Chapter M: Major infectious diseases (60)
mailing address: P. O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940
telephone: [680] 488-2920, 2990
FAX: [680] 488-2911
Flag description:
light blue with a large yellow disk shifted slightly to the hoist side; the blue color represents the ocean, the disk represents the moon; Palauans consider the full moon to be the optimum time for human activity; it is also considered a symbol of peace, love, and tranquility
National anthem:
name: "Belau rekid" (Our Palau)
lyrics/music: multiple/Ymesei O. EZEKIEL
note: adopted 1980
Economy ::Palau
Economy - overview:
The economy consists primarily of tourism, subsistence agriculture, and fishing. The government is the major employer of the work force relying heavily on financial assistance from the US. The Compact of Free Association with the US, entered into after the end of the UN trusteeship on 1 October 1994, provided Palau with up to $700 million in US aid for the following 15 years in return for furnishing military facilities. Business and tourist arrivals numbered 85,000 in 2007. The population enjoys a per capita income roughly 50% higher than that of the Philippines and much of Micronesia. Long-run prospects for the key tourist sector have been greatly bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific, the rising prosperity of leading East Asian countries, and the willingness of foreigners to finance infrastructure development.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$164 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 218 $124.5 million (2004 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP estimate includes US subsidy
GDP (official exchange rate):
$164 million (2008)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA% (2009)
5.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$8,100 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 122 $7,600 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6.2%
industry: 12%
services: 81.8% (2003)
Labor force:
9,777 (2005) country comparison to the world: 215
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 20%
industry: NA%
services: NA% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
4.2% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 39
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.7% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 85
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; fish
Industries:
tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), construction, garment making
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Current account balance:
$15.09 million (FY03/04) country comparison to the world: 59
Exports:
$5.882 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 214
Exports - commodities:
shellfish, tuna, copra, garments
Imports:
$107.3 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 208
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuels, metals; foodstuffs
Debt - external:
$0 (FY99/00) country comparison to the world: 197
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Communications ::Palau
Telephones - main lines in use:
7,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 207
Telephones - mobile cellular:
13,200 (2009) country comparison to the world: 210
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular services available with a combined subscribership of roughly 100 per 100 persons
international: country code - 680; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2008)
Broadcast media:
no television broadcast stations; a cable television network covers the major islands and provides access to rebroadcasts, on a delayed basis, of a number of US stations as well as access to a number of real-time satellite TV channels; about a half dozen radio stations with 1 government-owned (2009)
Internet country code:
.pw
Internet hosts:
3 (2010) country comparison to the world: 229
Transportation ::Palau
Airports:
3 (2010) country comparison to the world: 191
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Koror
Military ::Palau
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Palau National Police (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,955 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,223
females age 16-49: 3,949 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 212
female: 218 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US; under a Compact of Free Association between Palau and the US, the US military is granted access to the islands for 50 years, but it has not stationed any military forces there (2008)
Transnational Issues ::Palau
Disputes - international:
maritime delineation negotiations continue with Philippines, Indonesia
page last updated on December 15, 2010
======================================================================
@Panama (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Panama
Background:
Explored and settled by the Spanish in the 16th century, Panama broke with Spain in 1821 and joined a union of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela - named the Republic of Gran Colombia. When the latter dissolved in 1830, Panama remained part of Colombia. With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. In 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by the end of the century. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the subsequent decades. With US help, dictator Manuel NORIEGA was deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the Canal, and remaining US military bases were transferred to Panama by the end of 1999. In October 2006, Panamanians approved an ambitious plan (estimated to cost $5.3 billion) to expand the Canal. The project, which began in 2007 and could double the Canal's capacity, is expected to be completed in 2014-15.
Geography ::Panama
Location:
Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica
Geographic coordinates:
9 00 N, 80 00 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 75,420 sq km country comparison to the world: 117 land: 74,340 sq km
water: 1,080 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
total: 555 km
border countries: Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km
Coastline:
2,490 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or edge of continental margin
Climate:
tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)
Terrain:
interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan Baru 3,475 m
Natural resources:
copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 7.26%
permanent crops: 1.95%
other: 90.79% (2005)
Irrigated land:
430 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
148 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.82 cu km/yr (67%/5%/28%)
per capita: 254 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area
Environment - current issues:
water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation and soil erosion threatens siltation of Panama Canal; air pollution in urban areas; mining threatens natural resources
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, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land bridge connecting North and South America; controls Panama Canal that links North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with North Pacific Ocean
People ::Panama
Population:
3,410,676 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 132
Age structure:
0-14 years: 29.3% (male 501,950/female 481,750)
15-64 years: 63.9% (male 1,085,435/female 1,061,530)
65 years and over: 6.8% (male 106,934/female 122,875) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 27.2 years
male: 26.9 years
female: 27.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.463% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 84
Birth rate:
19.71 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 94
Death rate:
4.62 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 197
Net migration rate:
-0.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 140
Urbanization:
urban population: 73% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.045 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 11.97 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 139 male: 12.75 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.61 years country comparison to the world: 54 male: 74.85 years
female: 80.5 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.48 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 89
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 53
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
20,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 79
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 76
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Panamanian(s)
adjective: Panamanian
Ethnic groups:
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%, Amerindian and mixed (West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
Languages:
Spanish (official), English 14%; note - many Panamanians bilingual
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.9%
male: 92.5%
female: 91.2% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
3.8% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 115
Government ::Panama
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Panama
conventional short form: Panama
local long form: Republica de Panama
local short form: Panama
Government type:
constitutional democracy
Capital:
name: Panama City
geographic coordinates: 8 58 N, 79 32 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
11 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 territory* (comarca); Bocas del Toro, Comarca Kuna Yala, Comarca Ngobe-Bugle, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, San Blas* (Kuna Yala), and Veraguas
Independence:
3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28 November 1821)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 3 November (1903)
Constitution:
11 October 1972; revised in 1978, 1983, 1994, and 2004
Legal system:
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal (since 1 July 2009); Vice President Juan Carlos VARELA (since 1 July 2009); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal (since 1 July 2009); Vice President Juan Carlos VARELA (since 1 July 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms (not eligible for immediate reelection; president and vice president must sit out two additional terms (10 years) before becoming eligible for reelection); election last held on 3 May 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal elected president; percent of vote - Ricardo MARTINELLI Berrocal 60%, Balbina HERRERA 38%, Guillermo ENDARA Galimany 2%
note: government coalition - CD (Democratic Change), Panamenista, MOLIRENA (Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement), and UP (Patriotic Union Party)
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (71 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 3 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRD 26, Panamenista 22, CD 14, UP 4, Independent 2, MOLIRENA 2, PP 1
note: legislators from outlying rural districts chosen on a plurality basis while districts located in more populous towns and cities elect multiple legislators by means of a proportion-based formula
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (nine judges appointed for 10-year terms); five superior courts; three courts of appeal
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Change or CD [Ricardo MARTINELLI]; Democratic Revolutionary Party or PRD [Francisco SANCHEZ Cardenas]; Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA [Sergio GONZALEZ-Ruiz]; Panamenista Party [Juan Carlos VARELA Rodriguez] (formerly the Arnulfista Party); Patriotic Union Party or UP (combination of the Liberal National Party or PLN and the Solidarity Party or PS)[Anibal GALINDO]; Popular Party or PP [Milton HENRIQUEZ] (formerly Christian Democratic Party or PDC)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Chamber of Commerce; National Civic Crusade; National Council of Organized Workers or CONATO; National Council of Private Enterprise or CONEP; National Union of Construction and Similar Workers (SUNTRACS); Panamanian Association of Business Executives or APEDE; Panamanian Industrialists Society or SIP; Workers Confederation of the Republic of Panama or CTRP
International organization participation:
BCIE, CAN (observer), CSN (observer), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, SICA, UN, UNASUR (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime Eduardo ALEMAN Healy
chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-1407
FAX: [1] (202) 483-8416
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco, Tampa
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Phyllis M. POWERS
embassy: Edificio 783, Avenida Demetrio Basilio Lakas Panama, Apartado Postal 0816-02561, Zona 5, Panama City
mailing address: American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002
telephone: [507] 207-7000
FAX: [507] 317-5568
Flag description:
divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white (hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and plain red; the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a red five-pointed star in the center; the blue and red colors are those of the main political parties (Conservatives and Liberals respectively) and the white denotes peace between them; the blue star stands for the civic virtues of purity and honesty, the red star signifies authority and law
National anthem:
name: "Himno Istemno" (Isthmus Hymn)
lyrics/music: Jeronimo DE LA OSSA/Santos A. JORGE
note: adopted 1925
Economy ::Panama
Economy - overview:
Panama's dollarized economy rests primarily on a well-developed services sector that accounts for three-quarters of GDP. Services include operating the Panama Canal, banking, the Colon Free Zone, insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and tourism. Economic growth will be bolstered by the Panama Canal expansion project that began in 2007 and is scheduled to be completed by 2014 at a cost of $5.3 billion - about 25% of current GDP. The expansion project will more than double the Canal's capacity, enabling it to accommodate ships that are now too large to transverse the transoceanic crossway, and should help to reduce the unemployment rate. The United States and China are the top users of the Canal. Panama also plans to construct a metro system in Panama City, valued at $1.2 billion and scheduled to be completed by 2014. Panama's aggressive infrastructure development projects will likely lead the economy to continued growth in 2011. Strong economic performance has not translated into broadly shared prosperity as Panama has the second worst income distribution in Latin America. About 30% of the population lives in poverty, however, during TORRIJOS's term poverty was reduced from 40% to 30% and unemployment dropped from 12% to 6%. Not a CAFTA signatory, Panama in December 2006 independently negotiated a free trade agreement with the US, which, when implemented, will help promote the country's economic growth. Seeking removal from the Organization of Economic Development's gray-list of tax havens, Panama has also recently signed various double taxation treaties with other nations.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$43.48 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 95 $41.37 billion (2009 est.)
$40.4 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$27.2 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 56 2.4% (2009 est.)
10.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$12,700 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 90 $12,300 (2009 est.)
$12,200 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.8%
industry: 16.6%
services: 77.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
1.49 million country comparison to the world: 130 note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor (2010 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 18%
services: 76% (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4.4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 41 6.7% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
28.6% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 41.4% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
56.1 (2003) country comparison to the world: 12 48.5 (1997)
Investment (gross fixed):
26.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 32
Public debt:
40.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 69 44.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 2.4% (2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8.25% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 115 8.16% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$5.04 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 88 $4.404 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$24.17 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 78 $21.78 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$23.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 74 $20.17 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$8.048 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 75 $6.568 billion (31 December 2008)
$6.219 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock; shrimp
Industries:
construction, brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling
Industrial production growth rate:
2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 128
Electricity - production:
6.322 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 104
Electricity - consumption:
5.17 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 107
Electricity - exports:
124.9 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
8.74 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
2 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 115
Oil - consumption:
93,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 77
Oil - exports:
4,803 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 106
Oil - imports:
87,100 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 69
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 146
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 152
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 117
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 145
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 105
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 112
Current account balance:
-$813 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 128 -$2.33 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$12.52 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 79 $10.9 billion (2009 est.)
note: includes the Colon Free Zone
Exports - commodities:
bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing
Exports - partners:
Greece 21.03%, US 17.63%, Japan 9.87%, Germany 4.28%, Italy 4.27% (2009)
Imports:
$16.05 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 $12.93 billion (2009 est.)
note: includes the Colon Free Zone
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Japan 36.21%, Singapore 16.86%, US 12.3%, China 7.84% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$3.525 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 84 $3.028 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$13.85 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 80 $13.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
balboas (PAB) per US dollar - 1 (2010), 1 (2009), 1 (2008), 1 (2007), 1 (2006)
Communications ::Panama
Telephones - main lines in use:
537,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 95
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5.677 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 88
Telephone system:
general assessment: domestic and international facilities well developed
domestic: mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has increased rapidly
international: country code - 507; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1), the MAYA-1, and PAN-AM submarine cable systems that together provide links to the US and parts of the Caribbean, Central America, and South America; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to the Central American Microwave System (2008)
Broadcast media:
multiple privately-owned television networks and a government-owned educational TV station; multi-channel cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; more than 100 commercial radio stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.pa
Internet hosts:
9,585 (2010) country comparison to the world: 123
Internet users:
959,800 (2009) country comparison to the world: 104
Transportation ::Panama
Airports:
118 (2010) country comparison to the world: 52
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 54
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 30 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 64
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 52 (2010)
Heliports:
3 (2010)
Railways:
total: 76 km country comparison to the world: 127 standard gauge: 76 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 11,978 km country comparison to the world: 130 paved: 4,300 km
unpaved: 7,678 km (2002)
Waterways:
800 km (includes the 82-km Panama Canal that is being widened) (2010) country comparison to the world: 72
Merchant marine:
total: 6,379 country comparison to the world: 1 by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 2,383, cargo 1,129, carrier 18, chemical tanker 626, combination ore/oil 3, container 751, liquefied gas 192, passenger 42, passenger/cargo 61, petroleum tanker 576, refrigerated cargo 212, roll on/roll off 100, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 282
foreign-owned: 5,244 (Albania 3, Argentina 7, Australia 5, Azerbaijan 1, Bahamas 7, Bangladesh 3, Belgium 2, Bermuda 15, Brazil 3, Bulgaria 6, Burma 3, Canada 5, Chile 17, China 574, Colombia 2, Croatia 2, Cuba 4, Cyprus 8, Denmark 46, Ecuador 6, Egypt 11, Finland 2, France 13, Gabon 1, Germany 27, Gibraltar 1, Greece 402, Hong Kong 125, India 17, Indonesia 14, Iran 5, Ireland 1, Isle of Man 11, Israel 1, Italy 23, Japan 2347, Jordan 13, Kuwait 12, Latvia 4, Lebanon 2, Lithuania 4, Luxembourg 1, Malaysia 12, Maldives 3, Malta 2, Mexico 6, Monaco 14, Morocco 1, Netherlands 8, Nigeria 7, Norway 89, Oman 8, Pakistan 5, Peru 12, Philippines 6, Poland 3, Portugal 9, Qatar 1, Romania 2, Russia 39, Saudi Arabia 8, Singapore 79, South Korea 366, Spain 40, Sweden 1, Switzerland 22, Syria 42, Taiwan 337, Tanzania 2, Thailand 6, Tunisia 1, Turkey 79, UAE 83, UK 33, Ukraine 11, US 102, Venezuela 8, Vietnam 37, Yemen 4)
registered in other countries: 1 (Honduras 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Balboa, Colon, Cristobal
Military ::Panama
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Panamanian public forces include: Panamanian National Police (PNP), National Air-Naval Service (SENAN), National Border Service (SENAFRONT) (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 878,281 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 719,761
females age 16-49: 719,444 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 31,398
female: 30,182 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 132
Military - note:
on 10 February 1990, the government of then President ENDARA abolished Panama's military and reformed the security apparatus by creating the Panamanian Public Forces; in October 1994, Panama's Legislative Assembly approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting the creation of a standing military force but allowing the temporary establishment of special police units to counter acts of "external aggression"
Transnational Issues ::Panama
Disputes - international:
organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within the remote border region with Panama
Illicit drugs:
major cocaine transshipment point and primary money-laundering center for narcotics revenue; money-laundering activity is especially heavy in the Colon Free Zone; offshore financial center; negligible signs of coca cultivation; monitoring of financial transactions is improving; official corruption remains a major problem
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Papua New Guinea (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Papua New Guinea
Background:
The eastern half of the island of New Guinea - second largest in the world - was divided between Germany (north) and the UK (south) in 1885. The latter area was transferred to Australia in 1902, which occupied the northern portion during World War I and continued to administer the combined areas until independence in 1975. A nine-year secessionist revolt on the island of Bougainville ended in 1997 after claiming some 20,000 lives.
Geography ::Papua New Guinea
Location:
Oceania, group of islands including the eastern half of the island of New Guinea between the Coral Sea and the South Pacific Ocean, east of Indonesia
Geographic coordinates:
6 00 S, 147 00 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 462,840 sq km country comparison to the world: 54 land: 452,860 sq km
water: 9,980 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 820 km
border countries: Indonesia 820 km
Coastline:
5,152 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m
Natural resources:
gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries
Land use:
arable land: 0.49%
permanent crops: 1.4%
other: 98.11% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Total renewable water resources:
801 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.1 cu km/yr (56%/43%/1%)
per capita: 17 cu m/yr (1987)
Natural hazards:
active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamis
volcanism: Papua New Guinea experiences severe volcanic activity; Ulawun (elev. 2,334 m, 7,657 ft), one of Papua New Guinea's potentially most dangerous volcanoes, has been deemed a "Decade Volcano" by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Rabaul (elev. 688 m, 2,257 ft) destroyed the city of Rabaul in 1937 and 1994; Lamington erupted in 1951 killing 3,000 people; Manam's 2004 eruption forced the island's abandonment; other historically active volcanoes include Bam, Bagana, Garbuna, Karkar, Langila, Lolobau, Long Island, Pago, St. Andrew Strait, Victory, and Waiowa
Environment - current issues:
rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining projects; severe drought
Environment - international agreements:
party to: 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: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast
People ::Papua New Guinea
Population:
6,064,515 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 105
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.3% (male 1,126,214/female 1,088,211)
15-64 years: 59.3% (male 1,815,731/female 1,704,430)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 113,285/female 92,904) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.6 years
male: 21.9 years
female: 21.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.033% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 51
Birth rate:
26.95 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 53
Death rate:
6.62 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 148
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 112
Urbanization:
urban population: 12% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.2 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 44.59 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 58 male: 48.47 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 40.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 65.99 years country comparison to the world: 162 male: 63.78 years
female: 68.31 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.54 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 47
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 43
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
54,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 63
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 75
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Papua New Guinean(s)
adjective: Papua New Guinean
Ethnic groups:
Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian
Religions:
Roman Catholic 27%, Evangelical Lutheran 19.5%, United Church 11.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10%, Pentecostal 8.6%, Evangelical Alliance 5.2%, Anglican 3.2%, Baptist 2.5%, other Protestant 8.9%, Bahai 0.3%, indigenous beliefs and other 3.3% (2000 census)
Languages:
Tok Pisin, English, and Hiri Motu are official languages; some 860 indigenous languages spoken (over one-tenth of the world's total)
note: Tok Pisin, a creole language, is widely used and understood; English is spoken by 1%-2%; Hiri Motu is spoken by less than 2%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.3%
male: 63.4%
female: 50.9% (2000 census)
Education expenditures:
NA
People - note:
the indigenous population of Papua New Guinea is one of the most heterogeneous in the world; PNG has several thousand separate communities, most with only a few hundred people; divided by language, customs, and tradition, some of these communities have engaged in low-scale tribal conflict with their neighbors for millennia; the advent of modern weapons and modern migrants into urban areas has greatly magnified the impact of this lawlessness
Government ::Papua New Guinea
Country name:
conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea
conventional short form: Papua New Guinea
local short form: Papuaniugini
former: Territory of Papua and New Guinea
abbreviation: PNG
Government type:
constitutional parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
name: Port Moresby
geographic coordinates: 9 30 S, 147 10 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
18 provinces, 1 autonomous region*, and 1 district**; Bougainville*, Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital**, New Ireland, Northern, Sandaun, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain
Independence:
16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
Constitution:
16 September 1975
Legal system:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by acting governor general Michael OGIO (since 20 December 2010)
note: governor general Sir Paulias MATANE (since 29 June 2004) was replaced on 10 December 2010 when his reappointment to the office in May 2010 was declared null and void
head of government: Acting Prime Minister Sam ABAL (since 14 December 2010)
note: Prime Minister Sir Michael SOMARE (since 2 August 2002) stepped aside on 14 December 2010 because he was to be referred to a tribunal for not submitting three annual fiscal returns; Deputy Prime Minister Don POYLE (since 20 June 2010) was replaced on 9 December 2010 by Sam ABAL
cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; the governor general nominated by parliament and appointed by the chief of state; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general acting in accordance with a decision of the parliament
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Parliament (109 seats, 89 filled from open electorates and 20 from provinces and national capital district; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); constitution allows up to 126 seats
elections: last held from 30 June to 10 July 2007; next to be held in June 2012
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA 27, PNGP 8, PAP 6, URP 6, PANGU PATI 5, PDM 5, independents 19, others 33; note - election to 1 seat was nullified
note: 15 other parties won 4 or fewer seats; association with political parties is fluid
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the proposal of the National Executive Council after consultation with the minister responsible for justice; other judges are appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission)
Political parties and leaders:
National Alliance Party or NA [Michael SOMARE]; Papua and Niugini Union Party or PANGU PATI [Andrew KUMBAKOR]; Papua New Guinea Party or PNGP [Sir Mekere MORAUTA]; People's Action Party or PAP [Gabriel KAPRIS]; People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Michael OGIO]; United Resources Party or URP [William DUMA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Ahora [Andrew MAMOKO] (represents local tribes); Centre for Environment Law and Community Rights or Celcor [Damien ASE]; Community Coalition Against Corruption
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Evan Jeremy PAKI
chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 805, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680
FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Teddy B. TAYLOR
embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby, N.C.D.
mailing address: 4240 Port Moresby PI, US Department of State, Washington DC 20521-4240
telephone: [675] 321-1455
FAX: [675] 321-3423
Flag description:
divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lower triangle is black with five, white, five-pointed stars of the Southern Cross constellation centered; red, black, and yellow are traditional colors of Papua New Guinea; the bird of paradise - endemic to the island of New Guinea - is an emblem of regional tribal culture and represents the emergence of Papua New Guinea as a nation; the Southern Cross, visible in the night sky, symbolizes Papua New Guinea's connection with Australia and several other countries in the South Pacific
National anthem:
name: "O Arise All You Sons"
lyrics/music: Thomas SHACKLADY
note: adopted 1975
Economy ::Papua New Guinea
Economy - overview:
Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, but exploitation has been hampered by rugged terrain and the high cost of developing infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for 85% of the population. Mineral deposits, including copper, gold, and oil, account for nearly two-thirds of export earnings. Natural gas reserves amount to an estimated 227 billion cubic meters. A consortium led by a major American oil company is constructing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facility that could begin exporting in 2013 or 2014. As the largest investment project in the country's history, it has the potential to double GDP in the near-term and triple Papua New Guinea's export revenue. The government faces the challenge of ensuring transparency and accountability for revenues flowing from this and other large LNG projects. The government of Prime Minister SOMARE has expended much of its energy remaining in power. He was the first prime minister ever to serve a full five-year term. The government has brought stability to the national budget, largely through expenditure control; however, it relaxed spending constraints in 2006 and 2007 as elections approached. Numerous challenges still face the government, including providing physical security for foreign investors, regaining investor confidence, restoring integrity to state institutions, promoting economic efficiency by privatizing moribund state institutions, and balancing relations with Australia, its former colonial ruler. Other socio-cultural challenges could upend the economy including an HIV/AIDS epidemic, with the highest infection rate in all of East Asia and the Pacific, and chronic law and order and land tenure issues. The global financial crisis had little impact because of continued high demand for Papua New Guinea's commodities exports.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$14.93 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 136 $14.06 billion (2009 est.)
$13.33 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$8.809 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 34 5.5% (2009 est.)
6.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,500 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 176 $2,400 (2009 est.)
$2,300 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 32.2%
industry: 35.7%
services: 32.1% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
3.809 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 91
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 85%
industry: NA%
services: NA% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
1.8% (2004) country comparison to the world: 11
Population below poverty line:
37% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
50.9 (1996) country comparison to the world: 19
Investment (gross fixed):
17.3% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 117
Public debt:
27.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 90 29.7% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 175 6.9% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
6.92% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 58 7% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.09% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 101 9.2% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$2.551 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 116 $2.263 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$4.726 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 122 $4.14 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$2.796 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 121 $2.424 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$NA (31 December 2007)
$6.632 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, cocoa, copra, palm kernels, tea, sugar, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables, vanilla; shell fish; poultry, pork
Industries:
copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip production; mining of gold, silver, and copper; crude oil production, petroleum refining; construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
10% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 16
Electricity - production:
2.885 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 125
Electricity - consumption:
2.683 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 129
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
35,090 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 68
Oil - consumption:
36,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 109
Oil - exports:
32,490 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 84
Oil - imports:
14,380 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 126
Oil - proved reserves:
170 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 62
Natural gas - production:
100 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 79
Natural gas - consumption:
100 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 102
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 144
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 104
Natural gas - proved reserves:
226.5 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 44
Current account balance:
-$99 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 -$446.4 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$5.976 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 104 $4.392 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, crayfish, prawns
Exports - partners:
Australia 30.05%, Japan 7.48% (2009)
Imports:
$3.547 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 134 $2.871 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Australia 43.27%, China 13.29%, Singapore 9.59%, US 6.4%, Japan 4.62% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$3.017 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 85 $2.607 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.548 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 $1.436 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
kina (PGK) per US dollar - 2.7517 (2010), 2.7551 (2009), 2.6956 (2008), 3.03 (2007), 3.0643 (2006)
Communications ::Papua New Guinea
Telephones - main lines in use:
60,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 156
Telephones - mobile cellular:
900,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 147
Telephone system:
general assessment: services are minimal; facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services
domestic: access to telephone services is not widely available; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 15 per 100 persons
international: country code - 675; submarine cables to Australia and Guam; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); international radio communication service (2009)
Broadcast media:
2 television stations, 1 commercial station operating since the late 1980s and 1 state-run station launched in 2008; satellite and cable TV services are available; state-run National Broadcasting Corporation operates 3 radio networks with multiple repeaters and about 20 provincial stations; several commercial radio stations with multiple transmission points as well as several community stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are accessible (2009)
Internet country code:
.pg
Internet hosts:
4,285 (2010) country comparison to the world: 139
Internet users:
125,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 152
Transportation ::Papua New Guinea
Airports:
562 (2010) country comparison to the world: 12
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 21
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 541
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 63
under 914 m: 469 (2010)
Heliports:
2 (2010)
Pipelines:
oil 195 km (2009)
Roadways:
total: 9,349 km country comparison to the world: 136 paved: 3,000 km
unpaved: 6,349 km (2011)
Waterways:
11,000 km (2006) country comparison to the world: 12
Merchant marine:
total: 28 country comparison to the world: 88 by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 24, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned: 7 (Malaysia 1, UAE 6) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Kimbe, Lae, Madang, Rabaul, Wewak
Military ::Papua New Guinea
Military branches:
Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF; includes Maritime Operations Element, Air Operations Element) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
16 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,532,378
females age 16-49: 1,440,528 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,103,479
females age 16-49: 1,107,479 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 66,139
female: 64,244 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.4% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 108
Transnational Issues ::Papua New Guinea
Disputes - international:
relies on assistance from Australia to keep out illegal cross-border activities from primarily Indonesia, including goods smuggling, illegal narcotics trafficking, and squatters and secessionists
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 10,177 (Indonesia) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Papua New Guinea is a country of destination for women and children from Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and China trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; internal trafficking of women and children for the purposes of sexual exploitation and involuntary domestic servitude occurs as well
tier rating: Tier 3 - Papua New Guinea does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the current legal framework does not contain elements of crimes that characterize trafficking; the government lacks victim protection services or a systematic procedure to identify victims of trafficking; the government did not prosecute anyone in 2007 for trafficking; Papua New Guinea has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)
Illicit drugs:
major consumer of cannabis
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Paracel Islands (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Paracel Islands
Background:
The Paracel Islands are surrounded by productive fishing grounds and by potential oil and gas reserves. In 1932, French Indochina annexed the islands and set up a weather station on Pattle Island; maintenance was continued by its successor, Vietnam. China has occupied the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops seized a South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. China built a military installation on Woody Island with an airfield and artificial harbor. The islands also are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.
Geography ::Paracel Islands
Location:
Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the northern Philippines
Geographic coordinates:
16 30 N, 112 00 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: NA sq km
land: NA sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
NA
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
518 km
Maritime claims:
NA
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
mostly low and flat
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
typhoons
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group
People ::Paracel Islands
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons
Government ::Paracel Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Paracel Islands
Economy ::Paracel Islands
Economy - overview:
The islands have the potential for oil and gas development. Waters around the islands support commercial fishing, but the islands themselves are not populated on a permanent basis.
Transportation ::Paracel Islands
Airports:
1 (2010) country comparison to the world: 227
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island
Military ::Paracel Islands
Military - note:
occupied by China
Transnational Issues ::Paracel Islands
Disputes - international:
occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam
page last updated on November 17, 2010
======================================================================
@Paraguay (South America)
Introduction ::Paraguay
Background:
Paraguay achieved its independence from Spain in 1811. In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70) - between Paraguay and Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay - Paraguay lost two-thirds of all adult males and much of its territory. The country stagnated economically for the next half century. Following the Chaco War of 1932-35 with Bolivia, Paraguay gained a large part of the Chaco lowland region. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER ended in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in political infighting in recent years, Paraguay has held relatively free and regular presidential elections since then.
Geography ::Paraguay
Location:
Central South America, northeast of Argentina
Geographic coordinates:
23 00 S, 58 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 406,752 sq km country comparison to the world: 59 land: 397,302 sq km
water: 9,450 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries:
total: 3,995 km
border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,365 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west
Terrain:
grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m
highest point: Cerro Pero 842 m
Natural resources:
hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Land use:
arable land: 7.47%
permanent crops: 0.24%
other: 92.29% (2005)
Irrigated land:
670 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
336 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.49 cu km/yr (20%/8%/71%)
per capita: 80 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal pose health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in southern part of country
People ::Paraguay
Population:
6,375,830 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 103
Age structure:
0-14 years: 36.7% (male 1,304,115/female 1,260,560)
15-64 years: 58.1% (male 2,043,509/female 2,023,317)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 168,554/female 195,600) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.9 years
male: 24.7 years
female: 25.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.31% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 94
Birth rate:
17.73 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 115
Death rate:
4.55 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 199
Net migration rate:
-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 124
Urbanization:
urban population: 60% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 23.83 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 88 male: 27.84 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.99 years country comparison to the world: 72 male: 73.39 years
female: 78.71 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.16 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 118
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 67
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
21,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 78
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 74
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Paraguayan(s)
adjective: Paraguayan
Ethnic groups:
mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, other 5%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 89.6%, Protestant 6.2%, other Christian 1.1%, other or unspecified 1.9%, none 1.1% (2002 census)
Languages:
Spanish (official), Guarani (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94%
male: 94.9%
female: 93% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
4% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 106
Government ::Paraguay
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay
conventional short form: Paraguay
local long form: Republica del Paraguay
local short form: Paraguay
Government type:
constitutional republic
Capital:
name: Asuncion
geographic coordinates: 25 16 S, 57 40 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends second Sunday in April
Administrative divisions:
17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital city*; Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion*, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro
Independence:
14 May 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 14 May 1811 (observed 15 May)
Constitution:
promulgated 20 June 1992
Legal system:
based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez (since 15 August 2008); Vice President Federico FRANCO (since 15 August 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez (since 15 August 2008); Vice President Federico FRANCO (since 15 August 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held on 20 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2013)
election results: Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez elected president; percent of vote - Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez 40.8%, Blanca OVELAR 30.6%, Lino OVIEDO 21.9%, Pedro FADUL 2.4%, other 4.3%
Legislative branch:
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The 2010 CIA World FactbookChapter M: Major infectious diseases (60)
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