Читать книгу The 2004 CIA World Factbook - United States. Central Intelligence Agency - Страница 57
ОглавлениеElevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Ross on Iles Kerguelen 1,850 m
Natural resources:
fish, crayfish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct volcanoes
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
islands component is widely scattered across remote locations in
the southern Indian Ocean
People French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants (July 2002 est.)
note: in 2002, there were 145 researchers whose numbers vary from
winter (July) to summer (January) (July 2004 est.)
Government French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of the French Southern and
Antarctic Lands
conventional short form: French Southern and Antarctic Lands
local long form: Territoire des Terres Australes et Antarctiques
Francaises
local short form: Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises
Dependency status:
overseas territory of France since 1955; administered from Paris by
Administrateur Superieur Michel CHAMPON (since 20 December 2004),
assisted by Secretary General Jean-Yves HERMOSO (since NA)
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are 3 districts named Ile Crozet, Iles Kerguelen, and Iles
Saint-Paul et Amsterdam; excludes "Adelie Land" claim in Antarctica
that is not recognized by the US
Legal system:
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of France)
Flag description:
the flag of France is used
Economy French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Economy - overview:
Economic activity is limited to servicing meteorological and
geophysical research stations and French and other fishing fleets.
The fish catches landed on Iles Kerguelen by foreign ships are
exported to France and Reunion.
Communications French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Internet country code: .tf
Transportation French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only
Merchant marine:
total: 70 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 3,092,387 GRT/5,056,658 DWT
by type: bulk 4, cargo 2, chemical tanker 19, container 11,
liquefied gas 7, petroleum tanker 14, roll on/roll off 11, vehicle
carrier 2
foreign-owned: Denmark 2, France 49, Japan 4, Monaco 5, Norway 5,
Sweden 5 (2004 est.)
Airports:
none
Military French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Disputes - international: French claim to "Adelie Land" in Antarctica is not recognized by the US
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
======================================================================
@Gabon
Introduction Gabon
Background:
Only two autocratic presidents have ruled Gabon since independence
from France in 1960. Gabon's current President, El Hadj Omar BONGO -
one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world - has
dominated Gabon's political scene for almost four decades. President
BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system and a new constitution
in the early 1990s. However, the low turnout and allegations of
electoral fraud during the most recent local elections in 2002–03
have exposed the weaknesses of formal political structures in Gabon.
In addition, recent strikes have underscored the popular
disenchantment with the political system. Presidential elections
scheduled for 2005 are unlikely to bring change since the opposition
remains weak, divided, and financially dependent on the current
regime. Despite political conditions, a small population, abundant
natural resources, and considerable foreign support have helped make
Gabon one of the more prosperous and stable African countries.
Geography Gabon
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator,
between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
Geographic coordinates:
1 00 S, 11 45 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 267,667 sq km
water: 10,000 sq km
land: 257,667 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Colorado
Land boundaries:
total: 2,551 km
border countries: Cameroon 298 km, Republic of the Congo 1,903 km,
Equatorial Guinea 350 km
Coastline:
885 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain:
narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 1.26% permanent crops: 0.66% other: 98.08% (2001)
Irrigated land:
150 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; poaching
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, 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:
a small population and oil and mineral reserves have helped Gabon
become one of Africa's wealthier countries; in general, these
circumstances have allowed the country to maintain and conserve its
pristine rain forest and rich biodiversity
People Gabon
Population:
1,355,246
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2004 est.)
Age structure:
0–14 years: 42.2% (male 286,819; female 285,184)
15–64 years: 53.7% (male 362,311; female 365,132)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 23,157; female 32,643) (2004 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.5 years
male: 18.3 years
female: 18.8 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.5% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:
36.4 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:
11.43 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15–64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 54.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 44.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 64.15 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 56.46 years
male: 54.85 years
female: 58.12 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.8 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
8.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
48,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
3,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
typhoid fever, malaria
overall degree of risk: very high (2004)
Nationality:
noun: Gabonese (singular and plural)
adjective: Gabonese
Ethnic groups:
Bantu tribes including four major tribal groupings (Fang, Bapounou,
Nzebi, Obamba), other Africans and Europeans 154,000, including
10,700 French and 11,000 persons of dual nationality
Religions:
Christian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1%
Languages:
French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 63.2%
male: 73.7%
female: 53.3% (1995 est.)
Government Gabon
Country name:
conventional long form: Gabonese Republic
conventional short form: Gabon
local short form: Gabon
local long form: Republique Gabonaise
Government type:
republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties
legalized in 1990)
Capital:
Libreville
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga,
Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem
Independence:
17 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Founding of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), 12 March (1968)
Constitution:
adopted 14 March 1991
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review
of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President El Hadj Omar BONGO (since 2 December 1967)
head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Francois NTOUTOUME-EMANE
(since 23 January 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in
consultation with the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
election last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA 2005); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: President El Hadj Omar BONGO reelected; percent of
vote - El Hadj Omar BONGO 66.6%, Pierre MAMBOUNDOU 16.5%, Fr. Paul
M'BA-ABESSOLE 13.4%
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (91 seats; members
elected by members of municipal councils and departmental
assemblies) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120
seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held 9 and 23 December 2001
(next to be held NA December 2006); Senate - last held 26 January
and 9 February 2003 (next to be held by January 2009)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - PDG 86, RNB-RPG 8, PGP 3, ADERE 3, CLR 2, PUP 1,
PSD 1, independents 13, others 3; Senate - percent of vote by party
- NA; seats by party - PDG 53, RNB 20, PGP 4, ADERE 3, RDP 1, CLR 1,
independents 9
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consisting of three chambers -
Judicial, Administrative, and Accounts; Constitutional Court; Courts
of Appeal; Court of State Security; County Courts
Political parties and leaders:
Circle of Liberal Reformers or CLR [General Jean Boniface ASSELE];
Democratic and Republican Alliance or ADERE [Divungui-di-Ndinge
DIDJOB]; Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG, former sole party
[Simplice Nguedet MANZELA]; Gabonese Party for Progress or PGP
[Pierre-Louis AGONDJO-OKAWE,]; National Rally of Woodcutters-Rally
for Gabon or RNB-RPG (Bucherons) [Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE]; People's
Unity Party or PUP [Louis Gaston MAYILA]; Rally for Democracy and
Progress or RDP [Pierre EMBONI]; Social Democratic Party or PSD
[Pierre Claver MAGANGA-MOUSSAVOU]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jules Marius OGOUEBANDJA
consulate(s): New York
FAX: [1] (202) 332–0668
telephone: [1] (202) 797–1000
chancery: Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth P. MOOREFIELD
embassy: Boulevard de la Mer, Libreville
mailing address: Centre Ville, B. P. 4000, Libreville
telephone: [241] 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, after hours - 74 34 92
FAX: [241] 74 55 07
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue
Economy Gabon
Economy - overview:
Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most nations of
sub-Saharan Africa. This has supported a sharp decline in extreme
poverty; yet because of high income inequality a large proportion of
the population remains poor. Gabon depended on timber and manganese
until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s. The oil sector
now accounts for 50% of GDP. Gabon continues to face fluctuating
prices for its oil, timber, and manganese exports. Despite the
abundance of natural wealth, poor fiscal management hobbles the
economy. Devaluation of its Francophone currency by 50% on 12
January 1994 sparked a one-time inflationary surge, to 35%; the rate
dropped to 6% in 1996. The IMF provided a one-year standby
arrangement in 1994–95, a three-year Enhanced Financing Facility
(EFF) at near commercial rates beginning in late 1995, and stand-by
credit of $119 million in October 2000. Those agreements mandate
progress in privatization and fiscal discipline. France provided
additional financial support in January 1997 after Gabon had met IMF
targets for mid-1996. In 1997, an IMF mission to Gabon criticized
the government for overspending on off-budget items, overborrowing
from the central bank, and slipping on its schedule for
privatization and administrative reform. The rebound of oil prices
in 1999–2000 helped growth, but drops in production hampered Gabon
from fully realizing potential gains. In December 2000, Gabon signed
a new agreement with the Paris Club to reschedule its official debt.
A follow-up bilateral repayment agreement with the US was signed in
December 2001. Short-term progress depends on an upbeat world
economy and fiscal and other adjustments in line with IMF policies.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $7.301 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.2% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $5,500 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8.1% industry: 48.8% services: 43.1% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
22.7% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.5% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
610,000 (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 60%, industry 15%, services 25%
Unemployment rate:
21% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.771 billion
expenditures: $1.413 billion, including capital expenditures of $310
million (2003 est.)
Public debt:
31.5% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:
cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber; cattle; okoume (a tropical
softwood); fish
Industries:
petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, and gold mining;
chemicals; ship repair; food and beverage; textile; lumbering and
plywood; cement
Industrial production growth rate:
1.6% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
798.4 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
742.5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
301,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
2.45 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:
80 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
80 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
66.47 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:
$-101 million (2003)
Exports:
$2.891 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil 77%, timber, manganese, uranium (2001)
Exports - partners:
US 51.5%, France 8.7%, China 7.5%, Japan 4% (2003)
Imports:
$1.079 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, construction
materials
Imports - partners:
France 49.9%, US 5.3%, UK 4.6% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$201.9 million (2003)
Debt - external:
$3.284 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$331 million (1995)
Currency:
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible
authority is the Bank of the Central African States
Currency code:
XAF
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 581.2
(2003), 696.988 (2002), 733.039 (2001), 711.976 (2000), 615.699
(1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Gabon
Telephones - main lines in use:
38,400 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
300,000 (2003)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate service by African standards and
improving with the help of the growing mobile cell system
domestic: adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay,
tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a
domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
international: country code - 241; satellite earth stations - 3
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC)
provides connectivity to Europe and Asia
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 6, FM 7 (and 11 repeaters), shortwave 4 (2001)
Radios:
208,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (plus four low-power repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:
63,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ga
Internet hosts:
93 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2001)
Internet users:
35,000 (2003)
Transportation Gabon
Railways: total: 814 km standard gauge: 814 km 1.435-m gauge (2003)
Highways: total: 8,464 km paved: 838 km unpaved: 7,626 km (2000 est.)
Waterways:
1,600 km (310 km on Ogooue River) (2003)
Pipelines:
gas 210 km; oil 1,385 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:
Cap Lopez, Kango, Lambarene, Libreville, Mayumba, Owendo,
Port-Gentil
Airports:
56 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 45 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 23 (2004 est.)
Military Gabon
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police
Military manpower - military age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2001)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15–49: 314,434 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15–49: 162,847 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 13,462 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$149.3 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2% (2003)
Transnational Issues Gabon
Disputes - international:
creation of a maritime boundary in hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay
with Equatorial Guinea is hampered by dispute over Mbane Island,
administered and occupied by Gabon since the 1970s
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
======================================================================
@Gambia, The
Introduction Gambia, The
Background:
The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965; it formed a
short-lived federation of Senegambia with Senegal between 1982 and
1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation
treaty. A military coup in 1994 overthrew the president and banned
political activity, but a 1996 constitution and presidential
elections, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a
nominal return to civilian rule. The country undertook another round
of presidential and legislative elections in late 2001 and early
2002. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH, the leader of the coup, has been
elected president in all subsequent elections.
Geography Gambia, The
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Geographic coordinates:
13 28 N, 16 34 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 11,300 sq km
land: 10,000 sq km
water: 1,300 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
Land boundaries: total: 740 km border countries: Senegal 740 km
Coastline: 80 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: not specified
Climate:
tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season
(November to May)
Terrain:
flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 53 m
Natural resources:
fish
Land use: arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0.5% other: 74.5% (2001)
Irrigated land:
20 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years)
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of
Africa
People Gambia, The
Population:
1,546,848 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:
0–14 years: 44.7% (male 347,349; female 344,264)
15–64 years: 52.6% (male 403,297; female 410,382)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 21,459; female 20,097) (2004 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.5 years
male: 17.4 years
female: 17.7 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.98% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:
40.3 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:
12.08 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:
1.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15–64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.07 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 73.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 66.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 80.14 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.79 years
male: 52.76 years
female: 56.87 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.46 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
6,800 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
600 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases: typhoid fever, dengue fever, malaria, yellow fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, schistosomiasis overall degree of risk: very high (2004)
Nationality:
noun: Gambian(s)
adjective: Gambian
Ethnic groups:
African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli
9%, other 4%), non-African 1%
Religions:
Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Languages:
English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous
vernaculars
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.1%
male: 47.8%
female: 32.8% (2003 est.)
Government Gambia, The
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form: The Gambia
Government type:
republic under multiparty democratic rule
Capital:
Banjul
Administrative divisions:
5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River, Lower River, North
Bank, Upper River, Western
Independence:
18 February 1965 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Constitution:
24 April 1970; suspended July 1994; rewritten and approved by
national referendum 8 August 1996; reestablished January 1997
Legal system:
based on a composite of English common law, Koranic law, and
customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October
1996; note - from 1994 to 1996 he was Chairman of the Junta); Vice
President Isatou Njie SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18
October 1996; note - from 1994 to 1996 was he Chairman of the
Junta); Vice President Isatou Njie SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note
- the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
the number of terms is not restricted; election last held 18 October
2001 (next to be held October 2006)
election results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president; percent
of vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 52.9%, Ousainou DARBOE 32.7%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 elected by popular vote,
five appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 17 January 2002 (next to be held NA January
2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
APRC 45, PDOIS 2, NRP 1,
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC
[Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH]; Gambian People's Party-Progressive People's
Party-United Democratic Party or GPP-PPP-UDP Coalition [Ousainou
DARBOE]; National Convention Party or NCP [Sheriff DIBBA]; National
Reconciliation Party or NRP [Hamat N. K. BAH]; People's Democratic
Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS [Sidia JATTA]
note: in August 2001, an independent electoral commission allowed
the reregistration of the GPP, NCP, and PPP, three parties banned
since 1996
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU,
MIGA, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNMEE, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Lena Manga
Sagnia SECK
chancery: Suite 905, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
FAX: [1] (202) 785–1430
telephone: [1] (202) 785–1379
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jackson McDONALD
embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul
mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
telephone: [220] 392856, 392858, 391971
FAX: [220] 392475
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges,
and green
Economy Gambia, The
Economy - overview:
The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources and
has a limited agricultural base. About 75% of the population depends
on crops and livestock for its livelihood. Small-scale manufacturing
activity features the processing of peanuts, fish, and hides.
Reexport trade normally constitutes a major segment of economic
activity, but a 1999 government-imposed preshipment inspection plan,
and instability of the Gambian dalasi (currency) have drawn some of
the reexport trade away from The Gambia. The government's 1998
seizure of the private peanut firm Alimenta eliminated the largest
purchaser of Gambian groundnuts; the following two marketing seasons
have seen substantially lower prices and sales. A decline in tourism
in 2000 has also held back growth. Unemployment and underemployment
rates are extremely high. Shortrun economic progress remains highly
dependent on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid, on
responsible government economic management as forwarded by IMF
technical help and advice, and on expected growth in the
construction sector.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $2.56 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 46.8% industry: 9.3% services: 43.8% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
20% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
14% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
400,000 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 75%, industry, commerce, and services 19%, government 6%
Unemployment rate:
NA (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $58.63 million
expenditures: $62.64 million, including capital expenditures of $4.1
million (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products:
rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (tapioca),
palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats
Industries:
processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism; beverages;
agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking; clothing
Industrial production growth rate:
NA
Electricity - production:
85.33 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
79.36 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1,900 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Current account balance:
$-42 million (2003)
Exports:
$156 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:
peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels, re-exports
Exports - partners:
UK 26.7%, Belgium 6.7%, China 6.7%, Germany 6.7%, Italy 6.7%,
Malaysia 6.7%, Thailand 6.7% (2003)
Imports:
$271 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment
Imports - partners:
China 24.9%, Senegal 8.9%, Brazil 6.8%, UK 6.6%, US 5.6%,
Netherlands 5%, India 4.9% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$118 million (2003)
Debt - external:
$476 million (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$45.4 million (1995)
Currency:
dalasi (GMD)
Currency code:
GMD
Exchange rates:
dalasi per US dollar - NA (2003), 19.9182 (2002), 15.6872 (2001),
12.7876 (2000), 11.3951 (1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Gambia, The
Telephones - main lines in use:
38,400 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
100,000 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate; a packet switched data network is
available
domestic: adequate network of microwave radio relay and open-wire
international: country code - 220; microwave radio relay links to
Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)
Radios:
196,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (government-owned) (1997)
Televisions:
5,000 (2000)
Internet country code:
.gm
Internet hosts:
568 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2001)
Internet users:
25,000 (2002)
Transportation Gambia, The
Highways: total: 2,700 km paved: 956 km unpaved: 1,744 km (1999)
Waterways:
390 km (on River Gambia; small ocean-going vessels can reach 190
km) (2004)
Ports and harbors:
Banjul
Merchant marine:
none (2004 est.)
Airports:
1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Gambia, The
Military branches:
Gambian National Army (GNA) (including Naval Unit), Presidential
Guard
Military manpower - military age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2001)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15–49: 350,256 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15–49: 176,733 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$900,000 (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.3% (2003)
Transnational Issues Gambia, The
Disputes - international:
attempts to stem refugees, cross-border raids, arms smuggling,
other illegal activities, and political instability from separatist
movement in southern Senegal's Casamance region
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
======================================================================
@Gaza Strip
Introduction Gaza Strip
Background:
The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements (the DOP), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993,
provided for a transitional period not exceeding five years of
Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West
Bank. Under the DOP, Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and
responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, which includes the
Palestinian Legislative Council elected in January 1996, as part of
the interim self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza
Strip. A transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip
and Jericho took place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo
Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area and in additional
areas of the West Bank pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28 September 1995
Interim Agreement, the Israel-PLO 15 January 1997 Protocol
Concerning Redeployment in Hebron, the Israel-PLO 23 October 1998
Wye River Memorandum, and the 4 September 1999 Sharm el-Sheikh
Agreement. The DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility
during the transitional period for external and internal security
and for public order of settlements and Israeli citizens. Direct
negotiations to determine the permanent status of Gaza and West Bank
that began in September 1999 after a three-year hiatus, were
derailed by a second intifadah that broke out in September 2000. The
resulting widespread violence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip,
Israel's military response, and instability within the Palestinian
Authority continue to undermine progress toward a permanent
agreement. Following the death of longtime Palestinian leader Yasir
ARAFAT in November 2004, the election of his successor Mahmud ABBAS
in January 2005 could bring a turning point in the conflict.
Geography Gaza Strip
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and
Israel
Geographic coordinates:
31 25 N, 34 20 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 360 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 360 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 62 km border countries: Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km
Coastline:
40 km
Maritime claims:
Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the
Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be
determined through further negotiation
Climate:
temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers
Terrain:
flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Auda) 105 m
Natural resources:
arable land, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 28.95%
permanent crops: 21.05%
other: 50% (2001)
Irrigated land:
120 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
droughts
Environment - current issues: desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage treatment; water-borne disease; soil degradation; depletion and contamination of underground water resources
Geography - note:
there are 25 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the
Gaza Strip (February 2002 est.)
People Gaza Strip
Population:
1,324,991
note: in addition, there are more than 5,000 Israeli settlers in the
Gaza Strip (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:
0–14 years: 49% (male 332,582; female 316,606)
15–64 years: 48.3% (male 326,450; female 314,098)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 14,847; female 20,408) (2004 est.)
Median age:
total: 15.5 years
male: 15.3 years
female: 15.6 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.83% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:
40.62 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:
3.95 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:
1.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15–64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 23.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 22.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 24.71 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.59 years
male: 70.31 years
female: 72.94 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.04 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: NA
adjective: NA
Ethnic groups:
Palestinian Arab and other 99.4%, Jewish 0.6%
Religions:
Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 98.7%, Christian 0.7%, Jewish 0.6%
Languages:
Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many Palestinians),
English (widely understood)
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Government Gaza Strip
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gaza Strip local long form: none local short form: Qita Ghazzah
Economy Gaza Strip
Economy - overview:
Economic output in the Gaza Strip - under the responsibility of the
Palestinian Authority since the Cairo Agreement of May 1994 -
declined by about one-third between 1992 and 1996. The downturn was
largely the result of Israeli closure policies - the imposition of
generalized border closures in response to security incidents in
Israel - which disrupted previously established labor and commodity
market relationships between Israel and the WBGS (West Bank and Gaza
Strip). The most serious negative social effect of this downturn was
the emergence of high unemployment; unemployment in the WBGS during
the 1980s was generally under 5%; by 1995 it had risen to over 20%.
Israel's use of comprehensive closures decreased during the next few
years and, in 1998, Israel implemented new policies to reduce the
impact of closures and other security procedures on the movement of
Palestinian goods and labor. These changes fueled an almost
three-year-long economic recovery in the West Bank and Gaza Strip;
real GDP grew by 5% in 1998 and 6% in 1999. Recovery was upended in
the last quarter of 2000 with the outbreak of violence, triggering
tight Israeli closures of Palestinian self-rule areas and a severe
disruption of trade and labor movements. In 2001, and even more
severely in 2002, Israeli military measures in Palestinian Authority
areas resulted in the destruction of capital plant and
administrative structure, widespread business closures, and a sharp
drop in GDP. Including West Bank, the UN estimates that more than
100,000 Palestinians out of the 125,000 who used to work in Israel,
in Israeli settlements, or in joint industrial zones have lost their
jobs. In addition, about 80,000 Palestinian workers inside the
Territories are losing their jobs. International aid of $2 billion
in 2001–02 to the West Bank and Gaza Strip prevented the complete
collapse of the economy and allowed Finance Minister Salam FAYYAD to
implement several financial and economic reforms. Budgetary support,
however, was not as forthcoming in 2003.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $768 million (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.5% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $600 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 9% industry: 28% services: 63% (includes West Bank) (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
60% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (includes West Bank) (2001 est.)
Labor force:
NA (1997)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 13%, industry 21%, services 66% (1996)
Unemployment rate:
50% (includes West Bank) (2003 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $676.6 million
expenditures: $1.155 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(includes West Bank) (2003)
Agriculture - products:
olives, citrus, vegetables; beef, dairy products
Industries:
generally small family businesses that produce textiles, soap,
olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis
have established some small-scale modern industries in an industrial
center
Industrial production growth rate:
NA
Electricity - production:
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Israel
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Israel (2001)
Exports:
$603 million f.o.b., includes West Bank
Exports - commodities:
citrus, flowers
Exports - partners:
Israel, Egypt, West Bank
Imports:
$1.9 billion c.i.f., includes West Bank
Imports - commodities:
food, consumer goods, construction materials
Imports - partners:
Israel, Egypt, West Bank
Debt - external:
$108 million (includes West Bank) (1997 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$800 million (includes West Bank) (2001 est.)
Currency:
new Israeli shekel (ILS)
Currency code:
ILS
Exchange rates:
new Israeli shekels per US dollar - 4.55 (2003), 4.74 (2002), 4.21
(2001), 4.08 (2000), 4.14 (1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Gaza Strip
Telephones - main lines in use: 95,729 (total for Gaza Strip and West Bank) (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 320,000 (cellular subscribers in both Gaza Strip and West Bank) (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: rudimentary telephone services provided by an open-wire
system
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
NA; note - most Palestinian households have radios (1999)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (operated by the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation) (1997)
Televisions:
NA; note - most Palestinian households have televisions (1997)
Internet country code:
.ps
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (1999)
Internet users:
60,000 (includes West Bank) (2001)
Transportation Gaza Strip
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km note: small, poorly developed road network
Ports and harbors:
Gaza
Airports:
2 (2001)
note: includes Gaza International Airport (GIA), inaugurated on 24
November 1998 as part of agreements stipulated in the September 1995
Oslo II Accord and the 23 October 1998 Wye River Memorandum; GIA has
been largely closed since October 2000 by Israeli orders and its
runway was destroyed by the Israeli Defense Forces in December 2001
(2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Heliports:
1 (2003 est.)
Military Gaza Strip
Military branches:
in accordance with the peace agreement, the Palestinian Authority
is not permitted conventional military forces; there are, however, a
Public Security Force and a civil Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
NA
