Chapter XLVI: Front Matter (46)

Economy - overview:
Oil-rich Nigeria, long hobbled by political instability,
corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and poor macroeconomic
management, is undertaking some reforms under a new reform-minded
administration. Nigeria's former military rulers failed to diversify
the economy away from its overdependence on the capital-intensive
oil sector, which provides 20% of GDP, 95% of foreign exchange
earnings, and about 65% of budgetary revenues. The largely
subsistence agricultural sector has failed to keep up with rapid
population growth - Nigeria is Africa's most populous country - and
the country, once a large net exporter of food, now must import
food. Following the signing of an IMF stand-by agreement in August
2000, Nigeria received a debt-restructuring deal from the Paris Club
and a $1 billion credit from the IMF, both contingent on economic
reforms. Nigeria pulled out of its IMF program in April 2002, after
failing to meet spending and exchange rate targets, making it
ineligible for additional debt forgiveness from the Paris Club. In
the last year the government has begun showing the political will to
implement the market-oriented reforms urged by the IMF, such as to
modernize the banking system, to curb inflation by blocking
excessive wage demands, and to resolve regional disputes over the
distribution of earnings from the oil industry. In 2003, the
government began deregulating fuel prices, announced the
privatization of the country's four oil refineries, and instituted
the National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy, a
domestically designed and run program modeled on the IMF's Poverty
Reduction and Growth Facility for fiscal and monetary management. In
November 2005, Abuja won Paris Club approval for a debt-relief deal
that eliminated $18 billion of debt in exchange for $12 billion in
payments-a total package worth $30 billion of Nigeria's total $37
billion external debt. The deal requires Nigeria to be subject to
stringent IMF reviews. GDP rose strongly in 2006, based largely on
increased oil exports and high global crude prices.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$188.5 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$83.36 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
5.3% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,400 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 17.3%
industry: 53.2%
services: 29.5% (2006 est.)

Labor force:
48.99 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 70%
industry: 10%
services: 20% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:
5.8% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:
60% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 40.8% (1996-97)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
50.6 (1996-97)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10.5% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
26.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $17.86 billion
expenditures: $19.05 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
10.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava
(tapioca), yams, rubber; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs; timber; fish

Industries:
crude oil, coal, tin, columbite; palm oil, peanuts, cotton, rubber,
wood; hides and skins, textiles, cement and other construction
materials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing,
ceramics, steel, small commercial ship construction and repair

Industrial production growth rate:
-1.6% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
19.06 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 61.9%
hydro: 38.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
17.71 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
20 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
2.451 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
290,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves:
36.25 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:
21.8 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
9.21 billion cu m (2004 est.)

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

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

Natural gas - proved reserves:
4.984 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:
$12.59 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$59.01 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber

Exports - partners:
US 52.5%, Spain 8.2%, Brazil 6.1% (2005)

Imports:
$25.1 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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

Imports - partners:
China 10.4%, US 7.3%, UK 6.7%, Netherlands 6%, France 5.9%, Brazil
4.3%, Germany 4.2% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$42.97 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$6.278 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$250 million

Currency (code):
naira (NGN)

Currency code:
NGN

Exchange rates:
nairas per US dollar - 127.573 (2006), 132.59 (2005), 132.89
(2004), 129.22 (2003), 120.58 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Nigeria

Telephones - main lines in use:
1,223,300 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
21,571,131 (2006)

Telephone system:
general assessment: expansion and modernization of the fixed-line
telephone network has been slow due to faltering efforts at
privatization
domestic: the addition of a second fixed-line provider in 2002
resulted in faster growth in this service; wireless telephony has
grown rapidly, in part responding to the shortcomings of the
fixed-line network; four wireless (GSM) service providers operate
nationally; the combined growth resulted in a sharp increase in
teledensity reported to be over 18% in March 2006
international: country code - 234; satellite earth stations - 3
Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); fiber optic
submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 83, FM 36, shortwave 11 (2001)

Radios:
23.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
3 (the government controls 2 of the broadcasting stations and 15
repeater stations) (2002)

Televisions:
6.9 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.ng

Internet hosts:
1,549 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
11 (2000)

Internet users:
5 million (2005)

Transportation Nigeria

Airports:
69 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 36
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 33
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 18 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate 126 km; gas 2,812 km; liquid petroleum gas 125 km; oil
4,278 km; refined products 3,517 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 3,505 km
narrow gauge: 3,505 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 194,394 km
paved: 60,068 km
unpaved: 134,326 km (1999)

Waterways:
8,600 km (Niger and Benue rivers and smaller rivers and creeks)
(2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 52 ships (1000 GRT or over) 277,709 GRT/475,414 DWT
by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 5, combination ore/oil 1,
liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 36, specialized
tanker 2
foreign-owned: 4 (Norway 1, Pakistan 1, Singapore 1, Spain 1)
registered in other countries: 28 (Bahamas 2, Bermuda 11, Cambodia
2, Comoros 2, Panama 7, Poland 1, Seychelles 1, unknown 2) (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Bonny Inshore Terminal, Calabar, Lagos, Port Harcourt

Military Nigeria

Military branches:
Nigerian Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Army, Niger
Air Force (2006)

Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2006)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 26,802,678
females age 18-49: 25,668,446 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 15,052,914
females age 18-49: 13,860,806 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 1,353,180
females age 18-49: 1,329,267 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$737.6 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.8% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Nigeria

Disputes - international:
Joint Border Commission with Cameroon reviewed 2002 ICJ ruling on
the entire boundary and bilaterally resolved differences, including
June 2006 Greentree Agreement that immediately cedes sovereignty of
the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon with a phase-out of Nigerian
control within two years while resolving patriation issues; the ICJ
ruled on an equidistance settlement of Cameroon-Equatorial
Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf of Guinea, but
imprecisely defined coordinates in the ICJ decision and a
sovereignty dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an
island at the mouth of the Ntem River all contribute to the delay in
implementation; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad
Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty which also
includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries

Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 6,051 (Liberia)
IDPs: undetermined (communal violence between Christians and Muslims
since President OBASANJO's election in 1999, displacement is mostly
short-term) (2006)

Illicit drugs:
a transit point for heroin and cocaine intended for European, East
Asian, and North American markets; safehaven for Nigerian
narcotraffickers operating worldwide; major money-laundering center;
massive corruption and criminal activity; Nigeria has improved some
anti-money-laundering controls, resulting in its removal from the
Financial Action Task Force's (FATF's) Noncooperative Countries and
Territories List in June 2006; Nigeria's anti-money-laundering
regime continues to be monitored by FATF

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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

@Niue

Introduction Niue

Background:
Niue's remoteness, as well as cultural and linguistic differences
between its Polynesian inhabitants and those of the rest of the Cook
Islands, have caused it to be separately administered. The
population of the island continues to drop (from a peak of 5,200 in
1966 to about 2,166 in 2006), with substantial emigration to New
Zealand, 2,400 km to the southwest.

Geography Niue

Location:
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga

Geographic coordinates:
19 02 S, 169 52 W

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 260 sq km
land: 260 sq km
water: 0 sq km

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

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
64 km

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

Climate:
tropical; modified by southeast trade winds

Terrain:
steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location near Mutalau settlement 68 m

Natural resources:
fish, arable land

Land use:
arable land: 11.54%
permanent crops: 15.38%
other: 73.08% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

Natural hazards:
typhoons

Environment - current issues:
increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss
of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:
one of world's largest coral islands

People Niue

Population:
2,166 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.01% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
NA births/1,000 population

Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population

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

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: Niuean(s)
adjective: Niuean

Ethnic groups:
Niuen 78.2%, Pacific islander 10.2%, European 4.5%, mixed 3.9%,
Asian 0.2%, unspecified 3% (2001 census)

Religions:
Ekalesia Niue (Niuean Church - a Protestant church closely related
to the London Missionary Society) 61.1%, Latter-Day Saints 8.8%,
Roman Catholic 7.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist
1.4%, other 8.4%, unspecified 8.7%, none 1.9% (2001 census)

Languages:
Niuean, a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and Samoan;
English

Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 95%
male: NA
female: NA

Government Niue

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Niue
former: Savage Island

Dependency status:
self-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1974;
Niue fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains
responsibility for external affairs and defense; however, these
responsibilities confer no rights of control and are only exercised
at the request of the Government of Niue

Government type:
self-governing parliamentary democracy

Capital:
name: Alofi
geographic coordinates: 19 01 S, 169 55 W
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
none; note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as
defined by the US Government, but there are 14 villages at the
second order

Independence:
on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing parliamentary
government in free association with New Zealand

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

Constitution:
19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)

Legal system:
English common law; note - Niue is self-governing, with the power
to make its own laws

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General of New Zealand Anand SATYANAND
(since 23 August 2006); the UK and New Zealand are represented by
New Zealand High Commissioner John BRYAN (since NA May 2000)
head of government: Premier Young VIVIAN (since 1 May 2002)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and three ministers
elections: the monarch is hereditary; premier elected by the
Legislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held 12
May 2005 (next to be held May 2008)
election results: Young VIVIAN reelected premier; percent of
Legislative Assembly vote - Young VIVIAN (NPP) 85%, O'Love JACOBSEN
(independent) 15%

Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly (20 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve three-year terms; 6 elected from a common roll
and 14 are village representatives)
elections: last held 30 April 2005 (next to be held April 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue

Political parties and leaders:
Alliance of Independents or AI; Niue People's Action Party or NPP
[Young VIVIAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACP, FAO, IFAD, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)

Flag description:
yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant;
the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars - a large
one on a blue disk in the center and a smaller one on each arm of
the bold red cross

Economy Niue

Economy - overview:
The economy suffers from the typical Pacific island problems of
geographic isolation, few resources, and a small population.
Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, and the shortfall
is made up by critically needed grants from New Zealand that are
used to pay wages to public employees. Niue has cut government
expenditures by reducing the public service by almost half. The
agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening,
although some cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists
primarily of small factories to process passion fruit, lime oil,
honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign
collectors is an important source of revenue. The island in recent
years has suffered a serious loss of population because of
emigration to New Zealand. Efforts to increase GDP include the
promotion of tourism and a financial services industry, although the
International Banking Repeal Act of 2002 resulted in the termination
of all offshore banking licenses. Economic aid from New Zealand in
2002 was about US$2 million. Niue suffered a devastating typhoon in
January 2004, which decimated nascent economic programs. While in
the process of rebuilding, Niue has been dependent on foreign aid.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$7.6 million (2000 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$10.01 million (2003)

GDP - real growth rate:
6.2% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,800 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 23.5%
industry: 26.9%
services: 49.5% (2003)

Labor force:
663 (2001)

Labor force - by occupation:
note: most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in
government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board

Unemployment rate:
12% (2001)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (2005)

Budget:
revenues: $15.07 million
expenditures: $16.33 million; including capital expenditures of
$123,700 (FY0405)

Agriculture - products:
coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava
(tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle

Industries:
tourism, handicrafts, food processing

Industrial production growth rate:
NA%

Electricity - production:
3 million kWh (2004)

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

Electricity - consumption:
2.79 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

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

Oil - consumption:
20 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

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

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

Exports:
$201,400 (2004)

Exports - commodities:
canned coconut cream, copra, honey, vanilla, passion fruit
products, pawpaws, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts

Exports - partners:
New Zealand mainly, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia (2004)

Imports:
$9.038 million (2004)

Imports - commodities:
food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels,
lubricants, chemicals, drugs

Imports - partners:
New Zealand mainly, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Australia, US (2004)

Debt - external:
$418,000 (2002 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$2.6 million from New Zealand (2002)

Currency (code):
New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Currency code:
NZD

Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004),
1.7221 (2003), 2.1622 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Niue

Telephones - main lines in use:
1,100 est (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
400 (2002)

Telephone system:
domestic: single-line telephone system connects all villages on
island
international: country code - 683

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:
1,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)

Televisions:
NA

Internet country code:
.nu

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)

Internet users:
900 (2002)

Transportation Niue

Airports:
1 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 234 km
paved: 86 km
unpaved: 148 km (2001)

Ports and terminals:
none; offshore anchorage only

Military Niue

Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Transnational Issues Niue

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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

@Norfolk Island

Introduction Norfolk Island

Background:
Two British attempts at establishing the island as a penal colony
(1788-1814 and 1825-55) were ultimately abandoned. In 1856, the
island was resettled by Pitcairn Islanders, descendants of the
Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions.

Geography Norfolk Island

Location:
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia

Geographic coordinates:
29 02 S, 167 57 E

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 34.6 sq km
land: 34.6 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:
about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
32 km

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

Climate:
subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:
volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Bates 319 m

Natural resources:
fish

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

Irrigated land:
NA

Natural hazards:
typhoons (especially May to July)

Environment - current issues:
NA

Geography - note:
most of the 32 km coastline consists of almost inaccessible cliffs,
but the land slopes down to the sea in one small southern area on
Sydney Bay, where the capital of Kingston is situated

People Norfolk Island

Population:
1,828 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.2%
15-64 years: 63.9%
65 years and over: 15.9% (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
-0.01% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
NA

Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population

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: Norfolk Islander(s)
adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)

Ethnic groups:
descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New Zealander,
Polynesian

Religions:
Anglican 34.9%, Roman Catholic 11.7%, Uniting Church in Australia
11.2%, Seventh-Day Adventist 2.8%, Australian Christian 2.4%,
Jehovah's Witness 0.9%, other 2.7%, unspecified 15.3%, none 18.1%
(2001 census)

Languages:
English (official), Norfolk a mixture of 18th century English and
ancient Tahitian

Literacy:
NA

Government Norfolk Island

Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island
conventional short form: Norfolk Island

Dependency status:
self governing territory of Australia; Canberra administers
Commonwealth responsibilities on Norfolk Island through the
Department of Transport and Regional Services

Government type:
NA

Capital:
name: Kingston
geographic coordinates: 29 03 S, 167 58 E
time difference: UTC+11.5 (16.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
none (territory of Australia)

Independence:
none (territory of Australia)

National holiday:
Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June
(1856)

Constitution:
Norfolk Island Act of 1979, as amended in 2005

Legal system:
based on the laws of Australia, local ordinances and acts; English
common law applies in matters not covered by either Australian or
Norfolk Island law

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator Grant TAMBLING (since 1 November
2003)
cabinet: Executive Council is made up of four of the nine members of
the Legislative Assembly; the council devises government policy and
acts as an advisor to the administrator
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed
by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and
Australia

Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly (9 seats; members elected by
electors who have nine equal votes each but only four votes can be
given to any one candidate; members serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 20 October 2004 (next to be held by December
2007)
election results: seats - independents 9 (note - no political
parties)

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Petty Sessions

Political parties and leaders:
none

Political pressure groups and leaders:
none

International organization participation:
UPU

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

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

Flag description:
three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green with a
large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in the slightly wider
white band

Economy Norfolk Island

Economy - overview:
Tourism, the primary economic activity, has steadily increased over
the years and has brought a level of prosperity unusual among
inhabitants of the Pacific islands. The agricultural sector has
become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$NA

Labor force:
1,345

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 10%
industry and services: 90%

Unemployment rate:
0%

Budget:
revenues: $4.6 million
expenditures: $4.8 million; including capital expenditures of $2
million (FY99/00)

Agriculture - products:
Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables,
fruit; cattle, poultry

Industries:
tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete

Electricity - production:
NA kWh

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 0%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2002)

Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh

Exports:
$1.5 million f.o.b. (FY91/92)

Exports - commodities:
postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm,
small quantities of avocados

Exports - partners:
Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe (2004)

Imports:
$17.9 million c.i.f. (FY91/92)

Imports - commodities:
NA

Imports - partners:
Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe (2004)

Debt - external:
$NA

Economic aid - recipient:
$NA

Currency (code):
Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code:
AUD

Exchange rates:
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004),
1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

Communications Norfolk Island

Telephones - main lines in use:
2,532; note - a mix of analog (2500) and digital (32) circuits
(2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
0 (proposed cellular service disallowed in August 2002 island
referendum) (2002)

Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate
domestic: free local calls
international: country code - 672; undersea coaxial cable links with
Australia, New Zealand, and Canada; satellite earth station

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)

Radios:
2,500 (1996)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (local programming station plus two repeaters that bring in
Australian programs by satellite) (2005)

Televisions:
1,200 (1996)

Internet country code:
.nf

Internet hosts:
100 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)

Internet users:
700

Transportation Norfolk Island

Airports:
1 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 80 km
paved: 53 km
unpaved: 27 km (2002)

Ports and terminals:
none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade

Military Norfolk Island

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Australia

Transnational Issues Norfolk Island

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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

@Northern Mariana Islands

Introduction Northern Mariana Islands

Background:
Under US administration as part of the UN Trust Territory of the
Pacific, the people of the Northern Mariana Islands decided in the
1970s not to seek independence but instead to forge closer links
with the US. Negotiations for territorial status began in 1972. A
covenant to establish a commonwealth in political union with the US
was approved in 1975, and came into force on 24 March 1976. A new
government and constitution went into effect in 1978.

Geography Northern Mariana Islands

Location:
Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters
of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

Geographic coordinates:
15 12 N, 145 45 E

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 477 sq km
land: 477 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian

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

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
1,482 km

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

Climate:
tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little
seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy
season July to October

Terrain:
southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing
coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m

Natural resources:
arable land, fish

Land use:
arable land: 13.04%
permanent crops: 4.35%
other: 82.61% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

Natural hazards:
active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August
to November)

Environment - current issues:
contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease;
clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts
with development

Geography - note:
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean

People Northern Mariana Islands

Population:
82,459 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.4% (male 8,350/female 7,623)
15-64 years: 79% (male 26,715/female 38,442)
65 years and over: 1.6% (male 679/female 650) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 29.5 years
male: 31.7 years
female: 28.5 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
2.54% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
19.43 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
2.29 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
8.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.7 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female
total population: 0.77 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.98 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.09 years
male: 73.5 years
female: 78.83 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.24 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA

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

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Nationality:
noun: NA (US citizens)
adjective: NA

Ethnic groups:
Asian 56.3%, Pacific islander 36.3%, Caucasian 1.8%, other 0.8%,
mixed 4.8% (2000 census)

Religions:
Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs
and taboos may still be found)

Languages:
Philippine languages 24.4%, Chinese 23.4%, Chamorro 22.4%, English
10.8%, other Pacific island languages 9.5%, other 9.6% (2000 census)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 96% (1980 est.)

Government Northern Mariana Islands

Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands
abbreviation: CNMI
former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Mariana Islands
District

Dependency status:
commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the
Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior,
Office of Insular Affairs

Government type:
commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor,
lieutenant governor, and legislature

Capital:
name: Saipan
geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
none (commonwealth in political union with the US); there are no
first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are four municipalities at the second order:
Northern Islands, Rota, Saipan, Tinian

Independence:
none (commonwealth in political union with the US)

National holiday:
Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)

Constitution:
Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
effective 1 January 1978; Covenant Agreement fully effective 4
November 1986

Legal system:
based on US system, except for customs, wages, immigration laws,
and taxation

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens
but do not vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch:
chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20
January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January
2001)
head of government: Governor Benigno R. FITIAL (since 9 January
2006); Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. VILLAGOMEZ (since 9 January
2006)
cabinet: the cabinet consists of the heads of the 10 principal
departments under the executive branch who are appointed by the
governor with the advice and consent of the Senate; other members
include Special Assistants to the governor and office heads
appointed by and reporting directly to the governor
elections: under the US Consitution, residents of unincorporated
territories, such as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, do not vote in elections for US president and vice
president; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same
ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second
term); election last held 5 November 2005 (next to be held November
2009)
election results: Benigno R. FITIAL elected governor in a four-way
race; percent of vote - Benigno R. FITIAL (Covenant Party) 28.07%,
Heinz HOFSCHNEIDER (Independent) 27.34%, Juan BABAUTA (Republican)
26.6%, Froilan TENORIO (Democrat) 17.99%

Legislative branch:
bicameral Legislature consists of the Senate (9 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve four-year staggered terms) and the
House of Representatives (18 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 5 November 2005 (next to be held
November 2009); House of Representatives - last held 5 November 2005
(next to be held November 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - Covenant Party 3, Republican Party 3, Democratic Party 2,
independent 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - Covenant Party 7, Republican Party 7,
Democratic Party 2, independent 2
note: the Northern Mariana Islands does not have a nonvoting
delegate in the US Congress; instead, it has an elected official or
"resident representative" located in Washington, DC; seats by party
- Republican Party 1 (Pedro A. TENORIO)

Judicial branch:
Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District Court

Political parties and leaders:
Covenant Party [Benigno R. FITIAL]; Democratic Party [Dr. Carlos S.
CAMACHO]; Republican Party [Juan S. REYES]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

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

Flag description:
blue, with a white, five-pointed star superimposed on the gray
silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in
building) in the center, surrounded by a wreath

Economy Northern Mariana Islands

Economy - overview:
The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from
the US. The rate of funding has declined as locally generated
government revenues have grown. The key tourist industry employs
about 50% of the work force and accounts for roughly one-fourth of
GDP. Japanese tourists predominate. Annual tourist entries have
exceeded one-half million in recent years, but financial
difficulties in Japan have caused a temporary slowdown. The
agricultural sector is made up of cattle ranches and small farms
producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Garment
production is by far the most important industry with the employment
of 17,500 mostly Chinese workers and sizable shipments to the US
under duty and quota exemptions.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$900 million
note: GDP estimate includes US subsidy (2000 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$633.4 million (2000)

GDP - real growth rate:
NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$12,500 (2000 est.)

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

Labor force:
44,470 total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 28,717
foreign workers (2000)

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

Unemployment rate:
3.9% (2001)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-0.8% (2000)

Budget:
revenues: $193 million
expenditures: $223 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY01/02 est.)

Agriculture - products:
coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle

Industries:
tourism, construction, garments, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate:
NA%

Electricity - production:
NA kWh

Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh

Exports:
$NA

Exports - commodities:
garments

Exports - partners:
US (2004)

Imports:
$214.4 million (2001)

Imports - commodities:
food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products

Imports - partners:
US, Japan (2004)

Debt - external:
$NA

Economic aid - recipient:
extensive funding from US

Currency (code):
US dollar (USD)

Currency code:
USD

Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used

Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September

Communications Northern Mariana Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:
21,000 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
20,500 (2004)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 1-670; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 1 (2006)

Radios:
NA

Television broadcast stations:
1 (Low Power TV on Saipan; in addition, two cable services on
Saipan provide varied programming from satellite networks) (2006)

Televisions:
NA

Internet country code:
.mp

Internet hosts:
20 (2005)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2001)

Internet users:
10,000 (2003)

Transportation Northern Mariana Islands

Airports:
5 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 536 km (2004)

Ports and terminals:
Saipan, Tinian

Military Northern Mariana Islands

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues Northern Mariana Islands

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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

@Norway

Introduction Norway

Background:
Two centuries of Viking raids into Europe tapered off following the
adoption of Christianity by King Olav TRYGGVASON in 994. Conversion
of the Norwegian kingdom occurred over the next several decades. In
1397, Norway was absorbed into a union with Denmark that lasted more
than four centuries. In 1814, Norwegians resisted the cession of
their country to Sweden and adopted a new constitution. Sweden then
invaded Norway but agreed to let Norway keep its constitution in
return for accepting the union under a Swedish king. Rising
nationalism throughout the 19th century led to a 1905 referendum
granting Norway independence. Although Norway remained neutral in
World War I, it suffered heavy losses to its shipping. Norway
proclaimed its neutrality at the outset of World War II, but was
nonetheless occupied for five years by Nazi Germany (1940-45). In
1949, neutrality was abandoned and Norway became a member of NATO.
Discovery of oil and gas in adjacent waters in the late 1960s
boosted Norway's economic fortunes. The current focus is on
containing spending on the extensive welfare system and planning for
the time when petroleum reserves are depleted. In referenda held in
1972 and 1994, Norway rejected joining the EU.

Geography Norway

Location:
Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, west of Sweden

Geographic coordinates:
62 00 N, 10 00 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 323,802 sq km
land: 307,442 sq km
water: 16,360 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries:
total: 2,542 km
border countries: Finland 727 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 196 km

Coastline:
25,148 km (includes mainland 2,650 km, as well as long fjords,
numerous small islands, and minor indentations 22,498 km; length of
island coastlines 58,133 km)

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 10 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate:
temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder
interior with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy
year-round on west coast

Terrain:
glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by
fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented
by fjords; arctic tundra in north

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point: Galdhopiggen 2,469 m

Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, titanium,
pyrites, nickel, fish, timber, hydropower

Land use:
arable land: 2.7%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.3% (2005)

Irrigated land:
1,270 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
rockslides, avalanches

Environment - current issues:
water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and adversely affecting
lakes, threatening fish stocks; air pollution from vehicle emissions

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
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, Law of the Sea, 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:
about two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands off its much
indented coastline; strategic location adjacent to sea lanes and air
routes in North Atlantic; one of most rugged and longest coastlines
in the world

People Norway

Population:
4,610,820 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.3% (male 455,122/female 434,009)
15-64 years: 65.9% (male 1,542,439/female 1,496,745)
65 years and over: 14.8% (male 288,509/female 393,996) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 38.4 years
male: 37.6 years
female: 39.3 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.38% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
11.46 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
9.4 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
1.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.67 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.03 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.54 years
male: 76.91 years
female: 82.31 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.78 children born/woman (2006 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,100 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Norwegian(s)
adjective: Norwegian

Ethnic groups:
Norwegian, Sami 20,000

Religions:
Church of Norway 85.7%, Pentecostal 1%, Roman Catholic 1%, other
Christian 2.4%, Muslim 1.8%, other 8.1% (2004)

Languages:
Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small
Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities; note - Sami is official in
six municipalities

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%

Government Norway

Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Norway
conventional short form: Norway
local long form: Kongeriket Norge
local short form: Norge

Government type:
constitutional monarchy

Capital:
name: Oslo
geographic coordinates: 59 55 N, 10 45 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:
19 counties (fylker, singular - fylke); Akershus, Aust-Agder,
Buskerud, Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, More og Romsdal, Nordland,
Nord-Trondelag, Oppland, Oslo, Ostfold, Rogaland, Sogn og Fjordane,
Sor-Trondelag, Telemark, Troms, Vest-Agder, Vestfold

Dependent areas:
Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard

Independence:
7 June 1905 (Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved); 26
October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union)

National holiday:
Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)

Constitution:
17 May 1814; amended many times

Legal system:
mixture of customary law, civil law system, and common law
traditions; Supreme Court renders advisory opinions to legislature
when asked; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir
Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS, son of the monarch (born 20
July 1973)
head of government: Prime Minister Jens STOLTENBERG (since 17
October 2005)
cabinet: State Council appointed by the monarch with the approval of
parliament
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following parliamentary
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the
monarch with the approval of the parliament

Legislative branch:
modified unicameral Parliament or Storting (169 seats - will be 165
seats next election; members are elected by popular vote by
proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 12 September 2005 (next to be held September
2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - Labor Party 32.7%,
Progress Party 22.1%, Conservative Party 14.1%, Socialist Left Party
8.8%, Christian People's Party 6.8%, Center Party 6.5%, Liberal
Party 5.9%, Red Electoral Alliance 1.2%, other 1.9%; seats by party
- Labor Party 61, Progress Party 38, Conservative Party 23,
Socialist Left Party 15, Christian People's Party 11, Center Party
11, Liberal Party 10
note: for certain purposes, the parliament divides itself into two
chambers and elects one-fourth of its membership in the Lagting and
three-forths of its membership in the Odelsting

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Hoyesterett (justices appointed by the monarch)

Political parties and leaders:
Center Party [Aslaug Marie HAGA]; Christian People's Party [Dagfinn
HOYBRATEN]; Coastal Party [Roy WAAGE]; Conservative Party [Erna
SOLBERG]; Labor Party [Jens STOLTENBERG]; Liberal Party [Lars
SPONHEIM]; Progress Party [Siv JENSEN]; Red Electoral Alliance
[Torstein DAHLE]; Socialist Left Party [Kristin HALVORSEN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
AfDB, Arctic Council, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN,
EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, ESA, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMEE, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU
(associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Knut VOLLEBAEK
chancery: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 333-6000
FAX: [1] (202) 337-0870
consulate(s) general: Houston, Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Benson K. WHITNEY
embassy: Henrik Ibsens gate 48, 0244 Oslo; note - the embassy will
move to Huseby in the near future
mailing address: PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707
telephone: [47] (22) 44 85 50
FAX: [47] (22) 44 33 63, 56 27 51

Flag description:
red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges
of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist
side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy Norway

Economy - overview:
The Norwegian economy is a prosperous bastion of welfare
capitalism, featuring a combination of free market activity and
government intervention. The government controls key areas such as
the vital petroleum sector (through large-scale state enterprises).
The country is richly endowed with natural resources - petroleum,
hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals - and is highly dependent on
its oil production and international oil prices, with oil and gas
accounting for one-third of exports. Only Saudi Arabia and Russia
export more oil than Norway. Norway opted to stay out of the EU
during a referendum in November 1994; nonetheless, it contributes
sizably to the EU budget. The government has moved ahead with
privatization. Although Norwegian oil production peaked in 2000,
natural gas production is still rising. Norwegians realize that once
their gas production peaks they will eventually face declining oil
and gas revenues; accordingly, Norway has been saving its
oil-and-gas-boosted budget surpluses in a Government Petroleum Fund,
which is invested abroad and now is valued at more than $250
billion. After lackluster growth of less than 1% in 2002-03, GDP
growth picked up to 3-4% in 2004-06. Norway's economy remains
buoyant. Domestic economic activity is, and will continue to be, the
main driver of growth, supported by high consumer confidence and
strong investment spending in the offshore oil and gas sector.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$207.3 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$261.7 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$47,800 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.3%
industry: 41.4%
services: 56.3% (2006 est.)

Labor force:
2.42 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 22%
services: 74% (1995)

Unemployment rate:
3.5% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 21.8% (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
25.8 (2000)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.3% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
19.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $195.8 billion
expenditures: $133.1 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
44.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
barley, wheat, potatoes; pork, beef, veal, milk; fish

Industries:
petroleum and gas, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and paper
products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles, fishing

Industrial production growth rate:
1.8% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
108.9 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.4%
hydro: 99.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.4% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
112.8 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
3.8 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
15.3 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
3.22 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
244,300 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
3.466 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
88,870 bbl/day (2001)

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

Natural gas - production:
83.49 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
8.09 billion cu m (2004 est.)

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

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

Natural gas - proved reserves:
2.085 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:
$63.33 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$122.6 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and equipment, metals,
chemicals, ships, fish

Exports - partners:
UK 25.5%, Germany 12.6%, Netherlands 9.9%, France 9.1%, US 6.7%,
Sweden 6.5% (2005)

Imports:
$59.9 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
Sweden 14.6%, Germany 13.6%, Denmark 7.3%, UK 6.8%, China 5.5%, US
5%, France 4% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$49.62 billion (August 2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$350.3 billion; note - Norway is a net external creditor (30 June
2006)

Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $1.4 billion (1998)

Currency (code):
Norwegian krone (NOK)

Currency code:
NOK

Exchange rates:
Norwegian kroner per US dollar - 6.41332 (2006), 6.4425 (2005),
6.7408 (2004), 7.0802 (2003), 7.9838 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Norway

Telephones - main lines in use:
2.129 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.755 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: modern in all respects; one of the most
advanced telecommunications networks in Europe
domestic: Norway has a domestic satellite system; moreover, the
prevalence of rural areas encourages the wide use of cellular mobile
systems instead of fixed-wire systems
international: country code - 47; 2 buried coaxial cable systems; 4
coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations - NA Eutelsat, NA
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean
regions); note - Norway shares the Inmarsat earth station with the
other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden) (1999)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 5, FM at least 650, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:
4.03 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
360 (plus 2,729 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:
2.03 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.no

Internet hosts:
1,364,448 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
13 (2000)

Internet users:
3.14 million (2005)

Transportation Norway

Airports:
99 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 67
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 29 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 32
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 26 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate 508 km; gas 5,910 km; oil 2,557 km; oil/gas/water 746 km
(2006)

Railways:
total: 4,077 km
standard gauge: 4,077 km 1.435-m gauge (2,680 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 92,513 km
paved: 71,832 km (including 664 km of expressways)
unpaved: 20,681 km (2005)

Waterways:
1,577 km (2002)

Merchant marine:
total: 724 ships (1000 GRT or over) 14,472,103 GRT/20,245,353 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 67, cargo 153, chemical tanker 150, container
2, liquefied gas 79, passenger/cargo 121, petroleum tanker 75,
refrigerated cargo 9, roll on/roll off 19, specialized tanker 2,
vehicle carrier 47
foreign-owned: 168 (China 3, Cyprus 2, Denmark 32, Estonia 1,
Finland 4, Greece 1, Hong Kong 55, Iceland 4, Italy 4, Japan 1,
Lithuania 1, Monaco 4, Netherlands 3, Poland 2, Saudi Arabia 3,
Sweden 28, UAE 1, UK 6, US 13)
registered in other countries: 861 (Antigua and Barbuda 11,
Australia 1, Bahamas 259, Barbados 29, Belize 2, Bermuda 5, Brazil
2, Cambodia 1, Canada 1, Cayman Islands 2, China 1, Comoros 1, Cook
Islands 1, Cyprus 16, Denmark 3, Dominica 1, Ecuador 1, Estonia 2,
Faroe Islands 4, Finland 1, France 1, French Southern and Antarctic
Lands 12, Gibraltar 18, Hong Kong 26, Indonesia 1, Isle of Man 27,
Liberia 38, Libya 1, Malta 49, Marshall Islands 65, Mexico 1,
Netherlands 7, Netherlands Antilles 5, Nigeria 1, Panama 66,
Philippines 3, Portugal 4, Russia 1, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 16, Singapore 90, Spain 7, Sweden 7, Thailand 30, Tonga
1, UK 36, US 2, unknown 2) (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Borg Havn, Bergen, Mo i Rana, Molde, Mongstad, Narvik, Oslo, Sture

Military Norway

Military branches:
Norwegian Army (Haeren), Royal Norwegian Navy (Kongelige Norske
Sjoeforsvaret, RNoN; includes Coastal Rangers and Coast Guard
(Kystvakt)), Royal Norwegian Air Force (Kongelige Norske
Luftforsvaret, RNoAF), Home Guard (Heimevernet, HV) (2006)

Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age in
wartime; 17 years of age for male volunteers; 18 years of age for
women; 16 years of age for volunteers to the Home Guard; conscript
service obligation - 12 months (2004)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,014,592
females age 18-49: 982,734 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 827,016
females age 18-49: 801,358 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 29,179
females age 18-49: 28,023 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$4,033.5 million (2003)

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

Transnational Issues Norway

Disputes - international:
Norway asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud Land
and its continental shelf); despite dialogue, Russia and Norway
continue to dispute their maritime limits in the Barents Sea and
Russia's fishing rights beyond Svalbard's territorial limits within
the Svalbard Treaty zone

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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

@Oman

Introduction Oman

Background:
The inhabitants of the area of Oman have long prospered on Indian
Ocean trade. In the late 18th century, a newly established sultanate
in Muscat signed the first in a series of friendship treaties with
Britain. Over time, Oman's dependence on British political and
military advisors increased, but it never became a British colony.
In 1970, QABOOS bin Said al-Said overthrew the restrictive rule of
his father; he has ruled as sultan ever since. His extensive
modernization program has opened the country to the outside world
while preserving the longstanding close ties with the UK. Oman's
moderate, independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good
relations with all Middle Eastern countries.

Geography Oman

Location:
Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian
Gulf, between Yemen and UAE

Geographic coordinates:
21 00 N, 57 00 E

Map references:
Middle East

Area:
total: 212,460 sq km
land: 212,460 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Kansas

Land boundaries:
total: 1,374 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km

Coastline:
2,092 km

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

Climate:
dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong
southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south

Terrain:
central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m

Natural resources:
petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium,
gypsum, natural gas

Land use:
arable land: 0.12%
permanent crops: 0.14%
other: 99.74% (2005)

Irrigated land:
720 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in
interior; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:
rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very limited
natural fresh water resources

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of
Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

People Oman

Population:
3,102,229
note: includes 577,293 non-nationals (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.7% (male 675,423/female 648,963)
15-64 years: 54.7% (male 1,001,917/female 695,578)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 44,300/female 36,048) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 19 years
male: 21.7 years
female: 16.5 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
3.28% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
36.24 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
3.81 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.44 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.23 male(s)/female
total population: 1.25 male(s)/female (2006 est.)