Читать книгу The 2005 CIA World Factbook - United States. Central Intelligence Agency - Страница 55
ОглавлениеDiplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John BRUTON chancery: 2300 M Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 862–9500 FAX: [1] (202) 429–1766
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Rockwell SCHNABEL embassy: 13 Zinnerstraat/Rue Zinner, B-1000 Brussels mailing address: same as above telephone: [32] (2) 508–2222 FAX: [32] (2) 512–5720
Flag description:
on a blue field, 12 five-pointed gold stars arranged in a circle,
representing the union of the peoples of Europe; the number of stars
is fixed
Economy European Union
Economy - overview:
Domestically, the European Union attempts to lower trade barriers,
adopt a common currency, and move toward convergence of living
standards. Internationally, the EU aims to bolster Europe's trade
position and its political and economic power. Because of the great
differences in per capita income (from $10,000 to $28,000) and
historic national animosities, the European Community faces
difficulties in devising and enforcing common policies. For example,
both Germany and France since 2003 have flouted the member states'
treaty obligation to prevent their national budgets from running
more than a 3% deficit. In 2004, the EU admitted 10 central and
eastern European countries that are, in general, less advanced
technologically and economically than the existing 15. Twelve EU
member states introduced the euro as their common currency on 1
January 1999. The UK, Sweden, and Denmark do not now participate;
the 10 new member states may choose to adopt the euro when they meet
the EU's fiscal and monetary criteria and the member states so agree.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$11.65 trillion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.4% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $26,900 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.2% industry: 28.3% services: 69.4% (2004 est.)
Labor force: 215 million (various)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 4.5%, industry 27.4%, services 66.9% note: the remainder is in miscellaneous public and private sector industries and services (2004)
Unemployment rate:
9.5% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
See individual country listings
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 25.4% (1995 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
31.2 (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
percent of GDP - 19.5% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, oilseeds, sugar beets, wine, grapes, dairy products,
cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry, fish
Industries:
among the world's largest and most technologically advanced, the
European Union industrial base includes: ferrous and non-ferrous
metal production and processing, metal products, petroleum, coal,
cement, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, rail transportation
equipment, passenger and commercial vehicles, construction
equipment, industrial equipment, shipbuilding, electrical power
equipment, machine tools and automated manufacturing systems,
electronics and telecommunications equipment, fishing, food and
beverage processing, furniture, paper, textiles, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
2.4% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:
2.888 trillion kWh (2002 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
2.661 trillion kWh (2002 est.)
Electricity - exports:
270.8 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
268.5 billion kWh (2002 est.)
Oil - production:
2.648 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - consumption:
14.54 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - exports:
5.322 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
15.69 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
28.21 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:
242.6 billion cu m (2001)
Natural gas - consumption:
467.7 billion cu m (2001)
Natural gas - exports:
78.1 billion cu m (2001)
Natural gas - imports:
297.8 billion cu m (2001)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
3.256 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:
$NA
Exports:
$1.109 trillion
note: external exports, excluding intra EU trade (2003)
Exports - commodities:
machinery, motor vehicles, aircraft, plastics, pharmaceuticals and
other chemicals, fuels, iron and steel, nonferrous metals, wood pulp
and paper products, textiles, meat, dairy products, fish, alcoholic
beverages.
Exports - partners:
US 22.9%, Switzerland 6.9%, China 4.1%, Japan 4%
Imports:
$1.123 trillion
note: external imports, excluding intra-EU trade (2003)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, vehicles, aircraft, plastics, crude oil, chemicals,
textiles, metals, foodstuffs, clothing
Imports - partners:
US 15.1%, China 9.7%, Japan 6.7%, Switzerland 5.6%
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA
Currency (code):
euro, British pound, Danish kroner, Swedish kroner, Cypriot pound,
koruny (Czech Republic), krooni (Estonia), forint (Hungary), lati
(Latvia), litai (Lithuania), Maltese liri, zloty (Poland), koruny
(Slovakia), tolar (Slovenia)
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.81 (2004), 0.89 (2003), 1.06 (2002), 1.12
(2001), 1.09 (2000)
Fiscal year:
NA
Communications European Union
Telephones - main lines in use:
238,763,162 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
314,644,700 (2002)
Telephone system:
note - see individual country entries of member states
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 866, FM 13,396, shortwave 73 (1998); note - sum of individual
country radio broadcast stations; there is also a European-wide
station (Euroradio)
Television broadcast stations:
2,791 (1995); note - does not include repeaters; sum of individual
country television broadcast stations; there is also a European-wide
station (Eurovision)
Internet country code:
.eu (effective 2005); note - see country entries of member states
for individual country codes
Internet hosts:
22,000,414 (2004); note - sum of individual country Internet hosts
Internet users:
206,032,067 (September 2004)
Transportation European Union
Railways:
total: 222,293 km
broad gauge: 28,438 km
standard gauge: 186,405 km
narrow gauge: 7,427 km
other: 23 km (2003)
Highways:
total: 4,634,810 km (including 56,704 km of expressways)
paved: 4,161,318 km
unpaved: 473,492 km (1999–2000)
Waterways:
53,512 km
Ports and harbors:
Antwerp (Belgium), Barcelona (Spain), Bremen (Germany), Copenhagen
(Denmark), Gdansk (Poland), Hamburg (Germany), Helsinki (Finland),
Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain), Le Havre (France), Lisbon
(Portugal), London (UK), Marseille (France), Naples (Italy),
Peiraiefs or Piraeus (Greece), Riga (Latvia), Rotterdam
(Netherlands), Stockholm (Sweden), Talinn (Estonia)
Airports:
3,130 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1,834
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1,296
Heliports:
94 (2004)
Military European Union
Military - note:
In November 2004, the European Union heads of government signed a
"Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe" that offers
possibilities - with some limits - for increased defense and
security cooperation. If ratified, in a process that may take some
two years, this treaty will in effect make operational the European
Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) approved in the 2000 Nice Treaty.
Despite limits of cooperation for some EU members, development of a
European military planning unit is likely to continue. So is
creation of a rapid-reaction military force and a humanitarian aid
system, which the planning unit will support. France, Germany,
Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Italy continue to press for
wider coordination. The five-nation Eurocorps - created in 1992 by
France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, and Luxembourg - has already
deployed troops and police on peacekeeping missions to Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Macedonia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo and
assumed command of the International Security Assistance Force
(ISAF) in Afghanistan in August 2004. Eurocorps directly commands
the 5,000-man Franco-German Brigade, the Multinational Command
Support Brigade, and EUFOR, which took over from SFOR in Bosnia in
December 2004. Other troop contributions are under national command
- committments to provide 67,100 troops were made at the Helsinki EU
session in 2000. Some 56,000 EU troops were actually deployed in
2003. In August 2004, the new European Defense Agency, tasked with
promoting cooperative European defense capabilities, began
operations. In November 2004, the EU Council of Ministers formally
committed to creating thirteen 1,500-man "battle groups" by the end
of 2007, to respond to international crises on a rotating basis.
Twenty-two of the EU's 25 nations have agreed to supply troops.
France, Italy, and the UK are to form the first three battle groups
in 2005, with Spain to follow. In May 2005, Norway, Sweden, and
Finland agreed to establish one of the battle groups, possibly to
include Estonian forces. The remaining groups are to be formed by
2007. (2005)
Transnational Issues European Union
Disputes - international:
the EU has no border disputes with neighboring countries; it has
set up a Schengen area - consisting of 13 EU member states that have
signed the convention implementing the Schengen agreements (1985 and
1990) on the free movement of persons and the harmonization of
border controls in Europe; the Schengen agreements ("acquis") became
incorporated into EU law with the implementation of the 1997 Treaty
of Amsterdam on 1 May 1999; member states are: Austria, Belgium,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden; in addition, non-EU states
Iceland and Norway (as part of the Nordic Union) have been included
in the Schengen area since 1996 (full members in 2001), bringing the
total current membership to 15; the UK (since 2000) and Ireland
(since 2002) take part in some aspects of the Schengen area,
especially with respect to police and criminal matters; the 10 new
member states that joined the EU in 2004 eventually are expected to
participate in Schengen, following a transition period to upgrade
their border controls and procedures
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
======================================================================
@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Introduction Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Background:
Although first sighted by an English navigator in 1592, the first
landing (English) did not occur until almost a century later in
1690, and the first settlement (French) was not established until
1764. The colony was turned over to Spain two years later and the
islands have since been the subject of a territorial dispute, first
between Britain and Spain, then between Britain and Argentina. The
UK asserted its claim to the islands by establishing a naval
garrison there in 1833. Argentina invaded the islands on 2 April
1982. The British responded with an expeditionary force that landed
seven weeks later and after fierce fighting forced Argentine
surrender on 14 June 1982.
Geography Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Location:
Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east
of southern Argentina
Geographic coordinates:
51 45 S, 59 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 12,173 sq km
land: 12,173 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and
about 200 small islands
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,288 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on
more than half of days in year; average annual rainfall is 24 inches
in Stanley; occasional snow all year, except in January and
February, but does not accumulate
Terrain:
rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m
Natural resources:
fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other) (2001)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
strong winds persist throughout the year
Environment - current issues: overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer were introduced to the islands in 2001 for commercial reasons; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the Chornobyl disaster
Geography - note:
deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing
season
People Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Population: 2,967 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure: 0–14 years: NA 15–64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.44% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:
NA births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:
NA children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Falkland Islander(s)
adjective: Falkland Island
Ethnic groups:
British
Religions:
primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, Evangelist
Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist
Languages:
English
Government Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina
Government type:
NA
Capital:
Stanley
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
National holiday:
Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Constitution:
3 October 1985; amended 1997 and 1998
Legal system:
English common law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Governor Howard PEARCE (since 3 December 2002);
Chief Executive Chris SIMPKINS (since NA March 2003); Financial
Secretary Derek F. HOWATT (since NA)
cabinet: Executive Council; three members elected by the Legislative
Council, two ex officio members (chief executive and the financial
secretary), and the governor
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats - 2 ex officio, 8 elected
by popular vote, members serve four-year terms); presided over by
the governor
elections: last held 22 November 2001 (next to be held November 2005)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 8;
note - 71% voter turnout
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (chief justice is a nonresident); Magistrates Court
(senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions);
Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Political parties and leaders:
none; all independents
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
ICFTU, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Flag description:
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and
the Falkland Island coat of arms centered on the outer half of the
flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising was once
the major economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whose
crew discovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing the
motto DESIRE THE RIGHT
Economy Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Economy - overview:
The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep
farming, but today fishing contributes the bulk of economic
activity. In 1987 the government began selling fishing licenses to
foreign trawlers operating within the Falklands exclusive fishing
zone. These license fees total more than $40 million per year, which
goes to support the island's health, education, and welfare system.
Squid accounts for 75% of the fish taken. Dairy farming supports
domestic consumption; crops furnish winter fodder. Exports feature
shipments of high-grade wool to the UK and the sale of postage
stamps and coins. The islands are now self-financing except for
defense. The British Geological Survey announced a 200-mile oil
exploration zone around the islands in 1993, and early seismic
surveys suggest substantial reserves capable of producing 500,000
barrels per day; to date no exploitable site has been identified. An
agreement between Argentina and the UK in 1995 seeks to defuse
licensing and sovereignty conflicts that would dampen foreign
interest in exploiting potential oil reserves. Tourism, especially
eco-tourism, is increasing rapidly, with about 30,000 visitors in
2001. Another large source of income is interest paid on money the
government has in the bank. The British military presence also
provides a sizeable economic boost.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$75 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $25,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
1,100 (est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing)
Unemployment rate:
full employment; labor shortage (2001)
Population below poverty line:
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.6% (1998)
Budget:
revenues: $66.2 million
expenditures: $67.9 million, including capital expenditures of $23.2
million (FY98/99 est.)
Agriculture - products:
fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy products
Industries:
fish and wool processing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
19.06 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
17.72 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA
Oil - imports:
NA
Exports:
$82 million (2002)
Exports - commodities:
wool, hides, meat
Exports - partners:
Spain 77.4%, UK 9.4%, US 4.9% (2004)
Imports:
$53 million (2002)
Imports - commodities:
fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing
Imports - partners:
UK 63.2%, Spain 30.3%, France 3.6% (2004)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$0 (1997 est.)
Currency (code):
Falkland pound (FKP)
Currency code:
FKP
Exchange rates:
Falkland pounds per US dollar - 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003),
0.6672 (2002), 0.6947 (2001), 0.6609 (2000)
note: the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Telephones - main lines in use:
2,400 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
0 (2001)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB
radiotelephone networks provide effective service to almost all
points on both islands
international: country code - 500; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) with links through London to other
countries
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
1,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (operated by the British Forces Broadcasting Service) note: cable television is available in Stanley (2002)
Televisions:
1,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.fk
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
NA; however one-half of all households are reported to have
internet access (2002)
Transportation Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Highways: total: 440 km paved: 50 km unpaved: 390 km (2002)
Ports and harbors:
Stanley
Merchant marine:
none
Airports:
5 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Military Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Military branches:
no regular military forces
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Disputes - international:
Argentina, which claims the islands in its constitution and briefly
occupied the islands by force in 1982, agreed in 1995 to no longer
seek settlement by force; UK continues to reject Argentine requests
for sovereignty talks
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
======================================================================
@Faroe Islands
Introduction Faroe Islands
Background:
The population of the Faroe Islands is largely descended from
Viking settlers who arrived in the 9th century. The islands have
been connected politically to Denmark since the 14th century. A high
degree of self-government was attained in 1948.
Geography Faroe Islands
Location:
Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to
Norway
Geographic coordinates:
62 00 N, 7 00 W
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 1,399 sq km
land: 1,399 sq km
water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
Area - comparative:
eight times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,117 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
Climate:
mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
Terrain:
rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m
Natural resources:
fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
Land use: arable land: 2.14% permanent crops: 0% other: 97.86% (2001)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one uninhabited island, and
a few uninhabited islets; strategically located along important sea
lanes in northeastern Atlantic; precipitous terrain limits
habitation to small coastal lowlands
People Faroe Islands
Population:
46,962 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
0–14 years: 21.3% (male 4,997/female 4,999)
15–64 years: 64.9% (male 16,120/female 14,360)
65 years and over: 13.8% (male 2,923/female 3,563) (2005 est.)
Median age:
total: 35.11 years
male: 34.64 years
female: 35.68 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.62% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:
13.97 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:
8.69 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15–64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.24 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.21 years
male: 75.77 years
female: 82.67 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.2 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Faroese (singular and plural)
adjective: Faroese
Ethnic groups:
Scandinavian
Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran
Languages:
Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% note: probably the same as Denmark proper
Government Faroe Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Faroe Islands
local long form: none
local short form: Foroyar
Dependency status:
part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas
administrative division of Denmark since 1948
Government type:
NA
Capital:
Torshavn
Administrative divisions:
none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas
administrative division of Denmark); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are 49 municipalities
Independence:
none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas
administrative division of Denmark)
National holiday:
Olaifest (Olavasoka), 29 July
Constitution:
5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
Legal system:
Danish
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January
1972), represented by High Commissioner Birgit KLEIS, chief
administrative officer (since 1 November 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Joannes EIDESGAARD (since 3
February 2004)
cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by
the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually
elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held
20 January 2004 (next to be held no later than January 2008)
election results: Joannes EIDESGAARD elected prime minister; percent
of parliamentary vote - NA%
note: coalition of Social Democrats, Union Party, and People's Party
Legislative branch:
unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (32 seats; members are
elected by popular vote on a proportional basis from the seven
constituencies to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 January 2004 (next to be held no later than
January 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - Union Party 23.7%,
Social Democrats 21.8%, Republican Party 21.7%, People's Party
20.6%, Center Party 5.2%, Independence Party 4.6%; seats by party -
Union Party 7, Social Democrats 7, Republican Party 8, People's
Party 7, Center Party 2, Independence Party 1
note: election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on
8 February 2005 (next to be held February 2009); results - percent
of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 1, People's
Party 1
Judicial branch:
none
Political parties and leaders:
Center Party [Jenis A. RANA]; Independence Party [Kari P.
HOJGAARD]; People's Party [Anfinn KALLSBERG]; Republican Party
[Hogni HOYDAL]; Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD]; Union
Party [Kaj Oeo JOHANNESEN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
IMO (associate), NC, NIB, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Flag description:
white with a red cross outlined in blue extending to the edges of
the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted toward the hoist
side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Economy Faroe Islands
Economy - overview:
The Faroese economy has had a strong performance since 1994, mostly
as a result of increasing fish landings and high and stable export
prices. Unemployment is minimal and there are signs of labor
shortages in several sectors. The positive economic development has
helped the Faroese Home Rule Government produce increasing budget
surpluses, which in turn has helped to reduce the large public debt,
most of it owed to Denmark. However, the total dependence on fishing
makes the Faroese economy extremely vulnerable, and the present
fishing efforts appear in excess of what is a sustainable level of
fishing in the long term. Oil finds close to the Faroese area give
hope for deposits in the immediate Faroese area, which may
eventually lay the basis for a more diversified economy and thus
lessen dependence on Danish economic assistance. Aided by a
substantial annual subsidy (15% of GDP) from Denmark, the Faroese
have a standard of living not far below the Danes and other
Scandinavians.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
10% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $22,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 27% industry: 11% services: 62% (1999)
Labor force: 24,250 (October 2000)
Labor force - by occupation: fishing, fish processing, and manufacturing 33%, construction and private services 33%, public services 34%
Unemployment rate:
1% (October 2000)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.1% (1999)
Budget:
revenues: $488 million
expenditures: $484 million, including capital expenditures of $21
million (1999)
Agriculture - products:
milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon, other fish
Industries:
fishing, fish processing, small ship repair and refurbishment,
handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:
8% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production:
220 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 62.4% hydro: 37.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
204.6 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
4,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA
Oil - imports:
NA
Exports:
$408 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
fish and fish products 94%, stamps, ships (1999)
Exports - partners:
Denmark 33.5%, UK 29.7%, Norway 8.4%, Nigeria 7.2% (2004)
Imports:
$466 million c.i.f. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 29%, consumer goods 36%, raw
materials and semi-manufactures 32%, fuels, fish and salt (1999)
Imports - partners:
Denmark 52.8%, Norway 18.3%, Iceland 4.4%, Sweden 4.2% (2004)
Debt - external:
$64 million (1999)
Economic aid - recipient:
$135 million (annual subsidy from Denmark) (1998)
Currency (code):
Danish krone (DKK)
Currency code:
DKK
Exchange rates:
Danish kroner per US dollar - 5.9911 (2004), 6.5877 (2003), 7.8947
(2002), 8.3228 (2001), 8.0831 (2000)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Faroe Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
23,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
30,700 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: good international communications; good
domestic facilities
domestic: digitalization was completed in 1998; both NMT (analog)
and GSM (digital) mobile telephone systems are installed
international: country code - 298; satellite earth stations - 1
Orion; 1 fiber-optic submarine cable to the Shetland Islands,
linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland; fiber-optic
submarine cable connection to Canada-Europe cable
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
26,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (plus 43 low-power repeaters) (September 1995)
Televisions:
15,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.fo
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
25,000 (2002)
Transportation Faroe Islands
Highways: total: 463 km paved: 454 km unpaved: 9 km (1999)
Ports and harbors:
Torshavn
Merchant marine:
total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 24,051 GRT/11,998 DWT
by type: cargo 6, container 1, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned: 8 (Denmark 2, Germany 1, Iceland 2, Norway 2, United
Kingdom 1) (2005)
Airports:
1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Faroe Islands
Military branches:
no regular military forces
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Denmark
Transnational Issues Faroe Islands
Disputes - international:
because anticipated offshore hydrocarbon resources have not been
realized, earlier Faroese proposals for full independence have been
deferred; Iceland disputes the Faroe Islands' fisheries median line
boundary; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that
the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
======================================================================
@Fiji
Introduction Fiji
Background:
Fiji became independent in 1970, after nearly a century as a
British colony. Democratic rule was interrupted by two military
coups in 1987, caused by concern over a government perceived as
dominated by the Indian community (descendants of contract laborers
brought to the islands by the British in the 19th century). A 1990
constitution favored native Melanesian control of Fiji, but led to
heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic
difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority.
Amendments enacted in 1997 made the constitution more equitable.
Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by
an Indo-Fijian, but a coup in May 2000 ushered in a prolonged period
of political turmoil. Parliamentary elections held in August 2001
provided Fiji with a democratically elected government and gave a
mandate to the government of Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE.
Geography Fiji
Location:
Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds
of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
18 00 S, 175 00 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 18,270 sq km
land: 18,270 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,129 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation;
rectilinear shelf claim added
Climate:
tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
mostly mountains of volcanic origin
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m
Natural resources:
timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 10.95% permanent crops: 4.65% other: 84.4% (2001)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
cyclonic storms can occur from November to January
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea,
Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber
83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited
People Fiji
Population:
893,354 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
0–14 years: 31.4% (male 143,066/female 137,346)
15–64 years: 64.5% (male 288,434/female 287,720)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 16,797/female 19,991) (2005 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.28 years
male: 23.84 years
female: 24.74 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.4% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:
22.73 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:
5.65 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:
−3.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15–64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 12.62 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.53 years
male: 67.05 years
female: 72.14 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.75 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
600 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Fijian(s)
adjective: Fijian
Ethnic groups:
Fijian 51% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture),
Indian 44%, European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, and
other 5% (1998 est.)
Religions:
Christian 52% (Methodist 37%, Roman Catholic 9%), Hindu 38%, Muslim
8%, other 2%
note: Fijians are mainly Christian, Indians are Hindu, and there is
a Muslim minority (1986)
Languages:
English (official), Fijian, Hindustani
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 95.5%
female: 91.9% (2003 est.)
Government Fiji
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands
conventional short form: Fiji
Government type:
republic
note: military coup leader Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA formally
declared Fiji a republic on 6 October 1987
Capital:
Suva (Viti Levu)
Administrative divisions:
4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*,
Western
Independence:
10 October 1970 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, second Monday of October (1970)
Constitution:
promulgated on 25 July 1990; amended on 25 July 1997 to allow
nonethnic Fijians greater say in government and to make multiparty
government mandatory; effective 28 July 1998
Legal system:
based on British system
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda (since 18
July 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE (since 10
September 2000)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the
members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament; note - there
is also a Presidential Council that advises the president on matters
of national importance and a Great Council of Chiefs, which consists
of the highest ranking members of the traditional chief system
elections: president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for a
five-year term; prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda elected president
by the Great Council of Chiefs; percent of vote - NA%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (34 seats; 24 appointed
by the President on the advice of the Great Council of Chiefs, nine
appointed by the president, and one appointed by the council of
Rotuma) and the House of Representatives (71 seats; 23 reserved for
ethnic Fijians, 19 reserved for ethnic Indians, three reserved for
other ethnic groups, one reserved for the council of Rotuma
constituency encompassing the whole of Fiji, and 25 open seats;
members serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 25 August through 1
September and 19 September 2001 (next to be held not later than
September 2006)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - FLP 26.5%, SDL 27.5%, NFP 1.2%, MV 4.2%, NLUP 1.3%, UGP .3%,
independents 1.4%; seats by party - FLP 27, SDL 32, MV 6, NFP 1,
NLUP 2, UGP 1, independents 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Court of
Appeal; High Court; Magistrates' Courts
Political parties and leaders:
Bai Kei Viti Party or BKV [Ratu Tevita MOMOEDONU]; Conservative
Alliance Party/Matanitu Vanua or MV [Ratu Rakuita VAKALALABURE];
Dodonu Ni Taukei Party or DNT [Fereti S. DEWA]; Fiji Democratic
Party or FDP [Felipe BOLE] (a merger of the Christian Democrat
Alliance or VLV [Poesci Waqalevu BUNE], Fijian Association Party or
FAP [Adi Kuini SPEED], Fijian Political Party or SVT (primarily
Fijian) [Felipe BOLE], and New Labor Unity Party or NLUP [Tupeni
BABA]); Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDRHRY]; General Voters
Party or GVP [leader NA] (became part of United General Party);
Girmit Heritage Party or GHP [leader NA]; Justice and Freedom Party
or AIM [leader NA]; Lio 'On Famor Rotuma Party or LFR [leader NA];
National Federation Party or NFP (primarily Indian) [Pramond RAE];
Nationalist Vanua Takolavo Party or NVTLP [Saula TELAWA]; Party of
National Unity or PANU [Meli BOGILEKA]; Party of the Truth or POTT
[leader NA]; United Fiji Party/Sogosogo Duavata ni Lewenivanua or
SDL [Laisenia QARASE]; United General Party or UGP [Millis Mick
BEDDOES]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMISET, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Mr. Paula NAVUNISARAVI (Charge D'Affaires ad
Interim)
chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 240, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 337–8320
FAX: [1] (202) 337–1996
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador David L. LYON
embassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suva
mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva
telephone: [679] 331–4466
FAX: [679] 330–0081
Flag description:
light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant
and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the
shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the
cross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree,
bananas, and a white dove
Economy Fiji
Economy - overview:
Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of
the most developed of the Pacific island economies, though still
with a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports and a growing tourist
industry - with 300,000 to 400,000 tourists annually - are the major
sources of foreign exchange. Sugar processing makes up one-third of
industrial activity, but is inefficient. Long-term problems include
low investment, uncertain land ownership rights, and the
government's ability to manage its budget. Yet short-run economic
prospects are good, provided tensions do not again erupt between
indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians. Overseas remittances from
Fijians working in Kuwait and Iraq have increased significantly.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$5.173 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.6% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $5,900 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 16.6% industry: 22.4% services: 61% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
137,000 (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture, including subsistence agriculture 70% (2001 est.)
