Sailele Malielegaoi
(since 24 November 1998); note--TUILA'EPA served as deputy prime
minister since 1992; he assumed the prime ministership in November
1998 when former Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana resigned in poor
health; the post of deputy prime minister is currently vacant
cabinet: Cabinet consists of 12 members, appointed by the chief of
state with the prime minister's advice
elections: upon the death of Chief Susuga MALIETOA Tanumafili II, a
new chief of state will be elected by the Legislative Assembly to
serve a five-year term; prime minister appointed by the chief of
state with the approval of the Legislative Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (49
seats--47 elected by Samoans, 2 elected by non-Samoans; only chiefs
(matai) may stand for election to the Fono; members serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held 26 April 1996 (next to be held by NA April 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--HRPP 45.17%, SNDP 27.1%,
independents 23.7%; seats by party--HRPP 25, SNDP 13, independents 11

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders: Human Rights Protection Party or

International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tuiloma Neroni SLADE
chancery: 820 Second Avenue, Suite 800D, New York, NY 10017

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Josiah Horton BEEMAN (Ambassador to New
Zealand and Samoa, resides in Wellington, New Zealand)
embassy: 5th floor, Beach Road, Apia
mailing address: P.O. Box 3430, Apia

Flag description: red with a blue rectangle in the upper
hoist-side quadrant bearing five white five-pointed stars
representing the Southern Cross constellation

Economy

Economy--overview: The economy of Samoa has traditionally been
dependent on development aid, private family remittances from
overseas, and agricultural exports. The country is vulnerable to
devastating storms. Agriculture employs two-thirds of the labor
force, and furnishes 90% of exports, featuring coconut cream,
coconut oil, and copra. Outside of a large automotive wire harness
factory, the manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural
products. Tourism is an expanding sector; more than 70,0000 tourists
visited the islands in 1996. The Samoan Government has called for
deregulation of the financial sector, encouragement of investment,
and continued fiscal discipline. Observers point to the flexibility
of the labor market as a basic strength for future economic advances.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$470 million (1997 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 3.4% (1997 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,100 (1997 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 40%
industry: 25%
services: 35% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 82,500 (1991 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 65%, services 30%,
industry 5% (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $52 million
expenditures: $99 million, including capital expenditures of $37
million (FY96/97 est.)

Industries: timber, tourism, food processing, fishing

Industrial production growth rate: 14% (1996 est.)

Electricity--production: 65 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 61.54%
hydro: 38.46%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 65 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: coconuts, bananas, taro, yams

Exports: $14.6 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: coconut oil and cream, copra, fish, beer

Exports--partners: Australia 82%, New Zealand 6%, Slovakia,
Germany, American Samoa (1996)

Imports: $99.7 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Imports--commodities: intermediate goods, food, capital goods

Imports--partners: Australia 33%, New Zealand 25%, Japan 15%, Fiji
8%, US 8% (1996)

Debt--external: $167 million (1996 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $42.9 million (1995)

Currency: 1 tala (WS$) = 100 sene

Exchange rates: tala (WS$) per US$1--2.9011 (January 1999), 2.9429
(1998), 2.5562 (1997), 2.4618 (1996), 2.4722 (1995), 2.5349 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 7,500 (1988 est.)

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

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

Radios: 76,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 6 (1997)

Televisions: 6,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 790 km
paved: 332 km
unpaved: 458 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Apia, Asau, Mulifanua, Salelologa

Airports: 3 (1998 est.)

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

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

Military

Military branches: no regular armed services; Samoa Police Force

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%

Military--note: Samoa has no formal defense structure or regular
armed forces; informal defense ties exist with NZ, which is required
to consider any Samoan request for assistance under the 1962 Treaty
of Friendship

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

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

@San Marino ----------

Geography

Location: Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy

Geographic coordinates: 43 46 N, 12 25 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total: 60 sq km
land: 60 sq km
water: 0 sq km

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

Land boundaries:
total: 39 km
border countries: Italy 39 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers

Terrain: rugged mountains

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Torrente Ausa 55 m
highest point: Monte Titano 749 m

Natural resources: building stone

Land use:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 83% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: NA

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution

Geography--note: landlocked; smallest independent state in Europe
after the Holy See and Monaco; dominated by the Apennines

People

Population: 25,061 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 16% (male 2,008; female 2,036)
15-64 years: 67% (male 8,501; female 8,294)
65 years and over: 17% (male 1,774; female 2,448) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.64% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 10.41 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 8.22 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 4.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 5.39 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 81.47 years
male: 77.59 years
female: 85.35 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.51 children born/woman (1999 est.)

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

Ethnic groups: Sammarinese, Italian

Religions: Roman Catholic

Languages: Italian

Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 97%
female: 95% (1976 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of San Marino
conventional short form: San Marino
local long form: Repubblica di San Marino
local short form: San Marino

Data code: SM

Government type: republic

Capital: San Marino

Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (castelli,
singular--castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova,
Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Monte Giardino, San Marino,
Serravalle

Independence: 301 (by tradition)

National holiday: Anniversary of the Foundation of the Republic,
3 September

Constitution: 8 October 1600; electoral law of 1926 serves some
of the functions of a constitution

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: cochiefs of state Captain Regent Pietro BERTI and
Captain Regent Paolo BOLLINI (for the period 1 October 1998-31 March
1999)
head of government: Secretary of State for Foreign and Political
Affairs Gabriele GATTI (since NA July 1986)
cabinet: Congress of State elected by the Great and General Council
for a five-year term
elections: cochiefs of state (captain regents) elected by the Great
and General Council for a six-month term; election last held NA
September 1998 (next to be held NA March 1999); secretary of state
for foreign and political affairs elected by the Great and General
Council for a five-year term; election last held NA June 1998 (next
to be held NA June 2003)
election results: Pietro BERTI and Paolo BOLLINI elected captain
regents; percent of legislative vote--NA; Gabriele GATTI reelected
secretary of state for foreign and political affairs; percent of
legislative vote--NA
note: the popularly elected parliament (Great and General Council)
selects two of its members to serve as the Captains Regent (cochiefs
of state) for a six-month period; they preside over meetings of the
Great and General Council and its cabinet (Congress of State) which
has ten other members, all selected by the Great and General
Council; assisting the captains regent are three secretaries of
state--Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, and Finance--and several
additional secretaries; the secretary of state for Foreign Affairs
has assumed many of the prerogatives of a prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral Great and General Council or
Consiglio Grande e Generale (60 seats; members are elected by direct
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 31 May 1998 (next to be held by NA May 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party--PDCS 40.8%, PSS 23.3%,
PPDS 18.6%, AP 9.8%, RC 3.3%, Reformist Socialists 4.2%; seats by
party--PDCS 25, PSS 14, PPDS 11, AP 6, RC 2, RS 2

Judicial branch: Council of Twelve or Consiglio dei XII

Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party or PDCS
MACINA, secretary general]; Reformist Socialists or RS (formerly San

International organization participation: CE, ECE, ICAO, ICFTU,
ICRM, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OPCW,
OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US: San Marino does not have an
embassy in the US
honorary consulate(s) general: Washington, DC, and New York
honorary consulate(s): Detroit

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in San Marino; the US Consul General in Florence (Italy) is
accredited to San Marino

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and
light blue with the national coat of arms superimposed in the
center; the coat of arms has a shield (featuring three towers on
three peaks) flanked by a wreath, below a crown and above a scroll
bearing the word LIBERTAS (Liberty)

Economy

Economy--overview: The tourist sector contributes over 50% of GDP.
In 1995 more than 3.3 million tourists visited San Marino. The key
industries are banking, wearing apparel, electronics, and ceramics.
Main agricultural products are wine and cheeses. The per capita
level of output and standard of living are comparable to those of
Italy, which supplies much of its food.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$500 million (1997 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$20,000 (1997 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): 5.3% (1995)

Labor force: 15,600 (1995)

Labor force--by occupation: services 55%, industry 43%,
agriculture 2% (1995)

Unemployment rate: 3.6% (April 1996)

Budget:
revenues: $320 million
expenditures: $320 million, including capital expenditures of $26
million (1995 est.)

Industries: tourism, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine

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
note: electricity supplied by Italy

Agriculture--products: wheat, grapes, maize, olives; cattle, pigs,
horses, beef, cheese, hides

Exports: trade data are included with the statistics for Italy

Exports--commodities: building stone, lime, wood, chestnuts,
wheat, wine, baked goods, hides, and ceramics

Imports: trade data are included with the statistics for Italy

Imports--commodities: wide variety of consumer manufactures, food

Debt--external: $NA

Economic aid--recipient: $NA

Currency: 1 Italian lira (Lit) = 100 centesimi; note--also mints
its own coins

Exchange rates: Italian lire (Lit) per US$1--1,668.7 (January
1998),1,736.2 (1998), 1,703.1 (1997), 1,542.9 (1996), 1,628.9
(1995), 1,612.4 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 15,000 (1995 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: automatic telephone system completely integrated into
Italian system
international: microwave radio relay and cable connections to
Italian network; no satellite earth stations

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

Radios: 15,000 (1994 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (San Marino residents also
receive broadcasts from Italy) (1997)

Televisions: 9,000 (1994 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km; note--there is a 1.5 km cable railway connecting
the city of San Marino to Borgo Maggiore

Highways:
total: 220 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km

Ports and harbors: none

Airports: none

Military

Military branches: Voluntary Military Force, Police Force

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $3.7 million (1995)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1% (1995)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

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

@Sao Tome and Principe ---------------------

Geography

Location: Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea,
straddling the Equator, west of Gabon

Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N, 7 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total: 1,000 sq km
land: 1,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km

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

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 209 km

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)

Terrain: volcanic, mountainous

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m

Natural resources: fish

Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 36%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 61% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 100 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion and
exhaustion

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change

People

Population: 154,878 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 48% (male 37,322; female 36,423)
15-64 years: 48% (male 36,067; female 38,730)
65 years and over: 4% (male 2,876; female 3,460) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.14% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 43.31 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 8.08 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -3.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 52.93 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.71 years
male: 63.18 years
female: 66.28 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.14 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Sao Tomean(s)
adjective: Sao Tomean

Ethnic groups: mestico, angolares (descendants of Angolan
slaves), forros (descendants of freed slaves), servicais (contract
laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (children
of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese)

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

Languages: Portuguese (official)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 73%
male: 85%
female: 62% (1991 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
conventional short form: Sao Tome and Principe
local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe
local short form: Sao Tome e Principe

Data code: TP

Government type: republic

Capital: Sao Tome

Administrative divisions: 2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome
note: Principe has had self-government since 29 April 1995

Independence: 12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1975)

Constitution: approved March 1990; effective 10 September 1990

Legal system: based on Portuguese legal system and customary law;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Miguel TROVOADA (since 4 April 1991)
head of government: Prime Minister Guilherma Posser da COSTA (since
30 December 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
proposal of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 30 June and 15 July 1996 (next to be held in
2001); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved
by the president
election results: Miguel TROVOADA reelected president in Sao Tome's
second multiparty presidential election; percent of vote--Miguel
TROVOADA 52.74%, Manuel Pinto da COSTA 47.26%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia
Nacional (55 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 8 November 1998 (next to be held NA 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party--MLSTP-PSD 56%, PCD
14.5%%, ADI 29%; seats by party--MLSTP-PSD 31, ADI 16, PCD 8

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
National Assembly

Political parties and leaders: Party for Democratic Convergence
Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-Social Democratic Party or
other small parties

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
CEEAC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: Sao Tome and Principe does
not have an embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to
the UN, headed by First Secretary Domingos AUGUSTO Ferreira, located
at 122 East 42nd Street, Suite 1604, New York, NY 10168, telephone

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Sao Tome and Principe; the Ambassador to Gabon is
accredited to Sao Tome and Principe on a nonresident basis and makes
periodic visits to the islands

Flag description: three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow
(double width), and green with two black five-pointed stars placed
side by side in the center of the yellow band and a red isosceles
triangle based on the hoist side; uses the popular pan-African
colors of Ethiopia

Economy

Economy--overview: This small poor island economy has become
increasingly dependent on cocoa since independence over 20 years
ago. However, cocoa production has substantially declined because of
drought and mismanagement. The resulting shortage of cocoa for
export has created a persistent balance-of-payments problem. Sao
Tome has to import all fuels, most manufactured goods, consumer
goods, and a significant amount of food. Over the years, it has been
unable to service its external debt and has had to depend on
concessional aid and debt rescheduling. Considerable potential
exists for development of a tourist industry, and the government has
taken steps to expand facilities in recent years. The government
also has attempted to reduce price controls and subsidies, but
economic growth has remained sluggish. Sao Tome is also optimistic
that significant petroleum discoveries are forthcoming in its
territorial waters in the oil-rich waters of the Gulf of Guinea.
Corruption scandals continue to weaken the economy.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$164 million (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 2.5% (1998 est.)

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

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 23%
industry: 19%
services: 58% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 21% (1998 est.)

Labor force: NA

Labor force--by occupation: population mainly engaged in
subsistence agriculture and fishing
note: there are shortages of skilled workers

Unemployment rate: 50% in the formal business sector (1998 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $58 million
expenditures: $114 million, including capital expenditures of $54
million (1993 est.)

Industries: light construction, textiles, soap, beer; fish
processing; timber

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 15 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 46.67%
hydro: 53.33%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 15 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra,
cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish

Exports: $5.3 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)

Exports--commodities: cocoa 90%, copra, coffee, palm oil (1997)

Exports--partners: Netherlands 51%, Germany 6%, Portugal 6% (1997)

Imports: $19.2 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)

Imports--commodities: machinery and electrical equipment, food
products, petroleum products

Imports--partners: Portugal 26%, France 18%, Angola, Belgium,
Japan (1997)

Debt--external: $267 million (1997)

Economic aid--recipient: $57.3 million (1995)

Currency: 1 dobra (Db) = 100 centimos

Exchange rates: dobras (Db) per US$1--6,873.5 (October 1998),
4,552.5 (1997), 2,203.2 (1996), 1,420.3 (1995), 732.6 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 2,200 (1986 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: minimal system
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0

Radios: 33,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)

Televisions: NA

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 320 km
paved: 218 km
unpaved: 102 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Santo Antonio, Sao Tome

Merchant marine:
total: 3 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,610 GRT/9,446
DWT (1998 est.)

Airports: 2 (1998 est.)

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

Military

Military branches: Army, Navy, Security Police

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 31,724 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 16,766 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $500,000 (1994)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.5% (1994)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

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

@Saudi Arabia ------------

Geography

Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red
Sea, north of Yemen

Geographic coordinates: 25 00 N, 45 00 E

Map references: Middle East

Area:
total: 1,960,582 sq km
land: 1,960,582 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US

Land boundaries:
total: 4,415 km
border countries: Iraq 814 km, Jordan 728 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman
676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km

Coastline: 2,640 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: not specified
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: harsh, dry desert with great extremes of temperature

Terrain: mostly uninhabited, sandy desert

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper

Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 56%
forests and woodland: 1%
other: 41% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 4,350 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: frequent sand and dust storms

Environment--current issues: desertification; depletion of
underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or
permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive
seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills

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

Geography--note: extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea
provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through
Persian Gulf and Suez Canal

People

Population: 21,504,613 (July 1999 est.)
note: includes 5,321,938 non-nationals (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 4,705,724; female 4,543,918)
15-64 years: 54% (male 6,925,020; female 4,783,570)
65 years and over: 3% (male 291,449; female 254,932) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.39% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 37.38 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 4.86 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 1.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.45 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.14 male(s)/female
total population: 1.24 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 38.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.55 years
male: 68.67 years
female: 72.53 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.34 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Saudi(s)
adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian

Ethnic groups: Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%

Religions: Muslim 100%

Languages: Arabic

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 62.8%
male: 71.5%
female: 50.2% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
conventional short form: Saudi Arabia
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah

Data code: SA

Government type: monarchy

Capital: Riyadh

Administrative divisions: 13 provinces (mintaqat,
singular--mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al
Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province),
'Asir, Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk

Independence: 23 September 1932 (unification)

National holiday: Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)

Constitution: governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law); the
Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and
responsibilities was introduced in 1993

Legal system: based on Islamic law, several secular codes have
been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: none

Executive branch:
chief of state: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud
(since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister
ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the monarch, heir
to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22
February 1996); note--the monarch is both the chief of state and head
of government
head of government: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al
Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime
Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the
monarch, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1
January to 22 February 1996); note--the monarch is both the chief of
state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch and
includes many royal family members
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary

Legislative branch: a consultative council (90 members and a
chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year terms)

Judicial branch: Supreme Council of Justice

Political parties and leaders: none allowed

International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL,
AMF, BIS, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW,
OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
(applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador BANDAR bin Sultan bin Abd al-Aziz Al
Saud
chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Wyche FOWLER, Jr.
embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
mailing address: American Embassy Riyadh, Unit 61307, APO AE
09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693
consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)

Flag description: green with large white Arabic script (that may
be translated as There is no God but God; Muhammad is the Messenger
of God) above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist
side); green is the traditional color of Islam

Economy

Economy--overview: This is a well-to-do oil-based economy with
strong government controls over major economic activities. Saudi
Arabia has the largest reserves of petroleum in the world (26% of
the proved total), ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and
plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for
roughly 75% of budget revenues, 40% of GDP, and 90% of export
earnings. About 35% of GDP comes from the private sector. Roughly 4
million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy,
for example, in the oil and service sectors. The Saudi economy was
severely hit by the large decline in world oil prices in 1998. GDP
fell by nearly 11%; the budget deficit rose to $12.3 billion; and
the current account recorded a $13 billion deficit--the first in
three years. The government announced plans to implement large
spending cuts in 1999 because of weak oil prices and will continue
to call on greater private sector involvement in the economy.
Shortages of water and rapid population growth will constrain
government efforts to increase self-sufficiency in agricultural
products.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$186 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: -10.8% (1998 est.)

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

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 53%
services: 41% (1996)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.2% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 7 million
note: 35% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
(July 1998 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: government 40%, industry,
construction, and oil 25%, services 30%, agriculture 5%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $32.3 billion
expenditures: $44 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999 budget est.)

Industries: crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic
petrochemicals, cement, two small steel-rolling mills, construction,
fertilizer, plastics

Industrial production growth rate: 1% (1997 est.)

Electricity--production: 95 billion kWh (1996)

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

Electricity--consumption: 95 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates,
citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs, milk

Exports: $59.7 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 90%

Exports--partners: Japan 18%, US 15%, South Korea 11%, Singapore
8%, India 4% (1997 est.)

Imports: $26.2 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs,
chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles

Imports--partners: US 23%, UK 17%, Japan 8%, Germany 8%, Italy 5%
(1997 est.)

Debt--external: $NA

Economic aid--donor: pledged $100 million in 1993 to fund
reconstruction of Lebanon; since 1993, Saudi Arabia has committed
$208 million for assistance to the Palestinians

Currency: 1 Saudi riyal (SR) = 100 halalah

Exchange rates: Saudi riyals (SR) per US$1--3.7450 (fixed rate
since June 1986)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 1.46 million (1993)

Telephone system: modern system
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay and coaxial and
fiber-optic cable systems
international: microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait,
Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan;
submarine cable to Djibouti, Egypt and Bahrain; satellite earth
stations--5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1
Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 43, FM 13, shortwave 0

Radios: 5 million (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 117 (1997)

Televisions: 4.5 million (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 1,390 km
standard gauge: 1,390 km 1.435-m gauge (448 km double track) (1992)

Highways:
total: 162,000 km
paved: 69,174 km
unpaved: 92,826 km (1996 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 6,400 km; petroleum products 150 km; natural
gas 2,200 km (includes natural gas liquids 1,600 km)

Ports and harbors: Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Duba, Jiddah, Jizan,
Rabigh, Ra's al Khafji, Mishab, Ras Tanura, Yanbu' al Bahr, Madinat
Yanbu' al Sinaiyah

Merchant marine:
total: 73 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,124,110 GRT/1,467,121
DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 13, chemical tanker 7, container 5,
liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 4, oil tanker 17,
passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 12,
short-sea passenger 8 (1998 est.)

Airports: 205 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 70
over 3,047 m: 30
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 135
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 78
914 to 1,523 m: 38
under 914 m: 13 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 4 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Land Force (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air
Defense Force, National Guard, Ministry of Interior Forces

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 5,696,772 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,171,860 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 197,386 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $18.1 billion (1997 est.)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 12% (1997 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: large section of boundary with Yemen not
defined; location and status of boundary with UAE is not final, de
facto boundary reflects 1974 agreement; Kuwaiti ownership of Qaruh
and Umm al Maradim islands is disputed by Saudi Arabia; in 1996,
agreed with Qatar to demarcate border per 1992 accord; that process
is ongoing

Illicit drugs: death penalty for traffickers; increasing
consumption of heroin and cocaine

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

@Senegal -------

Geography

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania

Geographic coordinates: 14 00 N, 14 00 W

Map references: Africa

Area:
total: 196,190 sq km
land: 192,000 sq km
water: 4,190 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than South Dakota

Land boundaries:
total: 2,640 km
border countries: The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330 km, Guinea-Bissau
338 km, Mali 419 km, Mauritania 813 km

Coastline: 531 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has
strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by
hot, dry, harmattan wind

Terrain: generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in
southeast

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed feature near Nepen Diakha 581 m

Natural resources: fish, phosphates, iron ore

Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 16%
forests and woodland: 54%
other: 18% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 710 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts

Environment--current issues: wildlife populations threatened by
poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification;
overfishing

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

Geography--note: The Gambia is almost an enclave of Senegal

People

Population: 10,051,930 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 48% (male 2,403,384; female 2,416,791)
15-64 years: 49% (male 2,360,113; female 2,594,278)
65 years and over: 3% (male 134,765; female 142,599) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.32% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 43.88 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 10.71 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

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

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 59.81 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 57.83 years
male: 54.95 years
female: 60.78 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.11 children born/woman (1999 est.)

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

Ethnic groups: Wolof 43.3%, Pular 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Diola 3.7%,
Mandink 3%, Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9.4%

Religions: Muslim 92%, indigenous beliefs 6%, Christian 2%
(mostly Roman Catholic)

Languages: French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Diola, Mandingo

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 33.1%
male: 43%
female: 23.2% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Senegal
conventional short form: Senegal
local long form: Republique du Senegal
local short form: Senegal

Data code: SG

Government type: republic under multiparty democratic rule

Capital: Dakar

Administrative divisions: 10 regions (regions, singular--region);
Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Saint-Louis,
Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor

Independence: 4 April 1960 from France; complete independence was
achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960
(The Gambia and Senegal signed an agreement on 12 December 1981 that
called for the creation of a loose confederation to be known as
Senegambia, but the agreement was dissolved on 30 September 1989)

National holiday: Independence Day, 4 April (1960)

Constitution: 3 March 1963, revised 1991

Legal system: based on French civil law system; judicial review
of legislative acts in Constitutional Court; the Council of State
audits the government's accounting office; Senegal has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Abdou DIOUF (since 1 January 1981)
head of government: Prime Minister Mamadou Lamine LOUM (since 4 July
1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in
consultation with the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
election last held 21 February 1993 (next to be held NA February
2000); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Abdou DIOUF reelected president; percent of
vote--Abdou DIOUF (PS) 58.4%, Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 32.03%, other 9.57%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (140 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 24 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party--PS 50.19%, PDS 19%, UDS-R
13%, And/Jef-PADS 5%, LD/MPT 4%, CDP/Garab-Gi 2%, FSD 1%, PDS-R 1%,
RND 1%, BCG 1%, PIT 1% ; seats by party--PS 93, PDS 23, UDS-R 11,
And-Jef/PADS 4, LD-MPT 3, CDP/Garab-Gi 1, FSD 1, PDS-R 1, RND 1, BCG
1, PIT 1

Judicial branch: under the terms of a reform of the judicial
system implemented in 1992, the principal organs of the judiciary
are as follows; Constitutional Court; Council of State; Court of
Final Appeals or Cour de Cassation; Court of Appeals

Political parties and leaders: African Party for Democracy and
secretary general]; Democratic League-Labor Party Movement or LD-MPT

Political pressure groups and leaders: students; teachers; labor;
Muslim brotherhoods

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MINURCA, MIPONUH, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OIC,
OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH,
UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mamadou Mansour SECK
chancery: 2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dane Farnsworth SMITH, Jr.
embassy: Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Avenue Kleber, Dakar
mailing address: B. P. 49, Dakar

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist
side), yellow, and red with a small green five-pointed star centered
in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy

Economy--overview: In January 1994, Senegal undertook a bold and
ambitious economic reform program with the support of the
international donor community. This reform began with a 50%
devaluation of Senegal's currency, the CFA franc, which is linked at
a fixed rate to the French franc. Government price controls and
subsidies have been steadily dismantled. After seeing its economy
contract by 2.1% in 1993, Senegal made an important turnaround,
thanks to the reform program, with real growth in GDP averaging 5%
annually in 1995-98. Annual inflation has been pushed below 2%, and
the fiscal deficit has been cut to less than 1.5% of GDP. Investment
rose steadily from 13.8% of GDP in 1993 to 16.5% in 1997. As a
member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA),
Senegal is working toward greater regional integration with a
unified external tariff. Senegal also realized full Internet
connectivity in 1996, creating a miniboom in information
technology-based services. Private activity now accounts for 82% of
GDP. On the negative side, Senegal faces deep-seated urban problems
of chronic unemployment, juvenile delinquency, and drug addiction.
Forecasters predict growth will continue in the 5% range in
1999-2000.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$15.6 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 5.7% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,600 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 19%
industry: 17%
services: 64% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.4%
highest 10%: 42.8% (1991)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.8% (1998 est.)

Labor force: NA

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 60%

Unemployment rate: NA%; urban youth 40%

Budget:
revenues: $885 million
expenditures: $885 million, including capital expenditures of $125
million (1996 est.)

Industries: agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining,
fertilizer production, petroleum refining, construction materials

Industrial production growth rate: 7% (1998 est.)