Chapter M: Major infectious diseases (37)

elections: held 15 December 2005 to elect a 275-member Council of Representatives

Legislative branch:

unicameral Council of Representatives (consisting of 275 members elected by a closed-list, proportional representation system)

elections: last held 15 December 2005 to elect a 275-member Council of Representatives (next to be held on 18 January 2010); the Council of Representatives elected the Presidency Council and approved the prime minister and two deputy prime ministers

election results: Council of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Unified Iraqi Alliance 41%, Kurdistan Alliance 22%, Tawafuq Coalition 15%, Iraqi National List 8%, Iraqi Front for National Dialogue 4%, other 10%; number of seats by party (as of November 2007) - Unified Iraqi Alliance (including the Sadrist bloc with 30 and Fadilah with 15) 130, Kurdistan Alliance 53, Tawafuq Front 44, Iraqi National List 25, Fadilah 15, Iraqi Front for National Dialogue 11, other 12

Judicial branch:

the Iraq Constitution calls for the federal judicial power to be comprised of the Higher Judicial Council, Federal Supreme Court, Federal Court of Cassation, Public Prosecution Department, Judiciary Oversight Commission and other federal courts that are regulated in accordance with the law

Political parties and leaders:

Assyrian Democratic Movement [Yunadim KANNA]; Badr Organization [Hadi al-AMIRI]; Constitutional Monarchy Movement or CMM [Sharif Ali Bin al-HUSAYN]; Da'wa al-Islamiya Party [Nuri al-MALIKI]; General Conference of Iraqi People [Adnan al-DULAYMI]; Independent Iraqi Alliance or IIA [Falah al-NAQIB]; Iraqi Communist Party [Hamid MAJID]; Iraqi Front for National Dialogue [Salih al-MUTLAQ]; Iraqi Hizballah [Karim Mahmud al-MUHAMMADAWI]; Iraqi Independent Democrats or IID [Adnan PACHACHI, Mahdi al-HAFIZ]; Iraqi Islamic Party or IIP [Tariq al-HASHIMI]; Iraqi National Accord or INA [Ayad ALLAWI]; Iraqi National Congress or INC [Ahmad CHALABI]; Iraqi National Council for Dialogue or INCD [Khalaf Ulayan al-Khalifawi al-DULAYMI]; Iraqi National Unity Movement or INUM [Ahmad al-KUBAYSI]; Islamic Action Organization or IAO [Ayatollah Muhammad al-MUDARRISI]; Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq or ISCI [Abd al-Aziz al-HAKIM]; Jama'at al Fadilah or JAF [Muhammad Ali al-YAQUBI]; Kurdistan Democratic Party or KDP [Masud BARZANI]; Kurdistan Islamic Union [Salah ad-Din Muhammad BAHA al-DIN]; Patriotic Union of Kurdistan or PUK [Jalal TALABANI]; Sadrist Trend [Muqtada al-SADR] (not an organized political party, but it fields independent candidates affiliated with Muqtada al-SADR); Sahawa al-Iraq [Ahmad al-RISHAWI]

note: the Kurdistan Alliance, Iraqi National List, Tawafuq Front, Iraqi Front for National Dialogue, and Unified Iraqi Alliance were only electoral slates consisting of the representatives from the various Iraqi political parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Sunni militias; Shia militias, some associated with political parties

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AFESD (suspended), AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Samir Shakir al-SUMAYDI

chancery: 3421 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20007

telephone: [1] (202) 742-1600

FAX: [1] (202) 333-1129

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher R. HILL

embassy: Baghdad

mailing address: APO AE 09316

telephone: 1-240-553-0589 ext. 5340 or 5635; note - Consular Section

FAX: NA

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great") in green Arabic script is centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Syria, which has two stars but no script, Yemen, which has a plain white band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band; design is based upon the Arab Liberation colors; Council of Representatives approved this flag as a compromise temporary replacement for Ba'athist Saddam-era flag

Economy ::Iraq

Economy - overview:

Decreasing insurgent attacks and an improving security environment in many parts of the country are helping to spur economic activity. Iraq's economy is dominated by the oil sector, which has traditionally provided over 90% of foreign exchange earnings. Oil exports are around levels seen before Operation Iraqi Freedom. Total government revenues have benefited from high oil prices in recent years; however, revenues have declined significantly since the oil price drop in fall 2008. Iraq is making some progress in building the institutions needed to implement economic policy. In March 2009 Iraq concluded a Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) with the IMF that details economic reforms. The SBA allows an 80% reduction of the debt owed to Paris Club creditor nations. The International Compact with Iraq was established in May 2007 to integrate Iraq into the regional and global economy, and the Iraqi government is seeking to pass laws to strengthen its economy. This legislation includes a hydrocarbon law to establish a modern legal framework to allow Iraq to develop its resources and a revenue sharing law to equitably divide oil revenues within the nation, although both are still under contentious political negotiation. Some foreign entities have expressed interest in reinvigorating Iraq's industrial sector. The government of Iraq is pursuing a strategy to gain foreign participation in joint ventures with State-owned enterprises. Provincial Councils are also using their own budgets to promote and facilitate investment at the local level. The Central Bank has been successful in controlling inflation through appreciation of the dinar against the US dollar. However, Iraq's challenge will be to use macroeconomic gains to improve the lives of ordinary Iraqis. Reducing corruption and implementing structural reforms, such as bank restructuring and developing the private sector, will be key to Iraq's economic success.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$90.23 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 70 $83.7 billion (2007 est.)

$82.46 billion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$91.45 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 24 1.5% (2007 est.)

6.2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,200 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 162 $3,000 (2007 est.)

$3,100 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 5%

industry: 68%

services: 27% (2006 est.)

Labor force:

7.74 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 56

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: NA%

industry: NA%

services: NA%

Unemployment rate:

18.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 161 18% (2006 est.)

note: official data; unofficial estimates as high as 30%

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $42.4 billion

expenditures: $49.9 billion (FY08 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 34 4.7% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

NA% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 6 20% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

NA% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 16 19.74% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$26.1 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 31 $18.81 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$5.415 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 67 $3.67 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$NA (31 December 2008)

$NA (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$1.878 billion (31 March 2008)

$NA (31 December 2007)

$NA (31 December 2006)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep, poultry

Industries:

petroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, construction materials, food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing

Industrial production growth rate:

10.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Electricity - production:

36.92 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 58

Electricity - consumption:

39.88 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

2.95 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

2.385 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 14

Oil - consumption:

638,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 28

Oil - exports:

1.83 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 13

Oil - imports:

116,900 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Oil - proved reserves:

115 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 4

Natural gas - production:

1.88 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 57

Natural gas - consumption:

9.454 billion cu m country comparison to the world: 48 note: 1.48 billion cu m were flared (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 167

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Natural gas - proved reserves:

3.17 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 10

Current account balance:

$14.05 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 25 $4.909 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$58.81 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 52 $36.08 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

crude oil 84%, crude materials excluding fuels 8%, food and live animals 5%

Exports - partners:

US 37.3%, India 13.8%, Italy 9.4%, South Korea 6.8% (2008)

Imports:

$37.22 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 59 $25.67 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food, medicine, manufactures

Imports - partners:

Syria 26.4%, Turkey 19.7%, US 10.7%, Jordan 6.5%, China 6% (2008)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$49.8 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 27 $30.66 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$67.74 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 44 $100.9 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Exchange rates:

New Iraqi dinars (NID) per US dollar - 1,176 (2008), 1,255 (2007), 1,466 (2006), 1,475 (2005), 1,890 (second half, 2003)

Communications ::Iraq

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.082 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 76

Telephones - mobile cellular:

17.529 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 40

Telephone system:

general assessment: the 2003 liberation of Iraq severely disrupted telecommunications throughout Iraq including international connections; widespread government efforts to rebuild domestic and international communications through fiber optic links are in progress; the mobile cellular market has expanded rapidly and its subscribership base approached 18 million in 2008

domestic: repairs to switches and lines destroyed during 2003 continue; additional switching capacity is improving access; cellular service is available and centered on 3 GSM networks which are being expanded beyond their regional roots, improving country-wide connectivity; wireless local loop licenses have been issued with the hope of overcoming the lack of fixed-line infrastructure

international: country code - 964; satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean, 1 Intersputnik - Atlantic Ocean region, and 1 Arabsat (inoperative)); local microwave radio relay connects border regions to Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey; planned international fiber-optic connections to Iran (terrestrial) with a link to the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine fiber-optic cable (2008)

Radio broadcast stations:

52 (station frequency types NA) (2008)

Television broadcast stations:

47 (2008)

Internet country code:

.iq

Internet hosts:

11 (2009) country comparison to the world: 219

Internet users:

300,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 126

Transportation ::Iraq

Airports:

104 (2009) country comparison to the world: 57

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 75

over 3,047 m: 19

2,438 to 3,047 m: 37

1,524 to 2,437 m: 5

914 to 1,523 m: 6

under 914 m: 8 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 29

over 3,047 m: 3

2,438 to 3,047 m: 4

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 13

under 914 m: 6 (2009)

Heliports:

21 (2009)

Pipelines:

gas 2,501 km; liquid petroleum gas 918 km; oil 5,418 km; refined products 1,637 km (2008)

Railways:

total: 2,272 km country comparison to the world: 68 standard gauge: 2,272 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

Roadways:

total: 44,900 km country comparison to the world: 81 paved: 37,851 km

unpaved: 7,049 km (2002)

Waterways:

5,279 km country comparison to the world: 23 note: Euphrates River (2,815 km), Tigris River (1,899 km), and Third River (565 km) are principal waterways (2008)

Merchant marine:

total: 14 country comparison to the world: 107 by type: cargo 10, petroleum tanker 4 (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Al Basrah, Khawr az Zubayr, Umm Qasr

Military ::Iraq

Military branches:

Iraqi Armed Forces: Iraqi Army (includes Iraqi Special Operations Force, Iraqi Intervention Force), Iraqi Navy (former Iraqi Coastal Defense Force), Iraqi Air Force (former Iraqi Army Air Corps) (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18-49 years of age for voluntary military service (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 7,086,200

females age 16-49: 6,808,954 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 6,203,425

females age 16-49: 6,065,009 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 313,500

female: 304,923 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

8.6% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 4

Transnational Issues ::Iraq

Disputes - international:

coalition forces assist Iraqis in monitoring internal and cross-border security; approximately two million Iraqis have fled the conflict in Iraq, with the majority taking refuge in Syria and Jordan, and lesser numbers to Egypt, Lebanon, Iran, and Turkey; Iraq's lack of a maritime boundary with Iran prompts jurisdiction disputes beyond the mouth of the Shatt al Arab in the Persian Gulf; Turkey has expressed concern over the autonomous status of Kurds in Iraq

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 10,000-15,000 (Palestinian Territories); 11,773 (Iran); 16,832 (Turkey)

IDPs: 2.4 million (ongoing US-led war and ethno-sectarian violence) (2007)

page last updated on November 11, 2009

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

@Ireland (Europe)

Introduction ::Ireland

Background:

Celtic tribes arrived on the island between 600-150 B.C. Invasions by Norsemen that began in the late 8th century were finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. English invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched off several years of guerrilla warfare that in 1921 resulted in independence from the UK for 26 southern counties; six northern (Ulster) counties remained part of the UK. In 1949, Ireland withdrew from the British Commonwealth; it joined the European Community in 1973. Irish governments have sought the peaceful unification of Ireland and have cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups. A peace settlement for Northern Ireland is gradually being implemented despite some difficulties. In 2006, the Irish and British governments developed and began to implement the St. Andrews Agreement, building on the Good Friday Agreement approved in 1998.

Geography ::Ireland

Location:

Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain

Geographic coordinates:

53 00 N, 8 00 W

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 70,273 sq km country comparison to the world: 119 land: 68,883 sq km

water: 1,390 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries:

total: 360 km

border countries: UK 360 km

Coastline:

1,448 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time

Terrain:

mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point: Carrauntoohil 1,041 m

Natural resources:

natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite

Land use:

arable land: 16.82%

permanent crops: 0.03%

other: 83.15% (2005)

Irrigated land:

NA

Total renewable water resources:

46.8 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 1.18 cu km/yr (23%/77%/0%)

per capita: 284 cu m/yr (1994)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 100 km of Dublin

People ::Ireland

Population:

4,203,200 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Age structure:

0-14 years: 20.9% (male 454,571/female 424,022)

15-64 years: 67.1% (male 1,411,336/female 1,409,760)

65 years and over: 12% (male 224,850/female 278,661) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 35 years

male: 34.2 years

female: 35.7 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.12% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Birth rate:

14.23 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Death rate:

7.75 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

Net migration rate:

4.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 22

Urbanization:

urban population: 61% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.05 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 188 male: 5.53 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 4.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.24 years country comparison to the world: 47 male: 75.6 years

female: 81.06 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.85 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

5,500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Nationality:

noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural)

adjective: Irish

Ethnic groups:

Irish 87.4%, other white 7.5%, Asian 1.3%, black 1.1%, mixed 1.1%, unspecified 1.6% (2006 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 87.4%, Church of Ireland 2.9%, other Christian 1.9%, other 2.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.2% (2006 census)

Languages:

English (official) is the language generally used, Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) (official) spoken mainly in areas along the western coast

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: 18 years

male: 17 years

female: 18 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

4.7% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 81

Government ::Ireland

Country name:

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Ireland

local long form: none

local short form: Eire

Government type:

republic, parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Dublin

geographic coordinates: 53 19 N, 6 14 W

time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

29 counties and 5 cities*; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Cork*, Donegal, Dublin*, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, Galway, Galway*, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Limerick*, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, North Tipperary, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, South Dublin, South Tipperary, Waterford, Waterford*, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow

Independence:

6 December 1921 (from the UK by treaty)

National holiday:

Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March

Constitution:

adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite; effective 29 December 1937

Legal system:

based on English common law substantially modified by indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Mary MCALEESE (since 11 November 1997)

head of government: Prime Minister Brian COWEN (since 7 May 2008)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nomination by the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives

elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 31 October 1997 (next scheduled for October 2011); note - Mary MCALEESE appointed to a second term when no other candidate qualified for the 2004 presidential election; prime minister (taoiseach) nominated by the House of Representatives and appointed by the president

election results: Mary MCALEESE elected president; percent of vote - Mary MCALEESE 44.8%, Mary BANOTTI 29.6%

note: government coalition - Fianna Fail, the Green Party, the Progressive Democrats (disbanding), and independent members of Parliament

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consists of the Senate or Seanad Eireann (60 seats; 49 members elected by the universities and from candidates put forward by five vocational panels, 11 are nominated by the prime minister; members serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Dail Eireann (166 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms)

elections: Senate - last held in July 2007 (next to be held by July 2012); House of Representatives - last held 24 May 2007 (next to be held by May 2012)

election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Fianna Fail 28, Fine Gael 14, Labor Party 6, Progressive Democrats 2, Green Party 2, Sein Fein 1, independents 7; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Fianna Fail 41.6%, Fine Gael 27.3%, Labor Party 10.1%, Sinn Fein 6.9%, Green Party 4.7%, Progressive Democrats 2.7%, other 6.7%; seats by party - Fianna Fail 78, Fine Gael 51, Labor Party 20, Sinn Fein 4, Green Party 6, Progressive Democrats 2, independents 4, Speaker of the Dail 1

note: on 8 November 2008, delegates voted to disband the party, but as of January 2009, the party was still operating

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister and cabinet)

Political parties and leaders:

Fianna Fail [Brian COWEN]; Fine Gael [Enda KENNY]; Green Party [John GORMLEY]; Labor Party [Eamon GILMORE]; Progressive Democrats [Ciaran CANNON] (disbanding); Sinn Fein [Gerry ADAMS]; Socialist Party [Joe HIGGINS]; The Workers' Party [Mick FINNEGAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Families Acting for Innocent Relatives or FAIR [Brian McCONNELL] (seek compensation for victims of violence); Families Against Intimidation and Terror or FAIT (oppose terrorism); Gaeltacht Civil Rights Campaign (Coiste Cearta Sibhialta na Gaeilge) or CCSG (encourages the use of the Irish language and campaigns for greater civil rights in Irish speaking areas); Irish Republican Army or IRA (terrorist group); Keep Ireland Open (environmental group); Midland Railway Action Group or MRAG [Willie ALLEN] (transportation promoters); Rail Users Ireland (formerly the Platform 11 - transportation promoters); 32 Country Sovereignty Movement or 32CSM (supports a fully sovereign Ireland); Ulster Defence Association or UDA (terrorist group)

International organization participation:

ADB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael COLLINS

chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 462-3939

FAX: [1] (202) 232-5993

consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel ROONEY; note - has not yet presented his credentials to Ireland

embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

mailing address: use embassy street address

telephone: [353] (1) 668-8777

FAX: [353] (1) 668-9946

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange; similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has colors of green (hoist side), white, and red

Economy ::Ireland

Economy - overview:

Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy. GDP growth averaged 6% in 1995-2007, but economic activity dropped sharply in 2008 and Ireland entered into a recession for the first time in more than a decade with the onset of the world financial crisis and subsequent severe slowdown in the property and construction markets. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry and services. Although the export sector, dominated by foreign multinationals, remains a key component of Ireland's economy, construction most recently fueled economic growth along with strong consumer spending and business investment. Property prices rose more rapidly in Ireland in the decade up to 2006 than in any other developed world economy. Per capita GDP also surged during Ireland's high-growth years, and in 2007 surpassed that of the United States. The Irish Government has implemented a series of national economic programs designed to curb price and wage inflation, invest in infrastructure, increase labor force skills, and promote foreign investment. In 2008 the COWEN government moved to guarantee all bank deposits, recapitalize the banking system, and establish partly-public venture capital funds in response to the country's economic downturn. Ireland joined in circulating the euro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU nations.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$189 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 56 $194.9 billion (2007 est.)

$183.9 billion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$267.6 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

-3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 213 6% (2007 est.)

5.4% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$45,500 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 11 $47,400 (2007 est.)

$45,300 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 5%

industry: 46%

services: 49% (2002 est.)

Labor force:

2.241 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 6%

industry: 27%

services: 67% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:

6.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 80 4.6% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

7% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.9%

highest 10%: 27.2% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

32 (2005) country comparison to the world: 101 35.9 (1987)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.2% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Budget:

revenues: $92.57 billion

expenditures: $109.9 billion (2008 est.)

Public debt:

44.2% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 47 31.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 66 4.9% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

3% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 96 5% (31 December 2007)

note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

6.76% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 125 6.52% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$NA

note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders

Stock of quasi money:

$NA

Stock of domestic credit:

$738.6 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 15 $545.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 42 $144 billion (31 December 2007)

$163.4 billion (31 December 2006)

Agriculture - products:

turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; beef, dairy products

Industries:

steel, lead, zinc, silver, aluminum, barite, and gypsum mining processing; food products, brewing, textiles, clothing; chemicals, pharmaceuticals; machinery, rail transportation equipment; glass and crystal; software, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

Electricity - production:

26.06 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 65

Electricity - consumption:

25.12 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 63

Electricity - exports:

303 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

753 million kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Oil - consumption:

188,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 57

Oil - exports:

22,710 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Oil - imports:

190,800 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Natural gas - production:

438 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

Natural gas - consumption:

5.217 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 58

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 186

Natural gas - imports:

4.798 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 32

Natural gas - proved reserves:

9.911 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Current account balance:

-$13.88 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 174 -$14.12 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$119.8 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 34 $115.5 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; live animals, animal products

Exports - partners:

UK 18.6%, US 18.6%, Belgium 14.7%, Germany 7%, France 5.9%, Spain 4.2% (2008)

Imports:

$84.82 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 40 $84.76 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

data processing equipment, other machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products, textiles, clothing

Imports - partners:

UK 37.7%, US 11.6%, Germany 8.7%, Netherlands 5.6% (2008)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.023 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 126 $926.2 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$2.356 trillion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 6 $2.263 trillion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$179 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$152.9 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 21 $139.6 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Exchange rates:

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6827 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)

Communications ::Ireland

Telephones - main lines in use:

2.202 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 56

Telephones - mobile cellular:

5.048 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 86

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern digital system using cable and microwave radio relay

domestic: system privatized but dominated by former state monopoly operator; increasing levels of broadband access

international: country code - 353; landing point for the Hibernia-Atlantic submarine cable with links to the US, Canada, and UK; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 9, FM 106, shortwave 0 (1998)

Television broadcast stations:

4 (many repeaters); (projected digital broadcasting scheduled to be launched in 2009) (2008)

Internet country code:

.ie

Internet hosts:

1.303 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 36

Internet users:

2.83 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 61

Transportation ::Ireland

Airports:

39 (2009) country comparison to the world: 105

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 17

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 4

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 6 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 22

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 20 (2009)

Pipelines:

gas 1,550 km (2008)

Railways:

total: 3,237 km country comparison to the world: 53 broad gauge: 1,872 km 1.600-m gauge (37 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 1,365 km 0.914-m gauge (operated by the Irish Peat Board to transport peat to power stations and briquetting plants) (2008)

Roadways:

total: 96,602 km country comparison to the world: 46 paved: 96,602 km (includes 200 km of expressways) (2003)

Waterways:

956 km (pleasure craft only) (2008) country comparison to the world: 68

Merchant marine:

total: 29 country comparison to the world: 85 by type: cargo 25, chemical tanker 2, container 1, roll on/roll off 1

foreign-owned: 2 (US 2)

registered in other countries: 21 (Bahamas 2, Bermuda 1, Bulgaria 1, Cyprus 3, Isle of Man 1, Marshall Islands 1, Netherlands 10, Slovakia 1, UK 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Cork, Dublin, Shannon Foynes

Military ::Ireland

Military branches:

Irish Defense Forces (Oglaigh na h-Eireann): Army (includes Naval Service and Air Corps (Aer-Chor na h-Eireann)) (2009)

Military service age and obligation:

17-25 years of age for male or female voluntary military service (17-27 years of age for the Naval Service); enlistees 16 years of age can be recruited for apprentice specialist positions; maximum obligation 12 years; 17-35 years of age for the Reserve Defense Forces; EU citizenship or 5-year residence in Ireland required (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,024,635

females age 16-49: 1,024,276 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 857,162

females age 16-49: 854,416 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 28,072

female: 26,400 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.9% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

Transnational Issues ::Ireland

Disputes - international:

Ireland, Iceland, and the UK dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for and consumer of hashish from North Africa to the UK and Netherlands and of European-produced synthetic drugs; increasing consumption of South American cocaine; minor transshipment point for heroin and cocaine destined for Western Europe; despite recent legislation, narcotics-related money laundering - using bureaux de change, trusts, and shell companies involving the offshore financial community - remains a concern

page last updated on November 11, 2009

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

@Isle of Man (Europe)

Introduction ::Isle of Man

Background:

Part of the Norwegian Kingdom of the Hebrides until the 13th century when it was ceded to Scotland, the isle came under the British crown in 1765. Current concerns include reviving the almost extinct Manx Gaelic language. Isle of Man is a British crown dependency but is not part of the UK. However, the UK Government remains constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.

Geography ::Isle of Man

Location:

Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland

Geographic coordinates:

54 15 N, 4 30 W

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 572 sq km country comparison to the world: 194 land: 572 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

160 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

Climate:

temperate; cool summers and mild winters; overcast about a third of the time

Terrain:

hills in north and south bisected by central valley

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Irish Sea 0 m

highest point: Snaefell 621 m

Natural resources:

none

Land use:

arable land: 9%

permanent crops: 0%

other: 91% (permanent pastures, forests, mountain, and heathland) (2002)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

waste disposal (both household and industrial); transboundary air pollution

Geography - note:

one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the southwest and is a bird sanctuary

People ::Isle of Man

Population:

76,512 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.9% (male 6,612/female 6,300)

15-64 years: 66% (male 25,433/female 25,083)

65 years and over: 17.1% (male 5,408/female 7,676) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 40.2 years

male: 39 years

female: 41.4 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.524% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Birth rate:

10.77 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Death rate:

10.76 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Net migration rate:

5.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 19

Urbanization:

urban population: 51% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: -0.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

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

65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female

total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.37 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 184 male: 6.11 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 4.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.82 years country comparison to the world: 39 male: 75.86 years

female: 81.93 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.65 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Manxman (men), Manxwoman (women)

adjective: Manx

Ethnic groups:

Manx (Norse-Celtic descent), Britons

Religions:

Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Society of Friends

Languages:

English, Manx Gaelic

Literacy:

NA

Education expenditures:

NA

Government ::Isle of Man

Country name:

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Isle of Man

abbreviation: I.O.M.

Dependency status:

British crown dependency

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Douglas

geographic coordinates: 54 09 N, 4 29 W

time difference: UTC 0 (five hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 24 local authorities each with its own elections

Independence:

none (British crown dependency)

National holiday:

Tynwald Day, 5 July

Constitution:

unwritten; note - The Isle of Man Constitution Act of 1961 does not embody the unwritten Manx Constitution

Legal system:

the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply and Manx statutes

Suffrage:

16 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir Paul K. HADDACKS (since 17 October 2005)

head of government: Chief Minister Tony BROWN (since 14 December 2006)

cabinet: Council of Ministers

elections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch; the chief minister is elected by the Tynwald for a five-year term; election last held 14 December 2006 (next to be held in December 2011)

election results: House of Keys speaker Tony BROWN elected chief minister by the Tynwald

Legislative branch:

bicameral Tynwald consists of the Legislative Council (11 seats; members composed of the President of Tynwald, the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man, a nonvoting attorney general, and 8 others named by the House of Keys) and the House of Keys (24 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections: House of Keys - last held 23 November 2006 (next to be held in November 2011)

election results: House of Keys - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Liberal Vannin Party 2, Man Labor Party 1, independents 21

Judicial branch:

High Court of Justice (justices are appointed by the Lord Chancellor of England on the nomination of the lieutenant governor)

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for Progressive Government; Liberal Vannin Party [Peter KARRAN]; Man Labor Party; Man Nationalist Party (Mec Vannin) [Bernard MOFFATT]

note: most members sit as independents

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Alliance for Progressive Government or APG (a government watchdog); Mec Vannin (political party advocating a sovereign state and environment policies); note - has only had one member elected to the Tynwald

International organization participation:

UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (British crown dependency)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (British crown dependency)

Flag description:

red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (Trinacria), in the center; the three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the knee; in order to have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides of the flag, a two-sided emblem is used

Economy ::Isle of Man

Economy - overview:

Offshore banking, manufacturing, and tourism are key sectors of the economy. The government offers incentives to high-technology companies and financial institutions to locate on the island; this has paid off in expanding employment opportunities in high-income industries. As a result, agriculture and fishing, once the mainstays of the economy, have declined in their contributions to GDP. The Isle of Man also attracts online gambling sites and the film industry. Trade is mostly with the UK. The Isle of Man enjoys free access to EU markets.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.719 billion (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 177

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.719 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.2% (2005) country comparison to the world: 83

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$35,000 (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 35

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1%

industry: 13%

services: 86% (2000 est.)

Labor force:

39,690 (2001) country comparison to the world: 190

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture, forestry, and fishing 3%, manufacturing 11%, construction 10%, transport and communication 8%, wholesale and retail distribution 11%, professional and scientific services 18%, public administration 6%, banking and finance 18%, tourism 2%, entertainment and catering 3%, miscellaneous services 10% (2001)

Unemployment rate:

1.5% (December 2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 9

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $965 million

expenditures: $943 million (FY05/06 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.1% (December 2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 38

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA

Agriculture - products:

cereals, vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry

Industries:

financial services, light manufacturing, tourism

Exports:

$NA

Exports - commodities:

tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, beef, lamb

Imports:

$NA

Imports - commodities:

timber, fertilizers, fish

Debt - external:

$NA

Exchange rates:

Manx pounds (IMP) per US dollar - 0.5302 (2008 est.), 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004)

note: the Manx pound is at par with the British pound

Communications ::Isle of Man

Telephones - main lines in use:

51,000 (1999) country comparison to the world: 161

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA

domestic: landline, telefax, mobile cellular telephone system

international: fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, satellite earth station, submarine cable

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Television broadcast stations:

0 (receives broadcasts from the UK and satellite) (1999)

Internet country code:

.im

Internet hosts:

478 (2009) country comparison to the world: 174

Transportation ::Isle of Man

Airports:

1 (2009) country comparison to the world: 229

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009)

Railways:

total: 63 km country comparison to the world: 129 narrow gauge: 6 km 1.076-m gauge (6 km electrified); 57 km 0.914-m gauge (29 km electrified)

note: primarily summer tourist attractions (2008)

Roadways:

total: 500 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 191

Merchant marine:

total: 273 country comparison to the world: 31 by type: bulk carrier 31, cargo 50, chemical tanker 48, container 12, liquefied gas 41, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 73, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 8, vehicle carrier 5

foreign-owned: 181 (Chile 6, Denmark 29, France 1, Germany 56, Greece 50, Ireland 1, Japan 6, Monaco 3, Netherlands 1, Norway 20, Singapore 1, Sweden 1, Turkey 2, US 4)

registered in other countries: 7 (Bahamas 1, Liberia 5, Marshall Islands 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Douglas, Ramsey

Military ::Isle of Man

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 14,691

females age 16-49: 14,338 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 466

female: 446 (2009 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues ::Isle of Man

Disputes - international:

none

page last updated on October 28, 2009

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

@Israel (Middle East)

Introduction ::Israel

Background:

Following World War II, the British withdrew from their mandate of Palestine, and the UN partitioned the area into Arab and Jewish states, an arrangement rejected by the Arabs. Subsequently, the Israelis defeated the Arabs in a series of wars without ending the deep tensions between the two sides. The territories Israel occupied since the 1967 war are not included in the Israel country profile, unless otherwise noted. On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the Sinai pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty. In keeping with the framework established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral negotiations were conducted between Israel and Palestinian representatives and Syria to achieve a permanent settlement. Israel and Palestinian officials signed on 13 September 1993 a Declaration of Principles (also known as the "Oslo Accords") guiding an interim period of Palestinian self-rule. Outstanding territorial and other disputes with Jordan were resolved in the 26 October 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace. In addition, on 25 May 2000, Israel withdrew unilaterally from southern Lebanon, which it had occupied since 1982. In April 2003, US President BUSH, working in conjunction with the EU, UN, and Russia - the "Quartet" - took the lead in laying out a roadmap to a final settlement of the conflict by 2005, based on reciprocal steps by the two parties leading to two states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. However, progress toward a permanent status agreement was undermined by Israeli-Palestinian violence between September 2003 and February 2005. An Israeli-Palestinian agreement reached at Sharm al-Sheikh in February 2005, along with an internally-brokered Palestinian cease-fire, significantly reduced the violence. In the summer of 2005, Israel unilaterally disengaged from the Gaza Strip, evacuating settlers and its military while retaining control over most points of entry into the Gaza Strip. The election of HAMAS in January 2006 to head the Palestinian Legislative Council froze relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). Ehud OLMERT became prime minister in March 2006; he shelved plans to unilaterally evacuate from most of the West Bank following an Israeli military operation in Gaza in June-July 2006 and a 34-day conflict with Hizballah in Lebanon in June-August 2006. OLMERT in June 2007 resumed talks with the PA after HAMAS seized control of the Gaza Strip and PA President Mahmoud ABBAS formed a new government without HAMAS. OLMERT in September 2008 resigned in the wake of several corruption allegations, but remained prime minister until the new coalition government under former Prime Minister Binyamin NETANYAHU was completed in late March 2009, following the February general election.

Geography ::Israel

Location:

Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon

Geographic coordinates:

31 30 N, 34 45 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 22,072 sq km country comparison to the world: 152 land: 21,642 sq km

water: 430 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries:

total: 1,017 km

border countries: Egypt 266 km, Gaza Strip 51 km, Jordan 238 km, Lebanon 79 km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km

Coastline:

273 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

continental shelf: to depth of exploitation

Climate:

temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas

Terrain:

Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift Valley

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m

highest point: Har Meron 1,208 m

Natural resources:

timber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock, magnesium bromide, clays, sand

Land use:

arable land: 15.45%

permanent crops: 3.88%

other: 80.67% (2005)

Irrigated land:

1,940 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

1.7 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 2.05 cu km/yr (31%/7%/62%)

per capita: 305 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; droughts; periodic earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

limited arable land and natural fresh water resources pose serious constraints; desertification; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

there are about 340 Israeli civilian sites - including 100 small outpost communities in the West Bank - as well as 42 sites in the Golan Heights, 0 in the Gaza Strip, and 29 in East Jerusalem (July 2008 est.); Lake Tiberias (Sea of Galilee) is an important freshwater source

People ::Israel

Population:

7,233,701 country comparison to the world: 97 note: includes about 187,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank, about 20,000 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, and fewer than 177,000 in East Jerusalem (July 2009 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 27.9% (male 1,031,629/female 984,230)

15-64 years: 62.3% (male 2,283,034/female 2,221,301)

65 years and over: 9.9% (male 311,218/female 402,289) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 29.1 years

male: 28.4 years

female: 29.8 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.671% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Birth rate:

19.77 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

Death rate:

5.43 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Net migration rate:

2.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

Urbanization:

urban population: 92% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female

total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.22 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 207 male: 4.39 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 4.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.73 years country comparison to the world: 13 male: 78.62 years

female: 82.95 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.75 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

5,100 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Nationality:

noun: Israeli(s)

adjective: Israeli

Ethnic groups:

Jewish 76.4% (of which Israel-born 67.1%, Europe/America-born 22.6%, Africa-born 5.9%, Asia-born 4.2%), non-Jewish 23.6% (mostly Arab) (2004)

Religions:

Jewish 76.4%, Muslim 16%, Arab Christians 1.7%, other Christian 0.4%, Druze 1.6%, unspecified 3.9% (2004)

Languages:

Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English most commonly used foreign language

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 97.1%

male: 98.5%

female: 95.9% (2004 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 15 years

male: 15 years

female: 16 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

6.9% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 25

Government ::Israel

Country name:

conventional long form: State of Israel

conventional short form: Israel

local long form: Medinat Yisra'el

local short form: Yisra'el

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Jerusalem

geographic coordinates: 31 46 N, 35 14 E

time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Friday in March; ends the Sunday between the holidays of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur

note: Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital in 1950, but the US, like nearly all other countries, maintains its Embassy in Tel Aviv

Administrative divisions:

6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz); Central, Haifa, Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv

Independence:

14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 14 May (1948); note - Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the holiday may occur in April or May

Constitution:

no formal constitution; some of the functions of a constitution are filled by the Declaration of Establishment (1948), the Basic Laws of the parliament (Knesset), and the Israeli citizenship law; note - since May 2003 the Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee of the Knesset has been working on a draft constitution

Legal system:

mixture of English common law, British Mandate regulations, and, in personal matters, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim legal systems; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Shimon PERES (since 15 July 2007)

head of government: Prime Minister Binjamin NETANYAHU (since 31 March 2009); Vice Prime Minister Silvan SHALOM (since 31 March 2009); Vice Prime Minister Moshe YAALON (since 31 March 2009)

cabinet: Cabinet selected by prime minister and approved by the Knesset

elections: president is largely a ceremonial role and is elected by the Knesset for a seven-year term (one-term limit); election last held 13 June 2007 (next to be held in 2014 but can be called earlier); following legislative elections, the president assigns a Knesset member - traditionally the leader of the largest party - the task of forming a governing coalition

election results: Shimon PERES elected president; number of votes in first round - Shimon PERES 58, Reuven RIVLIN 37, Colette AVITAL 21; PERES elected president in second round with 86 votes (unopposed)

Legislative branch:

unicameral Knesset (120 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections: last held 10 February 2009 (next scheduled election to be held in 2013)

election results: percent of vote by party - Kadima 23.2%, Likud-Ahi 22.3%, YB 12.1%, Labor 10.2%, SHAS 8.8%, United Torah Judaism 4.5%, United Arab List 3.5%, NU 3.4%, Hadash 3.4%, The Jewish Home 3%, The New Movement-Meretz 3%, Balad 2.6%; seats by party - Kadima 28, Likud-Ahi 27, YB 15, Labor 13, SHAS 11, United Torah Judaism 5, United Arab List 4, NU 4, HADASH 4, The Jewish Home 3, The New Movement-Meretz 3, Balad 3

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (justices appointed by Judicial Selection Committee - made up of all three branches of the government; mandatory retirement age is 70)

Political parties and leaders:

Balad [Azmi BISHARA]; Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (HADASH) [Muhammad BARAKEH]; Kadima [Tzipora "Tzipi" LIVNI]; Labor Party [Ehud BARAK]; Likud [Binyamin NETANYAHU]; National Union [Yaakov KATZ]; The Jewish Home (HaBayit HaYehudi) [Daniel HERSCHKOWITZ]; SHAS [Eliyahu YISHAI]; The New Movement-Meretz [Haim ORON]; United Arab List-Ta'al [Ibrahim SARSUR]; United Torah Judaism or UTJ [Yaakov LITZMAN]; Yisrael Beiteinu or YB [Avigdor LIEBERMAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

B'Tselem [Jessica MONTELL, Executive Director] monitors human rights abuses; Peace Now [Yariv OPPENHEIMER, Secretary General] supports territorial concessions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip; YESHA Council of Settlements [Danny DAYAN, Chairman] promotes settler interests and opposes territorial compromise

International organization participation:

BIS, BSEC (observer), CERN (observer), EBRD, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OAS (observer), OECD (accession state), OPCW (signatory), OSCE (partner), PCA, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US: