Chapter LIV: Front Matter (54)

Environment - current issues:
deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the
use of wood for fuel; water pollution presents health hazards and
hinders the fishing industry; air pollution increasing in urban areas

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

Geography - note:
the country's length allows it to stretch through six distinct
geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna

People Togo

Population:
5,429,299
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.5% (male 1,211,252; female 1,203,564)
15-64 years: 53% (male 1,404,763; female 1,473,360)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 57,535; female 78,825) (2003 est.)

Median age:
total: 17.3 years
male: 16.9 years
female: 17.7 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
2.37% (2003 est.)

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

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

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

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 68.73 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 60.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 76.58 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 53.43 years
male: 51.47 years
female: 55.45 years (2003 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
6% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
150,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
12,000 (2001 est.)

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

Ethnic groups:
native African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe,
Mina, and Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%

Religions:
indigenous beliefs 51%, Christian 29%, Muslim 20%

Languages:
French (official and the language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (the
two major African languages in the south), Kabye (sometimes spelled
Kabiye) and Dagomba (the two major African languages in the north)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 60.9%
male: 75.4%
female: 46.9% (2003 est.)

Government Togo

Country name:
conventional long form: Togolese Republic
conventional short form: Togo
local short form: none
former: French Togoland
local long form: Republique Togolaise

Government type:
republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule

Capital:
Lome

Administrative divisions:
5 regions (regions, singular - region); De La Kara, Des Plateaux,
Des Savanes, Centrale, Maritime

Independence:
27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 27 April (1960)

Constitution:
multiparty draft constitution approved by High Council of the
Republic 1 July 1992; adopted by public referendum 27 September 1992

Legal system:
French-based court system

Suffrage:
NA years of age; universal adult

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA (since 14 April
1967)
head of government: Prime Minister Koffi SAMA (since 29 June 2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and the
prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 1 June 2003 (next to be held NA June 2008); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: Gnassingbe EYADEMA reelected president; percent of
vote - Gnassingbe EYADEMA 57.2%, Emmanuel Akitani BOB 34.1%, Yawovi
AGBOYIBO 5.2%, Maurice Dahuku PERE 2.3%, Edem KODJO 1.0%

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (81 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 27 October 2002 (next NA 2007)
note: two opposition parties boycotted the election, the Union of
the Forces for Change, and the Action Committee for Renewal
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
RPT 72, RSD 3, UDPS 2, Juvento 2, MOCEP 1, independents 1

Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Political parties and leaders:
Juvento [Monsilia DJATO]; Movement of the Believers of Peace and
Equality or MOCEP [leader NA]; Rally for the Support for Development
and Democracy or RSDD [Hanay OLYMPIO]; Rally of the Togolese People
or RPT [President Gnassingbe EYADEMA]; Union for Democracy and
Social Progress or UDPS [Gagou KOKOU]
note: Rally of the Togolese People or RPT, led by President EYADEMA,
was the only party until the formation of multiple parties was
legalized 12 April 1991

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIPONUH, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Akoussoulelou BODJONA
FAX: [1] (202) 232-3190
telephone: [1] (202) 234-4212
chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gregory ENGLE
embassy: Angle Rue Kouenou and Rue 15 Beniglato, Lome
mailing address: B. P. 852, Lome
telephone: [228] 221 29 91 through 221 29 94
FAX: [228] 221 79 52

Flag description:
five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternating
with yellow; there is a white five-pointed star on a red square in
the upper hoist-side corner; uses the popular pan-African colors of
Ethiopia

Economy Togo

Economy - overview:
This small sub-Saharan economy is heavily dependent on both
commercial and subsistence agriculture, which provides employment
for 65% of the labor force. Some basic foodstuffs must still be
imported. Cocoa, coffee, and cotton generate about 40% of export
earnings, with cotton being the most important cash crop. Togo is
the world's fourth-largest producer of phosphate, but production
fell an estimated 22% in 2002 due to power shortages and the cost of
developing new deposits. The government's decade-long effort,
supported by the World Bank and the IMF, to implement economic
reform measures, encourage foreign investment, and bring revenues in
line with expenditures has moved slowly. Progress depends on
following through on privatization, increased openness in government
financial operations, progress toward legislative elections, and
continued support from foreign donors.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $7.594 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
2.9% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 42%
industry: 21%
services: 37% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:
32% (1989 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (2002 est.)

Labor force:
1.74 million (1996)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 65%, industry 5%, services 30% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate:
NA%

Budget:
revenues: $232 million
expenditures: $252 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)

Industries:
phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement; handicrafts,
textiles, beverages

Industrial production growth rate:
NA%

Electricity - production:
101.6 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 98.7%
hydro: 1.3%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption:
614.5 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
520 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by Ghana (2001)

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

Oil - consumption:
10,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Agriculture - products:
coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (tapioca), corn, beans, rice,
millet, sorghum; livestock; fish

Exports:
$449 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities:
reexports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa

Exports - partners:
Ghana 17.7%, Benin 13.3%, Burkina Faso 8.2%, Philippines 4.9%,
Niger 4.1% (2002)

Imports:
$561 million f.o.b. (2002)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products

Imports - partners:
France 21.3%, China 17%, Netherlands 6.5%, Germany 5.3%, UK 4.8%,
Italy 4.4% (2002)

Debt - external:
$1.4 billion (2000)

Economic aid - recipient:
ODA $80 million (2000 est.)

Currency:
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible
authority is the Central Bank of the West African States

Currency code:
XOF

Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 696.99
(2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Togo

Telephones - main lines in use:
25,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
2,995 (1997)

Telephone system:
general assessment: fair system based on a network of microwave
radio relay routes supplemented by open-wire lines and a mobile
cellular system
domestic: microwave radio relay and open-wire lines for conventional
system; cellular system has capacity of 10,000 telephones
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean) and 1 Symphonie

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios:
940,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
3 (plus two repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:
73,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.tg

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2001)

Internet users:
50,000 (2002)

Transportation Togo

Railways:
total: 525 km
narrow gauge: 525 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)

Highways:
total: 7,520 km
paved: 2,376 km
unpaved: 5,144 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:
50 km (Mono river)

Ports and harbors:
Kpeme, Lome

Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 3,918 GRT/3,852 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, specialized tanker 1
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
convenience: Greece 1 (2002 est.)

Airports:
9 (2002)

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

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 2 (2002)

Military Togo

Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,270,146 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 666,132 (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$23.72 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.8% (FY02)

Transnational Issues Togo

Disputes - international:
in 2001 Benin claimed Togo moved boundary monuments - joint
commission presently resurveying the boundary

Illicit drugs:
transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers; money
laundering not a significant problem

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@Tokelau

Introduction Tokelau

Background:
Originally settled by Polynesian emigrants from surrounding island
groups, the Tokelau Islands were made a British protectorate in
1889. They were transferred to New Zealand administration in 1925.

Geography Tokelau

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

Geographic coordinates:
9 00 S, 172 00 W

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 10 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 10 sq km

Area - comparative:
about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
101 km

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

Climate:
tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)

Terrain:
low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons

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

Natural resources:
NEGL

Land use:
arable land: 0% (soil is thin and infertile)
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
NA sq km

Natural hazards:
lies in Pacific typhoon belt

Environment - current issues:
very limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to
emigration to New Zealand

Geography - note:
consists of three atolls, each with a lagoon surrounded by a number
of reef-bound islets of varying length and rising to over three
meters above sea level

People Tokelau

Population:
1,418 (July 2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 42%
15-64 years: 53%
65 years and over: 5% (2003 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.01% (2003 est.)

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

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

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

Sex ratio:
NA (2003 est.)

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

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: 68 years
female: 70 years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate:
NA 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: Tokelauan(s)
adjective: Tokelauan

Ethnic groups:
Polynesian

Religions:
Congregational Christian Church 70%, Roman Catholic 28%, other 2%
note: on Atafu, all Congregational Christian Church of Samoa; on
Nukunonu, all Roman Catholic; on Fakaofo, both denominations, with
the Congregational Christian Church predominant

Languages:
Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English

Literacy:
NA

Government Tokelau

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tokelau

Dependency status:
self-administering territory of New Zealand; note - Tokelauans are
drafting a constitution and developing institutions and patterns of
self-government as Tokelau moves toward free association with New
Zealand

Government type:
NA

Capital:
none; each atoll has its own administrative center

Administrative divisions:
none (territory of New Zealand)

Independence:
none (territory of New Zealand)

National holiday:
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty
over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)

Constitution:
administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948, as amended in
1970

Legal system:
New Zealand and local statutes

Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK
and New Zealand are represented by Administrator Lindsay WATT (since
NA March 1993)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed
by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand; the
head of government is chosen from the Council of Faipule and serves
a one-year term
head of government: Aliki Faipule Pio TUIA (since NA 2002)
cabinet: the Council of Faipule, consisting of three elected leaders
- one from each atoll - functions as a cabinet

Legislative branch:
unicameral General Fono (48 seats; members chosen by each atoll's
Council of Elders or Taupulega to serve three-year terms); note -
the Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 confers limited legislative power
on the General Fono

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court in New Zealand exercises civil and criminal
jurisdiction in Tokelau

Political parties and leaders:
none

Political pressure groups and leaders:
none

International organization participation:
SPC, UNESCO (associate), WHO (associate)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of New Zealand)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of New Zealand)

Flag description:
the flag of New Zealand is used

Economy Tokelau

Economy - overview:
Tokelau's small size (three villages), isolation, and lack of
resources greatly restrain economic development and confine
agriculture to the subsistence level. The people rely heavily on aid
from New Zealand - about $4 million annually - to maintain public
services, with annual aid being substantially greater than GDP. The
principal sources of revenue come from sales of copra, postage
stamps, souvenir coins, and handicrafts. Money is also remitted to
families from relatives in New Zealand.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1.5 million (1993 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
NA%

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,000 (1993 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Population below poverty line:
NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%

Labor force:
NA

Unemployment rate:
NA%

Budget:
revenues: $430,830
expenditures: $2.8 million, including capital expenditures of
$37,300 (1987 est.)

Industries:
small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaited
craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing

Industrial production growth rate:
NA%

Electricity - production:
NA kWh

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

Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh

Agriculture - products:
coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papayas, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats

Exports:
$98,000 f.o.b. (1983)

Exports - commodities:
stamps, copra, handicrafts

Exports - partners:
NZ (2000)

Imports:
$323,000 c.i.f. (1983)

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, building materials, fuel

Imports - partners:
NZ (2000)

Debt - external:
$0

Economic aid - recipient:
from New Zealand about $4 million annually

Currency:
New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Currency code:
NZD

Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.154 (2002), 2.3776 (2001),
2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997)

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Tokelau

Telephones - main lines in use:
NA

Telephones - mobile cellular:
0 (2001)

Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate
domestic: radiotelephone service between islands
international: radiotelephone service to Samoa; government-regulated
telephone service (TeleTok), with 3 satellite earth stations,
established in 1997

Radio broadcast stations:
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
note: each atoll has a radio broadcast station of unknown type that
broadcasts shipping and weather reports (1998)

Radios:
1,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.tk

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)

Internet users:
NA

Transportation Tokelau

Railways:
0 km

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

Waterways:
none

Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only

Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)

Airports:
none; lagoon landings are possible by amphibious aircraft (2002)

Military Tokelau

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Transnational Issues Tokelau

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@Tonga

Introduction Tonga

Background:
The archipelago of "The Friendly Islands" was united into a
Polynesian kingdom in 1845. It became a constitutional monarchy in
1875 and a British protectorate in 1900. Tonga acquired its
independence in 1970 and became a member of the Commonwealth of
Nations. It remains the only monarchy in the Pacific.

Geography Tonga

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

Geographic coordinates:
20 00 S, 175 00 W

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 748 sq km
water: 30 sq km
land: 718 sq km

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

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
419 km

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

Climate:
tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May),
cool season (May to December)

Terrain:
most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral
formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 m

Natural resources:
fish, fertile soil

Land use:
arable land: 23.61%
permanent crops: 43.06%
other: 33.33% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
NA sq km

Natural hazards:
cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on
Fonuafo'ou

Environment - current issues:
deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared for
agriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs from starfish
and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors; overhunting threatens
native sea turtle populations

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the
Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited)

People Tonga

Population:
108,141 (July 2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.2% (male 21,085; female 20,265)
15-64 years: 57.6% (male 30,785; female 31,532)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 1,973; female 2,501) (2003 est.)

Median age:
total: 19.8 years
male: 19.3 years
female: 20.3 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
1.9% (2003 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
0 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: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 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:
3 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: Tongan(s)
adjective: Tongan

Ethnic groups:
Polynesian, Europeans about 300

Religions:
Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)

Languages:
Tongan, English

Literacy:
definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English
total population: 98.5%
male: 98.4%
female: 98.7% (1996 est.)

Government Tonga

Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga
conventional short form: Tonga
former: Friendly Islands

Government type:
hereditary constitutional monarchy

Capital:
Nuku'alofa

Administrative divisions:
3 island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u

Independence:
4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 June (1970)

Constitution:
4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967

Legal system:
based on English law

Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965)
note: there is also a Privy Council that consists of the monarch,
the Cabinet, and two governors
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and
deputy prime minister appointed for life by the monarch
cabinet: Cabinet, appointed by the monarch, consists of 12 members
head of government: Prime Minister Prince Lavaka ata ULUKALALA
(since NA February 2000) and Deputy Prime Minister Tevita TOPOU
(since NA January 2001)

Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (30 seats - 12
reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, nine for nobles
selected by the country's 33 nobles, and nine elected by popular
vote; members serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 7 March 2002 (next to be held NA 2005)
election results: percent of vote - pro-democratic 70%; seats -
pro-democratic 7, traditionalist 2

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch); Court of
Appeal (consists of the Privy Council with the addition of the chief
justice of the Supreme Court)

Political parties and leaders:
there are no political parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement or THRDM [Akilisi POHIVA,
president]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Sonatane T. T. TUPOU
chancery: 250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022
telephone: [1] (917) 369-1136
consulate(s) general: San Francisco
FAX: [1] (917) 369-1024

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

Flag description:
red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper
hoist-side corner

Economy Tonga

Economy - overview:
Tonga has a small, open economy with a narrow export base in
agricultural goods. Squash, coconuts, bananas, and vanilla beans are
the main crops, and agricultural exports make up two-thirds of total
exports. The country must import a high proportion of its food,
mainly from New Zealand. Tourism is the second-largest source of
hard currency earnings following remittances. The country remains
dependent on external aid and remittances from Tongan communities
overseas to offset its trade deficit. The government is emphasizing
the development of the private sector, especially the encouragement
of investment, and is committing increased funds for health and
education. Tonga has a reasonably sound basic infrastructure and
well-developed social services.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $236 million (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,200 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 26%
industry: 12%
services: 62% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.4% (2001 est.)

Labor force:
33,908 (1996)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 65% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate:
13.3% (1996 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $39.9 million
expenditures: $52.4 million, including capital expenditures of $1.9
million (FY 99/00 est.)

Industries:
tourism, fishing

Industrial production growth rate:
8.6% (FY 98/99)

Electricity - production:
27.27 million kWh (2001)

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

Electricity - consumption:
25.36 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

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

Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Agriculture - products:
squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee,
ginger, black pepper; fish

Exports:
$8.9 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities:
squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops

Exports - partners:
Japan 43.2%, US 41.2%, Greece 4% (2002)

Imports:
$70 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners:
New Zealand 30.8%, Fiji 20.7%, US 14.2%, Australia 13.2%, China
6.1% (2002)

Debt - external:
$57.5 million (June 2001)

Economic aid - recipient:
Australia $5.5 million, New Zealand $2.3 million (FY01/02)

Currency:
pa'anga (TOP)

Currency code:
TOP

Exchange rates:
pa'anga per US dollar NA (2002), 2.12 (2001), 1.76 (2000), 1.6
(1999), 1.49 (1998)

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

Communications Tonga

Telephones - main lines in use:
8,000 (1996)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
302 (1996)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
(1996)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios:
61,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
2 (2001)

Televisions:
2,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.to

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)

Internet users:
1,000 (2000)

Transportation Tonga

Railways:
0 km

Highways:
total: 680 km
paved: 184 km
unpaved: 496 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:
none

Ports and harbors:
Neiafu, Nuku'alofa, Pangai

Merchant marine:
total: 78 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 250,020 GRT/350,055 DWT
ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 44, chemical tanker 4, container 1,
liquefied gas 5, livestock carrier 2, petroleum tanker 9,
refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 1,
vehicle carrier 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Albania 1, Australia 4, Austria 1, Bolivia 1, Cyprus 1,
Djibouti 1, Egypt 2, Greece 4, Lebanon 2, Liberia 2, Marshall
Islands 2, Morocco 1, Norway 1, Panama 1, Romania 3, Russia 1, Sao
Tome and Principe 1, Saudi Arabia 2, Singapore 1, Sweden 1,
Switzerland 3, Syria 5, Ukraine 1, UAE 16, US 4 (2002 est.)

Airports:
6 (2002)

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

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2002)

Military Tonga

Military branches:
Tonga Defense Services (made up of three operational command
components and two support elements, including the Royal Marines,
Royal Guards, Maritime Force, a support/logistics group, and a
training group), Police; note - a new air wing that will be
subordinate to the Ministry of Defense is being developed

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%

Transnational Issues Tonga

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@Trinidad and Tobago

Introduction Trinidad and Tobago

Background:
The islands came under British control in the 19th century;
independence was granted in 1962. The country is one of the most
prosperous in the Caribbean, thanks largely to petroleum and natural
gas production and processing. Tourism, mostly in Tobago, is
targeted for expansion and is growing.

Geography Trinidad and Tobago

Location:
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

Geographic coordinates:
11 00 N, 61 00 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 5,128 sq km
land: 5,128 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Delaware

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
362 km

Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the outer edge of the continental
margin
contiguous zone: 24 NM

Climate:
tropical; rainy season (June to December)

Terrain:
mostly plains with some hills and low mountains

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m

Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, asphalt

Land use:
arable land: 14.62%
permanent crops: 9.16%
other: 76.22% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
30 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms

Environment - current issues:
water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and
raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches; deforestation; soil erosion

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

Geography - note:
Pitch Lake, on Trinidad's southwestern coast, is the world's
largest natural reservoir of asphalt

People Trinidad and Tobago

Population:
1,104,209 (July 2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.2% (male 125,470; female 119,270)
15-64 years: 70% (male 402,137; female 370,600)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 38,928; female 47,804) (2003 est.)

Median age:
total: 29.9 years
male: 29.5 years
female: 30.4 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
-0.68% (2003 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
-10.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.09 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: 24.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 22.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 26.93 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.59 years
male: 67.07 years
female: 72.23 years (2003 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2.5% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
17,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,200 (2001 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)
adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian

Ethnic groups:
black 39.5%, East Indian (a local term - primarily immigrants from
northern India) 40.3%, mixed 18.4%, white 0.6%, Chinese and other
1.2%

Religions:
Roman Catholic 29.4%, Hindu 23.8%, Anglican 10.9%, Muslim 5.8%,
Presbyterian 3.4%, other 26.7%

Languages:
English (official), Hindi, French, Spanish, Chinese

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 99.1%
female: 98% (2003 est.)

Government Trinidad and Tobago

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
conventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago

Government type:
parliamentary democracy

Capital:
Port-of-Spain

Administrative divisions:
8 counties, 3 municipalities*, and 1 ward**; Arima*, Caroni,
Mayaro, Nariva, Port-of-Spain*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint
George, Saint Patrick, San Fernando*, Tobago**, Victoria

Independence:
31 August 1962 (from UK)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 31 August (1962)

Constitution:
1 August 1976

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

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President George Maxwell RICHARDS (since 17 March
2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Patrick MANNING (since 24
December 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed from among the members of Parliament
elections: president elected by an electoral college, which consists
of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, for a
five-year term; election last held 14 February 2003 (next to be held
NA 2008); the president usually appoints as prime minister the
leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives
election results: George Maxwell RICHARDS elected president; percent
of electoral college vote - 43%

Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (31 seats; members
appointed by the president for a maximum term of five years) and the
House of Representatives (36 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 7 October 2002 (next
to be held by October 2007)
note: Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly, with 15 members
serving four-year terms
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote - PNM
55.5%, UNC 44.5%; seats by party - PNM 20, UNC 16

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Judicature (comprised of the High Court of Justice
and the Court of Appeals; the chief justice is appointed by the
president on the advice of the prime minister and the leader of the
opposition; other justices are appointed by the president on the
advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission); High Court of
Justice; Court of Appeals the highest court of appeal is the Privy
Council in London

Political parties and leaders:
National Alliance for Reconstruction or NAR [Hochoy CHARLES];
People's Empowerment Party or PEP [leader NA]; People's National
Movement or PNM [Patrick MANNING]; Team Unity or TUN [Ramesh
MAHARAJ]; United National Congress or UNC [Basdeo PANDAY]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Jamaat-al Musilmeen [Yasin BAKR]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Marina Annette VALERE (as of February
2003)
chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 785-3130
telephone: [1] (202) 467-6490

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Roy L. AUSTIN
embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain
mailing address: P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain
telephone: [1] (868) 622-6372 through 6376, 622-6176
FAX: [1] (868) 628-5462

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

Economy Trinidad and Tobago

Economy - overview:
Trinidad and Tobago has earned a reputation as an excellent
investment site for international businesses. A leading performer
the past four years has been the booming natural gas sector. Tourism
is a growing sector, although not proportionately as important as in
many other Caribbean islands. The economy benefits from low
inflation and a trade surplus. The year 2002 was marked by solid
growth in the oil sector, offset in part by domestic political
uncertainty.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $11.07 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
3.2% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $10,000 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.6%
industry: 43.2%
services: 55.2% (2000 est.)

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

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.3% (2002 est.)

Labor force:
564,000 (2000)

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

Unemployment rate:
10.8% (2002)

Budget:
revenues: $1.54 billion
expenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $117.3
million (1998)

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

Industrial production growth rate:
2.6% (2002 est.)

Electricity - production:
5.315 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.8%
hydro: 0%
other: 0.2% (2001)
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption:
4.943 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
125,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:
716 million bbl (37257)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Exports:
$4.2 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

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

Exports - partners:
US 56.9%, Jamaica 7.3%, France 4.4% (2002)

Imports:
$3.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

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

Imports - partners:
US 42%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.5%, UK 5%, Japan 4.5%, Brazil 4.3% (2002)

Debt - external:
$2.8 billion (2002 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$24 million (1999 est.)

Currency:
Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD)

Currency code:
TTD

Exchange rates:
Trinidad and Tobago dollars per US dollar - 6.24 (2002), 6.23
(2001), 6.3 (2000), 6.3 (1999), 6.3 (1998)

Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September

Communications Trinidad and Tobago

Telephones - main lines in use:
252,000 (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
17,411 (1997)

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

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:
680,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
4 (1997)

Televisions:
425,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.tt

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
17 (2000)

Internet users:
120,000 (2002)

Transportation Trinidad and Tobago

Railways:
minimal agricultural railroad system near San Fernando; common
carrier railway service was discontinued in 1968 (2001)

Highways:
total: 8,320 km
paved: 4,252 km
unpaved: 4,068 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:
none

Pipelines:
condensate 253 km; gas 1,117 km; oil 478 km (2003)

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

Merchant marine:
total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 7,032 GRT/5,106 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum
tanker 1, short-sea passenger 1
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
convenience: US 1 (2002 est.)

Airports:
6 (2002)

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

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2002)

Military Trinidad and Tobago

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

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 327,823 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 233,488 (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$90 million (1999)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (1999)

Transnational Issues Trinidad and Tobago

Disputes - international:
none

Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US
and Europe; producer of cannabis

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@Tromelin Island

Introduction Tromelin Island

Background:
First explored by the French in 1776, the island came under the
jurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. At present, it serves as a sea
turtle sanctuary and is the site of an important meteorological
station.

Geography Tromelin Island

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

Geographic coordinates:
15 52 S, 54 25 E

Map references:
Africa

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

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

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
3.7 km

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

Climate:
tropical

Terrain:
low, flat, and sandy; likely volcanic

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

Natural resources:
fish

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (grasses; scattered bushes) (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
NA

Environment - current issues:
NA

Geography - note:
climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones;
wildlife sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises)

People Tromelin Island

Population:
uninhabited, except for visits by scientists (July 2003 est.)

Government Tromelin Island

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

Economy - overview:
no economic activity

Communications Tromelin Island

Communications - note:
important meteorological station

Transportation Tromelin Island

Waterways:
none

Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only

Airports:
1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002)

Military Tromelin Island

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues Tromelin Island

Disputes - international:
claimed by Mauritius

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@Tunisia

Introduction Tunisia

Background:
Following independence from France in 1956, President Habib
BOURGUIBA established a strict one-party state. He dominated the
country for 31 years, repressing Islamic fundamentalism and
establishing rights for women unmatched by any other Arab nation. In
recent years, Tunisia has taken a moderate, non-aligned stance in
its foreign relations. Domestically, it has sought to defuse rising
pressure for a more open political society.

Geography Tunisia

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

Geographic coordinates:
34 00 N, 9 00 E

Map references:
Africa

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

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Georgia

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

Coastline:
1,148 km

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

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

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

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m
highest point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m

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

Land use:
arable land: 18.67%
permanent crops: 12.87%
other: 68.46% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
3,800 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
NA

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

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

Geography - note:
strategic location in central Mediterranean; Malta and Tunisia are
discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf
between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

People Tunisia

Population:
9,924,742 (July 2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 27% (male 1,388,839; female 1,297,313)
15-64 years: 66.6% (male 3,306,782; female 3,299,883)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 309,103; female 322,822) (2003 est.)

Median age:
total: 26.2 years
male: 25.7 years
female: 26.7 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
1.09% (2003 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
-0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 26.91 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 23.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 29.89 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.4 years
male: 72.77 years
female: 76.15 years (2003 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.04% (2001 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Nationality:
noun: Tunisian(s)
adjective: Tunisian

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

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

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

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74.2%
male: 84%
female: 64.4% (2003 est.)

Government Tunisia

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

Government type:
republic

Capital:
Tunis

Administrative divisions:
24 governorates; Ariana (Aryanah), Beja (Bajah), Ben Arous (Bin
'Arus), Bizerte (Banzart), Gabes (Qabis), Gafsa (Qafsah), Jendouba
(Jundubah), Kairouan (Al Qayrawan), Kasserine (Al Qasrayn), Kebili
(Qibili), Kef (Al Kaf), Mahdia (Al Mahdiyah), Manouba (Manubah),
Medenine (Madanin), Monastir (Al Munastir), Nabeul (Nabul), Sfax
(Safaqis), Sidi Bou Zid (Sidi Bu Zayd), Siliana (Silyanah), Sousse
(Susah), Tataouine (Tatawin), Tozeur (Tawzar), Tunis, Zaghouan
(Zaghwan)

Independence:
20 March 1956 (from France)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 20 March (1956)

Constitution:
1 June 1959; amended 12 July 1988

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

Suffrage:
20 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November
1987)
head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed GHANNOUCHI (since 17
November 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA 2004); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI reelected for a
third term without opposition; percent of vote - Zine El Abidine BEN
ALI nearly 100%

Legislative branch:
unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Majlis al-Nuwaab (182 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - RCD 92%; seats by party
- RCD 148, MDS 13, UDU 7, PUP 7, Al-Tajdid 5, PSL 2; note - reforms
enabled opposition parties to win up to 20% of seats, increasing the
number of seats they hold from 19 in the last election to 34 now

Judicial branch:
Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation

Political parties and leaders:
Al-Tajdid Movement [Adel CHAOUCH]; Constitutional Democratic Rally
Party (Rassemblement Constitutionnel Democratique) or RCD [President
Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (official ruling party)]; Liberal Social
Party or PSL [Mounir BEJI]; Movement of Democratic Socialists or MDS
[Khamis CHAMMARI]; Popular Unity Party or PUP [Mohamed Belhaj AMOR];
Unionist Democratic Union or UDU [Abderrahmane TLILI]

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

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Hatem ATALLAH
FAX: [1] (202) 862-1858
telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850
chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rust M. DEMING
embassy: Zone Nord-Est des Berges du Lac Nord de Tunis, 2045 La
Goulette, Tunisia
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [216] 71 782-566
FAX: [216] 71 789-719

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

Economy Tunisia

Economy - overview:
Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining,
energy, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Governmental control of
economic affairs while still heavy has gradually lessened over the
past decade with increasing privatization, simplification of the tax
structure, and a prudent approach to debt. Real growth averaged 5.4%
in 1997-2001 but slowed to 1.9% in 2002 because of agricultural
drought, slow investment, and lackluster tourism. Increased rainfall
portends higher growth levels for 2003, but continued regional
tension from the war in Iraq will most likely continue to suppress
tourism earnings. Tunisia has agreed to gradually remove barriers to
trade with the European Union over the next decade. Broader
privatization, further liberalization of the investment code to
increase foreign investment, improvements in government efficiency,
and reduction of the trade deficit are among the challenges for the
future.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $67.13 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
4.8% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $6,800 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12%
industry: 32%
services: 56% (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line:
6% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 31.8% (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
41.7 (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.5% (2002 est.)

Labor force:
2.69 million
note: shortage of skilled labor (2001 est.)

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

Unemployment rate:
15.4% (2002 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $5.2 billion
expenditures: $5.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.6
billion (2002 est.)

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

Industrial production growth rate:
3.5% (2002 est.)

Electricity - production:
10.48 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.5%
hydro: 0.5%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption:
9.748 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
1 million kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
72,580 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
87,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:
417 million bbl (37257)

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

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

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

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

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

Agriculture - products:
olives, olive oil, grain, dairy products, tomatoes, citrus fruit,
beef, sugar beets, dates, almonds

Exports:
$6.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

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

Exports - partners:
France 31.3%, Italy 21.6%, Germany 11.5%, Spain 4.8%, Libya 4.7%,
Belgium 4.3% (2002)

Imports:
$8.7 billion f.o.b. (2002)

Imports - commodities:
textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, food

Imports - partners:
France 25.6%, Italy 19.5%, Germany 8.9%, Spain 5% (2002)

Debt - external:
$13.6 billion (2003 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$222.7 million (2000)

Currency:
Tunisian dinar (TND)

Currency code:
TND

Exchange rates:
Tunisian dinars per US dollar - 1.42 (2002), 1.44 (2001), 1.37
(2000), 1.19 (1999), 1.14 (1998)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Tunisia

Telephones - main lines in use:
654,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
50,000 (1998)

Telephone system:
general assessment: above the African average and continuing to be
upgraded; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis; Internet
access available
domestic: trunk facilities consist of open-wire lines, coaxial
cable, and microwave radio relay
international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; coaxial cable and microwave
radio relay to Algeria and Libya; participant in Medarabtel; two
international gateway digital switches

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 7, FM 20, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:
2.06 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
26 (plus 76 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:
920,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.tn

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)

Internet users:
400,000 (2002)

Transportation Tunisia

Railways:
total: 2,152 km
standard gauge: 468 km 1.435-m gauge
dual gauge: 10 km 1.435-m and 1.000-m gauges (three rails) (2002)
narrow gauge: 1,674 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified)

Highways:
total: 18,997 km
paved: 12,310 km (including 142 km of expressways)
unpaved: 6,687 km (2000)

Waterways:
none

Pipelines:
gas 3,059 km; oil 1,203 km; refined products 345 km (2003)

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

Merchant marine:
total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 139,990 GRT/148,394 DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 3, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas 1,
petroleum tanker 1, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 1
(2002 est.)

Airports:
30 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 7 (2002)

Military Tunisia

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

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

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,866,984 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,629,241 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 106,513 (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$356 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.5% (FY99)

Transnational Issues Tunisia

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@Turkey

Introduction Turkey

Background:
Present-day Turkey was created in 1923 from the Turkish remnants of
the Ottoman Empire. Soon thereafter, the country instituted secular
laws to replace traditional religious fiats. In 1945 Turkey joined
the UN, and in 1952 it became a member of NATO. Turkey intervened
militarily on Cyprus in 1974 to protect Turkish Cypriots and prevent
a Greek takeover of the island; the northern 37 percent of the
island remains under Turkish Cypriot control. Relations between the
two countries remain strained, but have begun to improve over the
past few years. In 1984, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a
Marxist-Leninist, separatist group, initiated an insurgency in
southeast Turkey, often using terrorist tactics to try to attain its
goal of an independent Kurdistan. The group - whose leader, Abdullah
OCALAN, was captured in Kenya in February 1999 - has observed a
unilateral cease-fire since September 1999, although there have been
occasional clashes between Turkish military units and some of the
4,000-5,000 armed PKK militants, most of whom currently are encamped
in northern Iraq. The PKK changed its name to the Kurdistan Freedom
and Democracy Congress (KADEK) in April 2002.

Geography Turkey

Location:
southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia (that portion of Turkey
west of the Bosporus is geographically part of Europe), bordering
the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the
Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria

Geographic coordinates:
39 00 N, 35 00 E

Map references:
Middle East

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

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Texas

Land boundaries:
total: 2,648 km
border countries: Armenia 268 km, Azerbaijan 9 km, Bulgaria 240 km,
Georgia 252 km, Greece 206 km, Iran 499 km, Iraq 352 km, Syria 822 km

Coastline:
7,200 km

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

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

Terrain:
high central plateau (Anatolia); narrow coastal plain; several
mountain ranges

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

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