Chapter M: Major infectious diseases (15)

note: only national flag to incorporate an actual building in its design

Economy ::Cambodia

Economy - overview:

From 2004 to 2007, the economy grew about 10% per year, driven largely by an expansion in the garment sector, construction, agriculture, and tourism. Growth dropped to below 7% in 2008 as a result of the global economic slowdown. With the January 2005 expiration of a WTO Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, Cambodian textile producers were forced to compete directly with lower-priced countries such as China, India, Vietnam, and Bangladesh. The garment industry currently employs more than 320,000 people and contributes more than 85% of Cambodia's exports. In 2005, exploitable oil deposits were found beneath Cambodia's territorial waters, representing a new revenue stream for the government if commercial extraction begins. Mining also is attracting significant investor interest, particularly in the northern parts of the country. The government has said opportunities exist for mining bauxite, gold, iron and gems. In 2006, a US-Cambodia bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) was signed, and several rounds of discussions have been held since 2007. The tourism industry has continued to grow rapidly, with foreign arrivals exceeding 2 million per year in 2007-08, however, economic troubles abroad will dampen growth in 2009. Rubber exports declined more than 15% in 2008 due to falling world market prices. The global financial crisis is weakening demand for Cambodian exports, and construction is declining due to a shortage of credit. The long-term development of the economy remains a daunting challenge. The Cambodian government is working with bilateral and multilateral donors, including the World Bank and IMF, to address the country's many pressing needs. The major economic challenge for Cambodia over the next decade will be fashioning an economic environment in which the private sector can create enough jobs to handle Cambodia's demographic imbalance. More than 50% of the population is less than 21 years old. The population lacks education and productive skills, particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside, which suffers from an almost total lack of basic infrastructure.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$28.01 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 110 $26.67 billion (2007 est.)

$24.2 billion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$11.25 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 88 10.2% (2007 est.)

10.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,000 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 188 $1,900 (2007 est.)

$1,800 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 29%

industry: 30%

services: 41% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

8.6 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 75%

industry: NA%

services: NA% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

3.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 39 2.5% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:

35% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3%

highest 10%: 34.2% (2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

43 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 52 40 (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

22.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Budget:

revenues: $1.274 billion

expenditures: $1.592 billion (2008 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

25% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 212 5.9% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

NA% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 89 5.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

16.01% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 35 16.18% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$591.7 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 91 $513.6 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$2.328 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 82 $2.309 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$1.67 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 96 $1.131 billion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA

Agriculture - products:

rice, rubber, corn, vegetables, cashews, tapioca, silk

Industries:

tourism, garments, construction, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles

Industrial production growth rate:

8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 20

Electricity - production:

1.273 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Electricity - consumption:

1.272 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

167 million kWh (2007 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 201

Oil - consumption:

4,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Oil - imports:

30,970 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 199

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 201

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 202

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 196

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 197

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

Current account balance:

-$1.06 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 122 -$506.3 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$4.708 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 111 $4.089 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

clothing, timber, rubber, rice, fish, tobacco, footwear

Exports - partners:

US 54.4%, Germany 7.7%, Canada 5.9%, UK 5.5%, Vietnam 4.5% (2008)

Imports:

$6.534 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 107 $5.424 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum products, cigarettes, gold, construction materials, machinery, motor vehicles, pharmaceutical products

Imports - partners:

Thailand 26.8%, Vietnam 19%, China 14.5%, Hong Kong 8.1%, Singapore 6.9% (2008)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.641 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 100 $2.143 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$4.127 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 109 $3.89 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Exchange rates:

riels (KHR) per US dollar - 4,070.94 (2008 est.), 4,006 (2007), 4,103 (2006), 4,092.5 (2005), 4,016.25 (2004)

Communications ::Cambodia

Telephones - main lines in use:

45,100 (2008) country comparison to the world: 165

Telephones - mobile cellular:

4.237 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 93

Telephone system:

general assessment: mobile-phone systems are widely used in urban areas to bypass deficiencies in the fixed-line network; fixed-line connections stand at well less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage, aided by increasing competition among service providers, is increasing and stands at 30 per 100 persons

domestic: adequate landline and/or cellular service in Phnom Penh and other provincial cities; mobile-phone coverage is rapidly expanding in rural areas

international: country code - 855; adequate but expensive landline and cellular service available to all countries from Phnom Penh and major provincial cities; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) (2008)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 50, shortwave NA (2008)

Television broadcast stations:

8 (including 2 TV relay stations with French and Vietnamese broadcasts); excludes 18 regional relay stations (2008)

Internet country code:

.kh

Internet hosts:

2,480 (2009) country comparison to the world: 146

Internet users:

74,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 162

Transportation ::Cambodia

Airports:

17 (2009) country comparison to the world: 140

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 6

2,438 to 3,047 m: 3

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 11

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 9

under 914 m: 1 (2009)

Heliports:

1 (2009)

Railways:

total: 602 km country comparison to the world: 110 narrow gauge: 602 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

Roadways:

total: 38,093 km country comparison to the world: 91 paved: 2,977 km

unpaved: 35,116 km (2007)

Waterways:

2,400 km (mainly on Mekong River) (2008) country comparison to the world: 37

Merchant marine:

total: 626 country comparison to the world: 17 by type: bulk carrier 41, cargo 530, carrier 3, chemical tanker 10, container 8, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 15, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 1

foreign-owned: 467 (Canada 2, China 193, Cyprus 7, Egypt 13, Gabon 1, Greece 3, Hong Kong 8, Indonesia 2, Japan 1, South Korea 22, Latvia 1, Lebanon 8, Netherlands 1, Romania 1, Russia 83, Singapore 4, Syria 48, Taiwan 1, Turkey 26, Ukraine 34, UAE 2, US 6) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Phnom Penh, Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville)

Military ::Cambodia

Military branches:

Royal Cambodian Armed Forces: Royal Cambodian Army, Royal Khmer Navy, Royal Cambodian Air Force (2009)

Military service age and obligation:

conscription law of October 2006 requires all males between 18-30 to register for military service; 18-month service obligation (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 3,759,034

females age 16-49: 3,784,333 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,673,383

females age 16-49: 2,763,256 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 177,881

female: 175,332 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

3% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 48

Transnational Issues ::Cambodia

Disputes - international:

Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of boundary with missing boundary markers and claims of Thai encroachments into Cambodian territory; maritime boundary with Vietnam is hampered by unresolved dispute over sovereignty of offshore islands; Thailand accuses Cambodia of obstructing inclusion of Thai areas near Preah Vihear temple ruins, awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962, as part of a planned UN World Heritage site

Illicit drugs:

narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving some in the government, military, and police; limited methamphetamine production; vulnerable to money laundering due to its cash-based economy and porous borders

page last updated on November 11, 2009

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

@Cameroon (Africa)

Introduction ::Cameroon

Background:

The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroon merged in 1961 to form the present country. Cameroon has generally enjoyed stability, which has permitted the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despite a slow movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of President Paul BIYA.

Geography ::Cameroon

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria

Geographic coordinates:

6 00 N, 12 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 475,440 sq km country comparison to the world: 53 land: 472,710 sq km

water: 2,730 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than California

Land boundaries:

total: 4,591 km

border countries: Central African Republic 797 km, Chad 1,094 km, Republic of the Congo 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298 km, Nigeria 1,690 km

Coastline:

402 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

Climate:

varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north

Terrain:

diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point: Fako 4,095 m (on Mt. Cameroon)

Natural resources:

petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 12.54%

permanent crops: 2.52%

other: 84.94% (2005)

Irrigated land:

260 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

285.5 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.99 cu km/yr (18%/8%/74%)

per capita: 61 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes

Environment - current issues:

waterborne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa; throughout the country there are areas of thermal springs and indications of current or prior volcanic activity; Mount Cameroon, the highest mountain in Sub-Saharan west Africa, is an active volcano

People ::Cameroon

Population:

18,879,301 country comparison to the world: 58 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2009 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 40.9% (male 3,891,762/female 3,822,870)

15-64 years: 55.9% (male 5,298,143/female 5,250,493)

65 years and over: 3.3% (male 283,289/female 332,744) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 19.2 years

male: 19 years

female: 19.3 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.19% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 44

Birth rate:

34.1 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 41

Death rate:

12.2 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 36

Net migration rate:

NA (2009 est.)

Urbanization:

urban population: 57% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 3.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female

total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 63.34 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 36 male: 68.08 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 58.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 53.69 years country comparison to the world: 197 male: 52.89 years

female: 54.52 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.33 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

5.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 15

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

540,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 19

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

39,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 15

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever

water contact disease: schistosomiasis

respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis

animal contact disease: rabies (2009)

Nationality:

noun: Cameroonian(s)

adjective: Cameroonian

Ethnic groups:

Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%, non-African less than 1%

Religions:

indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%

Languages:

24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 67.9%

male: 77%

female: 59.8% (2001 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 9 years

male: 10 years

female: 8 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

3.3% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 138

Government ::Cameroon

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon

conventional short form: Cameroon

local long form: Republique du Cameroun/Republic of Cameroon

local short form: Cameroun/Cameroon

former: French Cameroon, British Cameroon, Federal Republic of Cameroon, United Republic of Cameroon

Government type:

republic; multiparty presidential regime

Capital:

name: Yaounde

geographic coordinates: 3 52 N, 11 31 E

time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

10 regions (regions, singular - region); Adamaoua, Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, North-West (Nord-Ouest), Ouest, Sud, South-West (Sud-Ouest)

Independence:

1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday:

Republic Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)

Constitution:

approved by referendum 20 May 1972; adopted 2 June 1972; revised January 1996

Legal system:

based on French civil law system, with common law influence; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

20 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)

head of government: Prime Minister Philemon YANG (since 30 June 2009)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from proposals submitted by the prime minister

elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 11 October 2004 (next to be held by October 2011); prime minister appointed by the president

election results: President Paul BIYA reelected; percent of vote - Paul BIYA 70.9%, John FRU NDI 17.4%, Adamou Ndam NJOYA 4.5%, Garga Haman ADJI 3.7%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (180 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - the president can either lengthen or shorten the term of the legislature

elections: last held 22 July 2007 (next to be held in 2012)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPDM 140, SDF 14, UDC 4, UNDP 4, MP 1, vacant 17

note: the constitution calls for an upper chamber for the legislature, to be called a Senate, but it has yet to be established

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); High Court of Justice (consists of nine judges and six substitute judges; elected by the National Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:

Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC [Adamou Ndam NJOYA]; Cameroon People's Democratic Movement or CPDM [Paul BIYA]; Movement for the Defense of the Republic or MDR [Dakole DAISSALA]; Movement for the Liberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC [Marcel YONDO]; National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Maigari BELLO BOUBA]; Progressive Movement or MP; Social Democratic Front or SDF [John FRU NDI]; Union of Peoples of Cameroon or UPC [Augustin Frederic KODOCK]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Human Rights Defense Group [Albert MUKONG, president]; Southern Cameroon National Council [Ayamba Ette OTUN]

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, C, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph FOE-ATANGANA

chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 265-8790

FAX: [1] (202) 387-3826

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Janet E. GARVEY

embassy: Avenue Rosa Parks, Yaounde

mailing address: P. O. Box 817, Yaounde; pouch: American Embassy, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520

telephone: [237] 2220 15 00; Consular: [237] 2220 16 03

FAX: [237] 2220 16 00 Ext. 4531; Consular FAX: [237] 2220 17 52

branch office(s): Douala

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and yellow, with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band

note: uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy ::Cameroon

Economy - overview:

Because of its modest oil resources and favorable agricultural conditions, Cameroon has one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Still, it faces many of the serious problems facing other underdeveloped countries, such as stagnating per capita income, a relatively inequitable distribution of income, a top-heavy civil service, and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise. International oil and cocoa prices have a significant impact on the economy. Since 1990, the government has embarked on various IMF and World Bank programs designed to spur business investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, improve trade, and recapitalize the nation's banks. The IMF is pressing for more reforms, including increased budget transparency, privatization, and poverty reduction programs.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$42.69 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 $41.33 billion (2007 est.)

$39.93 billion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$23.73 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 115 3.5% (2007 est.)

3.2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,300 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 178 $2,300 (2007 est.)

$2,300 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 43.6%

industry: 15.9%

services: 40.5% (2008 est.)

Labor force:

6.759 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 70%

industry: 13%

services: 17% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:

30% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Population below poverty line:

48% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.3%

highest 10%: 35.4% (2001)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

44.6 (2001) country comparison to the world: 45 47.7 (1996)

Investment (gross fixed):

17.7% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Budget:

revenues: $4.714 billion

expenditures: $4.261 billion (2008 est.)

Public debt:

13.5% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 109 69.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 89 1.1% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

4.75% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 86 5.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

NA% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 47 15% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$NA (31 December 2008)

$2.616 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$NA (31 December 2008)

$1.698 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$NA (31 December 2008)

$1.3 billion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA

Agriculture - products:

coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, root starches; livestock; timber

Industries:

petroleum production and refining, aluminum production, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair

Industrial production growth rate:

4.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 63

Electricity - production:

5.601 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Electricity - consumption:

4.801 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

81,720 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 55

Oil - consumption:

26,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Oil - exports:

107,100 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 66

Oil - imports:

45,520 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Oil - proved reserves:

200 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 56

Natural gas - production:

20 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Natural gas - consumption:

20 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 111

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 182

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

Natural gas - proved reserves:

135.1 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Current account balance:

-$96 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 78 -$547 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$4.707 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 113 $4.345 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum, coffee, cotton

Exports - partners:

Spain 19.8%, Italy 13.5%, US 10.6%, France 8.2%, Netherlands 8.1%, China 7.9%, Belgium 4% (2008)

Imports:

$4.303 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 124 $4.05 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food

Imports - partners:

France 21.1%, Nigeria 13.8%, China 9.5%, Belgium 6.1% (2008)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$3.091 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 93 $2.932 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$3.066 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 126 $2.554 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Exchange rates:

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - 447.81 (2008 est.), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004)

note: since 1 January 1999, the Central African CFA franc (XAF) has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro; Central African CFA franc (XAF) coins and banknotes are not accepted in countries using West African CFA francs (XOF), and vice versa, even though the two currencies trade at par

Communications ::Cameroon

Telephones - main lines in use:

198,300 (2008) country comparison to the world: 124

Telephones - mobile cellular:

6.161 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 79

Telephone system:

general assessment: fixed-line connections stand at less than 1 per 100 persons; equipment is old and outdated, and connections with many parts of the country are unreliable; mobile-cellular usage, in part a reflection of the poor condition and general inadequacy of the fixed-line network, has increased sharply, reaching a subscribership base of 33 per 100 persons

domestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter

international: country code - 237; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (2001)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2001)

Internet country code:

.cm

Internet hosts:

70 (2009) country comparison to the world: 204

Internet users:

725,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 99

Transportation ::Cameroon

Airports:

36 (2009) country comparison to the world: 107

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 11

over 3,047 m: 2

2,438 to 3,047 m: 5

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 25

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 16

under 914 m: 6 (2009)

Pipelines:

oil 889 km (2008)

Railways:

total: 987 km country comparison to the world: 89 narrow gauge: 987 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

Roadways:

total: 50,000 km country comparison to the world: 79 paved: 5,000 km

unpaved: 45,000 km (2004)

Waterways:

navigation mainly on Benue River; limited during rainy season (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Douala, Limboh Terminal

Military ::Cameroon

Military branches:

Cameroon Armed Forces (Forces Armees Camerounaises, FAC): Army (L'Armee de Terre), Navy (includes naval infantry), Air Force (Armee de l'Air du Cameroun, AAC) (2009)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; the government makes periodic calls for volunteers (2009)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 4,321,175

females age 16-49: 4,228,625 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,645,601

females age 16-49: 2,574,948 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 213,027

female: 208,642 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.3% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 121

Transnational Issues ::Cameroon

Disputes - international:

Joint Border Commission with Nigeria reviewed 2002 ICJ ruling on the entire boundary and bilaterally resolved differences, including June 2006 Greentree Agreement that immediately ceded sovereignty of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon with a full phase-out of Nigerian control and patriation of residents in 2008; Cameroon and Nigeria agree on maritime delimitation in March 2008; sovereignty dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River; 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): 20,000-30,000 (Chad); 3,000 (Nigeria); 24,000 (Central African Republic) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Cameroon is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation; most victims are children trafficked within country, with girls primarily trafficked for domestic servitude and sexual exploitation; both boys and girls are also trafficked within Cameroon for forced labor in sweatshops, bars, restaurants, and on tea and cocoa plantations; children are trafficked into Cameroon from neighboring states for forced labor in agriculture, fishing, street vending, and spare-parts shops; Cameroon is a transit country for children trafficked between Gabon and Nigeria, and from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia; it is a source country for women transported by sex-trafficking rings to Europe

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Cameroon is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking in 2007, particularly in terms of efforts to prosecute and convict trafficking offenders; while Cameroon reported some arrests of traffickers, none of them were prosecuted or punished; the government does not identify trafficking victims among vulnerable populations nor does it monitor the number of victims it intercepts (2008)

page last updated on November 11, 2009

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@Canada (North America)

Introduction ::Canada

Background:

A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to the British crown. Economically and technologically the nation has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across an unfortified border. Canada faces the political challenges of meeting public demands for quality improvements in health care and education services, as well as responding to separatist concerns in predominantly francophone Quebec. Canada also aims to develop its diverse energy resources while maintaining its commitment to the environment.

Geography ::Canada

Location:

Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean on the east, North Pacific Ocean on the west, and the Arctic Ocean on the north, north of the conterminous US

Geographic coordinates:

60 00 N, 95 00 W

Map references:

North America

Area:

total: 9,984,670 sq km country comparison to the world: 2 land: 9,093,507 sq km

water: 891,163 sq km

Area - comparative:

somewhat larger than the US

Land boundaries:

total: 8,893 km

border countries: US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)

Coastline:

202,080 km

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:

varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north

Terrain:

mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point: Mount Logan 5,959 m

Natural resources:

iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 4.57%

permanent crops: 0.65%

other: 94.78% (2005)

Irrigated land:

7,850 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

3,300 cu km (1985)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 44.72 cu km/yr (20%/69%/12%)

per capita: 1,386 cu m/yr (1996)

Natural hazards:

continuous permafrost in north is a serious obstacle to development; cyclonic storms form east of the Rocky Mountains, a result of the mixing of air masses from the Arctic, Pacific, and North American interior, and produce most of the country's rain and snow east of the mountains

Environment - current issues:

air pollution and resulting acid rain severely affecting lakes and damaging forests; metal smelting, coal-burning utilities, and vehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and forest productivity; ocean waters becoming contaminated due to agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry activities

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, 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

signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route; approximately 90% of the population is concentrated within 160 km of the US border

People ::Canada

Population:

33,487,208 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.1% (male 2,761,711/female 2,626,836)

15-64 years: 68.7% (male 11,633,950/female 11,381,735)

65 years and over: 15.2% (male 2,220,189/female 2,862,787) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 40.4 years

male: 39.3 years

female: 41.5 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.817% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

Birth rate:

10.28 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

Death rate:

7.74 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Net migration rate:

5.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 18

Urbanization:

urban population: 80% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female

total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.04 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 189 male: 5.37 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 4.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 81.23 years country comparison to the world: 8 male: 78.69 years

female: 83.91 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.58 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 181

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.4% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

73,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 55

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Nationality:

noun: Canadian(s)

adjective: Canadian

Ethnic groups:

British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%, Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixed background 26%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 42.6%, Protestant 23.3% (including United Church 9.5%, Anglican 6.8%, Baptist 2.4%, Lutheran 2%), other Christian 4.4%, Muslim 1.9%, other and unspecified 11.8%, none 16% (2001 census)

Languages:

English (official) 58.8%, French (official) 21.6%, other 19.6% (2006 Census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99%

male: 99%

female: 99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 17 years

male: 17 years

female: 17 years (2004)

Education expenditures:

5.2% of GDP (2002) country comparison to the world: 63

Government ::Canada

Country name:

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Canada

Government type:

a parliamentary democracy, a federation, and a Commonwealth realm

Capital:

name: Ottawa

geographic coordinates: 45 25 N, 75 42 W

time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November

note: Canada is divided into six time zones

Administrative divisions:

10 provinces and 3 territories*; Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories*, Nova Scotia, Nunavut*, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*

Independence:

1 July 1867 (union of British North American colonies); 11 December 1931 (recognized by UK)

National holiday:

Canada Day, 1 July (1867)

Constitution:

made up of unwritten and written acts, customs, judicial decisions, and traditions; the written part of the constitution consists of the Constitution Act of 29 March 1867, which created a federation of four provinces, and the Constitution Act of 17 April 1982, which transferred formal control over the constitution from Britain to Canada, and added a Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as procedures for constitutional amendments

Legal system:

based on English common law, except in Quebec, where civil law system based on French law prevails; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

head of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Michaelle JEAN (since 27 September 2005)

head of government: Prime Minister Stephen HARPER (since 6 February 2006)

cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister usually from among the members of his own party sitting in Parliament

elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister for a five-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition in the House of Commons is automatically designated prime minister by the governor general

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (105 seats; members appointed by the governor general with the advice of the prime minister and serve until reaching 75 years of age) and the House of Commons or Chambre des Communes (308 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve a maximum of five-year terms starting in 2009 elections)

elections: House of Commons - last held 14 October 2008 (next to be held no later than 19 October 2012)

election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party - Conservative Party 37.6%, Liberal Party 26.2%, New Democratic Party 18.2%, Bloc Quebecois 10%, Greens 6.8%, other 1%; seats by party - Conservative Party 143, Liberal Party 77, New Democratic Party 37, Bloc Quebecois 49, other 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Canada (judges are appointed by the prime minister through the governor general); Federal Court of Canada; Federal Court of Appeal; Provincial Courts (these are named variously Court of Appeal, Court of Queens Bench, Superior Court, Supreme Court, and Court of Justice)

Political parties and leaders:

Bloc Quebecois [Gilles DUCEPPE]; Conservative Party of Canada [Stephen HARPER] (a merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party); Green Party [Elizabeth MAY]; Liberal Party [Michael IGNATIEFF]; New Democratic Party [Jack LAYTON]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: agricultural sector; automobile industry; business groups; chemical industry; commercial banks; communications sector; energy industry; environmentalists; public administration groups; steel industry; trade unions

International organization participation:

ACCT, ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CDB, CE (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ESA (cooperating state), FAO, G-20, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAFTA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SECI (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Gary DOER

chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001

telephone: [1] (202) 682-1740

FAX: [1] (202) 682-7701

consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tucson

consulate(s): Anchorage, Houston, Philadelphia, Princeton (New Jersey), Raleigh, San Jose (California), Tucson

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador David H. WILKINS

embassy: 490 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8

mailing address: P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburg, NY 13669-0430; P.O. Box 866, Station B, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5T1

telephone: [1] (613) 688-5335

FAX: [1] (613) 688-3082

consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg

Flag description:

two vertical bands of red (hoist and fly side, half width) with white square between them; an 11-pointed red maple leaf is centered in the white square; the official colors of Canada are red and white

Economy ::Canada

Economy - overview:

As an affluent, high-tech industrial society in the trillion-dollar class, Canada resembles the US in its market-oriented economic system, pattern of production, and affluent living standards. Since World War II, the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into one primarily industrial and urban. The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (which includes Mexico) touched off a dramatic increase in trade and economic integration with the US, its principle trading partner. Canada enjoys a substantial trade surplus with the US, which absorbs nearly 80% of Canadian exports each year. Canada is the US's largest foreign supplier of energy, including oil, gas, uranium, and electric power. Given its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant, Canada has enjoyed solid economic growth, and prudent fiscal management has produced consecutive balanced budgets from 1997 to 2007. In 2008, growth slowed sharply as a result of the global economic downturn, US housing slump, plunging auto sector demand, and a drop in world commodity prices. Public finances, too, are set to deteriorate for the first time in a decade. Tight global credit conditions have further restrained business and housing investment, despite the conservative lending practices and strong capitalization that made Canada's major banks among the most stable in the world.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.303 trillion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 15 $1.298 trillion (2007 est.)

$1.266 trillion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.5 trillion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

0.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 192 2.5% (2007 est.)

2.9% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$39,200 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 22 $39,400 (2007 est.)

$38,800 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2%

industry: 28.4%

services: 69.6% (2008 est.)

Labor force:

18.22 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 32

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 2%, manufacturing 13%, construction 6%, services 76%, other 3% (2006)

Unemployment rate:

6.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 76 6% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

10.8%; note - this figure is the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO), a calculation that results in higher figures than found in many comparable economies; Canada does not have an official poverty line (2005)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.6%

highest 10%: 24.8% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

32.1 (2005) country comparison to the world: 100 31.5 (1994)

Investment (gross fixed):

22.6% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 73

Budget:

revenues: $594.1 billion

expenditures: $573.7 billion (2008 est.)

Public debt:

63.8% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 21 64.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 23 2.1% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

1.75% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 112 4.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

4.73% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 131 6.1% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$356.2 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 5 $391.6 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$1.299 trillion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 5 $1.381 trillion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$2.335 trillion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 9 $2.382 trillion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 7 $2.187 trillion (31 December 2007)

$1.701 trillion (31 December 2006)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; forest products; fish

Industries:

transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, fish products, petroleum and natural gas

Industrial production growth rate:

-2.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Electricity - production:

620.7 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Electricity - consumption:

536.1 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 8

Electricity - exports:

55.73 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

23.5 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

3.35 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 6

Oil - consumption:

2.26 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 10

Oil - exports:

2.421 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 5

Oil - imports:

1.165 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 15

Oil - proved reserves:

178.1 billion bbl country comparison to the world: 2 note: includes oil sands (1 January 2009 est.)

Natural gas - production:

170.9 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 4

Natural gas - consumption:

82.93 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 10

Natural gas - exports:

102.8 billion cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 2

Natural gas - imports:

14.84 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.64 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 21

Current account balance:

$7.61 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 26 $14.53 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$459.1 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 11 $431.2 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, aircraft, telecommunications equipment; chemicals, plastics, fertilizers; wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, natural gas, electricity, aluminum

Exports - partners:

US 77.7%, UK 2.7%, Japan 2.3% (2008)

Imports:

$415.2 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 12 $386.6 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil, chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods

Imports - partners:

US 52.4%, China 9.8%, Mexico 4.1% (2008)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$43.87 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 29 $41.08 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$781.1 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 15 $806.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$433.4 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 11 $506.9 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$520.4 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 12 $520.7 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Exchange rates:

Canadian dollars (CAD) per US dollar - 1.0364 (2008 est.), 1.0724 (2007), 1.1334 (2006), 1.2118 (2005), 1.301 (2004)

Communications ::Canada

Telephones - main lines in use:

18.25 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 17

Telephones - mobile cellular:

21.455 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 37

Telephone system:

general assessment: excellent service provided by modern technology

domestic: domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stations

international: country code - 1; submarine cables provide links to the US and Europe; satellite earth stations - 7 (5 Intelsat - 4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean, and 2 Intersputnik - Atlantic Ocean region) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 245, FM 582, shortwave 6 (2004)

Television broadcast stations:

148 (2007)

Internet country code:

.ca

Internet hosts:

7.193 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 14

Internet users:

25.086 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 13

Transportation ::Canada

Airports:

1,388 (2009) country comparison to the world: 4

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 515

over 3,047 m: 19

2,438 to 3,047 m: 18

1,524 to 2,437 m: 148

914 to 1,523 m: 251

under 914 m: 79 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 873

1,524 to 2,437 m: 73

914 to 1,523 m: 373

under 914 m: 427 (2009)

Heliports:

12 (2009)

Pipelines:

crude and refined oil 23,564 km; liquid petroleum gas 74,980 km (2006)

Railways:

total: 46,688 km country comparison to the world: 5 standard gauge: 46,688 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

Roadways:

total: 1,042,300 km country comparison to the world: 6 paved: 415,600 km (includes 17,000 km of expressways)

unpaved: 626,700 km (2006)

Waterways:

636 km country comparison to the world: 78 note: Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint Lawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with United States (2008)

Merchant marine:

total: 175 country comparison to the world: 38 by type: bulk carrier 60, cargo 13, carrier 1, chemical tanker 10, combination ore/oil 1, container 2, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 64, petroleum tanker 12, roll on/roll off 6

foreign-owned: 17 (Germany 3, Netherlands 1, Norway 3, US 10)

registered in other countries: 206 (Australia 9, Bahamas 84, Barbados 9, Cambodia 2, Cyprus 2, Denmark 1, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 44, Liberia 7, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 6, Norway 10, Panama 18, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Spain 4, Taiwan 2, Vanuatu 5) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Fraser River Port, Halifax, Hamilton, Montreal, Port-Cartier, Quebec City, Saint John (New Brunswick), Sept-Isles, Vancouver

Military ::Canada

Military branches:

Canadian Forces: Land Forces Command (LFC), Maritime Command (MARCOM), Air Command (AIRCOM), Canada Command (homeland security) (2009)

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age for male and female voluntary military service (with parental consent); 16 years of age for reserve and military college applicants; Canadian citizenship or permanent residence status required; maximum 34 years of age; service obligation 3-9 years (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 8,072,010

females age 16-49: 7,813,462 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 6,647,513

females age 16-49: 6,413,748 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 223,238

female: 210,797 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.1% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Transnational Issues ::Canada

Disputes - international:

managed maritime boundary disputes with the US at Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Gulf of Maine including the disputed Machias Seal Island and North Rock; Canada, the US, and other countries dispute the status of the Northwest Passage; US works closely with Canada to intensify security measures for monitoring and controlling legal and illegal movement of people, transport, and commodities across the international border; sovereignty dispute with Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland; commencing the collection of technical evidence for submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf in support of claims for continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from its declared baselines in the Arctic, as stipulated in Article 76, paragraph 8, of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

Illicit drugs:

illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug market and export to US; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plant large quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors; increasing ecstasy production, some of which is destined for the US; vulnerable to narcotics money laundering because of its mature financial services sector

page last updated on November 11, 2009

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@Cape Verde (Africa)

Introduction ::Cape Verde

Background:

The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; Cape Verde subsequently became a trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. Following independence in 1975, and a tentative interest in unification with Guinea-Bissau, a one-party system was established and maintained until multi-party elections were held in 1990. Cape Verde continues to exhibit one of Africa's most stable democratic governments. Repeated droughts during the second half of the 20th century caused significant hardship and prompted heavy emigration. As a result, Cape Verde's expatriate population is greater than its domestic one. Most Cape Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents.

Geography ::Cape Verde

Location:

Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal

Geographic coordinates:

16 00 N, 24 00 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 4,033 sq km country comparison to the world: 175 land: 4,033 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Rhode Island

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

965 km

Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic

Terrain:

steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point: Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island)

Natural resources:

salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum

Land use:

arable land: 11.41%

permanent crops: 0.74%

other: 87.85% (2005)

Irrigated land:

30 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

0.3 cu km (1990)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.02 cu km/yr (7%/2%/91%)

per capita: 39 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active

Environment - current issues:

soil erosion; deforestation due to demand for wood used as fuel; water shortages; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing

Environment - international agreements:

party to: 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, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site

People ::Cape Verde

Population:

429,474 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

Age structure:

0-14 years: 35.2% (male 76,012/female 74,993)

15-64 years: 58.5% (male 123,376/female 127,653)

65 years and over: 6.4% (male 10,040/female 17,400) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 21.1 years

male: 20.4 years

female: 21.9 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.561% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Birth rate:

23.5 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

Death rate:

6.22 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

Net migration rate:

-11.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 177

Urbanization:

urban population: 60% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 3.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female

total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 41.35 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 63 male: 47.39 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 35.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.61 years country comparison to the world: 126 male: 68.27 years

female: 75.05 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.07 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.035% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

775 (2001) country comparison to the world: 144

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

225 (as of 2001) country comparison to the world: 103

Nationality:

noun: Cape Verdean(s)

adjective: Cape Verdean

Ethnic groups:

Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%

Religions:

Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs), Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene)

Languages:

Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 76.6%

male: 85.8%

female: 69.2% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years

male: 11 years

female: 12 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

6.3% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 34

Government ::Cape Verde

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verde

conventional short form: Cape Verde

local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde

local short form: Cabo Verde

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Praia

geographic coordinates: 14 55 N, 23 31 W

time difference: UTC-1 (4 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

17 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Filipe, Sao Miguel, Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal

Independence:

5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 5 July (1975)

Constitution: