Chapter LXV: Front Matter (65)

Economy - overview:
Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 11% consists of
intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. More than 60% of its
population lives in densely populated rural communities. Uzbekistan
is now the world's second-largest cotton exporter and fifth largest
producer; it relies heavily on cotton production as the major source
of export earnings. Other major export earners include gold, natural
gas, and oil. Following independence in September 1991, the
government sought to prop up its Soviet-style command economy with
subsidies and tight controls on production and prices. While aware
of the need to improve the investment climate, the government still
sponsors measures that often increase, not decrease, its control
over business decisions. A sharp increase in the inequality of
income distribution has hurt the lower ranks of society since
independence. In 2003, the government accepted the obligations of
Article VIII under the International Monetary Fund (IMF), providing
for full currency convertibility. However, strict currency controls
and tightening of borders have lessened the effects of
convertibility and have also led to some shortages that have further
stifled economic activity. The Central Bank often delays or
restricts convertibility, especially for consumer goods. Potential
investment by Russia and China in Uzbekistan's gas and oil industry
would increase economic growth prospects. In November 2005, Russian
President Vladimir PUTIN and Uzbekistan President KARIMOV signed an
"alliance" treaty, which included provisions for economic and
business cooperation. Russian businesses have shown increased
interest in Uzbekistan, especially in mining, telecom, and oil and
gas. In December 2005, the Russians opened a "Trade House" to
support and develop Russian-Uzbek business and economic ties.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$54.81 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$10.78 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
6.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 31.1%
industry: 25.7%
services: 43.2% (2006 est.)

Labor force:
14.44 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 44%
industry: 20%
services: 36% (1995)

Unemployment rate:
0.8% officially, plus another 20% underemployed (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:
28% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 22% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
26.8 (2000)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.6% (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $3.145 billion
expenditures: $3.108 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
29.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock

Industries:
textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, gold,
petroleum, natural gas, chemicals

Industrial production growth rate:
7.7% (2005 est.)

Electricity - production:
46.45 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 88.2%
hydro: 11.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
48.2 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
6.8 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
11.8 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
142,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
148,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves:
600 million bbl (1 January 2005)

Natural gas - production:
59.86 billion cu m (2004)

Natural gas - consumption:
50.2 billion cu m (2004)

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

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

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

Current account balance:
$1.41 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$5.51 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
cotton 41.5%, gold 9.6%, energy products 9.6%, mineral fertilizers,
ferrous metals, textiles, food products, automobiles (1998)

Exports - partners:
Russia 23.8%, China 11.9%, Kazakhstan 6.9%, Turkey 6.9%, Ukraine
5.4%, Bangladesh 4.7%, Poland 4.2%, Tajikistan 4% (2005)

Imports:
$3.99 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment 49.8%, foodstuffs 16.4%, chemicals, metals
(1998)

Imports - partners:
Russia 26.6%, South Korea 15.3%, Germany 8.8%, Kazakhstan 7.1%,
China 7.1%, Turkey 4.7%, Ukraine 4.7% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.986 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$4.713 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$91.6 million from the US (2005)

Currency (code):
Uzbekistani soum (UZS)

Currency code:
UZS

Exchange rates:
Uzbekistani soum per US dollar - 1,219.58 (2006), 1,020 (2005),
971.265 (2004), 771.029 (2003), 423.832 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Uzbekistan

Telephones - main lines in use:
1,717,100 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.1 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: antiquated and inadequate; in serious need of
modernization
domestic: the main line telecommunications system is dilapidated;
the state owned telecom company, Uzbektelecom, is using a US$110
million loan from the Japanese government to improve main line
services; mobile services are growing swiftly, with the subscriber
base doubling in 2005 to 1.1 million; there are six main cellular
providers currently in operation
international: country code - 998; linked by landline or microwave
radio relay with CIS member states and to other countries by leased
connection via the Moscow international gateway switch; after the
completion of the Uzbek link to the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE)
fiber-optic cable, Uzbekistan will be independent of Russian
facilities for international communications; Inmarsat also provides
an international connection, albeit an expensive one; satellite
earth stations - NA (1998)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 4, FM 6, shortwave 3 (2006)

Radios:
10.8 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
8 1 cable rebroadcaster in Tashkent; approximately 20 stations in
regional capitals (2003)

Televisions:
6.4 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.uz

Internet hosts:
9,058 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
42 (2000)

Internet users:
880,000 (2005)

Transportation Uzbekistan

Airports:
61 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 34
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 5 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 27
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
under 914 m: 25 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 9,594 km; oil 868 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 3,950 km
broad gauge: 3,950 km 1.520-m gauge (620 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 81,600 km
paved: 71,237 km
unpaved: 10,363 km (1999)

Waterways:
1,100 km (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Termiz (Amu Darya)

Military Uzbekistan

Military branches:
Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard

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

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 6,340,220
females age 18-49: 6,432,072 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 4,609,621
females age 18-49: 5,383,233 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 324,722
females age 18-49: 317,062 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$200 million (FY97)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2% (FY97)

Transnational Issues Uzbekistan

Disputes - international:
prolonged drought and cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and
Turkmenistan creates water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river
states; field demarcation of the boundaries with Kazakhstan
commenced in 2004; border delimitation of 130 km of border with
Kyrgyzstan is hampered by serious disputes around enclaves and other
areas

Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 39,202 (Tajikistan)
IDPs: 3,400 (forced population transfers by government from villages
near Tajikistan border) (2006)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Uzbekistan is a source and, to a lesser extent,
a transit country for women trafficked to Asia and the Middle East
for the purpose of sexual exploitation; women from other Central
Asian countries and China are trafficked through Uzbekistan; men are
trafficked for purposes of forced labor in the construction and
agricultural industries to Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, and
Kyrgyzstan; men and women are also trafficked within the country
tier rating: Tier 3 - Uzbekistan is placed on Tier 3 because it
failed to fulfill commitments by the country to take additional
steps during 2005, including the adoption of comprehensive
anti-trafficking legislation, criminal code amendments to raise
trafficking penalties, support to the country's first trafficking
shelter, and approval of a national action plan

Illicit drugs:
transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and, to a
lesser extent, Western European markets; limited illicit cultivation
of cannabis and small amounts of opium poppy for domestic
consumption; poppy cultivation almost wiped out by government crop
eradication program; transit point for heroin precursor chemicals
bound for Afghanistan

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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

@Vanuatu

Introduction Vanuatu

Background:
Multiple waves of colonizers, each speaking a distinct language,
migrated to the New Hebrides in the millennia preceeding European
exploration in the 18th century. This settlement pattern accounts
for the complex linguistic diversity found on the archipelago to
this day. The British and French, who settled the New Hebrides in
the 19th century, agreed in 1906 to an Anglo-French Condominium,
which administered the islands until independence in 1980, when the
new name of Vanuatu was adopted.

Geography Vanuatu

Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Geographic coordinates:
16 00 S, 167 00 E

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 12,200 sq km
land: 12,200 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes more than 80 islands, about 65 of which are inhabited

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Connecticut

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
2,528 km

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

Climate:
tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds from May to October;
moderate rainfall from November to April; may be affected by
cyclones from December to April

Terrain:
mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m

Natural resources:
manganese, hardwood forests, fish

Land use:
arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 6.97%
other: 91.39% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

Natural hazards:
tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanic eruption
on Aoba (Ambae) island began 27 November 2005, volcanism also causes
minor earthquakes; tsunamis

Environment - current issues:
a majority of the population does not have access to a reliable
supply of potable water; deforestation

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

Geography - note:
a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller islands;
several of the islands have active volcanoes

People Vanuatu

Population:
208,869 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.6% (male 34,804/female 33,331)
15-64 years: 63.7% (male 67,919/female 65,138)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 4,027/female 3,650) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 23 years
male: 23 years
female: 23 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.49% (2006 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
0 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: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.1 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 53.8 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 56.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 51.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 62.85 years
male: 61.34 years
female: 64.44 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
2.7 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: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)
adjective: Ni-Vanuatu

Ethnic groups:
Ni-Vanuatu 98.5%, other 1.5% (1999 Census)

Religions:
Presbyterian 31.4%, Anglican 13.4%, Roman Catholic 13.1%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 10.8%, other Christian 13.8%, indigenous
beliefs 5.6% (including Jon Frum cargo cult), other 9.6%, none 1%,
unspecified 1.3% (1999 Census)

Languages:
local languages (more than 100) 72.6%, pidgin (known as Bislama or
Bichelama) 23.1%, English 1.9%, French 1.4%, other 0.3%, unspecified
0.7% (1999 Census)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74%
male: NA
female: NA

Government Vanuatu

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu
conventional short form: Vanuatu
local long form: Ripablik blong Vanuatu
local short form: Vanuatu
former: New Hebrides

Government type:
parliamentary republic

Capital:
name: Port-Vila (on Efate)
geographic coordinates: 17 44 S, 168 19 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba

Independence:
30 July 1980 (from France and UK)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 30 July (1980)

Constitution:
30 July 1980

Legal system:
unified system being created from former dual French and British
systems

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Kalkot Matas KELEKELE (since 16 August
2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Ham LINI (since 11 December
2004); Deputy Prime Minister Sato KILMAN (since 11 December 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister,
responsible to Parliament
elections: president elected for a five-year term by an electoral
college consisting of Parliament and the presidents of the regional
councils; election for president last held 16 August 2004 (next to
be held in 2009); following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime
minister by Parliament from among its members; election for prime
minister last held 29 July 2004 (next to be held following general
elections in 2008)
election results: Kalkot Matas KELEKELE elected president, with 49
votes out of 56, after several ballots on 16 August 2004

Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 6 July 2004 (next to be held 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
NUP 10, UMP 8, VP 8, VRP 4, MPP 3, VGP 3, other and independent 16;
note - political party associations are fluid
note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of culture
and language

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president after
consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the
opposition, three other justices are appointed by the president on
the advice of the Judicial Service Commission)

Political parties and leaders:
Jon Frum Movement [Song KEASPAI]; Melanesian Progressive Party or
MPP [Barak SOPE]; National United Party or NUP [Hem LINI]; Union of
Moderate Parties or UMP [Serge VOHOR]; Vanua'aku Pati (Our Land
Party) or VP [Edward NATAPEI]; Vanuatu Greens Party or VGP [Moana
CARCASSES]; Vanuatu Republican Party or VRP [Maxime Carlot KORMAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca,
SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
(observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
Vanuatu does not have an embassy in the US; it does, however, have
a Permanent Mission to the UN

Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the ambassador to Papua
New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu

Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black
isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a
black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two
points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle);
centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed
namele leaves, all in yellow

Economy Vanuatu

Economy - overview:
This South Pacific island economy is based primarily on small-scale
agriculture, which provides a living for 65% of the population.
Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with more than
60,000 visitors in 2005, are other mainstays of the economy. Mineral
deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleum
deposits. A small light industry sector caters to the local market.
Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Economic development is
hindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports,
vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from main
markets and between constituent islands. GDP growth rose less than
3% on average in the 1990s. In response to foreign concerns, the
government has promised to tighten regulation of its offshore
financial center. In mid-2002 the government stepped up efforts to
boost tourism through improved air connections, resort development,
and cruise ship facilities. Agriculture, especially livestock
farming, is a second target for growth. Australia and New Zealand
are the main suppliers of tourists and foreign aid.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$276.3 million (2003 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$341 million (2005)

GDP - real growth rate:
6.8% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,900 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 26%
industry: 12%
services: 62% (2000 est.)

Labor force:
76,410 (1999)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 65%
industry: 5%
services: 30% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:
1.7% (1999)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-1.6% (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $78.7 million
expenditures: $72.23 million (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products:
copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, fruits, vegetables;
beef; fish

Industries:
food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning

Industrial production growth rate:
1% (1997 est.)

Electricity - production:
43 million kWh (2004)

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

Electricity - consumption:
39.99 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

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

Oil - consumption:
620 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.)

Current account balance:
$-28.35 million (2003)

Exports:
$34.11 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee

Exports - partners:
Thailand 46.5%, India 14.1%, Poland 7.9%, Turkey 7.7%, Japan 6.9%
(2005)

Imports:
$117.1 million c.i.f. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels

Imports - partners:
Australia 18.4%, Japan 16.7%, Singapore 14.7%, Poland 8.5%, NZ
7.2%, Fiji 6.3% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$40.54 million (2003)

Debt - external:
$81.2 million (2004)

Economic aid - recipient:
$37.8 million (2004)

Currency (code):
vatu (VUV)

Currency code:
VUV

Exchange rates:
vatu per US dollar - NA (2005), 111.79 (2004), 122.19 (2003), 139.2
(2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Vanuatu

Telephones - main lines in use:
6,800 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
12,700 (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 678; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2004)

Radios:
67,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (2004)

Televisions:
2,300 (1999)

Internet country code:
.vu

Internet hosts:
413 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)

Internet users:
7,500 (2004)

Transportation Vanuatu

Airports:
31 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 28
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 18 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 1,070 km
paved: 256 km
unpaved: 814 km (1999)

Merchant marine:
total: 51 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,340,132 GRT/1,908,687 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 29, cargo 8, container 1, liquefied gas 2,
petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 2,
vehicle carrier 5
foreign-owned: 51 (Australia 2, Canada 5, Denmark 6, Estonia 1,
Japan 28, Poland 5, Russia 1, Switzerland 2, US 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo)

Military Vanuatu

Military branches:
no regular military forces; security forces comprise the Vanuatu
Police Force (VPF) and paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF),
which includes Vanuatu's naval force, known as the Police Maritime
Wing (PMW); border security in Vanuatu is the joint responsibility
of the Customs and Inland Revenue Service, VPF, VMF, and PMW (2003)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 50,221 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 33,837 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA

Transnational Issues Vanuatu

Disputes - international:
Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by Vanuatu
and France

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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

@Venezuela

Introduction Venezuela

Background:
Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse
of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and New Granada,
which became Colombia). For most of the first half of the 20th
century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military
strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social
reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since
1959. Hugo CHAVEZ, president since 1999, has promoted a
controversial policy of "democratic socialism," which purports to
alleviate social ills while at the same time attacking globalization
and undermining regional stability. Current concerns include: a
weakening of democratic institutions, political polarization, a
politicized military, drug-related violence along the Colombian
border, increasing internal drug consumption, overdependence on the
petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsible
mining operations that are endangering the rain forest and
indigenous peoples.

Geography Venezuela

Location:
Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana

Geographic coordinates:
8 00 N, 66 00 W

Map references:
South America

Area:
total: 912,050 sq km
land: 882,050 sq km
water: 30,000 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of California

Land boundaries:
total: 4,993 km
border countries: Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km

Coastline:
2,800 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 15 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

Terrain:
Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains
(llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m

Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals,
hydropower, diamonds

Land use:
arable land: 2.85%
permanent crops: 0.88%
other: 96.27% (2005)

Irrigated land:
5,750 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:
sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of
Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and
industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast; threat
to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations

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

Geography - note:
on major sea and air routes linking North and South America; Angel
Falls in the Guiana Highlands is the world's highest waterfall

People Venezuela

Population:
25,730,435 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 29.1% (male 3,860,116/female 3,620,440)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 8,494,944/female 8,410,874)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 609,101/female 734,960) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 26 years
male: 25.4 years
female: 26.6 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.38% (2006 est.)

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

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

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

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 21.54 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 24.58 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.54 years
male: 71.49 years
female: 77.81 years (2006 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.7% - note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
110,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
4,100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Venezuelan(s)
adjective: Venezuelan

Ethnic groups:
Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous
people

Religions:
nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%

Languages:
Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.4%
male: 93.8%
female: 93.1% (2003 est.)

Government Venezuela

Country name:
conventional long form: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
conventional short form: Venezuela
local long form: Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela
local short form: Venezuela

Government type:
federal republic

Capital:
name: Caracas
geographic coordinates: 10 30 N, 66 56 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
23 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 capital district*
(distrito capital), and 1 federal dependency** (dependencia
federal); Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar,
Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales**, Distrito
Federal*, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva
Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Vargas, Yaracuy, Zulia
note: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled
island groups with a total of 72 individual islands

Independence:
5 July 1811 (from Spain)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 5 July (1811)

Constitution:
30 December 1999

Legal system:
open, adversarial court system

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February
1999); Vice President Jorge RODRIGUEZ Gomez (since 3 January 2007);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February
1999); Vice President Jorge RODRIGUEZ Gomez (since 3 January 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 3 December 2006
(next to be held December 2012)
note: in 1999, a National Constituent Assembly drafted a new
constitution that increased the presidential term to six years; an
election was subsequently held on 30 July 2000 under the terms of
this new constitution
election results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias reelected president; percent of
vote - Hugo CHAVEZ Frias 62.9%, Manuel ROSALES 36.9%

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (167 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; three
seats reserved for the indigenous peoples of Venezuela)
elections: last held 4 December 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
pro-government 167 (MVR 114, PODEMOS 15, PPT 11, indigenous 2, other
25), opposition 0

Judicial branch:
Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Tribuna Suprema de Justicia
(magistrates are elected by the National Assembly for a single
12-year term)

Political parties and leaders:
A New Time or UNT [Manuel ROSALES]; Christian Democrats or COPEI
[Cesar PEREZ Vivas]; Democratic Action or AD [Henry RAMOS Allup];
Fatherland for All or PPT [Jose ALBORNOZ]; Fifth Republic Movement
or MVR [Hugo CHAVEZ]; Justice First [Julio BORGES]; Movement Toward
Socialism or MAS [Hector MUJICA]; Venezuela Project or PV [Henrique
SALAS Romer]; We Can or PODEMOS [Ismael GARCIA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; VECINOS groups;
Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or CTV (labor organization
dominated by the Democratic Action)

International organization participation:
CAN, CDB, CSN, FAO, G-3, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, NAM, OAS,
OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Bernardo ALVAREZ Herrera
chancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 342-2214
FAX: [1] (202) 342-6820
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans,
New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William R. BROWNFIELD
embassy: Calle F con Calle Suapure, Urbanizacion Colinas de Valle
Arriba, Caracas 1080
mailing address: P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037
telephone: [58] (212) 975-9234, 975-6411
FAX: [58] (212) 975-8991

Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with
the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of
eight white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band

Economy Venezuela

Economy - overview:
Venezuela remains highly dependent on oil revenues, which account
for roughly 90% of export earnings, more than 50% of the federal
budget revenues, and around 30% of GDP. Tax collection-Venezuela's
primary source of non-oil revenue-is expected to surpass $23 billion
in 2006, exceeding the yearend collection goal by more than 20%. A
nationwide strike between December 2002 and February 2003 had
far-reaching economic consequences - real GDP declined by around 9%
in 2002 and 8% in 2003 - but economic output since then has
recovered strongly. Fueled by higher oil prices, record government
spending helped to boost GDP growth in 2004 and 2005 to
approximately 18% and 11%, respectively. Economic growth in 2006
reached around 9%. This spending, combined with recent minimum wage
hikes and improved access to domestic credit, has fueled a
consumption boom - car sales in 2006 increased by around 70% - but
has come at the cost of higher inflation. Despite government
attempts to withdraw liquidity from the economy, Venezuela's money
supply set a record in June 2006, approximately 70% higher than the
previous year. Imports have also jumped significantly.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$176.4 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$147.9 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
8.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$6,900 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.7%
industry: 41%
services: 55.3% (2006 est.)

Labor force:
12.5 million (November 2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 13%
industry: 23%
services: 64% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate:
8.9% (October 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:
37.9% (End 2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 36.5% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
49.1 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15.8% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
19.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $52.24 billion
expenditures: $52.9 billion; including capital expenditures of $2.6
billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
28.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee; beef,
pork, milk, eggs; fish

Industries:
petroleum, construction materials, food processing, textiles; iron
ore mining, steel, aluminum; motor vehicle assembly

Industrial production growth rate:
7% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
93.03 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 31.7%
hydro: 68.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
86.52 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

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

Oil - consumption:
560,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
2.1 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2004 est.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Current account balance:
$31.82 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$69.23 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural
products, basic manufactures

Exports - partners:
US 50.9%, Netherlands Antilles 7.2%, Canada 2.4% (2005)

Imports:
$28.81 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment,
construction materials

Imports - partners:
US 31.6%, Colombia 11%, Brazil 9.1%, Mexico 6.9% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$35.95 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$35.63 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$74 million (2000)

Currency (code):
bolivar (VEB)

Currency code:
VEB

Exchange rates:
bolivares per US dollar - 2,147 (2006), 2,089.8 (2005), 1,891.3
(2004), 1,607 (2003), 1,161 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Venezuela

Telephones - main lines in use:
3,605,500 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
12.496 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: modern and expanding
domestic: domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations; recent
substantial improvement in telephone service in rural areas;
substantial increase in digitalization of exchanges and trunk lines;
installation of a national interurban fiber-optic network capable of
digital multimedia services
international: country code - 58; 3 submarine coaxial cables;
satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1
PanAmSat; participating with Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia in
the construction of an international fiber-optic network

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 201, FM NA (20 in Caracas), shortwave 11 (1998)

Radios:
10.75 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
66 (plus 45 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:
4.1 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.ve

Internet hosts:
51,968 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
16 (2000)

Internet users:
3.04 million (2005)

Transportation Venezuela

Airports:
375 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 129
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 34
914 to 1,523 m: 60
under 914 m: 19 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 246
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 90
under 914 m: 147 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
extra heavy crude 992 km; gas 5,369 km; oil 7,607 km; refined
products 1,681 km; unknown (oil/water) 141 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 682 km
standard gauge: 682 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 96,155 km
paved: 32,308 km
unpaved: 63,847 km (1999)

Waterways:
7,100 km
note: Orinoco River and Lake de Maracaibo navigable by oceangoing
vessels, Orinoco for 400 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 56 ships (1000 GRT or over) 824,941 GRT/1,327,924 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 10, chemical tanker 2, container 1,
liquefied gas 6, passenger/cargo 12, petroleum tanker 18
foreign-owned: 13 (Denmark 3, Greece 3, India 1, Mexico 3, Panama 1,
Russia 1, Spain 1)
registered in other countries: 15 (Bahamas 1, Panama 14) (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Amuay, La Guaira, Maracaibo, Puerto Cabello, Punta Cardon

Military Venezuela

Military branches:
National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales or FAN): Ground
Forces or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or Ejercito), Naval Forces
(Fuerzas Navales or Armada; includes Marines, Coast Guard), Air
Force (Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces of Cooperation or
National Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperacion or Guardia Nacional)

Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
conscript service obligation - 30 months (2004)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 6,236,012
females age 18-49: 6,137,622 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 4,907,947
females age 18-49: 5,151,843 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 252,396
females age 18-49: 237,300 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.61 billion (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.2% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Venezuela

Disputes - international:
claims all of the area west of the Essequibo River in Guyana,
preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana has
expressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claims before
the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that
Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela extends into
their waters; dispute with Colombia over maritime boundary and
Venezuelan-administered Los Monjes islands near the Gulf of
Venezuela; Colombian-organized illegal narcotics and paramilitary
activities penetrate Venezuela's shared border region; in 2006, an
estimated 139,000 Colombians seek protection in 150 communities
along the border in Venezuela; US, France, and the Netherlands
recognize Venezuela's granting full effect to Aves Island, thereby
claiming a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over a large
portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea; Dominica, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines protest
Venezuela's full effect claim

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Venezuela is a source, transit, and destination
country for women and children trafficked for the purposes of sexual
exploitation and forced labor; women and children from Colombia,
China, Peru, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic are trafficked to
and through Venezuela and subjected to commercial sexual
exploitation or forced labor; Venezuelans are trafficked internally
and to Western Europe, particularly Spain and the Netherlands, and
to countries in the Caribbean region for commercial sexual
exploitation; Venezuela is a transit country for illegal migrants
from other countries in the region and for Asian nationals, some are
believed to be trafficking victims
tier rating: Tier 3 - Venezuela does not fully comply with the
minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not
making significant efforts to do so

Illicit drugs:
small-scale illicit producer of opium and coca for the processing
of opiates and coca derivatives; however, large quantities of
cocaine, heroin, and marijuana transit the country from Colombia
bound for US and Europe; significant narcotics-related
money-laundering activity, especially along the border with Colombia
and on Margarita Island; active eradication program primarily
targeting opium; increasing signs of drug-related activities by
Colombian insurgents on border

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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

@Vietnam

Introduction Vietnam

Background:
The conquest of Vietnam by France began in 1858 and was completed
by 1884. It became part of French Indochina in 1887. Vietnam
declared independence after World War II, but France continued to
rule until its 1954 defeat by Communist forces under Ho Chi MINH.
Under the Geneva Accords of 1954, Vietnam was divided into the
Communist North and anti-Communist South. US economic and military
aid to South Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster
the government, but US armed forces were withdrawn following a
cease-fire agreement in 1973. Two years later, North Vietnamese
forces overran the South reuniting the country under Communist rule.
Despite the return of peace, for over a decade the country
experienced little economic growth because of conservative
leadership policies. However, since the enactment of Vietnam's "doi
moi" (renovation) policy in 1986, Vietnamese authorities have
committed to increased economic liberalization and enacted
structural reforms needed to modernize the economy and to produce
more competitive, export-driven industries. The country continues to
experience protests from various groups - such as the Protestant
Montagnard ethnic minority population of the Central Highlands and
the Hoa Hao Buddhists in southern Vietnam over religious
persecution. Montagnard grievances also include the loss of land to
Vietnamese settlers.

Geography Vietnam

Location:
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin,
and South China Sea, alongside China, Laos, and Cambodia

Geographic coordinates:
16 00 N, 106 00 E

Map references:
Southeast Asia

Area:
total: 329,560 sq km
land: 325,360 sq km
water: 4,200 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries:
total: 4,639 km
border countries: Cambodia 1,228 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 2,130 km

Coastline:
3,444 km (excludes islands)

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:
tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (May
to September) and warm, dry season (October to March)

Terrain:
low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly,
mountainous in far north and northwest

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Fan Si Pan 3,144 m

Natural resources:
phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and
gas deposits, forests, hydropower

Land use:
arable land: 20.14%
permanent crops: 6.93%
other: 72.93% (2005)

Irrigated land:
30,000 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding,
especially in the Mekong River delta

Environment - current issues:
logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices contribute to
deforestation and soil degradation; water pollution and overfishing
threaten marine life populations; groundwater contamination limits
potable water supply; growing urban industrialization and population
migration are rapidly degrading environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh
City

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

Geography - note:
extending 1,650 km north to south, the country is only 50 km across
at its narrowest point

People Vietnam

Population:
84,402,966 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 27% (male 11,826,457/female 10,983,069)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 28,055,941/female 28,614,553)
65 years and over: 5.8% (male 1,924,562/female 2,998,384) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 25.9 years
male: 24.8 years
female: 27.1 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.02% (2006 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
-0.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 25.14 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 25.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 24.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.85 years
male: 68.05 years
female: 73.85 years (2006 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.4% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
220,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
9,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, Japanese encephalitis,
and plague are high risks in some locations
animal contact disease: rabies
water contact disease: leptospirosis
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified
among birds in this country or surrounding region; it poses a
negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens
who have close contact with birds (2007)

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

Ethnic groups:
Kinh (Viet) 86.2%, Tay 1.9%, Thai 1.7%, Muong 1.5%, Khome 1.4%, Hoa
1.1%, Nun 1.1%, Hmong 1%, others 4.1% (1999 census)

Religions:
Buddhist 9.3%, Catholic 6.7%, Hoa Hao 1.5%, Cao Dai 1.1%,
Protestant 0.5%, Muslim 0.1%, none 80.8% (1999 census)

Languages:
Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a second
language), some French, Chinese, and Khmer; mountain area languages
(Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.3%
male: 93.9%
female: 86.9% (2002)

Government Vietnam

Country name:
conventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnam
conventional short form: Vietnam
local long form: Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Nam
local short form: Viet Nam
abbreviation: SRV

Government type:
Communist state

Capital:
name: Hanoi
geographic coordinates: 21 02 N, 105 51 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
59 provinces (tinh, singular and plural) and 5 municipalities
(thanh pho, singular and plural)
provinces: An Giang, Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Bac Lieu, Bac Ninh, Ba
Ria-Vung Tau, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Binh
Thuan, Ca Mau, Cao Bang, Dac Lak, Dac Nong, Dien Bien, Dong Nai,
Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Ha Nam, Ha Tay, Ha Tinh, Hai Duong,
Hau Giang, Hoa Binh, Hung Yen, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai
Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Ninh
Binh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Tho, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Quang
Ngai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh,
Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen
Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phuc, Yen Bai
municipalities: Can Tho, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh

Independence:
2 September 1945 (from France)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 2 September (1945)

Constitution:
15 April 1992

Legal system:
based on communist legal theory and French civil law system

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nguyen Minh TRIET (since 27 June 2006);
Vice President Truong My HOA (since 25 July 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Nguyen Tan DUNG (since 27 June
2006); Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh HUNG (since 28 June 2006),
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia KHIEM (since 28 June 2006), and
Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh TRONG (since 28 June 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president based on proposal of prime
minister and confirmed by National Assembly
elections: president elected by the National Assembly from among its
members for five-year term; election last held 27 June 2006; prime
minister appointed by the president from among the members of the
National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by the prime
minister; appointment of prime minister and deputy prime ministers
confirmed by National Assembly
election results: Nguyen Minh TRIET elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote - 94%; Nguyen Tan DUNG elected prime
minister; percent of National Assembly vote - 92%

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Quoc Hoi (498 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 19 May 2002 (next to be held on 20 May 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - CPV 90%, other 10% (the
10% are not CPV members but are approved by the CPV to stand for
election); seats by party - CPV 447, CPV-approved 51

Judicial branch:
Supreme People's Court (chief justice is elected for a five-year
term by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president)

Political parties and leaders:
Communist Party of Vietnam or CPV [Nong Duc MANH]; other parties
proscribed

Political pressure groups and leaders:
8406 Bloc; Democratic Party of Vietnam or DPV; People's Democratic
Party Vietnam or PDP-VN; Alliance for Democracy; groups advocate for
democracy, are not recognized by government (2006)

International organization participation:
ACCT (observer), APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Nguyen Tam CHIEN
chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 861-0737
FAX: [1] (202) 861-0917
consulate(s) general: San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael W. MARINE
embassy: 7 Lang Ha Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002
telephone: [84] (4) 772-1500
FAX: [84] (4) 772-1510
consulate(s) general: Ho Chi Minh City

Flag description:
red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center

Economy Vietnam

Economy - overview:
Vietnam is a densely-populated, developing country that in the last
30 years has had to recover from the ravages of war, the loss of
financial support from the old Soviet Bloc, and the rigidities of a
centrally-planned economy. Substantial progress was achieved from
1986 to 1997 in moving forward from an extremely low level of
development and significantly reducing poverty. Growth averaged
around 9% per year from 1993 to 1997. The 1997 Asian financial
crisis highlighted the problems in the Vietnamese economy and
temporarily allowed opponents of reform to slow progress toward a
market-oriented economy. GDP growth averaged 6.8% per year from 1997
to 2004 even against the background of the Asian financial crisis
and a global recession, and growth hit 8% in 2005 and 7.8% in 2006.
Since 2001, however, Vietnamese authorities have reaffirmed their
commitment to economic liberalization and international integration.
They have moved to implement the structural reforms needed to
modernize the economy and to produce more competitive, export-driven
industries. Vietnam's membership in the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA)
and entry into force of the US-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement in
December 2001 have led to even more rapid changes in Vietnam's trade
and economic regime. Vietnam's exports to the US doubled in 2002 and
again in 2003. Vietnam joined the World Trade Organization in
January 2007. This should provide an important boost to the economy
and should help to ensure the continuation of liberalizing reforms.
Among other benefits, accession will allow Vietnam to take advantage
of the phase out of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, which
eliminated quotas on textiles and clothing for WTO partners on 1
January 2005. Agriculture's share of economic output has continued
to shrink, from about 25% in 2000 to 20% in 2006. Deep poverty,
defined as a percent of the population living under $1 per day, has
declined significantly and is now smaller than that of China, India,
and the Philippines. Vietnam is working to promote job creation to
keep up with the country's high population growth rate. However,
high levels of inflation have prompted Vietnamese authorities to
tighten monetary and fiscal policies. Hanoi is targeting an economic
growth rate between 7.5 and 8% over the next five years.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$258.6 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$48.26 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
7.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,100 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 20.1%
industry: 41.8%
services: 38.1% (2006 est.)

Labor force:
44.58 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 56.8%
industry: 37%
services: 6.2% (July 2005)

Unemployment rate:
2% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:
19.5% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 29.9% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.1 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.5% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
32.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $15.42 billion
expenditures: $16.63 billion; including capital expenditures of $1.8
billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
47.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
paddy rice, coffee, rubber, cotton, tea, pepper, soybeans, cashews,
sugar cane, peanuts, bananas; poultry; fish, seafood

Industries:
food processing, garments, shoes, machine-building; mining, coal,
steel; cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, paper

Industrial production growth rate:
11.3% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
40.11 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 43.7%
hydro: 56.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
37.3 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh

Oil - production:
400,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
230,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

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

Natural gas - production:
6.342 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
6.342 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m

Natural gas - proved reserves:
192.6 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:
$1.029 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$39.92 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
crude oil, marine products, rice, coffee, rubber, tea, garments,
shoes

Exports - partners:
US 18.3%, Japan 13.6%, China 9%, Australia 7.9%, Singapore 5.6%
(2005)

Imports:
$39.16 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer, steel
products, raw cotton, grain, cement, motorcycles

Imports - partners:
China 15.6%, Singapore 12.4%, Taiwan 11.7%, Japan 11.1%, South
Korea 9.7%, Thailand 6.5% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$11.92 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$21.86 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$2.8 billion in credits and grants pledged by international donors
for 2000 (2004)

Currency (code):
dong (VND)

Currency code:
VND

Exchange rates:
dong per US dollar - 16,037 (2006), 15,746 (2005), (2004), 15,510
(2003), 15,280 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Vietnam

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

Telephones - mobile cellular:
9.593 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: Vietnam is putting considerable effort into
modernization and expansion of its telecommunication system, but its
performance continues to lag behind that of its more modern neighbors
domestic: all provincial exchanges are digitalized and connected to
Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City by fiber-optic cable or
microwave radio relay networks; main lines have been substantially
increased, and the use of mobile telephones is growing rapidly
international: country code - 84; satellite earth stations - 2
Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 65, FM 7, shortwave 29 (1999)

Radios:
8.2 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
6 (plus 61 provincial TV stations) (2006)

Televisions:
3.57 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.vn

Internet hosts:
12,114 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2000)

Internet users:
13.1 million (2006)

Transportation Vietnam

Airports:
32 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 26
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate/gas 432 km; gas 163 km; oil 50 km; refined products 206
km (2006)

Railways:
total: 2,600 km
standard gauge: 178 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 2,169 km 1.000-m gauge
dual gauge: 253 km three-rail track combining 1.435 m and 1.000-m
gauges (2005)

Roadways:
total: 222,179 km
paved: 42,167 km
unpaved: 180,012 km (2004)

Waterways:
17,702 km (5,000 km navigable by vessels up to 1.8 m draft) (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 267 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,423,936 GRT/2,191,858 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 23, cargo 202, chemical tanker 4, container 5,
liquefied gas 5, petroleum tanker 24, refrigerated cargo 2, roll
on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Denmark 1)
registered in other countries: 17 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Honduras
1, Mongolia 8, Panama 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, unknown
2) (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City

Military Vietnam

Military branches:
People's Armed Forces: People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) (includes
People's Navy Command (with naval infantry, coast guard), Air and
Air Defense Force (Kon Quan Nhan Dan), Border Defense Command),
People's Public Security Forces, Militia Force, Self-Defense Forces
(2005)

Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (male) for compulsory military service; females may
volunteer for active duty military service; conscript service
obligation - 2 years (3-4 years in the navy); 18-45 years of age
(male) or 18-40 years of age (female) for Militia Force or Self
Defense Forces (2006)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 21,341,813
females age 18-49: 21,430,808 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 16,032,358
females age 18-49: 17,921,241 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 915,572
females age 18-49: 864,161 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$650 million (FY98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.5% (FY98)

Transnational Issues Vietnam