Chapter V (43)

Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Arthur Napoleon Raymond ROBINSON (since 19
March 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Basdeo PANDAY (since 9 November
1995)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed from among the members of Parliament
elections: president elected by an electoral college, which consists
of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, for a
five-year term; election last held NA February 1997 (next to be held
NA 2002); prime minister appointed from among the members of
Parliament; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party in the House of Representatives is usually appointed
prime minister
election results: Arthur Napoleon Raymond ROBINSON elected
president; percent of electoral college vote--69%

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
(31 seats; members appointed by the president for a maximum term of
five years) and the House of Representatives (36 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives--last held 6 November 1995 (next
to be held by December 2000)
election results: House of Representatives--percent of vote--PNM 52%,
UNC 42.2%, NAR 5.2%; seats by party--PNM 15, UNC 19, NAR 1,
independent 1; note--the UNC formed a coalition with the NAR
note: Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly, with 15 members
serving four-year terms

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (judges are appointed by the
president on the advice of the prime minister); Supreme Court
(judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime
minister)

Political parties and leaders: People's National Movement or PNM

International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CCC,
CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO,
ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael A. ARNEAUD
chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Edward E. SHUMAKER, III
embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain
mailing address: P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain

Flag description: red with a white-edged black diagonal band from
the upper hoist side

Economy

Economy--overview: Trinidad and Tobago has earned a reputation as
an excellent investment site for international businesses.
Successful economic reforms were implemented in 1995, and foreign
investment and trade are flourishing. Unemployment--a main cause of
the country's socioeconomic problems--is high, but has decreased to
its lowest point in six years. An investment boom in the energy
sector led to a surge in imports in 1997. The resulting trade
deficit is expected to return to a surplus once construction is
completed and the plants come on line. The petrochemical sector has
spurred growth in other related sectors, reinforcing the
government's commitment to economic diversification. Tourism is a
major foreign exchange earner, with 260,000 arrivals in 1995, 80%
from Europe.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$8.85 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 4.3% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$8,000 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.2%
industry: 44%
services: 53.8% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: 21% (1992 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (1997)

Labor force: 541,000 (1997 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: construction and utilities 12.4%,
manufacturing, mining, and quarrying 14%, agriculture 9.5%, services
64.1% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate: 14% (June 1998)

Budget:
revenues: $1.59 billion
expenditures: $1.54 billion, including capital expenditures of
$165.8 million (1997)

Industries: petroleum, chemicals, tourism, food processing,
cement, beverage, cotton textiles

Industrial production growth rate: 7.5% (1995)

Electricity--production: 4 billion kWh (1996)

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

Electricity--consumption: 4 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: cocoa, sugarcane, rice, citrus, coffee,
vegetables; poultry

Exports: $2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals,
steel products, fertilizer, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus, flowers

Exports--partners: US 39.7%, Caricom countries 24.5%, Latin
America 10.3%, EU 8.2% (1997)

Imports: $3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports--commodities: machinery, transportation equipment,
manufactured goods, food, live animals

Imports--partners: US 52.2%, Latin America 16.5%, EU 13.8%, Japan
3.6% (1997)

Debt--external: $2.8 billion (1997 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $121.4 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TT$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TT$) per US$1--6.2761
(January 1999), 6.2840 (1998), 6.2517 (1997), 6.0051 (1996), 5.9478
(1995), 5.9249 (1994)

Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September

Communications

Telephones: 170,000 (1992 est.)

Telephone system: excellent international service; good local
service
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
tropospheric scatter to Barbados and Guyana

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 10, shortwave 0

Radios: 700,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 4 (1997)

Televisions: 400,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways: minimal agricultural railroad system near San Fernando;
railway service was discontinued in 1968

Highways:
total: 8,320 km
paved: 4,252 km
unpaved: 4,068 km (1996 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 1,032 km; petroleum products 19 km; natural
gas 904 km

Ports and harbors: Pointe-a-Pierre, Point Fortin, Point Lisas,
Port-of-Spain, Scarborough, Tembladora

Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,336 GRT/2,567 DWT
(1998 est.)

Airports: 6 (1998 est.)

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

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

Military

Military branches: Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (includes
Ground Forces, Coast Guard, and Air Wing), Trinidad and Tobago
Police Service

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 312,870 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 223,200 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $83 million (1994)

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; producer of cannabis

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

@Tromelin Island ---------------

Geography

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

Geographic coordinates: 15 52 S, 54 25 E

Map references: Africa

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

Area--comparative: about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 3.7 km

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

Climate: tropical

Terrain: sandy

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 7 m

Natural resources: fish

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (scattered bushes)

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: NA

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

Geography--note: climatologically important location for
forecasting cyclones; wildlife sanctuary

People

Population: uninhabited

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tromelin Island
local long form: none
local short form: Ile Tromelin

Data code: TE

Dependency status: possession of France; administered by a high
commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion

Legal system: NA

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (possession of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (possession of France)

Flag description: the flag of France is used

Economy

Economy--overview: no economic activity

Communications

Communications--note: important meteorological station

Transportation

Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only

Airports: 1 (1998 est.)

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

Military

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: claimed by Madagascar and Mauritius

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

@Tunisia -------

Geography

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea,
between Algeria and Libya

Geographic coordinates: 34 00 N, 9 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total: 163,610 sq km
land: 155,360 sq km
water: 8,250 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly larger than Georgia

Land boundaries:
total: 1,424 km
border countries: Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km

Coastline: 1,148 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry
summers; desert in south

Terrain: mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid
south merges into the Sahara

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m
highest point: Jabal ash Shanabi 1,544 m

Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc,
salt

Land use:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 13%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 4%
other: 44% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 3,850 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: toxic and hazardous waste disposal is
ineffective and presents human health risks; water pollution from
raw sewage; limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation;
overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

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

Geography--note: strategic location in central Mediterranean

People

Population: 9,513,603 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 31% (male 1,513,296; female 1,417,166)
15-64 years: 63% (male 3,006,029; female 3,018,411)
65 years and over: 6% (male 283,026; female 275,675) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.39% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 19.72 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 5.05 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 31.38 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.35 years
male: 71.95 years
female: 74.86 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.38 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Tunisian(s)
adjective: Tunisian

Ethnic groups: Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%

Religions: Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%

Languages: Arabic (official and one of the languages of
commerce), French (commerce)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 66.7%
male: 78.6%
female: 54.6% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Tunisia
conventional short form: Tunisia
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
local short form: Tunis

Data code: TS

Government type: republic

Capital: Tunis

Administrative divisions: 23 governorates; Al Kaf, Al Mahdiyah,
Al Munastir, Al Qasrayn, Al Qayrawan, Aryanah, Bajah, Banzart, Bin
'Arus, Jundubah, Madanin, Nabul, Qabis, Qafsah, Qibili, Safaqis,
Sidi Bu Zayd, Silyanah, Susah, Tatawin, Tawzar, Tunis, Zaghwan

Independence: 20 March 1956 (from France)

National holiday: National Day, 20 March (1956)

Constitution: 1 June 1959; amended 12 July 1988

Legal system: based on French civil law system and Islamic law;
some judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in
joint session

Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November
1987)
head of government: Prime Minister Hamed KAROUI (since 26 September
1989)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI reelected
without opposition; percent of vote--Zine El Abidine BEN ALI 99%

Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Majlis
al-Nuwaab (163 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--RCD 97.7%, MDS 1.0%,
others 1.3%; seats by party--RCD 144, MDS 10, others 9; note--the
government changed the electoral code to guarantee that the
opposition won seats

Judicial branch: Court of Cassation (Cour de Cassation)

Political parties and leaders: Constitutional Democratic Rally
parties are legal, including the Communist Party

Political pressure groups and leaders: the Islamic fundamentalist
party, Al Nahda (Renaissance), is outlawed

International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB,
AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, BSEC (observer), CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO,
ITU, MINURCA, MINURSO, MIPONUH, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW,
OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Noureddine MEJDOUB
chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robin L. RAPHEL
embassy: 144 Avenue de la Liberte, 1002 Tunis-Belvedere
mailing address: use embassy street address

Flag description: red with a white disk in the center bearing a
red crescent nearly encircling a red five-pointed star; the crescent
and star are traditional symbols of Islam

Economy

Economy--overview: Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important
agricultural, mining, energy, tourism, and manufacturing sectors.
Governmental control of economic affairs while still heavy has
gradually lessened over the past decade with increasing
privatization, simplification of the tax structure, and a prudent
approach to debt. Real growth averaged 4.0% in 1993-97 and reached
5.0% in 1998. Inflation has been moderate. Growth in tourism and
increased trade have been key elements in this steady growth.
Tunisia's association agreement with the European Union entered into
force on 1 March 1998, the first such accord between the EU and
Mediterranean countries to be activated. Under the agreement Tunisia
will gradually remove barriers to trade with the EU over the next
decade. Broader privatization, further liberalization of the
investment code to increase foreign investment, and improvements in
government efficiency are among the challenges for the future.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$49 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 5% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$5,200 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 14%
industry: 28%
services: 58% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line: 14.1% (1990 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 30.7% (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.3% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 3.3 million (1995 est.)
note: shortage of skilled labor

Labor force--by occupation: services 55%, industry 23%,
agriculture 22% (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate: 15.6% (1998 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $5.8 billion
expenditures: $6.5 billion, including capital expenditures to $1.4
billion (1998 est.)

Industries: petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron
ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, food, beverages

Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (1997 est.)

Electricity--production: 7.535 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.54%
hydro: 0.46%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 7.616 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 81 million kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: olives, dates, oranges, almonds, grain,
sugar beets, grapes; poultry, beef, dairy products

Exports: $5.4 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)

Exports--commodities: hydrocarbons, textiles, agricultural
products, phosphates and chemicals

Exports--partners: EU 80%, North African countries 6%, Asia 4%, US
1% (1996)

Imports: $7.9 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.)

Imports--commodities: industrial goods and equipment 57%,
hydrocarbons 13%, food 12%, consumer goods

Imports--partners: EU countries 80%, North African countries 5.5%,
Asia 5.5%, US 5% (1996)

Debt--external: $12.1 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $933.2 million (1995); note?ODA, $90
million (1998 est.)

Currency: 1 Tunisian dinar (TD) = 1,000 millimes

Exchange rates: Tunisian dinars (TD) per US$1--1.1027 (December
1998), 1.1393 (1998), 1.1059 (1997), 0.9734 (1996), 0.9458 (1995),
1.0116 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 560,000 (1996 est.); 3,185 cellular telephone
subscribers (1998 est.)

Telephone system: the system is above the African average and is
continuing to be upgraded; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte,
and Tunis; Internet access is available through two private service
providers licensed by the government
domestic: trunk facilities consist of open-wire lines, coaxial
cable, and microwave radio relay
international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations--1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat with back-up control
station; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria and
Libya; participant in Medarabtel

Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 8, shortwave 1 (1998 est.)

Radios: 1.7 million (1998 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 19 (these are network stations;
there are some additional stations of low power) (1997)

Televisions: 650,000 (1998 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 2,260 km
standard gauge: 492 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 1,758 km 1.000-m gauge
dual gauge: 10 km 1.000-m and 1.435-m gauges (three rails) (1993
est.)

Highways:
total: 23,100 km
paved: 18,226 km
unpaved: 4,874 km (1996 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 797 km; petroleum products 86 km; natural
gas 742 km

Ports and harbors: Bizerte, Gabes, La Goulette, Sfax, Sousse,
Tunis, Zarzis

Merchant marine:
total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 188,345 GRT/215,749 DWT
ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 5, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas
tanker 1, oil tanker 3, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 1
(1998 est.)

Airports: 32 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces,
National Guard

Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,601,928 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,486,964 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 99,597 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $356 million (1999)

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

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: maritime boundary dispute with Libya;
Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the
continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil
exploration

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

@Turkey ------

Geography

Location: southwestern Asia (that part west of the Bosporus is
sometimes included with Europe), bordering the Black Sea, between
Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and the
Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria

Geographic coordinates: 39 00 N, 35 00 E

Map references: Middle East

Area:
total: 780,580 sq km
land: 770,760 sq km
water: 9,820 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly larger than Texas

Land boundaries:
total: 2,627 km
border countries: Armenia 268 km, Azerbaijan 9 km, Bulgaria 240 km,
Georgia 252 km, Greece 206 km, Iran 499 km, Iraq 331 km, Syria 822 km

Coastline: 7,200 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: in Black Sea only: to the maritime boundary
agreed upon with the former USSR
territorial sea: 6 nm in the Aegean Sea; 12 nm in Black Sea and in
Mediterranean Sea

Climate: temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters;
harsher in interior

Terrain: mostly mountains; narrow coastal plain; high central
plateau (Anatolia)

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Ararat 5,166 m

Natural resources: antimony, coal, chromium, mercury, copper,
borate, sulfur, iron ore

Land use:
arable land: 32%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 16%
forests and woodland: 26%
other: 22% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 36,740 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: very severe earthquakes, especially in northern
Turkey, along an arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van

Environment--current issues: water pollution from dumping of
chemicals and detergents; air pollution, particularly in urban
areas; deforestation; concern for oil spills from increasing
Bosporus ship traffic

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Environmental Modification

Geography--note: strategic location controlling the Turkish
Straits (Bosporus, Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles) that link Black and
Aegean Seas

People

Population: 65,599,206 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 30% (male 10,148,457; female 9,781,452)
15-64 years: 64% (male 21,255,506; female 20,560,070)
65 years and over: 6% (male 1,775,164; female 2,078,557) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.57% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 20.92 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 5.27 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

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

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 35.81 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.29 years
male: 70.81 years
female: 75.88 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.41 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Turk(s)
adjective: Turkish

Ethnic groups: Turkish 80%, Kurdish 20%

Religions: Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (Christian and
Jews)

Languages: Turkish (official), Kurdish, Arabic

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.3%
male: 91.7%
female: 72.4% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Turkey
conventional short form: Turkey
local long form: Turkiye Cumhuriyeti
local short form: Turkiye

Data code: TU

Government type: republican parliamentary democracy

Capital: Ankara

Administrative divisions: 80 provinces (iller, singular--il);
Adana, Adiyaman, Afyon, Agri, Aksaray, Amasya, Ankara, Antalya,
Ardahan, Artvin, Aydin, Balikesir, Bartin, Batman, Bayburt, Bilecik,
Bingol, Bitlis, Bolu, Burdur, Bursa, Canakkale, Cankiri, Corum,
Denizli, Diyarbakir, Edirne, Elazig, Erzincan, Erzurum, Eskisehir,
Gazi Antep, Giresun, Gumushane, Hakkari, Hatay, Icel, Igdir,
Isparta, Istanbul, Izmir, Kahraman Maras, Karabuk, Karaman, Kars,
Kastamonu, Kayseri, Kilis, Kirikkale, Kirklareli, Kirsehir, Kocaeli,
Konya, Kutahya, Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mugla, Mus, Nevsehir,
Nigde, Ordu, Osmaniye, Rize, Sakarya, Samsun, Sanli Urfa, Siirt,
Sinop, Sirnak, Sivas, Tekirdag, Tokat, Trabzon, Tunceli, Usak, Van,
Yalova, Yozgat, Zonguldak
note: Karabuk, Kilis, Osmaniye and Yalova are the four newest
provinces; the US Board on Geographic Names is awaiting an official
Turkish administrative map for verification of the boundaries

Independence: 29 October 1923 (successor state to the Ottoman
Empire)

National holiday: Anniversary of the Declaration of the Republic,
29 October (1923)

Constitution: 7 November 1982

Legal system: derived from various European continental legal
systems; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Suleyman DEMIREL (since 16 May 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Bulent ECEVIT (since 11 January
1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
nomination of the prime minister
note: there is also a National Security Council that serves as an
advisory body to the president and the cabinet
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
seven-year term; election last held 16 May 1993 (next scheduled to
be held NA May 2000); prime minister and deputy prime minister
appointed by the president
election results: Suleyman DEMIREL elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote--54%

Legislative branch: unicameral Grand National Assembly of Turkey
or Turkiye Buyuk Millet Meclisi (550 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 24 December 1995 (next to be held 18 April 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--RP 21.38%, DYP 19.18%,
ANAP 19.65%, DSP 14.64%, CHP 10.71%, independent 0.48%; seats by
party--RP 158, DYP 135, ANAP 133, DSP 75, CHP 49; note--seats held by
various parties are subject to change due to defections, creation of
new parties, and ouster or death of sitting deputies; seating by
party as of 1 January 1999: FP 144, ANAP 137, DYP 97, DSP 61, CHP
55, DTP 12, BBP 8, MHP 3, DP 1, DEPAR 1, independents 20, vacant 11

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges appointed by the
president; Court of Appeals, judges are elected by the Supreme
Council of Judges and Prosecutors

Political parties and leaders: Motherland Party or ANAP [Mesut
outlawed on 22 February 1998

Political pressure groups and leaders: Turkish Confederation of
Independent Industrialists and Businessmen's Association or MUSIAD

International organization participation: AsDB, BIS, BSEC, CCC,
CE, CERN (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NATO,
NEA, OECD, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNRWA, UPU, WEU (associate), WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Baki ILKIN
chancery: 1714 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mark R. PARRIS
embassy: 110 Ataturk Boulevard, Ankara
mailing address: PSC 93, Box 5000, APO AE 09823
consulate(s) general: Istanbul
consulate(s): Adana

Flag description: red with a vertical white crescent (the closed
portion is toward the hoist side) and white five-pointed star
centered just outside the crescent opening

Economy

Economy--overview: Turkey has a dynamic economy that is a complex
mix of modern industry and commerce along with traditional village
agriculture and crafts. It has a strong and rapidly growing private
sector, yet the state still plays a major role in basic industry,
banking, transport, and communication. Its most important
industry--and largest exporter--is textiles and clothing, which is
almost entirely in private hands. The economic situation in recent
years has been marked by rapid growth coupled with partial success
in implementing structural reform measures. Inflation declined to
70% in 1998, down from 99% in 1997, but the public sector fiscal
deficit probably remained near 10% of GDP--due in large part to
interest payments which accounted for 42% of central government
spending in 1998. The government enacted a new tax law and speeded
up privatization in 1998 but made no progress on badly needed social
security reform. Ankara is trying to increase trade with other
countries in the region yet most of Turkey's trade is still with
OECD countries. Despite the implementation in January 1996 of a
customs union with the EU, foreign direct investment in the country
remains low--about $1 billion annually--perhaps because potential
investors are concerned about still-high inflation and the unsettled
political situation. Economic growth will remain about the same in
1999; inflation should decline further.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$425.4 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 2.8% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$6,600 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 14.4%
industry: 28.7%
services: 56.9% (1998)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 70% (1998)

Labor force: 22.7 million (April 1998)
note: about 1.5 million Turks work abroad (1994)

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 42.5%, services 34.5%,
industry 23% (1996)

Unemployment rate: 10% (1998 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $44.4 billion
expenditures: $58.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.7
billion (1998)

Industries: textiles, food processing, autos, mining (coal,
chromite, copper, boron), steel, petroleum, construction, lumber,
paper

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

Electricity--production: 103 billion kWh (1997)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 62.4%
hydro: 37.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.5% (1997)

Electricity--consumption: 91.16 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 300 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 265 million kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: tobacco, cotton, grain, olives, sugar
beets, pulse, citrus; livestock

Exports: $31 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities: textiles and apparel 30%, foodstuffs 15%,
iron and steel products 13% (1997)

Exports--partners: Germany 20%, US 9%, Russia 5%, UK 6%, Italy 6%
(1998)

Imports: $47 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment 50%, fuels,
minerals, foodstuffs (1997)

Imports--partners: Germany 16%, Italy 9%, US 9%, Russia 6%, UK 6%,
France 2% (1997)

Debt--external: $93.4 billion (1998)

Economic aid--recipient: ODA, $195 million (1993)

Currency: Turkish lira (TL)

Exchange rates: Turkish liras (TL) per US$1--331,400 (January
1999), 260,724 (1998), 151,865 (1997), 81,405 (1996), 45,845.1
(1995), 29,608.7 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 17 million (in addition, there are 1.5 million
cellular telephone subscribers) (1997 est.)

Telephone system: fair domestic and international systems;
undergoing modernization and refurbishment programs
domestic: cable; AMPS standard cellular system in Ashkhabad with
plans for expansion
international: 12 satellite earth stations--Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean), Eutelsat, and Inmarsat (Indian and Atlantic Ocean regions);
3 submarine fiber-optic cables (1996); connected internationally by
the Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line that became operational in
1998

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
note: there are 36 national broadcast stations, 108 regional
broadcast stations, and 1,058 local broadcast stations (1996)

Radios: 9.4 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 69 (in addition, there are 476
low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions: 10.53 million (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 10,386 km
standard gauge: 10,386 km 1.435-m gauge (1,088 km electrified)

Highways:
total: 382,397 km
paved: 95,599 km (including 1,560 km of expressways)
unpaved: 286,798 km (1997 est.)

Waterways: about 1,200 km

Pipelines: crude oil 1,738 km; petroleum products 2,321 km;
natural gas 708 km

Ports and harbors: Gemlik, Hopa, Iskenderun, Istanbul, Izmir,
Kocaeli (Izmit), Icel (Mersin), Samsun, Trabzon

Merchant marine:
total: 531 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,913,171
GRT/9,832,994 DWT
ships by type: bulk 159, cargo 239, chemical tanker 32, combination
bulk 5, combination ore/oil 6, container 12, liquefied gas tanker 5,
oil tanker 36, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 3,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 21, short-sea passenger 9, specialized tanker
3 (1998 est.)

Airports: 117 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 81
over 3,047 m: 16
2,438 to 3,047 m: 25
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 26 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 2 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Land Forces, Navy (includes Naval Air and
Naval Infantry), Air Force, Coast Guard, Gendarmerie

Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 18,168,658 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 11,024,173 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 659,338 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $6.737 billion (1997)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 4.3% (1997)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: complex maritime, air, and territorial
disputes with Greece in Aegean Sea; Cyprus question with Greece;
dispute with downstream riparian states (Syria and Iraq) over water
development plans for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; traditional
demands on former Armenian lands in Turkey have subsided

Illicit drugs: major transit route for Southwest Asian heroin and
hashish to Western Europe and--to a far lesser extent the US--via air,
land, and sea routes; major Turkish, Iranian, and other
international trafficking organizations operate out of Istanbul;
laboratories to convert imported morphine base into heroin are in
remote regions of Turkey as well as near Istanbul; government
maintains strict controls over areas of legal opium poppy
cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate

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

@Turkmenistan ------------

Geography

Location: Central Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran
and Kazakhstan

Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 60 00 E

Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States

Area:
total: 488,100 sq km
land: 488,100 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly larger than California

Land boundaries:
total: 3,736 km
border countries: Afghanistan 744 km, Iran 992 km, Kazakhstan 379
km, Uzbekistan 1,621 km

Coastline: 0 km
note: Turkmenistan borders the Caspian Sea (1,768 km)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: subtropical desert

Terrain: flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes rising to
mountains in the south; low mountains along border with Iran;
borders Caspian Sea in west

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Vpadina Akchanaya -81 m (note--Sarygamysh Koli is a
lake in north eastern Turkmenistan whose water levels fluctuate
widely; at its shallowest, its level is -110 m; it is presently at
-60 m, 20 m above Vpadina Akchanaya)
highest point: Ayrybaba 3,139 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, sulfur, salt

Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 63%
forests and woodland: 8%
other: 26% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 13,000 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater
with agricultural chemicals, pesticides; salination, water-logging
of soil due to poor irrigation methods; Caspian Sea pollution;
diversion of a large share of the flow of the Amu Darya into
irrigation contributes to that river's inability to replenish the
Aral Sea; desertification

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous
Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography--note: landlocked

People

Population: 4,366,383 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 38% (male 845,584; female 813,223)
15-64 years: 58% (male 1,243,031; female 1,283,985)
65 years and over: 4% (male 68,496; female 112,064) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.58% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 25.91 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 8.77 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.35 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: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 73.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 61.11 years
male: 57.48 years
female: 64.91 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.21 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Turkmen(s)
adjective: Turkmen

Ethnic groups: Turkmen 77%, Uzbek 9.2%, Russian 6.7%, Kazakh 2%,
other 5.1% (1995)

Religions: Muslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2%

Languages: Turkmen 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 97% (1989 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Turkmenistan
local long form: none
local short form: Turkmenistan
former: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic

Data code: TX

Government type: republic

Capital: Ashgabat

Administrative divisions: 5 welayatlar (singular--welayat): Ahal
Welayaty (Ashgabat), Balkan Welayaty (Nebitdag), Dashhowuz Welayaty
(formerly Tashauz), Lebap Welayaty (Charjew), Mary Welayaty
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)

Independence: 27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day, 27 October (1991)

Constitution: adopted 18 May 1992

Legal system: based on civil law system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers
Saparmurat NIYAZOV (since 27 October 1990, when the first direct
presidential election occurred); note--the president is both the
chief of state and head of government
head of government: President and Chairman of the Cabinet of
Ministers Saparmurat NIYAZOV (since 27 October 1990, when the first
direct presidential election occurred); note--the president is both
the chief of state and head of government; Deputy Chairmen of the
Cabinet of Ministers Mukhamed ABALAKOV (since NA), Orazgeldy
AYDOGDIYEV (since NA 1992), Hudaayguly HALYKOV (since NA 1996),
Rejep SAPAROV (since NA 1992), Boris SHIKHMURADOV (since NA 1993),
Batyr SARJAYEV (since NA 1993), Ilaman SHIKHIYEV (since NA 1995),
Yolly GURBANMURADOV (since NA 1997), Saparmurat NURIYEV (since NA
1997)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
note: NIYAZOV has been asked by various local groups, most recently
on 21 December 1998 at the Second Congress of the Democratic Party,
to be "president for life," but he has declined, saying the status
would require an amendment to the constitution
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 21 June 1992 (next to be held NA 2002;
note--extension of President NIYAZOV's term for an additional five
years overwhelmingly approved by national referendum held 15 January
1994); deputy chairmen of the cabinet of ministers are appointed by
the president
election results: Saparmurat NIYAZOV elected president without
opposition; percent of vote--Saparmurat NIYAZOV 99.5%

Legislative branch: under the 1992 constitution, there are two
parliamentary bodies, a unicameral People's Council or Halk
Maslahaty (more than 100 seats, some of which are elected by popular
vote and some of which are appointed; meets infrequently) and a
unicameral Assembly or Majlis (50 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: People's Council--NA; Assembly--last held 11 December 1994
(next to be held NA December 1999)
election results: Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--Democratic Party 45, other 5; note--all 50 preapproved by
President NIYAZOV

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
president

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of Turkmenistan
note: formal opposition parties are outlawed; unofficial, small
opposition movements exist underground or in foreign countries

International organization participation: CCC, CIS, EAPC, EBRD,
ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Halil UGUR
chancery: 2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Steven R. MANN
embassy: 9 Pushkin Street, Ashgabat
mailing address: use embassy street address

Flag description: green field with a vertical red stripe near the
hoist side, containing five carpet guls (designs used in producing
rugs) stacked above two crossed olive branches similar to the olive
branches on the UN flag; a white crescent moon and five white stars
appear in the upper corner of the field just to the fly side of the
red stripe

Economy

Economy--overview: Turkmenistan is largely desert country with
nomadic cattle raising, intensive agriculture in irrigated oases,
and huge gas and oil resources. One-half of its irrigated land is
planted in cotton, making it the world's tenth largest producer. It
also possesses the world's fifth largest reserves of natural gas and
substantial oil resources. Until the end of 1993, Turkmenistan had
experienced less economic disruption than other former Soviet states
because its economy received a boost from higher prices for oil and
gas and a sharp increase in hard currency earnings. In 1994,
Russia's refusal to export Turkmen gas to hard currency markets and
mounting debts of its major customers in the former USSR for gas
deliveries contributed to a sharp fall in industrial production and
caused the budget to shift from a surplus to a slight deficit. The
economy bottomed out in 1996, but high inflation continued.
Furthermore, with an authoritarian ex-communist regime in power and
a tribally based social structure, Turkmenistan has taken a cautious
approach to economic reform, hoping to use gas and cotton sales to
sustain its inefficient economy. In 1996, the government set in
place a stabilization program aimed at a unified and market-based
exchange rate, allocation of government credits by auction, and
strict limits on budget deficits. Privatization goals remain
limited. Turkmenistan is working hard to open new gas export
channels through Iran and Turkey to Europe, but these will take many
years to realize. In 1998 Turkmenistan faced revenue shortfalls due
to the continued lack of adequate export routes for natural gas and
obligations on extensive short-term external debt.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$7 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 5% (1998)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,630 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 18%
industry: 50%
services: 32% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 26.9% (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 19.8% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 2.34 million (1996)

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture and forestry 44%, industry
and construction 19%, other 37% (1996)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $521 million
expenditures: $548 million, including capital expenditures of $83
million (1996 est.)

Industries: natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food
processing

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 9.484 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.96%
hydro: 0.04%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 7.134 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 2.7 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 350 million kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: cotton, grain; livestock

Exports: $689 million (1997 est.)

Exports--commodities: natural gas, cotton, petroleum products,
textiles, electricity, carpets

Exports--partners: FSU, Hong Kong, Switzerland, US, Germany,
Turkey (1996)

Imports: $1.1 billion (1997 est.)

Imports--commodities: machinery and parts, grain and food,
plastics and rubber, consumer durables, textiles

Imports--partners: FSU, US, Turkey, Germany, Cyprus (1996)

Debt--external: $1.7 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $27.2 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Turkmen manat (TMM) = 100 tenesi

Exchange rates: manats per US$1--5,350 (January 1999), 4,070
(January 1997), 2,400 (January 1996)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: NA

Telephone system: poorly developed
domestic: NA
international: linked by cable and microwave radio relay to other
CIS republics and to other countries by leased connections to the
Moscow international gateway switch; a new telephone link from
Ashgabat to Iran has been established; a new exchange in Ashgabat
switches international traffic through Turkey via Intelsat;
satellite earth stations--1 Orbita and 1 Intelsat

Radio broadcast stations: 1 state-owned radio broadcast station
of NA type

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 3 (much programming relayed from
Russia and Turkey) (1997)

Televisions: NA

Transportation

Railways:
total: 2,187 km
broad gauge: 2,187 km 1.520-m gauge (1996 est.)

Highways:
total: 24,000 km
paved: 19,488 km (note--these roads are said to be hard-surfaced,
meaning that some are paved and some are all-weather gravel surfaced)
unpaved: 4,512 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: the Amu Darya is an important inland waterway

Pipelines: crude oil 250 km; natural gas 4,400 km

Ports and harbors: Turkmenbashy

Merchant marine:
total: 1 oil tanker (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,896 GRT/3,389 DWT
(1998 est.)

Airports: 64 (1994 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 22
2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1994 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 42
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 35 (1994 est.)

Military

Military branches: Ministry of Defense (Army, Air and Air
Defense, Navy, Border Troops, and Internal Troops), National Guard

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,110,606 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 901,735 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 45,050 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $88 million (1998)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 3% (1998)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet
determined among Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and
Turkmenistan

Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivator of opium poppy, mostly
for domestic consumption; limited government eradication program;
increasingly used as transshipment point for illicit drugs from
Southwest Asia to Russia and Western Europe; also a transshipment
point for acetic anhydride destined for Afghanistan

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

@Turks and Caicos Islands ------------------------

Geography

Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic
Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas

Geographic coordinates: 21 45 N, 71 35 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 430 sq km
land: 430 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 389 km

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

Climate: tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and
relatively dry

Terrain: low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove
swamps

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Blue Hills 49 m

Natural resources: spiny lobster, conch

Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 98% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: frequent hurricanes

Environment--current issues: limited natural fresh water
resources, private cisterns collect rainwater

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

Geography--note: 30 islands (eight inhabited)

People

Population: 16,863 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 32% (male 2,777; female 2,697)
15-64 years: 63% (male 5,619; female 5,085)
65 years and over: 5% (male 305; female 380) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.65% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 26.39 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

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

Net migration rate: 15 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: 1.11 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 21.11 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.35 years
male: 70.4 years
female: 74.4 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.28 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: none
adjective: none

Ethnic groups: black

Religions: Baptist 41.2%, Methodist 18.9%, Anglican 18.3%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 1.7%, other 19.9% (1980)

Languages: English (official)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1970 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands

Data code: TK

Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK

Government type: NA

Capital: Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)

Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK)

Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday: Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)

Constitution: introduced 30 August 1976; suspended in 1986;
restored and revised 5 March 1988

Legal system: based on laws of England and Wales, with a small
number adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1953),
represented by Governor John KELLY (since NA September 1996)
head of government: Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January
1995)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex officio members and
five appointed by the governor from among the members of the
Legislative Council
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (19 seats, of
which 13 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 31 January 1995 (next to be held by NA December
1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PDM 8,
PNP 4, independent (Norman SAUNDERS) 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: Progressive National Party or PNP

International organization participation: Caricom (associate),
CDB, Interpol (subbureau)

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

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

Flag description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer
half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell,
lobster, and cactus

Economy

Economy--overview: The Turks and Caicos economy is based on
tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Most capital
goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US was the
leading source of tourists in 1996, accounting for more than half of
the 87,000 visitors. Major sources of government revenue include
fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$117 million (1997 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 4% (1997 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$7,700 (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): 4% (1995)

Labor force: 4,848 (1990 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: about 33% in government and 20% in
agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism and
financial and other services (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate: 10% (1997 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $47 million
expenditures: $33.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997/98 est.)

Industries: tourism, offshore financial services

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 5 million kWh (1996)

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

Electricity--consumption: 5 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus
fruits; fish

Exports: $4.7 million (1993)

Exports--commodities: lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells

Exports--partners: US, UK

Imports: $46.6 million (1993)

Imports--commodities: food and beverages, tobacco, clothing,
manufactures, construction materials

Imports--partners: US, UK

Debt--external: $NA

Economic aid--recipient: $5.7 million (1995)

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

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 1,359 (1988 est.)

Telephone system: fair cable and radiotelephone services
domestic: NA
international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station--1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

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

Radios: 7,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 0 (broadcasts from The Bahamas are
received; cable television is established) (1997)

Televisions: NA

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 121 km
paved: 24 km
unpaved: 97 km

Ports and harbors: Grand Turk, Providenciales

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 7 (1998 est.)

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

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

Military

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

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American narcotics
destined for the US

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

@Tuvalu ------

Geography

Location: Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls
in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to
Australia

Geographic coordinates: 8 00 S, 178 00 E

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total: 26 sq km
land: 26 sq km
water: 0 sq km

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

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 24 km

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

Climate: tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to
November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)

Terrain: very low-lying and narrow coral atolls

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Natural resources: fish

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: severe tropical storms are usually rare, but, in
1997, there were three cyclones

Environment--current issues: since there are no streams or rivers
and groundwater is not potable, all water needs must be met by
catchment systems with storage facilities; beachhead erosion because
of the use of sand for building materials; excessive clearance of
forest undergrowth for use as fuel; damage to coral reefs from the
spread of the Crown of Thorns starfish; Tuvalu is very concerned
about global increases in greenhouse gas emissions and their effect
on rising sea levels, which threaten the country's underground water
table

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

People

Population: 10,588 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 35% (male 1,870; female 1,799)
15-64 years: 61% (male 3,062; female 3,360)
65 years and over: 4% (male 225; female 272) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.34% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 21.91 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 8.5 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

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

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 25.53 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.15 years
male: 63.01 years
female: 65.34 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.11 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Tuvaluan(s)
adjective: Tuvaluan

Ethnic groups: Polynesian 96%

Religions: Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day
Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%

Languages: Tuvaluan, English

Literacy: NA; note--education is free and compulsory from ages 6
through 13

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tuvalu
former: Ellice Islands

Data code: TV

Government type: constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary
democracy; began debating republic status in 1992

Capital: Funafuti

Administrative divisions: none

Independence: 1 October 1978 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1978)

Constitution: 1 October 1978

Legal system: NA

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir Tomasi PUAPUA, M.D. (since NA
June 1998)
head of government: Prime Minister Bikenibeu PAENIU (since 23
December 1996) and Deputy Prime Minister Kokeiya MALUA (since 8
April 1998);
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; prime
minister and deputy prime minister elected by and from the members
of Parliament; election last held 8 April 1998 (next to be held NA
2002)
election results: Bikenibeu PAENIU reelected prime minister by a
vote in Parliament of 10 to 2; Kokeiya MALUA elected deputy prime
minister; percent of Parliament vote--NA

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Fale I Fono, also
called House of Assembly (12 seats--two from each island with more
than 1,000 inhabitants, one from all the other inhabited islands;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 26-27 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--independents 12

Judicial branch: eight Island Courts; High Court; note--a chief
justice visits twice a year to preside over sessions of the High
Court

Political parties and leaders: there are no political parties but
members of Parliament usually align themselves in informal groupings

International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C (special),
ESCAP, IFRCS (associate), Intelsat (nonsignatory user), ITU,
Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WTrO (applicant)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Tuvalu; the US ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tuvalu

Flag description: light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant; the outer half of the flag represents a map of
the country with nine yellow five-pointed stars symbolizing the nine
islands

Economy

Economy--overview: Tuvalu consists of a densely populated,
scattered group of nine coral atolls with poor soil. The country has
no known mineral resources and few exports. Subsistence farming and
fishing are the primary economic activities. Government revenues
largely come from the sale of stamps and coins and worker
remittances. About 1,000 Tuvaluans work in Nauru in the phosphate
mining industry. Nauru has begun repatriating Tuvaluans, however, as
phosphate resources decline. Substantial income is received annually
from an international trust fund established in 1987 by Australia,
NZ, and the UK and supported also by Japan and South Korea. In an
effort to reduce its dependence on foreign aid, the government is
pursuing public sector reforms, including privatization of some
government functions and personnel cuts of up to 7%. In 1998, Tuvalu
began selling internet addresses in its TV domain and reportedly has
derived revenue from use of its area code for "900" lines. Low-lying
Tuvalu is particularly vulnerable to any future global warming.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$7.8 million (1995 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 8.7% (1995)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$800 (1995 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): 3.9% (average 1985-93)

Labor force: NA

Labor force--by occupation: people make a living mainly through
exploitation of the sea, reefs, and atolls and from wages sent home
by those working abroad (mostly workers in the phosphate industry
and sailors)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $4.3 million
expenditures: $4.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1989 est.)

Industries: fishing, tourism, copra

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 3 million kWh (1995)

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

Electricity--consumption: 3 million kWh (1995)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1995)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1995)

Agriculture--products: coconuts; fish

Exports: $165,000 (f.o.b., 1989)

Exports--commodities: copra

Exports--partners: Fiji, Australia, NZ