Chapter XX: Front Matter (20)

Oil - proved reserves:
214,000 bbl (37257)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
12.46 billion cu m (37257)

Agriculture - products:
cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed, sugarcane, potatoes, qat; hides,
cattle, sheep, goats

Exports:
$433 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities:
coffee, qat, gold, leather products, live animals, oilseeds

Exports - partners:
UK 16.2%, Djibouti 10.9%, Germany 7.6%, Italy 7.2%, Japan 6.7%,
Saudi Arabia 6.5%, US 4.4% (2002)

Imports:
$1.63 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Imports - commodities:
food and live animals, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals,
machinery, motor vehicles, cereals, textiles

Imports - partners:
Saudi Arabia 28.7%, China 6%, Italy 5.9%, India 4.8%, Germany 4.1%
(2002)

Debt - external:
$5.3 billion (2001 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$308 million (FY00/01)

Currency:
birr (ETB)

Currency code:
ETB

Exchange rates:
birr per US dollar - NA (2002), 8.46 (2001), 8.22 (2000), 7.94
(1999), 7.12 (1998)
note: since 24 October 2001 exchange rates are determined on a daily
basis via interbank transactions regulated by the Central Bank

Fiscal year:
8 July - 7 July

Communications Ethiopia

Telephones - main lines in use:
231,900 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
17,800 (2000)

Telephone system:
general assessment: open-wire and microwave radio relay system;
adequate for government use
domestic: open-wire; microwave radio relay; radio communication in
the HF, VHF, and UHF frequencies; two domestic satellites provide
the national trunk service
international: open-wire to Sudan and Djibouti; microwave radio
relay to Kenya and Djibouti; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat
(1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 8, FM 0, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios:
15.2 million (2002)

Television broadcast stations:
1 plus 24 repeaters (2002)

Televisions:
682,000 (2002)

Internet country code:
.et

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)

Internet users:
20,000 (2002)

Transportation Ethiopia

Railways:
total: 681 km (Ethiopian segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti
railroad)
narrow gauge: 681 km 1.000-m gauge
note: railway under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia (2002)

Highways:
total: 31,571 km
paved: 3,789 km
unpaved: 27,782 km (2000)

Waterways:
none

Ports and harbors:
none; Ethiopia is landlocked and was by agreement with Eritrea
using the ports of Assab and Massawa; since the border dispute with
Eritrea flared, Ethiopia has used the port of Djibouti for nearly
all of its imports

Merchant marine:
total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 81,933 GRT/101,287 DWT
ships by type: cargo 5, container 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll
on/roll off 2 (2002 est.)

Airports:
83 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 69
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 32
under 914 m: 21 (2002)

Military Ethiopia

Military branches:
Ethiopian National Defense Force (Ground Forces, Air Force,
militia, police)
note: Ethiopia is landlocked and has no navy; following the
secession of Eritrea, Ethiopian naval facilities remained in
Eritrean possession

Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 15,388,318 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 8,040,381 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 714,165 (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$800 million (FY00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
12.6% (FY00)

Transnational Issues Ethiopia

Disputes - international:
Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by 2002 independent boundary
commission delimitation decision, but demarcation, scheduled to
begin in 2003, has been hampered by technical delays and Ethiopian
concerns that the decision ignored "human geography" and awarded
Badme, the focus of the 1998-2000 war, to Eritrea, demarcation of
the boundary has been postponed indefinately; Ethiopia maintains
only an administrative line and no international border with the
Oromo region of southern Somalia and maintains alliances with local
clans in opposition to the Transitional National Government in
Mogadishu; "Somaliland" secessionists provide port facilities and
trade ties to land-locked Ethiopia; efforts to demarcate the porous
boundary with Sudan have been delayed by civil war there

Illicit drugs:
transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest and Southeast Asia
and destined for Europe and North America as well as cocaine
destined for markets in southern Africa; cultivates qat (khat) for
local use and regional export, principally to Djibouti and Somalia
(legal in all three countries); the lack of a well-developed
financial system limits the country's utility as a money-laundering
center

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@Europa Island

Introduction Europa Island

Background:
A French possession since 1897, the island is heavily wooded; it is
the site of a small military garrison that staffs a weather station.

Geography Europa Island

Location:
Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half
of the way from southern Madagascar to southern Mozambique

Geographic coordinates:
22 20 S, 40 22 E

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 28 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 28 sq km

Area - comparative:
about 0.16 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
22.2 km

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

Climate:
tropical

Terrain:
low and flat

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 24 m

Natural resources:
NEGL

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mangrove forests and woodlands) (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
NA

Environment - current issues:
NA

Geography - note:
wildlife sanctuary

People Europa Island

Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison and a few
meteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2003 est.)

Government Europa Island

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

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

Legal system:
the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Flag description:
the flag of France is used

Economy Europa Island

Economy - overview:
no economic activity

Communications Europa Island

Communications - note:
1 meteorological station

Transportation Europa Island

Waterways:
none

Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only

Airports:
1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)

Military Europa Island

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues Europa Island

Disputes - international:
claimed by Madagascar

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Introduction Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Background:
Although first sighted by an English navigator in 1592, the first
landing (English) did not occur until almost a century later in
1690, and the first settlement (French) was not established until
1764. The colony was turned over to Spain two years later and the
islands have since been the subject of a territorial dispute, first
between Britain and Spain, then between Britain and Argentina. The
UK asserted its claim to the islands by establishing a naval
garrison there in 1833. Argentina invaded the islands on 2 April
1982. The British responded with an expeditionary force that landed
seven weeks later and after fierce fighting forced Argentine
surrender on 14 June 1982.

Geography Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Location:
Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east
of southern Argentina

Geographic coordinates:
51 45 S, 59 00 W

Map references:
South America

Area:
total: 12,173 sq km
note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and
about 200 small islands
water: 0 sq km
land: 12,173 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
1,288 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate:
cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on
more than half of days in year; average annual rainfall is 24 inches
in Stanley; occasional snow all year, except in January and
February, but does not accumulate

Terrain:
rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m

Natural resources:
fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other) (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
NA sq km

Natural hazards:
strong winds persist throughout the year

Environment - current issues:
overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer were
introduced to the islands in 2001 for commercial reasons; this is
the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the
Chornobyl disaster

Geography - note:
deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing
season

People Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Population:
2,967 (July 2003 est.)

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

Population growth rate:
2.44% (2003 est.)

Birth rate:
NA births/1,000 population

Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population

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

Infant mortality rate:
total: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%

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

Total fertility rate:
NA children born/woman

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Nationality:
noun: Falkland Islander(s)
adjective: Falkland Island

Ethnic groups:
British

Religions:
primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, Evangelist
Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist

Languages:
English

Government Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina

Government type:
NA

Capital:
Stanley

Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

National holiday:
Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

Constitution:
3 October 1985; amended 1997 and 1998

Legal system:
English common law

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch
head of government: Governor Howard PEARCE (since 3 December 2002);
Chief Executive Chris SIMPKINS (since NA March 2003); Financial
Secretary Derek F. HOWATT (since NA)
cabinet: Executive Council; three members elected by the Legislative
Council, two ex officio members (chief executive and the financial
secretary), and the governor

Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats - 2 ex officio, 8 elected
by popular vote, members serve four-year terms); presided over by
the governor
elections: last held 22 November 2001 (next to be held NA November
2005)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 8;
note - 71% voter turnout

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (chief justice is a nonresident); Magistrates Court
(senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions);
Court of Summary Jurisdiction

Political parties and leaders:
none; all independents

Political pressure groups and leaders:
none

International organization participation:
ICFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

Flag description:
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and
the Falkland Island coat of arms centered on the outer half of the
flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising is the
major economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whose crew
discovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing the
motto DESIRE THE RIGHT

Economy Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Economy - overview:
The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep
farming, but today fishing contributes the bulk of economic
activity. In 1987 the government began selling fishing licenses to
foreign trawlers operating within the Falklands exclusive fishing
zone. These license fees total more than $40 million per year, which
goes to support the island's health, education, and welfare system.
Squid accounts for 75% of the fish taken. Dairy farming supports
domestic consumption; crops furnish winter fodder. Exports feature
shipments of high-grade wool to the UK and the sale of postage
stamps and coins. The islands are now self-financing except for
defense. The British Geological Survey announced a 200-mile oil
exploration zone around the islands in 1993, and early seismic
surveys suggest substantial reserves capable of producing 500,000
barrels per day; to date no exploitable site has been identified. An
agreement between Argentina and the UK in 1995 seeks to defuse
licensing and sovereignty conflicts that would dampen foreign
interest in exploiting potential oil reserves. Tourism, especially
eco-tourism, is increasing rapidly, with about 30,000 visitors in
2001. Another large source of income is interest paid on money the
government has in the bank. The British military presence also
provides a sizeable economic boost.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $75 million (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
NA%

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $25,000 (2002 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):
3.6% (1998)

Labor force:
1,100 (est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing)

Unemployment rate:
full employment; labor shortage

Budget:
revenues: $66.2 million
expenditures: $67.9 million, including capital expenditures of $23.2
million (FY98/99 est.)

Industries:
fish and wool processing; tourism

Industrial production growth rate:
NA%

Electricity - production:
16.33 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption:
15.19 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
200 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Agriculture - products:
fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy products

Exports:
$7.6 million (1995)

Exports - commodities:
wool, hides, meat

Exports - partners:
Spain 76.2%, UK 9.2%, US 7.1% (2002)

Imports:
$24.7 million (1995)

Imports - commodities:
fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing

Imports - partners:
UK 57.9%, Spain 19.8%, Italy 16.7% (2002)

Debt - external:
$NA

Economic aid - recipient:
none

Currency:
Falkland pound (FKP)

Currency code:
FKP

Exchange rates:
Falkland pounds per US dollar - 0.67 (2002), 0.69 (2001), 0.66
(2000), 0.62 (1999), 0.6 (1998); note - the Falkland pound is at par
with the British pound

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Telephones - main lines in use:
NA

Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB
radiotelephone networks provide effective service to almost all
points on both islands
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
with links through London to other countries

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:
1,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
2 (operated by the British Forces Broadcasting Service)
note: cable television is available in Stanley (2002)

Televisions:
1,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.fk

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)

Internet users:
NA; however one-half of all households are reported to have
internet access (2002)

Transportation Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Railways:
0 km

Highways:
total: 440 km
paved: 50 km
unpaved: 390 km (2002)

Waterways:
none

Ports and harbors:
Stanley
note: the primary port is located in Stanley Harbour and known
locally as FIPASS (Falkland Interim Port and Storage System); the
facility consists of seven permanently moored barges providing 300
meters of berthing space; it was installed by the military after
1982 and handed over to the Falkland Islands Government in 1988

Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)

Airports:
5 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2002)

Military Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Military branches:
British Forces Falkland Islands no regular indigenous military
forces; (includes Army, Royal Air Force, and Royal Navy), Police
Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Disputes - international:
claimed by Argentina whose forces briefly occupied it in 1982, but
now declares it will no longer seek settlement by force

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@Faroe Islands

Introduction Faroe Islands

Background:
The population of the Faroe Islands is largely descended from
Viking settlers who arrived in the 9th century. The islands have
been connected politically to Denmark since the 14th century. A high
degree of self-government was attained in 1948.

Geography Faroe Islands

Location:
Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to
Norway

Geographic coordinates:
62 00 N, 7 00 W

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 1,399 sq km
water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
land: 1,399 sq km

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

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
1,117 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 NM or agreed boundaries or median line
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM or agreed boundaries or median line
territorial sea: 3 NM

Climate:
mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy

Terrain:
rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m

Natural resources:
fish, whales, hydropower

Land use:
arable land: 2.14%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.86% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
NA

Environment - current issues:
NA

Geography - note:
archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one uninhabited island, and
a few uninhabited islets; strategically located along important sea
lanes in northeastern Atlantic; precipitous terrain limits
habitation to small coastal lowlands

People Faroe Islands

Population:
46,345 (July 2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 22% (male 5,103; female 5,077)
15-64 years: 64.4% (male 15,822; female 14,002)
65 years and over: 13.7% (male 2,842; female 3,499) (2003 est.)

Median age:
total: 35.1 years
male: 34.5 years
female: 35.8 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
0.7% (2003 est.)

Birth rate:
13.81 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate:
8.7 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Net migration rate:
1.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.9 years
male: 75.44 years
female: 82.36 years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate:
2.24 children born/woman (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

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

Ethnic groups:
Scandinavian

Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran

Languages:
Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish

Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
note: similar to Denmark proper

Government Faroe Islands

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Faroe Islands
local short form: Foroyar
local long form: none

Dependency status:
part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas
administrative division of Denmark since 1948

Government type:
NA

Capital:
Torshavn

Administrative divisions:
none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas
administrative division of Denmark); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are 49 municipalities

Independence:
none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas
administrative division of Denmark)

National holiday:
Olaifest, 29 July

Constitution:
5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)

Legal system:
Danish

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January
1972), represented by High Commissioner Birgit KLEIS, chief
administrative officer (since 1 November 2001)
election results: Anfinn KALLSBERG elected prime minister; percent
of parliamentary vote - 52.8%
note: coalition of People's Party, Republican Party, Home Rule
Party, and Center Party
elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by
the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually
elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held
30 April 2002 (next to be held no later than April 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Anfinn KALLSBERG (since 15 May
1998)
cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister

Legislative branch:
unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (32 seats; members are
elected by popular vote on a proportional basis from the seven
constituencies to serve four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - Union Party 26%,
Republican Party 23.7%, Social Democrats 20.9%, People's Party 20.8%
Home Rule Party 4.4%, Center Party 4.2%; seats by party - Union
Party 8, Republican Party 8, Social Democrats 7, People's Party 7,
Home Rule Party 1, Center Party 1
note: election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on
20 November 2001 (next to be held no later than November 2005);
results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican
Party 1, Union Party 1
elections: last held 30 April 2002 (next to be held no later than
April 2006)

Judicial branch:
none

Political parties and leaders:
Center Party [Tordur NICLASEN]; Home Rule Party [Helena Dam a
NEYSTABO]; People's Party [Oli BRECKMANN]; Republican Party
[Finnabogi ISAKSON]; Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD];
Union Party [Edmund JOENSEN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
IMO (associate), NC, NIB

Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Flag description:
white with a red cross outlined in blue extending to the edges of
the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted toward the hoist
side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy Faroe Islands

Economy - overview:
The Faroese economy has had a strong performance since 1994, mostly
as a result of increasing fish landings and high and stable export
prices. Unemployment is falling and there are signs of labor
shortages in several sectors. The positive economic development has
helped the Faroese Home Rule Government produce increasing budget
surpluses, which in turn help to reduce the large public debt, most
of it owed to Denmark. However, the total dependence on fishing
makes the Faroese economy extremely vulnerable, and the present
fishing efforts appear in excess of what is a sustainable level of
fishing in the long term. Oil finds close to the Faroese area give
hope for deposits in the immediate Faroese area, which may
eventually lay the basis for a more diversified economy and thus
lessen dependence on Danish economic assistance. Aided by a
substantial annual subsidy (15% of GDP) from Denmark, the Faroese
have a standard of living not far below the Danes and other
Scandinavians.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
10% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $22,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 27%
industry: 11%
services: 62% (1999)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.1% (1999)

Labor force:
24,250 (October 2000)

Labor force - by occupation:
fishing, fish processing, and manufacturing 33%, construction and
private services 33%, public services 34%

Unemployment rate:
1% (October 2000)

Budget:
revenues: $488 million
expenditures: $484 million, including capital expenditures of $21
million (1999)

Industries:
fishing, fish processing, shipbuilding, construction, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate:
8% (1999 est.)

Electricity - production:
160.4 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 62.4%
hydro: 37.6%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption:
149.1 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
4,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Agriculture - products:
milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon, other fish

Exports:
$418 million f.o.b. (2001)

Exports - commodities:
fish and fish products 94%, stamps, ships (1999)

Exports - partners:
Denmark 39.9%, UK 32.1%, Norway 7.4%, Netherlands 6.1% (2002)

Imports:
$469 million c.i.f. (1999)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 29%, consumer goods 36%, raw
materials and semi-manufactures 32%, fuels, fish and salt (1999)

Imports - partners:
Denmark 53.8%, Norway 24.2%, Iceland 5.7% (2002)

Debt - external:
$64 million (1999)

Economic aid - recipient:
$55 million (annual subsidy from Denmark)

Currency:
Danish krone (DKK)

Currency code:
DKK

Exchange rates:
Danish kroner per US dollar - 7.89 (2002), 8.32 (2001), 8.08
(2000), 6.98 (1999), 6.7 (1998)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Faroe Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:
24,851 (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
10,761 (1999)

Telephone system:
general assessment: good international communications; good
domestic facilities
domestic: digitalization was completed in 1998; both NMT (analog)
and GSM (digital) mobile telephone systems are installed
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Orion; 1 fiber-optic
submarine cable to the Shetland Islands, linking the Faroe Islands
with Denmark and Iceland; fiber-optic submarine cable connection to
Canada-Europe cable

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:
26,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
3 (plus 43 low-power repeaters) (September 1995)

Televisions:
15,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.fo

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)

Internet users:
3,000 (2000)

Transportation Faroe Islands

Railways:
0 km

Highways:
total: 463 km
paved: 454 km
unpaved: 9 km (1999)

Waterways:
none

Ports and harbors:
Torshavn, Klaksvik, Tvoroyri, Runavik, Fuglafjordhur

Merchant marine:
total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 100,951 GRT/139,396 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Denmark 3, Norway 1, United Kingdom 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1,
roll on/roll off 1, short-sea passenger 1

Airports:
1 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)

Military Faroe Islands

Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; small Police Force and Coast
Guard are maintained

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Transnational Issues Faroe Islands

Disputes - international:
Faroese are considering proposals for full independence; Denmark
dispute with Iceland over the Faroe Islands fisheries median line
boundary of 200 NM; Denmark disputes with Iceland, the UK, and
Ireland over the Faroe Islands continental shelf boundary outside
200 NM

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@Fiji

Introduction Fiji

Background:
Fiji became independent in 1970, after nearly a century as a
British colony. Democratic rule was interrupted by two military
coups in 1987, caused by concern over a government perceived as
dominated by the Indian community (descendants of contract laborers
brought to the islands by the British in the 19th century). A 1990
constitution favored native Melanesian control of Fiji, but led to
heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic
difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority.
Amendments enacted in 1997 made the constitution more equitable.
Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by
an Indo-Fijian, but a coup in May 2000 ushered in a prolonged period
of political turmoil. Parliamentary elections held in August 2001
provided Fiji with a democratically elected government and gave a
mandate to the government of Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE.

Geography Fiji

Location:
Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds
of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Geographic coordinates:
18 00 S, 175 00 E

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 18,270 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 18,270 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
1,129 km

Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation;
rectilinear shelf claim added

Climate:
tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:
mostly mountains of volcanic origin

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m

Natural resources:
timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower

Land use:
arable land: 10.95%
permanent crops: 4.65%
other: 84.4% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
30 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
cyclonic storms can occur from November to January

Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea,
Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited

People Fiji

Population:
868,531 (July 2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 32% (male 141,979; female 136,378)
15-64 years: 64.1% (male 278,759; female 278,150)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 15,329; female 17,936) (2003 est.)

Median age:
total: 23.7 years
male: 23.3 years
female: 24.2 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
1.41% (2003 est.)

Birth rate:
23.06 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate:
5.7 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Net migration rate:
-3.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 13.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 14.75 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.88 years
male: 66.43 years
female: 71.44 years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate:
2.81 children born/woman (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
300 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Nationality:
noun: Fijian(s)
adjective: Fijian

Ethnic groups:
Fijian 51% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture),
Indian 44%, European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, and
other 5% (1998 est.)

Religions:
Christian 52% (Methodist 37%, Roman Catholic 9%), Hindu 38%, Muslim
8%, other 2%
note: Fijians are mainly Christian, Indians are Hindu, and there is
a Muslim minority (1986)

Languages:
English (official), Fijian, Hindustani

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 95.5%
female: 91.9% (2003 est.)

Government Fiji

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands
conventional short form: Fiji

Government type:
republic
note: military coup leader Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA formally
declared Fiji a republic on 6 October 1987

Capital:
Suva

Administrative divisions:
4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*,
Western

Independence:
10 October 1970 (from UK)

National holiday:
Independence Day, second Monday of October (1970)

Constitution:
promulgated on 25 July 1990 and amended on 25 July 1997 to allow
nonethnic Fijians greater say in government and to make multiparty
government mandatory; entered into force 28 July 1998; note - the
May 1999 election was the first test of the amended constitution and
introduced open voting - not racially prescribed - for the first
time at the national level

Legal system:
based on British system

Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda (since NA
2000); Vice President Jope SENILOLI (since NA 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE (since 10
September 2000)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the
members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament; note - there
is also a Presidential Council that advises the president on matters
of national importance and a Great Council of Chiefs, which consists
of the highest ranking members of the traditional chief system
elections: president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for a
five-year term; prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda elected president
by the Great Council of Chiefs; percent of vote - NA%

Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (34 seats; 24 appointed
by the Great Council of Chiefs, nine appointed by the president, and
one appointed by the council of Rotuma) and the House of
Representatives (71 seats; 23 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 19
reserved for ethnic Indians, three reserved for other ethnic groups,
one reserved for the council of Rotuma constituency encompassing the
whole of Fiji, and 25 open seats; members serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 25 August through 1
September, 19 September 2001 (next to be held not later than
September 2006)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - FLP 34.8%, SDL 26%, NFP 10.1%, MV 9.9%, independents 2.7%,
other 16.5%; seats by party - NA

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Court of
Appeal; High Court; Magistrates' Courts

Political parties and leaders:
Bai Kei Viti Party or BKV [Ratu Tevita MOMOEDONU]; Conservative
Alliance Party/Matanitu Vanua or MV [Ratu Rakuita VAKALALABURE];
Dodonu Ni Taukei Party or DNT [Fereti S. DEWA]; Fiji Democratic
Party or FDP [Felipe BOLE] (a merger of the Christian Democrat
Alliance or VLV [Poesci Waqalevu BUNE], Fijian Association Party or
FAP [Adi Kuini SPEED], Fijian Political Party or SVT (primarily
Fijian) [Felipe BOLE], and New Labor Unity Party or NLUP [Tupeni
BABA]); Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDRHRY]; General Voters
Party or GVP [leader NA] (became part of United General Party);
Girmit Heritage Party or GHP [leader NA]; Justice and Freedom Party
or AIM [leader NA]; Lio 'On Famor Rotuma Party or LFR [leader NA];
National Federation Party or NFP (primarily Indian) [Pramond RAE];
Nationalist Vanua Takolavo Party or NVTLP [Saula TELAWA]; Party of
National Unity or PANU [Meli BOGILEKA]; Party of the Truth or POTT
[leader NA]; United Fiji Party/Sogosogo Duavata ni Lewenivanua or
SDL [Laisenia QARASE]; United General Party or UGP [Millis Mick
BEDDOES]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACP, AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(subscriber), ITU, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Anare JALE
FAX: [1] (202) 337-1996
telephone: [1] (202) 337-8320
chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 240, Washington, DC 20007

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador David L. LYON
embassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suva
mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva
telephone: [679] 331-4466
FAX: [679] 330-0081

Flag description:
light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant
and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the
shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the
cross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree,
bananas, and a white dove

Economy Fiji

Economy - overview:
Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of
the most developed of the Pacific island economies, though still
with a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports and a growing tourist
industry - with 300,000 to 400,000 tourists annually - are the major
sources of foreign exchange. Sugar processing makes up one-third of
industrial activity. Long-term problems include low investment,
uncertain land ownership rights, and the government's ability to
manage its budget.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $4.822 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
4.6% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $5,600 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 17%
industry: 25%
services: 58% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:
25.5% (1990-91)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (2002 est.)

Labor force:
137,000 (1999)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture, including subsistence agriculture 70% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:
7.6% (1999)

Budget:
revenues: $427.9 million
expenditures: $531.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)

Industries:
tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small
cottage industries

Industrial production growth rate:
NA%

Electricity - production:
520.1 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 18.5%
hydro: 81.5%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption:
483.7 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
5,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes,
bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish

Exports:
$442 million f.o.b. (2001)

Exports - commodities:
sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil

Exports - partners:
US 25.1%, Australia 19.5%, UK 10.6%, Japan 6.3%, Samoa 5.5% (2002)

Imports:
$642 million c.i.f. (2001)

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

Imports - partners:
Australia 37.3%, New Zealand 17.2%, Singapore 16.1%, Japan 4.2%,
China 4% (2002)

Debt - external:
$135.9 million (2000)

Economic aid - recipient:
$40.3 million (1995)

Currency:
Fijian dollar (FJD)

Currency code:
FJD

Exchange rates:
Fijian dollars per US dollar - 2.19 (2002), 2.28 (2001), 2.13
(2000), 1.97 (1999), 1.99 (1998)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Fiji

Telephones - main lines in use:
80,901 (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
5,200 (1997)

Telephone system:
general assessment: modern local, interisland, and international
(wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone,
telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio communications
center
domestic: NA
international: access to important cable links between US and Canada
as well as between NZ and Australia; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 13, FM 40, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:
541,476 (1999)

Television broadcast stations:
NA

Televisions:
88,110 (1999)

Internet country code:
.fj

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)

Internet users:
15,000 (2002)

Transportation Fiji

Railways:
total: 597 km
narrow gauge: 597 km 0.600-m gauge
note: belongs to the government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation; used
to haul sugarcane during harvest season (May to September) (2002)

Highways:
total: 3,440 km
paved: 1,692 km
unpaved: 1,748 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:
203 km
note: 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges

Ports and harbors:
Lambasa, Lautoka, Levuka, Malau, Savusavu, Suva, Vuda

Merchant marine:
total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 11,870 GRT/14,787 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Australia 1, Singapore 4 (2002 est.)
ships by type: chemical tanker 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 1,
roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1

Airports:
27 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 18 (2002)

Military Fiji

Military branches:
Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), includes ground forces,
naval division

Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 235,546 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 129,432 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 9,359 (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$39.21 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.2% (FY02)

Transnational Issues Fiji

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@Finland

Introduction Finland

Background:
Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the
12th to the 19th centuries and an autonomous grand duchy of Russia
after 1809. It finally won its complete independence in 1917. During
World War II, it was able to successfully defend its freedom and
resist invasions by the Soviet Union - albeit with some loss of
territory. In the subsequent half century, the Finns made a
remarkable transformation from a farm/forest economy to a
diversified modern industrial economy; per capita income is now on
par with Western Europe. As a member of the European Union, Finland
was the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation
in January 1999.

Geography Finland

Location:
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and
Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia

Geographic coordinates:
64 00 N, 26 00 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 337,030 sq km
water: 31,560 sq km
land: 305,470 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Montana

Land boundaries:
total: 2,628 km
border countries: Norway 729 km, Sweden 586 km, Russia 1,313 km

Coastline:
1,126 km (excludes islands and coastal indentations)

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 12 NM; extends to continental shelf boundary
with Sweden
territorial sea: 12 NM (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 NM)

Climate:
cold temperate; potentially subarctic, but comparatively mild
because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current,
Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes

Terrain:
mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low
hills

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Halti 1,328 m

Natural resources:
timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver

Land use:
arable land: 6.98%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 93.01% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
640 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
NA

Environment - current issues:
air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing to
acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural
chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography - note:
long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national
capital on European continent; population concentrated on small
southwestern coastal plain

People Finland

Population:
5,190,785 (July 2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.7% (male 468,077; female 450,785)
15-64 years: 66.9% (male 1,753,760; female 1,719,253)
65 years and over: 15.4% (male 312,883; female 486,027) (2003 est.)

Median age:
total: 40.3 years
male: 38.8 years
female: 41.8 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
0.14% (2003 est.)

Birth rate:
10.54 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate:
9.82 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Net migration rate:
0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.73 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 4.21 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.92 years
male: 74.28 years
female: 81.68 years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.7 children born/woman (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,200 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Finn(s)
adjective: Finnish

Ethnic groups:
Finn 93%, Swede 6%, Sami 0.11%, Roma 0.12%, Tatar 0.02%

Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Russian Orthodox 1%, none 9%, other 1%

Languages:
Finnish 93.4% (official), Swedish 5.9% (official), small Sami- and
Russian-speaking minorities

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100% (1980 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government Finland

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Finland
conventional short form: Finland
local short form: Suomi
local long form: Suomen Tasavalta

Government type:
republic

Capital:
Helsinki

Administrative divisions:
6 provinces (laanit, singular - laani); Aland, Etela-Suomen Laani,
Ita-Suomen Laani, Lansi-Suomen Laani, Lappi, Oulun Laani

Independence:
6 December 1917 (from Russia)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 December (1917)

Constitution:
1 March 2000

Legal system:
civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court may request
legislation interpreting or modifying laws; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Tarja HALONEN (since 1 March 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Matti VANHANEN (since 24 June
2003) and Deputy Prime Minister Antti KALLIOMAKI (since 17 April
2003); note - former Prime Minister Anneli JAATTEENMAKI resigned
cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the
president, responsible to Parliament
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 16 January 2000 and 6 February 2000 (next to be
held NA February 2006); prime minister and deputy prime minister
appointed from the majority party by the president after
parliamentary elections
note: government coalition - KESK, SDP, and SFP
election results: Tarja HALONEN elected president; percent of vote -
Tarja HALONEN (SDP) 51.6%, Esko AHO (Kesk) 48.4%

Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; members are elected
by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - Kesk 24.7%, SDP 24.5%,
Kok 18.5%, VAS 9.9%, VIHR 8%, KD 5.3%, SFP 4.6%; seats by party -
Kesk 55, SDP 53, Kok 40, VAS 19, VIHR 14, KD 7, SFP 8, others 4
elections: last held 16 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2007)

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus (judges appointed by the president)

Political parties and leaders:
Center Party or Kesk [Matti VANHANEN]; Christian Democrats or KD
[Bjarne KALLIS]; Green League or VIHR [Osmo SOININVAARA]; Left
Alliance or VAS (Communist) composed of People's Democratic League
and Democratic Alternative [Suvi-Anne SIIMES]; National Coalition
(conservative) Party or Kok [Ville ITALA]; Social Democratic Party
or SDP [Paavo LIPPONEN]; Swedish People's Party or SFP [Jan-Erik
ENESTAM]

International organization participation:
AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE,
EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNTSO,
UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jukka Robert VALTASAARI
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 298-6030
telephone: [1] (202) 298-5800
chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Bonnie McELVEEN-HUNTER
embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14A, FIN-00140, Helsinki
mailing address: APO AE 09723
telephone: [358] (9) 616250
FAX: [358] (9) 174681

Flag description:
white with a blue cross extending to the edges of the flag; the
vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style
of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy Finland

Economy - overview:
Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy,
with per capita output roughly that of the UK, France, Germany, and
Italy. Its key economic sector is manufacturing - principally the
wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics
industries. Trade is important, with exports equaling almost
one-third of GDP. Except for timber and several minerals, Finland
depends on imports of raw materials, energy, and some components for
manufactured goods. Because of the climate, agricultural development
is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products.
Forestry, an important export earner, provides a secondary
occupation for the rural population. Rapidly increasing integration
with Western Europe - Finland was one of the 11 countries joining
the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) on 1 January 1999 -
will dominate the economic picture over the next several years.
Growth in 2003 was held back by the global slowdown but will pick up
in 2004 provided the world economy suffers no further blows.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $133.8 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
1.6% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $25,800 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 34%
services: 62% (2002 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.2%
highest 10%: 21.6% (1991)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
25.6 (1991)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.9% (2002 est.)

Labor force:
2.6 million (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
public services 32%, industry 22%, commerce 14%, finance,
insurance, and business services 10%, agriculture and forestry 8%,
transport and communications 8%, construction 6%

Unemployment rate:
8.5% (2002 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $36.1 billion
expenditures: $31 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)

Industries:
metal products, electronics, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, copper
refining, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing

Industrial production growth rate:
5% (2002 est.)

Electricity - production:
71.2 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 39%
hydro: 18.7%
other: 11.8% (2001)
nuclear: 30.4%

Electricity - consumption:
76.18 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
1.81 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
11.77 billion kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
211,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
101,000 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
318,300 bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
4.557 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
4.567 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Agriculture - products:
barley, wheat, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; fish

Exports:
$40.1 billion f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; timber, paper, pulp
(1999)

Exports - partners:
Germany 11.8%, UK 9.6%, US 9%, Sweden 8.5%, Russia 6.6%,
Netherlands 4.6%, France 4.5% (2002)

Imports:
$31.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport
equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics,
grains (1999)

Imports - partners:
Germany 14.5%, Sweden 10.9%, Russia 9.9%, UK 5.7%, France 4.3%,
Denmark 4.2% (2002)

Debt - external:
$30 billion (December 1993)

Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $379 million (2001)

Currency:
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the
euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of
member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole
currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

Currency code:
EUR

Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94
(1999)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Finland

Telephones - main lines in use:
2,847,900 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
3,728,600 (2001)

Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system with excellent service
domestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and an extensive cellular
net provide domestic needs
international: 1 submarine cable; satellite earth stations - access
to Intelsat transmission service via a Swedish satellite earth
station, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note -
Finland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic
countries (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 186, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:
7.7 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
120 (plus 431 repeaters) (1999)

Televisions:
3.2 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.fi

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2002)

Internet users:
2.69 million (2002)

Transportation Finland

Railways:
total: 5,850 km
broad gauge: 5,850 km 1.524-m gauge (2,400 km electrified) (2002)

Highways:
total: 77,943 km
paved: 50,305 km (including 750 km of expressways)
unpaved: 27,688 km (2001)

Waterways:
6,675 km
note: includes Saimaa Canal; 3,700 km suitable for large ships

Pipelines:
gas 694 km (2003)

Ports and harbors:
Hamina, Helsinki, Kokkola, Kotka, Loviisa, Oulu, Pori, Rauma,
Turku, Uusikaupunki, Varkaus

Merchant marine:
total: 93 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,181,687 GRT/1,185,653 DWT
ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 24, chemical tanker 5, container 1,
passenger 2, petroleum tanker 11, roll on/roll off 32, short-sea
passenger 9
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Germany 1, Sweden 1 (2002 est.)

Airports:
150 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 74
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 12 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 76
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 72 (2002)

Military Finland

Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Frontier Guard (including Sea Guard)

Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,230,934 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,016,693 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 31,926 (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.8 billion (FY98/99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2% (FY98/99)

Transnational Issues Finland

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@France

Introduction France

Background:
Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France
suffered extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rank
as a dominant nation-state. Nevertheless, France today is one of the
most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European
nations. Since 1958, it has constructed a presidential democracy
resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier parliamentary
democracies. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperation
with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of
Europe, including the introduction of the euro in January 2002. At
present, France is at the forefront of European states seeking to
exploit the momentum of monetary union to advance the creation of a
more unified and capable European defense and security apparatus.

Geography France

Location:
Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel,
between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK; bordering the
Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain

Geographic coordinates:
46 00 N, 2 00 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 547,030 sq km
land: 545,630 sq km
note: includes only metropolitan France; excludes the overseas
administrative divisions
water: 1,400 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Colorado

Land boundaries:
total: 2,889 km
border countries: Andorra 56.6 km, Belgium 620 km, Germany 451 km,
Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Spain 623 km,
Switzerland 573 km

Coastline:
3,427 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM (does not apply to the Mediterranean)

Climate:
generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot
summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry,
north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral

Terrain:
mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west;
remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m
highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m

Natural resources:
coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, potash, timber, fish