Chapter V (45)

Terrain: vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low
mountains in east; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in
Alaska; rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Death Valley -86 m
highest point: Mount McKinley 6,194 m

Natural resources: coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates,
uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver,
tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber

Land use:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 30%
other: 26% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 207,000 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity
around Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of
Mexico coasts; tornadoes in the midwest and southeast; mud slides in
California; forest fires in the west; flooding; permafrost in
northern Alaska, a major impediment to development

Environment--current issues: air pollution resulting in acid rain
in both the US and Canada; the US is the largest single emitter of
carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels; water pollution
from runoff of pesticides and fertilizers; very limited natural
fresh water resources in much of the western part of the country
require careful management; desertification

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

Geography--note: world's third-largest country (after Russia and
Canada)

People

Population: 272,639,608 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 22% (male 30,097,125; female 28,699,568)
15-64 years: 66% (male 89,024,052; female 90,379,328)
65 years and over: 12% (male 14,189,132; female 20,250,403) (1999
est.)

Population growth rate: 0.85% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 14.3 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 8.8 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 6.33 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.23 years
male: 72.95 years
female: 79.67 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.07 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: American(s)
adjective: American

Ethnic groups: white 83.5%, black 12.4%, Asian 3.3%, Amerindian
0.8% (1992)

Religions: Protestant 56%, Roman Catholic 28%, Jewish 2%, other
4%, none 10% (1989)

Languages: English, Spanish (spoken by a sizable minority)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97% (1979 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: United States of America
conventional short form: United States
abbreviation: US or USA

Data code: US

Government type: federal republic; strong democratic tradition

Capital: Washington, DC

Administrative divisions: 50 states and 1 district*; Alabama,
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut,
Delaware, District of Columbia*, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho,
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine,
Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri,
Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico,
New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee,
Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia,
Wisconsin, Wyoming

Dependent areas: American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland
Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands,
Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto
Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Atoll
note: from 18 July 1947 until 1 October 1994, the US administered
the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, but recently entered
into a new political relationship with all four political units: the
Northern Mariana Islands is a commonwealth in political union with
the US (effective 3 November 1986); Palau concluded a Compact of
Free Association with the US (effective 1 October 1994); the
Federated States of Micronesia signed a Compact of Free Association
with the US (effective 3 November 1986); the Republic of the
Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association with the US
(effective 21 October 1986)

Independence: 4 July 1776 (from England)

National holiday: Independence Day, 4 July (1776)

Constitution: 17 September 1787, effective 4 March 1789

Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of
legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20
January 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January
1993); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20
January 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January
1993); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with Senate approval
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by a college of representatives who are elected directly from each
state; president and vice president serve four-year terms; election
last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000)
election results: William Jefferson CLINTON reelected president;
percent of popular vote--William Jefferson CLINTON (Democratic Party)
49.2%, Robert DOLE (Republican Party) 40.7%, Ross PEROT (Reform
Party) 8.4%, other 1.7%

Legislative branch: bicameral Congress consists of Senate (100
seats, one-third are renewed every two years; two members are
elected from each state by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and
House of Representatives (435 seats; members are directly elected by
popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 2 November 1998 (next to be held 7
November 2000); House of Representatives--last held 2 November 1998
(next to be held 7 November 2000)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--Republican Party 55, Democratic Party 45; House of
Representatives--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--Republican Party 223, Democratic Party 211, independent 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (the nine justices are appointed
for life by the president with confirmation by the Senate)

Political parties and leaders: Republican Party [Jim NICHOLSON,
national committee chairman]; several other groups or parties of
minor political significance

International organization participation: AfDB, ANZUS, APEC,
AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CP,
EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESCAP, FAO, G-5, G-7, G-10, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO,
MIPONUH, MTCR, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN,
UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG,
UNPREDEP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Flag description: thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top
and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the
upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars
arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and
bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent
the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies;
known as Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a
number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and
Puerto Rico

Economy

Economy--overview: The US has the most powerful, diverse, and
technologically advanced economy in the world, with a per capita GDP
of $31,500, the largest among major industrial nations. In this
market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms make
most of the decisions, and government buys needed goods and services
predominantly in the private marketplace. US business firms enjoy
considerably greater flexibility than their counterparts in Western
Europe and Japan in decisions to expand capital plant, lay off
surplus workers, and develop new products. At the same time, they
face higher barriers to entry in their rivals' home markets than the
barriers to entry of foreign firms in US markets. US firms are at or
near the forefront in technological advances, especially in
computers and in medical, aerospace, and military equipment,
although their advantage has narrowed since the end of World War II.
The onrush of technology largely explains the gradual development of
a "two-tier labor market" in which those at the bottom lack the
education and the professional/technical skills of those at the top
and, more and more, fail to get pay raises, health insurance
coverage, and other benefits. Since 1975, practically all the gains
in household income have gone to the top 20% of households. The
years 1994-98 witnessed solid increases in real output, low
inflation rates, and a drop in unemployment to below 5%. Long-term
problems include inadequate investment in economic infrastructure,
rapidly rising medical costs of an aging population, sizable trade
deficits, and stagnation of family income in the lower economic
groups. The outlook for 1999 is for GDP growth somewhat below
1998's, continued low inflation, and about the same level of
unemployment. Two shadows for 1999 are the severe financial crises
in East Asia and Russia and the exuberant level of stock prices in
relation to corporate earnings.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$8.511 trillion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 3.9% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$31,500 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 23%
services: 75% (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line: 13% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.5%
highest 10%: 28.5% (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.6% (1998)

Labor force: 137.7 million (includes unemployed) (1998)

Labor force--by occupation: managerial and professional 29.6%,
technical, sales and administrative support 29.3%, services 13.6%,
manufacturing, mining, transportation, and crafts 24.8%, farming,
forestry, and fishing 2.7% (1998)
note: figures exclude the unemployed

Unemployment rate: 4.5% (1998)

Budget:
revenues: $1.722 trillion
expenditures: $1.653 trillion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998)

Industries: leading industrial power in the world, highly
diversified and technologically advanced; petroleum, steel, motor
vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics,
food processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining

Industrial production growth rate: 3.6% (1998)

Electricity--production: 3.629 trillion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 65.1%
hydro: 9.6%
nuclear: 18.59%
other: 6.71% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 3.666 trillion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 9.02 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 46.543 billion kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: wheat, other grains, corn, fruits,
vegetables, cotton; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; forest
products; fish

Exports: $663 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports--commodities: capital goods, automobiles, industrial
supplies and raw materials, consumer goods, agricultural products

Exports--partners: Canada 22%, Western Europe 21%, Japan 10%,
Mexico 10% (1997)

Imports: $912 billion (c.i.f., 1998 est.)

Imports--commodities: crude oil and refined petroleum products,
machinery, automobiles, consumer goods, industrial raw materials,
food and beverages

Imports--partners: Canada, 19%, Western Europe 18%, Japan 14%,
Mexico 10%, China 7% (1997)

Debt--external: $862 billion (1995 est.)

Economic aid--donor: ODA, $7.4 billion (1995)

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

Exchange rates: British pounds (L) per US$--0.6057 (January 1999),
0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529
(1994); Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$--1.5192 (January 1999),
1.4835 (1998), 1.3846 (1997), 1.3635 (1996), 1.3724 (1995), 1.3656
(1994); French francs (F) per US$--5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995
(1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994);
Italian lire (Lit) per US$--1,668.7 (January 1999), 1,763.2 (1998),
1,703.1 (1997), 1,542.9 (1996), 1,628.9 (1995), 1,612.4 (1994);
Japanese yen (Y) per US$--113.18 (January 1999), 130.91 (1998),
120.99 (1997), 108.78 (1996), 94.06 (1995), 102.21 (1994); German
deutsche marks (DM) per US$--1.69 (January 1999), 1.9692 (1998),
1.7341 (1997), 1.5048 (1996), 1.4331 (1995), 1.6228 (1994); Euro per
US$--0.8597 (January 1999)

Fiscal year: 1 October--30 September

Communications

Telephones: 182.558 million (1987 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: a large system of fiber-optic cable, microwave radio
relay, coaxial cable, and domestic satellites carries conventional
telephone traffic; a rapidly growing cellular system carries mobile
telephone traffic throughout country
international: 24 ocean cable systems in use; satellite earth
stations--61 Intelsat (45 Atlantic Ocean and 16 Pacific Ocean), 5
Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 4 Inmarsat (Pacific and
Atlantic Ocean regions) (1990 est.)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 4,987, FM 4,932, shortwave 0

Radios: 540.5 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: more than 1,500 (including nearly
1,000 stations affiliated with the five major networks--NBC, ABC,
CBS, FOX, and PBS; in addition, there are about 9,000 cable TV
systems) (1997)

Televisions: 215 million (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 240,000 km mainline routes (nongovernment owned)
standard gauge: 240,000 km 1.435-m gauge (1989)

Highways:
total: 6.42 million km
paved: 3,903,360 km (including 88,400 km of expressways)
unpaved: 2,516,640 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: 41,009 km of navigable inland channels, exclusive of
the Great Lakes

Pipelines: petroleum products 276,000 km; natural gas 331,000 km
(1991)

Ports and harbors: Anchorage, Baltimore, Boston, Charleston,
Chicago, Duluth, Hampton Roads, Honolulu, Houston, Jacksonville, Los
Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Port Canaveral,
Portland (Oregon), Prudhoe Bay, San Francisco, Savannah, Seattle,
Tampa, Toledo

Merchant marine:
total: 385 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,123,848
GRT/15,255,996 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 10, bulk 61, cargo 28, chemical tanker
13, combination bulk 2, container 83, liquefied gas tanker 9,
multifunctional large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 114, passenger 7,
passenger-cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 43, short-sea passenger 3,
specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 7 (1998 est.)

Airports: 14,459 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 5,167
over 3,047 m: 180
2,438 to 3,047 m: 219
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1,294
914 to 1,523 m: 2,447
under 914 m: 1,027 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 9,292
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 156
914 to 1,523 m: 1,647
under 914 m: 7,482 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 122 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Department of the Army, Department of the Navy
(includes Marine Corps), Department of the Air Force
note: the Coast Guard falls under the Department of Transportation,
but in wartime reports to the Department of the Navy

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: NA

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $267.2 billion (1997 est.)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 3.4% (1997 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: maritime boundary disputes with Canada
(Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Machias Seal
Island); US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased from Cuba and
only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate
the lease; Haiti claims Navassa Island; US has made no territorial
claim in Antarctica (but has reserved the right to do so) and does
not recognize the claims of any other nation; Marshall Islands
claims Wake Atoll

Illicit drugs: consumer of cocaine shipped from Colombia through
Mexico and the Caribbean; consumer of heroin, marijuana, and
increasingly methamphetamines from Mexico; consumer of high-quality
Southeast Asian heroin; illicit producer of cannabis, marijuana,
depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and methamphetamines;
drug-money-laundering center

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

@Uruguay -------

Geography

Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic
Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil

Geographic coordinates: 33 00 S, 56 00 W

Map references: South America

Area:
total: 176,220 sq km
land: 173,620 sq km
water: 2,600 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than the state of Washington

Land boundaries:
total: 1,564 km
border countries: Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km

Coastline: 660 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 200 nm; overflight and navigation guaranteed beyond
12 nm

Climate: warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown

Terrain: mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal
lowland

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m

Natural resources: fertile soil, hydropower, minor minerals,
fisheries

Land use:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 77%
forests and woodland: 6%
other: 10% (1997 est.)

Irrigated land: 7,700 sq km (1997 est.)

Natural hazards: seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly
and occasional violent wind which blows north from the Argentine
pampas), droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains,
which act as weather barriers, all locations are particularly
vulnerable to rapid changes in weather fronts

Environment--current issues: working with Brazil to monitor and
minimize transboundary pollution caused by Brazilian power plant
near border; water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry;
inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal

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

People

Population: 3,308,523 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 24% (male 407,990; female 388,293)
15-64 years: 63% (male 1,026,554; female 1,054,513)
65 years and over: 13% (male 179,331; female 251,842) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.73% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 16.84 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 8.81 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 13.49 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.83 years
male: 72.69 years
female: 79.15 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.27 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Uruguayan(s)
adjective: Uruguayan

Ethnic groups: white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian,
practically nonexistent

Religions: Roman Catholic 66% (less than one-half of the adult
population attends church regularly), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%,
nonprofessing or other 30%

Languages: Spanish, Portunol, or Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish
mix on the Brazilian frontier)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.3%
male: 96.9%
female: 97.7% (1995 est.)

Government

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

Data code: UY

Government type: republic

Capital: Montevideo

Administrative divisions: 19 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento); Artigas, Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia,
Durazno, Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo,
Paysandu, Rio Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San Jose, Soriano,
Tacuarembo, Treinta y Tres

Independence: 25 August 1825 (from Brazil)

National holiday: Independence Day, 25 August (1825)

Constitution: 27 November 1966, effective February 1967,
suspended 27 June 1973, new constitution rejected by referendum 30
November 1980; two constitutional reforms approved by plebiscite 26
November 1989 and 7 January 1997

Legal system: based on Spanish civil law system; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Julio Maria SANGUINETTI (since 1 March
1995) and Vice President Hugo FERNANDEZ Faingold (since 5 October
1998); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Julio Maria SANGUINETTI (since 1 March
1995) and Vice President Hugo FERNANDEZ Faingold (since 5 October
1998); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president with
parliamentary approval
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 27 November
1994 (next to be held 31 October 1999 with run-off election if
necessary on 28 November 1999)
election results: Julio Maria SANGUINETTI elected president; percent
of vote--23%

Legislative branch: bicameral General Assembly or Asamblea
General consists of Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (30
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
and Chamber of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (99
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators--last held 27 November 1994 (next to
be held 31 October 1999); Chamber of Representatives--last held 27
November 1994 (next to be held 31 October 1999)
election results: Chamber of Senators--percent of vote by
party--Colorado 36%, Blanco 34%, Encuentro Progresista 27%, New
Sector/Space 3%; seats by party--Colorado 11, Blanco 10, Encuentro
Progresista 8, New Sector/Space 1; Chamber of
Representatives--percent of vote by party--Colorado 32%, Blanco 31%,
Encuentro Progresista 31%, New Sector/Space 5%; seats by
party--Colorado 32, Blanco 31, Encuentro Progresista 31, New
Sector/Space 5

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are nominated by the
president and elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly

Political parties and leaders: National Party or Blanco [Walter
leader--Gen. Liber SEREGNI]; Progressive Encounter in the Broad Front

International organization participation: CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11,
G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA,
Mercosur, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA,
RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UPU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alvaro DIEZ DE MEDINA SUAREZ
chancery: 2715 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher C. ASHBY
embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo
mailing address: APO AA 34035

Flag description: nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and
bottom) alternating with blue; there is a white square in the upper
hoist-side corner with a yellow sun bearing a human face known as
the Sun of May and 16 rays alternately triangular and wavy

Economy

Economy--overview: Uruguay's small economy benefits from a
favorable climate for agriculture and substantial hydropower
production. The SANGUINETTI government's conservative monetary and
fiscal policies are aimed at reducing inflation; other priorities
include moving toward a more market-oriented economy, completing
reform of the social security system, and increasing investment in
education. Economic performance remains sensitive to conditions in
Argentina and Brazil, largely because more than half of Uruguay's
trade is conducted with its partners in Mercosur (the Southern Cone
Common Market).

GDP: purchasing power parity--$28.4 billion (1998 est.)

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

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$8,600 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 26%
services: 66% (1997)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.6% (1998)

Labor force: 1.38 million (1997 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: government 25%, manufacturing 19%,
agriculture 11%, commerce 12%, utilities, construction, transport,
and communications 12%, other services 21% (1988 est.)

Unemployment rate: 10.5% (November 1998)

Budget:
revenues: $4 billion
expenditures: $4.3 billion, with capital expenditures of $385
million (1997 est.)

Industries: meat processing, wool and hides, sugar, textiles,
footwear, leather apparel, tires, cement, petroleum refining, wine

Industrial production growth rate: 5.6% (1997)

Electricity--production: 8.35 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 10.18%
hydro: 89.82%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 8.223 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 437 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 310 million kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: wheat, rice, corn, sorghum; livestock; fish

Exports: $2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities: wool and textile manufactures, beef and
other animal products, rice, fish and shellfish, chemicals

Exports--partners: Brazil, Argentina, US, Germany, Italy, UK

Imports: $3.7 billion (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles,
chemicals, minerals, plastics, oil

Imports--partners: Brazil, Argentina, US, Italy, Germany, France,
Spain

Debt--external: $4.6 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $79.7 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Uruguayan peso ($Ur) = 100 centesimos

Exchange rates: Uruguayan pesos ($Ur) per US$1--11.08 (January
1999), 9.98 (January 1998), 9.4418 (1997), 7.9718 (1996), 6.3491
(1995), 5.0529 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 767,333 (1997)

Telephone system: some modern facilities
domestic: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new
nationwide microwave radio relay network
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 72, FM 0, shortwave 28

Radios: 1.89 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 26 (in addition, there are ten
low-power repeaters for the Montevideo station) (1997)

Televisions: 1,131,065 (1996)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 2,994 km
standard gauge: 2,073 km 1.435-m gauge (921 km closed) (1997)

Highways:
total: 8,420 km
paved: 7,578 km
unpaved: 842 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: 1,600 km; used by coastal and shallow-draft river craft

Ports and harbors: Fray Bentos, Montevideo, Nueva Palmira,
Paysandu, Punta del Este, Colonia, Piriapolis

Merchant marine:
total: 2 oil tankers (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 44,042 GRT/83,684
DWT (1998 est.)

Airports: 65 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 15
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 50
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 33 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air Arm, Coast
Guard, Marines), Air Force, Police (Coracero Guard, Grenadier Guard)

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 806,451 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 653,796 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $172 million (1998)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.9% (1998)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: two short sections of the boundary with
Brazil are in dispute--Arroyo de la Invernada (Arroio Invernada) area
of the Rio Cuareim (Rio Quarai) and the islands at the confluence of
the Rio Cuareim (Rio Quarai) and the Uruguay River

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

@Uzbekistan ----------

Geography

Location: Central Asia, north of Afghanistan

Geographic coordinates: 41 00 N, 64 00 E

Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States

Area:
total: 447,400 sq km
land: 425,400 sq km
water: 22,000 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly larger than California

Land boundaries:
total: 6,221 km
border countries: Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203 km,
Kyrgyzstan 1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km

Coastline: 0 km
note: Uzbekistan includes the southern portion of the Aral Sea with
a 420 km shoreline

Maritime claims: none (doubly landlocked)

Climate: mostly midlatitude desert, long, hot summers, mild
winters; semiarid grassland in east

Terrain: mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad,
flat intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya,
Sirdaryo (Syr Darya), and Zarafshon; Fergana Valley in east
surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral
Sea in west

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sariqarnish Kuli -12 m
highest point: Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m

Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium,
silver, copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum

Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 46%
forests and woodland: 3%
other: 41% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 40,000 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment--current issues: drying up of the Aral Sea is
resulting in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and
natural salts; these substances are then blown from the increasingly
exposed lake bed and contribute to desertification; water pollution
from industrial wastes and the heavy use of fertilizers and
pesticides is the cause of many human health disorders; increasing
soil salination; soil contamination from agricultural chemicals,
including DDT

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

Geography--note: along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two
doubly landlocked countries in the world

People

Population: 24,102,473 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 37% (male 4,556,973; female 4,413,617)
15-64 years: 58% (male 6,938,090; female 7,068,839)
65 years and over: 5% (male 443,604; female 681,350) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.32% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 23.43 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 7.75 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 71.58 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.91 years
male: 60.29 years
female: 67.71 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.82 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Uzbekistani(s)
adjective: Uzbekistani

Ethnic groups: Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh 3%,
Karakalpak 2.5%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.5% (1996 est.)

Religions: Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other
3%

Languages: Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (yearend 1996)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistan
conventional short form: Uzbekistan
local long form: Uzbekiston Respublikasi
local short form: none
former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic

Data code: UZ

Government type: republic; effectively authoritarian presidential
rule, with little power outside the executive branch; executive
power concentrated in the presidency

Capital: Tashkent (Toshkent)

Administrative divisions: 12 wiloyatlar (singular--wiloyat), 1
autonomous republic* (respublikasi), and 1 city** (shahri); Andijon
Wiloyati, Bukhoro Wiloyati, Farghona Wiloyati, Jizzakh Wiloyati,
Khorazm Wiloyati (Urganch), Namangan Wiloyati, Nawoiy Wiloyati,
Qashqadaryo Wiloyati (Qarshi), Qoraqalpoghiston* (Nukus), Samarqand
Wiloyati, Sirdaryo Wiloyati (Guliston), Surkhondaryo Wiloyati
(Termiz), Toshkent Shahri**, Toshkent Wiloyati
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)

Independence: 31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 September (1991)

Constitution: new constitution adopted 8 December 1992

Legal system: evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks
independent judicial system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March 1990, when
he was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet)
head of government: Prime Minister Otkir SULTONOV (since 21 December
1995) and 10 deputy prime ministers
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with
approval of the Supreme Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 29 December 1991 (next to be held NA January
2000; note--extension of President KARIMOV's term for an additional
four years overwhelmingly approved--99.6% of total vote in favor--by
national referendum held 26 March 1995); prime minister and all
other ministers appointed by the president
election results: Islom KARIMOV elected president; percent of
vote--Islom KARIMOV 86%, Muhammed SOLIH 12%, other 2%

Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis
(250 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 25 December 1994 (next to be held NA December
1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--People's Democratic Party 207, Fatherland Progress Party 12,
other 31; note--seating following the final runoff elections were
held 22 January 1995: People's Democratic Party 69, Fatherland
Progress Party 14, Social Democratic Party 47, local government 120
note: all parties in parliament support President KARIMOV

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are nominated by the
president and confirmed by the Supreme Assembly

Political parties and leaders: People's Democratic Party or NDP
YULDASHEV, chairman]; Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party
secretary]

Political pressure groups and leaders: Birlik (Unity) Movement

International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CIS, EAPC,
EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
(applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Sadyk SAFAYEV
chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph A. PRESEL
embassy: 82 Chilanzarskaya, Tashkent 700115
mailing address: use embassy street address; US Embassy Tashkent,
Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7110

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top),
white, and green separated by red fimbriations with a white crescent
moon and 12 white stars in the upper hoist-side quadrant

Economy

Economy--overview: Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of
which 10% consists of intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys.
It was one of the poorest areas of the former Soviet Union with more
than 60% of its population living in densely populated rural
communities. Uzbekistan is now the world's third largest cotton
exporter, a major producer of gold and natural gas, and a regionally
significant producer of chemicals and machinery. Following
independence in December 1991, the government sought to prop up its
Soviet-style command economy with subsidies and tight controls on
production and prices. Faced with high rates of inflation, however,
the government began to reform in mid-1994, by introducing tighter
monetary policies, expanding privatization, slightly reducing the
role of the state in the economy, and improving the environment for
foreign investors. Nevertheless, the state continues to be a
dominating influence in the economy, and reforms have so far failed
to bring about much-needed structural changes. The IMF suspended
Uzbekistan's $185 million standby arrangement in late 1996 because
of governmental steps that made impossible fulfillment of Fund
conditions. Uzbekistan has responded to the negative external
conditions generated by the Asian and Russian financial crises by
tightening export and currency controls within its already largely
closed economy.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$59.2 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 1% (1998 est.)

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

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 26%
industry: 27%
services: 47% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 40% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 11.9 million (1998 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture and forestry 44%, industry
20%, services 36% (1995)

Unemployment rate: 5% plus another 10% underemployed (December
1996 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $4.4 billion
expenditures: $4.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.1
billion (1997 est.)

Industries: textiles, food processing, machine building,
metallurgy, natural gas

Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1998)

Electricity--production: 47.9 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 84.18%
hydro: 15.82%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 43.885 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 5.6 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 6.5 billion kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock

Exports: $3.8 billion (1998)

Exports--commodities: cotton, gold, natural gas, mineral
fertilizers, ferrous metals, textiles, food products, autos

Exports--partners: Russia, Ukraine, Eastern Europe, Western Europe

Imports: $4.1 billion (1998)

Imports--commodities: grain, machinery and parts, consumer
durables, other foods

Imports--partners: principally other FSU, Czech Republic, Western
Europe

Debt--external: $2.6 billion (1997 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $276.6 million (1995)

Currency: Uzbekistani som (UKS)

Exchange rates: Uzbekistani soms (UKS) per US$1--111.9 (February
1999), 110.95 (December 1998), 75.8 (September 1997), 41.1 (1996),
30.2 (1995), 11.4 (1994), 1.0 (1993)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 1.475 million (1998 est.)

Telephone system: poorly developed; ambitiously engaged in
telecommunications modernization
domestic: in 1998 there were six cellular networks operating in
Uzbekistan; 4 GSM, 1 D-AMPS, 1 AMPS standard
international: linked by landline or microwave radio relay with CIS
member states and to other countries by leased connection via the
Moscow international gateway switch; new Intelsat links to Tokyo
(Japan) and Ankara (Turkey) give Uzbekistan international access
independent of Russian facilities; satellite earth stations--NA
Orbita and NA Intelsat; Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line

Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note--there
are 12 radio broadcast stations including one state-owned broadcast
station of NA type and four independent stations

Radios: 29,016,870

Television broadcast stations: 4 (in addition, there are two
repeater stations that relay Russian ORT programs and Kazakh,
Kyrgyz, and Tadzhik programs) (1997)

Televisions: 24,497,850

Transportation

Railways:
total: 3,380 km in common carrier service; does not include
industrial lines
broad gauge: 3,380 km 1.520-m gauge (300 km electrified) (1993)

Highways:
total: 81,600 km
paved: 71,237 km (note--these roads are said to be hard surfaced,
meaning that some are paved and some are all-weather gravel surfaced)
unpaved: 10,363 km dirt (1996 est.)

Waterways: 1,100 (1990)

Pipelines: crude oil 250 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural
gas 810 km (1992)

Ports and harbors: Termiz (Amu Darya river)

Airports: 3 (1997 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Security
Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 6,172,436 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 5,012,944 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 254,114 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $200 million (1997)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.4% (1997)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and very
small amounts of opium poppy, mostly for domestic consumption,
almost entirely eradicated by an effective government eradication
program; increasingly used as transshipment point for illicit drugs
from Afghanistan to Russia and Western Europe and for acetic
anhydride destined for Afghanistan

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

@Vanuatu -------

Geography

Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean,
about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Geographic coordinates: 16 00 S, 167 00 E

Map references: Oceania

Area:
total: 14,760 sq km
land: 14,760 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes more than 80 islands

Area--comparative: slightly larger than Connecticut

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 2,528 km

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
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; moderated by southeast trade winds

Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal
plains

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m

Natural resources: manganese, hardwood forests, fish

Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 10%
permanent pastures: 2%
forests and woodland: 75%
other: 11% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to
April); volcanism causes minor earthquakes

Environment--current issues: a majority of the population does not
have access to a potable and reliable supply of water; deforestation

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

People

Population: 189,036 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 39% (male 37,040; female 35,760)
15-64 years: 58% (male 56,649; female 53,799)
65 years and over: 3% (male 3,125; female 2,663) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.02% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 28.49 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 8.26 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: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.17 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 59.58 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 61.44 years
male: 59.41 years
female: 63.57 years (1999 est.)

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

Nationality:
noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)
adjective: Ni-Vanuatu

Ethnic groups: indigenous Melanesian 94%, French 4%, Vietnamese,
Chinese, Pacific Islanders

Religions: Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Catholic 15%,
indigenous beliefs 7.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of
Christ 3.8%, other 15.7%

Languages: English (official), French (official), pidgin (known
as Bislama or Bichelama)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 53%
male: 57%
female: 48% (1979 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu
conventional short form: Vanuatu
former: New Hebrides

Data code: NH

Government type: republic

Capital: Port-Vila

Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma,
Shefa, Tafea, Torba

Independence: 30 July 1980 (from France and UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 30 July (1980)

Constitution: 30 July 1980

Legal system: unified system being created from former dual
French and British systems

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jean Marie LEYE (since 2 March 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Donald KALPOKAS (since 30 March
1998); Deputy Prime Minister Willie JIMMY (since 19 October 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister,
responsible to Parliament
elections: president elected by an electoral college consisting of
Parliament and the presidents of the regional councils for a
five-year term; election for president last held 2 March 1994 (next
to be held NA 1999); following legislative elections, the leader of
the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime
minister by Parliament from among its members; election for prime
minister last held 6 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results: Jean Marie LEYE elected president; percent of
electoral college vote--NA; Donald KALPOKAS elected prime minister by
Parliament with a total of 35 votes; other candidate, Rialuth Serge
VOHOR, received 17 votes
note: the general legislative elections in November 1995 did not
give a majority to any of the political parties; since the election,
there have been four changes of government--all of which have been
coalitions formed by Parliamentary vote; Rialuth Serge VOHOR was
prime minister from November 1995 until he resigned 7 February 1996
when faced with a no-confidence vote in Parliament; Maxime Carlot
KORMAN was then elected prime minister and served until he was
ousted in a no-confidence motion on 30 September 1996; VOHOR was
then elected prime minister for a second time; as a result of
legislative elections in March 1998, KALPOKAS was elected prime
minister and formed a coalition government with Father LINI's
National United Party (NUP)

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 6 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--VP 18,
UMP 12, NUP 11, other and independent 11; note--political party
associations are fluid; there have been four changes of government
since the November 1995 elections
note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom
and land

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice is appointed by the
president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader
of the opposition, three other justices are appointed by the
president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission

Political parties and leaders: Union of Moderate Parties or UMP

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

Diplomatic representation in the US: Vanuatu does not have an
embassy in the US, it does, however, have a Permanent Mission to the
UN

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Vanuatu; the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited
to Vanuatu

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and
green with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all
separated by a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a
horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face the hoist side and
enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk
encircling two crossed namele leaves, all in yellow

Economy

Economy--overview: The economy is based primarily on subsistence
or small-scale agriculture which provides a living for 65% of the
population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with
about 50,000 visitors in 1997, are other mainstays of the economy.
Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleum
deposits. A small light industry sector caters to the local market.
Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Economic development is
hindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports,
vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from main
markets and between constituent islands.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$240 million (1997 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,300 (1997 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 23%
industry: 13%
services: 64% (1996)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (1997 est.)

Labor force: NA

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 65%, services 32%,
industry 3% (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $94.4 million
expenditures: $99.8 million, including capital expenditures of $30.4
million (1996 est.)

Industries: food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning

Industrial production growth rate: 6.4% (1996 est.)

Electricity--production: 30 million kWh (1996)

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

Electricity--consumption: 30 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams,
coconuts, fruits, vegetables; fish, beef

Exports: $30 million (f.o.b., 1996)

Exports--commodities: copra, beef, cocoa, timber, coffee

Exports--partners: Japan 28%, Spain 21%, Germany 14%, UK 7%, Cote
d'Ivoire 7%, Australia, New Caledonia (1996 est.)

Imports: $97 million (f.o.b., 1996)

Imports--commodities: machines and vehicles, food and beverages,
basic manufactures, raw materials and fuels, chemicals

Imports--partners: Japan 47%, Australia 23%, Singapore 8%, New
Zealand 6%, France 3%, Fiji (1996 est.)

Debt--external: $63 million (1996 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $45.8 million (1995)

Currency: 1 vatu (VT) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: vatu (VT) per US$1--129.66 (January 1999), 127.52
(1998), 115.87 (1997), 111.72 (1996), 112.11 (1995), 116.41 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 4,000 (1994 est.)

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

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

Radios: 49,000 (1994 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)

Televisions: 2,000 (1994 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 1,070 km
paved: 256 km
unpaved: 814 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo)

Merchant marine:
total: 82 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,327,078 GRT/1,764,558
DWT
ships by type: bulk 31, cargo 24, chemical tanker 3, combination
bulk 1, liquefied gas tanker 4, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 11,
vehicle carrier 6
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 15
countries among which are ships of Japan 28, India 10, US 10, Greece
3, Hong Kong 3, Australia 2, Canada 1, China 1, and France 1 (1998
est.)

Airports: 32 (1998 est.)

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

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 29
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 17 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police
Force (VPF; includes the paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force or VMF)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: claims Matthew and Hunter Islands east of
New Caledonia

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

@Venezuela ---------

Geography

Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and
the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana

Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 66 00 W

Map references: South America, Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 912,050 sq km
land: 882,050 sq km
water: 30,000 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly more than twice the size of California

Land boundaries:
total: 4,993 km
border countries: Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km

Coastline: 2,800 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 15 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

Terrain: Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest;
central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold,
bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds

Land use:
arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 34%
other: 41% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 1,900 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: subject to floods, rockslides, mud slides;
periodic droughts

Environment--current issues: sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia;
oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil
degradation; urban and industrial pollution, especially along the
Caribbean coast

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping

Geography--note: on major sea and air routes linking North and
South America

People

Population: 23,203,466 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 33% (male 3,988,499; female 3,741,568)
15-64 years: 62% (male 7,231,546; female 7,184,769)
65 years and over: 5% (male 484,071; female 573,013) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.71% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 22.25 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 4.93 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.23 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: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 26.51 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.95 years
male: 69.97 years
female: 76.16 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.61 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Venezuelan(s)
adjective: Venezuelan

Ethnic groups: Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German,
African, indigenous people

Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%

Languages: Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.1%
male: 91.8%
female: 90.3% (1995 est.)

Government

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

Data code: VE

Government type: republic

Capital: Caracas

Administrative divisions: 22 states (estados, singular--estado),1
federal district* (distrito federal), and 1 federal dependency**
(dependencia federal); Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas,
Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales**,
Distrito Federal*, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas,
Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Yaracuy, Zulia
note: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled
island groups with a total of 72 individual islands

Independence: 5 July 1811 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1811)

Constitution: 23 January 1961

Legal system: based on Napoleonic code; judicial review of
legislative acts in Cassation Court only; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February
1999); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA December 2003)
election results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias elected president; percent of
vote--NA%

Legislative branch: bicameral Congress of the Republic or
Congreso de la Republica consists of the Senate or Senado (52 seats,
two from each state and the federal district (46), one for each of
the retired presidents, and others representing minorities (6);
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and
Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (207 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA
December 2003); Chamber of Deputies--last held 6 December 1998 (next
to be held NA December 2003)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--AD 16, COPEI 14, Causa R 9, National Convergence 5, MAS 3,
independents 5; note--two former presidents (1 from AD, 1 from COPEI)
hold lifetime Senate seats; Chamber of Deputies--percent of vote by
party--AD 25.6%, COPEI 24.6%, MAS 10.6%, National Convergence 8.7%,
Causa R 19.3%; seats by party--AD 53, COPEI 51, Causa R 40, MAS 22,
National Convergence 18, other 23

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justicia), magistrates are elected by both chambers in joint session
for a nine-year term, one-third are reelected every three years

Political parties and leaders: National Convergence or
Campins, president, and Donald RAMIREZ, secretary general];
ALFARO Ucero, secretary general]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS

Political pressure groups and leaders: FEDECAMARAS, a
conservative business group; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or
CTV (labor organization dominated by the Democratic Action); VECINOS
groups

International organization participation: CAN, Caricom
(observer), CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G- 3, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24,
G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES,
LAIA, MINURSO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans,
New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John Francis MAISTO
embassy: Calle F con Calle Suapure, Colinas de Valle Arriba, Caracas
1060
mailing address: P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top),
blue, and red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow
band and an arc of seven white five-pointed stars centered in the
blue band

Economy

Economy--overview: The petroleum sector dominates the economy,
accounting for roughly a third of GDP, around 80% of export
earnings, and more than half of government operating revenues. As a
result, the steep downturn in international oil prices has had a
severe impact on the economy; fiscal cuts spurred by the loss of
revenues, high interest rates, and the sharp downturn in export
earnings drove the economy into recession in 1998. The recession
continued into 1999 with oil prices forecast to stay relatively low,
but rising. Although the government has pursued moderate austerity
measures to address the downturn in revenues, Venezuela's ongoing
reform program has largely stalled. Pressure on the
bolivar--overvalued by as much as 40%--was also significant through
much of 1998, increasing the probability of an adjustment of the
currency in 1999. Newly elected President Hugo CHAVEZ will be hard
pressed to address Venezuela's many economic ills. He has promised
to strike a balance between reforms designed to address the
structural deformities of the economy and addressing declining
living standards. CHAVEZ has sought to play down the populism that
marked his political campaign for the presidency in an effort to
allay investor concerns. The wide range of viewpoints represented on
CHAVEZ's economic team is likely to make rapid implementation of a
coherent policy difficult.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$194.5 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: -0.9% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$8,500 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 63%
services: 33% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: 31.3% (1989 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.5%
highest 10%: 35.6% (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 29.9% (1998)

Labor force: 9.2 million

Labor force--by occupation: services 64%, industry 23%,
agriculture 13% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate: 11.5% (1997 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $11.99 billion
expenditures: $11.48 billion, including capital expenditures of $3
billion (1996 est.)

Industries: petroleum, iron ore mining, construction materials,
food processing, textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly

Industrial production growth rate: 0.5% (1995 est.)

Electricity--production: 73 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 20.55%
hydro: 79.45%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 72.85 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 150 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas,
vegetables, coffee; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish

Exports: $16.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities: petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel,
chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures (1998)

Exports--partners: US and Puerto Rico 57%, Colombia, Brazil (1997)

Imports: $12.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports--commodities: raw materials, machinery and equipment,
transport equipment, construction materials (1998)

Imports--partners: US 53%, Japan, Colombia, Italy, Germany (1997)

Debt--external: $26.5 billion (1996)

Economic aid--recipient: $50.8 million (1995)

Currency: 1 bolivar (Bs) = 100 centimos

Exchange rates: bolivares (Bs) per US$1--570.267 (January 1999),
547.556 (1998), 488.635 (1997), 417.333 (1996), 176.843 (1995),
148.503 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 1.44 million (1987 est.)