Chapter IV: Front Matter (4)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 52
over 3,047 m: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 27
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 85
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
under 914 m: 19 (2004 est.)
914 to 1,523 m: 38

Heliports:
1 (2003 est.)

Military Algeria

Military branches:
People's National Army (ANP; includes Ground Forces), Algerian
National Navy (ANN), Air Force (QJA), Territorial Air Defense

Military manpower - military age and obligation:
19-30 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 18 months (October 2003)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 9,311,747 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 5,675,739 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 373,235 (2004 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$2,196.6 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.5% (2003)

Transnational Issues Algeria

Disputes - international:
Algeria supports the exiled Sahrawi Polisario Front and rejects
Moroccan administration of Western Sahara; Algeria's border with
Morocco remains an irritant to bilateral relations; each nation has
accused the other of harboring militants and arms smuggling; in an
attempt to improve relations afer unilaterally imposing a visa
requirement on Algerians in the early 1990s, Morocco lifted the
requirement in mid-2004 - a gesture not reciprocated by Algeria;
Algeria remains concerned about armed bandits operating throughout
the Sahel who sometimes destabilize southern Algerian towns; dormant
disputes include Libyan claims of about 32,000 sq km still reflected
on its maps of southeastern Algeria and the FLN's assertions of a
claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco

Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 165,000 (Western Saharan Sahrawi,
mostly living in Algerian-sponsored camps in the southeastern
Algerian town of Tindouf)
IDPs: 100,000 - 200,000 (conflict between government forces, Islamic
insurgents) (2004)

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

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

@American Samoa

Introduction American Samoa

Background:
Settled as early as 1000 B.C., Samoa was "discovered" by European
explorers in the 18th century. International rivalries in the latter
half of the 19th century were settled by an 1899 treaty in which
Germany and the US divided the Samoan archipelago. The US formally
occupied its portion - a smaller group of eastern islands with the
excellent harbor of Pago Pago - the following year.

Geography American Samoa

Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half
way between Hawaii and New Zealand

Geographic coordinates:
14 20 S, 170 00 W

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 199 sq km
note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island
water: 0 sq km
land: 199 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
116 km

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

Climate:
tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annual
rainfall averages about 3 m; rainy season from November to April,
dry season from May to October; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:
five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains,
two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Lata 966 m

Natural resources:
pumice, pumicite

Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 15%
other: 75% (2001)

Irrigated land:
NA sq km

Natural hazards:
typhoons common from December to March

Environment - current issues:
limited natural fresh water resources; the water division of the
government has spent substantial funds in the past few years to
improve water catchments and pipelines

Geography - note:
Pago Pago has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the
South Pacific Ocean, sheltered by shape from rough seas and
protected by peripheral mountains from high winds; strategic
location in the South Pacific Ocean

People American Samoa

Population:
57,902 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 36.6% (male 10,983; female 10,208)
15-64 years: 60.3% (male 18,010; female 16,933)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 699; female 1,069) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 22.4 years
male: 22.1 years
female: 22.7 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.04% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
24.46 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
3.39 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
-20.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 10.06 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.62 years
male: 72.05 years
female: 79.41 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
3.41 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA

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

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Nationality:
noun: American Samoan(s)
adjective: American Samoan

Ethnic groups:
Samoan (Polynesian) 89%, Caucasian 2%, Tongan 4%, other 5%

Religions:
Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant and
other 30%

Languages:
Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian
languages), English
note: most people are bilingual

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 98%
female: 97% (1980 est.)

Government American Samoa

Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa
conventional short form: American Samoa
abbreviation: AS

Dependency status:
unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by
the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior

Government type:
NA

Capital:
Pago Pago

Administrative divisions:
none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative
divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three
districts and two islands* at the second order; Eastern, Manu'a,
Rose Island*, Swains Island*, Western

Independence:
none (territory of the US)

National holiday:
Flag Day, 17 April (1900)

Constitution:
ratified 1966, in effect 1967

Legal system:
NA

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20
January 2001) and Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January
2001)
election results: Togiola TULAFONO elected governor; percent of
vote: Togiola TULAFONO 55.7%, Afoa Moega LUTU 44.3%
elections: US president and vice president elected on the same
ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected
on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election
last held 2 and 16 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008)
head of government: Governor Togiola TULAFONO (since 7 April 2003)
cabinet: NA

Legislative branch:
bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of the House of
Representatives (21 seats - 20 of which are elected by popular vote
and 1 is an appointed, nonvoting delegate from Swains Island;
members serve two-year terms) and the Senate (18 seats; members are
elected from local chiefs and serve four-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 7 November 2002
(next to be held 2 November 2004); Senate - last held 7 November
2000 (next to be held 2 November 2004)
note: American Samoa elects one nonvoting representative to the US
House of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2002 (next
to be held 2 November 2004); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA
(Democrat) reelected as delegate
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - NA; Senate - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - independents 18

Judicial branch:
High Court (chief justice and associate justices are appointed by
the US Secretary of the Interior)

Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party [leader NA]; Republican Party [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU

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

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

Flag description:
blue, with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the outer
side and extends to the hoist side; a brown and white American bald
eagle flying toward the hoist side is carrying two traditional
Samoan symbols of authority, a staff and a war club

Economy American Samoa

Economy - overview:
This is a traditional Polynesian economy in which more than 90% of
the land is communally owned. Economic activity is strongly linked
to the US, with which American Samoa conducts most of its foreign
trade. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are the backbone of
the private sector, with canned tuna the primary export. Transfers
from the US Government add substantially to American Samoa's
economic well-being. Attempts by the government to develop a larger
and broader economy are restrained by Samoa's remote location, its
limited transportation, and its devastating hurricanes. Tourism is a
promising developing sector.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $500 million (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
NA

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $8,000 (2000 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 (2003 est.)

Labor force:
14,000 (1996)

Labor force - by occupation:
tuna canneries 34%, government 33%, other 33% (1990)

Unemployment rate:
6% (2000)

Budget:
revenues: $121 million (37% in local revenue and 63% in US grants)
expenditures: $127 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(FY96/97)

Agriculture - products:
bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra,
pineapples, papayas; dairy products, livestock

Industries:
tuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing vessels),
handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate:
NA

Electricity - production:
130 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
120.9 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

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

Oil - consumption:
3,800 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Exports:
$30 million (2002)

Exports - commodities:
canned tuna 93%

Exports - partners:
Samoa 33.3%, Japan 22.2%, Australia 11.1%, Canada 11.1%, New
Zealand 11.1% (2003)

Imports:
$123 million (2002)

Imports - commodities:
materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products 7%,
machinery and parts 6%

Imports - partners:
Australia 33.3%, New Zealand 33.3%, Mauritius 9%, Japan 5.1%, South
Korea 5.1%, UK 5.1% (2003)

Debt - external:
NA (2002 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
important financial support from the US, more than $40 million in
1994

Currency:
US dollar (USD)

Currency code:
USD

Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used

Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September

Communications American Samoa

Telephones - main lines in use:
15,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
2,377 (1999)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: good telex, telegraph, facsimile and cellular telephone
services; domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station
international: country code - 1-684; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:
57,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (2004)

Televisions:
14,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.as

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)

Internet users:
NA

Transportation American Samoa

Highways:
total: 350 km
paved: 150 km
unpaved: 200 km

Ports and harbors:
Aunu'u (new construction), Auasi, Faleosao, Ofu, Pago Pago, Ta'u

Merchant marine:
none

Airports:
3 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military American Samoa

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues American Samoa

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

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

@Andorra

Introduction Andorra

Background:
For 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under a unique
co-principality, ruled by French and Spanish leaders (from 1607
onward, the French chief of state and the Spanish bishop of Urgel).
In 1993, this feudal system was modified with the titular heads of
state retained, but the government transformed into a parliamentary
democracy. Long isolated and impoverished, mountainous Andorra
achieved considerable prosperity since World War II through its
tourist industry. Many immigrants (legal and illegal) are attracted
to the thriving economy with its lack of income taxes.

Geography Andorra

Location:
Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain

Geographic coordinates:
42 30 N, 1 30 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 468 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 468 sq km

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

Land boundaries:
total: 120.3 km
border countries: France 56.6 km, Spain 63.7 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers

Terrain:
rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Riu Runer 840 m
highest point: Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m

Natural resources:
hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead

Land use:
arable land: 2.22%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.78% (2001)

Irrigated land:
NA sq km

Natural hazards:
avalanches

Environment - current issues:
deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil
erosion; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Hazardous Wastes
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the
Pyrenees

People Andorra

Population:
69,865 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 15% (male 5,478; female 4,988)
15-64 years: 71.6% (male 26,268; female 23,766)
65 years and over: 13.4% (male 4,659; female 4,706) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 39.7 years
male: 40 years
female: 39.4 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
1% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
9.32 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
5.9 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
6.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female
total population: 1.09 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.05 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 4.39 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 83.5 years
male: 80.59 years
female: 86.59 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.28 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA

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

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Nationality:
noun: Andorran(s)
adjective: Andorran

Ethnic groups:
Spanish 43%, Andorran 33%, Portuguese 11%, French 7%, other 6%
(1998)

Religions:
Roman Catholic (predominant)

Languages:
Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese

Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 100%
male: NA
female: NA

Government Andorra

Country name:
conventional long form: Principality of Andorra
conventional short form: Andorra
local short form: Andorra
local long form: Principat d'Andorra

Government type:
parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its
chiefs of state a coprincipality; the two princes are the president
of France and bishop of Seo de Urgel, Spain, who are represented
locally by coprinces' representatives

Capital:
Andorra la Vella

Administrative divisions:
7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra la Vella,
Canillo, Encamp, La Massana, Escaldes-Engordany, Ordino, Sant Julia
de Loria

Independence:
1278 (was formed under the joint suzerainty of the French count of
Foix and the Spanish bishop of Urgel)

National holiday:
Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)

Constitution:
Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991; approved
by referendum 14 March 1993; came into force 4 May 1993

Legal system:
based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review of
legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: French Coprince Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995),
represented by Philippe MASSONI (since 26 July 2002); Spanish
Coprince Bishop Joan Enric VIVES i SICILIA (since 12 May 2003),
represented by Nemesi MARQUES i OSTE (since NA)
elections: Executive Council president elected by the General
Council and formally appointed by the coprinces for a four-year
term; election last held 4 March 2001 (next to be held April-May
2005)
election results: Marc FORNE Molne elected executive council
president; percent of General Council vote - NA%
cabinet: Executive Council or Govern designated by the Executive
Council president
head of government: Executive Council President Marc FORNE Molne
(since 21 December 1994)

Legislative branch:
unicameral General Council of the Valleys or Consell General de las
Valls (28 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, 14 from
a single national constituency and 14 to represent each of the 7
parishes; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 4 March 2001 (next to be held NA March-April
2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - PLA 46.1%, PSD 30%, PD
23.8%, other 0.1%; seats by party - PLA 15, PSD 6, PD 5, other 2

Judicial branch:
Tribunal of Judges or Tribunal de Batlles; Tribunal of the Courts
or Tribunal de Corts; Supreme Court of Justice of Andorra or
Tribunal Superior de Justicia d'Andorra; Supreme Council of Justice
or Consell Superior de la Justicia; Fiscal Ministry or Ministeri
Fiscal; Constitutional Tribunal or Tribunal Constitucional

Political parties and leaders:
Andorran Democratic Center Party or CDA (formerly Democratic Party
or PD) [leader NA]; Liberal Party of Andorra or PLA (formerly
Liberal Union or UL) [Albert PINTAT]; Social Democratic Party or PS
(formerly part of National Democratic Group or AND) [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
CE, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, UN,
UNESCO, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jelena V.
PIA-COMELLA
chancery: 2 United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 750-8064
FAX: [1] (212) 750-6630

Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Andorra; the US Ambassador to
Spain is accredited to Andorra; US interests in Andorra are
represented by the Consulate General's office in Barcelona (Spain);
mailing address: Paseo Reina Elisenda, 23, 08034 Barcelona, Spain;
telephone: [34] (93) 280-2227; FAX: [34] (93) 280-6175

Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red
with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; the coat
of arms features a quartered shield; similar to the flags of Chad
and Romania, which do not have a national coat of arms in the
center, and the flag of Moldova, which does bear a national emblem

Economy Andorra

Economy - overview:
Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy,
accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 9 million tourists
visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free status and by its
summer and winter resorts. Andorra's comparative advantage has
recently eroded as the economies of neighboring France and Spain
have been opened up, providing broader availability of goods and
lower tariffs. The banking sector, with its "tax haven" status, also
contributes substantially to the economy. Agricultural production is
limited - only 2% of the land is arable - and most food has to be
imported. The principal livestock activity is sheep raising.
Manufacturing output consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and
furniture. Andorra is a member of the EU Customs Union and is
treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs)
and as a non-EU member for agricultural products.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
3.8% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $19,000 (2000 est.)

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

Population below poverty line:
NA

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.3% (2000)

Labor force:
33,000 (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 1%, industry 21%, services 78% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:
0% (1996 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $385 million
expenditures: $342 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(1997)

Agriculture - products:
small quantities of rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables; sheep

Industries:
tourism (particularly skiing), cattle raising, timber, banking

Industrial production growth rate:
NA

Electricity - production:
NA kWh

Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:
NA kWh; note - most electricity supplied by Spain and France;
Andorra generates a small amount of hydropower

Exports:
$58 million f.o.b. (1998)

Exports - commodities:
tobacco products, furniture

Exports - partners:
Spain 58%, France 34% (2000)

Imports:
$1.077 billion (1998)

Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, food, electricity

Imports - partners:
Spain 48%, France 35%, US 2.3% (2000)

Debt - external:
NA

Economic aid - recipient:
none

Currency:
euro (EUR)

Currency code:
EUR

Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.12 (2001),
1.09 (2000), 0.94 (1999)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Andorra

Telephones - main lines in use:
35,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
23,500 (2001)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: modern system with microwave radio relay connections
between exchanges
international: country code - 376; landline circuits to France and
Spain

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 15, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:
16,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
0 (1997)

Televisions:
27,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.ad

Internet hosts:
4,144 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)

Internet users:
24,500 (2001)

Transportation Andorra

Highways:
total: 269 km
paved: 198 km
unpaved: 71 km (1994)

Ports and harbors:
none

Airports:
none

Military Andorra

Military branches:
no regular military forces, Police Service of Andorra

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France and Spain

Transnational Issues Andorra

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

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

@Angola

Introduction Angola

Background:
Angola has begun to enjoy the fruits of peace since the end of a
27-year civil war in 2002. Fighting between the Popular Movement for
the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), led by Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS, and
the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), led
by Jonas SAVIMBI, followed independence from Portugal in 1975. Peace
seemed imminent in 1992 when Angola held national elections, but
UNITA renewed fighting after being beaten by the MPLA at the polls.
Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost - and 4 million people
displaced - in the quarter century of fighting. SAVIMBI's death in
2002 ended UNITA's insurgency and strengthened the MPLA's hold on
power. DOS SANTOS has pledged to hold national elections in 2006.

Geography Angola

Location:
Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between
Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo

Geographic coordinates:
12 30 S, 18 30 E

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 1,246,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 1,246,700 sq km

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

Land boundaries:
total: 5,198 km
border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,511 km (of
which 225 km is the boundary of discontiguous Cabinda Province),
Republic of the Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km, Zambia 1,110 km

Coastline:
1,600 km

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

Climate:
semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry
season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)

Terrain:
narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morro de Moco 2,620 m

Natural resources:
petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold,
bauxite, uranium

Land use:
arable land: 2.41%
permanent crops: 0.24%
other: 97.35% (2001)

Irrigated land:
750 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau

Environment - current issues:
overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion attributable to
population pressures; desertification; deforestation of tropical
rain forest, in response to both international demand for tropical
timber and to domestic use as fuel, resulting in loss of
biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and
siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable water

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

Geography - note:
the province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the rest of
the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo

People Angola

Population:
10,978,552 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.5% (male 2,410,326; female 2,363,368)
15-64 years: 53.7% (male 2,998,892; female 2,897,837)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 137,340; female 170,789) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 18.1 years
male: 18.1 years
female: 18.1 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.93% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
45.14 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
25.86 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 192.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 179.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 204.97 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 36.79 years
male: 36.06 years
female: 37.55 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
6.33 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
240,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
21,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:
typhoid fever, malaria, trypanosomiasis, schistosomiasis
overall degree of risk: very high (2004)

Nationality:
noun: Angolan(s)
adjective: Angolan

Ethnic groups:
Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed European
and Native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22%

Religions:
indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998
est.)

Languages:
Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42%
male: 56%
female: 28% (1998 est.)

Government Angola

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Angola
conventional short form: Angola
local short form: Angola
former: People's Republic of Angola
local long form: Republica de Angola

Government type:
republic, nominally a multiparty democracy with a strong
presidential system

Capital:
Luanda

Administrative divisions:
18 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Bengo, Benguela,
Bie, Cabinda, Cuando Cubango, Cuanza Norte, Cuanza Sul, Cunene,
Huambo, Huila, Luanda, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Malanje, Moxico,
Namibe, Uige, Zaire

Independence:
11 November 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 11 November (1975)

Constitution:
11 November 1975; revised 7 January 1978, 11 August 1980, 6 March
1991, and 26 August 1992; note - new constitution has not yet been
approved

Legal system:
based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; recently
modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased use of
free markets

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21
September 1979); note - the president is both chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21
September 1979); note - the president is both chief of state and
head of government; Fernando de Piedade Dias DOS SANTOS was
appointed Prime Minister on 6 December 2002, but this is not a
position of real power
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by universal ballot for a NA-year term;
President DOS SANTOS originally elected (in 1979) without opposition
under a one-party system and stood for reelection in Angola's first
multiparty elections 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held NA)
election results: DOS SANTOS 49.6%, Jonas SAVIMBI 40.1%, making a
run-off election necessary; the run-off was not held and SAVIMBI's
National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA)
repudiated the results of the first election; the civil war resumed

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (220 seats;
members elected by proportional vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held NA)
election results: percent of vote by party - MPLA 54%, UNITA 34%,
others 12%; seats by party - MPLA 129, UNITA 70, PRS 6, FNLA 5, PLD
3, others 7

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Tribunal da Relacao (judges are appointed by the
president)

Political parties and leaders:
Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Analia de Victoria PEREIRA];
National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA [disputed
leadership: Lucas NGONDA, Holden ROBERTO]; National Union for the
Total Independence of Angola or UNITA [Isaias SAMAKUVA], largest
opposition party has engaged in years of armed resistance; Popular
Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA [Jose Eduardo DOS
SANTOS], ruling party in power since 1975; Social Renewal Party or
PRS [disputed leadership: Eduardo KUANGANA, Antonio MUACHICUNGO]
note: about a dozen minor parties participated in the 1992 elections
but only won a few seats and have little influence in the National
Assembly

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda or FLEC [N'zita
Henriques TIAGO; Antonio Bento BEMBE]
note: FLEC is waging a small-scale, highly factionalized, armed
struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province

International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory),
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), SADC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Josefina Perpetua Pitra DIAKIDI
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1258
consulate(s) general: Houston and New York
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1156
chancery: 2108 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher William DELL
embassy: number 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne (in the Miramar area of
Luanda), Luanda
mailing address: international mail: Caixa Postal 6468, Luanda;
pouch: American Embassy Luanda, Department of State, Washington, DC
20521-2550
telephone: [244] (2) 445-481, 447-028, 446-224
FAX: [244] (2) 446-924

Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a centered
yellow emblem consisting of a five-pointed star within half a
cogwheel crossed by a machete (in the style of a hammer and sickle)

Economy Angola

Economy - overview:
Angola has been an economy in disarray because of a quarter century
of nearly continuous warfare. An apparently durable peace was
established after the death of rebel leader Jonas SAVIMBI on
February 22, 2002, but consequences from the conflict continue
including the impact of wide-spread land mines. Subsistence
agriculture provides the main livelihood for 85% of the population.
Oil production and the supporting activities are vital to the
economy, contributing about 45% to GDP and more than half of
exports. Much of the country's food must still be imported. To fully
take advantage of its rich natural resources - gold, diamonds,
extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries, and large oil deposits -
Angola will need to continue reforming government policies and to
reduce corruption. While Angola made progress in bringing inflation
down further, from 325% in 2000 to about 106% in 2002, the
government has failed to make sufficient progress on reforms
recommended by the IMF such as increasing foreign exchange reserves
and promoting greater transparency in government spending. Increased
oil production supported 7% GDP growth in 2003.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $20.42 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
1.5% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 67%
services: 25% (2001 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
31.7% of GDP (2003)

Population below poverty line:
70% (2003 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
76.6% (2003 est.)

Labor force:
5.57 million (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 85%, industry and services 15% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:
extensive unemployment and underemployment affecting more than half
the population (2001 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $4.874 billion
expenditures: $6.012 billion, including capital expenditures of $963
million (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products:
bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, manioc (tapioca),
tobacco, vegetables, plantains; livestock; forest products; fish

Industries:
petroleum; diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite,
uranium, and gold; cement; basic metal products; fish processing;
food processing; brewing; tobacco products; sugar; textiles

Industrial production growth rate:
1% (2000)

Electricity - production:
1.45 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
1.348 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
742,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
31,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:
5.691 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

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

Natural gas - consumption:
530 million cu m (2001 est.)

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

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

Natural gas - proved reserves:
79.57 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:
$-475 million (2003)

Exports:
$9.669 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities:
crude oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee,
sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton

Exports - partners:
US 47.7%, China 23.4%, Taiwan 8%, France 7.4% (2003)

Imports:
$4.08 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts;
medicines, food, textiles, military goods

Imports - partners:
Portugal 18.2%, South Africa 12.4%, US 12.2%, Netherlands 11.6%,
France 6.5%, Brazil 6.1%, UK 4.2% (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$638.4 million (2003)

Debt - external:
$9.164 billion (2003 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$383.5 million (1999)

Currency:
kwanza (AOA)

Currency code:
AOA

Exchange rates:
kwanza per US dollar - 74.6063 (2003), 43.5302 (2002), 22.0579
(2001), 10.041 (2000), 2.791 (1999), 0.393 (1998); note - in
December 1999 the kwanza was revalued with six zeroes dropped off
the old value

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Angola

Telephones - main lines in use:
96,300 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
130,000 (2002)

Telephone system:
general assessment: telephone service limited mostly to government
and business use; HF radiotelephone used extensively for military
links
domestic: limited system of wire, microwave radio relay, and
tropospheric scatter
international: country code - 244; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC)
provides connectivity to Europe and Asia

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 21, FM 6, shortwave 7 (2000)

Radios:
815,000 (2000)

Television broadcast stations:
6 (2000)

Televisions:
196,000 (2000)

Internet country code:
.ao

Internet hosts:
17 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)

Internet users:
41,000 (2002)

Transportation Angola

Railways:
total: 2,761 km
narrow gauge: 2,638 km 1.067-m gauge; 123 km 0.600-m gauge (2003)

Highways:
total: 51,429 km
paved: 5,349 km
unpaved: 46,080 km (1999)

Waterways:
1,300 km (2004)

Pipelines:
gas 214 km; liquid natural gas 14 km; liquid petroleum gas 30 km;
oil 837 km; refined products 56 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Ambriz, Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Malongo, Namibe (Mocamedes), Porto
Amboim, Soyo

Merchant marine:
total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 26,123 GRT/42,879 DWT
by type: cargo 6, petroleum tanker 1
registered in other countries: 4 (2004 est.)

Airports:
244 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 32
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 211
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 30
914 to 1,523 m: 95
under 914 m: 80 (2004 est.)

Military Angola

Military branches:
Army, Navy (Marinha de Guerra, MdG), Air and Air Defense Forces
(FANA)

Military manpower - military age and obligation:
17 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service
obligation - 2 years plus time for training (2001)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,620,219 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,317,328 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 113,103 (2004 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$265.1 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.9% (2003)

Transnational Issues Angola

Disputes - international:
continues to give shelter to refugees from the Democratic Republic
of the Congo while many Angolan refugees and Cabinda exclave
secessionists reside in neighboring states

Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 40,000 - 60,000 (27-year civil war ending in 2002; 4 million
IDPs already have returned) (2004)

Illicit drugs:
used as a transshipment point for cocaine destined for Western
Europe and other African states

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

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

@Anguilla

Introduction Anguilla

Background:
Colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts in 1650, Anguilla
was administered by Great Britain until the early 19th century, when
the island - against the wishes of the inhabitants - was
incorporated into a single British dependency, along with Saint
Kitts and Nevis. Several attempts at separation failed. In 1971, two
years after a revolt, Anguilla was finally allowed to secede; this
arrangement was formally recognized in 1980, with Anguilla becoming
a separate British dependency.

Geography Anguilla

Location:
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic
Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

Geographic coordinates:
18 15 N, 63 10 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 102 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 102 sq km

Area - comparative:
about half the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
61 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:
tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds

Terrain:
flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crocus Hill 65 m

Natural resources:
salt, fish, lobster

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some
commercial salt ponds) (2001)

Irrigated land:
NA sq km

Natural hazards:
frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October)

Environment - current issues:
supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand
largely because of poor distribution system

Geography - note:
the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles

People Anguilla

Population:
13,008 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.8% (male 1,569; female 1,523)
15-64 years: 69.4% (male 4,641; female 4,385)
65 years and over: 6.8% (male 396; female 494) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 30.4 years
male: 30.4 years
female: 30.3 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.98% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
14.45 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
5.46 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
10.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 21.91 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 28.72 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.9 years
male: 73.99 years
female: 79.91 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.74 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA

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

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Nationality:
noun: Anguillan(s)
adjective: Anguillan

Ethnic groups:
black (predominant), mulatto, white

Religions:
Anglican 40%, Methodist 33%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%, Baptist 5%,
Roman Catholic 3%, other 12%

Languages:
English (official)

Literacy:
definition: age 12 and over can read and write
total population: 95%
male: 95%
female: 95% (1984 est.)

Government Anguilla

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

Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK

Government type:
NA

Capital:
The Valley

Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:
Anguilla Day, 30 May

Constitution:
Anguilla Constitutional Order 1 April 1982; amended 1990

Legal system:
based on English common law

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor Alan Eden HUCKLE (since 28 May 2004)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually
appointed chief minister by the governor
head of government: Chief Minister Osbourne FLEMING (since 3 March
2000)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from among the
elected members of the House of Assembly

Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats total, 7 elected by direct
popular vote, 2 ex officio members, and 2 appointed; members serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 3 March 2000 (next to be held NA June 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
ANA 3, AUM 2, ADP 1, independent 1

Judicial branch:
High Court (judge provided by Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court)

Political parties and leaders:
Anguilla United Movement or AUM [Hubert HUGHES]; The United Front
or UF [Osbourne FLEMING, Victor BANKS], a coalition of the Anguilla
Democratic Party or ADP and the Anguilla National Alliance or ANA;
Anguilla Patriotic Movement or APM [Quincy GUMBS]; Movement for
Grassroots Democracy or MFGD [Joyce KENTISH, John BENJAMIN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

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

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

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

Flag description:
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and
the Anguillan coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag;
the coat of arms depicts three orange dolphins in an interlocking
circular design on a white background with blue wavy water below

Economy Anguilla

Economy - overview:
Anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy depends heavily
on luxury tourism, offshore banking, lobster fishing, and
remittances from emigrants. Increased activity in the tourism
industry, which has spurred the growth of the construction sector,
has contributed to economic growth. Anguillan officials have put
substantial effort into developing the offshore financial sector,
which is small, but growing. In the medium term, prospects for the
economy will depend largely on the tourism sector and, therefore, on
revived income growth in the industrialized nations as well as on
favorable weather conditions.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $104 million (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
2.8% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $8,600 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 18%
services: 78% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.3%

Labor force:
6,049 (2001)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4%, manufacturing 3%,
construction 18%, transportation and utilities 10%, commerce 36%,
services 29% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:
6.7% (2001)

Budget:
revenues: $22.8 million
expenditures: $22.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(2000 est.)

Agriculture - products:
small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising

Industries:
tourism, boat building, offshore financial services

Industrial production growth rate:
3.1% (1997 est.)

Electricity - production:
NA

Electricity - consumption:
42.6 million kWh

Exports:
$2.6 million (1999)

Exports - commodities:
lobster, fish, livestock, salt, concrete blocks, rum

Exports - partners:
UK, US, Puerto Rico, Saint-Martin (2000)

Imports:
$80.9 million (1999)

Imports - commodities:
fuels, foodstuffs, manufactures, chemicals, trucks, textiles

Imports - partners:
US, Puerto Rico, UK (2000)

Debt - external:
$8.8 million (1998)

Economic aid - recipient:
$3.5 million (1995)

Currency:
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency code:
XCD

Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Anguilla

Telephones - main lines in use:
6,200 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,800 (2002)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: modern internal telephone system
international: country code - 1-264; microwave radio relay to island
of Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 5, FM 6, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:
3,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)

Televisions:
1,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.ai

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
16 (2000)

Internet users:
3,000 (2002)

Transportation Anguilla

Highways:
total: 105 km
paved: 65 km
unpaved: 40 km (1997)

Ports and harbors:
Blowing Point, Road Bay

Merchant marine:
none

Airports:
3 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Military Anguilla

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues Anguilla

Disputes - international:
none

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

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

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

@Antarctica

Introduction Antarctica

Background:
Speculation over the existence of a "southern land" was not
confirmed until the early 1820s when British and American commercial
operators and British and Russian national expeditions began
exploring the Antarctic Peninsula region and other areas south of
the Antarctic Circle. Not until 1840 was it established that
Antarctica was indeed a continent and not just a group of islands.
Several exploration "firsts" were achieved in the early 20th
century. Following World War II, there was an upsurge in scientific
research on the continent. A number of countries have set up
year-round research stations on Antarctica. Seven have made
territorial claims, but not all countries recognize these claims. In
order to form a legal framework for the activities of nations on the
continent, an Antarctic Treaty was negotiated that neither denies
nor gives recognition to existing territorial claims; signed in
1959, it entered into force in 1961.

Geography Antarctica

Location:
continent mostly south of the Antarctic Circle

Geographic coordinates:
90 00 S, 0 00 E

Map references:
Antarctic Region

Area:
total: 14 million sq km
note: fifth-largest continent, following Asia, Africa, North
America, and South America, but larger than Australia and the
subcontinent of Europe
land: 14 million sq km (280,000 sq km ice-free, 13.72 million sq km
ice-covered) (est.)

Area - comparative:
slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US

Land boundaries:
0 km
note: see entry on Disputes - international

Coastline:
17,968 km

Maritime claims:
Australia, Chile, and Argentina claim Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
rights or similar over 200 nm extensions seaward from their
continental claims, but like the claims themselves, these zones are
not accepted by other countries; 20 of 27 Antarctic consultative
nations have made no claims to Antarctic territory (although Russia
and the US have reserved the right to do so) and do not recognize
the claims of the other nations; also see the Disputes -
international entry

Climate:
severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and distance
from the ocean; East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica
because of its higher elevation; Antarctic Peninsula has the most
moderate climate; higher temperatures occur in January along the
coast and average slightly below freezing

Terrain:
about 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock, with
average elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters; mountain ranges
up to nearly 5,000 meters; ice-free coastal areas include parts of
southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area,
and parts of Ross Island on McMurdo Sound; glaciers form ice shelves
along about half of the coastline, and floating ice shelves
constitute 11% of the area of the continent

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Bentley Subglacial Trench -2,555 m
highest point: Vinson Massif 4,897 m
note: the lowest known land point in Antarctica is hidden in the
Bentley Subglacial Trench; at its surface is the deepest ice yet
discovered and the world's lowest elevation not under seawater

Natural resources:
iron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum and other
minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in small
uncommercial quantities; none presently exploited; krill, finfish,
and crab have been taken by commercial fisheries

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (ice 98%, barren rock 2%) (2001)

Irrigated land:
0 sq km

Natural hazards:
katabatic (gravity-driven) winds blow coastward from the high
interior; frequent blizzards form near the foot of the plateau;
cyclonic storms form over the ocean and move clockwise along the
coast; volcanism on Deception Island and isolated areas of West
Antarctica; other seismic activity rare and weak; large icebergs may
calve from ice shelf

Environment - current issues:
in 1998, NASA satellite data showed that the antarctic ozone hole
was the largest on record, covering 27 million square kilometers;
researchers in 1997 found that increased ultraviolet light coming
through the hole damages the DNA of icefish, an antarctic fish
lacking hemoglobin; ozone depletion earlier was shown to harm
one-celled antarctic marine plants; in 2002, significant areas of
ice shelves disintegrated in response to regional warming

Geography - note:
the coldest, windiest, highest (on average), and driest continent;
during summer, more solar radiation reaches the surface at the South
Pole than is received at the Equator in an equivalent period; mostly
uninhabitable

People Antarctica

Population:
no indigenous inhabitants, but there are both permanent and
summer-only staffed research stations
note: 26 nations, all signatory to the Antarctic Treaty, operate
seasonal (summer) and year-round research stations on the continent
and in its surrounding oceans; the population of persons doing and
supporting science on the continent and its nearby islands south of
60 degrees south latitude (the region covered by the Antarctic
Treaty) varies from approximately 4,000 in summer to 1,000 in
winter; in addition, approximately 1,000 personnel including ship's
crew and scientists doing onboard research are present in the waters
of the treaty region; summer (January) population - 3,687 total;
Argentina 302, Australia 201, Belgium 13, Brazil 80, Bulgaria 16,
Chile 352, China 70, Finland 11, France 100, Germany 51, India 60,
Italy 106, Japan 136, South Korea 14, Netherlands 10, NZ 60, Norway
40, Peru 28, Poland 70, Russia 254, South Africa 80, Spain 43,
Sweden 20, UK 192, US 1,378 (1998-99); winter (July) population -
964 total; Argentina 165, Australia 75, Brazil 12, Chile 129, China
33, France 33, Germany 9, India 25, Japan 40, South Korea 14, NZ 10,
Poland 20, Russia 102, South Africa 10, UK 39, US 248 (1998-99);
research stations operated within the Antarctic Treaty area (south
of 60 degrees south) by members of the Council of Managers of
National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP): year-round stations - 37
total; Argentina 6, Australia 3, Brazil 1, Chile 4, China 2, France
1, Germany 1, India 1, Japan 1, South Korea 1, NZ 1, Poland 1,
Russia 6, South Africa 1, Ukraine 1, UK 2, US 3, Uruguay 1 (2004);
summer-only stations - 36 total; Argentina 8, Australia 2, Bulgaria
1, Chile 5, Ecuador 1, Finland 1, Germany 1, India 1, Italy 1, Japan
3, Norway 2, Peru 1, Russia 2, South Africa 1, Spain 2, Sweden 2, UK
1, Italy and France jointly 1 (2003-2004); in addition, during the
austral summer some nations have numerous occupied locations such as
tent camps, summer-long temporary facilities, and mobile traverses
in support of research

Government Antarctica

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