Chapter XLII: Front Matter (42)

Exports - partners:
Japan 20.5%, South Korea 18.5%, China 14.1%, Thailand 11.7%, UAE
9.2%, Singapore 4.3%, US 4.1% (2002)

Imports:
$5.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food,
livestock, lubricants

Imports - partners:
UAE 27.5%, Japan 16.7%, UK 7.4%, US 6.9%, Germany 5% (2002)

Debt - external:
$5.7 billion (2002 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$76.4 million (1995)

Currency:
Omani rial (OMR)

Currency code:
OMR

Exchange rates:
Omani rials per US dollar - 0.38 (2002), 0.38 (2001), 0.38 (2000),
0.38 (1999), 0.38 (1998)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Oman

Telephones - main lines in use:
201,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
59,822 (1997)

Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system consisting of open-wire,
microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited
coaxial cable
domestic: open-wire, microwave, radiotelephone communications, and a
domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
and 1 Arabsat

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)

Radios:
1.4 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
13 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1999)

Televisions:
1.6 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.om

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)

Internet users:
120,000 (2002)

Transportation Oman

Railways:
0 km

Highways:
total: 34,965 km
paved: 9,673 km (including 550 km of expressways)
unpaved: 25,292 km (2001)

Waterways:
none

Pipelines:
gas 3,599 km; oil 3,187 km (2003)

Ports and harbors:
Matrah, Mina' al Fahl, Mina' Raysut

Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 17,291 GRT/9,457 DWT
ships by type: container 1, passenger 2
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
convenience: Singapore 1 (2002 est.)

Airports:
139 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 133
914 to 1,523 m: 37
under 914 m: 32 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 55
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7

Heliports:
1 (2002)

Military Oman

Military branches:
Royal Omani Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force), Royal Omani Police

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

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 788,429 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 438,326 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 29,485 (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$2.424 billion (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
12.2% (FY01)

Transnational Issues Oman

Disputes - international:
boundary agreement signed and ratified with UAE in 2003 for entire
border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah enclaves

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@Pacific Ocean

Introduction Pacific Ocean

Background:
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the world's five oceans
(followed by the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and
Arctic Ocean). Strategically important access waterways include the
La Perouse, Tsugaru, Tsushima, Taiwan, Singapore, and Torres Straits.

Geography Pacific Ocean

Location:
body of water between the Southern Ocean, Asia, Australia, and the
Western Hemisphere

Geographic coordinates:
0 00 N, 160 00 W

Map references:
Political Map of the World

Area:
total: 155.557 million sq km
note: includes Bali Sea, Bering Sea, Bering Strait, Coral Sea, East
China Sea, Gulf of Alaska, Gulf of Tonkin, Philippine Sea, Sea of
Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, South China Sea, Tasman Sea, and other
tributary water bodies

Area - comparative:
about 15 times the size of the US; covers about 28% of the global
surface; larger than the total land area of the world

Coastline:
135,663 km

Climate:
planetary air pressure systems and resultant wind patterns exhibit
remarkable uniformity in the south and east; trade winds and
westerly winds are well-developed patterns, modified by seasonal
fluctuations; tropical cyclones (hurricanes) may form south of
Mexico from June to October and affect Mexico and Central America;
continental influences cause climatic uniformity to be much less
pronounced in the eastern and western regions at the same latitude
in the North Pacific Ocean; the western Pacific is monsoonal - a
rainy season occurs during the summer months, when moisture-laden
winds blow from the ocean over the land, and a dry season during the
winter months, when dry winds blow from the Asian landmass back to
the ocean; tropical cyclones (typhoons) may strike southeast and
east Asia from May to December

Terrain:
surface currents in the northern Pacific are dominated by a
clockwise, warm-water gyre (broad circular system of currents) and
in the southern Pacific by a counterclockwise, cool-water gyre; in
the northern Pacific, sea ice forms in the Bering Sea and Sea of
Okhotsk in winter; in the southern Pacific, sea ice from Antarctica
reaches its northernmost extent in October; the ocean floor in the
eastern Pacific is dominated by the East Pacific Rise, while the
western Pacific is dissected by deep trenches, including the Mariana
Trench, which is the world's deepest

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench -10,924 m
highest point: sea level 0 m

Natural resources:
oil and gas fields, polymetallic nodules, sand and gravel
aggregates, placer deposits, fish

Natural hazards:
surrounded by a zone of violent volcanic and earthquake activity
sometimes referred to as the "Pacific Ring of Fire"; subject to
tropical cyclones (typhoons) in southeast and east Asia from May to
December (most frequent from July to October); tropical cyclones
(hurricanes) may form south of Mexico and strike Central America and
Mexico from June to October (most common in August and September);
cyclical El Nino/La Nina phenomenon occurs in the equatorial
Pacific, influencing weather in the Western Hemisphere and the
western Pacific; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme
north from October to May; persistent fog in the northern Pacific
can be a maritime hazard from June to December

Environment - current issues:
endangered marine species include the dugong, sea lion, sea otter,
seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in Philippine Sea and
South China Sea

Geography - note:
the major chokepoints are the Bering Strait, Panama Canal, Luzon
Strait, and the Singapore Strait; the Equator divides the Pacific
Ocean into the North Pacific Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean;
dotted with low coral islands and rugged volcanic islands in the
southwestern Pacific Ocean

Economy Pacific Ocean

Economy - overview:
The Pacific Ocean is a major contributor to the world economy and
particularly to those nations its waters directly touch. It provides
low-cost sea transportation between East and West, extensive fishing
grounds, offshore oil and gas fields, minerals, and sand and gravel
for the construction industry. In 1996, over 60% of the world's fish
catch came from the Pacific Ocean. Exploitation of offshore oil and
gas reserves is playing an ever-increasing role in the energy
supplies of US, Australia, NZ, China, and Peru. The high cost of
recovering offshore oil and gas, combined with the wide swings in
world prices for oil since 1985, has slowed but not stopped new
drillings.

Transportation Pacific Ocean

Ports and harbors:
Bangkok (Thailand), Hong Kong, Kao-hsiung (Taiwan), Los Angeles
(US), Manila (Philippines), Pusan (South Korea), San Francisco (US),
Seattle (US), Shanghai (China), Singapore, Sydney (Australia),
Vladivostok (Russia), Wellington (NZ), Yokohama (Japan)

Transportation - note:
Inside Passage offers protected waters from southeast Alaska to
Puget Sound (Washington state)

Transnational Issues Pacific Ocean

Disputes - international:
some maritime disputes (see littoral states)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@Pakistan

Introduction Pakistan

Background:
The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of
Pakistan (with two sections West and East) and largely Hindu India
was never satisfactorily resolved. A third war between these
countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan seceding and becoming
the separate nation of Bangladesh. A dispute over the state of
Kashmir is ongoing. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing,
Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998.

Geography Pakistan

Location:
Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east
and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north

Geographic coordinates:
30 00 N, 70 00 E

Map references:
Asia

Area:
total: 803,940 sq km
land: 778,720 sq km
water: 25,220 sq km

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

Land boundaries:
total: 6,774 km
border countries: Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912
km, Iran 909 km

Coastline:
1,046 km

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

Climate:
mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north

Terrain:
flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and northwest;
Balochistan plateau in west

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m

Natural resources:
land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poor
quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone

Land use:
arable land: 27.81%
permanent crops: 0.79%
other: 71.4% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
180,000 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north and
west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August)

Environment - current issues:
water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and
agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh water resources; a
majority of the population does not have access to potable water;
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification

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

Geography - note:
controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion routes
between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent

People Pakistan

Population:
150,694,740 (July 2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 39.3% (male 30,463,958; female 28,726,776)
15-64 years: 56.5% (male 43,571,093; female 41,651,872)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 3,051,674; female 3,229,367) (2003
est.)

Median age:
total: 19.8 years
male: 19.7 years
female: 20 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
2.01% (2003 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
-0.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 76.53 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 76.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 76.95 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 62.2 years
male: 61.3 years
female: 63.14 years (2003 est.)

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

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

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
78,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
4,500 (2001 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Pakistani(s)
adjective: Pakistani

Ethnic groups:
Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants from
India at the time of partition and their descendants)

Religions:
Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a 20%), Christian, Hindu, and other 3%

Languages:
Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu
8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English
(official and lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government
ministries), Burushaski, and other 8%

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 45.7%
male: 59.8%
female: 30.6% (2003 est.)

Government Pakistan

Country name:
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan
conventional short form: Pakistan
former: West Pakistan

Government type:
federal republic

Capital:
Islamabad

Administrative divisions:
4 provinces, 1 territory*, and 1 capital territory**; Balochistan,
Federally Administered Tribal Areas*, Islamabad Capital Territory**,
North-West Frontier Province, Punjab, Sindh
note: the Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed Jammu and
Kashmir region includes Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas

Independence:
14 August 1947 (from UK)

National holiday:
Republic Day, 23 March (1956)

Constitution:
10 April 1973, suspended 5 July 1977, restored with amendments 30
December 1985; suspended 15 October 1999, restored on 31 December
2002
note: selected provisions of the Constitution pertaining to changes
President MUSHARRAF made while the Constitution was suspended,
remain contested by political opponents

Legal system:
based on English common law with provisions to accommodate
Pakistan's status as an Islamic state; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; joint electorates and reserved
parliamentary seats for women and non-Muslims

Executive branch:
note: following a military takeover on 12 October 1999, Chief of
Army Staff and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee,
General Pervez MUSHARRAF, suspended Pakistan's constitution and
assumed the additional title of Chief Executive; exercising the
powers of the head of the government, he appointed an eight-member
National Security Council to function as Pakistan's supreme
governing body; on 12 May 2000, Pakistan's Supreme Court unanimously
validated the October 1999 coup and granted MUSHARRAF executive and
legislative authority for three years from the coup date; on 20 June
2001, MUSHARRAF named himself as president and was sworn in,
replacing Mohammad Rafiq TARAR; in a referendum held on 30 April
2002, MUSHARRAF's presidency was extended by five more years
chief of state: President Pervez MUSHARRAF (since 20 June 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan JAMALI (since
23 November 2002)
elections: the president is elected by Parliament for a five-year
term; note - in a referendum held on 30 April 2002, MUSHARRAF's
presidency was extended by five more years (next to be held NA
2007); the prime minister is selected by the National Assembly for a
four-year term (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: results are for the 10 October 2002 election for
prime minister - Mir Zafarullah Khan JAMALI elected prime minister
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the Prime Minister

Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of the Senate (100
seats - formerly 87; members indirectly elected by provincial
assemblies to serve four-year terms; and the National Assembly (342
seats - formerly 217; 60 seats represent women; 10 seats represent
minorities; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
election results: Senate results - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - PML/Q 40, PPPP 11, MMA 21, MQM/A 6, PML/N 4, NA 3,
PML/F 1, PkMAP 2, ANP 2, PPP/S 2, JWP 1, BNP-Awami 1, BNP-Mengal 1,
BNM/H 1, independents 4; National Assembly results - percent of
votes by party - NA%; seats by party - PML/Q 126, PPPP 81, MMA 63,
PML/N 19, MQM/A 17, NA 16, PML/F 5, PML/J 3, PPP/S 2, BNP 1, JWP 1,
PAT 1, PML/Z 1, PTI 1, MQM/H 1, PkMAP 1, independents 3
elections: Senate - last held 24 and 27 February 2003 (next to be
held by February 2007); National Assembly - last held 10 October
2002 (next to be held by October 2006)

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (justices appointed by the president); Federal
Islamic or Shari'a Court

Political parties and leaders:
Awami National Party or ANP [Wali KHAN]; Balochistan National
Movement/Hayee Group or BNM/H [Dr. Hayee BALUCH]; Baluch National
Party or BNP [Sardar Akhtar MENGAL]; Baluch National Party/Awami or
BNP/Awami [Moheem Kahn BALOCH]; Jamhoori Watan Party or JWP [Akbar
Khan BUGTI]; Jamiat-al-Hadith or JAH [Sajid MIR]; Jamiat
Ulema-i-Islam, Fazlur Rehman faction or JUI/F [Fazlur REHMAN];
Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Sami-ul-HAQ faction or JUI/S [Sami ul-HAQ];
Jamiat-i-Islami or JI [Qazi Hussain AHMED]; Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan,
Noorani faction or JUP/NO [Shah Ahmad NOORANI]; Millat Party or MP
[Farooq LEGHARI]; Mutahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf faction or MQM/A
[Altaf HUSSAIN]; Muhajir Quami Movement, Haqiqi faction or MQM/H
[Afaq AHMAD]; Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Pakistan or MMA [leader NA];
National Alliance or NA [Farooq Ahmad Khan LEGHARI]; National
People's Party or NPP [Ghulam Mustapha JATOI]; Pakhtun Khwa Milli
Awami Party or PkMAP [Mahmood Khan ACHAKZAI]; Pakhtun Quami Party or
PQP [Mohammed Afzal KHAN]; Pakistan Awami Tehrik or PAT [Tahir ul
QADRI]; Pakistan Democratic Party or PDP [Nawabadzada KHAN];
Pakistan Muslim League, Functional Group or PML/F [Pir PAGARO];
Pakistan Muslim League, Junejo faction or PML/J [Hamid Nasir
CHATTHA]; Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif faction or PML/N
[Nawaz SHARIF]; Pakistan Muslim League, Quaid-l-Azam faction or
PML/Q [Chaudhry Shujjat HUSSEIN]; Pakistan Muslim League, Zia-ul-HAQ
or PML/Z [Ejaz ul-Haq]; Pakistan National Party or PNP [Hasil
BIZENJO]; Pakistan People's Party or PPP [Benazir BHUTTO]; Pakistan
People's Party/Sherpao or PPP/S [Aftab Ahmed Khan SHERPAO]; Pakistan
People's Party/Shaheed Bhutto or PPP/SB [Ghinva BHUTTO]; Pakistan
People's Party Parliamentarians or PPPP [Amin FAHIM]; Pakistan
Tehrik-e-Insaaf or PTI [Imran KHAN]; Tehrik-i-Islami [Allama Sajid
NAQVI]; Tehrik-i-Insaaf or PTI [Imran KHAN]
note: political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently

Political pressure groups and leaders:
military remains most important political force; ulema (clergy),
landowners, industrialists, and small merchants also influential

International organization participation:
AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), C (suspended), CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO,
G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, UN, UN
Security Council (temporary), UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ashraf Jehangir QAZI
chancery: 2315 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
FAX: [1] (202) 387-0484
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York, and Sunnyvale
(California)
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6205

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Nancy J. POWELL
embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad
mailing address: P. O. Box 1048, Unit 62200, APO AE 09812-2200
telephone: [92] (51) 2080-0000
FAX: [92] (51) 2276427
consulate(s): Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar

Flag description:
green with a vertical white band (symbolizing the role of religious
minorities) on the hoist side; a large white crescent and star are
centered in the green field; the crescent, star, and color green are
traditional symbols of Islam

Economy Pakistan

Economy - overview:
Pakistan, an impoverished and underdeveloped country, suffers from
internal political disputes, low levels of foreign investment, and a
costly, ongoing confrontation with neighboring India. Pakistan's
economic prospects, although still marred by poor human development
indicators, continued to improve in 2002 following unprecedented
inflows of foreign assistance beginning in 2001. Foreign exchange
reserves have grown to record levels, supported largely by fast
growth in recorded worker remittances. Trade levels rebounded after
a sharp decline in late 2001. The government has made significant
inroads in macroeconomic reform since 2000, but progress is
beginning to slow. Although it is in the second year of its $1.3
billion IMF Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility, Islamabad
continues to require waivers for politically difficult reforms.
Long-term prospects remain uncertain as development spending remains
low, regional tensions remain high, and political tensions weaken
Pakistan's commitment to lender-recommended economic reforms. GDP
growth will continue to hinge on crop performance; dependence on
foreign oil leaves the import bill vulnerable to fluctuating oil
prices; and efforts to open and modernize the economy remain uneven.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $295.3 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
4.4% (FY01/02 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,000 (FY01/02 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 24%
industry: 25%
services: 51% (FY01/02 est.)

Population below poverty line:
35% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 27.6% (1996-97)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
41 (FY98/99)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.9% (2002 est.)

Labor force:
40.4 million
note: extensive export of labor, mostly to the Middle East, and use
of child labor (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 44%, industry 17%, services 39% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:
7.8% plus substantial underemployment (2002 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $12.6 billion
expenditures: $14.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY02/03 est.)

Industries:
textiles, and apparel, food processing, beverages, construction
materials, paper products, fertilizer, shrimp

Industrial production growth rate:
2.4% (FY01/02 est.)

Electricity - production:
66.96 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 68.8%
hydro: 28.2%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 3%

Electricity - consumption:
62.27 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
62,870 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
365,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:
297.1 million bbl (37257)

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

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

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

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

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

Agriculture - products:
cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; milk, beef,
mutton, eggs

Exports:
$9.8 billion f.o.b. (FY02/03 est.)

Exports - commodities:
textiles (garments, cotton cloth, and yarn), rice, leather, sports
goods, and carpets and rugs

Exports - partners:
US 24.5%, UAE 8.5%, UK 7.2%, Germany 4.9%, Hong Kong 4.8% (2002)

Imports:
$11.1 billion f.o.b. (FY02/03 est.)

Imports - commodities:
petroleum, petroleum products, machinery, chemicals, transportation
equipment, edible oils, pulses, iron an steel, tea

Imports - partners:
UAE 11.7%, Saudi Arabia 11.7%, Kuwait 6.7%, US 6.4%, China 6.2%,
Japan 6%, Malaysia 4.5%, Germany 4.4% (2002)

Debt - external:
$32.3 billion (2002 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$2.4 billion (FY01/02)

Currency:
Pakistani rupee (PKR)

Currency code:
PKR

Exchange rates:
Pakistani rupees per US dollar - 59.72 (2002), 61.93 (2001), 53.65
(2000), 49.12 (1999), 44.94 (1998)

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

Communications Pakistan

Telephones - main lines in use:
2.861 million (March 1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
158,000 (1998)

Telephone system:
general assessment: the domestic system is mediocre, but improving;
service is adequate for government and business use, in part because
major businesses have established their own private systems; since
1988, the government has promoted investment in the national
telecommunications system on a priority basis, significantly
increasing network capacity; despite major improvements in trunk and
urban systems, telecommunication services are still not readily
available to the majority of the rural population
domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable,
cellular, and satellite networks
international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic
Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); 3 operational international gateway
exchanges (1 at Karachi and 2 at Islamabad); microwave radio relay
to neighboring countries (1999)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 27, FM 1, shortwave 21 (1998)

Radios:
13.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
22 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:
3.1 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.pk

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
30 (2000)

Internet users:
1.2 million (2000)

Transportation Pakistan

Railways:
total: 8,163 km
broad gauge: 7,718 km 1.676-m gauge (293 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 445 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)

Highways:
total: 254,410 km
paved: 109,396 km (including 339 km of expressways)
unpaved: 145,014 km (1999)

Waterways:
none

Pipelines:
gas 9,945 km; oil 1,821 km (2003)

Ports and harbors:
Karachi, Port Muhammad bin Qasim

Merchant marine:
total: 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 247,675 GRT/375,435 DWT
ships by type: cargo 14, container 3, petroleum tanker 1 (2002 est.)

Airports:
124 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 87
over 3,047 m: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 21
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 32

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 37
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 19 (2002)

Heliports:
13 (2002)

Military Pakistan

Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Armed Forces, National Guard

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

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 38,133,733 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 23,328,575 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 1,767,502 (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$2.964 billion (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4.6% (FY02)

Transnational Issues Pakistan

Disputes - international:
thousands of Afghan refugees still reside in Pakistan; isolating
terrain and close ties among Pashtuns in Pakistan make cross-border
activities difficult to control; armed stand-off with India over the
status and sovereignty of Kashmir continues - India objects to
Pakistan ceding lands to China in 1965 boundary agreement that India
believes are part of disputed Kashmir; disputes with India over
Indus River water sharing and the terminus of the Rann of Kutch,
which prevents maritime boundary delimitation

Illicit drugs:
opium poppy cultivation practically eliminated; key transit point
for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western markets; Afghan
narcotics continue to transit Federally Administered Tribal Areas,
Balochistan Province, and Karachi; financial crimes related to drug
trafficking, terrorism, corruption, and smuggling remain problems

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@Palau

Introduction Palau

Background:
After three decades as part of the UN Trust Territory of the
Pacific under US administration, this westernmost cluster of the
Caroline Islands opted for independence in 1978 rather than join the
Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with
the US was approved in 1986, but not ratified until 1993. It entered
into force the following year, when the islands gained independence.

Geography Palau

Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of
the Philippines

Geographic coordinates:
7 30 N, 134 30 E

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 458 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 458 sq km

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

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
1,519 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 12 NM
territorial sea: 3 NM
extended fishing zone: 200 NM

Climate:
wet season May to November; hot and humid

Terrain:
varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island of
Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier
reefs

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m

Natural resources:
forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed
minerals

Land use:
arable land: 21.74%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 78.26% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
NA sq km

Natural hazards:
typhoons (June to December)

Environment - current issues:
inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the
marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing
practices, and overfishing

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
westernmost archipelago in the Caroline chain, consists of six
island groups totaling more than 300 islands; includes World War II
battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands

People Palau

Population:
19,717 (July 2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.7% (male 2,714; female 2,552)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 7,352; female 6,197)
65 years and over: 4.6% (male 429; female 473) (2003 est.)

Median age:
total: 30.8 years
male: 31.8 years
female: 29.7 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
1.54% (2003 est.)

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

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

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

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1.14 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 15.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 17.55 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.5 years
male: 66.37 years
female: 72.82 years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate:
2.47 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: Palauan(s)
adjective: Palauan

Ethnic groups:
Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 70%,
Asian (mainly Filipinos, followed by Chinese, Taiwanese, and
Vietnamese) 28%, white 2% (2000 est.)

Religions:
Christian (Roman Catholics 49%, Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah's
Witnesses, the Assembly of God, the Liebenzell Mission, and
Latter-Day Saints), Modekngei religion (one-third of the population
observes this religion, which is indigenous to Palau)

Languages:
English and Palauan official in all states except Sonsoral
(Sonsoralese and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English are
official), and Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92%
male: 93%
female: 90% (1980 est.)

Government Palau

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Palau
conventional short form: Palau
local short form: Belau
former: Palau District (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)
local long form: Beluu er a Belau

Government type:
constitutional government in free association with the US; the
Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994

Capital:
Koror; note - a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast of
Koror

Administrative divisions:
16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatobohei, Kayangel, Koror,
Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar,
Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsoral

Independence:
1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)

National holiday:
Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)

Constitution:
1 January 1981

Legal system:
based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal,
common, and customary laws

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. (since 19
January 2001) and Vice President Sandra PIERANTOZZI (since 19
January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. (since 19
January 2001) and Vice President Sandra PIERANTOZZI (since 19
January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets
by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 7 November
2000 (next to be held NA November 2004)
election results: Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. elected president;
percent of vote - Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. 53%, Peter SUGIYAMA
46%; Sandra PIERANTOZZI elected vice president; percent of vote -
Sandra PIERANTOZZI 52%, Alan SEID 45%

Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) consists of the
Senate (9 seats; members elected by popular vote on a population
basis to serve four-year terms) and the House of Delegates (16
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA
November 2004); House of Delegates - last held 7 November 2000 (next
to be held NA November 2004)
election results: Senate - percent of vote - NA%; seats -
independents 9; House of Delegates - percent of vote - NA%; seats -
independents 16

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; National Court; Court of Common Pleas

Political parties and leaders:
none

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC,
Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA
consulate(s): Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands)
FAX: [1] (202) 452-6281
telephone: [1] (202) 452-6814
chancery: 1800 K Street NW, Suite 714, Washington, DC 20006

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: the Ambassador to the Philippines is accredited
to Palau
embassy: address NA, Koror
mailing address: P. O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940
telephone: [680] 488-2920, 2990
FAX: [680] 488-2911

Flag description:
light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon) shifted
slightly to the hoist side

Economy Palau

Economy - overview:
The economy consists primarily of tourism, subsistence agriculture
and fishing. The government is the major employer of the work force,
relying heavily on financial assistance from the US. Business and
tourist arrivals numbered 50,000 in FY00/01. The population enjoys a
per capita income twice that of the Philippines and much of
Micronesia. Long-run prospects for the key tourist sector have been
greatly bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific, the
rising prosperity of leading East Asian countries, and the
willingness of foreigners to finance infrastructure development.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $174 million
note: $174 million $174 million GDP estimate includes US subsidy
(2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $9,000 (2001 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):
3.4% (2000 est.)

Labor force:
9,845 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 20%, industry NA%, services NA% (1990)

Unemployment rate:
2.3% (2000 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $57.7 million
expenditures: $80.8 million, including capital expenditures of $17.1
million (FY 98/99 est.)

Industries:
tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), construction,
garment making

Industrial production growth rate:
NA%

Electricity - production by source:
0%

Agriculture - products:
coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes

Exports:
$18 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities:
shellfish, tuna, copra, garments

Exports - partners:
US, Japan, Singapore (2000)

Imports:
$99 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuels, metals; foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
US, Guam, Japan, Singapore, Korea (2000)

Debt - external:
$0 (FY 99/00)

Economic aid - recipient:
$155.8 million ; note - the Compact of Free Association with the
US, entered into after the end of the UN trusteeship on 1 October
1994, provides Palau with up to $700 million in US aid over 15 years
in return for furnishing military facilities

Currency:
US dollar (USD)

Currency code:
USD

Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used

Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September

Communications Palau

Telephones - main lines in use:
6,700 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,000 (2002)

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

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2002)

Radios:
12,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)

Televisions:
11,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.pw

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)

Transportation Palau

Railways:
0 km

Highways:
total: 61 km
paved: 36 km
unpaved: 25 km

Waterways:
none

Ports and harbors:
Koror

Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)

Airports:
3 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)

Military Palau

Military branches:
NA

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US; under a Compact of Free
Association between Palau and the US, the US military is granted
access to the islands for 50 years

Transnational Issues Palau

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@Palmyra Atoll

Introduction Palmyra Atoll

Background:
The Kingdom of Hawaii claimed the atoll in 1862, and the US
included it among the Hawaiian Islands when it annexed the
archipelago in 1898. The Hawaii Statehood Act of 1959 did not
include Palmyra Atoll, which is now privately owned by the Nature
Conservancy. This organization is managing the atoll as a nature
preserve. The lagoons and surrounding waters within the 12 nautical
mile US territorial seas were transferred to the US Fish and
Wildlife Service and were designated a National Wildlife Refuge in
January 2001.

Geography Palmyra Atoll

Location:
Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between
Hawaii and American Samoa

Geographic coordinates:
5 52 N, 162 06 W

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 11.9 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 11.9 sq km

Area - comparative:
about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
14.5 km

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

Climate:
equatorial, hot, and very rainy

Terrain:
very low

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 2 m

Natural resources:
terrestrial and aquatic wildlife

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

Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
NA

Environment - current issues:
NA

Geography - note:
about 50 islets covered with dense vegetation, coconut trees, and
balsa-like trees up to 30 meters tall

People Palmyra Atoll

Population:
no indigenous inhabitants; 4 to 20 Nature Conservancy staff, US
Fish and Wildlife staff (July 2003 est.)

Government Palmyra Atoll

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Palmyra Atoll

Dependency status:
incorporated territory of the US; privately owned, but administered
from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US
Department of the Interior; the Office of Insular Affairs of the US
Department of the Interior continues to administer nine excluded
areas comprising certain tidal and submerged lands within the 12 NM
territorial sea or within the lagoon

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

Flag description:
the flag of the US is used

Economy Palmyra Atoll

Economy - overview:
no economic activity

Transportation Palmyra Atoll

Highways:
most of the roads and many causeways built during World War II are
unserviceable and overgrown (2001)

Waterways:
none

Ports and harbors:
West Lagoon

Airports:
1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)

Military Palmyra Atoll

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues Palmyra Atoll

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@Panama

Introduction Panama

Background:
With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly
signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal
and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the
structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the
US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. On 7 September
1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal
from the US to Panama by the end of 1999. Certain portions of the
Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over
in the intervening years. With US help, dictator Manuel NORIEGA was
deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the
Canal, and remaining US military bases were turned over to Panama by
or on 31 December 1999.

Geography Panama

Location:
Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North
Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica

Geographic coordinates:
9 00 N, 80 00 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 78,200 sq km
water: 2,210 sq km
land: 75,990 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries:
total: 555 km
border countries: Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km

Coastline:
2,490 km

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

Climate:
tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May
to January), short dry season (January to May)

Terrain:
interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland
plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan de Chiriqui 3,475 m

Natural resources:
copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower

Land use:
arable land: 6.72%
permanent crops: 2.08%
other: 91.2% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
320 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area

Environment - current issues:
water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery
resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation
and soil erosion threatens siltation of Panama Canal; air pollution
in urban areas; mining threatens natural resources

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

Geography - note:
strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land bridge
connecting North and South America; controls Panama Canal that links
North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with North Pacific Ocean

People Panama

Population:
2,960,784 (July 2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.6% (male 461,670; female 443,671)
15-64 years: 63.3% (male 950,089; female 924,038)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 86,006; female 95,310) (2003 est.)

Median age:
total: 25.6 years
male: 25.4 years
female: 25.9 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
1.36% (2003 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
-0.97 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: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 21.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 23.59 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.32 years
male: 69.97 years
female: 74.79 years (2003 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.5% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
25,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,900 (2001 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Panamanian(s)
adjective: Panamanian

Ethnic groups:
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%, Amerindian and mixed
(West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%

Religions:
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%

Languages:
Spanish (official), English 14%
note: many Panamanians bilingual

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.6%
male: 93.2%
female: 91.9% (2003 est.)

Government Panama

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

Government type:
constitutional democracy

Capital:
Panama

Administrative divisions:
9 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 territory*
(comarca); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera,
Los Santos, Panama, San Blas*, and Veraguas

Independence:
3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28
November 1821)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 3 November (1903)

Constitution:
11 October 1972; major reforms adopted 1978, 1983 and 1994

Legal system:
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in
the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez (since 1
September 1999); First Vice President Arturo Ulises VALLARINO (since
1 September 1999); Second Vice President Dominador "Kaiser"
Baldonero BAZAN Jimenez (since 1 September 1999); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez (since
1 September 1999); First Vice President Arturo Ulises VALLARINO
(since 1 September 1999); Second Vice President Dominador "Kaiser"
Baldonero BAZAN Jimenez (since 1 September 1999); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 2 May 1999
(next to be held NA May 2004)
note: government coalition - PA, MOLIRENA, Democratic Change,
MORENA, PLN, PS
election results: Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez elected president;
percent of vote - Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez (PA) 44%, Martin
TORRIJOS (PRD) 37%

Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (71 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
PRD 34, PA 18, PDC 5, PS 4, MOLIRENA 3, PLN 3, Democratic Change 2,
PRC 1, MORENA 1
note: legislators from outlying rural districts are chosen on a
plurality basis while districts located in more populous towns and
cities elect multiple legislators by means of a proportion-based
formula
elections: last held 2 May 1999 (next to be held NA May 2004)

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (nine judges
appointed for 10-year terms); five superior courts; three courts of
appeal

Political parties and leaders:
Arnulfista Party or PA [Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez]; Civic
Renewal Party or PRC [Serguei DE LA ROSA]; Democratic Change
[Ricardo MARTINELLI]; Democratic Revolutionary Party or PRD [Martin
TORRIJOS]; National Liberal Party or PLN [Raul ARANGO Gasteazopo];
National Renovation Movement or MORENA [Pedro VALLARINO Cox];
Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA [Ramon MORALES];
Popular Party or PP (formerly Christian Democratic Party or PDC)
[Ruben AROSEMENA]; Solidarity Party or PS [Samuel LEWIS Galindo]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Chamber of Commerce; National Civic Crusade; National Council of
Organized Workers or CONATO; National Union of Construction and
Similar Workers (SUNTRACS); National Council of Private Enterprise
or CONEP; Panamanian Association of Business Executives or APEDE;
Panamanian Industrialists Society or SIP; Workers Confederation of
the Republic of Panama or CTRP

International organization participation:
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,
PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Roberto ALFARO Estripeaut
FAX: [1] (202) 483-8416
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New
York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa
telephone: [1] (202) 483-1407
chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Linda Ellen WATT
embassy: Avenida Balboa and Calle 37, Apartado Postal 0816-02561,
Zona 5, Panama City 5
mailing address: American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002
telephone: [507] 207-7000
FAX: [507] 227-1964

Flag description:
divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white
(hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and plain
red; the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with
a red five-pointed star in the center

Economy Panama

Economy - overview:
Panama's economy is based primarily on a well-developed services
sector that accounts for three-fourths of GDP. Services include
operating the Panama Canal, banking, the Colon Free Zone, insurance,
container ports, flagship registry, and tourism. A slump in Colon
Free Zone and agricultural exports, the global slowdown, and the
withdrawal of US military forces held back economic growth in
2000-02. The government has been backing public works programs, tax
reforms, new regional trade agreements, and development of tourism
in order to stimulate growth.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $18.06 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
0.7% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $6,200 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 7%
industry: 17%
services: 76% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:
37% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 35.7% (1997)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
48.5 (1997)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.1% (2001 est.)

Labor force:
1.1 million
note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled
labor (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 20.8%, industry 18%, services 61.2% (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate:
16% (2002 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.9 billion
expenditures: $2 billion, including capital expenditures of $471
million (2000 est.)

Industries:
construction, petroleum refining, brewing, cement and other
construction materials, sugar milling

Industrial production growth rate:
0.5% (2002 est.)

Electricity - production:
4.039 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 37%
hydro: 61.3%
other: 1.7% (2001)
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption:
3.681 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
118 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
43 million kWh (2001)

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

Oil - consumption:
52,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Agriculture - products:
bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock;
shrimp

Exports:
$5.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:
bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing (1999)

Exports - partners:
US 47.8%, Sweden 5.8%, Costa Rica 4.8%, Honduras 4.4% (2002)

Imports:
$6.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:
capital goods, crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals
(1999)

Imports - partners:
US 34.3%, Colombia 5.9%, Japan 5.4%, Costa Rica 4.2%, Venezuela
4.2% (2002)

Debt - external:
$7 billion (2002 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$197.1 million (1995)

Currency:
balboa (PAB); US dollar (USD)

Currency code:
PAB; USD

Exchange rates:
balboas per US dollar - 1 (2002), 1 (2001), 1 (2000), 1 (1999), 1
(1998)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Panama

Telephones - main lines in use:
396,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
17,000 (1997)

Telephone system:
general assessment: domestic and international facilities well
developed
domestic: NA
international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth stations -
2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to the Central American
Microwave System

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 101, FM 134, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:
815,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
38 (including repeaters) (1998)

Televisions:
510,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.pa

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6 (2000)

Internet users:
45,000 (2000)

Transportation Panama

Railways:
total: 355 km
broad gauge: 76 km 1.524-m gauge
narrow gauge: 279 km 0.914-m gauge (2002)

Highways:
total: 11,400 km
paved: 3,944 km (including 30 km of expressways)
unpaved: 7,456 km (1999)

Waterways:
882 km
note: 800 km navigable by shallow draft vessels; 82 km Panama Canal

Pipelines:
crude oil 130 km (2001)

Ports and harbors:
Balboa, Cristobal, Coco Solo, Manzanillo (part of Colon area),
Vacamonte

Merchant marine:
total: 4,860 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 122,543,755 GRT/184,910,607
DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 5, bulk 1,443, cargo 846, chemical
tanker 376, combination bulk 72, combination ore/oil 17, container
588, liquefied gas 207, livestock carrier 6, multi-functional
large-load carrier 12, passenger 38, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum
tanker 537, railcar carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 287, roll on/roll
off 107, short-sea passenger 41, specialized tanker 33, vehicle
carrier 240
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Albania 2, Angola 1, Antigua and Barbuda 1, Argentina
11, Australia 13, Austria 2, The Bahamas 5, Belgium 2, Belize 6,
Brazil 6, British Virgin Islands 8, Cambodia 1, Canada 9, Chile 12,
China 259, Colombia 14, Croatia 2, Cuba 20, Cyprus 3, Denmark 3,
Dominican Republic 1, Ecuador 3, Egypt 16, Equatorial Guinea 1,
France 9, Germany 72, Greece 523, Haiti 1, Honduras 3, Hong Kong
299, Iceland 1, India 18, Indonesia 48, Ireland 1, Israel 5, Italy
9, Japan 1,642, Kenya 1, Kuwait 2, Latvia 8, Liberia 5, Lithuania 1,
Malaysia 18, Malta 2, Marshall Islands 1, Mexico 8, Monaco 112,
Netherlands 19, Netherlands Antilles 1, Nigeria 3, Norway 98,
Paraguay 1, Peru 15, Philippines 49, Poland 5, Portugal 7, Puerto
Rico 2, Romania 7, Russia 12, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines 5, Saudi Arabia 4, Seychelles 1, Singapore 112,
South Africa 3, South Korea 342, Spain 52, Sri Lanka 3, Sudan 1,
Sweden 2, Switzerland 81, Taiwan 334, Thailand 14, Trinidad and
Tobago 1, Tunisia 1, Turkey 4, Ukraine 1, UAE 54, UK 73, US 115,
Venezuela 6 (2002 est.)

Airports:
103 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 41
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 21 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 62
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 50 (2002)

Military Panama

Military branches:
an amendment to the Constitution abolished the armed forces, but
there are security forces (Panamanian Public Forces or PPF includes
the Panamanian National Police, National Maritime Service, and
National Air Service)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 797,456 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 544,967 (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$128 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.3% (FY99)

Military - note:
on 10 February 1990, the government of then President ENDARA
abolished Panama's military and reformed the security apparatus by
creating the Panamanian Public Forces; in October 1994, Panama's
Legislative Assembly approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting
the creation of a standing military force, but allowing the
temporary establishment of special police units to counter acts of
"external aggression"

Transnational Issues Panama

Disputes - international:
none

Illicit drugs:
major cocaine transshipment point and primary money laundering
center for narcotics revenue; money-laundering activity is
especially heavy in the Colon Free Zone; offshore financial center;
negligible signs of coca cultivation; monitoring of financial
transactions is improving; official corruption remains a major
problem

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@Papua New Guinea

Introduction Papua New Guinea

Background:
The eastern half of the island of New Guinea - second largest in
the world - was divided between Germany (north) and the UK (south)
in 1885. The latter area was transferred to Australia in 1902, which
occupied the northern portion during World War I and continued to
administer the combined areas until independence in 1975. A
nine-year secessionist revolt on the island of Bougainville ended in
1997, after claiming some 20,000 lives.

Geography Papua New Guinea

Location:
Oceania, group of islands including the eastern half of the island
of New Guinea between the Coral Sea and the South Pacific Ocean,
east of Indonesia

Geographic coordinates:
6 00 S, 147 00 E

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 462,840 sq km
land: 452,860 sq km
water: 9,980 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than California

Land boundaries:
total: 820 km
border countries: Indonesia 820 km

Coastline:
5,152 km

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

Climate:
tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon
(May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:
mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m

Natural resources:
gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries

Land use:
arable land: 0.13%
permanent crops: 1.35%
other: 98.52% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
NA sq km

Natural hazards:
active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire"; the
country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud
slides; tsunamis

Environment - current issues:
rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing
commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining
projects; severe drought

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

Geography - note:
shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of world's largest
swamps along southwest coast

People Papua New Guinea

Population:
5,295,816 (July 2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.4% (male 1,034,219; female 1,000,505)
15-64 years: 57.8% (male 1,582,983; female 1,479,436)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 93,604; female 105,069) (2003 est.)

Median age:
total: 20.8 years
male: 21 years
female: 20.6 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
2.34% (2003 est.)

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

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