Chapter XLV: Front Matter (45)

Telephone system:
general assessment: the domestic system is mediocre, but improving;
service is adequate for government and business use, in part because
major businesses have established their own private systems; since
1988, the government has promoted investment in the national
telecommunications system on a priority basis, significantly
increasing network capacity; despite major improvements in trunk and
urban systems, telecommunication services are still not readily
available to the majority of the rural population
domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable,
cellular, and satellite networks
international: country code - 92; satellite earth stations - 3
Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); 3 operational
international gateway exchanges (1 at Karachi and 2 at Islamabad);
microwave radio relay to neighboring countries (1999)

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

Radios:
13.5 million (1997)

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

Televisions:
3.1 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.pk

Internet hosts:
15,124 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
30 (2000)

Internet users:
1.5 million (2002)

Transportation Pakistan

Railways:
total: 8,163 km
broad gauge: 7,718 km 1.676-m gauge (293 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 445 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

Highways:
total: 257,683 km
paved: 152,033 km (including 339 km of expressways)
unpaved: 105,650 km (2001)

Pipelines:
gas 9,945 km; oil 1,821 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Karachi, Port Muhammad bin Qasim

Merchant marine:
total: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 329,486 GRT/512,506 DWT
by type: cargo 10, petroleum tanker 3
registered in other countries: 14 (2005)

Airports:
131 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 92
over 3,047 m: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 22
1,524 to 2,437 m: 32
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 6 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 39
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)

Heliports:
15 (2004 est.)

Military Pakistan

Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force

Military service age and obligation:
16 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be
deployed for combat until age of 18 (2001)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 39,028,014 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 29,428,747 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males: 1,969,055 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$3.848 billion (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4.9% (2004)

Transnational Issues Pakistan

Disputes - international:
recent talks and confidence-building measures have begun to defuse
tensions over Kashmir, site of the world's largest and most
militarized territorial dispute with portions under the de facto
administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and
Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas); UN Military Observer
Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) has maintained a small group
of peacekeepers since 1949; India does not recognize Pakistan's
ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in 1964; in 2004, India and
Pakistan instituted a cease fire in the Kashmir, and in 2005
restored bus service across the highly militarized Line of Control;
Pakistan has taken its dispute on the impact and benefits of India's
building the Baglihar dam on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir
to the World Bank for arbitration and in general the two states
still dispute Indus River water sharing; to defuse tensions and
prepare for discussions on a maritime boundary, India and Pakistan
resurveyed a portion of the disputed Sir Creek estuary at the mouth
of the Rann of Kutch in 2004; Pakistani maps continue to show
Junagadh in India's Gujarat State; by 2005, Pakistan with UN
assistance had repatriated 2.3 million Afghan refugees and has
undertaken a census to count the remaining million or more, many of
whom remain at their own choosing; Pakistan maintains troops in
remote tribal areas to control the border with Afghanistan and root
out organized terrorist and other illegal cross-border activities;
regular meetings with Afghan and Coalition allies aim to resolve
periodic claims of boundary encroachments

Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 1,064,230 (Afghanistan)
IDPs: undetermined (government strikes on Islamic militants in South
Waziristan) (2004)

Illicit drugs:
opium poppy in Federally Administered Tribal Areas, North-West
Frontier Province, and Balochistan Province has rebounded since it
was nearly eliminated in 2001; key transit point for Afghan drugs,
including heroin, opium, morphine, and hashish, bound for Western
markets, the Gulf States, and Africa; financial crimes related to
drug trafficking, terrorism, corruption, and smuggling remain
problems

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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

@Palau

Introduction Palau

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

Geography Palau

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

Geographic coordinates:
7 30 N, 134 30 E

Map references:
Oceania

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

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

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
1,519 km

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

Climate:
tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November

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

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

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

Land use:
arable land: 8.7%
permanent crops: 4.35%
other: 86.95% (2001)

Irrigated land:
NA

Natural hazards:
typhoons (June to December)

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

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

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

People Palau

Population:
20,303 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.4% (male 2,768/female 2,601)
15-64 years: 69% (male 7,565/female 6,436)
65 years and over: 4.6% (male 443/female 490) (2005 est.)

Median age:
total: 31.43 years
male: 32.4 years
female: 30.36 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.39% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:
18.37 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:
6.85 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:
2.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.18 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.13 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 14.84 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 16.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.14 years
male: 66.98 years
female: 73.48 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:
2.46 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA

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

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Nationality:
noun: Palauan(s)
adjective: Palauan

Ethnic groups:
Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 69.9%,
Carolinian 1.4%, other Micronesian 1.1%, Filipino 15.3%, Chinese
4.9%, other Asian 2.4%, white 1.9%, other or unspecified 3.2% (2000
census)

Religions:
Roman Catholic 41.6%, Protestant 23.3%, Modekngei 8.8% (indigenous
to Palau), Seventh-Day Adventist 5.3%, Jehovah's Witness 0.9%,
Latter-Day Saints 0.6%, other religion 3.1%, unspecified or none
16.4% (2000 census)

Languages:
Palauan 64.7% official in all islands except Sonsoral (Sonsoralese
and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English are official), and
Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official), Filipino 13.5%,
English 9.4%, Chinese 5.7%, Carolinian 1.5%, Japanese 1.5%, other
Asian 2.3%, other languages 1.5% (2000 census)

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

Government Palau

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

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

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

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

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

National holiday:
Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)

Constitution:
1 January 1981

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

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. (since 19
January 2001) and Vice President Camsek CHIN (since 1 January 2005);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. (since 19
January 2001) and Vice President Camsek CHIN (since 1 January 2005);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets
by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 2 November
2004 (next to be held November 2008)
election results: Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. reelected president;
percent of vote - Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. 64%, Polycarp BASILIUS
33%; Elias Camsek CHIN elected vice president; percent of vote -
Elias Camsek CHIN 70%, Sandra PIERANTOZZI 29%

Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) consists of the
Senate (9 seats; members elected by popular vote on a population
basis to serve four-year terms) and the House of Delegates (16
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held
November 2008); House of Delegates - last held 2 November 2004 (next
to be held November 2008)
election results: Senate - percent of vote - NA%; seats -
independents 9 (four new members elected); House of Delegates -
percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 16 (one new member
elected)

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

Political parties and leaders:
none

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACP, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC,
MIGA, OPCW, PIF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO

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

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: US ambassador to the Philippines is accredited to
Palau
embassy: Koror (no street address)
mailing address: P. O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940
telephone: [680] 488-2920, 2990
FAX: [680] 488-2911

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

Economy Palau

Economy - overview:
The economy consists primarily of tourism, subsistence agriculture,
and fishing. The government is the major employer of the work force,
relying heavily on financial assistance from the US. Business and
tourist arrivals numbered 63,000 in 2003. The population enjoys a
per capita income twice that of the Philippines and much of
Micronesia. Long-run prospects for the key tourist sector have been
greatly bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific, the
rising prosperity of leading East Asian countries, and the
willingness of foreigners to finance infrastructure development.

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

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

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

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

Labor force:
9,845 (2000)

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

Unemployment rate:
2.3% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.4% (2000 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $57.7 million
expenditures: $80.8 million, including capital expenditures of $17.1
million (FY98/99 est.)

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

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

Industrial production growth rate:
NA

Electricity - production by source:
NA

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

Exports - commodities:
shellfish, tuna, copra, garments

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

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

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

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

Debt - external:
$0 (FY99/00)

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

Currency (code):
US dollar (USD)

Currency code:
USD

Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used

Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September

Communications Palau

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

Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,000 (2002)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 680; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

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

Radios:
12,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (cable) (2005)

Televisions:
11,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.pw

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)

Transportation Palau

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

Ports and harbors:
Koror

Airports:
3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Military Palau

Military branches:
no regular military forces; Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA

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

Transnational Issues Palau

Disputes - international:
border delineation disputes being negotiated with Philippines,
Indonesia

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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

@Palmyra Atoll

Introduction Palmyra Atoll

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

Geography Palmyra Atoll

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

Geographic coordinates:
5 52 N, 162 06 W

Map references:
Oceania

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

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

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
14.5 km

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

Climate:
equatorial, hot, and very rainy

Terrain:
very low

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

Natural resources:
terrestrial and aquatic wildlife

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (forests and woodlands) (2005)

Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
NA

Environment - current issues:
NA

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

People Palmyra Atoll

Population:
no indigenous inhabitants; 4 to 20 Nature Conservancy staff, US
Fish and Wildlife staff (July 2005 est.)

Government Palmyra Atoll

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

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

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

Flag description:
the flag of the US is used

Economy Palmyra Atoll

Economy - overview:
no economic activity

Transportation Palmyra Atoll

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

Ports and harbors:
West Lagoon

Airports:
1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military Palmyra Atoll

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues Palmyra Atoll

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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

@Panama

Introduction Panama

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

Geography Panama

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

Geographic coordinates:
9 00 N, 80 00 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

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

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Carolina

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

Coastline:
2,490 km

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

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

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

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

Natural resources:
copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower

Land use:
arable land: 7.36%
permanent crops: 1.98%
other: 90.66% (2001)

Irrigated land:
320 sq km (1998 est.)

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

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

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

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

People Panama

Population:
3,039,150 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 29.8% (male 460,840/female 443,359)
15-64 years: 63.9% (male 984,558/female 956,748)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 91,383/female 102,262) (2005 est.)

Median age:
total: 26.18 years
male: 25.89 years
female: 26.48 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.26% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:
19.96 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:
6.54 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:
-0.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 20.47 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 22.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.25 years
male: 72.68 years
female: 77.93 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:
2.45 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
16,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 500 (2003 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Panamanian(s)
adjective: Panamanian

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

Religions:
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%

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

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

Government Panama

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

Government type:
constitutional democracy

Capital:
Panama

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

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

National holiday:
Independence Day, 3 November (1903)

Constitution:
11 October 1972; major reforms adopted 1978, 1983, 1994, and 2004

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

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Martin TORRIJOS Espino (since 1 September
2004); First Vice President Samuel LEWIS Navarro (since 1 September
2004); Second Vice President Ruben AROSEMENA Valdes (since 1
September 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Martin TORRIJOS Espino (since 1
September 2004); First Vice President Samuel LEWIS Navarro (since 1
September 2004); Second Vice President Ruben AROSEMENA Valdes (since
1 September 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state
and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 2 May 2004
(next to be held 3 May 2009); note - beginning in 2009, Panama will
have only one vice president.
election results: Martin TORRIJOS Espino elected president; percent
of vote - Martin TORRIJOS Espino 47.5%, Guillermo ENDARA Galimany
30.6%, Jose Miguel ALEMAN 17%, Ricardo MARTINELLI 4.9%
note: government coalition - PRD (Democratic Revolutionary Party),
PP (Popular Party)

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (formerly called Legislative Assembly)
or Asamblea Nacional (78 seats; members are elected by popular vote
to serve five-year terms; note - in 2009, the number of seats will
change to 71)
elections: last held 2 May 2004 (next to be held 3 May 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
PRD 40, PA 17, PS 8, MOLIRENA 3, CD 2, PP 2, PLN 1, other 5
note: legislators from outlying rural districts are chosen on a
plurality basis while districts located in more populous towns and
cities elect multiple legislators by means of a proportion-based
formula

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

Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Change or CD [Ricardo MARTINELLI]; Democratic
Revolutionary Party or PRD [Martin TORRIJOS]; National Liberal Party
or PLN [Anibal GALINDO]; Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement or
MOLIRENA [Jesus ROSAS]; Panamenista Party or PA (formerly the
Arnulfista Party) [Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez]; Popular Party or
PP (formerly Christian Democratic Party or PDC) [Ruben AROSEMENA];
Solidarity Party or PS [Jose Raul MULINO]

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

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

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

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

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

Economy Panama

Economy - overview:
Panama's dollarised economy rests primarily on a well-developed
services sector that accounts for four-fifths of GDP. Services
include operating the Panama Canal, banking, the Colon Free Zone,
insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and tourism. A slump
in Colon Free Zone and agricultural exports, the global slowdown,
and the withdrawal of US military forces held back economic growth
in 2000-03; growth picked up in 2004 led by export-oriented services
and a construction boom stimulated by tax incentives. The government
has been backing tax reforms, reform of the social security program,
new regional trade agreements, and development of tourism.
Unemployment remains high.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$20.57 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $6,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 7.2%
industry: 13%
services: 79.8% (2004 est.)

Labor force:
1.32 million
note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled
labor (2004 est.)

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

Unemployment rate:
12.6% (2004 est.)

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

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

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
25% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $3.095 billion
expenditures: $3.737 billion, including capital expenditures of $471
million (2004 est.)

Public debt:
69.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

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

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

Industrial production growth rate:
5.4% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:
4.873 billion kWh (2002)

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

Electricity - consumption:
4.473 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:
120 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:
61 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
40,520 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA

Oil - imports:
NA

Current account balance:
$-469.6 million (2004 est.)

Exports:
$5.699 billion f.o.b. (includes the Colon Free Zone) (2004 est.)

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

Exports - partners:
US 50.5%, Sweden 6.6%, Spain 5.1%, Netherlands 4.4%, Costa Rica
4.2% (2004)

Imports:
$7.164 billion f.o.b. (includes the Colon Free Zone) (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals

Imports - partners:
US 33.3%, Netherlands Antilles 8.1%, Japan 6%, Costa Rica 5.7%,
Mexico 4.6%, Colombia 4.2% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.076 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:
$8.78 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$197.1 million (1995)

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

Currency code:
PAB; USD

Exchange rates:
balboas per US dollar - 1 (2004), 1 (2003), 1 (2002), 1 (2001), 1
(2000)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Panama

Telephones - main lines in use:
386,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
834,000 (2003)

Telephone system:
general assessment: domestic and international facilities well
developed
domestic: NA
international: country code - 507; 1 coaxial submarine cable;
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to
the Central American Microwave System

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

Radios:
815,000 (1997)

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

Televisions:
510,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.pa

Internet hosts:
7,129 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6 (2000)

Internet users:
120,000 (2002)

Transportation Panama

Railways:
total: 355 km
standard gauge: 76 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 279 km 0.914-m gauge (2004)

Highways:
total: 11,643 km
paved: 4,028 km (including 30 km of expressways)
unpaved: 7,615 km (2000 est.)

Waterways:
800 km (includes 82 km Panama Canal) (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Balboa, Colon, Cristobal

Merchant marine:
total: 5,005 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 122,960,929 GRT/183,615,337
DWT
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 1,548, cargo 886, chemical
tanker 465, combination ore/oil 13, container 605, liquefied gas
183, livestock carrier 8, passenger 42, passenger/cargo 77,
petroleum tanker 521, refrigerated cargo 298, roll on/roll off 97,
specialized tanker 5, vehicle carrier 256
foreign-owned: 4,388 (Andorra 1, Argentina 9, Australia 3, Bahamas
1, Belgium 14, Brazil 1, Canada 1, Chile 14, China 310, Colombia 5,
Croatia 1, Cuba 9, Cyprus 7, Denmark 13, Egypt 15, France 7, Germany
23, Greece 546, Hong Kong 159, India 8, Indonesia 46, Ireland 1,
Isle of Man 2, Israel 3, Italy 8, Japan 1814, Jordan 9, Latvia 2,
Lithuania 5, Malaysia 11, Maldives 1, Malta 1, Mexico 4, Monaco 8,
Netherlands 22, New Zealand 1, Nigeria 6, Norway 66, Pakistan 1,
Peru 13, Philippines 15, Poland 19, Portugal 8, Romania 13, Russia
4, Saudi Arabia 4, Singapore 54, South Africa 3, South Korea 292,
Spain 41, Sri Lanka 1, Sudan 1, Sweden 4, Switzerland 188, Syria 7,
Taiwan 301, Thailand 10, Trinidad & Tobago 1, Tunisia 1, Turkey 18,
Ukraine 9, UAE 83, United Kingdom 29, United States 88, Venezuela
20, Vietnam 2, Yemen 1) (2005)

Airports:
105 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 44
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 22 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 61
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 49 (2004 est.)

Military Panama

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

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 733,031 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 511,905 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$147 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.1% (2004)

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

Transnational Issues Panama

Disputes - international:
organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within
the border region with Panama

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

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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

@Papua New Guinea

Introduction Papua New Guinea

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

Geography Papua New Guinea

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

Geographic coordinates:
6 00 S, 147 00 E

Map references:
Oceania

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

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than California

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

Coastline:
5,152 km

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

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

Terrain:
mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills

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

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

Land use:
arable land: 0.46%
permanent crops: 1.44%
other: 98.1% (2001)

Irrigated land:
NA sq km

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

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

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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

People Papua New Guinea

Population:
5,545,268 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.1% (male 1,072,910/female 1,037,635)
15-64 years: 58.1% (male 1,662,166/female 1,559,685)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 99,777/female 113,095) (2005 est.)

Median age:
total: 21.09 years
male: 21.25 years
female: 20.93 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:
2.26% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:
29.95 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:
7.37 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 51.45 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 55.63 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 47.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.93 years
male: 62.76 years
female: 67.21 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:
3.96 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
16,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
600 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in
some locations (2004)

Nationality:
noun: Papua New Guinean(s)
adjective: Papua New Guinean

Ethnic groups:
Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian

Religions:
Roman Catholic 22%, Lutheran 16%, Presbyterian/Methodist/London
Missionary Society 8%, Anglican 5%, Evangelical Alliance 4%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 1%, other Protestant 10%, indigenous beliefs
34%

Languages:
Melanesian Pidgin serves as the lingua franca, English spoken by
1%-2%, Motu spoken in Papua region
note: 715 indigenous languages - many unrelated

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 64.6%
male: 71.1%
female: 57.7% (2002)

Government Papua New Guinea

Country name:
conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea
conventional short form: Papua New Guinea
former: Territory of Papua and New Guinea
abbreviation: PNG

Government type:
constitutional monarchy with parliamentary democracy

Capital:
Port Moresby

Administrative divisions:
20 provinces; Bougainville, Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands,
East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay,
Morobe, National Capital, New Ireland, Northern, Sandaun, Southern
Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain

Independence:
16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 16 September (1975)

Constitution:
16 September 1975

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 general Sir Paulius MATANE (since 29 June
2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Sir Michael SOMARE (since 2
August 2002); deputy prime minister (vacant)
cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor
general on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the National Executive Council; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition usually is appointed prime minister by the
governor general

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Parliament - sometimes referred to as the House
of Assembly (109 seats, 89 elected from open electorates and 20 from
provincial electorates; members elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 15-29 June 2002 and April and May 2003;
completed in May 2003 (voting in the Southern Highlands was not
completed during the June 2002 election period); next to be held not
later than June 2007
election results: percent of vote by party - National Alliance 18%,
URP 13%, PDM 12%, PPP 8%, Pangu 6%, PAP 5%, PLP 4%, others 34%;
seats by party - National Alliance 19, URP 14, PDM 13, PPP 8, PANGU
6, PAP 5, PLP 4, others 40; note - association with political
parties is fluid (2003)

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor
general on the proposal of the National Executive Council after
consultation with the minister responsible for justice; other judges
are appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission)

Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Party [Dr. Banare BUN, party leader];
Melanesian Alliance Party or MAP [Sir Moi AVEL, party leader];
National Alliance Party or NA [Michael SOMARE, party leader; George
MANOA, party president]; National Party [Melchior PEP, party
leader]; Papua and Niugini Union Party or PANGU [Chris HAIVETA,
party leader]; Papua New Guinea First Party [Cecilking DORUBA, party
leader]; Papua New Guinea Labor Party [Bob DANAYA, party leader];
Papua New Guinea Party (was People's Democratic Movement or PDM)
[Sir Mekere MORAUTA, party leader]; People's Action Party or PAP
[Moses MALADINA, party leader]; People's Labor Party or PLP [Ekis
ROPENU, party leader]; People's National Congress or PNC [Peter
O'NEILL, party leader]; People's Progressive Party or PPP [Andrew
BAING, party leader]; Pipol First Party [Luther WENGE, party
leader]; Rural People's Party [Peter NAMUS, party leader]; United
Party [Bire KIMASOPA, party leader]; United Resources Party or URP
[Tim NEVILLE, party leader] (2004)

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACP, APEC, ARF, AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF,
Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Evan Jeremy PAKI
chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 805, Washington, DC
20036
telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680
FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert W. FITTS
embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby
mailing address: 4240 Port Moresby PI, US Department of State,
Washington DC 20521-4240
telephone: [675] 321-1455
FAX: [675] 321-3423

Flag description:
divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangle
is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lower
triangle is black with five, white, five-pointed stars of the
Southern Cross constellation centered

Economy Papua New Guinea

Economy - overview:
Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, but
exploitation has been hampered by rugged terrain and the high cost
of developing infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistence
livelihood for 85% of the population. Mineral deposits, including
oil, copper, and gold, account for 72% of export earnings. The
economy has improved over the past two years, following a prolonged
period of instability. Former Prime Minister Mekere MORAUTA had
tried to restore integrity to state institutions, to stabilize the
kina, restore stability to the national budget, to privatize public
enterprises where appropriate, and to ensure ongoing peace on
Bougainville. Australia annually supplies $240 million in aid, which
accounts for 20% of the national budget. Challenges face Prime
Minister Michael SOMARE, including gaining further investor
confidence, continuing efforts to privatize government assets,
maintaining the support of members of Parliament, and balancing
relations with Australia, the former colonial ruler.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$11.99 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
0.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 34.5%
industry: 34.7%
services: 30.8% (2004 est.)

Labor force:
3.32 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 85%, industry NA, services NA

Unemployment rate:
NA

Population below poverty line:
37% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
50.9 (1996)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.2% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
13.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.174 billion
expenditures: $1.232 billion, including capital expenditures of $344
million (2004 est.)

Public debt:
59.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:
coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, tea, rubber, sweet potatoes,
fruit, vegetables, poultry, pork

Industries:
copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip
production; mining of gold, silver, and copper; crude oil
production; construction, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:
NA

Electricity - production:
1.679 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 54.1%
hydro: 45.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
1.561 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:
46,200 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
15,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA

Oil - imports:
NA

Oil - proved reserves:
170 million bbl (2004 est.)

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

Natural gas - consumption:
110 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:
385.5 billion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:
$29.15 million (2004 est.)

Exports:
$2.437 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, crayfish,
prawns

Exports - partners:
Australia 28%, Japan 5.8%, Germany 4.7%, China 4.6% (2004)

Imports:
$1.353 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

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

Imports - partners:
Australia 46.4%, Singapore 21.6%, Japan 4.3%, New Zealand 4.2%
(2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$635.8 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:
$2.463 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$400 million (1999 est.)

Currency (code):
kina (PGK)

Currency code:
PGK

Exchange rates:
kina per US dollar - 3.2225 (2004), 3.5635 (2003), 3.8952 (2002),
3.3887 (2001), 2.7822 (2000)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Papua New Guinea

Telephones - main lines in use:
62,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
15,000 (2002)

Telephone system:
general assessment: services are adequate; facilities provide
radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and
international radio communication services
domestic: mostly radiotelephone
international: country code - 675; submarine cables to Australia and
Guam; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean);
international radio communication service

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 28 (1998)

Radios:
410,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
3 (all in the Port Moresby area)
note: additional stations at Mt. Hagen, Goroka, Lae, and Rabaul are
planned (2004)

Televisions:
59,841 (1999)

Internet country code:
.pg

Internet hosts:
389 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2000)

Internet users:
75,000 (2002)

Transportation Papua New Guinea

Highways:
total: 19,600 km
paved: 686 km
unpaved: 18,914 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:
10,940 km (2003)

Pipelines:
oil 264 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Kimbe, Lae, Rabaul

Merchant marine:
total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 47,586 GRT/60,934 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 17, chemical tanker 1, petroleum
tanker 2
foreign-owned: 8 (Singapore 2, United Kingdom 6) (2005)

Airports:
571 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 21
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 550
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 62
under 914 m: 478 (2004 est.)

Heliports:
2 (2004 est.)

Military Papua New Guinea

Military branches:
Papua New Guinea Defense Force (includes Maritime Operations
Element, Air Operations Element)

Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,264,728 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 902,432 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$16.9 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (FY02)

Transnational Issues Papua New Guinea

Disputes - international:
relies on assistance from Australia to keep out illegal
cross-border activities from primarily Indonesia, including goods
smuggling, illegal narcotics trafficking, and squatters and
secessionists

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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

@Paracel Islands

Introduction Paracel Islands

Background:
The Paracel Islands are surrounded by productive fishing grounds
and by potential oil and gas reserves. In 1932, French Indochina
annexed the islands and set up a weather station on Pattle Island;
maintenance was continued by its successor, Vietnam. China has
occupied the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops seized a
South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. The islands
are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.

Geography Paracel Islands

Location:
Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the South
China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the
northern Philippines

Geographic coordinates:
16 30 N, 112 00 E

Map references:
Southeast Asia

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

Area - comparative:
NA

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
518 km

Maritime claims:
NA

Climate:
tropical

Terrain:
mostly low and flat

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m

Natural resources:
none

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)

Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
typhoons

Environment - current issues:
NA

Geography - note:
composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the
northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group

People Paracel Islands

Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons

Government Paracel Islands

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Paracel Islands

Economy Paracel Islands

Economy - overview:
China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism.

Transportation Paracel Islands

Ports and harbors:
small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island
being expanded

Airports:
1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military Paracel Islands

Military - note:
occupied by China

Transnational Issues Paracel Islands

Disputes - international:
occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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

@Paraguay

Introduction Paraguay

Background:
In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70), Paraguay
lost two-thirds of all adult males and much of its territory. It
stagnated economically for the next half century. In the Chaco War
of 1932-35, large, economically important areas were won from
Bolivia. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER was
overthrown in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in political
infighting in recent years, relatively free and regular presidential
elections have been held since then.

Geography Paraguay

Location:
Central South America, northeast of Argentina

Geographic coordinates:
23 00 S, 58 00 W

Map references:
South America

Area:
total: 406,750 sq km
land: 397,300 sq km
water: 9,450 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than California

Land boundaries:
total: 3,920 km
border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern
portions, becoming semiarid in the far west

Terrain:
grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco
region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river,
and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m
highest point: Cerro Pero (Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 m

Natural resources:
hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone

Land use:
arable land: 7.6%
permanent crops: 0.23%
other: 92.17% (2001)

Irrigated land:
670 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly
drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)

Environment - current issues:
deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal
pose health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands

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

Geography - note:
landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population
concentrated in southern part of country

People Paraguay

Population:
6,347,884 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.9% (male 1,223,479/female 1,184,134)
15-64 years: 57.3% (male 1,825,473/female 1,809,810)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 140,935/female 164,053) (2005 est.)

Median age:
total: 21.2 years
male: 20.94 years
female: 21.46 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:
2.48% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:
29.43 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:
4.53 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:
-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 25.63 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 30.37 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.89 years
male: 72.35 years
female: 77.55 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:
3.93 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
15,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
600 (2003 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Paraguayan(s)
adjective: Paraguayan

Ethnic groups:
mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, other 5%

Religions:
Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant 10%

Languages:
Spanish (official), Guarani (official)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94%
male: 94.9%
female: 93% (2003 est.)

Government Paraguay

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

Government type:
constitutional republic

Capital:
Asuncion

Administrative divisions:
17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1
capital city*; Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion*,
Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Concepcion,
Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Paraguari,
Presidente Hayes, San Pedro

Independence:
14 May 1811 (from Spain)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 14 May 1811 (observed 15 May annually)

Constitution:
promulgated 20 June 1992

Legal system:
based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicial
review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nicanor DUARTE Frutos (since 15 August
2003); Vice President Luis CASTIGLIONI Joria (since 15 August 2003);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Nicanor DUARTE Frutos (since 15 August
2003); Vice President Luis CASTIGLIONI Joria (since 15 August 2003);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 27 April
2003 (next to be held April 2008)
election results: Nicanor DUARTE Frutos elected president; percent
of vote - Nicanor DUARTE Frutos 37.1%, Julio Cesar Ramon FRANCO
Gomez 23.9%, Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADUL Niella 21.3%, Guillermo
SANCHEZ Guffanti 13.5%, other 4.2%

Legislative branch:
bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Chamber of Senators
or Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara
de Diputados (80 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 27 April 2003 (next to be
held April 2008); Chamber of Deputies - last held 27 April 2003
(next to be held April 2008)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - ANR 16, PLRA 12, UNACE 7, PQ 7, PPS 2, PEN 1;
Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party
- ANR 37, PLRA 21, UNACE 10, PQ 10, PPS 2

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges
appointed on the proposal of the Council of Magistrates or Consejo
de la Magistratura)

Political parties and leaders:
Asociacion Nacional Republicana - Colorado Party or ANR [Herminio
CACERES, interim president]; Movimiento Union Nacional de Ciudadanos
Eticos or UNACE [Enrique GONZALEZ Quintana, acting chairman]; Patria
Querida (Beloved Fatherland Party) or PQ [Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADUL
Niella]; Partido Encuentro Nacional or PEN [Luis TORALES Kenney];
Partido Liberal Radical Autentico or PLRA [Julio Cesar FRANCO];
Partido Pais Solidario or PPS [Carlos Alberto FILIZZOLA Pallares]
note: Nicanor DUARTE Frutos on leave as party leader of the Colorado
Party or ANR while serving as President of Paraguay; Lino Cesar
OVIEDO Silva, leader of UNACE, is currently serving a ten-year
prison term

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Ahorristas Estafados or AE; Coordinating Table of National
Campesino Organizations or MCNOC; National Federation of Campesinos
or FNC; National Workers Central or CNT; Paraguayan Workers
Confederation or CPT; Roman Catholic Church; Unitary Workers Central
or CUT