Chapter XLVI: Front Matter (46)

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James SPALDING Hellmers
chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962
FAX: [1] (202) 234-4508
consulate(s) general: Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John F. KEANE
embassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncion
mailing address: Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001
telephone: [595] (21) 213-715
FAX: [595] (21) 213-728

Flag description:
three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with an
emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblem
is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left)
bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a
green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within
two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears the seal
of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the
words Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the words
REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles)

Economy Paraguay

Economy - overview:
Landlocked Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large informal
sector. This sector features both reexport of imported consumer
goods to neighboring countries as well as the activities of
thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. Because of
the importance of the informal sector, accurate economic measures
are difficult to obtain. A large percentage of the population
derives their living from agricultural activity, often on a
subsistence basis. The formal economy grew by an average of about 3%
annually in 1995-97, but averaged near-zero growth in 1998-2001 and
contracted by 2.3 percent in 2002, in response to regional contagion
and an outbreak of hoof-and-mouth desease. On a per capita basis,
real income has stagnated at 1980 levels. Most observers attribute
Paraguay's poor economic performance to political uncertainty,
corruption, lack of progress on structural reform, substantial
internal and external debt, and deficient infrastructure. Aided by a
firmer exchange rate and perhaps a greater confidence in the
economic policy of the Duarte FRUTOS administration, the economy
rebounded in 2003 and 2004, posting modest growth each year.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$29.93 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
2.8% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $4,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 25.3%
industry: 24.9%
services: 49.8% (2004 est.)

Labor force:
2.66 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 45%

Unemployment rate:
15.1% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:
36% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.5%
highest 10%: 43.8% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
57.7 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.1% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
18.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.123 billion
expenditures: $1.129 billion, including capital expenditures of $700
million (2004 est.)

Public debt:
39.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:
cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava
(tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber

Industries:
sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel,
metallurgic, electric power

Industrial production growth rate:
0% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:
48.36 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 0%
hydro: 99.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.1% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
2.469 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:
42.51 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2002)

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

Oil - consumption:
25,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA

Oil - imports:
NA

Current account balance:
$-36.11 million (2004 est.)

Exports:
$2.936 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils, electricity, wood,
leather

Exports - partners:
Uruguay 27.8%, Brazil 19.2%, Argentina 6.3%, Switzerland 4.1% (2004)

Imports:
$3.33 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
road vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products,
electrical machinery

Imports - partners:
Brazil 30.9%, Argentina 23.3%, China 16.6%, US 4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.164 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:
$3.239 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
NA

Currency (code):
guarani (PYG)

Currency code:
PYG

Exchange rates:
guarani per US dollar - 5,974.6 (2004), 6,424.3 (2003), 5,716.3
(2002), 4,105.9 (2001), 3,486.4 (2000)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Paraguay

Telephones - main lines in use:
273,200 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,770,300 (2003)

Telephone system:
general assessment: meager telephone service; principal switching
center is Asuncion
domestic: fair microwave radio relay network
international: country code - 595; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 46, FM 27, shortwave 6 (three inactive) (1998)

Radios:
925,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
5 (2003)

Televisions:
990,000 (2001)

Internet country code:
.py

Internet hosts:
9,243 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
4 (2000)

Internet users:
120,000 (2003)

Transportation Paraguay

Railways:
total: 441 km
standard gauge: 441 km 1.435-m gauge (2004)

Highways:
total: 29,500 km
paved: 14,986 km
unpaved: 14,514 km (1999 est)

Waterways:
3,100 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion

Merchant marine:
total: 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 31,667 GRT/30,826 DWT
by type: cargo 15, livestock carrier 1, passenger 1, petroleum
tanker 2, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 2 (Argentina 2)
registered in other countries: 1 (2005)

Airports:
878 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 12
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 866
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 323
under 914 m: 517 (2004 est.)

Military Paraguay

Military branches:
Army, Navy (includes Naval Aviation, River Defense Corps, Coast
Guard), Air Force

Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24 months for
Navy (2004)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,345,022 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,109,166 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males: 63,058 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$53.1 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.9% (2003)

Transnational Issues Paraguay

Disputes - international:
unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders
is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcotics
trafficking, and fundraising for extremist organizations

Illicit drugs:
major illicit producer of cannabis, most or all of which is
consumed in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile; transshipment country for
Andean cocaine headed for Brazil, other Southern Cone markets,
Europe, and US; corruption and some money-laundering activity,
especially in the Tri-Border Area

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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@Peru

Introduction Peru

Background:
Ancient Peru was the seat of several prominent Andean
civilizations, most notably that of the Incas whose empire was
captured by the Spanish conquistadors in 1533. Peruvian independence
was declared in 1821, and remaining Spanish forces defeated in 1824.
After a dozen years of military rule, Peru returned to democratic
leadership in 1980, but experienced economic problems and the growth
of a violent insurgency. President Alberto FUJIMORI's election in
1990 ushered in a decade that saw a dramatic turnaround in the
economy and significant progress in curtailing guerrilla activity.
Nevertheless, the president's increasing reliance on authoritarian
measures and an economic slump in the late 1990s generated mounting
dissatisfaction with his regime. FUJIMORI won reelection to a third
term in the spring of 2000, but international pressure and
corruption scandals led to his ouster by Congress in November of
that year. A caretaker government oversaw new elections in the
spring of 2001, which ushered in Alejandro TOLEDO as the new head of
government; his presidency has been hampered by allegations of
corruption.

Geography Peru

Location:
Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between
Chile and Ecuador

Geographic coordinates:
10 00 S, 76 00 W

Map references:
South America

Area:
total: 1,285,220 sq km
land: 1.28 million sq km
water: 5,220 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Alaska

Land boundaries:
total: 5,536 km
border countries: Bolivia 900 km, Brazil 1,560 km, Chile 160 km,
Colombia 1,496 km (est.), Ecuador 1,420 km

Coastline:
2,414 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate:
varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate to
frigid in Andes

Terrain:
western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center
(sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m

Natural resources:
copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal,
phosphate, potash, hydropower, natural gas

Land use:
arable land: 2.89%
permanent crops: 0.4%
other: 96.71% (2001)

Irrigated land:
11,950 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity

Environment - current issues:
deforestation (some the result of illegal logging); overgrazing of
the slopes of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion;
desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and
coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes

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

Geography - note:
shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake,
with Bolivia; a remote slope of Nevado Mismi, a 5,316 m peak, is the
ultimate source of the Amazon River

People Peru

Population:
27,925,628 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 31.5% (male 4,479,278/female 4,323,356)
15-64 years: 63.3% (male 8,891,785/female 8,776,343)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 685,179/female 769,687) (2005 est.)

Median age:
total: 24.95 years
male: 24.69 years
female: 25.21 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.36% (2005 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
-1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 31.94 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 34.53 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 29.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.53 years
male: 67.77 years
female: 71.37 years (2005 est.)

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

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

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
82,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
4,200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Peruvian(s)
adjective: Peruvian

Ethnic groups:
Amerindian 45%, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%, white
15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%

Religions:
Roman Catholic 81%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.4%, other Christian
0.7%, other 0.6%, unspecified or none 16.3% (2003 est.)

Languages:
Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara, and a large number
of minor Amazonian languages

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.7%
male: 93.5%
female: 82.1% (2004 est.)

Government Peru

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

Government type:
constitutional republic

Capital:
Lima

Administrative divisions:
25 regions (regiones, singular - region) and 1 province*
(provincia); Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho,
Cajamarca, Callao, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huanuco, Ica, Junin, La
Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Lima*, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua,
Pasco, Piura, Puno, San Martin, Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali

Independence:
28 July 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 28 July (1821)

Constitution:
31 December 1993

Legal system:
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70; note
- members of the military and national police may not vote

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique (since 28 July
2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government; additionally, the constitution provides for two vice
presidents, First Vice President (vacant) and Second Vice President
David WAISMAN Rjavinsthi (since 28 July 2001)
head of government: President Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique (since 28
July 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head
of government; additionally, the constitution provides for two vice
presidents, First Vice President (vacant) and Second Vice President
David WAISMAN Rjavinsthi (since 28 July 2001)
note: Prime Minister Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI (since 25 August 2005)
does not exercise executive power; this power is in the hands of the
president
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
special presidential and congressional elections held 8 April 2001,
with runoff election held 3 June 2001; next to be held 9 April 2006
election results: President Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique elected
president in runoff election; percent of vote - Alejandro TOLEDO
Manrique 53.1%, Alan GARCIA 46.9%

Legislative branch:
unicameral Congress of the Republic of Peru or Congreso de la
Republica del Peru (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote
to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 8 April 2001 (next to be held 9 April 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - PP 26.3%, APRA 19.7%,
UN 13.8%, FIM 11.0%, others 29.2%; seats by party - PP 47, APRA 28,
UN 17, FIM 11, others 17

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges are
appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary)

Political parties and leaders:
Independent Moralizing Front or FIM [Fernando OLIVERA Vega];
National Unity (Unidad Nacional) or UN [Lourdes FLORES Nano]; Peru
Posible or PP [David WAISMAN]; Peruvian Aprista Party or PAP (also
referred to by its original name Alianza Popular Revolucionaria
Americana or APRA) [Alan GARCIA]; Popular Action or AP [Javier DIAZ
Orihuela]; Solucion Popular [Carlos BOLANA]; Somos Peru or SP
[Alberto ANDRADE]; Union for Peru or UPP [Roger GUERRA Garcia]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
leftist guerrilla groups include Shining Path [Abimael GUZMAN
Reynoso (imprisoned), Gabriel MACARIO (top leader at-large)]; Tupac
Amaru Revolutionary Movement or MRTA [Victor POLAY (imprisoned),
Hugo AVALLENEDA Valdez (top leader at-large)]

International organization participation:
APEC, CAN, CSN, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur
(associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS, ONUB, OPANAL, OPCW,
PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Eduardo FERRERO Costa
chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 833-9860 through 9869
FAX: [1] (202) 659-8124
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Denver, Hartford, Houston,
Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey), San Francisco,
Washington, DC

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador J. Curtis STRUBLE
embassy: Avenida La Encalada, Cuadra 17s/n, Surco, Lima 33
mailing address: P. O. Box 1995, Lima 1; American Embassy (Lima),
APO AA 34031-5000
telephone: [51] (1) 434-3000
FAX: [51] (1) 434-3037

Flag description:
three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), white, and red
with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms
features a shield bearing a vicuna, cinchona tree (the source of
quinine), and a yellow cornucopia spilling out gold coins, all
framed by a green wreath

Economy Peru

Economy - overview:
Peru's economy reflects its varied geography - an arid coastal
region, the Andes further inland, and tropical lands bordering
Colombia and Brazil. Abundant mineral resources are found in the
mountainous areas, and Peru's coastal waters provide excellent
fishing grounds. However, overdependence on minerals and metals
subjects the economy to fluctuations in world prices, and a lack of
infrastructure deters trade and investment. After several years of
inconsistent economic performance, the Peruvian economy grew by an
average 4 percent per year during the period 2002-2004, with a
stable exchange rate and low inflation. Risk premiums on Peruvian
bonds on secondary markets reached historically low levels in late
2004, reflecting investor optimism regarding the government's
prudent fiscal policies and openness to trade and investment.
Despite the strong macroeconomic performance, the TOLEDO
administration remained unpopular in 2004, and unemployment and
poverty have stayed persistently high.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$155.3 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
4.5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $5,600 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 27%
services: 65% (2003 est.)

Labor force:
11 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 9%, industry 18%, services 73% (2001)

Unemployment rate:
9.6% in metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:
54% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 37.2% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
49.8 (2000)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.8% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
17.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $13.6 billion
expenditures: $14.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.8
billion, for general government, excluding private enterprises (2004
est.)

Public debt:
44.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:
coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, potatoes, corn, plantains, grapes,
oranges, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products; fish

Industries:
mining and refining of minerals and metals, petroleum extraction
and refining, natural gas, fishing and fish processing, textiles,
clothing, food processing, steel, metal fabrication

Industrial production growth rate:
5.2% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:
22.88 billion kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 14.5%
hydro: 84.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.8% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
20.22 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)

Oil - production:
95,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
161,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
49,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports:
NA

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

Natural gas - production:
910 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
910 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
245.1 billion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:
$-30 million (2004 est.)

Exports:
$12.3 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
copper, gold, zinc, crude petroleum and petroleum products, coffee

Exports - partners:
US 29.5%, China 9.9%, UK 9%, Chile 5.1%, Japan 4.4% (2004)

Imports:
$9.6 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, plastics, machinery, vehicles,
iron and steel, wheat, paper

Imports - partners:
US 30.3%, Spain 11.5%, Chile 7.2%, Brazil 5.4%, Colombia 5.2% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$12.7 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:
$29.79 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$491 million (2002)

Currency (code):
nuevo sol (PEN)

Currency code:
PEN

Exchange rates:
nuevo sol per US dollar - 3.4132 (2004), 3.4785 (2003), 3.5165
(2002), 3.5068 (2001), 3.49 (2000)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Peru

Telephones - main lines in use:
1,839,200 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
2,908,800 (2003)

Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate for most requirements
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system and a domestic
satellite system with 12 earth stations
international: country code - 51; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); Pan American submarine cable

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 472, FM 198, shortwave 189 (1999)

Radios:
6.65 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
13 (plus 112 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:
3.06 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.pe

Internet hosts:
65,868 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
10 (2000)

Internet users:
2.85 million (2003)

Transportation Peru

Railways:
total: 3,462 km
standard gauge: 2,962 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 500 km 0.914-m gauge (2004)

Highways:
total: 78,230 km
paved: 10,452 km
unpaved: 67,778 km (2001)

Waterways:
8,808 km
note: 8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon system and 208 km
of Lago Titicaca (2004)

Pipelines:
gas 388 km; oil 1,557 km; refined products 13 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Callao, Iquitos, Matarani, Pucallpa, Yurimaguas
note: Iquitos, Pucallpa, and Yurimaguas are on the upper reaches of
the Amazon and its tributaries

Merchant marine:
total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 13,666 GRT/17,611 DWT
by type: cargo 3, petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 1 (United States 1)
registered in other countries: 14 (2005)

Airports:
234 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 52
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 20
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 182
1,524 to 2,437 m: 21
914 to 1,523 m: 62
under 914 m: 99 (2004 est.)

Heliports:
1 (2004 est.)

Military Peru

Military branches:
Army (Ejercito Peruano), Navy (Marina de Guerra del Peru; includes
Naval Air, Naval Infantry, and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea
del Peru; FAP)

Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service (1999)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 6,647,874 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 4,938,417 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males: 277,105 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$829.3 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (2004)

Transnational Issues Peru

Disputes - international:
Peru proposes changing its latitudinal maritime boundary with Chile
to an equidistance line with a southwestern axis; organized illegal
narcotics operations in Colombia have penetrated Peru's shared
border; Peru does not support Bolivia's claim to restore maritime
access through a sovereign corridor through Chile along the Peruvian
border

Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 60,000 (civil war from 1980-2000; most IDPs are indigenous
peasants in Andean and Amazonian regions) (2004)

Illicit drugs:
until 1996 the world's largest coca leaf producer; emerging opium
producer; cultivation of coca in Peru fell 15 percent to 31,150
hectares between 2002 and the end of 2003; much of the cocaine base
is shipped to neighboring Colombia for processing into cocaine,
while finished cocaine is shipped out from Pacific ports to the
international drug market; increasing amounts of base and finished
cocaine, however, are being moved to Brazil and Bolivia for use in
the Southern Cone or transshipped to Europe and Africa

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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

@Philippines

Introduction Philippines

Background:
The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th
century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the
Spanish-American War. In 1935 the Philippines became a
self-governing commonwealth. Manuel QUEZON was elected President and
was tasked with preparing the country for independence after a
10-year transition. In 1942 the islands fell under Japanese
occupation during WWII, and US forces and Filipinos fought together
during 1944-45 to regain control. On 4 July 1946 the Philippines
attained their independence. The 21-year rule of Ferdinand MARCOS
ended in 1986, when a widespread popular rebellion forced him into
exile and installed Corazon AQUINO as president. Her presidency was
hampered by several coup attempts, which prevented a return to full
political stability and economic development. Fidel RAMOS was
elected president in 1992 and his administration was marked by
greater stability and progress on economic reforms. In 1992, the US
closed its last military bases on the islands. Joseph ESTRADA was
elected president in 1998, but was succeeded by his vice-president,
Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, in January 2001 after ESTRADA's stormy
impeachment trial on corruption charges broke down and widespread
demonstrations led to his ouster. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was elected to a
six-year term in May 2004. The Philippine Government faces threats
from armed communist insurgencies and from Muslim separatists in the
south.

Geography Philippines

Location:
Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the
South China Sea, east of Vietnam

Geographic coordinates:
13 00 N, 122 00 E

Map references:
Southeast Asia

Area:
total: 300,000 sq km
land: 298,170 sq km
water: 1,830 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Arizona

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
36,289 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm from
coastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also
claimed polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea up to 285 nm in
breadth
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation

Climate:
tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest
monsoon (May to October)

Terrain:
mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m

Natural resources:
timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper

Land use:
arable land: 18.95%
permanent crops: 16.77%
other: 64.28% (2001)

Irrigated land:
15,500 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to
six cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active volcanoes;
destructive earthquakes; tsunamis

Environment - current issues:
uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed areas; soil
erosion; air and water pollution in major urban centers; coral reef
degradation; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps that
are important fish breeding grounds

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: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geography - note:
the Philippine archipelago is made up of 7,107 islands; favorably
located in relation to many of Southeast Asia's main water bodies:
the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, and
Luzon Strait

People Philippines

Population:
87,857,473 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 35.4% (male 15,869,636/female 15,255,588)
15-64 years: 60.6% (male 26,503,785/female 26,722,511)
65 years and over: 4% (male 1,523,213/female 1,982,740) (2005 est.)

Median age:
total: 22.27 years
male: 21.77 years
female: 22.8 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.84% (2005 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
-1.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 23.51 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 26.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.91 years
male: 67.03 years
female: 72.92 years (2005 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
9,000 (2003 est.)

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

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

Nationality:
noun: Filipino(s)
adjective: Philippine

Ethnic groups:
Tagalog 28.1%, Cebuano 13.1%, Llocano 9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%,
Hiligaynon Ilonggo 7.5%, Bikol 6%, Waray 3.4%, other 25.3% (2000
census)

Religions:
Roman Catholic 80.9%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%,
Aglipayan 2%, other Christian 4.5%, Muslim 5%, other 1.8%,
unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1% (2000 census)

Languages:
two official languages - Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English;
eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or
Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.6%
male: 92.5%
female: 92.7% (2002)

Government Philippines

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines
conventional short form: Philippines
local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas
local short form: Pilipinas

Government type:
republic

Capital:
Manila

Administrative divisions:
79 provinces and 116 chartered cities
: provinces: Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay,
Antique, Apayao, Aurora, Basilan, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas,
Biliran, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines
Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cebu,
Compostela, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Eastern
Samar, Guimaras, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Isabela,
Kalinga, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, La Union, Leyte,
Maguindanao, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro
Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain Province,
Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato, Northern Samar,
Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon,
Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Samar, Sarangani, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South
Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao del Norte,
Surigao del Sur, Tarlac, Tawi-Tawi, Zambales, Zamboanga del Norte,
Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay
: chartered cities: Alaminos, Angeles, Antipolo, Bacolod, Bago,
Baguio, Bais, Balanga, Batangas, Bayawan, Bislig, Butuan,
Cabanatuan, Cadiz, Cagayan de Oro, Calamba, Calapan, Calbayog,
Candon, Canlaon, Cauayan, Cavite, Cebu, Cotabato, Dagupan, Danao,
Dapitan, Davao, Digos, Dipolog, Dumaguete, Escalante, Gapan, General
Santos, Gingoog, Himamaylan, Iligan, Iloilo, Isabela, Iriga,
Kabankalan, Kalookan, Kidapawan, Koronadal, La Carlota, Laoag,
Lapu-Lapu, Las Pinas, Legazpi, Ligao, Lipa, Lucena, Maasin, Makati,
Malabon, Malaybalay, Malolos, Mandaluyong, Mandaue, Manila, Marawi,
Markina, Masbate, Muntinlupa, Munoz, Naga, Olongapo, Ormoc,
Oroquieta, Ozamis, Pagadian, Palayan, Panabo, Paranaque, Pasay,
Pasig, Passi, Puerto Princesa, Quezon, Roxas, Sagay, Samal, San
Carlos (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos (in Pangasinan), San
Fernando (in La Union), San Fernando (in Pampanga), San Jose, San
Jose del Monte, San Pablo, Santa Rosa, Santiago, Silay, Sipalay,
Sorsogon, Surigao, Tabaco, Tacloban, Tacurong, Tagaytay, Tagbilaran,
Tagum, Talisay (in Cebu), Talisay (in Negros Oriental), Tanauan,
Tangub, Tanjay, Tarlac, Toledo, Tuguegarao, Trece Martires,
Urdaneta, Valencia, Valenzuela, Victorias, Vigan, Zamboanga

Independence:
12 June 1898 (from Spain)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 June (1898)
note: 12 June 1898 was date of declaration of independence from
Spain; 4 July 1946 was date of independence from US

Constitution:
2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987

Legal system:
based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 20 January
2001); note - president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 20
January 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with consent of
Commission of Appointments
elections: president and vice president (Manuel "Noli" DE CASTRO)
elected on separate tickets by popular vote for six-year terms;
election last held 10 May 2004 (next to be held in May 2010)
election results: results of the election - Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
elected president; percent of vote - Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO 40%,
Fernando POE 37%, three others 23%

Legislative branch:
bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of the Senate or Senado (24
seats - one-half elected every three years; members elected at large
by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of
Representatives or Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan (212 members
representing districts plus 24 sectoral party-list members; members
elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; note - the
Constitution prohibits the House of Representatives from having more
than 250 members)
elections: Senate - last held 10 May 2004 (next to be held in May
2007); House of Representatives - elections last held 10 May 2004
(next to be held in May 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - Lakas 30%, LP
13%, KNP 13%, independents 17%, others 27%; seats by party - Lakas
7, LP 3, KNP (coalition) 3, independents 4, others 6; note - there
are 23 rather than 24 sitting senators because one senator was
elected Vice President; 14 senators are pro-government, 9 are in
opposition; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - Lakas 93, NPC 53, LP 34, LDP 11, others 20;
party-listers 24; note - there are 211 rather than 212 sitting
representatives because one was appointed Secretary of Tourism (2004)

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (15 justices are appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council and serve until 70
years of age); Court of Appeals; Sandigan-bayan (special court for
hearing corruption cases of government officials)

Political parties and leaders:
Laban Ng Demokratikong Pilipino (Struggle of Filipino Democrats) or
LDP [Edgardo ANGARA, president]; Lakas Ng Edsa (National Union of
Christian Democrats) or Lakas [Jose DE VENECIA, president; Gloria
MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, chairperson]; Liberal Party or LP [Franklin
DRILON, president; Jose ATIENZA, JR., chairman]; National People's
Coalition or NPC [Eduardo COJUANGCO, chairman emeritus; Frisco SAN
JUAN, president]; PDP-Laban [Aquilino PIMENTEL, president]; Pwersa
ng Masang Pilipino (Party of the Philippine Masses) or PMP [Joseph
ESTRADA, president; Juan Ponce ENRILE, chairman]; Aksyon Demokratiko
Party [Raul ROCO, president]; Reporma [Renato DE VILLA, chairman];
PROMDI [Emilio OSMENA, president]; Nacionalista [Manuel VILLAR,
president]; People's Reform Party [Miriam Defensor SANTIAGO,
president}

Political pressure groups and leaders:
AKBAYAN [Reps. Etta ROSALES, Mario AGUJA, and Risa
HONTIVEROS-BARAQUIEL]; ANAKPAWIS [Reps. Crispin BELTRAN and Rafael
MARIANO]; Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC)
[Reps. Edgar VALDEZ, Ernesto PABLO, and Sunny Rose MADAMBA]; Bayan
Muna [Reps. Satur OCAMPO, Joel VIRADOR, and Teodoro CASINO, Jr.];
BUHAY [Reps. Rene VELARDE and Hans Christian SENERES]; BUTIL [Rep.
Benjamin CRUZ]; CIBAC [Rep. Emmanuel Joel VILLANUEVA]; GABRIELA
[Rep. Liza MAZA]; PARTIDO NG MANGGAGAWA [Rep. Renato MAGTUBO] (2003)

International organization participation:
APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, CP, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINUSTAH,
NAM, OAS (observer), ONUB, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council
(temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET,
UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Albert DEL ROSARIO
chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 467-9300
FAX: [1] (202) 328-7614
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San
Francisco, San Jose (Northern Mariana Islands), Tamuning (Guam)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Darryl N. JOHNSON
(Ambassador-designate Michael MICHALAK)
embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila
mailing address: PSC 500, FPO AP 96515-1000
telephone: [63] (2) 523-6300
FAX: [63] (2) 522-4361

Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of blue (top; representing peace and
justice) and red (representing courage); a white equilateral
triangle based on the hoist side represents equality; the center of
the triangle displays a yellow sun with eight primary rays, each
representing one of the first eight provinces that sought
independence from Spain; each corner of the triangle contains a
small, yellow, five-pointed star representing the three major
geographical divisions of the country: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao;
the design of the flag dates to 1897; in wartime the flag is flown
upside down with the red band at the top

Economy Philippines

Economy - overview:
The Philippines was less severely affected by the Asian financial
crisis of 1998 than its neighbors, aided in part by annual
remittances of $7-8 billion from overseas workers and no sustained
runup in asset prices or foreign borrowing prior to the crisis. From
a 0.6% decline in 1998, GDP expanded by 2.4% in 1999, and 4.4% in
2000, but slowed to 3.2% in 2001 in the context of a global economic
slowdown, an export slump, and political and security concerns. GDP
growth accelerated to 4.3% in 2002, 4.7% in 2003, and about 6% in
2004, reflecting the continued resilience of the service sector, and
improved exports and agricultural output. Nonetheless, it will take
a higher, sustained growth path to make appreciable progress in
poverty alleviation given the Philippines' high annual population
growth rate and unequal distribution of income. The Philippines also
faces higher oil prices, higher interest rates on its dollar
borrowings, and higher inflation. Fiscal constraints limit Manila's
ability to finance infrastructure and social spending. The
Philippines' consistently large budget deficit has produced a high
debt level and has forced Manila to spend a large portion of the
national government budget on debt service. Large, unprofitable
public enterprises, especially in the energy sector, contribute to
the government's debt because of slow progress on privatization.
Credit rating agencies are increasingly concerned about the
Philippines' ability to sustain the debt; legislative progress on
new revenue measures will weigh heavily on credit rating decisions.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$430.6 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
5.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 14.8%
industry: 31.9%
services: 53.2% (2004 est.)

Labor force:
35.86 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 36%, industry 16%, services 48% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:
11.7% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:
40% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 31.9% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
46.6 (2003)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.5% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
17% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $12.22 billion
expenditures: $15.84 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.4
million (2004 est.)

Public debt:
74.2% of GDP (September 2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, coconuts, rice, corn, bananas, casavas, pineapples,
fish, mangoes, pork, eggs, beef

Industries:
electronics assembly, garments, footwear, pharmaceuticals,
chemicals, wood products, food processing, petroleum refining,
fishing

Industrial production growth rate:
5% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:
52.86 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 55.6%
hydro: 17.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 26.9% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
46.05 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)

Oil - production:
26,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption:
338,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
312,000 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - proved reserves:
152 million bbl (1 January 2004)

Natural gas - production:
2.5 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
25 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
107.6 billion cu m (1 January 2004)

Current account balance:
$3.6 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:
$38.63 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
electronic equipment, machinery and transport equipment, garments,
optical instruments, coconut products, fruits and nuts, copper
products, chemicals

Exports - partners:
Japan 20.1%, US 18.2%, Netherlands 9%, Hong Kong 7.9%, China 6.7%,
Singapore 6.6%, Taiwan 5.6%, Malaysia 5.2% (2004)

Imports:
$37.5 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
raw materials, machinery and equipment, fuels, vehicles and vehicle
parts, plastic, chemicals, grains

Imports - partners:
US 18.8%, Japan 17.4%, Singapore 7.8%, Taiwan 7.3%, South Korea
6.2%, China 6%, Malaysia 4.5% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$16.05 billion (2004)

Debt - external:
$55.6 billion (September 2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
ODA commitments, $2 billion (2004)

Currency (code):
Philippine peso (PHP)

Currency code:
PHP

Exchange rates:
Philippine pesos per US dollar - 56.04 (2004), 54.203 (2003),
51.604 (2002), 50.993 (2001), 44.192 (2000)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Philippines

Telephones - main lines in use:
3,310,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
15.201 million (2002)

Telephone system:
general assessment: good international radiotelephone and submarine
cable services; domestic and inter-island service adequate
domestic: domestic satellite system with 11 earth stations
international: country code - 63; 9 international gateways;
satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Pacific
Ocean); submarine cables to Hong Kong, Guam, Singapore, Taiwan, and
Japan

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 369, FM 583, shortwave 5
note: each shortwave station operates on multiple frequencies in the
language of the target audience (2004)

Radios:
11.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
225; note - 1373 CATV networks (2004)

Televisions:
3.7 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.ph

Internet hosts:
38,440 (2002)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
33 (2000)

Internet users:
3.5 million (2002)

Transportation Philippines

Railways:
total: 897 km
narrow gauge: 897 km 1.067-m gauge (492 km are in operation) (2004)

Highways:
total: 202,124 km
paved: 19,202 km
unpaved: 182,922 km (2002)

Waterways:
3,219 km
note: limited to vessels with draft less than 1.5 m (2004)

Pipelines:
gas 565 km; oil 135 km; refined products 100 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iligan, Iloilo, Manila, Surigao

Merchant marine:
total: 419 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,524,259 GRT/6,437,171 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 85, cargo 109, chemical tanker 13, container
5, liquefied gas 7, livestock carrier 15, passenger 11,
passenger/cargo 73, petroleum tanker 47, refrigerated cargo 23, roll
on/roll off 17, vehicle carrier 14
foreign-owned: 69 (Canada 1, China 2, Germany 2, Greece 5, Hong Kong
2, Japan 31, Malaysia 2, Netherlands 20, Norway 1, UAE 1, United
States 2)
registered in other countries: 40 (2005)

Airports:
255 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 82
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 35
under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 173
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 68
under 914 m: 100 (2004 est.)

Heliports:
2 (2004 est.)

Military Philippines

Military branches:
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy (includes Coast
Guard, Marine Corps), Air Force

Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 20,131,179 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 15,170,096 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males: 907,542 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$805.5 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1% (2004)

Transnational Issues Philippines

Disputes - international:
The Philippines claims sovereignty over certain of the Spratly
Islands, known locally as the Kalayaan (Freedom) Islands, also
claimed by China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam; the 2002
"Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," has
eased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally
binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants; in
March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines,
and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic
activities in the Spratly Islands; Philippines retains a dormant
claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo based on the
Sultanate of Sulu's granting the Philippines Government power of
attorney to pursue a sovereignty claim on his behalf

Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 150,000 (fighting between government troops and MILF and Abu
Sayyaf groups) (2004)

Illicit drugs:
exports locally-produced marijuana and hashish to East Asia, the
US, and other Western markets; serves as a transit point for heroin
and crystal methamphetamine; domestic methamphetamine production is
a growing problem; remains on Financial Action Task Force
Non-Cooperative Countries and Territories List for continued failure
to address deficiencies in money-laundering control regime

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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

@Pitcairn Islands

Introduction Pitcairn Islands

Background:
Pitcairn Island was discovered in 1767 by the British and settled
in 1790 by the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions.
Pitcairn was the first Pacific island to become a British colony (in
1838) and today remains the last vestige of that empire in the South
Pacific. Outmigration, primarily to New Zealand, has thinned the
population from a peak of 233 in 1937 to less than 50 today.

Geography Pitcairn Islands

Location:
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about midway between
Peru and New Zealand

Geographic coordinates:
25 04 S, 130 06 W

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 47 sq km
land: 47 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
51 km

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

Climate:
tropical; hot and humid; modified by southeast trade winds; rainy
season (November to March)

Terrain:
rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pawala Valley Ridge 347 m

Natural resources:
miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish
note: manganese, iron, copper, gold, silver, and zinc have been
discovered offshore

Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
other: NA%

Irrigated land:
NA

Natural hazards:
typhoons (especially November to March)

Environment - current issues:
deforestation (only a small portion of the original forest remains
because of burning and clearing for settlement)

Geography - note:
Britain's most isolated dependency; only the larger island of
Pitcairn is inhabited but it has no port or natural harbor; supplies
must be transported by rowed longboat from larger ships stationed
offshore

People Pitcairn Islands

Population:
46 (July 2005 est.)

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

Population growth rate:
-0.01% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:
NA

Death rate:
NA

Net migration rate:
NA

Sex ratio:
NA

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

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

Total fertility rate:
NA

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA

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

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Nationality:
noun: Pitcairn Islander(s)
adjective: Pitcairn Islander

Ethnic groups:
descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian wives

Religions:
Seventh-Day Adventist 100%

Languages:
English (official), Pitcairnese (mixture of an 18th century English
dialect and a Tahitian dialect)

Literacy:
NA

Government Pitcairn Islands

Country name:
conventional long form: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands
conventional short form: Pitcairn Islands

Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK

Government type:
NA

Capital:
Adamstown

Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)

Constitution:
30 November 1838; reformed 1904 with additional reforms in 1940;
further refined by the Local Government Ordinance of 1964

Legal system:
local island by-laws

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal with three years residency

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by UK High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor
(nonresident) of the Pitcairn Islands Richard FELL (since NA
December 2001); Commissioner (nonresident) Leslie JAQUES (since
September 2003); serves as liaison between the governor and the
Island Council
head of government: Governor Richard FELL; mayor and chairman of the
Island Council Jay WARREN (since 15 December 2004)
cabinet: NA
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner and
commissioner appointed by the monarch; island mayor elected by
popular vote for a three-year term; election last held December 2004
(next to be held December 2007)
election results: Jay WARREN elected mayor and chairman of the
Island Council

Legislative branch:
unicameral Island Council (10 seats - 5 elected by popular vote, 1
nominated by the 5 elected members, 2 appointed by the governor
including 1 seat for the Island Secretary, the Island Mayor, and a
commissioner liaising between the governor and council; elected
members serve one-year terms)
elections: last held 15 December 2004 (next to be held December 2005)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - all independents

Judicial branch:
Magistrate's Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Judicial
Officers are appointed by the Governor

Political parties and leaders:
none

Political pressure groups and leaders:
none

International organization participation:
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 Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the outer half of the
flag; the coat of arms is yellow, green, and light blue with a
shield featuring a yellow anchor

Economy Pitcairn Islands

Economy - overview:
The inhabitants of this tiny isolated economy exist on fishing,
subsistence farming, handicrafts, and postage stamps. The fertile
soil of the valleys produces a wide variety of fruits and
vegetables, including citrus, sugarcane, watermelons, bananas, yams,
and beans. Bartering is an important part of the economy. The major
sources of revenue are the sale of postage stamps to collectors and
the sale of handicrafts to passing ships. In October 2004, more than
one-quarter of Pitcairn's labor force was arrested, putting the
economy in a bind, since their services were required as lighter
crew to load or unload passing ships.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
NA

GDP - real growth rate:
NA

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - NA

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

Labor force:
15 able-bodied men (2004)

Labor force - by occupation:
no business community in the usual sense; some public works;
subsistence farming and fishing

Unemployment rate:
NA

Population below poverty line:
NA

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA

Budget:
revenues: $746,000
expenditures: $1.028 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(FY04/05)

Agriculture - products:
wide variety of fruits and vegetables, goats, chickens

Industries:
postage stamps, handicrafts, beekeeping, honey

Industrial production growth rate:
NA

Electricity - production:
NA kWh; note - electric power is provided by a small diesel-powered
generator

Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh

Exports:
NA

Exports - commodities:
fruits, vegetables, curios, stamps

Exports - partners:
NA

Imports:
NA

Imports - commodities:
fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar, other
foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
NA

Debt - external:
NA

Economic aid - recipient:
$3.465 million (2004)

Currency (code):
New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Currency code:
NZD

Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003),
2.1622 (2002), 2.3788 (2001), 2.2012 (2000)

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Pitcairn Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:
1 (there are 17 telephones on one party line); (2004)

Telephone system:
general assessment: satellite phone services
domestic: domestic communication via radio (CB)
international: country code - 872; satellite earth station (Inmarsat)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0, note - 15 Ham radio operators (VP6) (2004)

Radios:
NA

Televisions:
NA

Internet country code:
.pn

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
NA

Internet users:
NA

Transportation Pitcairn Islands

Highways:
total: 6.4 km
paved: 0 km
unpaved: 6.4 km

Ports and harbors:
Adamstown (on Bounty Bay)

Airports:
none (2004 est.)

Military Pitcairn Islands

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues Pitcairn Islands

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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

@Poland

Introduction Poland

Background:
Poland is an ancient nation that was conceived near the middle of
the 10th century. Its golden age occurred in the 16th century.
During the following century, the strengthening of the gentry and
internal disorders weakened the nation. In a series of agreements
between 1772 and 1795, Russia, Prussia, and Austria partitioned
Poland amongst themselves. Poland regained its independence in 1918
only to be overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in World War II.
It became a Soviet satellite state following the war, but its
government was comparatively tolerant and progressive. Labor turmoil
in 1980 led to the formation of the independent trade union
"Solidarity" that over time became a political force and by 1990 had
swept parliamentary elections and the presidency. A "shock therapy"
program during the early 1990s enabled the country to transform its
economy into one of the most robust in Central Europe, but Poland
currently suffers low GDP growth and high unemployment. Solidarity
suffered a major defeat in the 2001 parliamentary elections when it
failed to elect a single deputy to the lower house of Parliament,
and the new leaders of the Solidarity Trade Union subsequently
pledged to reduce the Trade Union's political role. Poland joined
NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004.

Geography Poland

Location:
Central Europe, east of Germany

Geographic coordinates:
52 00 N, 20 00 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 312,685 sq km
land: 304,465 sq km
water: 8,220 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Mexico

Land boundaries:
total: 2,788 km
border countries: Belarus 407 km, Czech Republic 658 km, Germany 456
km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Slovakia
444 km, Ukraine 526 km

Coastline:
491 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties

Climate:
temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with
frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and
thundershowers

Terrain:
mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
highest point: Rysy 2,499 m

Natural resources:
coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber,
arable land

Land use:
arable land: 45.91%
permanent crops: 1.12%
other: 52.97% (2001)

Irrigated land:
1,000 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
flooding

Environment - current issues:
situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy industry
and increased environmental concern by post-Communist governments;
air pollution nonetheless remains serious because of sulfur dioxide
emissions from coal-fired power plants, and the resulting acid rain
has caused forest damage; water pollution from industrial and
municipal sources is also a problem, as is disposal of hazardous
wastes; pollution levels should continue to decrease as industrial
establishments bring their facilities up to European Union code, but
at substantial cost to business and the government

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94

Geography - note:
historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the
lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain

People Poland

Population:
38,635,144 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.7% (male 3,319,176/female 3,150,859)
15-64 years: 70.3% (male 13,506,153/female 13,638,265)
65 years and over: 13% (male 1,912,431/female 3,108,260) (2005 est.)

Median age:
total: 36.43 years
male: 34.52 years
female: 38.49 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.03% (2005 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
-0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.51 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.74 years
male: 70.71 years
female: 79.03 years (2005 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% ; note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
14,000 (2003 est.)

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

Nationality:
noun: Pole(s)
adjective: Polish

Ethnic groups:
Polish 96.7%, German 0.4%, Belarusian 0.1%, Ukrainian 0.1%, other
and unspecified 2.7% (2002 census)