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Topic: Photos of Singapore Topic: Introduction Background: A Malay trading port known as Temasek existed on the island of Singapore by the 14th century. The settlement changed hands several times in the ensuing centuries and was eventually burned in the 17th century and fell into obscurity. The British founded modern Singapore as a trading colony on the site in 1819. It joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 but was ousted two years later and became independent. Singapore subsequently became one of the world's most prosperous countries with strong international trading links (its port is one of the world's busiest in terms of tonnage handled) and with per capita GDP equal to that of the leading nations of Western Europe.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia Geographic coordinates: 1 22 N, 103 48 E Map references: Southeast Asia Area: total: 719 sq km land: 709.2 sq km water: 10 sq km Area - comparative: slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 193 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: within and beyond territorial sea, as defined in treaties and practice Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy; two distinct monsoon seasons - northeastern monsoon (December to March) and southwestern monsoon (June to September); inter-monsoon - frequent afternoon and early evening thunderstorms Terrain: lowlying, gently undulating central plateau Elevation: highest point: Bukit Timah 166 m lowest point: Singapore Strait 0 m Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports Land use: agricultural land: 1% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 3.3% (2018 est.) other: 95.7% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012) Population distribution: most of the urbanization is along the southern coast, with relatively dense population clusters found in the central areas Natural hazards: flash floods Geography - note: focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes; consists of about 60 islands, by far the largest of which is Pulau Ujong; land reclamation has removed many former islands and created a number of new ones Map description: Singapore map showing major districts of this city-state surrounded by Malaysia and the Singapore Strait.Singapore map showing major districts of this city-state surrounded by Malaysia and the Singapore Strait. Topic: People and Society Population: 5,921,231 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Singaporean(s) adjective: Singapore Ethnic groups: Chinese 74.2%, Malay 13.7%, Indian 8.9%, other 3.2% (2021 est.) note: data represent population by self-identification; the population is divided into four categories: Chinese, Malay (includes indigenous Malays and Indonesians), Indian (includes Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, or Sri Lankan), and other ethnic groups (includes Eurasians, Caucasians, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese) Languages: English (official) 48.3%, Mandarin (official) 29.9%, other Chinese dialects (includes Hokkien, Cantonese, Teochew, Hakka) 8.7%, Malay (official) 9.2%, Tamil (official) 2.5%, other 1.4%; note - data represent language most frequently spoken at home (2020 est.) major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English) 世界概況  –  不可缺少的基本消息來源 (Mandarin) Religions: Buddhist 31.1%, Christian 18.9%, Muslim 15.6%, Taoist 8.8%, Hindu 5%, other 0.6%, none 20% (2020 est.) Demographic profile: Singapore has one of the lowest total fertility rates (TFR) in the world – an average of 1.15 children born per woman – and a rapidly aging population.  Women’s expanded educations, widened aspirations, and a desire to establish careers has contributed to delayed marriage and smaller families. Most married couples have only one or two children in order to invest more in each child, including the high costs of education.  In addition, more and more Singaporeans, particularly women, are staying single.  Factors contributing to this trend are a focus on careers, long working hours, the high cost of living, and long waits for public housing.    With fertility at such a low rate and rising life expectancy, the proportion of the population aged 65 or over is growing and the youth population is shrinking.  Singapore is projected to experience one of the largest percentage point increases in the elderly share of the population at 21% between 2019 and 2050, according to the UN.  The working-age population (aged 15-64) will gradually decrease, leaving fewer workers to economically support the elderly population. Migration has played a key role in Singapore’s development.  As Singapore’s economy expanded during the 19th century, more and more Chinese, Indian, and Malay labor immigrants arrived.  Most of Singapore’s pre-World War II population growth was a result of immigration.  During World War II, immigration came to a halt when the Japanese occupied the island but revived in the postwar years.  Policy was restrictive during the 1950s and 1960s, aiming to protect jobs for residents by reducing the intake of low-skilled foreign workers and focusing instead on attracting professionals from abroad with specialist skills.  Consequently, the nonresident share of Singapore’s population plummeted to less than 3%.  As the country industrialized, however, it loosened restrictions on the immigration of manual workers.  From the 1980s through the 2000s, the foreign population continued to grow as a result of policies aimed at attracting foreign workers of all skill levels.  More recently, the government has instituted immigration policies that target highly skilled workers. Skilled workers are encouraged to stay and are given the opportunity to become permanent residents or citizens.  The country, however, imposes restrictions on unskilled and low-skilled workers to ensure they do not establish roots, including prohibiting them from bringing their families and requiring employers to pay a monthly foreign worker levy and security bond.  The country has also become increasingly attractive to international students. The growth of the foreign-born population has continued to be rapid; as of 2015, the foreign-born composed 46% of the total population.  At the same time, growing numbers of Singaporeans are emigrating for education and work experience in highly skilled sectors such finance, information technology, and medicine.  Increasingly, the moves abroad are permanent.Singapore has one of the lowest total fertility rates (TFR) in the world – an average of 1.15 children born per woman – and a rapidly aging population.  Women’s expanded educations, widened aspirations, and a desire to establish careers has contributed to delayed marriage and smaller families. Most married couples have only one or two children in order to invest more in each child, including the high costs of education.  In addition, more and more Singaporeans, particularly women, are staying single.  Factors contributing to this trend are a focus on careers, long working hours, the high cost of living, and long waits for public housing.    With fertility at such a low rate and rising life expectancy, the proportion of the population aged 65 or over is growing and the youth population is shrinking.  Singapore is projected to experience one of the largest percentage point increases in the elderly share of the population at 21% between 2019 and 2050, according to the UN.  The working-age population (aged 15-64) will gradually decrease, leaving fewer workers to economically support the elderly population.Migration has played a key role in Singapore’s development.  As Singapore’s economy expanded during the 19th century, more and more Chinese, Indian, and Malay labor immigrants arrived.  Most of Singapore’s pre-World War II population growth was a result of immigration.  During World War II, immigration came to a halt when the Japanese occupied the island but revived in the postwar years.  Policy was restrictive during the 1950s and 1960s, aiming to protect jobs for residents by reducing the intake of low-skilled foreign workers and focusing instead on attracting professionals from abroad with specialist skills.  Consequently, the nonresident share of Singapore’s population plummeted to less than 3%. As the country industrialized, however, it loosened restrictions on the immigration of manual workers.  From the 1980s through the 2000s, the foreign population continued to grow as a result of policies aimed at attracting foreign workers of all skill levels.  More recently, the government has instituted immigration policies that target highly skilled workers. Skilled workers are encouraged to stay and are given the opportunity to become permanent residents or citizens.  The country, however, imposes restrictions on unskilled and low-skilled workers to ensure they do not establish roots, including prohibiting them from bringing their families and requiring employers to pay a monthly foreign worker levy and security bond.  The country has also become increasingly attractive to international students. The growth of the foreign-born population has continued to be rapid; as of 2015, the foreign-born composed 46% of the total population.  At the same time, growing numbers of Singaporeans are emigrating for education and work experience in highly skilled sectors such finance, information technology, and medicine.  Increasingly, the moves abroad are permanent. Age structure: 0-14 years: 12.8% (male 406,983/female 387,665) 15-24 years: 15.01% (male 457,190/female 474,676) 25-54 years: 50.73% (male 1,531,088/female 1,618,844) 55-64 years: 10.58% (male 328,024/female 328,808) 65 years and over: 10.89% (2020 est.) (male 310,123/female 366,259) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 34.5 youth dependency ratio: 16.5 elderly dependency ratio: 18 potential support ratio: 5.6 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 35.6 years male: 35.4 years female: 35.7 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.92% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 9.05 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 4.04 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 4.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: most of the urbanization is along the southern coast, with relatively dense population clusters found in the central areas Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 3.040 million SINGAPORE (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 30.5 years (2015 est.) median age Maternal mortality ratio: 8 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 1.55 deaths/1,000 live births male: 1.71 deaths/1,000 live births female: 1.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 86.35 years male: 83.65 years female: 89.2 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.16 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 4.1% (2019) Physicians density: 2.46 physicians/1,000 population (2019) Hospital bed density: 2.5 beds/1,000 population (2017) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 8,000 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <100 note: estimate does not include children Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 6.1% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 16.5% (2020 est.) male: 28% (2020 est.) female: 5% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 2.5% of GDP (2020 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.5% male: 98.9% female: 96.1% (2019) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 17 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 10.6% male: 8.1% female: 13.5% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: water pollution; industrial pollution; limited natural freshwater resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal problems; air pollution; deforestation; seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 18.26 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 37.54 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 4.4 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy; two distinct monsoon seasons - northeastern monsoon (December to March) and southwestern monsoon (June to September); inter-monsoon - frequent afternoon and early evening thunderstorms Land use: agricultural land: 1% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 3.3% (2018 est.) other: 95.7% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 7,704,300 tons (2017 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 4,699,623 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 61% (2015 est.) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 296.73 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 336.294 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 26.376 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 600 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Singapore conventional short form: Singapore local long form: Republic of Singapore local short form: Singapore etymology: name derives from the Sanskrit words "simha" (lion) and "pura" (city) to describe the city-state's leonine symbol Government type: parliamentary republic Capital: name: Singapore geographic coordinates: 1 17 N, 103 51 E time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: name derives from the Sanskrit words "simha" (lion) and "pura" (city), thus creating the city's epithet "lion city" Administrative divisions: no first order administrative divisions; there are five community development councils: Central Singapore Development Council, North East Development Council, North West Development Council, South East Development Council, South West Development Council (2019) Independence: 9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation) National holiday: National Day, 9 August (1965) Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 22 December 1965 amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote in the second and third readings by the elected Parliament membership and assent of the president of the republic; passage of amendments affecting sovereignty or control of the Police Force or the Armed Forces requires at least two-thirds majority vote in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2020 Legal system: English common law International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Singapore dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal and compulsory Executive branch: chief of state: President HALIMAH Yacob (since 14 September 2017) head of government: Prime Minister LEE Hsien Loong (since 12 August 2004) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister; Cabinet responsible to Parliament elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a fixed term of 6 years (there are no term limits); election last held on 13 September 2017 (next to be held in 2023); following legislative elections, leader of majority party or majority coalition appointed prime minister by president; deputy prime ministers appointed by the president election results: 2017: HALIMAH Yacob was declared president on 13 September 2017, being the only eligible candidate 2011: Tony TAN Keng Yam elected president; percent of vote - Tony TAN Keng Yam (independent) 35.2%, TAN Cheng Bock (independent) 34.9%, TAN Jee Say (independent) 25%, TAN Kin Lian (independent) 4.9% Legislative branch: description: unicameral Parliament (104 seats statutory, 103 current term; 93 members directly elected by simple majority popular vote, up to 9 nominated by a parliamentary selection committee and appointed by the president, and up to 12 non-constituency members from opposition parties to ensure political diversity; members serve 5-year terms); note - the number of nominated members increased to 12 for the 2020 election for the first time (2021) elections: last held on 10 July 2020 (next must be held by 2025) election results: percent of vote by party - PAP 89.2%, WP 10.6%, other 0.2%; seats by party - PAP 83, WP 10; composition of total Parliament - men 73, women 30, percent of women 29.1% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (although the number of judges varies - as of April 2019, the court totaled 20 judges, 7 judicial commissioners, 4 judges of appeal, and 16 international judges); the court is organized into an upper tier Appeal Court and a lower tier High Court judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president from candidates recommended by the prime minister after consultation with the chief justice; judges usually serve until retirement at age 65, but terms can be extended subordinate courts: district, magistrates', juvenile, family, community, and coroners' courts; small claims tribunals; employment claims tribunals Political parties and leaders: Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [Mohamad Hamim BIN ALIYA] National Solidarity Party or NSP [Spencer NG] People's Action Party or PAP [LEE Hsien Loong] People's Power Party or (PPP) [Goh Meng SENG] People's Voice or PV [Lim TEAN] Progress Singapore Party or PSP [Francis YUENT] Red Dot United or RDU [Ravi PHILEMON] Reform Party or RP [Kenneth JEYARETNAM] Singapore Democratic Alliance or SDA [Desmond LIM] Singapore Democratic Party or SDP [Dr. CHEE Soon Juan] Singapore Malay National Organisation or PKMS [Muhammad Hairullah AHMAD] Singapore People's Party or SPP [Steve Chia] Singapore United Party or SUP [Andy ZHU] Workers' Party or WP [Pritam SINGH] (2022) note - the PAP has won every general election since the end of the British colonial era in 1959 International organization participation: ADB, AOSIS, APEC, Arctic Council (observer), ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, FAO, FATF, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ashok KUMAR Mirpuri (since 30 July 2012) chancery: 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 537-3100 FAX: [1] (202) 537-0876 email address and website: singemb_was@mfa.sg https://www.mfa.gov.sg/washington/ consulate(s) general: San Francisco consulate(s): New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jonathan KAPLAN (since December 2021) embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508 mailing address: 4280 Singapore Place, Washington DC  20521-4280 telephone: [65] 6476-9100 FAX: [65] 6476-9340 email address and website: singaporeusembassy@state.gov https://sg.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; near the hoist side of the red band, there is a vertical, white crescent (closed portion is toward the hoist side) partially enclosing five white five-pointed stars arranged in a circle; red denotes brotherhood and equality; white signifies purity and virtue; the waxing crescent moon symbolizes a young nation on the ascendancy; the five stars represent the nation's ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice, and equality National symbol(s): lion, merlion (mythical half lion-half fish creature), orchid; national colors: red, white National anthem: name: "Majulah Singapura" (Onward Singapore) lyrics/music: ZUBIR Said note: adopted 1965; first performed in 1958 at the Victoria Theatre, the anthem is sung only in Malay National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Singapore Botanic Gardens Topic: Economy Economic overview: Singapore has a highly developed and successful free-market economy. It enjoys an open and corruption-free environment, stable prices, and a per capita GDP higher than that of most developed countries. Unemployment is very low. The economy depends heavily on exports, particularly of electronics, petroleum products, chemicals, medical and optical devices, pharmaceuticals, and on Singapore’s vibrant transportation, business, and financial services sectors.   The economy contracted 0.6% in 2009 as a result of the global financial crisis, but has continued to grow since 2010. Growth from 2012-2017 was slower than during the previous decade, a result of slowing structural growth - as Singapore reached high-income levels - and soft global demand for exports. Growth recovered to 3.6% in 2017 with a strengthening global economy.   The government is attempting to restructure Singapore’s economy to reduce its dependence on foreign labor, raise productivity growth, and increase wages amid slowing labor force growth and an aging population. Singapore has attracted major investments in advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and medical technology production and will continue efforts to strengthen its position as Southeast Asia's leading financial and technology hub. Singapore is a signatory of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and a party to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations with nine other ASEAN members plus Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand. In 2015, Singapore formed, with the other ASEAN members, the ASEAN Economic Community.Singapore has a highly developed and successful free-market economy. It enjoys an open and corruption-free environment, stable prices, and a per capita GDP higher than that of most developed countries. Unemployment is very low. The economy depends heavily on exports, particularly of electronics, petroleum products, chemicals, medical and optical devices, pharmaceuticals, and on Singapore’s vibrant transportation, business, and financial services sectors. The economy contracted 0.6% in 2009 as a result of the global financial crisis, but has continued to grow since 2010. Growth from 2012-2017 was slower than during the previous decade, a result of slowing structural growth - as Singapore reached high-income levels - and soft global demand for exports. Growth recovered to 3.6% in 2017 with a strengthening global economy. The government is attempting to restructure Singapore’s economy to reduce its dependence on foreign labor, raise productivity growth, and increase wages amid slowing labor force growth and an aging population. Singapore has attracted major investments in advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and medical technology production and will continue efforts to strengthen its position as Southeast Asia's leading financial and technology hub. Singapore is a signatory of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and a party to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations with nine other ASEAN members plus Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand. In 2015, Singapore formed, with the other ASEAN members, the ASEAN Economic Community. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $531.04 billion (2020 est.) $561.3 billion (2019 est.) $553.85 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 0.73% (2019 est.) 3.48% (2018 est.) 4.34% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $93,400 (2020 est.) $98,400 (2019 est.) $98,200 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $372.088 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.5% (2019 est.) 0.4% (2018 est.) 0.5% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: AAA (2003) Moody's rating: Aaa (2002) Standard & Poors rating: AAA (1995) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0% (2017 est.) industry: 24.8% (2017 est.) services: 75.2% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 35.6% (2017 est.) government consumption: 10.9% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 24.8% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 2.8% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 173.3% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -149.1% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: poultry, eggs, vegetables, pork, duck meat, spinach, pig offals, bird eggs, pig fat, cabbages Industries: electronics, chemicals, financial services, oil drilling equipment, petroleum refining, biomedical products, scientific instruments, telecommunication equipment, processed food and beverages, ship repair, offshore platform construction, entrepot trade Industrial production growth rate: 5.7% (2017 est.) Labor force: 3.778 million (2019 est.) note: excludes non-residents Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 0.7% industry: 25.6% services: 73.7% (2017) note: excludes non-residents Unemployment rate: 2.25% (2019 est.) 2.1% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 10.6% male: 8.1% female: 13.5% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: NA Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 45.9 (2017) 45.8 (2016) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 27.5% (2017) Budget: revenues: 50.85 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 51.87 billion (2017 est.) note: expenditures include both operational and development expenditures Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -0.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 111.1% of GDP (2017 est.) 106.8% of GDP (2016 est.) note: Singapore's public debt consists largely of Singapore Government Securities (SGS) issued to assist the Central Provident Fund (CPF), which administers Singapore's defined contribution pension fund; special issues of SGS are held by the CPF, and are non-tradable; the government has not borrowed to finance deficit expenditures since the 1980s; Singapore has no external public debt Taxes and other revenues: 15.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March Current account balance: $63.109 billion (2019 est.) $64.042 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $599.2 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $658.54 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $665.7 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: China 15%, Hong Kong 13%, Malaysia 9%, United States 8%, Indonesia 7%, India 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: integrated circuits, refined petroleum, gold, gas turbines, packaged medicines (2019) Imports: $490.68 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $552.71 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $557.49 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: China 16%, Malaysia 11%, United States 9%, Taiwan 7%, Japan 5%, Indonesia 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: integrated circuits, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, gold, gas turbines (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $279.9 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $271.8 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $1,557,646,000,000 (2019 est.) $1,528,177,000,000 (2018 est.) Exchange rates: Singapore dollars (SGD) per US dollar - 1.33685 (2020 est.) 1.35945 (2019 est.) 1.3699 (2018 est.) 1.3748 (2014 est.) 1.2671 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 12.24 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 50,742,380,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.) imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 571 million kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 96.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 1.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 423,000 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 424,000 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 1.448 million bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 13,000 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 1,121,200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 755,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 1.82 million bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 2.335 million bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 13,396,282,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 550.818 million cubic meters (2020 est.) imports: 14,727,709,000 cubic meters (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 238.983 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.588 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 211.115 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 26.28 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 639.951 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 1.891 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 9,034,300 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 156 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: a wealthy city-state, Singapore has a highly developed ICT infrastructure; government supported near universal home broadband penetration and free public access to wireless network; the government's telecommunication regulator, Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), issued awards in mid-2020 to telecom operators with the goal of having at least 50% of the city-state covered with a standalone 5G network by the end of 2022; government actively promoting Smart Nation initiative supporting digital innovation; government oversees service providers and controls Internet content; well served by submarine cable and satellite connections; major importer of integrated circuits and broadcasting equipment from China and exporter of same to SE Asian neighboring countries (2021) domestic: excellent domestic facilities; fixed-line roughly 32 per 100 and mobile-cellular 144 per 100 teledensity; multiple providers of high-speed Internet connectivity (2020) international: country code - 65; landing points for INDIGO-West, SeaMeWe -3,-4,-5, SIGMAR, SJC, i2icn, PGASCOM, BSCS, IGG, B3JS, SAEx2, APCN-2, APG, ASC, SEAX-1, ASE, EAC-C2C, Matrix Cable System and SJC2 submarine cables providing links throughout Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 3, Bukit Timah, Seletar, and Sentosa; supplemented by VSAT coverage (2019 ) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: state controls broadcast media; 6 domestic TV stations operated by MediaCorp which is wholly owned by a state investment company; broadcasts from Malaysian and Indonesian stations available; satellite dishes banned; multi-channel cable TV services available; a total of 19 domestic radio stations broadcasting, with MediaCorp operating 11, Singapore Press Holdings, also government-linked, another 5, 2 controlled by the Singapore Armed Forces Reservists Association and one owned by BBC Radio; Malaysian and Indonesian radio stations are available as is BBC; a number of Internet service radio stations are also available (2019) Internet country code: .sg Internet users: total: 5,230,942 (2020 est.) percent of population: 92% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 1,509,700 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 4 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 230 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 40,401,515 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 5,194,900,000 (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9V Airports: total: 9 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 9 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Pipelines: 3,220 km domestic gas (2014), 1,122 km cross-border pipelines (2017), 8 km refined products (2013) (2013) Roadways: total: 3,500 km (2017) paved: 3,500 km (2017) (includes 164 km of expressways) Merchant marine: total: 3,321 by type: bulk carrier 576, container ship 514, general cargo 113, oil tanker 699, other 1,419 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Singapore container port(s) (TEUs): Singapore (37,195,636) (2019) LNG terminal(s) (import): Singapore Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Singapore Armed Forces (SAF; aka Singapore Defense Force): Singapore Army, Republic of Singapore Navy, Republic of Singapore Air Force (includes air defense); Ministry of Home Affairs: Singapore Police Force (includes Police Coast Guard and the paramilitary Gurkha Contingent Singapore Police Force or GCSPF) (2022) note 1: in 2022, the SAF announced that it would form a Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) by the end of the year note 2: in 2009, Singapore established a multi-agency national Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) to work with law enforcement and maritime agencies to guard Singapore’s waters, including conducting daily patrols, as well as boarding and escort operations in the Singapore Strait; the MSTF is subordinate to the Singapore Navy Military expenditures: 3.2% of GDP (2021 est.) 3% of GDP (2020) 2.9% of GDP (2019) (approximately $15 billion) 2.9% of GDP (2018) (approximately $14.8 billion) 3% of GDP (2017) (approximately $14.8 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 60,000 active duty troops (45,000 Army; 7,000 Navy; 8,000 Air Force) (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the SAF has a diverse and largely modern mix of domestically-produced and imported weapons; since 2010, it has received armaments from about 10 countries with the US as the chief supplier; Singapore has the most developed arms industry in Southeast Asia and is also its largest importer of weapons (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-21 years of age for male compulsory military service; 16 1/2 years of age for voluntary enlistment (with parental consent); 2-year conscript service obligation, with a reserve obligation to age 40 (enlisted) or age 50 (officers); women are not conscripted, but they are allowed to volunteer for all services and branches, including combat arms (2021) note 1: under the Enlistment Act, all male Singaporean citizens and permanent residents, unless exempted, are required to enter National Service (NS) upon attaining the age of 18; most NS conscripts serve in the SAF, but some go into the Police Force or Civil Defense Force; as of 2020, conscripts comprised over half of the defense establishment note 2: as of 2017, women made up about 7% of the active force Military deployments: maintains permanent training detachments of military personnel in Australia, France, and the US (2022) Military - note: Singapore is a member of the Five Powers Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a series of mutual assistance agreements reached in 1971 embracing Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK; the FPDA commits the members to consult with one another in the event or threat of an armed attack on any of the members and to mutually decide what measures should be taken, jointly or separately; there is no specific obligation to intervene militarily the SAF's roots go back to 1854 when the Singapore Volunteer Rifle Corps was formed under colonial rule; the first battalion of regular soldiers, the First Singapore Infantry Regiment, was organized in 1957; the modern SAF was established in 1965; as of 2022, the SAF was widely viewed as the best equipped military in southeast Asia; the Army was largely based on conscripts and reservists with a small cadre of professional soldiers, while the Air Force and Navy were primarily comprised of well-trained professionals (2022) Maritime threats: the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift; the Singapore Straits saw 35 attacks against commercial vessels in 2021, a 50% increase over 2020 and the highest number of incidents reported since 1992; vessels were boarded in 33 of the 35 incidents, one crew was injured, another assaulted and two threatened during these incidents Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait Singapore-Indonesia: Indonesia and Singapore continue to work on finalization of their 1973 maritime boundary agreement by defining unresolved areas north of Indonesia's Batam Island; subsequent treaties were signed in 2009 (ratified in 2010) and 2014 (ratified in 2017) settling the two countries’ boundaries in the Singapore Strait Singapore-Malaysia: disputes with Malaysia over territorial waters, airspace, the price of fresh water delivered to Singapore from Malaysia, Singapore's extensive land reclamation works, bridge construction, and maritime boundaries in the Johor and Singapore Straits; in 2008, the International Court of Justice awarded sovereignty of Pedra Branca (Pulau Batu Puteh/Horsburgh Island) to Singapore, and Middle Rocks to Malaysia, but did not rule on maritime regimes, boundaries, or disposition of South Ledge, which is only visible at low tide https://www.todayonline.com/world/asia/singapore-and-indonesia-signed-landmark-maritime-boundary-treaty https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia%E2%80%93Singapore_border https://www.iseas.edu.sg/media/commentaries/indonesia-ratifies-maritime-border-treaty-with-singapore-a-commentary-by-mustafa-izzuddin/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedra_Branca_dispute https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Malaysia-in-transition/Singapore-and-Malaysia-make-major-breakthrough-in-maritime-dispute https://thediplomat.com/2021/09/the-1962-johor-singapore-water-agreement-lessons-learned/piracy remains a problem in the Malacca StraitSingapore-Indonesia: Indonesia and Singapore continue to work on finalization of their 1973 maritime boundary agreement by defining unresolved areas north of Indonesia's Batam Island; subsequent treaties were signed in 2009 (ratified in 2010) and 2014 (ratified in 2017) settling the two countries’ boundaries in the Singapore StraitSingapore-Malaysia: disputes with Malaysia over territorial waters, airspace, the price of fresh water delivered to Singapore from Malaysia, Singapore's extensive land reclamation works, bridge construction, and maritime boundaries in the Johor and Singapore Straits; in 2008, the International Court of Justice awarded sovereignty of Pedra Branca (Pulau Batu Puteh/Horsburgh Island) to Singapore, and Middle Rocks to Malaysia, but did not rule on maritime regimes, boundaries, or disposition of South Ledge, which is only visible at low tide Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons: 1,109 (mid-year 2021) Illicit drugs: drug abuse limited because of aggressive law enforcement efforts, including carrying out death sentences; as a transportation and financial services hub, Singapore is vulnerable, despite strict laws and enforcement, as a venue for money launderingdrug abuse limited because of aggressive law enforcement efforts, including carrying out death sentences; as a transportation and financial services hub, Singapore is vulnerable, despite strict laws and enforcement, as a venue for money laundering

20220901

countries-grenada

Topic: Photos of Grenada Topic: Introduction Background: Carib Indians inhabited Grenada when Christopher COLUMBUS landed on the island in 1498, but it remained uncolonized for more than a century. The French settled Grenada in the 17th century, established sugar estates, and imported large numbers of African slaves. Britain took the island in 1762 and vigorously expanded sugar production. In the 19th century, cacao eventually surpassed sugar as the main export crop; in the 20th century, nutmeg became the leading export. In 1967, Britain gave Grenada autonomy over its internal affairs. Full independence was attained in 1974, making Grenada one of the smallest independent countries in the Western Hemisphere. In 1979, a leftist New Jewel Movement seized power under Maurice BISHOP, ushering in the Grenada Revolution. On 19 October 1983, factions within the revolutionary government overthrew and killed BISHOP and members of his party. Six days later, the island was invaded by US forces and those of six other Caribbean nations, which quickly captured the ringleaders and their hundreds of Cuban advisers. The rule of law was restored, and democratic elections were reinstituted the following year and have continued since then.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago Geographic coordinates: 12 07 N, 61 40 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 344 sq km land: 344 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: twice the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 121 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds Terrain: volcanic in origin with central mountains Elevation: highest point: Mount Saint Catherine 840 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m Natural resources: timber, tropical fruit Land use: agricultural land: 32.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 8.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 20.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 2.9% (2018 est.) forest: 50% (2018 est.) other: 17.7% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 20 sq km (2012) Population distribution: approximately one-third of the population is found in the capital of St. George's; the island's population is concentrated along the coast Natural hazards: lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to Novembervolcanism: Mount Saint Catherine (840 m) lies on the island of Grenada; Kick 'em Jenny, an active submarine volcano (seamount) on the Caribbean Sea floor, lies about 8 km north of the island of Grenada; these two volcanoes are at the southern end of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends up to the Netherlands dependency of Saba in the northlies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to Novembervolcanism: Mount Saint Catherine (840 m) lies on the island of Grenada; Kick 'em Jenny, an active submarine volcano (seamount) on the Caribbean Sea floor, lies about 8 km north of the island of Grenada; these two volcanoes are at the southern end of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends up to the Netherlands dependency of Saba in the north Geography - note: the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada Map description: Grenada map showing the islands that make up this country in the Caribbean Sea.Grenada map showing the islands that make up this country in the Caribbean Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 113,949 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Grenadian(s) adjective: Grenadian Ethnic groups: African descent 82.4%, mixed 13.3%, East Indian 2.2%, other 1.3%, unspecified 0.9% (2011 est.) Languages: English (official), French patois Religions: Protestant 49.2% (includes Pentecostal 17.2%, Seventh Day Adventist 13.2%, Anglican 8.5%, Baptist 3.2%, Church of God 2.4%, Evangelical 1.9%, Methodist 1.6%, other 1.2%), Roman Catholic 36%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, Rastafarian 1.2%, other 5.5%, none 5.7%, unspecified 1.3% (2011 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 23.23% (male 13,709/female 12,564) 15-24 years: 14.14% (male 8,034/female 7,959) 25-54 years: 40.05% (male 23,104/female 22,187) 55-64 years: 11.69% (male 6,734/female 6,490) 65 years and over: 10.89% (2020 est.) (male 5,774/female 6,539) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 50.5 youth dependency ratio: 35.8 elderly dependency ratio: 14.7 potential support ratio: 6.8 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 33.3 years male: 33.1 years female: 33.4 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.32% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 13.94 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 8.31 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -2.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: approximately one-third of the population is found in the capital of St. George's; the island's population is concentrated along the coast Urbanization: urban population: 36.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.86% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 39,000 SAINT GEORGE'S (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 25 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 9.4 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.94 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.74 years male: 73.13 years female: 78.6 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.93 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: total: 96.8% of population unimproved: total: 3.2% of population (2017 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 5% (2019) Physicians density: 1.44 physicians/1,000 population (2018) Hospital bed density: 3.6 beds/1,000 population (2017) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 93.7% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 6.3% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.5% (2018 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: (2018) <500 HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2018) <100 Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 21.3% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 3.6% of GDP (2018 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.6% male: 98.6% female: 98.6% (2014 est.) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 19 years male: 18 years female: 19 years (2018) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: deforestation causing habitat destruction and species loss; coastal erosion and contamination; pollution and sedimentation; inadequate solid waste management Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 21.56 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.27 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 2.04 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds Land use: agricultural land: 32.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 8.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 20.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 2.9% (2018 est.) forest: 50% (2018 est.) other: 17.7% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 36.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.86% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 29,536 tons (2012 est.) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 12 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 2.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 200 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Grenada etymology: derivation of the name remains obscure; some sources attribute the designation to Spanish influence (most likely named for the Spanish city of Granada), with subsequent French and English interpretations resulting in the present-day Grenada; in Spanish "granada" means "pomegranate" Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm Capital: name: Saint George's geographic coordinates: 12 03 N, 61 45 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the 1763 Treaty of Paris transferred possession of Grenada from France to Great Britain; the new administration renamed Ville de Fort Royal (Fort Royal Town) to Saint George's Town, after the patron saint of England; eventually the name became simply Saint George's Administrative divisions: 6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petite Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick Independence: 7 February 1974 (from the UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 7 February (1974) Constitution: history: previous 1967; latest presented 19 December 1973, effective 7 February 1974, suspended 1979 following a revolution but restored in 1983 amendments: proposed by either house of Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the membership in both houses and assent of the governor general; passage of amendments to constitutional sections, such as personal rights and freedoms, the structure, authorities, and procedures of the branches of government, the delimitation of electoral constituencies, or the procedure for amending the constitution, also requires two-thirds majority approval in a referendum; amended 1991, 1992 Legal system: common law based on English model International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years for persons from a non-Caribbean state and 4 years for a person from a Caribbean state Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Cecile LA GRENADE (since 7 May 2013) head of government: Prime Minister Keith MITCHELL (since 20 February 2013) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament consists of: Senate (13 seats; members appointed by the governor general - 10 on the advice of the prime minister and 3 on the advice of the leader of the opposition party; members serve 5-year terms) House of Representatives (15 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms) elections: Senate - last appointments on 27 April 2018 (next no later than 2023) House of Representatives - last held on 13 March 2018 (next no later than 2023) election results: Senate - percent by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 11, women 2 percent of women 15.4% House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NNP 58.9%, NDC 40.5%; other 0.6% seats by party - NNP 15; composition - men 8, women 7, percent of women 46.7%; note - total Parliament percent of women 32.1% Judicial branch: highest courts: regionally, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - consists of the Court of Appeal - headed by the chief justice and 4 judges - and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal is itinerant, traveling to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; High Court judges reside in the member states, with 2 in Grenada; appeals beyond the ECSC in civil and criminal matters are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) judge selection and term of office: chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, and independent body of judicial officials; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62 subordinate courts: magistrates' courts; Court of Magisterial Appeals Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Congress or NDC [Dickon MITCHELL] New National Party or NNP [Keith MITCHELL] International organization participation: ACP, AOSIS, CARIFORUM, CARIBCAN, Caricom, CBI, CDB, CELAC, CSME, ECCU, EPA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Yolande Yvonne SMITH (since 8 April 2019) chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 265-2561 FAX: [1] (202) 265-2468 email address and website: embassy@grenadaembassyusa.org https://grenadaembassyusa.org/ consulate(s) general: Miami, New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: the US does not have an official embassy in Grenada; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Grenada embassy: Lance-aux-Epines, Saint George's mailing address: 3180 Grenada Place, Washington DC  20521-3180 telephone: [1] (473) 444-1173 FAX: [1] (473) 444-4820 email address and website: StgeorgesACS@state.gov https://bb.usembassy.gov/embassy/grenada/ Flag description: a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top and bottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side), with a red border around the flag; there are seven yellow, five-pointed stars with three centered in the top red border, three centered in the bottom red border, and one on a red disk superimposed at the center of the flag; there is also a symbolic nutmeg pod on the hoist-side triangle (Grenada is a leading nutmeg producer); the seven stars stand for the seven administrative divisions, with the central star denoting the capital, St. George's; yellow represents the sun and the warmth of the people, green stands for vegetation and agriculture, and red symbolizes harmony, unity, and courage National symbol(s): Grenada dove, bougainvillea flower; national colors: red, yellow, green National anthem: name: "Hail Grenada" lyrics/music: Irva Merle BAPTISTE/Louis Arnold MASANTO note: adopted 1974 Topic: Economy Economic overview: Grenada relies on tourism and revenue generated by St. George’s University - a private university offering degrees in medicine, veterinary medicine, public health, the health sciences, nursing, arts and sciences, and business - as its main source of foreign exchange. In the past two years the country expanded its sources of revenue, including from selling passports under its citizenship by investment program. These projects produced a resurgence in the construction and manufacturing sectors of the economy.   In 2017, Grenada experienced its fifth consecutive year of growth and the government successfully marked the completion of its five-year structural adjustment program that included among other things austerity measures, increased tax revenue and debt restructuring. Public debt-to-GDP was reduced from 100% of GDP in 2013 to 71.8% in 2017.Grenada relies on tourism and revenue generated by St. George’s University - a private university offering degrees in medicine, veterinary medicine, public health, the health sciences, nursing, arts and sciences, and business - as its main source of foreign exchange. In the past two years the country expanded its sources of revenue, including from selling passports under its citizenship by investment program. These projects produced a resurgence in the construction and manufacturing sectors of the economy. In 2017, Grenada experienced its fifth consecutive year of growth and the government successfully marked the completion of its five-year structural adjustment program that included among other things austerity measures, increased tax revenue and debt restructuring. Public debt-to-GDP was reduced from 100% of GDP in 2013 to 71.8% in 2017. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.7 billion (2020 est.) $1.91 billion (2019 est.) $1.87 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 5.1% (2017 est.) 3.7% (2016 est.) 6.4% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $15,100 (2020 est.) $17,100 (2019 est.) $16,800 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $1.119 billion (2017 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.9% (2017 est.) 1.7% (2016 est.) Credit ratings: Standard & Poors rating: SD (2013) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 6.8% (2017 est.) industry: 15.5% (2017 est.) services: 77.7% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 63% (2017 est.) government consumption: 12% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 20% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: -0.1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 60% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -55% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: bananas, watermelons, sweet potatoes, sugar cane, tomatoes, plantains, coconuts, melons, cucumbers, cabbages Industries: food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism, construction, education, call-center operations Industrial production growth rate: 10% (2017 est.) Labor force: 55,270 (2017 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 11% industry: 20% services: 69% (2008 est.) Unemployment rate: 24% (2017 est.) 28.2% (2016 est.) Population below poverty line: 38% (2008 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 288.4 million (2017 est.) expenditures: 252.3 million (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 3.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 70.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 82% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 25.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$77 million (2017 est.) -$34 million (2016 est.) Exports: $650 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $44.2 million (2016 est.) Exports - partners: United States 40%, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 7%, Saint Lucia 7%, France 6%, Netherlands 5%, Germany 5%, Ireland 5%, Antigua and Barbuda 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: fish, nutmeg, cocoa beans, fruits, wheat, toilet paper (2019) Imports: $640 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $314.7 million (2016 est.) Imports - partners: United States 35%, Canada 24%, China 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: aircraft, poultry meat, cars, refined petroleum, food preparation materials (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $199.1 million (31 December 2017 est.) $198 million (31 December 2015 est.) Debt - external: $793.5 million (2017 est.) $682.3 million (2016 est.) Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2017 est.) 2.7 (2016 est.) 2.7 (2015 est.) 2.7 (2014 est.) 2.7 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 95.3% (2018) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 55,000 kW (2020 est.) consumption: 194.495 million kWh (2019 est.) exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 19 million kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 98.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 1.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 2,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 1,886 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 316,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 316,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 39.799 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 16,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 122,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 108 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: the telecom sector has seen a decline in subscriber numbers (particularly for prepaid mobile services the mainstay of short term visitors) and revenue; fixed and mobile broadband services are two areas that have benefited from the crisis as employees and students have resorted to working from home; one major casualty may be the region’s second largest telco operator, Digicel; the company filed for bankruptcy in the US in April 2020; it continues to operate in all of its Caribbean markets as it seeks to refinance billions of dollars of debt; the other major telco, regional incumbent Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), is experiencing similar drops in subscriber numbers and revenue; CWC is expanding and enhancing its fixed and mobile networks in many of the countries it serves around the Caribbean, despite many locations being small islands with very small populations; one area of the telecom market that is not prepared for growth is 5G mobile; governments, regulators, and even the mobile network operators have shown that they have not been investing in 5G opportunities at the present time; network expansion and enhancements remain concentrated around improving LTE coverage. (2021) domestic: interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone links; 29 per 100 for fixed-line and 102 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2019) international: country code - 1-473; landing points for the ECFS, Southern Caribbean Fiber and CARCIP submarine cables with links to 13 Caribbean islands extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad & Tobago including Puerto Rico and Barbados; SHF radiotelephone links to Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to Trinidad (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: multiple publicly and privately owned television and radio stations; Grenada Information Service (GIS) is government-owned and provides television and radio services; the Grenada Broadcasting Network, jointly owned by the government and the Caribbean Communications Network of Trinidad and Tobago, operates a TV station and 2 radio stations; Meaningful Television (MTV) broadcasts island-wide and is part of a locally-owned media house, Moving Target Company, that also includes an FM radio station and a weekly newspaper; multi-channel cable TV subscription service is provided by Columbus Communications Grenada (FLOW GRENADA) and is available island wide; approximately 25 private radio stations also broadcast throughout the country (2019) Internet country code: .gd Internet users: total: 64,136 (2020 est.) percent of population: 57% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 32,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: J3 Airports: total: 3 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Roadways: total: 1,127 km (2017) paved: 902 km (2017) unpaved: 225 km (2017) Merchant marine: total: 6 by type: general cargo 3, other 3 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Saint George's Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: no regular military forces; the Royal Grenada Police Force (under the Ministry of National Security) includes a Coast Guard and a paramilitary Special Services Unit (2022) Military - note: Grenada joined the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) in 1985; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Saint Kitts, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security (2022) Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: nonenone Illicit drugs: a transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbeana transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbean

20220901

countries-switzerland

Topic: Photos of Switzerland Topic: Introduction Background: The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. A constitution of 1848, subsequently modified in 1874 to allow voters to introduce referenda on proposed laws, replaced the confederation with a centralized federal government. Switzerland's sovereignty and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and the country was not involved in either of the two world wars. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations but retains a strong commitment to neutrality.  The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. A constitution of 1848, subsequently modified in 1874 to allow voters to introduce referenda on proposed laws, replaced the confederation with a centralized federal government. Switzerland's sovereignty and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and the country was not involved in either of the two world wars. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations but retains a strong commitment to neutrality. Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 8 00 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 41,277 sq km land: 39,997 sq km water: 1,280 sq km Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey Land boundaries: total: 1,770 km border countries (5): Austria 158 km; France 525 km; Italy 698 km; Liechtenstein 41 km; Germany 348 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers Terrain: mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes Elevation: highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m mean elevation: 1,350 m Natural resources: hydropower potential, timber, salt Land use: agricultural land: 38.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 10.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 27.9% (2018 est.) forest: 31.5% (2018 est.) other: 29.8% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 630 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Constance (shared with Germany and Austria) - 540 sq km; Lake Geneva (shared with France) - 580 sq km Major rivers (by length in km): Rhine  river source (shared with Germany, France, and Netherlands [m]) - 1,233 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km), (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km), (Adriatic Sea) Po (76,997 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Rhone (100,543 sq km) Population distribution: population distribution corresponds to elevation with the northern and western areas far more heavily populated; the higher Alps of the south limit settlement Natural hazards: avalanches, landslides; flash floods Geography - note: landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, has the highest elevations in the Alps Map description: Switzerland map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries.Switzerland map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries. Topic: People and Society Population: 8,508,698 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Swiss (singular and plural) adjective: Swiss Ethnic groups: Swiss 69.2%, German 4.2%, Italian 3.2%, Portuguese 2.5%, French 2.1%, Kosovo 1.1%, Turkish 1%, other 16.7% (2020 est.) note: data represent permanent and non-permanent resident population by country of birth Languages: German (or Swiss German) (official) 62.1%, French (official) 22.8%, Italian (official) 8%, English 5.7%, Portuguese 3.5%, Albanian 3.3%, Serbo-Croatian 2.3%, Spanish 2.3%, Romansh (official) 0.5%, other 7.9%; note - German, French, Italian, and Romansh are all national and official languages; shares sum to more than 100% because respondents could indicate more than one main language (2019 est.) major-language sample(s): Das World Factbook, die unverzichtbare Quelle für grundlegende Informationen. (German) The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) L'Almanacco dei fatti del mondo, l'indispensabile fonte per le informazioni di base. (Italian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Roman Catholic 34.4%, Protestant 22.5%, other Christian 5.7%, Muslim 5.4%, other 1.5%, none 29.4%, unspecified 1.1% (2020 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 15.34% (male 664,255/female 625,252) 15-24 years: 10.39% (male 446,196/female 426,708) 25-54 years: 42.05% (male 1,768,245/female 1,765,941) 55-64 years: 13.48% (male 569,717/female 563,482) 65 years and over: 18.73% (2020 est.) (male 699,750/female 874,448) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 51.6 youth dependency ratio: 22.7 elderly dependency ratio: 29 potential support ratio: 3.5 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 42.7 years male: 41.7 years female: 43.7 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.65% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 10.36 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 8.4 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 4.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: population distribution corresponds to elevation with the northern and western areas far more heavily populated; the higher Alps of the south limit settlement Urbanization: urban population: 74.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 1.420 million Zurich, 437,000 BERN (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 31.1 years (2020 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 5 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 3.58 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.08 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 83.23 years male: 80.91 years female: 85.67 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.58 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 71.6% (2017) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 11.3% (2019) Physicians density: 4.38 physicians/1,000 population (2020) Hospital bed density: 4.6 beds/1,000 population (2018) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 17,000 (2020) note: estimate does not include children HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020) <200 note: estimate does not include children Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 19.5% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 25.5% (2020 est.) male: 28.1% (2020 est.) female: 22.9% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 4.9% of GDP (2018 est.) Literacy: total population: NA male: NA female: NA School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 17 years male: 17 years female: 16 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 8.6% male: 9.2% female: 8% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from agricultural fertilizers; chemical contaminants and erosion damage the soil and limit productivity; loss of biodiversity Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 10.21 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 34.48 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 4.98 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers Land use: agricultural land: 38.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 10.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 27.9% (2018 est.) forest: 31.5% (2018 est.) other: 29.8% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 74.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 6.056 million tons (2016 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,937,920 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 32% (2015 est.) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Constance (shared with Germany and Austria) - 540 sq km; Lake Geneva (shared with France) - 580 sq km Major rivers (by length in km): Rhine  river source (shared with Germany, France, and Netherlands [m]) - 1,233 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km), (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km), (Adriatic Sea) Po (76,997 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Rhone (100,543 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 931 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 642.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 160.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 53.5 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Swiss Confederation conventional short form: Switzerland local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German)/ Confederation Suisse (French)/ Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)/ Confederaziun Svizra (Romansh) local short form: Schweiz (German)/ Suisse (French)/ Svizzera (Italian)/ Svizra (Romansh) abbreviation: CH etymology: name derives from the canton of Schwyz, one of the founding cantons of the Old Swiss Confederacy that formed in the 14th century Government type: federal republic (formally a confederation) Capital: name: Bern geographic coordinates: 46 55 N, 7 28 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: origin of the name is uncertain, but may derive from a 2nd century B.C. Celtic place name, possibly "berna" meaning "cleft," that was subsequently adopted by a Roman settlement Administrative divisions: 26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; Kantone, singular - Kanton in German); Aargau, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Berne/Bern, Fribourg/Freiburg, Geneve (Geneva), Glarus, Graubuenden/Grigioni/Grischun, Jura, Luzern (Lucerne), Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais/Wallis, Vaud, Zug, Zuerich note: the canton names are in the official language(s) of the canton with the exception of Geneve and Luzern, where the conventional names (Geneva and Lucerne) have been added in parentheses; 6 of the cantons - Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Nidwalden, Obwalden - are referred to as half cantons because they elect only one member (instead of two) to the Council of States and, in popular referendums where a majority of popular votes and a majority of cantonal votes are required, these 6 cantons only have a half vote Independence: 1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation) National holiday: Founding of the Swiss Confederation in 1291; note - since 1 August 1891 celebrated as Swiss National Day Constitution: history: previous 1848, 1874; latest adopted by referendum 18 April 1999, effective 1 January 2000 amendments: proposed by the two houses of the Federal Assembly or by petition of at least one hundred thousand voters (called the "federal popular initiative"); passage of proposals requires majority vote in a referendum; following drafting of an amendment by the Assembly, its passage requires approval by majority vote in a referendum and approval by the majority of cantons; amended many times, last in 2018 Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts, except for federal decrees of a general obligatory character International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Switzerland dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 12 years including at least 3 of the last 5 years prior to application Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio CASSIS (since 1 January 2022); Vice President Alain BERSET (since 1 January 2022); note - the Federal Council, comprised of 7 federal councillors, constitutes the federal government of Switzerland; council members rotate the 1-year term of federal president head of government: President of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio CASSIS (since 1 January 2022); Vice President Alain BERSET (since 1 January 2022) cabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal (in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) indirectly elected by the Federal Assembly for a 4-year term elections/appointments: president and vice president elected by the Federal Assembly from among members of the Federal Council for a 1-year, non-consecutive term; election last held on 8 December 2021 (next to be held in December 2022) election results: Ignazio CASSIS elected president; Federal Assembly vote - Ignazio CASSIS (FDP.The Liberals) 156 of 197 votes; Alain BERSET (SP) elected vice president; Federal Assembly vote - 158 of 204 Legislative branch: description: description: bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung (in German), Assemblée Fédérale (in French), Assemblea Federale (in Italian) consists of: Council of States or Ständerat (in German), Conseil des États (in French), Consiglio degli Stati (in Italian) (46 seats; members in multi-seat constituencies representing cantons and single-seat constituencies representing half cantons directly elected by simple majority vote except Jura and Neuchatel cantons which use list proportional representation vote; member term governed by cantonal law) National Council or Nationalrat (in German), Conseil National (in French), Consiglio Nazionale (in Italian) (200 seats; 195 members in cantons directly elected by proportional representation vote and 6 in half cantons directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms) (e.g. 2019) elections: Council of States - last held in most cantons on 20 October 2019 (each canton determines when the next election will be held) National Council - last held on 20 October 2019 (next to be held on 31 October 2023) (e.g. 2019) election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - The Center 13, FDP.The Liberals 12, SDP 9, Green Party 5, SVP 6, other 1; composition (as of October 2021) - men 34, women 12, percent of women 26.1% National Council - percent of vote by party - SDP 26.5%, SP 19.5%, FDP.The Liberals 15.1%, Green Party 14%, The Center 14%, GLP 7.8%, other 3.5%; seats by party - SVP 53, SP 39, FDP.The Liberals 29, Green Party 28, The Center 28, GLP 16, other 7; composition (as of October 2021) - men 115, women 85, percent of women 42.5%; note - overall Federal Assembly percent of women 39.4% (e.g. 2019) Judicial branch: highest courts: Federal Supreme Court (consists of 38 justices and 19 deputy justices organized into 7 divisions) judge selection and term of office: judges elected by the Federal Assembly for 6-year terms; note - judges are affiliated with political parties and are elected according to linguistic and regional criteria in approximate proportion to the level of party representation in the Federal Assembly subordinate courts: Federal Criminal Court (established in 2004); Federal Administrative Court (established in 2007); note - each of Switzerland's 26 cantons has its own courts Political parties and leaders: Free Democratic Party or FDP.The Liberals (FDP.Die Liberalen, PLR.Les Liberaux-Radicaux, PLR.I Liberali, Ils Liberals) [Petra GOESSI] Green Liberal Party (Gruenliberale Partei or GLP, Parti vert liberale or PVL, Partito Verde-Liberale or PVL, Partida Verde Liberale or PVL) [Juerg GROSSEN] Green Party (Gruene Partei der Schweiz or Gruene, Parti Ecologiste Suisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi, Partida Ecologica Svizra or La Verda) [Regula RYTZ] Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SP, Parti Socialiste Suisse or PSS, Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS, Partida Socialdemocratica de la Svizra or PSS) [Cedric WERMUTH and Mattea MEYER] Swiss People's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei or SVP, Union Democratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica di Centro or UDC, Uniun Democratica dal Center or UDC) [Marco CHIESA] The Center (Die Mitte, Alleanza del Centro, Le Centre, Allianza dal Center) [Gerhard PFISTER] (merger of the Christian Democratic People's Party and the Conservative Democratic Party) other minor parties International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, EITI (implementing country), ESA, FAO, FATF, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jacques Henri PITTELOUD (since 16 September 2019) chancery: 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20007-4105 telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900 FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564 email address and website: washington@eda.admin.ch https://www.eda.admin.ch/washington consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, New York, San Francisco consulate(s): Boston Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Scott MILLER (since 11 January 2022) note - also accredited to Liechtenstein embassy: Sulgeneckstrasse 19, CH-3007 Bern mailing address: 5110 Bern Place, Washington DC  20521-5110 telephone: [41] (031) 357-70-11 FAX: [41] (031) 357-73-20 email address and website: https://ch.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag; various medieval legends purport to describe the origin of the flag; a white cross used as identification for troops of the Swiss Confederation is first attested at the Battle of Laupen (1339) note: in 1863, a newly formed international relief organization convening in Geneva, Switzerland sought to come up with an identifying flag or logo, they chose the inverse of the Swiss flag - a red cross on a white field - as their symbol; today that organization is known throughout the world as the International Red Cross National symbol(s): Swiss cross (white cross on red field, arms equal length); national colors: red, white National anthem: name: the Swiss anthem has four names: "Schweizerpsalm" [German] "Cantique Suisse" [French] "Salmo svizzero," [Italian] "Psalm svizzer" [Romansch] (Swiss Psalm) lyrics/music: Leonhard WIDMER [German], Charles CHATELANAT [French], Camillo VALSANGIACOMO [Italian], and Flurin CAMATHIAS [Romansch]/Alberik ZWYSSIG note: unofficially adopted 1961, officially 1981; the anthem has been popular in a number of Swiss cantons since its composition (in German) in 1841; translated into the other three official languages of the country (French, Italian, and Romansch), it is official in each of those languages National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 13 (9 cultural, 4 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Old City of Berne (c); Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch (n); Monte San Giorgio (n); Abbey of St Gall (c); Three Castles, Defensive Wall, and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona (c); Rhaetian Railway in the Albula/Bernina Landscapes (c); La Chaux-de-Fonds/Le Locle, Watchmaking Town Planning (c); Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps (c); Benedictine Convent of St John at Müstair (c); Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces (c) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Switzerland, a country that espouses neutrality, is a prosperous and modern market economy with low unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and a per capita GDP among the highest in the world. Switzerland's economy benefits from a highly developed service sector, led by financial services, and a manufacturing industry that specializes in high-technology, knowledge-based production. Its economic and political stability, transparent legal system, exceptional infrastructure, efficient capital markets, and low corporate tax rates also make Switzerland one of the world's most competitive economies.   The Swiss have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with the EU's to gain access to the Union’s Single Market and enhance the country’s international competitiveness. Some trade protectionism remains, however, particularly for its small agricultural sector. The fate of the Swiss economy is tightly linked to that of its neighbors in the euro zone, which purchases half of Swiss exports. The global financial crisis of 2008 and resulting economic downturn in 2009 stalled demand for Swiss exports and put Switzerland into a recession. During this period, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) implemented a zero-interest rate policy to boost the economy, as well as to prevent appreciation of the franc, and Switzerland's economy began to recover in 2010.   The sovereign debt crises unfolding in neighboring euro-zone countries, however, coupled with economic instability in Russia and other Eastern European economies drove up demand for the Swiss franc by investors seeking a safehaven currency. In January 2015, the SNB abandoned the Swiss franc’s peg to the euro, roiling global currency markets and making active SNB intervention a necessary hallmark of present-day Swiss monetary policy. The independent SNB has upheld its zero interest rate policy and conducted major market interventions to prevent further appreciation of the Swiss franc, but parliamentarians have urged it to do more to weaken the currency. The franc's strength has made Swiss exports less competitive and weakened the country's growth outlook; GDP growth fell below 2% per year from 2011 through 2017.   In recent years, Switzerland has responded to increasing pressure from neighboring countries and trading partners to reform its banking secrecy laws, by agreeing to conform to OECD regulations on administrative assistance in tax matters, including tax evasion. The Swiss Government has also renegotiated its double taxation agreements with numerous countries, including the US, to incorporate OECD standards.Switzerland, a country that espouses neutrality, is a prosperous and modern market economy with low unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and a per capita GDP among the highest in the world. Switzerland's economy benefits from a highly developed service sector, led by financial services, and a manufacturing industry that specializes in high-technology, knowledge-based production. Its economic and political stability, transparent legal system, exceptional infrastructure, efficient capital markets, and low corporate tax rates also make Switzerland one of the world's most competitive economies. The Swiss have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with the EU's to gain access to the Union’s Single Market and enhance the country’s international competitiveness. Some trade protectionism remains, however, particularly for its small agricultural sector. The fate of the Swiss economy is tightly linked to that of its neighbors in the euro zone, which purchases half of Swiss exports. The global financial crisis of 2008 and resulting economic downturn in 2009 stalled demand for Swiss exports and put Switzerland into a recession. During this period, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) implemented a zero-interest rate policy to boost the economy, as well as to prevent appreciation of the franc, and Switzerland's economy began to recover in 2010. The sovereign debt crises unfolding in neighboring euro-zone countries, however, coupled with economic instability in Russia and other Eastern European economies drove up demand for the Swiss franc by investors seeking a safehaven currency. In January 2015, the SNB abandoned the Swiss franc’s peg to the euro, roiling global currency markets and making active SNB intervention a necessary hallmark of present-day Swiss monetary policy. The independent SNB has upheld its zero interest rate policy and conducted major market interventions to prevent further appreciation of the Swiss franc, but parliamentarians have urged it to do more to weaken the currency. The franc's strength has made Swiss exports less competitive and weakened the country's growth outlook; GDP growth fell below 2% per year from 2011 through 2017. In recent years, Switzerland has responded to increasing pressure from neighboring countries and trading partners to reform its banking secrecy laws, by agreeing to conform to OECD regulations on administrative assistance in tax matters, including tax evasion. The Swiss Government has also renegotiated its double taxation agreements with numerous countries, including the US, to incorporate OECD standards. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $590.71 billion (2020 est.) $608.16 billion (2019 est.) $601.65 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 1.11% (2019 est.) 3.04% (2018 est.) 1.65% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $68,400 (2020 est.) $70,900 (2019 est.) $70,700 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $731.502 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.3% (2019 est.) 0.9% (2018 est.) 0.5% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: AAA (2000) Moody's rating: Aaa (1982) Standard & Poors rating: AAA (1988) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0.7% (2017 est.) industry: 25.6% (2017 est.) services: 73.7% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 53.7% (2017 est.) government consumption: 12% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 24.5% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: -1.4% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 65.1% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -54% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: milk, sugar beet, wheat, potatoes, pork, barley, apples, maize, beef, grapes Industries: machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments, tourism, banking, insurance, pharmaceuticals Industrial production growth rate: 3.4% (2017 est.) Labor force: 5.067 million (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 3.3% industry: 19.8% services: 76.9% (2015) Unemployment rate: 2.31% (2019 est.) 2.55% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 8.6% male: 9.2% female: 8% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 16% (2018 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 32.7 (2017 est.) 33.1 (1992) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 7.5% highest 10%: 19% (2007) Budget: revenues: 242.1 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 234.4 billion (2017 est.) note: includes federal, cantonal, and municipal budgets Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 1.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 41.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 41.8% of GDP (2016 est.) note: general government gross debt; gross debt consists of all liabilities that require payment or payments of interest and/or principal by the debtor to the creditor at a date or dates in the future; includes debt liabilities in the form of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), currency and deposits, debt securities, loans, insurance, pensions and standardized guarantee schemes, and other accounts payable; all liabilities in the GFSM (Government Financial Systems Manual) 2001 system are debt, except for equity and investment fund shares and financial derivatives and employee stock options Taxes and other revenues: 35.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: $79.937 billion (2019 est.) $63.273 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $470.91 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $478.34 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $482.58 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars note: trade data exclude trade with Switzerland Exports - partners: Germany 16%, United States 14%, United Kingdom 8%, China 7%, France 6%, India 6%, Italy 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: gold, packaged medicines, medical cultures/vaccines, watches, jewelry (2019) Imports: $401.91 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $394 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $395.86 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Germany 21%, Italy 8%, United States 6%, France 6%, United Kingdom 5%, United Arab Emirates 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: gold, packaged medicines, jewelry, cars, medical cultures/vaccines (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $811.2 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $679.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $1,909,446,000,000 (2019 est.) $1,930,819,000,000 (2018 est.) Exchange rates: Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - 0.88995 (2020 est.) 0.98835 (2019 est.) 0.99195 (2018 est.) 0.9627 (2014 est.) 0.9152 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 22.921 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 56,406,647,000 kWh (2020 est.) exports: 32.549 billion kWh (2020 est.) imports: 26.988 billion kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 4.19 billion kWh (2020 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 34.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 3.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 56.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 4.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 150,000 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 139,000 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 300 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 220,000 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 60,900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 61,550 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 7,345 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 165,100 bbl/day (2017 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 3,616,169,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 3,577,884,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 38.739 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 319,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 31.494 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 6.926 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 137.918 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 3,071,296 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 10.829 million (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126.05 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Switzerland has one of the highest broadband penetration rates within Europe, with a focus on services of at least 1Gb/s; this has been supported by sympathetic regulatory measures as well as by cooperative agreements between the main telcos Swisscom, Swiss Net Fire, and Sunrise UPC, and with local utilities; fast fiber is complemented by 5G services reaching about 97% of the population by early 2021; together, these networks will soon enable the telcos to provide ultra-fast broadband services nationally, ahead of most other countries in the region; the competitive mobile market is served by three network operators and a small number of MVNOs. Liberty Global acquired the MNO Sunrise in November 2020 and merged the business with its own unit UPC Switzerland, creating Sunrise UPC to contend effectively against Swisscom across the sector; 5G services offered by the MNOs offer data rates of up to 2Gb/s, and although various cantons have called a halt to extensions of 5G, citing health concerns, the regulator and environment ministry have put in place measures aimed at ensuring that network rollouts can continue without disruption; with the migration of subscribers to LTE and 5G networks, the MNOs have been able to begin closing down their GSM networks and repurpose physical assets and spectrum; although not a member of the EU, the country’s economic integration has meant that its telecom market deregulation has followed the EU’s liberalization framework, including the recent regulations on international voice roaming; this report presents an analysis of Switzerland’s fixed-line telecom market, including an assessment of network infrastructure; it examines the regulatory environment and evaluates the strategies and performance of service providers including Swisscom and Sunrise UPC; the report also assesses the mobile market, including new technologies and profiles of the main operators; the report reviews the fixed and fixed-wireless broadband segments and the migration to a fiber-abased infrastructure; subscriber forecasts to 2024 are provided covering a range of services. (2021) domestic: fixed-line over 34 per 100 and mobile-cellular subscribership roughly 126 per 100 persons; extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks (2020) international: country code - 41; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: the publicly owned radio and TV broadcaster, Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG/SSR), operates 8 national TV networks, 3 broadcasting in German, 3 in French, and 2 in Italian; private commercial TV stations broadcast regionally and locally; TV broadcasts from stations in Germany, Italy, and France are widely available via multi-channel cable and satellite TV services; SRG/SSR operates 17 radio stations that, along with private broadcasters, provide national to local coverage ) (2019)the publicly owned radio and TV broadcaster, Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG/SSR), operates 8 national TV networks, 3 broadcasting in German, 3 in French, and 2 in Italian; private commercial TV stations broadcast regionally and locally; TV broadcasts from stations in Germany, Italy, and France are widely available via multi-channel cable and satellite TV services; SRG/SSR operates 17 radio stations that, along with private broadcasters, provide national to local coverage ) Internet country code: .ch Internet users: total: 8,118,367 (2020 est.) percent of population: 94% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 4,028,238 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 6 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 179 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 28,857,994 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,841,310,000 (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HB Airports: total: 63 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 40 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 17 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 23 under 914 m: 23 (2021) Heliports: 2 (2021) Pipelines: 1,800 km gas, 94 km oil (of which 60 are inactive), 17 km refined products (2017) Railways: total: 5,466 km (2015) (includes 19 km in neighboring countries) standard gauge: 3,836 km (2015) 1.435-m gauge (3,634 km electrified) narrow gauge: 1,630 km (2015) 1.200-m gauge (2 km electrified) (includes 19 km in neighboring countries) 1188 km 1.000-mm gauge (1,167.3 km electrified) 36 km 0.800-mm gauge (36.4 km electrified) Roadways: total: 71,557 km (2017) paved: 71,557 km (2017) (includes 1,458 of expressways) Waterways: 1,292 km (2010) (there are 1,227 km of waterways on lakes and rivers for public transport and 65 km on the Rhine River between Basel-Rheinfelden and Schaffhausen-Bodensee for commercial goods transport) Merchant marine: total: 20 by type: bulk carrier 16, general cargo 1, other 3 (includes Liechtenstein) (2021) Ports and terminals: river port(s): Basel (Rhine) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Swiss Armed Forces: Land Forces, Swiss Air Force (Schweizer Luftwaffe) (2022) Military expenditures: 0.7% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2020) 0.7% of GDP (2019) (approximately $5.26 billion) 0.7% of GDP (2018) (approximately $4.72 billion) 0.7% of GDP (2017) (approximately $4.67 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: the Swiss Armed Forces maintain a full-time professional cadre of about 4,000 personnel along with approximately 18-20,000 conscripts brought in annually for 18-23 weeks of training; approximately 120,000 reserve forces (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Swiss Armed Forces inventory includes a mix of domestically-produced and imported weapons systems; the US is the leading supplier of military armaments to Switzerland since 2010; the Swiss defense industry produces a range of military land vehicles (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-30 years of age generally for male compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary male and female military service; every Swiss male has to serve at least 245 days in the armed forces; conscripts receive 18 weeks of mandatory training, followed by six 19-day intermittent recalls for training during the next 10 years (2021) note: conscientious objectors can choose 390 days of community service instead of military service Military deployments: up to 165 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR) (2022) Military - note: Switzerland has long maintained a policy of military neutrality, but does periodically participate in EU, NATO, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and UN military operations; Swiss law excludes participation in combat operations for peace enforcement, and Swiss units will only participate in operations under the mandate of the UN or OSCE; Switzerland joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1996; it contributed to the NATO-led Kosovo peace-support force (KFOR) in 1999 and as of 2022, continued doing so with up to 165 personnel; Switzerland also provided a small number of staff officers to the NATO mission in Afghanistan from 2004-2007Switzerland has long maintained a policy of military neutrality, but does periodically participate in EU, NATO, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and UN military operations; Swiss law excludes participation in combat operations for peace enforcement, and Swiss units will only participate in operations under the mandate of the UN or OSCE; Switzerland joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1996; it contributed to the NATO-led Kosovo peace-support force (KFOR) in 1999 and as of 2022, continued doing so with up to 165 personnel; Switzerland also provided a small number of staff officers to the NATO mission in Afghanistan from 2004-2007 Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none identifiednone identified Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 38,219 (Eritrea), 20,043 (Syria), 14,649 (Afghanistan), 6,069 (Sri Lanka), 6,197 (Turkey) (mid-year 2021); 60,461 (Ukraine) (as of 16 August 2022) stateless persons: 684 (mid-year 2021) Illicit drugs: major source of precursor chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics; a significant importer and exporter of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine

20220901

references-guide-to-country-comparisons

Topic: Geography Topic: People and Society Topic: Environment Topic: Economy Topic: Energy Topic: Communications Topic: Transportation Topic: Military and Security

20220901

countries-rwanda-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise normal precautions in Rwanda. Some areas have increased risk. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws, and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 2 blank pages in their passport for each entry stamp/visa that will be required. A visa is required. US citizens will need to get in touch with the country’s embassy or nearest consulate to obtain a visa prior to visiting the country. US Embassy/Consulate: +(250)-252-596-400 (Monday through Thursday, 8:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.); EMER: +(250)-252-596-400, and dial 1; U S Embassy Kigali, 2657 Avenue de la Gendarmerie (Kacyiru), PO Box 28, Kigali, Rwanda; consularkigali@state Telephone Code: 250 Local Emergency Phone: Local numbers only Vaccinations: An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations. http://www.who.int/ Climate: Temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible Currency (Code): Rwandan francs (RWF) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, J Major Languages: Kinyarwanda, French, English, Swahili/Kiswahili Major Religions: Protestant 49.5% (includes Adventist 11.8% and other Protestant 37.7%), Roman Catholic 43.7%, Muslim 2%, other 0.9% (includes Jehovah's Witness) Time Difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Kigali Genocide Memorial; Volcanoes National Park; Nyungwe Forest National Park; Ethnographic Museum; Murambi Genocide Memorial; King's Palace Museum Major Sports: Soccer Cultural Practices: Personal space is often much tighter in Rwanda, so do not be surprised if conversations occur at closer distances. Tipping Guidelines: Tipping private guides $5-10 (USD) per person per day is common. Hotel and lodge staff would appreciate $5 (USD) per day. Souvenirs: Imigongo art; tribal wall hangings, masks, weapons, and musical instruments; baskets with painted lids, embroidered cloth items Traditional Cuisine: Brochettes — meat (typically goat, beef, chicken, or pork) or fish on a skewer, sometimes with vegetables, and roasted over hot coals; typically served with roasted potatoes, deep-fried bananas, or saladPlease visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Wednesday, July 20, 2022

20220901

countries-india-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise increased caution in India due to crime and terrorism. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 2 blank pages in their passport for any entry stamp and or visa that will be required. A visa is required. US citizens will need to get in touch with the country’s embassy or nearest consulate to obtain a visa prior to visiting the country. US Embassy/Consulate: [91] (11) 2419-8000; US Embassy in New Delhi, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi – 110021, India; acsnd@state.gov; https://in.usembassy.gov/ Telephone Code: 91 Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 102; Fire: 101; Police: 100, 103 (traffic accident) Vaccinations: An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations. http://www.who.int/ Climate: Varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north Currency (Code): Indian rupees (INR) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, D, M Major Languages: Hindi , Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Gujarati, Urdu, Kannada, Odia, Malayalam, Punjabi, Assamese, Maithili, English Major Religions: Hindu 79.8%, Muslim 14.2%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.7% Time Difference: UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Left Tourist Destinations: Taj Mahal; Delhi; Dhamek Stupa; Amer Fort; Beaches of Goa; Periyar National Park; Agra Fort; Ellora Caves; Mehrangarh Fort; Nalanda Mahavihara Archaelogical Site; Mahabodhi Temple Major Sports: Cricket, field hockey, soccer, badminton, tennis, kabaddi (contact team sport played between two teams of seven players each) Cultural Practices: Wearing shoes indoors and pointing at people is considered rude. Tipping Guidelines: Tipping 7-10% of the total bill is sufficient at restaurants. Round up taxi fares. Tip bellhops loose change for carrying bags to your room. For housekeeping, tip 5-7% of the hotel charge per night divided by the number of days stayed. Souvenirs: Handmade shoes and leather goods, traditional saris, Nehru jackets, gold and bangle jewelry, furniture and lacquered decorative items, brass and wood carvings; cardamom, cinnamon, curry, saffron, and other spices; antiques Traditional Cuisine: Khichdi — a dish of rice and lentils; Biryani — long-grain rice cooked with spices and meat and often topped with fried onion flakes and boiled eggs; Tandoori Chicken — whole chicken marinated in yogurt and spices, and baked in a tandoor (a traditional Indian clay oven)Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Monday, June 20, 2022

20220901

countries-andorra

Topic: Photos of Andorra Topic: Introduction Background: The Moorish invasion of Spain in the 8th century and subsequent incursions into France were finally stemmed at the Pyrenees by Frankish King Charlemagne, who in 795 created the Hispanic March, a series of buffer states to keep the Muslim Moors from advancing into Christian France. The landlocked Principality of Andorra, one of the smallest states in Europe and nestled high in the Pyrenees between the French and Spanish borders, is the last independent survivor of these March states. For 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under a unique coprincipality, ruled by French and Spanish leaders (from 1607 onward, the French chief of state and the Bishop of Urgell). In 1993, this feudal system was modified with the introduction of a modern constitution; the co-princes remained as titular heads of state, but the government transformed into a parliamentary democracy. Andorra has become a popular tourist destination visited by approximately 8 million people each year drawn by the winter sports, summer climate, and duty-free shopping. Andorra has also become a wealthy international commercial center because of its mature banking sector and low taxes. As part of its effort to modernize its economy, Andorra has opened to foreign investment, and engaged in other reforms, such as advancing tax initiatives aimed at supporting a broader infrastructure. Although not a member of the EU, Andorra enjoys a special relationship with the bloc that is governed by various customs and cooperation agreements and uses the euro as its national currency.The Moorish invasion of Spain in the 8th century and subsequent incursions into France were finally stemmed at the Pyrenees by Frankish King Charlemagne, who in 795 created the Hispanic March, a series of buffer states to keep the Muslim Moors from advancing into Christian France. The landlocked Principality of Andorra, one of the smallest states in Europe and nestled high in the Pyrenees between the French and Spanish borders, is the last independent survivor of these March states. For 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under a unique coprincipality, ruled by French and Spanish leaders (from 1607 onward, the French chief of state and the Bishop of Urgell). In 1993, this feudal system was modified with the introduction of a modern constitution; the co-princes remained as titular heads of state, but the government transformed into a parliamentary democracy.Andorra has become a popular tourist destination visited by approximately 8 million people each year drawn by the winter sports, summer climate, and duty-free shopping. Andorra has also become a wealthy international commercial center because of its mature banking sector and low taxes. As part of its effort to modernize its economy, Andorra has opened to foreign investment, and engaged in other reforms, such as advancing tax initiatives aimed at supporting a broader infrastructure. Although not a member of the EU, Andorra enjoys a special relationship with the bloc that is governed by various customs and cooperation agreements and uses the euro as its national currency.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southwestern Europe, Pyrenees mountains, on the border between France and Spain Geographic coordinates: 42 30 N, 1 30 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 468 sq km land: 468 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 118 km border countries (2): France 55 km; Spain 63 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers Terrain: rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys Elevation: highest point: Pic de Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m lowest point: Riu Runer 840 m mean elevation: 1,996 m Natural resources: hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead Land use: agricultural land: 40% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 38.3% (2018 est.) forest: 34% (2018 est.) other: 26% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012) Population distribution: population is unevenly distributed and is concentrated in the seven urbanized valleys that make up the country's parishes (political administrative divisions) Natural hazards: avalanches Geography - note: landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the Pyrenees Map description: Andorra map showing major towns as well as parts of neighboring France and Spain.Andorra map showing major towns as well as parts of neighboring France and Spain. Topic: People and Society Population: 85,560 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Andorran(s) adjective: Andorran Ethnic groups: Andorran 48.3%, Spanish 24.8%, Portuguese 11.2%, French 4.5%, Argentine 1.4%, other 9.8% (2021 est.) note: data represent population by nationality Languages: Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese Religions: Christian (predominantly Roman Catholic) 89.5, other 8.8%, unaffiliated 1.7% (2020 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 13.37% (male 5,901/female 5,551) 15-24 years: 10.16% (male 4,474/female 4,227) 25-54 years: 43.19% (male 18,857/female 18,131) 55-64 years: 15.91% (male 7,184/female 6,443) 65 years and over: 17.36% (2020 est.) (male 7,544/female 7,323) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Median age: total: 46.2 years male: 46.3 years female: 46.1 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -0.1% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 6.88 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 7.92 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: population is unevenly distributed and is concentrated in the seven urbanized valleys that make up the country's parishes (political administrative divisions) Urbanization: urban population: 87.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 23,000 ANDORRA LA VELLA (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 32.8 years (2019) Infant mortality rate: total: 3.44 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.54 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 83.42 years male: 81.2 years female: 85.79 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.45 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 6.7% (2019) Physicians density: 3.33 physicians/1,000 population (2015) Hospital bed density: 2.5 beds/1,000 population Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 25.6% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 31.8% (2020 est.) male: 35.3% (2020 est.) female: 28.3% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 3.2% of GDP (2019 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (2016) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 9.95 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.47 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.05 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers Land use: agricultural land: 40% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 38.3% (2018 est.) forest: 34% (2018 est.) other: 26% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 87.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 43,000 tons (2012 est.) Total renewable water resources: 315.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Principality of Andorra conventional short form: Andorra local long form: Principat d'Andorra local short form: Andorra etymology: the origin of the country's name is obscure; the name may derive from the Arabic "ad-darra" meaning "the forest," a reference to its location as part of the Spanish March (defensive buffer zone) against the invading Moors in the 8th century; an alternate explanation is that the name originates from a Navarrese word "andurrial" meaning "shrub-covered land" Government type: parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains its chiefs of state in the form of a co-principality; the two princes are the President of France and Bishop of Seu d'Urgell, Spain Capital: name: Andorra la Vella geographic coordinates: 42 30 N, 1 31 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: translates as "Andorra the Old" in Catalan Administrative divisions: 7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra la Vella, Canillo, Encamp, Escaldes-Engordany, La Massana, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria Independence: 1278 (formed under the joint sovereignty of the French Count of Foix and the Spanish Bishop of Urgell) National holiday: Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278) Constitution: history: drafted 1991, approved by referendum 14 March 1993, effective 28 April 1993 amendments: proposed by the coprinces jointly or by the General Council; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority vote by the General Council, ratification in a referendum, and sanctioning by the coprinces Legal system: mixed legal system of civil and customary law with the influence of canon (religious) law International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the mother must be an Andorran citizen or the father must have been born in Andorra and both parents maintain permanent residence in Andorra dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 25 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Co-prince Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by Patrick STROZDA (since 14 May 2017); and Co-prince Archbishop Joan-Enric VIVES i Sicilia (since 12 May 2003); represented by Josep Maria MAURI (since 20 July 2012) head of government: Head of Government (or Cap de Govern) Xaviar Espot ZAMORA (since 16 May 2019) cabinet: Executive Council of 12 ministers designated by the head of government elections/appointments: head of government indirectly elected by the General Council (Andorran parliament), formally appointed by the coprinces for a 4-year term; election last held on 7 April 2019 (next to be held in April 2023); the leader of the majority party in the General Council is usually elected head of government election results: Xaviar Espot ZAMORA (DA) elected head of government; percent of General Council vote - 60.7% Legislative branch: description: unicameral General Council of the Valleys or Consell General de les Valls (a minimum of 28 seats; 14 members directly elected in two-seat constituencies (7 parishes) by simple majority vote and 14 directly elected in a single national constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms); note - voters cast two separate ballots - one for a national list and one for a parish list elections: last held on 7 April 2019 (next to be held in April 2023) election results: percent of vote by party - DA 35.1%, PS 30.6%, L'A 12.5%, Third Way/Lauredian Union 10.4%, other 11.4%; seats by party - DA 11, PS 7, L'A 4, Third Way/Lauredian Union 4, other 2; composition - men 15, women 13, percent of women 46.4% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of Justice of Andorra or Tribunal Superior de la Justicia d'Andorra (consists of the court president and 8 judges organized into civil, criminal, and administrative chambers); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 4 magistrates) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president and judges appointed by the Supreme Council of Justice, a 5-member judicial policy and administrative body appointed 1 each by the coprinces, 1 by the General Council, 1 by the executive council president, and 1 by the courts; judges serve 6-year renewable terms; Constitutional magistrates - 2 appointed by the coprinces and 2 by the General Council; magistrates' appointments limited to 2 consecutive 8-year terms subordinate courts: Tribunal of Judges or Tribunal de Batlles; Tribunal of the Courts or Tribunal de Corts Political parties and leaders: Democrats for Andorra or DA [Xaviar ESPOT ZAMORA] Liberals of Andorra or L'A [Jordi GALLARDO FERNANDEZ] Social Democracy and Progress or SDP [Victor NAUDI ZAMORA] Social Democratic Party or PS [Susanna VELA] Third Way/Lauredian Union [Josep PINTAT FORNE] United for the Progress of Andorra or UPA [Alfons CLAVERA ARIZTI] note: Andorra has several smaller parties at the parish level (one is Lauredian Union) International organization participation: CE, FAO, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, Union Latina, UNWTO, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WTO (observer) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Elisenda VIVES BALMANA (since 2 March 2016) chancery: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 750-8064; [1] (212) 750-8065 FAX: [1] (212) 750-6630 email address and website: contact@andorraun.org Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Andorra; the US ambassador to Spain is accredited to Andorra; US interests in Andorra are represented by the US Consulate General's office in Barcelona (Spain); mailing address: Paseo Reina Elisenda de Montcada, 23, 08034 Barcelona, Espana; telephone: [34] (93) 280-22-27; FAX: [34] (93) 280-61-75; email address: Barcelonaacs@state.gov Flag description: three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red, with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; the latter band is slightly wider than the other 2 so that the ratio of band widths is 8:9:8; the coat of arms features a quartered shield with the emblems of (starting in the upper left and proceeding clockwise): Urgell, Foix, Bearn, and Catalonia; the motto reads VIRTUS UNITA FORTIOR (Strength United is Stronger); the flag combines the blue and red French colors with the red and yellow of Spain to show Franco-Spanish protection note: similar to the flags of Chad and Romania, which do not have a national coat of arms in the center, and the flag of Moldova, which does bear a national emblem National symbol(s): red cow (breed unspecified); national colors: blue, yellow, red National anthem: name: "El Gran Carlemany" (The Great Charlemagne) lyrics/music: Joan BENLLOCH i VIVO/Enric MARFANY BONS note: adopted 1921; the anthem provides a brief history of Andorra in a first person narrative National heritage: total World Heritage Sites:  1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley Topic: Economy Economic overview: Andorra has a developed economy and a free market, with per capita income above the European average and above the level of its neighbors, Spain and France. The country has developed a sophisticated infrastructure including a one-of-a-kind micro-fiber-optic network for the entire country. Tourism, retail sales, and finance comprise more than three-quarters of GDP. Duty-free shopping for some products and the country’s summer and winter resorts attract millions of visitors annually. Andorra uses the euro and is effectively subject to the monetary policy of the European Central Bank. Andorra's comparative advantage as a tax haven eroded when the borders of neighboring France and Spain opened and the government eased bank secrecy laws under pressure from the EU and OECD.   Agricultural production is limited - only about 5% of the land is arable - and most food has to be imported, making the economy vulnerable to changes in fuel and food prices. The principal livestock is sheep. Manufacturing output and exports consist mainly of perfumes and cosmetic products, products of the printing industry, electrical machinery and equipment, clothing, tobacco products, and furniture. Andorra is a member of the EU Customs Union and is treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs) and as a non-EU member for agricultural products.   To provide incentives for growth and diversification in the economy, the Andorran government began sweeping economic reforms in 2006. The Parliament approved three laws to complement the first phase of economic openness: on companies (October 2007), on business accounting (December 2007), and on foreign investment (April 2008 and June 2012). From 2011 to 2015, the Parliament also approved direct taxes in the form of taxes on corporations, on individual incomes of residents and non-residents, and on capital gains, savings, and economic activities. These regulations aim to establish a transparent, modern, and internationally comparable regulatory framework, in order to attract foreign investment and businesses that offer higher value added.Andorra has a developed economy and a free market, with per capita income above the European average and above the level of its neighbors, Spain and France. The country has developed a sophisticated infrastructure including a one-of-a-kind micro-fiber-optic network for the entire country. Tourism, retail sales, and finance comprise more than three-quarters of GDP. Duty-free shopping for some products and the country’s summer and winter resorts attract millions of visitors annually. Andorra uses the euro and is effectively subject to the monetary policy of the European Central Bank. Andorra's comparative advantage as a tax haven eroded when the borders of neighboring France and Spain opened and the government eased bank secrecy laws under pressure from the EU and OECD. Agricultural production is limited - only about 5% of the land is arable - and most food has to be imported, making the economy vulnerable to changes in fuel and food prices. The principal livestock is sheep. Manufacturing output and exports consist mainly of perfumes and cosmetic products, products of the printing industry, electrical machinery and equipment, clothing, tobacco products, and furniture. Andorra is a member of the EU Customs Union and is treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs) and as a non-EU member for agricultural products. To provide incentives for growth and diversification in the economy, the Andorran government began sweeping economic reforms in 2006. The Parliament approved three laws to complement the first phase of economic openness: on companies (October 2007), on business accounting (December 2007), and on foreign investment (April 2008 and June 2012). From 2011 to 2015, the Parliament also approved direct taxes in the form of taxes on corporations, on individual incomes of residents and non-residents, and on capital gains, savings, and economic activities. These regulations aim to establish a transparent, modern, and internationally comparable regulatory framework, in order to attract foreign investment and businesses that offer higher value added. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $3.327 billion (2015 est.) $3.363 billion (2014 est.) $3.273 billion (2013 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars Real GDP growth rate: -1.1% (2015 est.) 1.4% (2014 est.) -0.1% (2013 est.) Real GDP per capita: $49,900 (2015 est.) $51,300 (2014 est.) $50,300 (2013 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $2.712 billion (2016 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.9% (2015 est.) -0.1% (2014 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BBB+ (2018) Standard & Poors rating: BBB (2017) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 11.9% (2015 est.) industry: 33.6% (2015 est.) services: 54.5% (2015 est.) Agricultural products: small quantities of rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables, tobacco; sheep, cattle Industries: tourism (particularly skiing), banking, timber, furniture Industrial production growth rate: NA Labor force: 39,750 (2016) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 0.5% industry: 4.4% services: 95.1% (2015) Unemployment rate: 3.7% (2016 est.) 4.1% (2015 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 1.872 billion (2016) expenditures: 2.06 billion (2016) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -6.9% (of GDP) (2016) Public debt: 41% of GDP (2014 est.) 41.4% of GDP (2013 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 69% (of GDP) (2016) Fiscal year: calendar year Exports: $78.71 million (2015 est.) $79.57 million (2014 est.) Exports - partners: Spain 40%, France 19%, United States 11%, Mauritania 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: integrated circuits, medical supplies, essential oils, cars, tanned hides (2019) Imports: $1.257 billion (2015 est.) $1.264 billion (2014 est.) Imports - partners: Spain 71%, France 17% (2019) Imports - commodities: cars, refined petroleum, perfumes, shaving products, liquors (2019) Debt - external: $0 (2016) Exchange rates: euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.885 (2017 est.) 0.903 (2016 est.) 0.9214 (2015 est.) 0.885 (2014 est.) 0.7634 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2016) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 40,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 52 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 94,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 122 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: modern automatic telephone system; broadband Internet and LTE mobile lines for both consumer and enterprise customers available (2019) domestic: about 51 per 100 fixed-line, 114 per 100 mobile-cellular (2019) international: country code - 376; landline circuits to France and Spain; modern system with microwave radio relay connections between exchanges (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: 1 public TV station and 2 public radio stations; about 10 commercial radio stations; good reception of radio and TV broadcasts from stations in France and Spain; upgraded to terrestrial digital TV broadcasting in 2007; roughly 25 international TV channels available (2019) Internet country code: .ad Internet users: total: 71,084 (2020 est.) percent of population: 92% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 37,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 48 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: C3 Roadways: total: 320 km (2019) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Police Corps of Andorra Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France and Spain Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Andorra-France: none identified Andorra-Spain: none identifiedAndorra-France: none identified Andorra-Spain: none identified

20220901

countries-japan-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens Reconsider Travel to Japan due to COVID-19-related entry restrictions. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport is valid at the date of their entering the country and during the length of their entire visit. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required for stays of less than 90 days. US Embassy/Consulate: [81] (03) 3224-5000; US Embassy in Tokyo, 1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420, Japan; TokyoACS@state.gov; https://jp.usembassy.gov/ Telephone Code: 81 Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 119; Fire: 119; Police: 110 Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations http://www.who.int/ Climate: Varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north Currency (Code): Yen (JPY) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 100 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): A, B Major Languages: Japanese Major Religions: Shintoism 69%, Buddhism 66.7%, Christianity 1.5%, other 6.2%; note: many people practice both Shintoism and Buddhism Time Difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Potable Water: Yes International Driving Permit: required Road Driving Side: Left Tourist Destinations: Tokyo (includes Imperial Palace, Skytree, Mount Fuji, Disneyland); Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park; Historic Kyoto; Island Shrine of Itsukushima; Historic Nara; Himeji Castle; Nagasaki; Okinawa Major Sports: Sumo wrestling, karate, judo Cultural Practices: Shaking hands in Japan is less widespread than in other countries. Bowing is much more common. Tipping Guidelines: Tipping is not expected by the majority of service workers. This includes restaurant servers, hotel employees, and cab drivers. Some even regard tipping as rude or degrading. Staff connected with tourism, such as tour guides, may be grateful for tips. Souvenirs: Silk kimonos, designer fashion and electronics, beauty products, bento boxes, art supplies, bamboo and paper wagasa umbrellas, printed tenugui cloth items, hand fans, tanuki statues; ceremonially dressed dolls, kites, and folk toys; maneki neko good fortune cat itemsPlease visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Monday, April 18, 2022

20220901

countries-costa-rica-summaries

Topic: Introduction Background: Costa Rica proclaimed its independence from the United Provinces of central America in 1838.  Since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the country’s democratic development. Its standard of living is relatively high and land ownership is widespread.Costa Rica proclaimed its independence from the United Provinces of central America in 1838.  Since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the country’s democratic development. Its standard of living is relatively high and land ownership is widespread. Topic: Geography Area: total: 51,100 sq km land: 51,060 sq km water: 40 sq km Climate: tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands Natural resources: hydropower Topic: People and Society Population: 5,204,411 (2022 est.) Ethnic groups: White or Mestizo 83.6%, Mulatto 6.7%, Indigenous 2.4%, Black or African descent 1.1%, other 1.1%, none 2.9%, unspecified 2.2% (2011 est.) Languages: Spanish (official), English Religions: Roman Catholic 47.5%, Evangelical and Pentecostal 19.8%, Jehovah's Witness 1.4%, other Protestant 1.2%, other 3.1%, none 27% (2021 est.) Population growth rate: 1.01% (2022 est.) Topic: Government Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: San Jose Executive branch: chief of state: President Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (since 8 May 2022); First Vice President Stephan BRUNNER Neibig (since 8 May 2022); Second Vice President Mary Denisse MUNIVE Angermuller (since 8 May 2022); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (since 8 May 2022); First Vice President Stephan BRUNNER Neibig (since 8 May 2022); Second Vice President Mary Denisse MUNIVE Angermuller (since 8 May 2022) Legislative branch: description: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (57 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies - corresponding to the country's 7 provinces - by closed party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) Topic: Economy Economic overview: trade-based upper middle-income economy; green economy leader, having reversed deforestation; investing in blue economy infrastructure; declining poverty until hard impacts of COVID-19; lingering inequality and growing government debts have prompted a liquidity crisistrade-based upper middle-income economy; green economy leader, having reversed deforestation; investing in blue economy infrastructure; declining poverty until hard impacts of COVID-19; lingering inequality and growing government debts have prompted a liquidity crisis Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $100.25 billion (2020 est.) Real GDP per capita: $19,700 (2020 est.) Agricultural products: sugar cane, pineapples, bananas, milk, oil palm fruit, fruit, oranges, watermelons, cassava, rice Industries: medical equipment, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products Exports: $21.2 billion (2019 est.) Exports - partners: United States 38%, Netherlands 6%, Belgium 5%, Guatemala 5%, Panama 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: medical instruments, bananas, tropical fruits, orthopedic appliances, food preparations (2019) Imports: $19.39 billion (2019 est.) Imports - partners: United States 41%, China 13%, Mexico 7% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, cars, medical instruments, packaged medicines (2019)Page last updated: Tuesday, May 17, 2022

20220901

countries-cameroon

Topic: Photos of Cameroon Topic: Introduction Background: Much of the area of present-day Cameroon was ruled by powerful chiefdoms before becoming a German colony in 1884 known as Kamerun. After World War I, the territory was divided between France and the UK as League of Nations mandates. French Cameroon became independent in 1960 as the Republic of Cameroon. The following year the southern portion of neighboring British Cameroon voted to merge with the new country to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon. In 1972, a new constitution replaced the federation with a unitary state, the United Republic of Cameroon. The country has generally enjoyed stability, which has enabled the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despite slow movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of President Paul BIYA.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Central Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria Geographic coordinates: 6 00 N, 12 00 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 475,440 sq km land: 472,710 sq km water: 2,730 sq km Area - comparative: slightly larger than California; about four times the size of Pennsylvania Land boundaries: total: 5,018 km border countries (6): Central African Republic 901 km; Chad 1,116 km; Republic of the Congo 494 km; Equatorial Guinea 183 km; Gabon 349 km; Nigeria 1975 km Coastline: 402 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm Climate: varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north Terrain: diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north Elevation: highest point: Fako on Mont Cameroun 4,045 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 667 m Natural resources: petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower Land use: agricultural land: 20.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 13.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 3.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 4.2% (2018 est.) forest: 41.7% (2018 est.) other: 37.7% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 290 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Chad (endorheic lake shared with Niger, Nigeria, and Chad) - 10,360-25,900 sq km note - area varies by season and year to year Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), Niger (2,261,741 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km) Major aquifers: Lake Chad Basin Population distribution: population concentrated in the west and north, with the interior of the country sparsely populated as shown in this population distribution map Natural hazards: volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoesvolcanism: Mt. Cameroon (4,095 m), which last erupted in 2000, is the most frequently active volcano in West Africa; lakes in Oku volcanic field have released fatal levels of gas on occasion, killing some 1,700 people in 1986volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoesvolcanism: Mt. Cameroon (4,095 m), which last erupted in 2000, is the most frequently active volcano in West Africa; lakes in Oku volcanic field have released fatal levels of gas on occasion, killing some 1,700 people in 1986 Geography - note: sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa because of its central location on the continent and its position at the west-south juncture of the Gulf of Guinea; throughout the country there are areas of thermal springs and indications of current or prior volcanic activity; Mount Cameroon, the highest mountain in Sub-Saharan west Africa, is an active volcano Map description: Cameroon map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Bight of Benin.Cameroon map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Bight of Benin. Topic: People and Society Population: 29,321,637 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Nationality: noun: Cameroonian(s) adjective: Cameroonian Ethnic groups: Bamileke-Bamu 24.3%, Beti/Bassa, Mbam 21.6%, Biu-Mandara 14.6%, Arab-Choa/Hausa/Kanuri 11%, Adamawa-Ubangi, 9.8%, Grassfields 7.7%, Kako, Meka/Pygmy 3.3%, Cotier/Ngoe/Oroko 2.7%, Southwestern Bantu 0.7%, foreign/other ethnic group 4.5% (2018 est.) Languages: 24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official) major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English) The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) Religions: Roman Catholic 38.3%, Protestant 25.5%, other Christian 6.9%, Muslim 24.4%, animist 2.2%, other 0.5%, none 2.2% (2018 est.) Demographic profile: Cameroon has a large youth population, with more than 60% of the populace under the age of 25. Fertility is falling but remains at a high level, especially among poor, rural, and uneducated women, in part because of inadequate access to contraception. Life expectancy remains low at about 55 years due to the prevalence of HIV and AIDs and an elevated maternal mortality rate, which has remained high since 1990. Cameroon, particularly the northern region, is vulnerable to food insecurity largely because of government mismanagement, corruption, high production costs, inadequate infrastructure, and natural disasters. Despite economic growth in some regions, poverty is on the rise, and is most prevalent in rural areas, which are especially affected by a shortage of jobs, declining incomes, poor school and health care infrastructure, and a lack of clean water and sanitation. Underinvestment in social safety nets and ineffective public financial management also contribute to Cameroon’s high rate of poverty.  The activities of Boko Haram, other armed groups, and counterinsurgency operations have worsened food insecurity in the Far North region.   International migration has been driven by unemployment (including fewer government jobs), poverty, the search for educational opportunities, and corruption. The US and Europe are preferred destinations, but, with tighter immigration restrictions in these countries, young Cameroonians are increasingly turning to neighboring states, such as Gabon and Nigeria, South Africa, other parts of Africa, and the Near and Far East. Cameroon’s limited resources make it dependent on UN support to host more than 420,000 refugees and asylum seekers as of September 2020. These refugees and asylum seekers are primarily from the Central African Republic and Nigeria.  Internal and external displacement have grown dramatically in recent years.  Boko Haram's attacks and counterattacks by government forces in the Far North since 2014 have increased the number of internally displaced people.  Armed conflict between separatists and Cameroon's military in the the Northwest and Southwest since 2016 have displaced hundreds of thousands of the country's Anglophone minority.Cameroon has a large youth population, with more than 60% of the populace under the age of 25. Fertility is falling but remains at a high level, especially among poor, rural, and uneducated women, in part because of inadequate access to contraception. Life expectancy remains low at about 55 years due to the prevalence of HIV and AIDs and an elevated maternal mortality rate, which has remained high since 1990. Cameroon, particularly the northern region, is vulnerable to food insecurity largely because of government mismanagement, corruption, high production costs, inadequate infrastructure, and natural disasters. Despite economic growth in some regions, poverty is on the rise, and is most prevalent in rural areas, which are especially affected by a shortage of jobs, declining incomes, poor school and health care infrastructure, and a lack of clean water and sanitation. Underinvestment in social safety nets and ineffective public financial management also contribute to Cameroon’s high rate of poverty.  The activities of Boko Haram, other armed groups, and counterinsurgency operations have worsened food insecurity in the Far North region.  International migration has been driven by unemployment (including fewer government jobs), poverty, the search for educational opportunities, and corruption. The US and Europe are preferred destinations, but, with tighter immigration restrictions in these countries, young Cameroonians are increasingly turning to neighboring states, such as Gabon and Nigeria, South Africa, other parts of Africa, and the Near and Far East. Cameroon’s limited resources make it dependent on UN support to host more than 420,000 refugees and asylum seekers as of September 2020. These refugees and asylum seekers are primarily from the Central African Republic and Nigeria.  Internal and external displacement have grown dramatically in recent years.  Boko Haram's attacks and counterattacks by government forces in the Far North since 2014 have increased the number of internally displaced people.  Armed conflict between separatists and Cameroon's military in the the Northwest and Southwest since 2016 have displaced hundreds of thousands of the country's Anglophone minority. Age structure: 0-14 years: 42.34% (male 5,927,640/female 5,820,226) 15-24 years: 20.04% (male 2,782,376/female 2,776,873) 25-54 years: 30.64% (male 4,191,151/female 4,309,483) 55-64 years: 3.87% (male 520,771/female 552,801) 65 years and over: 3.11% (2020 est.) (male 403,420/female 460,248) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 81.1 youth dependency ratio: 76.2 elderly dependency ratio: 4.9 potential support ratio: 20.3 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 18.5 years male: 18.2 years female: 18.8 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 2.75% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 35.53 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 7.73 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: population concentrated in the west and north, with the interior of the country sparsely populated as shown in this population distribution map Urbanization: urban population: 58.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 4.164 million YAOUNDE (capital), 3.927 million Douala (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.1 years (2018 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Maternal mortality ratio: 529 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 48.73 deaths/1,000 live births male: 53.58 deaths/1,000 live births female: 43.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.27 years male: 61.49 years female: 65.09 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.55 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 19.3% (2018) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 95.1% of population rural: 56.2% of population total: 78.6% of population unimproved: urban: 4.9% of population rural: 43.8% of population total: 21.4% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 3.6% (2019) Physicians density: 0.13 physicians/1,000 population (2019) Hospital bed density: 1.3 beds/1,000 population Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 83.2% of population rural: 27.7% of population total: 59.7% of population unimproved: urban: 16.8% of population rural: 72.3% of population total: 40.3% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 3% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 500,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 14,000 (2020 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Cameroon is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, the CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 11.4% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 7.3% (2020 est.) male: 13.2% (2020 est.) female: 1.4% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 11% (2018/19) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 10.7% women married by age 18: 29.8% men married by age 18: 2.9% (2018 est.) Education expenditures: 3.1% of GDP (2019 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 77.1% male: 82.6% female: 71.6% (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 12 years male: 13 years female: 11 years (2016) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 6.3% male: 5.8% female: 6.8% (2014 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: waterborne diseases are prevalent; deforestation and overgrazing result in erosion, desertification, and reduced quality of pastureland; poaching; overfishing; overhunting Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 65.26 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 8.29 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 30.71 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north Land use: agricultural land: 20.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 13.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 3.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 4.2% (2018 est.) forest: 41.7% (2018 est.) other: 37.7% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 58.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 2.5% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Cameroon is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, the CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine Food insecurity: severe localized food insecurity: due to civil insecurity and population displacements - according to October 2021 analysis, about 2.4 million people were estimated to be severely food insecure between October and December 2021; this mainly results from the impacts of Boko Haram incursions in Far North Region, the socio‑political unrest in Northwest and Southwest regions and COVID‑19‑related economic shocks, which disrupted trade flows and agricultural practices, deteriorated livelihoods and displaced people (2022) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 3,270,617 tons (2013 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 13,082 tons (2009 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 0.4% (2009 est.) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Chad (endorheic lake shared with Niger, Nigeria, and Chad) - 10,360-25,900 sq km note - area varies by season and year to year Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), Niger (2,261,741 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km) Major aquifers: Lake Chad Basin Total water withdrawal: municipal: 246.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 104.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 737 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 283.15 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon conventional short form: Cameroon local long form: Republique du Cameroun (French)/Republic of Cameroon (English) local short form: Cameroun/Cameroon former: Kamerun, French Cameroon, British Cameroon, Federal Republic of Cameroon, United Republic of Cameroon etymology: in the 15th century, Portuguese explorers named the area near the mouth of the Wouri River the Rio dos Camaroes (River of Prawns) after the abundant shrimp in the water; over time the designation became Cameroon in English; this is the only instance where a country is named after a crustacean Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Yaounde geographic coordinates: 3 52 N, 11 31 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: founded as a German colonial settlement of Jaunde in 1888 and named after the local Yaunde (Ewondo) people Administrative divisions: 10 regions (regions, singular - region); Adamaoua, Centre, East (Est), Far North (Extreme-Nord), Littoral, North (Nord), North-West (Nord-Ouest), West (Ouest), South (Sud), South-West (Sud-Ouest) Independence: 1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship) National holiday: State Unification Day (National Day), 20 May (1972) Constitution: history: several previous; latest effective 18 January 1996 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; amendment drafts require approval of at least one third of the membership in either house of Parliament; passage requires absolute majority vote of the Parliament membership; passage of drafts requested by the president for a second reading in Parliament requires two-thirds majority vote of its membership; the president can opt to submit drafts to a referendum, in which case passage requires a simple majority; constitutional articles on Cameroon’s unity and territorial integrity and its democratic principles cannot be amended; amended 2008 Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cameroon dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982) head of government: Prime Minister Joseph Dion NGUTE (since 4 January 2019); Deputy Prime Minister Amadou ALI (since 2014) cabinet: Cabinet proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-year term (no term limits); election last held on 7 October 2018 (next to be held in October 2025); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Paul BIYA reelected president; percent of vote - Paul BIYA (CPDM) 71.3%, Maurice KAMTO (MRC) 14.2%, Cabral LIBII (Univers) 6.3%, other 8.2% (2018) Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of: Senate or Senat (100 seats; 70 members indirectly elected by regional councils and 30 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms) National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (180 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 25 March 2018 (next to be held in 2023) National Assembly - last held on 9 February 2020 (current term extended by president); note - the Constitutional Court has ordered a partial rerun of elections in the English speaking areas; date to be determined election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - CDPM 81.1%, SDF 8.6%, UNDP 5.8%, UDC 1.16%, other 2.8%; seats by party - CPDM 63, SDF 7; composition as of March 2022 - men 74, women 26, percent of women 26% National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPDM 139, UNDP 7, SDF 5, PCRN 5, UDC 4, FSNC 3, MDR 2, Union of Socialist Movements 2; 13 vacant; composition as of March 2022 - men 119, women 61, percent of women 33.9%; note - total Parliament percent of women 31.1% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of Cameroon (consists of 9 titular and 6 surrogate judges and organized into judicial, administrative, and audit chambers); Constitutional Council (consists of 11 members) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president with the advice of the Higher Judicial Council of Cameroon, a body chaired by the president and includes the minister of justice, selected magistrates, and representatives of the National Assembly; judge term NA; Constitutional Council members appointed by the president for single 9-year terms subordinate courts: Parliamentary Court of Justice (jurisdiction limited to cases involving the president and prime minister); appellate and first instance courts; circuit and magistrates' courts Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy and Development Cameroon People's Democratic Movement or CPDM [Paul BIYA] Cameroon People's Party or CPP [Edith Kah WALLA] Cameroon Renaissance Movement or MRC [Maurice KAMTO] Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC [Adamou Ndam NJOYA] Cameroonian Party for National Reconciliation or PCRN [Cabral LIBII] Front for the National Salvation of Cameroon or FSNC [Issa Tchiroma BAKARY] Movement for the Defense of the Republic or MDR [Dakole DAISSALA] Movement for the Liberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC [Marcel YONDO] National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Maigari BELLO BOUBA] Progressive Movement or MP [Jean-Jacques EKINDI] Social Democratic Front or SDF [John FRU NDI] Union of Peoples of Cameroon or UPC [Provisionary Management Bureau] Union of Socialist Movements or USM International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, C, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC, MIGA, MNJTF, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Henri ETOUNDI ESSOMBA (since 27 June 2016) chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-8790 FAX: [1] (202) 387-3826 email address and website: cs@cameroonembassyusa.org https://www.cameroonembassyusa.org/mainFolder/index.html Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher J. LAMORA (since 21 March 2022) embassy: Avenue Rosa Parks, Yaoundé mailing address: 2520 Yaounde Place, Washington, DC  20521-2520 telephone: [237] 22251-4000/[237] 22220-1500 FAX: [237] 22220-1500, Ext. 4531 email address and website: YaoundeACS@state.gov https://cm.usembassy.gov/ branch office(s): Douala Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and yellow, with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band; the vertical tricolor recalls the flag of France; red symbolizes unity, yellow the sun, happiness, and the savannahs in the north, and green hope and the forests in the south; the star is referred to as the "star of unity" note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia National symbol(s): lion; national colors: green, red, yellow National anthem: name: "O Cameroun, Berceau de nos Ancetres" (O Cameroon, Cradle of Our Forefathers) lyrics/music: Rene Djam AFAME, Samuel Minkio BAMBA, Moise Nyatte NKO'O [French], Benard Nsokika FONLON [English]/Rene Djam AFAME note: adopted 1957; Cameroon's anthem, also known as "Chant de Ralliement" (The Rallying Song), has been used unofficially since 1948 and officially adopted in 1957; the anthem has French and English versions whose lyrics differ National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Dja Faunal Reserve; Sangha Trinational Forest Topic: Economy Economic overview: Cameroon’s market-based, diversified economy features oil and gas, timber, aluminum, agriculture, mining and the service sector. Oil remains Cameroon’s main export commodity, and despite falling global oil prices, still accounts for nearly 40% of exports. Cameroon’s economy suffers from factors that often impact underdeveloped countries, such as stagnant per capita income, a relatively inequitable distribution of income, a top-heavy civil service, endemic corruption, continuing inefficiencies of a large parastatal system in key sectors, and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise.   Since 1990, the government has embarked on various IMF and World Bank programs designed to spur business investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, improve trade, and recapitalize the nation's banks. The IMF continues to press for economic reforms, including increased budget transparency, privatization, and poverty reduction programs. The Government of Cameroon provides subsidies for electricity, food, and fuel that have strained the federal budget and diverted funds from education, healthcare, and infrastructure projects, as low oil prices have led to lower revenues.   Cameroon devotes significant resources to several large infrastructure projects currently under construction, including a deep seaport in Kribi and the Lom Pangar Hydropower Project. Cameroon’s energy sector continues to diversify, recently opening a natural gas-powered electricity generating plant. Cameroon continues to seek foreign investment to improve its inadequate infrastructure, create jobs, and improve its economic footprint, but its unfavorable business environment remains a significant deterrent to foreign investment.Cameroon’s market-based, diversified economy features oil and gas, timber, aluminum, agriculture, mining and the service sector. Oil remains Cameroon’s main export commodity, and despite falling global oil prices, still accounts for nearly 40% of exports. Cameroon’s economy suffers from factors that often impact underdeveloped countries, such as stagnant per capita income, a relatively inequitable distribution of income, a top-heavy civil service, endemic corruption, continuing inefficiencies of a large parastatal system in key sectors, and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise. Since 1990, the government has embarked on various IMF and World Bank programs designed to spur business investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, improve trade, and recapitalize the nation's banks. The IMF continues to press for economic reforms, including increased budget transparency, privatization, and poverty reduction programs. The Government of Cameroon provides subsidies for electricity, food, and fuel that have strained the federal budget and diverted funds from education, healthcare, and infrastructure projects, as low oil prices have led to lower revenues. Cameroon devotes significant resources to several large infrastructure projects currently under construction, including a deep seaport in Kribi and the Lom Pangar Hydropower Project. Cameroon’s energy sector continues to diversify, recently opening a natural gas-powered electricity generating plant. Cameroon continues to seek foreign investment to improve its inadequate infrastructure, create jobs, and improve its economic footprint, but its unfavorable business environment remains a significant deterrent to foreign investment. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $94.94 billion (2020 est.) $94.25 billion (2019 est.) $90.87 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 3.5% (2017 est.) 4.6% (2016 est.) 5.7% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $3,600 (2020 est.) $3,600 (2019 est.) $3,600 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $34.99 billion (2017 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.4% (2019 est.) 1% (2018 est.) 0.6% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: B (2006) Moody's rating: B2 (2016) Standard & Poors rating: B- (2020) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 16.7% (2017 est.) industry: 26.5% (2017 est.) services: 56.8% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 66.3% (2017 est.) government consumption: 11.8% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 21.6% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: -0.3% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 21.6% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -20.9% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: cassava, plantains, maize, oil palm fruit, taro, sugar cane, sorghum, tomatoes, bananas, vegetables Industries: petroleum production and refining, aluminum production, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair Industrial production growth rate: 3.3% (2017 est.) Labor force: 9.912 million (2017 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 70% industry: 13% services: 17% (2001 est.) Unemployment rate: 4.3% (2014 est.) 30% (2001 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 6.3% male: 5.8% female: 6.8% (2014 est.) Population below poverty line: 37.5% (2014 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 46.5 (2014 est.) 46.6 (2014 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 37.5% highest 10%: 35.4% (2001) Budget: revenues: 5.363 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 6.556 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -3.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 36.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 32.5% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 15.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June Current account balance: -$932 million (2017 est.) -$1.034 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $7.73 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $7.3 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: China 17%, Netherlands 14%, Italy 9%, United Arab Emirates 8%, India 7%, United States 6%, Belgium 6%, Spain 5%, France 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, cocoa beans, lumber, gold, natural gas, bananas (2019) Imports: $9.09 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $8.42 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: China 28%, Nigeria 15%, France 9%, Belgium 6% (2019) Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, scrap vessels, rice, special purpose ships, packaged medicines (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $3.235 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $2.26 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $9.375 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $7.364 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - 605.3 (2017 est.) 593.01 (2016 est.) 593.01 (2015 est.) 591.45 (2014 est.) 494.42 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 70% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 98% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 32% (2019) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 1.754 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 6,508,840,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.) imports: 19 million kWh (2019 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 1.864 billion kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 32.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 67.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 63,200 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 37,900 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 62,200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 20,200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 200 million barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 39,080 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 8,545 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 14,090 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 2,678,486,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) consumption: 986.189 million cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 1,603,156,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 135.071 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 7.105 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 5.171 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 1.935 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 6.187 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 964,378 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 22,350,310 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 84 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Cameroon was for many years one of the few countries in Africa with only two competing mobile operators; after some delays, Viettel Cameroon launched a third network and has since grown its subscriber base rapidly; Camtel became the fourth mobile operator in early 2020 after securing three licenses, however it suspended the launch of services in early 2021; despite this, by the end of the year a launch under the Blue brand was imminent; the investment programs among operators over the next few years will considerably boost mobile broadband services in rural areas of the country, many of which are under served by fixed-line infrastructure; the ICT sector in Cameroon is making steady progress, enabling the country to make better use of the digital economy; about 95% of all electronic transactions are carried through the m-money services operated by MTN Cameroon and Orange Cameroon; the government has also been supportive, having launched its ‘Cameroon Digital 2020’ program, aimed at improving connectivity nationally. A large number of small ICT projects form part of the overall program; improved submarine and terrestrial cable connectivity has substantially increased international bandwidth, in turn leading to reductions in access prices for consumers; other projects such as Acceleration of the Digital Transformation of Cameroon are aimed at developing the digital economy, and accelerating the use of ICT in areas such as government services, agriculture, and commerce. (2022) domestic: only a little above 3 per 100 persons for fixed-line subscriptions; mobile-cellular usage has increased sharply, reaching a subscribership base of roughly 95 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 237; landing points for the SAT-3/WASC, SAIL, ACE, NCSCS, Ceiba-2, and WACS fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe, South America, and West Africa; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: government maintains tight control over broadcast media; state-owned Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV), broadcasting on both a TV and radio network, was the only officially recognized and fully licensed broadcaster until August 2007, when the government finally issued licenses to 2 private TV broadcasters and 1 private radio broadcaster; about 70 privately owned, unlicensed radio stations operating but are subject to closure at any time; foreign news services required to partner with state-owned national station (2019) Internet country code: .cm Internet users: total: 10,087,428 (2020 est.) percent of population: 38% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 722,579 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 265,136 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 70,000 (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TJ Airports: total: 33 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 22 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 8 (2021) Pipelines: 53 km gas, 5 km liquid petroleum gas, 1,107 km oil, 35 km water (2013) Railways: total: 987 km (2014) narrow gauge: 987 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge note: railway connections generally efficient but limited; rail lines connect major cities of Douala, Yaounde, Ngaoundere, and Garoua; passenger and freight service provided by CAMRAIL Roadways: total: 77,589 km (2016) paved: 5,133 km (2016) unpaved: 72,456 km (2016) Waterways: (2010) (major rivers in the south, such as the Wouri and the Sanaga, are largely non-navigable; in the north, the Benue, which connects through Nigeria to the Niger River, is navigable in the rainy season only to the port of Garoua) Merchant marine: total: 94 by type: bulk carrier 3, container ship 1,general cargo 35, oil tanker 24, other 31 (2021) Ports and terminals: oil terminal(s): Limboh Terminal river port(s): Douala (Wouri) Garoua (Benoue) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Cameroon Armed Forces (Forces Armees Camerounaises, FAC): Army (L'Armee de Terre), Navy (Marine Nationale Republique, MNR, includes naval infantry), Air Force (Armee de l'Air du Cameroun, AAC), Rapid Intervention Battalion (Bataillons d’Intervention Rapide or BIR), National Gendarmerie, Presidential Guard (2022) note 1: the National Police and the National Gendarmerie are responsible for internal security; the Police report to the General Delegation of National Security, while the Gendarmerie reports to the Secretariat of State for Defense in charge of the Gendarmerie note 2: the Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR) maintains its own command and control structure and reports directly to the president; the BIR is structured as a large brigade with approximately 9 battalions, detachments, or groups consisting of infantry, airborne, amphibious, armored reconnaissance, counter-terrorism, and support elements Military expenditures: 1% of GDP (2021 est.) 1% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $710 million) 1.4% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $710 million) 1.5% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $710 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies widely; approximately 40,000 active duty troops; (25,000 ground forces, including the BIR and Presidential Guard; 2,000 Navy; 1,000 Air Force; 12,000 Gendarmerie) (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FAC inventory includes a wide mix of mostly older or second-hand Chinese, Russian, and Western equipment, with a limited quantity of more modern weapons; since 2010, China is the leading supplier of armaments to the FAC (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-23 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; high school graduation required; service obligation 4 years (2021) Military deployments: 750 (plus about 350 police) Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (May 2022) note: Cameroon has committed approximately 2,000-2,500 troops to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram and other terrorist groups operating in the general area of the Lake Chad Basin and along Nigeria's northeast border; national MNJTF troop contingents are deployed within their own country territories, although cross‐border operations occur occasionally Military - note: as of 2022, the FAC was largely focused on the threat from the terrorist group Boko Haram along its frontiers with Nigeria and Chad (Far North region) and an insurgency from armed Anglophone separatist groups in the North-West and South-West regions (as of early 2022, this internal conflict has left an estimated 4,000 civilians dead and over 700,000 people displaced since fighting started in 2016); in addition, the FAC often deployed units to the border region with the Central African Republic to counter intrusions from armed militias and bandits Maritime threats: the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea remain a very high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships; in 2021, there were 34 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea region; although a significant decrease from the total number of 81 incidents in 2020, it included the one hijacking and three of five ships fired upon worldwide; while boarding and attempted boarding to steal valuables from ships and crews are the most common types of incidents, almost a third of all incidents involve a hijacking and/or kidnapping; in 2021, 57 crew members were kidnapped in seven separate incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, representing 100% of kidnappings worldwide; Nigerian pirates in particular are well armed and very aggressive, operating as far as 200 nm offshore; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2022-001 - Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 4 January 2022, which states in part, "Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom continue to serve as significant threats to US-flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea" Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Boko Haram; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – West Africa note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Joint Border Commission with Nigeria reviewed 2002 ICJ ruling on the entire boundary and bilaterally resolved differences, including June 2006 Greentree Agreement that immediately ceded sovereignty of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon with a full phase-out of Nigerian control and patriation of residents in 2008; Cameroon and Nigeria agreed on maritime delimitation in March 2008; sovereignty dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty, which also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundariesJoint Border Commission with Nigeria reviewed 2002 ICJ ruling on the entire boundary and bilaterally resolved differences, including June 2006 Greentree Agreement that immediately ceded sovereignty of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon with a full phase-out of Nigerian control and patriation of residents in 2008; Cameroon and Nigeria agreed on maritime delimitation in March 2008; sovereignty dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty, which also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 347,575 (Central African Republic), 135,243 (Nigeria) (2022) IDPs: 936,767 (2022) (includes far north, northwest, and southwest) Trafficking in persons: current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Cameroon and Cameroonians abroad; deteriorating economic and education conditions and diminished police and judicial presence caused by conflict in the Northwest and Southwest has left displaced persons vulnerable to trafficking; parents may be lured by promises of education or a better life for their children in urban areas, and then the children are subject to forced labor and sex trafficking; teenagers and adolescents may be lured to cities with promises of employment and then become victims of forced labor and sex trafficking; children from neighboring countries are forced to work in spare parts shops or cattle grazing by business owners and herders; Cameroonians, often from rural areas, are exploited in forced labor and sex trafficking in the Middle East, Europe, the United States, and African countries tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Cameroon does not meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but is making significant efforts to do so; authorities investigated at least nine suspected trafficking cases, identified 77 victims, and provided some training on trafficking indicators to officials and teachers; however, officials prosecuted and convicted fewer traffickers; standard operating procedures for the identification and referral of trafficking victims were not implemented, and officials were not trained on the measures; the government did not report referring trafficking victims to government institutions for vulnerable children, but NGO-funded centers provided care for an unknown number of child victims; 2012 anti-trafficking legislation addressing victim and witness protection in conformity with international law was not passed for the eighth consecutive year (2020)

20220901

field-natural-hazards

This entry lists potential natural disasters. For countries where volcanic activity is common, a volcanism subfield highlights historically active volcanoes. Topic: Afghanistandamaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding; droughts Topic: Albaniadestructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast; floods; drought Topic: Algeriamountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mudslides and floods in rainy season; droughts Topic: American Samoacyclones common from December to Marchvolcanism: limited volcanic activity on the Ofu and Olosega Islands; neither has erupted since the 19th centurycyclones common from December to Marchvolcanism: limited volcanic activity on the Ofu and Olosega Islands; neither has erupted since the 19th century Topic: Andorraavalanches Topic: Angolalocally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau Topic: Anguillafrequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October) Topic: Antarcticakatabatic (gravity-driven) winds blow coastward from the high interior; frequent blizzards form near the foot of the plateau; cyclonic storms form over the ocean and move clockwise along the coast; large icebergs may calve from ice shelf volcanism: volcanic activity on Deception Island and isolated areas of West Antarctica; other seismic activity rare and weak Topic: Antigua and Barbudahurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughts Topic: Arctic Oceanice islands occasionally break away from northern Ellesmere Island; icebergs calved from glaciers in western Greenland and extreme northeastern Canada; permafrost in islands; virtually ice locked from October to June; ships subject to superstructure icing from October to May Topic: ArgentinaSan Miguel de Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the pampas and northeast; heavy flooding in some areasvolcanism: volcanic activity in the Andes Mountains along the Chilean border; Copahue (2,997 m) last erupted in 2000; other historically active volcanoes include Llullaillaco, Maipo, Planchon-Peteroa, San Jose, Tromen, Tupungatito, and ViedmaSan Miguel de Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the pampas and northeast; heavy flooding in some areasvolcanism: volcanic activity in the Andes Mountains along the Chilean border; Copahue (2,997 m) last erupted in 2000; other historically active volcanoes include Llullaillaco, Maipo, Planchon-Peteroa, San Jose, Tromen, Tupungatito, and Viedma Topic: Armeniaoccasionally severe earthquakes; droughts Topic: Arubahurricanes; lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely threatened Topic: Ashmore and Cartier Islandssurrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards Topic: Atlantic Oceanicebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, and the northwestern Atlantic Ocean from February to August and have been spotted as far south as Bermuda and the Madeira Islands; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme northern Atlantic from October to May; persistent fog can be a maritime hazard from May to September; hurricanes (May to December) Topic: Australiacyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest firesvolcanism: volcanic activity on Heard and McDonald Islandscyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest firesvolcanism: volcanic activity on Heard and McDonald Islands Topic: Austrialandslides; avalanches; earthquakes Topic: Azerbaijandroughts Topic: Bahamas, Thehurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage Topic: Bahrainperiodic droughts; dust storms Topic: Bangladeshdroughts; cyclones; much of the country routinely inundated during the summer monsoon season Topic: Barbadosinfrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides Topic: Belaruslarge tracts of marshy land Topic: Belgiumflooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes Topic: Belizefrequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south) Topic: Beninhot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March Topic: Bermudahurricanes (June to November) Topic: Bhutanviolent storms from the Himalayas are the source of the country's Bhutanese name, which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season Topic: Boliviaflooding in the northeast (March to April)volcanism: volcanic activity in Andes Mountains on the border with Chile; historically active volcanoes in this region are Irruputuncu (5,163 m), which last erupted in 1995, and the Olca-Paruma volcanic complex (5,762 m to 5,167 m)flooding in the northeast (March to April)volcanism: volcanic activity in Andes Mountains on the border with Chile; historically active volcanoes in this region are Irruputuncu (5,163 m), which last erupted in 1995, and the Olca-Paruma volcanic complex (5,762 m to 5,167 m) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinadestructive earthquakes Topic: Botswanaperiodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility Topic: Bouvet Islandoccasional volcanism, rock slides; harsh climate, surrounded by pack ice in winter Topic: Brazilrecurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south Topic: British Indian Ocean Territorynone; located outside routes of Indian Ocean cyclones Topic: British Virgin Islandshurricanes and tropical storms (July to October) Topic: Bruneityphoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare Topic: Bulgariaearthquakes; landslides Topic: Burkina Fasorecurring droughts Topic: Burmadestructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslides common during rainy season (June to September); periodic droughts Topic: Burundiflooding; landslides; drought Topic: Cabo Verdeprolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically activevolcanism: Fogo (2,829 m), which last erupted in 1995, is Cabo Verde's only active volcanoprolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically activevolcanism: Fogo (2,829 m), which last erupted in 1995, is Cabo Verde's only active volcano Topic: Cambodiamonsoonal rains (June to November); flooding; occasional droughts Topic: Cameroonvolcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoesvolcanism: Mt. Cameroon (4,095 m), which last erupted in 2000, is the most frequently active volcano in West Africa; lakes in Oku volcanic field have released fatal levels of gas on occasion, killing some 1,700 people in 1986volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoesvolcanism: Mt. Cameroon (4,095 m), which last erupted in 2000, is the most frequently active volcano in West Africa; lakes in Oku volcanic field have released fatal levels of gas on occasion, killing some 1,700 people in 1986 Topic: Canadacontinuous permafrost in north is a serious obstacle to development; cyclonic storms form east of the Rocky Mountains, a result of the mixing of air masses from the Arctic, Pacific, and North American interior, and produce most of the country's rain and snow east of the mountainsvolcanism: the vast majority of volcanoes in Western Canada's Coast Mountains remain dormantcontinuous permafrost in north is a serious obstacle to development; cyclonic storms form east of the Rocky Mountains, a result of the mixing of air masses from the Arctic, Pacific, and North American interior, and produce most of the country's rain and snow east of the mountainsvolcanism: the vast majority of volcanoes in Western Canada's Coast Mountains remain dormant Topic: Cayman Islandshurricanes (July to November) Topic: Central African Republichot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common Topic: Chadhot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues Topic: Chilesevere earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamisvolcanism: significant volcanic activity due to more than three-dozen active volcanoes along the Andes Mountains; Lascar (5,592 m), which last erupted in 2007, is the most active volcano in the northern Chilean Andes; Llaima (3,125 m) in central Chile, which last erupted in 2009, is another of the country's most active; Chaiten's 2008 eruption forced major evacuations; other notable historically active volcanoes include Cerro Hudson, Calbuco, Copahue, Guallatiri, Llullaillaco, Nevados de Chillan, Puyehue, San Pedro, and Villarrica; see note 2 under "Geography - note"severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamisvolcanism: significant volcanic activity due to more than three-dozen active volcanoes along the Andes Mountains; Lascar (5,592 m), which last erupted in 2007, is the most active volcano in the northern Chilean Andes; Llaima (3,125 m) in central Chile, which last erupted in 2009, is another of the country's most active; Chaiten's 2008 eruption forced major evacuations; other notable historically active volcanoes include Cerro Hudson, Calbuco, Copahue, Guallatiri, Llullaillaco, Nevados de Chillan, Puyehue, San Pedro, and Villarrica; see note 2 under "Geography - note" Topic: Chinafrequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts; land subsidencevolcanism: China contains some historically active volcanoes including Changbaishan (also known as Baitoushan, Baegdu, or P'aektu-san), Hainan Dao, and Kunlun although most have been relatively inactive in recent centuriesfrequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts; land subsidencevolcanism: China contains some historically active volcanoes including Changbaishan (also known as Baitoushan, Baegdu, or P'aektu-san), Hainan Dao, and Kunlun although most have been relatively inactive in recent centuries Topic: Christmas Islandthe narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard Topic: Clipperton Islandsubject to tropical storms and hurricanes from May to October Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandscyclone season is October to April Topic: Colombiahighlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughtsvolcanism: Galeras (4,276 m) is one of Colombia's most active volcanoes, having erupted in 2009 and 2010 causing major evacuations; it 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; Nevado del Ruiz (5,321 m), 129 km (80 mi) west of Bogota, erupted in 1985 producing lahars (mudflows) that killed 23,000 people; the volcano last erupted in 1991; additionally, after 500 years of dormancy, Nevado del Huila reawakened in 2007 and has experienced frequent eruptions since then; other historically active volcanoes include Cumbal, Dona Juana, Nevado del Tolima, and Puracehighlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughtsvolcanism: Galeras (4,276 m) is one of Colombia's most active volcanoes, having erupted in 2009 and 2010 causing major evacuations; it 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; Nevado del Ruiz (5,321 m), 129 km (80 mi) west of Bogota, erupted in 1985 producing lahars (mudflows) that killed 23,000 people; the volcano last erupted in 1991; additionally, after 500 years of dormancy, Nevado del Huila reawakened in 2007 and has experienced frequent eruptions since then; other historically active volcanoes include Cumbal, Dona Juana, Nevado del Tolima, and Purace Topic: Comoroscyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); volcanic activity on Grand Comorevolcanism: Karthala (2,361 m) on Grand Comore Island last erupted in 2007; a 2005 eruption forced thousands of people to be evacuated and produced a large ash cloudcyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); volcanic activity on Grand Comorevolcanism: Karthala (2,361 m) on Grand Comore Island last erupted in 2007; a 2005 eruption forced thousands of people to be evacuated and produced a large ash cloud Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of theperiodic droughts in south; Congo River floods (seasonal); active volcanoes in the east along the Great Rift Valleyvolcanism: Nyiragongo (3,470 m), which erupted in 2002 and is experiencing ongoing activity, poses a major threat to the city of Goma, home to a quarter million people; the volcano produces unusually fast-moving lava, known to travel up to 100 km /hr; Nyiragongo 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; its neighbor, Nyamuragira, which erupted in 2010, is Africa's most active volcano; Visoke is the only other historically active volcanoperiodic droughts in south; Congo River floods (seasonal); active volcanoes in the east along the Great Rift Valleyvolcanism: Nyiragongo (3,470 m), which erupted in 2002 and is experiencing ongoing activity, poses a major threat to the city of Goma, home to a quarter million people; the volcano produces unusually fast-moving lava, known to travel up to 100 km /hr; Nyiragongo 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; its neighbor, Nyamuragira, which erupted in 2010, is Africa's most active volcano; Visoke is the only other historically active volcano Topic: Congo, Republic of theseasonal flooding Topic: Cook Islandstropical cyclones (November to March) Topic: Coral Sea Islandsoccasional tropical cyclones Topic: Costa Ricaoccasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoesvolcanism: Arenal (1,670 m), which erupted in 2010, is the most active volcano in Costa Rica; a 1968 eruption destroyed the town of Tabacon; Irazu (3,432 m), situated just east of San Jose, has the potential to spew ash over the capital city as it did between 1963 and 1965; other historically active volcanoes include Miravalles, Poas, Rincon de la Vieja, and Turrialbaoccasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoesvolcanism: Arenal (1,670 m), which erupted in 2010, is the most active volcano in Costa Rica; a 1968 eruption destroyed the town of Tabacon; Irazu (3,432 m), situated just east of San Jose, has the potential to spew ash over the capital city as it did between 1963 and 1965; other historically active volcanoes include Miravalles, Poas, Rincon de la Vieja, and Turrialba Topic: Cote d'Ivoirecoast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy season torrential flooding is possible Topic: Croatiadestructive earthquakes Topic: Cubathe east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to November (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year); droughts are common Topic: CuracaoCuracao is south of the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely threatenedCuracao is south of the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely threatened Topic: Cyprusmoderate earthquake activity; droughts Topic: Czechiaflooding Topic: Denmarkflooding is a threat in some areas of the country (e.g., parts of Jutland, along the southern coast of the island of Lolland) that are protected from the sea by a system of dikes Topic: Djiboutiearthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floodsvolcanism: experiences limited volcanic activity; Ardoukoba (298 m) last erupted in 1978; Manda-Inakir, located along the Ethiopian border, is also historically activeearthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floodsvolcanism: experiences limited volcanic activity; Ardoukoba (298 m) last erupted in 1978; Manda-Inakir, located along the Ethiopian border, is also historically active Topic: Dominicaflash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer monthsvolcanism: Dominica was the last island to be formed in the Caribbean some 26 million years ago, it lies in the middle of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from the island of Saba in the north to Grenada in the south; of the 16 volcanoes that make up this arc, five are located on Dominica, more than any other island in the Caribbean: Morne aux Diables (861 m), Morne Diablotins (1,430 m), Morne Trois Pitons (1,387 m), Watt Mountain (1,224 m), which last erupted in 1997, and Morne Plat Pays (940 m); the two best known volcanic features on Dominica, the Valley of Desolation and the Boiling Lake thermal areas, lie on the flanks of Watt Mountain and both are popular tourist destinationsflash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer monthsvolcanism: Dominica was the last island to be formed in the Caribbean some 26 million years ago, it lies in the middle of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from the island of Saba in the north to Grenada in the south; of the 16 volcanoes that make up this arc, five are located on Dominica, more than any other island in the Caribbean: Morne aux Diables (861 m), Morne Diablotins (1,430 m), Morne Trois Pitons (1,387 m), Watt Mountain (1,224 m), which last erupted in 1997, and Morne Plat Pays (940 m); the two best known volcanic features on Dominica, the Valley of Desolation and the Boiling Lake thermal areas, lie on the flanks of Watt Mountain and both are popular tourist destinations Topic: Dominican Republiclies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts Topic: Ecuadorfrequent earthquakes; landslides; volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughtsvolcanism: volcanic activity concentrated along the Andes Mountains; Sangay (5,230 m), which erupted in 2010, is mainland Ecuador's most active volcano; other historically active volcanoes in the Andes include Antisana, Cayambe, Chacana, Cotopaxi, Guagua Pichincha, Reventador, Sumaco, and Tungurahua; Fernandina (1,476 m), a shield volcano that last erupted in 2009, is the most active of the many Galapagos volcanoes; other historically active Galapagos volcanoes include Wolf, Sierra Negra, Cerro Azul, Pinta, Marchena, and Santiagofrequent earthquakes; landslides; volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughtsvolcanism: volcanic activity concentrated along the Andes Mountains; Sangay (5,230 m), which erupted in 2010, is mainland Ecuador's most active volcano; other historically active volcanoes in the Andes include Antisana, Cayambe, Chacana, Cotopaxi, Guagua Pichincha, Reventador, Sumaco, and Tungurahua; Fernandina (1,476 m), a shield volcano that last erupted in 2009, is the most active of the many Galapagos volcanoes; other historically active Galapagos volcanoes include Wolf, Sierra Negra, Cerro Azul, Pinta, Marchena, and Santiago Topic: Egyptperiodic droughts; frequent earthquakes; flash floods; landslides; hot, driving windstorms called khamsin occur in spring; dust storms; sandstorms Topic: El Salvadorknown as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanesvolcanism: significant volcanic activity; San Salvador (1,893 m), which last erupted in 1917, has the potential to cause major harm to the country's capital, which lies just below the volcano's slopes; San Miguel (2,130 m), which last erupted in 2002, is one of the most active volcanoes in the country; other historically active volcanoes include Conchaguita, Ilopango, Izalco, and Santa Anaknown as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanesvolcanism: significant volcanic activity; San Salvador (1,893 m), which last erupted in 1917, has the potential to cause major harm to the country's capital, which lies just below the volcano's slopes; San Miguel (2,130 m), which last erupted in 2002, is one of the most active volcanoes in the country; other historically active volcanoes include Conchaguita, Ilopango, Izalco, and Santa Ana Topic: Equatorial Guineaviolent windstorms; flash floodsvolcanism: Santa Isabel (3,007 m), which last erupted in 1923, is the country's only historically active volcano; Santa Isabel, along with two dormant volcanoes, form Bioko Island in the Gulf of Guineaviolent windstorms; flash floodsvolcanism: Santa Isabel (3,007 m), which last erupted in 1923, is the country's only historically active volcano; Santa Isabel, along with two dormant volcanoes, form Bioko Island in the Gulf of Guinea Topic: Eritreafrequent droughts, rare earthquakes and volcanoes; locust swarmsvolcanism: Dubbi (1,625 m), which last erupted in 1861, was the country's only historically active volcano until Nabro (2,218 m) came to life on 12 June 2011frequent droughts, rare earthquakes and volcanoes; locust swarmsvolcanism: Dubbi (1,625 m), which last erupted in 1861, was the country's only historically active volcano until Nabro (2,218 m) came to life on 12 June 2011 Topic: Estoniasometimes flooding occurs in the spring Topic: Eswatinidrought Topic: Ethiopiageologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughtsvolcanism: volcanic activity in the Great Rift Valley; Erta Ale (613 m), which has caused frequent lava flows in recent years, is the country's most active volcano; Dabbahu became active in 2005, forcing evacuations; other historically active volcanoes include Alayta, Dalaffilla, Dallol, Dama Ali, Fentale, Kone, Manda Hararo, and Manda-Inakirgeologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughtsvolcanism: volcanic activity in the Great Rift Valley; Erta Ale (613 m), which has caused frequent lava flows in recent years, is the country's most active volcano; Dabbahu became active in 2005, forcing evacuations; other historically active volcanoes include Alayta, Dalaffilla, Dallol, Dama Ali, Fentale, Kone, Manda Hararo, and Manda-Inakir Topic: European Unionflooding along coasts; avalanches in mountainous area; earthquakes in the south; volcanic eruptions in Italy; periodic droughts in Spain; ice floes in the Baltic Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)strong winds persist throughout the year Topic: Faroe Islandsstrong winds and heavy rains can occur throughout the year Topic: Fijicyclonic storms can occur from November to January Topic: Finlandsevere winters in the north Topic: Francemetropolitan France: flooding; avalanches; midwinter windstorms; drought; forest fires in south near the Mediterranean; overseas departments: hurricanes (cyclones); flooding; volcanism: Montagne Pelee (1,394 m) on the island of Martinique in the Caribbean is the most active volcano of the Lesser Antilles arc, it last erupted in 1932; a catastrophic eruption in May 1902 destroyed the city of St. Pierre, killing an estimated 30,000 people; La Soufriere (1,467 m) on the island of Guadeloupe in the Caribbean last erupted from July 1976 to March 1977; these volcanoes are part of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the southmetropolitan France: flooding; avalanches; midwinter windstorms; drought; forest fires in south near the Mediterranean;overseas departments: hurricanes (cyclones); flooding;volcanism: Montagne Pelee (1,394 m) on the island of Martinique in the Caribbean is the most active volcano of the Lesser Antilles arc, it last erupted in 1932; a catastrophic eruption in May 1902 destroyed the city of St. Pierre, killing an estimated 30,000 people; La Soufriere (1,467 m) on the island of Guadeloupe in the Caribbean last erupted from July 1976 to March 1977; these volcanoes are part of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the south Topic: French Polynesiaoccasional cyclonic storms in January Topic: French Southern and Antarctic LandsIle Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are inactive volcanoes; Iles Eparses subject to periodic cyclones; Bassas da India is a maritime hazard since it is under water for a period of three hours prior to and following the high tide and surrounded by reefsvolcanism: Reunion Island - Piton de la Fournaise (2,632 m), which has erupted many times in recent years including 2010, 2015, and 2017, is one of the world's most active volcanoes; although rare, eruptions outside the volcano's caldera could threaten nearby citiesIle Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are inactive volcanoes; Iles Eparses subject to periodic cyclones; Bassas da India is a maritime hazard since it is under water for a period of three hours prior to and following the high tide and surrounded by reefsvolcanism: Reunion Island - Piton de la Fournaise (2,632 m), which has erupted many times in recent years including 2010, 2015, and 2017, is one of the world's most active volcanoes; although rare, eruptions outside the volcano's caldera could threaten nearby cities Topic: Gabonnone Topic: Gambia, Thedroughts Topic: Gaza Stripdroughts Topic: Georgiaearthquakes Topic: Germanyflooding Topic: Ghanadry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds from January to March; droughts Topic: Gibraltaroccasional droughts; no streams or large bodies of water on the peninsula (all potable water comes from desalination) Topic: Greecesevere earthquakesvolcanism: Santorini (367 m) 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; although there have been very few eruptions in recent centuries, Methana and Nisyros in the Aegean are classified as historically activesevere earthquakesvolcanism: Santorini (367 m) 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; although there have been very few eruptions in recent centuries, Methana and Nisyros in the Aegean are classified as historically active Topic: Greenlandcontinuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island Topic: Grenadalies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to Novembervolcanism: Mount Saint Catherine (840 m) lies on the island of Grenada; Kick 'em Jenny, an active submarine volcano (seamount) on the Caribbean Sea floor, lies about 8 km north of the island of Grenada; these two volcanoes are at the southern end of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends up to the Netherlands dependency of Saba in the northlies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to Novembervolcanism: Mount Saint Catherine (840 m) lies on the island of Grenada; Kick 'em Jenny, an active submarine volcano (seamount) on the Caribbean Sea floor, lies about 8 km north of the island of Grenada; these two volcanoes are at the southern end of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends up to the Netherlands dependency of Saba in the north Topic: Guamfrequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare but potentially destructive typhoons (June to December) Topic: Guatemalanumerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and other tropical stormsvolcanism: significant volcanic activity in the Sierra Madre range; Santa Maria (3,772 m) 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; Pacaya (2,552 m), which erupted in May 2010 causing an ashfall on Guatemala City and prompting evacuations, is one of the country's most active volcanoes with frequent eruptions since 1965; other historically active volcanoes include Acatenango, Almolonga, Atitlan, Fuego, and Tacana; see note 2 under "Geography - note"numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and other tropical stormsvolcanism: significant volcanic activity in the Sierra Madre range; Santa Maria (3,772 m) 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; Pacaya (2,552 m), which erupted in May 2010 causing an ashfall on Guatemala City and prompting evacuations, is one of the country's most active volcanoes with frequent eruptions since 1965; other historically active volcanoes include Acatenango, Almolonga, Atitlan, Fuego, and Tacana; see note 2 under "Geography - note" Topic: Guernseyvery large tidal variation and fast currents can make local waters dangerous Topic: Guineahot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season Topic: Guinea-Bissauhot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season; brush fires Topic: Guyanaflash flood threat during rainy seasons Topic: Haitilies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes; periodic droughts Topic: Heard Island and McDonald IslandsMawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)occasional earthquakes Topic: Hondurasfrequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; extremely susceptible to damaging hurricanes and floods along the Caribbean coast Topic: Hong Kongoccasional typhoons Topic: Icelandearthquakes and volcanic activityvolcanism: Iceland, situated on top of a hotspot, experiences severe volcanic activity; Eyjafjallajokull (1,666 m) erupted in 2010, sending ash high into the atmosphere and seriously disrupting European air traffic; scientists continue to monitor nearby Katla (1,512 m), which has a high probability of eruption in the very near future, potentially disrupting air traffic; Grimsvoetn and Hekla are Iceland's most active volcanoes; other historically active volcanoes include Askja, Bardarbunga, Brennisteinsfjoll, Esjufjoll, Hengill, Krafla, Krisuvik, Kverkfjoll, Oraefajokull, Reykjanes, Torfajokull, and Vestmannaeyjarearthquakes and volcanic activityvolcanism: Iceland, situated on top of a hotspot, experiences severe volcanic activity; Eyjafjallajokull (1,666 m) erupted in 2010, sending ash high into the atmosphere and seriously disrupting European air traffic; scientists continue to monitor nearby Katla (1,512 m), which has a high probability of eruption in the very near future, potentially disrupting air traffic; Grimsvoetn and Hekla are Iceland's most active volcanoes; other historically active volcanoes include Askja, Bardarbunga, Brennisteinsfjoll, Esjufjoll, Hengill, Krafla, Krisuvik, Kverkfjoll, Oraefajokull, Reykjanes, Torfajokull, and Vestmannaeyjar Topic: Indiadroughts; flash floods, as well as widespread and destructive flooding from monsoonal rains; severe thunderstorms; earthquakesvolcanism: Barren Island (354 m) in the Andaman Sea has been active in recent yearsdroughts; flash floods, as well as widespread and destructive flooding from monsoonal rains; severe thunderstorms; earthquakesvolcanism: Barren Island (354 m) in the Andaman Sea has been active in recent years Topic: Indian Oceanoccasional icebergs pose navigational hazard in southern reaches Topic: Indonesiaoccasional floods; severe droughts; tsunamis; earthquakes; volcanoes; forest fires volcanism: Indonesia contains the most volcanoes of any country in the world - some 76 are historically active; significant volcanic activity occurs on Java, Sumatra, the Sunda Islands, Halmahera Island, Sulawesi Island, Sangihe Island, and in the Banda Sea; Merapi (2,968 m), Indonesia's most active volcano and in eruption since 2010, 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; on 22 December 2018, a large explosion and flank collapse destroyed most of the 338 m high island of Anak Krakatau (Child of Krakatau) and generated a deadly tsunami inundating portions of western Java and southern Sumatra leaving more than 400 dead; other notable historically active volcanoes include Agung, Awu, Karangetang, Krakatau (Krakatoa), Makian, Raung, Sinabung, and Tambora; see note 2 under "Geography - note"occasional floods; severe droughts; tsunamis; earthquakes; volcanoes; forest firesvolcanism: Indonesia contains the most volcanoes of any country in the world - some 76 are historically active; significant volcanic activity occurs on Java, Sumatra, the Sunda Islands, Halmahera Island, Sulawesi Island, Sangihe Island, and in the Banda Sea; Merapi (2,968 m), Indonesia's most active volcano and in eruption since 2010, 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; on 22 December 2018, a large explosion and flank collapse destroyed most of the 338 m high island of Anak Krakatau (Child of Krakatau) and generated a deadly tsunami inundating portions of western Java and southern Sumatra leaving more than 400 dead; other notable historically active volcanoes include Agung, Awu, Karangetang, Krakatau (Krakatoa), Makian, Raung, Sinabung, and Tambora; see note 2 under "Geography - note" Topic: Iranperiodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes Topic: Iraqdust storms; sandstorms; floods Topic: Irelandrare extreme weather events Topic: Isle of Manoccasional high winds and rough seas Topic: Israelsandstorms may occur during spring and summer; droughts; periodic earthquakes Topic: Italyregional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venicevolcanism: significant volcanic activity; Etna (3,330 m), which is in eruption as of 2010, is Europe's most active volcano; flank eruptions pose a threat to nearby Sicilian villages; Etna, along with the famous Vesuvius, which remains a threat to the millions of nearby residents in the Bay of Naples area, have both been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Stromboli, on its namesake island, has also been continuously active with moderate volcanic activity; other historically active volcanoes include Campi Flegrei, Ischia, Larderello, Pantelleria, Vulcano, and Vulsiniregional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venicevolcanism: significant volcanic activity; Etna (3,330 m), which is in eruption as of 2010, is Europe's most active volcano; flank eruptions pose a threat to nearby Sicilian villages; Etna, along with the famous Vesuvius, which remains a threat to the millions of nearby residents in the Bay of Naples area, have both been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Stromboli, on its namesake island, has also been continuously active with moderate volcanic activity; other historically active volcanoes include Campi Flegrei, Ischia, Larderello, Pantelleria, Vulcano, and Vulsini Topic: Jamaicahurricanes (especially July to November) Topic: Jan Mayendominated by the volcano Beerenbergvolcanism: Beerenberg (2,227 m) is Norway's only active volcano; volcanic activity resumed in 1970; the most recent eruption occurred in 1985dominated by the volcano Beerenbergvolcanism: Beerenberg (2,227 m) is Norway's only active volcano; volcanic activity resumed in 1970; the most recent eruption occurred in 1985 Topic: Japanmany dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors but occasional severe earthquakes) every year; tsunamis; typhoonsvolcanism: both Unzen (1,500 m) and Sakura-jima (1,117 m), which lies near the densely populated city of Kagoshima, have been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; other notable historically active volcanoes include Asama, Honshu Island's most active volcano, Aso, Bandai, Fuji, Iwo-Jima, Kikai, Kirishima, Komaga-take, Oshima, Suwanosejima, Tokachi, Yake-dake, and Usu; see note 2 under "Geography - note"many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors but occasional severe earthquakes) every year; tsunamis; typhoonsvolcanism: both Unzen (1,500 m) and Sakura-jima (1,117 m), which lies near the densely populated city of Kagoshima, have been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; other notable historically active volcanoes include Asama, Honshu Island's most active volcano, Aso, Bandai, Fuji, Iwo-Jima, Kikai, Kirishima, Komaga-take, Oshima, Suwanosejima, Tokachi, Yake-dake, and Usu; see note 2 under "Geography - note" Topic: Jerseyvery large tidal variation can be hazardous to navigation Topic: Jordandroughts; periodic earthquakes; flash floods Topic: Kazakhstanearthquakes in the south; mudslides around Almaty Topic: Kenyarecurring drought; flooding during rainy seasonsvolcanism: limited volcanic activity; the Barrier (1,032 m) last erupted in 1921; South Island is the only other historically active volcanorecurring drought; flooding during rainy seasonsvolcanism: limited volcanic activity; the Barrier (1,032 m) last erupted in 1921; South Island is the only other historically active volcano Topic: Kiribatityphoons can occur any time, but usually November to March; occasional tornadoes; low level of some of the islands make them sensitive to changes in sea level Topic: Korea, Northlate spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall volcanism: P'aektu-san (2,744 m) (also known as Baitoushan, Baegdu, or Changbaishan), on the Chinese border, is considered historically activelate spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fallvolcanism: P'aektu-san (2,744 m) (also known as Baitoushan, Baegdu, or Changbaishan), on the Chinese border, is considered historically active Topic: Korea, Southoccasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; low-level seismic activity common in southwestvolcanism: Halla (1,950 m) is considered historically active although it has not erupted in many centuriesoccasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; low-level seismic activity common in southwestvolcanism: Halla (1,950 m) is considered historically active although it has not erupted in many centuries Topic: Kuwaitsudden cloudbursts are common from October to April and bring heavy rain, which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust storms occur throughout the year but are most common between March and August Topic: Kyrgyzstanmajor flooding during snow melt; prone to earthquakes Topic: Laosfloods, droughts Topic: Latvialarge percentage of agricultural fields can become waterlogged and require drainage Topic: Lebanonearthquakes; dust storms, sandstorms Topic: Lesothoperiodic droughts Topic: Liberiadust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March) Topic: Libyahot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms Topic: Liechtensteinavalanches, landslides Topic: Lithuaniaoccasional floods, droughts Topic: Luxembourgoccasional flooding Topic: Macautyphoons Topic: Madagascarperiodic cyclones; drought; and locust infestationvolcanism: Madagascar's volcanoes have not erupted in historical timesperiodic cyclones; drought; and locust infestationvolcanism: Madagascar's volcanoes have not erupted in historical times Topic: Malawiflooding; droughts; earthquakes Topic: Malaysiaflooding; landslides; forest fires Topic: Maldivestsunamis; low elevation of islands makes them sensitive to sea level rise Topic: Malihot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring droughts; occasional Niger River flooding Topic: Maltaoccasional droughts Topic: Marshall Islandsinfrequent typhoons Topic: Mauritaniahot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind primarily in March and April; periodic droughts Topic: Mauritiuscyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards Topic: Mexicotsunamis along the Pacific coast, volcanoes and destructive earthquakes in the center and south, and hurricanes on the Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean coastsvolcanism: volcanic activity in the central-southern part of the country; the volcanoes in Baja California are mostly dormant; Colima (3,850 m), which erupted in 2010, is Mexico's most active volcano and is responsible for causing periodic evacuations of nearby villagers; it 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; Popocatepetl (5,426 m) poses a threat to Mexico City; other historically active volcanoes include Barcena, Ceboruco, El Chichon, Michoacan-Guanajuato, Pico de Orizaba, San Martin, Socorro, and Tacana; see note 2 under "Geography - note"tsunamis along the Pacific coast, volcanoes and destructive earthquakes in the center and south, and hurricanes on the Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean coastsvolcanism: volcanic activity in the central-southern part of the country; the volcanoes in Baja California are mostly dormant; Colima (3,850 m), which erupted in 2010, is Mexico's most active volcano and is responsible for causing periodic evacuations of nearby villagers; it 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; Popocatepetl (5,426 m) poses a threat to Mexico City; other historically active volcanoes include Barcena, Ceboruco, El Chichon, Michoacan-Guanajuato, Pico de Orizaba, San Martin, Socorro, and Tacana; see note 2 under "Geography - note" Topic: Micronesia, Federated States oftyphoons (June to December) Topic: Moldovalandslides Topic: Monaconone Topic: Mongoliadust storms; grassland and forest fires; drought; "zud," which is harsh winter conditions Topic: Montenegrodestructive earthquakes Topic: Montserratvolcanic eruptions; severe hurricanes (June to November)volcanism: Soufriere Hills volcano (915 m), has erupted continuously since 1995; a massive eruption in 1997 destroyed most of the capital, Plymouth, and resulted in approximately half of the island becoming uninhabitable; the island of Montserrat is part of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the southvolcanic eruptions; severe hurricanes (June to November)volcanism: Soufriere Hills volcano (915 m), has erupted continuously since 1995; a massive eruption in 1997 destroyed most of the capital, Plymouth, and resulted in approximately half of the island becoming uninhabitable; the island of Montserrat is part of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the south Topic: Moroccoin the north, the mountains are geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts; windstorms; flash floods; landslides; in the south, a hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility Topic: Mozambiquesevere droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in central and southern provinces Topic: Namibiaprolonged periods of drought Topic: Nauruperiodic droughts Topic: Navassa Islandhurricanes Topic: Nepalsevere thunderstorms; flooding; landslides; drought and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons Topic: Netherlandsfloodingvolcanism: Mount Scenery (887 m), located on the island of Saba in the Caribbean, last erupted in 1640;; Round Hill (601 m), a dormant volcano also known as The Quill, is located on the island of St. Eustatius in the Caribbean;; these islands are at the northern end of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends south to Grenadafloodingvolcanism: Mount Scenery (887 m), located on the island of Saba in the Caribbean, last erupted in 1640;; Round Hill (601 m), a dormant volcano also known as The Quill, is located on the island of St. Eustatius in the Caribbean;; these islands are at the northern end of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends south to Grenada Topic: New Caledoniacyclones, most frequent from November to Marchvolcanism: Matthew and Hunter Islands are historically activecyclones, most frequent from November to Marchvolcanism: Matthew and Hunter Islands are historically active Topic: New Zealandearthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activityvolcanism: significant volcanism on North Island; Ruapehu (2,797 m), which last erupted in 2007, has a history of large eruptions in the past century; Taranaki has the potential to produce dangerous avalanches and lahars; other historically active volcanoes include Okataina, Raoul Island, Tongariro, and White Island; see note 2 under "Geography - note"earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activityvolcanism: significant volcanism on North Island; Ruapehu (2,797 m), which last erupted in 2007, has a history of large eruptions in the past century; Taranaki has the potential to produce dangerous avalanches and lahars; other historically active volcanoes include Okataina, Raoul Island, Tongariro, and White Island; see note 2 under "Geography - note" Topic: Nicaraguadestructive earthquakes; volcanoes; landslides; extremely susceptible to hurricanesvolcanism: significant volcanic activity; Cerro Negro (728 m), which last erupted in 1999, is one of Nicaragua's most active volcanoes; its lava flows and ash have been known to cause significant damage to farmland and buildings; other historically active volcanoes include Concepcion, Cosiguina, Las Pilas, Masaya, Momotombo, San Cristobal, and Telicadestructive earthquakes; volcanoes; landslides; extremely susceptible to hurricanesvolcanism: significant volcanic activity; Cerro Negro (728 m), which last erupted in 1999, is one of Nicaragua's most active volcanoes; its lava flows and ash have been known to cause significant damage to farmland and buildings; other historically active volcanoes include Concepcion, Cosiguina, Las Pilas, Masaya, Momotombo, San Cristobal, and Telica Topic: Nigerrecurring droughts Topic: Nigeriaperiodic droughts; flooding Topic: Niuetropical cyclones Topic: Norfolk Islandtropical cyclones (especially May to July) Topic: North Macedoniahigh seismic risks Topic: Northern Mariana Islandsactive volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November) Topic: Norwayrockslides, avalanchesvolcanism: Beerenberg (2,227 m) on Jan Mayen Island in the Norwegian Sea is the country's only active volcanorockslides, avalanchesvolcanism: Beerenberg (2,227 m) on Jan Mayen Island in the Norwegian Sea is the country's only active volcano Topic: Omansummer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts Topic: Pacific Oceansurrounded by a zone of violent volcanic and earthquake activity sometimes referred to as the "Pacific Ring of Fire"; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire; 80% of tsunamis, caused by volcanic or seismic events, occur within the "Pacific Ring of Fire"; subject to tropical cyclones (typhoons) in southeast and east Asia from May to December (most frequent from July to October); tropical cyclones (hurricanes) may form south of Mexico and strike Central America and Mexico from June to October (most common in August and September); cyclical El Nino/La Nina phenomenon occurs in the equatorial Pacific, influencing weather in the Western Hemisphere and the western Pacific; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme north from October to May; persistent fog in the northern Pacific can be a maritime hazard from June to December Topic: Pakistanfrequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August) Topic: Palautyphoons (June to December) Topic: Panamaoccasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area Topic: Papua New Guineaactive volcanism; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamisvolcanism: severe volcanic activity; Ulawun (2,334 m), 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 (688 m) 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; see note 2 under "Geography - note"active volcanism; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamisvolcanism: severe volcanic activity; Ulawun (2,334 m), 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 (688 m) 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; see note 2 under "Geography - note" Topic: Paracel Islandstyphoons Topic: Paraguaylocal flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June) Topic: Peruearthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activityvolcanism: volcanic activity in the Andes Mountains; Ubinas (5,672 m), which last erupted in 2009, is the country's most active volcano; other historically active volcanoes include El Misti, Huaynaputina, Sabancaya, and Yucamane; see note 2 under "Geography - note"earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activityvolcanism: volcanic activity in the Andes Mountains; Ubinas (5,672 m), which last erupted in 2009, is the country's most active volcano; other historically active volcanoes include El Misti, Huaynaputina, Sabancaya, and Yucamane; see note 2 under "Geography - note" Topic: Philippinesastride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms each year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamisvolcanism: significant volcanic activity; Taal (311 m), which has shown recent unrest and may erupt in the near future, 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; Mayon (2,462 m), the country's most active volcano, erupted in 2009 forcing over 33,000 to be evacuated; other historically active volcanoes include Biliran, Babuyan Claro, Bulusan, Camiguin, Camiguin de Babuyanes, Didicas, Iraya, Jolo, Kanlaon, Makaturing, Musuan, Parker, Pinatubo, and Ragang; see note 2 under "Geography - note"astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms each year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamisvolcanism: significant volcanic activity; Taal (311 m), which has shown recent unrest and may erupt in the near future, 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; Mayon (2,462 m), the country's most active volcano, erupted in 2009 forcing over 33,000 to be evacuated; other historically active volcanoes include Biliran, Babuyan Claro, Bulusan, Camiguin, Camiguin de Babuyanes, Didicas, Iraya, Jolo, Kanlaon, Makaturing, Musuan, Parker, Pinatubo, and Ragang; see note 2 under "Geography - note" Topic: Pitcairn Islandsoccasional tropical cyclones (especially November to March), but generally only heavy tropical storms; landslides Topic: Polandflooding Topic: PortugalAzores subject to severe earthquakesvolcanism: limited volcanic activity in the Azores Islands; Fayal or Faial (1,043 m) last erupted in 1958; most volcanoes have not erupted in centuries; historically active volcanoes include Agua de Pau, Furnas, Pico, Picos Volcanic System, San Jorge, Sete Cidades, and TerceiraAzores subject to severe earthquakesvolcanism: limited volcanic activity in the Azores Islands; Fayal or Faial (1,043 m) last erupted in 1958; most volcanoes have not erupted in centuries; historically active volcanoes include Agua de Pau, Furnas, Pico, Picos Volcanic System, San Jorge, Sete Cidades, and Terceira Topic: Puerto Ricoperiodic droughts; hurricanes Topic: Qatarhaze, dust storms, sandstorms common Topic: Romaniaearthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure and climate promote landslides Topic: Russiapermafrost over much of Siberia is a major impediment to development; volcanic activity in the Kuril Islands; volcanoes and earthquakes on the Kamchatka Peninsula; spring floods and summer/autumn forest fires throughout Siberia and parts of European Russiavolcanism: significant volcanic activity on the Kamchatka Peninsula and Kuril Islands; the peninsula alone is home to some 29 historically active volcanoes, with dozens more in the Kuril Islands; Kliuchevskoi (4,835 m), which erupted in 2007 and 2010, is Kamchatka's most active volcano; Avachinsky and Koryaksky volcanoes, which pose a threat to the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, have been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; other notable historically active volcanoes include Bezymianny, Chikurachki, Ebeko, Gorely, Grozny, Karymsky, Ketoi, Kronotsky, Ksudach, Medvezhia, Mutnovsky, Sarychev Peak, Shiveluch, Tiatia, Tolbachik, and Zheltovsky; see note 2 under "Geography - note"permafrost over much of Siberia is a major impediment to development; volcanic activity in the Kuril Islands; volcanoes and earthquakes on the Kamchatka Peninsula; spring floods and summer/autumn forest fires throughout Siberia and parts of European Russiavolcanism: significant volcanic activity on the Kamchatka Peninsula and Kuril Islands; the peninsula alone is home to some 29 historically active volcanoes, with dozens more in the Kuril Islands; Kliuchevskoi (4,835 m), which erupted in 2007 and 2010, is Kamchatka's most active volcano; Avachinsky and Koryaksky volcanoes, which pose a threat to the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, have been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; other notable historically active volcanoes include Bezymianny, Chikurachki, Ebeko, Gorely, Grozny, Karymsky, Ketoi, Kronotsky, Ksudach, Medvezhia, Mutnovsky, Sarychev Peak, Shiveluch, Tiatia, Tolbachik, and Zheltovsky; see note 2 under "Geography - note" Topic: Rwandaperiodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga Mountains are in the northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congovolcanism: Visoke (3,711 m), located on the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is the country's only historically active volcanoperiodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga Mountains are in the northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congovolcanism: Visoke (3,711 m), located on the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is the country's only historically active volcano Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhaactive volcanism on Tristan da Cunhavolcanism: the island volcanoes of Tristan da Cunha (2,060 m) and Nightingale Island (365 m) experience volcanic activity; Tristan da Cunha erupted in 1962 and Nightingale in 2004active volcanism on Tristan da Cunhavolcanism: the island volcanoes of Tristan da Cunha (2,060 m) and Nightingale Island (365 m) experience volcanic activity; Tristan da Cunha erupted in 1962 and Nightingale in 2004 Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevishurricanes (July to October)volcanism: Mount Liamuiga (1,156 m) on Saint Kitts, and Nevis Peak (985 m) on Nevis, are both volcanoes that are part of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles, which extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the southhurricanes (July to October)volcanism: Mount Liamuiga (1,156 m) on Saint Kitts, and Nevis Peak (985 m) on Nevis, are both volcanoes that are part of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles, which extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the south Topic: Saint Luciahurricanesvolcanism: Mount Gimie (948 m), also known as Qualibou, is a caldera on the west of the island; the iconic twin pyramidal peaks of Gros Piton (771 m) and Petit Piton (743 m) are lava dome remnants associated with the Soufriere volcano; there have been no historical magmatic eruptions, but a minor steam eruption in 1766 spread a thin layer of ash over a wide area; Saint Lucia is part of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the southhurricanesvolcanism: Mount Gimie (948 m), also known as Qualibou, is a caldera on the west of the island; the iconic twin pyramidal peaks of Gros Piton (771 m) and Petit Piton (743 m) are lava dome remnants associated with the Soufriere volcano; there have been no historical magmatic eruptions, but a minor steam eruption in 1766 spread a thin layer of ash over a wide area; Saint Lucia is part of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the south Topic: Saint Martinsubject to hurricanes from July to November Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelonpersistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime hazard Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadineshurricanes; La Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threatvolcanism: La Soufriere (1,234 m) on the island of Saint Vincent last erupted in 1979; the island of Saint Vincent is part of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the southhurricanes; La Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threatvolcanism: La Soufriere (1,234 m) on the island of Saint Vincent last erupted in 1979; the island of Saint Vincent is part of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the south Topic: Samoaoccasional cyclones; active volcanismvolcanism: Savai'I Island (1,858 m), which last erupted in 1911, is historically activeoccasional cyclones; active volcanismvolcanism: Savai'I Island (1,858 m), which last erupted in 1911, is historically active Topic: San Marinooccasional earthquakes Topic: Sao Tome and Principeflooding Topic: Saudi Arabiafrequent sand and dust stormsvolcanism: despite many volcanic formations, there has been little activity in the past few centuries; volcanoes include Harrat Rahat, Harrat Khaybar, Harrat Lunayyir, and Jabal Yarfrequent sand and dust stormsvolcanism: despite many volcanic formations, there has been little activity in the past few centuries; volcanoes include Harrat Rahat, Harrat Khaybar, Harrat Lunayyir, and Jabal Yar Topic: Senegallowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts Topic: Serbiadestructive earthquakes Topic: Seychelleslies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; occasional short droughts Topic: Sierra Leonedry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms Topic: Singaporeflash floods Topic: Sint Maartensubject to hurricanes from July to Novembersubject to hurricanes from July to November Topic: Slovakiaflooding Topic: Sloveniaflooding; earthquakes Topic: Solomon Islandstropical cyclones, but rarely destructive; geologically active region with frequent earthquakes, tremors, and volcanic activity; tsunamisvolcanism: Tinakula (851 m) has frequent eruption activity, while an eruption of Savo (485 m) could affect the capital Honiara on nearby Guadalcanaltropical cyclones, but rarely destructive; geologically active region with frequent earthquakes, tremors, and volcanic activity; tsunamisvolcanism: Tinakula (851 m) has frequent eruption activity, while an eruption of Savo (485 m) could affect the capital Honiara on nearby Guadalcanal Topic: Somaliarecurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer; floods during rainy season Topic: South Africaprolonged droughtsvolcanism: the volcano forming Marion Island in the Prince Edward Islands, which last erupted in 2004, is South Africa's only active volcanoprolonged droughtsvolcanism: the volcano forming Marion Island in the Prince Edward Islands, which last erupted in 2004, is South Africa's only active volcano Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islandsthe South Sandwich Islands have prevailing weather conditions that generally make them difficult to approach by ship; they are also subject to active volcanism Topic: Southern Oceanhuge icebergs with drafts up to several hundred meters; smaller bergs and iceberg fragments; sea ice (generally 0.5 to 1 m thick) with sometimes dynamic short-term variations and with large annual and interannual variations; deep continental shelf floored by glacial deposits varying widely over short distances; high winds and large waves much of the year; ship icing, especially May-October; most of region is remote from sources of search and rescue Topic: Spainperiodic droughts, occasional floodingvolcanism: volcanic activity in the Canary Islands, located off Africa's northwest coast; Teide (3,715 m) 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; La Palma (2,426 m), which last erupted in 1971, is the most active of the Canary Islands volcanoes; Lanzarote is the only other historically active volcanoperiodic droughts, occasional floodingvolcanism: volcanic activity in the Canary Islands, located off Africa's northwest coast; Teide (3,715 m) 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; La Palma (2,426 m), which last erupted in 1971, is the most active of the Canary Islands volcanoes; Lanzarote is the only other historically active volcano Topic: Spratly Islandstyphoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious maritime hazard Topic: Sri Lankaoccasional cyclones and tornadoes Topic: Sudandust storms and periodic persistent droughts Topic: Surinameflooding Topic: Svalbardice floes often block the entrance to Bellsund (a transit point for coal export) on the west coast and occasionally make parts of the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic Topic: Swedenice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic Topic: Switzerlandavalanches, landslides; flash floods Topic: Syriadust storms, sandstormsvolcanism: Syria's two historically active volcanoes, Es Safa and an unnamed volcano near the Turkish border have not erupted in centuriesdust storms, sandstormsvolcanism: Syria's two historically active volcanoes, Es Safa and an unnamed volcano near the Turkish border have not erupted in centuries Topic: Taiwanearthquakes; typhoonsvolcanism: Kueishantao Island (401 m), east of Taiwan, is its only historically active volcano, although it has not erupted in centuriesearthquakes; typhoonsvolcanism: Kueishantao Island (401 m), east of Taiwan, is its only historically active volcano, although it has not erupted in centuries Topic: Tajikistanearthquakes; floods Topic: Tanzaniaflooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; droughtvolcanism: limited volcanic activity; Ol Doinyo Lengai (2,962 m) has emitted lava in recent years; other historically active volcanoes include Kieyo and Meruflooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; droughtvolcanism: limited volcanic activity; Ol Doinyo Lengai (2,962 m) has emitted lava in recent years; other historically active volcanoes include Kieyo and Meru Topic: Thailandland subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the water table; droughts Topic: Timor-Lestefloods and landslides are common; earthquakes; tsunamis; tropical cyclones Topic: Togohot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts Topic: Tokelaulies in Pacific cyclone belt Topic: Tongacyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ouvolcanism: moderate volcanic activity; Fonualei (180 m) has shown frequent activity in recent years, while Niuafo'ou (260 m), which last erupted in 1985, has forced evacuations; other historically active volcanoes include Late and Tofuacyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ouvolcanism: moderate volcanic activity; Fonualei (180 m) has shown frequent activity in recent years, while Niuafo'ou (260 m), which last erupted in 1985, has forced evacuations; other historically active volcanoes include Late and Tofua Topic: Trinidad and Tobagooutside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms Topic: Tunisiaflooding; earthquakes; droughts Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along an arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van; landslides; floodingvolcanism: limited volcanic activity; its three historically active volcanoes; Ararat, Nemrut Dagi, and Tendurek Dagi have not erupted since the 19th century or earliersevere earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along an arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van; landslides; floodingvolcanism: limited volcanic activity; its three historically active volcanoes; Ararat, Nemrut Dagi, and Tendurek Dagi have not erupted since the 19th century or earlier Topic: Turkmenistanearthquakes; mudslides; droughts; dust storms; floods Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandsfrequent hurricanes Topic: Tuvalusevere tropical storms are usually rare, but in 1997 there were three cyclones; low levels of islands make them sensitive to changes in sea level Topic: Ugandadroughts; floods; earthquakes; landslides; hailstorms Topic: Ukraineoccasional floods; occasional droughts Topic: United Arab Emiratesfrequent sand and dust storms Topic: United Kingdomwinter windstorms; floods Topic: United Statestsunamis; volcanoes; earthquake activity around Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts; tornadoes in the Midwest and Southeast; mud slides in California; forest fires in the west; flooding; permafrost in northern Alaska, a major impediment to developmentvolcanism: volcanic activity in the Hawaiian Islands, Western Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and in the Northern Mariana Islands; both Mauna Loa (4,170 m) in Hawaii and Mount Rainier (4,392 m) in Washington have been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Pavlof (2,519 m) is the most active volcano in Alaska's Aleutian Arc and poses a significant threat to air travel since the area constitutes a major flight path between North America and East Asia; St. Helens (2,549 m), famous for the devastating 1980 eruption, remains active today; numerous other historically active volcanoes exist, mostly concentrated in the Aleutian arc and Hawaii; they include: in Alaska: Aniakchak, Augustine, Chiginagak, Fourpeaked, Iliamna, Katmai, Kupreanof, Martin, Novarupta, Redoubt, Spurr, Wrangell, Trident, Ugashik-Peulik, Ukinrek Maars, Veniaminof; in Hawaii: Haleakala, Kilauea, Loihi; in the Northern Mariana Islands: Anatahan; and in the Pacific Northwest: Mount Baker, Mount Hood; see note 2 under "Geography - note"tsunamis; volcanoes; earthquake activity around Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts; tornadoes in the Midwest and Southeast; mud slides in California; forest fires in the west; flooding; permafrost in northern Alaska, a major impediment to developmentvolcanism: volcanic activity in the Hawaiian Islands, Western Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and in the Northern Mariana Islands; both Mauna Loa (4,170 m) in Hawaii and Mount Rainier (4,392 m) in Washington have been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Pavlof (2,519 m) is the most active volcano in Alaska's Aleutian Arc and poses a significant threat to air travel since the area constitutes a major flight path between North America and East Asia; St. Helens (2,549 m), famous for the devastating 1980 eruption, remains active today; numerous other historically active volcanoes exist, mostly concentrated in the Aleutian arc and Hawaii; they include: in Alaska: Aniakchak, Augustine, Chiginagak, Fourpeaked, Iliamna, Katmai, Kupreanof, Martin, Novarupta, Redoubt, Spurr, Wrangell, Trident, Ugashik-Peulik, Ukinrek Maars, Veniaminof; in Hawaii: Haleakala, Kilauea, Loihi; in the Northern Mariana Islands: Anatahan; and in the Pacific Northwest: Mount Baker, Mount Hood; see note 2 under "Geography - note" Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife RefugesBaker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island poses a maritime hazard; Kingman Reef: wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of less than 2 m makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard; Midway Islands, Johnston, and Palmyra Atolls: NABaker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island poses a maritime hazard; Kingman Reef: wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of less than 2 m makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard; Midway Islands, Johnston, and Palmyra Atolls: NA Topic: Uruguayseasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and occasional violent wind that blows north from the Argentine pampas), droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as weather barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes from weather fronts Topic: Uzbekistanearthquakes; floods; landslides or mudslides; avalanches; droughts Topic: Vanuatutropical cyclones (January to April); volcanic eruption on Aoba (Ambae) island began on 27 November 2005, volcanism also causes minor earthquakes; tsunamisvolcanism: significant volcanic activity with multiple eruptions in recent years; Yasur (361 m), one of the world's most active volcanoes, has experienced continuous activity in recent centuries; other historically active volcanoes include Aoba, Ambrym, Epi, Gaua, Kuwae, Lopevi, Suretamatai, and Traitor's Headtropical cyclones (January to April); volcanic eruption on Aoba (Ambae) island began on 27 November 2005, volcanism also causes minor earthquakes; tsunamisvolcanism: significant volcanic activity with multiple eruptions in recent years; Yasur (361 m), one of the world's most active volcanoes, has experienced continuous activity in recent centuries; other historically active volcanoes include Aoba, Ambrym, Epi, Gaua, Kuwae, Lopevi, Suretamatai, and Traitor's Head Topic: Venezuelasubject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts Topic: Vietnamoccasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding, especially in the Mekong River delta Topic: Virgin Islandsseveral hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes Topic: Wake Islandsubject to occasional typhoons Topic: Wallis and Futunacyclones; tsunamis Topic: West Bankdroughts Topic: Worldlarge areas subject to severe weather (tropical cyclones); natural disasters (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions) volcanism: volcanism is a fundamental driver and consequence of plate tectonics, the physical process reshaping the Earth's lithosphere; the world is home to more than 1,500 potentially active volcanoes, with over 500 of these having erupted in historical times; an estimated 500 million people live near these volcanoes; associated dangers include lava flows, lahars (mudflows), pyroclastic flows, ash clouds, ash fall, ballistic projectiles, gas emissions, landslides, earthquakes, and tsunamis; in the 1990s, the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, created a list of 16 Decade Volcanoes worthy of special study because of their great potential for destruction: Avachinsky-Koryaksky (Russia), Colima (Mexico), Etna (Italy), Galeras (Colombia), Mauna Loa (United States), Merapi (Indonesia), Nyiragongo (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Rainier (United States), Sakurajima (Japan), Santa Maria (Guatemala), Santorini (Greece), Taal (Philippines), Teide (Spain), Ulawun (Papua New Guinea), Unzen (Japan), Vesuvius (Italy); see second note under "Geography - note"large areas subject to severe weather (tropical cyclones); natural disasters (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions)volcanism: volcanism is a fundamental driver and consequence of plate tectonics, the physical process reshaping the Earth's lithosphere; the world is home to more than 1,500 potentially active volcanoes, with over 500 of these having erupted in historical times; an estimated 500 million people live near these volcanoes; associated dangers include lava flows, lahars (mudflows), pyroclastic flows, ash clouds, ash fall, ballistic projectiles, gas emissions, landslides, earthquakes, and tsunamis; in the 1990s, the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, created a list of 16 Decade Volcanoes worthy of special study because of their great potential for destruction: Avachinsky-Koryaksky (Russia), Colima (Mexico), Etna (Italy), Galeras (Colombia), Mauna Loa (United States), Merapi (Indonesia), Nyiragongo (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Rainier (United States), Sakurajima (Japan), Santa Maria (Guatemala), Santorini (Greece), Taal (Philippines), Teide (Spain), Ulawun (Papua New Guinea), Unzen (Japan), Vesuvius (Italy); see second note under "Geography - note" Topic: Yemensandstorms and dust storms in summervolcanism: limited volcanic activity; Jebel at Tair (Jabal al-Tair, Jebel Teir, Jabal al-Tayr, Jazirat at-Tair) (244 m), which forms an island in the Red Sea, erupted in 2007 after awakening from dormancy; other historically active volcanoes include Harra of Arhab, Harras of Dhamar, Harra es-Sawad, and Jebel Zubair, although many of these have not erupted in over a centurysandstorms and dust storms in summervolcanism: limited volcanic activity; Jebel at Tair (Jabal al-Tair, Jebel Teir, Jabal al-Tayr, Jazirat at-Tair) (244 m), which forms an island in the Red Sea, erupted in 2007 after awakening from dormancy; other historically active volcanoes include Harra of Arhab, Harras of Dhamar, Harra es-Sawad, and Jebel Zubair, although many of these have not erupted in over a century Topic: Zambiaperiodic drought; tropical storms (November to April) Topic: Zimbabwerecurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare

20220901

countries-norway-summaries

Topic: Introduction Background: Two centuries of Viking raids into Europe tapered off following the adoption of Christianity in 994. In 1397, Norway was absorbed into a union with Denmark that lasted more than four centuries. Rising nationalism throughout the 19th century led to a 1905 referendum granting Norway independence from Sweden.Two centuries of Viking raids into Europe tapered off following the adoption of Christianity in 994. In 1397, Norway was absorbed into a union with Denmark that lasted more than four centuries. Rising nationalism throughout the 19th century led to a 1905 referendum granting Norway independence from Sweden. Topic: Geography Area: total: 323,802 sq km land: 304,282 sq km water: 19,520 sq km Climate: temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy year-round on west coast Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, titanium, pyrites, nickel, fish, timber, hydropower Topic: People and Society Population: 5,553,840 (2022 est.) Ethnic groups: Norwegian 81.5% (includes about 60,000 Sami), other European 8.9%, other 9.6% (2021 est.) Languages: Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities; note - Sami has three dialects: Lule, North Sami, and South Sami; Sami is an official language in nine municipalities in Norway's three northernmost counties: Finnmark, Nordland, and Troms Religions: Church of Norway (Evangelical Lutheran - official) 67.5%, Muslim 3.1%, Roman Catholic 3.1%, other Christian 3.8%, other 2.6%, unspecified 19.9% (2021 est.) Population growth rate: 0.8% (2022 est.) Topic: Government Government type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy Capital: name: Oslo Executive branch: chief of state: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS (son of the monarch, born 20 July 1973) head of government: Prime Minister Jonas Gahr STORE (since 14 October 2021); note - Prime Minister Erna SOLBERG resigned on 12 October 2021 Legislative branch: description: unicameral Parliament or Storting (169 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) Topic: Economy Economic overview: high-income non-EU European economy; aging labor force; large state-owned energy company constrains budget and spending; largest oil sovereign wealth fund; major fishing, forestry, and extraction industries; large welfare systemhigh-income non-EU European economy; aging labor force; large state-owned energy company constrains budget and spending; largest oil sovereign wealth fund; major fishing, forestry, and extraction industries; large welfare system Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $342.06 billion (2020 est.) Real GDP per capita: $63,600 (2020 est.) Agricultural products: milk, barley, wheat, potatoes, oats, pork, poultry, beef, eggs, rye Industries: petroleum and gas, shipping, fishing, aquaculture, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and paper products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles Exports: $117.06 billion (2020 est.) Exports - partners: United Kingdom 18%, Germany 14%, Netherlands 10%, Sweden 9%, France 6%, United States 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, natural gas, fish, refined petroleum, aluminum (2019) Imports: $119.08 billion (2020 est.) Imports - partners: Sweden 17%, Germany 12%, China 8%, Denmark 7%, United States 6%, United Kingdom 5%, Netherlands 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: cars, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, natural gas, crude petroleum (2019)Page last updated: Thursday, May 12, 2022

20220901

countries-senegal-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise normal precautions in in Senegal. Some areas have increased risk. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport is valid at the date of their entering the country. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is required, but US citizen travelers may obtain the visa upon entering the country. US Embassy/Consulate: +(221) 33-879-4000; EMER: +(221) 33-879-4444; US Embassy Dakar, Route des Almadies, Dakar, Senegal; DakarACS@state.gov; https://sn.usembassy.gov/ Telephone Code: 221 Local Emergency Phone: Local numbers only Vaccinations: An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations. On 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Senegal is currently considered a high risk to travelers for polio; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine. http://www.who.int/ Climate: Tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind Currency (Code): Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, D, E, F Major Languages: French, Wolof, Pular, Jola, Mandinka, Serer, Soninke Major Religions: Muslim 95.9% (most adhere to one of the four main Sufi brotherhoods), Christian 4.1% (mostly Roman Catholic) Time Difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Goree Island; Dakar; Pink Lake; Cap Skirring; Petite Cote; Saloum Delta National Park Major Sports: Soccer, wrestling, basketball, motor sports (off-road rally) Cultural Practices: It is considered rude to let the bottom of one's foot or shoe point at someone. Tipping Guidelines: Tipping is uncommon in restaurants and taxi cabs. For exceptional service, a tip is appropriate.Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Tuesday, April 05, 2022

20220901

countries-sri-lanka-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens RECONSIDER TRAVEL to Sri Lanka due to COVID-19. Exercise increased caution in Sri Lanka due to terrorism. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp and or visa that will be required. A visa is required. US citizens will need to get in touch with the country’s embassy or nearest consulate to obtain a visa prior to visiting the country. US Embassy/Consulate: [94] (11) 249-8500; US Embassy Colombo, 210 Galle Road, Colombo 03, Sri Lanka; colomboacs@state.gov; https://lk.usembassy.gov/ Telephone Code: 94 Local Emergency Phone: 1 691095, 699935 Vaccinations: An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations. http://www.who.int/ Climate: Tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October) Currency (Code): Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): D, G Major Languages: Sinhala, Tamil, English Major Religions: Buddhist 70.2%, Hindu 12.6%, Muslim 9.7%, Roman Catholic 6.1%, other Christian 1.3% Time Difference: UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Left Tourist Destinations: Sigiriya Rock Fort; Yala National Park; Galle Fort; Adam's Peak; Temple of the Tooth; Arugam Bay; Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage; Gal Vihara Major Sports: Volleyball, cricket, rugby, athletics (track and field), soccer, netball, tennis Cultural Practices: Flowers are uncommon gifts in Sri Lanka because they are traditionally associated with mourning. Tipping Guidelines: Tipping 10% is customary in restaurants; if a service charge is included, leave a few extra rupees. Tip bar staff 100 rupees as you leave. Conventionally, 50-100 rupees is a good tip for hotel staff, including porters, room cleaners, and room service personnel. Tip taxi drivers 10% of the fare.Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Wednesday, January 12, 2022

20220901

countries-congo-democratic-republic-of-the-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens Reconsider Travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo due to crime and civil unrest. Some areas have increased risk. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws, and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp and or visa that will be required. A visa is required. US citizens will need to get in touch with the country’s embassy or nearest consulate to obtain a visa prior to visiting the country. US Embassy/Consulate: [243] 081 556-0151; US Embassy in Kinshasa, 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa, Gombe, Democratic Republic of the Congo; https://cd.usembassy.gov/; ACSKinshasa@state.gov Telephone Code: 243 Local Emergency Phone: Local numbers only Vaccinations: An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. On 18 October 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Travel Health Notice for an Ebola outbreak in the South Kivu (Kivu Sud), North Kivu (Kivu Nord), and Ituri provinces in the northeastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; travelers to this area could be infected with Ebola if they come into contact with an infected person’s blood or other body fluids; travelers should seek medical care immediately if they develop fever, muscle pain, sore throat, diarrhea, weakness, vomiting, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising during or after travel. See WHO recommendations. On 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; the Democratic Republic of the Congo is currently considered a high risk to travelers for polio; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine. http://www.who.int/ Climate: Tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north of Equator -wet season (April - October), dry season (December to February); south of Equator - wet season (November to March), dry season (April to October) Currency (Code): Congolese francs (CDF) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 220 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, D, E Major Languages: French, Lingala (a lingua franca trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba Major Religions: Roman Catholic 29.9%, Protestant 26.7%, Kimbanguist 2.8%, other Christian 36.5%, Muslim 1.3% Time Difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); note: the DRC ha2 time zones Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Kinshasa; Lola Ya Bonobo; Kahuzi Biega National Park; Nyiragongo Volcano; Virunga National Park; Lake Kivu Major Sports: Soccer, basketball, rugby Cultural Practices: Eat with your right hand and avoid holding bowls or utensils with the left. When eating from a shared bowl only, use the part of the bowl directly in front of you. It is very impolite to start eating before the oldest man has been served and has started eating. Tipping Guidelines: Tipping 7% is expected in restaurants frequented by Westerners and at fancier eating establishments. Taxis do not typically expect tips. Souvenirs: Precious stone and seed jewelry, woven baskets, hand-carved wood furniture, ebony statues, bronze sculptures, native pottery, natural perfumes and cosmetics Traditional Cuisine: Poulet à la moambe — a savory chicken dish made by combining chicken, spices, and palm butter to create a stew-like consistencyPlease visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Wednesday, July 20, 2022

20220901

countries-hong-kong

Topic: Photos of Hong Kong Topic: Introduction Background: Seized by the UK in 1841, Hong Kong was formally ceded by China the following year at the end of the First Opium War; the Kowloon Peninsula was added in 1860 at the end of the Second Opium War, and was further extended when Britain obtained a 99-year lease of the New Territories in 1898. Pursuant to an agreement signed by China and the UK on 19 December 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China on 1 July 1997. In this agreement, China promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's socialist economic and strict political system would not be imposed on Hong Kong and that Hong Kong would enjoy a "high degree of autonomy" in all matters except foreign and defense affairs for the subsequent 50 years. Since the turnover, Hong Kong has continued to enjoy success as an international financial center. However, dissatisfaction with the Hong Kong Government and growing Chinese political influence has been a central issue and led to considerable civil unrest, including large-scale pro-democracy demonstrations in 2019 after the HKSAR attempted to revise a local ordinance to allow extraditions to mainland China. In response, the governments of the HKSAR and China took several actions that reduced the city's autonomy and placed new restrictions on the rights of Hong Kong residents, moves that were widely criticized to be in direct contravention of obligations under the Hong Kong Basic Law and the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Chief among these actions was a sweeping national security law for Hong Kong imposed by the Chinese Government in June 2020 that criminalized acts such as those interpreted as secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign or external forces. The law ushered in a widespread crackdown on public protests, criticism of authorities, and freedom of speech, and was used by authorities to target pro-democracy activists, organizations, and media companies. Democratic lawmakers and political figures were arrested, while others fled abroad. At the same time, dozens of civil society groups and several independent media outlets were closed or have disbanded. In March 2021, Beijing imposed a more restrictive electoral system, including restructuring the Legislative Council (LegCo) and allowing only government-approved candidates to run for office, claiming it was to ensure a system of "patriots" governed Hong Kong. The changes ensured that virtually all seats in the December 2021 LegCo election were won by pro-establishment candidates and effectively ended political opposition to Beijing in the territory.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China Geographic coordinates: 22 15 N, 114 10 E Map references: Southeast Asia Area: total: 1,108 sq km land: 1,073 sq km water: 35 sq km Area - comparative: six times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 33 km regional borders (1): China 33 km Coastline: 733 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: subtropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall Terrain: hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north Elevation: highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m lowest point: South China Sea 0 m Natural resources: outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar Land use: agricultural land: 5% (2018 est.) arable land: 3.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.9% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 95% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 10 sq km (2012) Population distribution: population fairly evenly distributed Natural hazards: occasional typhoons Geography - note: consists of a mainland area (the New Territories) and more than 200 islands Map description: Hong Kong map showing major districts of this special administrative region of China that extends into the South China Sea.Hong Kong map showing major districts of this special administrative region of China that extends into the South China Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 7,276,588 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Chinese/Hong Konger adjective: Chinese/Hong Kong Ethnic groups: Chinese 92%, Filipino 2.5%, Indonesian 2.1%, other 3.4% (2016 est.) Languages: Cantonese (official) 88.9%, English (official) 4.3%, Mandarin (official) 1.9%, other Chinese dialects 3.1%, other 1.9% (2016 est.) major-language sample(s): 世界概况, 必須擁有的基本資料参考书 (Cantonese) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.世界概况, 必須擁有的基本資料参考书 (Cantonese) Religions: Buddhist or Taoist 27.9%, Protestant 6.7%, Roman Catholic 5.3%, Muslim 4.2%, Hindu 1.4%, Sikh 0.2%, other or none 54.3% (2016 est.) note: many people practice Confucianism, regardless of their religion or not having a religious affiliation Age structure: 0-14 years: 12.81% (male 490,477/female 437,971) 15-24 years: 8.81% (male 334,836/female 303,897) 25-54 years: 42.66% (male 1,328,529/female 1,763,970) 55-64 years: 17.24% (male 582,047/female 668,051) 65 years and over: 18.48% (2020 est.) (male 625,453/female 714,676) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 44.7 youth dependency ratio: 18.3 elderly dependency ratio: 26.3 potential support ratio: 3.8 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 45.6 years male: 44.2 years female: 46.5 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.17% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 8.04 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 7.98 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 1.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: population fairly evenly distributed Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.58% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 7.643 million Hong Kong (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.13 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.78 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 29.8 years (2008 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 2.55 deaths/1,000 live births male: 2.82 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 83.61 years male: 80.91 years female: 86.46 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.22 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 66.7% (2017) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020) Current Health Expenditure: NA Physicians density: 2.04 physicians/1,000 population (2020) Hospital bed density: 4.9 beds/1,000 population (2020) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 96.4% of population rural: NA total: 96.4% of population unimproved: urban: 3.6% of population rural: NA total: 3.6% of population (2017) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 4.4% of GDP (2020 est.) Literacy: total population: NA male: NA female: NA School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 17 years male: 17 years female: 18 years (2020) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 15.5% male: 17.3% female: 13.6% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: air and water pollution from rapid urbanization; urban waste pollution; industrial pollution Air pollutants: carbon dioxide emissions: 43.64 megatons (2016 est.) Climate: subtropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall Land use: agricultural land: 5% (2018 est.) arable land: 3.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.9% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 95% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.58% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 5,679,816 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,931,138 tons (2016 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 34% (2016 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region conventional short form: Hong Kong local long form: Heung Kong Takpit Hangching Ku (Eitel/Dyer-Ball) local short form: Heung Kong (Eitel/Dyer-Ball) abbreviation: HK etymology: probably an imprecise phonetic rendering of the Cantonese name meaning "fragrant harbor" Government type: presidential limited democracy; a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China Dependency status: special administrative region of the People's Republic of China Administrative divisions: none (special administrative region of the People's Republic of China) Independence: none (special administrative region of China) National holiday: National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note - 1 July (1997) is celebrated as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day Constitution: history: several previous (governance documents while under British authority); latest drafted April 1988 to February 1989, approved March 1990, effective 1 July 1997 (Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China serves as the constitution); note - since 1990, China's National People's Congress has interpreted specific articles of the Basic Law amendments: proposed by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the People’s Republic of China State Council, or the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong; submittal of proposals to the NPC requires two-thirds majority vote by the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, approval by two thirds of Hong Kong’s deputies to the NPC, and approval by the Hong Kong chief executive; final passage requires approval by the NPC Legal system: mixed legal system of common law based on the English model and Chinese customary law (in matters of family and land tenure); PRC imposition of National Security Law incorporates elements of Chinese civil law Citizenship: see China Suffrage: 18 years of age in direct elections for 20 of the 90 Legislative Council seats and all of the seats in 18 district councils; universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past 7 years; note - in indirect elections, suffrage is limited to about 220,000 members of functional constituencies for the other 70 legislature seats and a 1,500-member election committee for the chief executive drawn from broad sectoral groupings, central government bodies, municipal organizations, and elected Hong Kong officials Executive branch: chief of state: President of China XI Jinping (since 14 March 2013) head of government: Chief Executive John LEE (since 1 July 2022) cabinet: Executive Council or ExCo appointed by the chief executive elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by National People's Congress for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 17 March 2018 (next to be held in March 2023); chief executive indirectly elected by the Election Committee and appointed by the PRC Government for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 8 May 2022 (next to be held in 2027) election results: 2022: John LEE was the only candidate and won with over 99% of the vote by the Election Committee 2017: Election Committee vote - Carrie LAM (non-partisan) 777, John TSANG (non-partisan) 365, WOO Kwok-hing (non-partisan) 21, 23 ballots rejected (1,186 votes cast) note: electoral changes that Beijing imposed in March 2021 expanded the Election Committee to 1,500 members Legislative branch: description: unicameral Legislative Council or LegCo (90 seats); 20 members directly elected in 2-seat constituencies, 30 indirectly elected by the approximately 220,000 members of various functional constituencies based on a variety of methods, and 50 indirectly elected by the 1,500-member Election Committee; members serve 4-year terms; note - in March 2021, China's National People's Congress amended the electoral rules and system for the LegCo; the total number of seats increased from 70 to 90, directly elected geographical constituencies were reduced from 35 to 20 seats, while trade-based indirectly elected functional constituencies remained at 30; an additional 40 seats were elected by the 1,500-member Election Commission; all political candidates are evaluated by the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee (CERC), established in April 2022; the CERC consists of the chairperson, 2-4 official members, and 1-3 non-official members, all appointed by the chief executive elections: last held on 19 Dec 2021 (next scheduled for 2025) election results: percent of vote by bloc: pro-Beijing 93%, non-establishment 7%; seats by block/party - pro-Beijing 89 (DAB 19, FTU 8, BPA 7, NPP 5, Liberal Party 4, FEW 2, FLU 2, other 46), non-establishment 1 (Third Side); composition - men 73, women 17, percent of women 18.9%; voter turnout 30.2%; note - Hong Kong's leading pro-democracy political parties boycotted the 2021 election  percent of vote by bloc: pro-Beijing 93%, non-establishment 7%; seats by block/party - pro-Beijing 89 (DAB 19, FTU 8, BPA 7, NPP 5, Liberal Party 4, FEW 2, FLU 2, other 46), non-establishment 1 (Third Side); composition - men 73, women 17, percent of women 18.9%; voter turnout 30.2%; note - Hong Kong's leading pro-democracy political parties boycotted the 2021 election  Judicial branch: highest courts: Court of Final Appeal (consists of the chief justice, 3 permanent judges, and 20 non-permanent judges); note - a sitting bench consists of the chief justice, 3 permanent judges, and 1 non-permanent judge judge selection and term of office: all judges appointed by the Hong Kong Chief Executive upon the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission, an independent body consisting of the Secretary for Justice, other judges, and judicial and legal professionals; permanent judges serve until normal retirement at age 65, but term can be extended; non-permanent judges appointed for renewable 3-year terms without age limit subordinate courts: High Court (consists of the Court of Appeal and Court of First Instance); District Courts (includes Family and Land Courts); magistrates' courts; specialized tribunals Political parties and leaders: parties: Bauhinia Party or BP [WONG Chau-chi/LI Shan] Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong or DAB [Starry LEE Wai-king] Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong or BPA [LO Wai-kwok] New People's Party or NPP [Regina IP] Liberal Party or LP [led by Felix CHUNG Kwok-pan; chaired by Tony CHEUNG] Third Side [TIK Chi-yeun] League of Social Democrats or LSD [Raphael WONG Ho-ming] Labor Party [Steven KWOK Wing-kin; arrested in 2020] Civic Party [vacant] Democratic Party [LO Kin-hei] Hong Kong Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood [Howard LEE] People Power or PP [LEUNG Ka-shing] Neighborhood and Workers Service Center or NWSC [LEUNG Yui-chung] other: Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions or HKFTU [labor and political group presided over by NG Chau-pei and chaired by Kingsley WON] Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers or HKFEW [WONG Kwan-yu] Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions or HKFLU [represented by POON Siu-Ping] Roundtable [Michael TIEN Puk-sun] Professional Power [Christine FONG Kwok Shan] Kowloon West New Dynamic or KWND [Priscilla LEUNG] New Prospect for Hong Kong [Gary ZHANG Xinyu] New Century Forum [Ma Fung-kwak] Path of Democracy [Ronny TONG] (think tank) (2022) note(s) - pro-democracy - Civic Party, Democratic Party, Labor Party, LSD, PP, Professional Commons; pro-Beijing - DAB, FTU, Liberal Party, NPP, BPA, BP; non-establishment - Third Side, Path of Democracy; there is no political party ordinance, so there are no registered political parties; politically active groups register as societies or companies by the end of 2021, the leading pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong had been effectively removed from the political arena under the provisions of Beijing's 2021 electoral changes or via charges under the 2020 national security law; in addition, dozens of pro-democracy organizations, including political parties, unions, churches, civil rights groups, and media organizations have disbanded or closed International organization participation: ADB, APEC, BIS, FATF, ICC (national committees), IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITUC (NGOs), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: none (Special Administrative Region of China); Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) carries out normal liaison activities and communication with the US Government and other US entities; Eddie MAK, JP (since 3 July 2018) is the Hong Kong Commissioner to the US Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; address: 1520 18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036; telephone: [1] (202) 331-8947; FAX: [1] (202) 331-8958; hketo@hketowashington.gov.hk HKETO offices: New York, San Francisco Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Consul General Hanscom SMITH (since July 2019); note - also accredited to Macau embassy: 26 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong mailing address: 8000 Hong Kong Place, Washington DC  20521-8000 telephone: [852] 2523-9011 FAX: [852] 2845-1598 email address and website: acshk@state.gov https://hk.usconsulate.gov/ Flag description: red with a stylized, white, five-petal Bauhinia flower in the center; each petal contains a small, red, five-pointed star in its middle; the red color is the same as that on the Chinese flag and represents the motherland; the fragrant Bauhinia - developed in Hong Kong the late 19th century - has come to symbolize the region; the five stars echo those on the flag of China National symbol(s): orchid tree flower; national colors: red, white National anthem: note: as a Special Administrative Region of China, "Yiyongjun Jinxingqu" is the official anthem (see China)note: as a Special Administrative Region of China, "Yiyongjun Jinxingqu" is the official anthem (see China) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Hong Kong has a free market economy, highly dependent on international trade and finance - the value of goods and services trade, including the sizable share of reexports, is about four times GDP. Hong Kong has no tariffs on imported goods, and it levies excise duties on only four commodities, whether imported or produced locally: hard alcohol, tobacco, oil, and methyl alcohol. There are no quotas or dumping laws. Hong Kong continues to link its currency closely to the US dollar, maintaining an arrangement established in 1983.   Excess liquidity, low interest rates and a tight housing supply have caused Hong Kong property prices to rise rapidly. The lower and middle-income segments of the population increasingly find housing unaffordable.   Hong Kong's open economy has left it exposed to the global economic situation. Its continued reliance on foreign trade and investment makes it vulnerable to renewed global financial market volatility or a slowdown in the global economy.   Mainland China has long been Hong Kong's largest trading partner, accounting for about half of Hong Kong's total trade by value. Hong Kong's natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. As a result of China's easing of travel restrictions, the number of mainland tourists to the territory surged from 4.5 million in 2001 to 47.3 million in 2014, outnumbering visitors from all other countries combined. After peaking in 2014, overall tourist arrivals dropped 2.5% in 2015 and 4.5% in 2016. The tourism sector rebounded in 2017, with visitor arrivals rising 3.2% to 58.47 million. Travelers from Mainland China totaled 44.45 million, accounting for 76% of the total.   The Hong Kong Government is promoting the Special Administrative Region (SAR) as the preferred business hub for renminbi (RMB) internationalization. Hong Kong residents are allowed to establish RMB-denominated savings accounts, RMB-denominated corporate and Chinese government bonds have been issued in Hong Kong, RMB trade settlement is allowed, and investment schemes such as the Renminbi Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (RQFII) Program was first launched in Hong Kong. Offshore RMB activities experienced a setback, however, after the People’s Bank of China changed the way it set the central parity rate in August 2015. RMB deposits in Hong Kong fell from 1.0 trillion RMB at the end of 2014 to 559 billion RMB at the end of 2017, while RMB trade settlement handled by banks in Hong Kong also shrank from 6.8 trillion RMB in 2015 to 3.9 trillion RMB in 2017.   Hong Kong has also established itself as the premier stock market for Chinese firms seeking to list abroad. In 2015, mainland Chinese companies constituted about 50% of the firms listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and accounted for about 66% of the exchange's market capitalization.   During the past decade, as Hong Kong's manufacturing industry moved to the mainland, its service industry has grown rapidly. In 2014, Hong Kong and China signed a new agreement on achieving basic liberalization of trade in services in Guangdong Province under the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), adopted in 2003 to forge closer ties between Hong Kong and the mainland. The new measures, which took effect in March 2015, cover a negative list and a most-favored treatment provision. On the basis of the Guangdong Agreement, the Agreement on Trade in Services signed in November 2015 further enhanced liberalization, including extending the implementation of the majority of Guangdong pilot liberalization measures to the whole Mainland, reducing the restrictive measures in the negative list, and adding measures in the positive lists for cross-border services as well as cultural and telecommunications services. In June 2017, the Investment Agreement and the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation (Ecotech Agreement) were signed under the framework of CEPA.   Hong Kong’s economic integration with the mainland continues to be most evident in the banking and finance sector. Initiatives like the Hong Kong-Shanghai Stock Connect, the Hong Kong- Shenzhen Stock Connect the Mutual Recognition of Funds, and the Bond Connect scheme are all important steps towards opening up the Mainland’s capital markets and have reinforced Hong Kong’s role as China’s leading offshore RMB market. Additional connect schemes such as ETF Connect (for exchange-traded fund products) are also under exploration by Hong Kong authorities. In 2017, Chief Executive Carrie LAM announced plans to increase government spending on research and development, education, and technological innovation with the aim of spurring continued economic growth through greater sector diversification.Hong Kong has a free market economy, highly dependent on international trade and finance - the value of goods and services trade, including the sizable share of reexports, is about four times GDP. Hong Kong has no tariffs on imported goods, and it levies excise duties on only four commodities, whether imported or produced locally: hard alcohol, tobacco, oil, and methyl alcohol. There are no quotas or dumping laws. Hong Kong continues to link its currency closely to the US dollar, maintaining an arrangement established in 1983. Excess liquidity, low interest rates and a tight housing supply have caused Hong Kong property prices to rise rapidly. The lower and middle-income segments of the population increasingly find housing unaffordable. Hong Kong's open economy has left it exposed to the global economic situation. Its continued reliance on foreign trade and investment makes it vulnerable to renewed global financial market volatility or a slowdown in the global economy. Mainland China has long been Hong Kong's largest trading partner, accounting for about half of Hong Kong's total trade by value. Hong Kong's natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. As a result of China's easing of travel restrictions, the number of mainland tourists to the territory surged from 4.5 million in 2001 to 47.3 million in 2014, outnumbering visitors from all other countries combined. After peaking in 2014, overall tourist arrivals dropped 2.5% in 2015 and 4.5% in 2016. The tourism sector rebounded in 2017, with visitor arrivals rising 3.2% to 58.47 million. Travelers from Mainland China totaled 44.45 million, accounting for 76% of the total. The Hong Kong Government is promoting the Special Administrative Region (SAR) as the preferred business hub for renminbi (RMB) internationalization. Hong Kong residents are allowed to establish RMB-denominated savings accounts, RMB-denominated corporate and Chinese government bonds have been issued in Hong Kong, RMB trade settlement is allowed, and investment schemes such as the Renminbi Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (RQFII) Program was first launched in Hong Kong. Offshore RMB activities experienced a setback, however, after the People’s Bank of China changed the way it set the central parity rate in August 2015. RMB deposits in Hong Kong fell from 1.0 trillion RMB at the end of 2014 to 559 billion RMB at the end of 2017, while RMB trade settlement handled by banks in Hong Kong also shrank from 6.8 trillion RMB in 2015 to 3.9 trillion RMB in 2017. Hong Kong has also established itself as the premier stock market for Chinese firms seeking to list abroad. In 2015, mainland Chinese companies constituted about 50% of the firms listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and accounted for about 66% of the exchange's market capitalization. During the past decade, as Hong Kong's manufacturing industry moved to the mainland, its service industry has grown rapidly. In 2014, Hong Kong and China signed a new agreement on achieving basic liberalization of trade in services in Guangdong Province under the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), adopted in 2003 to forge closer ties between Hong Kong and the mainland. The new measures, which took effect in March 2015, cover a negative list and a most-favored treatment provision. On the basis of the Guangdong Agreement, the Agreement on Trade in Services signed in November 2015 further enhanced liberalization, including extending the implementation of the majority of Guangdong pilot liberalization measures to the whole Mainland, reducing the restrictive measures in the negative list, and adding measures in the positive lists for cross-border services as well as cultural and telecommunications services. In June 2017, the Investment Agreement and the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation (Ecotech Agreement) were signed under the framework of CEPA. Hong Kong’s economic integration with the mainland continues to be most evident in the banking and finance sector. Initiatives like the Hong Kong-Shanghai Stock Connect, the Hong Kong- Shenzhen Stock Connect the Mutual Recognition of Funds, and the Bond Connect scheme are all important steps towards opening up the Mainland’s capital markets and have reinforced Hong Kong’s role as China’s leading offshore RMB market. Additional connect schemes such as ETF Connect (for exchange-traded fund products) are also under exploration by Hong Kong authorities. In 2017, Chief Executive Carrie LAM announced plans to increase government spending on research and development, education, and technological innovation with the aim of spurring continued economic growth through greater sector diversification. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $420.13 billion (2020 est.) $447.34 billion (2019 est.) $454.98 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: -1.25% (2019 est.) 2.86% (2018 est.) 3.8% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $56,200 (2020 est.) $59,600 (2019 est.) $61,100 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $365.753 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (2019 est.) 2.4% (2018 est.) 1.4% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: AA- (2020) Moody's rating: Aa3 (2020) Standard & Poors rating: AA+ (2017) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0.1% (2017 est.) industry: 7.6% (2017 est.) services: 92.3% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 67% (2017 est.) government consumption: 9.9% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 21.8% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.4% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 188% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -187.1% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: pork, poultry, spinach, vegetables, pork offals, game meat, fruit, lettuce, green onions, pig fat Industries: trading and logistics, financial services, professional services, tourism, cultural and creative, clothing and textiles, shipping, electronics, toys, clocks and watches Industrial production growth rate: 1.7% (2017 est.) Labor force: 3.627 million (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 3.8% (2013 est.) industry: 2% (2016 est.) services: 54.5% (2016 est.) industry and services: 12.5% (2013 est.) agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining: 10.1% (2013) manufacturing: 17.1% (2013 est.) note: above data exclude public sector Unemployment rate: 2.93% (2019 est.) 2.83% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 15.5% male: 17.3% female: 13.6% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 19.9% (2016 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 53.9 (2016) 53.7 (2011 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.8% NA highest 10%: 38.1% (2016) NA Budget: revenues: 79.34 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 61.64 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 5.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 0.1% of GDP (2017 est.) 0.1% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 23.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March Current account balance: $22.469 billion (2019 est.) $13.516 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $615.88 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $649.02 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $681.28 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: China 23%, India 14%, Netherlands 6%, United Kingdom 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: gold, broadcasting equipment, integrated circuits, diamonds, telephones (2019) Imports: $609.13 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $642.8 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $682.05 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: China 46%, Taiwan 7%, Singapore 7%, South Korea 5%, United States 5%, Japan 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: integrated circuits, broadcasting equipment, office machinery, telephones, diamonds (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $431.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $386.2 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $1,648,409,000,000 (2019 est.) $1,670,919,000,000 (2018 est.) Exchange rates: Hong Kong dollars (HKD) per US dollar - 7.75225 (2020 est.) 7.8285 (2019 est.) 7.8133 (2018 est.) 7.752 (2014 est.) 7.754 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 14.168 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 44,183,900,000 kWh (2020 est.) exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) imports: 12.7 billion kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 1.622 billion kWh (2020 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 99.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 5.485 million metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 5.485 million metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 100 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 404,600 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 13,570 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 402,100 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 4,913,021,000 cubic meters (2020 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 4,913,021,000 cubic meters (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 92.493 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 23.557 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 62.451 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 6.484 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 172.009 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 3,900,599 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 52 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 21,865,215 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 292 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Hong Kong’s telecommunications sector continues to stay near the top of world rankings for the industry; it has kept its #1 spot in the Asian region in terms of the maturity of its telecom market – a reflection of the high subscription rates across mobile, mobile broadband, and fixed broadband; fixed-line teledensity in Hong Kong is impressive at over 50%, although it too has started a gradual decline in keeping with most other telecom markets around the world, as consumers slowly transition over to the mobile platform for all of their communication needs; concerns over national security prompted the US Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, and Defense to prevent the branch line of the newly completed Pacific Light Cable Network (PLCN) linking Los Angeles with Taiwan from being lit; and ongoing issues with the deployment of Huawei technology inside the core infrastructure of telecom networks (something that has been done extensively in Hong Kong, including in its 5G networks) means that the territory – along with its telecom sector – may become increasingly isolated from the rest of the world; Hong Kong is likely to drop back from its position as a regional and global leader in the telecom market. (2021) domestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic network; fixed-line is over 52 per 100 and mobile-cellular is nearly 292 subscriptions per 100 (2020) international: country code - 852; landing points for the AAE-1, AAG, APCN-2, APG, ASE, FEA, FNAL, RNAL, H2HE, SeaMeWe-3, SJC and TGN-IA submarine cables that provide connections to Asia, US, Australia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China (2022) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: 34 commercial terrestrial TV networks each with multiple stations; multi-channel satellite and cable TV systems available; 3 licensed broadcasters of terrestrial radio, one of which is government funded, operate about 12 radio stations; note - 4 digital radio broadcasters operated in Hong Kong from 2010 to 2017, but all digital radio services were terminated in September 2017 due to weak market demand (2019) Internet country code: .hk Internet users: total: 6,883,256 (2020 est.) percent of population: 92% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 2,885,586 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 12 (2020) (registered in China) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 275 (registered in China) annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 47,101,822 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 12,676,720,000 (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: B-H Airports: total: 2 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021) Heliports: 9 (2021) Roadways: total: 2,193 km (2021) paved: 2,193 km (2021) Merchant marine: total: 2,718 by type: bulk carrier 1,158, container ship 558, general cargo 184, oil tanker 388, other 430 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Hong Kong container port(s) (TEUs): Hong Kong (18,361,000) (2019) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: no regular indigenous military forces; Hong Kong Police Force (specialized units include the Police Counterterrorism Response Unit, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau, the Special Duties Unit, the Airport Security Unit, and the VIP Protection Unit) (2022) note: the Hong Kong garrison of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) includes elements of the PLA Army, PLA Navy, and PLA Air Force; these forces are under the direct leadership of the Central Military Commission in Beijing and under administrative control of the adjacent Southern Theater Command Military - note: defense is the responsibility of China Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Hong Kong plans to reduce its 2,800-hectare Frontier Closed Area (FCA) to 400 hectares by 2015; the FCA was established in 1951 as a buffer zone between Hong Kong and mainland China to prevent illegal migration from and the smuggling of goodsHong Kong plans to reduce its 2,800-hectare Frontier Closed Area (FCA) to 400 hectares by 2015; the FCA was established in 1951 as a buffer zone between Hong Kong and mainland China to prevent illegal migration from and the smuggling of goods Trafficking in persons: current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Hong Kong, and traffickers also exploit victims from Hong Kong abroad; traffickers exploit women from Eastern Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia in sex trafficking; some women in Hong Kong – often with the assistance of their families – deceive Indian and Pakistani men into arranged marriages involving forced domestic service, bonded labor in construction and other physically demanding industries, and other forms of abuse via exploitative contracts; drug trafficking syndicates coerced South American women to carry drugs into Hong Kong; employment agencies hired foreign domestic workers under false pretenses and forced them into commercial sex, sometimes through debt-based coercion tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List —  Hong Kong does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; Hong Kong is hiring and training 98 new employees within the immigration, customs, labor, and justice departments dedicated to trafficking issues; authorities screened more than 7,000 vulnerable individuals for trafficking; the labor department introduced a victim identification mechanism to its division offices; the government provided anti-trafficking training to various officials; the government did not investigate, prosecute, or convict any cases of labor trafficking, investigated fewer sex trafficking cases, and did not provide victims any government-funded services; the government continued to penalize victims for unlawful acts traffickers compelled them to commit; no legislation was enacted to fully criminalize all forms of trafficking (2020) Illicit drugs: modern banking system provides conduit for money laundering; groups involved in money laundering range from local street organizations to sophisticated international syndicates involved in assorted criminal activities, including drug trafficking; major source of precursor chemicals used in the production of illicit narcoticsmodern banking system provides conduit for money laundering; groups involved in money laundering range from local street organizations to sophisticated international syndicates involved in assorted criminal activities, including drug trafficking; major source of precursor chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics

20220901

field-waste-and-recycling

This entry provides the amount of municipal solid waste a country produces annually and the amount of that waste that is recycled. Municipal solid waste consists of everyday items that are used and thrown away, including product packaging, furniture, clothing, bottles, food scraps, newspapers, grass clippings, appliances, paint, and batteries. Municipal solid waste - often referred to as trash or garbage - comes from homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses. Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products. Recycling benefits both communities and the environment. This entry includes three subfields: annual amount of municipal solid waste generated (tons), annual amount of municipal solid waste recycled (tons), and percent of municipal solid waste recycled.This entry provides the amount of municipal solid waste a country produces annually and the amount of that waste that is recycled. Municipal solid waste consists of everyday items that are used and thrown away, including product packaging, furniture, clothing, bottles, food scraps, newspapers, grass clippings, appliances, paint, and batteries. Municipal solid waste - often referred to as trash or garbage - comes from homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses. Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products. Recycling benefits both communities and the environment.This entry includes three subfields: annual amount of municipal solid waste generated (tons), annual amount of municipal solid waste recycled (tons), and percent of municipal solid waste recycled. Topic: Afghanistanmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 5,628,525 tons (2016 est.) Topic: Albaniamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1,142,964 tons (2015 est.) Topic: Algeriamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 12,378,740 tons (2016 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 990,299 tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 8% (2013 est.) Topic: American Samoamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 18,989 tons (2016 est.) Topic: Andorramunicipal solid waste generated annually: 43,000 tons (2012 est.) Topic: Angolamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 4,213,644 tons (2012 est.) Topic: Antigua and Barbudamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 30,585 tons (2012 est.) Topic: Argentinamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 17,910,550 tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,074,633 tons (2010 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 6% (2010 est.) Topic: Armeniamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 492,800 tons (2014 est.) Topic: Arubamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 88,132 tons (2013 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 9,695 tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 11% (2013 est.) Topic: Australiamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 13.345 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 5,618,245 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 42.1% (2015 est.) Topic: Austriamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 4.836 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,240,918 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 25.7% (2015 est.) Topic: Azerbaijanmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 2,930,349 tons (2015 est.) Topic: Bahamas, Themunicipal solid waste generated annually: 264,000 tons (2015 est.) Topic: Bahrainmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 951,943 tons (2016 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 76,155 tons (2012 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 8% (2012 est.) Topic: Bangladeshmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 14,778,497 tons (2012 est.) Topic: Barbadosmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 174,815 tons (2011 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 15,733 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 9% (2015 est.) Topic: Belarusmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 4.28 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 684,800 tons (2016 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 16% (2016 est.) Topic: Belgiummunicipal solid waste generated annually: 4.708 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,614,985 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 34.3% (2015 est.) Topic: Belizemunicipal solid waste generated annually: 101,379 tons (2015 est.) Topic: Beninmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 685,936 tons (1993 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 171,484 tons (2005 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 25% (2005 est.) Topic: Bermudamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 82,000 tons (2012 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,640 tons (2012 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 2% (2012 est.) Topic: Bhutanmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 111,314 tons (2007 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 957 tons (2016 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 0.9% (2016 est.) Topic: Boliviamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 2,219,052 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 268,727 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 12.1% (2015 est.) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1,248,718 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 12 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 0% (2015 est.) Topic: Botswanamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 210,854 tons (2010 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,109 tons (2005 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 1% (2005 est.) Topic: Brazilmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 79,889,010 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,118,446 tons (2014 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 1.4% (2014 est.) Topic: British Virgin Islandsmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 21,099 tons (2000 est.) Topic: Bruneimunicipal solid waste generated annually: 216,253 tons (2016 est.) Topic: Bulgariamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 3.011 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 572,993 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 19% (2015 est.) Topic: Burkina Fasomunicipal solid waste generated annually: 2,575,251 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 309,030 tons (2005 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 12% (2005 est.) Topic: Burmamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 4,677,307 tons (2000 est.) Topic: Burundimunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1,872,016 tons (2002 est.) Topic: Cabo Verdemunicipal solid waste generated annually: 132,555 tons (2012 est.) Topic: Cambodiamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1.089 million tons (2014 est.) Topic: Cameroonmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 3,270,617 tons (2013 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 13,082 tons (2009 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 0.4% (2009 est.) Topic: Canadamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 25,103,034 tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 5,168,715 tons (2008 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 20.6% (2008 est.) Topic: Cayman Islandsmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 60,000 tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 12,600 tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 21% (2013 est.) Topic: Central African Republicmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1,105,983 tons (2014 est.) Topic: Chadmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1,358,851 tons (2010 est.) Topic: Chilemunicipal solid waste generated annually: 6.517 million tons (2009 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 24,113 tons (2009 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 0.4% (2009 est.) Topic: Chinamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 210 million tons (2015 est.) Topic: Colombiamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 12,150,120 tons (2011 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,089,821 tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 17.2% (2013 est.) Topic: Comorosmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 91,013 tons (2015 est.) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of themunicipal solid waste generated annually: 14,385,226 tons (2016 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 704,876 tons (2005 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4.9% (2005 est.) Topic: Congo, Republic of themunicipal solid waste generated annually: 451,200 tons (1993 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 118,214 tons (2005 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 26.2% (2005 est.) Topic: Costa Ricamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1.46 million tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 18,396 tons (2014 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 1.3% (2014 est.) Topic: Cote d'Ivoiremunicipal solid waste generated annually: 4,440,814 tons (2010 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 133,224 tons (2005 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 3% (2005 est.) Topic: Croatiamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1.654 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 269,933 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 16.3% (2015 est.) Topic: Cubamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 2,692,692 tons (2007 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 255,536 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 9.5% (2015 est.) Topic: Curacaomunicipal solid waste generated annually: 24,704 tons (2013 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 494 tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 2% (2013 est.) Topic: Cyprusmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 541,000 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 72,007 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13.3% (2015 est.) Topic: Czechiamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 3.337 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 850,935 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 25.5% (2015 est.) Topic: Denmarkmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 4.485 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,223,060 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 27.3% (2015 est.) Topic: Djiboutimunicipal solid waste generated annually: 114,997 tons (2002 est.) Topic: Dominicamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 13,176 tons (2013 est.) Topic: Dominican Republicmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 4,063,910 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 333,241 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 8.2% (2015 est.) Topic: Ecuadormunicipal solid waste generated annually: 5,297,211 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 683,340 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 12.9% (2015 est.) Topic: Egyptmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 21 million tons (2012 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2.625 million tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 12.5% (2013 est.) Topic: El Salvadormunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1,648,996 tons (2010 est.) Topic: Equatorial Guineamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 198,443 tons (2016 est.) Topic: Eritreamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 726,957 tons (2011 est.) Topic: Estoniamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 473,000 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 117,020 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 24.7% (2015 est.) Topic: Eswatinimunicipal solid waste generated annually: 218,199 tons (2016 est.) Topic: Ethiopiamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 6,532,787 tons (2015 est.) Topic: Faroe Islandsmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 61,000 tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 40,870 tons (2012 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 67% (2012 est.) Topic: Fijimunicipal solid waste generated annually: 189,390 tons (2011 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 10,322 tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5.5% (2013 est.) Topic: Finlandmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 2.738 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 769,926 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28.1% (2015 est.) Topic: Francemunicipal solid waste generated annually: 33.399 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 7,434,617 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 22.3% (2015 est.) Topic: French Polynesiamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 147,000 tons (2013 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 57,330 tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 39% (2013 est.) Topic: Gabonmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 238,102 tons (1995 est.) Topic: Gambia, Themunicipal solid waste generated annually: 193,441 tons (2002 est.) Topic: Gaza Stripmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1.387 million tons (2016 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 6,935 tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 0.5% (2013 est.) note: data represent combined total from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Topic: Georgiamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 800,000 tons (2015 est.) Topic: Germanymunicipal solid waste generated annually: 51.046 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 24,415,302 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 47.8% (2015 est.) Topic: Ghanamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 3,538,275 tons (2005 est.) Topic: Gibraltarmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 16,954 tons (2012 est.) Topic: Greecemunicipal solid waste generated annually: 5,477,424 tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,040,711 tons (2014 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 19% (2014 est.) Topic: Greenlandmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 50,000 tons (2010 est.) Topic: Grenadamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 29,536 tons (2012 est.) Topic: Guammunicipal solid waste generated annually: 141,500 tons (2012 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 25,258 tons (2011 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 17.9% (2011 est.) Topic: Guatemalamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 2,756,741 tons (2015 est.) Topic: Guernseymunicipal solid waste generated annually: 178,933 tons (2016 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 50,871 tons (2016 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28.4% (2016 est.) note: data include combined totals for Guernsey and Jersey. Topic: Guineamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 596,911 tons (1996 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 29,846 tons (2005 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5% (2005 est.) Topic: Guinea-Bissaumunicipal solid waste generated annually: 289,514 tons (2015 est.) Topic: Guyanamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 179,252 tons (2010 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 968 tons (2010 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 0.5% (2010 est.) Topic: Haitimunicipal solid waste generated annually: 2,309,852 tons (2015 est.) Topic: Hondurasmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 2,162,028 tons (2016 est.) Topic: Hong Kongmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 5,679,816 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,931,138 tons (2016 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 34% (2016 est.) Topic: Hungarymunicipal solid waste generated annually: 3.712 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 962,893 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 25.9% (2015 est.) Topic: Icelandmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 525,000 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 293,003 tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 55.8% (2013 est.) Topic: Indiamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 168,403,240 tons (2001 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 8,420,162 tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5% (2013 est.) Topic: Indonesiamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 65.2 million tons (2016 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 4.564 million tons (2016 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 7% (2016 est.) Topic: Iranmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 17.885 million tons (2017 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 894,250 tons (2017 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5% (2017 est.) Topic: Iraqmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 13.14 million tons (2015 est.) Topic: Irelandmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 2,692,537 tons (2012 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 888,537 tons (2012 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 33% (2012 est.) Topic: Isle of Manmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 50,551 tons (2011 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 25,276 tons (2011 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 50% (2011 est.) Topic: Israelmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 5.4 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1.35 million tons (2017 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 25% (2017 est.) Topic: Italymunicipal solid waste generated annually: 29.524 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 7,646,716 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 25.9% (2015 est.) Topic: Jamaicamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1,051,695 tons (2016 est.) Topic: Japanmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 43.981 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,155,069 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4.9% (2015 est.) Topic: Jerseymunicipal solid waste generated annually: 178,933 tons (2016 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 50,871 tons (2016 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28.4% (2016 est.) note: data include combined totals for Guernsey and Jersey. Topic: Jordanmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 2,529,997 tons (2013 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 177,100 tons (2014 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 7% (2014 est.) Topic: Kazakhstanmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 4,659,740 tons (2012 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 136,064 tons (2012 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 2.9% (2012 est.) Topic: Kenyamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 5,595,099 tons (2010 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 447,608 tons (2009 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 8% (2009 est.) Topic: Kiribatimunicipal solid waste generated annually: 35,724 tons (2016 est.) Topic: Korea, Southmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 18,218,975 tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 10,567,006 tons (2014 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 58% (2014 est.) Topic: Kosovomunicipal solid waste generated annually: 319,000 tons (2015 est.) Topic: Kuwaitmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1.75 million tons (2010 est.) Topic: Kyrgyzstanmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1,113,300 tons (2015 est.) Topic: Laosmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 351,900 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 35,190 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 10% (2015 est.) Topic: Latviamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 857,000 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 181,941 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 21.2% (2015 est.) Topic: Lebanonmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 2.04 million tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 163,200 tons (2014 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 8% (2014 est.) Topic: Lesothomunicipal solid waste generated annually: 73,457 tons (2006 est.) Topic: Liberiamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 564,467 tons (2007 est.) Topic: Libyamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 2,147,596 tons (2011 est.) Topic: Liechtensteinmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 32,382 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 20,919 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 64.6% (2015 est.) Topic: Lithuaniamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1.3 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 297,960 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 22.9% (2015 est.) Topic: Luxembourgmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 356,000 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 100,997 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28.4% (2015 est.) Topic: Macaumunicipal solid waste generated annually: 377,942 tons (2016 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 75,588 tons (2014 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 20% (2014 est.) Topic: Madagascarmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 3,768,759 tons (2016 est.) Topic: Malawimunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1,297,844 tons (2013 est.) Topic: Malaysiamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 12,982,685 tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,271,970 tons (2016 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 17.5% (2016 est.) Topic: Maldivesmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 211,506 tons (2015 est.) Topic: Malimunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1,937,354 tons (2012 est.) Topic: Maltamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 269,000 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 17,996 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 6.7% (2015 est.) Topic: Marshall Islandsmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 8,614 tons (2013 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,653 tons (2007 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 30.8% (2007 est.) Topic: Mauritaniamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 454,000 tons (2009 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 36,320 tons (2009 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 8% (2009 est.) Topic: Mauritiusmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 438,000 tons (2016 est.) Topic: Mexicomunicipal solid waste generated annually: 53.1 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2.655 million tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5% (2013 est.) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 26,040 tons (2016 est.) Topic: Moldovamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 3,981,200 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 609,920 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15.3% (2015 est.) Topic: Monacomunicipal solid waste generated annually: 46,000 tons (2012 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,484 tons (2012 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5.4% (2012 est.) Topic: Mongoliamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 2.9 million tons (2016 est.) Topic: Montenegromunicipal solid waste generated annually: 332,000 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 17,994 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5.4% (2015 est.) Topic: Moroccomunicipal solid waste generated annually: 6.852 million tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 548,160 tons (2014 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 8% (2014 est.) note:  data does not include former Western Sahara Topic: Mozambiquemunicipal solid waste generated annually: 2.5 million tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 25,000 tons (2014 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 1% (2014 est.) Topic: Namibiamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 256,729 tons (1993 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 11,553 tons (2005 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4.5% (2005 est.) Topic: Naurumunicipal solid waste generated annually: 6,192 tons (2016 est.) Topic: Nepalmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1,768,977 tons (2016 est.) Topic: Netherlandsmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 8.855 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,179,216 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 24.6% (2015 est.) Topic: New Caledoniamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 108,157 tons (2016 est.) Topic: New Zealandmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 3.405 million tons (2016 est.) Topic: Nicaraguamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1,528,816 tons (2010 est.) Topic: Nigermunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1,865,646 tons (1993 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 74,626 tons (2005 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4% (2005 est.) Topic: Nigeriamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 27,614,830 tons (2009 est.) Topic: North Macedoniamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 796,585 tons (2016 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,434 tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 0.2% (2013 est.) Topic: Northern Mariana Islandsmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 32,761 tons (2013 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 11,794 tons (2016 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 36% (2016 est.) Topic: Norwaymunicipal solid waste generated annually: 2.187 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 572,119 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 26.2% (2015 est.) Topic: Omanmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1,734,885 tons (2014 est.) Topic: Pakistanmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 30.76 million tons (2017 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,460,800 tons (2017 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 8% (2017 est.) Topic: Palaumunicipal solid waste generated annually: 9,427 tons (2016 est.) Topic: Panamamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1,472,262 tons (2015 est.) Topic: Papua New Guineamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1 million tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 20,000 tons (2016 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 2% (2016 est.) Topic: Paraguaymunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1,818,501 tons (2015 est.) Topic: Perumunicipal solid waste generated annually: 8,356,711 tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 334,268 tons (2012 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4% (2012 est.) Topic: Philippinesmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 14,631,923 tons (2016 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 4,096,938 tons (2014 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28% (2014 est.) Topic: Polandmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 10.863 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,866,746 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 26.4% (2015 est.) Topic: Portugalmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 4.71 million tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 764,433 tons (2014 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 16.2% (2014 est.) Topic: Puerto Ricomunicipal solid waste generated annually: 4,170,953 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 583,933 tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 14% (2013 est.) Topic: Qatarmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1,000,990 tons (2012 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 30,030 tons (2014 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 3% (2014 est.) Topic: Romaniamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 4.895 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 277,547 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5.7% (2015 est.) Topic: Russiamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 60 million tons (2012 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2.7 million tons (2012 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4.5% (2012 est.) Topic: Rwandamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 4,384,969 tons (2016 est.) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevismunicipal solid waste generated annually: 32,892 tons (2015 est.) Topic: Saint Luciamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 77,616 tons (2015 est.) Topic: Saint Martinmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 15,480 tons (2012 est.) Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 31,561 tons (2015 est.) Topic: Samoamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 27,399 tons (2011 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 9,864 tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 36% (2013 est.) Topic: San Marinomunicipal solid waste generated annually: 17,175 tons (2016 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 7,737 tons (2016 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 45.1% (2016 est.) Topic: Sao Tome and Principemunicipal solid waste generated annually: 25,587 tons (2014 est.) Topic: Saudi Arabiamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 16,125,701 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,418,855 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15% (2015 est.) Topic: Senegalmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 2,454,059 tons (2016 est.) Topic: Serbiamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1.84 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 13,984 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 0.8% (2015 est.) Topic: Seychellesmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 48,000 tons (2012 est.) Topic: Sierra Leonemunicipal solid waste generated annually: 610,222 tons (2004 est.) Topic: Singaporemunicipal solid waste generated annually: 7,704,300 tons (2017 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 4,699,623 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 61% (2015 est.) Topic: Slovakiamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1.784 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 135,941 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 7.6% (2015 est.) Topic: Sloveniamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 926,000 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 430,034 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 46.4% (2015 est.) Topic: Solomon Islandsmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 179,972 tons (2013 est.) Topic: Somaliamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 2,326,099 tons (2016 est.) Topic: South Africamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 18,457,232 tons (2011 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 5,168,025 tons (2011 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28% (2011 est.) Topic: South Sudanmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 2,680,681 tons (2013 est.) Topic: Spainmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 20.151 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 3,393,428 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 16.8% (2015 est.) Topic: Sri Lankamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 2,631,650 tons (2016 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 336,588 tons (2016 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 12.8% (2016 est.) Topic: Sudanmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 2,831,291 tons (2015 est.) Topic: Surinamemunicipal solid waste generated annually: 78,620 tons (2010 est.) Topic: Swedenmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 4.377 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,416,835 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 32.4% (2015 est.) Topic: Switzerlandmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 6.056 million tons (2016 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,937,920 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 32% (2015 est.) Topic: Syriamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 4.5 million tons (2009 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 112,500 tons (2010 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 2.5% (2010 est.) Topic: Taiwanmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 7.336 million tons (2015 est.) Topic: Tajikistanmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1,787,400 tons (2013 est.) Topic: Tanzaniamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 9,276,995 tons (2012 est.) Topic: Thailandmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 26,853,366 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 5,128,993 tons (2012 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 19.1% (2012 est.) Topic: Timor-Lestemunicipal solid waste generated annually: 63,875 tons (2016 est.) Topic: Togomunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1,109,030 tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 22,181 tons (2012 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 2% (2012 est.) Topic: Tongamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 17,238 tons (2012 est.) Topic: Trinidad and Tobagomunicipal solid waste generated annually: 727,874 tons (2010 est.) Topic: Tunisiamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 2.7 million tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 108,000 tons (2014 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4% (2014 est.) Topic: Turkeymunicipal solid waste generated annually: 31.283 million tons (2015 est.) Topic: Turkmenistanmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 500,000 tons (2013 est.) Topic: Tuvalumunicipal solid waste generated annually: 3,989 tons (2011 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 598 tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15% (2013 est.) Topic: Ugandamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 7,045,050 tons (2016 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 422,703 tons (2017 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 6% (2017 est.) Topic: Ukrainemunicipal solid waste generated annually: 15,242,025 tons (2016 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 487,745 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 3.2% (2015 est.) Topic: United Arab Emiratesmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 5,413,453 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,082,691 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 20% (2015 est.) Topic: United Kingdommunicipal solid waste generated annually: 31.567 million tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 8,602,008 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 27.3% (2015 est.) Topic: United Statesmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 258 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 89.268 million tons (2014 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 34.6% (2014 est.) Topic: Uruguaymunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1,260,140 tons (2012 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 100,811 tons (2011 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 8% (2011 est.) Topic: Uzbekistanmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 4 million tons (2016 est.) Topic: Vanuatumunicipal solid waste generated annually: 70,225 tons (2012 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 25,983 tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 37% (2013 est.) Topic: Venezuelamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 9,779,093 tons (2010 est.) Topic: Vietnammunicipal solid waste generated annually: 9,570,300 tons (2011 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,201,169 tons (2014 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 23% (2014 est.) Topic: Virgin Islandsmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 146,500 tons (2012 est.) Topic: West Bankmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1.387 million tons (2016 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 6,935 tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 0.5% (2013 est.) note: data represent combined total from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Topic: Yemenmunicipal solid waste generated annually: 4,836,820 tons (2011 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 386,946 tons (2016 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 8% (2016 est.) Topic: Zambiamunicipal solid waste generated annually: 2,608,268 tons (2002 est.) Topic: Zimbabwemunicipal solid waste generated annually: 1,449,752 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 231,960 tons (2005 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 16% (2005 est.)

20220901

field-coal

This field refers to a country's coal and metallurgical coke production, consumption, exports, imports, and proven reserves. These energy sources include anthracite, metallurgical, bituminous, subbituminous, and lignite coal and metallurgical coke. Proven reserves are those quantities of coal that have been analyzed as commercially recoverable in the future based on known reservoirs and assuming current economic conditions. Data are reported in metric tons, and one metric ton is 1,000 kilograms. Topic: AfghanistanProduction: 2.096 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 2.096 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 66 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: AlbaniaProduction: 9,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 119,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 110,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 522 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: AlgeriaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 85,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 85,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 59 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: American SamoaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: AngolaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: AntarcticaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Antigua and BarbudaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: ArgentinaProduction: 829,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 1.55 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 4,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 990,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 500 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: ArmeniaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 12,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 12,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 163 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: ArubaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: AustraliaProduction: 504.051 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 99.048 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 390.808 million metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 583,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 149.079 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: AustriaProduction: 1.327 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 4.899 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 3.667 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: AzerbaijanProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 19,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 19,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Bahamas, TheProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: BahrainProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: BangladeshProduction: 1.016 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 9.345 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 8.329 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 293 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: BarbadosProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: BelarusProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 621,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 1.574 million metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 2.117 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: BelgiumProduction: 1.105 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 4.167 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 504,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 3.467 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: BelizeProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: BeninProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 78,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 78,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: BermudaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: BhutanProduction: 174,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 211,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 37,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: BoliviaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 1 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Bosnia and HerzegovinaProduction: 6.966 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 7.752 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 525,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 1.366 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 2.264 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: BotswanaProduction: 1.876 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 1.416 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 497,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 1.66 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: BrazilProduction: 13.993 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 31.841 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 16,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 19.217 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 6.596 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: British Virgin IslandsProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: BruneiProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: BulgariaProduction: 22.298 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 23.213 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 35,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 675,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 2.366 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Burkina FasoProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: BurmaProduction: 1.468 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 1.981 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 514,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 6 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: BurundiProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Cabo VerdeProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: CambodiaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 2.974 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 3.311 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: CameroonProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: CanadaProduction: 48.328 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 25.642 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 32.026 million metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 7.577 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 6.582 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Cayman IslandsProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Central African RepublicProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 3 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: ChadProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: ChileProduction: 542,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 10.573 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 134,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 10.607 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 1.181 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: ChinaProduction: 4,314,681,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 4,506,387,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 6.652 million metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 307.047 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 141.595 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: ColombiaProduction: 51.395 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 8.547 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 69.861 million metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 79,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 4.554 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: ComorosProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of theProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 10,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 10,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 88 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Congo, Republic of theProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Cook IslandsProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Costa RicaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Cote d'IvoireProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: CroatiaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 643,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 2,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 644,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: CubaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 4,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 4,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: CyprusProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: CzechiaProduction: 33.806 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 37.212 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 1.885 million metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 3.795 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 2.927 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: DenmarkProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 1.249 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 194,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 1.122 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: DjiboutiProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: DominicaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Dominican RepublicProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 1.791 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 2.359 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: EcuadorProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 10,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 10,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 24 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: EgyptProduction: 262,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 2.31 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 86,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 2.134 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 16 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: El SalvadorProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Equatorial GuineaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: EritreaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: EstoniaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 3,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 3,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: EswatiniProduction: 108,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 169,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 163,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 135,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 144 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: EthiopiaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 689,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 528,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)Production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Faroe IslandsProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: FijiProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: FinlandProduction: 762,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 3.552 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 101,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 2.661 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: FranceProduction: 2.312 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 10.712 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 35,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 7.891 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: French PolynesiaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: GabonProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Gambia, TheProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: GeorgiaProduction: 99,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 362,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 277,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 201 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: GermanyProduction: 114.86 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 145.379 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 2.317 million metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 31.503 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 35.9 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: GhanaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 48,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 48,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: GibraltarProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: GreeceProduction: 13.851 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 13.828 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 7,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 305,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 2.876 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: GreenlandProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 183 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: GrenadaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: GuamProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: GuatemalaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 2.28 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 2.376 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: GuineaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Guinea-BissauProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: GuyanaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: HaitiProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: HondurasProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 25,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 25,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Hong KongProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 5.485 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 5.485 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: HungaryProduction: 6.956 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 8.079 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 230,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 1.395 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 2.909 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: IcelandProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 142,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 136,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: IndiaProduction: 743.214 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 883.979 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 1.029 million metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 219.212 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 105.931 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: IndonesiaProduction: 563.728 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 132.548 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 409.892 million metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 8.95 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 39.891 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: IranProduction: 2.783 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 2.794 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 76,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 87,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 1.203 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: IraqProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: IrelandProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 351,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 132,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 408,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 14 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: IsraelProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 5.089 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 5.565 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: ItalyProduction: 1.456 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 9.335 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 368,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 8.235 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 17 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: JamaicaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 61,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 82,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: JapanProduction: 29.84 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 210.882 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 3.201 million metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 174.486 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 350 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: JordanProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 219,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 219,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: KazakhstanProduction: 102.338 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 74.819 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 3.002 million metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 993,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 25.605 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: KenyaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 821,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 822,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: KiribatiProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Korea, NorthProduction: 16.376 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 6.698 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 22,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 600 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Korea, SouthProduction: 16.364 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 140.579 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 16,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 123.784 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 326 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: KosovoProduction: 8.538 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 8.549 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 9,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 20,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 1.564 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: KuwaitProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 68,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 68,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: KyrgyzstanProduction: 2.287 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 1.717 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 984,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 481,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 971 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: LaosProduction: 16.04 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 15.823 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 235,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 18,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 503 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: LatviaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 39,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 3,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 40,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: LebanonProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 268,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 268,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: LesothoProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: LiberiaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: LibyaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: LithuaniaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 221,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 75,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 268,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: LuxembourgProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 65,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 74,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: MacauProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: MadagascarProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 107,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 115,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: MalawiProduction: 48,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 47,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 2 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: MalaysiaProduction: 2.977 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 35.268 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 17,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 37.295 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 226 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: MaldivesProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: MaliProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: MaltaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: MauritaniaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: MauritiusProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 661,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 1.189 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: MexicoProduction: 9.886 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 10.241 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 3,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 5.182 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 1.211 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Topic: MoldovaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 133,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 133,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: MongoliaProduction: 43.904 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 8.818 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 28.551 million metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 2.52 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: MontenegroProduction: 1.456 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 1.351 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 96,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 142 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: MontserratProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: MoroccoProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 9.321 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 9.321 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 14 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: MozambiqueProduction: 7.25 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 46,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 8.355 million metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 48,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 1.792 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: NamibiaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 38,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 59,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: NauruProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: NepalProduction: 28,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 839,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 811,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 1 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: NetherlandsProduction: 1.879 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 8.241 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 20.164 million metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 21.552 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 497 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: New CaledoniaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 1.151 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 1.151 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 2 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: New ZealandProduction: 3.226 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 3.001 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 1.14 million metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 1.09 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 7.575 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: NicaraguaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: NigerProduction: 224,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 224,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 6 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: NigeriaProduction: 44,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 85,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 12,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 77,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 344 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: NiueProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: North MacedoniaProduction: 5.026 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 5.211 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 174,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 332 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Northern Mariana IslandsProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Topic: NorwayProduction: 69,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 1.13 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 46,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 1.172 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 2 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: OmanProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 115,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 115,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: PakistanProduction: 4.855 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 21.012 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 17.239 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 3.064 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: PanamaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 1.118 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 1.15 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Papua New GuineaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: ParaguayProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: PeruProduction: 696,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 396,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 252,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 262,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 102 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: PhilippinesProduction: 13.752 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 32.855 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 7.554 million metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 28.358 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 361 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: PolandProduction: 108.152 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 110.674 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 11.063 million metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 13.281 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 26.932 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: PortugalProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 957,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 238,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 36 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Puerto RicoProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 1.361 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 1.502 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: QatarProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: RomaniaProduction: 15.002 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 16.412 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 2,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 1.384 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 291 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: RussiaProduction: 447.332 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 266.038 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 224.324 million metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 24.027 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 162.166 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: RwandaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da CunhaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Saint Kitts and NevisProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Saint LuciaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Saint Pierre and MiquelonProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: SamoaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Sao Tome and PrincipeProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Saudi ArabiaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 73,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 73,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: SenegalProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 894,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 894,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: SerbiaProduction: 39.673 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 40.83 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 72,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 987,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 7.514 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: SeychellesProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Sierra LeoneProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: SingaporeProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 423,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 424,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: SlovakiaProduction: 2.148 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 5.371 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 3.111 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 135 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: SloveniaProduction: 3.175 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 3.502 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 3,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 335,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 371 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Solomon IslandsProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: SomaliaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: South AfricaProduction: 248.388 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 170.308 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 74.965 million metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 2.054 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 9.893 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: South SudanProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: SpainProduction: 546,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 4.918 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 2.083 million metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 4.857 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 1.187 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Sri LankaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 2.237 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 2.586 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: SudanProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: SurinameProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: SwedenProduction: 1.07 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 3.328 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 24,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 2.144 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 1 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: SwitzerlandProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 150,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 139,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: SyriaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 38,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 38,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: TaiwanProduction: 5.955 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 67.985 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 118,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 63.523 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 1 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: TajikistanProduction: 2.103 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 2.16 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 57,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 375 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: TanzaniaProduction: 712,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 577,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 126,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 269 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: ThailandProduction: 13.251 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 35.761 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 63,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 23.899 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 1.063 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Timor-LesteProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: TogoProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 46,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 46,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: TongaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Trinidad and TobagoProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: TunisiaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 5,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 5,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)Production: 78.871 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 108.271 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 54,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 40.919 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 11.525 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: TurkmenistanProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Turks and Caicos IslandsProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: TuvaluProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Topic: UgandaProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: UkraineProduction: 23.908 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 41.181 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 61,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 17.333 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 34.375 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: United Arab EmiratesProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 2.563 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 2,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 2.565 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: United KingdomProduction: 2.892 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 9.401 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 1.309 million metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 5.537 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 26 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: United StatesProduction: 495.13 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 441.968 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 63.276 million metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 4.808 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 228.662 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: UruguayProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: UzbekistanProduction: 3.98 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 5.668 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 2.995 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 1.375 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: VanuatuProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: VenezuelaProduction: 396,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 33,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 685,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 731 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: VietnamProduction: 47.789 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 80.568 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 902,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 55 million metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 3.36 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: Wake IslandProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: YemenProduction: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 22,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 22,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: ZambiaProduction: 1.116 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 1.176 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 39,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 99,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 45 million metric tons (2019 est.) Topic: ZimbabweProduction: 3.888 million metric tons (2020 est.) Consumption: 3.579 million metric tons (2020 est.) Exports: 327,000 metric tons (2020 est.) Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) Proven reserves: 502 million metric tons (2019 est.)

20220901

countries-finland

Topic: Photos of Finland Topic: Introduction Background: Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the 12th to the 19th centuries, and an autonomous grand duchy of Russia after 1809. It gained complete independence in 1917. During World War II, Finland successfully defended its independence through cooperation with Germany and resisted subsequent invasions by the Soviet Union - albeit with some loss of territory. In the subsequent half century, Finland transformed from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per capita income is among the highest in Western Europe. A member of the EU since 1995, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro single currency at its initiation in January 1999. In the 21st century, the key features of Finland's modern welfare state are high quality education, promotion of equality, and a national social welfare system - currently challenged by an aging population and the fluctuations of an export-driven economy.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia Geographic coordinates: 64 00 N, 26 00 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 338,145 sq km land: 303,815 sq km water: 34,330 sq km Area - comparative: slightly more than two times the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than Montana Land boundaries: total: 2,563 km border countries (3): Norway 709 km; Sweden 545 km; Russia 1,309 km Coastline: 1,250 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 nm) contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm; extends to continental shelf boundary with Sweden, Estonia, and Russia Climate: cold temperate; potentially subarctic but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills Elevation: highest point: Halti (alternatively Haltia, Haltitunturi, Haltiatunturi) 1,328 m lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m mean elevation: 164 m Natural resources: timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, limestone Land use: agricultural land: 7.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 7.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.1% (2018 est.) forest: 72.9% (2018 est.) other: 19.6% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 690 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Saimaa - 1,760 sq km; Paijanne - 1,090 sq km; Inarijarvi - 1,000 sq km; Oulujarvi - 900 sq km; Pielinen - 850 sq km Population distribution: the vast majority of people are found in the south; the northern interior areas remain sparsely poplulated Natural hazards: severe winters in the north Geography - note: long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain Map description: Finland map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Baltic Sea.Finland map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Baltic Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 5,601,547 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Finn(s) adjective: Finnish Ethnic groups: Finnish, Swedish, Russian, Estonian, Romani, Sami note: 91.5% of the population has a Finnish background Languages: Finnish (official) 86.5%, Swedish (official) 5.2%, Russian 1.6%, other 6.7% (2021 est.) major-language sample(s): World Factbook, korvaamaton perustietolähde. (Finnish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Lutheran 66.6%, Greek Orthodox 1.1%, other 1.7%, none 30.6% (2021 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 16.41% (male 467,220/female 447,005) 15-24 years: 10.95% (male 312,179/female 297,717) 25-54 years: 37.37% (male 1,064,326/female 1,017,545) 55-64 years: 13.02% (male 357,687/female 367,610) 65 years and over: 22.26% (2020 est.) (male 543,331/female 697,045) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 62.4 youth dependency ratio: 25.8 elderly dependency ratio: 36.6 potential support ratio: 2.7 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 42.8 years male: 41.3 years female: 44.4 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.24% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 10.42 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 10.35 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 2.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: the vast majority of people are found in the south; the northern interior areas remain sparsely poplulated Urbanization: urban population: 85.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 1.328 million HELSINKI (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 29.5 years (2020 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 3 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 2.13 deaths/1,000 live births male: 2.31 deaths/1,000 live births female: 1.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 81.76 years male: 78.86 years female: 84.79 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.74 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 85.5% (2015) note: percent of women aged 18-49 Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 9.2% (2019) Physicians density: 4.64 physicians/1,000 population (2018) Hospital bed density: 3.6 beds/1,000 population (2018) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2018 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 4,000 (2018) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2018) <100 Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 22.2% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 21.6% (2020 est.) male: 26.9% (2020 est.) female: 16.3% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Child marriage: women married by age 18: 0% (2017 est.) Education expenditures: 6.3% of GDP (2018 est.) Literacy: total population: NA male: NA female: NA School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 19 years male: 18 years female: 20 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 21.4% male: 23.2% female: 19.4% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: limited air pollution in urban centers; some water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 5.88 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 45.87 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 4.46 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: cold temperate; potentially subarctic but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes Land use: agricultural land: 7.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 7.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.1% (2018 est.) forest: 72.9% (2018 est.) other: 19.6% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 85.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.36% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.738 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 769,926 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28.1% (2015 est.) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Saimaa - 1,760 sq km; Paijanne - 1,090 sq km; Inarijarvi - 1,000 sq km; Oulujarvi - 900 sq km; Pielinen - 850 sq km Total water withdrawal: municipal: 400 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 1.417 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 50 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 110 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Finland conventional short form: Finland local long form: Suomen tasavalta (Finnish)/ Republiken Finland (Swedish) local short form: Suomi (Finnish)/ Finland (Swedish) etymology: name may derive from the ancient Fenni peoples who are first described as living in northeastern Europe in the first centuries A.D. Government type: parliamentary republic Capital: name: Helsinki geographic coordinates: 60 10 N, 24 56 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the name may derive from the Swedish "helsing," an archaic name for "neck" ("hals"), and which may refer to a narrowing of the Vantaa River that flows into the Gulf of Finland at Helsinki; "fors" refers to "rapids," so "helsing fors" meaning becomes "the narrows' rapids" Administrative divisions: 19 regions (maakunnat, singular - maakunta (Finnish); landskapen, singular - landskapet (Swedish)); Aland (Swedish), Ahvenanmaa (Finnish); Etela-Karjala (Finnish), Sodra Karelen (Swedish) [South Karelia]; Etela-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Sodra Osterbotten (Swedish) [South Ostrobothnia]; Etela-Savo (Finnish), Sodra Savolax (Swedish) [South Savo]; Kanta-Hame (Finnish), Egentliga Tavastland (Swedish); Kainuu (Finnish), Kajanaland (Swedish); Keski-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Mellersta Osterbotten (Swedish) [Central Ostrobothnia]; Keski-Suomi (Finnish), Mellersta Finland (Swedish) [Central Finland]; Kymenlaakso (Finnish), Kymmenedalen (Swedish); Lappi (Finnish), Lappland (Swedish); Paijat-Hame (Finnish), Paijanne-Tavastland (Swedish); Pirkanmaa (Finnish), Birkaland (Swedish) [Tampere]; Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Osterbotten (Swedish) [Ostrobothnia]; Pohjois-Karjala (Finnish), Norra Karelen (Swedish) [North Karelia]; Pohjois-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Norra Osterbotten (Swedish) [North Ostrobothnia]; Pohjois-Savo (Finnish), Norra Savolax (Swedish) [North Savo]; Satakunta (Finnish and Swedish); Uusimaa (Finnish), Nyland (Swedish) [Newland]; Varsinais-Suomi (Finnish), Egentliga Finland (Swedish) [Southwest Finland] Independence: 6 December 1917 (from Russia) National holiday: Independence Day, 6 December (1917) Constitution: history: previous 1906, 1919; latest drafted 17 June 1997, approved by Parliament 11 June 1999, entered into force 1 March 2000 amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage normally requires simple majority vote in two readings in the first parliamentary session and at least two-thirds majority vote in a single reading by the newly elected Parliament; proposals declared "urgent" by five-sixths of Parliament members can be passed by at least two-thirds majority vote in the first parliamentary session only; amended several times, last in 2018 Legal system: civil law system based on the Swedish model International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Finland dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 6 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Sauli NIINISTO (since 1 March 2012) head of government: Prime Minister Sanna MARIN (since 10 December 2019) cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament  elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 28 January 2018 (next to be held in January 2024); prime minister appointed by Parliament election results: Sauli NIINISTO reelected president; percent of vote Sauli NIINISTO (independent) 62.7%, Pekka HAAVISTO (Vihr) 12.4%, Laura HUHTASAARI (PS) 6.9%, Paavo VAYRYNEN (independent) 6.2%, Matti VANHANEN (Kesk) 4.1%, other 7.7% Legislative branch: description: unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; 199 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 1 member in the province of Aland directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 14 April 2019 (next to be held in April 2023) election results: percent of vote by party/coalition - SDP 20%, PS 19.5%, Kok 19.0%. Center Party  15.5%, Vihr 10%, Vas 8%, SFP 4.5%, KD 2.5%, Aland .5%; other .5%; seats by party/coalition - SDP 40, PS 39, Kok 38, Centre Party 31, Vihr 20, Vas 16, SFP 9, KD 5; Aland 1; other 1; composition men 109, women 91, percent of women 45.5% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus (consists of the court president and 18 judges); Supreme Administrative Court (consists of 21 judges, including the court president and organized into 3 chambers); note - Finland has a dual judicial system - courts with civil and criminal jurisdiction and administrative courts with jurisdiction for litigation between individuals and administrative organs of the state and communities judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Supreme Administrative Court judges appointed by the president of the republic; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 68 subordinate courts: 6 Courts of Appeal; 8 regional administrative courts; 27 district courts; special courts for issues relating to markets, labor, insurance, impeachment, land, tenancy, and water rights Political parties and leaders: Aland Coalition (a coalition of several political parties on the Aland Islands) Center Party or Kesk [Annika SAARIKKO] Christian Democrats or KD [Sari ESSAYAH] Finns Party or PS [Riikka PURRA] Green League or Vihr [Maria OHISALO] Left Alliance or Vas [Li ANDERSSON] National Coalition Party or Kok [Petteri ORPO] Social Democratic Party or SDP [Sanna MARIN] Swedish People's Party or RKP or SFP [Anna-Maja HENRIKSSON] International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNSOM, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mikko Tapani HAUTALA (since 17 September 2020) chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 298-5800 FAX: [1] (202) 298-6030 email address and website: sanomat.was@formin.fi https://finlandabroad.fi/web/usa/mission consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas HICKEY (since 11 May 2022) embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14 B, 00140 Helsinki mailing address: 5310 Helsinki Place, Washington DC  20521-5310 telephone: [358] (9) 616-250 FAX: [358] (9) 174-681 email address and website: HelsinkiACS@state.gov https://fi.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: white with a blue cross extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); the blue represents the thousands of lakes scattered across the country, while the white is for the snow that covers the land in winter National symbol(s): lion; national colors: blue, white National anthem: name: "Maamme" (Our Land) lyrics/music: Johan Ludvig RUNEBERG/Fredrik PACIUS note: in use since 1848; although never officially adopted by law, the anthem has been popular since it was first sung by a student group in 1848; Estonia's anthem uses the same melody as that of Finland National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 7 (6 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Fortress of Suomenlinna (c); Old Rauma (c); Petäjävesi Old Church (c); Verla Groundwood and Board Mill (c); Bronze Age Burial Site of Sammallahdenmäki (c); High Coast / Kvarken Archipelago (n); Struve Geodetic Arc (c) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy with per capita GDP almost as high as that of Austria and the Netherlands and slightly above that of Germany and Belgium. Trade is important, with exports accounting for over one-third of GDP in recent years. The government is open to, and actively takes steps to attract, foreign direct investment.   Finland is historically competitive in manufacturing, particularly in the wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics industries. Finland excels in export of technology as well as promotion of startups in the information and communications technology, gaming, cleantech, and biotechnology sectors. Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends on imports of raw materials, energy, and some components for manufactured goods. Because of the cold climate, agricultural development is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products. Forestry, an important export industry, provides a secondary occupation for the rural population.   Finland had been one of the best performing economies within the EU before 2009 and its banks and financial markets avoided the worst of global financial crisis. However, the world slowdown hit exports and domestic demand hard in that year, causing Finland’s economy to contract from 2012 to 2014. The recession affected general government finances and the debt ratio. The economy returned to growth in 2016, posting a 1.9% GDP increase before growing an estimated 3.3% in 2017, supported by a strong increase in investment, private consumption, and net exports. Finnish economists expect GDP to grow a rate of 2-3% in the next few years.   Finland's main challenges will be reducing high labor costs and boosting demand for its exports. In June 2016, the government enacted a Competitiveness Pact aimed at reducing labor costs, increasing hours worked, and introducing more flexibility into the wage bargaining system. As a result, wage growth was nearly flat in 2017. The Government was also seeking to reform the health care system and social services. In the long term, Finland must address a rapidly aging population and decreasing productivity in traditional industries that threaten competitiveness, fiscal sustainability, and economic growth.Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy with per capita GDP almost as high as that of Austria and the Netherlands and slightly above that of Germany and Belgium. Trade is important, with exports accounting for over one-third of GDP in recent years. The government is open to, and actively takes steps to attract, foreign direct investment. Finland is historically competitive in manufacturing, particularly in the wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics industries. Finland excels in export of technology as well as promotion of startups in the information and communications technology, gaming, cleantech, and biotechnology sectors. Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends on imports of raw materials, energy, and some components for manufactured goods. Because of the cold climate, agricultural development is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products. Forestry, an important export industry, provides a secondary occupation for the rural population. Finland had been one of the best performing economies within the EU before 2009 and its banks and financial markets avoided the worst of global financial crisis. However, the world slowdown hit exports and domestic demand hard in that year, causing Finland’s economy to contract from 2012 to 2014. The recession affected general government finances and the debt ratio. The economy returned to growth in 2016, posting a 1.9% GDP increase before growing an estimated 3.3% in 2017, supported by a strong increase in investment, private consumption, and net exports. Finnish economists expect GDP to grow a rate of 2-3% in the next few years. Finland's main challenges will be reducing high labor costs and boosting demand for its exports. In June 2016, the government enacted a Competitiveness Pact aimed at reducing labor costs, increasing hours worked, and introducing more flexibility into the wage bargaining system. As a result, wage growth was nearly flat in 2017. The Government was also seeking to reform the health care system and social services. In the long term, Finland must address a rapidly aging population and decreasing productivity in traditional industries that threaten competitiveness, fiscal sustainability, and economic growth. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $261.39 billion (2020 est.) $268.84 billion (2019 est.) $265.46 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 1.15% (2019 est.) 1.52% (2018 est.) 3.27% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $47,300 (2020 est.) $48,700 (2019 est.) $48,100 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $269.259 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (2019 est.) 1% (2018 est.) 0.7% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: AA+ (2016) Moody's rating: Aa1 (2016) Standard & Poors rating: AA+ (2014) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2.7% (2017 est.) industry: 28.2% (2017 est.) services: 69.1% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 54.4% (2017 est.) government consumption: 22.9% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 22.1% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.4% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 38.5% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -38.2% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: milk, barley, oats, wheat, potatoes, sugar beet, rye, pork, poultry, beef Industries: metals and metal products, electronics, machinery and scientific instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing Industrial production growth rate: 6.2% (2017 est.) Labor force: 2.52 million (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 4% industry: 20.7% services: 75.3% (2017 est.) Unemployment rate: 6.63% (2019 est.) 7.38% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 21.4% male: 23.2% female: 19.4% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 12.2% (2019 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 27.4 (2017 est.) 22.2 (1995) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 6.7% highest 10%: 45.2% (2013) Budget: revenues: 134.2 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 135.6 billion (2017 est.) note: Central Government Budget data; these numbers represent a significant reduction from previous official reporting Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -0.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 61.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 62.9% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions Taxes and other revenues: 53.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$603 million (2019 est.) -$4.908 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $108.22 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $106.01 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $109.513 billion (2017 est.) Exports - partners: Germany 14%, Sweden 10%, United States 8%, Netherlands 6%, China 6%, Russia 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, paper and wood pulp products, cars, stainless steel, lumber (2019) Imports: $107.39 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $109.45 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $110.701 billion (2017 est.) Imports - partners: Germany 16%, Sweden 14%, Russia 13%, China 6%, Netherlands 6% (2019) Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, cars and vehicle parts, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicines (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $10.51 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $11.2 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $631.549 billion (2019 est.) $536.301 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.82771 (2020 est.) 0.90338 (2019 est.) 0.87789 (2018 est.) 0.885 (2014 est.) 0.7634 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 20.418 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 79.356 billion kWh (2020 est.) exports: 6.666 billion kWh (2020 est.) imports: 21.615 billion kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 2.574 billion kWh (2020 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 13.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 33.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 11.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 23.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 17.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 762,000 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 3.552 million metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 101,000 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 2.661 million metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 8,300 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 207,400 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 232,400 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 310,600 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 166,200 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 122,200 bbl/day (2017 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 2,392,826,000 cubic meters (2020 est.) exports: 181.143 million cubic meters (2020 est.) imports: 2,568,532,000 cubic meters (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 41.996 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 9.377 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 27.737 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 4.882 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 216.571 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 225,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 7.12 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 129 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Finland’s telecom market is among the more progressive in Europe, with operators having been at the forefront in deploying technologies and with the regulator being among the first to auction spectrum for 5G use; these efforts have been supported by the government which is working towards its target of providing a broadband service of at least 100Mb/s by 2025; 5G services were available to more than 40% of the population by early 2021, and take-up among subscribers has been strong although most will remain with LTE in the short term; the country enjoys one of the highest broadband and mobile subscription rates in the region, with customers able to make use of the latest iterations of technologies including DOCSIS3.1, LTE-A, 5G, and GPON fiber infrastructure; Finland has emerged as one of the pioneers in 5G; the auction of spectrum in the 700MHz and 3.5GHh bands has enabled network operators to extend the availability of LTE services nationally and to prepare for 5G services; Spectrum in the 2.5GHz band was auctioned in mid-2020 and has since enabled the MNOs to widen their 5G footprint considerably; the incumbent telco Telia remains the dominant player in the DSL sector, but there is an ongoing shift away from DSL to fiber and mobile networks. (2021) domestic: fixed-line 4 per 100 subscriptions and nearly 129 per 100 mobile-cellular (2020) international: country code - 358; landing points for Botnia, BCS North-1 & 2, SFL, SFS-4, C-Lion1, Eastern Lights, Baltic Sea Submarine Cable, FEC, and EESF-2 & 3 submarine cables that provide links to many Finland points, Estonia, Sweden, Germany, and Russia; satellite earth stations - access to Intelsat transmission service via a Swedish satellite earth station, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Finland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: a mix of 3 publicly operated TV stations and numerous privately owned TV stations; several free and special-interest pay-TV channels; cable and satellite multi-channel subscription services are available; all TV signals are broadcast digitally; Internet television, such as Netflix and others, is available; public broadcasting maintains a network of 13 national and 25 regional radio stations; a large number of private radio broadcasters and access to Internet radio Internet country code: .fi   note - Aland Islands assigned .ax.fi  Internet users: total: 5,087,180 (2020 est.) percent of population: 92% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 1.846 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 77 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 13,364,839 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 957.64 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: OH Airports: total: 148 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 74 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 26 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 21 under 914 m: 14 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 74 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 71 (2021) Pipelines: 1,288 km gas transmission pipes, 1,976 km distribution pipes (2016) Railways: total: 5,926 km (2016) broad gauge: 5,926 km (2016) 1.524-m gauge (3,270 km electrified) Roadways: total: 454,000 km (2012) highways: 78,000 km (2012) (50,000 paved, including 700 km of expressways; 28,000 unpaved) private and forest roads: 350,000 km (2012) urban: 26,000 km (2012) Waterways: 8,000 km (2013) (includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part leased from Russia; water transport used frequently in the summer and widely replaced with sledges on the ice in winter; there are 187,888 lakes in Finland that cover 31,500 km); Finland also maintains 8,200 km of coastal fairways Merchant marine: total: 272 by type: bulk carrier 9, container ship 1, general cargo 74, oil tanker 4, other 184 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Helsinki, Kotka, Naantali, Porvoo, Raahe, Rauma LNG terminal(s) (import): Pori, Tornio Manga; note - an additional terminal at Hamina is under construction and due to come online in October 2022 Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Finnish Defense Forces (FDF): Army (Maavoimat), Navy (Merivoimat), Air Force (Ilmavoimat); Ministry of the Interior: Border Guard (Rajavartiolaitos) (2022) note: the Border Guard becomes part of the FDF in wartime Military expenditures: 2% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2020) 1.4% of GDP (2019) (approximately $4.18 billion) 1.4% of GDP (2018) (approximately $4.02 billion) 1.3% of GDP (2017) (approximately $3.8 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 22,000 total active duty personnel (15,000 Army; 4,000 Navy; 3,000 Air Force) (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Finnish Defense Forces consists of a wide mix of mostly modern US, European, and domestically-produced weapons systems; since 2010, the US is the leading supplier; the Finnish defense industry produces a variety of military equipment, including wheeled armored vehicles and naval vessels (2021) Military service age and obligation: at age 18, all Finnish men are obligated to serve 5.5-12 months of service within a branch of the military or the Border Guard (length of service depends on the type of duty), and women 18-29 may volunteer for service; there is also an option to perform non-military service which lasts for 8.5 or 11.5 months; after completing their initial conscript obligation, individuals enter the reserves and remain eligible for mobilization until the age of 50 for rank-and-file and 60 for non-commissioned and commissioned officers (2022) note: the military trains approximately 21,000 (20,000 Army) conscripts each year; as of 2019, women made up about 4% of the military's full-time personnel Military deployments: 160 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (May 2022) Military - note: as of early 2022, Finland was not a member of NATO, but Finland and NATO actively cooperated in peace-support operations, exercised together, and exchanged analysis and information; Finland joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1994; Finnish Armed Forces participated in NATO-led military operations and missions in the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Iraq Finland is a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) and actively participates in CSDP crisis management missions and operations the Finnish Armed Forces closely cooperate with the militaries of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; areas of cooperation include armaments, education, human resources, training and exercises, and operations; NORDEFCO was established in 2009as of early 2022, Finland was not a member of NATO, but Finland and NATO actively cooperated in peace-support operations, exercised together, and exchanged analysis and information; Finland joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1994; Finnish Armed Forces participated in NATO-led military operations and missions in the Balkans, Afghanistan, and IraqFinland is a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) and actively participates in CSDP crisis management missions and operationsthe Finnish Armed Forces closely cooperate with the militaries of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; areas of cooperation include armaments, education, human resources, training and exercises, and operations; NORDEFCO was established in 2009 Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: various groups in Finland advocate restoration of Karelia and other areas ceded to the former Soviet Union, but the Finnish Government asserts no territorial demandsvarious groups in Finland advocate restoration of Karelia and other areas ceded to the former Soviet Union, but the Finnish Government asserts no territorial demands Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 9,053 (Iraq) (mid-year 2021); 30,372 (Ukraine) (as of 9 August 2022) stateless persons: 3,416 (mid-year 2021)

20220901

countries-chad

Topic: Photos of Chad Topic: Introduction Background: Chad emerged from a collection of powerful states that controlled the Sahelian belt starting around the 9th century. These states focused on controlling trans-Saharan trade routes and profited mostly from the slave trade. The Kanem-Bornu Empire, centered around the Lake Chad Basin, existed between the 9th and 19th centuries, and during its peak, the empire controlled territory stretching from southern Chad to southern Libya and included portions of modern-day Algeria, Cameroon, Nigeria, Niger, and Sudan. The Sudanese warlord Rabih AZ-ZUBAYR used an army comprised largely of slaves to conquer the Kanem-Bornu Empire in the late 19th century. In southeastern Chad, the Bagirmi and Ouaddai (Wadai) kingdoms emerged in the 15th and 16th centuries and lasted until the arrival of the French in the 19th and 20th centuries. France began moving into the region in the late 1880s and defeated the Bagirmi kingdom in 1897, Rabih AZ-ZUBAYR in 1900, and the Ouddai kingdom in 1909. In the arid regions of northern Chad and southern Libya, an Islamic order called the Sanusiyya (Sanusi) relied heavily on the trans-Saharan slave trade and had upwards of 3 million followers by the 1880s. The French arrived in the region in the early 1900s and defeated the Sanusiyya in 1910 after years of intermittent war. By 1910, France had incorporated the northern arid region, the Lake Chad Basin, and southeastern Chad into French Equatorial Africa.   Chad achieved its independence in 1960 and saw three decades of instability, oppressive rule, civil war, and a Libyan invasion. With the help of the French military and several African countries, Chadian leaders expelled Libyan forces during the 1987 "Toyota War," so named for the use of Toyota pickup trucks as fighting vehicles. In 1990, Chadian general Idriss DEBY led a rebellion against President Hissene HABRE. Under DEBY, Chad drafted and approved a constitution and held elections in 1996. DEBY led the country until April 2021 when he was killed during a rebel incursion. Shortly after his death, a group of military officials - led by former President DEBY’s son, Mahamat Idriss DEBY - took control of the government. The military officials dismissed the National Assembly, suspended the Constitution, and formed a Transitional Military Council while pledging to hold democratic elections in October 2022. Chad faces widespread poverty, an economy severely weakened by low international oil prices, and rebel and terrorist-led insurgencies in the Lake Chad Basin. Additionally, northern Chad has seen several waves of rebellions since 1998. In late 2015, the government imposed a state of emergency in the Lake Chad Basin following multiple attacks by the terrorist group Boko Haram, now known as ISIS-West Africa. In mid-2015, Boko Haram conducted bombings in N'Djamena. In late 2019, the Chadian government also declared a state of emergency in the Sila and Ouaddai regions bordering Sudan and in the Tibesti region bordering Niger where rival ethnic groups are still fighting. The army has suffered heavy losses to Islamic terror groups in the Lake Chad Basin. In March 2020, Islamic militants attacked a Chadian military camp in the Lake Chad Basin and killed nearly 100 soldiers; it was the deadliest attack in the history of the Chadian military.Chad emerged from a collection of powerful states that controlled the Sahelian belt starting around the 9th century. These states focused on controlling trans-Saharan trade routes and profited mostly from the slave trade. The Kanem-Bornu Empire, centered around the Lake Chad Basin, existed between the 9th and 19th centuries, and during its peak, the empire controlled territory stretching from southern Chad to southern Libya and included portions of modern-day Algeria, Cameroon, Nigeria, Niger, and Sudan. The Sudanese warlord Rabih AZ-ZUBAYR used an army comprised largely of slaves to conquer the Kanem-Bornu Empire in the late 19th century. In southeastern Chad, the Bagirmi and Ouaddai (Wadai) kingdoms emerged in the 15th and 16th centuries and lasted until the arrival of the French in the 19th and 20th centuries. France began moving into the region in the late 1880s and defeated the Bagirmi kingdom in 1897, Rabih AZ-ZUBAYR in 1900, and the Ouddai kingdom in 1909. In the arid regions of northern Chad and southern Libya, an Islamic order called the Sanusiyya (Sanusi) relied heavily on the trans-Saharan slave trade and had upwards of 3 million followers by the 1880s. The French arrived in the region in the early 1900s and defeated the Sanusiyya in 1910 after years of intermittent war. By 1910, France had incorporated the northern arid region, the Lake Chad Basin, and southeastern Chad into French Equatorial Africa.  Chad achieved its independence in 1960 and saw three decades of instability, oppressive rule, civil war, and a Libyan invasion. With the help of the French military and several African countries, Chadian leaders expelled Libyan forces during the 1987 "Toyota War," so named for the use of Toyota pickup trucks as fighting vehicles. In 1990, Chadian general Idriss DEBY led a rebellion against President Hissene HABRE. Under DEBY, Chad drafted and approved a constitution and held elections in 1996. DEBY led the country until April 2021 when he was killed during a rebel incursion. Shortly after his death, a group of military officials - led by former President DEBY’s son, Mahamat Idriss DEBY - took control of the government. The military officials dismissed the National Assembly, suspended the Constitution, and formed a Transitional Military Council while pledging to hold democratic elections in October 2022.Chad faces widespread poverty, an economy severely weakened by low international oil prices, and rebel and terrorist-led insurgencies in the Lake Chad Basin. Additionally, northern Chad has seen several waves of rebellions since 1998. In late 2015, the government imposed a state of emergency in the Lake Chad Basin following multiple attacks by the terrorist group Boko Haram, now known as ISIS-West Africa. In mid-2015, Boko Haram conducted bombings in N'Djamena. In late 2019, the Chadian government also declared a state of emergency in the Sila and Ouaddai regions bordering Sudan and in the Tibesti region bordering Niger where rival ethnic groups are still fighting. The army has suffered heavy losses to Islamic terror groups in the Lake Chad Basin. In March 2020, Islamic militants attacked a Chadian military camp in the Lake Chad Basin and killed nearly 100 soldiers; it was the deadliest attack in the history of the Chadian military.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Central Africa, south of Libya Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 19 00 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 1.284 million sq km land: 1,259,200 sq km water: 24,800 sq km Area - comparative: almost nine times the size of New York state; slightly more than three times the size of California Land boundaries: total: 6,406 km border countries (6): Cameroon 1,116 km; Central African Republic 1,556 km; Libya 1,050 km; Niger 1,196 km; Nigeria 85 km; Sudan 1,403 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: tropical in south, desert in north Terrain: broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south Elevation: highest point: Emi Koussi 3,445 m lowest point: Djourab 160 m mean elevation: 543 m Natural resources: petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt Land use: agricultural land: 39.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 3.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 35.7% (2018 est.) forest: 9.1% (2018 est.) other: 51.3% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 300 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Chad (endorheic lake shared with Niger, Nigeria, and Cameroon) - 10,360-25,900 sq km note - area varies by season and year to year Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km) Major aquifers: Lake Chad Basin, Nubian Aquifer System Population distribution: the population is unevenly distributed due to contrasts in climate and physical geography; the highest density is found in the southwest, particularly around Lake Chad and points south; the dry Saharan zone to the north is the least densely populated as shown in this population distribution map Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues Geography - note: note 1: Chad is the largest of Africa's 16 landlocked countries note 2: not long ago - geologically speaking - what is today the Sahara was green savannah teeming with wildlife; during the African Humid Period, roughly 11,000 to 5,000 years ago, a vibrant animal community, including elephants, giraffes, hippos, and antelope lived there; the last remnant of the "Green Sahara" exists in the Lakes of Ounianga (oo-nee-ahn-ga) in northern Chad, a series of 18 interconnected freshwater, saline, and hypersaline lakes now protected as a World Heritage site note 3: Lake Chad, the most significant water body in the Sahel, is a remnant of a former inland sea, paleolake Mega-Chad; at its greatest extent, sometime before 5000 B.C., Lake Mega-Chad was the largest of four Saharan paleolakes that existed during the African Humid Period; it covered an area of about 400,000 sq km (150,000 sq mi), roughly the size of today's Caspian Seanote 1: Chad is the largest of Africa's 16 landlocked countriesnote 2: not long ago - geologically speaking - what is today the Sahara was green savannah teeming with wildlife; during the African Humid Period, roughly 11,000 to 5,000 years ago, a vibrant animal community, including elephants, giraffes, hippos, and antelope lived there; the last remnant of the "Green Sahara" exists in the Lakes of Ounianga (oo-nee-ahn-ga) in northern Chad, a series of 18 interconnected freshwater, saline, and hypersaline lakes now protected as a World Heritage sitenote 3: Lake Chad, the most significant water body in the Sahel, is a remnant of a former inland sea, paleolake Mega-Chad; at its greatest extent, sometime before 5000 B.C., Lake Mega-Chad was the largest of four Saharan paleolakes that existed during the African Humid Period; it covered an area of about 400,000 sq km (150,000 sq mi), roughly the size of today's Caspian Sea Map description: Chad map showing major cities and towns as well as parts of surrounding countries.Chad map showing major cities and towns as well as parts of surrounding countries. Topic: People and Society Population: 17,963,211 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Chadian(s) adjective: Chadian Ethnic groups: Sara (Ngambaye/Sara/Madjingaye/Mbaye) 30.5%, Kanembu/Bornu/Buduma 9.8%, Arab 9.7%, Wadai/Maba/Masalit/Mimi 7%, Gorane 5.8%, Masa/Musseye/Musgum 4.9%, Bulala/Medogo/Kuka 3.7%, Marba/Lele/Mesme 3.5%, Mundang 2.7%, Bidiyo/Migaama/Kenga/Dangleat 2.5%, Dadjo/Kibet/Muro 2.4%, Tupuri/Kera 2%, Gabri/Kabalaye/Nanchere/Somrai 2%, Fulani/Fulbe/Bodore 1.8%, Karo/Zime/Peve 1.3%, Baguirmi/Barma 1.2%, Zaghawa/Bideyat/Kobe 1.1%, Tama/Assongori/Mararit 1.1%, Mesmedje/Massalat/Kadjakse 0.8%, other Chadian ethnicities 3.4%, Chadians of foreign ethnicities 0.9%, foreign nationals 0.3%, unspecified 1.7% (2014-15 est.) Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than 120 different languages and dialects major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Muslim 52.1%, Protestant 23.9%, Roman Catholic 20%, animist 0.3%, other Christian 0.2%, none 2.8%, unspecified 0.7% (2014-15 est.) Demographic profile: Despite the start of oil production in 2003, 40% of Chad’s population lives below the poverty line. The population will continue to grow rapidly because of the country’s very high fertility rate and large youth cohort – more than 65% of the populace is under the age of 25 – although the mortality rate is high and life expectancy is low. Chad has the world’s third highest maternal mortality rate. Among the primary risk factors are poverty, anemia, rural habitation, high fertility, poor education, and a lack of access to family planning and obstetric care. Impoverished, uneducated adolescents living in rural areas are most affected. To improve women’s reproductive health and reduce fertility, Chad will need to increase women’s educational attainment, job participation, and knowledge of and access to family planning. Only about a quarter of women are literate, less than 5% use contraceptives, and more than 40% undergo genital cutting.As of October 2017, more than 320,000 refugees from Sudan and more than 75,000 from the Central African Republic strain Chad’s limited resources and create tensions in host communities. Thousands of new refugees fled to Chad in 2013 to escape worsening violence in the Darfur region of Sudan. The large refugee populations are hesitant to return to their home countries because of continued instability. Chad was relatively stable in 2012 in comparison to other states in the region, but past fighting between government forces and opposition groups and inter-communal violence have left nearly 60,000 of its citizens displaced in the eastern part of the country.Despite the start of oil production in 2003, 40% of Chad’s population lives below the poverty line. The population will continue to grow rapidly because of the country’s very high fertility rate and large youth cohort – more than 65% of the populace is under the age of 25 – although the mortality rate is high and life expectancy is low. Chad has the world’s third highest maternal mortality rate. Among the primary risk factors are poverty, anemia, rural habitation, high fertility, poor education, and a lack of access to family planning and obstetric care. Impoverished, uneducated adolescents living in rural areas are most affected. To improve women’s reproductive health and reduce fertility, Chad will need to increase women’s educational attainment, job participation, and knowledge of and access to family planning. Only about a quarter of women are literate, less than 5% use contraceptives, and more than 40% undergo genital cutting.As of October 2017, more than 320,000 refugees from Sudan and more than 75,000 from the Central African Republic strain Chad’s limited resources and create tensions in host communities. Thousands of new refugees fled to Chad in 2013 to escape worsening violence in the Darfur region of Sudan. The large refugee populations are hesitant to return to their home countries because of continued instability. Chad was relatively stable in 2012 in comparison to other states in the region, but past fighting between government forces and opposition groups and inter-communal violence have left nearly 60,000 of its citizens displaced in the eastern part of the country. Age structure: 0-14 years: 47.43% (male 4,050,505/female 3,954,413) 15-24 years: 19.77% (male 1,676,495/female 1,660,417) 25-54 years: 27.14% (male 2,208,181/female 2,371,490) 55-64 years: 3.24% (male 239,634/female 306,477) 65 years and over: 2.43% (2020 est.) (male 176,658/female 233,087) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 96 youth dependency ratio: 91.1 elderly dependency ratio: 4.9 potential support ratio: 20.4 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 16.1 years male: 15.6 years female: 16.5 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 3.09% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 40.45 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 9.45 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: the population is unevenly distributed due to contrasts in climate and physical geography; the highest density is found in the southwest, particularly around Lake Chad and points south; the dry Saharan zone to the north is the least densely populated as shown in this population distribution map Urbanization: urban population: 24.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 4.1% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 1.533 million N'DJAMENA (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.77 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 18.1 years (2014/15 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 Maternal mortality ratio: 1,140 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 65.48 deaths/1,000 live births male: 71.21 deaths/1,000 live births female: 59.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 59.15 years male: 57.32 years female: 61.06 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 5.46 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 8.1% (2019) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 90.2% of population rural: 51.9% of population total: 60.9% of population unimproved: urban: 9.8% of population rural: 48.1% of population total: 39.1% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 4.4% (2019) Physicians density: 0.06 physicians/1,000 population (2020) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 57.5% of population rural: 4.9% of population total: 17.3% of population unimproved: urban: 42.5% of population rural: 95.1% of population total: 82.7% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.1% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 110,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 3,000 (2020 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Chad is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, the CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 6.1% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 8.3% (2020 est.) male: 13.8% (2020 est.) female: 2.7% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 29.2% (2019) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 24.2% women married by age 18: 60.6% men married by age 18: 8.1% (2019 est.) Education expenditures: 2.4% of GDP (2019 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic total population: 22.3% male: 31.3% female: 14% (2016) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 7 years male: 9 years female: 6 years (2015) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 1.5% male: 2.4% female: 0.7% (2018) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas and poor farming practices contribute to soil and water pollution; desertification Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Convention Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 53.01 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 1.02 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 30.69 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: tropical in south, desert in north Land use: agricultural land: 39.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 3.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 35.7% (2018 est.) forest: 9.1% (2018 est.) other: 51.3% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 24.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 4.1% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 3.81% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Chad is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, the CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine Food insecurity: widespread lack of access: due to civil insecurity and shortfall in cereal production - according to the latest analysis, about 965 000 people were estimated to be in "Crisis" and above, between October and December 2021 due to persisting insecurity in Lac and Tibesti regions that disrupted livelihood activities and caused population displacements; domestic cereal production was estimated at a below-average level in 2021 due to adverse weather and the civil conflict; as a result, between June and August 2022, 1.74 million people are projected to face severe food insecurity (2022) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,358,851 tons (2010 est.) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Chad (endorheic lake shared with Niger, Nigeria, and Cameroon) - 10,360-25,900 sq km note - area varies by season and year to year Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km) Major aquifers: Lake Chad Basin, Nubian Aquifer System Total water withdrawal: municipal: 103.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 103.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 672.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 45.7 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Chad conventional short form: Chad local long form: Republique du Tchad/Jumhuriyat Tshad local short form: Tchad/Tshad etymology: named for Lake Chad, which lies along the country's western border; the word "tsade" means "large body of water" or "lake" in several local native languages note: the only country whose name is composed of a single syllable with a single vowel Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: N'Djamena geographic coordinates: 12 06 N, 15 02 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: name taken from the Arab name of a nearby village, Nijamina, meaning "place of rest" Administrative divisions: 23 provinces (provinces, singular - province); Barh-El-Gazel, Batha, Borkou, Chari-Baguirmi, Ennedi-Est, Ennedi-Ouest, Guera, Hadjer-Lamis, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mandoul, Mayo-Kebbi-Est, Mayo-Kebbi-Ouest, Moyen-Chari, N'Djamena, Ouaddai, Salamat, Sila, Tandjile, Tibesti, Wadi-Fira Independence: 11 August 1960 (from France) National holiday: Independence Day, 11 August (1960) Constitution: history: several previous; latest approved 30 April 2018 by the National Assembly, entered into force 4 May 2018; suspended 21 April 2021 and remained so through April 2022 amendments: proposed as a revision by the president of the republic after a Council of Ministers (cabinet) decision or by the National Assembly; approval for consideration of a revision requires at least three-fifths majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires approval by referendum or at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly Legal system: mixed legal system of civil and customary law International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: both parents must be citizens of Chad dual citizenship recognized: Chadian law does not address dual citizenship residency requirement for naturalization: 15 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Interim President Mahamat Idriss DEBY (since 20 April 2021); note - on 20 April 2021, newly reelected President Idriss DEBY Itno, Lt. Gen. died of injuries he sustained following clashes between government forces he was commanding and insurgents in the northern part of the country; following his death, Mahamat Idriss DEBY took control of the country and dismissed the Chadian parliament, establishing a Transitional Military Council and promising elections within eighteen months head of government: Interim Prime Minister Albert Pahimi PADACKE (since 26 April 2021); note - PADACKE was appointed interim prime minister by the Transitional Military Council led by Mahamat Idriss DEBY cabinet: Council of Ministers elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 11 April 2021; note - on 20 April 2021, military officials suspended the Constitution and formed a Transitional Military Council, pledging to hold democratic elections in October 2022 election results: 2021: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno reelected; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (MPS) 79.3%, Pahimi PADACKET Albert (RNDT) 10.3%, Lydie BEASSEMDA (Party for Democracy and Independence) 3.2%, other 7.2% 2016: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (MPS) 61.6%, Saleh KEBZABO (UNDR) 12.8%, Laokein Kourayo MEDAR (CTPD) 10.7%, Djimrangar DADNADJI (CAP-SUR) 5.1%, other 9.8% Legislative branch: description: formerly a unicameral National Assembly or Assemblée Nationale (188 seats; 163 directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 25 directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote with a second round if needed; members serve 4-year terms); note - on 5 October 2021, Interim President Mahamat Idriss DEBY installed 93 members of an interim parliament, called the National Transitional Council (NTC); according to DEBY, the NTC will act as a national assembly of transition until the country’s next elections take place elections: members of the so called "National Transitional Council" were installed by Interim President DEBY on 24 September 2021 (next election NA) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 64, women 29, percent of women 31.2% note: the National Assembly mandate was extended to 2020, reportedly due to a lack of funding for the scheduled 2015 election; the MPS has held a majority in the NA since 1997members of the so called "National Transitional Council" were installed by Interim President DEBY on 24 September 2021 (next election NA) Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, 3 chamber presidents, and 12 judges or councilors and divided into 3 chambers); Constitutional Council (consists of 3 judges and 6 jurists) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice selected by the president; councilors - 8 designated by the president and 7 by the speaker of the National Assembly; chief justice and councilors appointed for life; Constitutional Council judges - 2 appointed by the president and 1 by the speaker of the National Assembly; jurists - 3 each by the president and by the speaker of the National Assembly; judges appointed for 9-year terms subordinate courts: High Court of Justice; Courts of Appeal; tribunals; justices of the peace Political parties and leaders: Chadian Convention for Peace and Development or CTPD [Laoukein Kourayo MEDARD] Federation Action for the Republic or FAR [Ngarledjy YORONGAR] Framework of Popular Action for Solidarity and Unity of the Republic or CAP-SUR [Joseph Djimrangar DADNADJI] National Rally for Development and Progress or Viva-RNDP [Dr. Nouradine Delwa Kassire COUMAKOYE] National Union for Democracy and Renewal or UNDR [Saleh KEBZABO] Party for Liberty and Development or PLD [Ahmat ALHABO] Party for Unity and Reconciliation Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS [Idriss DEBY] Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Mahamat Allahou TAHER] RNDT/Le Reveil [Albert Pahimi PADACKE] Social Democratic Party for a Change-over of Power or PDSA [Malloum YOBODA] Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD [Felix Romadoumngar NIALBE] International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC, MIGA, MINUSMA, MNJTF, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador NGOTE GALI Koutou (since 22 June 2018) chancery: 2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 652-1312 FAX: [1] (202) 265-1937 email address and website: info@chadembassy.us https://chadembassy.us/ Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Ellen THORBURN (since 8 November 2021) embassy: Rond-Point Chagoua, B.P. 413, N’Djamena mailing address: 2410 N'Djamena Place, Washington DC  20521-2410 telephone: [235] 2251-5017 FAX: [235] 2253-9102 email address and website: NdjamenaACS@state.gov https://td.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, and red; the flag combines the blue and red French (former colonial) colors with the red and yellow (gold) of the Pan-African colors; blue symbolizes the sky, hope, and the south of the country, which is relatively well-watered; gold represents the sun, as well as the desert in the north of the country; red stands for progress, unity, and sacrifice note: almost identical to the flag of Romania but with a darker shade of blue; also similar to the flags of Andorra and Moldova, both of which have a national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; design based on the flag of France National symbol(s): goat (north), lion (south); national colors: blue, yellow, red National anthem: name: "La Tchadienne" (The Chadian) lyrics/music: Louis GIDROL and his students/Paul VILLARD note: adopted 1960 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 natural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Lakes of Ounianga (n); Ennedi Massif: Natural and Cultural Landscape (m) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Chad’s landlocked location results in high transportation costs for imported goods and dependence on neighboring countries. Oil and agriculture are mainstays of Chad’s economy. Oil provides about 60% of export revenues, while cotton, cattle, livestock, and gum arabic provide the bulk of Chad's non-oil export earnings. The services sector contributes less than one-third of GDP and has attracted foreign investment mostly through telecommunications and banking.   Nearly all of Chad’s fuel is provided by one domestic refinery, and unanticipated shutdowns occasionally result in shortages. The country regulates the price of domestic fuel, providing an incentive for black market sales.   Although high oil prices and strong local harvests supported the economy in the past, low oil prices now stress Chad’s fiscal position and have resulted in significant government cutbacks. Chad relies on foreign assistance and foreign capital for most of its public and private sector investment. Investment in Chad is difficult due to its limited infrastructure, lack of trained workers, extensive government bureaucracy, and corruption. Chad obtained a three-year extended credit facility from the IMF in 2014 and was granted debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative in April 2015.   In 2018, economic policy will be driven by efforts that started in 2016 to reverse the recession and to repair damage to public finances and exports. The government is implementing an emergency action plan to counterbalance the drop in oil revenue and to diversify the economy. Chad’s national development plan (NDP) cost just over $9 billion with a financing gap of $6.7 billion. The NDP emphasized the importance of private sector participation in Chad’s development, as well as the need to improve the business environment, particularly in priority sectors such as mining and agriculture.   The Government of Chad reached a deal with Glencore and four other banks on the restructuring of a $1.45 billion oil-backed loan in February 2018, after a long negotiation. The new terms include an extension of the maturity to 2030 from 2022, a two-year grace period on principal repayments, and a lower interest rate of the London Inter-bank Offer Rate (Libor) plus 2% - down from Libor plus 7.5%. The original Glencore loan was to be repaid with crude oil assets, however, Chad's oil sales were hit by the downturn in the price of oil. Chad had secured a $312 million credit from the IMF in June 2017, but release of those funds hinged on restructuring the Glencore debt. Chad had already cut public spending to try to meet the terms of the IMF program, but that prompted strikes and protests in a country where nearly 40% of the population lives below the poverty line. Multinational partners, such as the African Development Bank, the EU, and the World Bank are likely to continue budget support in 2018, but Chad will remain at high debt risk, given its dependence on oil revenue and pressure to spend on subsidies and security.Chad’s landlocked location results in high transportation costs for imported goods and dependence on neighboring countries. Oil and agriculture are mainstays of Chad’s economy. Oil provides about 60% of export revenues, while cotton, cattle, livestock, and gum arabic provide the bulk of Chad's non-oil export earnings. The services sector contributes less than one-third of GDP and has attracted foreign investment mostly through telecommunications and banking. Nearly all of Chad’s fuel is provided by one domestic refinery, and unanticipated shutdowns occasionally result in shortages. The country regulates the price of domestic fuel, providing an incentive for black market sales. Although high oil prices and strong local harvests supported the economy in the past, low oil prices now stress Chad’s fiscal position and have resulted in significant government cutbacks. Chad relies on foreign assistance and foreign capital for most of its public and private sector investment. Investment in Chad is difficult due to its limited infrastructure, lack of trained workers, extensive government bureaucracy, and corruption. Chad obtained a three-year extended credit facility from the IMF in 2014 and was granted debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative in April 2015. In 2018, economic policy will be driven by efforts that started in 2016 to reverse the recession and to repair damage to public finances and exports. The government is implementing an emergency action plan to counterbalance the drop in oil revenue and to diversify the economy. Chad’s national development plan (NDP) cost just over $9 billion with a financing gap of $6.7 billion. The NDP emphasized the importance of private sector participation in Chad’s development, as well as the need to improve the business environment, particularly in priority sectors such as mining and agriculture. The Government of Chad reached a deal with Glencore and four other banks on the restructuring of a $1.45 billion oil-backed loan in February 2018, after a long negotiation. The new terms include an extension of the maturity to 2030 from 2022, a two-year grace period on principal repayments, and a lower interest rate of the London Inter-bank Offer Rate (Libor) plus 2% - down from Libor plus 7.5%. The original Glencore loan was to be repaid with crude oil assets, however, Chad's oil sales were hit by the downturn in the price of oil. Chad had secured a $312 million credit from the IMF in June 2017, but release of those funds hinged on restructuring the Glencore debt. Chad had already cut public spending to try to meet the terms of the IMF program, but that prompted strikes and protests in a country where nearly 40% of the population lives below the poverty line. Multinational partners, such as the African Development Bank, the EU, and the World Bank are likely to continue budget support in 2018, but Chad will remain at high debt risk, given its dependence on oil revenue and pressure to spend on subsidies and security. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $24.97 billion (2020 est.) $25.19 billion (2019 est.) $24.4 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: -3.1% (2017 est.) -6.4% (2016 est.) 1.8% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $1,500 (2020 est.) $1,600 (2019 est.) $1,600 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $10.912 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.9% (2019 est.) 4.2% (2018 est.) -1.5% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 52.3% (2017 est.) industry: 14.7% (2017 est.) services: 33.1% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 75.1% (2017 est.) government consumption: 4.4% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 24.1% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.7% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 35.1% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -39.4% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: sorghum, groundnuts, millet, yams, cereals, sugar cane, beef, maize, cotton, cassava Industries: oil, cotton textiles, brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials Industrial production growth rate: -4% (2017 est.) Labor force: 5.654 million (2017 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 80% industry: 20% (2006 est.) Unemployment rate: NANA Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 1.5% male: 2.4% female: 0.7% (2018) Population below poverty line: 42.3% (2018 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 43.3 (2011 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 30.8% (2003) Budget: revenues: 1.337 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 1.481 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -1.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 52.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 52.4% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 13.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$558 million (2017 est.) -$926 million (2016 est.) Exports: $2.464 billion (2017 est.) $2.187 billion (2016 est.) Exports - partners: China 32%, United Arab Emirates 21%, India 19%, United States 10%, France 6%, Germany 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, gold, livestock, sesame seeds, gum arabic, insect resins (2019) Imports: $2.16 billion (2017 est.) $1.997 billion (2016 est.) Imports - partners: China 29%, United Arab Emirates 16%, France 10%, United States 8%, India 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: delivery trucks, paints, packaged medicines, aircraft, broadcasting equipment (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $22.9 million (31 December 2017 est.) $20.92 million (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $1.724 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $1.281 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - 605.3 (2017 est.) 593.01 (2016 est.) 593.01 (2015 est.) 591.45 (2014 est.) 494.42 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 9% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 32% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 1% (2019) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 87,000 kW (2020 est.) consumption: 188.46 million kWh (2019 est.) exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.) imports: 0 kWh (2019 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 111 million kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 96.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 3.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 87,900 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 12,600 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 116,000 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 1.5 billion barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 2,285 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 1.771 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 1.771 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 1.575 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 5,340 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2020 est.) less than 1 Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 8,687,151 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 53 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: the telecom infrastructure is particularly poor; fixed, mobile and internet is well below African averages; Chad’s telecom market offers some potential for investors to develop services given the low starting base; the two main operators Moov Africa Chad and Airtel Chad have invested in infrastructure and have become the main providers of voice and data services; the mobile sector has developed steadily under the auspices of these two operators; the national telco and fixed-line operator Sotel Tchad operates the country’s third mobile network, as Salam Mobile, though it is mainly focused on voice services since it depends on GPRS and EDGE technologies (which can provide only basic mobile data services); the country’s first 3G/LTE mobile license was awarded in April 2014; Chad finally gained access to international fiber bandwidth in 2012 its national backbone infrastructure remains underdeveloped; the World Bank-funded Central African Backbone (CAB) project takes in Chad, while the country is also party to a Trans-Saharan Backbone project which will link a fiber cable to Nigeria and Algeria. (2022) domestic: fixed-line connections less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership base of about 53 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 235; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: 1 state-owned TV station; 2 privately-owned TV stations; state-owned radio network, Radiodiffusion Nationale Tchadienne (RNT), operates national and regional stations; over 10 private radio stations; some stations rebroadcast programs from international broadcasters (2017) Internet country code: .td Internet users: total: 1,642,586 (2020 est.) percent of population: 10% (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3 Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TT Airports: total: 59 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 9 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 50 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 22 under 914 m: 11 (2021) Pipelines: 582 km oil (2013) Roadways: total: 40,000 km (2018) note: consists of 25,000 km of national and regional roads and 15,000 km of local roads; 206 km of urban roads are paved Waterways: 12,400 km (2022) (Chari and Logone Rivers are navigable only in wet season) Chari is 11,400 km Legone is 1,000 km Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Chadian National Army (Armee Nationale du Tchad, ANT): Ground Forces (l'Armee de Terre, AdT), Chadian Air Force (l'Armee de l'Air Tchadienne, AAT), General Direction of the Security Services of State Institutions (Direction Generale des Services de Securite des Institutions de l'Etat, GDSSIE); National Gendarmerie; Ministry of Public Security and Immigration: National Nomadic Guard of Chad (GNNT), Chadian National Police (2022) note: the GDSSIE, formerly known as the Republican Guard, is the presidential guard force and is considered to be Chad's elite military unit; it is reportedly a division-size unit with infantry, armor, and special forces/anti-terrorism regiments (known as the Special Anti-Terrorist Group or SATG, aka Division of Special Anti-Terrorist Groups or DGSAT) Military expenditures: 2.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 2.9% of GDP (2020 est.) 2% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $320 million) 2% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $310 million) 2% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $310 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: limited and varied information; estimated to have up to 35,000 active ANT personnel (25-30,000 Ground Forces; 300 Air Force; approximately 5,000 GDSSIE); approximately 5,000 National Gendarmerie; approximately 3,000 Nomadic Guard (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the ANT is mostly armed with older or second-hand equipment from Belgium, France, Russia, and the former Soviet Union; since 2010, it has received equipment, including donations, from more than 10 countries, including China, Italy, Ukraine, and the US (2021) Military service age and obligation: 20 is the legal minimum age for compulsory military service, with a 3-year service obligation; 18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary service; no minimum age restriction for volunteers with consent from a parent or guardian; women are subject to 1 year of compulsory military or civic service at age 21 (2021) Military deployments: 1,450 Mali (MINUSMA) (May 2022) note 1: Chad has committed approximately 1,000-1,500 troops to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram and other terrorist groups operating in the general area of the Lake Chad Basin and along Nigeria's northeast border; national MNJTF troop contingents are deployed within their own territories, although cross‐border operations are conducted periodically; in 2019, Chad sent more than 1,000 troops to Nigeria’s Borno State to fight Boko Haram as part of the MNJTF mission note 2: Chad is also part of a four (formerly five)-nation anti-jihadist task force known as the G4 Sahel Group, set up in 2014 with Chad, Mali (withdrew in 2022), Mauritania, and Niger; it has committed 550 troops and 100 gendarmes to the force; as of 2020, defense forces from each of the participating states were allowed to pursue terrorist fighters up to 100 km into neighboring countries; the force is backed by France, the UN, and the US Military - note: as of 2022, the ANT was chiefly focused on counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations; it was engaged with the Boko Haram (BH) and the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA) terrorist groups in the Lake Chad Basin area (primarily the Lac Province) and in the Sahel, particularly the tri-border area with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger; in addition, the ANT was conducting operations against internal anti-government militias and armed dissident groups; several Chadian rebel groups, including the Union of Resistance Forces (UFR) and the Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT), operate in northern Chad from bases in Libya; former Chadian President Idriss DEBY was killed in April 2021 during fighting in the northern part of the country between FACT and the Chadian Army Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Boko Haram; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - West Africa (ISIS-WA) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: since 2003, ad hoc armed militia groups and the Sudanese military have driven hundreds of thousands of Darfur residents into Chad; Chad wishes to be a helpful mediator in resolving the Darfur conflict, and in 2010 established a joint border monitoring force with Sudan, which has helped to reduce cross-border banditry and violence; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty, which also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundariessince 2003, ad hoc armed militia groups and the Sudanese military have driven hundreds of thousands of Darfur residents into Chad; Chad wishes to be a helpful mediator in resolving the Darfur conflict, and in 2010 established a joint border monitoring force with Sudan, which has helped to reduce cross-border banditry and violence; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty, which also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 391,601 (Sudan), 124,488 (Central African Republic), 42,543 (Cameroon), 20,103 (Nigeria) (2022) IDPs: 381,289 (majority are in the east) (2022) Trafficking in persons: current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Chad and Chadians abroad; most trafficking is internal; some children are sent by their parents to relatives or intermediaries to receive education, an apprenticeship, goods, or money and are then forced to work in domestic service or cattle herding; children are also forced to work in agriculture, gold mines, charcoal vending, and fishing, and those attending Koranic schools are forced into begging and street vending; girls from rural areas who search for work in larger towns are exploited in sex trafficking and domestic servitude; terrorist groups abduct children to serve as soldiers, suicide bombers, brides, and forced laborers tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Chad does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; one trafficker was convicted, the first under a 2018 law, but the government did not report investigating or prosecuting alleged traffickers, including complicit government officials; the government adopted a formal Road Map to implement its 2108 National Action Plan but did not report executing it; authorities did not identify any victims and have not drafted victim identification and referral procedures; the government continued to make no effort to raise awareness on trafficking (2020)

20220901

countries-slovakia-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens RECONSIDER TRAVEL to Slovakia due to COVID-19. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required as long as the stay is less than 90 days. US Embassy/Consulate: +(421) (2) 5443-0861 or +(421) (2) 5443-3338; EMER: +(421) 903-703-666; US Embassy Bratislava, 814 99 Bratislava, Slovakia; consulbratislava@state.gov; https://sk.usembassy.gov/ Telephone Code: 421 Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 155; Fire: 150; Police; 158 Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations http://www.who.int/ Climate: Temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters Currency (Code): Euros (EUR) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, E Major Languages: Slovak, Hungarian, Roma, Ruthenian Major Religions: Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 8.2%, Greek Catholic 3.8% Time Difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October Potable Water: Yes International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Spis Castle; Slovak Paradise National Park; Pieniny Mountains; Demanovska Cave of Liberty; Vychodna Folklore Festival; Bratislava Castle; Tatra Mountains; Levoca Major Sports: Soccer, ice hockey, cycling, hiking, soccer Cultural Practices: Always wait to be invited before using someone’s first name. If you are invited to a Slovak’s home, take wine, flowers, or good quality chocolates for the hostess. Tipping Guidelines: A tip of 10-20% is expected in restaurants. In other settings, tipping is expected only from tourists. In such cases, either round up a bill or leave 10% of the total.Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Wednesday, January 12, 2022

20220901

field-dependent-areas

This entry contains an alphabetical listing of all nonindependent entities associated in some way with a particular independent state. Topic: AustraliaAshmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island Topic: FranceClipperton Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, New Caledonia, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna note: the US Government does not recognize claims to Antarctica; New Caledonia has been considered a "sui generis" collectivity of France since 1998, a unique status falling between that of an independent country and a French overseas department Topic: NetherlandsAruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten Topic: New ZealandCook Islands, Niue, Tokelau Topic: NorwayBouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard Topic: United KingdomAnguilla; Bermuda; British Indian Ocean Territory; British Virgin Islands; Cayman Islands; Falkland Islands; Gibraltar; Montserrat; Pitcairn Islands; Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; Turks and Caicos Islands Topic: United StatesAmerican Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Island note: from 18 July 1947 until 1 October 1994, the US administered the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; it entered into a political relationship with all four political entities: the Northern Mariana Islands is a commonwealth in political union with the US (effective 3 November 1986); the Republic of the Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 21 October 1986); the Federated States of Micronesia signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 3 November 1986); Palau concluded a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 1 October 1994)

20220901

field-airports

This entry gives the total number of airports or airfields recognizable from the air. The runway(s) may be paved (concrete or asphalt surfaces) or unpaved (grass, earth, sand, or gravel surfaces) and may include closed or abandoned installations. Airports or airfields that are no longer recognizable (overgrown, no facilities, etc.) are not included. Note that not all airports have accommodations for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control. Topic: Afghanistantotal: 46 (2021) Topic: Akrotiritotal: 1 (2021) Topic: Albaniatotal: 3 (2021) Topic: Algeriatotal: 149 (2021) Topic: American Samoatotal: 3 (2021) Topic: Angolatotal: 102 (2021) Topic: Anguillatotal: 1 (2021) Topic: Antarcticatotal: 17 (2021) Topic: Antigua and Barbudatotal: 3 (2021) Topic: Argentinatotal: 916 (2021) Topic: Armeniatotal: 7 (2021) Topic: Arubatotal: 1 (2021) Topic: Australiatotal: 418 (2021) Topic: Austriatotal: 50 (2021) Topic: Azerbaijantotal: 23 (2021) Topic: Bahamas, Thetotal: 54 (2021) Topic: Bahraintotal: 4 (2021) Topic: Bangladeshtotal: 18 (2021) Topic: Barbadostotal: 1 (2021) Topic: Belarustotal: 65 (2021) Topic: Belgiumtotal: 41 (2021) Topic: Belizetotal: 47 (2021) Topic: Benintotal: 6 (2021) Topic: Bermudatotal: 1 (2021) Topic: Bhutantotal: 2 (2021) Topic: Boliviatotal: 855 (2021) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinatotal: 24 (2021) Topic: Botswanatotal: 74 (2021) Topic: Braziltotal: 4,093 (2021) Topic: British Indian Ocean Territorytotal: 1 (2021) Topic: British Virgin Islandstotal: 4 (2021) Topic: Bruneitotal: 1 (2021) Topic: Bulgariatotal: 68 (2021) Topic: Burkina Fasototal: 23 (2021) Topic: Burmatotal: 64 (2021) Topic: Burunditotal: 7 (2021) Topic: Cabo Verdetotal: 9 (2021) Topic: Cambodiatotal: 16 (2021) Topic: Cameroontotal: 33 (2021) Topic: Canadatotal: 1,467 (2021) Topic: Cayman Islandstotal: 3 (2021) Topic: Central African Republictotal: 39 (2021) Topic: Chadtotal: 59 (2021) Topic: Chiletotal: 481 (2021) Topic: Chinatotal: 507 (2021) Topic: Christmas Islandtotal: 1 (2021) Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandstotal: 1 (2021) Topic: Colombiatotal: 836 (2021) Topic: Comorostotal: 4 (2021) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thetotal: 198 (2021) Topic: Congo, Republic of thetotal: 27 (2021) Topic: Cook Islandstotal: 11 (2021) Topic: Costa Ricatotal: 161 (2021) Topic: Cote d'Ivoiretotal: 27 (2021) Topic: Croatiatotal: 69 (2021) Topic: Cubatotal: 133 (2021) Topic: Curacaototal: 1 (2021) Topic: Cyprustotal: 15 (2021) Topic: Czechiatotal: 128 (2021) Topic: Denmarktotal: 80 (2021) Topic: Djiboutitotal: 13 (2021) Topic: Dominicatotal: 2 (2021) Topic: Dominican Republictotal: 36 (2021) Topic: Ecuadortotal: 432 (2021) Topic: Egypttotal: 83 (2021) Topic: El Salvadortotal: 68 (2021) Topic: Equatorial Guineatotal: 7 (2021) Topic: Eritreatotal: 13 (2021) Topic: Estoniatotal: 18 (2021) Topic: Eswatinitotal: 14 (2021) Topic: Ethiopiatotal: 57 (2021) Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)total: 7 (2021) Topic: Faroe Islandstotal: 1 (2021) Topic: Fijitotal: 28 (2021) Topic: Finlandtotal: 148 (2021) Topic: Francetotal: 464 (2021) Topic: French Polynesiatotal: 54 (2021) Topic: French Southern and Antarctic Landstotal: 4 (2021) Topic: Gabontotal: 44 (2021) Topic: Gambia, Thetotal: 1 (2021) Topic: Gaza Striptotal: 1 (2021) Topic: Georgiatotal: 22 (2021) Topic: Germanytotal: 539 (2021) Topic: Ghanatotal: 10 (2021) Topic: Gibraltartotal: 1 (2021) Topic: Greecetotal: 77 (2021) Topic: Greenlandtotal: 15 (2021) Topic: Grenadatotal: 3 (2021) Topic: Guamtotal: 5 (2021) Topic: Guatemalatotal: 291 (2021) Topic: Guernseytotal: 2 (2021) Topic: Guineatotal: 16 (2021) Topic: Guinea-Bissautotal: 8 (2021) Topic: Guyanatotal: 117 (2021) Topic: Haititotal: 14 (2021) Topic: Hondurastotal: 103 (2021) Topic: Hong Kongtotal: 2 (2021) Topic: Hungarytotal: 41 (2021) Topic: Icelandtotal: 96 (2021) Topic: Indiatotal: 346 (2021) Topic: Indonesiatotal: 673 (2021) Topic: Irantotal: 319 (2021) Topic: Iraqtotal: 102 (2021) Topic: Irelandtotal: 40 (2021) Topic: Isle of Mantotal: 1 (2021) Topic: Israeltotal: 42 (2021) Topic: Italytotal: 129 (2021) Topic: Jamaicatotal: 28 (2021) Topic: Jan Mayentotal: 1 (2021) Topic: Japantotal: 175 (2021) Topic: Jerseytotal: 1 (2021) Topic: Jordantotal: 18 (2021) Topic: Kazakhstantotal: 96 (2021) Topic: Kenyatotal: 197 (2021) Topic: Kiribatitotal: 19 (2021) Topic: Korea, Northtotal: 82 (2021) Topic: Korea, Southtotal: 111 (2021) Topic: Kosovototal: 6 (2021) Topic: Kuwaittotal: 7 (2021) Topic: Kyrgyzstantotal: 28 (2021) Topic: Laostotal: 41 (2021) Topic: Latviatotal: 42 (2021) Topic: Lebanontotal: 8 (2021) Topic: Lesothototal: 24 (2021) Topic: Liberiatotal: 29 (2021) Topic: Libyatotal: 146 (2021) Topic: Lithuaniatotal: 61 (2021) Topic: Luxembourgtotal: 2 (2021) Topic: Macautotal: 1 (2021) Topic: Madagascartotal: 83 (2021) Topic: Malawitotal: 32 (2021) Topic: Malaysiatotal: 114 (2021) Topic: Maldivestotal: 9 (2021) Topic: Malitotal: 25 (2021) Topic: Maltatotal: 1 (2021) Topic: Marshall Islandstotal: 15 (2021) Topic: Mauritaniatotal: 30 (2021) Topic: Mauritiustotal: 5 (2021) Topic: Mexicototal: 1,714 (2021) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States oftotal: 6 (2021) Topic: Moldovatotal: 7 (2021) Topic: Mongoliatotal: 44 (2021) Topic: Montenegrototal: 5 (2021) Topic: Montserrattotal: 1 (2021) Topic: Moroccototal: 62 (2021) Topic: Mozambiquetotal: 98 (2021) Topic: Namibiatotal: 112 (2021) Topic: Naurutotal: 1 (2021) Topic: Nepaltotal: 47 (2021) Topic: Netherlandstotal: 29 (2021) Topic: New Caledoniatotal: 25 (2021) Topic: New Zealandtotal: 123 (2021) Topic: Nicaraguatotal: 147 (2021) Topic: Nigertotal: 30 (2021) Topic: Nigeriatotal: 54 (2021) Topic: Niuetotal: 1 (2021) Topic: Norfolk Islandtotal: 1 (2021) Topic: North Macedoniatotal: 10 (2021) Topic: Northern Mariana Islandstotal: 5 (2021) Topic: Norwaytotal: 95 (2021) Topic: Omantotal: 132 (2021) Topic: Pakistantotal: 151 (2021) Topic: Palautotal: 3 (2021) Topic: Panamatotal: 117 (2021) Topic: Papua New Guineatotal: 561 (2021) Topic: Paracel Islandstotal: 1 (2021) Topic: Paraguaytotal: 799 (2021) Topic: Perutotal: 191 (2021) Topic: Philippinestotal: 247 (2021) Topic: Polandtotal: 126 (2021) Topic: Portugaltotal: 64 (2021) Topic: Puerto Ricototal: 29 (2021) Topic: Qatartotal: 6 (2021) Topic: Romaniatotal: 45 (2021) Topic: Russiatotal: 1,218 (2021) Topic: Rwandatotal: 7 (2021) Topic: Saint Barthelemytotal: 1 (2021) Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhatotal: 2 (2021) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevistotal: 2 (2021) Topic: Saint Luciatotal: 2 (2021) Topic: Saint Martintotal: 1 (2021) Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelontotal: 2 (2021) Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinestotal: 6 (2021) Topic: Samoatotal: 4 (2021) Topic: Sao Tome and Principetotal: 2 (2021) Topic: Saudi Arabiatotal: 214 (2021) Topic: Senegaltotal: 20 (2021) Topic: Serbiatotal: 26 (2021) Topic: Seychellestotal: 14 (2021) Topic: Sierra Leonetotal: 8 (2021) Topic: Singaporetotal: 9 (2021) Topic: Sint Maartentotal: 1 (2021) Topic: Slovakiatotal: 35 (2021) Topic: Sloveniatotal: 16 (2021) Topic: Solomon Islandstotal: 36 (2021) Topic: Somaliatotal: 52 (2021) Topic: South Africatotal: 407 (2021) Topic: South Sudantotal: 89 (2021) Topic: Spaintotal: 135 (2021) Topic: Spratly Islandstotal: 8 (2021) Topic: Sri Lankatotal: 18 (2021) Topic: Sudantotal: 67 (2021) Topic: Surinametotal: 55 (2021) Topic: Svalbardtotal: 4 (2021) Topic: Swedentotal: 231 (2021) Topic: Switzerlandtotal: 63 (2021) Topic: Syriatotal: 90 (2021) Topic: Taiwantotal: 37 (2021) Topic: Tajikistantotal: 24 (2021) Topic: Tanzaniatotal: 166 (2021) Topic: Thailandtotal: 101 (2021) Topic: Timor-Lestetotal: 6 (2021) Topic: Togototal: 8 (2021) Topic: Tongatotal: 6 (2021) Topic: Trinidad and Tobagototal: 4 (2021) Topic: Tunisiatotal: 29 (2021) Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)total: 98 (2021) Topic: Turkmenistantotal: 26 (2021) Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandstotal: 8 (2021) Topic: Tuvalutotal: 1 (2021) Topic: Ugandatotal: 47 (2021) Topic: Ukrainetotal: 215 (2021) Topic: United Arab Emiratestotal: 43 (2021) Topic: United Kingdomtotal: 460 (2021) Topic: United Statestotal: 13,513 (2021) Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife RefugesBaker Island: (2013) one abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m covered with vegetation and unusable Howland Island: (2013) airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling stop on the round-the-world flight of Amelia EARHART and Fred NOONAN; the aviators left Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island but were never seen again; the airstrip is no longer serviceable Johnston Atoll: (2013) one closed and not maintained Kingman Reef: (2013) lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and American Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and 1938 Midway Islands: (2013) 3 - one operational (2,377 m paved); no fuel for sale except emergencies Palmyra Atoll: (2013) 1 - 1,846 m unpaved runway; privately owned Topic: Uruguaytotal: 133 (2021) Topic: Uzbekistantotal: 53 (2021) Topic: Vanuatutotal: 31 (2021) Topic: Venezuelatotal: 444 (2021) Topic: Vietnamtotal: 45 (2021) Topic: Virgin Islandstotal: 2 (2021) Topic: Wake Islandtotal: 1 (2021) Topic: Wallis and Futunatotal: 2 (2021) Topic: West Banktotal: 2 (2021) Topic: Worldtotal: 41,820 (2021) top ten by passengers (2021): Atlanta (ATL) - 75,704,760; Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW) 62,465,756; Denver, CO (DEN) 58,828,552; Chicago, IL (ORD) 54,020,399; Los Angeles, CA (LAX) 48,007,284; Charlotte, NC (CLT) 43,302,230; Orlando, FL (MCO) 40,351,068; Guangzhou (CAN) 40,259,401; Chengdu (CTU) 40,117,496;  Las Vegas, NV (LAS) 39,754,366 (2021) top ten by passengers (2020): Guangzhou (CAN) 43,767,558; Atlanta (ATL) - 42,918,685; Chengdu (CTU) 40,741,509; Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW) 39,364,990; Shenzhen (SZX) 37,916,054; Beijing (PEK) - 34,513,827; Denver, CO (DEN) 33,741,129; Kunming (KMG) 32,990,805; Shanghai (PVG) 31,165,641; Xi'an (XIY)  31,073,924 (2020) note - 2020 numbers included to allow for a comparison with the effects of COVID-19 restrictions on international air travel in 2020 top ten by cargo (metric tons): Hong Kong (HKG) - 5,025,495; Memphis, TN (MEM) - 4,480,465; Shanghai (PVG) - 3,982,616; Anchorage, AK (ANC) - 3,555,160; Incheon (ICN) - 3,329,292; Louisville, KY (SDF) - 3,052,269; Taipei (TPE) - 2,812,065; Los Angeles, CA (LAX) 2,691,830; Tokyo (NRT) 2,644,074; Doha, Qatar (DOH) 2,620,095 (2021) Topic: Yementotal: 57 (2021) Topic: Zambiatotal: 88 (2021) Topic: Zimbabwetotal: 196 (2021)

20220901

countries-spain-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise increased caution in Spain due to terrorism and civil unrest. Consult its website daily via the link below for any travel advisories about visiting this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required as long as you do not stay in the country more than 89 days. US Embassy/Consulate: [34] (91) 587-2200; US Embassy in Madrid, Calle de Serrano, 75, 28006 Madrid, Spain; askACS@state.gov; https://es.usembassy.gov/ Telephone Code: 34 Local Emergency Phone: 112 Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations http://www.who.int/ Climate: Temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast Currency (Code): Euros (EUR) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, F Major Languages: Castilian Spanish, Catalan, Galician, Basque Major Religions: Roman Catholic 58.2%, atheist 16.2%, agnostic 10.8%, other 2.7%, non-believer 10.5% Time Difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March, ends last Sunday in October; note: Spain has 2 time zones, including the Canary Islands (UTC 0) Potable Water: Yes International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Alhambra & Generalife Gardens; Barcelona's Sagrada Familia & Gaudi Sites; Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba; Prado & Paseo del Artes; San Lorenzo de El Escorial; Guggenheim Museum Bilbao; Alcazar of Seville; Royal Palace in Madrid; Coa Valley & Siega Verde; Cave of Altamira; Routes of Santiago de Compostela; Valley of the Fallen Major Sports: Soccer, basketball, tennis, cycling, golf, handball Cultural Practices: Dinner is served later in Spain than in many other countries. It is common for the meal to be served around 9 p.m. Tipping Guidelines: Tipping is determined by the time and place you are dining. Leaving 1 euro per person is fine for a daytime meal, but leave 10% for an evening meal. Tip room service 1-2 euro and leave 2-3 euros for hotel housekeeping at the end of your stay. Souvenirs: Espadrille shoes, Cava sparkling wine, liquor, leather goods, Caganer figurines, mortar and pestle sets, Gaudí-inspired decorated itemsPlease visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Monday, April 25, 2022

20220901

countries-spain

Topic: Photos of Spain Topic: Introduction Background: Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Subsequent failure to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions caused the country to fall behind Britain, France, and Germany in economic and political power. Spain remained neutral in World War I and II but suffered through a devastating civil war (1936-39). A peaceful transition to democracy following the death of dictator Francisco FRANCO in 1975, and rapid economic modernization (Spain joined the EU in 1986) gave Spain a dynamic and rapidly growing economy, and made it a global champion of freedom and human rights. More recently, Spain has emerged from a severe economic recession that began in mid-2008, posting solid years of GDP growth above the EU average. Unemployment has fallen but remains high, especially among youth. Spain is the euro-zone's fourth-largest economy. The country has faced increased domestic turmoil in recent years due to the independence movement in its restive Catalonia region.Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Subsequent failure to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions caused the country to fall behind Britain, France, and Germany in economic and political power. Spain remained neutral in World War I and II but suffered through a devastating civil war (1936-39). A peaceful transition to democracy following the death of dictator Francisco FRANCO in 1975, and rapid economic modernization (Spain joined the EU in 1986) gave Spain a dynamic and rapidly growing economy, and made it a global champion of freedom and human rights. More recently, Spain has emerged from a severe economic recession that began in mid-2008, posting solid years of GDP growth above the EU average. Unemployment has fallen but remains high, especially among youth. Spain is the euro-zone's fourth-largest economy. The country has faced increased domestic turmoil in recent years due to the independence movement in its restive Catalonia region.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, and Pyrenees Mountains; southwest of France Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 4 00 W Map references: Europe Area: total: 505,370 sq km land: 498,980 sq km water: 6,390 sq km note: there are two autonomous cities - Ceuta and Melilla - and 17 autonomous communities including Balearic Islands and Canary Islands, and three small Spanish possessions off the coast of Morocco - Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera Area - comparative: almost five times the size of Kentucky; slightly more than twice the size of Oregon Land boundaries: total: 1,952.7 km border countries (5): Andorra 63 km; France 646 km; Gibraltar 1.2 km; Portugal 1,224 km; Morocco (Ceuta) 8 km and Morocco (Melilla) 10.5 km note: an additional 75-meter border segment exists between Morocco and the Spanish exclave of Penon de Velez de la Gomera Coastline: 4,964 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (applies only to the Atlantic Ocean) Climate: temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast Terrain: large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees Mountains in north Elevation: highest point: Pico de Teide (Tenerife) on Canary Islands 3,718 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 660 m Natural resources: coal, lignite, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, uranium, tungsten, mercury, pyrites, magnesite, fluorspar, gypsum, sepiolite, kaolin, potash, hydropower, arable land Land use: agricultural land: 54.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 24.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 9.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 20.1% (2018 est.) forest: 36.8% (2018 est.) other: 9.1% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 38,000 sq km (2012) Major rivers (by length in km): Tagus river source (shared with Portugal [m]) - 1,006 note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Population distribution: with the notable exception of Madrid, Sevilla, and Zaragoza, the largest urban agglomerations are found along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts; numerous smaller cities are spread throughout the interior reflecting Spain's agrarian heritage; very dense settlement around the capital of Madrid, as well as the port city of Barcelona Natural hazards: periodic droughts, occasional floodingvolcanism: volcanic activity in the Canary Islands, located off Africa's northwest coast; Teide (3,715 m) 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; La Palma (2,426 m), which last erupted in 1971, is the most active of the Canary Islands volcanoes; Lanzarote is the only other historically active volcanoperiodic droughts, occasional floodingvolcanism: volcanic activity in the Canary Islands, located off Africa's northwest coast; Teide (3,715 m) 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; La Palma (2,426 m), which last erupted in 1971, is the most active of the Canary Islands volcanoes; Lanzarote is the only other historically active volcano Geography - note: strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar; Spain controls a number of territories in northern Morocco including the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, and the islands of Penon de Velez de la Gomera, Penon de Alhucemas, and Islas Chafarinas; Spain's Canary Islands are one of four North Atlantic archipelagos that make up Macaronesia; the others are Azores (Portugal), Madeira (Portugal), and Cabo Verde Map description: Spain map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Mediterranean Sea and Bay of Biscay.  Spain map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Mediterranean Sea and Bay of Biscay.  Topic: People and Society Population: 47,163,418 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Spaniard(s) adjective: Spanish Ethnic groups: Spanish 84.8%, Moroccan 1.7%, Romanian 1.2%, other 12.3% (2021 est.) note: data represent population by country of birth Languages: Castilian Spanish (official nationwide) 74%, Catalan (official in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community (where it is known as Valencian)) 17%, Galician (official in Galicia) 7%, Basque (official in the Basque Country and in the Basque-speaking area of Navarre) 2%, Aranese (official in the northwest corner of Catalonia (Vall d'Aran) along with Catalan, <5,000 speakers); note - Aragonese, Aranese Asturian, Basque, Calo, Catalan, Galician, and Valencian are recognized as regional languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Roman Catholic 58.2%, atheist 16.2%, agnostic 10.8%, other 2.7%, non-believer 10.5%, unspecified 1.7% (2021 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 15.02% (male 3,861,522/female 3,650,085) 15-24 years: 9.9% (male 2,557,504/female 2,392,498) 25-54 years: 43.61% (male 11,134,006/female 10,675,873) 55-64 years: 12.99% (male 3,177,080/female 3,319,823) 65 years and over: 18.49% (2020 est.) (male 3,970,417/female 5,276,984) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 52.4 youth dependency ratio: 21.9 elderly dependency ratio: 30.4 potential support ratio: 3.3 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 43.9 years male: 42.7 years female: 45.1 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.13% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 7.13 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 10.22 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 4.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: with the notable exception of Madrid, Sevilla, and Zaragoza, the largest urban agglomerations are found along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts; numerous smaller cities are spread throughout the interior reflecting Spain's agrarian heritage; very dense settlement around the capital of Madrid, as well as the port city of Barcelona Urbanization: urban population: 81.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.24% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla Major urban areas - population: 6.714 million MADRID (capital), 5.658 million Barcelona, 837,000 Valencia (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 31.2 years (2020 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 4 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 2.47 deaths/1,000 live births male: 2.73 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 82.55 years male: 79.84 years female: 85.4 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.27 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 62.1% (2018) note: percent of women aged 18-49 Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99.9% of population rural: 100% of population total: 99.9% of population unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 9.1% (2019) Physicians density: 4.44 physicians/1,000 population (2019) Hospital bed density: 3 beds/1,000 population (2018) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.4% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 150,000 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020) <1,000 note: estimate does not include children Major infectious diseases: respiratory diseases: Covid-19 (see note) (2020) note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Spain; as of 6 June 2022, Spain has reported a total of 12,403,245 cases of COVID-19 or 26,204.4 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 106,797 cumulative deaths or a rate of 225.6 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 1 June 2022, 88.22% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine; the Department of Homeland Security has issued instructions requiring US passengers who have been in Spain to travel through select airports where the US Government has implemented enhanced screening procedures Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 23.8% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 27.7% (2020 est.) male: 28.6% (2020 est.) female: 26.7% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 4.2% of GDP (2018 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.6% male: 99% female: 98.2% (2020) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 18 years male: 17 years female: 18 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 38.3% male: 37.1% female: 39.7% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas; water quality and quantity nationwide; air pollution; deforestation; desertification Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 9.48 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 244 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 36.94 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast Land use: agricultural land: 54.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 24.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 9.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 20.1% (2018 est.) forest: 36.8% (2018 est.) other: 9.1% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 81.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.24% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.02% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: respiratory diseases: Covid-19 (see note) (2020) note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Spain; as of 6 June 2022, Spain has reported a total of 12,403,245 cases of COVID-19 or 26,204.4 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 106,797 cumulative deaths or a rate of 225.6 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 1 June 2022, 88.22% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine; the Department of Homeland Security has issued instructions requiring US passengers who have been in Spain to travel through select airports where the US Government has implemented enhanced screening procedures Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 20.151 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 3,393,428 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 16.8% (2015 est.) Major rivers (by length in km): Tagus river source (shared with Portugal [m]) - 1,006 note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Total water withdrawal: municipal: 4.89 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 5.966 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 20.36 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 111.5 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Spain conventional short form: Spain local long form: Reino de Espana local short form: Espana etymology: derivation of the name "Espana" is uncertain, but may come from the Phoenician term "span," related to the word "spy," meaning "to forge metals," so, "i-spn-ya" would mean "place where metals are forged"; the ancient Phoenicians long exploited the Iberian Peninsula for its mineral wealth Government type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy Capital: name: Madrid geographic coordinates: 40 24 N, 3 41 W time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October time zone note: Spain has two time zones, including the Canary Islands (UTC 0) etymology: the Romans named the original settlement "Matrice" after the river that ran through it; under Arab rule it became "Majerit," meaning "source of water"; in medieval Romance dialects (Mozarabic) it became "Matrit," which over time changed to "Madrid" Administrative divisions: 17 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular - comunidad autonoma) and 2 autonomous cities* (ciudades autonomas, singular - ciudad autonoma); Andalucia; Aragon; Asturias; Canarias (Canary Islands); Cantabria; Castilla-La Mancha; Castilla-Leon; Cataluna (Castilian), Catalunya (Catalan), Catalonha (Aranese) [Catalonia]; Ceuta*; Comunidad Valenciana (Castilian), Comunitat Valenciana (Valencian) [Valencian Community]; Extremadura; Galicia; Illes Baleares (Balearic Islands); La Rioja; Madrid; Melilla*; Murcia; Navarra (Castilian), Nafarroa (Basque) [Navarre]; Pais Vasco (Castilian), Euskadi (Basque) [Basque Country] note: the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla plus three small islands of Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, administered directly by the Spanish central government, are all along the coast of Morocco and are collectively referred to as Places of Sovereignty (Plazas de Soberania) Independence: 1492; the Iberian peninsula was characterized by a variety of independent kingdoms prior to the Muslim occupation that began in the early 8th century A.D. and lasted nearly seven centuries; the small Christian redoubts of the north began the reconquest almost immediately, culminating in the seizure of Granada in 1492; this event completed the unification of several kingdoms and is traditionally considered the forging of present-day Spain National holiday: National Day (Hispanic Day), 12 October (1492); note - commemorates the arrival of COLUMBUS in the Americas Constitution: history: previous 1812; latest approved by the General Courts 31 October 1978, passed by referendum 6 December 1978, signed by the king 27 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978 amendments: proposed by the government, by the General Courts (the Congress or the Senate), or by the self-governing communities submitted through the government; passage requires three-fifths majority vote by both houses and passage by referendum if requested by one tenth of the members of either house; proposals disapproved by both houses are submitted to a joint committee, which submits an agreed upon text for another vote; passage requires two-thirds majority vote in Congress and simple majority vote in the Senate; amended 1992, 2011 Legal system: civil law system with regional variations International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Spain dual citizenship recognized: only with select Latin American countries residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years for persons with no ties to Spain Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: King FELIPE VI (since 19 June 2014); Heir Apparent Princess LEONOR, Princess of Asturias (daughter of the monarch, born 31 October 2005) head of government: President of the Government (Prime Minister-equivalent) Pedro SANCHEZ Perez-Castejon (since 2 June 2018); Vice President (and Minister of the President's Office) Maria del Carmen CALVO Poyato (since 7 June 2018) cabinet: Council of Ministers designated by the president  elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the monarch usually proposes as president the leader of the party or coalition with the largest majority of seats, who is then indirectly elected by the Congress of Deputies; election last held on 10 November 2019 (next to be held November 2023); vice president and Council of Ministers appointed by the president election results: percent of National Assembly vote - NA note: there is also a Council of State that is the supreme consultative organ of the government, but its recommendations are non-binding Legislative branch: description: bicameral General Courts or Las Cortes Generales consists of: Senate or Senado (265 seats; 208 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 57 members indirectly elected by the legislatures of the autonomous communities; members serve 4-year terms) Congress of Deputies or Congreso de los Diputados (350 seats; 348 members directly elected in 50 multi-seat constituencies by closed-list proportional representation vote, with a 3% threshold needed to gain a seat, and 2 directly elected from the North African Ceuta and Melilla enclaves by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms or until the government is dissolved) elections: Senate - last held on 10 November 2019 (next to be held no later than 30 November 2023) Congress of Deputies - last held on 10 November 2019 (next to be held no later than 30 November 2023) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PSOE 113, PP 101, ERC 14, PNV 10, C's 3, Junts 5, Vox 3, other 16; composition (as of October 2021) - men 161, women 104; percent of women 39.3% Congress of Deputies - percent of vote by party - PSOE 34.3%, PP 25.1%, Vox 14.9%, Unidos Podemos 9.4%, C's 2.6%, ERC 3.7%, PNV 10, EH-Bildu 1.4, other 7.4%; seats by party - PSOE 120, PP 88, Vox 52, Unidos Podemos 33, C's 9, ERC 13, PNV 6, EH-Bildu 5, other 26; composition (as October 2021) - men 198, women 152, percent of women 43.4%; note - overall General Courts percent of women 42.3% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo (consists of the court president and organized into the Civil Room, with a president and 9 judges; the Penal Room, with a president and 14 judges; the Administrative Room, with a president and 32 judges; the Social Room, with a president and 12 judges; and the Military Room, with a president and 7 judges); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional de Espana (consists of 12 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates proposed by the General Council of the Judiciary Power, a 20-member governing board chaired by the monarch that includes presidential appointees, lawyers, and jurists confirmed by the National Assembly; judges can serve until age 70; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the National Assembly, executive branch, and the General Council of the Judiciary, and appointed by the monarch for 9-year terms subordinate courts: National High Court; High Courts of Justice (in each of the autonomous communities); provincial courts; courts of first instance Political parties and leaders: Asturias Forum or FAC [Carmen MORIYON] Basque Country Unite (Euskal Herria Bildu) or EH Bildu (coalition of 4 Basque pro-independence parties) Basque Nationalist Party or PNV or EAJ [Andoni ORTUZAR] Canarian Coalition or CC [Ana ORAMAS] (coalition of 5 parties) Ciudadanos Party or C's [Ines ARRIMADAS] Compromis - Communist Coalition [Joan BALDOVI] Junts per Catalunia or JxCat  [Carles PUIDGEMONT] JxCat-Junts Together for Catalonia [Jordi SANCHEZ] Navarra Suma (electoral Coaltion formed by Navarrese People's Union (UPN), Ciudadanos (C's), and the Popular Party (PP) ahead of the 2019 election) New Canary or NCa [Pedro QUEVEDOS] People's Party or PP [Pablo CASADO] Republican Left of Catalonia or ERC [Oriol JUNQUERAS i Vies] Spanish Socialist Workers Party or PSOE [Pedro SANCHEZ] Unidas Podemos [Ione BELARRA] (formerly Podemos IU; electoral coalition formed for May 2016 election) Union of People of Navarra or UPN [Javier ESPARZA] Vox or Vox [Santiago ABASCAL] International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CAN (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Santiago CABANAS Ansorena (since 17 September 2018) chancery: 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 452-0100 FAX: [1] (202) 833-5670 email address and website: emb.washington@maec.es http://www.exteriores.gob.es/embajadas/washington/en/pages/inicio2.aspx consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Julissa REYNOSO (since 2 February 2022); note - also accredited to Andorra embassy: Calle de Serrano, 75, 28006 Madrid mailing address: 8500 Madrid Place, Washington DC  20521-8500 telephone: [34] (91) 587-2200 FAX: [34] (91) 587-2303 email address and website: askACS@state.gov https://es.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Barcelona Flag description: three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width), and red with the national coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band; the coat of arms is quartered to display the emblems of the traditional kingdoms of Spain (clockwise from upper left, Castile, Leon, Navarre, and Aragon) while Granada is represented by the stylized pomegranate at the bottom of the shield; the arms are framed by two columns representing the Pillars of Hercules, which are the two promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar; the red scroll across the two columns bears the imperial motto of "Plus Ultra" (further beyond) referring to Spanish lands beyond Europe; the triband arrangement with the center stripe twice the width of the outer dates to the 18th century note: the red and yellow colors are related to those of the oldest Spanish kingdoms: Aragon, Castile, Leon, and Navarre National symbol(s): Pillars of Hercules; national colors: red, yellow National anthem: name: "Himno Nacional Espanol" (National Anthem of Spain) lyrics/music: no lyrics/unknown note: officially in use between 1770 and 1931, restored in 1939; the Spanish anthem is the first anthem to be officially adopted, but it has no lyrics; in the years prior to 1931 it became known as "Marcha Real" (The Royal March); it first appeared in a 1761 military bugle call book and was replaced by "Himno de Riego" in the years between 1931 and 1939; the long version of the anthem is used for the king, while the short version is used for the prince, prime minister, and occasions such as sporting events National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 49 (43 cultural, 4 natural, 2 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain (c); Works of Antoni Gaudí (c); Santiago de Compostela (Old Town) (c); Historic City of Toledo (c); Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida (c); Tower of Hercules (c); Doñana National Park (n); Pyrénées - Mont Perdu (m); Alhambra, Generalife, and Albayzín in Granada (c); Old City of Salamanca (c); Teide National Park (n); Historic Walled Town of Cuenca (c); Old Town of Segovia and its Aqueduct (c); Historic Cordoba (c); El Escorial (c) Topic: Economy Economic overview: After a prolonged recession that began in 2008 in the wake of the global financial crisis, Spain marked the fourth full year of positive economic growth in 2017, with economic activity surpassing its pre-crisis peak, largely because of increased private consumption. The financial crisis of 2008 broke 16 consecutive years of economic growth for Spain, leading to an economic contraction that lasted until late 2013. In that year, the government successfully shored up its struggling banking sector - heavily exposed to the collapse of Spain’s real estate boom - with the help of an EU-funded restructuring and recapitalization program.   Until 2014, contraction in bank lending, fiscal austerity, and high unemployment constrained domestic consumption and investment. The unemployment rate rose from a low of about 8% in 2007 to more than 26% in 2013, but labor reforms prompted a modest reduction to 16.4% in 2017. High unemployment strained Spain's public finances, as spending on social benefits increased while tax revenues fell. Spain’s budget deficit peaked at 11.4% of GDP in 2010, but Spain gradually reduced the deficit to about 3.3% of GDP in 2017. Public debt has increased substantially – from 60.1% of GDP in 2010 to nearly 96.7% in 2017.   Strong export growth helped bring Spain's current account into surplus in 2013 for the first time since 1986 and sustain Spain’s economic growth. Increasing labor productivity and an internal devaluation resulting from moderating labor costs and lower inflation have improved Spain’s export competitiveness and generated foreign investor interest in the economy, restoring FDI flows.   In 2017, the Spanish Government’s minority status constrained its ability to implement controversial labor, pension, health care, tax, and education reforms. The European Commission expects the government to meet its 2017 budget deficit target and anticipates that expected economic growth in 2018 will help the government meet its deficit target. Spain’s borrowing costs are dramatically lower since their peak in mid-2012, and increased economic activity has generated a modest level of inflation, at 2% in 2017.After a prolonged recession that began in 2008 in the wake of the global financial crisis, Spain marked the fourth full year of positive economic growth in 2017, with economic activity surpassing its pre-crisis peak, largely because of increased private consumption. The financial crisis of 2008 broke 16 consecutive years of economic growth for Spain, leading to an economic contraction that lasted until late 2013. In that year, the government successfully shored up its struggling banking sector - heavily exposed to the collapse of Spain’s real estate boom - with the help of an EU-funded restructuring and recapitalization program. Until 2014, contraction in bank lending, fiscal austerity, and high unemployment constrained domestic consumption and investment. The unemployment rate rose from a low of about 8% in 2007 to more than 26% in 2013, but labor reforms prompted a modest reduction to 16.4% in 2017. High unemployment strained Spain's public finances, as spending on social benefits increased while tax revenues fell. Spain’s budget deficit peaked at 11.4% of GDP in 2010, but Spain gradually reduced the deficit to about 3.3% of GDP in 2017. Public debt has increased substantially – from 60.1% of GDP in 2010 to nearly 96.7% in 2017. Strong export growth helped bring Spain's current account into surplus in 2013 for the first time since 1986 and sustain Spain’s economic growth. Increasing labor productivity and an internal devaluation resulting from moderating labor costs and lower inflation have improved Spain’s export competitiveness and generated foreign investor interest in the economy, restoring FDI flows. In 2017, the Spanish Government’s minority status constrained its ability to implement controversial labor, pension, health care, tax, and education reforms. The European Commission expects the government to meet its 2017 budget deficit target and anticipates that expected economic growth in 2018 will help the government meet its deficit target. Spain’s borrowing costs are dramatically lower since their peak in mid-2012, and increased economic activity has generated a modest level of inflation, at 2% in 2017. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $1,714,860,000,000 (2020 est.) $1,923,330,000,000 (2019 est.) $1,886,540,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 1.95% (2019 est.) 2.43% (2018 est.) 2.97% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $36,200 (2020 est.) $40,800 (2019 est.) $40,300 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $1,393,351,000,000 (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.7% (2019 est.) 1.6% (2018 est.) 1.9% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: A- (2018) Moody's rating: Baa1 (2018) Standard & Poors rating: A (2019) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2.6% (2017 est.) industry: 23.2% (2017 est.) services: 74.2% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 57.7% (2017 est.) government consumption: 18.5% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 20.6% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.6% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 34.1% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -31.4% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: barley, milk, wheat, olives, grapes, tomatoes, pork, maize, oranges, sugar beet Industries: textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools, tourism, clay and refractory products, footwear, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment Industrial production growth rate: 4% (2017 est.) Labor force: 19.057 million (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 4.2% industry: 24% services: 71.7% (2009) Unemployment rate: 14.13% (2019 est.) 15.25% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 38.3% male: 37.1% female: 39.7% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 20.7% (2018 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 34.7 (2017 est.) 32 (2005) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 24% (2011) Budget: revenues: 498.1 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 539 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -3.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 98.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 99% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 37.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: $29.603 billion (2019 est.) $27.206 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $392.85 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $486.15 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $499.55 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: France 15%, Germany 11%, Portugal 8%, Italy 8%, United Kingdom 7%, United States 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: cars and vehicle parts, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, delivery trucks, clothing and apparel (2019) Imports: $373.67 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $444.31 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $460.98 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Germany 13%, France 11%, China 8%, Italy 7% (2019) Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, cars and vehicle parts, packaged medicines, natural gas, refined petroleum (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $69.41 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $63.14 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $2,338,853,000,000 (2019 est.) $2,366,534,000,000 (2018 est.) Exchange rates: euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.82771 (2020 est.) 0.90338 (2019 est.) 0.87789 (2018 est.) 0.7525 (2014 est.) 0.7634 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 115.837 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 233.267 billion kWh (2020 est.) exports: 14.649 billion kWh (2020 est.) imports: 17.928 billion kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 23.999 billion kWh (2020 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 32.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 21.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 8.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 22.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 13.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 546,000 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 4.918 million metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 2.083 million metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 4.857 million metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 1.187 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 47,200 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 1.328 million bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 1,364,700 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 150 million barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 1.361 million bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 562,400 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 464,800 bbl/day (2017 est.) Natural gas: production: 57.993 million cubic meters (2020 est.) consumption: 32,026,216,000 cubic meters (2020 est.) exports: 1,185,285,000 cubic meters (2020 est.) imports: 32,489,309,000 cubic meters (2020 est.) proven reserves: 2.549 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 280.624 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 16.743 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 191.299 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 72.582 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 122.673 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 19,455,658 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 42 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 55,354,900 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118.44 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Spain’s telecom sector has tracked the performance of the overall economy, which has been one of the most heavily impacted by the pandemic in all Europe; GDP dropped by 10.8% in 2020, while telecom revenue reversed the previous five years’ positive results by falling 5.3%; fixed-line services were the hardest hit, with revenue falling 13.7%; mobile voice services did not fare much better, falling 4.7%; this is despite relatively small shifts in the number of subscribers, though the harsh lock down conditions resulted in a significant drop in usage; it had appeared that a return to growth might be possible in 2021 following the lifting of the state of emergency in May, but the most recent surge in cases and the continued restrictions on travel may once again put the brakes on growth until at least 2022; Spain’s fixed-line broadband market managed to extend its decade-long pattern of steady growth into 2020, with a slight increase in demand caused by the need for fast internet access to support working and learning from home; while most of Spain’s larger telcos delivered negative revenue and profit in 2020 — much in line with the overall sector — the up-and-comer Másmóvil has signaled that it wants to play in the big league; in March 2021, it launched a friendly takeover bid (valued at around €2 billion) for Basque’s fixed-line operator and MVNO Euskaltel; the deal was approved by Euskaltel’s board as well as the competition regulator; if successful, the deal will place the company in a better position to challenge the dominance of the main telcos Telefónica, Orange, and Vodafone. (2021) domestic: fixed-line nearly 42 per 100 and mobile-cellular 119 telephones per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 34; landing points for the MAREA, Tata TGN-Western Europe, Pencan-9, SAT-3/WASC, Canalink, Atlantis-2, Columbus -111, Estepona-Tetouan, FEA, Balalink, ORVAL and PENBAL-5 submarine cables providing connectivity to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South America, Asia, Southeast Asia and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to adjacent countries (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: a mixture of both publicly operated and privately owned TV and radio stations; overall, hundreds of TV channels are available including national, regional, local, public, and international channels; satellite and cable TV systems available; multiple national radio networks, a large number of regional radio networks, and a larger number of local radio stations; overall, hundreds of radio stations  (2019)a mixture of both publicly operated and privately owned TV and radio stations; overall, hundreds of TV channels are available including national, regional, local, public, and international channels; satellite and cable TV systems available; multiple national radio networks, a large number of regional radio networks, and a larger number of local radio stations; overall, hundreds of radio stations  Internet country code: .es Internet users: total: 44,047,980 (2020 est.) percent of population: 93% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 16,188,502 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 21 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 552 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 80,672,105 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,117,070,000 (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: EC Airports: total: 135 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 102 over 3,047 m: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 26 under 914 m: 23 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 33 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 19 (2021) Heliports: 13 (2021) Pipelines: 10,481 km gas, 358 km oil, 4,378 km refined products (2017) Railways: total: 15,111 km (2017) (9,699 km electrified) standard gauge: 2,571 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (2,571 km electrified) narrow gauge: 1,207 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge (400 km electrified) broad gauge: 11,333 km (2017) 1.668-m gauge (6,538 km electrified) mixed gauge: 190 km 1.668-mm and 1.435mm gauge (190.1 km electrified); 28 km 0.914-mm gauge (28 km electrified); 4 km 0.600-mm gauge Roadways: total: 683,175 km (2011) paved: 683,175 km (2011) (includes 16,205 km of expressways) Waterways: 1,000 km (2012) Merchant marine: total: 478 by type: bulk carrier 1, general cargo 36, oil tanker 24, other 417 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Atlantic Ocean: Bilbao, Huelva; Las Palmas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife (in the Canary Islands) Mediterranean Sea: Algeciras, Barcelona, Cartagena, Tarragona, Valencia container port(s) (TEUs): Algeciras (5,125,385), Barcelona (3,324,650), Valencia (5,439,827) (2019) LNG terminal(s) (import): Barcelona, Bilbao, Cartagena, El Musel, Huelva, Mugardos, Sagunto river port(s): Seville (Guadalquivir River) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Spanish Armed Forces: Army (Ejercito de Tierra), Spanish Navy (Armada Espanola, AE, includes Marine Corps), Spanish Air Force (Ejercito del Aire Espanola, EdA); Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) (2022) note: the Civil Guard is a military force with police duties (including coast guard) under both the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of the Interior; it also responds to the needs of the Ministry of Finance Military expenditures: 1% of GDP (2021 est.) 1% of GDP (2020) 0.9% of GDP (2019) (approximately $16.8 billion) 0.9% of GDP (2018) (approximately $16.7 billion) 0.9% of GDP (2017) (approximately $15.9 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 120,000 active duty troops (75,000 Army; 25,000 Navy, including about 5,000 marines; 20,000 Air Force); 80,000 Guardia Civil (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Spanish military is comprised of domestically-produced and imported Western weapons systems; France, Germany, and the US are the leading suppliers of military hardware since 2010; Spain's defense industry manufactures land, air, and sea weapons systems and is integrated within the European defense-industrial sector (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-26 years of age for voluntary military service by a Spanish citizen or legal immigrant, 2-3 year obligation; women allowed to serve in all SAF branches, including combat units; no conscription (abolished 2001), but Spanish Government retains right to mobilize citizens 19-25 years of age in a national emergency (2021) note: as of 2019, women comprised about 13% of the military's full-time personnel Military deployments: approximately 200 Iraq (NATO/EU training assistance); up to 600 Latvia (NATO); 650 Lebanon (UNIFIL); approximately 500 Mali (EUTM); 150 Turkey (NATO) (2022) note: in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries, including Spain, have sent additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe Military - note: Spain joined NATO in 1982, but refrained from participating in the integrated military structure until 1996 the Spanish Marine Corps, established in 1537, is the oldest marine corps in the world Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa’ida note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Spain-Andorra: none identified Spain-France: none identified Spain-Gibraltar (UK): in 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement; the Government of Gibraltar insists on equal participation in talks between the UK and Spain; Spain does not recognize British sovereignty beyond the original fortified perimeter of the city and disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar greater autonomy; after voters in the UK chose to leave the EU in a June 2016 referendum, Spain again proposed shared sovereignty of Gibraltar; UK officials rejected Spain’s joint sovereignty proposal Spain-Morocco: Morocco protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla, and the islands of Penon de Velez de la Gomera, Penon de Alhucemas, and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; both countries claim Isla Perejil (Leila Island), which remains unoccupied but was the site of a  military standoff in 2002; Morocco serves as the primary embarkation area for illegal migration into mainland Spain from North Africa Spain-Portugal: Portugal does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over the territory of Olivenza based on a difference of interpretation of the 1815 Congress of Vienna and the 1801 Treaty of BadajozSpain-Andorra: none identifiedSpain-France: none identifiedSpain-Gibraltar (UK): in 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement; the Government of Gibraltar insists on equal participation in talks between the UK and Spain; Spain does not recognize British sovereignty beyond the original fortified perimeter of the city and disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar greater autonomy; after voters in the UK chose to leave the EU in a June 2016 referendum, Spain again proposed shared sovereignty of Gibraltar; UK officials rejected Spain’s joint sovereignty proposalSpain-Morocco: Morocco protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla, and the islands of Penon de Velez de la Gomera, Penon de Alhucemas, and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; both countries claim Isla Perejil (Leila Island), which remains unoccupied but was the site of a  military standoff in 2002; Morocco serves as the primary embarkation area for illegal migration into mainland Spain from North AfricaSpain-Portugal: Portugal does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over the territory of Olivenza based on a difference of interpretation of the 1815 Congress of Vienna and the 1801 Treaty of Badajoz Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 14,823 (Syria) (mid-year 2021); 418,200 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2021); 133,007 (Ukraine) (as of 8 August 2022) stateless persons: 692 (mid-year 2021) note: 264,599 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals, including Canary Islands (January 2015-August 2022) Illicit drugs: primary transit point in Europe for cocaine from South America and for hashish from Morocco; cocaine is shipped in raw or liquid form with mixed cargo to avoid detection; traffickers ship methamphetamine via express mail; increasing number of indoor cannabis grow operations; illegal labs cutting, mixing, and reconstituting cocaine, and heroin and methamphetamine labs; synthetic drugs, including ketamine and MDMA (ecstasy) transit from Spain to the United States

20220901

countries-austria

Topic: Photos of Austria Topic: Introduction Background: Once the center of power for the large Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria was reduced to a small republic after its defeat in World War I. Following annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938 and subsequent occupation by the victorious Allies in 1945, Austria's status remained unclear for a decade. A State Treaty signed in 1955 ended the occupation, recognized Austria's independence, and forbade unification with Germany. A constitutional law that same year declared the country's "perpetual neutrality" as a condition for Soviet military withdrawal. The Soviet Union's collapse in 1991 and Austria's entry into the EU in 1995 have altered the meaning of this neutrality. A prosperous, democratic country, Austria entered the EU Economic and Monetary Union in 1999.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia Geographic coordinates: 47 20 N, 13 20 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 83,871 sq km land: 82,445 sq km water: 1,426 sq km Area - comparative: about the size of South Carolina; slightly more than two-thirds the size of Pennsylvania Land boundaries: total: 2,524 km border countries (8): Czech Republic 402 km; Germany 801 km; Hungary 321 km; Italy 404 km; Liechtenstein 34 km; Slovakia 105 km; Slovenia 299 km; Switzerland 158 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain and some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate summers with occasional showers Terrain: mostly mountains (Alps) in the west and south; mostly flat or gently sloping along the eastern and northern margins Elevation: highest point: Grossglockner 3,798 m lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m mean elevation: 910 m Natural resources: oil, coal, lignite, timber, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, magnesite, tungsten, graphite, salt, hydropower Land use: agricultural land: 38.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 16.5% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 21.1% (2018 est.) forest: 47.2% (2018 est.) other: 14.4% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 1,170 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Constance (shared with Switzerland and Germany) - 540 sq km Major rivers (by length in km): Danube (shared with Germany [s], Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km), (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Population distribution: the northern and eastern portions of the country are more densely populated; nearly two-thirds of the populace lives in urban areas Natural hazards: landslides; avalanches; earthquakes Geography - note: note 1: landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major river is the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere note 2: the world's largest and longest ice cave system at 42 km (26 mi) is the Eisriesenwelt (Ice Giants World) inside the Hochkogel mountain near Werfen, about 40 km south of Salzburg; ice caves are bedrock caves that contain year-round ice formations; they differ from glacial caves, which are transient and are formed by melting ice and flowing water within and under glaciers Map description: Austria map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries.Austria map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries. Topic: People and Society Population: 8,913,088 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Austrian(s) adjective: Austrian Ethnic groups: Austrian 80.8%, German 2.6%, Bosnian and Herzegovinian 1.9%, Turkish 1.8%, Serbian 1.6%, Romanian 1.3%, other 10% (2018 est.) note: data represent population by country of birth Languages: German (official nationwide) 88.6%, Turkish 2.3%, Serbian 2.2%, Croatian (official in Burgenland) 1.6%, other (includes Slovene, official in southern Carinthia, and Hungarian, official in Burgenland) 5.3% (2001 est.) major-language sample(s): Das World Factbook, die unverzichtbare Quelle für grundlegende Informationen. (German) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Catholic 57%, Eastern Orthodox 8.7%, Muslim 7.9%, Evangelical Christian 3.3%, other/none/unspecified 23.1% (2018 est.) note:  data on Muslim is a 2016 estimate; data on other/none/unspecified are from 2012-2018 estimates Age structure: 0-14 years: 14.01% (male 635,803/female 605,065) 15-24 years: 10.36% (male 466,921/female 451,248) 25-54 years: 41.35% (male 1,831,704/female 1,831,669) 55-64 years: 14.41% (male 635,342/female 641,389) 65 years and over: 19.87% (2020 est.) (male 768,687/female 991,621) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 50.6 youth dependency ratio: 21.7 elderly dependency ratio: 28.9 potential support ratio: 3.5 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 44.5 years male: 43.1 years female: 45.8 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.32% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 9.45 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 9.85 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 3.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: the northern and eastern portions of the country are more densely populated; nearly two-thirds of the populace lives in urban areas Urbanization: urban population: 59.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 1.960 million VIENNA (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 29.7 years (2020 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 5 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 3.24 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.65 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 82.27 years male: 79.64 years female: 85.04 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.51 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 79% (2019) note: percent of women aged 16-49 Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 10.4% (2019) Physicians density: 5.29 physicians/1,000 population (2020) Hospital bed density: 7.3 beds/1,000 population (2018) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2017 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 7,400 (2017 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2017 est.) <100 Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 20.1% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 26.4% (2020 est.) male: 27.7% (2020 est.) female: 25% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 5.2% of GDP (2018 est.) Literacy: total population: NA male: NA female: NA School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 16 years male: 16 years female: 16 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 10.5% male: 11.3% female: 9.5% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe; water pollution; the Danube, as well as some of Austria’s other rivers and lakes, are threatened by pollution Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Antarctic-Environmental Protection Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 12.43 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 61.45 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 6.34 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain and some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate summers with occasional showers Land use: agricultural land: 38.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 16.5% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 21.1% (2018 est.) forest: 47.2% (2018 est.) other: 14.4% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 59.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.07% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.836 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,240,918 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 25.7% (2015 est.) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Constance (shared with Switzerland and Germany) - 540 sq km Major rivers (by length in km): Danube (shared with Germany [s], Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km), (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 720 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 2.695 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 77.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 77.7 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Austria conventional short form: Austria local long form: Republik Oesterreich local short form: Oesterreich etymology: the name Oesterreich means "eastern realm" or "eastern march" and dates to the 10th century; the designation refers to the fact that Austria was the easternmost extension of Bavaria, and, in fact, of all the Germans; the word Austria is a Latinization of the German name Government type: federal parliamentary republic Capital: name: Vienna geographic coordinates: 48 12 N, 16 22 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the origin of the name is disputed but may derive from early Celtic settlements of the area; a possible reconstructed Celtic name from several centuries B.C. is *Vedunia (meaning "forest stream"); under Roman settlement, beginning around 15 B.C., the name became Vindobona (likely from the Celtic "windo," meaning "white, fair, or bright" and "bona" meaning "base, fortification, or settlement" to give a connotation of "white settlement" or "white fort"); archeological remains of the latter survive at many sites in the center of Vienna Administrative divisions: 9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten (Carinthia), Niederoesterreich (Lower Austria), Oberoesterreich (Upper Austria), Salzburg, Steiermark (Styria), Tirol (Tyrol), Vorarlberg, Wien (Vienna) Independence: no official date of independence: 976 (Margravate of Austria established); 17 September 1156 (Duchy of Austria founded); 6 January 1453 (Archduchy of Austria acknowledged); 11 August 1804 (Austrian Empire proclaimed); 30 March 1867 (Austro-Hungarian dual monarchy established); 12 November 1918 (First Republic proclaimed); 27 April 1945 (Second Republic proclaimed) National holiday: National Day (commemorates passage of the law on permanent neutrality), 26 October (1955) Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 1 October 1920, revised 1929, replaced May 1934, replaced by German Weimar constitution in 1938 following German annexation, reinstated 1 May 1945 amendments: proposed through laws designated "constitutional laws" or through the constitutional process if the amendment is part of another law; approval required by at least a two-thirds majority vote by the National Assembly and the presence of one half of the members; a referendum is required only if requested by one third of the National Council or Federal Council membership; passage by referendum requires absolute majority vote; amended many times, last in 2020 Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Austria dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Alexander VAN DER BELLEN (since 26 January 2017) head of government: Chancellor Karl NEHAMMER (since 6 December 2021); note - Chancellor Alexander SCHALLENBERG (since 9 October 2021) resigned on 2 December 2021 cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); elections last held on 24 April 2016 (first round), 22 May 2016 (second round, which was annulled), and 4 December 2016 (second round re-vote) (next election to be held in October 2022); chancellor appointed by the president but determined by the majority coalition parties in the Federal Assembly; vice chancellor appointed by the president on the advice of the chancellor election results: 2016: Alexander VAN DER BELLEN elected in second round; percent of vote in first round - Norbert HOFER (FPOe) 35.1%, Alexander VAN DER BELLEN (independent, allied with the Greens) 21.3%, Irmgard GRISS (independent) 18.9%, Rudolf HUNDSTORFER (SPOe) 11.3%, Andreas KHOL (OeVP) 11.1%, Richard LUGNER (independent) 2.3%; percent of vote in second round re-vote - Alexander VAN DER BELLEN 53.8%, Norbert HOFER 46.2% 2010:  Heinz Fischer re-elected; percent of vote - Heinz Fischer 79.3%, Barbara Rosenkranz 15.2%, Rudolf Gehring 5.4% Legislative branch: description: bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of: Federal Council or Bundesrat (61 seats; members appointed by state parliaments with each state receiving 3 to 12 seats in proportion to its population; members serve 5- or 6-year terms) National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms) elections: Federal Council - last appointed in 2021 National Council - last held on 29 September 2019 (next to be held in 2024); note - election was originally scheduled for 2022, but President VAN DER BELLEN called for an early election election results: Federal Council - percent of vote by party - OeVP 42.6%, SPOe 31.2%. FPOe 16.4%, The Greens 8.2%, NEOS 1.6%; seats by party - OeVP 26, SPOe 19, FPOe 10, The Greens 5, NEOS 1; composition (as of March 2022) - men 36, women 25, percent of women 41%  National Council - percent of vote by party - OeVP 37.5%, SPOe 21.2%, FPOe 16.2%, The Greens 13.9%, NEOS 8.1%, other 3.1%; seats by party - OeVP 71, SPOe 40, FPOe 31, The Greens 26,  NEOS 15; composition (as of March 2022) - men 107, women 76, percent of women 41.5% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of Justice or Oberster Gerichtshof (consists of 85 judges organized into 17 senates or panels of 5 judges each); Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgerichtshof (consists of 20 judges including 6 substitutes; Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof - 2 judges plus other members depending on the importance of the case) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by executive branch departments and appointed by the president; judges serve for life; Constitutional Court judges nominated by several executive branch departments and approved by the president; judges serve for life; Administrative Court judges recommended by executive branch departments and appointed by the president; terms of judges and members determined by the president subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal (4); Regional Courts (20); district courts (120); county courts Political parties and leaders: Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Karl NEHAMMER] Communist Party of Austria or KPOe [Mirko MESSNER] Freedom Party of Austria or FPOe [Herbert KICKI] The Greens - The Green Alternative [Werner KOGLER] NEOS - The New Austria and Liberal Forum [Beate MEINL-REISINGER] Social Democratic Party of Austria or SPOe [Pamela RENDI-WAGNER] International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Martin WEISS (since 6 January 2020) chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035 telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700 FAX: [1] (202) 895-6750 email address and website: washington-ka@bmeia.gv.at https://www.austria.org/ consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York, Washington consulate(s): Chicago Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Victoria Reggie KENNEDY (since 12 January 2022) embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, 1090, Vienna mailing address: 9900 Vienna Place, Washington DC  20521-9900 telephone: [43] (1) 31339-0 FAX: [43] (1) 310-06-82 email address and website: ConsulateVienna@state.gov https://at.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red; the flag design is certainly one of the oldest - if not the oldest - national banners in the world; according to tradition, in 1191, following a fierce battle in the Third Crusade, Duke Leopold V of Austria's white tunic became completely blood-spattered; upon removal of his wide belt or sash, a white band was revealed; the red-white-red color combination was subsequently adopted as his banner National symbol(s): eagle, edelweiss, Alpine gentian; national colors: red, white National anthem: name: "Bundeshymne" (Federal Hymn) lyrics/music: Paula von PRERADOVIC/Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART or Johann HOLZER (disputed) note 1: adopted 1947; the anthem is also known as "Land der Berge, Land am Strome" (Land of the Mountains, Land by the River); Austria adopted a new national anthem after World War II to replace the former imperial anthem composed by Franz Josef HAYDN, which had been appropriated by Germany in 1922 and was thereafter associated with the Nazi regime; a gendered version of the lyrics was adopted by the Austrian Federal Assembly in fall 2011 and became effective 1 January 2012 note 2: the beloved waltz "The Blue Danube" ("An der schoenen, blauen Donau"), composed in 1866 by the Austrian composer Johann STRAUSS II, is consistently referred to as Austria's unofficial national anthem  National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 12 (11 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Salzburg (c); Palace and Gardens of Schönbrunn (c); Halstadt–Dachstein/Salzkammergut Cultural Landscape (c); Semmering railway (c); Historic Graz and Schloss Eggenberg (c); Wachau Cultural Landscape (c); Historic Vienna (c); Fertő/Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape (c); Baden bei Wien (c); Primeval Beech Forests - Dürrenstein, Kalkalpen (n) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Austria is a well-developed market economy with skilled labor force and high standard of living. It is closely tied to other EU economies, especially Germany's, but also the US’, its third-largest trade partner. Its economy features a large service sector, a sound industrial sector, and a small, but highly developed agricultural sector.   Austrian economic growth strengthen in 2017, with a 2.9% increase in GDP. Austrian exports, accounting for around 60% of the GDP, were up 8.2% in 2017. Austria’s unemployment rate fell by 0.3% to 5.5%, which is low by European standards, but still at its second highest rate since the end of World War II, driven by an increased number of refugees and EU migrants entering the labor market.   Austria's fiscal position compares favorably with other euro-zone countries. The budget deficit stood at a low 0.7% of GDP in 2017 and public debt declined again to 78.4% of GDP in 2017, after reaching a post-war high 84.6% in 2015. The Austrian government has announced it plans to balance the fiscal budget in 2019. Several external risks, such as Austrian banks' exposure to Central and Eastern Europe, the refugee crisis, and continued unrest in Russia/Ukraine, eased in 2017, but are still a factor for the Austrian economy. Exposure to the Russian banking sector and a deep energy relationship with Russia present additional risks.   Austria elected a new pro-business government in October 2017 that campaigned on promises to reduce bureaucracy, improve public sector efficiency, reduce labor market protections, and provide positive investment incentives.Austria is a well-developed market economy with skilled labor force and high standard of living. It is closely tied to other EU economies, especially Germany's, but also the US’, its third-largest trade partner. Its economy features a large service sector, a sound industrial sector, and a small, but highly developed agricultural sector. Austrian economic growth strengthen in 2017, with a 2.9% increase in GDP. Austrian exports, accounting for around 60% of the GDP, were up 8.2% in 2017. Austria’s unemployment rate fell by 0.3% to 5.5%, which is low by European standards, but still at its second highest rate since the end of World War II, driven by an increased number of refugees and EU migrants entering the labor market. Austria's fiscal position compares favorably with other euro-zone countries. The budget deficit stood at a low 0.7% of GDP in 2017 and public debt declined again to 78.4% of GDP in 2017, after reaching a post-war high 84.6% in 2015. The Austrian government has announced it plans to balance the fiscal budget in 2019. Several external risks, such as Austrian banks' exposure to Central and Eastern Europe, the refugee crisis, and continued unrest in Russia/Ukraine, eased in 2017, but are still a factor for the Austrian economy. Exposure to the Russian banking sector and a deep energy relationship with Russia present additional risks. Austria elected a new pro-business government in October 2017 that campaigned on promises to reduce bureaucracy, improve public sector efficiency, reduce labor market protections, and provide positive investment incentives. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $463.12 billion (2020 est.) $495.8 billion (2019 est.) $488.86 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 1.42% (2019 est.) 2.58% (2018 est.) 2.4% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $51,900 (2020 est.) $55,800 (2019 est.) $55,300 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $445.025 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (2019 est.) 2% (2018 est.) 2% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: AA+ (2015) Moody's rating: Aa1 (2016) Standard & Poors rating: AA+ (2012) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 1.3% (2017 est.) industry: 28.4% (2017 est.) services: 70.3% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 52.1% (2017 est.) government consumption: 19.5% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.5% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1.6% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 54.2% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -50.7% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: milk, maize, sugar beet, wheat, barley, potatoes, pork, triticale, grapes, apples Industries: construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, metals, chemicals, lumber and paper, electronics, tourism Industrial production growth rate: 6.5% (2017 est.) Labor force: 3.739 million (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 0.7% industry: 25.2% services: 74.1% (2017 est.) Unemployment rate: 7.35% (2019 est.) 7.7% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 10.5% male: 11.3% female: 9.5% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 13.3% (2018 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 29.7 (2017 est.) 30.5 (2014) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 23.5% (2012 est.) Budget: revenues: 201.7 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 204.6 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -0.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 78.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 83.6% of GDP (2016 est.) note: this is general government gross debt, defined in the Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year; it covers the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA95): currency and deposits (AF.2), securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives (AF.3, excluding AF.34), and loans (AF.4); the general government sector comprises the sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government and social security funds; as a percentage of GDP, the GDP used as a denominator is the gross domestic product in current year prices Taxes and other revenues: 48.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: $12.667 billion (2019 est.) $5.989 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $226.79 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $247.17 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $253.3 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Germany 28%, United States 7%, Italy 6%, Switzerland 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: cars, packaged medical supplies, vehicle parts, medical vaccines/cultures, flavored water (2019) Imports: $211.85 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $232.8 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $238.79 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Germany 39%, Italy 7%, Czechia 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: cars, vehicle parts, broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, packaged medical supplies (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $21.57 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $23.36 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $688.434 billion (2019 est.) $686.196 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.82771 (2020 est.) 0.90338 (2019 est.) 0.87789 (2018 est.) 0.885 (2014 est.) 0.7634 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 28.376 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 69,905,200,000 kWh (2020 est.) exports: 22,918,265,000 kWh (2020 est.) imports: 24.522 billion kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 3.192 billion kWh (2020 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 17.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 2.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 9.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 62.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 7.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 1.327 million metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 4.899 million metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 3.667 million metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 20,100 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 278,700 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 168,300 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 35.2 million barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 186,500 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 49,960 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 135,500 bbl/day (2017 est.) Natural gas: production: 924.515 million cubic meters (2019 est.) consumption: 9,207,632,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 2,800,248,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) imports: 14,114,028,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) proven reserves: 5.04 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 65.54 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 10.508 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 37.336 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 17.695 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 171.299 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 3,786,725 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 42 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 10,717,445 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: mature telecom market, dominated by Telekom Austria, Magenta Telekom (formed from the merger of T-Mobile Austria and the cableco UPC Austria), and 3 Austria; the mobile market benefits from a growing number of MVNOs; the telcos as well as the government and regulator have been focused on delivering improved telecom infrastructure; the government has a program to provide a national gigabit service by 2030, delivered by private enterprise though with some state funding; this is based on fibrer networks supported by 5G, with the MNOs able to expand the reach of their 5G services following auctions held in March 2019 and September 2020; the fixed-line broadband market is still dominated by the DSL sector, while the cable broadband sector has held a steady share of connections in recent years; the fiber sector was slow to develop, and although fiber remains low there are plans to build out the network infrastructure; by February 2021, A1 Telekom’s fibre network reached more than 2.3 million premises; Magenta Telekom continues to invest in DOCSIS3.1 technology, and by mid-2021 about a third of premises (some 1.4 million) nationally could access the company’s gigabit service. (2021) domestic: developed and efficient; 42 per 100 fixed-line for households, 174 per 100 for companies; roughly 119 per 100 mobile-cellular; broadband: 138 per 100 on smartphones; roughly 29 per 100 fixed broadband and 107 per 100 mobile broadband (2020) international: country code - 43; earth stations available in the Astra, Intelsat, Eutelsat satellite systems (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: worldwide cable and satellite TV are available; the public incumbent ORF competes with three other major, several regional domestic, and up to 400 international TV stations; TV coverage is in principle 100%, but only 90% use broadcast media; Internet streaming not only complements, but increasingly replaces regular TV stations (2019) Internet country code: .at Internet users: total: 7,846,840 (2020 est.) percent of population: 88% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 2.606 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29 (2020 est.) Communications - note: note 1: the Austrian National Library contains important collections of the Imperial Library of the Holy Roman Empire and of the Austrian Empire, as well as of the Austrian Republic; among its more than 12 million items are outstanding holdings of rare books, maps, globes, papyrus, and music; its Globe Museum is the only one in the world note 2: on 1 October 1869, Austria-Hungary introduced the world's first postal card - postal stationery with an imprinted stamp indicating the prepayment of postage; simple and cheap (sent for a fraction of the cost of a regular letter), postal cards became an instant success, widely produced in the millions worldwide note 3: Austria followed up with the creation of the world's first commercial picture postcards - cards bearing a picture or photo to which postage is affixed - in May 1871; sent from Vienna, the image served as a souvenir of the city; together, postal cards and post cards served as the world's e-mails of the late 19th and early 20th centuries note 4: Austria was also an airmail pioneer; from March to October of 1918, it conducted the world's first regular (daily) airmail service - between the imperial cities of Vienna, Krakow, and Lemberg - a combined distance of some 650 km (400 mi) (earlier airmail services had been set up in a few parts of the world, but only for short stretches and none lasted beyond a few days or weeks); an expansion of the route in June of 1918 allowed private mail to be flown to Kyiv, in newly independent Ukraine, which made the route the world's first regular international airmail service (covering a distance of some 1,200 km; 750 mi) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 11 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 130 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 12,935,505 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 373.51 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: OE Airports: total: 50 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 24 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 13 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 28 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 24 (2021) Heliports: 1 (2021) Pipelines: 1,888 km gas, 594 km oil, 157 km refined products (2017) Railways: total: 5,300 km (2018) (2017) standard gauge: 5,300 km 1.435-m gauge (3,826 km electrified) (2016) Roadways: total: 137,039 km (2018) paved: 137,039 km (2018) (includes 2,232 km of expressways) Waterways: 358 km (2011) Merchant marine: total: 1 by type: other 1 (2021) Ports and terminals: river port(s): Enns, Krems, Linz, Vienna (Danube) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Austrian Armed Forces: Land Forces, Air Forces, Cyber Forces, Special Forces (2022) Military expenditures: 0.9% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2020) 0.7% of GDP (2019) (approximately $3.78 billion) 0.7% of GDP (2018) (approximately $3.82 billion) 0.8% of GDP (2017) (approximately $3.71 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 25,000 active duty personnel (20,000 Army; 5,000 Air Force) (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Austrian military's inventory includes a mix of domestically-produced and imported weapons systems from European countries and the US; the Austrian defense industry produces a range of equipment and partners with other countries (2021) Military service age and obligation: registration requirement at age 17, the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; 18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory military service (6 months), or optionally, alternative civil/community service (9 months); males 18 to 50 years old in the militia or inactive reserve are subject to compulsory service; in a January 2012 referendum, a majority of Austrians voted in favor of retaining the system of compulsory military service (with the option of alternative/non-military service) instead of switching to a professional army system (2021) note: as of 2019, women made up about 4% of the military's full-time personnel Military deployments: 170 Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR stabilization force); 300 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); 200 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (Aug 2022) Military - note: Austria is constitutionally non-aligned, but is an EU member and actively participates in EU peacekeeping and crisis management operations under the Common Security and Defense Policy; Austria is not a member of NATO, but joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace framework in 1995 and participates in NATO-led crisis management and peacekeeping operations; as of 2022, more than 100,000 Austrian military and civilian personnel had taken part in more than 50 international peace support and humanitarian missions since 1960 (2022)Austria is constitutionally non-aligned, but is an EU member and actively participates in EU peacekeeping and crisis management operations under the Common Security and Defense Policy; Austria is not a member of NATO, but joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace framework in 1995 and participates in NATO-led crisis management and peacekeeping operations; as of 2022, more than 100,000 Austrian military and civilian personnel had taken part in more than 50 international peace support and humanitarian missions since 1960 Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none identifiednone identified Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 57,887 (Syria), 41,037 (Afghanistan), 9,661 (Iraq), 8,212 (Somalia), 7,046 (Iran), 7,003 (Russia) (mid-year 2021); 78,158 (Ukraine) (as of 16 August 2022) stateless persons: 3,229 (mid-year 2021) Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; increasing consumption of European-produced synthetic drugs

20220901

countries-puerto-rico

Topic: Photos of Puerto Rico Topic: Introduction Background: Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following Christopher COLUMBUS' second voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and African slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917. Popularly elected governors have served since 1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal self-government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose not to alter the existing political status with the US, but the results of a 2012 vote left open the possibility of American statehood. Economic recession on the island has led to a net population loss since about 2005, as large numbers of residents moved to the US mainland. The trend has accelerated since 2010; in 2014, Puerto Rico experienced a net population loss to the mainland of 64,000, more than double the net loss of 26,000 in 2010. Hurricane Maria struck the island on 20 September 2017 causing catastrophic damage, including destruction of the electrical grid that had been crippled by Hurricane Irma just two weeks before. It was the worst storm to hit the island in eight decades, and damage is estimated in the tens of billions of dollars. A referendum held in late 2020 showed a narrow preference for American statehood.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic Geographic coordinates: 18 15 N, 66 30 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 9,104 sq km land: 8,959 sq km water: 145 sq km Area - comparative: slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 501 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation Terrain: mostly mountains with coastal plain in north; precipitous mountains to the sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas Elevation: highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m mean elevation: 261 m Natural resources: some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil Land use: agricultural land: 22% (2018 est.) arable land: 6.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 5.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 9.8% (2018 est.) forest: 63.2% (2018 est.) other: 14.8% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 220 sq km (2012) Population distribution: population clusters tend to be found along the coast, the largest of these is found in and around San Juan; an exception to this is a sizeable population located in the interior of the island immediately south of the capital around Caguas; most of the interior, particularly in the western half of the island, is dominated by the Cordillera Central mountains, where population density is low Natural hazards: periodic droughts; hurricanes Geography - note: important location along the Mona Passage - a key shipping lane to the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north Map description: Puerto Rico map showing major population centers and islands of this US territory in the Caribbean Sea.Puerto Rico map showing major population centers and islands of this US territory in the Caribbean Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 3,098,423 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens) adjective: Puerto Rican Ethnic groups: White 75.8%, Black/African American 12.4%, other 8.5% (includes American Indian, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, other Pacific Islander, and others), mixed 3.3% (2010 est.) note: 99% of the population is Latino Languages: Spanish, English major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Roman Catholic 56%, Protestant 33% (largely Pentecostal), other 2%, atheist 1%, none 7% (2014 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 14.22% (male 231,406/female 222,061) 15-24 years: 12.78% (male 207,169/female 200,373) 25-54 years: 37.73% (male 573,114/female 630,276) 55-64 years: 13.5% (male 197,438/female 232,931) 65 years and over: 21.77% (2020 est.) (male 297,749/female 396,551) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 57.7 youth dependency ratio: 24.8 elderly dependency ratio: 32.8 potential support ratio: 3 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 43.6 years male: 41.6 years female: 45.3 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -1.38% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 7.87 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 9.76 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -11.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: population clusters tend to be found along the coast, the largest of these is found in and around San Juan; an exception to this is a sizeable population located in the interior of the island immediately south of the capital around Caguas; most of the interior, particularly in the western half of the island, is dominated by the Cordillera Central mountains, where population density is low Urbanization: urban population: 93.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 2.443 million SAN JUAN (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.85 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 21 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 6.04 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.61 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 81.68 years male: 78.47 years female: 85.08 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.24 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: NA Physicians density: 3.06 physicians/1,000 population (2018) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 6.1% of GDP (2014 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.4% male: 92.4% female: 92.4% (2017) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 16 years male: 15 years female: 18 years (2018) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 26.6% male: 28.9% female: 23.1% (2012 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: soil erosion; occasional droughts cause water shortages; industrial pollution Climate: tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation Land use: agricultural land: 22% (2018 est.) arable land: 6.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 5.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 9.8% (2018 est.) forest: 63.2% (2018 est.) other: 14.8% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 93.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 4,170,953 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 583,933 tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 14% (2013 est.) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 796 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 2.365 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 113.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 7.1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico conventional short form: Puerto Rico abbreviation: PR etymology: Christopher COLUMBUS named the island San Juan Bautista (Saint John the Baptist) and the capital city and main port Cuidad de Puerto Rico (Rich Port City); over time, however, the names were shortened and transposed and the island came to be called Puerto Rico and its capital San Juan Government type: unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches; note - reference Puerto Rican Federal Relations Act, 2 March 1917, as amended by Public Law 600, 3 July 1950 Dependency status: unincorporated organized territory of the US with commonwealth status; policy relations between Puerto Rico and the US conducted under the jurisdiction of the Office of the President Capital: name: San Juan geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 66 07 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name dates to 1521 and the founding of the city under the name "Ciudad de San Juan Bautista de Puerto Rico" (City of Saint John the Baptist of Puerto Rico) Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 78 municipalities (municipios, singular - municipio) at the second order; Adjuntas, Aguada, Aguadilla, Aguas Buenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta, Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy, Canovanas, Carolina, Catano, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo, Comerio, Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guanica, Guayama, Guayanilla, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Humacao, Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, Las Piedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo, Mayaguez, Moca, Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas, Penuelas, Ponce, Quebradillas, Rincon, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande, Salinas, San German, San Juan, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa Isabel, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega Baja, Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa, Yauco Independence: none (territory of the US with commonwealth status) National holiday: US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25 July (1952) Constitution: history: previous 1900 (Organic Act, or Foraker Act); latest ratified by referendum 3 March 1952, approved 3 July 1952, effective 25 July 1952 amendments: proposed by a concurrent resolution of at least two-thirds majority by the total Legislative Assembly membership; approval requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses and approval by a majority of voters in a special referendum; if passed by at least three-fourths Assembly vote, the referendum can be held concurrently with the next general election; constitutional articles such as the republican form of government or the bill of rights cannot be amended; amended 1952 Legal system: civil law system based on the Spanish civil code and within the framework of the US federal system Citizenship: see United States Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections Executive branch: chief of state: President Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. (since 20 January 2021); Vice President Kamala D. HARRIS (since 20 January 2021) head of government: Governor Pedro PIERLUISI (since 2 January 2021) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by governor with the consent of the Legislative Assembly elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of Puerto Rico do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican party presidential primary elections; governor directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term (no term limits); election last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held on  November 2024) election results: Pedro PIERLUISI elected governor; percent of vote - Pedro PIERLUISI (PNP) 32.9%, Carlos DELGADO (PPD) 31.6%, Alexandra LUGARO (independent) 14.2%, Juan DALMAU (PIP) 13.7% note: on 24 July 2019, Governor Ricardo ROSSELLO announced his resignation effective 2 August 2019; as Secretary of State, Pedro PIERLUISI succeeded Governor Ricardo ROSSELLO; on 7 August 2019 the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico ruled Pedro PIERLUISI accession was unconstitutional and Wanda VAZQUEZ is sworn in as governor Legislative branch: description: bicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa consists of: Senate or Senado (30 seats statutory, 27 current; 16 members directly elected in 8 2-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 11 at-large members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) House of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (51 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held on 5 November 2024 ) House of Representatives - last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held on 5 November 2024) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPD 12, NP 10, MVC 2, PD 1,  PIP 1, independent 1; composition - men 17, women 10; percent of women 37% House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPD 26, PNP 21, MVC 2,  PIP 1, PD 1; composition - men 41, women 10, percent of women 19.6%; note - total Legislative Assembly percent of women 25.6% note: Puerto Rico directly elects 1 member by simple majority vote to serve a 4-year term as a commissioner to the US House of Representatives; the commissioner can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House but not when legislation is submitted for a 'full floor' House vote; election of commissioner last held on 6 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2022)Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPD 12, NP 10, MVC 2, PD 1,  PIP 1, independent 1; composition - men 17, women 10; percent of women 37%note: Puerto Rico directly elects 1 member by simple majority vote to serve a 4-year term as a commissioner to the US House of Representatives; the commissioner can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House but not when legislation is submitted for a 'full floor' House vote; election of commissioner last held on 6 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2022) Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 8 associate justices) judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor and confirmed by majority Senate vote; judges serve until compulsory retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; First Instance Court comprised of superior and municipal courts Political parties and leaders: Citizens' Victory Movement (Movimiento Victoria Ciudadana) or MVC [Manuel NATAL Alberto] National Democratic Party [Charlie RODRIGUEZ] National Republican Party of Puerto Rico [Jenniffer GONZALEZ] New Progressive Party or PNP [Ricardo ROSSELLO] (pro-US statehood) Popular Democratic Party or PPD [Alejandro GARCIA Padillo] (pro-commonwealth) Project Dignity (Projecto Dignidad) or PD [Cesar VASQUEZ Muniz] Puerto Rican Independence Party or PIP [Ruben BERRIOS Martinez] (pro-independence) International organization participation: AOSIS (observer), Caricom (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNWTO (associate), UPU, WFTU (NGOs) Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of the US) Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (territory of the US with commonwealth status) Flag description: five equal horizontal bands of red (top, center, and bottom) alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a large, white, five-pointed star in the center; the white star symbolizes Puerto Rico; the three sides of the triangle signify the executive, legislative and judicial parts of the government; blue stands for the sky and the coastal waters; red symbolizes the blood shed by warriors, while white represents liberty, victory, and peace note: design initially influenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed National symbol(s): Puerto Rican spindalis (bird), coqui (frog); national colors: red, white, blue National anthem: name: "La Borinquena" (The Puerto Rican) lyrics/music: Manuel Fernandez JUNCOS/Felix Astol ARTES note: music adopted 1952, lyrics adopted 1977; the local anthem's name is a reference to the indigenous name of the island, Borinquen; the music was originally composed as a dance in 1867 and gained popularity in the early 20th century; there is some evidence that the music was written by Francisco RAMIREZ; as a commonwealth of the US, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is official (see United States) National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural); note - excerpted from the US entry selected World Heritage Site locales: La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site Topic: Economy Economic overview: Puerto Rico had one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region until 2006; however, growth has been negative for each of the last 11 years. The downturn coincided with the phaseout of tax preferences that had led US firms to invest heavily in the Commonwealth since the 1950s, and a steep rise in the price of oil, which generates most of the island's electricity.   Diminished job opportunities prompted a sharp rise in outmigration, as many Puerto Ricans sought jobs on the US mainland. Unemployment reached 16% in 2011, but declined to 11.5% in December 2017. US minimum wage laws apply in Puerto Rico, hampering job expansion. Per capita income is about two-thirds that of the US mainland.   The industrial sector greatly exceeds agriculture as the locus of economic activity and income. Tourism has traditionally been an important source of income with estimated arrivals of more than 3.6 million tourists in 2008. Puerto Rico's merchandise trade surplus is exceptionally strong, with exports nearly 50% greater than imports, and its current account surplus about 10% of GDP.   Closing the budget deficit while restoring economic growth and employment remain the central concerns of the government. The gap between revenues and expenditures amounted to 0.6% of GDP in 2016, although analysts believe that not all expenditures have been accounted for in the budget and a better accounting of costs would yield an overall deficit of roughly 5% of GDP. Public debt remained steady at 92.5% of GDP in 2017, about $17,000 per person, or nearly three times the per capita debt of the State of Connecticut, the highest in the US. Much of that debt was issued by state-run schools and public corporations, including water and electric utilities. In June 2015, Governor Alejandro GARCIA Padilla announced that the island could not pay back at least $73 billion in debt and that it would seek a deal with its creditors.   Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico square on in September 2017, causing electrical power outages to 90% of the territory, as well as extensive loss of housing and infrastructure and contamination of potable water. Despite massive efforts, more than 40% of the territory remained without electricity as of yearend 2017. As a result of the destruction, many Puerto Ricans have emigrated to the US mainland.Puerto Rico had one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region until 2006; however, growth has been negative for each of the last 11 years. The downturn coincided with the phaseout of tax preferences that had led US firms to invest heavily in the Commonwealth since the 1950s, and a steep rise in the price of oil, which generates most of the island's electricity. Diminished job opportunities prompted a sharp rise in outmigration, as many Puerto Ricans sought jobs on the US mainland. Unemployment reached 16% in 2011, but declined to 11.5% in December 2017. US minimum wage laws apply in Puerto Rico, hampering job expansion. Per capita income is about two-thirds that of the US mainland. The industrial sector greatly exceeds agriculture as the locus of economic activity and income. Tourism has traditionally been an important source of income with estimated arrivals of more than 3.6 million tourists in 2008. Puerto Rico's merchandise trade surplus is exceptionally strong, with exports nearly 50% greater than imports, and its current account surplus about 10% of GDP. Closing the budget deficit while restoring economic growth and employment remain the central concerns of the government. The gap between revenues and expenditures amounted to 0.6% of GDP in 2016, although analysts believe that not all expenditures have been accounted for in the budget and a better accounting of costs would yield an overall deficit of roughly 5% of GDP. Public debt remained steady at 92.5% of GDP in 2017, about $17,000 per person, or nearly three times the per capita debt of the State of Connecticut, the highest in the US. Much of that debt was issued by state-run schools and public corporations, including water and electric utilities. In June 2015, Governor Alejandro GARCIA Padilla announced that the island could not pay back at least $73 billion in debt and that it would seek a deal with its creditors. Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico square on in September 2017, causing electrical power outages to 90% of the territory, as well as extensive loss of housing and infrastructure and contamination of potable water. Despite massive efforts, more than 40% of the territory remained without electricity as of yearend 2017. As a result of the destruction, many Puerto Ricans have emigrated to the US mainland. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $106.82 billion (2020 est.) $111.16 billion (2019 est.) $109.53 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: -2.4% (2017 est.) -1.3% (2016 est.) -1% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $33,400 (2020 est.) $34,800 (2019 est.) $34,300 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $104.2 billion (2017 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.8% (2017 est.) -0.3% (2016 est.) Credit ratings: Standard & Poors rating: D (2015) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0.8% (2017 est.) industry: 50.1% (2017 est.) services: 49.1% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 87.7% (2017 est.) government consumption: 12.2% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 11.7% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.5% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 117.8% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -129.8% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: milk, plantains, bananas, poultry, tomatoes, mangoes/guavas, eggs, oranges, gourds, papayas Industries: pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism Industrial production growth rate: -2.1% (2017 est.) Labor force: 1.139 million (December 2014 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 2.1% industry: 19% services: 79% (2005 est.) Unemployment rate: 10.8% (2017 est.) 11.8% (2016 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 26.6% male: 28.9% female: 23.1% (2012 est.) Population below poverty line: NA Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 9.268 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 9.974 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -0.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 51.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 50.1% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 8.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June Current account balance: $0 (2017 est.) $0 (2016 est.) Exports: $73.17 billion (2017 est.) $73.2 billion (2016 est.) Exports - partners: Italy 15%, Netherlands 15%, Belgium 9%, Japan 8%, Germany 8%, Austria 8%, Spain 7%, China 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: packaged medicines, medical cultures/vaccines, hormones, orthopedic and medical appliances, sulfur compounds (2019) Imports: $49.01 billion (2017 est.) $48.86 billion (2016 est.) Imports - partners: Ireland 38%, Singapore 9%, Switzerland 8%, South Korea 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: nitrogen compounds, sulfur compounds, refined petroleum, medical cultures/vaccines, cars (2019) Debt - external: $56.82 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $52.98 billion (31 December 2009 est.) Exchange rates: the US dollar is usedthe US dollar is used Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 6.18 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 15,203,140,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 2.5 billion kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 94.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 3.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 1.361 million metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 1.502 million metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 79,000 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 18,420 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 127,100 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 1,366,512,000 cubic meters (2020 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 1,366,512,000 cubic meters (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 18.999 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 3.774 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 11.407 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 3.818 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 94.379 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 711,512 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 3,483,570 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 122 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Puerto Rico has a small telecom market which in recent years has been deeply affected by a combination of economic mismanagement and natural disasters, including two hurricanes which landed in late 2017 and an earthquake which struck in January 2020; these disasters caused considerable destruction of telecom infrastructure, which in turn led to a marked decline in the number of subscribers for all services; compounding these difficulties have been a long-term economic downturn which encouraged many people not to resume telecom services after these were restored; after some delay, the FCC in late 2019 issued an order relating to the release of funds to help rebuild telecom infrastructure; although Puerto Rico is a US territory it lags well behind the mainland US states in terms of fixed-line and broadband services; this is partly due to high unemployment rates (and consequently low disposable income) and poor telecoms investment in a market largely dominated by the incumbent Puerto Rico Telephone Company; this dominance was augmented after the company was acquired by the largest wireless operator in Latin America, América Móvil, in 2007; the acquisition by Liberty Global of the remaining cable TV operator Choice Cable, completed in mid-2015, created a monopoly player in this sector; Liberty Cablevisión (renamed Liberty Communications of Puerto Rico in 2020), now wholly-owned by Liberty Global’s LLA division, is in a stronger position to capitalize on scale, and so provide improved services based on greater investment and on the use of technology based on the DOCSIS3.1 standard; Liberty Communications has also become better placed in the bundled service market following LLA’s acquisition of AT&T’s wireless and wire line units in Puerto Rico; the mobile market has been impacted by several mergers and acquisitions over the last few years; in early 2017 Sprint and Open Wireless agreed to merge their networks in a bid to offer better market competition by increasing their scale and combining spectrum holdings; the T-Mobile US acquisition of Sprint Communications was approved in April 2020, and LLA’s acquisition of AT&T’s Puerto Rican and US Virgin Islands operations was finalized in October 2020; the activities of large multinational telcos such as América Móvil, T-Mobile US, and LLA, continue to impact the Puerto Rican market; operators have secured spectrum in the 600MHz and 3.5GHz bands, thus enabling them to expand the reach of LTE services and launch services based on 5G;  the growing number of submarine cables landing in Puerto Rico is helping to drive down the cost of telecom services, creating a demand for streaming content from abroad; the uptake of cloud-based applications for both business and individuals is also creating a heightened demand for affordable services. (2021) domestic: digital telephone system; mobile-cellular services; fixed-line nearly 25 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 122 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 1-787, 939; landing points for the GTMO-PR, AMX-1, BRUSA, GCN, PCCS, SAm-1, Southern Caribbean Fiber, Americas-II, Antillas, ARCOS, SMPR-1, and Taino-Carib submarine cables providing connectivity to the mainland US, Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: more than 30 TV stations operating; cable TV subscription services are available; roughly 125 radio stations Internet country code: .pr Internet users: total: 2,559,600 (2020 est.) percent of population: 78% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 671,284 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation Airports: total: 29 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 17 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 5 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 10 (2021) Roadways: total: 26,862 km (2012) (includes 454 km of expressways) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Ensenada Honda, Mayaguez, Playa de Guayanilla, Playa de Ponce, San Juan container port(s) (TEUs): San Juan (2,142,662) (2019) LNG terminal(s) (import): Guayanilla Bay Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: no regular indigenous military forces; National Guard, State Guard, Police Force Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico each year looking for workillegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico each year looking for work

20220901

countries-macau

Topic: Photos of Macau Topic: Introduction Background: Colonized by the Portuguese in the 16th century, Macau was the first European settlement in the Far East. Pursuant to an agreement signed by China and Portugal on 13 April 1987, Macau became the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China on 20 December 1999. In this agreement, China promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's political and economic system would not be imposed on Macau, and that Macau would enjoy a "high degree of autonomy" in all matters except foreign affairs and defense for the subsequent 50 years.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China Geographic coordinates: 22 10 N, 113 33 E Map references: Southeast Asia Area: total: 28 sq km land: 28.2 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: less than one-sixth the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 3 km regional borders (1): China 3 km Coastline: 41 km Maritime claims: not specified Climate: subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers Terrain: generally flat Elevation: highest point: Alto Coloane 172 m lowest point: South China Sea 0 m Natural resources: NEGL Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012) Population distribution: population fairly equally distributed Natural hazards: typhoons Geography - note: essentially urban; an area of land reclaimed from the sea measuring 5.2 sq km and known as Cotai now connects the islands of Coloane and Taipa; the island area is connected to the mainland peninsula by three bridges Map description: Macau map showing major districts of this special administrative region of China that extends into the South China Sea.Macau map showing major districts of this special administrative region of China that extends into the South China Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 635,293 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Chinese adjective: Chinese Ethnic groups: Chinese 88.7%, Portuguese 1.1%, mixed 1.1%, other 9.2% (includes Macanese - mixed Portuguese and Asian ancestry) (2016 est.) Languages: Cantonese 80.1%, Mandarin 5.5%, other Chinese dialects 5.3%, Tagalog 3%, English 2.8%, Portuguese 0.6%, other 2.8%; note - Chinese and Portuguese are official languages; Macanese, a Portuguese-based Creole, is also spoken (2016 est.) major-language sample(s): 世界概况, 必須擁有的基本資料参考书 (Cantonese) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.世界概况, 必須擁有的基本資料参考书 (Cantonese) Religions: folk religion 58.9%, Buddhist 17.3%, Christian 7.2%, other 1.2%, none 15.4% (2020 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 13.43% (male 42,449/female 40,051) 15-24 years: 10.45% (male 33,845/female 30,354) 25-54 years: 49% (male 134,302/female 166,762) 55-64 years: 14.57% (male 44,512/female 45,007) 65 years and over: 12.56% (2020 est.) (male 36,223/female 40,953) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 35.7 youth dependency ratio: 19.5 elderly dependency ratio: 16.2 potential support ratio: 6.2 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 40.8 years male: 40.7 years female: 40.9 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.75% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 9.11 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 4.72 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 3.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: population fairly equally distributed Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 672,000 Macau (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.83 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 4.59 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.68 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 84.98 years male: 82.09 years female: 88.02 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.22 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020) Current Health Expenditure: NA Physicians density: NA HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 3.1% of GDP (2019 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.5% male: 98.2% female: 95% (2016) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 17 years male: 16 years female: 18 years (2020) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 8.1% male: 9.9% female: 6.4% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: air pollution; coastal waters pollution; insufficient policies in reducing and recycling solid wastes; increasing population density worsening noise pollution Air pollutants: carbon dioxide emissions: 2.07 megatons (2016 est.) Climate: subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 377,942 tons (2016 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 75,588 tons (2014 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 20% (2014 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Macau Special Administrative Region conventional short form: Macau official long form: Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese)/ Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese) official short form: Aomen (Chinese)/ Macau (Portuguese) etymology: name is thought to derive from the A-Ma Temple - built in 1488 and dedicated to Mazu, the goddess of seafarers and fishermen - which is referred to locally as "Maa Gok" - and in Portuguese became "Macau"; the Chinese name Aomen means "inlet gates" Government type: executive-led limited democracy; a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China Dependency status: special administrative region of the People's Republic of China Administrative divisions: none (special administrative region of the People's Republic of China) Independence: none (special administrative region of China) National holiday: National Day (anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note - 20 December (1999) is celebrated as Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day Constitution: history: previous 1976 (Organic Statute of Macau, under Portuguese authority); latest adopted 31 March 1993, effective 20 December 1999 (Basic Law of the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China serves as Macau's constitution) amendments: proposed by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the People’s Republic of China State Council, and the Macau Special Administrative Region; submittal of proposals to the NPC requires two-thirds majority vote by the Legislative Assembly of Macau, approval by two thirds of Macau's deputies to the NPC, and consent of the Macau chief executive; final passage requires approval by the NPC; amended 2005, 2012 Legal system: civil law system based on the Portuguese model Citizenship: see China Suffrage: 18 years of age in direct elections for some legislative positions, universal for permanent residents living in Macau for the past 7 years; note - indirect elections are limited to organizations registered as "corporate voters" and an election committee for the chief executive drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, central government bodies, and elected Macau officials Executive branch: chief of state: President of China XI Jinping (since 14 March 2013) head of government: Chief Executive HO Iat Seng (since 20 December 2019) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the chief executive elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by National People's Congress for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 17 March 2018 (next to be held in March 2023); chief executive chosen by a 400-member Election Committee for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 24 August 2019 (next to be held in 2024) election results: 2019: HO Iat Seng (unopposed; received 392 out of 400 votes)  2014: Fernando CHUI Sai (unopposed; received 380 of 396 votes) Legislative branch: description: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau (33 seats; 14 members directly elected by proportional representation vote, 12 indirectly elected by an electoral college of professional and commercial interest groups, and 7 appointed by the chief executive; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 12 September 2021 (next to be held in September 2025) election results: percent of vote - ACUM 20.1%, UPD 18%, NE 13.8%, UMG 12.7%, UPP 11.4%, ABL 10.8%, PS 6.6%, other 6.6%; seats by political group - ACUM 3, UPD 2, UMG 2, UPP 2, ABL 2, NE 2, PS 1; composition NA Judicial branch: highest courts: Court of Final Appeal of Macau Special Administrative Region (consists of the court president and 2 associate justices) judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the Macau chief executive upon the recommendation of an independent commission of judges, lawyers, and "eminent" persons; judge tenure NA subordinate courts: Court of Second Instance; Court of First instance; Lower Court; Administrative Court Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Change or APM [Melinda CHAN Mei-yi] Alliance for a Happy Home or ABL [WONG Kit-cheng] (an electoral list of UPP) Civic Watch or Civico [Agnes LAM Iok-fong] Macau-Guangdong Union or UMG [MAK Soi-kun] Macau Citizens' Development Association or ACDM [Becky SONG Pek-kei] New Democratic Macau Association or ANMD [AU Kam-san] New Hope or NE [Jose Maria Pereira COUTINHO] New Macau Association (New Macau Progressives) or AMN or ANPM [Sulu SOU Ka-hou] New Union for Macau's Development or NUDM [Angela LEONG On-kei] Progress Promotion Union Prosperous Democratic Macau Association or APMD (an electoral list of AMN) Union for Development or UPD [HO Sut Hen] Union for Promoting Progress or UPP [HO Ion-sang] United Citizens Association of Macau or ACUM [CHAN Meng-kam] note: there is no political party ordinance, so there are no registered political parties; politically active groups register as societies or companies International organization participation: ICC (national committees), IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), ISO (correspondent), UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: none (Special Administrative Region of China) Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: the US has no offices in Macau; US Consulate General in Hong Kong is accredited to Macau Flag description: green with a lotus flower above a stylized bridge and water in white, beneath an arc of five gold, five-pointed stars: one large in the center of the arc and two smaller on either side; the lotus is the floral emblem of Macau, the three petals represent the peninsula and two islands that make up Macau; the five stars echo those on the flag of China National symbol(s): lotus blossom; national colors: green, white, yellow National anthem: note: as a Special Administrative Region of China, "Yiyongjun Jinxingqu" is the official anthem (see China)note: as a Special Administrative Region of China, "Yiyongjun Jinxingqu" is the official anthem (see China) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Since opening up its locally-controlled casino industry to foreign competition in 2001, Macau has attracted tens of billions of dollars in foreign investment, transforming the territory into one of the world's largest gaming centers. Macau's gaming and tourism businesses were fueled by China's decision to relax travel restrictions on Chinese citizens wishing to visit Macau. In 2016, Macau's gaming-related taxes accounted for more than 76% of total government revenue.   Macau's economy slowed dramatically in 2009 as a result of the global economic slowdown, but strong growth resumed in the 2010-13 period, largely on the back of tourism from mainland China and the gaming sectors. In 2015, this city of 646,800 hosted nearly 30.7 million visitors. Almost 67% came from mainland China. Macau's traditional manufacturing industry has slowed greatly since the termination of the Multi-Fiber Agreement in 2005. Services export — primarily gaming — increasingly has driven Macau’s economic performance. Mainland China’s anti-corruption campaign brought Macau’s gambling boom to a halt in 2014, with spending in casinos contracting 34.3% in 2015. As a result, Macau's inflation-adjusted GDP contracted 21.5% in 2015 and another 2.1% in 2016 - down from double-digit expansion rates in the period 2010-13 - but the economy recovered handsomely in 2017.   Macau continues to face the challenges of managing its growing casino industry, risks from money-laundering activities, and the need to diversify the economy away from heavy dependence on gaming revenues. Macau's currency, the pataca, is closely tied to the Hong Kong dollar, which is also freely accepted in the territory.Since opening up its locally-controlled casino industry to foreign competition in 2001, Macau has attracted tens of billions of dollars in foreign investment, transforming the territory into one of the world's largest gaming centers. Macau's gaming and tourism businesses were fueled by China's decision to relax travel restrictions on Chinese citizens wishing to visit Macau. In 2016, Macau's gaming-related taxes accounted for more than 76% of total government revenue. Macau's economy slowed dramatically in 2009 as a result of the global economic slowdown, but strong growth resumed in the 2010-13 period, largely on the back of tourism from mainland China and the gaming sectors. In 2015, this city of 646,800 hosted nearly 30.7 million visitors. Almost 67% came from mainland China. Macau's traditional manufacturing industry has slowed greatly since the termination of the Multi-Fiber Agreement in 2005. Services export — primarily gaming — increasingly has driven Macau’s economic performance. Mainland China’s anti-corruption campaign brought Macau’s gambling boom to a halt in 2014, with spending in casinos contracting 34.3% in 2015. As a result, Macau's inflation-adjusted GDP contracted 21.5% in 2015 and another 2.1% in 2016 - down from double-digit expansion rates in the period 2010-13 - but the economy recovered handsomely in 2017. Macau continues to face the challenges of managing its growing casino industry, risks from money-laundering activities, and the need to diversify the economy away from heavy dependence on gaming revenues. Macau's currency, the pataca, is closely tied to the Hong Kong dollar, which is also freely accepted in the territory. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $35.58 billion (2020 est.) $81.44 billion (2019 est.) $83.64 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 9.1% (2017 est.) -0.9% (2016 est.) -21.6% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $54,800 (2020 est.) $127,200 (2019 est.) $132,400 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $53.841 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.7% (2019 est.) 3% (2018 est.) 1.2% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: AA (2018) Moody's rating: Aa3 (2016) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0% (2016 est.) industry: 6.3% (2017 est.) services: 93.7% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 24.2% (2017 est.) government consumption: 9.9% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 18.5% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.8% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 79.4% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -32% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: pork, poultry, beef, pig fat, pig offals, eggs, pepper, cattle offals, cattle hides, goose/guinea fowl meat Industries: tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear, toys Industrial production growth rate: 2% (2017 est.) Labor force: 392,000 (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 2.5% industry: 9.8% services: 4.4% industry and services: 12.4% agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining: 15% manufacturing: 25.9% construction: 7.1% transportation and utilities: 2.6% commerce: 20.3% (2013 est.) Unemployment rate: 2% (2017 est.) 1.9% (2016 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 8.1% male: 9.9% female: 6.4% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: NA Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 35 (2013) 38 (2008) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 14.71 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 9.684 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 10% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 0% of GDP (2017 est.) 0% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 29.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: $16.75 billion (2017 est.) $12.22 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $45.35 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $45.62 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars note: includes reexports Exports - partners: Hong Kong 66%, China 9% (2019) Exports - commodities: broadcasting equipment, jewelry, watches, trunks/cases, telephones (2019) Imports: $17.35 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $18.28 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: China 33%, Hong Kong 31%, France 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: jewelry, watches, electricity, aircraft, cars (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $20.17 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $18.89 billion (31 December 2015 est.) note: the Fiscal Reserves Act that came into force on 1 January 2012 requires the fiscal reserves to be separated from the foreign exchange reserves and to be managed separately; the transfer of assets took place in February 2012 Debt - external: $0 (31 December 2013) $0 (31 December 2012) Exchange rates: patacas (MOP) per US dollar - 8 (2017 est.) 7.9951 (2016 est.) 7.9951 (2015 est.) 7.985 (2014 est.) 7.9871 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 478,000 kW (2020 est.) consumption: 5,278,600,000 kWh (2020 est.) exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) imports: 4,852,600,000 kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 136 million kWh (2020 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 66.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 33.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 14,300 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 14,180 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 136.714 million cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 133.712 million cubic meters (2019 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 2.012 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 1.744 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 268,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 81.407 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 110,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 2.793 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 430 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Macau’s economy and GDP have been on a roller coaster ride since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020; the Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China is heavily dependent on tourists coming from the mainland and Hong Kong to play in Macau’s many casinos, but the ensuing lock downs contributed to a dramatic fall in visitor numbers as well as income; this too, has had a major effect on the telecom sector (particularly in the mobile segment) with short-stay visitors as well as foreign workers on temporary-stay visas being forced to stay away.; total mobile subscription numbers are estimated to have dropped from a high of 2.8 million in 2019 (representing a whopping 442% penetration rate in a region with a population of just 700,000) to less than half that by the end of 2021: 1.3 million subscribers; Macau had almost the highest mobile penetration rate in the world; it is now sitting at a more ‘reasonable’ level of 200%; a significant bounce back can be expected to follow the easing of travel restrictions, although perhaps not up to the same lofty heights achieved in 2019; asecond factor behind the steep fall in 2020 was the introduction of a Cyber Security Law that required all prepaid SIM cards to become registered or face being deactivated in October 2020; the combined effect of the pandemic and the new restrictions meant that prepaid subscriber numbers fell by more than 80%; postpaid accounts, largely the domain of Macau’s permanent residents, were barely affected by the external upheaval; they continued to increase in number, year-on-year, and provided better returns to the operators thanks to substantially increased data usage during the lock downs; the mobile broadband market has experienced the same dramatic fluctuations as the broader mobile segment over the last two years, at least in terms of subscriber numbers; but this is largely because mobile broadband uptake is inextricably tied to the base mobile offering in Macau; with total mobile broadband data traffic going up, not down, between 2019 and 2021, that again points to the strength of the contract segment helping to drive future growth in Macau’s telecom sector. (2022) domestic: fixed-line nearly 20 per 100 and mobile-cellular roughly 329 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 853; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, Africa, Australia, the Middle East, and Europe; HF radiotelephone communication facility; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: local government dominates broadcast media; 2 television stations operated by the government with one broadcasting in Portuguese and the other in Cantonese and Mandarin; 1 cable TV and 4 satellite TV services available; 3 radio stations broadcasting, of which 2 are government-operated (2019) Internet country code: .mo Internet users: total: 571,421 (2020 est.) percent of population: 88% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 208,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) (registered in China) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 21 (registered in China) annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 3,157,724 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 31.84 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: B-M Airports: total: 1 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2021) Heliports: 2 (2021) Roadways: total: 428 km (2017) paved: 428 km (2017) Merchant marine: total: 1 by type: other 1 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Macau Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: no regular indigenous military forces; Macau Public Security Police Force (includes the Police Intervention Tactical Unit or UTIP for counterterrorism operations) (2021) Military - note: defense is the responsibility of China; the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) maintains a garrison in Macau Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none identifiednone identified Trafficking in persons: current situation: Macau is a destination and, to a much lesser extent, source for women and children subjected to sex trafficking and possibly forced labor; most victims come from the Chinese mainland, but others are trafficked from China, Russia, and Southeast Asia; victims are lured in by false job offers and forced into prostitution, often being confined to massage parlors and illegal brothels where their identity documents are confiscated and they are threatened with violence; Chinese, Russian, and Thai criminal organizations are believed to be involved in recruiting women for Macau’s commercial sex industry tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Macau does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; the government trained police, customs, and social welfare officials on human trafficking, funded an awareness campaign, and provided services to victims; authorities convicted three sex traffickers but did not sentence anyone to significant prison terms; authorities investigated only one potential trafficking case and made no prosecutions; the government provided no assistance to any victims, and officials did not initiate any prosecutions or sentence convicted traffickers to significant terms of imprisonment; Macau was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List (2020) Illicit drugs: asian organized crime groups involved in drug trafficking and money launderingasian organized crime groups involved in drug trafficking and money laundering

20220901

field-labor-force-by-occupation

This entry lists the percentage distribution of the labor force by sector of occupation. Agriculture includes farming, fishing, and forestry. Industry includes mining, manufacturing, energy production, and construction. Services cover government activities, communications, transportation, finance, and all other economic activities that do not produce material goods. The distribution will total less than 100 percent if the data are incomplete and may range from 99-101 percent due to rounding. Topic: Afghanistanagriculture: 44.3% industry: 18.1% services: 37.6% (2017 est.) Topic: Albaniaagriculture: 41.4% industry: 18.3% services: 40.3% (2017 est.) Topic: Algeriaagriculture: 10.8% industry: 30.9% services: 58.4% (2011 est.) Topic: American Samoaagriculture: NA industry: 15.5% services: 46.4% (2015 est.) Topic: Andorraagriculture: 0.5% industry: 4.4% services: 95.1% (2015) Topic: Angolaagriculture: 85% industry: 15% (2015 est.) industry and services: 15% (2003 est.) Topic: Anguillaagriculture: 74.1% industry: 3% services: 18% agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining: 4% (2000 est.) manufacturing: 3% (2000 est.) construction: 18% (2000 est.) transportation and utilities: 10% (2000 est.) commerce: 36% (2000 est.) Topic: Antigua and Barbudaagriculture: 7% industry: 11% services: 82% (1983 est.) Topic: Argentinaagriculture: 5.3% industry: 28.6% services: 66.1% (2017 est.) Topic: Armeniaagriculture: 36.3% industry: 17% services: 46.7% (2013 est.) Topic: Arubaagriculture: NA industry: NA services: NA note: most employment is in wholesale and retail trade, followed by hotels and restaurants Topic: Australiaagriculture: 3.6% industry: 21.1% services: 75.3% (2009 est.) Topic: Austriaagriculture: 0.7% industry: 25.2% services: 74.1% (2017 est.) Topic: Azerbaijanagriculture: 37% industry: 14.3% services: 48.9% (2014) Topic: Bahamas, Theagriculture: 3% industry: 11% services: 49% tourism: 37% (2011 est.) Topic: Bahrainagriculture: 1% industry: 32% services: 67% (2004 est.) Topic: Bangladeshagriculture: 42.7% industry: 20.5% services: 36.9% (2016 est.) Topic: Barbadosagriculture: 10% industry: 15% services: 75% (1996 est.) Topic: Belarusagriculture: 9.7% industry: 23.4% services: 66.8% (2015 est.) Topic: Belgiumagriculture: 1.3% industry: 18.6% services: 80.1% (2013 est.) Topic: Belizeagriculture: 10.2% industry: 18.1% services: 71.7% (2007 est.) Topic: Bermudaagriculture: 2% industry: 13% services: 85% (2016 est.) Topic: Bhutanagriculture: 58% industry: 20% services: 22% (2015 est.) Topic: Boliviaagriculture: 29.4% industry: 22% services: 48.6% (2015 est.) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinaagriculture: 18% industry: 30.4% services: 51.7% (2017 est.) Topic: Botswanaagriculture: NA industry: NA services: NA Topic: Brazilagriculture: 9.4% industry: 32.1% services: 58.5% (2017 est.) Topic: British Virgin Islandsagriculture: 0.6% industry: 40% services: 59.4% (2005) Topic: Bruneiagriculture: 4.2% industry: 62.8% services: 33% (2008 est.) Topic: Bulgariaagriculture: 6.8% industry: 26.6% services: 66.6% (2016 est.) Topic: Burkina Fasoagriculture: 90% industry and services: 10% (2000 est.) Topic: Burmaagriculture: 70% industry: 7% services: 23% (2001 est.) Topic: Burundiagriculture: 93.6% industry: 2.3% services: 4.1% (2002 est.) Topic: Cambodiaagriculture: 48.7% industry: 19.9% services: 31.5% (2013 est.) Topic: Cameroonagriculture: 70% industry: 13% services: 17% (2001 est.) Topic: Canadaagriculture: 2% industry: 13% services: 6% industry and services: 76% manufacturing: 3% (2006 est.) Topic: Cayman Islandsagriculture: 1.9% industry: 19.1% services: 79% (2008 est.) Topic: Chadagriculture: 80% industry: 20% (2006 est.) Topic: Chileagriculture: 9.2% industry: 23.7% services: 67.1% (2013) Topic: Chinaagriculture: 27.7% industry: 28.8% services: 43.5% (2016 est.) Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandsnote: the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism is the other main source of employmentnote: the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism is the other main source of employment Topic: Colombiaagriculture: 17% industry: 21% services: 62% (2011 est.) Topic: Comorosagriculture: 80% industry: 20% (1996 est.) industry and services: 20% (1996 est.) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of theagriculture: NA industry: NA services: NA Topic: Congo, Republic of theagriculture: 35.4% industry: 20.6% services: 44% (2005 est.) Topic: Cook Islandsagriculture: 29% industry: 15% services: 56% (1995) Topic: Costa Ricaagriculture: 14% industry: 22% services: 64% (2006 est.) Topic: Cote d'Ivoireagriculture: 68% (2007 est.) Topic: Croatiaagriculture: 1.9% industry: 27.3% services: 70.8% (2017 est.) Topic: Cubaagriculture: 18% industry: 10% services: 72% (2016 est.) Topic: Curacaoagriculture: 1.2% industry: 16.9% services: 81.8% (2008 est.) Topic: Cyprusagriculture: 3.8% industry: 15.2% services: 81% (2014 est.) Topic: Czechiaagriculture: 2.8% industry: 38% services: 59.2% (2015) Topic: Denmarkagriculture: 2.4% industry: 18.3% services: 79.3% (2016 est.) Topic: Djiboutiagriculture: NA industry: NA services: NA Topic: Dominicaagriculture: 40% industry: 32% services: 28% (2002 est.) Topic: Dominican Republicagriculture: 14.4% industry: 20.8% (2014) services: 64.7% (2014 est.) Topic: Ecuadoragriculture: 26.1% industry: 18.4% services: 55.5% (2017 est.) Topic: Egyptagriculture: 25.8% industry: 25.1% services: 49.1% (2015 est.) Topic: El Salvadoragriculture: 21% industry: 20% services: 58% (2011 est.) Topic: Eritreaagriculture: 80% industry: 20% (2004 est.) Topic: Estoniaagriculture: 2.7% industry: 20.5% services: 76.8% (2017 est.) Topic: Eswatiniagriculture: 10.7% industry: 30.4% services: 58.9% (2014 est.) Topic: Ethiopiaagriculture: 72.7% industry: 7.4% services: 19.9% (2013 est.) Topic: European Unionagriculture: 5% industry: 21.9% services: 73.1% (2014 est.) Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)agriculture: 41% industry: 24.5% services: 34.5% (2015 est.) Topic: Faroe Islandsagriculture: 15% industry: 15% services: 70% (December 2016 est.) Topic: Fijiagriculture: 44.2% industry: 14.3% services: 41.6% (2011) Topic: Finlandagriculture: 4% industry: 20.7% services: 75.3% (2017 est.) Topic: Franceagriculture: 2.8% (2016 est.) industry: 20% (2016 est.) services: 77.2% (2016 est.) Topic: French Polynesiaagriculture: 13% industry: 19% services: 68% (2013 est.) Topic: Gabonagriculture: 64% industry: 12% services: 24% (2005 est.) Topic: Gambia, Theagriculture: 75% industry: 19% services: 6% (1996 est.) Topic: Gaza Stripagriculture: 5.2% industry: 10% services: 84.8% (2015 est.) note: data exclude the West Bank Topic: Georgiaagriculture: 55.6% industry: 8.9% services: 35.5% (2006 est.) Topic: Germanyagriculture: 1.4% industry: 24.2% services: 74.3% (2016) Topic: Ghanaagriculture: 44.7% industry: 14.4% services: 40.9% (2013 est.) Topic: Gibraltaragriculture: NEGL industry: 1.8% services: 98.2% (2014 est.) Topic: Greeceagriculture: 12.6% industry: 15% services: 72.4% (30 October 2015 est.) Topic: Greenlandagriculture: 15.9% industry: 10.1% services: 73.9% (2015 est.) Topic: Grenadaagriculture: 11% industry: 20% services: 69% (2008 est.) Topic: Guamagriculture: 0.3% industry: 21.6% services: 78.1% (2013 est.) Topic: Guatemalaagriculture: 31.4% industry: 12.8% services: 55.8% (2017 est.) Topic: Guineaagriculture: 76% industry: 24% (2006 est.) Topic: Guinea-Bissauagriculture: 82% industry and services: 18% (2000 est.) Topic: Guyanaagriculture: NA industry: NA services: NA Topic: Haitiagriculture: 38.1% industry: 11.5% services: 50.4% (2010) Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)note: essentially services with a small amount of industry; nearly all dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and the approximately 3,000 lay workers live outside the Vaticannote: essentially services with a small amount of industry; nearly all dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and the approximately 3,000 lay workers live outside the Vatican Topic: Hondurasagriculture: 39.2% industry: 20.9% services: 39.8% (2005 est.) Topic: Hong Kongagriculture: 3.8% (2013 est.) industry: 2% (2016 est.) services: 54.5% (2016 est.) industry and services: 12.5% (2013 est.) agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining: 10.1% (2013) manufacturing: 17.1% (2013 est.) note: above data exclude public sector Topic: Hungaryagriculture: 4.9% industry: 30.3% services: 64.5% (2015 est.) Topic: Icelandagriculture: 4.8% industry: 22.2% services: 73% (2008) Topic: Indiaagriculture: 47% industry: 22% services: 31% (FY 2014 est.) Topic: Indonesiaagriculture: 32% industry: 21% services: 47% (2016 est.) Topic: Iranagriculture: 16.3% industry: 35.1% services: 48.6% (2013 est.) Topic: Iraqagriculture: 21.6% industry: 18.7% services: 59.8% (2008 est.) Topic: Irelandagriculture: 5% industry: 11% services: 84% (2015 est.) Topic: Isle of Manmanufacturing: 5% (2006 est.) construction: 8% (2006 est.) tourism: 1% (2006 est.) transport and communications: 9% (2006 est.) agriculture, forestry, and fishing: 2% (2006 est.) gas, electricity, and water: 1% (2006 est.) wholesale and retail distribution: 11% (2006 est.) professional and scientific services: 20% (2006 est.) public administration: 7% (2006 est.) banking and finance: 23% (2006 est.) entertainment and catering: 5% (2006 est.) miscellaneous services: 8% (2006 est.) Topic: Israelagriculture: 1.1% industry: 17.3% services: 81.6% (2015 est.) Topic: Italyagriculture: 3.9% industry: 28.3% services: 67.8% (2011) Topic: Jamaicaagriculture: 16.1% industry: 16% services: 67.9% (2017) Topic: Japanagriculture: 2.9% industry: 26.2% services: 70.9% (February 2015 est.) Topic: Jerseyagriculture: 3% industry: 12% services: 85% (2014 est.) Topic: Jordanagriculture: 2% industry: 20% services: 78% (2013 est.) Topic: Kazakhstanagriculture: 18.1% industry: 20.4% services: 61.6% (2017 est.) Topic: Kenyaagriculture: 61.1% industry: 6.7% services: 32.2% (2005 est.) Topic: Kiribatiagriculture: 15% industry: 10% services: 75% (2010) Topic: Korea, Northagriculture: 37% industry: 63% (2008 est.) Topic: Korea, Southagriculture: 4.8% industry: 24.6% services: 70.6% (2017 est.) Topic: Kosovoagriculture: 4.4% industry: 17.4% services: 78.2% (2017 est.) Topic: Kuwaitagriculture: NA industry: NA services: NA Topic: Kyrgyzstanagriculture: 48% industry: 12.5% services: 39.5% (2005 est.) Topic: Laosagriculture: 73.1% industry: 6.1% services: 20.6% (2012 est.) Topic: Latviaagriculture: 7.7% industry: 24.1% services: 68.1% (2016 est.) Topic: Lebanonagriculture: 39% (2009 est.) NA industry: NA services: NA Topic: Lesothoagriculture: 86% industry and services: 14% (2002 est.) note: most of the resident population is engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa Topic: Liberiaagriculture: 70% industry: 8% services: 22% (2000 est.) Topic: Libyaagriculture: 17% industry: 23% services: 59% (2004 est.) Topic: Liechtensteinagriculture: 0.8% industry: 36.9% services: 62.3% (2015) Topic: Lithuaniaagriculture: 9.1% industry: 25.2% services: 65.8% (2015 est.) Topic: Luxembourgagriculture: 1.1% industry: 20% services: 78.9% (2013 est.) Topic: Macauagriculture: 2.5% industry: 9.8% services: 4.4% industry and services: 12.4% agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining: 15% manufacturing: 25.9% construction: 7.1% transportation and utilities: 2.6% commerce: 20.3% (2013 est.) Topic: Malawiagriculture: 76.9% industry: 4.1% services: 19% (2013 est.) Topic: Malaysiaagriculture: 11% industry: 36% services: 53% (2012 est.) Topic: Maldivesagriculture: 7.7% industry: 22.8% services: 69.5% (2017 est.) Topic: Maliagriculture: 80% industry and services: 20% (2005 est.) Topic: Maltaagriculture: 1.6% industry: 20.7% services: 77.7% (2016 est.) Topic: Marshall Islandsagriculture: 11% industry: 16.3% services: 72.7% (2011 est.) Topic: Mauritaniaagriculture: 50% industry: 1.9% services: 48.1% (2014 est.) Topic: Mauritiusagriculture: 8% industry: 29.8% services: 62.2% (2014 est.) Topic: Mexicoagriculture: 13.4% industry: 24.1% services: 61.9% (2011) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofagriculture: 0.9% industry: 5.2% services: 93.9% (2013 est.) note: two-thirds of the labor force are government employees Topic: Moldovaagriculture: 32.3% industry: 12% services: 55.7% (2017 est.) Topic: Monacoagriculture: 0% industry: 16.1% services: 83.9% (2012 est.) Topic: Mongoliaagriculture: 31.1% industry: 18.5% services: 50.5% (2016) Topic: Montenegroagriculture: 7.9% industry: 17.1% services: 75% (2017 est.) Topic: Montserratagriculture: 1.4% industry: 12.7% services: 85.9% (2017 est.) Topic: Moroccoagriculture: 39.1% industry: 20.3% services: 40.5% (2014 est.) Topic: Mozambiqueagriculture: 74.4% industry: 3.9% services: 21.7% (2015 est.) Topic: Namibiaagriculture: 31% industry: 14% services: 54% (2013 est.) note: about half of Namibia's people are unemployed while about two-thirds live in rural areas; roughly two-thirds of rural dwellers rely on subsistence agriculture Topic: Naurunote: most of the labor force is employed in phosphate mining, public administration, education, and transportationnote: most of the labor force is employed in phosphate mining, public administration, education, and transportation Topic: Nepalagriculture: 69% industry: 12% services: 19% (2015 est.) Topic: Netherlandsagriculture: 1.2% industry: 17.2% services: 81.6% (2015 est.) Topic: New Caledoniaagriculture: 2.7% industry: 22.4% services: 74.9% (2010) Topic: New Zealandagriculture: 6.6% industry: 20.7% services: 72.7% (2017 est.) Topic: Nicaraguaagriculture: 31% industry: 18% services: 50% (2011 est.) Topic: Nigeragriculture: 79.2% industry: 3.3% services: 17.5% (2012 est.) Topic: Nigeriaagriculture: 70% industry: 10% services: 20% (1999 est.) Topic: Niuenote: most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Boardnote: most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board Topic: Norfolk Islandagriculture: 6% industry: 14% services: 80% (2006 est.) Topic: North Macedoniaagriculture: 16.2% industry: 29.2% services: 54.5% (2017 est.) Topic: Northern Mariana Islandsagriculture: 1.9% industry: 10% services: 88.1% (2010 est.) Topic: Norwayagriculture: 2.1% industry: 19.3% services: 78.6% (2016 est.) Topic: Omanagriculture: 4.7% NA industry: 49.6% NA services: 45% (2016 est.) NA Topic: Pakistanagriculture: 42.3% industry: 22.6% services: 35.1% (FY2015 est.) Topic: Palauagriculture: 1.2% industry: 12.4% services: 86.4% (2016) Topic: Panamaagriculture: 17% industry: 18.6% services: 64.4% (2009 est.) Topic: Papua New Guineaagriculture: 85% industry: NA services: NA Topic: Paraguayagriculture: 26.5% industry: 18.5% services: 55% (2008) Topic: Peruagriculture: 25.8% industry: 17.4% services: 56.8% (2011) Topic: Philippinesagriculture: 25.4% industry: 18.3% services: 56.3% (2017 est.) Topic: Pitcairn Islandsnote: no business community in the usual sense; some public works; subsistence farming and fishingnote: no business community in the usual sense; some public works; subsistence farming and fishing Topic: Polandagriculture: 11.5% industry: 30.4% services: 57.6% (2015) Topic: Portugalagriculture: 8.6% industry: 23.9% services: 67.5% (2014 est.) Topic: Puerto Ricoagriculture: 2.1% industry: 19% services: 79% (2005 est.) Topic: Romaniaagriculture: 28.3% industry: 28.9% services: 42.8% (2014) Topic: Russiaagriculture: 9.4% industry: 27.6% services: 63% (2016 est.) Topic: Rwandaagriculture: 75.3% industry: 6.7% services: 18% (2012 est.) Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhaagriculture: 6% industry: 48% services: 46% (1987 est.) Topic: Saint Luciaagriculture: 21.7% industry: 24.7% services: 53.6% (2002 est.) Topic: Saint Martin85 directly or indirectly employed in tourist industry Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelonagriculture: 18% industry: 41% services: 41% (1996 est.) Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesagriculture: 26% industry: 17% services: 57% (1980 est.) Topic: Samoaagriculture: 65% industry: 6% services: 29% (2015 est.) Topic: San Marinoagriculture: 0.2% industry: 33.5% services: 66.3% (September 2013 est.) Topic: Sao Tome and Principeagriculture: 26.1% industry: 21.4% services: 52.5% (2014 est.) Topic: Saudi Arabiaagriculture: 6.7% industry: 21.4% services: 71.9% (2005 est.) Topic: Senegalagriculture: 77.5% industry: 22.5% industry and services: 22.5% (2007 est.) Topic: Serbiaagriculture: 19.4% industry: 24.5% services: 56.1% (2017 est.) Topic: Seychellesagriculture: 3% industry: 23% services: 74% (2006) Topic: Sierra Leoneagriculture: 61.1% industry: 5.5% services: 33.4% (2014 est.) Topic: Singaporeagriculture: 0.7% industry: 25.6% services: 73.7% (2017) note: excludes non-residents Topic: Sint Maartenagriculture: 1.1% industry: 15.2% services: 83.7% (2008 est.) Topic: Slovakiaagriculture: 3.9% industry: 22.7% services: 73.4% (2015) Topic: Sloveniaagriculture: 5.5% industry: 31.2% services: 63.3% (2017 est.) Topic: Solomon Islandsagriculture: 75% industry: 5% services: 20% (2000 est.) Topic: Somaliaagriculture: 71% industry: 29% industry and services: 29% (1975) Topic: South Africaagriculture: 4.6% industry: 23.5% services: 71.9% (2014 est.) Topic: Spainagriculture: 4.2% industry: 24% services: 71.7% (2009) Topic: Sri Lankaagriculture: 27% industry: 26% services: 47% (31 December 2016) Topic: Sudanagriculture: 80% industry: 7% services: 13% (1998 est.) Topic: Surinameagriculture: 11.2% industry: 19.5% services: 69.3% (2010) Topic: Swedenagriculture: 2% industry: 12% services: 86% (2014 est.) Topic: Switzerlandagriculture: 3.3% industry: 19.8% services: 76.9% (2015) Topic: Syriaagriculture: 17% industry: 16% services: 67% (2008 est.) Topic: Taiwanagriculture: 4.9% industry: 35.9% services: 59.2% (2016 est.) Topic: Tajikistanagriculture: 43% industry: 10.6% services: 46.4% (2016 est.) Topic: Tanzaniaagriculture: 66.9% industry: 6.4% services: 26.6% (2014 est.) Topic: Thailandagriculture: 31.8% industry: 16.7% services: 51.5% (2015 est.) Topic: Timor-Lesteagriculture: 41% industry: 13% services: 45.1% (2013) Topic: Togoagriculture: 65% industry: 5% services: 30% (1998 est.) Topic: Tongaagriculture: 2,006% (2006 est.) industry: 27.5% (2006 est.) services: 2,006% (2006 est.) Topic: Trinidad and Tobagoagriculture: 3.1% industry: 11.5% services: 85.4% (2016 est.) Topic: Tunisiaagriculture: 14.8% industry: 33.2% services: 51.7% (2014 est.) Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)agriculture: 18.4% industry: 26.6% services: 54.9% (2016) Topic: Turkmenistanagriculture: 48.2% industry: 14% services: 37.8% (2004 est.) Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandsnote: about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other servicesnote: about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services Topic: Tuvalunote: most people make a living through exploitation of the sea, reefs, and atolls - and through overseas remittances (mostly from workers in the phosphate industry and sailors)note: most people make a living through exploitation of the sea, reefs, and atolls - and through overseas remittances (mostly from workers in the phosphate industry and sailors) Topic: Ugandaagriculture: 71% industry: 7% services: 22% (2013 est.) Topic: Ukraineagriculture: 5.8% industry: 26.5% services: 67.8% (2014) Topic: United Arab Emiratesagriculture: 7% industry: 15% services: 78% (2000 est.) Topic: United Kingdomagriculture: 1.3% industry: 15.2% services: 83.5% (2014 est.) Topic: United Statesagriculture: 0.7% (2009) industry: 20.3% (2009) services: 37.3% (2009) industry and services: 24.2% (2009) manufacturing: 17.6% (2009) farming, forestry, and fishing: 0.7% (2009) manufacturing, extraction, transportation, and crafts: 20.3% (2009) managerial, professional, and technical: 37.3% (2009) sales and office: 24.2% (2009) other services: 17.6% (2009) note: figures exclude the unemployed Topic: Uruguayagriculture: 13% industry: 14% services: 73% (2010 est.) Topic: Uzbekistanagriculture: 25.9% industry: 13.2% services: 60.9% (2012 est.) Topic: Vanuatuagriculture: 65% industry: 5% services: 30% (2000 est.) Topic: Venezuelaagriculture: 7.3% industry: 21.8% services: 70.9% (4th quarter, 2011 est.) Topic: Vietnamagriculture: 40.3% industry: 25.7% services: 34% (2017) Topic: Virgin Islandsagriculture: 1% industry: 19% services: 80% (2003 est.) Topic: Wallis and Futunaagriculture: 74% industry: 3% services: 23% (2015 est.) Topic: West Bankagriculture: 11.5% industry: 34.4% services: 54.1% (2013 est.) note: excludes Gaza Strip Topic: Worldagriculture: 31% industry: 23.5% services: 45.5% (2014 est.) Topic: Yemennote: most people are employed in agriculture and herding; services, construction, industry, and commerce account for less than one-fourth of the labor forcenote: most people are employed in agriculture and herding; services, construction, industry, and commerce account for less than one-fourth of the labor force Topic: Zambiaagriculture: 54.8% industry: 9.9% services: 35.3% (2017 est.) Topic: Zimbabweagriculture: 67.5% industry: 7.3% services: 25.2% (2017 est.)

20220901

countries-honduras-summaries

Topic: Introduction Background: Once part of Spain's vast empire in the New World, Honduras became an independent nation in 1821. After two and a half decades of mostly military rule, a freely elected civilian government came to power in 1982. Honduras has only a short Pacific coast but a long Caribbean shoreline, including the virtually uninhabited eastern Mosquito Coast.Once part of Spain's vast empire in the New World, Honduras became an independent nation in 1821. After two and a half decades of mostly military rule, a freely elected civilian government came to power in 1982. Honduras has only a short Pacific coast but a long Caribbean shoreline, including the virtually uninhabited eastern Mosquito Coast. Topic: Geography Area: total: 112,090 sq km land: 111,890 sq km water: 200 sq km Climate: subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains Natural resources: timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal, fish, hydropower Topic: People and Society Population: 9,459,440 (2022 est.) Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%, Amerindian 7%, African descent 2%, White 1% Languages: Spanish (official), Amerindian dialects Religions: Evangelical/Protestant 48%, Roman Catholic 34%, other 1%, none 17% (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 1.19% (2022 est.) Topic: Government Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Tegucigalpa; note - article eight of the Honduran constitution states that the twin cities of Tegucigalpa and Comayaguela, jointly, constitute the capital of the Republic of Honduras; however, virtually all governmental institutions are on the Tegucigalpa side, which in practical terms makes Tegucigalpa the capital Executive branch: chief of state: President Iris Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya (since 27 January 2022); Vice Presidents Salvador NASRALLA, Doris GUTIERREZ, and Renato FLORENTINO (since 27 January 2022); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; CASTRO is Honduras' first female president head of government: President Iris Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya (since 27 January 2022); Vice Presidents Salvador NASRALLA, Doris GUTIERREZ, and Renato FLORENTINO (since 27 January 2022) Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (128 seats; members directly elected in 18 multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) Topic: Economy Economic overview: second-fastest-growing Central American economy; COVID-19 and two hurricanes crippled activity; high poverty and inequality; declining-but-still-high violent crime disruption; systemic corruption; coffee and banana exporter; enormous remittancessecond-fastest-growing Central American economy; COVID-19 and two hurricanes crippled activity; high poverty and inequality; declining-but-still-high violent crime disruption; systemic corruption; coffee and banana exporter; enormous remittances Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $50.89 billion (2020 est.) Real GDP per capita: $5,100 (2020 est.) Agricultural products: sugarcane, oil palm fruit, milk, bananas, maize, coffee, melons, oranges, poultry, beans Industries: sugar processing, coffee, woven and knit apparel, wood products, cigars Exports: $7.16 billion (2019 est.) Exports - partners: United States 53%, El Salvador 8%, Guatemala 5%, Nicaragua 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: clothing and apparel, coffee, insulated wiring, bananas, palm oil (2019) Imports: $11.5 billion (2019 est.) Imports - partners: United States 42%, China 10%, Guatemala 8%, El Salvador 8%, Mexico 6% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, clothing and apparel, packaged medicines, broadcasting equipment, insulated wiring (2019) Exchange rates: lempiras (HNL) per US dollar -Page last updated: Thursday, May 12, 2022

20220901

countries-saint-barthelemy

Topic: Photos of Saint Barthelemy Topic: Introduction Background: Discovered in 1493 by Christopher COLUMBUS who named it for his brother Bartolomeo, Saint Barthelemy was first settled by the French in 1648. In 1784, the French sold the island to Sweden, which renamed the largest town Gustavia, after the Swedish King GUSTAV III, and made it a free port; the island prospered as a trade and supply center during the colonial wars of the 18th century. France repurchased the island in 1877 and took control the following year. It was placed under the administration of Guadeloupe. Saint Barthelemy retained its free port status along with various Swedish appellations such as Swedish street and town names, and the three-crown symbol on the coat of arms. In 2003, the islanders voted to secede from Guadeloupe, and in 2007, the island became a French overseas collectivity. In 2012, it became an overseas territory of the EU, allowing it to exert local control over the permanent and temporary immigration of foreign workers including non-French European citizens. Hurricane Irma hit the island in September 2017 causing extensive damage, but Saint Barthelemy recovered by early 2018.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean; located in the Leeward Islands (northern) group; Saint Barthelemy lies east of the US Virgin Islands Geographic coordinates: 17 90 N, 62 85 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 25 sq km land: 25 sq km water: negligible Area - comparative: less than one-eighth the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Climate: tropical, with practically no variation in temperature; has two seasons (dry and humid) Terrain: hilly, almost completely surrounded by shallow-water reefs, with plentiful beaches Elevation: highest point: Morne du Vitet 286 m lowest point: Caribbean Ocean 0 m Natural resources: few natural resources; beaches foster tourism Population distribution: most of the populace concentrated in and around the capital of Gustavia, but scattered settlements exist around the island periphery Geography - note: a 1,200-hectare marine nature reserve, the Reserve Naturelle, is made up of five zones around the island that form a network to protect the island's coral reefs, seagrass, and endangered marine species Map description: Saint Barthelemy map showing the islands of this French overseas collectivity in the Caribbean Sea.Saint Barthelemy map showing the islands of this French overseas collectivity in the Caribbean Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 7,103 (2022 est.) Ethnic groups: French, Portuguese, Caribbean, Afro-Caribbean Languages: French (primary), English major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jehovah's Witnesses Age structure: 0-14 years: 14.36% (male 524/female 496) 15-24 years: 7.29% (male 272/female 246) 25-54 years: 41.86% (male 1,618/female 1,363) 55-64 years: 16.43% (male 632/female 535) 65 years and over: 21.17% (2022 est.) (male 753/female 751) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Median age: total: 45.6 years male: 45.5 years female: 45.8 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -0.16% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 9.29 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 9.01 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -1.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: most of the populace concentrated in and around the capital of Gustavia, but scattered settlements exist around the island periphery Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.19 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.18 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 6.71 deaths/1,000 live births male: 7.85 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 80.58 years male: 77.48 years female: 83.81 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.64 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020) Current Health Expenditure: NA Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: NA Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: land-based pollution; urbanization; with no natural rivers or streams, fresh water is in short supply, especially in summer, and is provided by the desalination of sea water, the collection of rain water, or imported via water tanker; overfishing Climate: tropical, with practically no variation in temperature; has two seasons (dry and humid) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Overseas Collectivity of Saint Barthelemy conventional short form: Saint Barthelemy local long form: Collectivite d'outre mer de Saint-Barthelemy local short form: Saint-Barthelemy abbreviation: Saint-Barth (French); St. Barts or St. Barths (English) etymology: explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the island in honor of his brother Bartolomeo's namesake saint in 1493 Government type: parliamentary democracy (Territorial Council); overseas collectivity of France Dependency status: overseas collectivity of France Capital: name: Gustavia geographic coordinates: 17 53 N, 62 51 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: named in honor of King Gustav III (1746-1792) of Sweden during whose reign the island was obtained from France in 1784; the name was retained when in 1878 the island was sold back to France Independence: none (overseas collectivity of France) National holiday: Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - local holiday is St. Barthelemy Day, 24 August (1572) Constitution: history: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution) amendments: amendment procedures of France's constitution apply Legal system: French civil law Citizenship: see France Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017), represented by Prefect Vincent BERTON (since 28 March 2022) head of government: President of Territorial Council Xavier LEDEE (since 3 April 2022) cabinet: Executive Council elected by the Territorial Council; note - there is also an advisory, economic, social, and cultural council elections/appointments: French president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of French Ministry of Interior; president of Territorial Council indirectly elected by its members for a 5-year term; election last held on 27 March 2022 (next to be held in 2027) election results: Xavier LEDEE (Saint Barth United) elected president; Territorial Council vote - 13 votes for, 6 blank votes Legislative branch: description: unicameral Territorial Council (19 seats; members elected by absolute majority vote in the first round vote and proportional representation vote in the second round; members serve 5-year terms); Saint Barthelemy indirectly elects 1 senator to the French Senate by an electoral college for a 6-year term and directly elects 1 deputy (shared with Saint Martin) to the French National Assembly elections: Territorial Council - first round held on 20 March 2022 (next to be held in 2027); second round held on 27 March 2022 French Senate - election last held 24 September 2017 (next to be held in September 2020) French National Assembly - election last held on 11 and 18 June 2017 (next to be held by June 2022) election results: Territorial Council - percent of vote by party (first round) - SBA 46.2%, Saint Barth Action Equilibre 27.1%, Unis pour Saint Barthelemy 26.8%; percent of vote by party (second round) - Saint Barth Action Equilibre and Unis pour Saint Barthelemy 50.9%, SBA 49.2%, seats by party - Saint Barth Action Equilibre and Unis pour Saint Barthelemy 13, SBA 6; composition - men NA, women NA, percent of women NA% French Senate - percent of vote by party NA; seats by party UMP 1 French National Assembly - percent of vote by party NA; seats by party UMP 1 Political parties and leaders: All for Saint Barth (Tous pour Saint-Barth) [Bettina COINTRE] Saint Barth Action Equilibre [Marie-Helene BERNIER] Saint Barth First! (Saint-Barth d'Abord!) or SBA [Romaric MAGRAS] (affiliated with France's Republican party, Les Republicans) Saint Barth United (Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy) [Xavier LEDEE] International organization participation: UPU Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas collectivity of France) Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (overseas collectivity of France)none (overseas collectivity of France) Flag description: the flag of France is used National symbol(s): pelican National anthem: name: "L'Hymne a St. Barthelemy" (Hymn to St. Barthelemy) lyrics/music: Isabelle Massart DERAVIN/Michael VALENTI note: local anthem in use since 1999; as a collectivity of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France) Topic: Economy Economic overview: The economy of Saint Barthelemy is based upon high-end tourism and duty-free luxury commerce, serving visitors primarily from North America. The luxury hotels and villas host 70,000 visitors each year with another 130,000 arriving by boat. The relative isolation and high cost of living inhibits mass tourism. The construction and public sectors also enjoy significant investment in support of tourism. With limited fresh water resources, all food must be imported, as must all energy resources and most manufactured goods. The tourism sector creates a strong employment demand and attracts labor from Brazil and Portugal. The country’s currency is the euro. Exports - partners: France 60%, Germany 27% (2019) Exports - commodities: beauty products, broadcasting equipment, sunflower seed oil, plastics, cars (2019) Imports - partners: France 78%, Switzerland 7%, Italy 7% (2019) Imports - commodities: furniture, wine, refined petroleum, jewelry, food preparation materials (2019) Exchange rates: 0.885 (2017 est.) 0.903 (2016 est.) 0.9214 (2015 est.) 0.885 (2014 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Topic: Communications Telecommunication systems: general assessment: fully integrated access; 4G and LTE services (2019) domestic: direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systems, 3 FM channels, no broadcasting (2018) international: country code - 590; landing points for the SSCS and the Southern Caribbean Fiber submarine cables providing voice and data connectivity to numerous Caribbean Islands (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: 2 local TV broadcasters; 5 FM radio channels (2021) Internet country code: .bl; note - .gp, the Internet country code for Guadeloupe, and .fr, the Internet country code for France, might also be encountered Internet users: total: 7,128 (2020 est.) percent of population: 72% (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation Airports: total: 1 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Roadways: total: 40 km Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Gustavia Transportation - note: nearest airport for international flights is Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) located on Sint Maarten Topic: Military and Security Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none identified

20220901

field-mothers-mean-age-at-first-birth

This entry provides the mean (average) age of mothers at the birth of their first child. It is a useful indicator for gauging the success of family planning programs aiming to reduce maternal mortality, increase contraceptive use – particularly among married and unmarried adolescents – delay age at first marriage, and improve the health of newborns. Topic: Afghanistan19.9 years (2015 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Albania26.6 years (2020 est.) Topic: Andorra32.8 years (2019) Topic: Angola19.4 years (2015/16 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 Topic: Armenia25.2 years (2019 est.) Topic: Australia28.7 years (2019 est.) Topic: Austria29.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Azerbaijan24 years (2019 est.) Topic: Bangladesh18.6 years (2017/18 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 Topic: Belarus26.8 years (2019 est.) Topic: Belgium29.2 years (2020 est.) Topic: Benin20.5 years (2017/18 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Bolivia21.1 years (2008 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina27.7 years (2019 est.) Topic: Bulgaria26.4 years (2020 est.) Topic: Burkina Faso19.4 years (2010 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 Topic: Burma24.7 years (2015/16 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Burundi21.5 years (2016/17 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Cambodia22.4 years (2014 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Cameroon20.1 years (2018 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Canada29.4 years (2019 est.) Topic: Chad18.1 years (2014/15 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 Topic: Colombia21.7 years (2015 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Comoros23 years (2012 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the19.9 years (2013/14 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 Topic: Congo, Republic of the19.6 years (2011/12 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 Topic: Cote d'Ivoire19.6 years (2011/12 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 Topic: Croatia29 years (2020 est.) Topic: Cyprus30 years (2020 est.) note: data represent only government-controlled areas Topic: Czechia28.5 years (2020 est.) Topic: Denmark29.8 years (2020 est.) Topic: Dominican Republic20.9 years (2013 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Egypt22.6 years (2014 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: El Salvador20.8 years (2008 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 Topic: Eritrea21.3 years (2010 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 Topic: Estonia28.2 years (2020 est.) Topic: Ethiopia19.3 years (2019 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 Topic: Finland29.5 years (2020 est.) Topic: France28.9 years (2020 est.) Topic: Gabon19.6 years (2012 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 Topic: Gambia, The20.7 years (2019/20 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Georgia25.9 years (2019 est.) note: data do not cover Abkhazia and South Ossetia Topic: Germany29.9 years (2020 est.) Topic: Ghana20.7 years (2014 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Greece30.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Guatemala20.6 years (2014/15 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Guinea19.9 years (2018 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 Topic: Guyana20.8 years (2009 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 Topic: Haiti22.4 years (2016/7 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Honduras20.3 years (2011/12 est.) note: median age a first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Hong Kong29.8 years (2008 est.) Topic: Hungary28.4 years (2020 est.) Topic: Iceland28.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: India21.2 years (2019/21) note: median age a first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Indonesia22.4 years (2017 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Ireland30.9 years (2020 est.) Topic: Israel27.7 years (2019 est.) Topic: Italy31.4 years (2020 est.) Topic: Jamaica21.2 years (2008 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 Topic: Japan30.7 years (2018 est.) Topic: Jordan24.6 years (2017/18 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Kazakhstan28.9 years (2019 est.) Topic: Kenya20.3 years (2014 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Kiribati23.1 years (2009 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 Topic: Korea, South32.2 years (2019 est.) Topic: Kyrgyzstan22.6 years (2019 est.) Topic: Latvia27.3 years (2020 est.) Topic: Lesotho20.9 years (2014 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Liberia19.1 years (2019/20 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Liechtenstein31.3 years (2017) Topic: Lithuania28.2 years (2020 est.) Topic: Luxembourg31 years (2020 est.) Topic: Madagascar19.5 years (2008/09 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 Topic: Malawi19.1 years (2015/16 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 Topic: Maldives23.2 years (2016/17 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Mali19.2 years (2018 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 Topic: Malta29.3 years (2020 est.) note: data refer to the average of the different childbearing ages of first-order births Topic: Mauritania21.8 years (2019/21) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Mexico21.3 years (2008 est.) Topic: Moldova25.2 years (2019 est.) Topic: Mongolia20.5 years (2008 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-24 Topic: Montenegro26.3 years (2010 est.) Topic: Mozambique19.2 years (2011 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 Topic: Namibia21.6 years (2013 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Nepal20.4 years (2016 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Netherlands30.2 years (2020 est.) Topic: New Zealand27.8 years (2009 est.) note: median age at first birth Topic: Nicaragua19.2 years (2011/12 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 Topic: Niger18.5 years (2012 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 Topic: Nigeria20.4 years (2018 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: North Macedonia26.9 years (2020 est.) Topic: Norway29.8 years (2020 est.) note: data is calculated based on actual age at first births Topic: Pakistan22.8 years (2017/18 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Papua New Guinea21.9 years (2016/18) note: median age a first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Paraguay22.9 years (2008 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 Topic: Peru21.9 years (2013 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Philippines23.5 years (2017 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Poland27.9 years (2020 est.) Topic: Portugal29.9 years (2020 est.) Topic: Romania27.1 years (2020 est.) Topic: Russia25.2 years (2013 est.) Topic: Rwanda23 years (2019/20 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Samoa23.6 years (2009 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 Topic: San Marino31.9 years (2019) Topic: Sao Tome and Principe19.4 years (2008/09 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 Topic: Senegal21.9 years (2019 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Serbia28.2 years (2020 est.) note: data do not cover Kosovo or Metohija Topic: Sierra Leone19.6 years (2019 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 Topic: Singapore30.5 years (2015 est.) median age Topic: Slovakia27.2 years (2020 est.) Topic: Slovenia29 years (2020 est.) Topic: Solomon Islands22.6 years (2015 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 Topic: Spain31.2 years (2020 est.) Topic: Sri Lanka25.6 years (2016 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 30-34 Topic: Sweden29.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Switzerland31.1 years (2020 est.) Topic: Tajikistan23.2 years (2017 est.) Topic: Tanzania19.8 years (2015/16 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 Topic: Thailand23.3 years (2009 est.) Topic: Timor-Leste23 years (2016 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Togo25 years (2017 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 Topic: Tonga24.9 years (2012 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)26.6 years (2020 est.) Topic: Turkmenistan24.2 years (2019) Topic: Uganda19.4 years (2016 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 Topic: Ukraine26.2 years (2019 est.) Topic: United Kingdom29 years (2018 est.) note: data represent England and Wales only Topic: United States27 years (2019 est.) Topic: Uzbekistan23.7 years (2019 est.) Topic: Yemen20.8 years (2013 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Zambia19.2 years (2018 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 Topic: Zimbabwe20.3 years (2015 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

20220901

static-059c90673c12d96c082b8543d067aa19-US_148_large.jpeg

20220901

countries-slovenia

Topic: Photos of Slovenia Topic: Introduction Background: The Slovene lands were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the latter's dissolution at the end of World War I. In 1918, the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new multinational state, which was named Yugoslavia in 1929. After World War II, Slovenia was one of the republics in the restored Yugoslavia, which, though communist, soon distanced itself from the Soviet Union and spearheaded the Non-Aligned Movement. Dissatisfied with the exercise of power by the majority Serbs, the Slovenes succeeded in establishing their independence in 1991 after a short 10-day war. Historical ties to Western Europe, a growing economy, and a stable democracy have assisted in Slovenia's postcommunist transition. Slovenia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004; it joined the euro zone and the Schengen Area in 2007.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: south Central Europe, Julian Alps between Austria and Croatia Geographic coordinates: 46 07 N, 14 49 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 20,273 sq km land: 20,151 sq km water: 122 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey Land boundaries: total: 1,211 km border countries (4): Austria 299 km; Croatia 600 km; Hungary 94 km; Italy 218 km Coastline: 46.6 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east Terrain: a short southwestern coastal strip of Karst topography on the Adriatic; an alpine mountain region lies adjacent to Italy and Austria in the north; mixed mountains and valleys with numerous rivers to the east Elevation: highest point: Triglav 2,864 m lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m mean elevation: 492 m Natural resources: lignite, lead, zinc, building stone, hydropower, forests Land use: agricultural land: 22.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 8.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 13.1% (2018 est.) forest: 62.3% (2018 est.) other: 14.9% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 60 sq km (2012) Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations; pockets in the mountainous northwest exhibit less density than elsewhere Natural hazards: flooding; earthquakes Geography - note: despite its small size, this eastern Alpine country controls some of Europe's major transit routes Map description: Slovenia map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Gulf of Venice.Slovenia map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Gulf of Venice. Topic: People and Society Population: 2,101,208 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Slovene(s) adjective: Slovenian Ethnic groups: Slovene 83.1%, Serb 2%, Croat 1.8%, Bosniak 1.1%, other or unspecified 12% (2002 est.) Languages: Slovene (official) 87.7%, Croatian 2.8%, Serbo-Croatian 1.8%, Bosnian 1.6%, Serbian 1.6%, Hungarian 0.4% (official, only in municipalities where Hungarian national communities reside), Italian 0.2% (official, only in municipalities where Italian national communities reside), other or unspecified 3.9% (2002 est.) major-language sample(s): Svetovni informativni zvezek - neobhoden vir osnovnih informacij. (Slovene) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Catholic 57.8%, Muslim 2.4%, Orthodox 2.3%, other Christian 1%, unaffiliated 3.5%, no response or unspecified 22.8%, none 10.1% (2002 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 14.84% (male 160,134/female 151,960) 15-24 years: 9.01% (male 98,205/female 91,318) 25-54 years: 40.73% (male 449,930/female 406,395) 55-64 years: 14.19% (male 148,785/female 149,635) 65 years and over: 21.23% (2020 est.) (male 192,420/female 253,896) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 55.9 youth dependency ratio: 23.6 elderly dependency ratio: 32.3 potential support ratio: 3.1 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 44.9 years male: 43.4 years female: 46.6 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -0.06% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 8.3 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 10.4 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 1.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations; pockets in the mountainous northwest exhibit less density than elsewhere Urbanization: urban population: 55.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 286,000 LJUBLJANA (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 29 years (2020 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 7 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 1.52 deaths/1,000 live births male: 1.63 deaths/1,000 live births female: 1.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 81.82 years male: 78.96 years female: 84.79 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA total: 99.5% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0.5% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 8.5% (2019) Physicians density: 3.28 physicians/1,000 population (2019) Hospital bed density: 4.4 beds/1,000 population (2018) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 99% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 1% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: (2020 est.) <.1% HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: (2020 est.) <1,000 note: estimate does not include children HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2018 est.) <100 Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 20.2% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 22% (2020 est.) male: 24.4% (2020 est.) female: 19.6% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 4.9% of GDP (2018 est.) Literacy: definition: NA total population: 99.7% male: 99.7% female: 99.7% (2015) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 18 years male: 17 years female: 18 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 14.2% male: 12.7% female: 16.2% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: air pollution from road traffic, domestic heating (wood buring), power generation, and industry; water pollution; biodiversity protection Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 15.81 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 12.63 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 2.1 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east Land use: agricultural land: 22.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 8.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 13.1% (2018 est.) forest: 62.3% (2018 est.) other: 14.9% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 55.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.2% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.03% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 926,000 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 430,034 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 46.4% (2015 est.) Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 169.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 758 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 3.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 31.87 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia conventional short form: Slovenia local long form: Republika Slovenija local short form: Slovenija former: People's Republic of Slovenia, Socialist Republic of Slovenia etymology: the country's name means "Land of the Slavs" in Slovene Government type: parliamentary republic Capital: name: Ljubljana geographic coordinates: 46 03 N, 14 31 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: likely related to the Slavic root "ljub", meaning "to like" or "to love"; by tradition, the name is related to the Slovene word "ljubljena" meaning "beloved" Administrative divisions: 201 municipalities (obcine, singular - obcina) and 11 urban municipalities (mestne obcine, singular - mestna obcina) municipalities: Ajdovscina, Ankaran, Apace, Beltinci, Benedikt, Bistrica ob Sotli, Bled, Bloke, Bohinj, Borovnica, Bovec, Braslovce, Brda, Brezice, Brezovica, Cankova, Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Cerknica, Cerkno, Cerkvenjak, Cirkulane, Crensovci, Crna na Koroskem, Crnomelj, Destrnik, Divaca, Dobje, Dobrepolje, Dobrna, Dobrova-Polhov Gradec, Dobrovnik/Dobronak, Dolenjske Toplice, Dol pri Ljubljani, Domzale, Dornava, Dravograd, Duplek, Gorenja Vas-Poljane, Gorisnica, Gorje, Gornja Radgona, Gornji Grad, Gornji Petrovci, Grad, Grosuplje, Hajdina, Hoce-Slivnica, Hodos, Horjul, Hrastnik, Hrpelje-Kozina, Idrija, Ig, Ilirska Bistrica, Ivancna Gorica, Izola/Isola, Jesenice, Jezersko, Jursinci, Kamnik, Kanal ob Soci, Kidricevo, Kobarid, Kobilje, Kocevje, Komen, Komenda, Kosanjevica na Krki, Kostel, Kozje, Kranjska Gora, Krizevci, Krsko, Kungota, Kuzma, Lasko, Lenart, Lendava/Lendva, Litija, Ljubno, Ljutomer, Log-Dragomer, Logatec, Loska Dolina, Loski Potok, Lovrenc na Pohorju, Luce, Lukovica, Majsperk, Makole, Markovci, Medvode, Menges, Metlika, Mezica, Miklavz na Dravskem Polju, Miren-Kostanjevica, Mirna, Mirna Pec, Mislinja, Mokronog-Trebelno, Moravce, Moravske Toplice, Mozirje, Muta, Naklo, Nazarje, Odranci, Oplotnica, Ormoz, Osilnica, Pesnica, Piran/Pirano, Pivka, Podcetrtek, Podlehnik, Podvelka, Poljcane, Polzela, Postojna, Prebold, Preddvor, Prevalje, Puconci, Race-Fram, Radece, Radenci, Radlje ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne na Koroskem, Razkrizje, Recica ob Savinji, Rence-Vogrsko, Ribnica, Ribnica na Pohorju, Rogaska Slatina, Rogasovci, Rogatec, Ruse, Salovci, Selnica ob Dravi, Semic, Sempeter-Vrtojba, Sencur, Sentilj, Sentjernej, Sentjur, Sentrupert, Sevnica, Sezana, Skocjan, Skofja Loka, Skofljica, Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje pri Jelsah, Smarjeske Toplice, Smartno ob Paki, Smartno pri Litiji, Sodrazica, Solcava, Sostanj, Sredisce ob Dravi, Starse, Store, Straza, Sveta Ana, Sveta Trojica v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Andraz v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Jurij ob Scavnici, Sveti Jurij v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Tomaz, Tabor, Tisina, Tolmin, Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trnovska Vas, Trzic, Trzin, Turnisce, Velika Polana, Velike Lasce, Verzej, Videm, Vipava, Vitanje, Vodice, Vojnik, Vransko, Vrhnika, Vuzenica, Zagorje ob Savi, Zalec, Zavrc, Zelezniki, Zetale, Ziri, Zirovnica, Zrece, Zuzemberk urban municipalities: Celje, Koper, Kranj, Ljubljana, Maribor, Murska Sobota, Nova Gorica, Novo Mesto, Ptuj, Slovenj Gradec, Velenje201 municipalities (obcine, singular - obcina) and 11 urban municipalities (mestne obcine, singular - mestna obcina)municipalities: Ajdovscina, Ankaran, Apace, Beltinci, Benedikt, Bistrica ob Sotli, Bled, Bloke, Bohinj, Borovnica, Bovec, Braslovce, Brda, Brezice, Brezovica, Cankova, Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Cerknica, Cerkno, Cerkvenjak, Cirkulane, Crensovci, Crna na Koroskem, Crnomelj, Destrnik, Divaca, Dobje, Dobrepolje, Dobrna, Dobrova-Polhov Gradec, Dobrovnik/Dobronak, Dolenjske Toplice, Dol pri Ljubljani, Domzale, Dornava, Dravograd, Duplek, Gorenja Vas-Poljane, Gorisnica, Gorje, Gornja Radgona, Gornji Grad, Gornji Petrovci, Grad, Grosuplje, Hajdina, Hoce-Slivnica, Hodos, Horjul, Hrastnik, Hrpelje-Kozina, Idrija, Ig, Ilirska Bistrica, Ivancna Gorica, Izola/Isola, Jesenice, Jezersko, Jursinci, Kamnik, Kanal ob Soci, Kidricevo, Kobarid, Kobilje, Kocevje, Komen, Komenda, Kosanjevica na Krki, Kostel, Kozje, Kranjska Gora, Krizevci, Krsko, Kungota, Kuzma, Lasko, Lenart, Lendava/Lendva, Litija, Ljubno, Ljutomer, Log-Dragomer, Logatec, Loska Dolina, Loski Potok, Lovrenc na Pohorju, Luce, Lukovica, Majsperk, Makole, Markovci, Medvode, Menges, Metlika, Mezica, Miklavz na Dravskem Polju, Miren-Kostanjevica, Mirna, Mirna Pec, Mislinja, Mokronog-Trebelno, Moravce, Moravske Toplice, Mozirje, Muta, Naklo, Nazarje, Odranci, Oplotnica, Ormoz, Osilnica, Pesnica, Piran/Pirano, Pivka, Podcetrtek, Podlehnik, Podvelka, Poljcane, Polzela, Postojna, Prebold, Preddvor, Prevalje, Puconci, Race-Fram, Radece, Radenci, Radlje ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne na Koroskem, Razkrizje, Recica ob Savinji, Rence-Vogrsko, Ribnica, Ribnica na Pohorju, Rogaska Slatina, Rogasovci, Rogatec, Ruse, Salovci, Selnica ob Dravi, Semic, Sempeter-Vrtojba, Sencur, Sentilj, Sentjernej, Sentjur, Sentrupert, Sevnica, Sezana, Skocjan, Skofja Loka, Skofljica, Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje pri Jelsah, Smarjeske Toplice, Smartno ob Paki, Smartno pri Litiji, Sodrazica, Solcava, Sostanj, Sredisce ob Dravi, Starse, Store, Straza, Sveta Ana, Sveta Trojica v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Andraz v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Jurij ob Scavnici, Sveti Jurij v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Tomaz, Tabor, Tisina, Tolmin, Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trnovska Vas, Trzic, Trzin, Turnisce, Velika Polana, Velike Lasce, Verzej, Videm, Vipava, Vitanje, Vodice, Vojnik, Vransko, Vrhnika, Vuzenica, Zagorje ob Savi, Zalec, Zavrc, Zelezniki, Zetale, Ziri, Zirovnica, Zrece, Zuzemberkurban municipalities: Celje, Koper, Kranj, Ljubljana, Maribor, Murska Sobota, Nova Gorica, Novo Mesto, Ptuj, Slovenj Gradec, Velenje Independence: 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia) National holiday: Independence Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991) Constitution: history: previous 1974 (preindependence); latest passed by Parliament 23 December 1991 amendments: proposed by at least 20 National Assembly members, by the government, or by petition of at least 30,000 voters; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; referendum required if agreed upon by at least 30 Assembly members; passage in a referendum requires participation of a majority of eligible voters and a simple majority of votes cast; amended several times, last in 2016 Legal system: civil law system International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Slovenia; both parents if the child is born outside of Slovenia dual citizenship recognized: yes, for select cases residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years, the last 5 of which have been continuous Suffrage: 18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Borut PAHOR (since 22 December 2012) head of government: Prime Minister Robert GOLOB (since 25 May 2022) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, elected by the National Assembly elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second consecutive term); election last held on 22 October with a runoff on 12 November 2017 (next election to be held on 23 October 2022); following National Assembly elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually nominated prime minister by the president and elected by the National Assembly election results: 2017: Borut PAHOR is reelected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Borut PAHOR (independent) 47.1%, Marjan SAREC (Marjan Sarec List) 25%, Romana TOMC (SDS) 13.7%, Ljudmila NOVAK (NSi) 7.2%, other 7%; percent of vote in second round - Borut PAHOR 52.9%, Marjan SAREC 47.1%; Robert GOLOB (GS) elected prime minister on 25 May 2022, National Assembly vote - 54-30 2012: Borut PAHOR elected president; percent of vote in second round - Borut PAHOR (SD) 67.4%, Danilo TURK (independent) 32.6%; note - a snap election was held on 13 July 2014 following the resignation of Prime Minister Alenka BRATUSEK on 5 May 2014; Miro CERAR (SMC) elected prime minister; National Assembly vote - 57 to 11 Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament consists of: National Council (State Council)or Drzavni Svet (40 seats; members indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve 5-year terms); note - the Council is primarily an advisory body with limited legislative powers National Assembly or Drzavni Zbor (90 seats; 88 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 2 directly elected in special constituencies for Italian and Hungarian minorities by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms) elections: National Council - last held on 22 November 2017 (next to be held on 23 October 2022) National Assembly - last held on 24 April 2022 (next to be held in 2026) election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 36, women 4, percent of women 10% National Assembly - percent of vote by party - GS 34.5%, SDS 23.5%, NSi 6.9%, SD 6.7%, Levica 4.4%, other 24%; seats by party - GS 41, SDS 27, NSi 8, SD 7, Levica 5; composition - men 54, women 36, percent of women 40%; note - total Parliament percent of women 30.8% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 37 judges organized into civil, criminal, commercial, labor and social security, administrative, and registry departments); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 7 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president and vice president appointed by the National Assembly upon the proposal of the Minister of Justice based on the opinions of the Judicial Council, an 11-member independent body elected by the National Assembly from proposals submitted by the president, attorneys, law universities, and sitting judges; other Supreme Court judges elected by the National Assembly from candidates proposed by the Judicial Council; Supreme Court judges serve for life; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the National Assembly from nominations by the president of the republic; Constitutional Court president selected from among its own membership for a 3-year term; other judges elected for single 9-year terms subordinate courts: county, district, regional, and high courts; specialized labor-related and social courts; Court of Audit; Administrative Court Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia or DeSUS [Ljubo JASNIC] Freedom Movement or GS [Robert GOLOB] (formerly Greens Actions Party) List of Marjan Sarec or LMS [Marjan SAREC] New Slovenia - Christian Democrats or NSi [Matej TONIN] Party of Alenka Bratusek or Stranka SAB [Alenka BRATUSEK] (formerly Alliance of Social Liberal Democrats or ZSD and before that Alliance of Alenka Bratusek or ZaAB) Slovenian Democratic Party or SDS [Janez JANSA] Slovenian National Party or SNS [Zmago JELINCIC Plemeniti] Social Democrats or SD [Tanja FAJON] The Left or Levica [Luka MESEC] (successor to United Left or ZL) International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tone KAJZER (since 23 December 2020) chancery: 2410 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 386-6601 FAX: [1] (202) 386-6633 email address and website: vwa@gov.si http://www.washington.embassy.si/index.php?id=51&L=1 consulate(s) general: Cleveland (OH) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jamie L. HARPOOTLIAN  (since 17 February 2022) embassy: Presernova 31, 1000 Ljubljana mailing address: 7140 Ljubljana Place, Washington, DC 20521-7140 telephone: [386] (1) 200-5500 FAX: [386] (1) 200-5555 email address and website: LjubljanaACS@state.gov https://si.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red, derive from the medieval coat of arms of the Duchy of Carniola; the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav, Slovenia's highest peak, in white against a blue background at the center; beneath it are two wavy blue lines depicting seas and rivers, and above it are three six-pointed stars arranged in an inverted triangle, which are taken from the coat of arms of the Counts of Celje, the prominent Slovene dynastic house of the late 14th and early 15th centuries) appears in the upper hoist side of the flag centered on the white and blue bands National symbol(s): Mount Triglav; national colors: white, blue, red National anthem: name: "Zdravljica" (A Toast) lyrics/music: France PRESEREN/Stanko PREMRL note: adopted in 1989 while still part of Yugoslavia; originally written in 1848; the full poem, whose seventh verse is used as the anthem, speaks of pan-Slavic nationalism National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 5 (3 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Škocjan Caves (n); Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe (n); Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps (c); Heritage of Mercury: Almadén and Idrija (c); The works of Jože Plečnik in Ljubljana (c) Topic: Economy Economic overview: With excellent infrastructure, a well-educated work force, and a strategic location between the Balkans and Western Europe, Slovenia has one of the highest per capita GDPs in Central Europe, despite having suffered a protracted recession in the 2008-09 period in the wake of the global financial crisis. Slovenia became the first 2004 EU entrant to adopt the euro (on 1 January 2007) and has experienced a stable political and economic transition.   In March 2004, Slovenia became the first transition country to graduate from borrower status to donor partner at the World Bank. In 2007, Slovenia was invited to begin the process for joining the OECD; it became a member in 2012. From 2014 to 2016, export-led growth, fueled by demand in larger European markets, pushed annual GDP growth above 2.3%. Growth reached 5.0% in 2017 and is projected to near or reach 5% in 2018. What used to be stubbornly high unemployment fell below 5.5% in early 2018, driven by strong exports and increasing consumption that boosted labor demand. Continued fiscal consolidation through increased tax collection and social security contributions will likely result in a balanced government budget in 2019.   Prime Minister CERAR’s government took office in September 2014, pledging to press ahead with commitments to privatize a select group of state-run companies, rationalize public spending, and further stabilize the banking sector. Efforts to privatize Slovenia’s largely state-owned banking sector have largely stalled, however, amid concerns about an ongoing dispute over Yugoslav-era foreign currency deposits.With excellent infrastructure, a well-educated work force, and a strategic location between the Balkans and Western Europe, Slovenia has one of the highest per capita GDPs in Central Europe, despite having suffered a protracted recession in the 2008-09 period in the wake of the global financial crisis. Slovenia became the first 2004 EU entrant to adopt the euro (on 1 January 2007) and has experienced a stable political and economic transition. In March 2004, Slovenia became the first transition country to graduate from borrower status to donor partner at the World Bank. In 2007, Slovenia was invited to begin the process for joining the OECD; it became a member in 2012. From 2014 to 2016, export-led growth, fueled by demand in larger European markets, pushed annual GDP growth above 2.3%. Growth reached 5.0% in 2017 and is projected to near or reach 5% in 2018. What used to be stubbornly high unemployment fell below 5.5% in early 2018, driven by strong exports and increasing consumption that boosted labor demand. Continued fiscal consolidation through increased tax collection and social security contributions will likely result in a balanced government budget in 2019. Prime Minister CERAR’s government took office in September 2014, pledging to press ahead with commitments to privatize a select group of state-run companies, rationalize public spending, and further stabilize the banking sector. Efforts to privatize Slovenia’s largely state-owned banking sector have largely stalled, however, amid concerns about an ongoing dispute over Yugoslav-era foreign currency deposits. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $76.75 billion (2020 est.) $81.25 billion (2019 est.) $78.74 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 2.4% (2019 est.) 4.24% (2018 est.) 5.14% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $36,500 (2020 est.) $38,900 (2019 est.) $38,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $54.16 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.6% (2019 est.) 1.7% (2018 est.) 1.4% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: A (2019) Moody's rating: A3 (2020) Standard & Poors rating: AA- (2019) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 1.8% (2017 est.) industry: 32.2% (2017 est.) services: 65.9% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 52.6% (2017 est.) government consumption: 18.2% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 18.4% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1.1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 82.3% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -72.6% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: milk, maize, wheat, grapes, barley, potatoes, poultry, apples, beef, pork Industries: ferrous metallurgy and aluminum products, lead and zinc smelting; electronics (including military electronics), trucks, automobiles, electric power equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine tools Industrial production growth rate: 8.6% (2017 est.) Labor force: 885,000 (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 5.5% industry: 31.2% services: 63.3% (2017 est.) Unemployment rate: 7.64% (2019 est.) 8.25% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 14.2% male: 12.7% female: 16.2% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 12% (2018 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 24.2 (2017 est.) 24.5 (2015) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.8% highest 10%: 20.1% (2016) Budget: revenues: 21.07 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 21.06 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 0% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 73.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 78.6% of GDP (2016 est.) note: defined by the EU's Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year in the following categories of government liabilities: currency and deposits, securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives, and loans; general government sector comprises the central, state, local government, and social security funds Taxes and other revenues: 43.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: $3.05 billion (2019 est.) $3.17 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $41.73 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $45.41 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $45.93 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Germany 18%, Italy 11%, Croatia 8%, Austria 7%, France 5%, Switzerland 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: packaged medicines, cars and vehicle parts, refined petroleum, electrical lighting/signaling equipment, electricity (2019) Imports: $36.6 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $40.8 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $41.32 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Germany 14%, Italy 12%, Austria 8%, Switzerland 8%, China 7% (2019) Imports - commodities: packaged medicines, cars and vehicle parts, refined petroleum, delivery trucks, electricity (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $889.9 million (31 December 2017 est.) $853 million (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $48.656 billion (2019 est.) $50.004 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.82771 (2020 est.) 0.90338 (2019 est.) 0.87789 (2018 est.) 0.885 (2014 est.) 0.7634 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 4.062 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 13.447 billion kWh (2020 est.) exports: 9.123 billion kWh (2020 est.) imports: 7.12 billion kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 848 million kWh (2020 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 27.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 36.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 2.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 32% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 1.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 3.175 million metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 3.502 million metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 3,000 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 335,000 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 371 million metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 54,900 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 29,350 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 93,060 bbl/day (2017 est.) Natural gas: production: 4.899 million cubic meters (2020 est.) consumption: 904.439 million cubic meters (2020 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2020 est.) imports: 903.108 million cubic meters (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 13.553 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 4.08 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 7.967 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 1.506 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 134.836 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 704,909 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 2,511,980 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120.85 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Slovenia’s telecom sector is dominated by four operators; the incumbent telco Telekom Slovenije has faced increasing pressure in all sectors; to address this, the company had diversified its business interests to reduce its reliance on telecom services; the mobile market has four MNOs and a small number of MVNOs, operating in a country with a potential market of just over two million people; the regulator in recent years has addressed the need for mobile operators to have more spectrum, so enabling them to improve the quality and range of services; a multi-spectrum auction was concluded in mid-2021, aimed at supporting 5G services; the broadband market continues to be dominated by a small number of players; DSL lost its dominance some years ago, being taken over by fiber as subscribers are migrated to new fiber-based networks; fiber accounted for almost half of all fixed broadband connections by March 2022. (2022) domestic: fixed-line nearly 34 per 100 and mobile-cellular over 122 per 100 teledensity (2020) international: country code - 386 (2016) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: public TV broadcaster, Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTV), operates a system of national and regional TV stations; 35 domestic commercial TV stations operating nationally, regionally, and locally; about 60% of households are connected to multi-channel cable TV; public radio broadcaster operates 3 national and 4 regional stations; more than 75 regional and local commercial and non-commercial radio stations Internet country code: .si Internet users: total: 1,829,105 (2020 est.) percent of population: 87% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 651,604 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 21 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,094,762 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 540,000 (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: S5 Airports: total: 16 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 9 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2021) Pipelines: 1,155 km gas, 5 km oil (2018) Railways: total: 1,229 km (2014) standard gauge: 1,229 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (503 km electrified) Roadways: total: 38,985 km (2012) paved: 38,985 km (2012) (includes 769 km of expressways) Waterways: 710 km (2022) (some transport on the Drava River) Merchant marine: total: 9 by type: other 9 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Koper Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Slovenian Armed Forces (Slovenska Vojska, SV): structured as a combined force with air, land, maritime, special operations, combat support, and combat service support elements (2022) Military expenditures: 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.) 1% of GDP (2020) 1.1% of GDP (2019) (approximately $800 million) 1% of GDP (2018) (approximately $750 million) 1% of GDP (2017) (approximately $690 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 6,000 active duty troops (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Slovenian Armed Forces is a mix of Soviet-era and smaller quantities of more modern Russian and Western equipment; since 2010, it has received limited amounts of military equipment from several countries led by France and Russia (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service (men and women); conscription abolished in 2003 (2021) note: as of 2019, women comprised about 15% of the military's full-time personnel Military deployments: 200 Kosovo (NATO); 100 Slovakia (NATO) (2022) note: in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries, including Slovenia, have sent additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe Military - note: Slovenia became a member of NATO in 2004; Hungary and Italy provide NATO's air policing mission for Slovenia’s airspace (2022) Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Slovenia-Austria: none identified Slovenia-Croatia: since the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, Croatia and Slovenia have each claimed sovereignty over Piran Bay and four villages, and Slovenia has objected to Croatia's claim of an exclusive economic zone in the Adriatic Sea; in 2009, however Croatia and Slovenia signed a binding international arbitration agreement to define their disputed land and maritime borders, which led Slovenia to lift its objections to Croatia joining the EU; in June 2017, the Permanent Court of Arbitration issued a ruling on the border, but Croatia had withdrawn from the proceedings in 2015 and refused to implement it; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Slovenia has implemented the strict Schengen border rules to curb illegal migration and commerce through southeastern Europe while encouraging close cross-border ties with Croatia; Slovenia continues to impose a hard border Schengen regime with Croatia, which joined the EU in 2013 but has not yet fulfilled Schengen requirements Slovenia-Hungary: none identified Slovenia-Italy: none identifiedSlovenia-Austria: none identifiedSlovenia-Croatia: since the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, Croatia and Slovenia have each claimed sovereignty over Piran Bay and four villages, and Slovenia has objected to Croatia's claim of an exclusive economic zone in the Adriatic Sea; in 2009, however Croatia and Slovenia signed a binding international arbitration agreement to define their disputed land and maritime borders, which led Slovenia to lift its objections to Croatia joining the EU; in June 2017, the Permanent Court of Arbitration issued a ruling on the border, but Croatia had withdrawn from the proceedings in 2015 and refused to implement it; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Slovenia has implemented the strict Schengen border rules to curb illegal migration and commerce through southeastern Europe while encouraging close cross-border ties with Croatia; Slovenia continues to impose a hard border Schengen regime with Croatia, which joined the EU in 2013 but has not yet fulfilled Schengen requirementsSlovenia-Hungary: none identifiedSlovenia-Italy: none identified Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 7,200 (Ukraine) (as of 16 August 2022) stateless persons: 10 (2020) note:  544,284 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-July 2022) Illicit drugs: minor transit point for cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe, and for precursor chemicals

20220901

countries-palau

Topic: Photos of Palau Topic: Introduction Background: Humans arrived in the Palauan archipelago around 1000 B.C. from Southeast Asia and developed a complex, highly organized matrilineal society where high-ranking women picked the chiefs. The islands were the westernmost part of the widely scattered Pacific islands north of New Guinea that Spanish explorers named the Caroline Islands in the 17th century. There were several failed attempts by Spanish Jesuit missionaries to visit the islands in the early 1700s. Spain gained some influence in the islands and administered it from the Philippines but sold Palau to Germany in 1899 after it lost the Philippines in the Spanish-American War. Japan seized Palau in 1914, was granted a League of Nations mandate to administer the islands in 1920, and made Koror the capital of its South Seas Mandate in 1922. By the outbreak of World War II, there were four times as many Japanese living in Koror as Palauans. In 1944, the Battle of Peleliu between US and Japanese forces resulted in more than 15,000 deaths. Following the war, Palau became part of the US-administered Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Palau voted against joining the Federated States of Micronesia in 1978 and adopted its own constitution in 1981, which stated that Palau was a nuclear-free country. In 1982, Palau signed a Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the US, which granted Palau financial assistance and access to many US domestic programs in exchange for exclusive US military access and defense responsibilities. However, many Palauans saw the COFA as incompatible with the Palauan Constitution because of the US military’s nuclear arsenal, and seven referenda failed to achieve ratification. Following a constitutional amendment and eighth referendum in 1993, the COFA was ratified and entered into force in 1994 when the islands gained their independence. Its funding was renewed in 2010. Palau has been on the frontlines of combatting climate change and protecting marine resources. In 2011, Palau banned commercial shark fishing and created the world’s first shark sanctuary. In 2017, Palau began stamping the Palau Pledge into passports, reminding visitors to act in ecologically and culturally responsible ways. In 2020, Palau banned coral reef-toxic sunscreens and expanded its fishing prohibition to include 80% of its exclusive economic zone.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines Geographic coordinates: 7 30 N, 134 30 E Map references: Oceania Area: total: 459 sq km land: 459 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 1,519 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm Climate: tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November Terrain: varying topography from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs Elevation: highest point: Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m Natural resources: forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals Land use: agricultural land: 10.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 4.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 4.3% (2018 est.) forest: 87.6% (2018 est.) other: 1.6% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012) Population distribution: most of the population is located on the southern end of the main island of Babelthuap Natural hazards: typhoons (June to December) Geography - note: westernmost archipelago in the Caroline chain, consists of six island groups totaling more than 300 islands; includes World War II battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu) and world-famous Rock Islands Map description: Palau map showing the major islands of this archipelagic country in the North Pacific Ocean.Palau map showing the major islands of this archipelagic country in the North Pacific Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 21,695 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Palauan(s) adjective: Palauan Ethnic groups: Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 73%, Carolinian 2%, Asian 21.7%, Caucasian 1.2%, other 2.1% (2015 est.) Languages: Palauan (official on most islands) 65.2%, other Micronesian 1.9%, English (official) 19.1%, Filipino 9.9%, Chinese 1.2%, other 2.8% (2015 est.) note: Sonsoralese is official in Sonsoral; Tobian is official in Tobi; Angaur and Japanese are official in Angaur Religions: Roman Catholic 45.3%, Protestant 34.9% (includes Evangelical 26.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 6.9%, Assembly of God .9%, Baptist .7%), Modekngei 5.7% (indigenous to Palau), Muslim 3%, Church of Jesus Christ 1.5%, other 9.7% (2015 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 18.68% (male 2,090/female 1,961) 15-24 years: 15.86% (male 1,723/female 1,716) 25-54 years: 45.33% (male 6,026/female 3,804) 55-64 years: 10.68% (male 853/female 1,463) 65 years and over: 9.45% (2020 est.) (male 501/female 1,548) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Median age: total: 33.9 years male: 32.9 years female: 35.9 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.39% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 11.52 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 8.25 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: most of the population is located on the southern end of the main island of Babelthuap Urbanization: urban population: 82% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 277 NGERULMUD (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.66 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.64 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.27 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 11.28 deaths/1,000 live births male: 13.26 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.64 years male: 71.48 years female: 78 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99.6% of population rural: 99.8% of population total: 99.7% of population unimproved: urban: 0.4% of population rural: 0.2% of population total: 0.3% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 15.2% (2019) Physicians density: 1.77 physicians/1,000 population (2020) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 99.8% of population rural: 99% of population total: 99.6% of population unimproved: urban: 0.2% of population rural: 1% of population total: 0.4% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: malaria Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 55.3% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 17.6% (2020 est.) male: 27.3% (2020 est.) female: 7.9% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: NA Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.6% male: 96.8% female: 96.3% (2015) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 17 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2013) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 5.6% male: NA female: (2014) NA Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal and destructive fishing practices, and overfishing; climate change contributes to rising sea level and coral bleaching; drought Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 12.18 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.22 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.06 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November Land use: agricultural land: 10.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 4.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 4.3% (2018 est.) forest: 87.6% (2018 est.) other: 1.6% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 82% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: malaria Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 9,427 tons (2016 est.) Total renewable water resources: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Palau conventional short form: Palau local long form: Beluu er a Belau local short form: Belau former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Palau District etymology: from the Palauan name for the islands, Belau, which likely derives from the Palauan word "beluu" meaning "village" Government type: presidential republic in free association with the US Capital: name: Ngerulmud geographic coordinates: 7 30 N, 134 37 E time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the Palauan meaning is "place of fermented 'mud'" ('mud' being the native name for the keyhole angelfish); the site of the new capitol (established in 2006) had been a large hill overlooking the ocean, Ngerulmud, on which women would communally gather to offer fermented angelfish to the gods note: Ngerulmud, on Babeldaob Island, is the smallest national capital on earth by population, with only a few hundred people; the name is pronounced en-jer-al-mud; Koror, on Koror Island, with over 11,000 residents is by far the largest settlement in Palau; it served as the country's capital from independence in 1994 to 2006 Administrative divisions: 16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatohobei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol Independence: 1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship) National holiday: Constitution Day, 9 July (1981), day of a national referendum to pass the new constitution; Independence Day, 1 October (1994) Constitution: history: ratified 9 July 1980, effective 1 January 1981 amendments: proposed by a constitutional convention (held at least once every 15 years with voter approval), by public petition of at least 25% of eligible voters, or by a resolution adopted by at least three fourths of National Congress members; passage requires approval by a majority of votes in at least three fourths of the states in the next regular general election; amended several times, last in 2020 Legal system: mixed legal system of civil, common, and customary law International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Palau dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: note - no procedure for naturalization Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Surangel WHIPPS Jr. (since 21 January 2021); Vice President Jerrlyn Uduch Sengebau SENIOR (since 21 January 2021); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Surangel WHIPPS Jr. (since 21 January 2021); Vice President Jerrlyn Uduch Sengebau SENIOR (since 21 January 2021) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate; also includes the vice president; the Council of Chiefs consists of chiefs from each of the states who advise the president on issues concerning traditional laws, customs, and their relationship to the constitution and laws of Palau elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on separate ballots by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2024) election results: Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. elected president (in second round); percent of vote - Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. (independent) 56.7%, Raynold OILUCH (independent) 43.3% Legislative branch: description: bicameral National Congress or Olbiil Era Kelulau consists of: Senate (13 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by majority vote to serve 4-year terms) House of Delegates (16 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2024) House of Delegates - last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2024) election results: Senate - percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 13; composition - men 12, women 1; percent of women 7.7% House of Delegates - percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 16; composition - men 15, women 1; percent of women 6.3%; note - overall percent of women in National Congress 6.9% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 3 associate justices organized into appellate trial divisions; the Supreme Court organization also includes the Common Pleas and Land Courts) judge selection and term of office: justices nominated by a 7-member independent body consisting of judges, presidential appointees, and lawyers and appointed by the president; judges can serve until mandatory retirement at age 65 subordinate courts: National Court and other 'inferior' courts Political parties and leaders: none International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, IOC, IPU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA (since 12 November 1997) chancery: 1701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 349-8598 FAX: [1] (202) 452-6281 email address and website: info@palauembassy.org https://www.palauembassy.org/ consulate(s): Tamuning (Guam) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John HENNESSEY-NILAND (since 6 March 2020) embassy: Omsangel/Beklelachieb, Airai 96940 mailing address: 4260 Koror Place, Washington, DC  20521-4260 telephone: [680] 587-2920 FAX: [680] 587-2911 email address and website: ConsularKoror@state.gov https://pw.usembassy.gov/ 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 symbol(s): bai (native meeting house); national colors: blue, yellow National anthem: name: "Belau rekid" (Our Palau) lyrics/music: multiple/Ymesei O. EZEKIEL note: adopted 1980 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Rock Islands Southern Lagoon Topic: Economy Economic overview: The economy is dominated by tourism, fishing, and subsistence agriculture. Government is a major employer of the work force relying on financial assistance from the US under the Compact of Free Association (Compact) with the US that took effect after the end of the UN trusteeship on 1 October 1994. The US provided Palau with roughly $700 million in aid for the first 15 years following commencement of the Compact in 1994 in return for unrestricted access to its land and waterways for strategic purposes. The population enjoys a per capita income roughly double that of the Philippines and much of Micronesia.   Business and leisure tourist arrivals reached a record 167,966 in 2015, a 14.4% increase over the previous year, but fell to 138,408 in 2016. Long-run prospects for tourism have been bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific, the rising prosperity of industrial East Asia, and the willingness of foreigners to finance infrastructure development. Proximity to Guam, the region's major destination for tourists from East Asia, and a regionally competitive tourist infrastructure enhance Palau's advantage as a destination.The economy is dominated by tourism, fishing, and subsistence agriculture. Government is a major employer of the work force relying on financial assistance from the US under the Compact of Free Association (Compact) with the US that took effect after the end of the UN trusteeship on 1 October 1994. The US provided Palau with roughly $700 million in aid for the first 15 years following commencement of the Compact in 1994 in return for unrestricted access to its land and waterways for strategic purposes. The population enjoys a per capita income roughly double that of the Philippines and much of Micronesia. Business and leisure tourist arrivals reached a record 167,966 in 2015, a 14.4% increase over the previous year, but fell to 138,408 in 2016. Long-run prospects for tourism have been bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific, the rising prosperity of industrial East Asia, and the willingness of foreigners to finance infrastructure development. Proximity to Guam, the region's major destination for tourists from East Asia, and a regionally competitive tourist infrastructure enhance Palau's advantage as a destination. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $320 million (2019 est.) $330 million (2018 est.) $317 million (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: -3.7% (2017 est.) 0% (2016 est.) 10.1% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $17,600 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $18,400 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $17,841 (2017 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $292 million (2017 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.9% (2017 est.) -1% (2016 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 3% (2016 est.) industry: 19% (2016 est.) services: 78% (2016 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 60.5% (2016 est.) government consumption: 27.2% (2016 est.) investment in fixed capital: 22.7% (2016 est.) investment in inventories: 1.9% (2016 est.) exports of goods and services: 55.2% (2016 est.) imports of goods and services: -67.6% (2016 est.) Agricultural products: coconuts, cassava (manioc, tapioca), sweet potatoes; fish, pigs, chickens, eggs, bananas, papaya, breadfruit, calamansi, soursop, Polynesian chestnuts, Polynesian almonds, mangoes, taro, guava, beans, cucumbers, squash/pumpkins (various), eggplant, green onions, kangkong (watercress), cabbages (various), radishes, betel nuts, melons, peppers, noni, okra Industries: tourism, fishing, subsistence agriculture Industrial production growth rate: NA Labor force: 11,610 (2016) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1.2% industry: 12.4% services: 86.4% (2016) Unemployment rate: 1.7% (2015 est.) 4.1% (2012) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 5.6% male: NA female: (2014) NA Population below poverty line: 24.9% (2006) NA Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 193 million (2012 est.) expenditures: 167.3 million (2012 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 8.8% (of GDP) (2016 est.) Public debt: 24.1% of GDP (2016 est.) 21.6% of GDP (2015) Taxes and other revenues: 66.1% (of GDP) (2016 est.) Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September Current account balance: -$53 million (2017 est.) -$36 million (2016 est.) Exports: $23.17 billion (2017 est.) $14.8 million (2015 est.) Exports - partners: Japan 70%, South Korea 15%, United States 7% (2019) Exports - commodities: fish, computers, broadcasting equipment, office machinery/parts, scrap vessels (2019) Imports: $4.715 billion (2018 est.) $4.079 billion (2017 est.) Imports - partners: South Korea 19%, China 18%, Taiwan 17%, United States 17%, Japan 16% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, fish, cars, broadcasting equipment, modeling instruments (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $0 (31 December 2017 est.) $580.9 million (31 December 2015 est.) Debt - external: $18.38 billion (31 December 2014 est.) $16.47 billion (31 December 2013 est.) Exchange rates: the US dollar is usedthe US dollar is used Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2018) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 8,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 24,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 133 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: well-developed mobile sector, recently boosted by satellite network capacity upgrades; 3G services available with satellite; lack of telecom regulations; newest and most powerful commercial satellite, Kacific-1 satellite, launched in 2019 to improve telecommunications in the Asia Pacific region (2020) domestic: fixed-line nearly 41 per 100 and mobile-cellular services roughly 134 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 680; landing point for the SEA-US submarine cable linking Palau, Philippines, Micronesia, Indonesia, Hawaii (US), Guam (US) and California (US); satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: no broadcast TV stations; a cable TV network covers the major islands and provides access to 4 local cable stations, 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 (1 government-owned) (2019) Internet country code: .pw Internet users: total: 7,650 (2016 est.) percent of population: 36% (2016 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 1,224 (2015 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2015 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1 Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: T8 Airports: total: 3 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2021) Roadways: total: 125 km (2018) paved: 89 km (2018) unpaved: 36 km (2018) Merchant marine: total: 264 by type: bulk carrier 16, container ship 7, general cargo 107, oil tanker 40, other 94 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Koror Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: no regular military forces; the Ministry of Justice includes divisions/bureaus for public security, police functions, and maritime law enforcement Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: since 2018, Australia and Japan have provided patrol boats to the Palau's Division of Marine Law Enforcement (2021) Military - note: under a 1994 Compact of Free Association between Palau and the US, the US until 2044 is responsible for the defense of Palaus and the US military is granted access to the islands, but it has not stationed any military forces there Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Palau-Indonesia: maritime delineation negotiations continue with Philippines, Indonesia Palau-Philippines: maritime delineation negotiations continue with Philippines, IndonesiaPalau-Indonesia: maritime delineation negotiations continue with Philippines, IndonesiaPalau-Philippines: maritime delineation negotiations continue with Philippines, Indonesia

20220901

countries-marshall-islands-summaries

Topic: Introduction Background: After almost four decades under US administration as the easternmost part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Marshall Islands attained independence in 1986 under a Compact of Free Association. Kwajalein hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system.After almost four decades under US administration as the easternmost part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Marshall Islands attained independence in 1986 under a Compact of Free Association. Kwajalein hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system. Topic: Geography Area: total: 181 sq km land: 181 sq km water: 0 sq km Climate: tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November; islands border typhoon belt Natural resources: coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals Topic: People and Society Population: 79,906 (2022 est.) Ethnic groups: Marshallese 92.1%, mixed Marshallese 5.9%, other 2% (2006 est.) Languages: Marshallese (official) 98.2%, other languages 1.8% (1999 est.) Religions: Protestant 80.5% (United Church of Christ 47%, Assembly of God 16.2%, Bukot Nan Jesus 5.4%, Full Gospel 3.3%, Reformed Congressional Church 3%, Salvation Army 1.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.4%, Meram in Jesus 1.2%, other Protestant 1.1%), Roman Catholic 8.5%, Church of Jesus Christ 7%, Jehovah's Witness 1.7%,  other 1.2%, none 1.1% (2011 est.) Population growth rate: 1.34% (2022 est.) Topic: Government Government type: mixed presidential-parliamentary system in free association with the US Capital: name: Majuro; note - the capital is an atoll of 64 islands; governmental buildings are housed on three fused islands on the eastern side of the atoll: Djarrit, Uliga, and Delap Executive branch: chief of state: President David KABUA (since  13 January 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President David KABUA (since 13 January 2020) Legislative branch: description: bicameral National Parliament consists of: Council of Iroij, a 12-member group of tribal leaders advises the Presidential Cabinet and reviews legislation affecting customary law or any traditional practice); members appointed to serve 1-year terms Nitijela (33 seats; members in 19 single- and 5 multi-seat constituencies directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms); note - legislative power resides in the Nitijela Topic: Economy Economic overview: upper middle-income Pacific island economy; US aid reliance; large public sector workforce; produces coconut oil as a substitute to diesel fuel; becoming offshore banking locale; fishing rights seller; import-dependentupper middle-income Pacific island economy; US aid reliance; large public sector workforce; produces coconut oil as a substitute to diesel fuel; becoming offshore banking locale; fishing rights seller; import-dependent Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $240 million (2019 est.) Real GDP per capita: $4,000 (2019 est.) Agricultural products: coconuts Industries: copra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items (from seashells, wood, and pearls) Exports: $130 million (2018 est.) Exports - partners: Poland 28%, Denmark 19%, South Korea 13%, Indonesia 10%, Cyprus 6% (2019) Exports - commodities: ships, fish, recreational boats, broadcasting equipment, coal tar oil (2019) Imports: $170 million (2018 est.) Imports - partners: South Korea 39%, China 27%, Japan 15% (2019) Imports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, centrifuges, recreational boats, boat propellers (2019)Page last updated: Friday, May 13, 2022

20220901

field-food-insecurity

Food crises are nearly always due to a combination of factors, but it is important to establish whether the nature of food crises is predominantly related to lack of food availability, limited access to food, or severe but localized problems. Countries in crisis requiring external assistance for food are expected to lack the resources to deal with reported critical problems of food insecurity. Three levels of crises are described in this field in descending severity: countries facing an exceptional shortfall in aggregate food production/supplies as a result of crop failure, natural disasters, interruption of imports, disruption of distribution, excessive post-harvest losses, or other supply bottlenecks; countries with widespread lack of access, where a majority of the population is considered to be unable to procure food from local markets, due to very low incomes, exceptionally high food prices, or the inability to circulate within the country; countries with severe localized food insecurity due to the influx of refugees, a concentration of internally displaced persons, or areas with combinations of crop failure and deep poverty. Topic: Afghanistansevere localized food insecurity: due to civil conflict, population displacement, and economic slowdown - between November 2021 and March 2022, during the winter lean season, the food insecurity situation is expected to deteriorate and the number of people in "Crisis" or above is likely to increase to 22.8 million, about 35% more than during the same season in 2020/21; following the developments of August 2021 in the country, the international aid flows, an important element of public spending, were halted; the food security situation and agricultural livelihoods in the country is likely to significantly deteriorate in the coming months due to cumulative and cascading impact of multiple shocks, including weather, conflict, economic crisis and the lingering effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic (2022) Topic: Bangladeshsevere localized food insecurity: due to economic constraints -  losses in income and remittances caused by the COVID‑19 pandemic and its containment measures led to an increase in poverty; the high prices of rice and other important food items, including edible oils (soybean oil and loose palm oil), have severely constrained the purchasing power for food for a large section of the vulnerable population above the poverty line (2022) Topic: Burkina Fasosevere localized food insecurity: due to civil insecurity in the north - in the upcoming peak of the lean season, between June and August 2022, 2.6 million people are projected to face severe food insecurity; domestic cereal production in 2021 was estimated at a below-average level due to effects of adverse weather and the civil conflict, further aggravating conditions; in Centre-Nord and Sahel regions, insecurity continues to cause population displacements, further deteriorating the food security situation; a coup d’état on January 2022 is an additional factor that could increase civil insecurity and further stress food insecurity conditions (2022) Topic: Burmasevere localized food insecurity: due to conflict, political instability, and economic constraints - the political crisis, following the military takeover on 1 February 2021, resulted in increased tensions and unrest throughout the country; the current uncertain political situation may further compromise the fragile situation of vulnerable households and the Rohingya IDPs residing in the country; armed conflict between the military and non‑state armed groups led to population displacements, disrupted agricultural activities and limited access for humanitarian support especially in Rakhine, Chin, Kachin, Kayin, Kayah and Shan states; income losses and a decline in remittances, due to the impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic, have affected the food security situation of vulnerable households (2022) Topic: Burundiwidespread lack of access: due to the effects of weather - about 1 million people are estimated to be severely food insecure between January and March 2022, due to livelihood losses and displacements caused by the rising water level of Lake Tanganyika and the overflow of rivers, sustained repatriation flows and the socio-economic impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic (2022) Topic: Cameroonsevere localized food insecurity: due to civil insecurity and population displacements - according to October 2021 analysis, about 2.4 million people were estimated to be severely food insecure between October and December 2021; this mainly results from the impacts of Boko Haram incursions in Far North Region, the socio‑political unrest in Northwest and Southwest regions and COVID‑19‑related economic shocks, which disrupted trade flows and agricultural practices, deteriorated livelihoods and displaced people (2022) Topic: Central African Republicexceptional shortfall in aggregate food production/supplies: due to internal conflict - persisting conflicts and displacements are expected to continue affecting agricultural activities and limit farmers’ access to crop growing areas and inputs, with a negative impact on 2022 crop production; in most prefectures, civil insecurity in 2021 continued to cause population displacements and widespread disruption of agricultural and marketing activities with negative consequences on food availability and access; the socio‑economic effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic, coupled with the high level of prices of some food staples, reduced substantially the households’ purchasing power (2022) Topic: Chadwidespread lack of access: due to civil insecurity and shortfall in cereal production - according to the latest analysis, about 965 000 people were estimated to be in "Crisis" and above, between October and December 2021 due to persisting insecurity in Lac and Tibesti regions that disrupted livelihood activities and caused population displacements; domestic cereal production was estimated at a below-average level in 2021 due to adverse weather and the civil conflict; as a result, between June and August 2022, 1.74 million people are projected to face severe food insecurity (2022) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thewidespread lack of access: due to internal conflict in eastern regions and economic downturn - according to a November 2021 analysis, 26 million people are projected to be severely food insecure, in "Crisis" or above, between January and June 2022; this is due to persisting conflict in eastern provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri, which continues to cause displacements, coupled with the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (2022) Topic: Congo, Republic of thesevere localized food insecurity: due to floods - on 29 November 2021, a state of emergency was declared due to floods in northern areas that caused crop and livestock losses, and displaced people, particularly in Likouala, Sangha, Cuvette and Plateaux departments; it is estimated that about 71,700 people have been affected, (2022) Topic: Djiboutiwidespread lack of access: due to floods - about 194,000 people were estimated to be severely food insecure in the January‑August 2021 period, mainly due to livelihood losses caused by floods and landslides, and as a result of the socio‑economic impact of the pandemic on the livelihoods of vulnerable households; Cyclone Sagar struck the country on 19 and 20 May 2021, bringing torrential rains; the precipitation received, about 110 mm, was the equivalent of the average rainfall for an entire year and triggered heavy flooding, especially in the capital, Djibouti City and surrounding areas (2022) Topic: Eswatinisevere localized food insecurity: due to economic downturn - nearly 336,000 people were assessed to be food insecure at least until March 2022, prior to the main harvest period, primarily due to food access constraints, underpinned by the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy (2022) Topic: Ethiopiawidespread lack of access: due to civil conflict and drought - more than 16 million people were estimated to be severely food insecure in the May−June 2021 period; the high levels of food insecurity are mainly due to the lingering impact of the measures implemented in 2020 to curb the spread of the COVID‑19 pandemic, macro‑economic challenges resulting in high food prices, localized but significant locust‑induced crop and pasture losses, the negative impact on crop and livestock production of erratic rains in the first half of the year and to the intensification of inter‑communal violence since 2020 in several areas and the ongoing conflict in Tigray Region (2022) Topic: Guineasevere localized food insecurity: due to reduced incomes - about 740,000 people are projected to face severe food insecurity in the upcoming June to August 2022 period (2022) Topic: Haitisevere localized food insecurity: due to reduced agricultural production and socio-political turmoil - about 4.56 million people are estimated to be facing severe acute food insecurity and in need of urgent food assistance between March and June 2022; the high levels of food insecurity are the result of consecutive reduced cereal harvests between 2018 and 2021, and elevated food prices, exacerbated by sociopolitical turmoil; two natural disasters (a 7.2 magnitude earthquake and a tropical storm) that struck in August 2021, destroyed productive assets and infrastructures, and caused losses of stored food, further aggravating conditions; the lack of income-earning opportunities amid worsening insecurity and difficult macroeconomic conditions is likely to heighten food insecurity (2022) Topic: Iraqsevere localized food insecurity: due to civil conflict and economic slowdown - the 2022 Humanitarian Needs Overview identified 2.5 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, of which 0.96 million have acute humanitarian needs; while the number of people in need remained similar to the previous year, the severity of those needs increased, largely due to the impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic on top of an existing humanitarian crisis, leading to a 35% increase in the number of people in acute need; more than half of these are concentrated in the governorates of Nineveh and Anbar; the number of severely food insecure people is estimated at about 435,000, while 731,000 are vulnerable to food insecurity (2022) Topic: Kenyaexceptional shortfall in aggregate food production/supplies: due to drought conditions - about 3.1 million people were estimated to be severely food insecure in February 2022 reflecting consecutive poor rainy seasons since late 2020 that affected crop and livestock production, mainly in northern and eastern pastoral, agro-pastoral and marginal agricultural areas; the deterioration of the food security situation is mainly due to the negative impact of two consecutive poor rainy seasons since October 2020 on crop and livestock production and on on‑farm income‑earning opportunities; the impact of the measures implemented to curb the spread of the COVID‑19 pandemic on economic activities exacerbated food insecurity (2022) Topic: Korea, Northwidespread lack of access: due to low food consumption levels, poor dietary diversity, and economic downturn - a large portion of the population suffers from low levels of food consumption and very poor dietary diversity; the economic constraints, particularly resulting from the global impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic, have increased the population’s vulnerability to food insecurity; the food gap is estimated at about 860,000 mt, equivalent to approximately 2-3 months of food use, if this gap is not adequately covered through commercial imports and/or food aid, households could experience a harsh lean period (2022) Topic: Lebanonwidespread lack of access: due to the ongoing financial and economic crisis - the World Food Program (WFP) estimates that, as a result of the ongoing economic crisis, over 1.3 million Lebanese citizens, about 36% of the total population, were food insecure by the end of September 2021; the number of Lebanese households with serious food access constraints reached 57% in September 2021, up from 40% in September 2020; domestic cereal production covers, on average, less than 20% of the consumption needs and the country depends heavily on imports (2022) Topic: Lesothosevere localized food insecurity: due to loss of income-generating activities -  the number of people facing "Crisis" levels of food insecurity between January and March 2022 is estimated at 338,000, reflecting the effects of a slow economic recovery that has impinged on households’ economic capacity to access food (2022) Topic: Liberiasevere localized food insecurity: due to high food prices - production of rice, a main staple food, was estimated at a below-average level in 2021, a factor that is expected to further aggravate food insecurity in 2022 (2022) Topic: Libyasevere localized food insecurity: due to civil insecurity, economic and political instability, and high food prices - an estimated 800,000 people, 10% of the population, need humanitarian assistance, of which 500,000 require food assistance (2022) Topic: Madagascarsevere localized food insecurity: due to the effects of extreme weather events - cyclones and tropical storms in early 2022 have affected a large number of people, particularly in eastern regions, and the number of food insecure people is expected to increase later in 2022; moreover, drought conditions continue to affect households in the south, which is likely to result in an increase in the severity and prevalence of food insecurity in these areas (2022) Topic: Malawisevere localized food insecurity: due to reduced incomes and shortfalls in cereal production - an estimated 1.65 million people are facing "Crisis" levels of food insecurity between January and March 2022, underpinned by localized shortfalls in cereal production and the lingering impact of an economic downturn due to the COVID-19 pandemic; the effects of poor rains at the start of the cropping season and tropical storm Ana in January 2022 are expected to cause an increase in humanitarian needs later in 2022, due to crop and livelihood losses (2022) Topic: Malisevere localized food insecurity: due to civil insecurity and shortfall in staple food production - between June and August 2022, 1.84 million people are projected to face severe food insecurity, driven in part by a shortfall in staple food production in 2021; sanctions imposed on the country, following the postponement of elections by the transitional military government, are likely to slow down economic activity and further weigh on households’ economic capacity to access food (2022)due to civil insecurity and shortfall in staple food production - between June and August 2022, 1.84 million people are projected to face severe food insecurity, driven in part by a shortfall in staple food production in 2021; sanctions imposed on the country, following the postponement of elections by the transitional military government, are likely to slow down economic activity and further weigh on households’ economic capacity to access food Topic: Mauritaniasevere localized food insecurity: due to poor performance of cereal production - domestic cereal production declined in 2021 due to poor weather, which is likely to worsen conditions of the most vulnerable households; in the upcoming peak of the lean season, between June and August 2022, 660,000 people are projected to face severe food insecurity (2022) Topic: Mozambiquesevere localized food insecurity: due to localized shortfalls in staple food production, insecurity in northern areas, and extreme weather events - an estimated 1.9 million people require humanitarian assistance until at least March 2022, primarily due to shortfalls in food production and the impact of insecurity in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, where populations are experiencing the severest levels of acute food insecurity; approximately 24,000 people are facing "Emergency" levels of food insecurity; cyclones and tropical storms in early 2022 have affected a large number of people, particularly in central provinces, and the number of food insecure people is expected to increase in late 2022 (2022)due to localized shortfalls in staple food production, insecurity in northern areas, and extreme weather events - an estimated 1.9 million people require humanitarian assistance until at least March 2022, primarily due to shortfalls in food production and the impact of insecurity in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, where populations are experiencing the severest levels of acute food insecurity; approximately 24,000 people are facing "Emergency" levels of food insecurity; cyclones and tropical storms in early 2022 have affected a large number of people, particularly in central provinces, and the number of food insecure people is expected to increase in late 2022 Topic: Namibiasevere localized food insecurity: due to localized shortfalls in cereal production - an estimated 750,000 people are projected to face "Crisis" levels of food insecurity between December 2021 and March 2022, as a result of localized areas that suffered from poor harvests in 2021 and the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily through income and job losses that constrained households’ access to food (2022) Topic: Nigerexceptional shortfall in aggregate food production/supplies: due to internal conflict and shortfall in cereal production - as of January 2022, an estimated 265,000 people have been displaced due to civil conflict; in addition, domestic cereal production was estimated at a below-average level in 2021, due to effects of adverse weather and the civil conflict, which is expected to further aggravate conditions; the aggregate cereal production in 2021 is officially estimated at 3.5 million mt, nearly 40% below the five‑year average; as a result, between June and August 2022, 3.64 million people are projected to face severe food insecurity; this is a 40% increase compared to the current post‑harvest period, underpinned by the reduced cereal production in 2021, high food prices and the high likelihood of persisting disruptions of markets and agricultural activities amid increasing insecurity (2022) Topic: Nigeriawidespread lack of access: due to persistent civil conflict in the northern areas - according to the latest analysis, between June and August 2022, the number of food insecure is projected to increase to 18 million people period as a result of worsening conflict that is driving new population displacements; the areas inaccessible to humanitarian interventions are facing the worst food insecurity conditions (2022) Topic: Pakistansevere localized food insecurity: due to population displacements, economic constraints, and high prices of the main food staple - according to the latest analysis, about 4.66 million people, 25% of the population, are estimated to be facing high levels of acute food insecurity, "Crisis" and above, until at least April 2022 in 25 districts analyzed in Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces; prices of wheat flour, the country’s main staple, were at high levels in most markets in January 2022, constraining access to the staple food (2022) Topic: Senegalsevere localized food insecurity: due to localized shortfalls in cereal production - about 770,000 people are projected to face severe food insecurity between June and August 2022, reflecting persisting food access constraints; mostly on account of localized shortfalls in cereal production and reduced incomes owing to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic (2022) Topic: Sierra Leonesevere localized food insecurity: due to high food prices - about 1.45 million people are projected to face severe food insecurity in the upcoming June to August 2022 period on account of high food prices and low purchasing power, resulting in acute constraints on households’ economic access to food (2022) Topic: Somaliaexceptional shortfall in aggregate food production/supplies: due to drought conditions and internal conflict - an estimated 4.15 million people are facing severe food insecurity between February and March 2022, mainly as a result of consecutive poor rainy seasons since late 2020, which severely affected crop and livestock production, and due to heightened conflict since early 2021; two consecutive poor rainy seasons resulted in significant crop and livestock production shortfalls, while food access has been severely affected in recent months by declining employment opportunities in rural areas and by the escalation of conflict (2022) Topic: South Sudanwidespread lack of access: due to economic downturn, civil insecurity, lingering impact of floods and prolonged conflict - despite sustained humanitarian assistance, food insecurity still affects large segments of the population, driven by insufficient food supplies, an economic downturn, high food prices and the lingering impact of widespread floods in 2020; particular concern exists for households in Jonglei, Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal and Warrap states, and in neighbouring Pibor Administrative Area, where 60-85% of the population were estimated to be severely food insecure (2022) Topic: Sri Lankawidespread lack of access: due to serious macroeconomic challenges, significant reduction in 2022 cereal output, and high food prices - severe macroeconomic challenges, mostly reflecting dwindling foreign currency reserves after revenues from merchandise exports, remittances, and from the tourist sector declined dramatically over the last year, have had a negative impact on the country’s capacity to import cereals; the 2022 cereal production sharply declined due to a government ordered reduction in the application of chemical fertilizers; unprecedentedly high food prices are constraining economic access to food for a majority of households Topic: Sudansevere localized food insecurity: due to conflict, civil insecurity, and soaring food prices - the number of severely food insecure people was estimated at 6 million between October 2021 and February 2022, mainly due to high food prices and inter-communal conflict (2022) Topic: Syriaexceptional shortfall in aggregate food production/supplies: due to civil conflict and a stagnant economy - battered by ten years of conflict and spill‑over effects from the financial crisis in Lebanon which used to act as a financial intermediary, the national economy continues to weaken; a nationwide food security assessment estimates that about 12.4 million people (60% of the overall population) are now food insecure in 2021, mostly due to constrained livelihood opportunities and a rapidly worsening economy (2022) Topic: Tanzaniasevere localized food insecurity: due to localized shortfalls in staple food production - about 437,000 people were estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance between November 2021 and April 2022, mainly located in northeastern Mara, Arusha, Kilimanjaro and Tanga regions, reflecting a reduced “Vuli” harvest due to poor rains (2022) Topic: Ugandasevere localized food insecurity: due to weather extremes - in Karamoja Region, about 188,000 people, 16% of the population, were estimated to be severely food insecure between August 2021 and January 2022, mainly a result of consecutive poor rainy seasons that adversely affected crop and livestock production (2022) Topic: Ukrainewidespread lack of access: due to conflict - production prospects of 2022 winter crops hampered by low availability of inputs, delivery challenges, difficult physical access to fields due to the war, and eventual labor shortages; forecast for cereal exports in 2022 reduced, amid port closures, damage to infrastructure and implementation of government policies to secure sufficient domestic supplies; as of early March 2022, about 12 million people estimated to be in need of life saving assistance Topic: Venezuelawidespread lack of access: due to severe economic crisis - the national economy, highly dependent on oil production and exports, is forecast to contract in 2021 for the eighth consecutive year; with the persistent negative effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic that have compounded the already severe macro‑economic crisis, the access to food of the most vulnerable households is expected to deteriorate throughout 2021 due to widespread losses of income‑generating activities and soaring food prices (2022) Topic: Yemenwidespread lack of access: due to conflict, poverty, floods, high food and fuel prices - between January and June 2021, the number of food insecure was projected to increase by nearly 3 million to 16.2 million people; out of these, an estimated 11 million people will likely be in "Crisis," 5 million in "Emergency," and the number of those in "Catastrophe" will likely increase to 47,000; economic conditions in the country remain dire; the conflict is further hampering the already constrained livelihood activities and humanitarian access; income earning opportunities have declined due to COVID‑19‑related business disruptions (2022) Topic: Zambiasevere localized food insecurity: due to reduced incomes and localized shortfalls in cereal production - an estimated 1.58 million people are projected to need humanitarian assistance at least up until March 2022, down from 2 million assessed to be food insecure in the corresponding period in 2020/21; the overall large national agricultural output in 2021 helped to reduce the prevalence of food insecurity in early 2022, however, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which have constrained households’ economic access to food as well as localized shortfalls in crop production, have limited a larger improvement (2022) Topic: Zimbabwewidespread lack of access: due to high food prices and economic downturn - an estimated 3 million people are projected to be in need of humanitarian assistance between January and March 2022, largely on account of poor food access due to prevailing high food prices and reduced incomes owing to the effects of an economic downturn; below-average rainfall and extreme weather events in 2021/22 are likely to result in a decrease in cereal production and heighten food insecurity later in 2022 (2022)

20220901

countries-maldives

Topic: Photos of Maldives Topic: Introduction Background: A sultanate since the 12th century, the Maldives became a British protectorate in 1887. The islands became a republic in 1968, three years after independence. President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM dominated Maldives' political scene for 30 years, elected to six successive terms by single-party referendums. Following political demonstrations in the capital Male in August 2003, GAYOOM and his government pledged to embark upon a process of liberalization and democratic reforms, including a more representative political system and expanded political freedoms. Political parties were legalized in 2005. In June 2008, a constituent assembly - termed the "Special Majlis" - finalized a new constitution ratified by GAYOOM in August 2008. The first-ever presidential elections under a multi-candidate, multi-party system were held in October 2008. GAYOOM was defeated in a runoff poll by Mohamed NASHEED, a political activist who had been jailed several years earlier by the GAYOOM regime. In early February 2012, after several weeks of street protests in response to his ordering the arrest of a top judge, NASHEED purportedly resigned the presidency and handed over power to Vice President Mohammed WAHEED Hassan Maniku. A government-appointed Commission of National Inquiry concluded there was no evidence of a coup, but NASHEED contends that police and military personnel forced him to resign. NASHEED, WAHEED, and Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom ran in the 2013 elections with YAMEEN ultimately winning the presidency after three rounds of voting. As president, YAMEEN weakened democratic institutions, curtailed civil liberties, jailed his political opponents, restricted the press, and exerted control over the judiciary to strengthen his hold on power and limit dissent. In September 2018, YAMEEN lost his reelection bid to Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH, a parliamentarian of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), who had the support of a coalition of four parties that came together to defeat YAMEEN and restore democratic norms to Maldives. In April 2019, SOLIH's MDP won 65 of 87 seats in parliament.A sultanate since the 12th century, the Maldives became a British protectorate in 1887. The islands became a republic in 1968, three years after independence. President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM dominated Maldives' political scene for 30 years, elected to six successive terms by single-party referendums. Following political demonstrations in the capital Male in August 2003, GAYOOM and his government pledged to embark upon a process of liberalization and democratic reforms, including a more representative political system and expanded political freedoms. Political parties were legalized in 2005.In June 2008, a constituent assembly - termed the "Special Majlis" - finalized a new constitution ratified by GAYOOM in August 2008. The first-ever presidential elections under a multi-candidate, multi-party system were held in October 2008. GAYOOM was defeated in a runoff poll by Mohamed NASHEED, a political activist who had been jailed several years earlier by the GAYOOM regime. In early February 2012, after several weeks of street protests in response to his ordering the arrest of a top judge, NASHEED purportedly resigned the presidency and handed over power to Vice President Mohammed WAHEED Hassan Maniku. A government-appointed Commission of National Inquiry concluded there was no evidence of a coup, but NASHEED contends that police and military personnel forced him to resign. NASHEED, WAHEED, and Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom ran in the 2013 elections with YAMEEN ultimately winning the presidency after three rounds of voting. As president, YAMEEN weakened democratic institutions, curtailed civil liberties, jailed his political opponents, restricted the press, and exerted control over the judiciary to strengthen his hold on power and limit dissent. In September 2018, YAMEEN lost his reelection bid to Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH, a parliamentarian of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), who had the support of a coalition of four parties that came together to defeat YAMEEN and restore democratic norms to Maldives. In April 2019, SOLIH's MDP won 65 of 87 seats in parliament.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India Geographic coordinates: 3 15 N, 73 00 E Map references: Asia Area: total: 298 sq km land: 298 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 644 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August) Terrain: flat, with white sandy beaches Elevation: highest point: 8th tee, golf course, Villingi Island 5 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 2 m Natural resources: fish Land use: agricultural land: 23.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 10% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 10% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.3% (2018 est.) forest: 3% (2018 est.) other: 73.7% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012) Population distribution: about a third of the population lives in the centrally located capital city of Male and almost a tenth in southern Addu City; the remainder of the populace is spread over the 200 or so populated islands of the archipelago Natural hazards: tsunamis; low elevation of islands makes them sensitive to sea level rise Geography - note: smallest Asian country; archipelago of 1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean Map description: Madives map showing this archipelagic country in the Indian Ocean.  Madives map showing this archipelagic country in the Indian Ocean.  Topic: People and Society Population: 390,164 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Maldivian(s) adjective: Maldivian Ethnic groups: homogeneous mixture of Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, Australasian, and African resulting from historical changes in regional hegemony over marine trade routes Languages: Dhivehi (official, dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English (spoken by most government officials) Religions: Sunni Muslim (official) Age structure: 0-14 years: 22.13% (male 44,260/female 42,477) 15-24 years: 17.24% (male 37,826/female 29,745) 25-54 years: 48.91% (male 104,217/female 87,465) 55-64 years: 6.91% (male 12,942/female 14,123) 65 years and over: 4.81% (2020 est.) (male 8,417/female 10,432) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 30.2 youth dependency ratio: 25.5 elderly dependency ratio: 4.7 potential support ratio: 21.4 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 29.5 years male: 29.2 years female: 30 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -0.14% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 15.54 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 4.15 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -12.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: about a third of the population lives in the centrally located capital city of Male and almost a tenth in southern Addu City; the remainder of the populace is spread over the 200 or so populated islands of the archipelago Urbanization: urban population: 41.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 177,000 MALE (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.2 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 23.2 years (2016/17 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Maternal mortality ratio: 53 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 25.7 deaths/1,000 live births male: 28.76 deaths/1,000 live births female: 22.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.94 years male: 74.57 years female: 79.42 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.71 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 18.8% (2016/17) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99% of population rural: 100% of population total: 99.6% of population unimproved: urban: 1% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0.4% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 8% (2019) Physicians density: 2.05 physicians/1,000 population (2019) Hospital bed density: 4.3 beds/1,000 population Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 99.1% of population total: 99.5% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0.9% of population total: 0.5% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 8.6% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 25.2% (2020 est.) male: 44.4% (2020 est.) female: 6% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 14.8% (2016/17) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 0% women married by age 18: 2.2% men married by age 18: 2.2% (2017 est.) Education expenditures: 4.1% of GDP (2019 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.7% male: 97.3% female: 98.1% (2016) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 13 years male: 12 years female: 14 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 15.5% male: 18.5% female: 11.7% (2019 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; inadequate sewage treatment; coral reef bleaching Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 7.63 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 1.44 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.14 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August) Land use: agricultural land: 23.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 10% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 10% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.3% (2018 est.) forest: 3% (2018 est.) other: 73.7% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 41.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 211,506 tons (2015 est.) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 5.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 300,000 cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 30 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Maldives conventional short form: Maldives local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa local short form: Dhivehi Raajje etymology: archipelago apparently named after the main island (and capital) of Male; the word "Maldives" means "the islands (dives) of Male"; alternatively, the name may derive from the Sanskrit word "maladvipa" meaning "garland of islands"; Dhivehi Raajje in Dhivehi means "Kingdom of the Dhivehi people" Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Male geographic coordinates: 4 10 N, 73 30 E time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: derived from the Sanskrit word "mahaalay" meaning "big house" Administrative divisions: 21 administrative atolls (atholhuthah, singular - atholhu); Addu (Addu City), Ariatholhu Dhekunuburi (South Ari Atoll), Ariatholhu Uthuruburi (North Ari Atoll), Faadhippolhu, Felidhuatholhu (Felidhu Atoll), Fuvammulah, Hahdhunmathi, Huvadhuatholhu Dhekunuburi (South Huvadhu Atoll), Huvadhuatholhu Uthuruburi (North Huvadhu Atoll), Kolhumadulu, Maale (Male), Maaleatholhu (Male Atoll), Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi (South Maalhosmadulu), Maalhosmadulu Uthuruburi (North Maalhosmadulu), Miladhunmadulu Dhekunuburi (South Miladhunmadulu), Miladhunmadulu Uthuruburi (North Miladhunmadulu), Mulakatholhu (Mulaku Atoll), Nilandheatholhu Dhekunuburi (South Nilandhe Atoll), Nilandheatholhu Uthuruburi (North Nilandhe Atoll), Thiladhunmathee Dhekunuburi (South Thiladhunmathi), Thiladhunmathee Uthuruburi (North Thiladhunmathi) Independence: 26 July 1965 (from the UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1965) Constitution: history: many previous; latest ratified 7 August 2008 amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage requires at least three-quarters majority vote by its membership and the signature of the president of the republic; passage of amendments to constitutional articles on rights and freedoms and the terms of office of Parliament and of the president also requires a majority vote in a referendum; amended 2015 Legal system: Islamic (sharia) legal system with English common law influences, primarily in commercial matters International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Maldives dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: unknown Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Ibrahim "Ibu" Mohamed SOLIH (since 17 November 2018); Vice President Faisal NASEEM (since 17 November 2018); the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Ibrahim "Ibu" Mohamed SOLIH (since 17 November 2018); Vice President Faisal NASEEM (since 17 November 2018) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by Parliament elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 23 September 2018 (next to be held in 2023) election results: Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH elected president (in 1 round); Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH (MDP) 58.3%, Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom (PPM) 41.7% Legislative branch: description: unicameral Parliament or People's Majlis (87 seats - includes 2 seats added by the Elections Commission in late 2018; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 6 April 2019 (next to be held in 2023) election results: percent of vote - MDP 44.7%, JP 10.8%, PPM 8.7%, PNC 6.4%, MDA 2.8%, other 5.6%, independent 21%; seats by party - MDP 65, JP 5, PPM 5, PNC 3, MDA 2, independent 7; composition - men 83, women 4, percent of women 4.6% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 6 justices judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission - a 10-member body of selected high government officials and the public - and upon confirmation by voting members of the People's Majlis; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: High Court; Criminal, Civil, Family, Juvenile, and Drug Courts; Magistrate Courts (on each of the inhabited islands) Political parties and leaders: Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP [Sheikh Imran ABDULLA] Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party or DRP [Abdulla JABIR] Maldives Development Alliance or MDA [Ahmed Shiyam MOHAMED] Maldivian Democratic Party or MDP [Mohamed NASHEED] Maldives Labor and Social Democratic Party or MLSDP [Ahmed SHIHAM] Maldives Thirdway Democrats or MTD [Ahmed ADEEB] Maumoon/Maldives Reform Movement or MRM [Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM] National Democratic Congress [Yousuf Maaniu] (formed in 2020) People's National Congress or PNC [Abdul Raheem ABDULLA] (formed in early 2019) Progressive Party of Maldives or PPM Republican (Jumhooree) Party or JP [Qasim IBRAHIM] (2020)Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP [Sheikh Imran ABDULLA] Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party or DRP [Abdulla JABIR] Maldives Development Alliance or MDA [Ahmed Shiyam MOHAMED] Maldivian Democratic Party or MDP [Mohamed NASHEED] Maldives Labor and Social Democratic Party or MLSDP [Ahmed SHIHAM] Maldives Thirdway Democrats or MTD [Ahmed ADEEB] Maumoon/Maldives Reform Movement or MRM [Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM] National Democratic Congress [Yousuf Maaniu] (formed in 2020) People's National Congress or PNC [Abdul Raheem ABDULLA] (formed in early 2019) Progressive Party of Maldives or PPM Republican (Jumhooree) Party or JP [Qasim IBRAHIM] International organization participation: ADB, AOSIS, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Maldives has no embassy in the US, but its Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, Thilmeeza HUSSAIN  (since 8 July 2019), is accredited to the US and serves as ambassador chancery: 801 Second Avenue, Suite 202E, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 599-6194; [1] (212) 599-6195 FAX: [1] (212) 661-6405 email address and website: info@maldivesmission.com http://www.maldivesmission.com/Maldives has no embassy in the US, but its Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, Thilmeeza HUSSAIN  (since 8 July 2019), is accredited to the US and serves as ambassador Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US is in the process of opening an embassy in Maldives; as of March 2022, there is no US Ambassador to Maldives; until late 2021, the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka was also accredited to the Maldives Flag description: red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical white crescent moon; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag; red recalls those who have sacrificed their lives in defense of their country, the green rectangle represents peace and prosperity, and the white crescent signifies Islam National symbol(s): coconut palm, yellowfin tuna; national colors: red, green, white National anthem: name: "Gaumee Salaam" (National Salute) lyrics/music: Mohamed Jameel DIDI/Wannakuwattawaduge DON AMARADEVA note: lyrics adopted 1948, music adopted 1972; between 1948 and 1972, the lyrics were sung to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne" Topic: Economy Economic overview: Maldives has quickly become a middle-income country, driven by the rapid growth of its tourism and fisheries sectors, but the country still contends with a large and growing fiscal deficit. Infrastructure projects, largely funded by China, could add significantly to debt levels. Political turmoil and the declaration of a state of emergency in February 2018 led to the issuance of travel warnings by several countries whose citizens visit Maldives in significant numbers, but the overall impact on tourism revenue was unclear.   In 2015, Maldives’ Parliament passed a constitutional amendment legalizing foreign ownership of land; foreign land-buyers must reclaim at least 70% of the desired land from the ocean and invest at least $1 billion in a construction project approved by Parliament.   Diversifying the economy beyond tourism and fishing, reforming public finance, increasing employment opportunities, and combating corruption, cronyism, and a growing drug problem are near-term challenges facing the government. Over the longer term, Maldivian authorities worry about the impact of erosion and possible global warming on their low-lying country; 80% of the area is 1 meter or less above sea level.Maldives has quickly become a middle-income country, driven by the rapid growth of its tourism and fisheries sectors, but the country still contends with a large and growing fiscal deficit. Infrastructure projects, largely funded by China, could add significantly to debt levels. Political turmoil and the declaration of a state of emergency in February 2018 led to the issuance of travel warnings by several countries whose citizens visit Maldives in significant numbers, but the overall impact on tourism revenue was unclear. In 2015, Maldives’ Parliament passed a constitutional amendment legalizing foreign ownership of land; foreign land-buyers must reclaim at least 70% of the desired land from the ocean and invest at least $1 billion in a construction project approved by Parliament. Diversifying the economy beyond tourism and fishing, reforming public finance, increasing employment opportunities, and combating corruption, cronyism, and a growing drug problem are near-term challenges facing the government. Over the longer term, Maldivian authorities worry about the impact of erosion and possible global warming on their low-lying country; 80% of the area is 1 meter or less above sea level. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $7.05 billion (2020 est.) $10.37 billion (2019 est.) $9.69 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 4.8% (2017 est.) 4.5% (2016 est.) 2.2% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $13,000 (2020 est.) $19,500 (2019 est.) $18,800 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $4.505 billion (2017 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.3% (2017 est.) 0.8% (2016 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: CCC (2020) Moody's rating: B3 (2020) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 3% (2015 est.) industry: 16% (2015 est.) services: 81% (2015 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: (2016 est.) NA government consumption: (2016 est.) NA investment in fixed capital: (2016 est.) NA investment in inventories: (2016 est.) NA exports of goods and services: 93.6% (2016 est.) imports of goods and services: 89% (2016 est.) Agricultural products: papayas, vegetables, roots/tubers nes, nuts, fruit, other meat, tomatoes, coconuts, bananas, maize Industries: tourism, fish processing, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining Industrial production growth rate: 14% (2012 est.) Labor force: 222,200 (2017 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 7.7% industry: 22.8% services: 69.5% (2017 est.) Unemployment rate: 2.9% (2017 est.) 3.2% (2016 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 15.5% male: 18.5% female: 11.7% (2019 est.) Population below poverty line: 8.2% (2016 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 31.3 (2016 est.) 37.4 (2004 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 33.3% (FY09/10) Budget: revenues: 1.19 billion (2016 est.) expenditures: 1.643 billion (2016 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -10.1% (of GDP) (2016 est.) Public debt: 63.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 61.7% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 26.4% (of GDP) (2016 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$876 million (2017 est.) -$1.033 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $3.72 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $3.58 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Thailand 24%, United States 13%, China 12%, France 11%, Germany 11%, Italy 5%, United Kingdom 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: fish products, natural gas, scrap iron, jewelry, liquid pumps (2019) Imports: $4.09 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $4.1 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: United Arab Emirates 24%, China 16%, Singapore 14%, India 11%, Malaysia 6%, Thailand 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, fruits, furniture, broadcasting equipment, lumber (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $477.9 million (31 December 2016 est.) $575.8 million (31 December 2015 est.) Debt - external: $848.8 million (31 December 2016 est.) $696.2 million (31 December 2015 est.) Exchange rates: rufiyaa (MVR) per US dollar - 15.42 (2017 est.) 15.35 (2016 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 545,000 kW (2020 est.) consumption: 586.5 million kWh (2019 est.) exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 21 million kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 99.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 15,300 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 10,840 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 2.286 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 2.286 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 59.69 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 14,508 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 717,708 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 133 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: with its economy so heavily dependent on tourism, the Maldives has suffered heavy economic as well as health casualties during the pandemic; the country had a relatively short period of lock down and was willing to welcome visitors back as early as July 2020; but the effective shutdown of international air travel for most of the year resulted in the bottom falling out of the Maldives’ tourism industry, taking GDP down 32% in the process; the economy fared better in 2021, with a return to growth, yet it may still be a few years before the country’s key industries can return to the same level of prosperity that they previously enjoyed; the Maldives’ telecoms market is experiencing a similar level of pain because of the pandemic, due to being overweight in the mobile segment; that is because, historically, the country’s high number of tourists and expatriate workers has inflated the penetration rate for mobile services, making it one of the highest in the world; that rate crashed in 2020 as demand for SIM cards (primarily prepaid) dried up; however, the number of contract subscribers increased as locals took advantage of competitive pricing offers from operators; everything now rests on a fast return to normality, with tourists helping to boost the nation’s coffers as well as buying up those prepaid SIM cards; with commercial 5G services already launched and fiber networks rapidly expanding around the country, the Maldives is primed to deliver world-class telecommunications services to its domestic and international customers. (2021) domestic: fixed-line is at nearly 3 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular subscriptions stands at nearly 133 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 960; landing points for Dhiraagu Cable Network, NaSCOM, Dhiraagu-SLT Submarine Cable Networks and WARF submarine cables providing connections to 8 points in Maldives, India, and Sri Lanka; satellite earth station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: state-owned radio and TV monopoly until recently; 4 state-operated and 7 privately owned TV stations and 4 state-operated and 7 privately owned radio stations (2019) Internet country code: .mv Internet users: total: 340,542 (2020 est.) percent of population: 63% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 63,685 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 36 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,147,247 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 7.75 million (2018) Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 8Q Airports: total: 9 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2021) Roadways: total: 93 km (2018) paved: 93 km (2018) - 60 km in Malée; 16 km on Addu Atolis; 17 km on Laamu note: island roads are mainly compacted coral Merchant marine: total: 68 by type: general cargo 21, oil tanker 19, other 28 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Male Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: the Republic of Maldives has no distinct army, navy, or air force but a single security unit called the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) comprised of ground forces, an air element, a coastguard, a presidential security division, and a special protection group (2022) Military expenditures: not available Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 2,500 personnel (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: India has provided most of the equipment in the MNDF's inventory (2022) Military service age and obligation: 18-28 years of age for voluntary service; no conscription; 10th grade or equivalent education required; must not be a member of a political party (2022) Military - note: the MNDF is primarily tasked to reinforce the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and ensure security in the country's exclusive economic zone (2022) Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none identifiednone identified Trafficking in persons: current situation: Maldives is a destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking and a source country for Maldivian children subjected to human trafficking within the country; Bangladeshi and Indian migrants working both legally and illegally in the construction and service sectors face conditions of forced labor, including fraudulent recruitment, confiscation of identity and travel documents, nonpayment of wages, and debt bondage; a small number of women from Sri Lanka, Thailand, India, China, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Eastern Europe, and former Soviet states are trafficked to Maldives for sexual exploitation; some Maldivian children are transported to the capital for forced domestic service, where they may also be sexually abused tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Maldives does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; efforts included convicting two individuals for trafficking-related offenses, convening the National Anti-Trafficking Steering Committee for the first time in two years; drafting and finalizing a 2020-2022 national action plan; however, efforts to hold employers accountable for trafficking did not increase, non-payment of wages and of the retention of migrant workers’ passports continued; standard operating procedures for victim identification, protection, and referral were not adopted; insufficient resources were devoted to the national action plan; Maldives was granted a waiver per the Trafficking Victims Protection Act from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 (2020)

20220901

countries-tokelau

Topic: Photos of Tokelau Topic: Introduction Background: Tokelau, which comprises three atolls, was first settled by Polynesians around A.D. 1000. The three atolls operated relatively independently but had contact with one another, intermarrying and occasionally fighting wars. Fakaofo Atoll eventually subjugated the other two. British explorer John BYRON was the first European to see Atafu Atoll in 1765. British naval officer Edward EDWARDS saw Nukunonu Atoll in 1791, and ships occasionally continued to pass by Atafu and Nukunonu. In 1835, a US whaling ship became the first non-Pacific island ship to pass by Fakaofo. Catholic and Protestant missionaries arrived in 1845 and converted the population on the islands on which they landed. To this day, Nukunonu is predominantly Catholic while Atafu is mostly Protestant; Catholic and Protestant missionaries both worked in Fakaofo, and the population there is more mixed. In 1863, Peruvian slave traders, masquerading as missionaries, kidnapped nearly all the men from Tokelau, and local governance moved to a system based on a Council of Elders, which still exists today. The atolls were repopulated when new Polynesian settlers and American and European migrants intermarried with local Tokelauan women. Tokelau became a British protectorate in 1889 and included in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Protectorate - later a colony - in 1908. In 1925, the UK placed Tokelau under New Zealand administration. The Tokelau Islands Act of 1948 formally transferred sovereignty from the UK to New Zealand and Tokelauans were granted New Zealand citizenship. In 1979, the US relinquished its claims over Tokelau in the Treaty of Tokehega, and Tokelau relinquished its claims over Swains Island, which is part of American Samoa. Economic opportunities in Tokelau are sparse, and about 80% of Tokelauans live in New Zealand. Tokelau held two self-governance referendums in 2006 and 2007, in which more than 60% of voters chose to go into free association with New Zealand; however, the referendums failed to achieve the two-thirds majority necessary to enact a status change. Tokelau lacks an airport and is only accessible via a day-long boat trip from Samoa, although a site for an airstrip on Nukunonu was selected in 2019. Because of its dependency on Samoa for transportation, in 2011, Tokelau followed Samoa’s lead and shifted the international date line to its east, skipping December 30 and becoming one hour ahead of New Zealand rather than 23 hours behind.Tokelau, which comprises three atolls, was first settled by Polynesians around A.D. 1000. The three atolls operated relatively independently but had contact with one another, intermarrying and occasionally fighting wars. Fakaofo Atoll eventually subjugated the other two. British explorer John BYRON was the first European to see Atafu Atoll in 1765. British naval officer Edward EDWARDS saw Nukunonu Atoll in 1791, and ships occasionally continued to pass by Atafu and Nukunonu. In 1835, a US whaling ship became the first non-Pacific island ship to pass by Fakaofo. Catholic and Protestant missionaries arrived in 1845 and converted the population on the islands on which they landed. To this day, Nukunonu is predominantly Catholic while Atafu is mostly Protestant; Catholic and Protestant missionaries both worked in Fakaofo, and the population there is more mixed. In 1863, Peruvian slave traders, masquerading as missionaries, kidnapped nearly all the men from Tokelau, and local governance moved to a system based on a Council of Elders, which still exists today. The atolls were repopulated when new Polynesian settlers and American and European migrants intermarried with local Tokelauan women. Tokelau became a British protectorate in 1889 and included in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Protectorate - later a colony - in 1908. In 1925, the UK placed Tokelau under New Zealand administration. The Tokelau Islands Act of 1948 formally transferred sovereignty from the UK to New Zealand and Tokelauans were granted New Zealand citizenship. In 1979, the US relinquished its claims over Tokelau in the Treaty of Tokehega, and Tokelau relinquished its claims over Swains Island, which is part of American Samoa. Economic opportunities in Tokelau are sparse, and about 80% of Tokelauans live in New Zealand. Tokelau held two self-governance referendums in 2006 and 2007, in which more than 60% of voters chose to go into free association with New Zealand; however, the referendums failed to achieve the two-thirds majority necessary to enact a status change. Tokelau lacks an airport and is only accessible via a day-long boat trip from Samoa, although a site for an airstrip on Nukunonu was selected in 2019. Because of its dependency on Samoa for transportation, in 2011, Tokelau followed Samoa’s lead and shifted the international date line to its east, skipping December 30 and becoming one hour ahead of New Zealand rather than 23 hours behind.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand Geographic coordinates: 9 00 S, 172 00 W Map references: Oceania Area: total: 12 sq km land: 12 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: about 17 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 101 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November) Terrain: low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons Elevation: highest point: unnamed location 5 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m Natural resources: NEGL Land use: agricultural land: 60% (2018 est.) arable land: 0% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 60% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 40% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012) Population distribution: the country's small population is fairly evenly distributed amongst the three atolls Natural hazards: lies in Pacific cyclone belt Geography - note: consists of three atolls (Atafu, Fakaofo, Nukunonu), each with a lagoon surrounded by a number of reef-bound islets of varying length and rising to over 3 m above sea level Map description: Tokelau map shows the three atolls that make up this New Zealand territory in the South Pacific Ocean.Tokelau map shows the three atolls that make up this New Zealand territory in the South Pacific Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 1,647 (2019 est.) Nationality: noun: Tokelauan(s) adjective: Tokelauan Ethnic groups: Tokelauan 64.5%, part Tokelauan/Samoan 9.7%, part Tokelauan/Tuvaluan 2.8%, Tuvaluan 7.5%, Samoan 5.8%, other Pacific Islander 3.4%, other 5.6%, unspecified 0.8% (2016 est.) Languages: Tokelauan 88.1% (a Polynesian language), English 48.6%, Samoan 26.7%, Tuvaluan 11.2%, Kiribati 1.5%, other 2.8%, none 2.8%, unspecified 0.8% (2016 ests.) note: shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census Religions: Congregational Christian Church 50.4%, Roman Catholic 38.7%, Presbyterian 5.9%, other Christian 4.2%, unspecified 0.8% (2016 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-24 years: NA 25-54 years: NA 55-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Population growth rate: -0.01% (2019 est.) Birth rate: NA Net migration rate: -3.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) Population distribution: the country's small population is fairly evenly distributed amongst the three atolls Urbanization: urban population: 0% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Sex ratio: NA Infant mortality rate: total: NA male: NA female: NA Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA male: NA female: NA Total fertility rate: (2021 est.) NA Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: 0% of population rural: 99.7% of population total: 99.7% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0.3% of population total: 0.3% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: NA Physicians density: NA Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: malaria Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: NA Literacy: total population: NA male: NA female: NA Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: overexploitation of certain fish and other marine species, coastal sand, and forest resources; pollution of freshwater lenses and coastal waters from improper disposal of chemicals Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November) Land use: agricultural land: 60% (2018 est.) arable land: 0% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 60% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 40% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 0% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: malaria Total renewable water resources: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tokelau former: Union Islands, Tokelau Islands etymology: "tokelau" is a Polynesian word meaning "north wind" Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchyparliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy Dependency status: self-administering territory of New Zealand; note - Tokelau and New Zealand have agreed to a draft constitution as Tokelau moves toward free association with New Zealand; a UN-sponsored referendum on self governance in October 2007 did not meet the two-thirds majority vote necessary for changing the political status Capital: time difference: UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: there is no designated, official capital for Tokelau; the location of the capital rotates among the three atolls along with the head of government or Ulu o Tokelau Administrative divisions: none (territory of New Zealand) Independence: none (territory of New Zealand) National holiday: Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840) Constitution: history: many previous; latest effective 1 January 1949 (Tokelau Islands Act 1948) amendments: proposed as a resolution by the General Fono; passage requires support by each village and approval by the General Fono; amended several times, last in 2007 Legal system: common law system of New Zealand Citizenship: see New Zealand Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of New Zealand Governor General Dame Cindy KIRO (since 21 September 2021); New Zealand is represented by Administrator Ross ARDERN (since May 2018) head of government: (Ulu o Tokelau) Kelihiano KALOLO (since 8 March 2021); note - position rotates annually among the three Faipule (village leaders) of the atolls cabinet: Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau (or Tokelau Council) functions as a cabinet; consists of 3 Faipule (village leaders) and 3 Pulenuku (village mayors) elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; administrator appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand; head of government chosen from the Council of Faipule to serve a 1-year term note: the meeting place of the Tokelau Council rotates annually among the three atolls; this tradition has given rise to the somewhat misleading description that the capital rotates yearly between the three atolls; in actuality, it is the seat of the government councilors that rotates since Tokelau has no capital Legislative branch: description: unicameral General Fono (20 seats apportioned by island - Atafu 7, Fakaofo 7, Nukunonu 6; members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 3-year terms); note - the Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 confers limited legislative power to the General Fono elections: last held on 23 January 2020 depending on island (next to be held in January 2023) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 20; composition - men 17, women 3, percent of women 15% Judicial branch: highest courts: Court of Appeal (in New Zealand) (consists of the court president and 8 judges sitting in 3- or 5-judge panels, depending on the case) judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the Judicial Selection Committee and approved by three-quarters majority of the Parliament; judges serve for life subordinate courts: High Court (in New Zealand); Council of Elders or Taupulega Political parties and leaders: none International organization participation: PIF (associate member), SPC, UNESCO (associate), UPU Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of New Zealand) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of New Zealand) Flag description: a yellow stylized Tokelauan canoe on a dark blue field sails toward the manu - the Southern Cross constellation of four, white, five-pointed stars at the hoist side; the Southern Cross represents the role of Christianity in Tokelauan culture and, in conjunction with the canoe, symbolizes the country navigating into the future; the color yellow indicates happiness and peace, and the blue field represents the ocean on which the community relies National symbol(s): tuluma (fishing tackle box); national colors: blue, yellow, white National anthem: name: "Te Atua" (For the Almighty) lyrics/music: unknown/Falani KALOLO note: adopted 2008; in preparation for eventual self governance, Tokelau held a national contest to choose an anthem; as a territory of New Zealand, "God Defend New Zealand" and "God Save the Queen" are official (see New Zealand) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Tokelau's small size (three villages), isolation, and lack of resources greatly restrain economic development and confine agriculture to the subsistence level. The principal sources of revenue are from sales of copra, postage stamps, souvenir coins, and handicrafts. Money is also remitted to families from relatives in New Zealand.   The people rely heavily on aid from New Zealand - about $15 million annually in FY12/13 and FY13/14 - to maintain public services. New Zealand's support amounts to 80% of Tokelau's recurrent government budget. An international trust fund, currently worth nearly $32 million, was established in 2004 by New Zealand to provide Tokelau an independent source of revenue.Tokelau's small size (three villages), isolation, and lack of resources greatly restrain economic development and confine agriculture to the subsistence level. The principal sources of revenue are from sales of copra, postage stamps, souvenir coins, and handicrafts. Money is also remitted to families from relatives in New Zealand. The people rely heavily on aid from New Zealand - about $15 million annually in FY12/13 and FY13/14 - to maintain public services. New Zealand's support amounts to 80% of Tokelau's recurrent government budget. An international trust fund, currently worth nearly $32 million, was established in 2004 by New Zealand to provide Tokelau an independent source of revenue. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $7,711,583 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars. Real GDP growth rate: NANA Real GDP per capita: $6,004 (2017 est.) $4,855 (2016 est.) $4,292 (2015 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $12.658 million (2017 est.) note: data uses New Zealand Dollar (NZD) as the currency of exchange. Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (2020 est.) 2.5% (2019 est.) 11% (2017 est.) note: Tokelau notes that its wide inflation swings are due almost entirely due to cigarette prices, a chief import. GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: NA industry: NA services: NA Agricultural products: coconuts, roots/tubers nes, tropical fruit, pork, bananas, eggs, poultry, pig offals, pig fat, fruit Industries: small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaited craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing Labor force: 1,100 (2019 est.) Unemployment rate: 2% (2015 est.) note: Underemployment may be as high as 6.6% Population below poverty line: NA Budget: revenues: 24,324,473 (2017 est.) expenditures: 11,666,542 (2017 est.) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March Exports: $103,000 (2015 est.) $102,826 (2002 est.) Exports - partners: Singapore 25%, France 19%, South Africa 7%, New Zealand 5%, United States 5%, Ireland 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: oscilloscopes, house linens, fruits, nuts, recreational boats, iron products (2019) Imports: $15,792,720 (2015 est.) Imports - partners: Samoa 35%, Ireland 17%, Philippines 14%, Malaysia 13%, South Africa 9% (2019) Imports - commodities: oscilloscopes, integrated circuits, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, orthopedic appliances (2019) Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.543 (2017 est.) Topic: Communications Telecommunication systems: general assessment: modern satellite-based communications system; demand for mobile broadband increasing due to mobile services being the method of access for Internet across the region; 2G widespread with some 4G LTE service; satellite services has improved with the launch of the Kacific-1 satellite launched in 2019 (2020) domestic: radiotelephone service between islands; fixed-line teledensity is 0 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 690; landing point for the Southern Cross NEXT submarine cable linking Australia, Tokelau, Samoa, Kiribati, Fiji, New Zealand and Los Angeles, CA (USA); radiotelephone service to Samoa; government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok); satellite earth stations - 3 (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: Sky TV access for around 30% of the population; each atoll operates a radio service that provides shipping news and weather reports (2019) Internet country code: .tk Internet users: total: 805 (2019 est.) percent of population: 58% (2019 est.) Topic: Transportation Roadways: total: 10 km (2019) Ports and terminals: none; offshore anchorage only Topic: Military and Security Military - note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Tokelau-American Samoa (US): Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olosega) in its 2006 draft independence constitution; Swains Island has been administered by American Samoa since 1925; the 1980 Treaty of Tokehega delineates the maritime boundary between American Samoa and Tokelau; while not specifically mentioning Swains Island, the treaty notes in its preamble that New Zealand does not claim as part of Tokelau any island administered as part of American SamoaTokelau-American Samoa (US): Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olosega) in its 2006 draft independence constitution; Swains Island has been administered by American Samoa since 1925; the 1980 Treaty of Tokehega delineates the maritime boundary between American Samoa and Tokelau; while not specifically mentioning Swains Island, the treaty notes in its preamble that New Zealand does not claim as part of Tokelau any island administered as part of American Samoa

20220901

countries-bulgaria-summaries

Topic: Introduction Background: The Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the local Slavic inhabitants in the late 7th century to form the first Bulgarian state. Northern Bulgaria attained autonomy in 1878 and all of Bulgaria became independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1908. Bulgaria fell within the Soviet sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in 1946. Communist domination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held its first multiparty election since World War II.The Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the local Slavic inhabitants in the late 7th century to form the first Bulgarian state. Northern Bulgaria attained autonomy in 1878 and all of Bulgaria became independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1908. Bulgaria fell within the Soviet sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in 1946. Communist domination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held its first multiparty election since World War II. Topic: Geography Area: total: 110,879 sq km land: 108,489 sq km water: 2,390 sq km Climate: temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers Natural resources: bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land Topic: People and Society Population: 6,873,253 (2022 est.) Ethnic groups: Bulgarian 76.9%, Turkish 8%, Romani 4.4%, other 0.7% (including Russian, Armenian, and Vlach), other (unknown) 10% (2011 est.) Languages: Bulgarian (official) 76.8%, Turkish 8.2%, Romani 3.8%, other 0.7%, unspecified 10.5% (2011 est.) Religions: Eastern Orthodox 59.4%, Muslim 7.8%, other (including Catholic, Protestant, Armenian Apostolic Orthodox, and Jewish) 1.7%, none 3.7%, unspecified 27.4% (2011 est.) Population growth rate: -0.67% (2022 est.) Topic: Government Government type: parliamentary republic Capital: name: Sofia Executive branch: chief of state: President Rumen RADEV (since 22 January 2017); Vice President Iliana IOTOVA (since 22 January 2017) head of government: Prime Minister Kiril PETKOV (since 13 December 2021) Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sabranie (240 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms) Topic: Economy Economic overview: upper-middle-income EU economy; improving living standards and very robust economic growth; coal-based infrastructure; legacy structural vulnerabilities and widespread corruption; increasing Russian economic relations, particularly through energy tradeupper-middle-income EU economy; improving living standards and very robust economic growth; coal-based infrastructure; legacy structural vulnerabilities and widespread corruption; increasing Russian economic relations, particularly through energy trade Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $155.06 billion (2020 est.) Real GDP per capita: $22,400 (2020 est.) Agricultural products: wheat, maize, sunflower seed, milk, barley, rapeseed, potatoes, grapes, tomatoes, watermelons Industries: electricity, gas, water; food, beverages, tobacco; machinery and equipment, automotive parts, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum, nuclear fuel; outsourcing centers Exports: $39.27 billion (2020 est.) Exports - partners: Germany 16%, Romania 8%, Italy 7%, Turkey 7%, Greece 6% (2019) Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, packaged medicines, copper, wheat, electricity (2019) Imports: $38.07 billion (2020 est.) Imports - partners: Germany 11%, Russia 9%, Italy 7%, Romania 7%, Turkey 7% (2019) Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, copper, cars, packaged medicines, refined petroleum (2019)Page last updated: Wednesday, Jun 15, 2022

20220901

countries-saint-kitts-and-nevis-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise normal precautions in St. Kitts and Nevis. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required as long as you do not stay in the country more than 89 days. US Embassy/Consulate: US does not have an embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Kitts and Nevis; US citizens may call US Dept of State (202)-501-4444 for emergencies; alternate contact is the US Embassy in Barbados [1] (246) 227-4000; US Embassy in Bridgetown, Wildey Business Park, St. Michael BB 14006, Barbados, WI; BridgetownACS@state.gov; https://bb.usembassy.gov Telephone Code: 869 Local Emergency Phone: 911 Vaccinations: An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations. http://www.who.int/ Climate: Tropical, tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November) Currency (Code): East Caribbean dollars (XCD) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 60 Hz / plug types(s): D, G Major Languages: English Major Religions: Protestant 74.4%, Roman Catholic 6.7%, Rastafarian 1.7%, Jehovah's Witness 1.3% Time Difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Potable Water: Yes, but some opt for bottled water outside the cities International Driving Permit: Suggested; additionally, traveler will need to present their US driver's license & IDP to local police to pay a special registration fee Road Driving Side: Left Tourist Destinations: Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park; National Museum; Alexander Hamilton House; Mount Liamuiga Volcano; Clay Villa Plantation House & Gardens; Timothy Hill Overlook; Romney Manor Major Sports: Cricket, rugby, netball, soccer, cue sports Cultural Practices: Avoid wearing shorts except on the beach. Professional, modest attire is expected in a business setting. Tipping Guidelines: Most hotels and restaurants add a service charge of 10% to cover tipping. If not, add a tip of 10-15% of the total bill. Souvenirs: Conch-shell and coconut-shell decorative items, leather goods, batik fabric, jewelry, pottery and glass artPlease visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Tuesday, May 10, 2022

20220901

countries-vietnam

Topic: Photos of Vietnam Topic: Introduction Background: Ancient Vietnam was centered on the Red River Valley and was under Han Chinese rule until approximately the 10th century. The Ly Dynasty (11th-13th century) ruled the first independent Vietnamese state, which was known as Dai Viet, and established their capital at Thang Long (Hanoi). Under the Tran Dynasty (13th-15th century), Dai Viet forces led by one of Vietnam’s national heroes, TRAN Hang Dao, fought off Mongol invaders in 1279. Following a brief Chinese occupation in the early 1400s, the leader of Vietnamese resistance, LE Thai To, made himself emperor and established the Le Dynasty, which lasted until the late 18th century, although not without decades of political turmoil, civil war, and division. During this period, Dai Viet expanded southward to the Central Highlands and Mekong Delta, reaching the approximate boundaries of modern-day Vietnam by the 1750s. Dai Viet suffered additional civil war and division in the latter half of the 18th century, but was reunited and renamed Vietnam under Emperor NGUYEN Phuc Anh (aka Gia Long) in 1802. The Nguyen Dynasty would be the last Vietnamese dynasty before the conquest by France, which began in 1858 and was completed by 1884. Vietnam became part of French Indochina in 1887. It declared independence after World War II, but France continued to rule until its 1954 defeat by communist forces under Ho Chi MINH. Under the Geneva Accords of 1954, Vietnam was divided into the communist North and anti-communist South. US economic and military aid to South Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster the government, but US armed forces were withdrawn following a cease-fire agreement in 1973. Two years later, North Vietnamese forces overran the South reuniting the country under communist rule. Despite the return of peace, for over a decade the country experienced little economic growth because of its diplomatic isolation, its conservative leadership policies, and the persecution and mass exodus of individuals, many of them successful South Vietnamese merchants. However, since the enactment of Vietnam's "doi moi" (renovation) policy in 1986, Vietnamese authorities have committed to increased economic liberalization and enacted structural reforms needed to modernize the economy and to produce more competitive, export-driven industries. Since implementation, the economy has seen strong growth, particularly in agricultural and industrial production, construction, exports, and foreign investment. Increased tourism has also become a key component of economic growth. Nevertheless, the Communist Party maintains tight political and social control of the country and Vietnam faces considerable challenges including rising income inequality, corruption, inadequate social welfare, and a poor human rights record. Since withdrawing its military occupation forces from Cambodia in the late 1980s and the end of Soviet aid by 1991, Vietnam has practiced a non-aligned foreign policy that emphasizes friendly ties with all members of the international community. Relatedly, Vietnam adheres to a security doctrine called the "Four Nos" (no alliances, no siding with one country against another, no foreign bases, and no using force in international relations). Despite longstanding tensions with Beijing regarding its expansive claims that overlap with Hanoi's own claimed maritime boundaries in the South China Sea, Vietnam puts a priority on stable relations with China, given its proximity, size, and status as Vietnam's largest trading partner.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, as well as China, Laos, and Cambodia Geographic coordinates: 16 10 N, 107 50 E Map references: Southeast Asia Area: total: 331,210 sq km land: 310,070 sq km water: 21,140 sq km Area - comparative: about three times the size of Tennessee; slightly larger than New Mexico Land boundaries: total: 4,616 km border countries (3): Cambodia 1,158 km; China 1,297 km; Laos 2,161 km Coastline: 3,444 km (excludes islands) Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin Climate: tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (May to September) and warm, dry season (October to March) Terrain: low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest Elevation: highest point: Fan Si Pan 3,144 m lowest point: South China Sea 0 m mean elevation: 398 m Natural resources: antimony, phosphates, coal, manganese, rare earth elements, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits, timber, hydropower, arable land Land use: agricultural land: 34.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 20.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 12.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 2.1% (2018 est.) forest: 45% (2018 est.) other: 20.2% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 46,000 sq km (2012) Major rivers (by length in km): Mekong river mouth (shared with China [s], Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia) - 4,350 km; Pearl river source (shared with China [m]) - 2,200 km; Red river mouth (shared with China [s]) - 1,149 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Pacific Ocean drainage: Mekong (805,604 sq km) Population distribution: though it has one of the highest population densities in the world, the population is not evenly dispersed; clustering is heaviest along the South China Sea and Gulf of Tonkin, with the Mekong Delta (in the south) and the Red River Valley (in the north) having the largest concentrations of people Natural hazards: occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding, especially in the Mekong River delta Geography - note: note 1: extending 1,650 km north to south, the country is only 50 km across at its narrowest point note 2: Son Doong in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is the world's largest cave (greatest cross sectional area) and is the largest known cave passage in the world by volume; it currently measures a total of 38.5 million cu m (about 1.35 billion cu ft); it connects to Thung cave (but not yet officially); when recognized, it will add an additional 1.6 million cu m in volume; Son Doong is so massive that it contains its own jungle, underground river, and localized weather system; clouds form inside the cave and spew out from its exits and two dolines (openings (sinkhole skylights) created by collapsed ceilings that allow sunlight to stream in) Map description: Vietnam map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and adjacent water bodies.Vietnam map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and adjacent water bodies. Topic: People and Society Population: 103,808,319 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Vietnamese (singular and plural) adjective: Vietnamese Ethnic groups: Kinh (Viet) 85.3%, Tay 1.9%, Thai 1.9%, Muong 1.5%, Khmer 1.4%, Mong 1.4%, Nung 1.1%, other 5.5% (2019 est.) note: 54 ethnic groups are recognized by the Vietnamese Government Languages: Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a second language), some French, Chinese, and Khmer, mountain area languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian) major-language sample(s): Dữ kiện thế giới, là nguồn thông tin cơ bản không thể thiếu. (Vietnamese) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Catholic 6.1%, Buddhist 5.8%, Protestant 1%, other 0.8%, none 86.3% (2019 est.) note: most Vietnamese are culturally Buddhist Demographic profile: When Vietnam was reunified in 1975, the country had a youthful age structure and a high fertility rate.  The population growth rate slowed dramatically during the next 25 years, as fertility declined and infant mortality and life expectancy improved.  The country’s adoption of a one-or-two-child policy in 1988 led to increased rates of contraception and abortion.  The total fertility rate dropped rapidly from nearly 5 in 1979 to 2.1 or replacement level in 1990, and at 1.8 is below replacement level today.  Fertility is higher in the more rural central highlands and northern uplands, which are inhabited primarily by poorer ethnic minorities, and is lower among the majority Kinh, ethnic Chinese, and a few other ethnic groups, particularly in urban centers.  With more than two-thirds of the population of working age (15-64), Vietnam has the potential to reap a demographic dividend for approximately three decades (between 2010 and 2040).  However, its ability to do so will depend on improving the quality of education and training for its workforce and creating jobs.  The Vietnamese Government is also considering changes to the country’s population policy because if the country’s fertility rate remains below replacement level, it could lead to a worker shortage in the future. Vietnam has experienced both internal migration and net emigration, both for humanitarian and economic reasons, for the last several decades.  Internal migration – rural-rural and rural-urban, temporary and permanent – continues to be a means of coping with Vietnam’s extreme weather and flooding.  Although Vietnam’s population is still mainly rural, increasing numbers of young men and women have been drawn to the country’s urban centers where they are more likely to find steady jobs and higher pay in the growing industrial and service sectors. The aftermath of the Vietnam War in 1975 resulted in an outpouring of approximately 1.6 million Vietnamese refugees over the next two decades.  Between 1975 and 1997, programs such as the Orderly Departure Program and the Comprehensive Plan of Action resettled hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese refugees abroad, including the United States (880,000), China (260,000, mainly ethnic Chinese Hoa), Canada (160,000), Australia (155,000), and European countries (150,000).  In the 1980s, some Vietnamese students and workers began to migrate to allied communist countries, including the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, and East Germany.  The vast majority returned home following the fall of communism in Eastern Europe in the early 1990s.  Since that time, Vietnamese labor migrants instead started to pursue opportunities in Asia and the Middle East.  They often perform low-skilled jobs under harsh conditions for low pay and are vulnerable to forced labor, including debt bondage to the private brokers who arrange the work contracts.  Despite Vietnam’s current labor surplus, the country has in recent years attracted some foreign workers, mainly from China and other Asian countries.When Vietnam was reunified in 1975, the country had a youthful age structure and a high fertility rate.  The population growth rate slowed dramatically during the next 25 years, as fertility declined and infant mortality and life expectancy improved.  The country’s adoption of a one-or-two-child policy in 1988 led to increased rates of contraception and abortion.  The total fertility rate dropped rapidly from nearly 5 in 1979 to 2.1 or replacement level in 1990, and at 1.8 is below replacement level today.  Fertility is higher in the more rural central highlands and northern uplands, which are inhabited primarily by poorer ethnic minorities, and is lower among the majority Kinh, ethnic Chinese, and a few other ethnic groups, particularly in urban centers.  With more than two-thirds of the population of working age (15-64), Vietnam has the potential to reap a demographic dividend for approximately three decades (between 2010 and 2040).  However, its ability to do so will depend on improving the quality of education and training for its workforce and creating jobs.  The Vietnamese Government is also considering changes to the country’s population policy because if the country’s fertility rate remains below replacement level, it could lead to a worker shortage in the future.Vietnam has experienced both internal migration and net emigration, both for humanitarian and economic reasons, for the last several decades.  Internal migration – rural-rural and rural-urban, temporary and permanent – continues to be a means of coping with Vietnam’s extreme weather and flooding.  Although Vietnam’s population is still mainly rural, increasing numbers of young men and women have been drawn to the country’s urban centers where they are more likely to find steady jobs and higher pay in the growing industrial and service sectors.The aftermath of the Vietnam War in 1975 resulted in an outpouring of approximately 1.6 million Vietnamese refugees over the next two decades.  Between 1975 and 1997, programs such as the Orderly Departure Program and the Comprehensive Plan of Action resettled hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese refugees abroad, including the United States (880,000), China (260,000, mainly ethnic Chinese Hoa), Canada (160,000), Australia (155,000), and European countries (150,000).  Age structure: 0-14 years: 22.61% (male 11,733,704/female 10,590,078) 15-24 years: 15.22% (male 7,825,859/female 7,202,716) 25-54 years: 45.7% (male 22,852,429/female 22,262,566) 55-64 years: 9.55% (male 4,412,111/female 5,016,880) 65 years and over: 6.91% (2020 est.) (male 2,702,963/female 4,121,969) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 45.1 youth dependency ratio: 33.6 elderly dependency ratio: 11.4 potential support ratio: 8.8 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 31.9 years male: 30.8 years female: 33 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.97% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 15.69 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 5.77 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -0.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: though it has one of the highest population densities in the world, the population is not evenly dispersed; clustering is heaviest along the South China Sea and Gulf of Tonkin, with the Mekong Delta (in the south) and the Red River Valley (in the north) having the largest concentrations of people Urbanization: urban population: 38.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.7% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 9.077 million Ho Chi Minh City, 5.067 million HANOI (capital), 1.786 million Can Tho, 1.382 million Hai Phong, 1.188 million Da Nang, 1.078 million Bien Hoa (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.11 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.5 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 43 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 14.75 deaths/1,000 live births male: 15.09 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.52 years male: 72.95 years female: 78.37 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.05 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 76.5% (2018/19) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99.2% of population rural: 95.5% of population total: 96.9% of population unimproved: urban: 0.8% of population rural: 4.5% of population total: 3.1% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 5.3% (2019) Physicians density: 0.83 physicians/1,000 population (2016) Hospital bed density: 3.2 beds/1,000 population (2013) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 98.7% of population rural: 90% of population total: 93.3% of population unimproved: urban: 1.3% of population rural: 10% of population total: 6.7% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.3% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 250,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 3,800 (2020 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and Japanese encephalitis Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 2.1% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 24.8% (2020 est.) male: 47.4% (2020 est.) female: 2.2% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 13.4% (2017) Education expenditures: 4.1% of GDP (2019 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.8% male: 97% female: 94.6% (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 7.6% male: 6.6% female: 8.9% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices contribute to deforestation and soil degradation; water pollution and overfishing threaten marine life populations; groundwater contamination limits potable water supply; air pollution; growing urban industrialization and population migration are rapidly degrading environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 29.66 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 192.67 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 110.4 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (May to September) and warm, dry season (October to March) Land use: agricultural land: 34.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 20.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 12.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 2.1% (2018 est.) forest: 45% (2018 est.) other: 20.2% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 38.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.7% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 1.49% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.35% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and Japanese encephalitis Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 9,570,300 tons (2011 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,201,169 tons (2014 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 23% (2014 est.) Major rivers (by length in km): Mekong river mouth (shared with China [s], Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia) - 4,350 km; Pearl river source (shared with China [m]) - 2,200 km; Red river mouth (shared with China [s]) - 1,149 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Pacific Ocean drainage: Mekong (805,604 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 1.206 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 3.074 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 77.75 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 884.12 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnam conventional short form: Vietnam local long form: Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Nam local short form: Viet Nam former: Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam), Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) abbreviation: SRV etymology: "Viet nam" translates as "Viet south," where "Viet" is an ethnic self identification dating to a second century B.C. kingdom and "nam" refers to its location in relation to other Viet kingdoms Government type: communist state Capital: name: Hanoi (Ha Noi) geographic coordinates: 21 02 N, 105 51 E time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the city has had many names in its history going back to A.D. 1010 when it first became the capital of imperial Vietnam; in 1831, it received its current name of Ha Noi, meaning "between the rivers," which refers to its geographic location Administrative divisions: 58 provinces (tinh, singular and plural) and 5 municipalities (thanh pho, singular and plural) provinces: An Giang, Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Bac Lieu, Bac Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Ca Mau, Cao Bang, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Dien Bien, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Ha Nam, Ha Tinh, Hai Duong, Hau Giang, Hoa Binh, Hung Yen, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Tho, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phuc, Yen Bai municipalities: Can Tho, Da Nang, Ha Noi (Hanoi), Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)58 provinces (tinh, singular and plural) and 5 municipalities (thanh pho, singular and plural)provinces: An Giang, Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Bac Lieu, Bac Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Ca Mau, Cao Bang, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Dien Bien, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Ha Nam, Ha Tinh, Hai Duong, Hau Giang, Hoa Binh, Hung Yen, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Tho, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phuc, Yen Baimunicipalities: Can Tho, Da Nang, Ha Noi (Hanoi), Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Independence: 2 September 1945 (from France) National holiday: Independence Day (National Day), 2 September (1945) Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 28 November 2013, effective 1 January 2014 amendments: proposed by the president, by the National Assembly’s Standing Committee, or by at least two thirds of the National Assembly membership; a decision to draft an amendment requires approval by at least a two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership, followed by the formation of a constitutional drafting committee to write a draft and collect citizens’ opinions; passage requires at least two-thirds majority of the Assembly membership; the Assembly can opt to conduct a referendum Legal system: civil law system; note - the civil code of 2005 reflects a European-style civil law International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Vietnam dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Nguyen Xuan PHUC (since 26 July 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Pham Minh CHINH (since 26 July 2021) cabinet: Cabinet proposed by prime minister confirmed by the National Assembly and appointed by the president elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by National Assembly from among its members for a single 5-year term; prime minister recommended by the president and confirmed by National Assembly; deputy prime ministers confirmed by the National Assembly and appointed by the president election results: 2021: Nguyen Xuan PHUC (CPV) elected president; Pham Minh CHINH (CPV) confirmed as prime minister 2018: NGUYEN Phu TRONG (CPV) elected as president 2016: NGUYEN Xuan PHUC (CPV) confirmed as prime minister Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly or Quoc Hoi  (500 seats - number following 2021 election - 499; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote; members serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 23 May 2021 (next to be held in spring 2026) election results: percent of vote in 2016 election by party -CPV 95.8%, non-party members 4.2%; seats by party - CPV 474, non-party CPV-approved 20, self-nominated 2; note - 494 candidates elected, 2 CPV candidates-elect were disqualified; composition - men 364, women 122, percent of women 26.6% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme People's Court (consists of the chief justice and 13 judges) judge selection and term of office: chief justice elected by the National Assembly upon the recommendation of the president for a 5-year, renewable term; deputy chief justice appointed by the president from among the judges for a 5-year term; judges appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly for 5-year terms subordinate courts: High Courts (administrative, civil, criminal, economic, labor, family, juvenile); provincial courts; district courts; Military Court; note - the National Assembly Standing Committee can establish special tribunals upon the recommendation of the chief justice Political parties and leaders: Communist Party of Vietnam or CPV [CPV General Secretary Nguyen Phu TRONG] note: other parties proscribed International organization participation: ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, CICA, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nguyen Quoc DUNG (since 19 April 2022) chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 861-0737 FAX: [1] (202) 861-0917 email address and website: vanphong@vietnamembassy.us http://vietnamembassy-usa.org/ consulate(s) general: Houston, San Francisco consulate(s): New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marc KNAPPER (since 11 February 2022) embassy: 7 Lang Ha Street, Hanoi mailing address: 4550 Hanoi Place, Washington, DC 20521-4550 telephone: [84] (24) 3850-5000 FAX: [84] (24) 3850-5010 email address and website: ACShanoi@state.gov https://vn.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Ho Chi Minh City Flag description: red field with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center; red symbolizes revolution and blood, the five-pointed star represents the five elements of the populace - peasants, workers, intellectuals, traders, and soldiers - that unite to build socialism National symbol(s): yellow, five-pointed star on red field; lotus blossom; national colors: red, yellow National anthem: name: "Tien quan ca" (The Song of the Marching Troops) lyrics/music: Nguyen Van CAO note: adopted as the national anthem of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945; it became the national anthem of the unified Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 1976; although it consists of two verses, only the first is used as the official anthem National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 8 (5 cultural, 2 natural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Complex of Hué Monuments (c); Ha Long Bay (n); Hoi An Ancient Town (c); My Son Sanctuary (c); Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (n); Imperial Citadel of Thang Long - Hanoi (c); Citadel of the Ho Dynasty (c); Trang An Landscape Complex (m) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Vietnam is a densely populated developing country that has been transitioning since 1986 from the rigidities of a centrally planned, highly agrarian economy to a more industrial and market based economy, and it has raised incomes substantially. Vietnam exceeded its 2017 GDP growth target of 6.7% with growth of 6.8%, primarily due to unexpected increases in domestic demand, and strong manufacturing exports.   Vietnam has a young population, stable political system, commitment to sustainable growth, relatively low inflation, stable currency, strong FDI inflows, and strong manufacturing sector. In addition, the country is committed to continuing its global economic integration. Vietnam joined the WTO in January 2007 and concluded several free trade agreements in 2015-16, including the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (which the EU has not yet ratified), the Korean Free Trade Agreement, and the Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement. In 2017, Vietnam successfully chaired the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Conference with its key priorities including inclusive growth, innovation, strengthening small and medium enterprises, food security, and climate change. Seeking to diversify its opportunities, Vietnam also signed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Transpacific Partnership in 2018 and continued to pursue the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.   To continue its trajectory of strong economic growth, the government acknowledges the need to spark a ‘second wave’ of reforms, including reforming state-owned-enterprises, reducing red tape, increasing business sector transparency, reducing the level of non-performing loans in the banking sector, and increasing financial sector transparency. Vietnam’s public debt to GDP ratio is nearing the government mandated ceiling of 65%.   In 2016, Vietnam cancelled its civilian nuclear energy development program, citing public concerns about safety and the high cost of the program; it faces growing pressure on energy infrastructure. Overall, the country’s infrastructure fails to meet the needs of an expanding middle class. Vietnam has demonstrated a commitment to sustainable growth over the last several years, but despite the recent speed-up in economic growth the government remains cautious about the risk of external shocks.Vietnam is a densely populated developing country that has been transitioning since 1986 from the rigidities of a centrally planned, highly agrarian economy to a more industrial and market based economy, and it has raised incomes substantially. Vietnam exceeded its 2017 GDP growth target of 6.7% with growth of 6.8%, primarily due to unexpected increases in domestic demand, and strong manufacturing exports. Vietnam has a young population, stable political system, commitment to sustainable growth, relatively low inflation, stable currency, strong FDI inflows, and strong manufacturing sector. In addition, the country is committed to continuing its global economic integration. Vietnam joined the WTO in January 2007 and concluded several free trade agreements in 2015-16, including the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (which the EU has not yet ratified), the Korean Free Trade Agreement, and the Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement. In 2017, Vietnam successfully chaired the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Conference with its key priorities including inclusive growth, innovation, strengthening small and medium enterprises, food security, and climate change. Seeking to diversify its opportunities, Vietnam also signed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Transpacific Partnership in 2018 and continued to pursue the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. To continue its trajectory of strong economic growth, the government acknowledges the need to spark a ‘second wave’ of reforms, including reforming state-owned-enterprises, reducing red tape, increasing business sector transparency, reducing the level of non-performing loans in the banking sector, and increasing financial sector transparency. Vietnam’s public debt to GDP ratio is nearing the government mandated ceiling of 65%. In 2016, Vietnam cancelled its civilian nuclear energy development program, citing public concerns about safety and the high cost of the program; it faces growing pressure on energy infrastructure. Overall, the country’s infrastructure fails to meet the needs of an expanding middle class. Vietnam has demonstrated a commitment to sustainable growth over the last several years, but despite the recent speed-up in economic growth the government remains cautious about the risk of external shocks. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $798.21 billion (2020 est.) $775.67 billion (2019 est.) $724.81 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 6.8% (2017 est.) 7.16% (2017 est.) 6.2% (2016 est.) Real GDP per capita: $8,200 (2020 est.) $8,000 (2019 est.) $7,600 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $259.957 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.7% (2019 est.) 3.5% (2018 est.) 3.5% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BB (2018) Moody's rating: Ba3 (2018) Standard & Poors rating: BB (2019) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 15.3% (2017 est.) industry: 33.3% (2017 est.) services: 51.3% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 66.9% (2017 est.) government consumption: 6.5% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 24.2% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 2.8% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 100% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -101% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: rice, vegetables, sugar cane, cassava, maize, pork, fruit, bananas, coffee, coconuts Industries: food processing, garments, shoes, machine-building; mining, coal, steel; cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, mobile phones Industrial production growth rate: 8% (2017 est.) Labor force: 54.659 million (2019 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 40.3% industry: 25.7% services: 34% (2017) Unemployment rate: 3.11% (2018 est.) 2.2% (2017 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 7.6% male: 6.6% female: 8.9% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 6.7% (2018 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 35.7 (2018 est.) 37.6 (2008) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 26.8% (2014) Budget: revenues: 54.59 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 69.37 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -6.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 58.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 59.9% of GDP (2016 est.) note: official data; data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions Taxes and other revenues: 24.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: $12.478 billion (2019 est.) $5.769 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $280.83 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $258.49 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $204.169 billion (2017 est.) Exports - partners: United States 23%, China 14%, Japan 8%, South Korea 7% (2019) Exports - commodities: broadcasting equipment, telephones, integrated circuits, footwear, furniture (2019) Imports: $261.68 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $245.63 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $217.684 billion (2017 est.) Imports - partners: China 35%, South Korea 18%, Japan 6% (2019) Imports - commodities: integrated circuits, telephones, refined petroleum, textiles, semiconductors (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $49.5 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $36.91 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $96.58 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $84.34 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: dong (VND) per US dollar - 23,129 (2020 est.) 23,171.5 (2019 est.) 23,312.5 (2018 est.) 21,909 (2014 est.) 21,189 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2019) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 65.283 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 199,846,440,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 2.067 billion kWh (2019 est.) imports: 3.316 billion kWh (2019 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 15.479 billion kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 70.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 2.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 25.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 47.789 million metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 80.568 million metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 902,000 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 55 million metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 3.36 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 197,700 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 495,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 66,900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 103,500 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 4.4 billion barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 153,800 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 25,620 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 282,800 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 8,438,095,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) consumption: 8,438,095,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 699.425 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 249.929 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 165.775 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 67.775 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 16.379 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 36.392 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 3,205,775 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 136.23 million (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 141.23 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: even with Covid-19 pandemic-related mobility restrictions in place, Vietnam’s economy has continued to outperform the rest of the region in 2020 and 2021; the telecom sector essentially spent most of this period in a holding pattern, focusing on maintaining service throughout the crisis while preparing for some major changes to come in the mobile market in 2022; both fixed-line telephony and mobile have experienced small drops in subscriber numbers since the start of the pandemic, but the similarities between the two markets end there; fixed-line teledensity continued its downwards trajectory towards virtual oblivion, with just 3% penetration (around 3 million subscribers) at the start of 2021; the mobile market has lost about the same number of subscribers since the end of 2019, but has been sitting on much higher penetration levels around 130% for many years; growth is expected to kick in again in 2022 following the anticipated launch of commercial 5G mobile services along with a range of government-led schemes to move consumers completely off 2G and 3G; one example is the planned redistribution of GSM/3G bandwidth to LTE; in addition to propelling Vietnam into having one of the most advanced mobile markets in the world, this should also spur on the mobile broadband segment; with a penetration level of just over 70%, mobile broadband has considerable room to grow; increasing economic prosperity coupled with the latest smartphone technology and networks should see mobile broadband underwriting the country’s telecommunications sector for at least the next few years; this report includes the regulator's market data to July 2021, telcos' financial and operating data updates to June 2021, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of Covid-19 on the telecoms sector, and other recent market developments. (2021) domestic: all provincial exchanges are digitalized and connected to Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City by fiber-optic cable or microwave radio relay networks; main lines have been increased, and the use of mobile telephones is growing rapidly; fixed-line under 4 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 143 per 100 (2020) international: country code - 84; landing points for the SeaMeWe-3, APG, SJC2, AAE-1, AAG and the TGN-IA submarine cable system providing connectivity to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: government controls all broadcast media exercising oversight through the Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC); government-controlled national TV provider, Vietnam Television (VTV), operates a network of several channels with regional broadcasting centers; programming is relayed nationwide via a network of provincial and municipal TV stations; law limits access to satellite TV but many households are able to access foreign programming via home satellite equipment; government-controlled Voice of Vietnam, the national radio broadcaster, broadcasts on several channels and is repeated on AM, FM, and shortwave stations throughout Vietnam (2018) Internet country code: .vn Internet users: total: 68,137,008 (2020 est.) percent of population: 70% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 16,699,249 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 5 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 224 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 47,049,671 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 481.37 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VN Airports: total: 45 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 38 over 3,047 m: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 9 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2021) Heliports: 1 (2021) Pipelines: 72 km condensate, 398 km condensate/gas, 955 km gas, 128 km oil, 33 km oil/gas/water, 206 km refined products, 13 km water (2013) Railways: total: 2,600 km (2014) standard gauge: 178 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge; 253 km mixed gauge narrow gauge: 2,169 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge Roadways: total: 195,468 km (2013) paved: 148,338 km (2013) unpaved: 47,130 km (2013) Waterways: 47,130 km (2011) (30,831 km weight under 50 tons) Merchant marine: total: 1,926 by type: bulk carrier 116, container ship 41, general cargo 1,193, oil tanker 125, other 451 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Cam Pha Port, Da Nang, Haiphong, Phu My, Quy Nhon container port(s) (TEUs): Saigon (7,220,377), Cai Mep (3,742,384), Haiphong (5,133,150) (2019) river port(s): Ho Chi Minh (Mekong) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN; aka Vietnam People's Army, VPA): Ground Forces, Navy (includes naval infantry), Air Force and Air Defense, Border Defense Force, and Vietnam Coast Guard; Vietnam People's Public Security Ministry; Vietnam Civil Defense Force (2022) note 1: the Public Security Ministry is responsible for internal security and controls the national police, a special national security investigative agency, and other internal security units, including specialized riot police regiments note 2: the Vietnam Coast Guard was established in 1998 as the Vietnam Marine Police and renamed in 2013; Vietnam officially established a maritime self-defense force (civilian militia) in 2010 after the National Assembly passed the Law on Militia and Self-Defense Forces in 2009; the Vietnam Fisheries Resources Surveillance (VFRS), established in 2013, is responsible for patrolling, monitoring for fishing violations, and carrying out fishery inspections; it is armed, allowed to use force if necessary, and works in tandem with the Vietnam Coast Guard Military expenditures: 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.) 2.4% of GDP (2020 est.) 2.3% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $11.2 billion) 2.3% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $10.5 billion) 2.3% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $9.85 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: information is limited and estimates vary; approximately 470,000 active duty troops (400,000 ground; 40,000 naval; 30,000 air); estimated 40,000 Border Defense Force and Coast Guard (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the PAVN is armed largely with weapons and equipment from Russia and the former Soviet Union; since 2010, Russia has remained the main supplier of newer PAVN military equipment, although in recent years Vietnam has purchased arms from more than a dozen other countries including Belarus, Israel, South Korea, Ukraine, and the US; Vietnam has a limited defense industry (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-27 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (females eligible for conscription, but in practice only males are drafted); conscription typically takes place twice annually and service obligation is 2 years (Army, Air Defense) and 3 years (Navy and Air Force) (2021) Military - note: the PAVN is the military arm of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and responsible to the Central Military Commission (CMC), the highest party organ on military policy; the CMC is led by the CPV General Secretary Vietnam has a security policy of non-alignment, but noted in 2019 that it would consider developing appropriate defense and security relations with other countries depending on circumstances (2022) Maritime threats: the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia; the number of reported incidents decreased from four in 2020 to one in 2021 Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Vietnam-Cambodia: Cambodia accuses Vietnam of a wide variety of illicit cross-border activities; issues include casinos built in Cambodia near the border, narcotics trafficking, trafficking of women and children, petrol smuggling, illegal logging, and illegal migration; progress on a joint development area with Cambodia is hampered by an unresolved dispute over sovereignty of offshore islands; in December 2021, leaders from the two countries agreed to fully complete the remaining border demarcation and the upgrading of border checkpoints Vietnam-Cambodia-Laos: Cambodia and Laos protest Vietnamese squatters and armed encroachments along border; Cambodia accuses Vietnam of a wide variety of illicit cross-border activities Vietnam-China: an estimated 300,000 Vietnamese refugees reside in China; the decade-long demarcation of the China-Vietnam land boundary was completed in 2009; small territorial exchanges were made during the demarcation; China occupies the Paracel Islands also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; cross border trafficking in women and children and illegal wildlife trade are problems along this border; In December 2021, China tightened its border controls over COVID concerns, restricting an important trade route for Vietnam Vietnam-Laos: Laos opened a strategically important international border crossing with Vietnam in 2021, which will shorten the distance for goods and people transiting between Thailand and VietnamVietnam-Cambodia: Cambodia accuses Vietnam of a wide variety of illicit cross-border activities; issues include casinos built in Cambodia near the border, narcotics trafficking, trafficking of women and children, petrol smuggling, illegal logging, and illegal migration; progress on a joint development area with Cambodia is hampered by an unresolved dispute over sovereignty of offshore islands; in December 2021, leaders from the two countries agreed to fully complete the remaining border demarcation and the upgrading of border checkpointsVietnam-Cambodia-Laos: Cambodia and Laos protest Vietnamese squatters and armed encroachments along border; Cambodia accuses Vietnam of a wide variety of illicit cross-border activitiesVietnam-China: an estimated 300,000 Vietnamese refugees reside in China; the decade-long demarcation of the China-Vietnam land boundary was completed in 2009; small territorial exchanges were made during the demarcation; China occupies the Paracel Islands also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; cross border trafficking in women and children and illegal wildlife trade are problems along this border; In December 2021, China tightened its border controls over COVID concerns, restricting an important trade route for VietnamVietnam-Laos: Laos opened a strategically important international border crossing with Vietnam in 2021, which will shorten the distance for goods and people transiting between Thailand and Vietnam Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons: 30,581 (mid-year 2021); note - Vietnam's stateless ethnic Chinese Cambodian population dates to the 1970s when thousands of Cambodians fled to Vietnam to escape the Khmer Rouge and were no longer recognized as Cambodian citizens; Vietnamese women who gave up their citizenship to marry foreign men have found themselves stateless after divorcing and returning home to Vietnam; the government addressed this problem in 2009, and Vietnamese women are beginning to reclaim their citizenship Trafficking in persons: current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Vietnam, and traffickers exploit Vietnamese abroad; Vietnamese men and women who migrate abroad for work may be subject to exploitation and illegally high fees from recruiters trapping them in debt bondage; traffickers subject victims to forced labor in construction, fishing, agriculture, mining, maritime industries, logging, and manufacturing, primarily in Taiwan, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Laos, Japan, and to a lesser extent, some parts of Europe and the UK; traffickers mislead Vietnamese women and children with fraudulent employment opportunities and sex traffick them to brothels on the borders of China, Cambodia, Laos, and elsewhere in Asia; traffickers use the Internet, gaming sites, and particularly social media to lure victims; domestic traffickers are sometimes  family members or small-scale networks exploiting Vietnamese men, women, and children - including street children and children with disabilities - in forced labor as street beggars or in brick kilns and mines; child sex tourists from elsewhere in Asia and other countries exploit children; prisoners reportedly are forced to work in agriculture, manufacturing, and hazardous industries, such as cashew processing tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Vietnam does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; efforts include providing trafficking victims the right to legal representation in judicial proceedings, increasing the amount of shelter time for victims by one month, providing financial support, continuing large-scale awareness campaigns in vulnerable communities and to workers going overseas, and training law enforcement; however, fewer victims were identified or assisted and procedures remained slow and ineffective; provincial officials unfamiliar with anti-trafficking law impede anti-trafficking efforts; labor recruitment firms extorted illegal high fees from workers looking for overseas employment putting them at risk for forced labor; no investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of officials complicit in trafficking offenses were made (2020) Illicit drugs: transshipment point for transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) trafficking heroin, crystal methamphetamine, and ketamine throughout East Asia and the Pacific; approximately 90% of the illicit drugs in the country originate in Laos, Burma, and Thailand

20220901

countries-american-samoa-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: A foreign national or alien entering the US is generally required to present a passport and valid visa issued by a US Consular Official, unless they are a citizen of a country eligible for the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), or are a lawful permanent resident of the US or a citizen of Canada. The VWP allows foreign nationals from certain countries to be admitted to the US under limited conditions and for a limited time without obtaining a visa. The foreign national must arrive on an approved carrier (if coming by air or sea), stay no more than 90 days (for pleasure, medical purposes, and/or business), and be able to prove they are not inadmissible. The foreign national is still required to have a passport. To obtain a list of VWP-eligible countries and VWP passport requirements, please visit https: www.dhs.gov and/or visa waiver program requirements. Note: all travelers transiting the US are subject to US customs and/or immigration laws. US Embassy/Consulate: N/A Telephone Code: 684 Local Emergency Phone: 911 (USA) Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations http://www.who.int/ Climate: Tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annual rainfall averages about 3 m (10 feet); rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October); little seasonal temperature variation; the temperature typically varies from 25°C - 31°C (77°F to 88°F) and is rarely below 23°C (74°F) Currency (Code): US $ (USD) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 120 V / 60 Hz / plug types(s): A, B, F, I Major Languages: Samoan 88.6%, English 3.9%, Tongan 2.7%, other Pacific islander 3% Major Religions: Christian 98.3% Time Difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Potable Water: Yes International Driving Permit: Suggested for non-US citizens. Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: National Park of American Samoa (includes Ofu Beach, Pola Island); National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa (Fagatele Bay); Leone Church; Pago Pago Harbor; Tia Seu Lupe Park; Jean P. Haydon Museum; Rose Atoll Major Sports: Football, rugby, soccer Cultural Practices: In a traditional home, called a fale (fah-LAY), sit on the floor before talking, eating, or drinking. Cross your legs or pull a mat over them, as it is impolite to stretch out your legs. Tipping Guidelines: Tipping is not part of the culture, so leaving a few extra dollars is appreciated. Be sure to hand the tip directly to the employee to ensure the right person receives it. Tip hotel porters $2 (USD) dollars per bag. Taxi drivers would appreciate rounding up to the nearest even figure. Souvenirs: Tapa bark cloth, traditional clothing, shell purses and handicrafts, wood carvings, woven mats Traditional Cuisine: Palusami (solidified coconut milk baked in Taro leaves); Faiai Eleni (fish in coconut cream); Fa’apapa (sweet coconut bread); Fa’ausi (Fa’apapa bread coat-cooked in a sweet and rich coconut caramel sauce); Kopai (sweet dessert dumpling); Panikeke (deep fried sweet banana fitters); 'ava (drink made from ground Kava root)Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Friday, May 13, 2022

20220901

countries-british-virgin-islands

Topic: Photos of British Virgin Islands Topic: Introduction Background: First inhabited by Arawak and later by Carib Indians, the Virgin Islands were settled by the Dutch in 1648 and then annexed by the English in 1672. The islands were part of the British colony of the Leeward Islands (1872-1960); they were granted autonomy in 1967. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency. On 6 September 2017, Hurricane Irma devastated the island of Tortola. An estimated 80% of residential and business structures were destroyed or damaged, communications disrupted, and local roads rendered impassable.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico Geographic coordinates: 18 30 N, 64 30 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 151 sq km land: 151 sq km water: 0 sq km note: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands; includes the islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, Jost van Dyke Area - comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 80 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds Terrain: coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly Elevation: highest point: Mount Sage 521 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m Natural resources: NEGL; pleasant climate, beaches foster tourism Land use: agricultural land: 46.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 6.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 6.7% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 33.3% (2018 est.) forest: 24.3% (2018 est.) other: 29% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: NA Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout the inhabited islands, with the largest islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke having the largest populations Natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October) Geography - note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico Map description: British Virgin Islands map showing the many islands that make up this UK territory in the Caribbean Sea.British Virgin Islands map showing the many islands that make up this UK territory in the Caribbean Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 38,632 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander Ethnic groups: African/Black 76.3%, Latino 5.5%, White 5.4%, mixed 5.3%, Indian 2.1%, East Indian 1.6%, other 3%, unspecified 0.8% (2010 est.) Languages: English (official) Religions: Protestant 70.2% (Methodist 17.6%, Church of God 10.4%, Anglican 9.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 9.0%, Pentecostal 8.2%, Baptist 7.4%, New Testament Church of God 6.9%, other Protestant 1.2%), Roman Catholic 8.9%, Jehovah's Witness 2.5%, Hindu 1.9%, other 6.2%, none 7.9%, unspecified 2.4% (2010 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 16.48% (male 3,088/female 3,156) 15-24 years: 12.22% (male 2,212/female 2,418) 25-54 years: 47.84% (male 8,476/female 9,652) 55-64 years: 12.83% (male 2,242/female 2,521) 65 years and over: 10.63% (2021 est.) (male 1,921/female 2,105) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Median age: total: 37.2 years male: 37 years female: 37.5 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 1.91% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 10.95 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 5.38 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 13.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout the inhabited islands, with the largest islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke having the largest populations Urbanization: urban population: 49.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 15,000 ROAD TOWN (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.88 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 14.16 deaths/1,000 live births male: 16.89 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.67 years male: 78.17 years female: 81.25 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.35 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: total: 99.9% of population unimproved: total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: NA Physicians density: NA Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 97.5% of population rural: 97.5% of population total: 97.5% of population unimproved: urban: 2.5% of population rural: 2.5% of population total: 2.5% of population (2015 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 2.9% of GDP (2019 est.) Literacy: total population: NA male: NA female: NA School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2018) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: limited natural freshwater resources except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola; most of the islands' water supply comes from desalination plants; sewage and mining/industry waste contribute to water pollution, threatening coral reefs Air pollutants: carbon dioxide emissions: 0.21 megatons (2016 est.) Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds Land use: agricultural land: 46.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 6.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 6.7% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 33.3% (2018 est.) forest: 24.3% (2018 est.) other: 29% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 49.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 21,099 tons (2000 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: British Virgin Islands abbreviation: BVI etymology: the myriad islets, cays, and rocks surrounding the major islands reminded explorer Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 of Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgin followers (Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Virgenes), which over time shortened to the Virgins (las Virgenes) Government type: Overseas Territory of the UK with limited self-government; parliamentary democracy Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing Capital: name: Road Town geographic coordinates: 18 25 N, 64 37 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: name refers to the nautical term "roadstead" or "roads," a body of water less sheltered than a harbor but where where ships can lie reasonably safely at anchor sheltered from rip currents, spring tides, or ocean swells Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK) Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK) National holiday: Territory Day, 1 July (1956) Constitution: history: several previous; latest effective 15 June 2007 (The Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007) amendments: initiated by any elected member of the House of Assembly; passage requires simple majority vote by the elected members of the Assembly and assent by the governor on behalf of the monarch; amended 2015 Legal system: English common law Citizenship: see United Kingdom Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor John J. RANKIN (since 29 January 2021) head of government: Premier Dr. Natalio WHEATLEY (since 5 May 2022) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the House of Assembly elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed premier by the governor note - on 5 May 2022, Premier Andrew FAHIE removed by a no confidence vote in House of Assembly following his arrest on drug trafficking and money laundering charges on 28 April 2022; Premier Dr. Natalio WHEATLEY sworn in as premier on 5 May 2022 Legislative branch: description: unicameral House of Assembly (15 seats; 13 members - 9 in single-seat constituencies and 4 at-large seats directly elected by simple majority vote and 2 ex-officio members - the attorney general and the speaker - chosen from outside the House; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 25 February 2019 (next to be held in 2023) election results: percent of vote by party - VIP 46.5%, NDP 28.2%, PVIM 17.4%, PU 8%; seats by party - VIP 8, NDP 3, PVIM 1, PU 1; composition as of March 2022 - men 11, women 4, percent of women 26.7% Judicial branch: highest courts: the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - consists of the Court of Appeal - headed by the chief justice and 4 judges - and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal is itinerant, traveling to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; High Court judges reside in the member states, with 3 in the British Virgin Islands judge selection and term of office: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court chief justice appointed by Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62 subordinate courts: Magistrates' Courts Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Party or NDP [Marlon PENN] Progressive Virgin Islands Movement or PVIM [Ronnie SKELTON] Progressives United or PU [Julian FRASER] Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Natalio WHEATLEY] International organization participation: Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS, UNESCO (associate), UPU Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK) Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK) Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful); the islands were named by COLUMBUS in 1493 in honor of Saint Ursula and her 11 virgin followers (some sources say 11,000) who reputedly were martyred by the Huns in the 4th or 5th century; the figure on the banner holding a lamp represents the saint; the other lamps symbolize her followers National symbol(s): zenaida dove, white cedar flower; national colors: yellow, green, red, white, blue National anthem: note: as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)note: as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom) Topic: Economy Economic overview: The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, which generates an estimated 45% of the national income. More than 934,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 2008. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the US dollar as its currency since 1959.   Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements.   In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 2000. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, made the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business.The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, which generates an estimated 45% of the national income. More than 934,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 2008. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the US dollar as its currency since 1959. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 2000. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, made the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $500 million (2017 est.) $490.2 million (2016 est.) $481.1 million (2015 est.) Real GDP growth rate: 2% (2017 est.) 1.9% (2016 est.) 1.8% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $34,200 (2017 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $1.028 billion (2017 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.1% (2017 est.) 1.1% (2016 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0.2% (2017 est.) industry: 6.8% (2017 est.) services: 93.1% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 25.1% (2017 est.) government consumption: 7.5% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 21.7% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 20.4% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 94.7% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -69.4% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish Industries: tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore banking center Industrial production growth rate: 1.1% (2017 est.) Labor force: 12,770 (2004) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 0.6% industry: 40% services: 59.4% (2005) Unemployment rate: 2.9% (2015 est.) Population below poverty line: NA Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 400 million (2017 est.) expenditures: 400 million (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 0% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 38.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March Current account balance: $362.6 million (2011 est.) $279.8 million (2010 est.) Exports: $23 million (2017 est.) $23 million (2015 est.) Exports - partners: Malta 30%, Seychelles 29%, Switzerland 14% (2019) Exports - commodities: recreational boats, aircraft, diamonds, paintings, precious stones (2019) Imports: $300 million (2017 est.) NA $210 million (2016 est.) Imports - partners: Germany 32%, United States 22%, Italy 9%, France 7%, Seychelles 7% (2019) Imports - commodities: recreational boats, aircraft, refined petroleum, cars, furniture (2019) Debt - external: $36.1 million (1997) Exchange rates: the US dollar is usedthe US dollar is used Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 33,000 kW (2020 est.) consumption: 116.298 million kWh (2019 est.) exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 22.5 million kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 98.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 1,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 1,227 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 173,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 173,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 80.136 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 7,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 35,163 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 116 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: the telecom sector has seen a decline in subscriber numbers (particularly for prepaid mobile services the mainstay of short term visitors) and revenue; fixed and mobile broadband services are two areas that have benefited from the crisis as employees and students have resorted to working from home; one major casualty may be the region’s second largest telco operator, Digicel; the company filed for bankruptcy in the US in April 2020; it continues to operate in all of its Caribbean markets as it seeks to refinance billions of dollars of debt; the other major telco, regional incumbent Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), is experiencing similar drops in subscriber numbers and revenue; CWC is expanding and enhancing its fixed and mobile networks in many of the countries it serves around the Caribbean, despite many locations being small islands with very small populations; one area of the telecom market that is not prepared for growth is 5G mobile; governments, regulators, and even the mobile network operators have shown that they have not been investing in 5G opportunities at the present time; network expansion and enhancements remain concentrated around improving LTE coverage. (2021) domestic: fixed-line connections exceed 24 per 100 persons and mobile cellular subscribership is roughly 116 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 1-284; landing points for PCCS, ECFS, CBUS, Deep Blue Cable, East-West, PAN-AM, Americas-1, Southern Caribbean Fiber, Columbus- IIb, St Thomas - St Croix System, Taino-Carib, and Americas I- North via submarine cable to Caribbean, Central and South America, and US (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: 1 private TV station; multi-channel TV is available from cable and satellite subscription services; about a half-dozen private radio stations Internet country code: .vg Internet users: total: 23,585 (2020 est.) percent of population: 78% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 6,738 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VP-L Airports: total: 4 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2021) Roadways: total: 200 km (2007) paved: 200 km (2007) Merchant marine: total: 30 by type: general cargo 3, other 27 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Road Harbor Topic: Military and Security Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: nonenone Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe; large offshore financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering

20220901

countries-taiwan

Topic: Photos of Taiwan Topic: Introduction Background: First inhabited by Austronesian people, Taiwan became home to Han immigrants beginning in the late Ming Dynasty (17th century). In 1895, military defeat forced China's Qing Dynasty to cede Taiwan to Japan, which then governed Taiwan for 50 years. Taiwan came under Chinese Nationalist (Kuomintang, KMT) control after World War II. With the communist victory in the Chinese civil war in 1949, the Nationalist-controlled Republic of China government and 2 million Nationalists fled to Taiwan and continued to claim to be the legitimate government for mainland China and Taiwan based on a 1947 constitution drawn up for all of China. Until 1987, however, the Nationalist Government ruled Taiwan under a civil war martial law declaration dating to 1948. Beginning in the 1970s, Nationalist authorities gradually began to incorporate the native population into the governing structure beyond the local level. The democratization process expanded rapidly in the 1980s, leading to the then illegal founding of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Taiwan’s first opposition party, in 1986 and the lifting of martial law the following year. Taiwan held legislative elections in 1992, the first in over forty years, and its first direct presidential election in 1996. In the 2000 presidential elections, Taiwan underwent its first peaceful transfer of power with the KMT loss to the DPP and afterwards experienced two additional democratic transfers of power in 2008 and 2016. Throughout this period, the island prospered, became one of East Asia's economic "Tigers," and after 2000 became a major investor in mainland China as cross-Strait ties matured. The dominant political issues continue to be economic reform and growth as well as management of sensitive relations between Taiwan and China.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea, Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the Philippines, off the southeastern coast of China Geographic coordinates: 23 30 N, 121 00 E Map references: Southeast Asia Area: total: 35,980 sq km land: 32,260 sq km water: 3,720 sq km note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Kinmen islands Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 1,566.3 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August); persistent and extensive cloudiness all year Terrain: eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rolling plains in west Elevation: highest point: Yu Shan 3,952 m lowest point: South China Sea 0 m mean elevation: 1,150 m Natural resources: small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, asbestos, arable land Land use: agricultural land: 22.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 16.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 5.8% (2018 est.) other: 77.3% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 3,820 sq km (2012) Population distribution: distribution exhibits a peripheral coastal settlement pattern, with the largest populations on the north and west coasts Natural hazards: earthquakes; typhoonsvolcanism: Kueishantao Island (401 m), east of Taiwan, is its only historically active volcano, although it has not erupted in centuriesearthquakes; typhoonsvolcanism: Kueishantao Island (401 m), east of Taiwan, is its only historically active volcano, although it has not erupted in centuries Geography - note: strategic location adjacent to both the Taiwan Strait and the Luzon Strait Map description: Taiwan map showing major cities of this island in the Western Pacific Ocean.Taiwan map showing major cities of this island in the Western Pacific Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 23,580,712 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Taiwan (singular and plural) adjective: Taiwan (or Taiwanese) note: example - he or she is from Taiwan; they are from Taiwan Ethnic groups: Han Chinese (including Holo, who compose approximately 70% of Taiwan's population, Hakka, and other groups originating in mainland China) more than 95%, indigenous Malayo-Polynesian peoples 2.3% note 1: there are 16 officially recognized indigenous groups: Amis, Atayal, Bunun, Hla'alua, Kanakaravu, Kavalan, Paiwan, Puyuma, Rukai, Saisiyat, Sakizaya, Seediq, Thao, Truku, Tsou, and Yami; Amis, Paiwan, and Atayal are the largest and account for roughly 70% of the indigenous population note 2: although not definitive, the majority of current genetic, archeological, and linguistic data support the theory that Taiwan is the ultimate source for the spread of humans across the Pacific to Polynesia; the expansion (ca. 3000 B.C. to A.D. 1200) took place via the Philippines and eastern Indonesia and reached Fiji and Tonga by about 900 B.C.; from there voyagers spread across the rest of the Pacific islands over the next two millennia Languages: Mandarin (official), Taiwanese (Min Nan), Hakka dialects, approximately 16 indigenous languages major-language sample(s): 世界概況  –  不可缺少的基本消息來源 (Mandarin) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Buddhist 35.3%, Taoist 33.2%, Christian 3.9%, folk religion (includes Confucian) approximately 10%, none or unspecified 18.2% (2005 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 12.42% (male 1,504,704/female 1,426,494) 15-24 years: 11.62% (male 1,403,117/female 1,339,535) 25-54 years: 45.51% (male 5,351,951/female 5,389,112) 55-64 years: 14.73% (male 1,698,555/female 1,778,529) 65 years and over: 15.72% (2020 est.) (male 1,681,476/female 2,029,576) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 40 youth dependency ratio: 17.8 elderly dependency ratio: 22.2 potential support ratio: 4.5 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 42.3 years male: 41.5 years female: 43.1 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.04% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 7.39 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 7.89 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 0.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: distribution exhibits a peripheral coastal settlement pattern, with the largest populations on the north and west coasts Urbanization: urban population: 79.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.65% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 4.471 million New Taipei City, 2.742 million TAIPEI (capital), 2.296 million Taoyuan, 1.547 million Kaohsiung, 1.354 million Taichung, 863,000 Tainan (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 3.97 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.29 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 81.16 years male: 78.17 years female: 84.34 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.08 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA Current Health Expenditure: NA Physicians density: NA Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: NA Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.5% male: 99.7% female: 97.3% (2014) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in endangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal Climate: tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August); persistent and extensive cloudiness all year Land use: agricultural land: 22.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 16.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 5.8% (2018 est.) other: 77.3% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 79.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.65% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 7.336 million tons (2015 est.) Total renewable water resources: 67 cubic meters (2011) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Taiwan local long form: none local short form: Taiwan former: Formosa etymology: "Tayowan" was the name of the coastal sandbank where the Dutch erected their colonial headquarters on the island in the 17th century; the former name "Formosa" means "beautiful" in Portuguese Government type: semi-presidential republic Capital: name: Taipei geographic coordinates: 25 02 N, 121 31 E time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the Chinese meaning is "Northern Taiwan," reflecting the city's position in the far north of the island Administrative divisions: includes main island of Taiwan plus smaller islands nearby and off coast of China's Fujian Province; Taiwan is divided into 13 counties (xian, singular and plural), 3 cities (shi, singular and plural), and 6 special municipalities directly under the jurisdiction of the Executive Yuan counties: Changhua, Chiayi, Hsinchu, Hualien, Kinmen, Lienchiang, Miaoli, Nantou, Penghu, Pingtung, Taitung, Yilan, Yunlin cities: Chiayi, Hsinchu, Keelung special municipalities: Kaohsiung (city), New Taipei (city), Taichung (city), Tainan (city), Taipei (city), Taoyuan (city) note: Taiwan uses a variety of romanization systems; while a modified Wade-Giles system still dominates, the city of Taipei has adopted a Pinyin romanization for street and place names within its boundaries; other local authorities use different romanization systemsincludes main island of Taiwan plus smaller islands nearby and off coast of China's Fujian Province; Taiwan is divided into 13 counties (xian, singular and plural), 3 cities (shi, singular and plural), and 6 special municipalities directly under the jurisdiction of the Executive Yuancounties: Changhua, Chiayi, Hsinchu, Hualien, Kinmen, Lienchiang, Miaoli, Nantou, Penghu, Pingtung, Taitung, Yilan, Yunlincities: Chiayi, Hsinchu, Keelungspecial municipalities: Kaohsiung (city), New Taipei (city), Taichung (city), Tainan (city), Taipei (city), Taoyuan (city) National holiday: Republic Day (National Day), 10 October (1911); note - celebrates the anniversary of the Chinese Revolution, also known as Double Ten (10-10) Day Constitution: history: previous 1912, 1931; latest adopted 25 December 1946, promulgated 1 January 1947, effective 25 December 1947 amendments: proposed by at least one fourth of the Legislative Yuan membership; passage requires approval by at least three-fourths majority vote of at least three fourths of the Legislative Yuan membership and approval in a referendum by more than half of eligible voters; revised several times, last in 2005 Legal system: civil law system International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Taiwan dual citizenship recognized: yes, except that citizens of Taiwan are not recognized as dual citizens of the People's Republic of China residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal; note - in March 2022, the Legislative Yuan approved lowering the voting age to 18, but the change will require a constitutional amendment that must be submitted to a referendum Executive branch: chief of state: President TSAI Ing-wen (since 20 May 2016); Vice President LAI Ching-te (since 20 May 2020) head of government: Premier SU Tseng-chang (President of the Executive Yuan) (since 11 January 2019); Vice Premier SHEN Jong-chin (Vice President of the Executive Yuan) (since 19 June 2020) cabinet: Executive Yuan - ministers appointed by president on recommendation of premier elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 January 2020 (next to be held on 11 January 2024); premier appointed by the president; vice premiers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the premier election results: 2020: TSAI Ing-wen elected president; percent of vote - TSAI Ing-wen (DPP) 57.1%, HAN Kuo-yu (KMT) 38.6%, James SOONG (PFP) 4.2%; note - TSAI is the first woman elected president of Taiwan 2016: TSAI Ing-wen elected president; percent of vote - TSAI Ing-wen (DPP) 56.1%, Eric CHU (KMT) 31%, James SOONG (PFP) 12.8% Legislative branch: description: unicameral Legislative Yuan (113 seats; 73 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 34 directly elected in a single island-wide constituency by proportional representation vote, and 6 directly elected in multi-seat aboriginal constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 11 January 2020 (next to be held on 11 January 2024) election results: percent of vote by party - Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) 34.0%, Kuomintang (KMT) 33.4%, Taiwan People's Party (TPP) 11.2%, New Power Party (NPP) 7.5%; seats by party - DPP 61, KMT 38, TPP 5, NPP 3 Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and approximately 100 judges organized into 8 civil and 12 criminal divisions, each with a division chief justice and 4 associate justices); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 13 justices) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court justices appointed by the president; Constitutional Court justices appointed by the president, with approval of the Legislative Yuan; Supreme Court justices serve for life; Constitutional Court justices appointed for 8-year terms, with half the membership renewed every 4 years subordinate courts: high courts; district courts; hierarchy of administrative courts Political parties and leaders: Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [TSAI Ing-wen] Kuomintang or KMT (Nationalist Party) [CHU Chi-luan, aka Eric CHU] Taiwan People's Party or TPP [KO Wen-je] New Power Party or NPP [KAO Yu-ting] Taiwan Statebuilding Party or TSP [CHEN Yi-chi] People First Party or PFP [James SOONG] (2021) note - the DPP and the KMT are the two major political parties; there are hundreds of registered minor parties International organization participation: ADB (Taipei, China), APEC (Chinese Taipei), BCIE, IOC, ITUC (NGOs), SICA (observer), WTO (Taipei, China); note - separate customs territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: none; commercial and cultural relations with its citizens in the US are maintained through an unofficial instrumentality, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO), a private nonprofit corporation that performs citizen and consular services similar to those at diplomatic posts, represented by HSIAO Bi-khim (since 20 July 2020); office: 4201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016; telephone: [1] (202) 895-1800 Taipei Economic and Cultural Offices (branch offices): Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver (CO), Houston, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Seattle Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: the US does not have an embassy in Taiwan; commercial and cultural relations with the people of Taiwan are maintained through an unofficial instrumentality, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), a private nonprofit corporation that performs citizen and consular services similar to those at diplomatic posts; it is managed by Director Sandra OUDKIRK (since July 2021) mailing address: 4170 AIT Taipei Place, Washington DC  20521-4170 telephone: [886] 2-2162-2000 FAX: [886] 2-2162-2251 email address and website: TaipeiACS@state.gov https://www.ait.org.tw/ branch office(s): American Institute in Taiwan No. 100, Jinhu Road, Neihu District 11461, Taipei City other offices: Kaohsiung (Branch Office) Flag description: red field with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays; the blue and white design of the canton (symbolizing the sun of progress) dates to 1895; it was later adopted as the flag of the Kuomintang Party; blue signifies liberty, justice, and democracy, red stands for fraternity, sacrifice, and nationalism, and white represents equality, frankness, and the people's livelihood; the 12 rays of the sun are those of the months and the twelve traditional Chinese hours (each ray equals two hours) note: similar to the flag of Samoa National symbol(s): white, 12-rayed sun on blue field; national colors: blue, white, red National anthem: name: "Zhonghua Minguo guoge" (National Anthem of the Republic of China) lyrics/music: HU Han-min, TAI Chi-t'ao, and LIAO Chung-k'ai/CHENG Mao-yun note: adopted 1930; also the song of the Kuomintang Party; it is informally known as "San Min Chu I" or "San Min Zhu Yi" (Three Principles of the People); because of political pressure from China, "Guo Qi Ge" (National Banner Song) is used at international events rather than the official anthem of Taiwan; the "National Banner Song" has gained popularity in Taiwan and is commonly used during flag raisings Topic: Economy Economic overview: Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy that is driven largely by industrial manufacturing, and especially exports of electronics, machinery, and petrochemicals. This heavy dependence on exports exposes the economy to fluctuations in global demand. Taiwan's diplomatic isolation, low birth rate, rapidly aging population, and increasing competition from China and other Asia Pacific markets are other major long-term challenges.   Following the landmark Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) signed with China in June 2010, Taiwan in July 2013 signed a free trade deal with New Zealand - Taipei’s first-ever with a country with which it does not maintain diplomatic relations - and, in November of that year, inked a trade pact with Singapore. However, follow-on components of the ECFA, including a signed agreement on trade in services and negotiations on trade in goods and dispute resolution, have stalled. In early 2014, the government bowed to public demand and proposed a new law governing the oversight of cross-Strait agreements, before any additional deals with China are implemented; the legislature has yet to vote on such legislation, leaving the future of ECFA uncertain. President TSAI since taking office in May 2016 has promoted greater economic integration with South and Southeast Asia through the New Southbound Policy initiative and has also expressed interest in Taiwan joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership as well as bilateral trade deals with partners such as the US. These overtures have likely played a role in increasing Taiwan’s total exports, which rose 11% during the first half of 2017, buoyed by strong demand for semiconductors.   Taiwan's total fertility rate of just over one child per woman is among the lowest in the world, raising the prospect of future labor shortages, falling domestic demand, and declining tax revenues. Taiwan's population is aging quickly, with the number of people over 65 expected to account for nearly 20% of the island's total population by 2025.   The island runs a trade surplus with many economies, including China and the US, and its foreign reserves are the world's fifth largest, behind those of China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland. In 2006, China overtook the US to become Taiwan's second-largest source of imports after Japan. China is also the island's number one destination for foreign direct investment. Taiwan since 2009 has gradually loosened rules governing Chinese investment and has also secured greater market access for its investors on the mainland. In August 2012, the Taiwan Central Bank signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cross-Strait currency settlement with its Chinese counterpart. The MOU allows for the direct settlement of Chinese renminbi (RMB) and the New Taiwan dollar across the Strait, which has helped Taiwan develop into a local RMB hub.   Closer economic links with the mainland bring opportunities for Taiwan’s economy but also pose challenges as political differences remain unresolved and China’s economic growth is slowing. President TSAI’s administration has made little progress on the domestic economic issues that loomed large when she was elected, including concerns about stagnant wages, high housing prices, youth unemployment, job security, and financial security in retirement. TSAI has made more progress on boosting trade with South and Southeast Asia, which may help insulate Taiwan’s economy from a fall in mainland demand should China’s growth slow in 2018.Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy that is driven largely by industrial manufacturing, and especially exports of electronics, machinery, and petrochemicals. This heavy dependence on exports exposes the economy to fluctuations in global demand. Taiwan's diplomatic isolation, low birth rate, rapidly aging population, and increasing competition from China and other Asia Pacific markets are other major long-term challenges. Following the landmark Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) signed with China in June 2010, Taiwan in July 2013 signed a free trade deal with New Zealand - Taipei’s first-ever with a country with which it does not maintain diplomatic relations - and, in November of that year, inked a trade pact with Singapore. However, follow-on components of the ECFA, including a signed agreement on trade in services and negotiations on trade in goods and dispute resolution, have stalled. In early 2014, the government bowed to public demand and proposed a new law governing the oversight of cross-Strait agreements, before any additional deals with China are implemented; the legislature has yet to vote on such legislation, leaving the future of ECFA uncertain. President TSAI since taking office in May 2016 has promoted greater economic integration with South and Southeast Asia through the New Southbound Policy initiative and has also expressed interest in Taiwan joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership as well as bilateral trade deals with partners such as the US. These overtures have likely played a role in increasing Taiwan’s total exports, which rose 11% during the first half of 2017, buoyed by strong demand for semiconductors. Taiwan's total fertility rate of just over one child per woman is among the lowest in the world, raising the prospect of future labor shortages, falling domestic demand, and declining tax revenues. Taiwan's population is aging quickly, with the number of people over 65 expected to account for nearly 20% of the island's total population by 2025. The island runs a trade surplus with many economies, including China and the US, and its foreign reserves are the world's fifth largest, behind those of China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland. In 2006, China overtook the US to become Taiwan's second-largest source of imports after Japan. China is also the island's number one destination for foreign direct investment. Taiwan since 2009 has gradually loosened rules governing Chinese investment and has also secured greater market access for its investors on the mainland. In August 2012, the Taiwan Central Bank signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cross-Strait currency settlement with its Chinese counterpart. The MOU allows for the direct settlement of Chinese renminbi (RMB) and the New Taiwan dollar across the Strait, which has helped Taiwan develop into a local RMB hub. Closer economic links with the mainland bring opportunities for Taiwan’s economy but also pose challenges as political differences remain unresolved and China’s economic growth is slowing. President TSAI’s administration has made little progress on the domestic economic issues that loomed large when she was elected, including concerns about stagnant wages, high housing prices, youth unemployment, job security, and financial security in retirement. TSAI has made more progress on boosting trade with South and Southeast Asia, which may help insulate Taiwan’s economy from a fall in mainland demand should China’s growth slow in 2018. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $1,143,277,000,000 (2019 est.) $1,113,126,000,000 (2018 est.) $1,083,384,000,000 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 2.71% (2019 est.) 2.75% (2018 est.) 3.31% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $24,502 (2018 est.) $50,500 (2017 est.) $23,865 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $611.391 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.5% (2019 est.) 1.3% (2018 est.) 0.6% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: AA- (2016) Moody's rating: Aa3 (1994) Standard & Poors rating: AA- (2002) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 1.8% (2017 est.) industry: 36% (2017 est.) services: 62.1% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 53% (2017 est.) government consumption: 14.1% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 20.5% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: -0.2% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 65.2% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -52.6% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: rice, vegetables, pork, cabbages, poultry, sugar cane, milk, eggs, pineapples, tropical fruit Industries: electronics, communications and information technology products, petroleum refining, chemicals, textiles, iron and steel, machinery, cement, food processing, vehicles, consumer products, pharmaceuticals Industrial production growth rate: 3.9% (2017 est.) Labor force: 11.498 million (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 4.9% industry: 35.9% services: 59.2% (2016 est.) Unemployment rate: 3.73% (2019 est.) 3.69% (2018 est.) Population below poverty line: 1.5% (2012 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 33.6 (2014) 32.6 (2000) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 6.4% (2010) highest 10%: 40.3% (2010) Budget: revenues: 91.62 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 92.03 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -0.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 35.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 36.2% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data for central government Taxes and other revenues: 16% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: $65.173 billion (2019 est.) $70.843 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $388.49 billion (2019 est.) $383.484 billion (2018 est.) $382.736 billion (2017 est.) Exports - partners: China 26%, United States 14%, Hong Kong 12%, Japan 7%, Singapore 7%, South Korea 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: integrated circuits, office machinery/parts, computers, refined petroleum, liquid crystal displays (2019) Imports: $308.744 billion (2019 est.) $305.428 billion (2018 est.) $303.067 billion (2017 est.) Imports - partners: China 21%, Japan 16%, United States 11%, South Korea 6% (2019) Imports - commodities: integrated circuits, crude petroleum, photography equipment, natural gas, refined petroleum (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $456.7 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $439 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $189.684 billion (2019 est.) $196.276 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: New Taiwan dollars (TWD) per US dollar - 28.211 (2020 est.) 30.472 (2019 est.) 30.8395 (2018 est.) 31.911 (2014 est.) 30.363 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity: installed generating capacity: 57.738 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 269,570,325,000 kWh (2020 est.) exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 9.484 billion kWh (2020 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 82.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 11.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 2.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 2.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 5.955 million metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 67.985 million metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 118,000 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 63.523 million metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 1 million metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 800 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 998,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 886,200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 2.4 million barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 924,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 349,600 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 418,300 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 150.589 million cubic meters (2019 est.) consumption: 22,002,493,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 22,172,507,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) proven reserves: 6.23 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 279.206 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 141.445 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 92.207 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 45.554 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 160.669 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 12,971,900 (2019 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 55 (2019 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 29,291,500 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 123.21 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Taiwan has a highly developed telecoms sector in both the fixed-line and mobile segments; in part this is due to the country’s early moves to liberalize the market, allowing vigorous competition to flourish; the government has also made concerted efforts to take advantage of Taiwan’s strengths in the development of high-tech, export-oriented industries to encourage and enable the rapid adoption of advanced telecom platforms, while simultaneously leveraging the same telecoms infrastructure to push even further ahead with the country's industrial development plans; Taiwan has one of the highest teledensities in the region; while fixed-line subscriber numbers are trending downwards, the rate of decline has been slowed by the major fixed-line provider (Chunghwa Telecom) investing strongly in building out a widespread fiber network to allow customers to maintain a terrestrial voice connection as part of a fixed broadband package; fiber is the dominant platform in Taiwan’s fixed broadband market; cable services have retained an unusually strong following thanks to the success of cable providers in delivering competitive cable TV and telephony services as a way to get around Chunghwa Telecom’s control of the last mile for its copper and fiber networks; Taiwan also has high penetration rates in its mobile and mobile broadband segments, growth in both markets is almost at a standstill because the country reached 100% penetration very early on – way back when GSM was first introduced, in mobile’s case; the MNOs moved quickly to roll out 4G and 5G networks and services in rapid succession, but subscriber numbers (and market share) has barely changed; the improved quality and performance available with the new platforms will drive increased usage and ARPU; fierce competition following the launch of 4G saw the opposite happen, with price wars causing telco revenues to fall instead; it is possible that the same problem can be avoided with 5G, since the three smaller operators have recently been absorbed into the major providers Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, and Far EasTone; allowing Taiwan to reach the target of 50% of subscribers on 5G by mid-2023. (2022) domestic: fixed-line over 53 per 100 and mobile-cellular roughly 123 per 100 (2020) international: country code - 886; landing points for the EAC-C2C, APCN-2, FASTER, SJC2, TSE-1, TPE, APG, SeaMeWe-3, FLAG North Asia Loop/REACH North Asia Loop, HKA, NCP, and PLCN submarine fiber cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: 5 nationwide television networks operating roughly 22 TV stations; more than 300 satellite TV channels are available; about 60% of households utilize multi-channel cable TV; 99.9% of households subscribe to digital cable TV; national and regional radio networks with about 171 radio stations (2019) Internet country code: .tw Internet users: total: 21,158,750 (2019 est.) percent of population: 89% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 5,831,470 (2019 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2019 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 7 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 216 Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: B Airports: total: 37 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 35 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 2 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Heliports: 31 (2021) Pipelines: 25 km condensate, 2,200 km gas, 13,500 km oil (2018) Railways: total: 1,613.1 km (2018) standard gauge: 345 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge (345 km electrified) narrow gauge: 1,118.1 km (2018) 1.067-m gauge (793.9 km electrified) 150 0.762-m gauge note: the 0.762-gauge track belongs to three entities: the Forestry Bureau, Taiwan Cement, and TaiPower Roadways: total: 43,206 km (2017) paved: 42,793 km (2017) (includes 1,348 km of highways and 737 km of expressways) unpaved: 413 km (2017) Merchant marine: total: 429 by type: bulk carrier 37, container ship 49, general cargo 57, oil tanker 33, other 253 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Keelung (Chi-lung), Kaohsiung, Hualian, Taichung container port(s) (TEUs): Kaohsiung (10,428,634), Taichung (1,793,966), Taipei (1,620,392) (2019) LNG terminal(s) (import): Yung An (Kaohsiung), Taichung Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Taiwan Armed Forces: Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force; Taiwan Coast Guard Administration (a law enforcement organization with homeland security functions during peacetime and national defense missions during wartime) (2022) Military expenditures: 2.1% of GDP (2021 est.) 2.1% of GDP (2020) 1.8% of GDP (2019) (approximately $23.6 billion) 1.7% of GDP (2018) (approximately $21.9 billion) 1.8% of GDP (2017) (approximately $22.1 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 170,000 active duty troops (90,000 Army; 40,000 Navy, including approximately 10,000 marines; 40,000 Air Force) (2022) note: Taiwan trains about 120,000 reservists annually, but in 2022 announced intentions to increase that figure to 260,000 Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Taiwan military is armed mostly with second-hand weapons and equipment provided by the US; since 2010, the US continued to be the largest provider of arms; Taiwan also has a domestic defense industry capable of building and upgrading a range of weapons systems, including surface naval craft and submarines (2021) Military service age and obligation: starting with those born in 1994, males 18-36 years of age may volunteer for military service or must complete 4 months of compulsory military training (5 weeks of basic training followed by 11 weeks of specialized training with field units); civil service can be substituted for military service in some cases; men born before December 1993 are required to complete compulsory service for 1 year (military or civil); men are subject to training recalls up to four times for periods not to exceed 20 days for 8 years after discharge; women may enlist, but are restricted to noncombat roles in most cases; as part of its transition to an all-volunteer military in December 2018, the last cohort of one-year military conscripts completed their service obligations (2022) note: as of 2021, women made up about 15% of the active duty military Military - note: the US Taiwan Relations Act of April 1979 states that the US shall provide Taiwan with arms of a defensive character and shall maintain the capacity of the US to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or social or economic system, of the people of Taiwan (2022) Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Taiwan-Brunei-China-Malaysia-Philippines-Vietnam: involved in complex dispute over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea that are thought to have large oil and natural gas reserves, as well as being located amidst prime fishing grounds and busy commercial shipping traffic; the Spratly Islands also are in a strategic position for establishing a military presence to monitor activity in the South China Sea; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants Taiwan-China-Philippines: border dispute over the Scarborough Reef in the South China Sea; Scarborough Reef, like the Spratly Islands, is strategically located and is surrounded by abundant fishing grounds; it may also be ripe for oil and natural gas exploration Taiwan-China-Vietnam: the Paracel Islands are occupied by China but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam Taiwan-Japan-China: in 2003, China and Taiwan became more vocal in rejecting both Japan's claims to the uninhabited islands of the Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and Japan's unilaterally declared exclusive economic zone in the East China Sea where all parties engage in hydrocarbon prospecting; Senkaku-shoto is situated near key shipping lanes, rich fishing grounds, and possibly significant oil and natural gas reservesTaiwan-Brunei-China-Malaysia-Philippines-Vietnam: involved in complex dispute over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea that are thought to have large oil and natural gas reserves, as well as being located amidst prime fishing grounds and busy commercial shipping traffic; the Spratly Islands also are in a strategic position for establishing a military presence to monitor activity in the South China Sea; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputantsTaiwan-China-Philippines: border dispute over the Scarborough Reef in the South China Sea; Scarborough Reef, like the Spratly Islands, is strategically located and is surrounded by abundant fishing grounds; it may also be ripe for oil and natural gas explorationTaiwan-China-Vietnam: the Paracel Islands are occupied by China but claimed by Taiwan and VietnamTaiwan-Japan-China: in 2003, China and Taiwan became more vocal in rejecting both Japan's claims to the uninhabited islands of the Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and Japan's unilaterally declared exclusive economic zone in the East China Sea where all parties engage in hydrocarbon prospecting; Senkaku-shoto is situated near key shipping lanes, rich fishing grounds, and possibly significant oil and natural gas reserves Illicit drugs: major source of precursor chemicals used in the production of illicit narcoticsmajor source of precursor chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics

20220901

field-unemployment-rate-country-comparison

20220901

field-country-name

This entry includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation (if applicable). Additionally, an etymology entry explains how the country acquired its name.  Also see the Terminology note. Topic: Afghanistanconventional long form: formerly Islamic Republic of Afghanistan conventional short form: Afghanistan local long form: formerly Jamhuri-ye Islami-ye Afghanistan local short form: Afghanistan former: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan etymology: the name "Afghan" originally referred to the Pashtun people (today it is understood to include all the country's ethnic groups), while the suffix "-stan" means "place of" or "country"; so Afghanistan literally means the "Land of the Afghans" Topic: Akrotiriconventional long form: none conventional short form: Akrotiri etymology: named for the village that lies within the Western Sovereign Base Area on Cyprus Topic: Albaniaconventional long form: Republic of Albania conventional short form: Albania local long form: Republika e Shqiperise local short form: Shqiperia former: People's Socialist Republic of Albania etymology: the English-language country name seems to be derived from the ancient Illyrian tribe of the Albani; the native name "Shqiperia" is derived from the Albanian word "Shqiponje" ("Eagle") and is popularly interpreted to mean "Land of the Eagles" Topic: Algeriaconventional long form: People's Democratic Republic of Algeria conventional short form: Algeria local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash Sha'biyah local short form: Al Jaza'ir etymology: the country name derives from the capital city of Algiers Topic: American Samoaconventional long form: American Samoa conventional short form: American Samoa former: Eastern Samoa abbreviation: AS etymology: the meaning of Samoa is disputed; some modern explanations are that the "sa" connotes  "sacred" and "moa" indicates "center," so the name can mean "Holy Center"; alternatively, some assertions state that it can mean "place of the sacred moa bird" of Polynesian mythology; the name, however, may go back to Proto-Polynesian (PPn) times (before 1000 B.C.); a plausible PPn reconstruction has the first syllable as "sa'a" meaning "tribe or people" and "moa" meaning "deep sea or ocean" to convey the meaning "people of the deep sea" Topic: Andorraconventional long form: Principality of Andorra conventional short form: Andorra local long form: Principat d'Andorra local short form: Andorra etymology: the origin of the country's name is obscure; the name may derive from the Arabic "ad-darra" meaning "the forest," a reference to its location as part of the Spanish March (defensive buffer zone) against the invading Moors in the 8th century; an alternate explanation is that the name originates from a Navarrese word "andurrial" meaning "shrub-covered land" Topic: Angolaconventional long form: Republic of Angola conventional short form: Angola local long form: Republica de Angola local short form: Angola former: People's Republic of Angola etymology: name derived by the Portuguese from the title "ngola" held by kings of the Ndongo (Ndongo was a kingdom in what is now northern Angola) Topic: Anguillaconventional long form: none conventional short form: Anguilla etymology: the name Anguilla means "eel" in various Romance languages (Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French) and likely derives from the island's lengthy shape Topic: Antarcticaconventional long form: none conventional short form: Antarctica etymology: name derived from two Greek words meaning "opposite to the Arctic" or "opposite to the north" Topic: Antigua and Barbudaconventional long form: none conventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda etymology: "antiguo" is Spanish for "ancient" or "old"; the island was discovered by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 and, according to tradition, named by him after the church of Santa Maria la Antigua (Old Saint Mary's) in Seville; "barbuda" is Spanish for "bearded" and the adjective may refer to the alleged beards of the indigenous people or to the island's bearded fig trees Topic: Arctic Oceanetymology: the name Arctic comes from the Greek word "arktikos" meaning "near the bear" or "northern," and that word derives from "arktos," meaning "bear"; the name refers either to the constellation Ursa Major, the "Great Bear," which is prominent in the northern celestial sphere, or to the constellation Ursa Minor, the "Little Bear," which contains Polaris, the North (Pole) Star Topic: Argentinaconventional long form: Argentine Republic conventional short form: Argentina local long form: Republica Argentina local short form: Argentina etymology: originally the area was referred to as Tierra Argentina, i.e., "Land beside the Silvery River" or "silvery land," which referred to the massive estuary in the east of the country, the Rio de la Plata (River of Silver); over time the name shortened to simply Argentina or "silvery" Topic: Armeniaconventional long form: Republic of Armenia conventional short form: Armenia local long form: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun local short form: Hayastan former: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, Armenian Republic etymology: the etymology of the country's name remains obscure; according to tradition, the country is named after Hayk, the legendary patriarch of the Armenians and the great-great-grandson of Noah; Hayk's descendant, Aram, purportedly is the source of the name Armenia Topic: Arubaconventional long form: Country of Aruba conventional short form: Aruba local long form: Land Aruba (Dutch); Pais Aruba (Papiamento) local short form: Aruba etymology: the origin of the island's name is unclear; according to tradition, the name comes from the Spanish phrase "oro huba" (there was gold), but in fact no gold was ever found on the island; another possibility is the native word "oruba," which means "well-situated" Topic: Ashmore and Cartier Islandsconventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands etymology: named after British Captain Samuel ASHMORE, who first sighted his namesake island in 1811, and after the ship Cartier, from which the second island was discovered in 1800 Topic: Atlantic Oceanetymology: name derives from the Greek description of the waters beyond the Strait of Gibraltar, Atlantis thalassa, meaning "Sea of Atlas" Topic: Australiaconventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia conventional short form: Australia etymology: the name Australia derives from the Latin "australis" meaning "southern"; the Australian landmass was long referred to as "Terra Australis" or the Southern Land Topic: Austriaconventional long form: Republic of Austria conventional short form: Austria local long form: Republik Oesterreich local short form: Oesterreich etymology: the name Oesterreich means "eastern realm" or "eastern march" and dates to the 10th century; the designation refers to the fact that Austria was the easternmost extension of Bavaria, and, in fact, of all the Germans; the word Austria is a Latinization of the German name Topic: Azerbaijanconventional long form: Republic of Azerbaijan conventional short form: Azerbaijan local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi local short form: Azarbaycan former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic etymology: the name translates as "Land of Fire" and refers to naturally occurring surface fires on ancient oil pools or from natural gas discharges Topic: Bahamas, Theconventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamas conventional short form: The Bahamas etymology: name derives from the Spanish "baha mar," meaning "shallow sea," which describes the shallow waters of the Bahama Banks Topic: Bahrainconventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain conventional short form: Bahrain local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn local short form: Al Bahrayn former: Dilmun, Tylos, Awal, Mishmahig, Bahrayn, State of Bahrain etymology: the name means "the two seas" in Arabic and refers to the water bodies surrounding the archipelago Topic: Bangladeshconventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh conventional short form: Bangladesh local long form: Gana Prajatantri Bangladesh local short form: Bangladesh former: East Bengal, East Pakistan etymology: the name - a compound of the Bengali words "Bangla" (Bengal) and "desh" (country) - means "Country of Bengal" Topic: Barbadosconventional long form: none conventional short form: Barbados etymology: the name derives from the Portuguese "as barbadas," which means "the bearded ones" and can refer either to the long, hanging roots of the island's bearded fig trees or to the alleged beards of the native Carib inhabitants Topic: Belarusconventional long form: Republic of Belarus conventional short form: Belarus local long form: Respublika Byelarus' (Belarusian)/ Respublika Belarus' (Russian) local short form: Byelarus' (Belarusian)/ Belarus' (Russian) former: Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic etymology: the name is a compound of the Belarusian words "bel" (white) and "Rus" (the Old East Slavic ethnic designation) to form the meaning White Rusian or White Ruthenian Topic: Belgiumconventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium conventional short form: Belgium local long form: Royaume de Belgique (French)/Koninkrijk Belgie (Dutch)/Koenigreich Belgien (German) local short form: Belgique/Belgie/Belgien etymology: the name derives from the Belgae, an ancient Celtic tribal confederation that inhabited an area between the English Channel and the west bank of the Rhine in the first centuries B.C. Topic: Belizeconventional long form: none conventional short form: Belize former: British Honduras etymology: may be named for the Belize River, whose name possibly derives from the Maya word "belix," meaning "muddy-watered" Topic: Beninconventional long form: Republic of Benin conventional short form: Benin local long form: Republique du Benin local short form: Benin former: Dahomey, People's Republic of Benin etymology: named for the Bight of Benin, the body of water on which the country lies Topic: Bermudaconventional long form: none conventional short form: Bermuda former: Somers Islands etymology: the islands making up Bermuda are named after Juan de BERMUDEZ, an early 16th century Spanish sea captain and the first European explorer of the archipelago Topic: Bhutanconventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan conventional short form: Bhutan local long form: Druk Gyalkhap local short form: Druk Yul etymology: named after the Bhotia, the ethnic Tibetans who migrated from Tibet to Bhutan; "Bod" is the Tibetan name for their land; the Bhutanese name "Druk Yul" means "Land of the Thunder Dragon" Topic: Boliviaconventional long form: Plurinational State of Bolivia conventional short form: Bolivia local long form: Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia local short form: Bolivia etymology: the country is named after Simon BOLIVAR, a 19th-century leader in the South American wars for independence Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinaconventional long form: none conventional short form: Bosnia and Herzegovina local long form: none local short form: Bosna i Hercegovina former: People's Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina abbreviation: BiH etymology: the larger northern territory is named for the Bosna River; the smaller southern section takes its name from the German word "herzog," meaning "duke," and the ending "-ovina," meaning "land," forming the combination denoting "dukedom" Topic: Botswanaconventional long form: Republic of Botswana conventional short form: Botswana local long form: Republic of Botswana local short form: Botswana former: Bechuanaland etymology: the name Botswana means "Land of the Tswana" - referring to the country's major ethnic group Topic: Bouvet Islandconventional long form: none conventional short form: Bouvet Island etymology: named after the French naval officer Jean-Baptiste Charles BOUVET who discovered the island in 1739 note: pronounced boo-vay i-land Topic: Brazilconventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazil conventional short form: Brazil local long form: Republica Federativa do Brasil local short form: Brasil etymology: the country name derives from the brazilwood tree that used to grow plentifully along the coast of Brazil and that was used to produce a deep red dye Topic: British Indian Ocean Territoryconventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory conventional short form: none abbreviation: BIOT etymology: self-descriptive name specifying the territory's affiliation and location Topic: British Virgin Islandsconventional long form: none conventional short form: British Virgin Islands abbreviation: BVI etymology: the myriad islets, cays, and rocks surrounding the major islands reminded explorer Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 of Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgin followers (Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Virgenes), which over time shortened to the Virgins (las Virgenes) Topic: Bruneiconventional long form: Brunei Darussalam conventional short form: Brunei local long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam local short form: Brunei etymology: derivation of the name is unclear; according to legend, MUHAMMAD SHAH, who would become the first sultan of Brunei, upon discovering what would become Brunei exclaimed "Baru nah," which roughly translates as "there" or "that's it" Topic: Bulgariaconventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria conventional short form: Bulgaria local long form: Republika Bulgaria local short form: Bulgaria former: Kingdom of Bulgaria, People's Republic of Bulgaria etymology: named after the Bulgar tribes who settled the lower Balkan region in the 7th century A.D. Topic: Burkina Fasoconventional long form: none conventional short form: Burkina Faso local long form: none local short form: Burkina Faso former: Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta etymology: name translates as "Land of the Honest (Incorruptible) Men" Topic: Burmaconventional long form: Union of Burma conventional short form: Burma local long form: Pyidaungzu Thammada Myanma Naingngandaw (translated as the Republic of the Union of Myanmar) local short form: Myanma Naingngandaw former: Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma, Union of Myanmar etymology: both "Burma" and "Myanmar" derive from the name of the majority Burman (Bamar) ethnic group note: since 1989 the military authorities in Burma and the deposed parliamentary government have promoted the name Myanmar as a conventional name for their state; the US Government has not officially adopted the name Topic: Burundiconventional long form: Republic of Burundi conventional short form: Burundi local long form: Republique du Burundi (French)/ Republika y'u Burundi (Kirundi) local short form: Burundi former: Urundi, German East Africa, Ruanda-Urundi, Kingdom of Burundi etymology: name derived from the pre-colonial Kingdom of Burundi (17th-19th century) Topic: Cabo Verdeconventional long form: Republic of Cabo Verde conventional short form: Cabo Verde local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde local short form: Cabo Verde etymology: the name derives from Cap-Vert (Green Cape) on the Senegalese coast, the westernmost point of Africa and the nearest mainland to the islands Topic: Cambodiaconventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodia conventional short form: Cambodia local long form: Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea (phonetic transliteration) local short form: Kampuchea former: Khmer Republic, Democratic Kampuchea, People's Republic of Kampuchea, State of Cambodia etymology: the English name Cambodia is an anglicization of the French Cambodge, which is the French transliteration of the native name Kampuchea Topic: Cameroonconventional long form: Republic of Cameroon conventional short form: Cameroon local long form: Republique du Cameroun (French)/Republic of Cameroon (English) local short form: Cameroun/Cameroon former: Kamerun, French Cameroon, British Cameroon, Federal Republic of Cameroon, United Republic of Cameroon etymology: in the 15th century, Portuguese explorers named the area near the mouth of the Wouri River the Rio dos Camaroes (River of Prawns) after the abundant shrimp in the water; over time the designation became Cameroon in English; this is the only instance where a country is named after a crustacean Topic: Canadaconventional long form: none conventional short form: Canada etymology: the country name likely derives from the St. Lawrence Iroquoian word "kanata" meaning village or settlement Topic: Cayman Islandsconventional long form: none conventional short form: Cayman Islands etymology: the islands' name comes from the native Carib word "caiman," describing the marine crocodiles living there Topic: Central African Republicconventional long form: Central African Republic conventional short form: none local long form: Republique Centrafricaine local short form: none former: Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire abbreviation: CAR etymology: self-descriptive name specifying the country's location on the continent; "Africa" is derived from the Roman designation of the area corresponding to present-day Tunisia "Africa terra," which meant "Land of the Afri" (the tribe resident in that area), but which eventually came to mean the entire continent Topic: Chadconventional long form: Republic of Chad conventional short form: Chad local long form: Republique du Tchad/Jumhuriyat Tshad local short form: Tchad/Tshad etymology: named for Lake Chad, which lies along the country's western border; the word "tsade" means "large body of water" or "lake" in several local native languages note: the only country whose name is composed of a single syllable with a single vowel Topic: Chileconventional long form: Republic of Chile conventional short form: Chile local long form: Republica de Chile local short form: Chile etymology: derivation of the name is unclear, but it may come from the Mapuche word "chilli" meaning "limit of the earth" or from the Quechua "chiri" meaning "cold" Topic: Chinaconventional long form: People's Republic of China conventional short form: China local long form: Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo local short form: Zhongguo abbreviation: PRC etymology: English name derives from the Qin (Chin) rulers of the 3rd century B.C., who comprised the first imperial dynasty of ancient China; the Chinese name Zhongguo translates as "Central Nation" or "Middle Kingdom" Topic: Christmas Islandconventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island conventional short form: Christmas Island etymology: named by English Captain William MYNORS for the day of its rediscovery, Christmas Day (25 December 1643); the island had been sighted by Europeans as early as 1615 Topic: Clipperton Islandconventional long form: none conventional short form: Clipperton Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Clipperton former: sometimes referred to as Ile de la Passion or Atoll Clipperton etymology: named after an 18th-century English pirate who supposedly used the island as a base Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandsconventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands etymology: the name refers to the abundant coconut trees on the islands and to English Captain William KEELING, the first European to sight the islands in 1609 Topic: Colombiaconventional long form: Republic of Colombia conventional short form: Colombia local long form: Republica de Colombia local short form: Colombia etymology: the country is named after explorer Christopher COLUMBUS Topic: Comorosconventional long form: Union of the Comoros conventional short form: Comoros local long form: Udzima wa Komori (Comorian)/ Union des Comores (French)/ Al Ittihad al Qumuri (Arabic) local short form: Komori (Comorian)/ Les Comores (French)/ Juzur al Qamar (Arabic) former: Comorian State, Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros etymology: name derives from the Arabic designation "Juzur al Qamar" meaning "Islands of the Moon" Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of theconventional long form: Democratic Republic of the Congo conventional short form: DRC local long form: Republique Democratique du Congo local short form: RDC former: Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo/Leopoldville, Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire abbreviation: DRC (or DROC) etymology: named for the Congo River, most of which lies within the DRC; the river name derives from Kongo, a Bantu kingdom that occupied its mouth at the time of Portuguese discovery in the late 15th century and whose name stems from its people the Bakongo, meaning "hunters" Topic: Congo, Republic of theconventional long form: Republic of the Congo conventional short form: Congo (Brazzaville) local long form: Republique du Congo local short form: Congo former: French Congo, Middle Congo, People's Republic of the Congo, Congo/Brazzaville etymology: named for the Congo River, which makes up much of the country's eastern border; the river name derives from Kongo, a Bantu kingdom that occupied its mouth at the time of Portuguese discovery in the late 15th century and whose name stems from its people the Bakongo, meaning "hunters" Topic: Cook Islandsconventional long form: none conventional short form: Cook Islands former: Hervey Islands etymology: named after Captain James COOK, the British explorer who visited the islands in 1773 and 1777 Topic: Coral Sea Islandsconventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands etymology: self-descriptive name to reflect the islands' position in the Coral Sea off the northeastern coast of Australia Topic: Costa Ricaconventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica conventional short form: Costa Rica local long form: Republica de Costa Rica local short form: Costa Rica etymology: the name means "rich coast" in Spanish and was first applied in the early colonial period of the 16th century Topic: Cote d'Ivoireconventional long form: Republic of Cote d'Ivoire conventional short form: Cote d'Ivoire local long form: Republique de Cote d'Ivoire local short form: Cote d'Ivoire former: Ivory Coast etymology: name reflects the intense ivory trade that took place in the region from the 15th to 17th centuries note: pronounced coat-div-whar Topic: Croatiaconventional long form: Republic of Croatia conventional short form: Croatia local long form: Republika Hrvatska local short form: Hrvatska former: People's Republic of Croatia, Socialist Republic of Croatia etymology: name derives from the Croats, a Slavic tribe who migrated to the Balkans in the 7th century A.D. Topic: Cubaconventional long form: Republic of Cuba conventional short form: Cuba local long form: Republica de Cuba local short form: Cuba etymology: name derives from the Taino Indian designation for the island "coabana" meaning "great place" Topic: Curacaoconventional long form: Country of Curacao conventional short form: Curacao local long form: Land Curacao (Dutch)/ Pais Korsou (Papiamento) local short form: Curacao (Dutch)/ Korsou (Papiamento) former: Netherlands Antilles; Curacao and Dependencies etymology: the most plausible name derivation is that the island was designated Isla de la Curacion (Spanish meaning "Island of the Cure" or "Island of Healing") or Ilha da Curacao (Portuguese meaning the same) to reflect the locale's function as a recovery stop for sick crewmen Topic: Cyprusconventional long form: Republic of Cyprus conventional short form: Cyprus local long form: Kypriaki Dimokratia (Greek)/ Kibris Cumhuriyeti (Turkish) local short form: Kypros (Greek)/ Kibris (Turkish) etymology: the derivation of the name "Cyprus" is unknown, but the extensive mining of copper metal on the island in antiquity gave rise to the Latin word "cuprum" for copper note: the Turkish Cypriot community, which administers the northern part of the island, refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" or "TRNC" ("Kuzey Kibris Turk Cumhuriyeti" or "KKTC") Topic: Czechiaconventional long form: Czech Republic conventional short form: Czechia local long form: Ceska republika local short form: Cesko etymology: name derives from the Czechs, a West Slavic tribe who rose to prominence in the late 9th century A.D.; the country officially adopted the English short-form name of Czechia on 1 July 2016 Topic: Denmarkconventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark conventional short form: Denmark local long form: Kongeriget Danmark local short form: Danmark etymology: the name derives from the words "Dane(s)" and "mark"; the latter referring to a march (borderland) or forest Topic: Dhekeliaconventional long form: none conventional short form: Dhekelia Topic: Djibouticonventional long form: Republic of Djibouti conventional short form: Djibouti local long form: Republique de Djibouti (French)/ Jumhuriyat Jibuti (Arabic) local short form: Djibouti (French)/ Jibuti (Arabic) former: French Somaliland, French Territory of the Afars and Issas etymology: the country name derives from the capital city of Djibouti Topic: Dominicaconventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominica conventional short form: Dominica etymology: the island was named by explorer Christopher COLUMBUS for the day of the week on which he spotted it, Sunday ("Domingo" in Latin), 3 November 1493 Topic: Dominican Republicconventional long form: Dominican Republic conventional short form: The Dominican local long form: Republica Dominicana local short form: La Dominicana former: Santo Domingo (the capital city's name formerly applied to the entire country) etymology: the country name derives from the capital city of Santo Domingo (Saint Dominic) Topic: Ecuadorconventional long form: Republic of Ecuador conventional short form: Ecuador local long form: Republica del Ecuador local short form: Ecuador etymology: the country's position on the globe, straddling the Equator, accounts for its Spanish name Topic: Egyptconventional long form: Arab Republic of Egypt conventional short form: Egypt local long form: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah local short form: Misr former: United Arab Republic (with Syria) etymology: the English name "Egypt" derives from the ancient Greek name for the country "Aigyptos"; the Arabic name "Misr" can be traced to the ancient Akkadian "misru" meaning border or frontier Topic: El Salvadorconventional long form: Republic of El Salvador conventional short form: El Salvador local long form: Republica de El Salvador local short form: El Salvador etymology: name is an abbreviation of the original Spanish conquistador designation for the area "Provincia de Nuestro Senor Jesus Cristo, el Salvador del Mundo" (Province of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the World), which became simply "El Salvador" (The Savior) Topic: Equatorial Guineaconventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guinea conventional short form: Equatorial Guinea local long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial (Spanish)/ Republique de Guinee Equatoriale (French) local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial (Spanish)/ Guinee Equatoriale (French) former: Spanish Guinea etymology: the country is named for the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea and stretches north to the Sahel; the "equatorial" refers to the fact that the country lies just north of the Equator Topic: Eritreaconventional long form: State of Eritrea conventional short form: Eritrea local long form: Hagere Ertra local short form: Ertra former: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia etymology: the country name derives from the ancient Greek appellation "Erythra Thalassa" meaning Red Sea, which is the major water body bordering the country Topic: Estoniaconventional long form: Republic of Estonia conventional short form: Estonia local long form: Eesti Vabariik local short form: Eesti former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR) etymology: the country name may derive from the Aesti, an ancient people who lived along the eastern Baltic Sea in the first centuries A.D. Topic: Eswatiniconventional long form: Kingdom of Eswatini conventional short form: Eswatini local long form: Umbuso weSwatini local short form: eSwatini former: Swaziland etymology: the country name derives from 19th century King MSWATI II, under whose rule Swati territory was expanded and unified note: pronounced ay-swatini or eh-swatini Topic: Ethiopiaconventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia conventional short form: Ethiopia local long form: Ityop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik local short form: Ityop'iya former: Abyssinia, Italian East Africa abbreviation: FDRE etymology: the country name derives from the Greek word "Aethiopia," which in classical times referred to lands south of Egypt in the Upper Nile region Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)conventional long form: none conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) etymology: the archipelago takes its name from the Falkland Sound, the strait separating the two main islands; the channel itself was named after the Viscount of FALKLAND, who sponsored an expedition to the islands in 1690; the Spanish name for the archipelago derives from the French "Iles Malouines," the name applied to the islands by French explorer Louis-Antoine de BOUGAINVILLE in 1764 Topic: Faroe Islandsconventional long form: none conventional short form: Faroe Islands local long form: none local short form: Foroyar etymology: the archipelago's name may derive from the Old Norse word "faer," meaning sheep Topic: Fijiconventional long form: Republic of Fiji conventional short form: Fiji local long form: Republic of Fiji (English)/ Matanitu ko Viti (Fijian) local short form: Fiji (English)/ Viti (Fijian) etymology: the Fijians called their home Viti, but the neighboring Tongans called it Fisi, and in the Anglicized spelling of the Tongan pronunciation - promulgated by explorer Captain James COOK - the designation became Fiji Topic: Finlandconventional long form: Republic of Finland conventional short form: Finland local long form: Suomen tasavalta (Finnish)/ Republiken Finland (Swedish) local short form: Suomi (Finnish)/ Finland (Swedish) etymology: name may derive from the ancient Fenni peoples who are first described as living in northeastern Europe in the first centuries A.D. Topic: Franceconventional long form: French Republic conventional short form: France local long form: Republique francaise local short form: France etymology: name derives from the Latin "Francia" meaning "Land of the Franks"; the Franks were a group of Germanic tribes located along the middle and lower Rhine River in the 3rd century A.D. who merged with Gallic-Roman populations in succeeding centuries and to whom they passed on their name Topic: French Polynesiaconventional long form: Overseas Lands of French Polynesia conventional short form: French Polynesia local long form: Pays d'outre-mer de la Polynesie Francaise local short form: Polynesie Francaise former: Establishments in Oceania, French Establishments in Oceania etymology: the term "Polynesia" is an 18th-century construct composed of two Greek words, "poly" (many) and "nesoi" (islands), and refers to the more than 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean Topic: French Southern and Antarctic Landsconventional 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 abbreviation: TAAF etymology: self-descriptive name specifying the territories' affiliation and location in the Southern Hemisphere Topic: Gabonconventional long form: Gabonese Republic conventional short form: Gabon local long form: Republique Gabonaise local short form: Gabon etymology: name originates from the Portuguese word "gabao" meaning "cloak," which is roughly the shape that the early explorers gave to the estuary of the Komo River by the capital of Libreville Topic: Gambia, Theconventional long form: Republic of The Gambia conventional short form: The Gambia etymology: named for the Gambia River that flows through the heart of the country Topic: Gaza Stripconventional long form: none conventional short form: Gaza Strip local long form: none local short form: Qita' Ghazzah etymology: named for the largest city in the enclave, Gaza, whose settlement can be traced back to at least the 15th century B.C. (as "Ghazzat") Topic: Georgiaconventional long form: none conventional short form: Georgia local long form: none local short form: Sak'art'velo former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic etymology: the Western name may derive from the Persian designation "gurgan" meaning "Land of the Wolves"; the native name "Sak'art'velo" means "Land of the Kartvelians" and refers to the core central Georgian region of Kartli Topic: Germanyconventional long form: Federal Republic of Germany conventional short form: Germany local long form: Bundesrepublik Deutschland local short form: Deutschland former: German Reich etymology: the Gauls (Celts) of Western Europe may have referred to the newly arriving Germanic tribes who settled in neighboring areas east of the Rhine during the first centuries B.C. as "Germani," a term the Romans adopted as "Germania"; the native designation "Deutsch" comes from the Old High German "diutisc" meaning "of the people" Topic: Ghanaconventional long form: Republic of Ghana conventional short form: Ghana former: Gold Coast etymology: named for the medieval West African kingdom of the same name but whose location was actually further north than the modern country Topic: Gibraltarconventional long form: none conventional short form: Gibraltar etymology: from the Spanish derivation of the Arabic "Jabal Tariq," which means "Mountain of Tariq" and which refers to the Rock of Gibraltar Topic: Greececonventional long form: Hellenic Republic conventional short form: Greece local long form: Elliniki Dimokratia local short form: Ellas or Ellada former: Hellenic State, Kingdom of Greece etymology: the English name derives from the Roman (Latin) designation "Graecia," meaning "Land of the Greeks"; the Greeks call their country "Hellas" or "Ellada" Topic: Greenlandconventional long form: none conventional short form: Greenland local long form: none local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat etymology: named by Norwegian adventurer Erik THORVALDSSON (Erik the Red) in A.D. 985 in order to entice settlers to the island Topic: Grenadaconventional long form: none conventional short form: Grenada etymology: derivation of the name remains obscure; some sources attribute the designation to Spanish influence (most likely named for the Spanish city of Granada), with subsequent French and English interpretations resulting in the present-day Grenada; in Spanish "granada" means "pomegranate" Topic: Guamconventional long form: none conventional short form: Guam local long form: none local short form: Guahan abbreviation: GU etymology: the native Chamorro name for the island "Guahan" (meaning "we have" or "ours") was changed to Guam in the 1898 Treaty of Paris, whereby Spain relinquished Guam, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the US Topic: Guatemalaconventional long form: Republic of Guatemala conventional short form: Guatemala local long form: Republica de Guatemala local short form: Guatemala etymology: the Spanish conquistadors used many native Americans as allies in their conquest of Guatemala; the site of their first capital (established in 1524), a former Maya settlement, was called "Quauhtemallan" by their Nahuatl-speaking Mexican allies, a name that means "land of trees" or "forested land", but which the Spanish pronounced "Guatemala"; the Spanish applied that name to a re-founded capital city three years later and eventually it became the name of the country Topic: Guernseyconventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey conventional short form: Guernsey former: Norman Isles etymology: the name is of Old Norse origin, but the meaning of the root "Guern(s)" is uncertain; the "-ey" ending means "island" Topic: Guineaconventional long form: Republic of Guinea conventional short form: Guinea local long form: Republique de Guinee local short form: Guinee former: French Guinea etymology: the country is named after the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea and stretches north to the Sahel Topic: Guinea-Bissauconventional long form: Republic of Guinea-Bissau conventional short form: Guinea-Bissau local long form: Republica da Guine-Bissau local short form: Guine-Bissau former: Portuguese Guinea etymology: the country is named after the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea and stretches north to the Sahel; "Bissau," the name of the capital city, distinguishes the country from neighboring Guinea Topic: Guyanaconventional long form: Cooperative Republic of Guyana conventional short form: Guyana former: British Guiana etymology: the name is derived from Guiana, the original name for the region that included British Guiana, Dutch Guiana, and French Guiana; ultimately the word is derived from an indigenous Amerindian language and means "Land of Many Waters" (referring to the area's multitude of rivers and streams) Topic: Haiticonventional long form: Republic of Haiti conventional short form: Haiti local long form: Republique d'Haiti (French)/ Repiblik d Ayiti (Haitian Creole) local short form: Haiti (French)/ Ayiti (Haitian Creole) etymology: the native Taino name means "Land of High Mountains" and was originally applied to the entire island of Hispaniola Topic: Heard Island and McDonald Islandsconventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands abbreviation: HIMI etymology: named after American Captain John HEARD, who sighted the island on 25 November 1853, and American Captain William McDONALD, who discovered the islands on 4 January 1854 Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)conventional long form: The Holy See (Vatican City State) conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City) local long form: La Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano) local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano) etymology: "holy" comes from the Greek word "hera" meaning "sacred"; "see" comes from the Latin word "sedes" meaning "seat," and refers to the episcopal chair; the term "Vatican" derives from the hill Mons Vaticanus on which the Vatican is located and which comes from the Latin "vaticinari" (to prophesy), referring to the fortune tellers and soothsayers who frequented the area in Roman times Topic: Hondurasconventional long form: Republic of Honduras conventional short form: Honduras local long form: Republica de Honduras local short form: Honduras etymology: the name means "depths" in Spanish and refers to the deep anchorage in the northern Bay of Trujillo Topic: Hong Kongconventional long form: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region conventional short form: Hong Kong local long form: Heung Kong Takpit Hangching Ku (Eitel/Dyer-Ball) local short form: Heung Kong (Eitel/Dyer-Ball) abbreviation: HK etymology: probably an imprecise phonetic rendering of the Cantonese name meaning "fragrant harbor" Topic: Hungaryconventional long form: none conventional short form: Hungary local long form: none local short form: Magyarorszag former: Kingdom of Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic, Hungarian Soviet Republic, Hungarian Republic etymology: the Byzantine Greeks refered to the tribes that arrived on the steppes of Eastern Europe in the 9th century as the "Oungroi," a name that was later Latinized to "Ungri" and which became "Hungari"; the name originally meant an "[alliance of] ten tribes"; the Hungarian name "Magyarorszag" means "Country of the Magyars"; the term may derive from the most prominent of the Hungarian tribes, the Megyer Topic: Icelandconventional long form: Republic of Iceland conventional short form: Iceland local long form: Lydveldid Island local short form: Island etymology: Floki VILGERDARSON, an early Norse explorer of the island (9th century), applied the name "Land of Ice" after spotting a fjord full of drift ice to the north and spending a bitter winter on the island; he eventually settled on the island, however, after he saw how it greened up in the summer and that it was, in fact, habitable Topic: Indiaconventional long form: Republic of India conventional short form: India local long form: Republic of India (English)/ Bharatiya Ganarajya (Hindi) local short form: India (English)/ Bharat (Hindi) etymology: the English name derives from the Indus River; the Indian name "Bharat" may derive from the "Bharatas" tribe mentioned in the Vedas of the second millennium B.C.; the name is also associated with Emperor Bharata, the legendary conqueror of all of India Topic: Indian Oceanetymology: named for the country of India, which makes up much of its northern border Topic: Indonesiaconventional long form: Republic of Indonesia conventional short form: Indonesia local long form: Republik Indonesia local short form: Indonesia former: Netherlands East Indies (Dutch East Indies), Netherlands New Guinea etymology: the name is an 18th-century construct of two Greek words, "Indos" (India) and "nesoi" (islands), meaning "Indian islands" Topic: Iranconventional long form: Islamic Republic of Iran conventional short form: Iran local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran local short form: Iran former: Persia etymology: name derives from the Avestan term "aryanam" meaning "Land of the Noble [Ones]" Topic: Iraqconventional long form: Republic of Iraq conventional short form: Iraq local long form: Jumhuriyat al-Iraq/Komar-i Eraq local short form: Al Iraq/Eraq former: Mesopotamia, Mandatory Iraq, Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq etymology: the name probably derives from "Uruk" (Biblical "Erech"), the ancient Sumerian and Babylonian city on the Euphrates River Topic: Irelandconventional long form: none conventional short form: Ireland local long form: none local short form: Eire etymology: the modern Irish name "Eire" evolved from the Gaelic "Eriu," the name of the matron goddess of Ireland (goddess of the land); the names "Ireland" in English and "Eire" in Irish are direct translations of each other Topic: Isle of Manconventional long form: none conventional short form: Isle of Man abbreviation: I.O.M. etymology: the name "man" may be derived from the Celtic word for "mountain" Topic: Israelconventional long form: State of Israel conventional short form: Israel local long form: Medinat Yisra'el local short form: Yisra'el former: Mandatory Palestine etymology: named after the ancient Kingdom of Israel; according to Biblical tradition, the Jewish patriarch Jacob received the name "Israel" ("He who struggles with God") after he wrestled an entire night with an angel of the Lord; Jacob's 12 sons became the ancestors of the Israelites, also known as the Twelve Tribes of Israel, who formed the Kingdom of Israel Topic: Italyconventional long form: Italian Republic conventional short form: Italy local long form: Repubblica Italiana local short form: Italia former: Kingdom of Italy etymology: derivation is unclear, but the Latin "Italia" may come from the Oscan "Viteliu" meaning "[Land] of Young Cattle" (the bull was a symbol of southern Italic tribes) Topic: Jamaicaconventional long form: none conventional short form: Jamaica etymology: from the native Taino word "haymaca" meaning "Land of Wood and Water" or possibly "Land of Springs" Topic: Jan Mayenconventional long form: none conventional short form: Jan Mayen etymology: named after Dutch Captain Jan Jacobszoon MAY, one of the first explorers to reach the island in 1614 Topic: Japanconventional long form: none conventional short form: Japan local long form: Nihon-koku/Nippon-koku local short form: Nihon/Nippon etymology: the English word for Japan comes via the Chinese name for the country "Cipangu"; both Nihon and Nippon mean "where the sun originates" and are frequently translated as "Land of the Rising Sun" Topic: Jerseyconventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey conventional short form: Jersey former: Norman Isles etymology: the name is of Old Norse origin, but the meaning of the root "Jer(s)" is uncertain; the "-ey" ending means "island" Topic: Jordanconventional long form: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan conventional short form: Jordan local long form: Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah local short form: Al Urdun former: Transjordan etymology: named for the Jordan River, which makes up part of Jordan's northwest border Topic: Kazakhstanconventional long form: Republic of Kazakhstan conventional short form: Kazakhstan local long form: Qazaqstan Respublikasy local short form: Qazaqstan former: Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic etymology: the name "Kazakh" may derive from the Turkic word "kaz" meaning "to wander," recalling the Kazakh's nomadic lifestyle; the Persian suffix "-stan" means "place of" or "country," so the word Kazakhstan literally means "Land of the Wanderers" Topic: Kenyaconventional long form: Republic of Kenya conventional short form: Kenya local long form: Republic of Kenya (English)/ Jamhuri ya Kenya (Swahili) local short form: Kenya former: British East Africa etymology: named for Mount Kenya; the meaning of the name is unclear but may derive from the Kikuyu, Embu, and Kamba words "kirinyaga," "kirenyaa," and "kiinyaa" - all of which mean "God's resting place" Topic: Kiribaticonventional long form: Republic of Kiribati conventional short form: Kiribati local long form: Republic of Kiribati local short form: Kiribati former: Gilbert Islands etymology: the name is the local pronunciation of "Gilberts," the former designation of the islands; originally named after explorer Thomas GILBERT, who mapped many of the islands in 1788 note: pronounced keer-ree-bahss Topic: Korea, Northconventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Korea conventional short form: North Korea local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk local short form: Choson abbreviation: DPRK etymology: derived from the Chinese name for Goryeo, which was the Korean dynasty that united the peninsula in the 10th century A.D.; the North Korean name "Choson" means "[Land of the] Morning Calm" Topic: Korea, Southconventional long form: Republic of Korea conventional short form: South Korea local long form: Taehan-min'guk local short form: Han'guk abbreviation: ROK etymology: derived from the Chinese name for Goryeo, which was the Korean dynasty that united the peninsula in the 10th century A.D.; the South Korean name "Han'guk" derives from the long form, "Taehan-min'guk," which is itself a derivation from "Daehan-je'guk," which means "the Great Empire of the Han"; "Han" refers to the "Sam'han" or the "Three Han Kingdoms" (Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla from the Three Kingdoms Era, 1st-7th centuries A.D.) Topic: Kosovoconventional long form: Republic of Kosovo conventional short form: Kosovo local long form: Republika e Kosoves (Albanian)/ Republika Kosovo (Serbian) local short form: Kosove (Albanian)/ Kosovo (Serbian) etymology: name derives from the Serbian "kos" meaning "blackbird," an ellipsis (linguistic omission) for "kosove polje" or "field of the blackbirds" Topic: Kuwaitconventional long form: State of Kuwait conventional short form: Kuwait local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt local short form: Al Kuwayt etymology: the name derives from the capital city, which is from Arabic "al-Kuwayt" a diminutive of "kut" meaning "fortress," possibly a reference to a small castle built on the current location of Kuwait City by the Beni Khaled tribe in the 17th century Topic: Kyrgyzstanconventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy local short form: Kyrgyzstan former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic etymology: a combination of the Turkic words "kyrg" (forty) and "-yz" (tribes) with the Persian suffix "-stan" (country) creating the meaning "Land of the Forty Tribes"; the name refers to the 40 clans united by the mythic Kyrgyz hero, MANAS Topic: Laosconventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic conventional short form: Laos local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao local short form: Mueang Lao (unofficial) etymology: name means "Land of the Lao [people]" Topic: Latviaconventional long form: Republic of Latvia conventional short form: Latvia local long form: Latvijas Republika local short form: Latvija former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR) etymology: the name "Latvia" originates from the ancient Latgalians, one of four eastern Baltic tribes that formed the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.) Topic: Lebanonconventional long form: Lebanese Republic conventional short form: Lebanon local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah local short form: Lubnan former: Greater Lebanon etymology: derives from the Semitic root "lbn" meaning "white" and refers to snow-capped Mount Lebanon Topic: Lesothoconventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho conventional short form: Lesotho local long form: Kingdom of Lesotho local short form: Lesotho former: Basutoland etymology: the name translates as "Land of the Sesotho Speakers" Topic: Liberiaconventional long form: Republic of Liberia conventional short form: Liberia etymology: name derives from the Latin word "liber" meaning "free"; so named because the nation was created as a homeland for liberated African-American slaves Topic: Libyaconventional long form: State of Libya conventional short form: Libya local long form: Dawiat Libiya local short form: Libiya etymology: name derives from the Libu, an ancient Libyan tribe first mentioned in texts from the 13th century B.C. Topic: Liechtensteinconventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein conventional short form: Liechtenstein local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein local short form: Liechtenstein etymology: named after the Liechtenstein dynasty that purchased and united the counties of Schellenburg and Vaduz and that was allowed by the Holy Roman Emperor in 1719 to rename the new property after their family; the name in German means "light (bright) stone" Topic: Lithuaniaconventional long form: Republic of Lithuania conventional short form: Lithuania local long form: Lietuvos Respublika local short form: Lietuva former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR) etymology: meaning of the name "Lietuva" remains unclear and is debated by scholars; it may derive from the Lietava, a stream in east central Lithuania Topic: Luxembourgconventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg conventional short form: Luxembourg local long form: Grand Duche de Luxembourg local short form: Luxembourg etymology: the name derives from the Celtic "lucilem" (little) and the German "burg" (castle or fortress) to produce the meaning of the "little castle"; the name is actually ironic, since for centuries the Fortress of Luxembourg was one of Europe's most formidable fortifications; the name passed to the surrounding city and then to the country itself Topic: Macauconventional long form: Macau Special Administrative Region conventional short form: Macau official long form: Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese)/ Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese) official short form: Aomen (Chinese)/ Macau (Portuguese) etymology: name is thought to derive from the A-Ma Temple - built in 1488 and dedicated to Mazu, the goddess of seafarers and fishermen - which is referred to locally as "Maa Gok" - and in Portuguese became "Macau"; the Chinese name Aomen means "inlet gates" Topic: Madagascarconventional long form: Republic of Madagascar conventional short form: Madagascar local long form: Republique de Madagascar/Repoblikan'i Madagasikara local short form: Madagascar/Madagasikara former: Malagasy Republic etymology: the name "Madageiscar" was first used by the 13th-century Venetian explorer Marco POLO, as a corrupted transliteration of Mogadishu, the Somali port with which POLO confused the island Topic: Malawiconventional long form: Republic of Malawi conventional short form: Malawi local long form: Dziko la Malawi local short form: Malawi former: British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland Protectorate, Nyasaland etymology: named for the East African Maravi Kingdom of the 16th century; the word "maravi" means "fire flames" Topic: Malaysiaconventional long form: none conventional short form: Malaysia local long form: none local short form: Malaysia former: British Malaya, Malayan Union, Federation of Malaya etymology: the name means "Land of the Malays" Topic: Maldivesconventional long form: Republic of Maldives conventional short form: Maldives local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa local short form: Dhivehi Raajje etymology: archipelago apparently named after the main island (and capital) of Male; the word "Maldives" means "the islands (dives) of Male"; alternatively, the name may derive from the Sanskrit word "maladvipa" meaning "garland of islands"; Dhivehi Raajje in Dhivehi means "Kingdom of the Dhivehi people" Topic: Maliconventional long form: Republic of Mali conventional short form: Mali local long form: Republique de Mali local short form: Mali former: French Sudan, Sudanese Republic, Mali Federation etymology: name derives from the West African Mali Empire of the 13th to 16th centuries A.D. Topic: Maltaconventional long form: Republic of Malta conventional short form: Malta local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta local short form: Malta etymology: the ancient Greeks called the island "Melite" meaning "honey-sweet" from the Greek word "meli" meaning "honey" and referring to the island's honey production Topic: Marshall Islandsconventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands conventional short form: Marshall Islands local long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands local short form: Marshall Islands former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Marshall Islands District abbreviation: RMI etymology: named after British Captain John MARSHALL, who charted many of the islands in 1788 Topic: Mauritaniaconventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania conventional short form: Mauritania local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah local short form: Muritaniyah etymology: named for the ancient kingdom of Mauretania (3rd century B.C. to 1st century A.D.) and the subsequent Roman province (1st-7th centuries A.D.), which existed further north in present-day Morocco; the name derives from the Mauri (Moors), the Berber-speaking peoples of northwest Africa Topic: Mauritiusconventional long form: Republic of Mauritius conventional short form: Mauritius local long form: Republic of Mauritius local short form: Mauritius etymology: island named after Prince Maurice VAN NASSAU, stadtholder of the Dutch Republic, in 1598 note: pronounced mah-rish-us Topic: Mexicoconventional long form: United Mexican States conventional short form: Mexico local long form: Estados Unidos Mexicanos local short form: Mexico former: Mexican Republic, Mexican Empire etymology: named after the capital city, whose name stems from the Mexica, the largest and most powerful branch of the Aztecs; the meaning of the name is uncertain Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofconventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia conventional short form: none local long form: Federated States of Micronesia local short form: none former: New Philippines; Caroline Islands; Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts abbreviation: FSM etymology: the term "Micronesia" is a 19th-century construct of two Greek words, "micro" (small) and "nesoi" (islands), and refers to thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean Topic: Moldovaconventional long form: Republic of Moldova conventional short form: Moldova local long form: Republica Moldova local short form: Moldova former: Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic, Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic etymology: named for the Moldova River in neighboring eastern Romania Topic: Monacoconventional long form: Principality of Monaco conventional short form: Monaco local long form: Principaute de Monaco local short form: Monaco etymology: founded as a Greek colony in the 6th century B.C., the name derives from two Greek words "monos" (single, alone) and "oikos" (house) to convey the sense of a people "living apart" or in a "single habitation" Topic: Mongoliaconventional long form: none conventional short form: Mongolia local long form: none local short form: Mongol Uls former: Outer Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic etymology: the name means "Land of the Mongols" in Latin; the Mongolian name Mongol Uls translates as "Mongol State" Topic: Montenegroconventional long form: none conventional short form: Montenegro local long form: none local short form: Crna Gora former: People's Republic of Montenegro, Socialist Republic of Montenegro, Republic of Montenegro etymology: the country's name locally as well as in most Western European languages means "black mountain" and refers to the dark coniferous forests on Mount Lovcen and the surrounding area Topic: Montserratconventional long form: none conventional short form: Montserrat etymology: island named by explorer Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 after the Benedictine abbey Santa Maria de Montserrat, near Barcelona, Spain Topic: Moroccoconventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco conventional short form: Morocco local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah local short form: Al Maghrib former: French Protectorate in Morocco, Spanish Protectorate in Morocco, Ifni, Spanish Sahara, Western Sahara etymology: the English name "Morocco" derives from, respectively, the Spanish and Portuguese names "Marruecos" and "Marrocos," which stem from "Marrakesh" the Latin name for the former capital of ancient Morocco; the Arabic name "Al Maghrib" translates as "The West" Topic: Mozambiqueconventional long form: Republic of Mozambique conventional short form: Mozambique local long form: Republica de Mocambique local short form: Mocambique former: Portuguese East Africa, People's Republic of Mozambique etymology: named for the offshore island of Mozambique; the island was apparently named after Mussa al-BIK, an influential Arab slave trader who set himself up as sultan on the island in the 15th century Topic: Namibiaconventional long form: Republic of Namibia conventional short form: Namibia local long form: Republic of Namibia local short form: Namibia former: German South-West Africa (Deutsch-Suedwestafrika), South-West Africa etymology: named for the coastal Namib Desert; the name "namib" means "vast place" in the Nama/Damara language Topic: Nauruconventional long form: Republic of Nauru conventional short form: Nauru local long form: Republic of Nauru local short form: Nauru former: Pleasant Island etymology: the island name may derive from the Nauruan word "anaoero" meaning "I go to the beach" Topic: Navassa Islandconventional long form: none conventional short form: Navassa Island etymology: the flat island was named "Navaza" by some of Christopher COLUMBUS' sailors in 1504; the name derives from the Spanish term "nava" meaning "flat land, plain, or field" Topic: Nepalconventional long form: none conventional short form: Nepal local long form: none local short form: Nepal etymology: the Newar people of the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding areas apparently gave their name to the country; the terms "Nepal," "Newar," "Nepar," and "Newal" are phonetically different forms of the same word Topic: Netherlandsconventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands conventional short form: Netherlands local long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden local short form: Nederland abbreviation: NL etymology: the country name literally means "the lowlands" and refers to the geographic features of the land being both flat and down river from higher areas (i.e., at the estuaries of the Scheldt, Meuse, and Rhine Rivers; only about half of the Netherlands is more than 1 meter above sea level) Topic: New Caledoniaconventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies conventional short form: New Caledonia local long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances local short form: Nouvelle-Caledonie etymology: British explorer Captain James COOK discovered and named New Caledonia in 1774; he used the appellation because the northeast of the island reminded him of Scotland (Caledonia is the Latin designation for Scotland) Topic: New Zealandconventional long form: none conventional short form: New Zealand abbreviation: NZ etymology: Dutch explorer Abel TASMAN was the first European to reach New Zealand in 1642; he named it Staten Landt, but Dutch cartographers renamed it Nova Zeelandia in 1645 after the Dutch province of Zeeland; British explorer Captain James COOK subsequently anglicized the name to New Zealand when he mapped the islands in 1769 Topic: Nicaraguaconventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua conventional short form: Nicaragua local long form: Republica de Nicaragua local short form: Nicaragua etymology: Nicarao was the name of the largest indigenous settlement at the time of Spanish arrival; conquistador Gil GONZALEZ Davila, who explored the area (1622-23), combined the name of the community with the Spanish word "agua" (water), referring to the two large lakes in the west of the country (Lake Managua and Lake Nicaragua) Topic: Nigerconventional long form: Republic of Niger conventional short form: Niger local long form: Republique du Niger local short form: Niger etymology: named for the Niger River that passes through the southwest of the country; from a native term "Ni Gir" meaning "River Gir" note: pronounced nee-zhair Topic: Nigeriaconventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeria conventional short form: Nigeria etymology: named for the Niger River that flows through the west of the country to the Atlantic Ocean; from a native term "Ni Gir" meaning "River Gir" Topic: Niueconventional long form: none conventional short form: Niue former: Savage Island etymology: the origin of the name is obscure; in Niuean, the word supposedly translates as "behold the coconut" note: pronunciation falls between nyu-way and new-way, but not like new-wee Topic: Norfolk Islandconventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island conventional short form: Norfolk Island etymology: named by British explorer Captain James COOK after Mary HOWARD, Duchess of Norfolk, in 1774 Topic: North Macedoniaconventional long form: Republic of North Macedonia conventional short form: North Macedonia local long form: Republika Severna Makedonija local short form: Severna Makedonija former: Democratic Federal Macedonia, People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of Macedonia, Republic of Macedonia etymology: the country name derives from the ancient kingdom of Macedon (7th to 2nd centuries B.C.) Topic: Northern Mariana Islandsconventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Mariana Islands District abbreviation: CNMI etymology: formally claimed and named by Spain in 1667 in honor of the Spanish Queen, MARIANA of Austria Topic: Norwayconventional long form: Kingdom of Norway conventional short form: Norway local long form: Kongeriket Norge local short form: Norge etymology: derives from the Old Norse words "nordr" and "vegr" meaning "northern way" and refers to the long coastline of western Norway Topic: Omanconventional long form: Sultanate of Oman conventional short form: Oman local long form: Saltanat Uman local short form: Uman former: Sultanate of Muscat and Oman etymology: the origin of the name is uncertain, but it apparently dates back at least 2,000 years since an "Omana" is mentioned by Pliny the Elder (1st century A.D.) and an "Omanon" by Ptolemy (2nd century A.D.) Topic: Pacific Oceanetymology: named by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand MAGELLAN during the Spanish circumnavigation of the world in 1521; encountering favorable winds upon reaching the ocean, he called it "Mar Pacifico," which means "peaceful sea" in both Portuguese and Spanish Topic: Pakistanconventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan conventional short form: Pakistan local long form: Jamhuryat Islami Pakistan local short form: Pakistan former: West Pakistan etymology: the word "pak" means "pure" in Persian or Pashto, while the Persian suffix "-stan" means "place of" or "country," so the word Pakistan literally means "Land of the Pure" Topic: Palauconventional long form: Republic of Palau conventional short form: Palau local long form: Beluu er a Belau local short form: Belau former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Palau District etymology: from the Palauan name for the islands, Belau, which likely derives from the Palauan word "beluu" meaning "village" Topic: Panamaconventional long form: Republic of Panama conventional short form: Panama local long form: Republica de Panama local short form: Panama etymology: named after the capital city which was itself named after a former indigenous fishing village Topic: Papua New Guineaconventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea conventional short form: Papua New Guinea local short form: Papuaniugini former: German New Guinea, British New Guinea, Territory of Papua and New Guinea abbreviation: PNG etymology: the word "papua" derives from the Malay "papuah" describing the frizzy hair of the Melanesians; Spanish explorer Ynigo ORTIZ de RETEZ applied the term "Nueva Guinea" to the island of New Guinea in 1545 after noting the resemblance of the locals to the peoples of the Guinea coast of Africa Topic: Paracel Islandsconventional long form: none conventional short form: Paracel Islands etymology: Portuguese navigators began to refer to the "Ilhas do Pracel" in the 16th century as a designation of low lying islets, sandbanks, and reefs scattered over a wide area; over time the name changed to "parcel" and then "paracel" Topic: Paraguayconventional long form: Republic of Paraguay conventional short form: Paraguay local long form: Republica del Paraguay local short form: Paraguay etymology: the precise meaning of the name Paraguay is unclear, but it seems to derive from the river of the same name; one explanation has the name meaning "water of the Payagua" (an indigenous tribe that lived along the river) Topic: Peruconventional long form: Republic of Peru conventional short form: Peru local long form: Republica del Peru local short form: Peru etymology: exact meaning is obscure, but the name may derive from a native word "biru" meaning "river" Topic: Philippinesconventional long form: Republic of the Philippines conventional short form: Philippines local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas local short form: Pilipinas etymology: named in honor of King PHILLIP II of Spain by Spanish explorer Ruy LOPEZ de VILLALOBOS, who visited some of the islands in 1543 Topic: Pitcairn Islandsconventional long form: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands conventional short form: Pitcairn Islands etymology: named after Midshipman Robert PITCAIRN who first sighted the island in 1767 Topic: Polandconventional long form: Republic of Poland conventional short form: Poland local long form: Rzeczpospolita Polska local short form: Polska former: Polish People's Republic etymology: name derives from the Polanians, a west Slavic tribe that united several surrounding Slavic groups (9th-10th centuries A.D.) and who passed on their name to the country; the name of the tribe likely comes from the Slavic "pole" (field or plain), indicating the flat nature of their country Topic: Portugalconventional long form: Portuguese Republic conventional short form: Portugal local long form: Republica Portuguesa local short form: Portugal etymology: name derives from the Roman designation "Portus Cale" meaning "Port of Cale"; Cale was an ancient Celtic town and port in present-day northern Portugal Topic: Puerto Ricoconventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico conventional short form: Puerto Rico abbreviation: PR etymology: Christopher COLUMBUS named the island San Juan Bautista (Saint John the Baptist) and the capital city and main port Cuidad de Puerto Rico (Rich Port City); over time, however, the names were shortened and transposed and the island came to be called Puerto Rico and its capital San Juan Topic: Qatarconventional long form: State of Qatar conventional short form: Qatar local long form: Dawlat Qatar local short form: Qatar etymology: the origin of the name is uncertain, but it dates back at least 2,000 years since a term "Catharrei" was used to describe the inhabitants of the peninsula by Pliny the Elder (1st century A.D.), and a "Catara" peninsula is depicted on a map by Ptolemy (2nd century A.D.) note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation is gat-tar or cot-tar Topic: Romaniaconventional long form: none conventional short form: Romania local long form: none local short form: Romania former: Kingdom of Romania, Romanian People's Republic, Socialist Republic of Romania etymology: the name derives from the Latin "Romanus" meaning "citizen of Rome" and was used to stress the common ancient heritage of Romania's three main regions - Moldavia, Transylvania, and Wallachia - during their gradual unification between the mid-19th century and early 20th century Topic: Russiaconventional long form: Russian Federation conventional short form: Russia local long form: Rossiyskaya Federatsiya local short form: Rossiya former: Russian Empire, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic etymology: Russian lands were generally referred to as Muscovy until PETER I officially declared the Russian Empire in 1721; the new name sought to invoke the patrimony of the medieval eastern European Rus state centered on Kyiv in present-day Ukraine; the Rus were a Varangian (eastern Viking) elite that imposed their rule and eventually their name on their Slavic subjects Topic: Rwandaconventional long form: Republic of Rwanda conventional short form: Rwanda local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda local short form: Rwanda former: Ruanda, German East Africa etymology: the name translates as "domain" in the native Kinyarwanda language Topic: Saint Barthelemyconventional long form: Overseas Collectivity of Saint Barthelemy conventional short form: Saint Barthelemy local long form: Collectivite d'outre mer de Saint-Barthelemy local short form: Saint-Barthelemy abbreviation: Saint-Barth (French)/ St. Barts or St. Barths (English) etymology: explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the island in honor of his brother Bartolomeo's namesake saint in 1493 Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhaconventional long form: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha conventional short form: none etymology: Saint Helena was discovered in 1502 by Galician navigator Joao da NOVA, sailing in the service of the Kingdom of Portugal, who named it "Santa Helena"; Ascension was named in 1503 by Portuguese navigator Afonso de ALBUQUERQUE who sighted the island on the Feast Day of the Ascension; Tristan da Cunha was discovered in 1506 by Portuguese explorer Tristao da CUNHA who christened the main island after himself (the name was subsequently anglicized) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevisconventional long form: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis conventional short form: Saint Kitts and Nevis former: Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis etymology: Saint Kitts was, and still is, referred to as Saint Christopher and this name was well established by the 17th century (although who first applied the name is unclear); in the 17th century a common nickname for Christopher was Kit or Kitt, so the island began to be referred to as "Saint Kitt's Island" or just "Saint Kitts"; Nevis is derived from the original Spanish name "Nuestra Senora de las Nieves" (Our Lady of the Snows) and refers to the white halo of clouds that generally wreathes Nevis Peak note: Nevis is pronounced nee-vis Topic: Saint Luciaconventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Lucia etymology: named after Saint LUCY of Syracuse by French sailors who were shipwrecked on the island on 13 December 1502, the saint's feast day; Saint Lucia is the only country named specifically after a woman note: pronounced saynt-looshuh Topic: Saint Martinconventional long form: Overseas Collectivity of Saint Martin conventional short form: Saint Martin local long form: Collectivite d'outre mer de Saint-Martin local short form: Saint-Martin etymology: explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the island after Saint MARTIN of Tours because the 11 November 1493 day of discovery was the saint's feast day Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelonconventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon conventional short form: Saint Pierre and Miquelon local long form: Departement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon local short form: Saint-Pierre et Miquelon etymology: Saint-Pierre is named after Saint PETER, the patron saint of fishermen; Miquelon may be a corruption of the Basque name Mikelon Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesconventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines etymology: Saint Vincent was named by explorer Christopher COLUMBUS after Saint VINCENT of Saragossa because the 22 January 1498 day of discovery was the saint's feast day Topic: Samoaconventional long form: Independent State of Samoa conventional short form: Samoa local long form: Malo Sa'oloto Tuto'atasi o Samoa local short form: Samoa former: Western Samoa etymology: the meaning of Samoa is disputed; some modern explanations are that the "sa" connotes  "sacred" and "moa" indicates "center," so the name can mean "Holy Center"; alternatively, some assertions state that it can mean "place of the sacred moa bird" of Polynesian mythology; the name, however, may go back to Proto-Polynesian (PPn) times (before 1000 B.C.); a plausible PPn reconstruction has the first syllable as "sa'a" meaning "tribe or people" and "moa" meaning "deep sea or ocean" to convey the meaning "people of the deep sea" Topic: San Marinoconventional long form: Republic of San Marino conventional short form: San Marino local long form: Repubblica di San Marino local short form: San Marino etymology: named after Saint MARINUS, who in A.D. 301 founded the monastic settlement around which the city and later the state of San Marino coalesced Topic: Sao Tome and Principeconventional long form: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe conventional short form: Sao Tome and Principe local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe local short form: Sao Tome e Principe etymology: Sao Tome was named after Saint THOMAS the Apostle by the Portuguese who discovered the island on 21 December 1470 (or 1471), the saint's feast day; Principe is a shortening of the original Portuguese name of "Ilha do Principe" (Isle of the Prince) referring to the Prince of Portugal to whom duties on the island's sugar crop were paid Topic: Saudi Arabiaconventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia conventional short form: Saudi Arabia local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah etymology: named after the ruling dynasty of the country, the House of Saud; the name "Arabia" can be traced back many centuries B.C., the ancient Egyptians referred to the region as "Ar Rabi" Topic: Senegalconventional long form: Republic of Senegal conventional short form: Senegal local long form: Republique du Senegal local short form: Senegal former: Senegambia (along with The Gambia), Mali Federation etymology: named for the Senegal River that forms the northern border of the country; many theories exist for the origin of the river name; perhaps the most widely cited derives the name from "Azenegue," the Portuguese appellation for the Berber Zenaga people who lived north of the river Topic: Serbiaconventional long form: Republic of Serbia conventional short form: Serbia local long form: Republika Srbija local short form: Srbija former: People's Republic of Serbia, Socialist Republic of Serbia etymology: the origin of the name is uncertain, but seems to be related to the name of the West Slavic Sorbs who reside in the Lusatian region in present-day eastern Germany; by tradition, the Serbs migrated from that region to the Balkans in about the 6th century A.D. Topic: Seychellesconventional long form: Republic of Seychelles conventional short form: Seychelles local long form: Republic of Seychelles local short form: Seychelles etymology: named by French Captain Corneille Nicholas MORPHEY after Jean Moreau de SECHELLES, the finance minister of France, in 1756 Topic: Sierra Leoneconventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone conventional short form: Sierra Leone local long form: Republic of Sierra Leone local short form: Sierra Leone etymology: the Portuguese explorer Pedro de SINTRA named the country "Serra Leoa" (Lion Mountains) for the impressive mountains he saw while sailing the West African coast in 1462 Topic: Singaporeconventional long form: Republic of Singapore conventional short form: Singapore local long form: Republic of Singapore local short form: Singapore etymology: name derives from the Sanskrit words "simha" (lion) and "pura" (city) to describe the city-state's leonine symbol Topic: Sint Maartenconventional long form: Country of Sint Maarten conventional short form: Sint Maarten local long form: Land Sint Maarten (Dutch)/ Country of Sint Maarten (English) local short form: Sint Maarten (Dutch and English) former: Netherlands Antilles; Curacao and Dependencies etymology: explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the island after Saint MARTIN of Tours because the 11 November 1493 day of discovery was the saint's feast day Topic: Slovakiaconventional long form: Slovak Republic conventional short form: Slovakia local long form: Slovenska republika local short form: Slovensko etymology: may derive from the medieval Latin word "Slavus" (Slav), which had the local form "Sloven", used since the 13th century to refer to the territory of Slovakia and its inhabitants Topic: Sloveniaconventional long form: Republic of Slovenia conventional short form: Slovenia local long form: Republika Slovenija local short form: Slovenija former: People's Republic of Slovenia, Socialist Republic of Slovenia etymology: the country's name means "Land of the Slavs" in Slovene Topic: Solomon Islandsconventional long form: none conventional short form: Solomon Islands local long form: none local short form: Solomon Islands former: British Solomon Islands etymology: Spanish explorer Alvaro de MENDANA named the isles in 1568 after the wealthy biblical King SOLOMON in the mistaken belief that the islands contained great riches Topic: Somaliaconventional long form: Federal Republic of Somalia conventional short form: Somalia local long form: Jamhuuriyadda Federaalka Soomaaliya (Somali)/ Jumhuriyat as Sumal al Fidiraliyah (Arabic) local short form: Soomaaliya (Somali)/ As Sumal (Arabic) former: British Somaliland, Italian Somaliland, Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic etymology: "Land of the Somali" (ethnic group) Topic: South Africaconventional long form: Republic of South Africa conventional short form: South Africa former: Union of South Africa abbreviation: RSA etymology: self-descriptive name from the country's location on the continent; "Africa" is derived from the Roman designation of the area corresponding to present-day Tunisia "Africa terra," which meant "Land of the Afri" (the tribe resident in that area), but which eventually came to mean the entire continent Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islandsconventional long form: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands conventional short form: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands abbreviation: SGSSI etymology: South Georgia was named "the Isle of Georgia" in 1775 by Captain James COOK in honor of British King GEORGE III; the explorer also discovered the Sandwich Islands Group that year, which he named "Sandwich Land" after John MONTAGU, the Earl of Sandwich and First Lord of the Admiralty; the word "South" was later added to distinguish these islands from the other Sandwich Islands, now known as the Hawaiian Islands Topic: South Sudanconventional long form: Republic of South Sudan conventional short form: South Sudan etymology: self-descriptive name from the country's former position within Sudan prior to independence; the name "Sudan" derives from the Arabic "bilad-as-sudan" meaning "Land of the Black [peoples]" Topic: Southern Oceanetymology: the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) included the ocean and its definition as the waters south of 60 degrees south in its year 2000 revision, but this has not formally been adopted; the 2000 IHO definition, however, was circulated in a draft edition in 2002 and has acquired de facto usage by many nations and organizations, including the CIA Topic: Spainconventional long form: Kingdom of Spain conventional short form: Spain local long form: Reino de Espana local short form: Espana etymology: derivation of the name "Espana" is uncertain, but may come from the Phoenician term "span," related to the word "spy," meaning "to forge metals," so, "i-spn-ya" would mean "place where metals are forged"; the ancient Phoenicians long exploited the Iberian Peninsula for its mineral wealth Topic: Spratly Islandsconventional long form: none conventional short form: Spratly Islands etymology: named after a British whaling captain Richard SPRATLY, who sighted Spratly Island in 1843; the name of the island eventually passed to the entire archipelago Topic: Sri Lankaconventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka conventional short form: Sri Lanka local long form: Shri Lanka Prajatantrika Samajavadi Janarajaya (Sinhala)/ Ilankai Jananayaka Choshalichak Kutiyarachu (Tamil) local short form: Shri Lanka (Sinhala)/ Ilankai (Tamil) former: Serendib, Ceylon etymology: the name means "resplendent island" in Sanskrit Topic: Sudanconventional long form: Republic of the Sudan conventional short form: Sudan local long form: Jumhuriyat as-Sudan local short form: As-Sudan former: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Sudan etymology: the name "Sudan" derives from the Arabic "bilad-as-sudan" meaning "Land of the Black [peoples]" Topic: Surinameconventional long form: Republic of Suriname conventional short form: Suriname local long form: Republiek Suriname local short form: Suriname former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana etymology: name may derive from the indigenous "Surinen" people who inhabited the area at the time of European contact Topic: Svalbardconventional long form: none conventional short form: Svalbard (sometimes referred to as Spitsbergen, the largest island in the archipelago) etymology: 12th century Norse accounts speak of the discovery of a "Svalbard" - literally "cold shores" - but they may have referred to Jan Mayen Island or eastern Greenland; the archipelago was traditionally known as Spitsbergen, but Norway renamed it Svalbard in the 1920s when it assumed sovereignty of the islands Topic: Swedenconventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden conventional short form: Sweden local long form: Konungariket Sverige local short form: Sverige etymology: name ultimately derives from the North Germanic Svear tribe, which inhabited central Sweden and is first mentioned in the first centuries A.D. Topic: Switzerlandconventional long form: Swiss Confederation conventional short form: Switzerland local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German)/ Confederation Suisse (French)/ Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)/ Confederaziun Svizra (Romansh) local short form: Schweiz (German)/ Suisse (French)/ Svizzera (Italian)/ Svizra (Romansh) abbreviation: CH etymology: name derives from the canton of Schwyz, one of the founding cantons of the Old Swiss Confederacy that formed in the 14th century Topic: Syriaconventional long form: Syrian Arab Republic conventional short form: Syria local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah local short form: Suriyah former: United Arab Republic (with Egypt) etymology: name ultimately derived from the ancient Assyrians who dominated northern Mesopotamia, but whose reach also extended westward to the Levant; over time, the name came to be associated more with the western area Topic: Taiwanconventional long form: none conventional short form: Taiwan local long form: none local short form: Taiwan former: Formosa etymology: "Tayowan" was the name of the coastal sandbank where the Dutch erected their colonial headquarters on the island in the 17th century; the former name "Formosa" means "beautiful" in Portuguese Topic: Tajikistanconventional long form: Republic of Tajikistan conventional short form: Tajikistan local long form: Jumhurii Tojikiston local short form: Tojikiston former: Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic etymology: the Persian suffix "-stan" means "place of" or "country," so the word Tajikistan literally means "Land of the Tajik [people]" Topic: Tanzaniaconventional long form: United Republic of Tanzania conventional short form: Tanzania local long form: Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania local short form: Tanzania former: German East Africa, Trust Territory of Tanganyika, Republic of Tanganyika, People's Republic of Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar etymology: the country's name is a combination of the first letters of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, the two states that merged to form Tanzania in 1964 Topic: Thailandconventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand conventional short form: Thailand local long form: Ratcha Anachak Thai local short form: Prathet Thai former: Siam etymology: Land of the Tai [People]"; the meaning of "tai" is uncertain, but may originally have meant "human beings," "people," or "free people Topic: Timor-Lesteconventional long form: Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste conventional short form: Timor-Leste local long form: Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e (Tetum)/ Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste (Portuguese) local short form: Timor Lorosa'e (Tetum)/ Timor-Leste (Portuguese) former: East Timor, Portuguese Timor etymology: timor" derives from the Indonesian and Malay word "timur" meaning "east"; "leste" is the Portuguese word for "east", so "Timor-Leste" literally means "Eastern-East"; the local [Tetum] name "Timor Lorosa'e" translates as "East Rising Sun" note: pronounced TEE-mor LESS-tay Topic: Togoconventional long form: Togolese Republic conventional short form: Togo local long form: Republique Togolaise local short form: none former: French Togoland etymology: derived from the Ewe words "to" (river) and "godo" (on the other side) to give the sense of "on the other side of the river"; originally, this designation applied to the town of Togodo (now Togoville) on the northern shore of Lake Togo, but the name was eventually extended to the entire nation Topic: Tokelauconventional long form: none conventional short form: Tokelau former: Union Islands, Tokelau Islands etymology: "tokelau" is a Polynesian word meaning "north wind" Topic: Tongaconventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga conventional short form: Tonga local long form: Pule'anga Fakatu'i 'o Tonga local short form: Tonga former: Friendly Islands etymology: "tonga" means "south" in the Tongan language and refers to the country's geographic position in relation to central Polynesia Topic: Trinidad and Tobagoconventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago conventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago etymology: explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the larger island "La Isla de la Trinidad" (The Island of the Trinity) on 31 July 1498 on his third voyage; the tobacco grown and smoked by the natives of the smaller island or its elongated cigar shape may account for the "tobago" name, which is spelled "tobaco" in Spanish Topic: Tunisiaconventional long form: Republic of Tunisia conventional short form: Tunisia local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah local short form: Tunis etymology: the country name derives from the capital city of Tunis Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)conventional long form: Republic of Turkey conventional short form: Turkey local long form: Turkey Cumhuriyeti local short form: Turkey etymology: the name means "Land of the Turks" note: Turkiye is an approved English short-form name for Turkey Topic: Turkmenistanconventional long form: none conventional short form: Turkmenistan local long form: none local short form: Turkmenistan former: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic etymology: the suffix "-stan" means "place of" or "country," so Turkmenistan literally means the "Land of the Turkmen [people]" Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandsconventional long form: none conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands abbreviation: TCI etymology: the Turks Islands are named after the Turk's cap cactus (native to the islands and appearing on the flag and coat of arms), while the Caicos Islands derive from the native term "caya hico" meaning "string of islands" Topic: Tuvaluconventional long form: none conventional short form: Tuvalu local long form: none local short form: Tuvalu former: Ellice Islands etymology: "tuvalu" means "group of eight" or "eight standing together" referring to the country's eight traditionally inhabited islands Topic: Ugandaconventional long form: Republic of Uganda conventional short form: Uganda etymology: from the name "Buganda," adopted by the British as the designation for their East African colony in 1894; Buganda had been a powerful East African state during the 18th and 19th centuries Topic: Ukraineconventional long form: none conventional short form: Ukraine local long form: none local short form: Ukraina former: Ukrainian National Republic, Ukrainian State, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic etymology: name derives from the Old East Slavic word "ukraina" meaning "borderland or march (militarized border region)" and began to be used extensively in the 19th century; originally Ukrainians referred to themselves as Rusyny (Rusyns, Ruthenians, or Ruthenes), an endonym derived from the medieval Rus state (Kyivan Rus) Topic: United Arab Emiratesconventional long form: United Arab Emirates conventional short form: none local long form: Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah local short form: none former: Trucial Oman, Trucial States abbreviation: UAE etymology: self-descriptive country name; the name "Arabia" can be traced back many centuries B.C., the ancient Egyptians referred to the region as "Ar Rabi"; "emirates" derives from "amir" the Arabic word for "commander," "lord," or "prince" Topic: United Kingdomconventional long form: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; note - the island of Great Britain includes England, Scotland, and Wales conventional short form: United Kingdom abbreviation: UK etymology: self-descriptive country name; the designation "Great Britain," in the sense of "Larger Britain," dates back to medieval times and was used to distinguish the island from "Little Britain," or Brittany in modern France; the name Ireland derives from the Gaelic "Eriu," the matron goddess of Ireland (goddess of the land) Topic: United Statesconventional long form: United States of America conventional short form: United States abbreviation: US or USA etymology: the name America is derived from that of Amerigo VESPUCCI (1454-1512) - Italian explorer, navigator, and cartographer - using the Latin form of his name, Americus, feminized to America Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refugesconventional long form: none conventional short form: Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Palmyra Atoll etymology: self-descriptive name specifying the territories' affiliation and location Topic: Uruguayconventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay conventional short form: Uruguay local long form: Republica Oriental del Uruguay local short form: Uruguay former: Banda Oriental, Cisplatine Province etymology: name derives from the Spanish pronunciation of the Guarani Indian designation of the Uruguay River, which makes up the western border of the country and whose name later came to be applied to the entire country Topic: Uzbekistanconventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistan conventional short form: Uzbekistan local long form: O'zbekiston Respublikasi local short form: O'zbekiston former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic etymology: a combination of the Turkic words "uz" (self) and "bek" (master) with the Persian suffix "-stan" (country) to give the meaning "Land of the Free" Topic: Vanuatuconventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu conventional short form: Vanuatu local long form: Ripablik blong Vanuatu local short form: Vanuatu former: New Hebrides etymology: derived from the words "vanua" (home or land) and "tu" (stand) that occur in several of the Austonesian languages spoken on the islands and which provide a meaning of "the land remains" but which also convey a sense of "independence" or "our land" Topic: Venezuelaconventional long form: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela conventional short form: Venezuela local long form: Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela local short form: Venezuela former: State of Venezuela, Republic of Venezuela, United States of Venezuela etymology: native stilt-houses built on Lake Maracaibo reminded early explorers Alonso de OJEDA and Amerigo VESPUCCI in 1499 of buildings in Venice and so they named the region "Venezuola," which in Italian means "Little Venice" Topic: Vietnamconventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnam conventional short form: Vietnam local long form: Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Nam local short form: Viet Nam former: Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam), Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) abbreviation: SRV etymology: "Viet nam" translates as "Viet south," where "Viet" is an ethnic self identification dating to a second century B.C. kingdom and "nam" refers to its location in relation to other Viet kingdoms Topic: Virgin Islandsconventional long form: none conventional short form: Virgin Islands former: Danish West Indies abbreviation: VI etymology: the myriad islets, cays, and rocks surrounding the major islands reminded Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 of Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgin followers (Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Virgenes), which over time shortened to the Virgins (las Virgenes) Topic: Wake Islandconventional long form: none conventional short form: Wake Island etymology: although first discovered by British Captain William WAKE in 1792, the island is named after British Captain Samuel WAKE, who rediscovered the island in 1796 Topic: Wallis and Futunaconventional long form: Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands conventional short form: Wallis and Futuna local long form: Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna local short form: Wallis et Futuna former: Hoorn Islands is the former name of the Futuna Islands etymology: Wallis Island is named after British Captain Samuel WALLIS, who discovered it in 1767; Futuna is derived from the native word "futu," which is the name of the fish-poison tree found on the island Topic: West Bankconventional long form: none conventional short form: West Bank etymology: name refers to the location of the region of the British Mandate of Palestine that was occupied and administered by Jordan in 1948, as it is located on the far side (west bank) of the Jordan River in relation to Jordan proper; the designation was retained following the 1967 Six-Day War and the subsequent changes in administration Topic: Worldnote: countries with names connected to animals include: Albania "Land of the Eagles"; Anguilla (the name means "eel"); Bhutan "Land of the Thunder Dragon"; Cameroon (the name derives from "prawns"); Cayman Islands (named after the caiman, a marine crocodile); Faroe Islands (from Old Norse meaning "sheep"); Georgia "Land of the Wolves"; Italy "Land of Young Cattle"; Kosovo "Field of Blackbirds"; Sierra Leone "Lion Mountains"; Singapore "Lion City" Topic: Yemenconventional long form: Republic of Yemen conventional short form: Yemen local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah local short form: Al Yaman former: Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen] etymology: name derivation remains unclear but may come from the Arab term "yumn" (happiness) and be related to the region's classical name "Arabia Felix" (Fertile or Happy Arabia); the Romans referred to the rest of the peninsula as "Arabia Deserta" (Deserted Arabia) Topic: Zambiaconventional long form: Republic of Zambia conventional short form: Zambia former: Northern Rhodesia etymology: name derived from the Zambezi River, which flows through the western part of the country and forms its southern border with neighboring Zimbabwe Topic: Zimbabweconventional long form: Republic of Zimbabwe conventional short form: Zimbabwe former: Southern Rhodesia, Rhodesia, Zimbabwe-Rhodesia etymology: takes its name from the Kingdom of Zimbabwe (13th-15th century) and its capital of Great Zimbabwe, the largest stone structure in pre-colonial southern Africa

20220901

countries-brazil-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise increased caution in Brazil due to crime. Some areas have increased risk. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws, and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp. A visa is not required. US Embassy/Consulate: [55] (61) 3312-7000; US Embassy in Brasilia, SES – Av. das Nações, Quadra 801, Lote 03, 70403-900 – Brasília, DF; https://br.usembassy.gov/; BrasilliaACS@state.gov Telephone Code: 55 Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 192 or 193 ; Fire: 193; Police: 190 Vaccinations: An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations. http://www.who.int/ Climate: Mostly tropical, but temperate in south Currency (Code): Reals (BRL) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 220 V / 60 Hz / plug types(s): C, N (No standard voltage) Major Languages: Portuguese Major Religions: Roman Catholic 64.6%, other Catholic 0.4%, Protestant 22.2%, other Christian 0.7%, Spiritis 2.2% Time Difference: Federal District (UTC -3), Llha Fernando de Noronha (UTC -2), Manaus (UTC -4), Rio Branco (UTC -5) Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested; if you plan to drive in Brazil, you will need an Inter-American Driving Permit issued by the AAA Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Rio Carnival; Iguazu Falls; Lencois Maranhenses National Park; Christ the Redeemer Statue; Fernando De Noronha archipelago; Amazon Theatre; Canoa Quebrada; Botanical Garden of Curitiba; Amazon Rain Forest Major Sports: Soccer, volleyball, basketball, capoeria (Afro-Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance, acrobatics, and music) Cultural Practices: Street markets (feira) are a popular feature in all areas of Brazil. They offer a wide selection of unique foods. Coxinha (ko-sheen-ya), a type of minced chicken [croquettes], is especially popular. Tipping Guidelines: A standard service fee of 10% is included at most restaurants and bars; if not, you may leave a 10-15% tip. Round up the fare for a taxi driver's tip. Leave loose change for housekeeping each night. Souvenirs: Woven hammocks, carved wooden figurines and musical instruments, gold and silver gemstone jewelry, handmade lace, feather headdresses Traditional Cuisine: Feijoada — kidney or black beans stewed with beef and pork and sometimes vegetablesPlease visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Wednesday, July 20, 2022

20220901

countries-antarctica

Topic: Photos of Antarctica Topic: Introduction Background: Speculation over the existence of a "southern land" was not confirmed until the early 1820s when British and American commercial operators and British and Russian national expeditions began exploring the Antarctic Peninsula region and other areas south of the Antarctic Circle. Not until 1840 was it established that Antarctica was indeed a continent and not merely a group of islands or an area of ocean. Several exploration "firsts" were achieved in the early 20th century, but generally the area saw little human activity. Following World War II, however, the continent experienced an upsurge in scientific research. A number of countries have set up a range of year-round and seasonal stations, camps, and refuges to support scientific research in Antarctica. Seven have made territorial claims and two maintain the basis for a claim, but most countries do not recognize these claims. In order to form a legal framework for the activities of nations on the continent, an Antarctic Treaty was negotiated that neither denies nor gives recognition to existing territorial claims; signed in 1959, it entered into force in 1961.  Also relevant to Antarctic governance are the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty and the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: continent mostly south of the Antarctic Circle Geographic coordinates: 90 00 S, 0 00 E Map references: Antarctic Region Area: total: 14.2 million sq km land: 14.2 million sq km (285,000 sq km ice-free, 13.915 million sq km ice-covered) (est.) note: fifth-largest continent, following Asia, Africa, North America, and South America, but larger than Australia and the subcontinent of Europe Area - comparative: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US Land boundaries: 0 note: see entry on Disputes - internationalnote: see entry on Disputes - international Coastline: 17,968 km Maritime claims: Australia, Chile, and Argentina claim Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) rights or similar over 200 nm extensions seaward from their continental claims, but like the claims themselves, these zones are not accepted by other countries; 22 of 29 Antarctic Treaty consultative parties have made no claims to Antarctic territory, although Russia and the United States have reserved the right to do so, and no country can make a new claim; also see the Disputes - international entry Climate: the coldest, windiest, and driest continent on Earth; severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and distance from the ocean; East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica because of its higher elevation; Antarctic Peninsula has the most moderate climate; higher temperatures occur in January along the coast and average slightly below freezing; summers characterized by continuous daylight, while winters bring continuous darkness; persistent high pressure over the interior brings dry, subsiding air that results in very little cloud cover Terrain: about 99% thick continental ice sheet and 1% barren rock, with average elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 m; mountain ranges up to nearly 5,000 m; ice-free coastal areas include parts of southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area, and parts of Ross Island on McMurdo Sound; glaciers form ice shelves along about half of the coastline, and floating ice shelves constitute 11% of the area of the continent Elevation: highest point: Vinson Massif 4,892 m lowest point: Denman Glacier more than -3,500 m (-11,500 ft) below sea level mean elevation: 2,300 m note: the lowest known land point in Antarctica is hidden in the Denman Glacier; at its surface is the deepest ice yet discovered and the world's lowest elevation not under seawater Natural resources: iron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum and other minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in small noncommercial quantities; mineral exploitation except for scientific research is banned by the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty; krill, icefish, toothfish, and crab have been taken by commercial fisheries, which are managed through the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Living Marine Resources (CCAMLR) Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) Natural hazards: katabatic (gravity-driven) winds blow coastward from the high interior; frequent blizzards form near the foot of the plateau; cyclonic storms form over the ocean and move clockwise along the coast; large icebergs may calve from ice shelf volcanism: volcanic activity on Deception Island and isolated areas of West Antarctica; other seismic activity rare and weak Geography - note: the coldest, windiest, highest (on average), and driest continent; during summer, more solar radiation reaches the surface at the South Pole than is received at the Equator in an equivalent period mostly uninhabitable, 99% of the land area is covered by the Antarctic ice sheet, the largest single mass of ice on earth covering an area of 14 million sq km (5.4 million sq mi) and containing 26.5 million cu km (6.4 million cu mi) of ice (this is almost 62% of all of the world's fresh water); if all this ice were converted to liquid water, one estimate is that it would be sufficient to raise the height of the world's oceans by 58 m (190 ft) Map description: Map of Antarctica showing the continent and its major regions (Lands) surrounded by the Southern Ocean. Also shown are two of the US research stations, McMurdo and Amundsen-Scott, not shown is Palmer Station located on the Antarctic Peninsula. Map of Antarctica showing the continent and its major regions (Lands) surrounded by the Southern Ocean. Also shown are two of the US research stations, McMurdo and Amundsen-Scott, not shown is Palmer Station located on the Antarctic Peninsula.  Topic: People and Society Population: no indigenous inhabitants, but there are both year-round and summer-only staffed research stations note: 54 countries have signed the 1959 Antarctic Treaty; 30 of those operate through their National Antarctic Program a number of seasonal-only (summer) and year-round research stations on the continent and its nearby islands south of 60 degrees south latitude (the region covered by the Antarctic Treaty); the population engaging in and supporting science or managing and protecting the Antarctic region varies from approximately 5,000 in summer to 1,100 in winter; in addition, approximately 1,000 personnel, including ship's crew and scientists doing onboard research, are present in the waters of the treaty region as of 2017, peak summer (December-February) maximum capacity in scientific stations - 4,877 total; Argentina 601, Australia 243, Belarus 12, Belgium 40, Brazil 66, Bulgaria 22, Chile 433, China 166, Czechia 20, Ecuador 34, Finland 17, France 90, France and Italy jointly 80, Germany 104, India 113, Italy 120, Japan 130, South Korea 130, Netherlands 10, NZ 86, Norway 70, Peru 30, Poland 40, Russia 335, South Africa 80, Spain 98, Sweden 20, Ukraine 24, UK 196, US 1,399, Uruguay 68 (2017) winter (June-August) maximum capacity in scientific station - 1,036 total; Argentina 221, Australia 52, Brazil 15, Chile 114, China 32, France 24, France and Italy jointly 13, Germany 9, India 48, Japan 40, Netherlands 10, South Korea 25, NZ 11, Norway 7, Poland 16, Russia 125, South Africa 15, Ukraine 12, UK 44, US 215, Uruguay 8 (2017) research stations operated within the Antarctic Treaty area (south of 60 degrees south latitude) by National Antarctic Programs year-round stations - approximately 40 total; Argentina 6, Australia 3, Brazil 1, Chile 6, China 2, France 1, France and Italy jointly 1, Germany 1, India 2, Japan 1, Netherlands 1, South Korea 2, NZ 1, Norway 1, Poland 1, Russia 5, South Africa 1, Ukraine 1, UK 2, US 3, Uruguay 2 (2017) a range of seasonal-only (summer) stations, camps, and refuges - Argentina, Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Brazil, Chile, China, Czechia, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, South Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, UK, US, and Uruguay (2017) in addition, during the austral summer some nations have numerous occupied locations such as tent camps, summer-long temporary facilities, and mobile traverses in support of research Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: the discovery of a large Antarctic ozone hole in the earth's stratosphere (the ozone layer) - first announced in 1985 - spurred the signing of the Montreal Protocol in 1987, an international agreement phasing out the use of ozone-depleting chemicals; the ozone layer prevents most harmful wavelengths of ultra-violet (UV) light from passing through the earth's atmosphere; ozone depletion has been shown to harm a variety of Antarctic marine plants and animals (plankton); in 2016, a gradual trend toward "healing" of the ozone hole was reported; since the 1990s, satellites have shown accelerating ice loss driven by ocean change; although considerable uncertainty remains, scientists are increasing our understanding and ability to model potential impacts of ice loss Climate: the coldest, windiest, and driest continent on Earth; severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and distance from the ocean; East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica because of its higher elevation; Antarctic Peninsula has the most moderate climate; higher temperatures occur in January along the coast and average slightly below freezing; summers characterized by continuous daylight, while winters bring continuous darkness; persistent high pressure over the interior brings dry, subsiding air that results in very little cloud cover Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Antarctica etymology: name derived from two Greek words meaning "opposite to the Arctic" or "opposite to the north" Government type: Antarctic Treaty Summary - the Antarctic region is governed by a system known as the Antarctic Treaty system; the system includes: 1. the Antarctic Treaty, signed on 1 December 1959 and entered into force on 23 June 1961, which establishes the legal framework for the management of Antarctica, 2. Measures, Decisions, and Resolutions adopted at Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings, 3. The Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972), 4. The Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980), and 5. The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (1991); the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings operate by consensus (not by vote) of all consultative parties at annual Treaty meetings; by January 2022, there were 54 treaty member nations: 29 consultative and 25 non-consultative; consultative (decision-making) members include the seven nations that claim portions of Antarctica as national territory (some claims overlap) and 22 non-claimant nations; the US and Russia have reserved the right to make claims; the US does not recognize the claims of others; Antarctica is administered through meetings of the consultative member nations; measures adopted at these meetings are carried out by these member nations (with respect to their own nationals and operations) in accordance with their own national laws; the years in parentheses indicate when a consultative member-nation acceded to the Treaty and when it was accepted as a consultative member, while no date indicates the country was an original 1959 treaty signatory; claimant nations are - Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, and the UK; nonclaimant consultative nations are - Belgium, Brazil (1975/1983), Bulgaria (1978/1998), China (1983/1985), Czechia (1962/2014), Ecuador (1987/1990), Finland (1984/1989), Germany (1979/1981), India (1983/1983), Italy (1981/1987), Japan, South Korea (1986/1989), Netherlands (1967/1990), Peru (1981/1989), Poland (1961/1977), Russia, South Africa, Spain (1982/1988), Sweden (1984/1988), Ukraine (1992/2004), Uruguay (1980/1985), and the US; non-consultative members, with year of accession in parentheses, are - Austria (1987), Belarus (2006), Canada (1988), Colombia (1989), Cuba (1984), Denmark (1965), Estonia (2001), Greece (1987), Guatemala (1991), Hungary (1984), Iceland (2015), Kazakhstan (2015), North Korea (1987), Malaysia (2011), Monaco (2008), Mongolia (2015), Pakistan (2012), Papua New Guinea (1981), Portugal (2010), Romania (1971), Slovakia (1962/1993), Slovenia (2019), Switzerland (1990), Turkey (1996), and Venezuela (1999); note - Czechoslovakia acceded to the Treaty in 1962 and separated into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993; Article 1 - area to be used for peaceful purposes only; military activity, such as weapons testing, is prohibited, but military personnel and equipment may be used for scientific research or any other peaceful purpose; Article 2 - freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation shall continue; Article 3 - free exchange of information and personnel, cooperation with the UN and other international agencies; Article 4 - does not recognize, dispute, or establish territorial claims and no new claims shall be asserted while the treaty is in force; Article 5 - prohibits nuclear explosions or disposal of radioactive wastes; Article 6 - includes under the treaty all land and ice shelves south of 60 degrees 00 minutes south and reserves high seas rights; Article 7 - treaty-state observers have free access, including aerial observation, to any area and may inspect all stations, installations, and equipment; advance notice of all expeditions and of the introduction of military personnel must be given; Article 8 - allows for jurisdiction over observers and scientists by their own states; Article 9 - frequent consultative meetings take place among member nations; Article 10 - treaty states will discourage activities by any country in Antarctica that are contrary to the treaty; Article 11 - disputes to be settled peacefully by the parties concerned or, ultimately, by the International Court of Justice; Articles 12, 13, 14 - deal with upholding, interpreting, and amending the treaty among involved nations; other agreements - some 200 measures adopted at treaty consultative meetings and approved by governments; the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed 4 October 1991 and entered into force 14 January 1998; this agreement provides for the protection of the Antarctic environment and includes five annexes that have entered into force: 1) environmental impact assessment, 2) conservation of Antarctic fauna and flora, 3) waste disposal and waste management, 4) prevention of marine pollution, 5) area protection and management; a sixth annex addressing liability arising from environmental emergencies has yet to enter into force; the Protocol prohibits all activities relating to mineral resources except scientific research; a permanent Antarctic Treaty Secretariat was established in 2004 in Buenos Aires, ArgentinaAntarctic Treaty Summary - the Antarctic region is governed by a system known as the Antarctic Treaty system; the system includes: 1. the Antarctic Treaty, signed on 1 December 1959 and entered into force on 23 June 1961, which establishes the legal framework for the management of Antarctica, 2. Measures, Decisions, and Resolutions adopted at Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings, 3. The Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972), 4. The Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980), and 5. The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (1991); the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings operate by consensus (not by vote) of all consultative parties at annual Treaty meetings; by January 2022, there were 54 treaty member nations: 29 consultative and 25 non-consultative; consultative (decision-making) members include the seven nations that claim portions of Antarctica as national territory (some claims overlap) and 22 non-claimant nations; the US and Russia have reserved the right to make claims; the US does not recognize the claims of others; Antarctica is administered through meetings of the consultative member nations; measures adopted at these meetings are carried out by these member nations (with respect to their own nationals and operations) in accordance with their own national laws; the years in parentheses indicate when a consultative member-nation acceded to the Treaty and when it was accepted as a consultative member, while no date indicates the country was an original 1959 treaty signatory; claimant nations are - Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, and the UK; nonclaimant consultative nations are - Belgium, Brazil (1975/1983), Bulgaria (1978/1998), China (1983/1985), Czechia (1962/2014), Ecuador (1987/1990), Finland (1984/1989), Germany (1979/1981), India (1983/1983), Italy (1981/1987), Japan, South Korea (1986/1989), Netherlands (1967/1990), Peru (1981/1989), Poland (1961/1977), Russia, South Africa, Spain (1982/1988), Sweden (1984/1988), Ukraine (1992/2004), Uruguay (1980/1985), and the US; non-consultative members, with year of accession in parentheses, are - Austria (1987), Belarus (2006), Canada (1988), Colombia (1989), Cuba (1984), Denmark (1965), Estonia (2001), Greece (1987), Guatemala (1991), Hungary (1984), Iceland (2015), Kazakhstan (2015), North Korea (1987), Malaysia (2011), Monaco (2008), Mongolia (2015), Pakistan (2012), Papua New Guinea (1981), Portugal (2010), Romania (1971), Slovakia (1962/1993), Slovenia (2019), Switzerland (1990), Turkey (1996), and Venezuela (1999); note - Czechoslovakia acceded to the Treaty in 1962 and separated into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993; Article 1 - area to be used for peaceful purposes only; military activity, such as weapons testing, is prohibited, but military personnel and equipment may be used for scientific research or any other peaceful purpose; Article 2 - freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation shall continue; Article 3 - free exchange of information and personnel, cooperation with the UN and other international agencies; Article 4 - does not recognize, dispute, or establish territorial claims and no new claims shall be asserted while the treaty is in force; Article 5 - prohibits nuclear explosions or disposal of radioactive wastes; Article 6 - includes under the treaty all land and ice shelves south of 60 degrees 00 minutes south and reserves high seas rights; Article 7 - treaty-state observers have free access, including aerial observation, to any area and may inspect all stations, installations, and equipment; advance notice of all expeditions and of the introduction of military personnel must be given; Article 8 - allows for jurisdiction over observers and scientists by their own states; Article 9 - frequent consultative meetings take place among member nations; Article 10 - treaty states will discourage activities by any country in Antarctica that are contrary to the treaty; Article 11 - disputes to be settled peacefully by the parties concerned or, ultimately, by the International Court of Justice; Articles 12, 13, 14 - deal with upholding, interpreting, and amending the treaty among involved nations; other agreements - some 200 measures adopted at treaty consultative meetings and approved by governments; the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed 4 October 1991 and entered into force 14 January 1998; this agreement provides for the protection of the Antarctic environment and includes five annexes that have entered into force: 1) environmental impact assessment, 2) conservation of Antarctic fauna and flora, 3) waste disposal and waste management, 4) prevention of marine pollution, 5) area protection and management; a sixth annex addressing liability arising from environmental emergencies has yet to enter into force; the Protocol prohibits all activities relating to mineral resources except scientific research; a permanent Antarctic Treaty Secretariat was established in 2004 in Buenos Aires, Argentina Legal system: Antarctica is administered through annual meetings - known as Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings - which include consultative member nations, non-consultative member nations, observer organizations, and expert organizations; decisions from these meetings are carried out by these member nations (with respect to their own nationals and operations) in accordance with their own national laws; more generally, the Antarctic Treaty area, that is to all areas between 60 and 90 degrees south latitude, is subject to a number of relevant legal instruments and procedures adopted by the states party to the Antarctic Treaty; note - US law, including certain criminal offenses by or against US nationals, such as murder, may apply extraterritoriality; some US laws directly apply to Antarctica; for example, the Antarctic Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. section 2401 et seq., provides civil and criminal penalties for the following activities unless authorized by regulation or statute: the taking of native mammals or birds; the introduction of nonindigenous plants and animals; entry into specially protected areas; the discharge or disposal of pollutants; and the importation into the US of certain items from Antarctica; violation of the Antarctic Conservation Act carries penalties of up to $10,000 in fines and one year in prison; the National Science Foundation and Department of Justice share enforcement responsibilities; Public Law 95-541, the US Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, as amended in 1996, requires expeditions from the US to Antarctica to notify, in advance, the Office of Oceans and Polar Affairs, Room 2665, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, which reports such plans to other nations as required by the Antarctic Treaty; for more information, contact antarctica@state.gov Flag description: unofficial; a True South flag, created in 2018, has quickly become popular for its simple yet elegant design and has been used by various National Antarctic Programs, Antarctic nonprofits, and expedition teams; the flag's meaning is described as: horizontal stripes of navy and white represent the long days and nights at Antarctica's extreme latitude; in the center, a lone white peak erupts from a field of snow and ice, echoing those of the bergs, mountains, and pressure ridges that define the Antarctic horizon; the long shadow it casts forms the unmistakable shape of a compass arrow pointed south, an homage to the continent's legacy of exploration; together, the two center shapes create a diamond, symbolizing the hope that Antarctica will continue to be a center of peace, discovery, and cooperation for generations to come Topic: Economy Economic overview: Scientific undertakings rather than commercial pursuits are the predominant human activity in Antarctica. Offshore fishing and tourism, both based abroad, account for Antarctica's limited economic activity. Antarctic Fisheries, within the area covered by the Convention on Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources currently target Patagonian toothfish, Antarctic toothfish, mackerel icefish and Antarctic krill. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) manages these fisheries using the ecosystem-based and precautionary approach.  The Commission’s objective is conservation of Antarctic marine living resources and it regulates the fisheries based on the level of information available, and maintaining existing ecological relationships.  While Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing has declined in the Convention area since 1990, it remains a concern A total of 73,670 tourists visited the Antarctic Treaty area in the 2019-2020 Antarctic summer, 32 percent greater than the 55,489 visitors in 2018-2019. These estimates were provided to the Antarctic Treaty by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators and do not include passengers on overflights. Nearly all of the tourists were passengers on commercial ships and several yachts that make trips during the summer.Scientific undertakings rather than commercial pursuits are the predominant human activity in Antarctica. Offshore fishing and tourism, both based abroad, account for Antarctica's limited economic activity.Antarctic Fisheries, within the area covered by the Convention on Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources currently target Patagonian toothfish, Antarctic toothfish, mackerel icefish and Antarctic krill. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) manages these fisheries using the ecosystem-based and precautionary approach.  The Commission’s objective is conservation of Antarctic marine living resources and it regulates the fisheries based on the level of information available, and maintaining existing ecological relationships.  While Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing has declined in the Convention area since 1990, it remains a concernA total of 73,670 tourists visited the Antarctic Treaty area in the 2019-2020 Antarctic summer, 32 percent greater than the 55,489 visitors in 2018-2019. These estimates were provided to the Antarctic Treaty by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators and do not include passengers on overflights. Nearly all of the tourists were passengers on commercial ships and several yachts that make trips during the summer. Topic: Energy Electricity: installed generating capacity: 0 kW (2020 est.) consumption: 0 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 0 kWh (2019 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 100 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 28,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 28,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 0 Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telecommunication systems: general assessment: local systems at some research stations (2019) domestic: commercial cellular networks operating in a small number of locations (2019) international: country code - none allocated; via satellite (including mobile Inmarsat and Iridium systems) to and from all research stations, ships, aircraft, and most field parties Internet country code: .aq Internet users: total: 4,400 (2016 est.) percent of population: 100% (2016 est.) Topic: Transportation Airports: total: 17 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 17 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 4 (2021) Heliports: 53 (2021) note: all year-round and seasonal stations operated by National Antarctic Programs stations have some kind of helicopter landing facilities, prepared (helipads) or unprepared Ports and terminals: most coastal stations have sparse and intermittent offshore anchorages; a few stations have basic wharf facilities Transportation - note: US coastal stations include McMurdo (77 51 S, 166 40 E) and Palmer (64 43 S, 64 03 W); government use only; all ships are subject to inspection in accordance with Article 7, Antarctic Treaty; relevant legal instruments and authorization procedures adopted by the states parties to the Antarctic Treaty regulating the Antarctic Treaty area have to be complied with (see "Legal System"); The Hydrographic Commission on Antarctica (HCA), a commission of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), is responsible for hydrographic surveying and nautical charting matters in Antarctic Treaty area; it coordinates and facilitates provision of accurate and appropriate charts and other aids to navigation in support of safety of navigation in region; membership of HCA is open to any IHO Member State whose government has acceded to the Antarctic Treaty and which contributes resources or data to IHO Chart coverage of the area Topic: Military and Security Military - note: the Antarctic Treaty of 1961 prohibits any measures of a military nature, such as the establishment of military bases and fortifications, the carrying out of military maneuvers, or the testing of any type of weapon; it permits the use of military personnel or equipment for scientific research or for any other peaceful purposes Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: the Antarctic Treaty freezes, and most states do not recognize, the land and maritime territorial claims made by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK (some overlapping) for three-fourths of the continent; the US and Russia reserve the right to make claimsthe Antarctic Treaty freezes, and most states do not recognize, the land and maritime territorial claims made by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK (some overlapping) for three-fourths of the continent; the US and Russia reserve the right to make claims

20220901

field-roadways-country-comparison

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20220901

countries-isle-of-man

Topic: Photos of Isle of Man Topic: Introduction Background: Part of the Norwegian Kingdom of the Hebrides until the 13th century when it was ceded to Scotland, the isle came under the British crown in 1765. Current concerns include reviving the almost extinct Manx Gaelic language. The Isle of Man is a British Crown dependency, which makes it a self-governing possession of the British Crown that is not part of the UK. The UK Government, however, remains constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland Geographic coordinates: 54 15 N, 4 30 W Map references: Europe Area: total: 572 sq km land: 572 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 160 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm Climate: temperate; cool summers and mild winters; overcast about a third of the time Terrain: hills in north and south bisected by central valley Elevation: highest point: Snaefell 621 m lowest point: Irish Sea 0 m Natural resources: none Land use: agricultural land: 74.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 43.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 30.9% (2018 est.) forest: 6.1% (2018 est.) other: 19.2% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012) Population distribution: most people concentrated in cities and large towns of which Douglas, in the southeast, is the largest Natural hazards: occasional high winds and rough seas Geography - note: one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the southwest and is a bird sanctuary Map description: Isle of Man map showing the major population centers of this UK crown dependency in the Irish Sea.Isle of Man map showing the major population centers of this UK crown dependency in the Irish Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 91,382 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Manxman(men), Manxwoman(women) adjective: Manx Ethnic groups: White 94.7%, Asian 3.1%, Mixed 1%, Black 0.6%, other 0.4% (2021 est.) note: data represent population by nationality Languages: English, Manx Gaelic (about 2% of the population has some knowledge) Religions: Christian 54.7%, Muslim 0.5%, Buddhist 0.5%, Hindu 0.4%, Jewish 0.2%, none 43.8% (2021 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 16.28% (male 7,688/female 7,046) 15-24 years: 11.02% (male 5,328/female 4,642) 25-54 years: 37.8% (male 17,080/female 17,131) 55-64 years: 13.82% (male 6,284/female 6,219) 65 years and over: 21.08% (2020 est.) (male 9,023/female 10,058) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Median age: total: 44.6 years male: 43.6 years female: 45.6 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.52% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 10.58 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 10.18 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 4.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: most people concentrated in cities and large towns of which Douglas, in the southeast, is the largest Urbanization: urban population: 53.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 27,000 DOUGLAS (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.18 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 4.24 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.59 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 82.04 years male: 80.23 years female: 84 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.89 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 99.1% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0.9% of population (2020) Current Health Expenditure: NA Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: NA Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 10.1% male: 11.8% female: 8.2% (2011 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: air pollution, marine pollution; waste disposal (both household and industrial) Climate: temperate; cool summers and mild winters; overcast about a third of the time Land use: agricultural land: 74.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 43.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 30.9% (2018 est.) forest: 6.1% (2018 est.) other: 19.2% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 53.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2017 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 50,551 tons (2011 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 25,276 tons (2011 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 50% (2011 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Isle of Man abbreviation: I.O.M. etymology: the name "man" may be derived from the Celtic word for "mountain" Government type: parliamentary democracy (Tynwald) Dependency status: British crown dependency Capital: name: Douglas geographic coordinates: 54 09 N, 4 29 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: name derives from the Dhoo and Glass Rivers, which flow through the valley in which the town is located and which in Manx mean the "dark" and the "light" rivers respectively Administrative divisions: none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 24 local authorities each with its own elections Independence: none (British Crown dependency) National holiday: Tynwald Day, 5 July (1417); date Tynwald Day was first recorded Constitution: history: development of the Isle of Man constitution dates to at least the 14th century amendments: proposed as a bill in the House of Keys, by the "Government," by a "Member of the House," or through petition to the House or Legislative Council; passage normally requires three separate readings and approval of at least 13 House members; following both House and Council agreement, assent is required by the lieutenant governor on behalf of the Crown; the constitution has been expanded and amended many times, last in 2020 Legal system: the laws of the UK apply where applicable and include Manx statutes Citizenship: see United Kingdom Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir John LORIMER (since 29 September 2021) head of government: Chief Minister Alfred CANNAN (since 12 October 2021) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the lieutenant governor elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister indirectly elected by the Tynwald for a 5-year term (eligible for second term); election last held on 23 September 2021 election results: Alfred CANNAN (independent) elected chief minister; Tynwald House of Keys vote - 21 of 24 Legislative branch: description: bicameral Tynwald or the High Court of Tynwald consists of: Legislative Council (11 seats; includes the President of Tynwald, 2 ex-officio members - the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man and the attorney general (non-voting) - and 8 members indirectly elected by the House of Keys with renewal of 4 members every 2 years; elected members serve 4-year terms) House of Keys (24 seats; 2 members directly elected by simple majority vote from 12 constituencies to serve 5-year terms) elections: Legislative Council - last held 29 February 2020 (next to be held on 28 February 2022) House of Keys - last held on 23 September 2021 (next to be held in September 2026) election results: Legislative Council - composition (as of 2021) - men 6, women 3, 2 vacancies; percent of women 27.3% House of Keys - percent of vote by party - Liberal Vannin 5.3%, Manx Labour Prty 5.1%, Green Party 3.3% independent 86.3%; seats by party - independent 21; Manx Labour Party 2, Liberal Vannin 1, Green Party 0; composition – men 14, women 10, percent of women 41.7%; note - total Tynwald percent of women 37.1%Legislative Council - composition (as of 2021) - men 6, women 3, 2 vacancies; percent of women 27.3%House of Keys - percent of vote by party - Liberal Vannin 5.3%, Manx Labour Prty 5.1%, Green Party 3.3% independent 86.3%; seats by party - independent 21; Manx Labour Party 2, Liberal Vannin 1, Green Party 0; composition – men 14, women 10, percent of women 41.7%; note - total Tynwald percent of women 37.1% Judicial branch: highest courts: Isle of Man High Court of Justice (consists of 3 permanent judges or "deemsters" and 1 judge of appeal; organized into the Staff of Government Division or Court of Appeal and the Civil Division); the Court of General Gaol Delivery is not formally part of the High Court but is administered as though part of the High Court and deals with serious criminal cases; note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) judge selection and term of office: deemsters appointed by the Lord Chancellor of England on the nomination of the lieutenant governor; deemsters can serve until age 70 subordinate courts: High Court; Court of Summary Gaol Delivery; Summary Courts; Magistrate's Court; specialized courts Political parties and leaders: Green Party [Andrew LANGAN-NEWTON] Liberal Vannin Party [Lawrie HOOPER] Manx Labor Party [Joney FARAGHER] Mec Vannin [Mark KERMODE] (sometimes referred to as the Manx Nationalist Party) note: most members sit as independentsGreen Party [Andrew LANGAN-NEWTON] Liberal Vannin Party [Lawrie HOOPER] Manx Labor Party [Joney FARAGHER] Mec Vannin [Mark KERMODE] (sometimes referred to as the Manx Nationalist Party) International organization participation: UPU Diplomatic representation in the US: none (British crown dependency) Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (British crown dependency) Flag description: red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (triskelion), in the center; the three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the knee; in order to have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides of the flag, a two-sided emblem is used; the flag is based on the coat of arms of the last recognized Norse King of Mann, Magnus III (r. 1252-65); the triskelion has its roots in an early Celtic sun symbol National symbol(s): triskelion (a motif of three legs); national colors: red, white National anthem: name: "Arrane Ashoonagh dy Vannin" (O Land of Our Birth) lyrics/music: William Henry GILL [English], John J. KNEEN [Manx]/traditional note: adopted 2003, in use since 1907; serves as a local anthem; as a British Crown dependency, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom) and is played when the sovereign, members of the royal family, or the lieutenant governor are present Topic: Economy Economic overview: Financial services, manufacturing, and tourism are key sectors of the economy. The government offers low taxes and other incentives to high-technology companies and financial institutions to locate on the island; this has paid off in expanding employment opportunities in high-income industries. As a result, agriculture and fishing, once the mainstays of the economy, have declined in their contributions to GDP. The Isle of Man also attracts online gambling sites and the film industry. Online gambling sites provided about 10% of the islands income in 2014. The Isle of Man currently enjoys free access to EU markets and trade is mostly with the UK. The Isle of Man’s trade relationship with the EU derives from the United Kingdom’s EU membership and will need to be renegotiated in light of the United Kingdom’s decision to withdraw from the bloc. A transition period is expected to allow the free movement of goods and agricultural products to the EU until the end of 2020 or until a new settlement is negotiated. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $6.792 billion (2015 est.) $7.428 billion (2014 est.) $6.298 billion (2013 est.) note: data are in 2014 US dollars Real GDP growth rate: -8.6% (2015 est.) 17.9% (2014 est.) 2.1% (2010 est.) Real GDP per capita: $84,600 (2014 est.) $86,200 (2013 est.) $73,700 (2012 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $6.792 billion (2015 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.1% (2017 est.) 1% (2016 est.) Credit ratings: Moody's rating: Aa3 (2020) Standard & Poors rating: N/A (2014) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 1% (FY12/13 est.) industry: 13% (FY12/13 est.) services: 86% (FY12/13 est.) Agricultural products: cereals, vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry Industries: financial services, light manufacturing, tourism Labor force: 41,790 (2006) Labor force - by occupation: manufacturing: 5% (2006 est.) construction: 8% (2006 est.) tourism: 1% (2006 est.) transport and communications: 9% (2006 est.) agriculture, forestry, and fishing: 2% (2006 est.) gas, electricity, and water: 1% (2006 est.) wholesale and retail distribution: 11% (2006 est.) professional and scientific services: 20% (2006 est.) public administration: 7% (2006 est.) banking and finance: 23% (2006 est.) entertainment and catering: 5% (2006 est.) miscellaneous services: 8% (2006 est.) Unemployment rate: 1.1% (2017 est.) 2% (April 2011 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 10.1% male: 11.8% female: 8.2% (2011 est.) Population below poverty line: NA Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 965 million (FY05/06 est.) expenditures: 943 million (FY05/06 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 0.3% (of GDP) (FY05/06 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 14.2% (of GDP) (FY05/06 est.) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March Exports: NANA Exports - commodities: tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, beef, lamb Imports: NANA Imports - commodities: timber, fertilizers, fish Debt - external: NANA Exchange rates: Manx pounds (IMP) per US dollar - 0.7836 (2017 est.) 0.738 (2016 est.) 0.738 (2015) 0.6542 (2014) 0.6472 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Topic: Communications Telecommunication systems: domestic: landline, telefax, mobile cellular telephone system international: country code - 44; fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, satellite earth station, submarine cable note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: national public radio broadcasts over 3 FM stations and 1 AM station; 2 commercial broadcasters operating with 1 having multiple FM stations; receives radio and TV services via relays from British TV and radio broadcasters Internet country code: .im Topic: Transportation Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: M Airports: total: 1 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021) Railways: total: 63 km (2008) narrow gauge: 6 km (2008) 1.076-m gauge (6 km electrified) 57 0.914-m gauge (29 km electrified) note: primarily summer tourist attractions Roadways: total: 500 km (2008) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Douglas, Ramsey Topic: Military and Security Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none identifiednone identified

20220901

countries-suriname

Topic: Photos of Suriname Topic: Introduction Background: First explored by the Spaniards in the 16th century and then settled by the English in the mid-17th century, Suriname became a Dutch colony in 1667. With the abolition of African slavery in 1863, workers were brought in from India and Java. The Netherlands granted the colony independence in 1975. Five years later, the civilian government was replaced by a military regime that soon declared Suriname a socialist republic. It continued to exert control through a succession of nominally civilian administrations until 1987, when international pressure finally forced a democratic election. In 1990, the military overthrew the civilian leadership, but a democratically elected government - a four-party coalition - returned to power in 1991. The coalition expanded to eight parties in 2005 and ruled until August 2010, when voters returned former military leader Desire BOUTERSE and his opposition coalition to power. President BOUTERSE was reelected unopposed in 2015. Opposition parties campaigned hard against BOUTERSE in the lead up to the May 2020 elections and, in July 2020, a coalition led by Chandrikapersad SANTOKHI’s VHP and Ronnie Brunswijk’s ABOP was installed. The SANTOKHI government promised to tackle COVID-19, the economic crisis it inherited, and corruption.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana Geographic coordinates: 4 00 N, 56 00 W Map references: South America Area: total: 163,820 sq km land: 156,000 sq km water: 7,820 sq km Area - comparative: slightly larger than Georgia Land boundaries: total: 1,907 km border countries (3): Brazil 515 km; French Guiana 556 km; Guyana 836 km Coastline: 386 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds Terrain: mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps Elevation: highest point: Juliana Top 1,230 m lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m mean elevation: 246 m Natural resources: timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore Land use: agricultural land: 0.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.1% (2018 est.) forest: 94.6% (2018 est.) other: 4.9% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 570 sq km (2012) Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km) Population distribution: population concentrated along the nothern coastal strip; the remainder of the country is sparsely populated Natural hazards: flooding Geography - note: smallest independent country on South American continent; mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna that, for the most part, is increasingly threatened by new development; relatively small population, mostly along the coast Map description: Suriname map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the North Atlantic Ocean.Suriname map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the North Atlantic Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 632,638 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Surinamer(s) adjective: Surinamese Ethnic groups: Hindustani (also known locally as "East Indians"; their ancestors emigrated from northern India in the latter part of the 19th century) 27.4%, Maroon (their African ancestors were brought to the country in the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves and escaped to the interior) 21.7%, Creole (mixed White and Black) 15.7%, Javanese 13.7%, mixed 13.4%, other 7.6%, unspecified 0.6% (2012 est.) Languages: Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is the native language of Creoles and much of the younger population and is lingua franca among others), Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese major-language sample(s): Het Wereld Feitenboek, een omnisbare bron van informatie. (Dutch) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English) Religions: Protestant 23.6% (includes Evangelical 11.2%, Moravian 11.2%, Reformed .7%, Lutheran .5%), Hindu 22.3%, Roman Catholic 21.6%, Muslim 13.8%, other Christian 3.2%, Winti 1.8%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, other 1.7%, none 7.5%, unspecified 3.2% (2012 est.) Demographic profile: Suriname is a pluralistic society consisting primarily of Creoles (persons of mixed African and European heritage), the descendants of escaped African slaves known as Maroons, and the descendants of Indian and Javanese (Indonesian) contract workers. The country overall is in full, post-industrial demographic transition, with a low fertility rate, a moderate mortality rate, and a rising life expectancy. However, the Maroon population of the rural interior lags behind because of lower educational attainment and contraceptive use, higher malnutrition, and significantly less access to electricity, potable water, sanitation, infrastructure, and health care.Some 350,000 people of Surinamese descent live in the Netherlands, Suriname's former colonial ruler. In the 19th century, better-educated, largely Dutch-speaking Surinamese began emigrating to the Netherlands. World War II interrupted the outflow, but it resumed after the war when Dutch labor demands grew - emigrants included all segments of the Creole population. Suriname still is strongly influenced by the Netherlands because most Surinamese have relatives living there and it is the largest supplier of development aid. Other emigration destinations include French Guiana and the United States. Suriname's immigration rules are flexible, and the country is easy to enter illegally because rainforests obscure its borders. Since the mid-1980s, Brazilians have settled in Suriname's capital, Paramaribo, or eastern Suriname, where they mine gold. This immigration is likely to slowly re-orient Suriname toward its Latin American roots.Suriname is a pluralistic society consisting primarily of Creoles (persons of mixed African and European heritage), the descendants of escaped African slaves known as Maroons, and the descendants of Indian and Javanese (Indonesian) contract workers. The country overall is in full, post-industrial demographic transition, with a low fertility rate, a moderate mortality rate, and a rising life expectancy. However, the Maroon population of the rural interior lags behind because of lower educational attainment and contraceptive use, higher malnutrition, and significantly less access to electricity, potable water, sanitation, infrastructure, and health care.Some 350,000 people of Surinamese descent live in the Netherlands, Suriname's former colonial ruler. In the 19th century, better-educated, largely Dutch-speaking Surinamese began emigrating to the Netherlands. World War II interrupted the outflow, but it resumed after the war when Dutch labor demands grew - emigrants included all segments of the Creole population. Suriname still is strongly influenced by the Netherlands because most Surinamese have relatives living there and it is the largest supplier of development aid. Other emigration destinations include French Guiana and the United States. Suriname's immigration rules are flexible, and the country is easy to enter illegally because rainforests obscure its borders. Since the mid-1980s, Brazilians have settled in Suriname's capital, Paramaribo, or eastern Suriname, where they mine gold. This immigration is likely to slowly re-orient Suriname toward its Latin American roots. Age structure: 0-14 years: 23.38% (male 72,642/female 69,899) 15-24 years: 17.2% (male 53,427/female 51,438) 25-54 years: 44.09% (male 136,889/female 131,868) 55-64 years: 8.78% (male 26,435/female 27,066) 65 years and over: 6.55% (2020 est.) (male 17,437/female 22,468) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 51.1 youth dependency ratio: 40.3 elderly dependency ratio: 10.8 potential support ratio: 9.3 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 31 years male: 30.6 years female: 31.4 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 1.13% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 15.38 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 6.59 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 2.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: population concentrated along the nothern coastal strip; the remainder of the country is sparsely populated Urbanization: urban population: 66.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 239,000 PARAMARIBO (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.55 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 120 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 30.25 deaths/1,000 live births male: 38.27 deaths/1,000 live births female: 21.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.42 years male: 68.81 years female: 76.27 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.92 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 39.1% (2018) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99.5% of population rural: 98.2% of population total: 99.1% of population unimproved: urban: 0.5% of population rural: 1.8% of population total: 0.9% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 9.7% (2019) Physicians density: 0.82 physicians/1,000 population (2018) Hospital bed density: 3 beds/1,000 population (2017) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 98.5% of population rural: 91.2% of population total: 96% of population unimproved: urban: 1.5% of population rural: 8.8% of population total: 4% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.1% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 5,200 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <200 Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 26.4% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 6.7% (2018) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 8.8% women married by age 18: 36% men married by age 18: 19.6% (2018 est.) Education expenditures: 7.2% of GDP (2019 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94.4% male: 96.1% female: 92.7% (2018) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 26.5% male: 18.7% female: 39.9% (2016 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 23.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 1.74 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 2.28 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds Land use: agricultural land: 0.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.1% (2018 est.) forest: 94.6% (2018 est.) other: 4.9% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 66.3% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 2.36% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 78,620 tons (2010 est.) Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 49.3 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 135.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 431.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 99 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Suriname conventional short form: Suriname local long form: Republiek Suriname local short form: Suriname former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana etymology: name may derive from the indigenous "Surinen" people who inhabited the area at the time of European contact Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Paramaribo geographic coordinates: 5 50 N, 55 10 W time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name may be the corruption of a Carib (Kalina) village or tribe named Parmirbo Administrative divisions: 10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica Independence: 25 November 1975 (from the Netherlands) National holiday: Independence Day, 25 November (1975) Constitution: history: previous 1975; latest ratified 30 September 1987, effective 30 October 1987 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership; amended 1992 Legal system: civil law system influenced by Dutch civil law; note - a new criminal code was enacted in 2017 International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Suriname dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Chandrikapersad SANTOKHI (since 16 July 2020); Vice President Ronnie BRUNSWIJK (since 16 July 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Chandrikapersad SANTOKHI (since 16 July 2020); Vice President Ronnie BRUNSWIJK (since 16 July 2020) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly; president and vice president serve a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 13 July 2020 (next to be held in May 2025) election results: Chandrikapersad SANTOKHI elected president unopposed; National Assembly vote - NA Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51 seats; members directly elected in 10 multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote, using the D'Hondt method, to serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 25 May 2020 (next to be held in May 2025) election results: percent of vote by party - VHP 41.1%, NDP 29.4%, ABOP 17.6%, NPS 7.8%, other 3.9%; seats by party - VHP 21, NDP 15, ABOP 9, NPS 4, other 2; composition - men 36, women 15, percent of women 29.4% Judicial branch: highest courts: High Court of Justice of Suriname (consists of the court president, vice president, and 4 judges); note - appeals beyond the High Court are referred to the Caribbean Court of Justice; human rights violations can be appealed to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights with judgments issued by the Inter-American Court on Human Rights judge selection and term of office: court judges appointed by the national president in consultation with the National Assembly, the State Advisory Council, and the Order of Private Attorneys; judges serve for life subordinate courts: cantonal courts Political parties and leaders: Alternative Combination or A-Com (coalition includes ABOP, KTPI, Party for Democracy and Development) Brotherhood and Unity in Politics or BEP [Ronnie ASABINA] Democratic Alternative '91 or DA91 [Angelique DEL CASTILLO] General Liberation and Development Party or ABOP [Ronnie BRUNSWIJK} National Democratic Party or NDP [Desire Delano BOUTERSE] National Party of Suriname or NPS [Gregory RUSLAND] Party for Democracy and Development in Unity or DOE [Carl BREEVELD] Party for National Unity and Solidarity or KTPI [Willy SOEMITA] People's Alliance (Pertjaja Luhur) or PL [Paul SOMOHARDJO] Progressive Workers' and Farmers' Union or PALU [Jim HOK] Progressive Reform Party or VHP [Chandrikapersad SANTOKHI] Reform and Renewal Movement or HVB [Raymond SAPOEN] Surinamese Labor Party or SPA [Guno CASTELEN] International organization participation: ACP, AOSIS, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jan Marten Willem SCHALKWIJK (since 19 April 2022) chancery: 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 629-4302 FAX: [1] (202) 629-4769 email address and website: amb.vs@gov.sr https://www.surinameembassy.org/ consulate(s) general: Miami Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Karen Lynn WILLIAMS (since 20 November 2018) embassy: 165 Kristalstraat, Paramaribo mailing address: 3390 Paramaribo Place, Washington DC  20521-3390 telephone: [597] 556-700 FAX: [597] 551-524 email address and website: caparamar@state.gov https://sr.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); a large, yellow, five-pointed star is centered in the red band; red stands for progress and love, green symbolizes hope and fertility, white signifies peace, justice, and freedom; the star represents the unity of all ethnic groups; from its yellow light the nation draws strength to bear sacrifices patiently while working toward a golden future National symbol(s): royal palm, faya lobi (flower); national colors: green, white, red, yellow National anthem: name: "God zij met ons Suriname!" (God Be With Our Suriname) lyrics/music: Cornelis Atses HOEKSTRA and Henry DE ZIEL/Johannes Corstianus DE PUY note: adopted 1959; originally adapted from a Sunday school song written in 1893 and contains lyrics in both Dutch and Sranang Tongo National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Central Suriname Nature Reserve (n); Historic Inner City of Paramaribo (c) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Suriname’s economy is dominated by the mining industry, with exports of oil and gold accounting for approximately 85% of exports and 27% of government revenues. This makes the economy highly vulnerable to mineral price volatility. The worldwide drop in international commodity prices and the cessation of alumina mining in Suriname significantly reduced government revenue and national income during the past few years. In November 2015, a major US aluminum company discontinued its mining activities in Suriname after 99 years of operation. Public sector revenues fell, together with exports, international reserves, employment, and private sector investment.   Economic growth declined annually from just under 5% in 2012 to -10.4% in 2016. In January 2011, the government devalued the currency by 20% and raised taxes to reduce the budget deficit. Suriname began instituting macro adjustments between September 2015 and 2016; these included another 20% currency devaluation in November 2015 and foreign currency interventions by the Central Bank until March 2016, after which time the Bank allowed the Surinamese dollar (SRD) to float. By December 2016, the SRD had lost 46% of its value against the dollar. Depreciation of the Surinamese dollar and increases in tariffs on electricity caused domestic prices in Suriname to rise 22.0% year-over-year by December 2017.   Suriname's economic prospects for the medium-term will depend on its commitment to responsible monetary and fiscal policies and on the introduction of structural reforms to liberalize markets and promote competition. The government's over-reliance on revenue from the extractive sector colors Suriname's economic outlook. Following two years of recession, the Fitch Credit Bureau reported a positive growth of 1.2% in 2017 and the World Bank predicted 2.2% growth in 2018. Inflation declined to 9%, down from 55% in 2016 , and increased gold production helped lift exports. Yet continued budget imbalances and a heavy debt and interest burden resulted in a debt-to-GDP ratio of 83% in September 2017. Purchasing power has fallen rapidly due to the devalued local currency. The government has announced its intention to pass legislation to introduce a new value-added tax in 2018. Without this and other measures to strengthen the country’s fiscal position, the government may face liquidity pressures.Suriname’s economy is dominated by the mining industry, with exports of oil and gold accounting for approximately 85% of exports and 27% of government revenues. This makes the economy highly vulnerable to mineral price volatility. The worldwide drop in international commodity prices and the cessation of alumina mining in Suriname significantly reduced government revenue and national income during the past few years. In November 2015, a major US aluminum company discontinued its mining activities in Suriname after 99 years of operation. Public sector revenues fell, together with exports, international reserves, employment, and private sector investment. Economic growth declined annually from just under 5% in 2012 to -10.4% in 2016. In January 2011, the government devalued the currency by 20% and raised taxes to reduce the budget deficit. Suriname began instituting macro adjustments between September 2015 and 2016; these included another 20% currency devaluation in November 2015 and foreign currency interventions by the Central Bank until March 2016, after which time the Bank allowed the Surinamese dollar (SRD) to float. By December 2016, the SRD had lost 46% of its value against the dollar. Depreciation of the Surinamese dollar and increases in tariffs on electricity caused domestic prices in Suriname to rise 22.0% year-over-year by December 2017. Suriname's economic prospects for the medium-term will depend on its commitment to responsible monetary and fiscal policies and on the introduction of structural reforms to liberalize markets and promote competition. The government's over-reliance on revenue from the extractive sector colors Suriname's economic outlook. Following two years of recession, the Fitch Credit Bureau reported a positive growth of 1.2% in 2017 and the World Bank predicted 2.2% growth in 2018. Inflation declined to 9%, down from 55% in 2016 , and increased gold production helped lift exports. Yet continued budget imbalances and a heavy debt and interest burden resulted in a debt-to-GDP ratio of 83% in September 2017. Purchasing power has fallen rapidly due to the devalued local currency. The government has announced its intention to pass legislation to introduce a new value-added tax in 2018. Without this and other measures to strengthen the country’s fiscal position, the government may face liquidity pressures. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $9.46 billion (2020 est.) $11.07 billion (2019 est.) $10.95 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 1.9% (2017 est.) -5.1% (2016 est.) -2.6% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $16,100 (2020 est.) $19,000 (2019 est.) $19,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $3.419 billion (2017 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 22% (2017 est.) 55.5% (2016 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: C (2020) Moody's rating: Caa3 (2020) Standard & Poors rating: SD (2020) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 11.6% (2017 est.) industry: 31.1% (2017 est.) services: 57.4% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 27.6% (2017 est.) government consumption: 11.7% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 52.5% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 26.5% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 68.9% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -60.6% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: rice, sugar cane, bananas, oranges, vegetables, plantains, coconuts, poultry, cassava, eggs Industries: gold mining, oil, lumber, food processing, fishing Industrial production growth rate: 1% (2017 est.) Labor force: 144,000 (2014 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 11.2% industry: 19.5% services: 69.3% (2010) Unemployment rate: 8.9% (2017 est.) 9.7% (2016 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 26.5% male: 18.7% female: 39.9% (2016 est.) Population below poverty line: 70% (2002 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 560.7 million (2017 est.) expenditures: 827.8 million (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -7.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 69.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 75.8% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 16.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$2 million (2017 est.) -$169 million (2016 est.) Exports: $2.29 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $2.24 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Switzerland 39%, United Arab Emirates 31%, Belgium 10% (2019) Exports - commodities: gold, lumber, refined petroleum, fish, cigarettes (2019) Imports: $2.41 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $2.07 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: United States 22%, Netherlands 14%, China 13%, Trinidad and Tobago 7%, Antigua and Barbuda 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, delivery trucks, excavation machinery, cars, construction vehicles (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $424.4 million (31 December 2017 est.) $381.1 million (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $1.7 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $1.436 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: Surinamese dollars (SRD) per US dollar - 7.53 (2017 est.) 6.229 (2016 est.) 6.229 (2015 est.) 3.4167 (2014 est.) 3.3 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 97.4% (2018) electrification - urban areas: 99% (2018) electrification - rural areas: 94.3% (2018) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 542,000 kW (2020 est.) consumption: 2,938,391,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.) imports: 808 million kWh (2019 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 234 million kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 40.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 58.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 14,800 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 15,800 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 89 million barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 7,571 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 14,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 10,700 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2020 est.) consumption: 0 cubic meters (2020 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 2.372 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 2.361 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 11,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 82.356 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 103,240 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 813,844 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 139.99 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Suriname is the smallest nation on the South American continent, with about 580,000 inhabitants; the only Dutch-speaking nation in South America, it has close affinities with the Caribbean, and is a member of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM); the state-owned incumbent telco, Telesur, is the only provider of fixed-line and fixed broadband services in Suriname; the country’s fixed-line infrastructure is reasonably reliable in the more populated coastal region, though poor in the interior; Telesur started building out a fiber network in Paramaribo 2013, and in June 2018, the company started with the rollout of the National Broadband Project (TNBP), which was completed in 2019; fixed teledensity and broadband penetration are slightly lower than average for Latin America and the Caribbean, while mobile penetration is significantly above the regional average and much higher than would be expected given the country’s relatively low GDP per capita; many Surinamese have up to three mobile lines with different providers, which has pushed up penetration figures although the number of subscribers has fallen in recent years as consumers have responded to economic pressures; the mobile market supports only two players: Telesur (trading as TeleG), and Digicel (part of Digicel Group, a significant operator across the Caribbean). In early 2015 Digicel acquired the only other operator, Uniqa, which only had about 5,000 subscribers; in January 2017 Digicel signed a deal to host the MVNO Transatel, which operates in a number of markets across the Caribbean and Latin America; through a refinancing measure, Digicel in May 2020 reduced its debts by more than 20%. (2021) domestic: fixed-line nearly 18 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity over 153 telephones per 100 persons; microwave radio relay network is in place (2020) international: country code - 597; landing point for the SG-SCS submarine cable linking South America with the Caribbean; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased servicesSuriname is the smallest nation on the South American continent, with about 580,000 inhabitants; the only Dutch-speaking nation in South America, it has close affinities with the Caribbean, and is a member of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM); the state-owned incumbent telco, Telesur, is the only provider of fixed-line and fixed broadband services in Suriname; the country’s fixed-line infrastructure is reasonably reliable in the more populated coastal region, though poor in the interior; Telesur started building out a fiber network in Paramaribo 2013, and in June 2018, the company started with the rollout of the National Broadband Project (TNBP), which was completed in 2019; fixed teledensity and broadband penetration are slightly lower than average for Latin America and the Caribbean, while mobile penetration is significantly above the regional average and much higher than would be expected given the country’s relatively low GDP per capita; many Surinamese have up to three mobile lines with different providers, which has pushed up penetration figures although the number of subscribers has fallen in recent years as consumers have responded to economic pressures; the mobile market supports only two players: Telesur (trading as TeleG), and Digicel (part of Digicel Group, a significant operator across the Caribbean). In early 2015 Digicel acquired the only other operator, Uniqa, which only had about 5,000 subscribers; in January 2017 Digicel signed a deal to host the MVNO Transatel, which operates in a number of markets across the Caribbean and Latin America; through a refinancing measure, Digicel in May 2020 reduced its debts by more than 20%. Broadcast media: 2 state-owned TV stations; 1 state-owned radio station; multiple private radio and TV stations (2019) Internet country code: .sr Internet users: total: 410,644 (2020 est.) percent of population: 70% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 92,270 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 4 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 20 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 272,347 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 33.2 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: PZ Airports: total: 55 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 6 over 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 5 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 49 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 45 (2021) Pipelines: 50 km oil (2013) Roadways: total: 4,304 km (2003) paved: 1,119 km (2003) unpaved: 3,185 km (2003) Waterways: 1,200 km (2011) (most navigable by ships with drafts up to 7 m) Merchant marine: total: 10 by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 3, other 2 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Paramaribo, Wageningen Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Suriname Army (National Leger, NL): Army, Navy, Air Force, Military Police (2022) Military expenditures: 1.2% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $100 million) 1.1% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $95 million) 1.1% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $95 million) 1.2% of GDP (2016 est.) (approximately $85 million) 1.4% of GDP (2015 est.) (approximately $110 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 2,000 total personnel (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Suriname Army has a limited inventory comprised of a mix of older, foreign-supplied equipment; since 2010, Suriname has received small quantities of military hardware from several countries, including the US (2022) Military service age and obligation: 18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2022) Military - note: key missions for the National Leger include border control and supporting domestic security; the military police has direct responsibility for immigration control at the country’s ports of entry; in addition, the military assists the police in combating crime, particularly narco-trafficking, including joint military and police patrols, as well as joint special security teams (2022) Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Suriname-Brazil: none identified Suriname-France (French Guiana): in March 2021, Suriname and France signed an agreement to  establish their border along the Maroni River and its tributary the Lawa River and to cooperate in combatting illegal gold mining; however, the area further south between the Litani and Marouini Rivers is still disputed, with Suriname claiming the border is along the Marouini to the east and France arguing it is along the Litani River to the west Suriname-Guyana: the two countries dispute the territory between two rivers, known as the New River Triangle, with Suriname contending that the New River (also called the Upper Corentyne) to the west marks their common border, while Guyana asserts that the Kutari River to the east forms the border; each side claims that their river is the source of the Corentyne River that forms a border further north between the two countries; the Permanent Court of Arbitration settled the maritime boundary between Suriname and Guyana in 2007 in an area with potentially substantial oil reserves  Suriname-Brazil: none identifiedSuriname-France (French Guiana): in March 2021, Suriname and France signed an agreement to  establish their border along the Maroni River and its tributary the Lawa River and to cooperate in combatting illegal gold mining; however, the area further south between the Litani and Marouini Rivers is still disputed, with Suriname claiming the border is along the Marouini to the east and France arguing it is along the Litani River to the westSuriname-Guyana: the two countries dispute the territory between two rivers, known as the New River Triangle, with Suriname contending that the New River (also called the Upper Corentyne) to the west marks their common border, while Guyana asserts that the Kutari River to the east forms the border; each side claims that their river is the source of the Corentyne River that forms a border further north between the two countries; the Permanent Court of Arbitration settled the maritime boundary between Suriname and Guyana in 2007 in an area with potentially substantial oil reserves  Illicit drugs: a transit country for South American cocaine en route to Europe, the United States and Africa; marijuana is the primary drug consumed locally

20220901

countries-christmas-island

Topic: Photos of Christmas Island Topic: Introduction Background: Although Europeans sighted the island as early as 1615, it was only named in 1643 by English Captain William MYNORS for the day of its rediscovery. Another English ship sailed by the island in 1688 and found it uninhabited. Attempts to explore the island over the next two centuries were hampered by steep cliffs and dense jungle. Phosphate discovery on the island in 1887, lead to the UK annexing it the following year. In 1898, the Christmas Island Phosphate Company brought in 200 Chinese indentured servants to work the mines, along with Malays, Sikhs, and a small number of Europeans. The UK administered Christmas Island from Singapore. Japan invaded the island in 1942, but islanders sabotaged Japanese mining operations, making the mines relatively unproductive. After World War II, Australia and New Zealand bought the Christmas Island Phosphate Company, and in 1958, the UK transferred sovereignty from Singapore to Australia in exchange for $20 million for the loss of future phosphate income. In 1980, Australia set up the Christmas Island National Park and expanded its boundaries throughout the 1980s until it covered more than 60% of the island’s territory. The phosphate mine was closed in 1987 because of environmental concerns and Australia has rejected several efforts to reopen it. In the 1980s, boats of asylum seekers started landing on Christmas Island and the migrants claimed refugee status since they were on Australian territory. In 2001, Australia declared Christmas Island outside the Australian migration zone and built an immigration detention center on the island. Completed in 2008, the controversial detention center was officially closed in 2018, but then reopened in early 2019. In 2020, the center served as a coronavirus quarantine facility for Australian citizens evacuated from China.Although Europeans sighted the island as early as 1615, it was only named in 1643 by English Captain William MYNORS for the day of its rediscovery. Another English ship sailed by the island in 1688 and found it uninhabited. Attempts to explore the island over the next two centuries were hampered by steep cliffs and dense jungle. Phosphate discovery on the island in 1887, lead to the UK annexing it the following year. In 1898, the Christmas Island Phosphate Company brought in 200 Chinese indentured servants to work the mines, along with Malays, Sikhs, and a small number of Europeans. The UK administered Christmas Island from Singapore. Japan invaded the island in 1942, but islanders sabotaged Japanese mining operations, making the mines relatively unproductive. After World War II, Australia and New Zealand bought the Christmas Island Phosphate Company, and in 1958, the UK transferred sovereignty from Singapore to Australia in exchange for $20 million for the loss of future phosphate income. In 1980, Australia set up the Christmas Island National Park and expanded its boundaries throughout the 1980s until it covered more than 60% of the island’s territory. The phosphate mine was closed in 1987 because of environmental concerns and Australia has rejected several efforts to reopen it. In the 1980s, boats of asylum seekers started landing on Christmas Island and the migrants claimed refugee status since they were on Australian territory. In 2001, Australia declared Christmas Island outside the Australian migration zone and built an immigration detention center on the island. Completed in 2008, the controversial detention center was officially closed in 2018, but then reopened in early 2019. In 2020, the center served as a coronavirus quarantine facility for Australian citizens evacuated from China.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia Geographic coordinates: 10 30 S, 105 40 E Map references: Southeast Asia Area: total: 135 sq km land: 135 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 138.9 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds Terrain: steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau Elevation: highest point: Murray Hill 361 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m Natural resources: phosphate, beaches Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: NA Population distribution: majority of the population lives on the northern tip of the island Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard Geography - note: located along major sea lanes of the Indian Ocean Map description: Christmas Island map showing the Australian territory in the Indian Ocean.Christmas Island map showing the Australian territory in the Indian Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 2,205 (2016 est.) Nationality: noun: Christmas Islander(s) adjective: Christmas Island Ethnic groups: Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10% (2001) note: no indigenous population Languages: English (official) 27.6%, Mandarin 17.2%, Malay 17.1%, Cantonese 3.9%, Min Nan 1.6%, Tagalog 1%, other 4.5%, unspecified 27.1% (2016 est.) note: data represent language spoken at home Religions: Muslim 19.4%, Buddhist 18.3%, Roman Catholic 8.8%, Protestant 6.5% (includes Anglican 3.6%, Uniting Church 1.2%, other 1.7%), other Christian 3.3%, other 0.6%, none 15.3%, unspecified 27.7% (2016 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 12.79% (2017 est.) (male 147/female 135) 15-24 years: 12.2% (2017 est.) (male 202/female 67) 25-54 years: 57.91% (2017 est.) (male 955/female 322) 55-64 years: 11.66% (2017 est.) (male 172/female 85) 65 years and over: 5.44% (2017 est.) (male 84/female 36) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Population growth rate: 1.11% (2014 est.) Birth rate: NA Death rate: NA Population distribution: majority of the population lives on the northern tip of the island Sex ratio: NA Infant mortality rate: total: NA male: NA female: NA Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA male: NA female: NA Total fertility rate: NA Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA Current Health Expenditure: NA HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: NA Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining Climate: tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island conventional short form: Christmas Island etymology: named by English Captain William MYNORS for the day of its rediscovery, Christmas Day (25 December 1643); the island had been sighted by Europeans as early as 1615 Government type: non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia Dependency status: non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities & Regional Development Capital: name: The Settlement (Flying Fish Cove) geographic coordinates: 10 25 S, 105 43 E time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: self-descriptive name for the main locus of population Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia) Independence: none (territory of Australia) National holiday: Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788) Constitution: history: 1 October 1958 (Christmas Island Act 1958) amendments: amended many times, last in 2020 Legal system: legal system is under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law Citizenship: see Australia Suffrage: 18 years of age Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia General David HURLEY (since 1 July 2019) head of government: Administrator Natasha GRIGGS (since 5 October 2017) elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Australian prime minister; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia for a 2-year term and represents the monarch and Australia Legislative branch: description: unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) elections: held every 2 years with half the members standing for election; last held in October 2021 (next to be held in October 2023) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - independent 9; composition as of 17 October 2021 - men 8, women 1, percent of women 11.1% Judicial branch: highest courts: under the terms of the Territorial Law Reform Act 1992, Western Australia provides court services as needed for the island, including the Supreme Court and subordinate courts (District Court, Magistrate Court, Family Court, Children's Court, and Coroners' Court) Political parties and leaders: none International organization participation: none Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia) Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (territory of Australia) Flag description: territorial flag; divided diagonally from upper hoist to lower fly; the upper triangle is green with a yellow image of the Golden Bosun Bird superimposed; the lower triangle is blue with the Southern Cross constellation, representing Australia, superimposed; a centered yellow disk displays a green map of the island note: the flag of Australia is used for official purposes National symbol(s): golden bosun bird National anthem: note: as a territory of Australia, "Advance Australia Fair" remains official as the national anthem, while "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see Australia)note: as a territory of Australia, "Advance Australia Fair" remains official as the national anthem, while "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see Australia) Topic: Economy Economic overview: The main economic activities on Christmas Island are the mining of low grade phosphate, limited tourism, the provision of government services and, since 2005, the construction and operation of the Immigration Detention Center. The government sector includes administration, health, education, policing, customs, quarantine, and defense. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): NANA Agricultural products: NA Industries: tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion) Labor force: NA Budget: revenues: NA expenditures: NA Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June Exports: NANA Exports - partners: Malaysia 36%, New Zealand 21%, Indonesia 20%, Australia 10% (2019) Exports - commodities: calcium phosphates, fertilizers, valves, air pumps, industrial printers (2019) Imports: NANA Imports - partners: Australia 80%, United States 7%, Canada 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, iron structures, aircraft, crustaceans (2019) Exchange rates: Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.311 (2017 est.) 1.3442 (2016 est.) 1.3442 (2015) 1.3291 (2014 est.) 1.1094 (2013 est.) Topic: Communications Telecommunication systems: general assessment: service provided by the Australian network domestic: local area code - 08; GSM mobile-cellular telephone service is provided by Telstra as part of the Australian network international: international code - 61 8; ASC submarine cable to Singapore and Australia; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat provides telephone and telex service) (2019) Broadcast media: 1 community radio station; satellite broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations (2017) Internet country code: .cx Internet users: total: 790 (2016 est.) percent of population: 36% (2016 est.) Topic: Transportation Airports: total: 1 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021) Railways: total: 18 km (2017) standard gauge: 18 km (2017) 1.435-m (not in operation) note: the 18-km Christmas Island Phosphate Company Railway between Flying Fish Cove and South Point was decommissioned in 1987; some tracks and scrap remain in place Roadways: total: 142 km (2011) paved: 32 km (2011) unpaved: 110 km (2011) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Flying Fish Cove Topic: Military and Security Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: nonenone

20220901

field-air-pollutants

This entry refers to specified gases and particulates released by various sources of animals, plants, goods, and processes that can contribute to global warming, poor air quality, pollution, and climate change. particulate matter emissions - This entry provides the modeled annual mean concentration of particulate matter of less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5) measured in micrograms per cubic meter of air. Exposure to PM2.5 pollutants should not exceed an annual mean concentration of 10 micrograms per cubic meter, according to World Health Organization guidelines. Particulate matter are inhalable and respirable particles composed of sulphate, nitrates, ammonia, sodium chloride, black carbon, mineral dust, and water. Fine particles less than 2.5 microns pose the greatest health risks because they can penetrate the lungs and enter the bloodstream. Sources include combustion engines, solid-fuel combustion, and other industrial activities. Exposure to high concentrations of particulate matter is associated with increased mortality and morbidity, although even low concentrations of particulate matter can impact health. By reducing air pollution levels, countries can decrease the burden of disease from stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and both chronic and acute respiratory diseases, including asthma. carbon dioxide emissions - This entry provides the annual quantity of carbon dioxide emissions for a country, as measured in megatons.  Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas emitted through human-influenced and natural processes. Human-influenced sources include the burning of fossil fuels (including coal, natural gas, and oil), solid waste, trees, and other biological materials, as well as certain chemical processes, such as cement production. Natural sources include decomposition, ocean release, and respiration. Carbon dioxide is a major contributor to climate warming, air quality, global warming, and pollution. methane emissions - This entry provides the annual quantity of methane emissions for a country, as measured in megatons. Methane is a greenhouse gas emitted from the breakdown of organic material from human-influenced and natural processes. Human-influenced sources include the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil; the decay of organic waste in landfills; agricultural activities; stationary and mobile combustion; waste water treatment; and certain industrial processes. Natural sources include the decay of plant material in wetlands, the seepage of gas from underground deposits, and the digestion of food by ruminants. Methane emissions cause poor air quality, health issues for animals and humans, and reduced crop yields, and are a contributor to climate change.This entry refers to specified gases and particulates released by various sources of animals, plants, goods, and processes that can contribute to global warming, poor air quality, pollution, and climate change. particulate matter emissions - This entry provides the modeled annual mean concentration of particulate matter of less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5) measured in micrograms per cubic meter of air. Exposure to PM2.5 pollutants should not exceed an annual mean concentration of 10 micrograms per cubic meter, according to World Health Organization guidelines. Particulate matter are inhalable and respirable particles composed of sulphate, nitrates, ammonia, sodium chloride, black carbon, mineral dust, and water. Fine particles less than 2.5 microns pose the greatest health risks because they can penetrate the lungs and enter the bloodstream. Sources include combustion engines, solid-fuel combustion, and other industrial activities. Exposure to high concentrations of particulate matter is associated with increased mortality and morbidity, although even low concentrations of particulate matter can impact health. By reducing air pollution levels, countries can decrease the burden of disease from stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and both chronic and acute respiratory diseases, including asthma. carbon dioxide emissions - This entry provides the annual quantity of carbon dioxide emissions for a country, as measured in megatons.  Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas emitted through human-influenced and natural processes. Human-influenced sources include the burning of fossil fuels (including coal, natural gas, and oil), solid waste, trees, and other biological materials, as well as certain chemical processes, such as cement production. Natural sources include decomposition, ocean release, and respiration. Carbon dioxide is a major contributor to climate warming, air quality, global warming, and pollution. methane emissions - This entry provides the annual quantity of methane emissions for a country, as measured in megatons. Methane is a greenhouse gas emitted from the breakdown of organic material from human-influenced and natural processes. Human-influenced sources include the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil; the decay of organic waste in landfills; agricultural activities; stationary and mobile combustion; waste water treatment; and certain industrial processes. Natural sources include the decay of plant material in wetlands, the seepage of gas from underground deposits, and the digestion of food by ruminants. Methane emissions cause poor air quality, health issues for animals and humans, and reduced crop yields, and are a contributor to climate change. Topic: Afghanistanparticulate matter emissions: 53.17 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 8.67 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 90.98 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Albaniaparticulate matter emissions: 17.87 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 4.54 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 2.55 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Algeriaparticulate matter emissions: 35.17 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 150.01 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 49.94 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Andorraparticulate matter emissions: 9.95 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.47 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.05 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Angolaparticulate matter emissions: 27.95 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 34.69 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 23.28 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Antigua and Barbudaparticulate matter emissions: 17.92 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.56 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.22 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Argentinaparticulate matter emissions: 11.83 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 201.35 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 120.66 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Armeniaparticulate matter emissions: 30.48 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 5.16 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 2.91 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Arubacarbon dioxide emissions: 0.88 megatons (2016 est.) Topic: Australiaparticulate matter emissions: 7.19 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 375.91 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 105.01 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Austriaparticulate matter emissions: 12.43 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 61.45 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 6.34 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Azerbaijanparticulate matter emissions: 18.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 37.62 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 44.87 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Bahamas, Theparticulate matter emissions: 17.56 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 1.79 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.23 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Bahrainparticulate matter emissions: 69.04 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 31.69 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 15.47 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Bangladeshparticulate matter emissions: 58.33 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 84.25 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 59.3 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Barbadosparticulate matter emissions: 22.24 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 1.28 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 2.35 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Belarusparticulate matter emissions: 18.06 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 58.28 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 17.19 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Belgiumparticulate matter emissions: 12.88 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 96.89 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 7.78 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Belizeparticulate matter emissions: 21.23 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.57 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.55 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Beninparticulate matter emissions: 33.11 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 6.48 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 5.8 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Bermudacarbon dioxide emissions: 0.61 megatons (2016 est.) Topic: Bhutanparticulate matter emissions: 35.32 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 1.26 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 1.11 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Boliviaparticulate matter emissions: 20.24 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 21.61 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 21.01 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinaparticulate matter emissions: 27.25 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 21.85 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 2.92 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Botswanaparticulate matter emissions: 21.24 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 6.34 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 5.73 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Brazilparticulate matter emissions: 11.49 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 462.3 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 401.83 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: British Virgin Islandscarbon dioxide emissions: 0.21 megatons (2016 est.) Topic: Bruneiparticulate matter emissions: 5.78 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 7.66 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 8.4 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Bulgariaparticulate matter emissions: 18.82 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 41.71 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 6.77 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Burkina Fasoparticulate matter emissions: 36.78 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 3.42 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 12.85 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Burmaparticulate matter emissions: 34.69 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 25.28 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 42.2 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Burundiparticulate matter emissions: 35.61 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.5 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 1.42 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Cabo Verdeparticulate matter emissions: 31.99 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.54 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.13 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Cambodiaparticulate matter emissions: 23.98 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 9.92 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 14.88 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Cameroonparticulate matter emissions: 65.26 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 8.29 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 30.71 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Canadaparticulate matter emissions: 6.48 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 544.89 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 101.82 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Cayman Islandscarbon dioxide emissions: 0.55 megatons (2016 est.) Topic: Central African Republicparticulate matter emissions: 49.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.3 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 22.44 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Chadparticulate matter emissions: 53.01 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 1.02 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 30.69 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Chileparticulate matter emissions: 21.03 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 85.82 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 15.97 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Chinaparticulate matter emissions: 49.16 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 9,893.04 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 1,490.24 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Colombiaparticulate matter emissions: 15.24 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 97.81 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 81.52 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Comorosparticulate matter emissions: 18.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.2 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.19 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of theparticulate matter emissions: 37.62 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 2.02 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 61.24 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Congo, Republic of theparticulate matter emissions: 38.67 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 3.28 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 2.24 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Cook Islandsparticulate matter emissions: 12.03 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) Topic: Costa Ricaparticulate matter emissions: 15.85 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 8.02 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 5.61 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Cote d'Ivoireparticulate matter emissions: 23.72 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 9.67 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 10.3 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Croatiaparticulate matter emissions: 17.03 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 17.49 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 3.98 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Cubaparticulate matter emissions: 18.37 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 28.28 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 9.3 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Curacaocarbon dioxide emissions: 5.39 megatons (2016 est.) Topic: Cyprusparticulate matter emissions: 16.79 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 6.63 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.86 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Czechiaparticulate matter emissions: 15.15 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 102.22 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 13.11 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Denmarkparticulate matter emissions: 10.12 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 31.79 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 6.54 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Djiboutiparticulate matter emissions: 40.38 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.62 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.52 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Dominicaparticulate matter emissions: 18.17 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.18 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.04 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Dominican Republicparticulate matter emissions: 12.95 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 25.26 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 8.1 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Ecuadorparticulate matter emissions: 14.91 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 41.15 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 23.51 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Egyptparticulate matter emissions: 79.28 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 238.56 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 59.68 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: El Salvadorparticulate matter emissions: 23.42 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 7.17 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 4.71 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Equatorial Guineaparticulate matter emissions: 45.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 5.65 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 11.21 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Eritreaparticulate matter emissions: 42.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.71 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 4.48 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Estoniaparticulate matter emissions: 6.74 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 16.59 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.99 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Eswatiniparticulate matter emissions: 16.26 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 1.16 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 1.9 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Ethiopiaparticulate matter emissions: 34.36 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 14.87 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 114.21 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: European Unioncarbon dioxide emissions: 2,881.62 megatons (2016 est.) Topic: Faroe Islandscarbon dioxide emissions: 0.63 megatons (2016 est.) Topic: Fijiparticulate matter emissions: 10.19 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 2.05 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.95 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Finlandparticulate matter emissions: 5.88 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 45.87 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 4.46 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Franceparticulate matter emissions: 11.64 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) methane emissions: 55.99 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: French Polynesiacarbon dioxide emissions: 0.77 megatons (2016 est.) Topic: Gabonparticulate matter emissions: 38.51 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 5.32 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 1.13 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Gambia, Theparticulate matter emissions: 32.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.53 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 1.96 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Gaza Stripcarbon dioxide emissions: 3.23 megatons (2016 est.) note: data represent combined total from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Topic: Georgiaparticulate matter emissions: 21.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 10.13 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 6.05 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Germanyparticulate matter emissions: 11.71 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 727.97 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 49.92 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Ghanaparticulate matter emissions: 31.95 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 16.67 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 22.75 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Gibraltarcarbon dioxide emissions: 0.63 megatons (2016 est.) Topic: Greeceparticulate matter emissions: 15.69 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 62.43 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 9.8 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Greenlandcarbon dioxide emissions: 0.51 megatons (2016 est.) Topic: Grenadaparticulate matter emissions: 21.56 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.27 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 2.04 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Guatemalaparticulate matter emissions: 23.59 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 16.78 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 10.7 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Guineaparticulate matter emissions: 22.43 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 3 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 11.13 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Guinea-Bissauparticulate matter emissions: 27.12 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.29 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 1.46 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Guyanaparticulate matter emissions: 20.46 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 2.38 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 1.81 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Haitiparticulate matter emissions: 14.63 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 2.98 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 6.12 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)methane emissions: 0 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Hondurasparticulate matter emissions: 20.12 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 9.81 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 7.72 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Hong Kongcarbon dioxide emissions: 43.64 megatons (2016 est.) Topic: Hungaryparticulate matter emissions: 15.62 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 45.54 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 7.25 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Icelandparticulate matter emissions: 5.94 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 2.06 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.59 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Indiaparticulate matter emissions: 65.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 2,407.67 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 559.11 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Indonesiaparticulate matter emissions: 15.58 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 563.32 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 244.5 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Iranparticulate matter emissions: 35.09 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 661.71 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 158.71 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Iraqparticulate matter emissions: 57.73 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 190.06 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 17.44 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Irelandparticulate matter emissions: 8.26 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 37.71 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 13.67 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Israelparticulate matter emissions: 19.46 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 65.17 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 13.02 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Italyparticulate matter emissions: 15.28 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) methane emissions: 41.3 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Jamaicaparticulate matter emissions: 13.25 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 8.23 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 1.08 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Japanparticulate matter emissions: 11.45 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 1,135.89 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 29.99 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Jordanparticulate matter emissions: 32.09 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 25.11 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 6.04 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Kazakhstanparticulate matter emissions: 11.32 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 247.21 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 45.03 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Kenyaparticulate matter emissions: 25.85 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 17.91 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 37.65 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Kiribatiparticulate matter emissions: 10.45 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.07 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.02 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Korea, Northparticulate matter emissions: 30.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 28.28 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 18.68 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Korea, Southparticulate matter emissions: 24.57 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 620.3 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 30.28 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Kosovocarbon dioxide emissions: 8.94 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.54 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Kuwaitparticulate matter emissions: 57.17 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 98.73 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 6.21 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Kyrgyzstanparticulate matter emissions: 18.12 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 9.79 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 4.47 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Laosparticulate matter emissions: 24.49 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 17.76 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 9 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Latviaparticulate matter emissions: 12.72 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 7 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 1.85 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Lebanonparticulate matter emissions: 30.67 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 24.8 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 3.37 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Lesothoparticulate matter emissions: 27.78 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 2.51 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 2.56 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Liberiaparticulate matter emissions: 17.19 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 1.39 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 6.56 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Libyaparticulate matter emissions: 44.17 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 50.56 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 45.76 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Liechtensteincarbon dioxide emissions: 0.05 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.02 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Lithuaniaparticulate matter emissions: 11.49 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 12.96 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 3.15 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Luxembourgparticulate matter emissions: 10.21 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 8.99 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.61 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Macaucarbon dioxide emissions: 2.07 megatons (2016 est.) Topic: Madagascarparticulate matter emissions: 21.44 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 3.91 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 10.14 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Malawiparticulate matter emissions: 22.14 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 1.3 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 11.12 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Malaysiaparticulate matter emissions: 16.04 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 248.29 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 51.51 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Maldivesparticulate matter emissions: 7.63 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 1.44 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.14 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Maliparticulate matter emissions: 31.17 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 3.18 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 19.16 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Maltaparticulate matter emissions: 13.97 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 1.34 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.2 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Marshall Islandsparticulate matter emissions: 9.43 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.14 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.03 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Mauritaniaparticulate matter emissions: 40.82 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 2.74 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 6.16 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Mauritiusparticulate matter emissions: 13.54 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 4.35 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 2.06 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Mexicoparticulate matter emissions: 20.08 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 486.41 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 135.77 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofparticulate matter emissions: 10.23 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.14 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.02 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Moldovaparticulate matter emissions: 15.97 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 5.12 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 3.29 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Monacoparticulate matter emissions: 12.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.05 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Mongoliaparticulate matter emissions: 40.42 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 25.37 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 13.72 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Montenegroparticulate matter emissions: 20.17 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 2.02 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.75 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Moroccoparticulate matter emissions: 30.99 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 61.28 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 17.16 megatons (2020 est.) note:  data does not include former Western Sahara Topic: Mozambiqueparticulate matter emissions: 19.44 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 7.94 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 16.26 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Namibiaparticulate matter emissions: 22.59 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 4.23 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 10.4 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Nauruparticulate matter emissions: 12.53 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.05 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.01 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Nepalparticulate matter emissions: 94.33 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 9.11 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 41.15 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Netherlandsparticulate matter emissions: 12.07 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 170.78 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 17.79 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: New Caledoniacarbon dioxide emissions: 5.33 megatons (2016 est.) Topic: New Zealandparticulate matter emissions: 5.73 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 34.38 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 34.3 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Nicaraguaparticulate matter emissions: 16.87 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 5.59 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 6.46 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Nigerparticulate matter emissions: 70.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 2.02 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 22.99 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Nigeriaparticulate matter emissions: 48.73 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 120.37 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 143.99 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Niueparticulate matter emissions: 11.47 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) Topic: North Macedoniaparticulate matter emissions: 28.34 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 7.05 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 2.28 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Norwayparticulate matter emissions: 7.02 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 41.02 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 4.81 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Omanparticulate matter emissions: 38.25 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 63.46 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 5.6 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Pakistanparticulate matter emissions: 55.21 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 201.15 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 142.12 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Palauparticulate matter emissions: 12.18 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.22 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.06 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Panamaparticulate matter emissions: 11.18 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 10.71 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 5.97 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Papua New Guineaparticulate matter emissions: 10.91 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 7.54 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 11.05 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Paraguayparticulate matter emissions: 11.16 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 7.41 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 27.65 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Peruparticulate matter emissions: 24.27 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 57.41 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 30.17 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Philippinesparticulate matter emissions: 18.38 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 122.29 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 51.32 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Polandparticulate matter emissions: 20.54 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 299.04 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 46.62 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Portugalparticulate matter emissions: 7.87 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 48.74 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 10.93 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Qatarparticulate matter emissions: 90.35 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 103.26 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 8.34 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Romaniaparticulate matter emissions: 14.29 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 69.26 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 27.62 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Russiaparticulate matter emissions: 13.75 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 1,732.03 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 851.52 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Rwandaparticulate matter emissions: 40.75 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 1.11 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 2.92 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevisparticulate matter emissions: 12.31 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.24 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.1 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Saint Luciaparticulate matter emissions: 21.22 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.41 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.27 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesparticulate matter emissions: 21.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.22 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.09 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Samoaparticulate matter emissions: 10.56 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.25 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.27 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: San Marinoparticulate matter emissions: 13.45 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.02 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Sao Tome and Principeparticulate matter emissions: 25.66 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.12 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.04 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Saudi Arabiaparticulate matter emissions: 78.38 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 563.45 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 45.47 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Senegalparticulate matter emissions: 37.52 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 10.9 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 11.74 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Serbiaparticulate matter emissions: 24.27 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 45.22 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 11.96 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Seychellesparticulate matter emissions: 18.72 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.61 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.1 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Sierra Leoneparticulate matter emissions: 20.63 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 1.09 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 3.16 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Singaporeparticulate matter emissions: 18.26 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 37.54 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 4.4 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Slovakiaparticulate matter emissions: 17.54 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 32.42 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 4.43 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Sloveniaparticulate matter emissions: 15.81 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 12.63 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 2.1 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Solomon Islandsparticulate matter emissions: 10.67 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.17 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.43 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Somaliaparticulate matter emissions: 29.51 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.65 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 20.13 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: South Africaparticulate matter emissions: 23.58 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 476.64 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 55.89 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: South Sudanparticulate matter emissions: 41.12 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 1.73 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 7.61 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Spainparticulate matter emissions: 9.48 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 244 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 36.94 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Sri Lankaparticulate matter emissions: 15.25 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 23.36 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 10.95 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Sudanparticulate matter emissions: 47.92 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 20 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 75.1 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Surinameparticulate matter emissions: 23.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 1.74 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 2.28 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Swedenparticulate matter emissions: 5.89 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 43.25 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 4.42 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Switzerlandparticulate matter emissions: 10.21 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 34.48 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 4.98 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Syriaparticulate matter emissions: 39.43 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 28.83 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 12.93 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Tajikistanparticulate matter emissions: 40.05 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 5.31 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 4.87 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Tanzaniaparticulate matter emissions: 25.59 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 11.97 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 59.08 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Thailandparticulate matter emissions: 26.23 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 283.76 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 86.98 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Timor-Lesteparticulate matter emissions: 17.88 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.5 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 4.74 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Togoparticulate matter emissions: 32.71 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 3 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 3.06 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Tongaparticulate matter emissions: 10.08 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.13 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.12 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Trinidad and Tobagoparticulate matter emissions: 22.04 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 43.87 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 1.35 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Tunisiaparticulate matter emissions: 35.66 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 29.94 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 7.89 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Turkeyparticulate matter emissions: 41.97 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 372.72 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 57.53 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Turkmenistanparticulate matter emissions: 19.02 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 70.63 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 52.09 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandscarbon dioxide emissions: 0.22 megatons (2016 est.) Topic: Tuvaluparticulate matter emissions: 11.42 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.01 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.01 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Ugandaparticulate matter emissions: 48.41 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 5.68 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 30.24 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Ukraineparticulate matter emissions: 18.29 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 202.25 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 63.37 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: United Arab Emiratesparticulate matter emissions: 39.44 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 206.32 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 56.55 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: United Kingdomparticulate matter emissions: 10.53 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 379.02 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 49.16 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: United Statesparticulate matter emissions: 7.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 5,006.3 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 685.74 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Uruguayparticulate matter emissions: 8.63 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 6.77 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 25.59 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Uzbekistanparticulate matter emissions: 25.29 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 91.81 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 96.16 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Vanuatuparticulate matter emissions: 10.31 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.15 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.5 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Venezuelaparticulate matter emissions: 15.82 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 164.18 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 68.66 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Vietnamparticulate matter emissions: 29.66 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 192.67 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 110.4 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: West Bankcarbon dioxide emissions: 3.23 megatons (2016 est.) note: data represent combined total from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Topic: Yemenparticulate matter emissions: 44.96 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 10.61 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 8.03 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Zambiaparticulate matter emissions: 24.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 5.14 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 14.1 megatons (2020 est.) Topic: Zimbabweparticulate matter emissions: 19.35 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 10.98 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 12.1 megatons (2020 est.)

20220901

countries-montenegro

Topic: Photos of Montenegro Topic: Introduction Background: The use of the name Crna Gora or Black Mountain (Montenegro) began in the 13th century in reference to a highland region in the Serbian province of Zeta. The later medieval state of Zeta maintained its existence until 1496 when Montenegro finally fell under Ottoman rule. Over subsequent centuries, Montenegro managed to maintain a level of autonomy within the Ottoman Empire. From the 16th to 19th centuries, Montenegro was a theocracy ruled by a series of bishop princes; in 1852, it transformed into a secular principality. Montenegro was recognized as an independent sovereign principality at the Congress of Berlin in 1878. After World War I, during which Montenegro fought on the side of the Allies, Montenegro was absorbed by the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929. At the conclusion of World War II, it became a constituent republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. When the latter dissolved in 1992, Montenegro joined with Serbia, creating the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and, after 2003, shifting to a looser State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. In May 2006, Montenegro invoked its right under the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro to hold a referendum on independence from the two-state union. The vote for severing ties with Serbia barely exceeded 55% - the threshold set by the EU - allowing Montenegro to formally restore its independence on 3 June 2006. In 2017, Montenegro joined NATO and is currently completing its EU accession process, having officially applied to join the EU in December 2008.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia Geographic coordinates: 42 30 N, 19 18 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 13,812 sq km land: 13,452 sq km water: 360 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut; slightly larger than twice the size of Delaware Land boundaries: total: 680 km border countries (5): Albania 186 km; Bosnia and Herzegovina 242 km; Croatia 19 km; Kosovo 76 km; Serbia 157 km Coastline: 293.5 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: defined by treaty Climate: Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfalls inland Terrain: highly indented coastline with narrow coastal plain backed by rugged high limestone mountains and plateaus Elevation: highest point: Zia Kolata 2,534 m lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m mean elevation: 1,086 m Natural resources: bauxite, hydroelectricity Land use: agricultural land: 38.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 12.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 24.1% (2018 est.) forest: 40.4% (2018 est.) other: 21.4% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 24 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Scutari (shared with Albania) - 400 sq km note - largest lake in the Balkans Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Population distribution: highest population density is concentrated in the south, southwest; the extreme eastern border is the least populated area Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes Geography - note: strategic location along the Adriatic coast Map description: Montenegro map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Adriatic Sea.Montenegro map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Adriatic Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 604,966 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Montenegrin(s) adjective: Montenegrin Ethnic groups: Montenegrin 45%, Serbian 28.7%, Bosniak 8.7%, Albanian 4.9%, Muslim 3.3%, Romani 1%, Croat 1%, other 2.6%, unspecified 4.9% (2011 est.) Languages: Serbian 42.9%, Montenegrin (official) 37%, Bosnian 5.3%, Albanian 5.3%, Serbo-Croat 2%, other 3.5%, unspecified 4% (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): Knjiga svetskih činjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Serbian)  Knjiga svjetskih činjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Montenegrin/Bosnian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Orthodox 72.1%, Muslim 19.1%, Catholic 3.4%, atheist 1.2%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2.6% (2011 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 18.14% (male 57,402/female 53,217) 15-24 years: 12.78% (male 40,220/female 37,720) 25-54 years: 39.65% (male 120,374/female 121,461) 55-64 years: 13.41% (male 40,099/female 41,670) 65 years and over: 16.02% (2020 est.) (male 42,345/female 55,351) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 51.1 youth dependency ratio: 27.3 elderly dependency ratio: 23.8 potential support ratio: 4.2 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 39.6 years male: 38.1 years female: 41.1 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -0.41% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 11.19 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 10.33 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -4.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: highest population density is concentrated in the south, southwest; the extreme eastern border is the least populated area Urbanization: urban population: 68.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 177,000 PODGORICA (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 26.3 years (2010 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 6 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 3.24 deaths/1,000 live births male: 2.72 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.75 years male: 75.32 years female: 80.27 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 20.7% (2018) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 98.2% of population total: 99.4% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 1.8% of population total: 0.6% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 8.3% (2019) Physicians density: 2.74 physicians/1,000 population (2020) Hospital bed density: 3.9 beds/1,000 population (2017) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 93.9% of population total: 98% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 6.1% of population total: 2% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: (2020 est.) <.1% HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: (2020 est.) <500 note: estimate does not include children HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <100 note: estimate does not include children Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 23.3% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 31.4% (2020 est.) male: 31.6% (2020 est.) female: 31.1% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3.7% (2018/19) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 1.9% women married by age 18: 5.8% men married by age 18: 3.2% (2018 est.) Education expenditures: NA Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.8% male: 99.5% female: 98.3% (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2020) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 36% male: 33.6% female: 39.7% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor; serious air pollution in Podgorica, Pljevlja and Niksie; air pollution in Pljevlja is caused by the nearby lignite power plant and the domestic use of coal and wood for household heating Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 20.17 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 2.02 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.75 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfalls inland Land use: agricultural land: 38.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 12.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 24.1% (2018 est.) forest: 40.4% (2018 est.) other: 21.4% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 68.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.43% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.12% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 332,000 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 17,994 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5.4% (2015 est.) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Scutari (shared with Albania) - 400 sq km note - largest lake in the Balkans Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 96.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 62.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 1.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Montenegro local long form: none local short form: Crna Gora former: People's Republic of Montenegro, Socialist Republic of Montenegro, Republic of Montenegro etymology: the country's name locally as well as in most Western European languages means "black mountain" and refers to the dark coniferous forests on Mount Lovcen and the surrounding area Government type: parliamentary republic Capital: name: Podgorica; note - Cetinje retains the status of "Old Royal Capital" geographic coordinates: 42 26 N, 19 16 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1 hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the name translates as "beneath Gorica"; the meaning of Gorica is "hillock"; the reference is to the small hill named Gorica that the city is built around Administrative divisions: 24 municipalities (opstine, singular - opstina); Andrijevica, Bar, Berane, Bijelo Polje, Budva, Cetinje, Danilovgrad, Gusinje, Herceg Novi, Kolasin, Kotor, Mojkovac, Niksic, Petnijica, Plav, Pljevlja, Pluzine, Podgorica, Rozaje, Savnik, Tivat, Tuzi, Ulcinj, Zabljak Independence: 3 June 2006 (from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro); notable earlier dates: 13 March 1852 (Principality of Montenegro established); 13 July 1878 (Congress of Berlin recognizes Montenegrin independence); 28 August 1910 (Kingdom of Montenegro established) National holiday: Statehood Day, 13 July (1878, the day the Berlin Congress recognized Montenegro as the 27th independent state in the world, and 1941, the day the Montenegrins staged an uprising against fascist occupiers and sided with the partisan communist movement) Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 22 October 2007 amendments: proposed by the president of Montenegro, by the government, or by at least 25 members of the Assembly; passage of draft proposals requires two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly, followed by a public hearing; passage of draft amendments requires two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; changes to certain constitutional articles, such as sovereignty, state symbols, citizenship, and constitutional change procedures, require three-fifths majority vote in a referendum; amended 2013 Legal system: civil law International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Montenegro dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Milo DJUKANOVIC (since 20 May 2018) head of government: Prime Minister Dritan ABAZOVIC (since 28 April 2022) cabinet: Ministers act as cabinet elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 15 April 2018 (next to be held in 2023); prime minister nominated by the president, approved by the Assembly election results: Milo DJUKANOVIC elected president in the first round; percent of vote - Milo DJUKANOVIC (DPS) 53.9%, Mladen BOJANIC (independent) 33.4%, Draginja VUKSANOVIC (SDP) 8.2%, Marko MILACIC (PRAVA) 2.8%, other 1.7% Legislative branch: description: unicameral Assembly or Skupstina (81 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 30 August 2020 (next to be held in 2024) election results: percent of vote by party/coalition - DPS 35.1%, ZBCG 32.6%, MNIM 12.5%, URA 5.5%, SD 4.1%, BS 3.9%, SDP 3.1%, AL 1.6%, Albanian Coalition 1.1%, other 0.4%; seats by party/coalition - DPS 30, ZBCG 27, MNIM 10, URA 4, BS 3, SD 3, SDP 2, AL 1, Albanian Coalition 1.; composition as of July 2022 - men 59, women 22, percent of women 27.2% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court or Vrhovni Sud (consists of the court president, deputy president, and 15 judges); Constitutional Court or Ustavni Sud (consists of the court president and 7 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president proposed by general session of the Supreme Court and elected by the Judicial Council, a 9-member body consisting of judges, lawyers designated by the Assembly, and the minister of judicial affairs; Supreme Court president elected for a single renewable, 5-year term; other judges elected by the Judicial Council for life; Constitutional Court judges - 2 proposed by the president of Montenegro and 5 by the Assembly, and elected by the Assembly; court president elected from among the court members; court president elected for a 3-year term, other judges serve 9-year terms subordinate courts: Administrative Courts; Appellate Court; Commercial Courts; High Courts; basic courts Political parties and leaders: Albanian Alternative or AA [Nik DELJOSAJ] Albanian Coalition (includes DP, DSCG, DUA) Albanian Coalition Perspective or AKP Albanian List or AL [Nik DELJOSAJ] (coalition includes AA, Forca, AKP, DSA) Bosniak Party or BS [Ervin IBRAHIMOVIC] Croatian Civic Initiative or HGI [Adrian VUKSANOVIC] Croatian Reform Party [Marija VUCINOVIC] Democratic Alliance or DEMOS [Miodrag LEKIC] Democratic Front or DF [collective leadership] (coalition includes NOVA, PZP, DNP, RP) Democratic League in Montenegro or DSCG [Mehmet BARDHI] Democratic League of Albanians or DSA Democratic Montenegro or DCG [Aleksa BECIC] Democratic Party or DP [Fatmir GJEKA] Democratic Party of Socialists or DPS [Milo DJUKANOVIC] Democratic Party of Unity or DSJ [Nebojsa JUSKOVIC] Democratic People's Party or DNP [Milan KNEZEVIC] Democratic Serb Party or DSS [Dragica PEROVIC] Democratic Union of Albanians or DUA [Mehmet ZENKA] For the Future of Montenegro or ZBCG [Zdravko KRIVOKAPIC] (electoral coalition includes SNP and 2 alliances - DF, NP) In Black and White [Dritan ABAZOVIC] Liberal Party or LP [Andrija POPOVIC] Movement for Changes or PZP [Nebojsa MEDOJEVIC] New Democratic Power or FORCA [Nazif CUNGU] New Serb Democracy or NOVA [Andrija MANDIC] Party of Pensioners, Disabled, and Restitution or PUPI [Momir JOKSIMOVIC] Peace is Our Nation or MNIM [Alexa BECIC] (coalition includes Democrats, DEMOS, New Left, PUPI) Popular Movement or NP [Miodrag DAVIDOVIC] (coalition includes DEMOS, RP, UCG, and several minor parties) Social Democratic Party or SDP [Rasko KONJEVIC] Social Democrats or SD [Damir SEHOVIC] Socialist People's Party or SNP [Vladimir JOKOVIC] True Montenegro or PRAVA [Marko MILACIC] United Montenegro or UCG [Goran DANILOVIC] (split from DEMOS) United Reform Action or URA [Dritan ABAZOVIC] Workers' Party or RP [Maksim VUCINIC] International organization participation: CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Marija STJEPCEVIC (since 4 February 2021) chancery: 1610 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-6108 FAX: [1] (202) 234-6109 email address and website: usa@mfa.gov.me consulate(s) general: New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Judy Rising REINKE (since 20 December 2018) embassy: Dzona Dzeksona 2, 81000 Podgorica mailing address: 5570 Podgorica Place, Washington DC  20521-5570 telephone: +382 (0)20-410-500 FAX: [382]  (0)20-241-358 email address and website: PodgoricaACS@state.gov https://me.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: a red field bordered by a narrow golden-yellow stripe with the Montenegrin coat of arms centered; the arms consist of a double-headed golden eagle - symbolizing the unity of church and state - surmounted by a crown; the eagle holds a golden scepter in its right claw and a blue orb in its left; the breast shield over the eagle shows a golden lion passant on a green field in front of a blue sky; the lion is a symbol of episcopal authority and harkens back to the three and a half centuries when Montenegro was ruled as a theocracy National symbol(s): double-headed eagle; national colors: red, gold National anthem: name: "Oj, svijetla majska zoro" (Oh, Bright Dawn of May) lyrics/music: Sekula DRLJEVIC/unknown, arranged by Zarko MIKOVIC note: adopted 2004; music based on a Montenegrin folk song National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor (c); Durmitor National Park (n); Stećci Medieval Tombstones Graveyards (c); Fortified City of Kotor Venetian Defense Works (c) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Montenegro's economy is transitioning to a market system. Around 90% of Montenegrin state-owned companies have been privatized, including 100% of banking, telecommunications, and oil distribution. Tourism, which accounts for more than 20% of Montenegro’s GDP, brings in three times as many visitors as Montenegro’s total population every year. Several new luxury tourism complexes are in various stages of development along the coast, and a number are being offered in connection with nearby boating and yachting facilities. In addition to tourism, energy and agriculture are considered two distinct pillars of the economy. Only 20% of Montenegro’s hydropower potential is utilized. Montenegro plans to become a net energy exporter, and the construction of an underwater cable to Italy, which will be completed by the end of 2018, will help meet its goal.   Montenegro uses the euro as its domestic currency, though it is not an official member of the euro zone. In January 2007, Montenegro joined the World Bank and IMF, and in December 2011, the WTO. Montenegro began negotiations to join the EU in 2012, having met the conditions set down by the European Council, which called on Montenegro to take steps to fight corruption and organized crime.   The government recognizes the need to remove impediments in order to remain competitive and open the economy to foreign investors. Net foreign direct investment in 2017 reached $848 million and investment per capita is one of the highest in Europe, due to a low corporate tax rate. The biggest foreign investors in Montenegro in 2017 were Norway, Russia, Italy, Azerbaijan and Hungary.   Montenegro is currently planning major overhauls of its road and rail networks, and possible expansions of its air transportation system. In 2014, the Government of Montenegro selected two Chinese companies to construct a 41 km-long section of the country’s highway system, which will become part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Cheaper borrowing costs have stimulated Montenegro’s growing debt, which currently sits at 65.9% of GDP, with a forecast, absent fiscal consolidation, to increase to 80% once the repayment to China’s Ex/Im Bank of a €800 million highway loan begins in 2019. Montenegro first instituted a value-added tax (VAT) in April 2003, and introduced differentiated VAT rates of 17% and 7% (for tourism) in January 2006. The Montenegrin Government increased the non-tourism Value Added Tax (VAT) rate to 21% as of January 2018, with the goal of reducing its public debt.Montenegro's economy is transitioning to a market system. Around 90% of Montenegrin state-owned companies have been privatized, including 100% of banking, telecommunications, and oil distribution. Tourism, which accounts for more than 20% of Montenegro’s GDP, brings in three times as many visitors as Montenegro’s total population every year. Several new luxury tourism complexes are in various stages of development along the coast, and a number are being offered in connection with nearby boating and yachting facilities. In addition to tourism, energy and agriculture are considered two distinct pillars of the economy. Only 20% of Montenegro’s hydropower potential is utilized. Montenegro plans to become a net energy exporter, and the construction of an underwater cable to Italy, which will be completed by the end of 2018, will help meet its goal. Montenegro uses the euro as its domestic currency, though it is not an official member of the euro zone. In January 2007, Montenegro joined the World Bank and IMF, and in December 2011, the WTO. Montenegro began negotiations to join the EU in 2012, having met the conditions set down by the European Council, which called on Montenegro to take steps to fight corruption and organized crime. The government recognizes the need to remove impediments in order to remain competitive and open the economy to foreign investors. Net foreign direct investment in 2017 reached $848 million and investment per capita is one of the highest in Europe, due to a low corporate tax rate. The biggest foreign investors in Montenegro in 2017 were Norway, Russia, Italy, Azerbaijan and Hungary. Montenegro is currently planning major overhauls of its road and rail networks, and possible expansions of its air transportation system. In 2014, the Government of Montenegro selected two Chinese companies to construct a 41 km-long section of the country’s highway system, which will become part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Cheaper borrowing costs have stimulated Montenegro’s growing debt, which currently sits at 65.9% of GDP, with a forecast, absent fiscal consolidation, to increase to 80% once the repayment to China’s Ex/Im Bank of a €800 million highway loan begins in 2019. Montenegro first instituted a value-added tax (VAT) in April 2003, and introduced differentiated VAT rates of 17% and 7% (for tourism) in January 2006. The Montenegrin Government increased the non-tourism Value Added Tax (VAT) rate to 21% as of January 2018, with the goal of reducing its public debt. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $11.36 billion (2020 est.) $13.39 billion (2019 est.) $12.87 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 4.3% (2017 est.) 2.9% (2016 est.) 3.4% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $18,300 (2020 est.) $21,500 (2019 est.) $20,700 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $5.486 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.3% (2019 est.) 2.6% (2018 est.) 2.3% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Moody's rating: B1 (2016) Standard & Poors rating: B+ (2014) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 7.5% (2016 est.) industry: 15.9% (2016 est.) services: 76.6% (2016 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 76.8% (2016 est.) government consumption: 19.6% (2016 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.2% (2016 est.) investment in inventories: 2.9% (2016 est.) exports of goods and services: 40.5% (2016 est.) imports of goods and services: -63% (2016 est.) Agricultural products: milk, potatoes, grapes, vegetables, tomatoes, watermelons, wheat, apples, cabbages, barley Industries: steelmaking, aluminum, agricultural processing, consumer goods, tourism Industrial production growth rate: -4.2% (2017 est.) Labor force: 167,000 (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 7.9% industry: 17.1% services: 75% (2017 est.) Unemployment rate: 15.82% (2019 est.) 18.8% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 36% male: 33.6% female: 39.7% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 24.5% (2018 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 39 (2015 est.) 32.3 (2013 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.5% highest 10%: 25.7% (2014 est.) Budget: revenues: 1.78 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 2.05 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -5.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 67.2% of GDP (2017 est.) 66.4% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions Taxes and other revenues: 37.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$780 million (2017 est.) -$710 million (2016 est.) Exports: $1.24 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $2.42 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $2.35 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Serbia 17%, Hungary 15%, China 11%, Russia 7%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 6%, Germany 6%, Italy 5%, Poland 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: aluminum, packaged medicines, cars, zinc, wine (2019) Imports: $2.9 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $3.59 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $3.67 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Serbia 30%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 8%, Croatia 8%, Italy 6%, Greece 6%, Germany 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, packaged medicines, recreational boats, cigarettes (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $1.077 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $846.5 million (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $2.516 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $2.224 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.885 (2017 est.) 0.903 (2016 est.) 0.9214 (2015 est.) 0.885 (2014 est.) 0.7634 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 1.007 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 3,246,760,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 943 million kWh (2019 est.) imports: 1.196 billion kWh (2019 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 493 million kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 42.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 10.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 47.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 1.456 million metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 1.351 million metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 96,000 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 142 million metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 7,600 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 357 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 6,448 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 2.447 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.333 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 1.114 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 77.286 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 191,768 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 1,080,089 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 172 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: a small telecom market supported by a population of only 623,000; fixed broadband services are available via a variety of technology platforms, though fiber is the dominant platform, accounting for almost 40% of connections; the growth of fiber has largely been at the expense of DSL as customers are migrated to fiber networks as these are built out progressively; mobile penetration is particularly high, though this is partly due to the significant number of tourists visiting the country seasonally, as also to the popularity of subscribers having multiple prepaid cards; in the wake of the pandemic and associated restrictions on travel, the number of mobile subscribers fell in 2020, as also in the first quarter of 2021, year-on-year; networks support a vibrant mobile broadband services sector, largely based on LTE; two of the MNOs began trialing 5G in May 2021, though commercial services will not gain traction until after the multi-spectrum auction is completed at the end of 2021; spectrum is available in the 694-790MHz and 3400-3800MHz ranges, as well as in the 26.5-27.5GHz range. (2021) domestic: GSM mobile-cellular service, available through multiple providers; fixed-line over 30 per 100 and mobile-cellular 172 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 382; 2 international switches connect the national system note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: state-funded national radio-TV broadcaster operates 2 terrestrial TV networks, 1 satellite TV channel, and 2 radio networks; 4 local public TV stations and 14 private TV stations; 14 local public radio stations, 35 private radio stations, and several on-line media (2019) Internet country code: .me Internet users: total: 484,619 (2020 est.) percent of population: 78% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 184,176 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 4 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 565,522 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 130,000 (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 4O Airports: total: 5 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Heliports: 1 (2021) Railways: total: 250 km (2017) standard gauge: 250 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (224 km electrified) Roadways: total: 7,762 km (2010) paved: 7,141 km (2010) unpaved: 621 km (2010) Merchant marine: total: 17 by type: bulk carrier 4, other 13 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Bar Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: the Armed Forces of the Republic of Montenegro: joint force with land, air, and naval elements (2022) Military expenditures: 1.6% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2020) 1.3% of GDP (2019) (approximately $130 million) 1.4% of GDP (2018) (approximately $120 million) 1.3% of GDP (2017) (approximately $110 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 2,000 active duty troops (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Armed Forces of Montenegro is small and consists mostly of equipment inherited from the former Yugoslavia military, with a limited mix of other imported systems; since 2010, it has received small quantities of equipment from Austria, Turkey, and the US (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2006 (2021) note: as of 2019, women made up about 6% of the military's full-time personnel Military - note: Montenegro became a member of NATO in 2017; as of 2022, Greece and Italy provided NATO's air policing mission for Montenegro Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Montenegro-Albania: none identified Montenegro-Bosnia and Herzegovina: the two countries signed a border agreement in August 2015; sovereignty of the disputed Sutorina territory was given to Montenegro Montenegro-Croatia: the two countries in 2002 reached a temporary agreement designating the Prevlaka Peninsula as part of Croatia, in October 2020, a Montenegrin official resurrected the dormant dispute over the Prevlaka Peninsula by stating that Montenegro had a good chance of winning it through international arbitration Montenegro-Kosovo: a 2015 border agreement was ratified by Montenegro in 2015 and by Kosovo in 2018, but the actual demarcation has not been completed Montenegro-Serbia: The former republic boundary – when the two countries were one and called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia – serves as the boundary until a line is formally delimited and demarcated  Montenegro-Albania: none identifiedMontenegro-Bosnia and Herzegovina: the two countries signed a border agreement in August 2015; sovereignty of the disputed Sutorina territory was given to MontenegroMontenegro-Croatia: the two countries in 2002 reached a temporary agreement designating the Prevlaka Peninsula as part of Croatia, in October 2020, a Montenegrin official resurrected the dormant dispute over the Prevlaka Peninsula by stating that Montenegro had a good chance of winning it through international arbitrationMontenegro-Kosovo: a 2015 border agreement was ratified by Montenegro in 2015 and by Kosovo in 2018, but the actual demarcation has not been completedMontenegro-Serbia: The former republic boundary – when the two countries were one and called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia – serves as the boundary until a line is formally delimited and demarcated  Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 9,614 (Ukraine) (as of 8 August 2022) stateless persons: 458 (mid-year 2021) note: 23,352 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-August 2022) Illicit drugs: drug trafficking groups are major players in the procurement and transportation of large quantities of cocaine  destined for  European marketsdrug trafficking groups are major players in the procurement and transportation of large quantities of cocaine  destined for  European markets

20220901

countries-germany-summaries

Topic: Introduction Background: As Europe's largest economy and second most populous nation (after Russia), Germany is a key member of the continent's economic, political, and defense organizations. Divided after World War II, the decline of the USSR and the end of the Cold War allowed for German reunification in 1990.As Europe's largest economy and second most populous nation (after Russia), Germany is a key member of the continent's economic, political, and defense organizations. Divided after World War II, the decline of the USSR and the end of the Cold War allowed for German reunification in 1990. Topic: Geography Area: total: 357,022 sq km land: 348,672 sq km water: 8,350 sq km Climate: temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers; occasional warm mountain (foehn) wind Natural resources: coal, lignite, natural gas, iron ore, copper, nickel, uranium, potash, salt, construction materials, timber, arable land Topic: People and Society Population: 84,316,622 (2022 est.) Ethnic groups: German 86.3%, Turkish 1.8%, Polish 1%, Syrian 1%, Romanian 1%, other/stateless/unspecified 8.9% (2020 est.) Languages: German (official); note - Danish, Frisian, Sorbian, and Romani are official minority languages; Low German, Danish, North Frisian, Sater Frisian, Lower Sorbian, Upper Sorbian, and Romani are recognized as regional languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages Religions: Roman Catholic 26.7%, Protestant 24.3%, Muslim 3.5%, other 4.8%, none 40.7% (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -0.11% (2022 est.) Topic: Government Government type: federal parliamentary republic Capital: name: Berlin Executive branch: chief of state: President Frank-Walter STEINMEIER (since 19 March 2017) head of government: Chancellor Olaf SCHOLZ (since 8 December 2021) Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of: Federal Council or Bundesrat (69 seats statutory, 71 current; members appointed by each of the 16 state governments) Federal Diet or Bundestag (736 seats statutory, 736 for the 2021-25 term - total seats can vary each electoral term; currently includes 4 seats for independent members; approximately one-half of members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and approximately one-half directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote; members' terms depend upon the states they represent) Topic: Economy Economic overview: leading EU services-based export-driven economy; COVID-19 disrupted its modern manufacturing sector; highly skilled and educated labor force; positive current account balances; increasing public debt; low defense spending; second Russian gas pipelineleading EU services-based export-driven economy; COVID-19 disrupted its modern manufacturing sector; highly skilled and educated labor force; positive current account balances; increasing public debt; low defense spending; second Russian gas pipeline Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $4,238,800,000,000 (2020 est.) Real GDP per capita: $50,900 (2020 est.) Agricultural products: milk, sugar beet, wheat, barley, potatoes, pork, maize, rye, rapeseed, triticale Industries: among the world's largest and most technologically advanced producers of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics, automobiles, food and beverages, shipbuilding, textiles Exports: $1,671,650,000,000 (2020 est.) Exports - partners: United States 9%, France 8%, China 7%, Netherlands 6%, United Kingdom 6%, Italy 5%, Poland 5%, Austria 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: cars and vehicle parts, packaged medicines, aircraft, medical cultures/vaccines, industrial machinery (2019) Imports: $1,452,560,000,000 (2020 est.) Imports - partners: Netherlands 9%, China 8%, France 7%, Belgium 6%, Poland 6%, Italy 6%, Czechia 5%, United States 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: cars and vehicle parts, packaged medicines, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, medical cultures/vaccines (2019) Exchange rates: euros (EUR) per US dollar -Page last updated: Friday, May 27, 2022

20220901

countries-togo

Topic: Photos of Togo Topic: Introduction Background: From the 11th to the 16th centuries, various ethnic groups settled the Togo region. From the 16th to the 18th centuries, the coastal region became a major trading center for enslaved people, and the surrounding region  took on the name of "The Slave Coast." In 1884, Germany declared a region including present-day Togo as a protectorate called Togoland. After World War I, rule over Togo was transferred to France. French Togoland became Togo upon independence in 1960. Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA, installed as military ruler in 1967, ruled Togo with a heavy hand for almost four decades. Despite the facade of multi-party elections instituted in the early 1990s, the government was largely dominated by President EYADEMA, whose Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party has been in power almost continually since 1967 and its successor, the Union for the Republic, maintains a majority of seats in today's legislature. Upon EYADEMA's death in February 2005, the military installed the president's son, Faure GNASSINGBE, and then engineered his formal election two months later. Togo held its first relatively free and fair legislative elections in October 2007. Since then, President GNASSINGBE has started the country along a gradual path to democratic reform. Togo has held multiple presidential and legislative elections, and in 2019 held its first local elections in 32 years. Despite those positive moves, political reconciliation has moved slowly, and the country experiences periodic outbursts of protests by frustrated citizens that have led to violence between security forces and protesters. Constitutional changes in 2019 to institute a runoff system in presidential elections and to establish term limits has done little to reduce the resentment many Togolese feel after more than 50 years of one-family rule. GNASSINGBE became eligible for his current fourth term and one additional fifth term under the new rules. The next presidential election will be in 2025.   From the 11th to the 16th centuries, various ethnic groups settled the Togo region. From the 16th to the 18th centuries, the coastal region became a major trading center for enslaved people, and the surrounding region  took on the name of "The Slave Coast." In 1884, Germany declared a region including present-day Togo as a protectorate called Togoland. After World War I, rule over Togo was transferred to France. French Togoland became Togo upon independence in 1960. Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA, installed as military ruler in 1967, ruled Togo with a heavy hand for almost four decades. Despite the facade of multi-party elections instituted in the early 1990s, the government was largely dominated by President EYADEMA, whose Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party has been in power almost continually since 1967 and its successor, the Union for the Republic, maintains a majority of seats in today's legislature. Upon EYADEMA's death in February 2005, the military installed the president's son, Faure GNASSINGBE, and then engineered his formal election two months later. Togo held its first relatively free and fair legislative elections in October 2007. Since then, President GNASSINGBE has started the country along a gradual path to democratic reform. Togo has held multiple presidential and legislative elections, and in 2019 held its first local elections in 32 years. Despite those positive moves, political reconciliation has moved slowly, and the country experiences periodic outbursts of protests by frustrated citizens that have led to violence between security forces and protesters. Constitutional changes in 2019 to institute a runoff system in presidential elections and to establish term limits has done little to reduce the resentment many Togolese feel after more than 50 years of one-family rule. GNASSINGBE became eligible for his current fourth term and one additional fifth term under the new rules. The next presidential election will be in 2025.  Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 1 10 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 56,785 sq km land: 54,385 sq km water: 2,400 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia Land boundaries: total: 1,880 km border countries (3): Benin 651 km; Burkina Faso 131 km; Ghana 1,098 km Coastline: 56 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 30 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north Terrain: gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes Elevation: highest point: Mont Agou 986 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 236 m Natural resources: phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land Land use: agricultural land: 67.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 45.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 3.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 18.4% (2018 est.) forest: 4.9% (2018 est.) other: 27.7% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 70 sq km (2012) Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Volta (410,991 sq km) Population distribution: one of the more densely populated African nations with most of the population residing in rural communities, density is highest in the south on or near the Atlantic coast as shown in this population distribution map Natural hazards: hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts Geography - note: the country's length allows it to stretch through six distinct geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna Map description: Togo map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Bight of Benin.Togo map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Bight of Benin. Topic: People and Society Population: 8,492,333 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Nationality: noun: Togolese (singular and plural) adjective: Togolese Ethnic groups: Adja-Ewe/Mina 42.4%, Kabye/Tem 25.9%, Para-Gourma/Akan 17.1%, Akposso/Akebu 4.1%, Ana-Ife 3.2%, other Togolese 1.7%, foreigners 5.2%, no response 0.4% (2013-14 est.) note: Togo has an estimated 37 ethnic groups Languages: French (official, the language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (the two major African languages in the south), Kabye (sometimes spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (the two major African languages in the north) Religions: Christian 42.3%, folk religion 36.9%, Muslim 14%, Hindu <1%, Buddhist <1%, Jewish <1%, other <1%, none 6.2% (2020 est.) Demographic profile: Togo’s population is estimated to have grown to four times its size between 1960 and 2010. With nearly 60% of its populace under the age of 25 and a high annual growth rate attributed largely to high fertility, Togo’s population is likely to continue to expand for the foreseeable future. Reducing fertility, boosting job creation, and improving education will be essential to reducing the country’s high poverty rate. In 2008, Togo eliminated primary school enrollment fees, leading to higher enrollment but increased pressure on limited classroom space, teachers, and materials. Togo has a good chance of achieving universal primary education, but educational quality, the underrepresentation of girls, and the low rate of enrollment in secondary and tertiary schools remain concerns.Togo is both a country of emigration and asylum. In the early 1990s, southern Togo suffered from the economic decline of the phosphate sector and ethnic and political repression at the hands of dictator Gnassingbe EYADEMA and his northern, Kabye-dominated administration. The turmoil led 300,000 to 350,000 predominantly southern Togolese to flee to Benin and Ghana, with most not returning home until relative stability was restored in 1997. In 2005, another outflow of 40,000 Togolese to Benin and Ghana occurred when violence broke out between the opposition and security forces over the disputed election of EYADEMA’s son Faure GNASSINGBE to the presidency. About half of the refugees reluctantly returned home in 2006, many still fearing for their safety. Despite ethnic tensions and periods of political unrest, Togo in September 2017 was home to more than 9,600 refugees from Ghana.Togo’s population is estimated to have grown to four times its size between 1960 and 2010. With nearly 60% of its populace under the age of 25 and a high annual growth rate attributed largely to high fertility, Togo’s population is likely to continue to expand for the foreseeable future. Reducing fertility, boosting job creation, and improving education will be essential to reducing the country’s high poverty rate. In 2008, Togo eliminated primary school enrollment fees, leading to higher enrollment but increased pressure on limited classroom space, teachers, and materials. Togo has a good chance of achieving universal primary education, but educational quality, the underrepresentation of girls, and the low rate of enrollment in secondary and tertiary schools remain concerns.Togo is both a country of emigration and asylum. In the early 1990s, southern Togo suffered from the economic decline of the phosphate sector and ethnic and political repression at the hands of dictator Gnassingbe EYADEMA and his northern, Kabye-dominated administration. The turmoil led 300,000 to 350,000 predominantly southern Togolese to flee to Benin and Ghana, with most not returning home until relative stability was restored in 1997. In 2005, another outflow of 40,000 Togolese to Benin and Ghana occurred when violence broke out between the opposition and security forces over the disputed election of EYADEMA’s son Faure GNASSINGBE to the presidency. About half of the refugees reluctantly returned home in 2006, many still fearing for their safety. Despite ethnic tensions and periods of political unrest, Togo in September 2017 was home to more than 9,600 refugees from Ghana. Age structure: 0-14 years: 39.73% (male 1,716,667/female 1,703,230) 15-24 years: 19.03% (male 817,093/female 820,971) 25-54 years: 33.26% (male 1,423,554/female 1,439,380) 55-64 years: 4.42% (male 179,779/female 200,392) 65 years and over: 3.57% (2020 est.) (male 132,304/female 175,074) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 77.1 youth dependency ratio: 72 elderly dependency ratio: 5.1 potential support ratio: 19.4 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 20 years male: 19.7 years female: 20.3 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 2.48% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 31.86 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 5.27 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -1.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: one of the more densely populated African nations with most of the population residing in rural communities, density is highest in the south on or near the Atlantic coast as shown in this population distribution map Urbanization: urban population: 43.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.6% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 1.926 million LOME (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.85 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.55 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 25 years (2017 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 Maternal mortality ratio: 396 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 41.19 deaths/1,000 live births male: 45.88 deaths/1,000 live births female: 36.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.36 years male: 68.76 years female: 74.03 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.23 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 23.9% (2017) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 93.8% of population rural: 60.3% of population total: 74.6% of population unimproved: urban: 6.2% of population rural: 39.7% of population total: 25.4% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 5.7% (2019) Physicians density: 0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2020) Hospital bed density: 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2011) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 81.9% of population rural: 18.3% of population total: 45.5% of population unimproved: urban: 18.1% of population rural: 81.7% of population total: 54.5% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 2% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 110,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 3,000 (2020 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 8.4% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 6.8% (2020 est.) male: 12.3% (2020 est.) female: 1.2% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 15.2% (2017) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 6.4% women married by age 18: 24.8% men married by age 18: 2.6% (2017 est.) Education expenditures: 5% of GDP (2019) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 66.5% male: 80% female: 55.1% (2019) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 13 years male: 14 years female: 12 years (2017) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 9.5% male: 12.3% female: 7.4% (2017 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; very little rain forest still present and what remains is highly degraded; desertification; water pollution presents health hazards and hinders the fishing industry; air pollution increasing in urban areas Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 32.71 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 3 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 3.06 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north Land use: agricultural land: 67.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 45.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 3.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 18.4% (2018 est.) forest: 4.9% (2018 est.) other: 27.7% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 43.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.6% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 3.96% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,109,030 tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 22,181 tons (2012 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 2% (2012 est.) Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Volta (410,991 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 140.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 6.3 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 76 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 14.7 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Togolese Republic conventional short form: Togo local long form: Republique Togolaise local short form: none former: French Togoland etymology: derived from the Ewe words "to" (river) and "godo" (on the other side) to give the sense of "on the other side of the river"; originally, this designation applied to the town of Togodo (now Togoville) on the northern shore of Lake Togo, but the name was eventually extended to the entire nation Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Lome geographic coordinates: 6 07 N, 1 13 E time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: Lome comes from "alotime" which in the native Ewe language means "among the alo plants"; alo trees dominated the city's original founding site Administrative divisions: 5 regions (regions, singular - region); Centrale, Kara, Maritime, Plateaux, Savanes Independence: 27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship) National holiday: Independence Day, 27 April (1960) Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 27 September 1992, effective 14 October 1992 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or supported by at least one fifth of the National Assembly membership; passage requires four-fifths majority vote by the Assembly; a referendum is required if approved by only two-thirds majority of the Assembly or if requested by the president; constitutional articles on the republican and secular form of government cannot be amended; amended 2002, 2007, last in 2019 when the National Assembly unanimously approved a package of amendments, including setting presidential term limits of two 5-year mandates Legal system: customary law system International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Togo dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Faure GNASSINGBE (since 4 May 2005)  head of government: Prime Minister Victoire Tomegah DOGBE (since 28 September 2020) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 22 February 2020 (next to be held  February 2025); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Faure GNASSINGBE reelected president; percent of vote - Faure GNASSINGBE (UNIR) 72.4%, Agbeyome KODJO (MPDD) 18.4%, Jean-Pierre FABRE (ANC) 4.4%, other 5% Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (91 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed, party-list proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 20 December 2018 (next to be held in 2023) election results: percent of vote by coalition/party - NA; seats by party - UNIR 59, UFC 6, NET 3, MPDD 3, other 2, independent 18; composition - men 75, women 16, percent of women 17.6% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (organized into criminal and administrative chambers, each with a chamber president and advisors); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges, including the court president) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president appointed by decree of the president of the republic upon the proposal of the Supreme Council of the Magistracy, a 9-member judicial, advisory, and disciplinary body; other judicial appointments and judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the National Assembly; judge tenure NA subordinate courts: Court of Assizes (sessions court); Appeal Court; tribunals of first instance (divided into civil, commercial, and correctional chambers; Court of State Security; military tribunal Political parties and leaders: Action Committee for Renewal or CAR [Yaovi AGBOYIBO] Alliance of Democrats for Integral Development or ADDI [Tchaboure GOGUE] Democratic Convention of African Peoples or CDPA [Brigitte ADJAMAGBO-JOHNSON] Democratic Forces for the Republic or FDR [Dodji APEVON] National Alliance for Change or ANC [Jean-Pierre FABRE] New Togolese Commitment [Gerry TAAMA] Pan-African National Party or PNP [Tikpi ATCHADAM] Pan-African Patriotic Convergence or CPP [Edem KODJO] Patriotic Movement for Democracy and Development or MPDD [Agbeyome KODJO] Socialist Pact for Renewal or PSR [Abi TCHESSA] The Togolese Party [Nathaniel OLYMPIO] Union of Forces for Change or UFC [Gilchrist OLYMPIO] Union for the Republic or UNIR [Faure GNASSINGBE] International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Frederic Edem HEGBE (since 24 April 2017) chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-4212 FAX: [1] (202) 232-3190 email address and website: embassyoftogo@hotmail.com https://embassyoftogousa.com/ Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth FITZSIMMONS (since 26 April 2022) embassy: Boulevard Eyadema, B.P. 852, Lome mailing address: 2300 Lome Place, Washington, DC 20521-2300 telephone: [228] 2261-5470 FAX: [228] 2261-5501 email address and website: consularLome@state.gov https://tg.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternating with yellow; a white five-pointed star on a red square is in the upper hoist-side corner; the five horizontal stripes stand for the five different regions of the country; the red square is meant to express the loyalty and patriotism of the people, green symbolizes hope, fertility, and agriculture, while yellow represents mineral wealth and faith that hard work and strength will bring prosperity; the star symbolizes life, purity, peace, dignity, and Togo's independence note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia National symbol(s): lion; national colors: green, yellow, red, white National anthem: name: "Salut a toi, pays de nos aieux" (Hail to Thee, Land of Our Forefathers) lyrics/music: Alex CASIMIR-DOSSEH note: adopted 1960, restored 1992; this anthem was replaced by another during one-party rule between 1979 and 1992 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba Topic: Economy Economic overview: Togo has enjoyed a period of steady economic growth fueled by political stability and a concerted effort by the government to modernize the country’s commercial infrastructure, but discontent with President Faure GNASSINGBE has led to a rapid rise in protests, creating downside risks. The country completed an ambitious large-scale infrastructure improvement program, including new principal roads, a new airport terminal, and a new seaport. The economy depends heavily on both commercial and subsistence agriculture, providing employment for around 60% of the labor force. Some basic foodstuffs must still be imported. Cocoa, coffee, and cotton and other agricultural products generate about 20% of export earnings with cotton being the most important cash crop. Togo is among the world's largest producers of phosphate and seeks to develop its carbonate phosphate reserves, which provide more than 20% of export earnings.   Supported by the World Bank and the IMF, the government's decade-long effort to implement economic reform measures, encourage foreign investment, and bring revenues in line with expenditures has moved slowly. Togo completed its IMF Extended Credit Facility in 2011 and reached a Heavily Indebted Poor Country debt relief completion point in 2010 at which 95% of the country's debt was forgiven. Togo continues to work with the IMF on structural reforms, and in January 2017, the IMF signed an Extended Credit Facility arrangement consisting of a three-year $238 million loan package. Progress depends on follow through on privatization, increased transparency in government financial operations, progress toward legislative elections, and continued support from foreign donors.   Togo’s 2017 economic growth probably remained steady at 5.0%, largely driven by infusions of foreign aid, infrastructure investment in its port and mineral industry, and improvements in the business climate. Foreign direct investment inflows have slowed in recent years.Togo has enjoyed a period of steady economic growth fueled by political stability and a concerted effort by the government to modernize the country’s commercial infrastructure, but discontent with President Faure GNASSINGBE has led to a rapid rise in protests, creating downside risks. The country completed an ambitious large-scale infrastructure improvement program, including new principal roads, a new airport terminal, and a new seaport. The economy depends heavily on both commercial and subsistence agriculture, providing employment for around 60% of the labor force. Some basic foodstuffs must still be imported. Cocoa, coffee, and cotton and other agricultural products generate about 20% of export earnings with cotton being the most important cash crop. Togo is among the world's largest producers of phosphate and seeks to develop its carbonate phosphate reserves, which provide more than 20% of export earnings. Supported by the World Bank and the IMF, the government's decade-long effort to implement economic reform measures, encourage foreign investment, and bring revenues in line with expenditures has moved slowly. Togo completed its IMF Extended Credit Facility in 2011 and reached a Heavily Indebted Poor Country debt relief completion point in 2010 at which 95% of the country's debt was forgiven. Togo continues to work with the IMF on structural reforms, and in January 2017, the IMF signed an Extended Credit Facility arrangement consisting of a three-year $238 million loan package. Progress depends on follow through on privatization, increased transparency in government financial operations, progress toward legislative elections, and continued support from foreign donors. Togo’s 2017 economic growth probably remained steady at 5.0%, largely driven by infusions of foreign aid, infrastructure investment in its port and mineral industry, and improvements in the business climate. Foreign direct investment inflows have slowed in recent years. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $17.45 billion (2020 est.) $17.15 billion (2019 est.) $16.26 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 4.4% (2017 est.) 5.1% (2016 est.) 5.7% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $2,100 (2020 est.) $2,100 (2019 est.) $2,100 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $5.232 billion (2018 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.6% (2019 est.) 0.9% (2018 est.) -0.9% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Moody's rating: B3 (2019) Standard & Poors rating: B (2019) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 28.8% (2017 est.) industry: 21.8% (2017 est.) services: 49.8% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 84.5% (2017 est.) government consumption: 11.4% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.4% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: -1.4% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 43.1% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -61% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: cassava, maize, yams, sorghum, beans, oil palm fruit, rice, vegetables, cotton, groundnuts Industries: phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement, handicrafts, textiles, beverages Industrial production growth rate: 5% (2017 est.) Labor force: 2.595 million (2007 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 65% industry: 5% services: 30% (1998 est.) Unemployment rate: 6.9% (2016 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 9.5% male: 12.3% female: 7.4% (2017 est.) Population below poverty line: 55.1% (2015 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 43.1 (2015 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 27.1% (2006) Budget: revenues: 1.023 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 1.203 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -3.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 75.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 81.6% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 21.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$383 million (2017 est.) -$416 million (2016 est.) Exports: $1.67 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $1.7 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: India 16%, Benin 15%, Burkina Faso 6%, France 6%, Morocco 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, crude petroleum, electricity, calcium phosphates, cotton (2019) Imports: $2.26 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $2.33 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: China 18%, South Korea 13%, India 11%, Belgium 10%, Netherlands 8%, United States 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, motorcycles, crude petroleum, rice, broadcasting equipment (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $77.8 million (31 December 2017 est.) $42.6 million (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $1.442 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $1.22 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 617.4 (2017 est.) 593.01 (2016 est.) 593.01 (2015 est.) 591.45 (2014 est.) 494.42 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 43% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 77% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 19% (2019) Electricity - production: 232.6 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 1.261 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 1.14 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 230,000 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 70% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 29% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 15,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 13,100 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 46,499 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 6,239,180 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 77.2 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: system based on a network of microwave radio relay routes supplemented by open-wire lines and a mobile-cellular system; telecoms supply 8% of GDP; 3 mobile operators; 12% of residents have access to the Internet; mobile subscribers and mobile broadband both increasing (2020) domestic: fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 79 telephones per 100 persons with mobile-cellular use predominating (2020) international: country code - 228; landing point for the WACS submarine cable, linking countries along the west coast of Africa with each other and with Portugal; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Symphonie (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: 1 state-owned TV station with multiple transmission sites; five private TV stations broadcast locally; cable TV service is available; state-owned radio network with two stations (in Lome and Kara); several dozen private radio stations and a few community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters available (2019) Internet country code: .tg Internet users: total: 1,986,897 (2020 est.) percent of population: 24% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 52,706 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.64 (2020 est.) less than 1 Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 8 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 566,295 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 10.89 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 5V Airports: total: 8 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2021) Pipelines: 62 km gas Railways: total: 568 km (2014) narrow gauge: 568 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge Roadways: total: 11,734 km (2018) paved: 1,794 km (2018) unpaved: 8,157 km (2018) urban: 1,783 km (2018) Waterways: 50 km (2011) (seasonally navigable by small craft on the Mono River depending on rainfall) Merchant marine: total: 411 by type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 9, general cargo 265, oil tanker 56, other 80 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Kpeme, Lome Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Togolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Togolaise, FAT): Togolese Army (l'Armee de Terre), Togolese Navy (Forces Naval Togolaises), Togolese Air Force (Armee de l’Air), National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale Togolaise or GNT) (2022) note - the GNT falls under the Ministry of the Armed Forces but also reports to the Ministry of Security and Civil Protection on many matters involving law enforcement and internal security Military expenditures: 1.8% of GDP (2021 est.) 2% of GDP (2020 est.) 2.6% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $190 million) 1.9% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $140 million) 1.9% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $130 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 10-11,000 personnel (7,000 Army; 500 Air and Navy; 3,000 Gendarmerie) (2022) note - in January 2022, the Togolese Government announced its intent to boost the size of the FAT to more than 20,000 by 2025 Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FAT's small inventory is a mix of older equipment from a variety of countries, including Brazil, France, Germany, Russia/former Soviet Union, the UK, and the US; since 2010, it has received limited amounts of equipment from China, France, South Africa, and the US (2022) Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for military service; 2-year service obligation; no conscription; women have been able to serve since 2007 (2022) Military deployments: 730 (plus about 300 police) Mali (MINUSMA) (Feb 2022) Military - note: the first Togolese Army unit was created in 1963, while the Air Force was established in 1964; the Navy was not established until 1976; since its creation, the Togolese military has a history of interfering in the country’s politics with assassinations, coups, influence, and a large military crackdown in 2005 that killed hundreds; over the past decade, it has made some efforts to reform and professionalize, as well as increase its role in UN peacekeeping activities; Togolese police have also been deployed on peacekeeping operations, and Togo maintains a regional peacekeeping training center for military and police in Lome; the Navy and Air Force have increasingly focused on combating piracy and smuggling in the Gulf of Guinea in June 2022, the Togolese Government declared a state of emergency in its northern border region due to the threat from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qa'ida-affiliated terrorist coalition that is based in Mali, but also operates in neighboring Burkina Faso; the declaration followed an attack on a Togolese military post in May that killed 8 soldiers and a Togolese military operation launched the same month to boost border security and prevent terrorist infiltrations (2022) Maritime threats: the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea remain a very high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships; in 2021, there were 34 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea region; although a significant decrease from the total number of 81 incidents in 2020, it included the one hijacking and three of five ships fired upon worldwide; while boarding and attempted boarding to steal valuables from ships and crews are the most common types of incidents, almost a third of all incidents involve a hijacking and/or kidnapping; in 2021, 57 crew members were kidnapped in seven separate incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, representing 100% of kidnappings worldwide; Nigerian pirates in particular are well armed and very aggressive, operating as far as 200 nm offshore; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2022-001 - Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 4 January 2022, which states in part, "Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom continue to serve as significant threats to US-flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea" Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Togo-Benin: in 2001, Benin claimed Togo moved boundary monuments - joint commission continues to resurvey the boundary; Benin’s and Togo’s Adjrala hydroelectric dam project on the Mona River, proposed in the 1990s, commenced in 2017 with funding from a Chinese bank Togo-Burkina Faso: none identified Togo-Ghana: none identifiedTogo-Benin: in 2001, Benin claimed Togo moved boundary monuments - joint commission continues to resurvey the boundary; Benin’s and Togo’s Adjrala hydroelectric dam project on the Mona River, proposed in the 1990s, commenced in 2017 with funding from a Chinese bankTogo-Burkina Faso: none identifiedTogo-Ghana: none identified Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 8,391 (Ghana) (2022) Illicit drugs: transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers; money laundering not a significant problem

20220901

field-obesity-adult-prevalence-rate-country-comparison

20220901

field-petroleum

See entries under Refined petroleum products. Topic: Afghanistantotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 24,300 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Albaniatotal petroleum production: 16,100 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 26,400 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 10,500 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 150 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Algeriatotal petroleum production: 1,414,800 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 450,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 633,500 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 4,100 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 12.2 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: American Samoatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 2,300 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Angolatotal petroleum production: 1,197,600 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 133,400 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 1,367,400 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 7.783 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Antarcticatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 100 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Antigua and Barbudatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Argentinatotal petroleum production: 690,200 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 680,000 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 59,100 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 11,400 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 2,482,700,000 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Armeniatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 10,900 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Arubatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 8,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Australiatotal petroleum production: 442,500 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 1,174,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 197,700 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 356,900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 2.446 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Austriatotal petroleum production: 20,100 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 278,700 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 168,300 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 35.2 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Azerbaijantotal petroleum production: 711,700 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 107,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 679,900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 7 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Bahamas, Thetotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 25,800 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Bahraintotal petroleum production: 185,300 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 73,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 228,800 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 186.5 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Bangladeshtotal petroleum production: 13,500 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 122,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 21,600 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 28 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Barbadostotal petroleum production: 1,000 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 10,800 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 700 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 2 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Belarustotal petroleum production: 34,300 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 134,600 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 32,200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 383,200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 198 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Belgiumtotal petroleum production: 11,400 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 642,300 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 666,700 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Belizetotal petroleum production: 1,300 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 3,900 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 1,200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 6.7 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Benintotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 46,300 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 8 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Bermudatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 5,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Bhutantotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 4,400 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Boliviatotal petroleum production: 65,400 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 87,800 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 240.9 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 34,700 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 13,900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Botswanatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 21,700 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Braziltotal petroleum production: 3,629,100 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 3,142,300 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 1,123,300 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 186,200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 12,714,600,000 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: British Virgin Islandstotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 1,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Bruneitotal petroleum production: 107,300 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 18,800 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 103,100 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 1.1 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Bulgariatotal petroleum production: 4,500 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 97,800 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 119,800 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 15 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Burkina Fasototal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 30,800 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Burmatotal petroleum production: 7,800 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 146,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 4,700 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 139 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Burunditotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Cabo Verdetotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 6,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Cambodiatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 64,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Cameroontotal petroleum production: 63,200 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 37,900 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 62,200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 20,200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 200 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Canadatotal petroleum production: 5,468,100 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 2,629,300 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 3.177 million barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 793,800 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 170.3 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Cayman Islandstotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 5,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Central African Republictotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 2,000 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Chadtotal petroleum production: 87,900 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 12,600 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 116,000 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 1.5 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Chiletotal petroleum production: 11,900 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 361,700 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 172,700 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 150 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Chinatotal petroleum production: 4,712,200 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 14,007,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 52,500 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 9,238,100 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 26,022,600,000 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Colombiatotal petroleum production: 756,400 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 352,400 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 481,300 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 2.036 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Comorostotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 2,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thetotal petroleum production: 22,000 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 17,900 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 21,300 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 180 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Congo, Republic of thetotal petroleum production: 270,900 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 12,600 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 331,700 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 2.882 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Cook Islandstotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 800 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Costa Ricatotal petroleum production: 400 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 63,300 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Cote d'Ivoiretotal petroleum production: 33,000 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 56,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 30,200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 69,200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 100 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Croatiatotal petroleum production: 12,200 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 71,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 65,200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 71 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Cubatotal petroleum production: 38,400 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 164,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 48,500 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 124 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Cyprustotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 54,400 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Czechiatotal petroleum production: 6,300 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 219,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 400 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 150,200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 15 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Denmarktotal petroleum production: 69,000 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 165,400 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 56,700 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 95,200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 441 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Djiboutitotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 4,300 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Dominicatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 1,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Dominican Republictotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 148,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 24,900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Ecuadortotal petroleum production: 478,000 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 259,000 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 349,400 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 8.273 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Egypttotal petroleum production: 660,800 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 810,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 204,100 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 117,400 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 3.3 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: El Salvadortotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 59,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Equatorial Guineatotal petroleum production: 142,600 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 22,300 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 184,500 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 1.1 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Eritreatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 5,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Estoniatotal petroleum production: 21,800 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 27,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Eswatinitotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 6,000 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Ethiopiatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 107,900 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 400,000 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 300 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Faroe Islandstotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 5,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Fijitotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 11,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Finlandtotal petroleum production: 8,300 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 207,400 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 232,400 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Francetotal petroleum production: 81,500 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 1,688,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 1,064,700 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 61.7 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: French Polynesiatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 6,700 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Gabontotal petroleum production: 175,000 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 14,400 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 178,400 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 2 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Gambia, Thetotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 3,900 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Gaza Striptotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank refined petroleum consumption: 24,600 bbl/day (2019 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank Topic: Georgiatotal petroleum production: 300 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 32,400 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 100 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 35 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Germanytotal petroleum production: 135,000 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 2,346,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 1,720,600 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 115.2 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Ghanatotal petroleum production: 185,700 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 98,000 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 176,800 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 3,900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 660 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Gibraltartotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 83,700 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Greecetotal petroleum production: 4,800 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 309,600 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 4,100 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 491,300 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 10 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Greenlandtotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 4,000 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Grenadatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 2,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Guamtotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands refined petroleum consumption: 2,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands Topic: Guatemalatotal petroleum production: 10,300 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 112,600 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 6,700 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 86.1 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Guineatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 19,800 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Guinea-Bissautotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 2,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Guyanatotal petroleum production: 110,200 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 18,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Haititotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 21,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Hondurastotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 66,800 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Hong Kongtotal petroleum production: 100 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 404,600 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Hungarytotal petroleum production: 35,200 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 180,600 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 8,000 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 134,800 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 12.1 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Icelandtotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 19,700 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Indiatotal petroleum production: 771,400 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 4,920,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 4.53 million barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 4,604,900,000 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Indonesiatotal petroleum production: 842,300 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 1.649 million bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 204,000 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 309,700 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 2.48 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Irantotal petroleum production: 3,450,300 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 1.934 million bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 2,230,900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 33,500 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 208.6 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Iraqtotal petroleum production: 4,161,500 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 863,300 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 3,975,800 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 145.019 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Irelandtotal petroleum production: 600 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 159,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 60,300 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Israeltotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 232,400 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 232,900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 12.7 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Italytotal petroleum production: 107,700 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 1,255,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 10,100 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 1.253 million barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 497.9 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Jamaicatotal petroleum production: 3,000 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 61,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 20,100 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Japantotal petroleum production: 10,200 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 3,739,300 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 3,012,800 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 44.1 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Jordantotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 114,800 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 47,400 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 1 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Kazakhstantotal petroleum production: 1,864,900 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 320,600 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 1,531,600 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 500 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 30 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Kenyatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 116,400 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Kiribatitotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Korea, Northtotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 20,300 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 10,600 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Korea, Southtotal petroleum production: 37,400 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 2,598,700 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 3,034,400 barrels/day (2018 est.) Topic: Kosovorefined petroleum consumption: 12,800 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Kuwaittotal petroleum production: 2,720,500 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 342,000 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 1,837,900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 101.5 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Kyrgyzstantotal petroleum production: 700 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 32,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 1,400 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 8,200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 40 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Laostotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 19,300 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Latviatotal petroleum production: 1,600 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 39,900 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Lebanontotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 168,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Lesothototal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 5,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Liberiatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 9,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Libyatotal petroleum production: 1,252,800 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 219,700 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 1,067,400 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 48.363 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Lithuaniatotal petroleum production: 4,000 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 68,000 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 194,900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 12 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Luxembourgtotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 63,900 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Macautotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 14,300 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Madagascartotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 21,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Malawitotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 9,400 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Malaysiatotal petroleum production: 593,800 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 718,600 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 303,600 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 182,300 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 3.6 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Maldivestotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 15,300 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Malitotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 37,600 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Maltatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 54,000 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Mauritaniatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 27,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 4,800 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 20 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Mauritiustotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 36,700 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Mexicototal petroleum production: 1,905,500 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 1,928,800 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 1,283,300 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 3,900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 5,786,100,000 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofrefined petroleum consumption: 1,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) Topic: Moldovatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 22,000 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Mongoliatotal petroleum production: 16,700 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 35,800 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 14,700 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) Topic: Montenegrototal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 7,600 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Montserrattotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Moroccototal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 307,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 700,000 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Mozambiquetotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 35,400 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Namibiatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 26,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Naurutotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 400 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Nepaltotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 49,400 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Netherlandstotal petroleum production: 76,100 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 915,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 8,800 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 1,096,500 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 137.7 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: New Caledoniatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 19,300 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: New Zealandtotal petroleum production: 13,400 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 184,600 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 21,600 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 99,900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 41 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Nicaraguatotal petroleum production: 200 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 35,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 13,000 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Nigertotal petroleum production: 8,000 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 13,800 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 150 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Nigeriatotal petroleum production: 1,646,900 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 483,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 1,889,100 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 36.89 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Niuetotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 100 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: North Macedoniatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 22,700 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Northern Mariana Islandstotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands refined petroleum consumption: 2,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Data represented includes both Guam and Northern Mariana Islands Topic: Norwaytotal petroleum production: 2.026 million bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 215,900 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 1,242,500 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 66,300 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 8,122,200,000 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Omantotal petroleum production: 978,800 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 234,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 779,000 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 5.373 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Pakistantotal petroleum production: 100,700 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 493,400 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 7,800 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 198,400 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 540 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Panamatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 143,700 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Papua New Guineatotal petroleum production: 37,200 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 38,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 60,300 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 27,400 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 159.7 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Paraguaytotal petroleum production: 2,000 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 56,900 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Perutotal petroleum production: 122,500 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 265,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 6,500 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 112,900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 858.9 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Philippinestotal petroleum production: 10,300 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 527,400 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 12,400 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 232,500 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 138.5 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Polandtotal petroleum production: 28,400 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 697,700 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 6,000 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 542,100 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 113 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Portugaltotal petroleum production: 8,000 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 249,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 255,400 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Puerto Ricototal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 79,000 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Qatartotal petroleum production: 1,815,100 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 293,800 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 1,264,400 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 25.244 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Romaniatotal petroleum production: 74,000 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 222,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 1,400 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 161,600 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 600 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Russiatotal petroleum production: 10,749,500 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 3.699 million bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 5.196 million barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 14,200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 80 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Rwandatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 8,300 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 100 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevistotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 1,800 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Saint Luciatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 4,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelontotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 600 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinestotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 1,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Samoatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 2,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Sao Tome and Principetotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 1,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Saudi Arabiatotal petroleum production: 10,815,700 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 3,182,300 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 7,340,800 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 258.6 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Senegaltotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 57,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 20,500 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Serbiatotal petroleum production: 15,200 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 79,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 53,800 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 77.5 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Seychellestotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 7,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Sierra Leonetotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 5,900 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Singaporetotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 1.448 million bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 13,000 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 1,121,200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Slovakiatotal petroleum production: 3,800 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 85,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 100 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 109,800 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 9 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Sloveniatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 54,900 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Solomon Islandstotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 2,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Somaliatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 5,900 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: South Africatotal petroleum production: 97,900 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 622,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 9,000 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 397,700 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 15 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: South Sudantotal petroleum production: 157,100 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 12,900 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 126,500 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) Topic: Spaintotal petroleum production: 47,200 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 1.328 million bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 1,364,700 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 150 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Sri Lankatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 131,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 35,300 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Sudantotal petroleum production: 66,900 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 137,700 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 12,900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 9,000 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 5 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Surinametotal petroleum production: 14,800 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 15,800 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 89 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Swedentotal petroleum production: 10,600 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 295,800 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 403,200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Switzerlandtotal petroleum production: 300 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 220,000 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 60,900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Syriatotal petroleum production: 80,800 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 137,900 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 129,100 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 2.5 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Taiwantotal petroleum production: 800 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 998,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 886,200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 2.4 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Tajikistantotal petroleum production: 300 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 26,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 12 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Tanzaniatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 52,800 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Thailandtotal petroleum production: 438,200 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 1,284,800 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 28,600 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 979,800 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 252.8 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Timor-Lestetotal petroleum production: 14,000 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 3,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 32,900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Togototal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 10,000 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Tongatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 1,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Trinidad and Tobagototal petroleum production: 81,000 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 35,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 22,100 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 64,700 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 243 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Tunisiatotal petroleum production: 42,500 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 107,700 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 29,400 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 10,200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 425 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)total petroleum production: 70,300 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 987,300 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 423,500 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 366 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Turkmenistantotal petroleum production: 235,300 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 153,400 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 59,900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 600 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandstotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 1,600 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Ugandatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 40,900 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 2.5 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Ukrainetotal petroleum production: 57,700 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 248,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 700 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 6,500 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 395 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: United Arab Emiratestotal petroleum production: 3,769,100 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 863,700 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 2,427,200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 172,900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 97.8 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: United Kingdomtotal petroleum production: 890,400 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 1,578,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 818,200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 891,700 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 2.5 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: United Statestotal petroleum production: 17,924,200 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 20,542,900 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 2,048,100 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 7,768,500 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 47.107 billion barrels (2020 est.) Topic: Uruguaytotal petroleum production: 400 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 50,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 41,500 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Uzbekistantotal petroleum production: 5,200 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 98,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 24,000 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 594 million barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Vanuatutotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 1,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Venezuelatotal petroleum production: 604,800 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 470,600 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 1,002,700 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 303.806 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Vietnamtotal petroleum production: 197,700 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 495,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 66,900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 103,500 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 4.4 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Virgin Islandstotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 16,400 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Wake Islandtotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 9,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: West Banktotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank refined petroleum consumption: 24,600 bbl/day (2019 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Data represented includes both the Gaza Strip and West Bank Topic: Yementotal petroleum production: 70,100 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 75,700 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 3 billion barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Zambiatotal petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 25,300 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 12,400 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Topic: Zimbabwetotal petroleum production: 800 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 27,300 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)

20220901

countries-russia-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to Russia due to the unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces, the potential for harassment against U.S. citizens by Russian government security officials, the singling out of U.S. citizens in Russia by Russian government security officials including for detention, the arbitrary enforcement of local law, limited flights into and out of Russia, the Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Russia, COVID-19 and related entry restrictions, and terrorism. U.S. citizens residing or travelling in Russia should depart Russia immediately. Some areas have increased risk due to terrorism, kidnapping, and risk of civil unrest. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws, and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 2 blank pages in their passport for any entry stamp and or visa that will be required. A visa is required. US citizens will need to get in touch with the country’s embassy or nearest consulate to obtain a visa prior to visiting the country. US Embassy/Consulate: [7] (495) 728-5000; US Embassy Moscow, Bolshoy Deviatinsky, Pereulok No. 8, Moscow 121099, Russian Federation; MoscowACS@state.gov; https://ru.usembassy.gov/ Telephone Code: 7 Local Emergency Phone: 112 Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations http://www.who.int/ Climate: Ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in much of European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in the polar north; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigid in Siberia; summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool along Arctic coast Currency (Code): Russian rubles (RUB) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 220 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, F Major Languages: Russian, Tatar, Chechen Major Religions: Russian Orthodox 15-20%, Muslim 10-15%, other Christian 2%, note: estimates of practicing worshipers; Russia has large populations of non-practicing believers and non-believers Time Difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); note: Russia has 11 time zones, the largest number of contiguous time zones of any country in the world; in 2014, two time zones were added and daylight saving time dropped Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Moscow (includes Kremlin & Red Square, Saint Basil Cathedral); Suzdal; Lake Baikal; Saint Sophia Cathedral (Veliky Novgorod); Kizhi Island; Valley of Geysers; Mount Elbrus; Saint Petersburg (includes Hermitage Museum, Saint Isaac’s Cathedral, Peterhof Palace) Major Sports: Soccer, ice hockey, handball, basketball, tennis Cultural Practices: Leaving a small amount of food on your plate indicates that your host has provided ample hospitality. Tipping Guidelines: Tip between 10-15% of the bill at restaurants. A porter or bellhop should receive 30-90 rubles or $1-3 (USD) per bag to carry luggage to a room. Hotel housekeeping would appreciate between 60-120 rubles per day. Tipping taxi drivers is not necessary.Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Thursday, April 07, 2022

20220901

countries-timor-leste

Topic: Photos of Timor-Leste Topic: Introduction Background: Timor was actively involved in Southeast Asian trading networks for centuries, and by the 14th century exported aromatic sandalwood, slaves, honey, and wax. A number of local chiefdoms ruled the island in the early 16th century when Portuguese traders arrived, chiefly attracted by the relative abundance of sandalwood on Timor; by mid-century, the Portuguese had colonized the island. Skirmishing with the Dutch in the region eventually resulted in an 1859 treaty in which Portugal ceded the western portion of the island. Imperial Japan occupied Portuguese Timor from 1942 to 1945, but Portugal resumed colonial authority after the Japanese defeat in World War II. East Timor declared itself independent from Portugal on 28 November 1975 and was invaded and occupied by Indonesian forces nine days later. It was incorporated into Indonesia in July 1976 as the province of Timor Timur (East Timor). An unsuccessful campaign of pacification followed over the next two decades, during which an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 people died. In an August 1999 UN-supervised popular referendum, an overwhelming majority of the people of Timor-Leste voted for independence from Indonesia. However, in the next three weeks, anti-independence Timorese militias - organized and supported by the Indonesian military - commenced a large-scale, scorched-earth campaign of retribution. The militias killed approximately 1,400 Timorese and displaced nearly 500,000. Most of the country's infrastructure, including homes, irrigation systems, water supply systems, and schools, and nearly all of the country's electrical grid were destroyed. On 20 September 1999, Australian-led peacekeeping troops deployed to the country and brought the violence to an end. On 20 May 2002, Timor-Leste was internationally recognized as an independent state. In 2006, internal tensions threatened the new nation's security when a military strike led to violence and a breakdown of law and order. At Dili's request, an Australian-led International Stabilization Force (ISF) deployed to Timor-Leste, and the UN Security Council established the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT), which included an authorized police presence of over 1,600 personnel. The ISF and UNMIT restored stability, allowing for presidential and parliamentary elections in 2007 in a largely peaceful atmosphere. In February 2008, a rebel group staged an unsuccessful attack against the president and prime minister. The ringleader was killed in the attack, and most of the rebels surrendered in April 2008. Since the attack, the government has enjoyed one of its longest periods of post-independence stability, including successful 2012 elections for both the National Parliament and president and a successful transition of power in February 2015. In late 2012, the UN Security Council ended its peacekeeping mission in Timor-Leste and both the ISF and UNMIT departed the country. Timor was actively involved in Southeast Asian trading networks for centuries, and by the 14th century exported aromatic sandalwood, slaves, honey, and wax. A number of local chiefdoms ruled the island in the early 16th century when Portuguese traders arrived, chiefly attracted by the relative abundance of sandalwood on Timor; by mid-century, the Portuguese had colonized the island. Skirmishing with the Dutch in the region eventually resulted in an 1859 treaty in which Portugal ceded the western portion of the island. Imperial Japan occupied Portuguese Timor from 1942 to 1945, but Portugal resumed colonial authority after the Japanese defeat in World War II. East Timor declared itself independent from Portugal on 28 November 1975 and was invaded and occupied by Indonesian forces nine days later. It was incorporated into Indonesia in July 1976 as the province of Timor Timur (East Timor). An unsuccessful campaign of pacification followed over the next two decades, during which an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 people died. In an August 1999 UN-supervised popular referendum, an overwhelming majority of the people of Timor-Leste voted for independence from Indonesia. However, in the next three weeks, anti-independence Timorese militias - organized and supported by the Indonesian military - commenced a large-scale, scorched-earth campaign of retribution. The militias killed approximately 1,400 Timorese and displaced nearly 500,000. Most of the country's infrastructure, including homes, irrigation systems, water supply systems, and schools, and nearly all of the country's electrical grid were destroyed. On 20 September 1999, Australian-led peacekeeping troops deployed to the country and brought the violence to an end. On 20 May 2002, Timor-Leste was internationally recognized as an independent state.In 2006, internal tensions threatened the new nation's security when a military strike led to violence and a breakdown of law and order. At Dili's request, an Australian-led International Stabilization Force (ISF) deployed to Timor-Leste, and the UN Security Council established the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT), which included an authorized police presence of over 1,600 personnel. The ISF and UNMIT restored stability, allowing for presidential and parliamentary elections in 2007 in a largely peaceful atmosphere. In February 2008, a rebel group staged an unsuccessful attack against the president and prime minister. The ringleader was killed in the attack, and most of the rebels surrendered in April 2008. Since the attack, the government has enjoyed one of its longest periods of post-independence stability, including successful 2012 elections for both the National Parliament and president and a successful transition of power in February 2015. In late 2012, the UN Security Council ended its peacekeeping mission in Timor-Leste and both the ISF and UNMIT departed the country. Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago; note - Timor-Leste includes the eastern half of the island of Timor, the Oecussi (Ambeno) region on the northwest portion of the island of Timor, and the islands of Pulau Atauro and Pulau Jaco Geographic coordinates: 8 50 S, 125 55 E Map references: Southeast Asia Area: total: 14,874 sq km land: 14,874 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: slightly larger than Connecticut; almost half the size of Maryland Land boundaries: total: 253 km border countries (1): Indonesia 253 km Coastline: 706 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons Terrain: mountainous Elevation: highest point: Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m lowest point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m Natural resources: gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble Land use: agricultural land: 25.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 10.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 4.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 10.1% (2018 est.) forest: 49.1% (2018 est.) other: 25.8% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 350 sq km (2012) Population distribution: most of the population concentrated in the western third of the country, particularly around Dili Natural hazards: floods and landslides are common; earthquakes; tsunamis; tropical cyclones Geography - note: Timor comes from the Malay word for "east"; the island of Timor is part of the Malay Archipelago and is the largest and easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands; the district of Oecussi is an exclave separated from Timor-Leste proper by Indonesia; Timor-Leste has the unique distinction of being the only Asian country located completely in the Southern Hemisphere Map description: Timor Leste map showing the major population centers of this country on the eastern end of the island of Timor in the Timor Sea.Timor Leste map showing the major population centers of this country on the eastern end of the island of Timor in the Timor Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 1,445,006 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Timorese adjective: Timorese Ethnic groups: Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) (includes Tetun, Mambai, Tokodede, Galoli, Kemak, Baikeno), Melanesian-Papuan (includes Bunak, Fataluku, Bakasai), small Chinese minority Languages: Tetun Prasa 30.6%, Mambai 16.6%, Makasai 10.5%, Tetun Terik 6.1%, Baikenu 5.9%, Kemak 5.8%, Bunak 5.5%, Tokodede 4%, Fataluku 3.5%, Waima'a 1.8%, Galoli 1.4%, Naueti 1.4%, Idate 1.2%, Midiki 1.2%, other 4.5% (2015 est.) note: data represent population by mother tongue; Tetun and Portuguese are official languages; Indonesian and English are working languages; there are about 32 indigenous languages Religions: Roman Catholic 97.6%, Protestant/Evangelical 2%, Muslim 0.2%, other 0.2% (2015 est.) Demographic profile: Timor-Leste’s high fertility and population growth rates sustain its very youthful age structure – approximately 40% of the population is below the age of 15 and the country’s median age is 20.  While Timor-Leste’s total fertility rate (TFR) – the average number of births per woman – decreased significantly from over 7 in the early 2000s, it remains high at 4.3 in 2021 and will probably continue to decline slowly.  The low use of contraceptives and the traditional preference for large families is keeping fertility elevated.  The high TFR and falling mortality rates continue to fuel a high population growth rate of nearly 2.2%, which is the highest in Southeast Asia.  The country’s high total dependency ratio – a measure of the ratio of dependents to the working-age population – could divert more government spending toward social programs. Timor-Leste’s growing, poorly educated working-age population and insufficient job creation are ongoing problems.  Some 70% of the population lives in rural areas, where most of people are dependent on the agricultural sector.  Malnutrition and poverty are prevalent, with 42% of the population living under the poverty line as of 2014. During the Indonesian occupation (1975-1999) and Timor-Leste’s fight for independence, approximately 250,000 Timorese fled to western Timor and, in lesser numbers, Australia, Portugal, and other countries. Many of these emigrants later returned.  Since Timor-Leste’s 1999 independence referendum, economic motives and periods of conflict have been the main drivers of emigration.  Bilateral labor agreements with Australia, Malaysia, and South Korea and the presence of Timorese populations abroad, are pull factors, but the high cost prevents many young Timorese from emigrating.  Timorese communities are found in its former colonizers, Indonesia and Portugal, as well as the Philippines and the UK.  The country has also become a destination for migrants in the surrounding region, mainly men seeking work in construction, commerce, and services in Dili.Timor-Leste’s high fertility and population growth rates sustain its very youthful age structure – approximately 40% of the population is below the age of 15 and the country’s median age is 20.  While Timor-Leste’s total fertility rate (TFR) – the average number of births per woman – decreased significantly from over 7 in the early 2000s, it remains high at 4.3 in 2021 and will probably continue to decline slowly.  The low use of contraceptives and the traditional preference for large families is keeping fertility elevated.  The high TFR and falling mortality rates continue to fuel a high population growth rate of nearly 2.2%, which is the highest in Southeast Asia.  The country’s high total dependency ratio – a measure of the ratio of dependents to the working-age population – could divert more government spending toward social programs. Timor-Leste’s growing, poorly educated working-age population and insufficient job creation are ongoing problems.  Some 70% of the population lives in rural areas, where most of people are dependent on the agricultural sector.  Malnutrition and poverty are prevalent, with 42% of the population living under the poverty line as of 2014.During the Indonesian occupation (1975-1999) and Timor-Leste’s fight for independence, approximately 250,000 Timorese fled to western Timor and, in lesser numbers, Australia, Portugal, and other countries. Many of these emigrants later returned.  Since Timor-Leste’s 1999 independence referendum, economic motives and periods of conflict have been the main drivers of emigration.  Bilateral labor agreements with Australia, Malaysia, and South Korea and the presence of Timorese populations abroad, are pull factors, but the high cost prevents many young Timorese from emigrating.  Timorese communities are found in its former colonizers, Indonesia and Portugal, as well as the Philippines and the UK.  The country has also become a destination for migrants in the surrounding region, mainly men seeking work in construction, commerce, and services in Dili. Age structure: 0-14 years: 39.96% (male 284,353/female 268,562) 15-24 years: 20.32% (male 142,693/female 138,508) 25-54 years: 30.44% (male 202,331/female 218,914) 55-64 years: 5.22% (male 34,956/female 37,229) 65 years and over: 4.06% (2020 est.) (male 27,153/female 29,024) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 90.3 youth dependency ratio: 83.7 elderly dependency ratio: 6.6 potential support ratio: 15.2 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 19.6 years male: 18.9 years female: 20.2 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 2.15% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 30.94 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 5.61 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -3.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: most of the population concentrated in the western third of the country, particularly around Dili Urbanization: urban population: 32.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.31% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 281,000 DILI (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 23 years (2016 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Maternal mortality ratio: 142 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 33.69 deaths/1,000 live births male: 36.96 deaths/1,000 live births female: 30.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.92 years male: 68.25 years female: 71.7 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.21 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 26.1% (2016) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 98% of population rural: 82.5% of population total: 87.4% of population unimproved: urban: 2% of population rural: 17.5% of population total: 12.6% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 7.2% (2019) Physicians density: 0.76 physicians/1,000 population (2020) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 88.7% of population rural: 56.1% of population total: 66.3% of population unimproved: urban: 11.3% of population rural: 43.9% of population total: 33.7% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 1,200 (2020) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020) <100 Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 3.8% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 39.2% (2020 est.) male: 67.6% (2020 est.) female: 10.8% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 37.5% (2013) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 2.6% women married by age 18: 14.9% men married by age 18: 1.2% (2016 est.) Education expenditures: 6.8% of GDP (2018 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 68.1% male: 71.9% female: 64.2% (2018) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 13.2% male: 10.9% female: 15.9% (2016 est.) People - note: one of only two predominantly Christian nations in Southeast Asia, the other being the Philippines Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: air pollution and deterioration of air quality; greenhouse gas emissions; water quality, scarcity, and access; land and soil degradation; forest depletion; widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion; loss of biodiversity Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 17.88 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.5 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 4.74 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons Land use: agricultural land: 25.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 10.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 4.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 10.1% (2018 est.) forest: 49.1% (2018 est.) other: 25.8% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 32.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.31% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.13% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 63,875 tons (2016 est.) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 99 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 2 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 1.071 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 8.215 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste conventional short form: Timor-Leste local long form: Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e (Tetum)/ Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste (Portuguese) local short form: Timor Lorosa'e (Tetum)/ Timor-Leste (Portuguese) former: East Timor, Portuguese Timor etymology: timor" derives from the Indonesian and Malay word "timur" meaning "east"; "leste" is the Portuguese word for "east", so "Timor-Leste" literally means "Eastern-East"; the local [Tetum] name "Timor Lorosa'e" translates as "East Rising Sun" note: pronounced TEE-mor LESS-tay Government type: semi-presidential republic Capital: name: Dili geographic coordinates: 8 35 S, 125 36 E time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Administrative divisions: 12 municipalities (municipios, singular municipio) and 1 special adminstrative region* (regiao administrativa especial); Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro (Maliana), Covalima (Suai), Dili, Ermera (Gleno), Lautem (Lospalos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oe-Cusse Ambeno* (Pante Macassar), Viqueque note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses) Independence: 20 May 2002 (from Indonesia); note - 28 November 1975 was the date independence was proclaimed from Portugal; 20 May 2002 was the date of international recognition of Timor-Leste's independence from Indonesia National holiday: Restoration of Independence Day, 20 May (2002); Proclamation of Independence Day, 28 November (1975) Constitution: history: drafted 2001, approved 22 March 2002, entered into force 20 May 2002 amendments: proposed by Parliament and parliamentary groups; consideration of amendments requires at least four-fifths majority approval by Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by Parliament and promulgation by the president of the republic; passage of amendments to the republican form of government and the flag requires approval in a referendum Legal system: civil law system based on the Portuguese model; note - penal and civil law codes to replace the Indonesian codes were passed by Parliament and promulgated in 2009 and 2011, respectively International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Timor-Leste dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President José RAMOS-HORTA (since May 2022); note - the president is commander in chief of the military and is able to veto legislation, dissolve parliament, and call national elections head of government: Prime Minister Taur Matan RUAK (since 22 June 2018) cabinet: the governing coalition in the Parliament proposes cabinet member candidates to the prime minister, who presents these recommendations to the President of the Republic for swearing in elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); last election held in April 2022; following parliamentary elections, the president appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as the prime minister election results: 2022: José RAMOS-HORTA elected president in a run-off election -  RAMOS-HORTA (CNRT) 62.1%, Francisco GUTERRES (FRETILIN) 37.9% 2017: Francisco GUTERRES (FRETILIN) 57.1%, António da CONCEICAO (PD) 32.46% Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Parliament (65 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 12 May 2018 (next to be held in July 2023) election results: percent of vote by party - AMP - 49.6%, FRETILIN 34.2%, PD 8.1%, DDF 5.5%, other 2.6%; seats by party - AMP 34, FRETILIN 23, PD 5, DDF 3; composition - men 39, women 26, percent of women 40% Judicial branch: highest courts: Court of Appeals (consists of the court president and NA judges) judge selection and term of office: court president appointed by the president of the republic from among the other court judges to serve a 4-year term; other court judges appointed - 1 by the Parliament and the others by the Supreme Council for the Judiciary, a body chaired by the court president and that includes mostly presidential and parliamentary appointees; other judges serve for life subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Administrative, Tax, and Audit Court; district courts; magistrates' courts; military courts note: the UN Justice System Programme, launched in 2003 and being rolled out in 4 phases through 2018, is helping strengthen the country's justice system; the Programme is aligned with the country's long-range Justice Sector Strategic Plan, which includes legal reforms Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Change and Progress or AMP [Xanana GUSMAO] (collapsed in 2020; alliance included CNRT, KHUNTO, PLP) Democratic Development Forum or DDF Democratic Party or PD [Mariano Assanami SABINO] Frenti-Mudanca (Front for National Reconstruction of Timor-Leste - Change) or FM [Jose Luis GUTERRES] Kmanek Haburas Unidade Nasional Timor Oan or KHUNTO [Armanda BERTA DOS SANTOS] National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction or CNRT [Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO] People's Liberation Party or PLP [Taur Matan RUAK] Revolutionary Front of Independent Timor-Leste or FRETILIN [Mari ALKATIRI] Timorese Democratic Union or UDT [Gilman SANTOS] International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, ARF, ASEAN (observer), CPLP, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Isilio Antonio De Fatima COELHO DA SILVA (since 6 January 2020) chancery: 4201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 504, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 966-3202 FAX: [1] (202) 966-3205 email address and website: info@timorlesteembassy.org http://www.timorlesteembassy.org/ Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant), Charge d'Affaires Thomas DALEY (since August 2021) embassy: Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Coqueiros, Dili mailing address: 8250 Dili Place, Washington, DC 20521-8250 telephone: (670) 332-4684, (670) 330-2400 FAX: (670) 331-3206 email address and website: ConsDili@state.gov https://tl.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: red with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a slightly longer yellow arrowhead that extends to the center of the flag; a white star - pointing to the upper hoist-side corner of the flag - is in the center of the black triangle; yellow denotes the colonialism in Timor-Leste's past, black represents the obscurantism that needs to be overcome, red stands for the national liberation struggle; the white star symbolizes peace and serves as a guiding light National symbol(s): Mount Ramelau; national colors: red, yellow, black, white National anthem: name: "Patria" (Fatherland) lyrics/music: Fransisco Borja DA COSTA/Afonso DE ARAUJO note: adopted 2002; the song was first used as an anthem when Timor-Leste declared its independence from Portugal in 1975; the lyricist, Francisco Borja DA COSTA, was killed in the Indonesian invasion just days after independence was declared Topic: Economy Economic overview: Since independence in 1999, Timor-Leste has faced great challenges in rebuilding its infrastructure, strengthening the civil administration, and generating jobs for young people entering the work force. The development of offshore oil and gas resources has greatly supplemented government revenues. This technology-intensive industry, however, has done little to create jobs in part because there are no production facilities in Timor-Leste. Gas is currently piped to Australia for processing, but Timor-Leste has expressed interest in developing a domestic processing capability.   In June 2005, the National Parliament unanimously approved the creation of the Timor-Leste Petroleum Fund to serve as a repository for all petroleum revenues and to preserve the value of Timor-Leste's petroleum wealth for future generations. The Fund held assets of $16 billion, as of mid-2016. Oil accounts for over 90% of government revenues, and the drop in the price of oil in 2014-16 has led to concerns about the long-term sustainability of government spending. Timor-Leste compensated for the decline in price by exporting more oil. The Ministry of Finance maintains that the Petroleum Fund is sufficient to sustain government operations for the foreseeable future.   Annual government budget expenditures increased markedly between 2009 and 2012 but dropped significantly through 2016. Historically, the government failed to spend as much as its budget allowed. The government has focused significant resources on basic infrastructure, including electricity and roads, but limited experience in procurement and infrastructure building has hampered these projects. The underlying economic policy challenge the country faces remains how best to use oil-and-gas wealth to lift the non-oil economy onto a higher growth path and to reduce poverty.Since independence in 1999, Timor-Leste has faced great challenges in rebuilding its infrastructure, strengthening the civil administration, and generating jobs for young people entering the work force. The development of offshore oil and gas resources has greatly supplemented government revenues. This technology-intensive industry, however, has done little to create jobs in part because there are no production facilities in Timor-Leste. Gas is currently piped to Australia for processing, but Timor-Leste has expressed interest in developing a domestic processing capability. In June 2005, the National Parliament unanimously approved the creation of the Timor-Leste Petroleum Fund to serve as a repository for all petroleum revenues and to preserve the value of Timor-Leste's petroleum wealth for future generations. The Fund held assets of $16 billion, as of mid-2016. Oil accounts for over 90% of government revenues, and the drop in the price of oil in 2014-16 has led to concerns about the long-term sustainability of government spending. Timor-Leste compensated for the decline in price by exporting more oil. The Ministry of Finance maintains that the Petroleum Fund is sufficient to sustain government operations for the foreseeable future. Annual government budget expenditures increased markedly between 2009 and 2012 but dropped significantly through 2016. Historically, the government failed to spend as much as its budget allowed. The government has focused significant resources on basic infrastructure, including electricity and roads, but limited experience in procurement and infrastructure building has hampered these projects. The underlying economic policy challenge the country faces remains how best to use oil-and-gas wealth to lift the non-oil economy onto a higher growth path and to reduce poverty. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $4.19 billion (2020 est.) $4.59 billion (2019 est.) $3.87 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: -4.6% (2017 est.) 5.3% (2016 est.) 4% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $3,200 (2020 est.) $3,600 (2019 est.) $3,100 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $2.775 billion (2017 est.) note: non-oil GDP Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.6% (2017 est.) -1.3% (2016 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 9.1% (2017 est.) industry: 56.7% (2017 est.) services: 34.4% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 33% (2017 est.) government consumption: 30% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 10.6% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 78.4% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -52% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: rice, maize, vegetables, coffee, roots/tubers nes, other meats, cassava, pork, beans, mangoes/guavas Industries: printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth Industrial production growth rate: 2% (2017 est.) Labor force: 286,700 (2016 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 41% industry: 13% services: 45.1% (2013) Unemployment rate: 4.4% (2014 est.) 3.9% (2010 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 13.2% male: 10.9% female: 15.9% (2016 est.) Population below poverty line: 41.8% (2014 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 28.7 (2014 est.) 38 (2002 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4% highest 10%: 27% (2007) Budget: revenues: 300 million (2017 est.) expenditures: 2.4 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -75.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 3.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 3.1% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 10.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$284 million (2017 est.) -$544 million (2016 est.) Exports: $60 million (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $120 million (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $120 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Singapore 51%, China 20%, Japan 9%, Indonesia 6% (2019) Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, natural gas, coffee, various vegetables, scrap iron (2019) Imports: $850 million (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $1.04 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $1.06 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Indonesia 39%, China 27%, Singapore 10%, Malaysia 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, cement, delivery trucks, motorcycles (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $544.4 million (31 December 2017 est.) $437.8 million (31 December 2015 est.) note: excludes assets of approximately $9.7 billion in the Petroleum Fund (31 December 2010) Debt - external: $311.5 million (31 December 2014 est.) $687 million (31 December 2013 est.) Exchange rates: the US dollar is usedthe US dollar is used Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 85.6% (2018) electrification - urban areas: 100% (2018) electrification - rural areas: 79.2% (2018) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 284,000 kW (2020 est.) consumption: -103 million kWh (2019 est.) exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.) imports: 0 kWh (2019 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 103 million kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 14,000 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 3,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 32,900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 3,481 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 5,104,670,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) exports: 5,104,670,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 538,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 538,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 5.74 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 2,012 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2020 est.) less than 1 Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 1,425,260 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110.22 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Timor-Leste has been moving forward with the regeneration of its economy and rebuilding key infrastructure, including telecommunications networks, that were destroyed during the years of civil unrest; fixed-line and fixed broadband penetration in Timor-Leste remains extremely low, mainly due to the limited fixed-line infrastructure and the proliferation of mobile connectivity; in an effort to boost e-government services, in 2018 the government contracted Timor Telecom to build a national terrestrial fiber network; the project, completed in 2019, has helped boost fixed broadband subscriber growth and will continue to do so over the next few years; the number of subscribers through to 2026 is expected to develop steadily, though from a low base; by August 2020, Timor-Leste had three telecom service providers who jointly achieved a 98% network coverage nationally; all three major mobile operators - Timor Telecom, Telkomcel and Telemor - launched LTE services during 2019; Timor-Leste has seen a rapid increase in mobile broadband penetration over the last few years, driven by a rising proportion of mobile subscribers having smartphones; the mobile broadband market is still at an early stage of development, strong growth is predicted over the next five years; at the end of 2020, the government issued new policy guidelines to maximize the use of spectrum in Timor-Leste; it invited mobile operators to submit applications for the allocation of spectrum in the 1800MHz, 2300MHz and 2600MHz bands; in November 2020, the government approved the deployment of a submarine fiber link connecting the south of the country to Australia via the North Western Cable System (NWCS). (2021) domestic: system suffered significant damage during the violence associated with independence; limited fixed-line services, less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular services are now available in urban and most rural areas with teledensity of over 104 per 100 (2020) international: country code - 670;  international service is available; partnership with Australia telecom companies for potential deployment of a submarine fiber-optic link (NWCS); geostationary earth orbit satellite note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: 7 TV stations (3 nationwide satellite coverage; 2 terrestrial coverage, mostly in Dili; 2 cable) and 21 radio stations (3 nationwide coverage) (2019) Internet country code: .tl Internet users: total: 382,348 (2020 est.) percent of population: 29% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 75 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.01 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 2 Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 4W Airports: total: 6 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2021) Heliports: 8 (2021) Roadways: total: 6,040 km (2008) paved: 2,600 km (2008) unpaved: 3,440 km (2008) Merchant marine: total: 1 by type: other 1 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Dili Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Timor-Leste Defense Force (Falintil-Forcas de Defesa de Timor-L'este, Falintil (F-FDTL)): Joint Headquarters with Land, Air, Naval, Service Support, and Education/Training components; National Police (Polícia Nacional de Timor-Leste, PNTL) (2022) Military expenditures: 1.8% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $45 million) 1.3% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $30 million) 1.6% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $35 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 2,000 personnel (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: Timor-Leste Defense Force's limited inventory consists of equipment donated by other countries; the only recorded deliveries of major arms to Timor-Leste since 2010 were naval patrol craft from China and South Korea (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; 18-month service obligation (2021) Military - note: since achieving independence, Timor-Leste has received security assistance from or has made defense cooperation arrangements with Australia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal, the UN, and the US; some F-FDTL personnel train with the Indonesian military and the two countries maintain a joint Border Security Task Force to jointly monitor and patrol the border, particularly the Oecussi exclave area where smuggling and trafficking are prevalent (2022) Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Timor-Leste-Australia: Timor-Leste and Australia reached agreement on a treaty delimiting a permanent maritime boundary in March 2018; both countries ratified the treaty in August 2019 Timor-Leste-Indonesia: three stretches of land borders with Indonesia have yet to be delimited, two of which are in the Oecussi exclave area, and no maritime or Economic Exclusion Zone boundaries have been established between the countries; maritime boundaries with Indonesia remain unresolved; between 2005 and 2015, 500 border landmarks were placed and another 200 were proposedTimor-Leste-Australia: Timor-Leste and Australia reached agreement on a treaty delimiting a permanent maritime boundary in March 2018; both countries ratified the treaty in August 2019Timor-Leste-Indonesia: three stretches of land borders with Indonesia have yet to be delimited, two of which are in the Oecussi exclave area, and no maritime or Economic Exclusion Zone boundaries have been established between the countries; maritime boundaries with Indonesia remain unresolved; between 2005 and 2015, 500 border landmarks were placed and another 200 were proposed Trafficking in persons: current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Timor-Leste, and traffickers exploit victims from Timor-Leste abroad; traffickers exploit Timorese women, girls, and occasionally young men and boys from rural areas in sex trafficking or domestic servitude; Timorese men are exploited in forced labor in agriculture, construction, and mining; families place children in bonded domestic and agricultural labor to pay debts; traffickers deceive young men and women with promises of a scholarship or employment opportunities in Indonesia, Malaysia, and other countries in the region only taking them to a different county, taking their passports, and forcing them into labor, including domestic servitude; sex traffickers in Timor-Leste prey on foreign women from East and Southeast Asia; traffickers also recruit Timorese women to send them to China, Indonesia, or Malaysia for commercial sex tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Timor-Leste does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; efforts include re-establishing funding to NGOs for victim services and integrating an anti-trafficking curriculum for officials; however, authorities decreased investigations and convictions; victim protection services were inadequate, and no government-wide standard operating procedures for victim identification were implemented; understanding of trafficking remains low among officials (2020) Illicit drugs: NA

20220901

countries-turkmenistan

Topic: Photos of Turkmenistan Topic: Introduction Background: Present-day Turkmenistan covers territory that has been at the crossroads of civilizations for centuries. The area was ruled in antiquity by various Persian empires, and was conquered by Alexander the Great, Muslim armies, the Mongols, Turkic warriors, and eventually the Russians. In medieval times, Merv (located in present-day Mary province) was one of the great cities of the Islamic world and an important stop on the Silk Road. Annexed by Russia in the late 1800s, Turkmen territories later figured prominently in the anti-Bolshevik resistance in Central Asia. In 1924, Turkmenistan became a Soviet republic; it achieved independence upon the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. President for Life Saparmyrat NYYAZOW died in December 2006, and Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW, a deputy chairman under NYYAZOW, emerged as the country's new president. BERDIMUHAMEDOW won Turkmenistan's first multi-candidate presidential election in February 2007, and again in 2012 and in 2017 with over 97% of the vote in both instances, in elections widely regarded as undemocratic.  In February 2022, BERDIMUHAMEDOW announced that he would step down from the presidency and called for an election to replace him. His son, Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOW, won the ensuing election, held in March 2022, with 73% of the vote. Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW, although no longer head of state, maintains an influential political position as head of the Halk Maslahaty (People’s Council). Turkmenistan has sought new export markets for its extensive hydrocarbon/natural gas reserves, which have yet to be fully exploited. As of late 2021, Turkmenistan exported the majority of its gas to China and smaller levels of gas to Russia. Turkmenistan's reliance on gas exports has made the economy vulnerable to fluctuations in the global energy market, and economic hardships since the drop in energy prices in 2014 have led many Turkmenistanis to emigrate, mostly to Turkey. Heavy restrictions placed by the government in 2020 on entry and exit into the country in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in a steep drop in emigration, however.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Central Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Kazakhstan Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 60 00 E Map references: Asia Area: total: 488,100 sq km land: 469,930 sq km water: 18,170 sq km Area - comparative: slightly more than three times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than California Land boundaries: total: 4,158 km border countries (4): Afghanistan 804 km; Iran 1,148 km; Kazakhstan 413 km; Uzbekistan 1,793 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked); note - Turkmenistan borders the Caspian Sea (1,768 km) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: subtropical desert Terrain: flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes rising to mountains in the south; low mountains along border with Iran; borders Caspian Sea in west Elevation: highest point: Gora Ayribaba 3,139 m lowest point: Vpadina Akchanaya (Sarygamysh Koli is a lake in northern Turkmenistan with a water level that fluctuates above and below the elevation of Vpadina Akchanaya, the lake has dropped as low as -110 m) -81 m mean elevation: 230 m Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, sulfur, salt Land use: agricultural land: 72% (2018 est.) arable land: 4.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 67.8% (2018 est.) forest: 8.8% (2018 est.) other: 19.2% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 19,950 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Kazakhstan) - 374,000 sq km Major rivers (by length in km): Amu Darya (shared with Tajikistan [s], Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan [m]) - 2,620 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: (Aral Sea basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km) Population distribution: the most densely populated areas are the southern, eastern, and northeastern oases; approximately 50% of the population lives in and around the capital of Ashgabat Natural hazards: earthquakes; mudslides; droughts; dust storms; floods Geography - note: landlocked; the western and central low-lying desolate portions of the country make up the great Garagum (Kara-Kum) desert, which occupies over 80% of the country; eastern part is plateau Map description: Turkmenistan map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Caspian Sea.Turkmenistan map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Caspian Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 5,636,011 (2022 est.) note: some sources suggest Turkmenistan's population could be as much as 1 to 2 million people lower than available estimates because of large-scale emigration during the last 10 years Nationality: noun: Turkmenistani(s) adjective: Turkmenistani Ethnic groups: Turkmen 85%, Uzbek 5%, Russian 4%, other 6% (2003 est.) Languages: Turkmen (official) 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7% major-language sample(s): Dünýä Facebooky, esasy maglumat üçin aýrylmaz bir çeşme dir. (Turkmen) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Muslim 93%, Christian 6.4%, Buddhist <1%, folk religion <1%, Jewish <1%, other <1%, unspecified <1% (2020 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 25.44% (male 713,441/female 693,042) 15-24 years: 16.48% (male 458,566/female 452,469) 25-54 years: 44.14% (male 1,214,581/female 1,226,027) 55-64 years: 8.56% (male 221,935/female 251,238) 65 years and over: 5.38% (2020 est.) (male 129,332/female 167,996) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 55.2 youth dependency ratio: 47.8 elderly dependency ratio: 7.4 potential support ratio: 13.5 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 29.2 years male: 28.7 years female: 29.7 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.99% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 17.51 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 5.95 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -1.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: the most densely populated areas are the southern, eastern, and northeastern oases; approximately 50% of the population lives in and around the capital of Ashgabat Urbanization: urban population: 53.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 883,000 ASHGABAT (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 24.2 years (2019) Maternal mortality ratio: 7 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 37.62 deaths/1,000 live births male: 45.76 deaths/1,000 live births female: 29.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.83 years male: 68.8 years female: 75 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.03 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 49.7% (2019) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 6.6% (2019) Physicians density: 2.23 physicians/1,000 population (2014) Hospital bed density: 4 beds/1,000 population (2014) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 99.8% of population rural: 99.9% of population total: 99.8% of population unimproved: urban: 0.2% of population rural: 0.1% of population total: 0.2% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 18.6% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 5.5% (2020 est.) male: 10.6% (2020 est.) female: 0.4% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3.1% (2019) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 0.2% women married by age 18: 6.1% (2019 est.) Education expenditures: 3.1% of GDP (2019 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.7% male: 99.8% female: 99.6% (2015) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2020) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater with agricultural chemicals, pesticides; salination, water logging of soil due to poor irrigation methods; Caspian Sea pollution; diversion of a large share of the flow of the Amu Darya into irrigation contributes to that river's inability to replenish the Aral Sea; soil erosion; desertification Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 19.02 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 70.63 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 52.09 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: subtropical desert Land use: agricultural land: 72% (2018 est.) arable land: 4.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 67.8% (2018 est.) forest: 8.8% (2018 est.) other: 19.2% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 53.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 500,000 tons (2013 est.) Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Kazakhstan) - 374,000 sq km Major rivers (by length in km): Amu Darya (shared with Tajikistan [s], Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan [m]) - 2,620 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: (Aral Sea basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 755 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 839 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 26.36 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 24.765 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Turkmenistan local long form: none local short form: Turkmenistan former: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic etymology: the suffix "-stan" means "place of" or "country," so Turkmenistan literally means the "Land of the Turkmen [people]" Government type: presidential republic; authoritarian Capital: name: Ashgabat (Ashkhabad) geographic coordinates: 37 57 N, 58 23 E time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: derived from the Persian words "eshq" meaning "love" and "abad" meaning "inhabited place" or "city," and so loosely translates as "the city of love" Administrative divisions: 5 provinces (welayatlar, singular - welayat) and 1 independent city*: Ahal Welayaty (Anew), Ashgabat*, Balkan Welayaty (Balkanabat), Dasoguz Welayaty, Lebap Welayaty (Turkmenabat), Mary Welayaty note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses) Independence: 27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union) National holiday: Independence Day, 27 October (1991) Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 14 September 2016 amendments: proposed by the Mejlisi; passage requires two-thirds majority vote or absolute majority approval in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2020 (changed legislature to bicameral) Legal system: civil law system with Islamic (sharia) law influences International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Turkmenistan dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOW (since 19 March 2022); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOW (since 19 March 2022) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 7-year term (no term limits); election last held on 12 March 2022 (next to be held in 2029); note - on 11 February 2022, President Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW announced his intent to retire setting up the early presidential election election results: 2022: Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOW elected president; percent of vote - Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOW 73.0%,  Khydyr NUNNAYEV 11.1%, Agadzhan BEKMYRADOV 7.2%, other 8.7%; note - Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOW is the son of previous president Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW 2017: Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW (DPT) 97.7%, other 2.3% Legislative branch: description: bicameral National Council or Milli Genesi consists of: People's Council or Halk Maslahaty (56 seats; 48 members indirectly elected by provincial councils and 8 members appointed by the president) Assembly or Mejlisi (125 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed to serve 5-year terms) note: in September 2020, the Turkmenistani legislature (Milli Genesi) adopted a constitutional amendment creating an upper chamber, making the legislature bicameral; the chairperson of the Halk Maslahaty is now designated as the constitutional successor to the presidency; as of March 2022, Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW continues to serve in this position after stepping away from the presidency elections: People's Council - first held on 28 March 2021 for 48 indirectly elected members (next to be held in 2026); first held on 14 April 2021 for 8 presidentially appointed members (next to be held NA) Assembly - last held on 25 March 2018 (next to be held NA) election results: People's Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - DPT 3, independent 45; composition - men 42, women 14, percent of women 32.3% Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - DPT 55, APT 11, PIE 11, independent 48 (individuals nominated by citizen groups); composition (as of March 2018) - men 94, women 31, percent of women 24.8%; note - total percent of National Council percent of women 24.9% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of Turkmenistan (consists of the court president and 21 associate judges and organized into civil, criminal, and military chambers) judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president for 5-year terms subordinate courts: High Commercial Court; appellate courts; provincial, district, and city courts; military courts Political parties and leaders: Agrarian Party of Turkmenistan or APT [Basim ANNAGURBANOW] Democratic Party of Turkmenistan or DPT [Ata SERDAROW] Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs or PIE [Saparmyrat OWGANOW] note: all of these parties support President BERDIMUHAMEDOW; a law authorizing the registration of political parties went into effect in January 2012; unofficial, small opposition movements exist abroad International organization participation: ADB, CIS (associate member, has not ratified the 1993 CIS charter although it participates in meetings and held the chairmanship of the CIS in 2012), EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Meret ORAZOV (since 14 February 2001) chancery: 2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 588-1500 FAX: [1] (202) 588-1500 email address and website: turkmenembassyus@verizon.net https://usa.tmembassy.gov.tm/en Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Matthew S. KLIMOW (since 26 June 2019) embassy: 9 1984 Street (formerly Pushkin Street), Ashgabat 744000 mailing address: 7070 Ashgabat Place, Washington, DC 20521-7070 telephone: [993] (12) 94-00-45 FAX: [993] (12) 94-26-14 email address and website: ConsularAshgab@state.gov https://tm.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: green field with a vertical red stripe near the hoist side, containing five tribal guls (designs used in producing carpets) stacked above two crossed olive branches; five white, five-pointed stars and a white crescent moon appear in the upper corner of the field just to the fly side of the red stripe; the green color and crescent moon represent Islam; the five stars symbolize the regions or welayats of Turkmenistan; the guls reflect the national identity of Turkmenistan where carpet-making has long been a part of traditional nomadic life note: the flag of Turkmenistan is the most intricate of all national flags National symbol(s): Akhal-Teke horse; national colors: green, white National anthem: name: "Garassyz, Bitarap Turkmenistanyn" (Independent, Neutral, Turkmenistan State Anthem) lyrics/music: collective/Veli MUKHATOV note: adopted 1997, lyrics revised in 2008, to eliminate references to deceased President Saparmurat NYYAZOW National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Ancient Merv; Kunya-Urgench; Parthian Fortresses of Nisa Topic: Economy Economic overview: Turkmenistan is largely a desert country with intensive agriculture in irrigated oases and significant natural gas and oil resources. The two largest crops are cotton, most of which is produced for export, and wheat, which is domestically consumed. Although agriculture accounts for almost 8% of GDP, it continues to employ nearly half of the country's workforce. Hydrocarbon exports, the bulk of which is natural gas going to China, make up 25% of Turkmenistan’s GDP. Ashgabat has explored two initiatives to bring gas to new markets: a trans-Caspian pipeline that would carry gas to Europe and the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline. Both face major financing, political, and security hurdles and are unlikely to be completed soon. Turkmenistan’s autocratic governments under presidents NIYAZOW (1991-2006) and BERDIMUHAMEDOW (since 2007) have made little progress improving the business climate, privatizing state-owned industries, combatting corruption, and limiting economic development outside the energy sector. High energy prices in the mid-2000s allowed the government to undertake extensive development and social spending, including providing heavy utility subsidies. Low energy prices since mid-2014 are hampering Turkmenistan’s economic growth and reducing government revenues. The government has cut subsidies in several areas, and wage arrears have increased. In January 2014, the Central Bank of Turkmenistan devalued the manat by 19%, and downward pressure on the currency continues. There is a widening spread between the official exchange rate (3.5 TMM per US dollar) and the black market exchange rate (approximately 14 TMM per US dollar). Currency depreciation and conversion restrictions, corruption, isolationist policies, and declining spending on public services have resulted in a stagnate economy that is nearing crisis. Turkmenistan claims substantial foreign currency reserves, but non-transparent data limit international institutions’ ability to verify this information.Turkmenistan is largely a desert country with intensive agriculture in irrigated oases and significant natural gas and oil resources. The two largest crops are cotton, most of which is produced for export, and wheat, which is domestically consumed. Although agriculture accounts for almost 8% of GDP, it continues to employ nearly half of the country's workforce. Hydrocarbon exports, the bulk of which is natural gas going to China, make up 25% of Turkmenistan’s GDP. Ashgabat has explored two initiatives to bring gas to new markets: a trans-Caspian pipeline that would carry gas to Europe and the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline. Both face major financing, political, and security hurdles and are unlikely to be completed soon.Turkmenistan’s autocratic governments under presidents NIYAZOW (1991-2006) and BERDIMUHAMEDOW (since 2007) have made little progress improving the business climate, privatizing state-owned industries, combatting corruption, and limiting economic development outside the energy sector. High energy prices in the mid-2000s allowed the government to undertake extensive development and social spending, including providing heavy utility subsidies.Low energy prices since mid-2014 are hampering Turkmenistan’s economic growth and reducing government revenues. The government has cut subsidies in several areas, and wage arrears have increased. In January 2014, the Central Bank of Turkmenistan devalued the manat by 19%, and downward pressure on the currency continues. There is a widening spread between the official exchange rate (3.5 TMM per US dollar) and the black market exchange rate (approximately 14 TMM per US dollar). Currency depreciation and conversion restrictions, corruption, isolationist policies, and declining spending on public services have resulted in a stagnate economy that is nearing crisis. Turkmenistan claims substantial foreign currency reserves, but non-transparent data limit international institutions’ ability to verify this information. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $92.33 billion (2019 est.) $86.86 billion (2018 est.) $81.787 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 6.5% (2017 est.) 6.2% (2016 est.) 6.5% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $15,500 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $14,800 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $14,205 (2017 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $40.819 billion (2018 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8% (2017 est.) 3.6% (2016 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 7.5% (2017 est.) industry: 44.9% (2017 est.) services: 47.7% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 50% (2017 est.) government consumption: 10% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 28.2% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 26.2% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -14.3% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: milk, wheat, cotton, tomatoes, potatoes, watermelons, grapes, sugar beet, beef, rice Industries: natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food processing Industrial production growth rate: 1% (2017 est.) Labor force: 2.305 million (2013 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 48.2% industry: 14% services: 37.8% (2004 est.) Unemployment rate: 11% (2014 est.) 10.6% (2013) Population below poverty line: 0.2% (2012 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 40.8 (1998) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 31.7% (1998) Budget: revenues: 5.657 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 6.714 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -2.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 28.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 24.1% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 14.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$4.359 billion (2017 est.) -$7.207 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $7.458 billion (2017 est.) $6.987 billion (2016 est.) Exports - partners: China 82% (2019) Exports - commodities: natural gas, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, cotton fibers, fertilizers (2019) Imports: $4.571 billion (2017 est.) $5.215 billion (2016 est.) Imports - partners: Turkey 25%, Russia 18%, China 14%, Germany 6% (2019) Imports - commodities: iron products, harvesting machinery, packaged medicines, broadcasting equipment, tractors (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $24.91 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $25.05 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $539.4 million (31 December 2017 est.) $425.3 million (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: Turkmenistani manat (TMM) per US dollar - 4.125 (2017 est.) 3.5 (2016 est.) 3.5 (2015 est.) 3.5 (2014 est.) 2.85 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 5.205 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 15,090,300,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 3.2 billion kWh (2019 est.) imports: 0 kWh (2019 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 2.892 billion kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 235,300 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 153,400 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 59,900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 600 million barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 191,100 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 53,780 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 83,622,908,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) consumption: 45,398,541,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 38,224,367,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 11,326,720,000,000 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 109.037 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 19.977 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 89.06 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 330.507 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 717,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 9.377 million (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 162.86 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: the nation of Turkmenistan, which rivals only North Korea for its isolationism, continues to keep its telecom sector along with the broader populace under tight control; the country inched up just one point off the bottom of the world rankings for press and internet freedom in the most recent report from Reporters Without Borders; most social networks in the country are blocked, although locals do have access to the government-developed Biz Byarde (We Are Here) platform released in 2019; all internet users, however, need to identify themselves before logging on, and strict censorship over what can be viewed is in force; the end result is that Turkmenistan has one of the lowest penetration rates for internet access in the world. (2022) domestic: fixed-line nearly 12 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 163 per 100 persons; first telecommunication satellite was launched in 2015 (2019) international: country code - 993; linked by fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay to other CIS republics and to other countries by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; an exchange in Ashgabat switches international traffic through Turkey via Intelsat; satellite earth stations - 1 Orbita and 1 Intelsat (2018) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: broadcast media is government controlled and censored; 7 state-owned TV and 4 state-owned radio networks; satellite dishes and programming provide an alternative to the state-run media; officials sometimes limit access to satellite TV by removing satellite dishes Internet country code: .tm Internet users: total: 1,247,940 (2019 est.) percent of population: 21% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 10,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.2 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 27 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,457,474 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 16.92 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: EZ Airports: total: 26 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 21 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (2021) Heliports: 1 (2021) Pipelines: 7,500 km gas, 1501 km oil (2013) Railways: total: 5,113 km (2017) broad gauge: 5,113 km (2017) 1.520-m gauge Roadways: total: 58,592 km (2002) paved: 47,577 km (2002) unpaved: 11,015 km (2002) Waterways: 1,300 km (2011) (Amu Darya River and Kara Kum Canal are important inland waterways) Merchant marine: total: 73 by type: general cargo 6, oil tanker 8, other 59 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Caspian Sea - Turkmenbasy Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Armed Forces of Turkmenistan: Land Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces; Federal Border Guard Service; Ministry of Internal Affairs: Internal Troops (2022) Military expenditures: 1.9% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $1.54 billion) 1.8% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $1.45 billion) 1.8% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $1.32 billion) 1.8% of GDP (2016 est.) (approximately $1.3 billion) 1.5% of GDP (2015 est.) (approximately $1.1 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; estimated 30,000 active duty troops (25,000 National Army; 1,000 Navy; 4,000 Air and Air Defense Forces) (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory for Turkmenistan's military is comprised largely of older Russian and Soviet-era weapons systems; since 2010, however, it has attempted to diversify and purchased equipment from more than a dozen countries, with Turkey as the top supplier (2022) Military service age and obligation: 18-30 years of age for compulsory male military service; 2-year conscript service obligation (2.5 years for the Navy); 20 years of age for voluntary service (including females); males may enroll in military schools from age 15 (2022) Military - note: as of 2022, Turkmenistan continued to pursue a nationalist and isolationist security policy and has declined to participate in post-Soviet military groupings such as the Collective Security Treaty Organization military alliance (CSTO) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO); however, in September 2020, it participated in a Russian-led multinational military exercise held in southern Russia’s Astrakhan region alongside Russian, Chinese, Pakistani, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Uzbek, Mongolian, Syrian, Iranian, Egyptian, Belarusian, Turkish, Armenian, and Azerbaijani contingents as of 2022, Turkmenistan continued efforts to improve its naval capabilities on the Caspian Sea, including expanding ship building capabilities and adding larger vessels to the Navy’s inventory; in 2018, it opened its first naval shipyard and in August 2021, the Navy commissioned its largest warship, a corvette that was jointly constructed with Turkeyas of 2022, Turkmenistan continued to pursue a nationalist and isolationist security policy and has declined to participate in post-Soviet military groupings such as the Collective Security Treaty Organization military alliance (CSTO) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO); however, in September 2020, it participated in a Russian-led multinational military exercise held in southern Russia’s Astrakhan region alongside Russian, Chinese, Pakistani, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Uzbek, Mongolian, Syrian, Iranian, Egyptian, Belarusian, Turkish, Armenian, and Azerbaijani contingentsas of 2022, Turkmenistan continued efforts to improve its naval capabilities on the Caspian Sea, including expanding ship building capabilities and adding larger vessels to the Navy’s inventory; in 2018, it opened its first naval shipyard and in August 2021, the Navy commissioned its largest warship, a corvette that was jointly constructed with Turkey Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan: in January 2021, the two countries reached a preliminary agreement on the joint exploration of an undersea hydrocarbon field containing oil and natural gas in the Caspian Sea Turkmenistan-Iran: none identified Turkmenistan-Kazakhstan: Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan signed a treaty on the delimitation and demarcation process in 2001; field demarcation of the boundaries with Kazakhstan commenced in 2005; Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan agreed to their border in the Caspian Sea in 2014 Turkmenistan-Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan: in 2017, the three countries signed an agreement of the junction of their borders Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan: cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan creates water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river states; in 2021, the two countries reached an agreement to create a joint intergovernmental commission to oversee water managementTurkmenistan-Azerbaijan: in January 2021, the two countries reached a preliminary agreement on the joint exploration of an undersea hydrocarbon field containing oil and natural gas in the Caspian SeaTurkmenistan-Iran: none identifiedTurkmenistan-Kazakhstan: Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan signed a treaty on the delimitation and demarcation process in 2001; field demarcation of the boundaries with Kazakhstan commenced in 2005; Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan agreed to their border in the Caspian Sea in 2014Turkmenistan-Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan: in 2017, the three countries signed an agreement of the junction of their bordersTurkmenistan-Uzbekistan: cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan creates water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river states; in 2021, the two countries reached an agreement to create a joint intergovernmental commission to oversee water management Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons: 4,107 (mid-year 2021) Trafficking in persons: current situation: Turkmenistan is a source, and to a much lesser degree, destination country for men, women, and children who are subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Turkmen in search of work in other countries are forced to work in textile sweatshops, construction, and domestic service; some Turkmen women and girls are sex trafficked abroad; Turkey is the primary trafficking destination, followed by Russia, India, and other countries in the Middle East, South and Central Asia, and Europe; labor trafficking occurs within Turkmenistan, particularly in the construction industry; government officials require employees in private sector institutions, soldiers, and public sector workers to pick cotton without payment under the threat of penalty, such as dismissal, reduced work hours, or salary deductions to meet government-imposed quotas for the cotton harvest tier rating: Tier 3 — Turkmenistan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government approved the 2020-2022 national action plan, continued anti-trafficking awareness campaigns, worked with international organizations on combating trafficking, provided training to its diplomatic corps on human trafficking, and identified potential trafficking victims at the international airport; however, the  government used forced labor in the cotton harvest and public works projects; no officials were held accountable for their role in trafficking crimes; authorities did not prosecute or convict any traffickers; no victims were identified and offered protection or assistance programs (2020) Illicit drugs: transit country for Afghan opiates to Turkish, Russian, and European markets, either directly from Afghanistan or through Iran; not a major producer or source country for illegal drugs or precursor chemicals  transit country for Afghan opiates to Turkish, Russian, and European markets, either directly from Afghanistan or through Iran; not a major producer or source country for illegal drugs or precursor chemicals 

20220901

countries-serbia

Topic: Photos of Serbia Topic: Introduction Background: The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was formed in 1918; its name was changed to Yugoslavia in 1929. Communist Partisans resisted the Axis occupation and division of Yugoslavia from 1941 to 1945 and fought nationalist opponents and collaborators as well. The military and political movement headed by Josip Broz "TITO" (Partisans) took full control of Yugoslavia when their domestic rivals and the occupiers were defeated in 1945. Although communists, TITO and his successors (Tito died in 1980) managed to steer their own path between the Warsaw Pact nations and the West for the next four and a half decades. In 1989, Slobodan MILOSEVIC became president of the Republic of Serbia and his ultranationalist calls for Serbian domination led to the violent breakup of Yugoslavia along ethnic lines. In 1991, Croatia, Slovenia, and Macedonia declared independence, followed by Bosnia in 1992. The remaining republics of Serbia and Montenegro declared a new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) in April 1992 and under MILOSEVIC's leadership, Serbia led various military campaigns to unite ethnic Serbs in neighboring republics into a "Greater Serbia." These actions ultimately failed and, after international intervention, led to the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords in 1995. MILOSEVIC retained control over Serbia and eventually became president of the FRY in 1997. In 1998, an ethnic Albanian insurgency in the formerly autonomous Serbian province of Kosovo provoked a Serbian counterinsurgency campaign that resulted in massacres and massive expulsions of ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo. The MILOSEVIC government's rejection of a proposed international settlement led to NATO's bombing of Serbia in the spring of 1999. Serbian military and police forces withdrew from Kosovo in June 1999, and the UN Security Council authorized an interim UN administration and a NATO-led security force in Kosovo. FRY elections in late 2000 led to the ouster of MILOSEVIC and the installation of democratic government. In 2003, the FRY became the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, a loose federation of the two republics. Widespread violence predominantly targeting ethnic Serbs in Kosovo in March 2004 led to more intense calls to address Kosovo's status, and the UN began facilitating status talks in 2006. In June 2006, Montenegro seceded from the federation and declared itself an independent nation. Serbia subsequently gave notice that it was the successor state to the union of Serbia and Montenegro. In February 2008, after nearly two years of inconclusive negotiations, Kosovo declared itself independent of Serbia - an action Serbia refuses to recognize. At Serbia's request, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in October 2008 sought an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on whether Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence was in accordance with international law. In a ruling considered unfavorable to Serbia, the ICJ issued an advisory opinion in July 2010 stating that international law did not prohibit declarations of independence. In late 2010, Serbia agreed to an EU-drafted UNGA Resolution acknowledging the ICJ's decision and calling for a new round of talks between Serbia and Kosovo, this time on practical issues rather than Kosovo's status. Serbia and Kosovo signed the first agreement of principles governing the normalization of relations between the two countries in April 2013 and are in the process of implementing its provisions. In 2015, Serbia and Kosovo reached four additional agreements within the EU-led Brussels Dialogue framework. These included agreements on the Community of Serb-Majority Municipalities; telecommunications; energy production and distribution; and freedom of movement. President Aleksandar VUCIC has promoted an ambitious goal of Serbia joining the EU by 2025. Under his leadership as prime minister, in 2014 Serbia opened formal negotiations for accession.The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was formed in 1918; its name was changed to Yugoslavia in 1929. Communist Partisans resisted the Axis occupation and division of Yugoslavia from 1941 to 1945 and fought nationalist opponents and collaborators as well. The military and political movement headed by Josip Broz "TITO" (Partisans) took full control of Yugoslavia when their domestic rivals and the occupiers were defeated in 1945. Although communists, TITO and his successors (Tito died in 1980) managed to steer their own path between the Warsaw Pact nations and the West for the next four and a half decades. In 1989, Slobodan MILOSEVIC became president of the Republic of Serbia and his ultranationalist calls for Serbian domination led to the violent breakup of Yugoslavia along ethnic lines. In 1991, Croatia, Slovenia, and Macedonia declared independence, followed by Bosnia in 1992. The remaining republics of Serbia and Montenegro declared a new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) in April 1992 and under MILOSEVIC's leadership, Serbia led various military campaigns to unite ethnic Serbs in neighboring republics into a "Greater Serbia." These actions ultimately failed and, after international intervention, led to the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords in 1995.MILOSEVIC retained control over Serbia and eventually became president of the FRY in 1997. In 1998, an ethnic Albanian insurgency in the formerly autonomous Serbian province of Kosovo provoked a Serbian counterinsurgency campaign that resulted in massacres and massive expulsions of ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo. The MILOSEVIC government's rejection of a proposed international settlement led to NATO's bombing of Serbia in the spring of 1999. Serbian military and police forces withdrew from Kosovo in June 1999, and the UN Security Council authorized an interim UN administration and a NATO-led security force in Kosovo. FRY elections in late 2000 led to the ouster of MILOSEVIC and the installation of democratic government. In 2003, the FRY became the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, a loose federation of the two republics. Widespread violence predominantly targeting ethnic Serbs in Kosovo in March 2004 led to more intense calls to address Kosovo's status, and the UN began facilitating status talks in 2006. In June 2006, Montenegro seceded from the federation and declared itself an independent nation. Serbia subsequently gave notice that it was the successor state to the union of Serbia and Montenegro.In February 2008, after nearly two years of inconclusive negotiations, Kosovo declared itself independent of Serbia - an action Serbia refuses to recognize. At Serbia's request, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in October 2008 sought an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on whether Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence was in accordance with international law. In a ruling considered unfavorable to Serbia, the ICJ issued an advisory opinion in July 2010 stating that international law did not prohibit declarations of independence. In late 2010, Serbia agreed to an EU-drafted UNGA Resolution acknowledging the ICJ's decision and calling for a new round of talks between Serbia and Kosovo, this time on practical issues rather than Kosovo's status. Serbia and Kosovo signed the first agreement of principles governing the normalization of relations between the two countries in April 2013 and are in the process of implementing its provisions. In 2015, Serbia and Kosovo reached four additional agreements within the EU-led Brussels Dialogue framework. These included agreements on the Community of Serb-Majority Municipalities; telecommunications; energy production and distribution; and freedom of movement. President Aleksandar VUCIC has promoted an ambitious goal of Serbia joining the EU by 2025. Under his leadership as prime minister, in 2014 Serbia opened formal negotiations for accession.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southeastern Europe, between Macedonia and Hungary Geographic coordinates: 44 00 N, 21 00 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 77,474 sq km land: 77,474 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina Land boundaries: total: 2,322 km border countries (8): Bosnia and Herzegovina 345 km; Bulgaria 344 km; Croatia 314 km; Hungary 164 km; Kosovo 366 km; North Macedonia 101 km; Montenegro 157 km; Romania 531 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: in the north, continental climate (cold winters and hot, humid summers with well-distributed rainfall); in other parts, continental and Mediterranean climate (relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns) Terrain: extremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to the east, limestone ranges and basins; to the southeast, ancient mountains and hills Elevation: highest point: Midzor 2,169 m lowest point: Danube and Timok Rivers 35 m mean elevation: 442 m Natural resources: oil, gas, coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, chromite, gold, silver, magnesium, pyrite, limestone, marble, salt, arable land Land use: agricultural land: 57.9% (2018 est.) arable land: 37.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 3.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 16.8% (2018 est.) forest: 31.6% (2018 est.) other: 10.5% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 950 sq km (2012) Major rivers (by length in km): Danube (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary, Croatia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes Geography - note: landlocked; controls one of the major land routes from Western Europe to Turkey and the Near East Map description: Serbia map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries.Serbia map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries. Topic: People and Society Population: 6,739,471 (2022 est.) note: does not include the population of Kosovo Nationality: noun: Serb(s) adjective: Serbian Ethnic groups: Serb 83.3%, Hungarian 3.5%, Romani 2.1%, Bosniak 2%, other 5.7%, undeclared or unknown 3.4% (2011 est.) note: most ethnic Albanians boycotted the 2011 census; Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 5–11% of Serbia's population Languages: Serbian (official) 88.1%, Hungarian 3.4%, Bosnian 1.9%, Romani 1.4%, other 3.4%, undeclared or unknown 1.8%; note - Serbian, Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian, Croatian, and Ruthenian (Rusyn) are official in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina; most ethnic Albanians boycotted the 2011 census (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): Knjiga svetskih činjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Serbian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Orthodox 84.6%, Catholic 5%, Muslim 3.1%, Protestant 1%, atheist 1.1%, other 0.8% (includes agnostics, other Christians, Eastern, Jewish), undeclared or unknown 4.5% (2011 est.) note: most ethnic Albanians boycotted the 2011 census Age structure: 0-14 years: 14.07% (male 508,242/female 478,247) 15-24 years: 11.04% (male 399,435/female 374,718) 25-54 years: 41.19% (male 1,459,413/female 1,429,176) 55-64 years: 13.7% (male 464,881/female 495,663) 65 years and over: 20% (2020 est.) (male 585,705/female 816,685) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 52.5 youth dependency ratio: 23.4 elderly dependency ratio: 29.1 potential support ratio: 3.4 (2020 est.) note: data include Kosovo Median age: total: 43.4 years male: 41.7 years female: 45 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -0.75% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 8.92 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 16.39 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations Urbanization: urban population: 56.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Kosovo Major urban areas - population: 1.405 million BELGRADE (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.55 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 28.2 years (2020 est.) note: data do not cover Kosovo or Metohija Maternal mortality ratio: 12 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 4.81 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.43 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.17 years male: 71.5 years female: 77 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.46 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 62.3% (2019) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99.7% of population rural: 99.4% of population total: 99.5% of population unimproved: urban: 0.3% of population rural: 0.6% of population total: 0.5% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 8.7% (2019) Physicians density: 3.11 physicians/1,000 population (2016) Hospital bed density: 5.6 beds/1,000 population (2017) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 99.6% of population rural: 95.7% of population total: 97.9% of population unimproved: urban: 0.4% of population rural: 4.3% of population total: 2.1% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: (2020 est.) <.1% HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 3,300 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <100 note: estimate does not include children Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 21.5% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 39.8% (2020 est.) male: 40.5% (2020 est.) female: 39.1% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1% (2019) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 1.2% women married by age 18: 5.5% (2019 est.) Education expenditures: 3.6% of GDP (2019 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.5% male: 99.9% female: 99.1% (2019) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2020) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 26.7% male: 25% female: 29.5% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities; water pollution from industrial wastes dumped into the Sava which flows into the Danube; inadequate management of domestic, industrial, and hazardous waste Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 24.27 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 45.22 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 11.96 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: in the north, continental climate (cold winters and hot, humid summers with well-distributed rainfall); in other parts, continental and Mediterranean climate (relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns) Land use: agricultural land: 57.9% (2018 est.) arable land: 37.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 3.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 16.8% (2018 est.) forest: 31.6% (2018 est.) other: 10.5% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 56.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Kosovo Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.38% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.25% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.84 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 13,984 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 0.8% (2015 est.) Major rivers (by length in km): Danube (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary, Croatia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 659.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 4.057 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 660.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 162.2 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) (note - includes Kosovo) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Serbia conventional short form: Serbia local long form: Republika Srbija local short form: Srbija former: People's Republic of Serbia, Socialist Republic of Serbia etymology: the origin of the name is uncertain, but seems to be related to the name of the West Slavic Sorbs who reside in the Lusatian region in present-day eastern Germany; by tradition, the Serbs migrated from that region to the Balkans in about the 6th century A.D. Government type: parliamentary republic Capital: name: Belgrade (Beograd) geographic coordinates: 44 50 N, 20 30 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the Serbian "Beograd" means "white fortress" or "white city" and dates back to the 9th century; the name derives from the white fortress wall that once enclosed the city Administrative divisions: 119 municipalities (opstine, singular - opstina) and 26 cities (gradovi, singular - grad) municipalities: Ada*, Aleksandrovac, Aleksinac, Alibunar*, Apatin*, Arandelovac, Arilje, Babusnica, Bac*, Backa Palanka*, Backa Topola*, Backi Petrovac*, Bajina Basta, Batocina, Becej*, Bela Crkva*, Bela Palanka, Beocin*, Blace, Bogatic, Bojnik, Boljevac, Bor, Bosilegrad, Brus, Bujanovac, Cajetina, Cicevac, Coka*, Crna Trava, Cuprija, Despotovac, Dimitrov, Doljevac, Gadzin Han, Golubac, Gornji Milanovac, Indija*, Irig*, Ivanjica, Kanjiza*, Kladovo, Knic, Knjazevac, Koceljeva, Kosjeric, Kovacica*, Kovin*, Krupanj, Kucevo, Kula*, Kursumlija, Lajkovac, Lapovo, Lebane, Ljig, Ljubovija, Lucani, Majdanpek, Mali Idos*, Mali Zvornik, Malo Crnice, Medveda, Merosina, Mionica, Negotin, Nova Crnja*, Nova Varos, Novi Becej*, Novi Knezevac*, Odzaci*, Opovo*, Osecina, Paracin, Pecinci*, Petrovac na Mlavi, Plandiste*, Pozega, Presevo, Priboj, Prijepolje, Prokuplje, Raca, Raska, Razanj, Rekovac, Ruma*, Secanj*, Senta*, Sid*, Sjenica, Smederevska Palanka, Sokobanja, Srbobran*, Sremski Karlovci*, Stara Pazova*, Surdulica, Svilajnac, Svrljig, Temerin*, Titel*, Topola, Trgoviste, Trstenik, Tutin, Ub, Varvarin, Velika Plana, Veliko Gradiste, Vladicin Han, Vladimirci, Vlasotince, Vrbas*, Vrnjacka Banja, Zabalj*, Zabari, Zagubica, Zitiste*, Zitorada cities: Beograd, Cacak, Jagodina, Kikinda*, Kragujevac, Kraljevo, Krusevac, Leskovac, Loznica, Nis, Novi Pazar, Novi Sad*, Pancevo*, Pirot, Pozarevac, Sabac, Smederevo, Sombor*, Sremska Mitrovica*, Subotica*, Uzice, Valjevo, Vranje, Vrsac*, Zajecar, Zrenjanin* note: the northern 37 municipalities and 8 cities - about 28% of Serbia's area - compose the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and are indicated with *119 municipalities (opstine, singular - opstina) and 26 cities (gradovi, singular - grad)municipalities: Ada*, Aleksandrovac, Aleksinac, Alibunar*, Apatin*, Arandelovac, Arilje, Babusnica, Bac*, Backa Palanka*, Backa Topola*, Backi Petrovac*, Bajina Basta, Batocina, Becej*, Bela Crkva*, Bela Palanka, Beocin*, Blace, Bogatic, Bojnik, Boljevac, Bor, Bosilegrad, Brus, Bujanovac, Cajetina, Cicevac, Coka*, Crna Trava, Cuprija, Despotovac, Dimitrov, Doljevac, Gadzin Han, Golubac, Gornji Milanovac, Indija*, Irig*, Ivanjica, Kanjiza*, Kladovo, Knic, Knjazevac, Koceljeva, Kosjeric, Kovacica*, Kovin*, Krupanj, Kucevo, Kula*, Kursumlija, Lajkovac, Lapovo, Lebane, Ljig, Ljubovija, Lucani, Majdanpek, Mali Idos*, Mali Zvornik, Malo Crnice, Medveda, Merosina, Mionica, Negotin, Nova Crnja*, Nova Varos, Novi Becej*, Novi Knezevac*, Odzaci*, Opovo*, Osecina, Paracin, Pecinci*, Petrovac na Mlavi, Plandiste*, Pozega, Presevo, Priboj, Prijepolje, Prokuplje, Raca, Raska, Razanj, Rekovac, Ruma*, Secanj*, Senta*, Sid*, Sjenica, Smederevska Palanka, Sokobanja, Srbobran*, Sremski Karlovci*, Stara Pazova*, Surdulica, Svilajnac, Svrljig, Temerin*, Titel*, Topola, Trgoviste, Trstenik, Tutin, Ub, Varvarin, Velika Plana, Veliko Gradiste, Vladicin Han, Vladimirci, Vlasotince, Vrbas*, Vrnjacka Banja, Zabalj*, Zabari, Zagubica, Zitiste*, Zitoradacities: Beograd, Cacak, Jagodina, Kikinda*, Kragujevac, Kraljevo, Krusevac, Leskovac, Loznica, Nis, Novi Pazar, Novi Sad*, Pancevo*, Pirot, Pozarevac, Sabac, Smederevo, Sombor*, Sremska Mitrovica*, Subotica*, Uzice, Valjevo, Vranje, Vrsac*, Zajecar, Zrenjanin* Independence: 5 June 2006 (from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro); notable earlier dates: 1217 (Serbian Kingdom established); 16 April 1346 (Serbian Empire established); 13 July 1878 (Congress of Berlin recognizes Serbian independence); 1 December 1918 (Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (Yugoslavia) established) National holiday: Statehood Day, 15 February (1835), the day the first constitution of the country was adopted Constitution: history: many previous; latest adopted 30 September 2006, approved by referendum 28-29 October 2006, effective 8 November 2006 amendments: proposed by at least one third of deputies in the National Assembly, by the president of the republic, by the government, or by petition of at least 150,000 voters; passage of proposals and draft amendments each requires at least two-thirds majority vote in the Assembly; amendments to constitutional articles including the preamble, constitutional principles, and human and minority rights and freedoms also require passage by simple majority vote in a referendum Legal system: civil law system International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Serbia dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years Suffrage: 18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Aleksandar VUCIC (since 31 May 2017) head of government: Prime Minister Ana BRNABIC (since 29 June 2017) cabinet: Cabinet elected by the National Assembly elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 3 April 2022 (next to be held in April 2027); prime minister elected by the National Assembly; note - in October 2020 President VUCIC called for early elections election results: 2022: Aleksandar VUCIC reelected in the first round; percent of vote - Aleksandar VUSIC (SNS) 60%, Zdravko PONOS (US) 18.9%, Milos JOVANOVIC (NADA) 6.1%, Bosko OBRADOVIC (Dveri-POKS) 4.5%, Milica DURDEVIC STAMENDOVSKI (SSZ) 4.3%, other 6.2% 2017: Aleksandar VUCIC elected president in the first round; percent of vote - Aleksandar VUCIC (SNS) 55.1%, Sasa JANKOVIC (independent) 16.4%, Luka MAKSIMOVIC (independent) 9.4%, Vuk JEREMIC (independent) 5.7%, Vojislav SESELJ (SRS) 4.5%, Bosko OBRADOVIC (Dveri) 2.3%, other 5.0%, invalid/blank 1.6%; Prime Minister Ana BRNABIC reelected by the National Assembly on 5 October 2020 Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly or Narodna Skupstina (250 seats; members directly elected by party list proportional representation vote in a single nationwide constituency to serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 3 April 2022 (next to be held in April 2026) election results: percent of vote by party/coalition - Together We Can Do Everything 44.2%, US 14.1%, Ivica Dacic - Prime Minister 11.8%, NADA 5.6%, We Must 4.9%, Dveri-POKS 3.9%, SSZ 3.8%, other 11.7%; seats by party/coalition - Together We Can Do Everything 120, US 38, Ivica Dacic - Prime Minister 31, NADA 15, We Must 13, Dveri-POKS 10, SSZ 10, SVM 6, SPP 3, other 4; composition -  men 150, women 100, percent of women 40% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of Cassation (consists of 36 judges, including the court president); Constitutional Court (consists of 15 judges, including the court president and vice president) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court justices proposed by the High Judicial Council (HJC), an 11-member independent body consisting of  8 judges elected by the National Assembly and 3 ex-officio members; justices appointed by the National Assembly; Constitutional Court judges elected - 5 each by the National Assembly, the president, and the Supreme Court of Cassation; initial appointment of Supreme Court judges by the HJC is 3 years and beyond that period tenure is permanent; Constitutional Court judges elected for 9-year terms subordinate courts: basic courts, higher courts, appellate courts; courts of special jurisdiction include the Administrative Court, commercial courts, and misdemeanor courts Political parties and leaders: Albanian Democratic Alternative (coalition of ethnic Albanian parties) [Shaip KAMBERI] Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians or SVM [Istvan PASZTOR] Better Serbia or BS [Dragan JOVANOVIC] Democratic Party or DS [Zoran LUTOVAC] Democratic Party of Serbia or DSS [Milos JOVANOVIC] Dveri [Bosko OBRADOVIC] Greens of Serbia or ZS [Ivan KARIC] Ivica Dacic - Prime Minister of Serbia [Ivica DACIC] (includes SPS, JS, ZS) Justice and Reconciliation Party or SPP [Usame ZUKORLIC] (formerly Bosniak Democratic Union of Sandzak or BDZS) Movement for the Restoration of the Kingdom of Serbia or POKS (leadership is disputed) Movement of Free Citizens or PSG [Pavle GRBOVIC] Movement of Socialists or PS [Aleksandar VULIN] National Democratic Alternative or NADA [Milos JOVANOVIC, Vojislav MIHAILOVIC, Bozidar DELIC] (includes DSS and POKS) Party of Democratic Action of the Sandzak or SDA [Sulejman UGLJANIN] Party of Freedom and Justice or SSP [Dragan DILAS] Party of United Pensioners of Serbia or PUPS [Milan KRKOBABIC] People's Party or NS or Narodna [Vuk JEREMIC] People's Peasant Party or NSS [Marijan RISTICEVIC] Serbian Party Oathkeepers or SSZ [Stefan STAMENKOVSKI] Serbian People's Party or SNP [Nenad POPOVIC] Serbian Progressive Party or SNS [Aleksandar VUCIC] Serbian Renewal Movement or SPO [Vuk DRASKOVIC] Social Democratic Party of Serbia or SDPS [Rasim LJAJIC] Socialist Party of Serbia or SPS [Ivica DACIC] Strength of Serbia or PSS [Bogoljub KARIC] Together for Serbia or ZZS [Nebojsa ZELENOVIC] Together We Can Do Everything [Aleksandar VUCIC] (includes SNS, SDPS, PUPS, PSS, SNP, SPO, PS, NSS, USS, BS) United for the Victory of Serbia or US (includes NS, SSP, DS, PSG) United Peasant Party or USS [Milija MILETIC] United Serbia or JS [Dragan MARKOVIC] We Must or Moramo [Nebojsa ZELENOVIC, Dobrica VESELINOVIC, Aleksandar JOVANOVIC CUTA, Biljana STOJKOVIC] note: Serbia has more than 110 registered political parties and citizens' associations International organization participation: BIS, BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (candidate country), FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marko DJURIC (since 18 January 2021) chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Ave NW, Suite 410, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 332-0333 FAX: [1] (202) 332-3933 email address and website: info@serbiaembusa.org http://www.washington.mfa.gov.rs/ consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher R. HILL (since 1 April 2022) embassy: 92 Bulevar kneza Aleksandra Karadjordjevica, 11040 Belgrade mailing address: 5070 Belgrade Place, Washington, DC 20521-5070 telephone: [381] (11) 706-4000 FAX: [381] (11) 706-4481 email address and website: belgradeacs@state.gov https://rs.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three equal horizontal stripes of red (top), blue, and white - the Pan-Slav colors representing freedom and revolutionary ideals; charged with the coat of arms of Serbia shifted slightly to the hoist side; the principal field of the coat of arms represents the Serbian state and displays a white two-headed eagle on a red shield; a smaller red shield on the eagle represents the Serbian nation, and is divided into four quarters by a white cross; interpretations vary as to the meaning and origin of the white, curved symbols resembling firesteels (fire strikers) or Cyrillic "C's" in each quarter; a royal crown surmounts the coat of arms note: the Pan-Slav colors were inspired by the 19th-century flag of Russia National symbol(s): white double-headed eagle; national colors: red, blue, white National anthem: name: "Boze pravde" (God of Justice) lyrics/music: Jovan DORDEVIC/Davorin JENKO note: adopted 1904; song originally written as part of a play in 1872 and has been used as an anthem by the Serbian people throughout the 20th and 21st centuries National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 4 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Stari Ras and Sopoćani; Studenica Monastery; Gamzigrad-Romuliana, Palace of Galerius; Stećci Medieval Tombstone Graveyards Topic: Economy Economic overview: Serbia has a transitional economy largely dominated by market forces, but the state sector remains significant in certain areas. The economy relies on manufacturing and exports, driven largely by foreign investment. MILOSEVIC-era mismanagement of the economy, an extended period of international economic sanctions, civil war, and the damage to Yugoslavia's infrastructure and industry during the NATO airstrikes in 1999 left the economy worse off than it was in 1990. In 2015, Serbia’s GDP was 27.5% below where it was in 1989.   After former Federal Yugoslav President MILOSEVIC was ousted in September 2000, the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) coalition government implemented stabilization measures and embarked on a market reform program. Serbia renewed its membership in the IMF in December 2000 and rejoined the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Serbia has made progress in trade liberalization and enterprise restructuring and privatization, but many large enterprises - including the power utilities, telecommunications company, natural gas company, and others - remain state-owned. Serbia has made some progress towards EU membership, gaining candidate status in March 2012. In January 2014, Serbia's EU accession talks officially opened and, as of December 2017, Serbia had opened 12 negotiating chapters including one on foreign trade. Serbia's negotiations with the WTO are advanced, with the country's complete ban on the trade and cultivation of agricultural biotechnology products representing the primary remaining obstacle to accession. Serbia maintains a three-year Stand-by Arrangement with the IMF worth approximately $1.3 billion that is scheduled to end in February 2018. The government has shown progress implementing economic reforms, such as fiscal consolidation, privatization, and reducing public spending.   Unemployment in Serbia, while relatively low (16% in 2017) compared with its Balkan neighbors, remains significantly above the European average. Serbia is slowly implementing structural economic reforms needed to ensure the country's long-term prosperity. Serbia reduced its budget deficit to 1.7% of GDP and its public debt to 71% of GDP in 2017. Public debt had more than doubled between 2008 and 2015. Serbia's concerns about inflation and exchange-rate stability preclude the use of expansionary monetary policy.   Major economic challenges ahead include: stagnant household incomes; the need for private sector job creation; structural reforms of state-owned companies; strategic public sector reforms; and the need for new foreign direct investment. Other serious longer-term challenges include an inefficient judicial system, high levels of corruption, and an aging population. Factors favorable to Serbia's economic growth include the economic reforms it is undergoing as part of its EU accession process and IMF agreement, its strategic location, a relatively inexpensive and skilled labor force, and free trade agreements with the EU, Russia, Turkey, and countries that are members of the Central European Free Trade Agreement.Serbia has a transitional economy largely dominated by market forces, but the state sector remains significant in certain areas. The economy relies on manufacturing and exports, driven largely by foreign investment. MILOSEVIC-era mismanagement of the economy, an extended period of international economic sanctions, civil war, and the damage to Yugoslavia's infrastructure and industry during the NATO airstrikes in 1999 left the economy worse off than it was in 1990. In 2015, Serbia’s GDP was 27.5% below where it was in 1989. After former Federal Yugoslav President MILOSEVIC was ousted in September 2000, the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) coalition government implemented stabilization measures and embarked on a market reform program. Serbia renewed its membership in the IMF in December 2000 and rejoined the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Serbia has made progress in trade liberalization and enterprise restructuring and privatization, but many large enterprises - including the power utilities, telecommunications company, natural gas company, and others - remain state-owned. Serbia has made some progress towards EU membership, gaining candidate status in March 2012. In January 2014, Serbia's EU accession talks officially opened and, as of December 2017, Serbia had opened 12 negotiating chapters including one on foreign trade. Serbia's negotiations with the WTO are advanced, with the country's complete ban on the trade and cultivation of agricultural biotechnology products representing the primary remaining obstacle to accession. Serbia maintains a three-year Stand-by Arrangement with the IMF worth approximately $1.3 billion that is scheduled to end in February 2018. The government has shown progress implementing economic reforms, such as fiscal consolidation, privatization, and reducing public spending. Unemployment in Serbia, while relatively low (16% in 2017) compared with its Balkan neighbors, remains significantly above the European average. Serbia is slowly implementing structural economic reforms needed to ensure the country's long-term prosperity. Serbia reduced its budget deficit to 1.7% of GDP and its public debt to 71% of GDP in 2017. Public debt had more than doubled between 2008 and 2015. Serbia's concerns about inflation and exchange-rate stability preclude the use of expansionary monetary policy. Major economic challenges ahead include: stagnant household incomes; the need for private sector job creation; structural reforms of state-owned companies; strategic public sector reforms; and the need for new foreign direct investment. Other serious longer-term challenges include an inefficient judicial system, high levels of corruption, and an aging population. Factors favorable to Serbia's economic growth include the economic reforms it is undergoing as part of its EU accession process and IMF agreement, its strategic location, a relatively inexpensive and skilled labor force, and free trade agreements with the EU, Russia, Turkey, and countries that are members of the Central European Free Trade Agreement. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $125.8 billion (2020 est.) $127.04 billion (2019 est.) $121.87 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 4.18% (2019 est.) 4.4% (2018 est.) 2.05% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $18,200 (2020 est.) $18,300 (2019 est.) $17,500 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $51.449 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.1% (2019 est.) -1.1% (2018 est.) 2% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BB+ (2019) Moody's rating: Ba3 (2017) Standard & Poors rating: BB+ (2019) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 9.8% (2017 est.) industry: 41.1% (2017 est.) services: 49.1% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 78.2% (2017 est.) government consumption: 10.1% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 18.5% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 2% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 52.5% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -61.3% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: maize, wheat, sugar beet, milk, sunflower seed, potatoes, soybeans, plums/sloes, apples, barley Industries: automobiles, base metals, furniture, food processing, machinery, chemicals, sugar, tires, clothes, pharmaceuticals Industrial production growth rate: 3.9% (2017 est.) Labor force: 3 million (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 19.4% industry: 24.5% services: 56.1% (2017 est.) Unemployment rate: 14.1% (2017 est.) 15.9% (2016 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 26.7% male: 25% female: 29.5% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 23.2% (2018 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 36.2 (2017 est.) 28.2 (2008 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.2% highest 10%: 23.8% (2011) Budget: revenues: 17.69 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 17.59 billion (2017 est.) note: data include both central government and local goverment budgets Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 0.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 62.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 73.1% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 42.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Current account balance: -$2.354 billion (2017 est.) -$1.189 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $25.42 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $26.13 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $24.97 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Germany 12%, Italy 10%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 7%, Romania 6%, Russia 5%  (2019) Exports - commodities: insulated wiring, tires, corn, cars, iron products, copper (2019) Imports: $30.15 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $31.29 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $29.78 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Germany 13%, Russia 9%, Italy 8%, Hungary 6%, China 5%, Turkey 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, cars, packaged medicines, natural gas, refined petroleum (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $11.91 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $10.76 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $30.927 billion (2019 est.) $30.618 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: Serbian dinars (RSD) per US dollar - 112.4 (2017 est.) 111.278 (2016 est.) 111.278 (2015 est.) 108.811 (2014 est.) 88.405 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 8.986 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 29,933,262,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 5.943 billion kWh (2020 est.) imports: 5.002 billion kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 4.332 billion kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 69.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 2.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 27.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 39.673 million metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 40.83 million metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 72,000 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 987,000 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 7.514 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 15,200 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 79,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 200 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 53,800 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 77.5 million barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 74,350 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 15,750 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 18,720 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 455.787 million cubic meters (2019 est.) consumption: 2,619,191,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 1,980,647,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) proven reserves: 48.139 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 47.735 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 32.686 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 10.17 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 4.878 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 98.195 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 2,572,254 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 8,260,758 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Serbia’s telecom industry has been liberalized in line with the principles of the EU’s regulatory framework for communications, focused on encouraging competition in telecom products and services, and ensuring universal access; considerable network investment has been undertaken in Serbia by incumbent and alternative operators in recent years, despite economic difficulties; this has helped to stimulate internet usage, which has also been bolstered by improved affordability as prices are reduced through competition; the pandemic has stimulated consumer take up of services, particularly mobile data; the government’s various initiatives to improve rural broadband availability have also been supported by European development loans; Serbia’s high mobile services, partly the result of multiple SIM card use, has weighed on revenue growth in recent years, placing further pressure on operators to develop business models which encourage consumer use of mobile data services also in response to the continued substitution of fixed-line for mobile voice calls; the regulator has yet to auction 5G-suitable frequencies, though operators are already investing in their networks in preparation for this next growth frontier; during 2021 the regulator resumed the process towards a 5G spectrum auction, which had been delayed owing to the onset of the covid-19 pandemic; in early 2021 Telekom Srbija agreed to provide Telenor Serbia with access to its fiber network; Telenor (now operating as Yettel, and owned by the PPF Group), joined the fixed market in November 2021, launching fiber-based fixed broadband, fixed voice, and digital TV services; the operator is looking to bolster its returns by focusing more strongly on the uptake of converged services in the market; these developments could lead to a significant shift in the telecom market landscape. (2022) domestic: fixed-line over 37 per 100 and mobile-cellular over 120 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 381 note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Internet country code: .rs Internet users: total: 5,381,318 (2020 est.) percent of population: 78% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 1,730,496 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 4 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 43 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,262,703 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 17.71 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: YU Airports: total: 26 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 10 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 5 (2021) Heliports: 2 (2021) Pipelines: 1,936 km gas, 413 km oil Railways: total: 3,809 km (2015) standard gauge: 3,809 km (2015) 1.435-m gauge (3,526 km one-track lines and 283 km double-track lines) out of which 1,279 km electrified (1,000 km one-track lines and 279 km double-track lines) Roadways: total: 44,248 km (2016) paved: 28,000 km (2016) (16,162 km state roads, out of which 741 km highways) unpaved: 16,248 km (2016) Waterways: 587 km (2009) (primarily on the Danube and Sava Rivers) Ports and terminals: river port(s): Belgrade (Danube) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Serbian Armed Forces (Vojska Srbije, VS): Land Forces (includes Riverine Component, consisting of a naval flotilla on the Danube), Air and Air Defense Forces, Serbian Guard; Police Directorate of the Serbian Ministry of Interior: Gendarmerie (2022) note: the Serbian Guard is a brigade-sized unit that is directly subordinate to the Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff Military expenditures: 1.9% of GDP (2021 est.) 2% of GDP (2020 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2019) (approximately $1.83 billion) 1.6% of GDP (2018) (approximately $1.43 billion) 1.8% of GDP (2017) (approximately $1.47 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 25,000 active duty troops (15,000 Land Forces; 5,000 Air/Air Defense; 5,000 other); approximately 3,000 Gendarmerie (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Serbian Armed Forces consists of Russian and Soviet-era weapons systems; since 2010, Russia has been the top supplier of military hardware (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished January 2011 (2021) note: as of 2019, women made up about 6% of the military's full-time personnel Military deployments: 175 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (May 2022) Military - note: Serbia does not aspire to join NATO, but has cooperated with the Alliance since 2006 when it joined the Partnership for Peace program; Serbia maintains security ties with Russia (2022) Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Serbia-Bosnia and Herzegovina: Serbia delimited about half of the boundary with Bosnia and Herzegovina, but sections along the Drina River remain in dispute Serbia-Bulgaria: none identified Serbia-Croatia: Serbia and Croatia dispute their border along the Danube; Serbia claims the border is the median between the current Danube shorelines, with the land to the eastern side of the median belonging to Serbia; Croatia contends that the boundary is demarcated according to historic maps, despite the river having meandered since then Serbia-Hungary: none identified Serbia-Kosovo: Serbia with several other states protested the US and other states' recognition of Kosovo's declaration of its status as a sovereign and independent state in February 2008; ethnic Serbian municipalities along Kosovo's northern border challenge final status of Kosovo-Serbia boundary; since 1999, NATO-led Kosovo Force peacekeepers under UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) authority have continued to keep the peace within Kosovo between the ethnic Albanian majority and the Serb minority; in October 2021, NATO-led KFOR increased patrols along the border with Serbia to deescalate hostilities caused by a dispute over license plates Serbia-Montenegro: the former republic boundary serves as the boundary until a line is formally delimited and demarcated Serbia-North Macedonia: none identified Serbia-Romania: none identifiedSerbia-Bosnia and Herzegovina: Serbia delimited about half of the boundary with Bosnia and Herzegovina, but sections along the Drina River remain in disputeSerbia-Bulgaria: none identifiedSerbia-Croatia: Serbia and Croatia dispute their border along the Danube; Serbia claims the border is the median between the current Danube shorelines, with the land to the eastern side of the median belonging to Serbia; Croatia contends that the boundary is demarcated according to historic maps, despite the river having meandered since thenSerbia-Hungary: none identifiedSerbia-Kosovo: Serbia with several other states protested the US and other states' recognition of Kosovo's declaration of its status as a sovereign and independent state in February 2008; ethnic Serbian municipalities along Kosovo's northern border challenge final status of Kosovo-Serbia boundary; since 1999, NATO-led Kosovo Force peacekeepers under UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) authority have continued to keep the peace within Kosovo between the ethnic Albanian majority and the Serb minority; in October 2021, NATO-led KFOR increased patrols along the border with Serbia to deescalate hostilities caused by a dispute over license platesSerbia-Montenegro: the former republic boundary serves as the boundary until a line is formally delimited and demarcatedSerbia-North Macedonia: none identifiedSerbia-Romania: none identified Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 17,336 (Croatia), 7,997 (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (mid-year 2021); 15,071 (Ukraine) (includes Kosovo; as of 9 August 2022) IDPs: 196,995 (most are Kosovar Serbs, some are Roma, Ashkalis, and Egyptian (RAE); some RAE IDPs are unregistered) (2021) stateless persons: 2,113 (includes stateless persons in Kosovo) (mid-year 2021) note: 860,913 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-July 2022); Serbia is predominantly a transit country and hosts an estimated 5,918 migrants and asylum seekers as of May 2022 Illicit drugs: drug trafficking groups are major players in the procurement and transportation of of large quantities of cocaine  destined for  European marketsdrug trafficking groups are major players in the procurement and transportation of of large quantities of cocaine  destined for  European markets

20220901

countries-french-polynesia

Topic: Photos of French Polynesia Topic: Introduction Background: French Polynesia consists of five archipelagos - the Austral Islands, the Gambier Islands, the Marquesas Islands, the Society Islands, and the Tuamotu Archipelago. The Marquesas were first settled around 200 B.C. and the Society Islands around A.D. 300. Raiatea in the Society Islands became a center for religion and culture. Exploration of the other islands emanated from Raiatea and by 1000, there were small permanent settlements in all the island groups. Ferdinand MAGELLAN was the first European to see the islands of French Polynesia in 1520, and successive European voyagers traveled through them over the next two centuries. In 1767, British explorer Samuel WALLIS was the first European to visit Tahiti, followed by French navigator Louis Antoine de BOUGAINVILLE in 1768, and British explorer James COOK in 1769. King POMARE I united Tahiti and surrounding islands into the Kingdom of Tahiti in 1788. Protestant missionaries arrived in 1797 and POMARE I’s successor converted in the 1810s, along with most Tahitians. In the 1830s, Queen POMARE IV refused to allow French Catholic missionaries to operate, leading France to declare a protectorate over Tahiti and fight the French-Tahitian War of the 1840s in an attempt to annex the islands. POMARE IV requested British assistance to fight France, and while the UK did not provide material support, it did diplomatically pressure France to simply maintain its protectorate status. In 1880, King POMARE V ceded Tahiti and its possessions to France, changing its status into a colony. France then claimed the Gambier Islands and Tuamotu Archipelago and by 1901 had incorporated all five island groups into its establishments in Oceania. A Tahitian nationalist movement formed in 1940, leading France to grant French citizenship to the islanders in 1946 and change it to an overseas territory. In 1957, the islands’ name was changed to French Polynesia and the following year, 64% of voters chose to stay part of France when they approved a new constitution. Uninhabited Mururoa Atoll was established as a French nuclear test site in 1962 and tests were conducted between 1966 and 1992 (underground beginning in 1975). France also conducted tests at Fangataufa Atoll, including its last nuclear test in 1996. France granted French Polynesia partial internal autonomy in 1977 and expanded autonomy in 1984. French Polynesia was converted into an overseas collectivity in 2003 and renamed an overseas country inside the Republic in 2004. Proindependence politicians won a surprise majority in local elections that same year but in subsequent elections have been relegated to a vocal minority. In 2013, French Polynesia was relisted on the UN List of Non-Self Governing Territories.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Oceania, five archipelagoes (Archipel des Tuamotu, Iles Gambier, Iles Marquises, Iles Tubuai, Society Islands) in the South Pacific Ocean about halfway between South America and Australia Geographic coordinates: 15 00 S, 140 00 W Map references: Oceania Area: total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls; 67 are inhabited) land: 3,827 sq km water: 340 sq km Area - comparative: slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 2,525 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical, but moderate Terrain: mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs Elevation: highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m Natural resources: timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower Land use: agricultural land: 12.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 6.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 5.5% (2018 est.) forest: 43.7% (2018 est.) other: 43.8% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 10 sq km (2012) Population distribution: the majority of the population lives in the Society Islands, one of five archipelagos that includes the most populous island - Tahiti - with approximately 70% of the nation's population Natural hazards: occasional cyclonic storms in January Geography - note: includes five archipelagoes: four volcanic (Iles Gambier, Iles Marquises, Iles Tubuai, Society Islands) and one coral (Archipel des Tuamotu); the Tuamotu Archipelago forms the largest group of atolls in the world - 78 in total, 48 inhabited; Makatea in the Tuamotu Archipelago is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru Map description: French Polynesia map showing the many islands that make up the overseas French land in the South Pacific Ocean.French Polynesia map showing the many islands that make up the overseas French land in the South Pacific Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 299,356 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: French Polynesian(s) adjective: French Polynesian Ethnic groups: Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4% Languages: French (official) 73.5%, Tahitian 20.1%, Marquesan 2.6%, Austral languages 1.2%, Paumotu 1%, other 1.6% (2017 est.) major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 10%, no religion 6% Age structure: 0-14 years: 21.69% (male 32,920/female 31,100) 15-24 years: 14.72% (male 22,640/female 20,793) 25-54 years: 44.24% (male 66,921/female 63,636) 55-64 years: 10.31% (male 15,610/female 14,823) 65 years and over: 9.04% (2020 est.) (male 12,854/female 13,824) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 45.5 youth dependency ratio: 32.3 elderly dependency ratio: 13.2 potential support ratio: 7.6 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 33.3 years male: 33 years female: 33.5 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.73% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 13.47 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 5.59 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: the majority of the population lives in the Society Islands, one of five archipelagos that includes the most populous island - Tahiti - with approximately 70% of the nation's population Urbanization: urban population: 62.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.65% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 136,000 PAPEETE (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.43 years male: 76.11 years female: 80.86 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: NA Physicians density: NA Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 97% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 3% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: malaria Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: NA Literacy: total population: NA male: NA female: NA Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 56.7% male: 54.5% female: 59.7% (2012 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: sea level rise; extreme weather events (cyclones, storms, and tsunamis producing floods, landslides, erosion, and reef damage); droughts; fresh water scarcity Air pollutants: carbon dioxide emissions: 0.77 megatons (2016 est.) Climate: tropical, but moderate Land use: agricultural land: 12.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 6.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 5.5% (2018 est.) forest: 43.7% (2018 est.) other: 43.8% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 62.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.65% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: malaria Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 147,000 tons (2013 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 57,330 tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 39% (2013 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Overseas Lands of French Polynesia conventional short form: French Polynesia local long form: Pays d'outre-mer de la Polynesie Francaise local short form: Polynesie Francaise former: Establishments in Oceania, French Establishments in Oceania etymology: the term "Polynesia" is an 18th-century construct composed of two Greek words, "poly" (many) and "nesoi" (islands), and refers to the more than 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean Government type: parliamentary democracy (Assembly of French Polynesia); an overseas collectivity of France Dependency status: overseas country of France; note - overseas territory of France from 1946-2003; overseas collectivity of France since 2003, though it is often referred to as an overseas country due to its degree of autonomy Capital: name: Papeete (located on Tahiti) geographic coordinates: 17 32 S, 149 34 W time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name means "water basket" and refers to the fact that the islanders originally used calabashes enclosed in baskets to fetch water at a spring in the area Administrative divisions: 5 administrative subdivisions (subdivisions administratives, singular - subdivision administrative): Iles Australes (Austral Islands), Iles du Vent (Windward Islands), Iles Marquises (Marquesas Islands), Iles Sous-le-Vent (Leeward Islands), Iles Tuamotu-Gambier; note - the Leeward Islands and the Windward Islands together make up the Society Islands (Iles de la Societe) Independence: none (overseas land of France) National holiday: Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - the local holiday is Internal Autonomy Day, 29 June (1880) Constitution: history: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution) amendments: French constitution amendment procedures apply Legal system: the laws of France, where applicable, apply Citizenship: see France Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Dominique SORAIN (since 10 July 2019) head of government: President of French Polynesia Edouard FRITCH (since 12 September 2014) cabinet: Council of Ministers approved by the Assembly from a list of its members submitted by the president elections/appointments: French president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; French Polynesia president indirectly elected by Assembly of French Polynesia for a 5-year term (no term limits) Legislative branch: description: unicameral Assembly of French Polynesia or Assemblée de la Polynésie française (57 seats; elections held in 2 rounds; in the second round, 38 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by a closed-list proportional representation vote; the party receiving the most votes gets an additional 19 seats; members serve 5-year terms; French Polynesia indirectly elects 2 senators to the French Senate via an electoral college by absolute majority vote for 6-year terms with one-half the membership renewed every 3 years and directly elects 3 deputies to the French National Assembly by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for 5-year terms French Polynesia indirectly elects 2 senators to the French Senate via an electoral college by absolute majority vote for 6-year terms with one-half the membership renewed every 3 years and directly elects 3 deputies to the French National Assembly by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for 5-year terms elections: Assembly of French Polynesia - last held on 22 April 2018 and 6 May 2018 (next to be held in 2023) French Senate - last held on 28 September 2020 (next to be held on 30 September 2023) French National Assembly - last held in 2 rounds on 3 and 17 June 2017 (next to be held in 2022) election results: Assembly of French Polynesia - percent of vote by party - Tapura Huiraatira 45.1%, Popular Rally 29.3%, Tavini Huiraatira 25.6%; seats by party - Tapura Huiraatira 38, Popular Rally 11, Tavini Huiraatira 8; composition - men 27, women 30, percent of women 52.6% French Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Popular Rally 1, People's Servant Party 1; composition - NA French National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Tapura Huiractura 2, Tavini Huiraatura 1; composition - NA Judicial branch: highest courts: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel (composition NA); note - appeals beyond the French Polynesia Court of Appeal are heard by the Court of Cassation (in Paris) judge selection and term of office: judges assigned from France normally for 3 years subordinate courts: Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif Political parties and leaders: A Tia Porinetia [Teva ROHFRITSCH] Alliance for a New Democracy or ADN (includes The New Star [Philip SCHYLE], This Country is Yours [Nicole BOUTEAU]) New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api) [Emile VERNAUDON] Our Home alliance People's Servant Party (Tavini Huiraatira) [Oscar TEMARU] Popular Rally (Tahoeraa Huiraatira) [Gaston FLOSSE] Tapura Huiraatira [Edouard FRITICH] Tavini Huiraatira [James CHANCELOR] Union for Democracy alliance or UPD [Oscar TEMARU] International organization participation: ITUC (NGOs), PIF (associate member), SPC, UPU, WMO Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas lands of France) Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (overseas lands of France) Flag description: two red horizontal bands encase a wide white band in a 1:2:1 ratio; centered on the white band is a disk with a blue and white wave pattern depicting the sea on the lower half and a gold and white ray pattern depicting the sun on the upper half; a Polynesian canoe rides on the wave pattern; the canoe has a crew of five represented by five stars that symbolize the five island groups; red and white are traditional Polynesian colors note: identical to the red-white-red flag of Tahiti, the largest and most populous of the islands in French Polynesia, but which has no emblem in the white band; the flag of France is used for official occasions National symbol(s): outrigger canoe, Tahitian gardenia (Gardenia taitensis) flower; national colors: red, white National anthem: name: "Ia Ora 'O Tahiti Nui" (Long Live Tahiti Nui) lyrics/music: Maeva BOUGES, Irmine TEHEI, Angele TEROROTUA, Johanna NOUVEAU, Patrick AMARU, Louis MAMATUI, and Jean-Pierre CELESTIN (the compositional group created both the lyrics and music) note: adopted 1993; serves as a local anthem; as a territory of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France) National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural); note - excerpted from the France entry selected World Heritage Site locales: Taputapuātea Government - note: under certain acts of France, French Polynesia has acquired autonomy in all areas except those relating to police, monetary policy, tertiary education, immigration, and defense and foreign affairs; the duties of its president are fashioned after those of the French prime minister Topic: Economy Economic overview: Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the region, French Polynesia has changed from a subsistence agricultural economy to one in which a high proportion of the work force is either employed by the military or supports the tourist industry. With the halt of French nuclear testing in 1996, the military contribution to the economy fell sharply.   After growing at an average yearly rate of 4.2% from 1997-2007, the economic and financial crisis in 2008 marked French Polynesia’s entry into recession. However, since 2014, French Polynesia has shown signs of recovery. Business turnover reached 1.8% year-on-year in September 2016, tourism increased 1.8% in 2015, and GDP grew 2.0% in 2015.   French Polynesia’s tourism-dominated service sector accounted for 85% of total value added for the economy in 2012. Tourism employs 17% of the workforce. Pearl farming is the second biggest industry, accounting for 54% of exports in 2015; however, the output has decreased to 12.5 tons – the lowest level since 2008. A small manufacturing sector predominantly processes commodities from French Polynesia’s primary sector - 8% of total economy in 2012 - including agriculture and fishing.   France has agreed to finance infrastructure, marine businesses, and cultural and ecological sites at roughly $80 million per year between 2015 and 2020. Japan, the US, and China are French Polynesia’s three largest trade partners.Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the region, French Polynesia has changed from a subsistence agricultural economy to one in which a high proportion of the work force is either employed by the military or supports the tourist industry. With the halt of French nuclear testing in 1996, the military contribution to the economy fell sharply. After growing at an average yearly rate of 4.2% from 1997-2007, the economic and financial crisis in 2008 marked French Polynesia’s entry into recession. However, since 2014, French Polynesia has shown signs of recovery. Business turnover reached 1.8% year-on-year in September 2016, tourism increased 1.8% in 2015, and GDP grew 2.0% in 2015. French Polynesia’s tourism-dominated service sector accounted for 85% of total value added for the economy in 2012. Tourism employs 17% of the workforce. Pearl farming is the second biggest industry, accounting for 54% of exports in 2015; however, the output has decreased to 12.5 tons – the lowest level since 2008. A small manufacturing sector predominantly processes commodities from French Polynesia’s primary sector - 8% of total economy in 2012 - including agriculture and fishing. France has agreed to finance infrastructure, marine businesses, and cultural and ecological sites at roughly $80 million per year between 2015 and 2020. Japan, the US, and China are French Polynesia’s three largest trade partners. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $5.49 billion (2017 est.) $5.383 billion (2016 est.) $6.963 billion (2015 est.) Real GDP growth rate: 2% (2015 est.) -2.7% (2014 est.) -2.5% (2010 est.) Real GDP per capita: $17,000 (2015 est.) $20,100 (2014 est.) $22,700 (2010) GDP (official exchange rate): $4.795 billion (2015 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0% (2015 est.) 0.3% (2014 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2.5% (2009) industry: 13% (2009) services: 84.5% (2009) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 66.9% (2014 est.) government consumption: 33.6% (2014 est.) investment in fixed capital: 19.4% (2014 est.) investment in inventories: 0.1% (2014 est.) exports of goods and services: 17.5% (2014 est.) imports of goods and services: -37.5% (2014 est.) Agricultural products: coconuts, fruit, roots/tubers nes, pineapples, cassava, sugar cane, eggs, tropical fruit, tomatoes Industries: tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates Industrial production growth rate: NA Labor force: 126,300 (2016 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 13% industry: 19% services: 68% (2013 est.) Unemployment rate: 21.8% (2012) 11.7% (2010) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 56.7% male: 54.5% female: 59.7% (2012 est.) Population below poverty line: 19.7% (2009 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 1.891 billion (2012) expenditures: 1.833 billion (2011) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 1.2% (of GDP) (2012) Taxes and other revenues: 39.4% (of GDP) (2012) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: $207.7 million (2014 est.) $158.8 million (2013 est.) Exports: $1.245 billion (2014 est.) $1.168 billion (2013 est.) Exports - partners: Japan 23.1%, Hong Kong 21.5%, Kyrgyzstan 15.9%, US 15.9%, France 12.4% (2017) Exports - commodities: cultured pearls, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat Imports: $2.235 billion (2014 est.) $2.271 billion (2013 est.) Imports - partners: France 27.9%, South Korea 12.1%, US 10.1%, China 7.3%, NZ 6.7%, Singapore 4.2% (2017) Imports - commodities: fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment Debt - external: NANA Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 110.2 (2017 est.) 107.84 (2016 est.) 107.84 (2015 est.) 89.85 (2014 est.) 90.56 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 272,000 kW (2020 est.) consumption: 639.7 million kWh (2019 est.) exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.) imports: 0 kWh (2019 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 41 million kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 66.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 6.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 27.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 6,700 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 6,785 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 1.03 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 1.03 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 0 Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 94,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 335,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: French Polynesia has one of the most advanced telecoms infrastructures in the Pacific Islands region; the remoteness of the country with its scattering of 130 islands and atolls has made connectivity vital for its inhabitants; Office des Postes et Télécommunications is the primary provider of domestic telecom services, mobile telephony, and internet services, while its subsidiary, Tahiti Nui Telecommunications, provides international voice services and manages the submarine cable infrastructure; the first submarine cable was deployed in 2010 and since then additional cables have been connected to the islands, vastly improving French Polynesia’s international connectivity; an additional domestic submarine cable, the Natitua Sud, will connect more remote islands by the end of 2022; French Polynesia is also a hub for satellite communications in the region; it hosts one of the up link systems of the Galileo satellite network, the Kacific-1 satellite and the Intelsat satellite network, for example; with improved international connectivity, fixed broadband subscriptions have become the highest in the region; a considerable number of consumers access FttP-based services; with the first data center in French Polynesia on the cards, the quality and price of broadband services is expected to improve as content will be able to be cached locally, reducing costs for consumers; for 2022, fixed broadband subscriptions reached an estimated 22%; about 43% of the country’s mobile connections are on 3G networks, while LTE accounts for 12%; by 2025, LTE is expected to account for more than half of all connections; it is also estimated that 77% of mobile subscribers will have smart phones by 2025. (2022) domestic: fixed-line subscriptions nearly 22 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular density is roughly 104 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 689; landing points for the NATITUA, Manatua, and Honotua submarine cables to other French Polynesian Islands, Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: French public overseas broadcaster Reseau Outre-Mer provides 2 TV channels and 1 radio station; 1 government-owned TV station; a small number of privately owned radio stations (2019) Internet country code: .pf Internet users: total: 203,878 (2019 est.) percent of population: 73% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 64,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) (registered in France) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 19 (registered in France) Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: F-OH Airports: total: 54 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 45 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 33 under 914 m: 5 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 5 (2021) Heliports: 1 (2021) Roadways: total: 2,590 km (1999) paved: 1,735 km (1999) unpaved: 855 km (1999) Merchant marine: total: 24 by type: general cargo 14, other 10 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Papeete Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: no regular military forces Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France; France maintains forces (about 900 troops) in French Polynesia Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: nonenone

20220901

field-real-gdp-growth-rate-country-comparison

20220901

countries-armenia

Topic: Photos of Armenia Topic: Introduction Background: Armenia prides itself on being the first nation to formally adopt Christianity (early 4th century). Despite periods of autonomy, over the centuries Armenia came under the sway of various empires including the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, and Ottoman. During World War I in the western portion of Armenia, the Ottoman Empire instituted a policy of forced resettlement coupled with other harsh practices that resulted in at least 1 million Armenian deaths - actions widely recognized as constituting genocide. The eastern area of Armenia was ceded by the Ottomans to Russia in 1828; this portion declared its independence in 1918, but was conquered by the Soviet Red Army in 1920. Armenia remains involved in the protracted struggle with Azerbaijan over control of Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily ethnic Armenian region that Moscow recognized in 1923 as an autonomous oblast within Soviet Azerbaijan. In the late Soviet period, a separatist movement developed that sought to end Azerbaijani control over the region. Fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh began in 1988 and escalated after Armenia and Azerbaijan attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By the time a cease-fire took effect in May 1994, separatists, with Armenian support, controlled Nagorno‑Karabakh and seven surrounding Azerbaijani territories. Following the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in September-November 2020, Armenia lost control over much of the territory it had captured a quarter century earlier. Under the terms of a cease-fire agreement signed in November 2020, Armenia returned to Azerbaijan the remaining territories it occupied and some parts of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, including the key city that Armenians call Shushi and Azerbaijanis call Shusha. Turkey closed the common border with Armenia in 1993 in support of Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia over control of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas, further hampering Armenian economic growth. In 2009, Armenia and Turkey signed Protocols normalizing relations between the two countries, but neither country ratified the Protocols, and Armenia officially withdrew from the Protocols in March 2018. In 2015, Armenia joined the Eurasian Economic Union alongside Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. In November 2017, Armenia signed a Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the EU. In spring 2018, former President of Armenia (2008-18) Serzh SARGSIAN of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) tried to extend his time in power by becoming prime minister, prompting popular protests that became known as the “Velvet Revolution” after SARGSIAN was forced to resign. The leader of the protests, Civil Contract party chief Nikol PASHINYAN, was elected by the National Assembly as the new prime minister on 8 May 2018. PASHINYAN’s party prevailed in an early legislative election in December 2018, and he was reelected as prime minister. Armenia prides itself on being the first nation to formally adopt Christianity (early 4th century). Despite periods of autonomy, over the centuries Armenia came under the sway of various empires including the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, and Ottoman. During World War I in the western portion of Armenia, the Ottoman Empire instituted a policy of forced resettlement coupled with other harsh practices that resulted in at least 1 million Armenian deaths - actions widely recognized as constituting genocide. The eastern area of Armenia was ceded by the Ottomans to Russia in 1828; this portion declared its independence in 1918, but was conquered by the Soviet Red Army in 1920.Armenia remains involved in the protracted struggle with Azerbaijan over control of Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily ethnic Armenian region that Moscow recognized in 1923 as an autonomous oblast within Soviet Azerbaijan. In the late Soviet period, a separatist movement developed that sought to end Azerbaijani control over the region. Fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh began in 1988 and escalated after Armenia and Azerbaijan attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By the time a cease-fire took effect in May 1994, separatists, with Armenian support, controlled Nagorno‑Karabakh and seven surrounding Azerbaijani territories. Following the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in September-November 2020, Armenia lost control over much of the territory it had captured a quarter century earlier. Under the terms of a cease-fire agreement signed in November 2020, Armenia returned to Azerbaijan the remaining territories it occupied and some parts of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, including the key city that Armenians call Shushi and Azerbaijanis call Shusha.Turkey closed the common border with Armenia in 1993 in support of Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia over control of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas, further hampering Armenian economic growth. In 2009, Armenia and Turkey signed Protocols normalizing relations between the two countries, but neither country ratified the Protocols, and Armenia officially withdrew from the Protocols in March 2018. In 2015, Armenia joined the Eurasian Economic Union alongside Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. In November 2017, Armenia signed a Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the EU.In spring 2018, former President of Armenia (2008-18) Serzh SARGSIAN of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) tried to extend his time in power by becoming prime minister, prompting popular protests that became known as the “Velvet Revolution” after SARGSIAN was forced to resign. The leader of the protests, Civil Contract party chief Nikol PASHINYAN, was elected by the National Assembly as the new prime minister on 8 May 2018. PASHINYAN’s party prevailed in an early legislative election in December 2018, and he was reelected as prime minister. Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southwestern Asia, between Turkey (to the west) and Azerbaijan; note - Armenia views itself as part of Europe; geopolitically, it can be classified as falling within Europe, the Middle East, or both Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 45 00 E Map references: Asia Area: total: 29,743 sq km land: 28,203 sq km water: 1,540 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland Land boundaries: total: 1,570 km border countries (4): Azerbaijan 996 km; Georgia 219 km; Iran 44 km; Turkey 311 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: highland continental, hot summers, cold winters Terrain: Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley Elevation: highest point: Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m lowest point: Debed River 400 m mean elevation: 1,792 m Natural resources: small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, bauxite Land use: agricultural land: 59.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 15.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 42% (2018 est.) forest: 9.1% (2018 est.) other: 31.2% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 2,740 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Sevan - 1,360 sq km Population distribution: most of the population is located in the northern half of the country; the capital of Yerevan is home to more than five times as many people as Gyumri, the second largest city in the country Natural hazards: occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts Geography - note: landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains; Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan) is the largest lake in this mountain range Map description: Armenia map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries.Armenia map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries. Topic: People and Society Population: 3,000,756 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Armenian(s) adjective: Armenian Ethnic groups: Armenian 98.1%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.2%, other 0.7% (2011 est.) Languages: Armenian (official) 97.9%, Kurdish (spoken by Yezidi minority) 1%, other 1%; note - Russian is widely spoken (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): Աշխարհի Փաստագիրք, Անփոխարինելի Աղբյւր Հիմնական Տեղեկատվւթյան. (Armenian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Armenian Apostolic 92.6%, Evangelical 1%, other 2.4%, none 1.1%, unspecified 2.9% (2011 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 18.64% (male 297,320/female 265,969) 15-24 years: 11.63% (male 184,258/female 167,197) 25-54 years: 43.04% (male 639,101/female 661,421) 55-64 years: 14.08% (male 195,754/female 229,580) 65 years and over: 12.6% (2020 est.) (male 154,117/female 226,607) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 48.4 youth dependency ratio: 30.9 elderly dependency ratio: 17.5 potential support ratio: 5.7 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 36.6 years male: 35.1 years female: 38.3 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -0.38% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 11.1 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 9.51 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -5.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: most of the population is located in the northern half of the country; the capital of Yerevan is home to more than five times as many people as Gyumri, the second largest city in the country Urbanization: urban population: 63.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 1.092 million YEREVAN (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.85 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 25.2 years (2019 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 26 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 12.18 deaths/1,000 live births male: 13.72 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.13 years male: 72.86 years female: 79.68 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.65 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 57.1% (2015/16) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 11.3% (2019) Physicians density: 4.4 physicians/1,000 population (2017) Hospital bed density: 4.2 beds/1,000 population (2014) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 84.6% of population total: 94.4% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 15.4% of population total: 5.6% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 4,800 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <100 Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 20.2% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 25.5% (2020 est.) male: 49.4% (2020 est.) female: 1.5% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.6% (2015/16) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 0% women married by age 18: 5.3% men married by age 18: 0.4% (2016 est.) Education expenditures: 2.7% of GDP (2020 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.8% male: 99.8% female: 99.7% (2020) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2020) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 32.6% male: 31.2% female: 34.4% (2019 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; deforestation; pollution of Hrazdan and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result of its use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; restart of Metsamor nuclear power plant in spite of its location in a seismically active zone Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 30.48 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 5.16 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 2.91 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: highland continental, hot summers, cold winters Land use: agricultural land: 59.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 15.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 42% (2018 est.) forest: 9.1% (2018 est.) other: 31.2% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 63.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.28% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 492,800 tons (2014 est.) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Sevan - 1,360 sq km Total water withdrawal: municipal: 616.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 122.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 2.127 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 7.769 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Armenia conventional short form: Armenia local long form: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun local short form: Hayastan former: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, Armenian Republic etymology: the etymology of the country's name remains obscure; according to tradition, the country is named after Hayk, the legendary patriarch of the Armenians and the great-great-grandson of Noah; Hayk's descendant, Aram, purportedly is the source of the name Armenia Government type: parliamentary democracy; note - constitutional changes adopted in December 2015 transformed the government to a parliamentary system Capital: name: Yerevan geographic coordinates: 40 10 N, 44 30 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: name likely derives from the ancient Urartian fortress of Erebuni established on the current site of Yerevan in 782 B.C. and whose impressive ruins still survive Administrative divisions: 11 provinces (marzer, singular - marz); Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush, Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan Independence: 21 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: 321 B.C. (Kingdom of Armenia established under the Orontid Dynasty), A.D. 884 (Armenian Kingdom reestablished under the Bagratid Dynasty); 1198 (Cilician Kingdom established); 28 May 1918 (Democratic Republic of Armenia declared) National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September (1991) Constitution: history: previous 1915, 1978; latest adopted 5 July 1995 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by the National Assembly; passage requires approval by the president, by the National Assembly, and by a referendum with at least 25% registered voter participation and more than 50% of votes; constitutional articles on the form of government and democratic procedures are not amendable; amended 2005, 2015, last in 2020; note - a constitutional referendum originally scheduled for 4 May 2020 was indefinitely postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic that began in early 2020, the Nagorno-Karabakh war in the fall of 2020, and the postwar political crisis of early 2021 Legal system: civil law system International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Armenia dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Vahagn KHACHATURYAN (since 13 March 2022) head of government: Prime Minister Nikol PASHINYAN (since 10 September 2021); Deputy Prime Ministers Mher GRIGORYAN (since 3 August 2021) and Hambardzum MATEVOSYAN (since 25 November 2021); note - Prime Minister Nikol PASHINYAN resigned on 25 April 2021; he was reappointed by the president on 2 August 2021 and sworn in on 10 September 2021 cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly in 3 rounds if needed for a single 7-year term; election last held on 2-3 March 2022; prime minister elected by majority vote in 2 rounds if needed by the National Assembly; election last held 2 August 2021; the next parliamentary elections are expected to be held in Armenia by 2026 election results:   2022: Vahagn KHACHATURYAN elected president in second round; note - Vahagn KHACHATURYAN ran unopposed and won the Assembly vote 71-0 2018: Armen SARKISSIAN elected president in first round; note - Armen SARKISSIAN ran unopposed and won the Assembly vote 90-10 note: Nikol PASHINYAN was first elected prime minister on 8 May 2018 and reelected on January 2019; in response to a political crisis that followed Armenia's defeat in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in late 2020, PASHINYAN called an early legislative election for June 2021; his party won the election and PASHINYAN was elected to the prime ministership for a third time; his election was confirmed by the president on 2 August 2021, and he was sworn in on 10 September 2021 Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (minimum 101 seats, with additional seats allocated as necessary and generally changing with each parliamentary convocation; current - 107; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms; four mandates are reserved for national minorities; no more than 70% of the top membership of a party list can belong to the same sex; political parties must meet a 5% threshold and alliances a 7% threshold to win seats; at least three parties must be seated in the parliament) elections: last held early on 20 June 2021 (next to be held in June 2026) election results: percent of vote by party - Civil Contract 53.9%, Armenia Alliance 21.0%, I Have Honour Alliance 5.2%; seats by party - Civil Contract 71 of 107 seats, Armenia Alliance 29, I Have Honour Alliance 7; composition (as of February 2022) - men 69, women 38, percent of women 35.5% Judicial branch: highest courts: Court of Cassation (consists of the Criminal Chamber with a chairman and 5 judges and the Civil and Administrative Chamber with a chairman and 10 judges – with both civil and administrative specializations); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges) judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges nominated by the Supreme Judicial Council, a 10-member body of selected judges and legal scholars; judges appointed by the president; judges can serve until age 65; Constitutional Court judges - 4 appointed by the president, and 5 elected by the National Assembly; judges can serve until age 70 subordinate courts: criminal and civil appellate courts; administrative appellate court; first instance courts; specialized administrative and bankruptcy courts Political parties and leaders: the below parties received 1% or more of the vote: 5165 National Conservative Movement Party [Karin TONOYAN] Alliance of Democrats [Arman BABAJANYAN] Armenia Alliance or HD [Robert KOCHARYAN] (alliance of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and the Reborn Armenia Party) Armenian National Congress or ANC [Levon TER-PETROSSIAN] (bloc of independent and opposition parties) Bright Armenia [Edmon MARUKYAN] Civil Contract or KP [Nikol PASHINYAN] Homeland of Armenians [Artak GALSTYAN] Homeland Party [Artur VANETSYAN] I Have Honor Alliance (alliance of the RPA and the Homeland Party, co-led by the two allied parties' leaders) Liberal Party [Samvel BABAYAN] National Democratic Party [Vahe GASPARYAN] Prosperous Armenia or BHK [Gagik TSARUKYAN] Republic Party (Hanrapetutyun Party) [Aram SARGSYAN] Republican Party of Armenia or RPA [Serzh SARGSIAN] International organization participation: ADB, BSEC, CD, CE, CIS, CSTO, EAEC (observer), EAEU, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lilit MAKUNTS (since 15 September 2021) chancery: 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 319-1976 FAX: [1] (202) 319-2982 email address and website: armembassyusa@mfa.am https://usa.mfa.am/en/ consulate(s) general: Glendale (CA) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lynne M. TRACEY (since 5 March 2019) embassy: 1 American Ave., Yerevan 0082 mailing address: 7020 Yerevan Place, Washington, DC  20521-7020 telephone: [374] (10) 464-700 FAX: [374] (10) 464-742 email address and website: acsyerevan@state.gov https://am.usembassy.gov/1 American Ave., Yerevan 0082 Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange; the color red recalls the blood shed for liberty, blue the Armenian skies as well as hope, and orange the land and the courage of the workers who farm it National symbol(s): Mount Ararat, eagle, lion; national colors: red, blue, orange National anthem: name: "Mer Hayrenik" (Our Fatherland) lyrics/music: Mikael NALBANDIAN/Barsegh KANACHYAN note: adopted 1991; based on the anthem of the Democratic Republic of Armenia (1918-1922) but with different lyrics National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 3 (3 cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin; Monastery of Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley; Cathedral and Churches of Echmiatsin Topic: Economy Economic overview: Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia developed a modern industrial sector, supplying machine tools, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics, in exchange for raw materials and energy. Armenia has since switched to small-scale agriculture and away from the large agro industrial complexes of the Soviet era. Armenia has only two open trade borders - Iran and Georgia - because its borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey have been closed since 1991 and 1993, respectively, as a result of Armenia's ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan over the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region.   Armenia joined the World Trade Organization in January 2003. The government has made some improvements in tax and customs administration in recent years, but anti-corruption measures have been largely ineffective. Armenia will need to pursue additional economic reforms and strengthen the rule of law in order to raise its economic growth and improve economic competitiveness and employment opportunities, especially given its economic isolation from Turkey and Azerbaijan.   Armenia's geographic isolation, a narrow export base, and pervasive monopolies in important business sectors have made it particularly vulnerable to volatility in the global commodity markets and the economic challenges in Russia. Armenia is particularly dependent on Russian commercial and governmental support, as most key Armenian infrastructure is Russian-owned and/or managed, especially in the energy sector. Remittances from expatriates working in Russia are equivalent to about 12-14% of GDP. Armenia joined the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union in January 2015, but has remained interested in pursuing closer ties with the EU as well, signing a Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement with the EU in November 2017. Armenia’s rising government debt is leading Yerevan to tighten its fiscal policies – the amount is approaching the debt to GDP ratio threshold set by national legislation.Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia developed a modern industrial sector, supplying machine tools, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics, in exchange for raw materials and energy. Armenia has since switched to small-scale agriculture and away from the large agro industrial complexes of the Soviet era. Armenia has only two open trade borders - Iran and Georgia - because its borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey have been closed since 1991 and 1993, respectively, as a result of Armenia's ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan over the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region. Armenia joined the World Trade Organization in January 2003. The government has made some improvements in tax and customs administration in recent years, but anti-corruption measures have been largely ineffective. Armenia will need to pursue additional economic reforms and strengthen the rule of law in order to raise its economic growth and improve economic competitiveness and employment opportunities, especially given its economic isolation from Turkey and Azerbaijan. Armenia's geographic isolation, a narrow export base, and pervasive monopolies in important business sectors have made it particularly vulnerable to volatility in the global commodity markets and the economic challenges in Russia. Armenia is particularly dependent on Russian commercial and governmental support, as most key Armenian infrastructure is Russian-owned and/or managed, especially in the energy sector. Remittances from expatriates working in Russia are equivalent to about 12-14% of GDP. Armenia joined the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union in January 2015, but has remained interested in pursuing closer ties with the EU as well, signing a Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement with the EU in November 2017. Armenia’s rising government debt is leading Yerevan to tighten its fiscal policies – the amount is approaching the debt to GDP ratio threshold set by national legislation. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $37.31 billion (2020 est.) $40.38 billion (2019 est.) $37.53 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 7.5% (2017 est.) 0.3% (2016 est.) 3.3% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $12,600 (2020 est.) $13,700 (2019 est.) $12,700 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $13.694 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.4% (2019 est.) 2.5% (2018 est.) 0.9% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: B+ (2020) Moody's rating: Ba3 (2019) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 16.7% (2017 est.) industry: 28.2% (2017 est.) services: 54.8% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 76.7% (2017 est.) government consumption: 14.2% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 17.3% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 4.1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 38.1% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -50.4% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: milk, potatoes, grapes, vegetables, tomatoes, watermelons, wheat, apples, cabbages, barley Industries: brandy, mining, diamond processing, metal-cutting machine tools, forging and pressing machines, electric motors, knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, chemicals, trucks, instruments, microelectronics, jewelry, software, food processing Industrial production growth rate: 5.4% (2017 est.) Labor force: 1.507 million (2017 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 36.3% industry: 17% services: 46.7% (2013 est.) Unemployment rate: 18.9% (2017 est.) 18.8% (2016 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 32.6% male: 31.2% female: 34.4% (2019 est.) Population below poverty line: 26.4% (2019 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 34.4 (2018 est.) 31.5 (2013 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.5% highest 10%: 25.7% (2014) Budget: revenues: 2.644 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 3.192 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -4.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 53.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 51.9% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 22.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$328 million (2017 est.) -$238 million (2016 est.) Exports: $3.82 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $5.64 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $4.91 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Russia 22%, Switzerland 20%, China 7%, Bulgaria 6%, Iraq 5%, Serbia 5%, Netherlands 5%, Germany 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: copper ore, gold, tobacco, liquors, iron alloys (2019) Imports: $5 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $7.47 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $6.61 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Russia 29%, China 10%, Georgia 8%, Iran 6%, Turkey 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: natural gas, cars, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, diamonds (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $2.314 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $2.204 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $11.637 billion (2019 est.) $10.785 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: drams (AMD) per US dollar - 487.9 (2017 est.) 480.49 (2016 est.) 480.49 (2015 est.) 477.92 (2014 est.) 415.92 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 3.633 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 5,758,470,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 1.251 billion kWh (2020 est.) imports: 320 million kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 548 million kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 40.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 34.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 24.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 12,000 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 12,000 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 163 million metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 10,900 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 7,145 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 2,537,497,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 2,514,220,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 6.354 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 12,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 1.364 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 4.978 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 53.019 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 427,539 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 3,488,797 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: the telecom sector was still able to post modest gains at least in the mobile and broadband segments; the fixed-line penetration continues to slide downwards, only buttressed by the rollout of fiber networks which have encouraged the take up of bundled services; the fixed broadband market remains undeveloped, being somewhat hamstrung by the lack of underlying infrastructure outside the main cities; the one bright spot for the sector is mobile broadband, which is expected reach 130% subscriptions rate by 2026, at a CAGR of more than 8.6%, this is subject to the country managing to avoid conflict. (2021) domestic: roughly 14 per 100 fixed-line and 118 per 100 mobile-cellular; reliable fixed-line and mobile-cellular services are available across Yerevan and in major cities and towns; mobile-cellular coverage available in most rural areas (2020) international: country code - 374; Yerevan is connected to the Caucasus Cable System fiber-optic cable through Georgia and Iran to Europe; additional international service is available by microwave radio relay and landline connections to the other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, through the Moscow international switch, and by satellite to the rest of the world; satellite earth stations - 3 (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: Armenia’s government-run Public Television network operates alongside 100 privately owned TV stations that provide local to near nationwide coverage; three Russian TV companies are broadcast in Armenia under interstate agreements; subscription cable TV services are available in most regions; several major international broadcasters are available, including CNN; Armenian TV completed conversion from analog to digital broadcasting in late 2016; Public Radio of Armenia is a national, state-run broadcast network that operates alongside 18 privately owned radio stations (2019)Armenia’s government-run Public Television network operates alongside 100 privately owned TV stations that provide local to near nationwide coverage; three Russian TV companies are broadcast in Armenia under interstate agreements; subscription cable TV services are available in most regions; several major international broadcasters are available, including CNN; Armenian TV completed conversion from analog to digital broadcasting in late 2016; Public Radio of Armenia is a national, state-run broadcast network that operates alongside 18 privately owned radio stations Internet country code: .am Internet users: total: 2,281,690 (2020 est.) percent of population: 77% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 430,407 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 5 Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: EK Airports: total: 7 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 10 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2021) Pipelines: 3,838 km gas (high and medium pressure) (2017) Railways: total: 780 km (2014) broad gauge: 780 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge (780 km electrified) note: 726 km operational Roadways: total: 7,700 km (2019) urban: 3,780 km non-urban: 3,920 km Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Armenian Armed Forces: Armenian Army (includes land, air, air defense forces) (2022) Military expenditures: 4.4% of GDP (2021 est.) 5% of GDP (2020 est.) 5.3% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $1.82 billion) 4.6% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately 1.6 billion) 4.4% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $1.43 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 45,000 active troops (42,000 ground; 3,000 air/defense) (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Armenian Armed Forces includes mostly Russian and Soviet-era equipment (2022) Military service age and obligation: 18-27 years of age for voluntary (men and women) or compulsory (men only) military service; 2-year conscript service obligation, which can be served as an officer upon deferment for university studies if enrolled in officer-producing program; 17-year-olds are eligible to become cadets at military higher education institutes, where they are classified as military personnel; citizens aged 27 to 50 are registered in the military reserve and may be called to serve if mobilization is declared (2021) note: as of 2021, conscripts comprised about half of the military's active personnel; as of 2018, women made up about 13% of the active duty military Military - note: since November 2020, Russia has deployed about 2,000 peacekeeping troops to the area in and around Nagorno-Karabakh as part of a cease-fire agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan; fighting erupted between the two countries over the Nagorno-Karabakh region in September of 2020; Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan but has been under control of ethnic Armenian forces (the "Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army") backed by Armenia since a separatist war there ended in 1994; six weeks of fighting resulted in about 6,500 deaths and ended after Armenia ceded swathes of Nagorno-Karabakh territory; tensions remained high into 2022, and both sides have accused the other of provocations since the fighting ended; Armenia has accused Azerbaijani forces of a series of border intrusions and of seizing pockets of territory  Armenia has been a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and contributes troops to CSTO's rapid reaction force Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: local border forces struggle to control the illegal transit of goods and people across the porous, undemarcated Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Georgian borders Armenia-Azerbaijan: The dispute over the break-away Nagorno-Karabakh region and the Armenian military occupation of surrounding lands in Azerbaijan remains the primary focus of regional instability. Residents have evacuated the former Soviet-era small ethnic enclaves in Armenia and Azerbaijan. Armenia-Georgia: Georgians restrict Armenian access into Samtse-Javakheti ethnic Armenian areas. Armenia has made no claims to the region. Armenia-Iran: None identified Armenia-Turkey: In 2009, Swiss mediators facilitated an accord reestablishing diplomatic ties between Armenia and Turkey, but neither side has ratified the agreement and the rapprochement effort has faltered, in part due to resistance from Azerbaijan. The border has been closed since 1993, and no diplomatic relations established after Armenian independence. In 2022, Turkey and Armenia have agreed to move forward with efforts to normalize relations. Turkish authorities have complained that blasting from quarries in Armenia might be damaging the ruins of Ani, an ancient city on the high ridge overlooking the Arpaçay valley on the opposite shore. local border forces struggle to control the illegal transit of goods and people across the porous, undemarcated Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Georgian borders Armenia-Azerbaijan: The dispute over the break-away Nagorno-Karabakh region and the Armenian military occupation of surrounding lands in Azerbaijan remains the primary focus of regional instability. Residents have evacuated the former Soviet-era small ethnic enclaves in Armenia and Azerbaijan. Armenia-Georgia: Georgians restrict Armenian access into Samtse-Javakheti ethnic Armenian areas. Armenia has made no claims to the region. Armenia-Iran: None identified Armenia-Turkey: In 2009, Swiss mediators facilitated an accord reestablishing diplomatic ties between Armenia and Turkey, but neither side has ratified the agreement and the rapprochement effort has faltered, in part due to resistance from Azerbaijan. The border has been closed since 1993, and no diplomatic relations established after Armenian independence. In 2022, Turkey and Armenia have agreed to move forward with efforts to normalize relations. Turkish authorities have complained that blasting from quarries in Armenia might be damaging the ruins of Ani, an ancient city on the high ridge overlooking the Arpaçay valley on the opposite shore.  Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 38,774 (Azerbaijan), 5,205 (Syria - ethnic Armenians) (mid-year 2021) stateless persons: 892 (mid-year 2021) Trafficking in persons: current situation: Armenians may be exploited domestically or abroad, and foreigners may be subjected to sex trafficking or forced labor in Armenia; Armenian women and children are exploited in sex and labor trafficking domestically, as well as sex trafficking in the UAE and Turkey; Armenian migrants experience forced labor in Russia, the UAE, and Turkey; Ukrainian, Belarusian, and Russian women working as dancers are vulnerable to sex trafficking, while Indian employment seekers are subjected to forced labor in Armenia tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Armenia does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; law enforcement authorities did not conduct proactive investigations and relied on victims to self-identify; prevention efforts decreased and protection efforts were weak, with the government continuing to lack a formal victim-witness protection program; the government had no convictions, including convictions of complicit government employees, for the second consecutive year and has not had a forced labor conviction since 2014; legislation was passed to strengthen the health and labor body and training was provided to law enforcement officials; government and local NGOs provided legal, medical, and psychological assistance, housing, and monetary compensation to victims; however, civil society continued to provide reintegration and long-term support services without government funding (2020)Tier 2 Watch List — Armenia does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; law enforcement authorities did not conduct proactive investigations and relied on victims to self-identify; prevention efforts decreased and protection efforts were weak, with the government continuing to lack a formal victim-witness protection program; the government had no convictions, including convictions of complicit government employees, for the second consecutive year and has not had a forced labor conviction since 2014; legislation was passed to strengthen the health and labor body and training was provided to law enforcement officials; government and local NGOs provided legal, medical, and psychological assistance, housing, and monetary compensation to victims; however, civil society continued to provide reintegration and long-term support services without government funding (2020) Illicit drugs: a transit country for illicit drugs with its location between source countries Afghanistan and Iran and the markets of Europe and Russiaa transit country for illicit drugs with its location between source countries Afghanistan and Iran and the markets of Europe and Russia

20220901

countries-nicaragua

Topic: Photos of Nicaragua Topic: Introduction Background: The Pacific coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish colony from Panama in the early 16th century. Independence from Spain was declared in 1821 and the country became an independent republic in 1838. Britain occupied the Caribbean Coast in the first half of the 19th century, but gradually ceded control of the region in subsequent decades. Violent opposition to governmental manipulation and corruption spread to all classes by 1978 and resulted in a short-lived civil war that brought a civic-military coalition, spearheaded by the Marxist Sandinista guerrillas led by Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra to power in 1979. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvador prompted the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas through much of the 1980s. After losing free and fair elections in 1990, 1996, and 2001, former Sandinista President Daniel ORTEGA was elected president in 2006, 2011, 2016, and most recently in 2021. Municipal, regional, and national-level elections since 2008 have been marred by widespread irregularities. Democratic institutions have weakened under the ORTEGA regime as the president has garnered full control over all branches of government, especially after cracking down on a nationwide pro-democracy protest movement in 2018. In the lead-up to the 2021 presidential election, authorities arrested over 40 individuals linked to the political opposition, including presidential candidates, private sector leaders, NGO workers, human rights defenders, and journalists. Only five lesser-known presidential candidates of mostly small parties allied to ORTEGA's Sandinistas were allowed to run against ORTEGA in the November 2021 election.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 85 00 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 130,370 sq km land: 119,990 sq km water: 10,380 sq km Area - comparative: slightly larger than Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than New York state Land boundaries: total: 1,253 km border countries (2): Costa Rica 313 km; Honduras 940 km Coastline: 910 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: natural prolongation Climate: tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands Terrain: extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes Elevation: highest point: Mogoton 2,085 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 298 m Natural resources: gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish Land use: agricultural land: 42.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 12.5% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 27.2% (2018 est.) forest: 25.3% (2018 est.) other: 32.5% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 1,990 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lago de Nicaragua - 8,150 sq km; Lago de Managua - 1,040 sq km Population distribution: the overwhelming majority of the population resides in the western half of the country, with much of the urban growth centered in the capital city of Managua; coastal areas also show large population clusters Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes; volcanoes; landslides; extremely susceptible to hurricanesvolcanism: significant volcanic activity; Cerro Negro (728 m), which last erupted in 1999, is one of Nicaragua's most active volcanoes; its lava flows and ash have been known to cause significant damage to farmland and buildings; other historically active volcanoes include Concepcion, Cosiguina, Las Pilas, Masaya, Momotombo, San Cristobal, and Telicadestructive earthquakes; volcanoes; landslides; extremely susceptible to hurricanesvolcanism: significant volcanic activity; Cerro Negro (728 m), which last erupted in 1999, is one of Nicaragua's most active volcanoes; its lava flows and ash have been known to cause significant damage to farmland and buildings; other historically active volcanoes include Concepcion, Cosiguina, Las Pilas, Masaya, Momotombo, San Cristobal, and Telica Geography - note: largest country in Central America; contains the largest freshwater body in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua Map description: Nicaragua map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.Nicaragua map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 6,301,880 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Nicaraguan(s) adjective: Nicaraguan Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and White) 69%, White 17%, Black 9%, Amerindian 5% Languages: Spanish (official) 95.3%, Miskito 2.2%, Mestizo of the Caribbean coast 2%, other 0.5%; note - English and indigenous languages found on the Caribbean coast (2005 est.) major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Evangelical 33.2%, other 2.9%, none 0.7%, unspecified 13.2% (2017 est.) Demographic profile: Despite being one of the poorest countries in Latin America, Nicaragua has improved its access to potable water and sanitation and has ameliorated its life expectancy, infant and child mortality, and immunization rates. However, income distribution is very uneven, and the poor, agriculturalists, and indigenous people continue to have less access to healthcare services. Nicaragua's total fertility rate has fallen from around 6 children per woman in 1980 to below replacement level today, but the high birth rate among adolescents perpetuates a cycle of poverty and low educational attainment.Nicaraguans emigrate primarily to Costa Rica and to a lesser extent the United States. Nicaraguan men have been migrating seasonally to Costa Rica to harvest bananas and coffee since the early 20th century. Political turmoil, civil war, and natural disasters from the 1970s through the 1990s dramatically increased the flow of refugees and permanent migrants seeking jobs, higher wages, and better social and healthcare benefits. Since 2000, Nicaraguan emigration to Costa Rica has slowed and stabilized. Today roughly 300,000 Nicaraguans are permanent residents of Costa Rica - about 75% of the foreign population - and thousands more migrate seasonally for work, many illegally.Despite being one of the poorest countries in Latin America, Nicaragua has improved its access to potable water and sanitation and has ameliorated its life expectancy, infant and child mortality, and immunization rates. However, income distribution is very uneven, and the poor, agriculturalists, and indigenous people continue to have less access to healthcare services. Nicaragua's total fertility rate has fallen from around 6 children per woman in 1980 to below replacement level today, but the high birth rate among adolescents perpetuates a cycle of poverty and low educational attainment.Nicaraguans emigrate primarily to Costa Rica and to a lesser extent the United States. Nicaraguan men have been migrating seasonally to Costa Rica to harvest bananas and coffee since the early 20th century. Political turmoil, civil war, and natural disasters from the 1970s through the 1990s dramatically increased the flow of refugees and permanent migrants seeking jobs, higher wages, and better social and healthcare benefits. Since 2000, Nicaraguan emigration to Costa Rica has slowed and stabilized. Today roughly 300,000 Nicaraguans are permanent residents of Costa Rica - about 75% of the foreign population - and thousands more migrate seasonally for work, many illegally. Age structure: 0-14 years: 25.63% (male 811,731/female 777,984) 15-24 years: 19.51% (male 609,962/female 600,567) 25-54 years: 42.41% (male 1,254,683/female 1,376,052) 55-64 years: 6.63% (male 188,591/female 222,766) 65 years and over: 5.82% (2020 est.) (male 159,140/female 201,965) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 54.3 youth dependency ratio: 45.5 elderly dependency ratio: 8.8 potential support ratio: 11.4 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 27.3 years male: 26.4 years female: 28.2 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.92% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 16.52 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 5.17 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -2.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: the overwhelming majority of the population resides in the western half of the country, with much of the urban growth centered in the capital city of Managua; coastal areas also show large population clusters Urbanization: urban population: 59.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 1.083 million MANAGUA (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.84 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.2 years (2011/12 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 Maternal mortality ratio: 198 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 19.09 deaths/1,000 live births male: 22.26 deaths/1,000 live births female: 15.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.78 years male: 72.56 years female: 77.11 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 80.4% (2011/12) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 97.5% of population rural: 62.6% of population total: 83.2% of population unimproved: urban: 2.5% of population rural: 37.4% of population total: 16.8% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 8.4% (2019) Physicians density: 1.67 physicians/1,000 population (2018) Hospital bed density: 0.9 beds/1,000 population (2017) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 89.9% of population rural: 66.5% of population total: 80.3% of population unimproved: urban: 10.1% of population rural: 33.5% of population total: 19.7% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 12,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <500 Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 23.7% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 4.6% (2011/12) Education expenditures: 3.4% of GDP (2019 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 82.6% male: 82.4% female: 82.8% (2015) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 8.5% male: 6.4% female: 12.9% (2014 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; drought Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 16.87 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 5.59 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 6.46 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands Land use: agricultural land: 42.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 12.5% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 27.2% (2018 est.) forest: 25.3% (2018 est.) other: 32.5% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 59.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 1.26% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,528,816 tons (2010 est.) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lago de Nicaragua - 8,150 sq km; Lago de Managua - 1,040 sq km Total water withdrawal: municipal: 286 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 73.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 1.185 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 164.52 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua conventional short form: Nicaragua local long form: Republica de Nicaragua local short form: Nicaragua etymology: Nicarao was the name of the largest indigenous settlement at the time of Spanish arrival; conquistador Gil GONZALEZ Davila, who explored the area (1622-23), combined the name of the community with the Spanish word "agua" (water), referring to the two large lakes in the west of the country (Lake Managua and Lake Nicaragua) Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Managua geographic coordinates: 12 08 N, 86 15 W time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: may derive from the indigenous Nahuatl term "mana-ahuac," which translates as "adjacent to the water" or a site "surrounded by water"; the city is situated on the southwestern shore of Lake Managua Administrative divisions: 15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 2 autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular - region autonoma); Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Costa Caribe Norte*, Costa Caribe Sur*, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain) National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821) Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 19 November 1986, effective 9 January 1987 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or assent of at least half of the National Assembly membership; passage requires approval by 60% of the membership of the next elected Assembly and promulgation by the president of the republic; amended several times, last in 2021 Legal system: civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: no, except in cases where bilateral agreements exist residency requirement for naturalization: 4 years Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007); Vice President Rosario MURILLO Zambrana (since 10 January 2017); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007); Vice President Rosario MURILLO Zambrana (since 10 January 2017) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by qualified plurality vote for a 5-year term (no term limits as of 2014); election last held on 7 November 2021 (next to be held on 1 November 2026) election results: 2021: Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra reelected president for a fourth consecutive term; percent of vote - Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 75.9%, Walter ESPINOZA (PLC) 14.3%, Guillermo OSORNO (CCN) 3.3%, Marcelo MONTIEL (ALN) 3.1%, other 3.4% 2016: Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra reelected president for a third consecutive term; percent of vote - Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 72.4%, Maximino RODRIGUEZ (PLC) 15%, Jose del Carmen ALVARADO (PLI) 4.5%, Saturnino CERRATO Hodgson (ALN) 4.3%, other 3.7% Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (92 statutory seats, current 91; 70 members in multi-seat constituencies, representing the country's 15 departments and 2 autonomous regions, and 20 members in a single nationwide constituency directly elected by party-list proportional representation vote; up to 2 seats reserved for the previous president and the runner-up candidate in the previous presidential election; members serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 7 November 2021 (next to be held on 1 November 2026) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FSLN 75, PLC 10, ALN 2, APRE 1, PLI 2, YATAMA 1; composition - men 45, women 46, percent of women 50.6% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 16 judges organized into administrative, civil, criminal, and constitutional chambers) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges elected by the National Assembly to serve 5-year staggered terms subordinate courts: Appeals Court; first instance civil, criminal, and labor courts; military courts are independent of the Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: Alliance for the Republic or APRE [Carlos CANALES] Alternative for Change or AC (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN) [Orlando Jose TARDENCILLA] Autonomous Liberal Party or PAL [Rene Margarito BELLO ROMERO] Caribbean Unity Movement or PAMUC [Armando Francisco ARISTA FLORES] Christian Unity Party or PUC (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN) [Guillermo Daniel ORTEGA REYES] Citizens for Liberty or CxL [Carmella ROGERS AUMBURN]; note - cancelled by the Supreme Electoral Council on 8/6/2021 Conservative Party or PC [Alfredo CESAR] Democratic Restoration Party or PRD [Saturnino CERRATO]; note - cancelled by the Supreme Electoral Council on 5/18/2021 Independent Liberal Party or PLI [Mario ASENSIO] Liberal Constitutionalist Party or PLC [Maria Haydee OSUNA] Moskitia Indigenous Progressive Movement or MOSKITIA PAWANKA (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN) [Wycliff Diego BLANDON] Multiethnic Indigenous Party or PIM (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN) [Carla Elvis WHITE HODGSON] Nationalist Liberal Party or PLN (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN) [Constantino Raul VELASQUEZ] Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance or ALN [Alejandro MEJIA Ferreti] Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Path or CCN [Guillermo OSORNO] Nicaraguan Resistance Party or PRN (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN) [Julio Cesar BLANDON SANCHEZ] Sandinista National Liberation Front or FSLN [Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra] Sandinista Renovation Movement or MRS [Suyen BARAHONA]; note - cancelled by the Supreme Electoral Council on 6/21/2008; in January 2021 they rebranded and now call themselves Democratic Renovation Union or UNAMOS Sons of Mother Earth or YATAMA [Brooklyn RIVERA] The New Sons of Mother Earth Movement or MYATAMARAN (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN) [Osorno Salomon COLEMAN] International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco Obadiah CAMPBELL Hooker (since 28 June 2010) chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6570; [1] (202) 939-6573 FAX: [1] (202) 939-6545 consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kevin K. SULLIVAN (since 14 November 2018) embassy: Kilometer 5.5 Carretera Sur, Managua mailing address: 3240 Managua Place, Washington DC  20521-3240 telephone: [505] 2252-7100, FAX: [505] 2252-7250 email address and website: ACS.Managua@state.gov https://ni.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; the banner is based on the former blue-white-blue flag of the Federal Republic of Central America; the blue bands symbolize the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, while the white band represents the land between the two bodies of water note: similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band National symbol(s): turquoise-browed motmot (bird); national colors: blue, white National anthem: name: "Salve a ti, Nicaragua" (Hail to Thee, Nicaragua) lyrics/music: Salomon Ibarra MAYORGA/traditional, arranged by Luis Abraham DELGADILLO note: although only officially adopted in 1971, the music was approved in 1918 and the lyrics in 1939; the tune, originally from Spain, was used as an anthem for Nicaragua from the 1830s until 1876 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Ruins of León Viejo; León Cathedral Topic: Economy Economic overview: Nicaragua, the poorest country in Central America and the second poorest in the Western Hemisphere, has widespread underemployment and poverty. GDP growth of 4.5% in 2017 was insufficient to make a significant difference. Textiles and agriculture combined account for nearly 50% of Nicaragua's exports. Beef, coffee, and gold are Nicaragua’s top three export commodities.   The Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement has been in effect since April 2006 and has expanded export opportunities for many Nicaraguan agricultural and manufactured goods.   In 2013, the government granted a 50-year concession with the option for an additional 50 years to a newly formed Chinese-run company to finance and build an inter-oceanic canal and related projects, at an estimated cost of $50 billion. The canal construction has not started.Nicaragua, the poorest country in Central America and the second poorest in the Western Hemisphere, has widespread underemployment and poverty. GDP growth of 4.5% in 2017 was insufficient to make a significant difference. Textiles and agriculture combined account for nearly 50% of Nicaragua's exports. Beef, coffee, and gold are Nicaragua’s top three export commodities. The Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement has been in effect since April 2006 and has expanded export opportunities for many Nicaraguan agricultural and manufactured goods. In 2013, the government granted a 50-year concession with the option for an additional 50 years to a newly formed Chinese-run company to finance and build an inter-oceanic canal and related projects, at an estimated cost of $50 billion. The canal construction has not started. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $34.98 billion (2020 est.) $35.68 billion (2019 est.) $37.05 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 4.9% (2017 est.) 4.7% (2016 est.) 4.8% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $5,300 (2020 est.) $5,500 (2019 est.) $5,700 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $12.57 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.3% (2019 est.) 4.9% (2018 est.) 3.8% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: B- (2018) Moody's rating: B3 (2020) Standard & Poors rating: B- (2018) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 15.5% (2017 est.) industry: 24.4% (2017 est.) services: 60% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 69.9% (2017 est.) government consumption: 15.3% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 28.1% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1.7% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 41.2% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -55.4% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: sugar cane, milk, rice, maize, plantains, groundnuts, cassava, beans, coffee, poultry Industries: food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, knit and woven apparel, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear, wood, electric wire harness manufacturing, mining Industrial production growth rate: 3.5% (2017 est.) Labor force: 3.046 million (2017 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 31% industry: 18% services: 50% (2011 est.) Unemployment rate: 6.4% (2017 est.) 6.2% (2016 est.) note: underemployment was 46.5% in 2008 Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 8.5% male: 6.4% female: 12.9% (2014 est.) Population below poverty line: 24.9% (2016 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 46.2 (2014 est.) 45.8 (2009) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.8% highest 10%: 47.1% (2014) Budget: revenues: 3.871 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 4.15 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 33.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 31.2% of GDP (2016 est.) note: official data; data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by Government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as retirement, medical care, and unemployment, debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions; Nicaragua rebased its GDP figures in 2012, which reduced the figures for debt as a percentage of GDP Taxes and other revenues: 28% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$694 million (2017 est.) -$989 million (2016 est.) Exports: $5.34 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $5.71 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $5.56 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: United States 60%, El Salvador 5%, Mexico 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: clothing and apparel, gold, insulated wiring, coffee, beef (2019) Imports: $5.94 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $6.25 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $6.75 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: United States 27%, Mexico 12%, China 11%, Guatemala 9%, Costa Rica 7%, El Salvador 6%, Honduras 6% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, clothing and apparel, crude petroleum, packaged medicines, insulated wiring (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $2.758 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $2.448 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $11.674 billion (2019 est.) $11.771 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: cordobas (NIO) per US dollar - 30.11 (2017 est.) 28.678 (2016 est.) 28.678 (2015 est.) 27.257 (2014 est.) 26.01 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 97% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 99.2% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 92% (2019) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 1.837 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 3,182,620,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.) imports: 434 million kWh (2019 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 1.89 billion kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 37.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 15.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 12.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 16.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 17.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 200 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 35,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 13,000 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 14,720 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 460 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 20,120 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 4.851 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 4.851 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 14.916 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 210,981 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 5,976,479 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 90 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Nicaragua’s telecoms market has mirrored the country’s poor economic achievements, with fixed-line teledensity and mobile penetration also being the lowest in Central America. The fixed line broadband market remains nascent, with population penetration below 4%. Most internet users are concentrated in the largest cities, given that rural and marginal areas lack access to the most basic telecom infrastructure; internet cafés provide public access to internet and email services, but these also tend to be restricted to the larger population centers; to address poor infrastructure, the World Bank has funded a project aimed at improving connectivity via a national fiber broadband network; there are separate schemes to improve broadband in eastern regions and provide links to Caribbean submarine cables; América Móvil’s Claro has a clear lead in all of Nicaragua’s telecom sectors, including fixed-line, mobile, broadband, and pay TV; the number of mobile subscribers overtook the number of fixed lines in early 2002, and the mobile sector now accounts for most lines in service; Telefónica sold its operations in Nicaragua to Millicom in 2019; Millicom’s Tigo (previously Telefónica’s Movistar) is the only company competing with Claro in the fixed-line and mobile market; in the mobile sector, Tigo holds almost a third of the market, but in the fixed-line sector it has only about 10% market share; other companies operating in the market, including the Russian state corporation Rostejnologuii, Yota Mobile and IWB Holding; in the mobile market China’s Xinwei Nicaragua (Xinwei Intelcom) launched services in early 2016, operating under the CooTel banner. (2021) domestic: since privatization, access to fixed-line and mobile-cellular services has improved; fixed-line teledensity roughly 3 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has increased to roughly 90 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 505; landing point for the ARCOS fiber-optic submarine cable which provides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: multiple terrestrial TV stations, supplemented by cable TV in most urban areas; nearly all are government-owned or affiliated; more than 300 radio stations, both government-affiliated and privately owned (2019) Internet country code: .ni Internet users: total: 2,981,049 (2020 est.) percent of population: 45% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 290,351 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 7 Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: YN Airports: total: 147 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 4 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 135 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 119 (2021) Pipelines: 54 km oil (2013) Roadways: total: 23,897 km (2014) paved: 3,346 km (2014) unpaved: 20,551 km (2014) Waterways: 2,220 km (2011) (navigable waterways as well as the use of the large Lake Managua and Lake Nicaragua; rivers serve only the sparsely populated eastern part of the country) Merchant marine: total: 5 by type: general cargo 1, oil tanker 1, other 3 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Bluefields, Corinto Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Army of Nicaragua (Ejercito de Nicaragua, EN): Land Forces (Fuerza Terrestre); Naval Forces (Fuerza Naval); Air Forces (Fuerza Aérea); Special Operations Command (Comando de Operaciones Especiales); Nicaraguan National Police (2022) note: both the military and the police report directly to the president Military expenditures: 0.6% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.6% of GDP (2020 est.) 0.6% of GDP (2019) (approximately $170 million) 0.6% of GDP (2018) (approximately $180 million) 0.6% of GDP (2017) (approximately $190 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 12,000 active personnel (10,000 Army; 800 Navy; 1,200 Air Force) (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Nicaraguan military's inventory includes mostly second-hand Russian/Soviet-era equipment; since 2010, Russia is the leading arms supplier to Nicaragua (2022) Military service age and obligation: 18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; tour of duty 18-36 months; requires Nicaraguan nationality and 6th-grade education (2022) Military - note: the modern Army of Nicaragua was created in 1979 as the Sandinista Popular Army (1979-1984); prior to 1979, the military was known as the National Guard, which was organized and trained by the US in the 1920s and 1930s; the first commander of the National Guard, Anastasio SOMOZA García, seized power in 1937 and ran the country as a military dictator until his assassination in 1956; his sons ran the country either directly or through figureheads until the Sandinistas came to power in 1979; the defeated National Guard was disbanded by the Sandinistas (2022) Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Nicaragua-El Salvador-Honduras: the 1992 ICJ ruling for El Salvador and Honduras advised a tripartite resolution to establish a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca, which considers Honduran access to the Pacific; the court ruled, rather, that the Gulf of Fonseca represents a condominium, with control being shared by El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua; the decision allowed for the possibility that the three nations could divide the waters at a later date if they wished to do so Nicaragua-Costa Rica: Nicaragua and Costa Rica regularly file border dispute cases with the ICJ over the delimitations of the San Juan River and the northern tip of Calero Island, virtually uninhabited areas claimed by both countries; there is an ongoing case in the ICJ to determine Pacific and Atlantic ocean maritime borders as well as land borders; in 2009, the ICJ ruled that Costa Rican vessels carrying out police activities could not use the river, but official Costa Rican vessels providing essential services to riverside inhabitants and Costa Rican tourists could travel freely on the river; in 2011, the ICJ provisionally ruled that both countries must remove personnel from the disputed area; in 2013, the ICJ rejected Nicaragua's 2012 suit to halt Costa Rica's construction of a highway paralleling the river on the grounds of irreparable environmental damage; in 2013, the ICJ, regarding the disputed territory, ordered that Nicaragua should refrain from dredging or canal construction and refill and repair damage caused by trenches connecting the river to the Caribbean and upheld its 2010 ruling that Nicaragua must remove all personnel; in early 2014, Costa Rica brought Nicaragua to the ICJ over offshore oil concessions in the disputed region; in 2018, the ICJ ruled that Nicaragua must remove a military base from a contested coastal area near the San Juan River, and that Costa Rica had sovereignty over the northern part of Isla Portillos, including the coast, but excluding Harbour Head Lagoon; additionally, Honduras was required to pay reparations for environmental damage to part of the wetlands at the mouth of the San Juan River Nicaragua-Colombia: Nicaragua filed a case with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Colombia in 2013 over the delimitation of the Continental shelf beyond the 200 nautical miles from the Nicaraguan coast, as well as over the alleged violation by Colombia of Nicaraguan maritime space in the Caribbean Sea, which contains rich oil and fish resources; as of September 2021, Colombia refuses to abide by the ICJ ruling Nicaragua-Honduras: none identifiedNicaragua-El Salvador-Honduras: the 1992 ICJ ruling for El Salvador and Honduras advised a tripartite resolution to establish a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca, which considers Honduran access to the Pacific; the court ruled, rather, that the Gulf of Fonseca represents a condominium, with control being shared by El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua; the decision allowed for the possibility that the three nations could divide the waters at a later date if they wished to do soNicaragua-Costa Rica: Nicaragua and Costa Rica regularly file border dispute cases with the ICJ over the delimitations of the San Juan River and the northern tip of Calero Island, virtually uninhabited areas claimed by both countries; there is an ongoing case in the ICJ to determine Pacific and Atlantic ocean maritime borders as well as land borders; in 2009, the ICJ ruled that Costa Rican vessels carrying out police activities could not use the river, but official Costa Rican vessels providing essential services to riverside inhabitants and Costa Rican tourists could travel freely on the river; in 2011, the ICJ provisionally ruled that both countries must remove personnel from the disputed area; in 2013, the ICJ rejected Nicaragua's 2012 suit to halt Costa Rica's construction of a highway paralleling the river on the grounds of irreparable environmental damage; in 2013, the ICJ, regarding the disputed territory, ordered that Nicaragua should refrain from dredging or canal construction and refill and repair damage caused by trenches connecting the river to the Caribbean and upheld its 2010 ruling that Nicaragua must remove all personnel; in early 2014, Costa Rica brought Nicaragua to the ICJ over offshore oil concessions in the disputed region; in 2018, the ICJ ruled that Nicaragua must remove a military base from a contested coastal area near the San Juan River, and that Costa Rica had sovereignty over the northern part of Isla Portillos, including the coast, but excluding Harbour Head Lagoon; additionally, Honduras was required to pay reparations for environmental damage to part of the wetlands at the mouth of the San Juan RiverNicaragua-Colombia: Nicaragua filed a case with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Colombia in 2013 over the delimitation of the Continental shelf beyond the 200 nautical miles from the Nicaraguan coast, as well as over the alleged violation by Colombia of Nicaraguan maritime space in the Caribbean Sea, which contains rich oil and fish resources; as of September 2021, Colombia refuses to abide by the ICJ rulingNicaragua-Honduras: none identified Trafficking in persons: current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Nicaragua and Nicaraguans abroad; women, children, and migrants are most at risk; women and children are subject to sex trafficking within the country and its two Caribbean autonomous regions, as well as  in other Central American countries, Mexico, Spain, and the United States; traffickers used social media to recruit victims with promises of high-paying jobs in restaurants, hotels, construction, and security outside of Nicaragua where they are subjected to sex or labor trafficking; traffickers exploit children through forced participation in illegal drug production and trafficking; children and persons with disabilities are subjected to forced begging; Nicaragua is also a destination for child sex tourists from the United States, Canada, and Western Europe tier rating: Tier 3 — Nicaragua does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so and was downgraded to Tier 3; the government identified slightly more victims than in the previous reporting period and prosecuted a trafficker; however, no traffickers were convicted and victim identification remained inadequate; authorities did not  investigate, prosecute, or convict government employees complicit in trafficking; the government provided no victim services; prosecution, protection, and prevention efforts in the two Caribbean autonomous regions of Nicaragua continued to be much weaker than in the rest of the country (2020) Illicit drugs: a transit route for drug traffickers smuggling cocaine from South America through Mexico into the United States via maritime and air routesa transit route for drug traffickers smuggling cocaine from South America through Mexico into the United States via maritime and air routes

20220901

countries-seychelles

Topic: Photos of Seychelles Topic: Introduction Background: Seychelles was uninhabited prior to being discovered by Europeans early in the 16th century. A lengthy struggle between France and Great Britain for the islands ended in 1814, when they were ceded to the latter. During colonial rule, a plantation-based economy developed that relied on imported labor, primarily from European colonies in Africa. Independence came in 1976. Following a coup d’etat in 1977, the country was a socialist one-party state until adopting a new constitution and holding free elections in 1993. President France-Albert RENE, who had served since 1977, was reelected in 2001, but stepped down in 2004. Vice President James Alix MICHEL took over the presidency and in 2006 was elected to a new five-year term; he was reelected in 2011 and again in 2015. In 2016, James MICHEL resigned and handed over the presidency to his vice-president, Danny FAURE. In 2020, Wavel RAMKALAWAN was elected president, the first time an opposition candidate has won the presidency since independence.Seychelles was uninhabited prior to being discovered by Europeans early in the 16th century. A lengthy struggle between France and Great Britain for the islands ended in 1814, when they were ceded to the latter. During colonial rule, a plantation-based economy developed that relied on imported labor, primarily from European colonies in Africa. Independence came in 1976. Following a coup d’etat in 1977, the country was a socialist one-party state until adopting a new constitution and holding free elections in 1993. President France-Albert RENE, who had served since 1977, was reelected in 2001, but stepped down in 2004. Vice President James Alix MICHEL took over the presidency and in 2006 was elected to a new five-year term; he was reelected in 2011 and again in 2015. In 2016, James MICHEL resigned and handed over the presidency to his vice-president, Danny FAURE. In 2020, Wavel RAMKALAWAN was elected president, the first time an opposition candidate has won the presidency since independence.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar Geographic coordinates: 4 35 S, 55 40 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 455 sq km land: 455 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 491 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin Climate: tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May) Terrain: Mahe Group is volcanic with a narrow coastal strip and rocky, hilly interior; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs Elevation: highest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m Natural resources: fish, coconuts (copra), cinnamon trees Land use: agricultural land: 6.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 4.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 88.5% (2018 est.) other: 5% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 3 sq km (2012) Population distribution: more than three-quarters of the population lives on the main island of Mahe; Praslin contains less than 10%; a smaller percent on La Digue and the outer islands as shown in this population distribution map Natural hazards: lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; occasional short droughts Geography - note: the smallest African country in terms of both area and population; the constitution of the Republic of Seychelles lists 155 islands: 42 granitic and 113 coralline; by far the largest island is Mahe, which is home to about 90% of the population and the site of the capital city of Victoria Map description: Seychelles map showing the major islands and atolls that comprise this country in the Indian Ocean.Seychelles map showing the major islands and atolls that comprise this country in the Indian Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 97,017 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Seychellois (singular and plural) adjective: Seychellois Ethnic groups: predominantly Creole (mainly of East African and Malagasy heritage); also French, Indian, Chinese, and Arab populations Languages: Seychellois Creole (official) 89.1%, English (official) 5.1%, French (official) 0.7%, other 3.8%, unspecified 1.4% (2010 est.) Religions: Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 10.5% (Anglican 6.1%, Pentecostal Assembly 1.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.2%, other Protestant 1.7%), other Christian 2.4%, Hindu 2.4%, Muslim 1.6%, other non-Christian 1.1%, unspecified 4.8%, none 0.9% (2010 est.) Demographic profile: Seychelles has no indigenous population and was first permanently settled by a small group of French planters, African slaves, and South Indians in 1770. Seychelles’ modern population is composed of the descendants of French and later British settlers, Africans, and Indian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern traders and is concentrated on three of its 155 islands – the vast majority on Mahe and lesser numbers on Praslin and La Digue. Seychelles’ population grew rapidly during the second half of the 20th century, largely due to natural increase, but the pace has slowed because of fertility decline. The total fertility rate dropped sharply from 4.0 children per woman in 1980 to 1.9 in 2015, mainly as a result of a family planning program, free education and health care, and increased female labor force participation. Life expectancy has increased steadily, but women on average live 9 years longer than men, a difference that is higher than that typical of developed countries.The combination of reduced fertility and increased longevity has resulted in an aging population, which will put pressure on the government’s provision of pensions and health care. Seychelles’ sustained investment in social welfare services, such as free primary health care and education up to the post-secondary level, have enabled the country to achieve a high human development index score – among the highest in Africa. Despite some of its health and education indicators being nearly on par with Western countries, Seychelles has a high level of income inequality.An increasing number of migrant workers – mainly young men – have been coming to Seychelles in recent years to work in the construction and tourism industries. As of 2011, foreign workers made up nearly a quarter of the workforce. Indians are the largest non-Seychellois population – representing half of the country’s foreigners – followed by Malagasy.Seychelles has no indigenous population and was first permanently settled by a small group of French planters, African slaves, and South Indians in 1770. Seychelles’ modern population is composed of the descendants of French and later British settlers, Africans, and Indian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern traders and is concentrated on three of its 155 islands – the vast majority on Mahe and lesser numbers on Praslin and La Digue. Seychelles’ population grew rapidly during the second half of the 20th century, largely due to natural increase, but the pace has slowed because of fertility decline. The total fertility rate dropped sharply from 4.0 children per woman in 1980 to 1.9 in 2015, mainly as a result of a family planning program, free education and health care, and increased female labor force participation. Life expectancy has increased steadily, but women on average live 9 years longer than men, a difference that is higher than that typical of developed countries.The combination of reduced fertility and increased longevity has resulted in an aging population, which will put pressure on the government’s provision of pensions and health care. Seychelles’ sustained investment in social welfare services, such as free primary health care and education up to the post-secondary level, have enabled the country to achieve a high human development index score – among the highest in Africa. Despite some of its health and education indicators being nearly on par with Western countries, Seychelles has a high level of income inequality.An increasing number of migrant workers – mainly young men – have been coming to Seychelles in recent years to work in the construction and tourism industries. As of 2011, foreign workers made up nearly a quarter of the workforce. Indians are the largest non-Seychellois population – representing half of the country’s foreigners – followed by Malagasy. Age structure: 0-14 years: 18.85% (male 9,297/female 8,798) 15-24 years: 12.39% (male 6,283/female 5,607) 25-54 years: 49.03% (male 25,209/female 21,851) 55-64 years: 11.46% (male 5,545/female 5,455) 65 years and over: 8.27% (2020 est.) (male 3,272/female 4,664) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 46.7 youth dependency ratio: 34.9 elderly dependency ratio: 11.8 potential support ratio: 8.5 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 36.8 years male: 36.3 years female: 37.4 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.64% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 12.37 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 6.88 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 0.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: more than three-quarters of the population lives on the main island of Mahe; Praslin contains less than 10%; a smaller percent on La Digue and the outer islands as shown in this population distribution map Urbanization: urban population: 58.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 28,000 VICTORIA (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.13 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.17 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.47 male(s)/female total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 10.6 deaths/1,000 live births male: 13.35 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.1 years male: 71.67 years female: 80.66 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 96.2% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 3.8% of population (2017 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 5.2% (2019) Physicians density: 2.25 physicians/1,000 population (2019) Hospital bed density: 3.6 beds/1,000 population (2011) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 14% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 20.2% (2020 est.) male: 34% (2020 est.) female: 6.4% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3.6% (2012) Education expenditures: 3.9% of GDP (2019 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.9% male: 95.4% female: 96.4% (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 15 years (2020) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 16.4% male: 17.4% female: 15.5% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater; water pollution; biodiversity maintainance Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 18.72 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.61 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.1 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May) Land use: agricultural land: 6.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 4.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 88.5% (2018 est.) other: 5% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 58.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.09% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 48,000 tons (2012 est.) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 9 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 3.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 900,000 cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles conventional short form: Seychelles local long form: Republic of Seychelles local short form: Seychelles etymology: named by French Captain Corneille Nicholas MORPHEY after Jean Moreau de SECHELLES, the finance minister of France, in 1756 Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Victoria geographic coordinates: 4 37 S, 55 27 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: founded as L'etablissement in 1778 by French colonists, the town was renamed in 1841 by the British after Queen Victoria (1819-1901); "victoria" is the Latin word for "victory" Administrative divisions: 27 administrative districts; Anse aux Pins, Anse Boileau, Anse Etoile, Anse Royale, Au Cap, Baie Lazare, Baie Sainte Anne, Beau Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand Anse Mahe, Grand Anse Praslin, Ile Perseverance I, Ile Perseverance II, La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise, Les Mamelles, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe Larue, Port Glaud, Roche Caiman, Saint Louis, Takamaka Independence: 29 June 1976 (from the UK) National holiday: Constitution Day, 18 June (1993); Independence Day (National Day), 29 June (1976) Constitution: history: previous 1970, 1979; latest drafted May 1993, approved by referendum 18 June 1993, effective 23 June 1993 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting the country’s sovereignty, symbols and languages, the supremacy of the constitution, fundamental rights and freedoms, amendment procedures, and dissolution of the Assembly also requires approval by at least 60% of voters in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2018 Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Seychelles dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Wavel RAMKALAWAN (since 26 October 2020); Vice President Ahmed AFIF (since 27 October 2020); the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Wavel RAMKALAWAN (since 26 October 2020); Vice President Ahmed AFIF (since 27 October 2020) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for 1 additional term); election last held on 22-24 October 2020 (originally scheduled for December 2020 but moved up to coincide with the 22-24 October National Assembly election in order to cut election costs) election results: 2020: Wavel RAMKALAWAN elected president; Wavel RAMKALAWAN (LDS) 54.9%, Danny FAURE (US) 43.5%, other 1.6% 2015:  President James Alix MICHEL reelected president in second round; percent of vote first round - James Alix MICHEL (PL) 47.8%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (SNP) 35.3%, other 16.9%; percent of vote second round - James Alix MICHEL (PL) 50.2%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (SNP) 49.8% Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (35 seats in the 2020 -25 term; 26 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and up to 9 members elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 22-24 Oct 2020 (next to be held October 2025); note - the election was originally scheduled for 2021 but was moved up a year and will be held alongside the presidential election in order to cut election costs election results: percent of vote by party - LDS 54.8%, US 42.3% , other 2.9%; seats by party - LDS 25, US10; composition - men 27, women 8, percent of women 22.9% Judicial branch: highest courts: Seychelles Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 4 justices); Supreme Court of Seychelles (consists of the chief justice and 9 puisne judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 3 Supreme Court judges) judge selection and term of office: all judges appointed by the president of the republic upon the recommendation of the Constitutional Appointments Authority, a 3-member body, with 1 member appointed by the president of the republic, 1 by the opposition leader in the National Assembly, and 1 by the other 2 appointees; judges serve until retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: Magistrates' Courts of Seychelles; Family Tribunal for issues such as domestic violence, child custody, and maintenance; Employment Tribunal for labor-related disputes Political parties and leaders: Linyon Sanzman or LS [Martin AGLAE] One Seychelles [Peter SINON] Seychelles Party for Social Justice and Democracy or SPSJD [Vesna RAKIC] Seychellois Democratic Alliance (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa) or LDS [Roger MANCIENNE] (includes SPSJD) United Seychelles or US [Patrick HERMINIE] (formerly People's Party (Parti Lepep) or PL; (formerly SPPF) International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, C, CD, COMESA, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ian MADELEINE (since 1 December 2021) chancery: 685 Third Avenue, Suite 1107, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785 FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786 email address and website: seychelles@un.int consulate(s) general: New York Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the US Ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Seychelles Flag description: five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side; the oblique bands are meant to symbolize a dynamic new country moving into the future; blue represents sky and sea, yellow the sun giving light and life, red the peoples' determination to work for the future in unity and love, white social justice and harmony, and green the land and natural environment National symbol(s): coco de mer (sea coconut); national colors: blue, yellow, red, white, green National anthem: name: "Koste Seselwa" (Seychellois Unite) lyrics/music: David Francois Marc ANDRE and George Charles Robert PAYET note: adopted 1996 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Aldabra Atoll; Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve Topic: Economy Economic overview: Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Ocean archipelago has expanded to roughly seven times the pre-independence, near-subsistence level, moving the island into the high income group of countries. Growth has been led by the tourism sector, which directly employs about 26% of the labor force and directly and indirectly accounts for more than 55% of GDP, and by tuna fishing. In recent years, the government has encouraged foreign investment to upgrade hotels and tourism industry services. At the same time, the government has moved to reduce the dependence on tourism by promoting the development of the offshore financial, information, and communication sectors and renewable energy. In 2008, having depleted its foreign exchange reserves, Seychelles defaulted on interest payments due on a $230 million Eurobond, requested assistance from the IMF, and immediately enacted a number of significant structural reforms, including liberalization of the exchange rate, reform of the public sector to include layoffs, and the sale of some state assets. In December 2013, the IMF declared that Seychelles had successfully transitioned to a market-based economy with full employment and a fiscal surplus. However, state-owned enterprises still play a prominent role in the economy. Effective 1 January 2017, Seychelles was no longer eligible for trade benefits under the US African Growth and Opportunities Act after having gained developed country status. Seychelles grew at 5% in 2017 because of a strong tourism sector and low commodity prices. The Seychellois Government met the IMF’s performance criteria for 2017 but recognizes a need to make additional progress to reduce high income inequality, represented by a Gini coefficient of 46.8. As a very small open economy dependent on tourism, Seychelles remains vulnerable to developments such as economic downturns in countries that supply tourists, natural disasters, and changes in local climatic conditions and ocean temperature. One of the main challenges facing the government is implementing strategies that will increase Seychelles' long-term resilience to climate change without weakening economic growth.Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Ocean archipelago has expanded to roughly seven times the pre-independence, near-subsistence level, moving the island into the high income group of countries. Growth has been led by the tourism sector, which directly employs about 26% of the labor force and directly and indirectly accounts for more than 55% of GDP, and by tuna fishing. In recent years, the government has encouraged foreign investment to upgrade hotels and tourism industry services. At the same time, the government has moved to reduce the dependence on tourism by promoting the development of the offshore financial, information, and communication sectors and renewable energy.In 2008, having depleted its foreign exchange reserves, Seychelles defaulted on interest payments due on a $230 million Eurobond, requested assistance from the IMF, and immediately enacted a number of significant structural reforms, including liberalization of the exchange rate, reform of the public sector to include layoffs, and the sale of some state assets. In December 2013, the IMF declared that Seychelles had successfully transitioned to a market-based economy with full employment and a fiscal surplus. However, state-owned enterprises still play a prominent role in the economy. Effective 1 January 2017, Seychelles was no longer eligible for trade benefits under the US African Growth and Opportunities Act after having gained developed country status. Seychelles grew at 5% in 2017 because of a strong tourism sector and low commodity prices. The Seychellois Government met the IMF’s performance criteria for 2017 but recognizes a need to make additional progress to reduce high income inequality, represented by a Gini coefficient of 46.8.As a very small open economy dependent on tourism, Seychelles remains vulnerable to developments such as economic downturns in countries that supply tourists, natural disasters, and changes in local climatic conditions and ocean temperature. One of the main challenges facing the government is implementing strategies that will increase Seychelles' long-term resilience to climate change without weakening economic growth. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $2.4 billion (2020 est.) $2.69 billion (2019 est.) $2.65 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 5.3% (2017 est.) 4.5% (2016 est.) 4.9% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $24,400 (2020 est.) $27,500 (2019 est.) $27,300 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $1.748 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.8% (2019 est.) 3.7% (2018 est.) 2.8% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: B+ (2020) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2.5% (2017 est.) industry: 13.8% (2017 est.) services: 83.7% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 52.7% (2017 est.) government consumption: 34.4% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 26.7% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 79.4% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -93.2% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: coconuts, vegetables, bananas, fruit, eggs, poultry, tomatoes, pork, tropical fruit, cassava Industries: fishing, tourism, beverages Industrial production growth rate: 2.3% (2017 est.) Labor force: 51,000 (2018 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 3% industry: 23% services: 74% (2006) Unemployment rate: 3% (2017 est.) 2.7% (2016 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 16.4% male: 17.4% female: 15.5% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 25.3% (2018 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 46.8 (2013 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.7% highest 10%: 15.4% (2007) Budget: revenues: 593.4 million (2017 est.) expenditures: 600.7 million (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 63.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 69.1% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 39.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$307 million (2017 est.) -$286 million (2016 est.) Exports: $1.09 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $1.61 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $1.68 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: United Arab Emirates 17%, United Kingdom 13%, France 12%, British Virgin Islands 11%, Zambia 9%, Mauritius 5%, Japan 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, fish, recreational boats, cigarettes, animal meal (2019) Imports: $1.35 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $1.79 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $1.86 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: United Arab Emirates 21%, Qatar 13%, British Virgin Islands 7%, Germany 6%, France 6%, China 5%, Spain 5%, South Africa 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: recreational boats, refined petroleum, fish, aircraft, cars (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $545.2 million (31 December 2017 est.) $523.5 million (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $4.802 billion (2019 est.) $4.613 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: Seychelles rupees (SCR) per US dollar - 13.64 (2017 est.) 13.319 (2016 est.) 13.319 (2015 est.) 13.314 (2014 est.) 12.747 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 157,000 kW (2020 est.) consumption: 463.894 million kWh (2019 est.) exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 30 million kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 99.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 7,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 7,225 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 1.156 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 1.156 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 163.06 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 18,882 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 183,498 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 187 (2020) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: effective system; direct international calls to over 100 countries; radiotelephone communications between islands in the archipelago; 3 ISPs; use of Internet cafes' for access to Internet; 4G services and 5G pending (2020) domestic: fixed-line a little over 19 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity is nearly 187 telephones per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 248; landing points for the PEACE and the SEAS submarine cables providing connectivity to Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia; direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent island countries and African coastal countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: the national broadcaster, Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), which is funded by taxpayer money, operates the only terrestrial TV station, which provides local programming and airs broadcasts from international services; a privately owned Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) channel also provides local programming multi-channel cable and satellite TV are available through 2 providers; the national broadcaster operates 1 AM and 1 FM radio station; there are 2 privately operated radio stations; transmissions of 2 international broadcasters are accessible in Victoria (2019)the national broadcaster, Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), which is funded by taxpayer money, operates the only terrestrial TV station, which provides local programming and airs broadcasts from international services; a privately owned Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) channel also provides local programming multi-channel cable and satellite TV are available through 2 providers; the national broadcaster operates 1 AM and 1 FM radio station; there are 2 privately operated radio stations; transmissions of 2 international broadcasters are accessible in Victoria Internet country code: .sc Internet users: total: 77,785 (2020 est.) percent of population: 79% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 34,966 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 7 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 455,201 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 7.79 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: S7 Airports: total: 14 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 5 (2021) Heliports: 1 (2021) Roadways: total: 526 km (2015) paved: 514 km (2015) unpaved: 12 km (2015) Merchant marine: total: 27 by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 6, other 16 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Victoria Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Seychelles Defense Forces (SDF): Army (includes infantry, special forces, and a presidential security unit), Coast Guard, and Air Force; Ministry of Internal Affairs: Seychelles Police Force (includes unarmed police and an armed paramilitary Police Special Support Wing, the Anti-Narcotics Bureau, and the Marine Police Unit) (2022) note: the military reports to the president, who acts as minister of defense   Military expenditures: 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2019 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2018 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2017 est.) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 500 personnel (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the SDF's inventory primarily consists of Soviet-era equipment delivered in the 1970s and 1980s; since 2010, the SDF has received limited amounts of more modern equipment (mostly donations of patrol boats and aircraft) from several suppliers led by China and India (2022) Military service age and obligation: 18-28 (18-25 for officers) years of age for voluntary military service (including women); 6-year initial commitment; no conscription (2022) Military - note: formed in 1977, the SDF's primary responsibility is maritime security, particularly countering illegal fishing, piracy, and drug smuggling (2022) Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Seychelles-UK: Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory)Seychelles-UK: Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory) Trafficking in persons: current situation: Seychelles is a source and destination country for children and women subjected to sex trafficking; Seychellois girls and, to a lesser extent boys, are forced into prostitution in nightclubs, bars, guest houses, hotels, brothels, private homes, and on the streets by peers, family members, and pimps; foreign tourists, sailors, and migrant workers contribute to the demand for commercial sex acts in Seychelles; some of the large population of foreign migrant workers reportedly experience the underpayment of wages and substandard housing tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Seychelles does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; the government allocated an operational and programmatic budget to the National Coordinating Committee on Trafficking in Persons, signed a bilateral agreement outlining procedures for employment and repatriation in Seychelles of migrant workers from Bangladesh and established a hotline to report forced labor concerns; however, no victims of trafficking were identified; efforts to address sex trafficking remained inadequate, its standard operating procedures for victim identification and referral to care services were not implemented; there are no shelters or care facilities for trafficking victims; investigations, prosecutions, and convictions of traffickers decreased; Seychelles did not establish a secretariat to support the Coordinating Committee, hindering the committee’s ability to direct anti-trafficking efforts across government and drive national policy; Seychelles was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List (2020)

20220901

countries-tajikistan

Topic: Photos of Tajikistan Topic: Introduction Background: The Tajik people came under Russian imperial rule in the 1860s and 1870s, but Russia's hold on Central Asia weakened following the Revolution of 1917. At that time, bands of indigenous guerrillas (known as "basmachi") fiercely contested Bolshevik control of the area, which was not fully reestablished until 1925. Tajikistan was first created as an autonomous republic within Uzbekistan in 1924, but in 1929 the USSR designated Tajikistan a separate republic and transferred to it much of present-day Sughd Province. Ethnic Uzbeks form a substantial minority in Tajikistan, and ethnic Tajiks an even larger minority in Uzbekistan. Tajikistan became independent in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union, and experienced a civil war between political, regional, and religious factions from 1992 to 1997. Though the country holds general elections for both the presidency (once every seven years) and legislature (once every five years), observers note an electoral system rife with irregularities and abuse, with results that are neither free nor fair. President Emomali RAHMON, who came to power in 1992 during the civil war and was first elected president in 1994, used an attack planned by a disaffected deputy defense minister in 2015 to ban the last major opposition political party in Tajikistan. In December 2015, RAHMON further strengthened his position by having himself declared "Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation," with limitless terms and lifelong immunity through constitutional amendments ratified in a referendum. The referendum also lowered the minimum age required to run for president from 35 to 30, which made RAHMON's first-born son Rustam EMOMALI, the mayor of the capital city of Dushanbe, eligible to run for president in 2020. In April 2020, RAHMON orchestrated EMOMALI's selection as chairman of the Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan's senate), positioning EMOMALI as next in line of succession for the presidency. RAHMON opted to run in the presidential election in October 2020 and received 91% of the vote. The country remains the poorest in the former Soviet sphere. Tajikistan became a member of the WTO in March 2013. However, its economy continues to face major challenges, including dependence on remittances from Tajikistani migrant laborers working in Russia and Kazakhstan, pervasive corruption, and the opiate trade and other destabilizing violence emanating from neighboring Afghanistan. Tajikistan has endured several domestic security incidents since 2010, including armed conflict between government forces and local strongmen in the Rasht Valley and between government forces and residents and informal leaders in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast. Tajikistan suffered its first ISIS-claimed attack in 2018, when assailants attacked a group of Western bicyclists with vehicles and knives, killing four.    The Tajik people came under Russian imperial rule in the 1860s and 1870s, but Russia's hold on Central Asia weakened following the Revolution of 1917. At that time, bands of indigenous guerrillas (known as "basmachi") fiercely contested Bolshevik control of the area, which was not fully reestablished until 1925. Tajikistan was first created as an autonomous republic within Uzbekistan in 1924, but in 1929 the USSR designated Tajikistan a separate republic and transferred to it much of present-day Sughd Province. Ethnic Uzbeks form a substantial minority in Tajikistan, and ethnic Tajiks an even larger minority in Uzbekistan. Tajikistan became independent in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union, and experienced a civil war between political, regional, and religious factions from 1992 to 1997.Though the country holds general elections for both the presidency (once every seven years) and legislature (once every five years), observers note an electoral system rife with irregularities and abuse, with results that are neither free nor fair. President Emomali RAHMON, who came to power in 1992 during the civil war and was first elected president in 1994, used an attack planned by a disaffected deputy defense minister in 2015 to ban the last major opposition political party in Tajikistan. In December 2015, RAHMON further strengthened his position by having himself declared "Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation," with limitless terms and lifelong immunity through constitutional amendments ratified in a referendum. The referendum also lowered the minimum age required to run for president from 35 to 30, which made RAHMON's first-born son Rustam EMOMALI, the mayor of the capital city of Dushanbe, eligible to run for president in 2020. In April 2020, RAHMON orchestrated EMOMALI's selection as chairman of the Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan's senate), positioning EMOMALI as next in line of succession for the presidency. RAHMON opted to run in the presidential election in October 2020 and received 91% of the vote. The country remains the poorest in the former Soviet sphere. Tajikistan became a member of the WTO in March 2013. However, its economy continues to face major challenges, including dependence on remittances from Tajikistani migrant laborers working in Russia and Kazakhstan, pervasive corruption, and the opiate trade and other destabilizing violence emanating from neighboring Afghanistan. Tajikistan has endured several domestic security incidents since 2010, including armed conflict between government forces and local strongmen in the Rasht Valley and between government forces and residents and informal leaders in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast. Tajikistan suffered its first ISIS-claimed attack in 2018, when assailants attacked a group of Western bicyclists with vehicles and knives, killing four.  Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Central Asia, west of China, south of Kyrgyzstan Geographic coordinates: 39 00 N, 71 00 E Map references: Asia Area: total: 144,100 sq km land: 141,510 sq km water: 2,590 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Wisconsin Land boundaries: total: 4,130 km border countries (4): Afghanistan 1,357 km; China 477 km; Kyrgyzstan 984 km; Uzbekistan 1,312 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: mid-latitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains Terrain: mountainous region dominated by the Alay Mountains in the north and the Pamirs in the southeast; western Fergana Valley in north, Kofirnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest Elevation: highest point: Qullai Somoniyon 7,495 m lowest point: Syr Darya (Sirdaryo) 300 m mean elevation: 3,186 m Natural resources: hydropower, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten, silver, gold Land use: agricultural land: 34.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 6.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 27.7% (2018 est.) forest: 2.9% (2018 est.) other: 62.4% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 7,420 sq km (2012) Major rivers (by length in km): Syr Darya (shared with Kyrgyzstan [s], Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan [m]) - 3,078 km; Amu Darya river source (shared with Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan [m]) - 2,620 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), (Aral Sea Basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km) Population distribution: the country's population is concentrated at lower elevations, with perhaps as much as 90% of the people living in valleys; overall density increases from east to west Natural hazards: earthquakes; floods Geography - note: landlocked; highest point, Qullai Ismoili Somoni (formerly Communism Peak), was the tallest mountain in the former USSR Map description: Tajikistan map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries.Tajikistan map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries. Topic: People and Society Population: 9,119,347 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Tajikistani(s) adjective: Tajikistani Ethnic groups: Tajik 84.3% (includes Pamiri and Yagnobi), Uzbek 13.8%, other 2% (includes Kyrgyz, Russian, Turkmen, Tatar, Arab) (2014 est.) Languages: Tajik (official) 84.4%, Uzbek 11.9%, Kyrgyz 0.8%, Russian 0.5%, other 2.4% (2010 est.) major-language sample(s): Китоби Фактҳои Ҷаҳонӣ, манбаи бебадали маълумоти асосӣ (Tajik) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: Russian widely used in government and business Religions: Muslim 98% (Sunni 95%, Shia 3%) other 2% (2014 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 31.43% (male 1,420,271/female 1,368,445) 15-24 years: 18.13% (male 816,658/female 792,231) 25-54 years: 40.58% (male 1,789,271/female 1,811,566) 55-64 years: 6.23% (male 253,862/female 299,378) 65 years and over: 3.63% (2020 est.) (male 132,831/female 189,156) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 67.9 youth dependency ratio: 62.6 elderly dependency ratio: 5.3 potential support ratio: 18.7 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 25.3 years male: 24.6 years female: 26 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 1.4% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 20.73 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 5.72 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: the country's population is concentrated at lower elevations, with perhaps as much as 90% of the people living in valleys; overall density increases from east to west Urbanization: urban population: 28% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 962,000 DUSHANBE (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.84 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 23.2 years (2017 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 17 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 32.33 deaths/1,000 live births male: 37.03 deaths/1,000 live births female: 27.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.36 years male: 66.2 years female: 72.69 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.45 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 29.3% (2017) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 96.5% of population rural: 79.9% of population total: 84.4% of population unimproved: urban: 3.5% of population rural: 20.1% of population total: 15.6% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 7.1% (2019) Physicians density: 1.72 physicians/1,000 population (2014) Hospital bed density: 4.7 beds/1,000 population (2014) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 98.9% of population rural: 99.6% of population total: 99.4% of population unimproved: urban: 1.1% of population rural: 0.4% of population total: 0.6% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 14,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <500 Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Asia; Tajikistan is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 14.2% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 7.6% (2017) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 0.1% women married by age 18: 8.7% (2017 est.) Education expenditures: 5.7% of GDP (2019 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.8% male: 99.8% female: 99.7% (2015) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 11 years male: 12 years female: 11 years (2013) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: areas of high air pollution from motor vehicles and industry; water pollution from agricultural runoff and disposal of untreated industrial waste and sewage; poor management of water resources; soil erosion; increasing levels of soil salinity Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 40.05 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 5.31 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 4.87 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: mid-latitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains Land use: agricultural land: 34.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 6.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 27.7% (2018 est.) forest: 2.9% (2018 est.) other: 62.4% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 28% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 1.12% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.54% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Asia; Tajikistan is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,787,400 tons (2013 est.) Major rivers (by length in km): Syr Darya (shared with Kyrgyzstan [s], Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan [m]) - 3,078 km; Amu Darya river source (shared with Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan [m]) - 2,620 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), (Aral Sea Basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 647 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 407.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 10.44 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 21.91 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Tajikistan conventional short form: Tajikistan local long form: Jumhurii Tojikiston local short form: Tojikiston former: Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic etymology: the Persian suffix "-stan" means "place of" or "country," so the word Tajikistan literally means "Land of the Tajik [people]" Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Dushanbe geographic coordinates: 38 33 N, 68 46 E time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: today's city was originally at the crossroads where a large bazaar occurred on Mondays, hence the name Dushanbe, which in Persian means Monday, i.e., the second day (du) after Saturday (shambe) Administrative divisions: 2 provinces (viloyatho, singular - viloyat), 1 autonomous province* (viloyati mukhtor), 1 capital region** (viloyati poytakht), and 1 area referred to as Districts Under Republic Administration***; Dushanbe**, Khatlon (Bokhtar), Kuhistoni Badakhshon [Gorno-Badakhshan]* (Khorugh), Nohiyahoi Tobei Jumhuri***, Sughd (Khujand) note: the administrative center name follows in parentheses Independence: 9 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union) National holiday: Independence Day (or National Day), 9 September (1991) Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 6 November 1994 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by at least one third of the total membership of both houses of the Supreme Assembly; adoption of any amendment requires a referendum, which includes approval of the president or approval by at least two-thirds majority of the Assembly of Representatives; passage in a referendum requires participation of an absolute majority of eligible voters and an absolute majority of votes; constitutional articles, including Tajikistan’s form of government, its territory, and its democratic nature, cannot be amended; amended 1999, 2003, 2016 Legal system: civil law system International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Tajikistan dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years or 3 years of continuous residence prior to application Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Emomali RAHMON (since 6 November 1994; head of state and Supreme Assembly Chairman since 19 November 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Qohir RASULZODA (since 23 November 2013) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the Supreme Assembly elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-year term for a maximum of two terms; however, as the "Leader of the Nation" President RAHMON can run an unlimited number of times; election last held on 11 October 2020 (next to be held in 2027); prime minister appointed by the president election results: 2020: Emomali RAHMON reelected president; percent of vote - Emomali RAHMON (PDPT) 92.1%, Rustam LATIFZODA 3.1%, and other 4.8% 2013: Emomali RAHMOND reelected president; percent of vote 84%, Ismoil TALBAKOV 5%, other 11% Legislative branch: description: bicameral Supreme Assembly or Majlisi Oli consists of: National Assembly or Majlisi Milli (34 seats; 25 members indirectly elected by local representative assemblies or majlisi, 8 appointed by the president, and 1 reserved for each living former president; members serve 5-year terms) Assembly of Representatives or Majlisi Namoyandagon (63 seats; 41 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by 2-round absolute majority vote and 22 directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by closed-list proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms) elections: National Assembly - last held on 1 March 2020 (next to be held in 2025) Assembly of Representatives - last held on 1 March 2020 (next to be held in 2025) election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 28, women 6, percent of women 17.6% Assembly of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDPT 50.4%, PERT 16.6%, APT 16.5%, SPT 5.2%, DPT 5.1%, CPT 3.1%, other 3.1%; seats by party - PDPT 47, APT 7, PERT 5, CPT 2, SPT 1, DPT 1; composition - men 48, women 15, percent of women 23.8%; note - total Supreme Assembly percent of women 21.6% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chairman, deputy chairmen, and 34 judges organized into civil, family, criminal, administrative offense, and military chambers); Constitutional Court (consists of the court chairman, deputy chairman, and 5 judges); High Economic Court (consists of 16 judicial positions) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, and High Economic Court judges nominated by the president and approved by the National Assembly; judges of all 3 courts appointed for 10-year renewable terms with no term limits, but the last appointment must occur before the age of 65 subordinate courts: regional and district courts; Dushanbe City Court; viloyat (province level) courts; Court of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region Political parties and leaders: Agrarian Party of Tajikistan or APT [Rustam LATIFZODA] Communist Party of Tajikistan or CPT [Miroj ABDULLOEV] Democratic Party of Tajikistan or DPT [Saidjafar USMONZODA] Party of Economic Reform of Tajikistan or PERT [Rustam RAHMATZODA] People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan or PDPT [Emomali RAHMON] Social Democratic Party of Tajikistan or SDPT [Qiyomiddin AZIZOV] Socialist Party of Tajikistan or SPT [Abduhalim GHAFFORZODA] International organization participation: ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Farrukh HAMRALIZODA (since 17 February 2021) chancery: 1005 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 223-6090; [1] (202) 223-2666 FAX: [1] (202) 223-6091 email address and website: tajemus@mfa.tj; tajikistan@verizon.net https://mfa.tj/en/washington Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John Mark POMMERSHEIM (since 15 March 2019) embassy: 109-A Ismoili Somoni Avenue (Zarafshon district), Dushanbe 734019 mailing address: 7090 Dushanbe Place, Washington DC  20521-7090 telephone: [992] (37) 229-20-00 FAX: [992] (37) 229-20-50 email address and website: DushanbeConsular@state.gov https://tj.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three horizontal stripes of red (top), a wider stripe of white, and green; a gold crown surmounted by seven gold, five-pointed stars is located in the center of the white stripe; red represents the sun, victory, and the unity of the nation, white stands for purity, cotton, and mountain snows, while green is the color of Islam and the bounty of nature; the crown symbolizes the Tajik people; the seven stars signify the Tajik magic number "seven" - a symbol of perfection and the embodiment of happiness National symbol(s): crown surmounted by an arc of seven, five-pointed stars; snow leopard; national colors: red, white, green National anthem: name: "Surudi milli" (National Anthem) lyrics/music: Gulnazar KELDI/Sulaimon YUDAKOV note: adopted 1991; after the fall of the Soviet Union, Tajikistan kept the music of the anthem from its time as a Soviet republic but adopted new lyrics National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Proto-urban Site of Sarazm (c); Tajik National Park (Mountains of the Pamirs) (n) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Tajikistan is a poor, mountainous country with an economy dominated by minerals extraction, metals processing, agriculture, and reliance on remittances from citizens working abroad. Mineral resources include silver, gold, uranium, antimony, tungsten, and coal. Industry consists mainly of small obsolete factories in food processing and light industry, substantial hydropower facilities, and a large aluminum plant - currently operating well below its capacity. The 1992-97 civil war severely damaged an already weak economic infrastructure and caused a sharp decline in industrial and agricultural production. Today, Tajikistan is the poorest among the former Soviet republics. Because less than 7% of the land area is arable and cotton is the predominant crop, Tajikistan imports approximately 70% of its food.   Since the end of the civil war, the country has pursued half-hearted reforms and privatizations in the economic sphere, but its poor business climate remains a hindrance to attracting foreign investment. Some experts estimate the value of narcotics transiting Tajikistan is equivalent to 30%-50% of GDP.   Because of a lack of employment opportunities in Tajikistan, more than one million Tajik citizens work abroad - roughly 90% in Russia - supporting families back home through remittances that in 2017 were equivalent to nearly 35% of GDP. Tajikistan’s large remittances from migrant workers in Russia exposes it to monetary shocks. Tajikistan often delays devaluation of its currency for fear of inflationary pressures on food and other consumables. Recent slowdowns in the Russian and Chinese economies, low commodity prices, and currency fluctuations have hampered economic growth. The dollar value of remittances from Russia to Tajikistan dropped by almost 65% in 2015, and the government spent almost $500 million in 2016 to bail out the country’s still troubled banking sector.   Tajikistan’s growing public debt – currently about 50% of GDP – could result in financial difficulties. Remittances from Russia increased in 2017, however, bolstering the economy somewhat. China owns about 50% of Tajikistan’s outstanding debt. Tajikistan has borrowed heavily to finance investment in the country’s vast hydropower potential. In 2016, Tajikistan contracted with the Italian firm Salini Impregilo to build the Roghun dam over a 13-year period for $3.9 billion. A 2017 Eurobond has largely funded Roghun’s first phase, after which sales from Roghun’s output are expected to fund the rest of its construction. The government has not ruled out issuing another Eurobond to generate auxiliary funding for its second phase.Tajikistan is a poor, mountainous country with an economy dominated by minerals extraction, metals processing, agriculture, and reliance on remittances from citizens working abroad. Mineral resources include silver, gold, uranium, antimony, tungsten, and coal. Industry consists mainly of small obsolete factories in food processing and light industry, substantial hydropower facilities, and a large aluminum plant - currently operating well below its capacity. The 1992-97 civil war severely damaged an already weak economic infrastructure and caused a sharp decline in industrial and agricultural production. Today, Tajikistan is the poorest among the former Soviet republics. Because less than 7% of the land area is arable and cotton is the predominant crop, Tajikistan imports approximately 70% of its food. Since the end of the civil war, the country has pursued half-hearted reforms and privatizations in the economic sphere, but its poor business climate remains a hindrance to attracting foreign investment. Some experts estimate the value of narcotics transiting Tajikistan is equivalent to 30%-50% of GDP. Because of a lack of employment opportunities in Tajikistan, more than one million Tajik citizens work abroad - roughly 90% in Russia - supporting families back home through remittances that in 2017 were equivalent to nearly 35% of GDP. Tajikistan’s large remittances from migrant workers in Russia exposes it to monetary shocks. Tajikistan often delays devaluation of its currency for fear of inflationary pressures on food and other consumables. Recent slowdowns in the Russian and Chinese economies, low commodity prices, and currency fluctuations have hampered economic growth. The dollar value of remittances from Russia to Tajikistan dropped by almost 65% in 2015, and the government spent almost $500 million in 2016 to bail out the country’s still troubled banking sector. Tajikistan’s growing public debt – currently about 50% of GDP – could result in financial difficulties. Remittances from Russia increased in 2017, however, bolstering the economy somewhat. China owns about 50% of Tajikistan’s outstanding debt. Tajikistan has borrowed heavily to finance investment in the country’s vast hydropower potential. In 2016, Tajikistan contracted with the Italian firm Salini Impregilo to build the Roghun dam over a 13-year period for $3.9 billion. A 2017 Eurobond has largely funded Roghun’s first phase, after which sales from Roghun’s output are expected to fund the rest of its construction. The government has not ruled out issuing another Eurobond to generate auxiliary funding for its second phase. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $34.88 billion (2020 est.) $33.38 billion (2019 est.) $31.08 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 7.1% (2017 est.) 6.9% (2016 est.) 6% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $3,700 (2020 est.) $3,600 (2019 est.) $3,400 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $2.522 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.7% (2019 est.) 3.9% (2018 est.) 7.3% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Moody's rating: B3 (2017) Standard & Poors rating: B- (2017) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 28.6% (2017 est.) industry: 25.5% (2017 est.) services: 45.9% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 98.4% (2017 est.) government consumption: 13.3% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 11.7% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 2.5% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 10.7% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -36.6% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: milk, potatoes, wheat, watermelons, onions, tomatoes, vegetables, cotton, carrots/turnips, beef Industries: aluminum, cement, coal, gold, silver, antimony, textile, vegetable oil Industrial production growth rate: 1% (2017 est.) Labor force: 2.295 million (2016 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 43% industry: 10.6% services: 46.4% (2016 est.) Unemployment rate: 2.4% (2016 est.) 2.5% (2015 est.) note: official rate; actual unemployment is much higher Population below poverty line: 26.3% (2019 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 34 (2015 est.) 34.7 (1998) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: (2009 est.) NA highest 10%: (2009 est.) NA Budget: revenues: 2.269 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 2.374 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -1.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 50.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 42% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 31.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$35 million (2017 est.) -$362 million (2016 est.) Exports: $1.41 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $1.24 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $1.12 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Turkey 24%, Switzerland 22%, Uzbekistan 16%, Kazakhstan 12%, China 10% (2019) Exports - commodities: gold, aluminum, cotton, zinc, antimony, lead (2019) Imports: $3.13 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $3.41 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $3.22 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: China 40%, Russia 38%, Kazakhstan 19%, Uzbekistan 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, wheat, natural gas, bauxite, aircraft (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $1.292 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $652.8 million (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $6.47 billion (2019 est.) $5.849 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: Tajikistani somoni (TJS) per US dollar - 8.764 (2017 est.) 7.8358 (2016 est.) 7.8358 (2015 est.) 6.1631 (2014 est.) 4.9348 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 7.114 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 15,070,890,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 3.175 billion kWh (2019 est.) imports: 281 million kWh (2019 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 2.429 billion kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 8.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 91.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 2.103 million metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 2.16 million metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 57,000 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 375 million metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 300 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 26,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 12 million barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 172 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 22,460 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 18.208 million cubic meters (2019 est.) consumption: 157.611 million cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 139.375 million cubic meters (2019 est.) proven reserves: 5.663 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 7.643 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 4.362 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 2.971 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 309,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 27.651 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 502,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 9.904 million (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 111.53 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: the nation of Tajikistan has had to struggle through a further two years of economic hardship following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic; the strain on financial resources inevitably means a continuation of the absence of any meaningful investment or development programs for telecommunications infrastructure; the fixed line telephony and fixed broadband markets continue to languish far behind the mobile sector in terms of teledensity and penetration; with only around 6,000 fixed broadband customers (0.07% penetration), there would appear to be massive growth potential but the limited fixed line infrastructure in the country suggests there’s little likelihood of that occurring any time soon; the size of Tajikistan’s mobile market dwarfs the fixed line segment, with an estimated penetration rate of nearly 120%; with a number of private sector companies active in the mobile market, there been more commitment to investment in network upgrades and expansion; three MNOs, MegaFon, Tcell, and ZET Mobile have all launched commercial 5G services, initially in areas of the capital city Dushanbe; the move towards higher speed mobile services should further underpin the growth in the nascent mobile broadband market, which is still estimated to be at a relatively low penetration level of 42% (at least relative to most other Asian nations) but is predicted to be a strong compound annual growth rate of more than 8% for at least the next five years. (2021) domestic: fixed line availability has not changed significantly since 1998, while mobile cellular subscribership, aided by competition among multiple operators, has expanded; coverage now extends to all major cities and towns; fixed-line over 5 per 100 and mobile-cellular over 111 per 100 (2019) international: country code - 992; linked by cable and microwave radio relay to other CIS republics and by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; Dushanbe linked by Intelsat to international gateway switch in Ankara (Turkey); 3 satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat and 1 Orbita note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: state-run TV broadcasters transmit nationally on 9 TV and 10 radio stations, and regionally on 4 stations; 31 independent TV and 20 radio stations broadcast locally and regionally; many households are able to receive Russian and other foreign stations via cable and satellite (2016) Internet country code: .tj Internet users: total: 2,050,625 (2019 est.) percent of population: 22% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 6,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.1 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 492,320 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 2.34 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: EY Airports: total: 24 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 17 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 5 (2021) Pipelines: 549 km gas, 38 km oil (2013) Railways: total: 680 km (2014) broad gauge: 680 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge Roadways: total: 30,000 km (2018) Waterways: 200 km (2011) (along Vakhsh River) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Armed Forces of the Republic of Tajikistan: Land Forces, Mobile Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces; National Guard; Ministry of Internal Affairs: Internal Troops (reserves for Armed Forces in wartime); State Committee on National Security: Border Guard Forces (2022) Military expenditures: 2.1% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $360 million) 2.1% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $350 million) 2.2% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $330 million) 2.2% of GDP (2016 est.) (approximately $320 million) 2.2% of GDP (2015 est.) (approximately $310 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 9,500 active duty troops (8,000 Land and Mobile Forces; 1,500 Air and Air Defense Forces) (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Tajikistan Armed Forces' inventory is comprised of older Russian and Soviet-era equipment; it has received limited quantities of weapons systems since 2010, most of which was second-hand material from Russia (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service for men; 24-month conscript service obligation; in August 2021, the Tajik Government began allowing men to pay a fee in order to avoid conscription (2022) Military - note: Tajikistan has been a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and contributes troops to CSTO's rapid reaction force (2022) Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Tajikistan-Afghanistan: none identified Tajikistan-China: in 2006, China and Tajikistan pledged to commence demarcation of the revised boundary agreed to in the delimitation of 2002; in 2011, Tajikistan and China ratified the 2002 border demarcation agreement whereby Tajikistan ceded approximately 1,100 square kilometers in the Pamirs to China Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan: disputes in Isfara Valley delay delimitation with Kyrgyzstan; in May 2021, both countries agreed to a ceasefire following recent clashes at their border Tajikistan-Uzbekistan: talks continue with Uzbekistan to delimit border and clear minefields; as of January 2020, Uzbekistan reported that it had cleared all mines along its side of the borderTajikistan-Afghanistan: none identifiedTajikistan-China: in 2006, China and Tajikistan pledged to commence demarcation of the revised boundary agreed to in the delimitation of 2002; in 2011, Tajikistan and China ratified the 2002 border demarcation agreement whereby Tajikistan ceded approximately 1,100 square kilometers in the Pamirs to ChinaTajikistan-Kyrgyzstan: disputes in Isfara Valley delay delimitation with Kyrgyzstan; in May 2021, both countries agreed to a ceasefire following recent clashes at their borderTajikistan-Uzbekistan: talks continue with Uzbekistan to delimit border and clear minefields; as of January 2020, Uzbekistan reported that it had cleared all mines along its side of the border Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 6,775 (Afghanistan) (mid-year 2021) stateless persons: 6,141 (mid-year 2021) Illicit drugs: Tajikistan is a major route for drug trafficking in Central Asia; opiates and cannabis travel from Afghanistan through Tajikistan to markets in Russia, Belarus, and Western and Central Europe

20220901

field-tobacco-use

This entry measures the age standardized prevalence of tobacco use, whether smoked or smokeless or both, among persons 15 years and older for the total population, and separately for the male and female populations. Topic: Afghanistantotal: 23.3% (2020 est.) male: 39.4% (2020 est.) female: 7.2% (2020 est.) Topic: Albaniatotal: 22.4% (2020 est.) male: 38.8% (2020 est.) female: 6% (2020 est.) Topic: Algeriatotal: 21% (2020 est.) male: 41.3% (2020 est.) female: 0.7% (2020 est.) Topic: Andorratotal: 31.8% (2020 est.) male: 35.3% (2020 est.) female: 28.3% (2020 est.) Topic: Argentinatotal: 24.5% (2020 est.) male: 29.4% (2020 est.) female: 19.6% (2020 est.) Topic: Armeniatotal: 25.5% (2020 est.) male: 49.4% (2020 est.) female: 1.5% (2020 est.) Topic: Australiatotal: 13.6% (2020 est.) male: 15.6% (2020 est.) female: 11.5% (2020 est.) Topic: Austriatotal: 26.4% (2020 est.) male: 27.7% (2020 est.) female: 25% (2020 est.) Topic: Azerbaijantotal: 24% (2020 est.) male: 47.9% (2020 est.) female: 0.1% (2020 est.) Topic: Bahamas, Thetotal: 10.6% (2020 est.) male: 18.8% (2020 est.) female: 2.4% (2020 est.) Topic: Bahraintotal: 14.9% (2020 est.) male: 25.3% (2020 est.) female: 4.5% (2020 est.) Topic: Bangladeshtotal: 34.7% (2020 est.) male: 52.2% (2020 est.) female: 17.1% (2020 est.) Topic: Barbadostotal: 8.5% (2020 est.) male: 15% (2020 est.) female: 1.9% (2020 est.) Topic: Belarustotal: 30.5% (2020 est.) male: 47.4% (2020 est.) female: 13.5% (2020 est.) Topic: Belgiumtotal: 23.4% (2020 est.) male: 25.8% (2020 est.) female: 21% (2020 est.) Topic: Belizetotal: 8.5% (2020 est.) male: 15.1% (2020 est.) female: 1.8% (2020 est.) Topic: Benintotal: 6.9% (2020 est.) male: 11.8% (2020 est.) female: 1.9% (2020 est.) Topic: Boliviatotal: 12.7% (2020 est.) male: 20.5% (2020 est.) female: 4.8% (2020 est.) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinatotal: 35% (2020 est.) male: 42% (2020 est.) female: 28% (2020 est.) Topic: Botswanatotal: 19.4% (2020 est.) male: 30.4% (2020 est.) female: 8.3% (2020 est.) Topic: Braziltotal: 12.8% (2020 est.) male: 16.2% (2020 est.) female: 9.4% (2020 est.) Topic: Bruneitotal: 16.2% (2020 est.) male: 30% (2020 est.) female: 2.3% (2020 est.) Topic: Bulgariatotal: 39% (2020 est.) male: 40.9% (2020 est.) female: 37.1% (2020 est.) Topic: Burkina Fasototal: 14.3% (2020 est.) male: 22.1% (2020 est.) female: 6.4% (2020 est.) Topic: Burmatotal: 44.1% (2020 est.) male: 68.5% (2020 est.) female: 19.7% (2020 est.) Topic: Burunditotal: 11.8% (2020 est.) male: 17.4% (2020 est.) female: 6.1% (2020 est.) Topic: Cabo Verdetotal: 11.4% (2020 est.) male: 17.3% (2020 est.) female: 5.4% (2020 est.) Topic: Cambodiatotal: 21.1% (2020 est.) male: 36.1% (2020 est.) female: 6% (2020 est.) Topic: Cameroontotal: 7.3% (2020 est.) male: 13.2% (2020 est.) female: 1.4% (2020 est.) Topic: Canadatotal: 13% (2020 est.) male: 15.3% (2020 est.) female: 10.7% (2020 est.) Topic: Chadtotal: 8.3% (2020 est.) male: 13.8% (2020 est.) female: 2.7% (2020 est.) Topic: Chiletotal: 29.2% (2020 est.) male: 31.6% (2020 est.) female: 26.8% (2020 est.) Topic: Chinatotal: 25.6% (2020 est.) male: 49.4% (2020 est.) female: 1.7% (2020 est.) Topic: Colombiatotal: 8.5% (2020 est.) male: 12.4% (2020 est.) female: 4.6% (2020 est.) Topic: Comorostotal: 20.3% (2020 est.) male: 29.5% (2020 est.) female: 11.1% (2020 est.) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thetotal: 12.8% (2020 est.) male: 22.7% (2020 est.) female: 2.9% (2020 est.) Topic: Congo, Republic of thetotal: 14.5% (2020 est.) male: 26.8% (2020 est.) female: 2.1% (2020 est.) Topic: Cook Islandstotal: 24% (2020 est.) male: 27.7% (2020 est.) female: 20.3% (2020 est.) Topic: Costa Ricatotal: 8.8% (2020 est.) male: 12.9% (2020 est.) female: 4.6% (2020 est.) Topic: Cote d'Ivoiretotal: 9.4% (2020 est.) male: 17.9% (2020 est.) female: 0.9% (2020 est.) Topic: Croatiatotal: 36.9% (2020 est.) male: 37.6% (2020 est.) female: 36.1% (2020 est.) Topic: Cubatotal: 17.9% (2020 est.) male: 25.5% (2020 est.) female: 10.3% (2020 est.) Topic: Cyprustotal: 35.1% (2020 est.) male: 47% (2020 est.) female: 23.2% (2020 est.) Topic: Czechiatotal: 30.7% (2020 est.) male: 35% (2020 est.) female: 26.4% (2020 est.) Topic: Denmarktotal: 17.5% (2020 est.) male: 17.8% (2020 est.) female: 17.1% (2020 est.) Topic: Dominican Republictotal: 10.6% (2020 est.) male: 14.6% (2020 est.) female: 6.5% (2020 est.) Topic: Ecuadortotal: 11.3% (2020 est.) male: 18.4% (2020 est.) female: 4.2% (2020 est.) Topic: Egypttotal: 24.3% (2020 est.) male: 48.1% (2020 est.) female: 0.4% (2020 est.) Topic: El Salvadortotal: 7.9% (2020 est.) male: 14.1% (2020 est.) female: 1.7% (2020 est.) Topic: Eritreatotal: 7.5% (2020 est.) male: 14.7% (2020 est.) female: 0.2% (2020 est.) Topic: Estoniatotal: 29.7% (2020 est.) male: 36.3% (2020 est.) female: 23% (2020 est.) Topic: Eswatinitotal: 9.2% (2020 est.) male: 16.5% (2020 est.) female: 1.8% (2020 est.) Topic: Ethiopiatotal: 5.1% (2020 est.) male: 8.8% (2020 est.) female: 1.3% (2020 est.) Topic: Fijitotal: 23.1% (2020 est.) male: 35.6% (2020 est.) female: 10.5% (2020 est.) Topic: Finlandtotal: 21.6% (2020 est.) male: 26.9% (2020 est.) female: 16.3% (2020 est.) Topic: Francetotal: 33.4% (2020 est.) male: 34.9% (2020 est.) female: 31.9% (2020 est.) Topic: Gambia, Thetotal: 11.1% (2020 est.) male: 21.4% (2020 est.) female: 0.8% (2020 est.) Topic: Georgiatotal: 31.7% (2020 est.) male: 56.3% (2020 est.) female: 7.1% (2020 est.) Topic: Germanytotal: 22% (2020 est.) male: 24.1% (2020 est.) female: 19.9% (2020 est.) Topic: Ghanatotal: 3.5% (2020 est.) male: 6.6% (2020 est.) female: 0.3% (2020 est.) Topic: Greecetotal: 33.5% (2020 est.) male: 36.5% (2020 est.) female: 30.5% (2020 est.) Topic: Guatemalatotal: 10.9% (2020 est.) male: 20.1% (2020 est.) female: 1.6% (2020 est.) Topic: Guinea-Bissautotal: 9% (2020 est.) male: 17% (2020 est.) female: 0.9% (2020 est.) Topic: Guyanatotal: 12.1% (2020 est.) male: 21.7% (2020 est.) female: 2.4% (2020 est.) Topic: Haititotal: 7.7% (2020 est.) male: 12.2% (2020 est.) female: 3.1% (2020 est.) Topic: Hungarytotal: 31.8% (2020 est.) male: 35.8% (2020 est.) female: 27.8% (2020 est.) Topic: Icelandtotal: 12% (2020 est.) male: 11.9% (2020 est.) female: 12% (2020 est.) Topic: Indiatotal: 27.2% (2020 est.) male: 41.3% (2020 est.) female: 13% (2020 est.) Topic: Indonesiatotal: 37.6% (2020 est.) male: 71.4% (2020 est.) female: 3.7% (2020 est.) Topic: Irantotal: 13.6% (2020 est.) male: 24.1% (2020 est.) female: 3.1% (2020 est.) Topic: Iraqtotal: 18.5% (2020 est.) male: 35.1% (2020 est.) female: 1.8% (2020 est.) Topic: Irelandtotal: 20.8% (2020 est.) male: 22.5% (2020 est.) female: 19% (2020 est.) Topic: Israeltotal: 21.2% (2020 est.) male: 28.9% (2020 est.) female: 13.5% (2020 est.) Topic: Italytotal: 23.1% (2020 est.) male: 26.6% (2020 est.) female: 19.5% (2020 est.) Topic: Jamaicatotal: 9.4% (2020 est.) male: 15% (2020 est.) female: 3.8% (2020 est.) Topic: Japantotal: 20.1% (2020 est.) male: 30.1% (2020 est.) female: 10% (2020 est.) Topic: Jordantotal: 34.8% (2020 est.) male: 56.8% (2020 est.) female: 12.8% (2020 est.) Topic: Kazakhstantotal: 23.2% (2020 est.) male: 39.6% (2020 est.) female: 6.7% (2020 est.) Topic: Kenyatotal: 11.1% (2020 est.) male: 19.5% (2020 est.) female: 2.7% (2020 est.) Topic: Kiribatitotal: 40.6% (2020 est.) male: 53.9% (2020 est.) female: 27.3% (2020 est.) Topic: Korea, Northtotal: 17.4% (2020 est.) male: 34.8% (2020 est.) female: 0% (2020 est.) Topic: Korea, Southtotal: 20.8% (2020 est.) male: 35.7% (2020 est.) female: 5.9% (2020 est.) Topic: Kuwaittotal: 17.9% (2020 est.) male: 33.5% (2020 est.) female: 2.2% (2020 est.) Topic: Kyrgyzstantotal: 25.4% (2020 est.) male: 48% (2020 est.) female: 2.8% (2020 est.) Topic: Laostotal: 31.8% (2020 est.) male: 53.3% (2020 est.) female: 10.3% (2020 est.) Topic: Latviatotal: 37% (2020 est.) male: 50.3% (2020 est.) female: 23.7% (2020 est.) Topic: Lebanontotal: 38.2% (2020 est.) male: 47.5% (2020 est.) female: 28.9% (2020 est.) Topic: Lesothototal: 24.3% (2020 est.) male: 43.1% (2020 est.) female: 5.4% (2020 est.) Topic: Liberiatotal: 8.2% (2020 est.) male: 14.3% (2020 est.) female: 2% (2020 est.) Topic: Lithuaniatotal: 32% (2020 est.) male: 42.1% (2020 est.) female: 21.8% (2020 est.) Topic: Luxembourgtotal: 21.1% (2020 est.) male: 22.4% (2020 est.) female: 19.8% (2020 est.) Topic: Madagascartotal: 27.8% (2020 est.) male: 42.7% (2020 est.) female: 12.8% (2020 est.) Topic: Malawitotal: 10.8% (2020 est.) male: 17.5% (2020 est.) female: 4.1% (2020 est.) Topic: Malaysiatotal: 22.5% (2020 est.) male: 43.8% (2020 est.) female: 1.1% (2020 est.) Topic: Maldivestotal: 25.2% (2020 est.) male: 44.4% (2020 est.) female: 6% (2020 est.) Topic: Malitotal: 8.3% (2020 est.) male: 15.6% (2020 est.) female: 1% (2020 est.) Topic: Maltatotal: 24% (2020 est.) male: 26.4% (2020 est.) female: 21.6% (2020 est.) Topic: Marshall Islandstotal: 28.5% (2020 est.) male: 48.7% (2020 est.) female: 8.3% (2020 est.) Topic: Mauritaniatotal: 10.7% (2020 est.) male: 19.3% (2020 est.) female: 2.1% (2020 est.) Topic: Mauritiustotal: 20.2% (2020 est.) male: 37.3% (2020 est.) female: 3% (2020 est.) Topic: Mexicototal: 13.1% (2020 est.) male: 19.9% (2020 est.) female: 6.2% (2020 est.) Topic: Moldovatotal: 29% (2020 est.) male: 51.7% (2020 est.) female: 6.2% (2020 est.) Topic: Mongoliatotal: 29.4% (2020 est.) male: 51.7% (2020 est.) female: 7.1% (2020 est.) Topic: Montenegrototal: 31.4% (2020 est.) male: 31.6% (2020 est.) female: 31.1% (2020 est.) Topic: Moroccototal: 14.5% (2020 est.) male: 28.2% (2020 est.) female: 0.8% (2020 est.) Topic: Mozambiquetotal: 14.3% (2020 est.) male: 23% (2020 est.) female: 5.6% (2020 est.) Topic: Namibiatotal: 15.1% (2020 est.) male: 24.2% (2020 est.) female: 6% (2020 est.) Topic: Naurutotal: 48.5% (2020 est.) male: 47.8% (2020 est.) female: 49.1% (2020 est.) Topic: Nepaltotal: 30.4% (2020 est.) male: 47.9% (2020 est.) female: 12.8% (2020 est.) Topic: Netherlandstotal: 22.2% (2020 est.) male: 24.4% (2020 est.) female: 19.9% (2020 est.) Topic: New Zealandtotal: 13.7% (2020 est.) male: 15% (2020 est.) female: 12.3% (2020 est.) Topic: Nigertotal: 7.4% (2020 est.) male: 13.7% (2020 est.) female: 1.1% (2020 est.) Topic: Nigeriatotal: 3.7% (2020 est.) male: 6.9% (2020 est.) female: 0.5% (2020 est.) Topic: Norwaytotal: 16.2% (2020 est.) male: 17% (2020 est.) female: 15.4% (2020 est.) Topic: Omantotal: 8% (2020 est.) male: 15.5% (2020 est.) female: 0.4% (2020 est.) Topic: Pakistantotal: 20.2% (2020 est.) male: 33% (2020 est.) female: 7.3% (2020 est.) Topic: Palautotal: 17.6% (2020 est.) male: 27.3% (2020 est.) female: 7.9% (2020 est.) Topic: Panamatotal: 5% (2020 est.) male: 7.7% (2020 est.) female: 2.2% (2020 est.) Topic: Papua New Guineatotal: 39.3% (2020 est.) male: 53.5% (2020 est.) female: 25.1% (2020 est.) Topic: Paraguaytotal: 11.5% (2020 est.) male: 18.6% (2020 est.) female: 4.4% (2020 est.) Topic: Perutotal: 8.1% (2020 est.) male: 13.2% (2020 est.) female: 3% (2020 est.) Topic: Philippinestotal: 22.9% (2020 est.) male: 39.3% (2020 est.) female: 6.5% (2020 est.) Topic: Polandtotal: 24% (2020 est.) male: 27.9% (2020 est.) female: 20.1% (2020 est.) Topic: Portugaltotal: 25.4% (2020 est.) male: 30.5% (2020 est.) female: 20.2% (2020 est.) Topic: Qatartotal: 11.8% (2020 est.) male: 21.7% (2020 est.) female: 1.9% (2020 est.) Topic: Romaniatotal: 28% (2020 est.) male: 35.9% (2020 est.) female: 20% (2020 est.) Topic: Russiatotal: 26.8% (2020 est.) male: 40.8% (2020 est.) female: 12.8% (2020 est.) Topic: Rwandatotal: 13.7% (2020 est.) male: 20.1% (2020 est.) female: 7.2% (2020 est.) Topic: Samoatotal: 25.3% (2020 est.) male: 36.1% (2020 est.) female: 14.5% (2020 est.) Topic: Sao Tome and Principetotal: 5.7% (2020 est.) male: 10.1% (2020 est.) female: 1.3% (2020 est.) Topic: Saudi Arabiatotal: 14.3% (2020 est.) male: 26.5% (2020 est.) female: 2% (2020 est.) Topic: Senegaltotal: 6.9% (2020 est.) male: 13.1% (2020 est.) female: 0.7% (2020 est.) Topic: Serbiatotal: 39.8% (2020 est.) male: 40.5% (2020 est.) female: 39.1% (2020 est.) Topic: Seychellestotal: 20.2% (2020 est.) male: 34% (2020 est.) female: 6.4% (2020 est.) Topic: Sierra Leonetotal: 13.5% (2020 est.) male: 20.5% (2020 est.) female: 6.4% (2020 est.) Topic: Singaporetotal: 16.5% (2020 est.) male: 28% (2020 est.) female: 5% (2020 est.) Topic: Slovakiatotal: 31.5% (2020 est.) male: 37.4% (2020 est.) female: 25.6% (2020 est.) Topic: Sloveniatotal: 22% (2020 est.) male: 24.4% (2020 est.) female: 19.6% (2020 est.) Topic: Solomon Islandstotal: 36.5% (2020 est.) male: 53.8% (2020 est.) female: 19.2% (2020 est.) Topic: South Africatotal: 20.3% (2020 est.) male: 34% (2020 est.) female: 6.5% (2020 est.) Topic: Spaintotal: 27.7% (2020 est.) male: 28.6% (2020 est.) female: 26.7% (2020 est.) Topic: Sri Lankatotal: 22% (2020 est.) male: 41.4% (2020 est.) female: 2.6% (2020 est.) Topic: Swedentotal: 24% (2020 est.) male: 29.8% (2020 est.) female: 18.2% (2020 est.) Topic: Switzerlandtotal: 25.5% (2020 est.) male: 28.1% (2020 est.) female: 22.9% (2020 est.) Topic: Tanzaniatotal: 8.7% (2020 est.) male: 14% (2020 est.) female: 3.4% (2020 est.) Topic: Thailandtotal: 22.1% (2020 est.) male: 41.3% (2020 est.) female: 2.9% (2020 est.) Topic: Timor-Lestetotal: 39.2% (2020 est.) male: 67.6% (2020 est.) female: 10.8% (2020 est.) Topic: Togototal: 6.8% (2020 est.) male: 12.3% (2020 est.) female: 1.2% (2020 est.) Topic: Tongatotal: 31% (2020 est.) male: 46.7% (2020 est.) female: 15.3% (2020 est.) Topic: Tunisiatotal: 24.6% (2020 est.) male: 47.2% (2020 est.) female: 2% (2020 est.) Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)total: 30.7% (2020 est.) male: 42.1% (2020 est.) female: 19.2% (2020 est.) Topic: Turkmenistantotal: 5.5% (2020 est.) male: 10.6% (2020 est.) female: 0.4% (2020 est.) Topic: Tuvalutotal: 35.6% (2020 est.) male: 49.8% (2020 est.) female: 21.3% (2020 est.) Topic: Ugandatotal: 8.4% (2020 est.) male: 13% (2020 est.) female: 3.7% (2020 est.) Topic: Ukrainetotal: 25.8% (2020 est.) male: 40% (2020 est.) female: 11.5% (2020 est.) Topic: United Kingdomtotal: 15.4% (2020 est.) male: 17.3% (2020 est.) female: 13.5% (2020 est.) Topic: United Statestotal: 23% (2020 est.) male: 28.4% (2020 est.) female: 17.5% (2020 est.) Topic: Uruguaytotal: 21.5% (2020 est.) male: 24.4% (2020 est.) female: 18.5% (2020 est.) Topic: Uzbekistantotal: 17.6% (2020 est.) male: 34% (2020 est.) female: 1.1% (2020 est.) Topic: Vanuatutotal: 17.8% (2020 est.) male: 33% (2020 est.) female: 2.6% (2020 est.) Topic: Vietnamtotal: 24.8% (2020 est.) male: 47.4% (2020 est.) female: 2.2% (2020 est.) Topic: Yementotal: 20.3% (2020 est.) male: 32.5% (2020 est.) female: 8.1% (2020 est.) Topic: Zambiatotal: 14.4% (2020 est.) male: 25.1% (2020 est.) female: 3.7% (2020 est.) Topic: Zimbabwetotal: 11.7% (2020 est.) male: 21.8% (2020 est.) female: 1.5% (2020 est.)

20220901

field-education-expenditures

This entry provides the public expenditure on education as a percent of GDP. Topic: Afghanistan3.2% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: AkrotiriNA Topic: Albania3.9% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Algeria6.1% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: American SamoaNA Topic: Andorra3.2% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Angola1.8% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Anguilla3.6% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Antigua and Barbuda3.3% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Argentina4.8% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Armenia2.7% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Aruba5.5% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Ashmore and Cartier IslandsNA Topic: Australia5.1% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Austria5.2% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Azerbaijan2.7% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Bahamas, The2.5% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Bahrain2.3% of GDP (2017 est.) Topic: Bangladesh1.3% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Barbados4.3% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Belarus5% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Belgium6.4% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Belize7.9% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Benin3% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Bermuda1.3% of GDP (2017 est.) Topic: Bhutan6.9% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Bolivia7.3% of GDP (2014 est.) Topic: Bosnia and HerzegovinaNA Topic: Botswana6.9% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Brazil6.1% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: British Indian Ocean TerritoryNA Topic: British Virgin Islands2.9% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Brunei4.4% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Bulgaria4.1% of GDP (2017 est.) Topic: Burkina Faso5.8% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Burma2% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Burundi5.1% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Cabo Verde4.7% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Cambodia2.2% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Cameroon3.1% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Canada5.3% of GDP (2011 est.) Topic: Cayman IslandsNA Topic: Central African Republic1.8% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Chad2.4% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Chile5.4% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: China3.5% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Christmas IslandNA Topic: Clipperton IslandNA Topic: Cocos (Keeling) IslandsNA Topic: Colombia4.5% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Comoros2.5% of GDP (2015 est.) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the1.5% of GDP (2017 est.) Topic: Congo, Republic of the3.9% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Cook Islands3.5% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Coral Sea IslandsNA Topic: Costa Rica6.7% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Cote d'Ivoire3.7% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Croatia3.9% of GDP (2017 est.) Topic: CubaNA Topic: Curacao4.9% of GDP (2013 est.) Topic: Cyprus5.8% of GDP (2017 est.) Topic: Czechia4.3% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Denmark7.8% of GDP (2017 est.) Topic: DhekeliaNA Topic: Djibouti3.6% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Dominica5% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Dominican Republic4% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Ecuador4.1% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Egypt3.9% of GDP (2015 est.) Topic: El Salvador3.4% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Equatorial GuineaNA Topic: EritreaNA Topic: Estonia5.2% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Eswatini5.3% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Ethiopia5.1% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: European Union4.7% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)NA Topic: Faroe Islands8.2% of GDP (2017 est.) Topic: Fiji5.1% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Finland6.3% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: France5.4% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: French PolynesiaNA Topic: French Southern and Antarctic LandsNA Topic: Gabon2.8% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Gambia, The2.9% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Gaza Strip5.3% of GDP (2018 est.) note: includes Gaza Strip and the West Bank Topic: Georgia3.8% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Germany5% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Ghana4% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: GibraltarNA Topic: Greece3.6% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Greenland10.6% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Grenada3.6% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: GuamNA Topic: Guatemala3.3% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: GuernseyNA Topic: Guinea2.2% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Guinea-Bissau2.9% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Guyana4.5% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Haiti1.7% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Heard Island and McDonald IslandsNA Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)NA Topic: Honduras4.9% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Hong Kong4.4% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Hungary4.6% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Iceland7.6% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: India3.5% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Indonesia2.8% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Iran3.7% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: IraqNA Topic: Ireland3.4% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Isle of ManNA Topic: Israel6.2% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Italy4.3% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Jamaica5.4% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Jan MayenNA Topic: Japan3.2% of GDP (2017 est.) Topic: JerseyNA Topic: Jordan3% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Kazakhstan2.9% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Kenya5.1% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Kiribati12.4% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Korea, NorthNA Topic: Korea, South4.5% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: KosovoNA Topic: Kuwait6.6% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Kyrgyzstan5.4% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Laos2.9% of GDP (2014 est.) Topic: Latvia4.2% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Lebanon2.6% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Lesotho7.4% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Liberia2.3% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: LibyaNA Topic: Liechtenstein2.6% of GDP (2011 est.) Topic: Lithuania3.9% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Luxembourg3.7% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Macau3.1% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Madagascar2.9% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Malawi2.9% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Malaysia4.2% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Maldives4.1% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Mali3.4% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Malta4.7% of GDP (2017 est.) Topic: Marshall Islands9.6% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Mauritania1.9% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Mauritius4.6% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Mexico4.3% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of9.7% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Moldova6.1% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Monaco1.2% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Mongolia4.9% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: MontenegroNA Topic: Montserrat9.1% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: MoroccoNA note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara Topic: Mozambique6.2% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Namibia9.4% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: NauruNA Topic: Navassa IslandNA Topic: Nepal4.4% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Netherlands5.4% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: New CaledoniaNA Topic: New Zealand6% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Nicaragua3.4% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Niger3.5% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: NigeriaNA Topic: NiueNA Topic: Norfolk IslandNA Topic: North MacedoniaNA Topic: Northern Mariana IslandsNA Topic: Norway7.6% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Oman5.4% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Pakistan2.5% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: PalauNA Topic: Panama3.1% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Papua New Guinea1.9% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Paracel IslandsNA Topic: Paraguay3.5% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Peru4.2% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Philippines3.2% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Pitcairn IslandsNA Topic: Poland4.6% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Portugal4.7% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Puerto Rico6.1% of GDP (2014 est.) Topic: Qatar3.2% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Romania3.3% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Russia4.7% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Rwanda3.4% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Saint BarthelemyNA Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da CunhaNA Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis2.6% of GDP (2015 est.) Topic: Saint Lucia3.6% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Saint MartinNA Topic: Saint Pierre and MiquelonNA Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines5.7% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Samoa4.8% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: San Marino3.4% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Sao Tome and Principe5.9% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Saudi ArabiaNA Topic: Senegal5.3% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Serbia3.6% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Seychelles3.9% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Sierra Leone9.3% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Singapore2.5% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Sint MaartenNA Topic: Slovakia4% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Slovenia4.9% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Solomon Islands10.1% of GDP (2015 est.) Topic: SomaliaNA Topic: South Africa6.8% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich IslandsNA Topic: South Sudan1.5% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Spain4.2% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Spratly IslandsNA Topic: Sri Lanka2.1% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: SudanNA Topic: Suriname7.2% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: SvalbardNA Topic: Sweden7.6% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Switzerland4.9% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: SyriaNA Topic: TaiwanNA Topic: Tajikistan5.7% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Tanzania3.1% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Thailand3% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Timor-Leste6.8% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Togo5% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: TokelauNA Topic: Tonga8% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Trinidad and Tobago3.6% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Tunisia7.3% of GDP (2016 est.) Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)4.3% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: Turkmenistan3.1% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Turks and Caicos Islands3.5% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: TuvaluNA Topic: Uganda3% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Ukraine5.4% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: United Arab Emirates3.1% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: United Kingdom5.2% of GDP (2018 est.) Topic: United States5% of GDP (2014 est.) Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife RefugesNA Topic: Uruguay4.7% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Uzbekistan5.1% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Vanuatu2.3% of GDP (2020 est.) Topic: Venezuela1.3% of GDP (2017 est.) Topic: Vietnam4.1% of GDP (2019 est.) Topic: Virgin IslandsNA Topic: Wake IslandNA Topic: Wallis and FutunaNA Topic: West Bank5.3% of GDP (2018 est.) note: includes Gaza Strip and the West Bank Topic: YemenNA Topic: Zambia4.5% of GDP (2019) Topic: Zimbabwe3.6% of GDP (2018 est.)

20220901

countries-liechtenstein

Topic: Photos of Liechtenstein Topic: Introduction Background: The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719. Occupied by both French and Russian troops during the Napoleonic Wars, it became a sovereign state in 1806 and joined the German Confederation in 1815. Liechtenstein became fully independent in 1866 when the Confederation dissolved. Until the end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the economic devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to enter into a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since World War II (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral), the country's low taxes have spurred outstanding economic growth. In 2000, shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight resulted in concerns about the use of financial institutions for money laundering. However, Liechtenstein implemented anti-money laundering legislation and a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US that went into effect in 2003.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland Geographic coordinates: 47 16 N, 9 32 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 160 sq km land: 160 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 75 km border countries (2): Austria 34 km; Switzerland 41 km Coastline: 0 km (doubly landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers Terrain: mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third Elevation: highest point: Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m Natural resources: hydroelectric potential, arable land Land use: agricultural land: 37.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 18.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 18.8% (2018 est.) forest: 43.1% (2018 est.) other: 19.3% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012) Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km) Population distribution: most of the population is found in the western half of the country along the Rhine River Natural hazards: avalanches, landslides Geography - note: along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation Map description: Liechtenstein map showing major population centers of this landlocked country surrounded by Switzerland and Austria.Liechtenstein map showing major population centers of this landlocked country surrounded by Switzerland and Austria. Topic: People and Society Population: 39,711 (2022 est.) note: immigrants make up 67% of the total population, according to UN data (2019) Nationality: noun: Liechtensteiner(s) adjective: Liechtenstein Ethnic groups: Liechtensteiner 65.5%, Swiss 9.6%, Austrian 6%, German 4.5%, Italian 3.1%, other 11.4% (2020 est.) note: data represent population by nationality Languages: German 91.5% (official) (Alemannic is the main dialect), Italian 1.5%, Turkish 1.3%, Portuguese 1.1%, other 4.6% (2015 est.) major-language sample(s): Das World Factbook, die unverzichtbare Quelle für grundlegende Informationen. (German) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Roman Catholic (official) 73.4%, Protestant Reformed 6.3%, Muslim 5.9%,  Christian Orthodox 1.3%, Lutheran 1.2%, other Protestant .7%, other Christian .3%, other .8%, none 7%, unspecified 3.3% (2015 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 15.2% (male 3,259/female 2,688) 15-24 years: 11.29% (male 2,238/female 2,181) 25-54 years: 40.22% (male 7,869/female 7,872) 55-64 years: 14.41% (male 2,711/female 2,930) 65 years and over: 18.88% (2020 est.) (male 3,403/female 3,986) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Median age: total: 43.7 years male: 42 years female: 45.3 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.72% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 10.32 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 7.98 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 4.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: most of the population is found in the western half of the country along the Rhine River Urbanization: urban population: 14.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 5,000 VADUZ (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.25 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.24 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 31.3 years (2017) Infant mortality rate: total: 4.05 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.41 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 82.56 years male: 80.33 years female: 85.38 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.69 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020) Current Health Expenditure: NA Physicians density: NA Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 2.6% of GDP (2011 est.) Literacy: total population: NA male: NA female: NA School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 15 years male: 16 years female: 14 years (2019) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: some air pollution generated locally, some transfered from surrounding countries Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Law of the Sea Air pollutants: carbon dioxide emissions: 0.05 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.02 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers Land use: agricultural land: 37.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 18.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 18.8% (2018 est.) forest: 43.1% (2018 est.) other: 19.3% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 14.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2017 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 32,382 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 20,919 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 64.6% (2015 est.) Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 7.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein conventional short form: Liechtenstein local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein local short form: Liechtenstein etymology: named after the Liechtenstein dynasty that purchased and united the counties of Schellenburg and Vaduz and that was allowed by the Holy Roman Emperor in 1719 to rename the new property after their family; the name in German means "light (bright) stone" Government type: constitutional monarchy Capital: name: Vaduz geographic coordinates: 47 08 N, 9 31 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: may be a conflation from the Latin "vallis" (valley) and the High German "diutisk" (meaning "German") to produce "Valdutsch" (German valley), which over time simplified and came to refer specifically to Vaduz, the town Administrative divisions: 11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz Independence: 23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire); 24 August 1866 (independence from the German Confederation) National holiday: National Day, 15 August (1940); note - a National Day was originally established in 1940 to combine celebrations for the Feast of the Assumption (15 August) with those honoring the birthday of former Prince FRANZ JOSEF II (1906-1989) whose birth fell on 16 August; after the prince's death, National Day became the official national holiday by law in 1990 Constitution: history: previous 1862; latest adopted 5 October 1921 amendments: proposed by Parliament, by the reigning prince (in the form of "Government" proposals), by petition of at least 1,500 qualified voters, or by at least four communes; passage requires unanimous approval of Parliament members in one sitting or three-quarters majority vote in two successive sittings; referendum required only if petitioned by at least 1,500 voters or by at least four communes; passage by referendum requires absolute majority of votes cast; amended many times, last in 2020 Legal system: civil law system influenced by Swiss, Austrian, and German law International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Liechtenstein; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Prince HANS-ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed executive powers on 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent and Regent of Liechtenstein Prince ALOIS (son of the monarch, born 11 June 1968); note - 15 August 2004, HANS-ADAM II transferred the official duties of the ruling prince to ALOIS, but HANS-ADAM II retains status of chief of state head of government: Prime Minister Daniel RISCH; Deputy Prime Minister Sabine MONAUNI (both since 25 March 2021) cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the Parliament usually appointed the head of government by the monarch, and the leader of the largest minority party in the Landtag usually appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch if there is a coalition government Legislative branch: description: unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members directly elected in 2 multi-seat constituencies by open-list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 7 February 2021 (next to be held on 7 February 2025) election results: percent of vote by party - FBP 40%, VU 40%, FL 12%, DpL 8%; seats by party - FBP 10, VU 10, FL 3, DpL 2; composition - men 18, women 7, percent of women 28% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof (consists of 5 judges); Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgericht (consists of 5 judges and 5 alternates) judge selection and term of office: judges of both courts elected by the Landtag and appointed by the monarch; Supreme Court judges serve 4-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed for renewable 5-year terms subordinate courts: Court of Appeal or Obergericht (second instance), Court of Justice (first instance), Administrative Court, county courts Political parties and leaders: Fatherland Union (Vaterlaendische Union) or VU [Guenther FRITZ] Progressive Citizens' Party (Fortschrittliche Buergerpartei) or FBP [Thomas BANZER] The Free List (Die Freie Liste) or FL [Pepo FRICK and Conny BUECHEL BRUEHWILER] Democrats for Liechtenstein (Demokraten pro Liechtenstein) or DpL [Thomas REHAK] The Independents (Die Unabhaengigen) or DU [Harry QUADERER] International organization participation: CD, CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WIPO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Georg SPARBER (since 1 December 2021) chancery: 2900 K Street NW, Suite 602B, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 331-0590 FAX: [1] (202) 331-3221 email address and website: info@embassyli.org https://www.liechtensteinusa.org/ Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein; the US Ambassador to Switzerland is accredited to Liechtenstein Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band; the colors may derive from the blue and red livery design used in the principality's household in the 18th century; the prince's crown was introduced in 1937 to distinguish the flag from that of Haiti National symbol(s): princely hat (crown); national colors: blue, red National anthem: name: "Oben am jungen Rhein" (High Above the Young Rhine) lyrics/music: Jakob Joseph JAUCH/Josef FROMMELT note: adopted 1850, revised 1963; uses the tune of "God Save the Queen" Topic: Economy Economic overview: Despite its small size and lack of natural resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital financial services sector and one of the highest per capita income levels in the world. The Liechtenstein economy is widely diversified with a large number of small and medium-sized businesses, particularly in the services sector. Low business taxes - a flat tax of 12.5% on income is applied - and easy incorporation rules have induced many holding companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein, providing 30% of state revenues.   The country participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency. It imports more than 90% of its energy requirements. Liechtenstein has been a member of the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between the European Free Trade Association and the EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated EU. As of 2015, 54% of Liechtenstein’s workforce consisted of cross-border commuters, largely from Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.   Since 2008, Liechtenstein has faced renewed international pressure - particularly from Germany and the US - to improve transparency in its banking and tax systems. In December 2008, Liechtenstein signed a Tax Information Exchange Agreement with the US. Upon Liechtenstein's conclusion of 12 bilateral information-sharing agreements, the OECD in October 2009 removed the principality from its "grey list" of countries that had yet to implement the organization's Model Tax Convention. By the end of 2010, Liechtenstein had signed 25 Tax Information Exchange Agreements or Double Tax Agreements. In 2011, Liechtenstein joined the Schengen area, which allows passport-free travel across 26 European countries. In 2015, Liechtenstein and the EU agreed to clamp down on tax fraud and evasion and in 2018 will start automatically exchanging information on the bank accounts of each other’s residents.Despite its small size and lack of natural resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital financial services sector and one of the highest per capita income levels in the world. The Liechtenstein economy is widely diversified with a large number of small and medium-sized businesses, particularly in the services sector. Low business taxes - a flat tax of 12.5% on income is applied - and easy incorporation rules have induced many holding companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein, providing 30% of state revenues. The country participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency. It imports more than 90% of its energy requirements. Liechtenstein has been a member of the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between the European Free Trade Association and the EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated EU. As of 2015, 54% of Liechtenstein’s workforce consisted of cross-border commuters, largely from Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Since 2008, Liechtenstein has faced renewed international pressure - particularly from Germany and the US - to improve transparency in its banking and tax systems. In December 2008, Liechtenstein signed a Tax Information Exchange Agreement with the US. Upon Liechtenstein's conclusion of 12 bilateral information-sharing agreements, the OECD in October 2009 removed the principality from its "grey list" of countries that had yet to implement the organization's Model Tax Convention. By the end of 2010, Liechtenstein had signed 25 Tax Information Exchange Agreements or Double Tax Agreements. In 2011, Liechtenstein joined the Schengen area, which allows passport-free travel across 26 European countries. In 2015, Liechtenstein and the EU agreed to clamp down on tax fraud and evasion and in 2018 will start automatically exchanging information on the bank accounts of each other’s residents. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $4.978 billion (2014 est.) $3.2 billion (2009 est.) $3.216 billion (2008 est.) Real GDP growth rate: 1.8% (2012 est.) -0.5% (2011 est.) 3.1% (2007 est.) Real GDP per capita: $139,100 (2009 est.) $90,100 (2008 est.) $91,300 (2007 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $6.672 billion (2014 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.4% (2016 est.) -0.2% (2013) Credit ratings: Standard & Poors rating: AAA (1996) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 7% (2014) industry: 41% (2014) services: 52% (2014) Agricultural products: wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products Industries: electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instruments Industrial production growth rate: NA Labor force: 38,520 (2015 est.) (2012) note: 51% of the labor force in Liechtenstein commute daily from Austria, Switzerland, and Germany Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 0.8% industry: 36.9% services: 62.3% (2015) Unemployment rate: 2.4% (2015) 2.4% (2014) Population below poverty line: NA Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 995.3 million (2012 est.) expenditures: 890.4 million (2011 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 1.6% (of GDP) (2012 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 14.9% (of GDP) (2012 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Exports: $3.217 billion (2015 est.) $3.774 billion (2014 est.) note: trade data exclude trade with Switzerland Exports - commodities: small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical products Imports: $2.23 billion (2014 est.) note: trade data exclude trade with Switzerland Imports - commodities: agricultural products, raw materials, energy products, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles Debt - external: $0 (2015 est.) note: public external debt only; private external debt unavailable Exchange rates: Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - 0.9875 (2017 est.) 0.9852 (2016 est.) 0.9852 (2015 est.) 0.9627 (2014 est.) 0.9152 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 12,607 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 48,887 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 128 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: automatic telephone system; 44 Internet service providers in Liechtenstein and Switzerland combined; FttP (fiber to the home) penetration marketed 3rd highest in EU; fiber network reaches 3/4 of the population (2020) domestic: fixed-line roughly 33 per 100 and mobile-cellular services 128 per 100 (2020) international: country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: relies on foreign terrestrial and satellite broadcasters for most broadcast media services; first Liechtenstein-based TV station established August 2008; Radio Liechtenstein operates multiple radio stations; a Swiss-based broadcaster operates one radio station in Liechtenstein Internet country code: .li Internet users: total: 37,260 (2019 est.) percent of population: 98% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 18,050 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HB Pipelines: 434.5 km gas (2018) Railways: total: 9 km (2018) standard gauge: 9 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge (electrified) note: belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and Switzerland Roadways: total: 630 km (2019) Waterways: 28 km (2010) Merchant marine: total: 20 by type: bulk carrier 16, general cargo 1, other 3 (includes Switzerland) (2021) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: no regular military forces; the National Police is responsible for all matters relating to the safety and security of Liechtenstein Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: nonenone Illicit drugs: has strengthened money laundering controls, but money laundering remains a concern due to Liechtenstein's sophisticated offshore financial services sector

20220901

countries-eritrea

Topic: Photos of Eritrea Topic: Introduction Background: After independence from Italian colonial control in 1941 and 10 years of British administrative control, the UN established Eritrea as an autonomous region within the Ethiopian federation in 1952. Ethiopia's full annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years later sparked a violent 30-year struggle for independence that ended in 1991 with Eritrean rebels defeating government forces. Eritreans overwhelmingly approved independence in a 1993 referendum. ISAIAS Afwerki has been Eritrea's only president since independence; his rule, particularly since 2001, has been highly autocratic and repressive. His government has created a highly militarized society by pursuing an unpopular program of mandatory conscription into national service – divided between military and civilian service – of indefinite length. A two-and-a-half-year border war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 ended under UN auspices in December 2000. A subsequent 2007 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) demarcation was rejected by Ethiopia. More than a decade of a tense “no peace, no war” stalemate ended in 2018 after the newly elected Ethiopian prime minister accepted the EEBC’s 2007 ruling, and the two countries signed declarations of peace and friendship. Following the July 2018 peace agreement with Ethiopia, Eritrean leaders engaged in intensive diplomacy around the Horn of Africa, bolstering regional peace, security, and cooperation, as well as brokering rapprochements between governments and opposition groups. In November 2018, the UN Security Council lifted an arms embargo that had been imposed on Eritrea since 2009, after the UN Somalia-Eritrea Monitoring Group reported they had not found evidence of Eritrean support in recent years for Al-Shabaab. The country’s rapprochement with Ethiopia has led to a steady resumption of economic ties, with increased air transport, trade, tourism, and port activities, but the economy remains agriculture-dependent, and Eritrea is still one of Africa’s poorest nations. Despite the country's improved relations with its neighbors, ISAIAS has not let up on repression and conscription and militarization continue.After independence from Italian colonial control in 1941 and 10 years of British administrative control, the UN established Eritrea as an autonomous region within the Ethiopian federation in 1952. Ethiopia's full annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years later sparked a violent 30-year struggle for independence that ended in 1991 with Eritrean rebels defeating government forces. Eritreans overwhelmingly approved independence in a 1993 referendum. ISAIAS Afwerki has been Eritrea's only president since independence; his rule, particularly since 2001, has been highly autocratic and repressive. His government has created a highly militarized society by pursuing an unpopular program of mandatory conscription into national service – divided between military and civilian service – of indefinite length. A two-and-a-half-year border war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 ended under UN auspices in December 2000. A subsequent 2007 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) demarcation was rejected by Ethiopia. More than a decade of a tense “no peace, no war” stalemate ended in 2018 after the newly elected Ethiopian prime minister accepted the EEBC’s 2007 ruling, and the two countries signed declarations of peace and friendship. Following the July 2018 peace agreement with Ethiopia, Eritrean leaders engaged in intensive diplomacy around the Horn of Africa, bolstering regional peace, security, and cooperation, as well as brokering rapprochements between governments and opposition groups. In November 2018, the UN Security Council lifted an arms embargo that had been imposed on Eritrea since 2009, after the UN Somalia-Eritrea Monitoring Group reported they had not found evidence of Eritrean support in recent years for Al-Shabaab. The country’s rapprochement with Ethiopia has led to a steady resumption of economic ties, with increased air transport, trade, tourism, and port activities, but the economy remains agriculture-dependent, and Eritrea is still one of Africa’s poorest nations. Despite the country's improved relations with its neighbors, ISAIAS has not let up on repression and conscription and militarization continue.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 39 00 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 117,600 sq km land: 101,000 sq km water: 16,600 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania Land boundaries: total: 1,840 km border countries (3): Djibouti 125 km; Ethiopia 1,033 km; Sudan 682 km Coastline: 2,234 km (mainland on Red Sea 1,151 km, islands in Red Sea 1,083 km) Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually, heaviest June to September); semiarid in western hills and lowlands Terrain: dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending highlands, descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the northwest to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling plains Elevation: highest point: Soira 3,018 m lowest point: near Kulul within the Danakil Depression -75 m mean elevation: 853 m Natural resources: gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish Land use: agricultural land: 75.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 6.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 68.3% (2018 est.) forest: 15.1% (2018 est.) other: 9.8% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 210 sq km (2012) Population distribution: density is highest in the center of the country in and around the cities of Asmara (capital) and Keren; smaller settlements exist in the north and south as shown in this population distribution map Natural hazards: frequent droughts, rare earthquakes and volcanoes; locust swarmsvolcanism: Dubbi (1,625 m), which last erupted in 1861, was the country's only historically active volcano until Nabro (2,218 m) came to life on 12 June 2011frequent droughts, rare earthquakes and volcanoes; locust swarmsvolcanism: Dubbi (1,625 m), which last erupted in 1861, was the country's only historically active volcano until Nabro (2,218 m) came to life on 12 June 2011 Geography - note: strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest shipping lanes; Eritrea retained the entire coastline of Ethiopia along the Red Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993 Map description: Eritrea map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Red Sea.Eritrea map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Red Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 6,209,262 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Eritrean(s) adjective: Eritrean Ethnic groups: Tigrinya 50%, Tigre 30%, Saho 4%, Afar 4%, Kunama 4%, Bilen 3%, Hedareb/Beja 2%, Nara 2%, Rashaida 1% (2021 est.) note: data represent Eritrea's nine recognized ethnic groups Languages: Tigrinya (official), Arabic (official), English (official), Tigre, Kunama, Afar, other Cushitic languages Religions: Eritrean Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran, Sunni Muslim Demographic profile: Eritrea is a persistently poor country that has made progress in some socioeconomic categories but not in others. Education and human capital formation are national priorities for facilitating economic development and eradicating poverty. To this end, Eritrea has made great strides in improving adult literacy – doubling the literacy rate over the last 20 years – in large part because of its successful adult education programs. The overall literacy rate was estimated to be almost 74% in 2015; more work needs to be done to raise female literacy and school attendance among nomadic and rural communities. Subsistence farming fails to meet the needs of Eritrea’s growing population because of repeated droughts, dwindling arable land, overgrazing, soil erosion, and a shortage of farmers due to conscription and displacement. The government’s emphasis on spending on defense over agriculture and its lack of foreign exchange to import food also contribute to food insecurity.Eritrea has been a leading refugee source country since at least the 1960s, when its 30-year war for independence from Ethiopia began. Since gaining independence in 1993, Eritreans have continued migrating to Sudan, Ethiopia, Yemen, Egypt, or Israel because of a lack of basic human rights or political freedom, educational and job opportunities, or to seek asylum because of militarization. Eritrea’s large diaspora has been a source of vital remittances, funding its war for independence and providing 30% of the country’s GDP annually since it became independent.In the last few years, Eritreans have increasingly been trafficked and held hostage by Bedouins in the Sinai Desert, where they are victims of organ harvesting, rape, extortion, and torture. Some Eritrean trafficking victims are kidnapped after being smuggled to Sudan or Ethiopia, while others are kidnapped from within or around refugee camps or crossing Eritrea’s borders. Eritreans composed approximately 90% of the conservatively estimated 25,000-30,000 victims of Sinai trafficking from 2009-2013, according to a 2013 consultancy firm report.Eritrea is a persistently poor country that has made progress in some socioeconomic categories but not in others. Education and human capital formation are national priorities for facilitating economic development and eradicating poverty. To this end, Eritrea has made great strides in improving adult literacy – doubling the literacy rate over the last 20 years – in large part because of its successful adult education programs. The overall literacy rate was estimated to be almost 74% in 2015; more work needs to be done to raise female literacy and school attendance among nomadic and rural communities. Subsistence farming fails to meet the needs of Eritrea’s growing population because of repeated droughts, dwindling arable land, overgrazing, soil erosion, and a shortage of farmers due to conscription and displacement. The government’s emphasis on spending on defense over agriculture and its lack of foreign exchange to import food also contribute to food insecurity.Eritrea has been a leading refugee source country since at least the 1960s, when its 30-year war for independence from Ethiopia began. Since gaining independence in 1993, Eritreans have continued migrating to Sudan, Ethiopia, Yemen, Egypt, or Israel because of a lack of basic human rights or political freedom, educational and job opportunities, or to seek asylum because of militarization. Eritrea’s large diaspora has been a source of vital remittances, funding its war for independence and providing 30% of the country’s GDP annually since it became independent.In the last few years, Eritreans have increasingly been trafficked and held hostage by Bedouins in the Sinai Desert, where they are victims of organ harvesting, rape, extortion, and torture. Some Eritrean trafficking victims are kidnapped after being smuggled to Sudan or Ethiopia, while others are kidnapped from within or around refugee camps or crossing Eritrea’s borders. Eritreans composed approximately 90% of the conservatively estimated 25,000-30,000 victims of Sinai trafficking from 2009-2013, according to a 2013 consultancy firm report. Age structure: 0-14 years: 38.23% (male 1,169,456/female 1,155,460) 15-24 years: 20.56% (male 622,172/female 627,858) 25-54 years: 33.42% (male 997,693/female 1,034,550) 55-64 years: 3.8% (male 105,092/female 125,735) 65 years and over: 4% (2020 est.) (male 99,231/female 143,949) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 83.9 youth dependency ratio: 75.6 elderly dependency ratio: 8.3 potential support ratio: 12.1 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 20.3 years male: 19.7 years female: 20.8 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 1.03% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 27.04 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 6.69 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -10.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: density is highest in the center of the country in and around the cities of Asmara (capital) and Keren; smaller settlements exist in the north and south as shown in this population distribution map Urbanization: urban population: 42.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.67% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 1.035 million ASMARA (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 21.3 years (2010 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 Maternal mortality ratio: 480 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 41.5 deaths/1,000 live births male: 48.36 deaths/1,000 live births female: 34.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.85 years male: 64.25 years female: 69.53 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.58 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 8.4% (2010) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 73.2% of population rural: 53.3% of population total: 57.8% of population unimproved: urban: 26.8% of population rural: 46.7% of population total: 42.2% of population (2015 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 4.5% (2019) Physicians density: 0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2020) Hospital bed density: 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2011) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 44.5% of population rural: 7.3% of population total: 15.7% of population unimproved: urban: 55.5% of population rural: 92.7% of population total: 84.3% of population (2017 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.5% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 13,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <500 Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 5% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 7.5% (2020 est.) male: 14.7% (2020 est.) female: 0.2% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: NA Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 76.6% male: 84.4% female: 68.9% (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 8 years male: 8 years female: 7 years (2015) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 42.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.71 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 4.48 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually, heaviest June to September); semiarid in western hills and lowlands Land use: agricultural land: 75.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 6.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 68.3% (2018 est.) forest: 15.1% (2018 est.) other: 9.8% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 42.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.67% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 726,957 tons (2011 est.) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 31 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 1 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 550 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 7.315 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: State of Eritrea conventional short form: Eritrea local long form: Hagere Ertra local short form: Ertra former: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia etymology: the country name derives from the ancient Greek appellation "Erythra Thalassa" meaning Red Sea, which is the major water body bordering the country Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Asmara geographic coordinates: 15 20 N, 38 56 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name means "they [women] made them unite," which according to Tigrinya oral tradition refers to the women of the four clans in the Asmara area who persuaded their menfolk to unite and defeat their common enemy; the name has also been translated as "live in peace" Administrative divisions: 6 regions (zobatat, singular - zoba); 'Anseba, Debub (South), Debubawi K'eyyih Bahri (Southern Red Sea), Gash-Barka, Ma'ikel (Central), Semienawi K'eyyih Bahri (Northern Red Sea) Independence: 24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia) National holiday: Independence Day, 24 May (1991) Constitution: history: ratified by the Constituent Assembly 23 May 1997 (not fully implemented) amendments: proposed by the president of Eritrea or by assent of at least one half of the National Assembly membership; passage requires at least an initial three-quarters majority vote by the Assembly and, after one year, final passage by at least four-fifths majority vote by the Assembly Legal system: mixed legal system of civil, customary, and Islamic religious law International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Eritrea dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 20 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President ISAIAS Afwerki (since 8 June 1993); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government and is head of the State Council and National Assembly head of government: President ISAIAS Afwerki (since 8 June 1993) cabinet: State Council appointed by the president elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); the only election was held on 8 June 1993, following independence from Ethiopia (next election postponed indefinitely) election results: 1993: ISAIAS Afwerki elected president by the transitional National Assembly; percent of National Assembly vote - ISAIAS  Afwerki (PFDJ) 95%, other 5% Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly (Hagerawi Baito) (150 seats; 75 members indirectly elected by the ruling party and 75 directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms) elections: in May 1997, following the adoption of the new constitution, 75 members of the PFDJ Central Committee (the old Central Committee of the EPLF), 60 members of the 527-member Constituent Assembly, which had been established in 1997 to discuss and ratify the new constitution, and 15 representatives of Eritreans living abroad were formed into a Transitional National Assembly to serve as the country's legislative body until countrywide elections to form a National Assembly were held; although only 75 of 150 members of the Transitional National Assembly were elected, the constitution stipulates that once past the transition stage, all members of the National Assembly will be elected by secret ballot of all eligible voters; National Assembly elections scheduled for December 2001 were postponed indefinitely due to the war with Ethiopia, and as of late 2021, there was no sitting legislative body (2021) election results: NA Judicial branch: highest courts: High Court (consists of 20 judges and organized into civil, commercial, criminal, labor, administrative, and customary sections) judge selection and term of office: High Court judges appointed by the president subordinate courts: regional/zonal courts; community courts; special courts; sharia courts (for issues dealing with Muslim marriage, inheritance, and family); military courts Political parties and leaders: People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ [ISAIAS Afwerki] (the only party recognized by the government) International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS (observer), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Berhane Gebrehiwet SOLOMON (since 15 March 2011) chancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 319-1991 FAX: [1] (202) 319-1304 email address and website: embassyeritrea@embassyeritrea.org https://us.embassyeritrea.org/ Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Steven C. WALKER (since December 2019) embassy: 179 Alaa Street, Asmara mailing address: 7170 Asmara Place, Washington DC  20521-7170 telephone: [291] (1) 12-00-04 FAX: [291] (1) 12-75-84 email address and website: consularasmara@state.gov https://er.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) dividing the flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the lower one is blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold olive branch is centered on the hoist side of the red triangle; green stands for the country's agriculture economy, red signifies the blood shed in the fight for freedom, and blue symbolizes the bounty of the sea; the wreath-olive branch symbol is similar to that on the first flag of Eritrea from 1952; the shape of the red triangle broadly mimics the shape of the country note: one of several flags where a prominent component of the design reflects the shape of the country; other such flags are those of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, and Vanuatu National symbol(s): camel; national colors: green, red, blue National anthem: name: "Ertra, Ertra, Ertra" (Eritrea, Eritrea, Eritrea) lyrics/music: SOLOMON Tsehaye Beraki/Isaac Abraham MEHAREZGI and ARON Tekle Tesfatsion note: adopted 1993; upon independence from Ethiopia National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Asmara: A Modernist African City Topic: Economy Economic overview: Since formal independence from Ethiopia in 1993, Eritrea has faced many economic problems, including lack of financial resources and chronic drought. Eritrea has a command economy under the control of the sole political party, the People's Front for Democracy and Justice. Like the economies of many African nations, a large share of the population - nearly 80% in Eritrea - is engaged in subsistence agriculture, but the sector only produces a small share of the country's total output. Mining accounts for the lion's share of output.   The government has strictly controlled the use of foreign currency by limiting access and availability; new regulations in 2013 aimed at relaxing currency controls have had little economic effect. Few large private enterprises exist in Eritrea and most operate in conjunction with government partners, including a number of large international mining ventures, which began production in 2013. In late 2015, the Government of Eritrea introduced a new currency, retaining the name nakfa, and restricted the amount of hard currency individuals could withdraw from banks per month. The changeover has resulted in exchange fluctuations and the scarcity of hard currency available in the market.   While reliable statistics on Eritrea are difficult to obtain, erratic rainfall and the large percentage of the labor force tied up in military service continue to interfere with agricultural production and economic development. Eritrea's harvests generally cannot meet the food needs of the country without supplemental grain purchases. Copper, potash, and gold production are likely to continue to drive limited economic growth and government revenue over the next few years, but military spending will continue to compete with development and investment plans.Since formal independence from Ethiopia in 1993, Eritrea has faced many economic problems, including lack of financial resources and chronic drought. Eritrea has a command economy under the control of the sole political party, the People's Front for Democracy and Justice. Like the economies of many African nations, a large share of the population - nearly 80% in Eritrea - is engaged in subsistence agriculture, but the sector only produces a small share of the country's total output. Mining accounts for the lion's share of output. The government has strictly controlled the use of foreign currency by limiting access and availability; new regulations in 2013 aimed at relaxing currency controls have had little economic effect. Few large private enterprises exist in Eritrea and most operate in conjunction with government partners, including a number of large international mining ventures, which began production in 2013. In late 2015, the Government of Eritrea introduced a new currency, retaining the name nakfa, and restricted the amount of hard currency individuals could withdraw from banks per month. The changeover has resulted in exchange fluctuations and the scarcity of hard currency available in the market. While reliable statistics on Eritrea are difficult to obtain, erratic rainfall and the large percentage of the labor force tied up in military service continue to interfere with agricultural production and economic development. Eritrea's harvests generally cannot meet the food needs of the country without supplemental grain purchases. Copper, potash, and gold production are likely to continue to drive limited economic growth and government revenue over the next few years, but military spending will continue to compete with development and investment plans. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $9.702 billion (2017 est.) $8.953 billion (2016 est.) $8.791 billion (2015 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 5% (2017 est.) 1.9% (2016 est.) 2.6% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $1,600 (2017 est.) $1,500 (2016 est.) $1,500 (2015 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $5.813 billion (2017 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% (2017 est.) 9% (2016 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 11.7% (2017 est.) industry: 29.6% (2017 est.) services: 58.7% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 80.9% (2017 est.) government consumption: 24.3% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 6.4% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 10.9% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -22.5% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: sorghum, milk, vegetables, barley, cereals, pulses nes, roots/tubers nes, wheat, millet, beef Industries: food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles, light manufacturing, salt, cement Industrial production growth rate: 5.4% (2017 est.) Labor force: 2.71 million (2017 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 80% industry: 20% (2004 est.) Unemployment rate: 5.8% (2017 est.) 10% (2016 est.) Population below poverty line: 50% (2004 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 2.029 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 2.601 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -9.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 131.2% of GDP (2017 est.) 132.8% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 34.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$137 million (2017 est.) -$105 million (2016 est.) Exports: $624.3 million (2017 est.) $485.4 million (2016 est.) Exports - partners: China 62%, South Korea 28.3% (2017) Exports - commodities: gold and other minerals, livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small industry manufactures Imports: $1.127 billion (2017 est.) $1.048 billion (2016 est.) Imports - partners: UAE 14.5%, China 13.2%, Saudi Arabia 13.2%, Italy 12.9%, Turkey 5.6%, South Africa 4.6% (2017) Imports - commodities: machinery, petroleum products, food, manufactured goods Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $236.7 million (31 December 2017 est.) $218.4 million (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $792.7 million (31 December 2017 est.) $875.6 million (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: nakfa (ERN) per US dollar - 15.38 (2017 est.) 15.375 (2016 est.) 15.375 (2015 est.) 15.375 (2014 est.) 15.375 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 47% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 95% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 13% (2019) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 228,000 kW (2020 est.) consumption: 394.46 million kWh (2019 est.) exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.) imports: 0 kWh (2019 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 61 million kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 93.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 5.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 5,200 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 3,897 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 798,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 798,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 3.217 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 66,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 1.801 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 51 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Eritrea’s telecom sector operates under a state-owned monopoly for fixed and mobile services; the country has the least developed telecommunications market in Africa; mobile subscriptions stands at only about 20%, while fixed-line internet use barely registers; this is exacerbated by the very low use of computers, with only about 4% of households having a computer, and most of these being in the capital, Asmara; the provision of internet services is open to competition, about 2% of households have access to the internet; the national telco, the Eritrean Telecommunication Services Corporation (EriTel), continues to roll out a 3G network which provides basic internet access to the majority or Eritreans; considerable investment in telecom infrastructure is still required to improve the quality of services; the government has embarked on a work program aimed at extending services to remote areas, improving the quality of services, and ensuring that more telecoms infrastructure is supported by solar power to compensate for the poor state of the electricity network; additional foreign investment in telecom infrastructure, as well as introduction of more competition, would help transform what remains a virtually untapped market. (2021) domestic: fixed-line subscribership is less than 2 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular is just over 20 per 100 (2019) international: country code - 291 (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: government controls broadcast media with private ownership prohibited; 1 state-owned TV station; state-owned radio operates 2 networks; purchases of satellite dishes and subscriptions to international broadcast media are permitted (2019) Internet country code: .er Internet users: total: 53,200 (2019 est.) percent of population: 1% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 5,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.1 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 102,729 (2018) Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: E3 Airports: total: 13 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 9 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2021) Heliports: 1 (2021) Railways: total: 306 km (2018) narrow gauge: 306 km (2018) 0.950-m gauge Roadways: total: 16,000 km (2018) paved: 1,600 km (2000) unpaved: 14,400 km (2000) Merchant marine: total: 9 by type: general cargo 4, oil tanker 1, other 4 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Assab, Massawa Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Eritrean Defense Forces: Eritrean Ground Forces, Eritrean Navy, Eritrean Air Force (includes Air Defense Force) (2022) Military expenditures: 10% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $640 million) 10.2% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $630 million) 10.3% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $630 million) 10.4% of GDP (2016 est.) (approximately $640 million) 10.6% of GDP (2015 est.) (approximately $600 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: limited available information; estimated 150,000-200,000 personnel, including about 2,000 in the naval and air forces (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Eritrean Defense Forces inventory is comprised primarily of older Russian and Soviet-era systems; Eritrea was under a UN arms embargo from 2009 to 2018; from the 1990s to 2008, Russia was the leading supplier of arms to Eritrea, followed by Belarus; in 2019, Eritrea expressed interest in purchasing Russian arms, including missile boats, helicopters, and small arms (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-40 years of age for male and female voluntary and compulsory military service (18-27 for female conscription); 18-month conscript service obligation, which includes 4-6 months of military training and one‐year of military or other national service (military service is most common); note - in practice, military service reportedly is often extended indefinitely (2021) note: as of 2020, women reportedly made up as much as 30% of the Eritrean military Military - note: in 2020-2021, the EDF assisted the Ethiopian Government in its war with the Tigray regional government, providing ground forces and combat aircraft; during the fighting, the EDF was accused of committing human rights abuses against civiliansin 2020-2021, the EDF assisted the Ethiopian Government in its war with the Tigray regional government, providing ground forces and combat aircraft; during the fighting, the EDF was accused of committing human rights abuses against civilians Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by 2002 Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision, but neither party responded to the revised line detailed in the November 2006 EEBC Demarcation Statement; Sudan accuses Eritrea of supporting eastern Sudanese rebel groups; in 2008, Eritrean troops moved across the border on Ras Doumera peninsula and occupied Doumera Island with undefined sovereignty in the Red SeaEritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by 2002 Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision, but neither party responded to the revised line detailed in the November 2006 EEBC Demarcation Statement; Sudan accuses Eritrea of supporting eastern Sudanese rebel groups; in 2008, Eritrean troops moved across the border on Ras Doumera peninsula and occupied Doumera Island with undefined sovereignty in the Red Sea Trafficking in persons: current situation: human traffickers export domestic victims in Eritrea or abroad; National Service is mandatory at age 18 and may take a variety of forms, including military service and physical labor but also government office jobs and teaching; Eritreans who flee the country, usually with the aim of reaching Europe, seek the help of paid smugglers and are vulnerable to trafficking when they cross the border clandestinely into Sudan, Ethiopia, and to a lesser extent Djibouti; Eritreans are subject to forced labor and sex trafficking mainly in Sudan, Ethiopia, and Libya tier rating: Tier 3 — Eritrea does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government engaged in critical bilateral and multilateral partnerships to build its capacity for anti-trafficking initiatives; officials participated in a UN-sponsored regional anti-trafficking workshop and committed to produce a regional plan of action to combat trafficking; however, a government policy or pattern of forced labor existed; the government continued to subject its nationals to forced labor in its compulsory national service and citizen militia by forcing them to serve indefinitely or for arbitrary periods; authorities did not report any trafficking investigations, prosecutions, or convictions, including complicit government employees, nor did they report identifying victims and referring them to care; the government has no action plan to combat human trafficking (2020)

20220901

countries-sweden-summaries

Topic: Introduction Background: A military power during the 17th century, Sweden has not participated in any war for two centuries. An armed neutrality was preserved in both World Wars. Since then, Sweden has pursued a successful economic formula consisting of a capitalist system intermixed with substantial welfare elements.A military power during the 17th century, Sweden has not participated in any war for two centuries. An armed neutrality was preserved in both World Wars. Since then, Sweden has pursued a successful economic formula consisting of a capitalist system intermixed with substantial welfare elements. Topic: Geography Area: total: 450,295 sq km land: 410,335 sq km water: 39,960 sq km Climate: temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north Natural resources: iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber, hydropower Topic: People and Society Population: 10,483,647 (2022 est.) Ethnic groups: Swedish 80.3%, Syrian 1.9%, Iraqi 1.4%, Finnish 1.4%, other 15% (2020 est.)Swedish 80.3%, Syrian 1.9%, Iraqi 1.4%, Finnish 1.4%, other 15% Languages: Swedish (official) Religions: Church of Sweden (Lutheran) 57.6%, other (includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist) 8.9%, none or unspecified 33.5% (2019 est.) Population growth rate: 0.5% (2022 est.) Topic: Government Government type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy Capital: name: Stockholm Executive branch: chief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 15 September 1973); Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree (daughter of the monarch, born 14 July 1977) head of government: Prime Minister Magdalena ANDERSSON (since 30 November 2021); Deputy Prime Minister Morgan JOHANSSON (since 10 September 2019) Legislative branch: description: unicameral Parliament or Riksdag (349 seats; 310 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by open party-list proportional representation vote and 39 members in "at-large" seats directly elected by open party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) Topic: Economy Economic overview: small, open, competitive, and thriving economy that remains outside of the euro zone; has achieved an enviable standard of living, with its combination of free-market capitalism and extensive welfare benefitssmall, open, competitive, and thriving economy that remains outside of the euro zone; has achieved an enviable standard of living, with its combination of free-market capitalism and extensive welfare benefits Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $524.75 billion (2020 est.) Real GDP per capita: $50,700 (2020 est.) Agricultural products: wheat, milk, sugar beet, barley, potatoes, oats, rapeseed, pork, rye, triticale Industries: iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles Exports: $240.08 billion (2020 est.) Exports - partners: Germany 10%, Norway 9%, United States 8%, Denmark 7%, Finland 6%, United Kingdom 5%, Netherlands 5%, China 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: cars and vehicle parts, packaged medicines, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, lumber (2019) Imports: $217.68 billion (2020 est.) Imports - partners: Germany 18%, Netherlands 9%, Denmark 7%, Norway 7%, China 6%, Finland 5%, Belgium 5%, Poland 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: cars and vehicle parts, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, computers (2019)Page last updated: Friday, May 13, 2022

20220901

field-gini-index-coefficient-distribution-of-family-income-country-comparison

20220901

countries-argentina-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise normal precautions in Argentina. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws, and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport is valid at the date of their entering the country. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required as long as the stay is less than 90 days. US Embassy/Consulate: [54] (11) 5777-4533; US Embassy in Buenos Aires, Avenida Colombia 4300, (C1425GMN) Buenos Aires, Argentina; https://ar.usembassy.gov/; buenosaires-acs@state.gov Telephone Code: 54 Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 101; Fire: 107; Police: 101 Vaccinations: An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations. http://www.who.int/ Climate: mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest Currency (Code): Pesos (ARS); USD accepted Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 220 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, I Major Languages: Spanish, Italian, English, German, French, Indigenous (Mapudungun, Quechua) Major Religions: Roman Catholic 62.9%, Evangelical 15.3% Time Difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested; additionally, if you plan to drive in Argentina, you will need an Inter-American Driving Permit issued by the AAA Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Buenos Aires; Mar Del Plata; Iguazú Falls; Bariloche (fishing, hiking, and skiing); Mendoza (vineyards, Cerro Aconcagua); Patagonia (includes Perito Moreno Glacier, Cerro Chaltén, Puerto Madryn and the Valdés Peninsula; Tierra del Fuego National Park; Qhapaq Nan/Andean Road System Major Sports: Pato (mix between polo and basketball), soccer, rugby Cultural Practices: Hitting the palm of the left hand with the right fist means “I don’t believe what you are saying” or “That’s stupid.” Tipping Guidelines: Tipping is not required, but common for good service. Conventionally, 10% tips are appropriate at restaurants, and leaving the change is normal for taxi cabs. Tip hotel doormen the equivalent of $1 (USD) per bag, and hotel maids the equivalent of $2-3 (USD) a day. A 10-20% tip for tour guides is appropriate. Souvenirs: Leather goods, wine, alpaca wool clothing, mate gourds, gaucho knives/other traditional gaucho gear Traditional Cuisine: Asado — cuts of beef, pork, chicken, or chorizo, and morcilla (blood sausage) that are barbecued on a grillPlease visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Wednesday, July 20, 2022

20220901

field-inflation-rate-consumer-prices-country-comparison

20220901

countries-faroe-islands

Topic: Photos of Faroe Islands Topic: Introduction Background: The population of the Faroe Islands, a self-governing dependency of Denmark, is largely descended from Viking settlers who arrived in the 9th century. The islands have been connected politically to Denmark since the 14th century. The Home Rule Act of 1948 granted a high degree of self-Government to the Faroese, who have autonomy over most internal affairs and external trade, while Denmark is responsible for justice, defense, and some foreign affairs. The Faroe Islands are not part of the European Union.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about halfway between Iceland and Norway Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 7 00 W Map references: Europe Area: total: 1,393 sq km land: 1,393 sq km water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams) Area - comparative: eight times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 1,117 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 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: highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m Natural resources: fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas Land use: agricultural land: 2.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0.1% (2018 est.) other: 97.8% (2018 est.) Population distribution: the island of Streymoy is by far the most populous with over 40% of the population; it has approximately twice as many inhabitants as Eysturoy, the second most populous island; seven of the inhabited islands have fewer than 100 people Natural hazards: strong winds and heavy rains can occur throughout the year 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 Map description: Faroe Islands map showing the many islands that make up this part of Denmark in the North Atlantic Ocean.Faroe Islands map showing the many islands that make up this part of Denmark in the North Atlantic Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 52,269 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Faroese (singular and plural) adjective: Faroese Ethnic groups: Faroese 85.3% (Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon descent), Danish 8.3%, other Nordic 1.4%, other 4.5% (includes Filipino, Poland, Romanian) (2022 est.) note: data represent respondents by country of birth Languages: Faroese 93.8% (derived from Old Norse), Danish 3.2%, other 3% (2011 est.) note:  data represent population by primary language Religions: Christian 89.3% (predominantly Evangelical Lutheran), other 1%, none 3.8%, unspecified 6% (2011 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 19.69% (male 5,247/female 4,920) 15-24 years: 13.89% (male 3,708/female 3,465) 25-54 years: 37.01% (male 10,277/female 8,828) 55-64 years: 12% (male 3,199/female 2,996) 65 years and over: 17.41% (2020 est.) (male 4,352/female 4,636) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Median age: total: 37.2 years male: 36.9 years female: 37.7 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.63% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 14.94 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 8.63 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: the island of Streymoy is by far the most populous with over 40% of the population; it has approximately twice as many inhabitants as Eysturoy, the second most populous island; seven of the inhabited islands have fewer than 100 people Urbanization: urban population: 42.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 21,000 TORSHAVN (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.17 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 5.99 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.61 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 81.26 years male: 78.73 years female: 83.97 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.29 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020) Current Health Expenditure: NA Physicians density: 2.62 physicians/1,000 population (2016) Hospital bed density: 4.2 beds/1,000 population (2016) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 8.2% of GDP (2017) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: coastal erosion, landslides and rockfalls, flash flooding, wind storms; oil spills Air pollutants: carbon dioxide emissions: 0.63 megatons (2016 est.) Climate: mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy Land use: agricultural land: 2.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0.1% (2018 est.) other: 97.8% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 42.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2017 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 61,000 tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 40,870 tons (2012 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 67% (2012 est.) Total renewable water resources: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Faroe Islands local long form: none local short form: Foroyar etymology: the archipelago's name may derive from the Old Norse word "faer," meaning sheep Government type: parliamentary democracy (Faroese Parliament); part of the Kingdom of Denmark Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948 Capital: name: Torshavn geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 6 46 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the meaning in Danish is Thor's harbor Administrative divisions: part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark; there are 29 first-order municipalities (kommunur, singular - kommuna) Eidhi, Eystur, Famjin, Fuglafjordhur, Fugloy, Hov, Husavik, Hvalba, Hvannasund, Klaksvik, Kunoy, Kvivik, Nes, Porkeri, Runavik, Sandur, Sjovar, Skalavik, Skopun, Skuvoy, Sorvagur, Sumba, Sunda, Torshavn, Tvoroyri, Vagar, Vagur, Vestmanna, Vidhareidhi Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) National holiday: Olaifest (Olavsoka) (commemorates the death in battle of King OLAF II of Norway, later St. OLAF), 29 July (1030) Constitution: history: 5 June 1953 (Danish Constitution), 23 March 1948 (Home Rule Act), and 24 June 2005 (Takeover Act) serve as the Faroe Islands' constitutional position in the Unity of the Realm amendments: see entry for Denmark Legal system: the laws of Denmark apply where applicable Citizenship: see Denmark Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Lene Moyell JOHANSEN, chief administrative officer (since 15 May 2017) head of government: Prime Minister Bardur A STEIG NIELSEN (since 16 September 2019) cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held on 31 August 2019 (next to be held in 2023) election results: Bardur A STEIGNIELSEN elected prime minister; Parliament vote - NA Legislative branch: description: unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (33 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) the Faroe Islands elect 2 members to the Danish Parliament to serve 4-year terms elections: Faroese Parliament - last held on 31 August 2019 (next to be held in 2023) Faroese seats in the Danish Parliament last held on 5 June 2019 (next to be held no later than June 2023) election results: Faroese Parliament percent of vote by party - People's Party 24.5%, JF 22.1%, Union Party 20.3%, Republic 18.1%, Center Party 5.4%, Progress Party 4.6%, Self-Government Party 3.4%, other 1.4%, seats by party - People's Party 8, JF 7, Union Party 7, Republic 6, Center Party 2, Progress Party 2, Self-Government Party 1, composition - men 25, women 8; percent of women 24.2% Faroese seats in Danish Parliament - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - JF 1, Republic 1; composition - men 2 Judicial branch: highest courts: Faroese Court or Raett (Rett - Danish) decides both civil and criminal cases; the Court is part of the Danish legal system subordinate courts: Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif; Mixed Commercial Court; Land Court Political parties and leaders: Center Party (Midflokkurin) [Jenis av RANA] People's Party (Folkaflokkurin) [Jorgen NICLASEN] Progress Party (Framsokn) [Poul MICHELSEN] Republic (Tjodveldi) [Hogni HOYDAL] (formerly the Republican Party) Self-Government Party (Sjalvstyri or Sjalvstyrisflokkurin) [Jogvan SKORHEIM] Social Democratic Party (Javnadarflokkurin) or JF [Aksel V. JOHANNESEN] Union Party (Sambandsflokkurin) [Bardur A STEIG NIELSEN] International organization participation: Arctic Council, IMO (associate), NC, NIB, UNESCO (associate), UPU Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: 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); referred to as Merkid, meaning "the banner" or "the mark," the flag resembles those of neighboring Iceland and Norway, and uses the same three colors - but in a different sequence; white represents the clear Faroese sky, as well as the foam of the waves; red and blue are traditional Faroese colors note: the blue on the flag is a lighter blue (azure) than that found on the flags of Iceland or Norway National symbol(s): ram; national colors: red, white, blue National anthem: name: "Mitt alfagra land" (My Fairest Land) lyrics/music: Simun av SKAROI/Peter ALBERG note: adopted 1948; the anthem is also known as "Tu alfagra land mitt" (Thou Fairest Land of Mine); as a self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark, the Faroe Islands are permitted their own national anthem Topic: Economy Economic overview: The Faroese economy has experienced a period of significant growth since 2011, due to higher fish prices and increased salmon farming and catches in the pelagic fisheries. Fishing has been the main source of income for the Faroe Islands since the late 19th century, but dependence on fishing makes the economy vulnerable to price fluctuations. Nominal GDP, measured in current prices, grew 5.6% in 2015 and 6.8% in 2016. GDP growth was forecast at 6.2% in 2017, slowing to 0.5% in 2018, due to lower fisheries quotas, higher oil prices and fewer farmed salmon combined with lower salmon prices. The fisheries sector accounts for about 97% of exports, and half of GDP. Unemployment is low, estimated at 2.1% in early 2018. Aided by an annual subsidy from Denmark, which amounts to about 11% of Faroese GDP , Faroese have a standard of living equal to that of Denmark. The Faroe Islands have bilateral free trade agreements with the EU, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Turkey.   For the first time in 8 years, the Faroe Islands managed to generate a public budget surplus in 2016, a trend which continued in 2017. The local government intends to use this to reduce public debt, which reached 38% of GDP in 2015. A fiscal sustainability analysis of the Faroese economy shows that a long-term tightening of fiscal policy of 5% of GDP is required for fiscal sustainability.   Increasing public infrastructure investments are likely to lead to continued growth in the short term, and the Faroese economy is becoming somewhat more diversified. Growing industries include financial services, petroleum-related businesses, shipping, maritime manufacturing services, civil aviation, IT, telecommunications, and tourism.The Faroese economy has experienced a period of significant growth since 2011, due to higher fish prices and increased salmon farming and catches in the pelagic fisheries. Fishing has been the main source of income for the Faroe Islands since the late 19th century, but dependence on fishing makes the economy vulnerable to price fluctuations. Nominal GDP, measured in current prices, grew 5.6% in 2015 and 6.8% in 2016. GDP growth was forecast at 6.2% in 2017, slowing to 0.5% in 2018, due to lower fisheries quotas, higher oil prices and fewer farmed salmon combined with lower salmon prices. The fisheries sector accounts for about 97% of exports, and half of GDP. Unemployment is low, estimated at 2.1% in early 2018. Aided by an annual subsidy from Denmark, which amounts to about 11% of Faroese GDP , Faroese have a standard of living equal to that of Denmark. The Faroe Islands have bilateral free trade agreements with the EU, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Turkey. For the first time in 8 years, the Faroe Islands managed to generate a public budget surplus in 2016, a trend which continued in 2017. The local government intends to use this to reduce public debt, which reached 38% of GDP in 2015. A fiscal sustainability analysis of the Faroese economy shows that a long-term tightening of fiscal policy of 5% of GDP is required for fiscal sustainability. Increasing public infrastructure investments are likely to lead to continued growth in the short term, and the Faroese economy is becoming somewhat more diversified. Growing industries include financial services, petroleum-related businesses, shipping, maritime manufacturing services, civil aviation, IT, telecommunications, and tourism. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $2.001 billion (2014 est.) $1.89 billion (2013 est.) $1.608 billion (2012 est.) Real GDP growth rate: 5.9% (2017 est.) 7.5% (2016 est.) 2.4% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $40,000 (2014 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $2.765 billion (2014 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.3% (2016) -1.7% (2015) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 18% (2013 est.) industry: 39% (2013 est.) services: 43% (2013 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 52% (2013) government consumption: 29.6% (2013) investment in fixed capital: 18.4% (2013) Agricultural products: potatoes, mutton, sheep skins, sheep offals, beef, sheep fat, cattle offals, cattle hides, cattle fat Industries: fishing, fish processing, tourism, small ship repair and refurbishment, handicrafts Industrial production growth rate: 3.4% (2009 est.) Labor force: 27,540 (2017 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 15% industry: 15% services: 70% (December 2016 est.) Unemployment rate: 2.2% (2017 est.) 3.4% (2016 est.) Population below poverty line: 10% (2015 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 22.7 (2013 est.) 21.6 (2011 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 835.6 million (2014 est.) expenditures: 883.8 million (2014) note: Denmark supplies the Faroe Islands with almost one-third of its public funds Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -1.7% (of GDP) (2014 est.) Public debt: 35% of GDP (2014 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 30.2% (of GDP) (2014 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Exports: $1.184 billion (2016 est.) $1.019 billion (2015 est.) Exports - partners: Russia 26.4%, UK 14.1%, Germany 8.4%, China 7.9%, Spain 6.8%, Denmark 6.2%, US 4.7%, Poland 4.4%, Norway 4.1% (2017) Exports - commodities: fish and fish products (97%) (2017 est.) Imports: $978.4 million (2016 est.) $906.1 million (2015 est.) Imports - partners: Denmark 33%, China 10.7%, Germany 7.6%, Poland 6.8%, Norway 6.7%, Ireland 5%, Chile 4.3% (2017) Imports - commodities: goods for household consumption, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, raw materials and semi-manufactures, cars Debt - external: $387.6 million (2012) $274.5 million (2010) Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 6.586 (2017 est.) 6.7269 (2016 est.) 6.7269 (2015 est.) 6.7236 (2014 est.) 5.6125 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 307 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 285.5 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 128,300 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 54% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 31% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 16% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 4,600 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 4,555 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 15,341 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 59,213 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: good international and domestic communications; telecommunications network of high standards with excellent coverage throughout most parts of the country and at competitive prices (2020) domestic: roughly 31 per 100 teledensity for fixed-line and nearly 121 per 100 for mobile-cellular; both NMT (analog) and GSM (digital) mobile telephone systems are installed (2020) international: country code - 298; landing points for the SHEFA-2, FARICE-1, and CANTAT-3 fiber-optic submarine cables from the Faroe Islands, to Denmark, Germany, UK and Iceland; satellite earth stations - 1 Orion; (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments Broadcast media: 1 publicly owned TV station; the Faroese telecommunications company distributes local and international channels through its digital terrestrial network; publicly owned radio station supplemented by 3 privately owned stations broadcasting over multiple frequencies Internet country code: .fo Internet users: total: 47,703 (2019 est.) percent of population: 98% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 18,443 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) (registered in Denmark) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3 (registered in Denmark) Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: OY-H Airports: total: 1 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021) Roadways: total: 960 km (2017) paved: 500 km (2017) unpaved: 460 km (2017) note: those islands not connected by roads (bridges or tunnels) are connected by seven different ferry links operated by the nationally owned company SSL; 28 km of tunnels Merchant marine: total: 101 by type: container ships 6, general cargo 48, oil tanker 1, other 46 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Fuglafjordur, Torshavn, Vagur Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: no regular military forces or conscription (2021) Military - note: the Government of Denmark has responsibility for defense; as such, the Danish military’s Joint Arctic Command in Nuuk, Greenland is responsible for territorial defense of the Faroe Islands; the Joint Arctic Command has a contact element in the capital of Torshavn Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: because anticipated offshore hydrocarbon resources have not been realized, earlier Faroese proposals for full independence have been deferred; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim to UNCLOS that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nmbecause anticipated offshore hydrocarbon resources have not been realized, earlier Faroese proposals for full independence have been deferred; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim to UNCLOS that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm

20220901

field-taxes-and-other-revenues-country-comparison

20220901

countries-portugal-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to Portugal due to COVID-19. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 2 blank pages in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required as long as you do not stay in the country more than 89 days. US Embassy/Consulate: [351] (21) 727-3300; US Embassy Lisbon, Avenida das Forças Armadas, 1600-081 Lisboa, Portugal; conslisbon@state.gov; https://pt.usembassy.gov/ Telephone Code: 351 Local Emergency Phone: 112 Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations http://www.who.int/ Climate: Maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south Currency (Code): Euros (EUR) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, F Major Languages: Portuguese, Mirandese Major Religions: Roman Catholic 81%, other Christian 3.3%, other (includes Jewish, Muslim) 0.6% Time Difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March, ends last Sunday in October; note: Portugal h 2 time zones, including the Azores (UTC-1) Potable Water: Yes International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Lisbon (includes Belem Tower, Monument to the Discoveries, Oceanarium, Jeronimos Monastery, Sao Jorge Castle, Ajuda Palace); Palacio Nacional de Sintra; Convento do Cristo (Tomar); Guimaraes Castle Major Sports: Soccer, tennis Cultural Practices: The number 13 is considered unlucky in Portugal. It is best not to give 13 flowers in an arrangement as a gift. Tipping Guidelines: In tourist areas, if a service fee is not included in a restaurant bill, tip 10%. Tip 1-2 euros at the bar for good service. Tipping your tour guide and driver around 5 euros each day is appropriate. Taxi drivers in Portugal will not expect a tip, but if they turn up on time, share information about the country, and generally provide good service, rounding up the fare is common. Tip porters 1-2 euros per bag.Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Wednesday, January 12, 2022

20220901

countries-north-macedonia

Topic: Photos of North Macedonia Topic: Introduction Background: North Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in 1991 under the name of "Macedonia." Greek objection to the new country’s name, insisting it implied territorial pretensions to the northern Greek province of Macedonia, and democratic backsliding for several years stalled the country’s movement toward Euro-Atlantic integration. Immediately after Macedonia declared independence, Greece sought to block Macedonian efforts to gain UN membership if the name "Macedonia" was used. The country was eventually admitted to the UN in 1993 as "The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia," and at the same time it agreed to UN-sponsored negotiations on the name dispute. In 1995, Greece lifted a 20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalize relations, but the issue of the name remained unresolved and negotiations for a solution continued. Over time, the US and over 130 other nations recognized Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia. Ethnic Albanian grievances over perceived political and economic inequities escalated into a conflict in 2001 that eventually led to the internationally brokered Ohrid Framework Agreement, which ended the fighting and established guidelines for constitutional amendments and the creation of new laws that enhanced the rights of minorities. In January 2018, the government adopted a new law on languages, which elevated the Albanian language to an official language at the national level, with the Macedonian language remaining the sole official language in international relations. Relations between ethnic Macedonians and ethnic Albanians remain complicated, however. North Macedonia's pro-Western government has used its time in office since 2017 to sign a historic deal with Greece in June 2018 to end the name dispute and revive Skopje's NATO and EU membership prospects. This followed a nearly three-year political crisis that engulfed the country but ended in June 2017 following a six-month-long government formation period after a closely contested election in December 2016. The crisis began after the 2014 legislative and presidential election, and escalated in 2015 when the opposition party began releasing wiretapped material that revealed alleged widespread government corruption and abuse. Although an EU candidate since 2005, North Macedonia has yet to open EU accession negotiations. The country still faces challenges, including fully implementing reforms to overcome years of democratic backsliding and stimulating economic growth and development. In June 2018, Macedonia and Greece signed the Prespa Accord whereby the Republic of Macedonia agreed to change its name to the Republic of North Macedonia. Following ratification by both countries, the agreement went in to force on 12 February 2019. North Macedonia signed an accession protocol to become a NATO member state in February 2019.North Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in 1991 under the name of "Macedonia." Greek objection to the new country’s name, insisting it implied territorial pretensions to the northern Greek province of Macedonia, and democratic backsliding for several years stalled the country’s movement toward Euro-Atlantic integration. Immediately after Macedonia declared independence, Greece sought to block Macedonian efforts to gain UN membership if the name "Macedonia" was used. The country was eventually admitted to the UN in 1993 as "The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia," and at the same time it agreed to UN-sponsored negotiations on the name dispute. In 1995, Greece lifted a 20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalize relations, but the issue of the name remained unresolved and negotiations for a solution continued. Over time, the US and over 130 other nations recognized Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia. Ethnic Albanian grievances over perceived political and economic inequities escalated into a conflict in 2001 that eventually led to the internationally brokered Ohrid Framework Agreement, which ended the fighting and established guidelines for constitutional amendments and the creation of new laws that enhanced the rights of minorities. In January 2018, the government adopted a new law on languages, which elevated the Albanian language to an official language at the national level, with the Macedonian language remaining the sole official language in international relations. Relations between ethnic Macedonians and ethnic Albanians remain complicated, however.North Macedonia's pro-Western government has used its time in office since 2017 to sign a historic deal with Greece in June 2018 to end the name dispute and revive Skopje's NATO and EU membership prospects. This followed a nearly three-year political crisis that engulfed the country but ended in June 2017 following a six-month-long government formation period after a closely contested election in December 2016. The crisis began after the 2014 legislative and presidential election, and escalated in 2015 when the opposition party began releasing wiretapped material that revealed alleged widespread government corruption and abuse. Although an EU candidate since 2005, North Macedonia has yet to open EU accession negotiations. The country still faces challenges, including fully implementing reforms to overcome years of democratic backsliding and stimulating economic growth and development. In June 2018, Macedonia and Greece signed the Prespa Accord whereby the Republic of Macedonia agreed to change its name to the Republic of North Macedonia. Following ratification by both countries, the agreement went in to force on 12 February 2019. North Macedonia signed an accession protocol to become a NATO member state in February 2019.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southeastern Europe, north of Greece Geographic coordinates: 41 50 N, 22 00 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 25,713 sq km land: 25,433 sq km water: 280 sq km Area - comparative: slightly larger than Vermont; almost four times the size of Delaware Land boundaries: total: 838 km border countries (5): Albania 181 km; Bulgaria 162 km; Greece 234 km; Kosovo 160 km; Serbia 101 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: warm, dry summers and autumns; relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall Terrain: mountainous with deep basins and valleys; three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by the Vardar River Elevation: highest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,764 m lowest point: Vardar River 50 m mean elevation: 741 m Natural resources: low-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese, nickel, tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land Land use: agricultural land: 44.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 16.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 26.5% (2018 est.) forest: 39.8% (2018 est.) other: 15.9% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 1,280 sq km (2012) Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations Natural hazards: high seismic risks Geography - note: landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe Map description: North Macedonia map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries.North Macedonia map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries. Topic: People and Society Population: 2,130,936 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Macedonian(s) adjective: Macedonian Ethnic groups: Macedonian 58.4%, Albanian 24.3%, Turkish 3.9%, Romani 2.5%, Serb 1.3%, other 2.3%, persons for whom data were taken from administrative sources and no ethnic affiliation data was available 7.2% (2021 est.) note: Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 6.5–13% of North Macedonia’s population Languages: Macedonian (official) 61.4%, Albanian (official) 24.3%, Turkish 3.4%, Romani 1.7%, other (includes Aromanian (Vlach) and Bosnian) 2%, persons for whom data were taken from administrative sources and no language data was available 7.2% (2021 est.); note - data represent mother tongue; minority languages are co-official with Macedonian in municipalities where they are spoken by at least 20% of the population; Albanian is co-official in Tetovo, Brvenica, Vrapciste, and other municipalities; Turkish is co-official in Centar Zupa and Plasnica; Romani is co-official in Suto Orizari; Aromanian is co-official in Krusevo; Serbian is co-official in Cucer Sandevo major-language sample(s): Книга на Светски Факти, неопходен извор на основни информации. (Macedonian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Macedonian Orthodox 46.1%, Muslim 32.2%, other Christian 13.8%, other and non-believers 0.5%, unspecified 0.2%, persons for whom data were taken from administrative sources and no religious affiliation data was available 7.2% (2021 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 16.16% (male 177,553/female 165,992) 15-24 years: 12.65% (male 139,250/female 129,770) 25-54 years: 44.47% (male 480,191/female 465,145) 55-64 years: 12.55% (male 131,380/female 135,407) 65 years and over: 14.17% (2020 est.) (male 131,674/female 169,609) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 44.5 youth dependency ratio: 23.6 elderly dependency ratio: 20.9 potential support ratio: 4.8 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 39 years male: 38 years female: 40 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.12% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 10.45 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 9.61 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 0.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations Urbanization: urban population: 59.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 606,000 SKOPJE (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.55 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 26.9 years (2020 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 7 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 7.32 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.27 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.84 years male: 74.73 years female: 79.08 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.51 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 59.9% (2018/19) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99.7% of population rural: 99% of population total: 99.4% of population unimproved: urban: 0.3% of population rural: 1% of population total: 0.6% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 7.3% (2019) Physicians density: 2.87 physicians/1,000 population (2015) Hospital bed density: 4.3 beds/1,000 population (2017) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 98% of population total: 99.2% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 2% of population total: 0.8% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: (2018 est.) <.1% HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: (2018 est.) <500 HIV/AIDS - deaths: 300 (2018 est.) Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 22.4% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 0.9% (2018/19) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 0.3% women married by age 18: 7.5% (2019 est.) Education expenditures: NA Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.4% male: 99.1% female: 97.6% (2020) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2018) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 37% male: 35.2% female: 40% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: air pollution from metallurgical plants; Skopje has severe air pollution problems every winter as a result of industrial emissions, smoke from wood-buring stoves, and exhaust fumes from old cars Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 28.34 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 7.05 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 2.28 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: warm, dry summers and autumns; relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall Land use: agricultural land: 44.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 16.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 26.5% (2018 est.) forest: 39.8% (2018 est.) other: 15.9% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 59.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.15% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 796,585 tons (2016 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,434 tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 0.2% (2013 est.) Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 277.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 225,809,581.6 cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 329,217,707.7 cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 6.4 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of North Macedonia conventional short form: North Macedonia local long form: Republika Severna Makedonija local short form: Severna Makedonija former: Democratic Federal Macedonia, People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of Macedonia, Republic of Macedonia etymology: the country name derives from the ancient kingdom of Macedon (7th to 2nd centuries B.C.) Government type: parliamentary republic Capital: name: Skopje geographic coordinates: 42 00 N, 21 26 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: Skopje derives from its ancient name Scupi, the Latin designation of a classical era Greco-Roman frontier fortress town; the name may go back even further to a pre-Greek, Illyrian name Administrative divisions: 70 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina) and 1 city* (grad); Aracinovo, Berovo, Bitola, Bogdanci, Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica, Caska, Centar Zupa, Cesinovo-Oblesevo, Cucer Sandevo, Debar, Debarca, Delcevo, Demir Hisar, Demir Kapija, Dojran, Dolneni, Gevgelija, Gostivar, Gradsko, Ilinden, Jegunovce, Karbinci, Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kocani, Konce, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Makedonska Kamenica, Makedonski Brod, Mavrovo i Rostusa, Mogila, Negotino, Novaci, Novo Selo, Ohrid, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Skopje*, Sopiste, Staro Nagoricane, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Studenicani, Sveti Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica, Vrapciste, Zelenikovo, Zelino, Zrnovci Independence: 8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsed independence from Yugoslavia) National holiday: Independence Day, 8 September (1991), also known as National Day Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic, by the government, by at least 30 members of the Assembly, or by petition of at least 150,000 citizens; final approval requires a two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; amended several times, last in 2019 Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of North Macedonia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Stevo PENDAROVSKI (since 12 May 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Dimitar KOVACEVSKI (since 16 January 2022) cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Assembly by simple majority vote elections/appointments: president directly elected using a modified 2-round system; a candidate can only be elected in the first round with an absolute majority from all registered voters; in the second round, voter turnout must be at least 40% for the result to be deemed valid; president elected for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 April and 5 May 2019 (next to be held in 2024); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the Assembly; Dimitar KOVACEVSKI elected prime minister by the Assembly on 16 January 2022; Assembly vote - NA election results: Stevo PENDAROVSKI elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Stevo PENDAROVSKI (SDSM) 44.8%, Gordana SILJANOVSKA-DAVKOVA (VMRO-DPMNE) 44.2%, Blenim REKA (independent) 11.1%; percent of vote in second round - Stevo PENDAROVSKI 53.6%, Gordana SILJANOVSKA-DAVKOVA 46.4% Legislative branch: description: unicameral Assembly - Sobraine in Macedonian, Kuvend in Albanian (between 120 and 140 seats, currently 120; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed-list proportional representation vote; possibility of 3 directly elected in diaspora constituencies by simple majority vote provided there is sufficient voter turnout; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 15 July 2020 (next to be held in 2024) election results: percent of vote by party/coalition - We Can 35.9%, Renewal 34.6%, BDI 11.5%, AfA-Alternative 9%, The Left 4.1%, PDSh 1.5%, other 3.4%; seats by party/coalition - We Can 46, Renewal 44, BDI 15, AfA-Alternative 12, The Left 2, PDSh 1; composition - men 70, women 50, percent of women 41.7% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of 22 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the Judicial Council, a 7-member body of legal professionals, and appointed by the Assembly; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the Assembly for nonrenewable, 9-year terms subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Basic Courts Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Albanians or AfA [Ziadin SELA] Alternative (Alternativa) [Afrim GASHI] Besa Movement [Bilal KASAMI] Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSh [Menduh THACI] Democratic Union for Integration or BDI [Ali AHMETI] Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Hristijan MICKOSKI] Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - People's Party or VMRO-NP [Ljubco GEORGIEVSKI] Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Goran MILEVSKI] Renewal (VMRO-DPMNE coalition) [Maja MORACHANIN] Social Democratic Union of Macedonia or SDSM [Dimitar KOVACHEVSKI] The Left (Levica) [Dimitar APASIEV] Turkish Democratic Party of DPT [Beycan ILYAS] We Can (coalition includes SDSM/Besa/VMRO-NP, DPT, LDP) International organization participation: BIS, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (candidate country), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Vilma PETKOVSKA, Minister Counselor (since 16 March 2020) chancery: 2129 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 667-0501 FAX: [1] (202) 667-2131 email address and website: washington@mfa.gov.mk consulate(s) general: Chicago, Detroit, New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kate Marie BYRNES (since 12 July 2019) embassy: Str. Samoilova, Nr. 21, 1000 Skopje mailing address: 7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 telephone: [389] (2) 310-2000 FAX: [389] (2) 310-2499 email address and website: SkopjeACS@state.gov https://mk.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: a yellow sun (the Sun of Liberty) with eight broadening rays extending to the edges of the red field; the red and yellow colors have long been associated with Macedonia National symbol(s): eight-rayed sun; national colors: red, yellow National anthem: name: "Denes nad Makedonija" (Today Over Macedonia) lyrics/music: Vlado MALESKI/Todor SKALOVSKI note: written in 1943 and adopted in 1991, the song previously served as the anthem of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia while part of Yugoslavia National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid Region; Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians Topic: Economy Economic overview: Since its independence in 1991, Macedonia has made progress in liberalizing its economy and improving its business environment. Its low tax rates and free economic zones have helped to attract foreign investment, which is still low relative to the rest of Europe. Corruption and weak rule of law remain significant problems. Some businesses complain of opaque regulations and unequal enforcement of the law.   Macedonia’s economy is closely linked to Europe as a customer for exports and source of investment, and has suffered as a result of prolonged weakness in the euro zone. Unemployment has remained consistently high at about 23% but may be overstated based on the existence of an extensive gray market, estimated to be between 20% and 45% of GDP, which is not captured by official statistics.   Macedonia is working to build a country-wide natural gas pipeline and distribution network. Currently, Macedonia receives its small natural gas supplies from Russia via Bulgaria. In 2016, Macedonia signed a memorandum of understanding with Greece to build an interconnector that could connect to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline that will traverse the region once complete, or to an LNG import terminal in Greece.   Macedonia maintained macroeconomic stability through the global financial crisis by conducting prudent monetary policy, which keeps the domestic currency pegged to the euro, and inflation at a low level. However, in the last two years, the internal political crisis has hampered economic performance, with GDP growth slowing in 2016 and 2017, and both domestic private and public investments declining. Fiscal policies were lax, with unproductive public expenditures, including subsidies and pension increases, and rising guarantees for the debt of state owned enterprises, and fiscal targets were consistently missed. In 2017, public debt stabilized at about 47% of GDP, still relatively low compared to its Western Balkan neighbors and the rest of Europe.Since its independence in 1991, Macedonia has made progress in liberalizing its economy and improving its business environment. Its low tax rates and free economic zones have helped to attract foreign investment, which is still low relative to the rest of Europe. Corruption and weak rule of law remain significant problems. Some businesses complain of opaque regulations and unequal enforcement of the law. Macedonia’s economy is closely linked to Europe as a customer for exports and source of investment, and has suffered as a result of prolonged weakness in the euro zone. Unemployment has remained consistently high at about 23% but may be overstated based on the existence of an extensive gray market, estimated to be between 20% and 45% of GDP, which is not captured by official statistics. Macedonia is working to build a country-wide natural gas pipeline and distribution network. Currently, Macedonia receives its small natural gas supplies from Russia via Bulgaria. In 2016, Macedonia signed a memorandum of understanding with Greece to build an interconnector that could connect to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline that will traverse the region once complete, or to an LNG import terminal in Greece. Macedonia maintained macroeconomic stability through the global financial crisis by conducting prudent monetary policy, which keeps the domestic currency pegged to the euro, and inflation at a low level. However, in the last two years, the internal political crisis has hampered economic performance, with GDP growth slowing in 2016 and 2017, and both domestic private and public investments declining. Fiscal policies were lax, with unproductive public expenditures, including subsidies and pension increases, and rising guarantees for the debt of state owned enterprises, and fiscal targets were consistently missed. In 2017, public debt stabilized at about 47% of GDP, still relatively low compared to its Western Balkan neighbors and the rest of Europe. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $33.02 billion (2020 est.) $34.59 billion (2019 est.) $33.52 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars; Macedonia has a large informal sector that may not be reflected in these data Real GDP growth rate: 0% (2017 est.) 2.9% (2016 est.) 3.9% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $15,800 (2020 est.) $16,600 (2019 est.) $16,100 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $12.696 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.7% (2019 est.) 1.4% (2018 est.) 1.3% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BB+ (2019) Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2013) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 10.9% (2017 est.) industry: 26.6% (2017 est.) services: 62.5% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 65.6% (2017 est.) government consumption: 15.6% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 13.6% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 20.2% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 54% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -69% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: milk, grapes, wheat, potatoes, green chillies/peppers, cabbages, tomatoes, maize, barley, watermelons Industries: food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, iron, steel, cement, energy, pharmaceuticals, automotive parts Industrial production growth rate: -7.8% (2017 est.) Labor force: 793,000 (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 16.2% industry: 29.2% services: 54.5% (2017 est.) Unemployment rate: 17.29% (2019 est.) 20.7% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 37% male: 35.2% female: 40% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 21.6% (2018 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 34.2 (2017 est.) 35.2 (2014) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.7% highest 10%: 25% (2015 est.) Budget: revenues: 3.295 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 3.605 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -2.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 39.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 39.5% of GDP (2016 est.) note: official data from Ministry of Finance; data cover central government debt; this data excludes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; includes treasury debt held by foreign entitites; excludes debt issued by sub-national entities; there are no debt instruments sold for social funds Taxes and other revenues: 29% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$151 million (2017 est.) -$293 million (2016 est.) Exports: $7.18 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $7.78 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $7.61 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Germany 45%, Serbia 8%, Bulgaria 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: support catalysts, centrifuges, insulated wiring, vehicle parts, buses, seats (2019) Imports: $8.76 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $9.6 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $9.23 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: United Kingdom 14%, Germany 14%, Greece 8%, Serbia 8% (2019) Imports - commodities: platinum, refined petroleum, laboratory ceramics, cars, insulated wiring (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $2.802 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $2.755 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $9.065 billion (2019 est.) $9.398 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: Macedonian denars (MKD) per US dollar - 55.8 (2017 est.) 55.733 (2016 est.) 55.733 (2015 est.) 55.537 (2014 est.) 46.437 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 1.928 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 6,350,982,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 639 million kWh (2020 est.) imports: 2.965 billion kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 979 million kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 71.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 24.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 5.026 million metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 5.211 million metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 174,000 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 332 million metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 22,700 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 3,065 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 23,560 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 218.917 million cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 218.917 million cubic meters (2019 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 7.383 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 3.866 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 3.094 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 423,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 53.572 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 415,390 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 1,862,138 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 89 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: as part of the EU pre-accession process, North Macedonia has built closer economic ties with the Union which accounts for 77.5% of Macedonia’s exports and just over half of its imports; closer regulatory and administrative ties with European Commission (EC) institutions have done much to develop the telecom sector and prepare the market for the competitive environment encouraged in the EU; as part of EU integration legislation North Macedonia has implemented the principles of the EU’s regulatory framework for communications, established an independent regulator and set out several provisions to provide for a competitive telecom market, including wholesale access to the incumbent’s fixed-line network; although the fixed telephony market has been liberalized, the incumbent MakTel continues to dominate the sector; broadband services are widely available, with effective competition between DSL and cable platforms complemented by wireless broadband and a developing fiber sector; the number of DSL subscribers has continued to fall in recent years as customers are migrated to fiber networks; Macedonia’s mobile market is served by only two MNOs, MakTel and A1 Macedonia (known as One.Vip before a rebranding exercise in September 2019); the latter was formed from the merger of the local business units of Telekom Slovenije and Telekom Austria; A1 Macedonia in May 2016 was also merged with its sister company Blizoo, and so has been able to provide a full suite of converged services; Mtel, a subsidiary of Telekom Srbija, has also committed to launch mobile services by the end of 2022, a move which will break the duopoly; the MNOs are increasingly focused on expanding their 5G networks, seeking stronger coverage across North Macedonia’s high value urban areas; mobile data services are also becoming increasingly important following investments in LTE network rollouts and in upgrades to LTE-A technology. (2022) domestic: fixed-line roughly 19 per 100 and mobile-cellular 92 per 100 subscriptions (2019) international: country code - 389 note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: public service TV broadcaster Macedonian Radio and Television operates 3 national terrestrial TV channels and 2 satellite TV channels; additionally, there are 10 regional TV stations that broadcast nationally using terrestrial transmitters, 54 TV channels with concession for cable TV, 9 regional TV stations with concessions for cable TV; 4 satellite TV channels broadcasting on a national level, 21 local commercial TV channels, and a large number of cable operators that offer domestic and international programming; the public radio broadcaster operates over 3 stations; there are 4 privately owned radio stations that broadcast nationally; 17 regional radio stations, and 49 local commercial radio stations (2019) Internet country code: .mk Internet users: total: 1,678,750 (2020 est.) percent of population: 81% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 475,569 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: Z3 Airports: total: 10 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 under 914 m: 6 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Pipelines: 262 km gas, 120 km oil (2017) Railways: total: 925 km (2017) standard gauge: 925 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (313 km electrified) Roadways: total: 14,182 km (2017) (includes 290 km of expressways) paved: 9,633 km (2017) unpaved: 4,549 km (2017) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Army of the Republic of North Macedonia (ARSM; includes a General Staff and subordinate Operations Command, Logistic Support Command, Training and Doctrine Command, Center for Electronic Reconnaissance, Aviation Brigade, and Honor Guard Battalion) (2022) note: the Operations Command includes air, ground, special operations, support, and reserve forces Military expenditures: 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2020) 1.2% of GDP (2019) (approximately $310 million) 0.9% of GDP (2018) (approximately $280 million) 0.9% of GDP (2017) (approximately $250 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 6,000 active duty personnel (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of North Macedonia's Army consists mostly of Soviet-era equipment; since 2010, it has received small amounts of equipment from Ireland and Turkey (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2007 (2021) note: as of 2019, women made up about 8% of the military's full-time personnel Military - note: North Macedonia became the 30th member of NATO in 2020; as of 2022, Greece provided NATO's air policing mission for North Macedonia Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: North Macedonia-Albania: none identified North Macedonia-Greece: none identified North Macedonia-Kosovo: North Macedonia and Kosovo completed demarcation of their boundary in October 2009 North Macedonia-Serbia: none identifiedNorth Macedonia-Albania: none identifiedNorth Macedonia-Greece: none identifiedNorth Macedonia-Kosovo: North Macedonia and Kosovo completed demarcation of their boundary in October 2009North Macedonia-Serbia: none identified Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons: 553 (mid-year 2021) note: 539,091 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-July 2022) Illicit drugs: major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish; minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe; although not a financial center and most criminal activity is thought to be domestic, money laundering is a problem due to a mostly cash-based economy and weak enforcement

20220901

countries-saint-kitts-and-nevis

Topic: Photos of Saint Kitts and Nevis Topic: Introduction Background: Carib Indians occupied the islands of the West Indies for hundreds of years before the British and French began settlement in 1623. During the course of the 17th century, Saint Kitts became the premier base for English and French expansion into the Caribbean. The French ceded the territory to the UK in 1713. At the turn of the 18th century, Saint Kitts was the richest British Crown Colony per capita in the Caribbean, a result of the sugar trade. Although small in size and separated by only 3 km (2 mi) of water, Saint Kitts and Nevis were viewed and governed as different states until the late-19th century, when the British forcibly unified them along with the island of Anguilla. In 1967, the island territory of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla became an associated state of the UK with full internal autonomy. The island of Anguilla rebelled and was allowed to secede in 1971. The remaining islands achieved independence in 1983 as Saint Kitts and Nevis. In 1998, a referendum on Nevis to separate from Saint Kitts fell short of the two-thirds majority vote needed.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago Geographic coordinates: 17 20 N, 62 45 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 261 sq km (Saint Kitts 168 sq km; Nevis 93 sq km) land: 261 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 135 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin Climate: tropical, tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November) Terrain: volcanic with mountainous interiors Elevation: highest point: Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m Natural resources: arable land Land use: agricultural land: 23.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 19.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.5% (2018 est.) forest: 42.3% (2018 est.) other: 34.6% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 8 sq km (2012) Population distribution: population clusters are found in the small towns located on the periphery of both islands Natural hazards: hurricanes (July to October)volcanism: Mount Liamuiga (1,156 m) on Saint Kitts, and Nevis Peak (985 m) on Nevis, are both volcanoes that are part of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles, which extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the southhurricanes (July to October)volcanism: Mount Liamuiga (1,156 m) on Saint Kitts, and Nevis Peak (985 m) on Nevis, are both volcanoes that are part of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles, which extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the south Geography - note: smallest country in the Western Hemisphere both in terms of area and population; with coastlines in the shape of a baseball bat and ball, the two volcanic islands are separated by a 3-km-wide channel called The Narrows; on the southern tip of long, baseball bat-shaped Saint Kitts lies the Great Salt Pond; Nevis Peak sits in the center of its almost circular namesake island and its ball shape complements that of its sister island Map description: Saint Kitts and Nevis map shows a few of the major features on these two islands in the Caribbean Sea.Saint Kitts and Nevis map shows a few of the major features on these two islands in the Caribbean Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 54,488 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s) adjective: Kittitian, Nevisian Ethnic groups: African descent 92.5%, mixed 3%, White 2.1%, East Indian 1.5%, other 0.6%, unspecified 0.3% (2001 est.) Languages: English (official) Religions: Protestant 75.6% (includes Anglican 16.6%, Methodist 15.8%, Pentecostal 10.8%, Church of God 7.4%, Baptist 5.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 5.4%, Wesleyan Holiness 5.3%, Moravian 4.8%, Evangelical 2.1%, Brethren 1.7%, Presbyterian 0.3%), Roman Catholic 5.9%, Hindu 1.8%, Jehovah's Witness 1.4%, Rastafarian 1.3%, other 5%, none 8.8%, unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 19.87% (male 5,357/female 5,336) 15-24 years: 13.46% (male 3,504/female 3,741) 25-54 years: 43.64% (male 12,010/female 11,477) 55-64 years: 13.03% (male 3,527/female 3,485) 65 years and over: 10% (2020 est.) (male 2,540/female 2,844) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Median age: total: 36.5 years male: 36.7 years female: 36.3 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.61% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 12.24 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 7.27 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 1.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: population clusters are found in the small towns located on the periphery of both islands Urbanization: urban population: 31% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 14,000 BASSETERRE (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 8.35 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.69 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.08 years male: 74.63 years female: 79.58 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.76 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: 98.3% of population rural: 98.3% of population total: 98.3% of population unimproved: urban: 1.7% of population rural: 1.7% of population total: 1.7% of population (2015 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 5.4% (2019) Physicians density: 2.77 physicians/1,000 population (2018) Hospital bed density: 4.8 beds/1,000 population (2012) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 87.3% of population rural: 87.3% of population total: 87.3% of population unimproved: urban: 12.7% of population rural: 12.7% of population total: 12.7% of population (2017 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.5% (2018 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: (2018) <200 HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2018) <100 Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 22.9% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 2.6% of GDP (2015 est.) Literacy: total population: NA male: NA female: NA School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 17 years male: 16 years female: 19 years (2015) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion and silting affects marine life on coral reefs; water pollution from uncontrolled dumping of sewage Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 12.31 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.24 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.1 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: tropical, tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November) Land use: agricultural land: 23.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 19.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.5% (2018 est.) forest: 42.3% (2018 est.) other: 34.6% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 31% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 32,892 tons (2015 est.) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 15.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 200,000 cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 24 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis conventional short form: Saint Kitts and Nevis former: Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis etymology: Saint Kitts was, and still is, referred to as Saint Christopher and this name was well established by the 17th century (although who first applied the name is unclear); in the 17th century a common nickname for Christopher was Kit or Kitt, so the island began to be referred to as "Saint Kitt's Island" or just "Saint Kitts"; Nevis is derived from the original Spanish name "Nuestra Senora de las Nieves" (Our Lady of the Snows) and refers to the white halo of clouds that generally wreathes Nevis Peak note: Nevis is pronounced nee-vis Government type: federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm Capital: name: Basseterre geographic coordinates: 17 18 N, 62 43 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the French name translates as "low land" in English; the reference is to the city's low-lying location within a valley, as well as to the fact that the city is on the leeward (downwind) part of the island, and is thus a safe anchorage Administrative divisions: 14 parishes; Christ Church Nichola Town, Saint Anne Sandy Point, Saint George Basseterre, Saint George Gingerland, Saint James Windward, Saint John Capesterre, Saint John Figtree, Saint Mary Cayon, Saint Paul Capesterre, Saint Paul Charlestown, Saint Peter Basseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint Thomas Middle Island, Trinity Palmetto Point Independence: 19 September 1983 (from the UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 19 September (1983) Constitution: history: several previous (preindependence); latest presented 22 June 1983, effective 23 June 1983 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the total Assembly membership and assent of the governor general; amendments to constitutional provisions such as the sovereignty of the federation, fundamental rights and freedoms, the judiciary, and the Nevis Island Assembly also require approval in a referendum by at least two thirds of the votes cast in Saint Kitts and in Nevis Legal system: English common law International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 14 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Samuel W.T. SEATON (since 2 September 2015); note - SEATON was Acting Governor General from 20 May to 2 September 2015 head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Terrance DREW (since 6 August 2022); Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Geoffrey HANLEY (since 13 August 2022) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by governor general in consultation with prime minister elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by governor general Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly (14 or 15 seats, depending on inclusion of attorney general; 11 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 3 appointed by the governor general - 2 on the advice of the prime minister and the third on the advice of the opposition leader; members serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 5 August 2022 (next to be held on 2027) election results: percent of vote by party - SKNLP 44.4%, PLP 16.1%, PAM 16.2%, CCM 12.7%; seats by party - SKNLP 6, CCM 3, PLP 1, CCM 1 Judicial branch: highest courts: the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - consists of the Court of Appeal - headed by the chief justice and 4 judges - and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal is itinerant, traveling to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; High Court judges reside in the member states, with 2 assigned to Saint Kitts and Nevis; note - the ECSC in 2003 replaced the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) as the final court of appeal on Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Kitts and Nevis is also a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice judge selection and term of office: chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, an independent body of judicial officials; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62 subordinate courts: magistrates' courts Political parties and leaders: Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Mark BRANTLEY] Nevis Reformation Party or NRP [Janice DANIEL-HODGE] People's Action Movement or PAM [Shawn RICHARDS] People's Labour Party or PLP [Dr. Timothy HARRIS] Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party or SKNLP [Terrance DREW] International organization participation: ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Thelma Patricia PHILLIP-BROWNE (since 28 January 2016) chancery: 1203 19th St. NW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 686-2636 FAX: [1] (202) 686-5740 email address and website: info@embskn.com consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Kitts and Nevis Flag description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a broad black band bearing two white, five-pointed stars; the black band is edged in yellow; the upper triangle is green, the lower triangle is red; green signifies the island's fertility, red symbolizes the struggles of the people from slavery, yellow denotes year-round sunshine, and black represents the African heritage of the people; the white stars stand for the islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis, but can also express hope and liberty, or independence and optimism National symbol(s): brown pelican, royal poinciana (flamboyant) tree; national colors: green, yellow, red, black, white National anthem: name: "Oh Land of Beauty!" lyrics/music: Kenrick Anderson GEORGES note: adopted 1983 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park Topic: Economy Economic overview: The economy of Saint Kitts and Nevis depends on tourism; since the 1970s, tourism has replaced sugar as the economy’s traditional mainstay. Roughly 200,000 tourists visited the islands in 2009, but reduced tourism arrivals and foreign investment led to an economic contraction in the 2009-2013 period, and the economy returned to growth only in 2014. Like other tourist destinations in the Caribbean, Saint Kitts and Nevis is vulnerable to damage from natural disasters and shifts in tourism demand.   Following the 2005 harvest, the government closed the sugar industry after several decades of losses. To compensate for lost jobs, the government has embarked on a program to diversify the agricultural sector and to stimulate other sectors of the economy, such as export-oriented manufacturing and offshore banking. The government has made notable progress in reducing its public debt, from 154% of GDP in 2011 to 83% in 2013, although it still faces one of the highest levels in the world, largely attributable to public enterprise losses. Saint Kitts and Nevis is among other countries in the Caribbean that supplement their economic activity through economic citizenship programs, whereby foreigners can obtain citizenship from Saint Kitts and Nevis by investing there.The economy of Saint Kitts and Nevis depends on tourism; since the 1970s, tourism has replaced sugar as the economy’s traditional mainstay. Roughly 200,000 tourists visited the islands in 2009, but reduced tourism arrivals and foreign investment led to an economic contraction in the 2009-2013 period, and the economy returned to growth only in 2014. Like other tourist destinations in the Caribbean, Saint Kitts and Nevis is vulnerable to damage from natural disasters and shifts in tourism demand. Following the 2005 harvest, the government closed the sugar industry after several decades of losses. To compensate for lost jobs, the government has embarked on a program to diversify the agricultural sector and to stimulate other sectors of the economy, such as export-oriented manufacturing and offshore banking. The government has made notable progress in reducing its public debt, from 154% of GDP in 2011 to 83% in 2013, although it still faces one of the highest levels in the world, largely attributable to public enterprise losses. Saint Kitts and Nevis is among other countries in the Caribbean that supplement their economic activity through economic citizenship programs, whereby foreigners can obtain citizenship from Saint Kitts and Nevis by investing there. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.24 billion (2020 est.) $1.39 billion (2019 est.) $1.36 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 2.1% (2017 est.) 2.9% (2016 est.) 2.7% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $23,300 (2020 est.) $26,200 (2019 est.) $25,900 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $964 million (2017 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0% (2017 est.) -0.3% (2016 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 1.1% (2017 est.) industry: 30% (2017 est.) services: 68.9% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 41.4% (2017 est.) government consumption: 25.9% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 30.8% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 62.5% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -60.4% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: coconuts, tropical fruit, roots/tubers, vegetables, sweet potatoes, pulses, watermelons, carrots/turnips, eggs, tomatoes Industries: tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages Industrial production growth rate: 5% (2017 est.) Labor force: 18,170 (June 1995 est.) Unemployment rate: 4.5% (1997) Population below poverty line: NA Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 307 million (2017 est.) expenditures: 291.1 million (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 1.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 62.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 61.5% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 31.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$97 million (2017 est.) -$102 million (2016 est.) Exports: $610 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $53.9 million (2016 est.) Exports - partners: United States 69%, Germany 8%, Italy 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: low-voltage protection equipment, broadcasting equipment, measuring instruments, electric motor parts, electrical transformers (2019) Imports: $590 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $307.9 million (2016 est.) Imports - partners: United States 59%, Peru 6%, Germany 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, jewelry, ships, cars, poultry meats, cement (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $365.1 million (31 December 2017 est.) $320.5 million (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $201.8 million (31 December 2017 est.) $187.9 million (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2017 est.) 2.7 (2016 est.) 2.7 (2015 est.) 2.7 (2014 est.) 2.7 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 71,000 kW (2020 est.) consumption: 175.34 million kWh (2019 est.) exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 40 million kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 96.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 3.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 1,800 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 1,743 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 268,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 268,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 71.96 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 15,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 78,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 147 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: good interisland and international connections; broadband access; expanded FttP (Fiber to the Home) and LTE markets; regulatory development; telecom sector contributes greatly to the overall GDP; telecom sector is a growth area (2020) domestic: interisland links via ECFS; fixed-line teledensity about 33 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 148 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 1-869; landing points for the ECFS, Southern Caribbean Fiber and the SSCS submarine cables providing connectivity for numerous Caribbean Islands (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: the government operates a national TV network that broadcasts on 2 channels; cable subscription services provide access to local and international channels; the government operates a national radio network; a mix of government-owned and privately owned broadcasters operate roughly 15 radio stations (2019) Internet country code: .kn Internet users: total: 42,796 (2019 est.) percent of population: 81% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 30,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 56 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: V4 Airports: total: 2 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2021) Railways: total: 50 km (2008) narrow gauge: 50 km (2008) 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts for tourists Roadways: total: 383 km (2002) paved: 163 km (2002) unpaved: 220 km (2002) Merchant marine: total: 244 by type: bulk carrier 6, container ship 7, general cargo 45, oil tanker 53, other 133 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Basseterre, Charlestown Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Ministry of National Security: St. Kitts and Nevis Defense Force (SKNDF), St. Kitts and Nevis Coast Guard, the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (includes a paramilitary Special Services Unit) (2022) Military and security service personnel strengths: the SKNDF has approximately 400 personnel (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the SKNDF is lightly armed with equipment from Belgium, the UK, and the US (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service (under 18 with written parental permission); no conscription (2021) Military - note: St. Kitts joined the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) in 1984; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security (2022) Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Saint Kitts and Nevis-Venezuela: joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean SeaSaint Kitts and Nevis-Venezuela: joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea Illicit drugs: a transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbeana transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbean

20220901

countries-colombia

Topic: Photos of Colombia Topic: Introduction Background: Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged after the dissolution of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and Venezuela). A decades-long conflict between government forces, paramilitaries, and antigovernment insurgent groups heavily funded by the drug trade, principally the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), escalated during the 1990s. More than 31,000 former United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) paramilitaries demobilized by the end of 2006, and the AUC as a formal organization ceased to operate. In the wake of the paramilitary demobilization, illegal armed groups arose, whose members include some former paramilitaries. After four years of formal peace negotiations, the Colombian Government signed a final peace accord with the FARC in November 2016, which was subsequently ratified by the Colombian Congress. The accord calls for members of the FARC to demobilize, disarm, and reincorporate into society and politics. The accord also committed the Colombian Government to create three new institutions to form a 'comprehensive system for truth, justice, reparation, and non-repetition,' to include a truth commission, a special unit to coordinate the search for those who disappeared during the conflict, and a 'Special Jurisdiction for Peace' to administer justice for conflict-related crimes. Despite decades of internal conflict and drug-related security challenges, Colombia maintains relatively strong and independent democratic institutions characterized by peaceful, transparent elections and the protection of civil liberties.Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged after the dissolution of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and Venezuela). A decades-long conflict between government forces, paramilitaries, and antigovernment insurgent groups heavily funded by the drug trade, principally the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), escalated during the 1990s. More than 31,000 former United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) paramilitaries demobilized by the end of 2006, and the AUC as a formal organization ceased to operate. In the wake of the paramilitary demobilization, illegal armed groups arose, whose members include some former paramilitaries. After four years of formal peace negotiations, the Colombian Government signed a final peace accord with the FARC in November 2016, which was subsequently ratified by the Colombian Congress. The accord calls for members of the FARC to demobilize, disarm, and reincorporate into society and politics. The accord also committed the Colombian Government to create three new institutions to form a 'comprehensive system for truth, justice, reparation, and non-repetition,' to include a truth commission, a special unit to coordinate the search for those who disappeared during the conflict, and a 'Special Jurisdiction for Peace' to administer justice for conflict-related crimes. Despite decades of internal conflict and drug-related security challenges, Colombia maintains relatively strong and independent democratic institutions characterized by peaceful, transparent elections and the protection of civil liberties.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama Geographic coordinates: 4 00 N, 72 00 W Map references: South America Area: total: 1,138,910 sq km land: 1,038,700 sq km water: 100,210 sq km note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, and Serrana Bank Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas Land boundaries: total: 6,672 km border countries (5): Brazil 1,790 km; Ecuador 708 km; Panama 339 km; Peru 1,494 km; Venezuela 2,341 km Coastline: 3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km) Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation Climate: tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands Terrain: flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains (Llanos) Elevation: highest point: Pico Cristobal Colon 5,730 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 593 m Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower Land use: agricultural land: 37.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 34.5% (2018 est.) forest: 54.4% (2018 est.) other: 8.1% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 10,900 sq km (2012) Major rivers (by length in km): Rio Negro river source (shared with Venezuela and Brazil [m]) - 2,250 km; Orinoco (shared with Venezuela [s]) - 2,101 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km) Major aquifers: Amazon Basin Population distribution: the majority of people live in the north and west where agricultural opportunities and natural resources are found; the vast grasslands of the llanos to the south and east, which make up approximately 60% of the country, are sparsely populated Natural hazards: highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughtsvolcanism: Galeras (4,276 m) is one of Colombia's most active volcanoes, having erupted in 2009 and 2010 causing major evacuations; it 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; Nevado del Ruiz (5,321 m), 129 km (80 mi) west of Bogota, erupted in 1985 producing lahars (mudflows) that killed 23,000 people; the volcano last erupted in 1991; additionally, after 500 years of dormancy, Nevado del Huila reawakened in 2007 and has experienced frequent eruptions since then; other historically active volcanoes include Cumbal, Dona Juana, Nevado del Tolima, and Puracehighlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughtsvolcanism: Galeras (4,276 m) is one of Colombia's most active volcanoes, having erupted in 2009 and 2010 causing major evacuations; it 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; Nevado del Ruiz (5,321 m), 129 km (80 mi) west of Bogota, erupted in 1985 producing lahars (mudflows) that killed 23,000 people; the volcano last erupted in 1991; additionally, after 500 years of dormancy, Nevado del Huila reawakened in 2007 and has experienced frequent eruptions since then; other historically active volcanoes include Cumbal, Dona Juana, Nevado del Tolima, and Purace Geography - note: only South American country with coastlines on both the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea Map description: Colombia map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the North Pacific Ocean.Colombia map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the North Pacific Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 49,059,221 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Colombian(s) adjective: Colombian Ethnic groups: Mestizo and White 87.6%, Afro-Colombian (includes Mulatto, Raizal, and Palenquero) 6.8%, Amerindian 4.3%, unspecified 1.4% (2018 est.) Languages: Spanish (official) and 65 Amerindian languages major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Christian 92.3% (predominantly Roman Catholic), other 1%, unspecified 6.7% (2020 est.) Demographic profile: Colombia is in the midst of a demographic transition resulting from steady declines in its fertility, mortality, and population growth rates. The birth rate has fallen from more than 6 children per woman in the 1960s to just above replacement level today as a result of increased literacy, family planning services, and urbanization. However, income inequality is among the worst in the world, and more than a third of the population lives below the poverty line.Colombia experiences significant legal and illegal economic emigration and refugee outflows. Large-scale labor emigration dates to the 1960s; the United States and, until recently, Venezuela have been the main host countries. Emigration to Spain picked up in the 1990s because of its economic growth, but this flow has since diminished because of Spain’s ailing economy and high unemployment. Colombia has been the largest source of Latin American refugees in Latin America, nearly 400,000 of whom live primarily in Venezuela and Ecuador. Venezuela’s political and economic crisis since 2015, however, has created a reverse flow, consisting largely of Colombians returning home.Forced displacement continues to be prevalent because of violence among guerrillas, paramilitary groups, and Colombian security forces. Afro-Colombian and indigenous populations are disproportionately affected. Even with the Colombian Government’s December 2016 peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the risk of displacement remains as other rebel groups fill the void left by the FARC. Between 1985 and September 2017, nearly 7.6 million persons have been internally displaced, the highest total in the world. These estimates may undercount actual numbers because many internally displaced persons are not registered. Historically, Colombia also has one of the world’s highest levels of forced disappearances. About 30,000 cases have been recorded over the last four decades—although the number is likely to be much higher—including human rights activists, trade unionists, Afro-Colombians, indigenous people, and farmers in rural conflict zones.Because of political violence and economic problems, Colombia received limited numbers of immigrants during the 19th and 20th centuries, mostly from the Middle East, Europe, and Japan. More recently, growth in the oil, mining, and manufacturing sectors has attracted increased labor migration; the primary source countries are Venezuela, the US, Mexico, and Argentina. Colombia has also become a transit area for illegal migrants from Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean -- especially Haiti and Cuba -- who are en route to the US or Canada.Colombia is in the midst of a demographic transition resulting from steady declines in its fertility, mortality, and population growth rates. The birth rate has fallen from more than 6 children per woman in the 1960s to just above replacement level today as a result of increased literacy, family planning services, and urbanization. However, income inequality is among the worst in the world, and more than a third of the population lives below the poverty line.Colombia experiences significant legal and illegal economic emigration and refugee outflows. Large-scale labor emigration dates to the 1960s; the United States and, until recently, Venezuela have been the main host countries. Emigration to Spain picked up in the 1990s because of its economic growth, but this flow has since diminished because of Spain’s ailing economy and high unemployment. Colombia has been the largest source of Latin American refugees in Latin America, nearly 400,000 of whom live primarily in Venezuela and Ecuador. Venezuela’s political and economic crisis since 2015, however, has created a reverse flow, consisting largely of Colombians returning home.Forced displacement continues to be prevalent because of violence among guerrillas, paramilitary groups, and Colombian security forces. Afro-Colombian and indigenous populations are disproportionately affected. Even with the Colombian Government’s December 2016 peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the risk of displacement remains as other rebel groups fill the void left by the FARC. Between 1985 and September 2017, nearly 7.6 million persons have been internally displaced, the highest total in the world. These estimates may undercount actual numbers because many internally displaced persons are not registered. Historically, Colombia also has one of the world’s highest levels of forced disappearances. About 30,000 cases have been recorded over the last four decades—although the number is likely to be much higher—including human rights activists, trade unionists, Afro-Colombians, indigenous people, and farmers in rural conflict zones.Because of political violence and economic problems, Colombia received limited numbers of immigrants during the 19th and 20th centuries, mostly from the Middle East, Europe, and Japan. More recently, growth in the oil, mining, and manufacturing sectors has attracted increased labor migration; the primary source countries are Venezuela, the US, Mexico, and Argentina. Colombia has also become a transit area for illegal migrants from Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean -- especially Haiti and Cuba -- who are en route to the US or Canada. Age structure: 0-14 years: 23.27% (male 5,853,351/female 5,567,196) 15-24 years: 16.38% (male 4,098,421/female 3,939,870) 25-54 years: 42.04% (male 10,270,516/female 10,365,423) 55-64 years: 9.93% (male 2,307,705/female 2,566,173) 65 years and over: 8.39% (2020 est.) (male 1,725,461/female 2,390,725) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 45.4 youth dependency ratio: 32.3 elderly dependency ratio: 13.2 potential support ratio: 7.6 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 31.2 years male: 30.2 years female: 32.2 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.59% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 15.21 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 7.73 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -1.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: the majority of people live in the north and west where agricultural opportunities and natural resources are found; the vast grasslands of the llanos to the south and east, which make up approximately 60% of the country, are sparsely populated Urbanization: urban population: 82% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 11.344 million BOGOTA (capital), 4.068 million Medellin, 2.837 million Cali, 2.325 million Barranquilla, 1.366 million Bucaramanga, 1.079 million Cartagena (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.85 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 21.7 years (2015 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Maternal mortality ratio: 83 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 11.65 deaths/1,000 live births male: 13.07 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.89 years male: 71.27 years female: 78.69 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.95 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 81% (2015/16) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 87.5% of population total: 97.7% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 12.5% of population total: 2.3% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 7.7% (2019) Physicians density: 2.33 physicians/1,000 population (2020) Hospital bed density: 1.7 beds/1,000 population (2018) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 99.1% of population rural: 87.7% of population total: 97% of population unimproved: urban: 0.9% of population rural: 12.3% of population total: 3% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.4% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 180,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 3,000 (2020 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Colombia; as of 18 August 2022, Columbia has reported a total of 6,286,392 cases of COVID-19 or 12,354.62 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 141,287 cumulative deaths or a rate 277.67 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 July 2022, 82.64% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 22.3% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 8.5% (2020 est.) male: 12.4% (2020 est.) female: 4.6% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3.7% (2015/16) Education expenditures: 4.5% of GDP (2019 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.6% male: 95.4% female: 95.9% (2020) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 25.8% male: 20.7% female: 33% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: deforestation resulting from timber exploitation in the jungles of the Amazon and the region of Chocó; illicit drug crops grown by peasants in the national parks; soil erosion; soil and water quality damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 15.24 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 97.81 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 81.52 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands Land use: agricultural land: 37.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 34.5% (2018 est.) forest: 54.4% (2018 est.) other: 8.1% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 82% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.1% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.75% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Colombia; as of 18 August 2022, Columbia has reported a total of 6,286,392 cases of COVID-19 or 12,354.62 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 141,287 cumulative deaths or a rate 277.67 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 July 2022, 82.64% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 12,150,120 tons (2011 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,089,821 tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 17.2% (2013 est.) Major rivers (by length in km): Rio Negro river source (shared with Venezuela and Brazil [m]) - 2,250 km; Orinoco (shared with Venezuela [s]) - 2,101 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km) Major aquifers: Amazon Basin Total water withdrawal: municipal: 3.49 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 3.73 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 6.391 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 2.36 trillion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Colombia conventional short form: Colombia local long form: Republica de Colombia local short form: Colombia etymology: the country is named after explorer Christopher COLUMBUS Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Bogota geographic coordinates: 4 36 N, 74 05 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: originally referred to as "Bacata," meaning "enclosure outside of the farm fields," by the indigenous Muisca Administrative divisions: 32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico, Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas, Caqueta, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainia, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindio, Risaralda, Archipielago de San Andres, Providencia y Santa Catalina (colloquially San Andres y Providencia), Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada Independence: 20 July 1810 (from Spain) National holiday: Independence Day, 20 July (1810) Constitution: history: several previous; latest promulgated 4 July 1991 amendments: proposed by the government, by Congress, by a constituent assembly, or by public petition; passage requires a majority vote by Congress in each of two consecutive sessions; passage of amendments to constitutional articles on citizen rights, guarantees, and duties also require approval in a referendum by over one half of voters and participation of over one fourth of citizens registered to vote; amended many times, last in 2020 Legal system: civil law system influenced by the Spanish and French civil codes International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: least one parent must be a citizen or permanent resident of Colombia dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (since 7 August 2022); Vice President Francia Elena MARQUEZ Mina (since 7 August 2022); the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (since 7 August 2022); Vice President Francia Elena MARQUEZ Mina (since 7 August 2022) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a single 4-year term; election last held on 29 May 2022 with a runoff held on 19 June 2022 (next to be held on 31 May 2026); note - political reform in 2015 eliminated presidential reelection election results: 2022: Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (PHxC) 40.3%, Rodolfo HERNANDEZ Suarez (LIGA) 28.2%, Federico GUTIERREZ (Team for Colombia / CREEMOS) 23.9%, other 7.6%; percent of vote in second round - Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (PHxC) 50.4%, Rodolfo HERNANDEZ Suarez (LIGA) 47.3% 2018: Ivan DUQUE Marquez elected president in second round; percent of vote - Ivan DUQUE Marquez (CD) 54%, Gustavo PETRO (Humane Colombia) 41.8%, other/blank/invalid 4.2% Legislative branch: description: bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of: Senate or Senado (108 seats; 100 members elected in a single nationwide constituency by party-list proportional representation vote, 2 members elected in a special nationwide constituency for indigenous communities, 5 members of the Commons political party, formerly the People's Alternative Revolutionary Force (FARC), for 2 legislative terms only: 2018-2022 and 2022-2026 as per the 2016 peace accord, and 1 seat reserved for the runner-up presidential candidate in the recent election; all members serve 4-year terms) Chamber of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (188 seats; 162 members elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote, 2 members elected in a special nationwide constituency for Afro-Colombians, 1 member elected by Colombians residing abroad, 1 member elected in a special nationwide constituency for the indigenous communities, 5 members of the Commons political party for two legislative terms only: 2018-2022 and 2022-2026 as per the 2016 peace accord, 16 seats for rural conflict victims for two legislative terms only: 2022-2026 and 2026-2030, and 1 seat reserved for the runner-up vice presidential candidate in the recent election; all members serve 4-year terms) elections:   Senate - last held on 13 March 2022 (next to be held in March 2026) Chamber of Representatives - last held on 13 March 2022 (next to be held in March 2026) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PHxC 16, PC 16, PL 15, Green Alliance and Center Hope Coalition 14, CD 14, CR 11, U Party 10, MIRA–Colombia Free and Just Coalition 4; composition - men 75, women 33, percent of women 31% Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PL 33, PHxC 28, PC 27, CR 18, CD 16, U Party 16, Green Alliance 14, League of Anticorruption Governors 2, others 34; composition - men 136, women 52, percent of women 28%; total Congress percent of women 29%Chamber of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (188 seats; 162 members elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote, 2 members elected in a special nationwide constituency for Afro-Colombians, 1 member elected by Colombians residing abroad, 1 member elected in a special nationwide constituency for the indigenous communities, 5 members of the Commons political party for two legislative terms only: 2018-2022 and 2022-2026 as per the 2016 peace accord, 16 seats for rural conflict victims for two legislative terms only: 2022-2026 and 2026-2030, and 1 seat reserved for the runner-up vice presidential candidate in the recent election; all members serve 4-year terms) Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of the Civil-Agrarian and Labor Chambers each with 7 judges, and the Penal Chamber with 9 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 magistrates); Council of State (consists of 27 judges); Superior Judiciary Council (consists of 13 magistrates) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the Supreme Court members from candidates submitted by the Superior Judiciary Council; judges elected for individual 8-year terms; Constitutional Court magistrates - nominated by the president, by the Supreme Court, and elected by the Senate; judges elected for individual 8-year terms; Council of State members appointed by the State Council plenary from lists nominated by the Superior Judiciary Council subordinate courts: Superior Tribunals (appellate courts for each of the judicial districts); regional courts; civil municipal courts; Superior Military Tribunal; first instance administrative courts Political parties and leaders: Alternative Democratic Pole or PDA [Alexander LOPEZ Maya] Citizens Option (Opcion Ciudadana) or OC [Angel ALIRIO Moreno] (formerly known as the National Integration Party or PIN) The Commons (formerly People's Alternative Revolutionary Force or FARC) [Rodrigo LONDONO Echeverry] Conservative Party or PC [Carlos Andres TRUJILLO] Democratic Center Party or CD [Alvaro URIBE Velez] Fair and Free Colombia Green Alliance [Claudia LOPEZ Hernandez] Historic Pact for Colombia or PHxC (coalition composed of several left-leaning political parties and social movements) Humane Colombia [Gustavo PETRO] Independent Movement of Absolute Renovation or MIRA [Carlos Eduardo GUEVARA] League of Anti-Corruption Rulers or LIGA [Rodolfo HERNANDEZ Suarez] Liberal Party or PL [Cesar GAVIRIA] People's Alternative Revolutionary Force or FARC [Rodrigo LONDONO Echeverry] Radical Change or CR [German VARGAS Lleras] Team for Colombia - also known as the Experience Coalition or Coalition of the Regions (coalition composed of center-right and right-wing parties) Union Party for the People or U Party [Dilian Francisca TORO] We Believe Colombia or CREEMOS [Federico GUTIERREZ] note: Colombia has numerous smaller political parties and movements International organization participation: BCIE, BIS, CAN, Caricom (observer), CD, CDB, CELAC, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-3, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance, PCA, PROSUR, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Juan Carlos PINZON Bueno (since August 2021) chancery: 1724 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338 FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643 email address and website: eestadosunidos@cancilleria.gov.co https://www.colombiaemb.org/ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Newark (NJ), Orlando, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Washington, DC consulate(s): Boston, Chicago, San Francisco Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Francisco L. PALMIERI (since 1 June 2022) embassy: Carrera 45, No. 24B-27, Bogota mailing address: 3030 Bogota Place, Washington DC  20521-3030 telephone: [57] (1) 275-2000 FAX: [57] (1) 275-4600 email address and website: ACSBogota@state.gov https://co.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red; the flag retains the three main colors of the banner of Gran Colombia, the short-lived South American republic that broke up in 1830; various interpretations of the colors exist and include: yellow for the gold in Colombia's land, blue for the seas on its shores, and red for the blood spilled in attaining freedom; alternatively, the colors have been described as representing more elemental concepts such as sovereignty and justice (yellow), loyalty and vigilance (blue), and valor and generosity (red); or simply the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity note: similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center National symbol(s): Andean condor; national colors: yellow, blue, red National anthem: name: "Himno Nacional de la Republica de Colombia" (National Anthem of the Republic of Colombia) lyrics/music: Rafael NUNEZ/Oreste SINDICI note: adopted 1920; the anthem was created from an inspirational poem written by President Rafael NUNEZ National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 9 (6 cultural, 2 natural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Chiribiquete National Park (m); Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia (c); Historic Center of Santa Cruz de Mompox (c); Los Katíos National Park (n); Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary (n); Tierradentro National Archeological Park (c); San Agustín Archaeological Park (c); Colonial Cartagena (c); Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Colombia heavily depends on energy and mining exports, making it vulnerable to fluctuations in commodity prices. Colombia is Latin America’s fourth largest oil producer and the world’s fourth largest coal producer, third largest coffee exporter, and second largest cut flowers exporter. Colombia’s economic development is hampered by inadequate infrastructure, poverty, narcotrafficking, and an uncertain security situation, in addition to dependence on primary commodities (goods that have little value-added from processing or labor inputs).   Colombia’s economy slowed in 2017 because of falling world market prices for oil and lower domestic oil production due to insurgent attacks on pipeline infrastructure. Although real GDP growth averaged 4.7% during the past decade, it fell to an estimated 1.8% in 2017. Declining oil prices also have contributed to reduced government revenues. In 2016, oil revenue dropped below 4% of the federal budget and likely remained below 4% in 2017. A Western credit rating agency in December 2017 downgraded Colombia’s sovereign credit rating to BBB-, because of weaker-than-expected growth and increasing external debt. Colombia has struggled to address local referendums against foreign investment, which have slowed its expansion, especially in the oil and mining sectors. Colombia’s FDI declined by 3% to $10.2 billion between January and September 2017.   Colombia has signed or is negotiating Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with more than a dozen countries; the US-Colombia FTA went into effect in May 2012. Colombia is a founding member of the Pacific Alliance—a regional trade block formed in 2012 by Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru to promote regional trade and economic integration. The Colombian government took steps in 2017 to address several bilateral trade irritants with the US, including those on truck scrappage, distilled spirits, pharmaceuticals, ethanol imports, and labor rights. Colombia hopes to accede to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.Colombia heavily depends on energy and mining exports, making it vulnerable to fluctuations in commodity prices. Colombia is Latin America’s fourth largest oil producer and the world’s fourth largest coal producer, third largest coffee exporter, and second largest cut flowers exporter. Colombia’s economic development is hampered by inadequate infrastructure, poverty, narcotrafficking, and an uncertain security situation, in addition to dependence on primary commodities (goods that have little value-added from processing or labor inputs). Colombia’s economy slowed in 2017 because of falling world market prices for oil and lower domestic oil production due to insurgent attacks on pipeline infrastructure. Although real GDP growth averaged 4.7% during the past decade, it fell to an estimated 1.8% in 2017. Declining oil prices also have contributed to reduced government revenues. In 2016, oil revenue dropped below 4% of the federal budget and likely remained below 4% in 2017. A Western credit rating agency in December 2017 downgraded Colombia’s sovereign credit rating to BBB-, because of weaker-than-expected growth and increasing external debt. Colombia has struggled to address local referendums against foreign investment, which have slowed its expansion, especially in the oil and mining sectors. Colombia’s FDI declined by 3% to $10.2 billion between January and September 2017. Colombia has signed or is negotiating Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with more than a dozen countries; the US-Colombia FTA went into effect in May 2012. Colombia is a founding member of the Pacific Alliance—a regional trade block formed in 2012 by Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru to promote regional trade and economic integration. The Colombian government took steps in 2017 to address several bilateral trade irritants with the US, including those on truck scrappage, distilled spirits, pharmaceuticals, ethanol imports, and labor rights. Colombia hopes to accede to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $683.94 billion (2020 est.) $734.22 billion (2019 est.) $710.89 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 3.26% (2019 est.) 2.51% (2018 est.) 1.36% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $13,400 (2020 est.) $14,600 (2019 est.) $14,300 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $323.255 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.5% (2019 est.) 3.2% (2018 est.) 4.3% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BBB- (2020) Moody's rating: Baa2 (2014) Standard & Poors rating: BBB- (2017) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 7.2% (2017 est.) industry: 30.8% (2017 est.) services: 62.1% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 68.2% (2017 est.) government consumption: 14.8% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 22.2% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.2% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 14.6% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -19.7% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: sugar cane, milk, oil palm fruit, potatoes, rice, bananas, cassava leaves, plantains, poultry, maize Industries: textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds Industrial production growth rate: -2.2% (2017 est.) Labor force: 19.309 million (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 17% industry: 21% services: 62% (2011 est.) Unemployment rate: 10.5% (2019 est.) 9.68% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 25.8% male: 20.7% female: 33% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 35.7% (2019 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 50.4 (2018 est.) 53.5 (2014) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 39.6% (2015 est.) Budget: revenues: 83.35 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 91.73 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -2.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 49.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 49.8% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities Taxes and other revenues: 26.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$13.748 billion (2019 est.) -$13.118 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $39.14 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $52.96 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $55.06 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: United States 31%, China 11%, Panama 6%, Ecuador 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, coal, refined petroleum, coffee, gold (2019) Imports: $51.56 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $65.83 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $64.56 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: United States 27%, China 20%, Mexico 7%, Brazil 6% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicines, corn (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $47.13 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $46.18 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $135.644 billion (2019 est.) $128.238 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: Colombian pesos (COP) per US dollar - 3,457.93 (2020 est.) 3,416.5 (2019 est.) 3,147.43 (2018 est.) 2,001 (2014 est.) 2,001.1 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 97% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 100% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 86% (2019) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 19.769 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 69,856,680,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 251 million kWh (2020 est.) imports: 1.302 billion kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 5.724 billion kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 32.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 65.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 51.395 million metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 8.547 million metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 69.861 million metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 79,000 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 4.554 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 756,400 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 352,400 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 481,300 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 2.036 billion barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 303,600 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 56,900 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 57,170 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 11,305,086,000 cubic meters (2020 est.) consumption: 11,708,232,000 cubic meters (2020 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2020 est.) imports: 403.146 million cubic meters (2020 est.) proven reserves: 87.782 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 81.007 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 12.666 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 47.679 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 20.662 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 34.703 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 7,248,026 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 67,672,570 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 133 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: the telecom sector had a solid year thanks to positive performances in the fixed-line broadband, mobile broadband, and mobile voice and data market; fixed-line remained stable by the end of 2020, though began to increase into 2021 as a result of the particular demands on households resulting from government measures associated with addressing the pandemic; at less than 15% it is well below the Latin American average; the mobile market, by contrast, reached a penetration rate of 136% (an increase of over three percentage points on 2019) and managed to keep the same upward growth trajectory that it has sustained over the last ten years; the fixed-line broadband market also expanded, with the number of subscribers increasing 11.4%, and with revenue increasing 9.9% thanks to increased data usage as many customers were forced to work or study from home during the year; the mobile broadband market was the standout performer in 2020, with a 13% increase in the number of subscribers year-on-year, albeit the subscription rate is relatively low compared to other Latin American countries; the surge in mobile broadband traffic — a 51% increase over the previous year — which was again a reflection of the strict lock downs that Colombians had to endure for much of 2020; market leader Claro continued to expand its dominance of the mobile broadband market, increasing its share over the last decade by 10% to reach 54% at the start of 2021; Tigo has seen its share halved over the same period of time, yet its subscriber base has still managed to grow on the back of a strong overall market. Tigo also suffered the most from Colombia’s imposed lock downs in 2020, severely impacting its retail sales (a 20% decline in revenue) with nearly half of its stores being forced to close; Movistar and Claro awarded spectrum in the 3.5GHz band for 5G trials (2021) domestic: fixed-line connections stand at about 14 per 100 persons; mobile cellular telephone subscribership is 133 per 100 persons; Partners Telecom Colombia's (WOM) market entrance in June 2021 increased competition among cellular service providers and is resulting in falling local and international calling rates and contributing to the steep decline in the market share of fixed-line services; domestic satellite system with 41 earth stations (2021) international: country code - 57; landing points for the SAC, Maya-1, SAIT, ACROS, AMX-1, CFX-1, PCCS, Deep Blue Cable, Globe Net, PAN-AM, SAm-1 submarine cable systems providing links to the US, parts of the Caribbean, and Central and South America; satellite earth stations - 10 (6 Intelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 3 fully digitalized international switching centers) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: combination of state-owned and privately owned broadcast media provide service; more than 500 radio stations and many national, regional, and local TV stations (2019) Internet country code: .co Internet users: total: 35,618,019 (2020 est.) percent of population: 70% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 7,764,772 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 12 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 157 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 33,704,037 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,349,450,000 (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HJ, HK Airports: total: 836 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 121 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 39 914 to 1,523 m: 53 under 914 m: 18 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 715 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 201 under 914 m: 488 (2021) Heliports: 3 (2021) Pipelines: 4,991 km gas, 6,796 km oil, 3,429 km refined products (2013) Railways: total: 2,141 km (2019) standard gauge: 150 km (2019) 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 1,991 km (2019) 0.914-m gauge Roadways: total: 205,379 km (2019) Waterways: 24,725 km (2019) (18,225 km navigable; the most important waterway, the River Magdalena, of which 1,092 km is navigable, is dredged regularly to ensure safe passage of cargo vessels and container barges) Merchant marine: total: 122 by type: general cargo 23, oil tanker 7, other 92 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean) - Cartagena, Santa Marta, Turbo Pacific Ocean - Buenaventura oil terminal(s): Covenas offshore terminal container port(s) (TEUs): Buenaventura (1,121,267), Cartagena (2,995,031) (2019) river port(s): Barranquilla (Rio Magdalena) dry bulk cargo port(s): Puerto Bolivar (coal) Pacific Ocean - Buenaventura Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Military Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Militares de Colombia): National Army (Ejercito Nacional), Republic of Colombia Navy (Armada Republica de Colombia, ARC; includes Coast Guard), Colombian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Colombia, FAC); Colombian National Police (PNC; civilian force that is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense) (2022) Military expenditures: 3% of GDP (2021 est.) 3% of GDP (2020 est.) 3.1% of GDP (2019) (approximately $19.6 billion) 3.1% of GDP (2018) (approximately $18.6 billion) 3.2% of GDP (2017) (approximately $18.3 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 260,000 total active troops (200,000 Army; 45,000 Navy, including about 20,000 marines; 14,000 Air Force); approximately 170,000 National Police (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Colombian military inventory includes a wide mix of equipment from a variety of suppliers, including Canada, Europe, Israel, South Korea, and the US; Germany, Israel, and the US are the leading suppliers of military hardware since 2010; Colombia's defense industry is active in producing air, land, and naval platforms (2022) Military service age and obligation: 18-24 years of age for compulsory (men) and voluntary (men and women) military service; conscript service obligation is 18 months; conscripted soldiers reportedly include regular soldiers (conscripts without a high school degree), drafted high school graduates (bachilleres), and rural (campesino) soldiers who serve in their home regions (2022) note: in 2020, conscripts reportedly comprised about 50% of the Colombian military's active force with approximately 60-90,000 conscripts brought into the military annually Military deployments: 275 Egypt (MFO) (2022) Military - note: as of 2022, the Colombian Armed Forces were primarily focused on internal security, particularly counter-narcotics, counter-terrorism, and counterinsurgency operations against drug traffickers, militants from several factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and National Liberation Army (ELN) terrorist/guerrilla organizations, and other illegal armed groups; the Colombian Government signed a peace agreement with the FARC in 2016, but some former members (known as dissidents) have returned to fighting (note - these dissident groups include the designated terrorist groups Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - People's Army or FARC-EP and Segunda Marquetalia; see Appendix T); the Colombian military resumed operations against FARC dissidents and their successor paramilitary groups in late 2019; in 2017, the Colombian Government initiated formal peace talks with the ELN, but in January 2019, the government ended the peace talks shortly after the ELN exploded a car bomb at the National Police Academy in Bogotá and resumed counter-terrorism/counterinsurgency operations against the group; operations against the FARC dissident groups and the ELN continued into 2022 (see Appendix T); the military was also focused on the security challenges posed by its neighbor, Venezuela, where instability has attracted narcotics traffickers and both the ELN and FARC dissidents, including FARC-EP and Segunda Marquetalia, operate openly Maritime threats: the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of Colombia are a risk for armed robbery against ships; in 2021, six attacks against commercial vessels were reported, an increase over the single attack in 2020; most of these occurred in the main port of Cartagena while ships were berthed or at anchor Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): National Liberation Army (ELN); Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - People's Army (FARC-EP); Segunda Marquetalia note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: in December 2007, ICJ allocated San Andres, Providencia, and Santa Catalina islands to Colombia under 1928 Treaty but did not rule on 82 degrees W meridian as maritime boundary with Nicaragua; managed dispute with Venezuela over maritime boundary and Venezuelan-administered Los Monjes Islands near the Gulf of Venezuela; Colombian-organized illegal narcotics, guerrilla, and paramilitary activities penetrate all neighboring borders and have caused Colombian citizens to flee mostly into neighboring countries; Colombia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Jamaica, and the US assert various claims to Bajo Nuevo and Serranilla Bankin December 2007, ICJ allocated San Andres, Providencia, and Santa Catalina islands to Colombia under 1928 Treaty but did not rule on 82 degrees W meridian as maritime boundary with Nicaragua; managed dispute with Venezuela over maritime boundary and Venezuelan-administered Los Monjes Islands near the Gulf of Venezuela; Colombian-organized illegal narcotics, guerrilla, and paramilitary activities penetrate all neighboring borders and have caused Colombian citizens to flee mostly into neighboring countries; Colombia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Jamaica, and the US assert various claims to Bajo Nuevo and Serranilla Bank Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 1,842,390 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or received alternative legal stay) (2022) IDPs: 8,258,460 (conflict between government and illegal armed groups and drug traffickers since 1985) (2022) stateless persons: 11 (mid-year 2021) Illicit drugs: Colombia is the world’s top cocaine producer; exports and is a source of heroin and marijuana; coca cultivation was estimated at 245,000 hectares (ha) in 2020; potential pure cocaine production reached 1,010 metric tons in 2020  Colombia is the world’s top cocaine producer; exports and is a source of heroin and marijuana; coca cultivation was estimated at 245,000 hectares (ha) in 2020; potential pure cocaine production reached 1,010 metric tons in 2020 

20220901

countries-pakistan-summaries

Topic: Introduction Background: The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world and dating back at least 5,000 years, spread over much of what is presently Pakistan. The British came to dominate the region in the 18th century. The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with West and East sections) and largely Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved and the countries continue to spar over the disputed Kashmir territory.The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world and dating back at least 5,000 years, spread over much of what is presently Pakistan. The British came to dominate the region in the 18th century. The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with West and East sections) and largely Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved and the countries continue to spar over the disputed Kashmir territory. Topic: Geography Area: total: 796,095 sq km land: 770,875 sq km water: 25,220 sq km Climate: mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north Natural resources: arable land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone Topic: People and Society Population: 242,923,845 (2022 est.) Ethnic groups: Punjabi 44.7%, Pashtun (Pathan) 15.4%, Sindhi 14.1%, Saraiki 8.4%, Muhajirs 7.6%, Balochi 3.6%, other 6.3% Languages: Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Saraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashto (alternate name, Pashtu) 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official; lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski, and other 8% Religions: Muslim (official) 96.5% (Sunni 85-90%, Shia 10-15%), other (includes Christian and Hindu) 3.5% (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 1.95% (2022 est.) Topic: Government Government type: federal parliamentary republic Capital: name: Islamabad Executive branch: chief of state: President Arif ALVI (since 9 September 2018) head of government: Prime Minister Shehbaz SHARIF (since 11 April 2022); former Prime Minister Imran KHAN on 10 April lost a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of: Senate (100 seats; members indirectly elected by the 4 provincial assemblies and the territories' representatives by proportional representation vote; members serve 6-year terms with one-half of the membership renewed every 3 years) National Assembly (342 seats; 272 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 70 members - 60 women and 10 non-Muslims - directly elected by proportional representation vote; all members serve 5-year terms) Topic: Economy Economic overview: lower middle-income South Asian economy; extremely high debt; endemic corruption; major currency devaluation; major food insecurity and inflation; environmentally fragile agricultural sector; regional disputes with India and Afghanistan hinder investmentlower middle-income South Asian economy; extremely high debt; endemic corruption; major currency devaluation; major food insecurity and inflation; environmentally fragile agricultural sector; regional disputes with India and Afghanistan hinder investment Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $1,021,130,000,000 (2020 est.) Real GDP per capita: $4,600 (2020 est.) Agricultural products: sugar cane, buffalo milk, wheat, milk, rice, maize, potatoes, cotton, fruit, mangoes/guavas Industries: textiles and apparel, food processing, pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments, construction materials, paper products, fertilizer, shrimp Exports: $27.3 billion (2020 est.) Exports - partners: United States 14%, China 8%, Germany 7%, United Kingdom 6% (2019) Exports - commodities: textiles, clothing and apparel, rice, leather goods, surgical instruments (2019) Imports: $51.07 billion (2020 est.) Imports - partners: China 28%, United Arab Emirates 11%, United States 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, crude petroleum, natural gas, palm oil, scrap iron (2019) Exchange rates: Pakistani rupees (PKR) per US dollar -Page last updated: Thursday, May 12, 2022

20220901

countries-lithuania

Topic: Photos of Lithuania Topic: Introduction Background: Lithuanian lands were united under MINDAUGAS in 1236; over the next century, through alliances and conquest, Lithuania extended its territory to include most of present-day Belarus and Ukraine. By the end of the 14th century Lithuania was the largest state in Europe. An alliance with Poland in 1386 led the two countries into a union through the person of a common ruler. In 1569, Lithuania and Poland formally united into a single dual state, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This entity survived until 1795 when its remnants were partitioned by surrounding countries. Lithuania regained its independence following World War I but was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. On 11 March 1990, Lithuania became the first of the Soviet republics to declare its independence, but Moscow did not recognize this proclamation until September of 1991 (following the abortive coup in Moscow). The last Russian troops withdrew in 1993. Lithuania subsequently restructured its economy for integration into Western European institutions; it joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004. In 2015, Lithuania joined the euro zone, and it joined the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in 2018.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia, west of Belarus Geographic coordinates: 56 00 N, 24 00 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 65,300 sq km land: 62,680 sq km water: 2,620 sq km Area - comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia Land boundaries: total: 1,545 km border countries (4): Belarus 640 km; Latvia 544 km; Poland 100 km; Russia (Kaliningrad) 261 km Coastline: 90 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers Terrain: lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil Elevation: highest point: Aukstojas 294 m lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m mean elevation: 110 m Natural resources: peat, arable land, amber Land use: agricultural land: 44.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 34.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 9.4% (2018 est.) forest: 34.6% (2018 est.) other: 20.6% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 44 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Curonian Lagoon (shared with Russia) - 1,620 sq km Population distribution: fairly even population distribution throughout the country, but somewhat greater concentrations in the southern cities of Vilnius and Kaunas, and the western port of Klaipeda Natural hazards: occasional floods, droughts Geography - note: fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that are ancient glacial deposits Map description: Lithuania map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Baltic Sea.Lithuania map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Baltic Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 2,683,546 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Lithuanian(s) adjective: Lithuanian Ethnic groups: Lithuanian 84.6%, Polish 6.5%, Russian 5%, Belarusian 1%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.8% (2021 est.) Languages: Lithuanian (official) 85.3%, Russian 6.8%, Polish 5.1%, other 1.1%, two mother tongues 1.7%% (2021 est.) major-language sample(s): Pasaulio enciklopedija – naudingas bendrosios informacijos šaltinis. (Lithuanian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Roman Catholic 74.2%, Russian Orthodox 3.7%, Old Believer 0.6%, Evangelical Lutheran 0.6%, Evangelical Reformist 0.2%, other (including Sunni Muslim Jewish, Greek Catholic, and Karaite) 0.9%, none 6.1%, unspecified 13.7% (2021 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 15.26% (male 213,802/female 202,948) 15-24 years: 10.23% (male 144,679/female 134,822) 25-54 years: 38.96% (male 528,706/female 535,485) 55-64 years: 15.1% (male 183,854/female 228,585) 65 years and over: 20.45% (2020 est.) (male 190,025/female 368,558) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 56.5 youth dependency ratio: 24.2 elderly dependency ratio: 32.3 potential support ratio: 3.1 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 44.5 years male: 40.2 years female: 48.2 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -1.04% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 9.26 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 15.12 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -4.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: fairly even population distribution throughout the country, but somewhat greater concentrations in the southern cities of Vilnius and Kaunas, and the western port of Klaipeda Urbanization: urban population: 68.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 541,000 VILNIUS (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.81 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.45 male(s)/female total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 28.2 years (2020 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 5 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 3.63 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.09 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.78 years male: 70.42 years female: 81.44 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.61 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 93.8% of population total: 98% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 6.2% of population total: 2% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 7% (2019) Physicians density: 5.08 physicians/1,000 population (2020) Hospital bed density: 6.4 beds/1,000 population (2018) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 99.5% of population rural: 88.7% of population total: 96% of population unimproved: urban: 0.5% of population rural: 11.3% of population total: 4% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2019 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 3,400 (2019 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2019 est.) <100 Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020) vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 26.3% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 32% (2020 est.) male: 42.1% (2020 est.) female: 21.8% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 3.9% of GDP (2018 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.8% male: 99.8% female: 99.8% (2015) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 16 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 19.6% male: 21.5% female: 17.3% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: water pollution; air pollution; deforestation; threatened animal and plant species; chemicals and waste materials released into the environment contaminate soil and groundwater; soil degradation and erosion Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 11.49 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 12.96 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 3.15 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers Land use: agricultural land: 44.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 34.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 9.4% (2018 est.) forest: 34.6% (2018 est.) other: 20.6% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 68.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.31% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020) vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.3 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 297,960 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 22.9% (2015 est.) Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Curonian Lagoon (shared with Russia) - 1,620 sq km Total water withdrawal: municipal: 130.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 69.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 58.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 24.5 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania conventional short form: Lithuania local long form: Lietuvos Respublika local short form: Lietuva former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR) etymology: meaning of the name "Lietuva" remains unclear and is debated by scholars; it may derive from the Lietava, a stream in east central Lithuania Government type: semi-presidential republic Capital: name: Vilnius geographic coordinates: 54 41 N, 25 19 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: named after the Vilnia River, which flows into the Neris River at Vilnius; the river name derives from the Lithuanian word "vilnis" meaning "a surge" Administrative divisions: 60 municipalities (savivaldybe, singular - savivaldybe); Akmene, Alytaus Miestas, Alytus, Anksciai, Birstonas, Birzai, Druskininkai, Elektrenai, Ignalina, Jonava, Joniskis, Jurbarkas, Kaisiadorys, Kalvarija, Kauno Miestas, Kaunas, Kazlu Rudos, Kedainiai, Kelme, Klaipedos Miestas, Klaipeda, Kretinga, Kupiskis, Lazdijai, Marijampole, Mazeikiai, Moletai, Neringa, Pagegiai, Pakruojis, Palangos Miestas, Panevezio Miestas, Panevezys, Pasvalys, Plunge, Prienai, Radviliskis, Raseiniai, Rietavas, Rokiskis, Sakiai, Salcininkai, Siauliu Miestas, Siauliai, Silale, Silute, Sirvintos, Skuodas, Svencionys, Taurage, Telsiai, Trakai, Ukmerge, Utena, Varena, Vilkaviskis, Vilniaus Miestas, Vilnius, Visaginas, Zarasai Independence: 16 February 1918 (from Soviet Russia and Germany); 11 March 1990 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: 6 July 1253 (coronation of MINDAUGAS, traditional founding date); 1 July 1569 (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created) National holiday: Independence Day (or National Day), 16 February (1918); note - 16 February 1918 was the date Lithuania established its statehood and its concomitant independence from Soviet Russia and Germany; 11 March 1990 was the date it declared the restoration of Lithuanian statehood and its concomitant independence from the Soviet Union Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted by referendum 25 October 1992, entered into force 2 November 1992 amendments: proposed by at least one fourth of all Parliament members or by petition of at least 300,000 voters; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament in each of two readings three months apart and a presidential signature; amendments to constitutional articles on national sovereignty and constitutional amendment procedure also require three-fourths voter approval in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2019 Legal system: civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the Constitutional Court International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Lithuania dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Gitanas NAUSEDA (since 12 July 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Ingrida SIMONYTE (since 24 November 2020) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, and approved by Parliament elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 12 and 26 May 2019 (next to be held in May 2024); prime minister appointed by the president, approved by Parliament election results: 2019: Gitanas NAUSEDA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Gitanas NAUSEDA (independent) 66.7%, Ingrida SIMONYTE (independent) 33.3%; Saulius SKVERNELIS (LVZS) approved as prime minister by Parliament vote - 62 to 10 2009: Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE elected president, 69.1%, Algirdas BUTKEVICIUS 11.8%, Valentinas MAZURONIS 6.2%, Valdemar TOMASEVSKI 4.7%, and other 8.2%    Legislative branch: description: unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats; 71 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote and 70 directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 11 and 25 October 2020 (next to be held in October 2024) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - TS-LKD 50, LVZS 32, LSDP 13, LRLS 13, Freedom 11, DP 10, AWPL 3, LSDDP 3, LT 1, Greens 1, independent 4; composition as of July 2022 - men 101, women 40, percent of women 28.4% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of 37 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the Seimas; judges serve 5-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the Seimas from nominations - 3 each by the president of the republic, the Seimas chairperson, and the Supreme Court president; judges serve 9-year, nonrenewable terms; one-third of membership reconstituted every 3 years subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; district and local courts Political parties and leaders: Electoral Action of Lithuanian Poles or LLRA [Valdemar TOMASEVSKI] Freedom and Justice Party or LT [Remigijus ZEMAITAITIS] Freedom Party or LP [Ausrine ARMONAITE] Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats or TS-LKD [Gabrielius LANDSBERGIS] Labor Party or DP [Viktor USPASKICH] Lithuanian Center Party or LCP [Naglis PUTEIKIS] Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union or LVZS [Ramunas KARBAUSKIS] Lithuanian Green Party or LZP [Remigijus LAPINSKAS]] Lithuanian Liberal Movement or LS or LRLS [Viktorija CMILYTE] Lithuanian List or LL [Darius KUOLYS] Lithuanian Social Democratic Labor Party or LSDDP [Gediminas KIRKILAS] Lithuanian Social Democratic Party or LSDP [Gintautas PALUCKAS] International organization participation: Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Audra PLEPYTE (since 7 July 2021) chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860 FAX: [1] (202) 328-0466 email address and website: info@usa.mfa.lt https://usa.mfa.lt/usa/en/ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Robert S. GILCHRIST (since 4 February 2020) embassy: Akmenu gatve 6, Vilnius, LT-03106 mailing address: 4510 Vilnius Place, Washington DC  20521-4510 telephone: [370] (5) 266-5500 FAX: [370] (5) 266-5510 email address and website: consec@state.gov https://lt.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red; yellow symbolizes golden fields, as well as the sun, light, and goodness; green represents the forests of the countryside, in addition to nature, freedom, and hope; red stands for courage and the blood spilled in defense of the homeland National symbol(s): mounted knight known as Vytis (the Chaser), white stork; national colors: yellow, green, red National anthem: name: "Tautiska giesme" (The National Song) lyrics/music: Vincas KUDIRKA note: adopted 1918, restored 1990; written in 1898 while Lithuania was a part of Russia; banned during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 4 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Vilnius Historic Center; Curonian Spit; Kernavė Archaeological Site; Struve Geodetic Arc Topic: Economy Economic overview: After the country declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1990, Lithuania faced an initial dislocation that is typical during transitions from a planned economy to a free-market economy. Macroeconomic stabilization policies, including privatization of most state-owned enterprises, and a strong commitment to a currency board arrangement led to an open and rapidly growing economy and rising consumer demand. Foreign investment and EU funding aided in the transition. Lithuania joined the WTO in May 2001, the EU in May 2004, and the euro zone in January 2015, and is now working to complete the OECD accession roadmap it received in July 2015. In 2017, joined the OECD Working Group on Bribery, an important step in the OECD accession process.   The Lithuanian economy was severely hit by the 2008-09 global financial crisis, but it has rebounded and become one of the fastest growing in the EU. Increases in exports, investment, and wage growth that supported consumption helped the economy grow by 3.6% in 2017. In 2015, Russia was Lithuania’s largest trading partner, followed by Poland, Germany, and Latvia; goods and services trade between the US and Lithuania totaled $2.2 billion. Lithuania opened a self-financed liquefied natural gas terminal in January 2015, providing the first non-Russian supply of natural gas to the Baltic States and reducing Lithuania’s dependence on Russian gas from 100% to approximately 30% in 2016.   Lithuania’s ongoing recovery hinges on improving the business environment, especially by liberalizing labor laws, and improving competitiveness and export growth, the latter hampered by economic slowdowns in the EU and Russia. In addition, a steady outflow of young and highly educated people is causing a shortage of skilled labor, which, combined with a rapidly aging population, could stress public finances and constrain long-term growth.After the country declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1990, Lithuania faced an initial dislocation that is typical during transitions from a planned economy to a free-market economy. Macroeconomic stabilization policies, including privatization of most state-owned enterprises, and a strong commitment to a currency board arrangement led to an open and rapidly growing economy and rising consumer demand. Foreign investment and EU funding aided in the transition. Lithuania joined the WTO in May 2001, the EU in May 2004, and the euro zone in January 2015, and is now working to complete the OECD accession roadmap it received in July 2015. In 2017, joined the OECD Working Group on Bribery, an important step in the OECD accession process. The Lithuanian economy was severely hit by the 2008-09 global financial crisis, but it has rebounded and become one of the fastest growing in the EU. Increases in exports, investment, and wage growth that supported consumption helped the economy grow by 3.6% in 2017. In 2015, Russia was Lithuania’s largest trading partner, followed by Poland, Germany, and Latvia; goods and services trade between the US and Lithuania totaled $2.2 billion. Lithuania opened a self-financed liquefied natural gas terminal in January 2015, providing the first non-Russian supply of natural gas to the Baltic States and reducing Lithuania’s dependence on Russian gas from 100% to approximately 30% in 2016. Lithuania’s ongoing recovery hinges on improving the business environment, especially by liberalizing labor laws, and improving competitiveness and export growth, the latter hampered by economic slowdowns in the EU and Russia. In addition, a steady outflow of young and highly educated people is causing a shortage of skilled labor, which, combined with a rapidly aging population, could stress public finances and constrain long-term growth. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $102.66 billion (2020 est.) $103.56 billion (2019 est.) $99.25 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 4.33% (2019 est.) 3.99% (2018 est.) 4.37% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $36,700 (2020 est.) $37,100 (2019 est.) $35,400 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $54.597 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.3% (2019 est.) 2.7% (2018 est.) 3.7% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: A (2020) Moody's rating: A3 (2015) Standard & Poors rating: A+ (2020) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 3.5% (2017 est.) industry: 29.4% (2017 est.) services: 67.2% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 63.9% (2017 est.) government consumption: 16.6% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 18.8% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: -1.3% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 81.6% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -79.3% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: wheat, milk, sugar beet, rapeseed, barley, triticale, potatoes, oats, peas, beans Industries: metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, televisions, refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small ships), furniture, textiles, food processing, fertilizer, agricultural machinery, optical equipment, lasers, electronic components, computers, amber jewelry, information technology, video game development, app/software development, biotechnology Industrial production growth rate: 5.9% (2017 est.) Labor force: 1.333 million (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 9.1% industry: 25.2% services: 65.8% (2015 est.) Unemployment rate: 8.4% (2019 est.) 8.5% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 19.6% male: 21.5% female: 17.3% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 20.6% (2018 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 37.3 (2017 est.) 35 (2014) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.2% highest 10%: 28.8% (2015) Budget: revenues: 15.92 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 15.7 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 39.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 40.1% of GDP (2016 est.) note: official data; data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities, debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are sold at public auctions Taxes and other revenues: 33.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: $1.817 billion (2019 est.) $131 million (2018 est.) Exports: $41.48 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $42.3 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $40.36 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Russia 13%, Latvia 9%, Poland 8%, Germany 7%, Estonia 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, furniture, cigarettes, wheat, polyethylene (2019) Imports: $36.06 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $39.46 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $39.38 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Poland 12%, Russia 12%, Germany 12%, Latvia 7%, Netherlands 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, cars, packaged medicines, refined petroleum, electricity (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $4.45 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $1.697 billion (31 December 2015 est.) Debt - external: $37.859 billion (2019 est.) $41.999 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: litai (LTL) per US dollar - 0.82771 (2020 est.) 0.90338 (2019 est.) 0.87789 (2018 est.) 0.9012 (2014 est.) 0.7525 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 3.512 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 11.063 billion kWh (2020 est.) exports: 4.105 billion kWh (2020 est.) imports: 12.013 billion kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 951 million kWh (2020 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 38% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 35.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 6.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 16.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 221,000 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 75,000 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 268,000 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 4,000 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 68,000 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 194,900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 12 million barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 196,500 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 174,800 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 42,490 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 2,230,854,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 497.923 million cubic meters (2020 est.) imports: 2,818,513,000 cubic meters (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 14.503 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 693,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 9.488 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 4.322 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 101.651 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 322,108 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 3,671,995 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 135 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Lithuania’s small telecoms market is among the more advanced in Europe, particularly given the universal access to LTE infrastructure and the extensive fiber footprint; a number of alternative operators offer services although the incumbent Telia Lithuania remains the dominant player in the fixed-line and broadband sectors; in line with the country’s Digital Agenda, the focus among telcos has been to invest in fiber, with an emphasis on delivering gigabyte data speeds; SIM card penetration is relatively high for the region and most subscribers are higher ARPU postpaid subscribers; network operators continue to market mobile broadband services, made possible from investments in LTE technologies; LTE services are available nationally, and although there have been some initial trials of 5G commercial services are not expected to be launched until mid to late 2021; the regulator has consulted on the release of spectrum for 5G in a range of bands, and the auction is tentatively scheduled for the first quarter of 2021; according to regulator data, the total revenue of the electronic communications sector in the third quarter of 2020 was the highest it has been since the fourth quarter of 2010; revenue growth in the mobile sector was driven mainly mobile internet services. (2021) domestic: nearly 12 per 100 for fixed-line subscriptions; rapid expansion of mobile-cellular services has resulted in a steady decline in the number of fixed-line connections; mobile-cellular teledensity stands at about 174 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 370; landing points for the BCS East, BCS East-West Interlink and NordBalt connecting Lithuania to Sweden, and Latvia ; further transmission by satellite; landline connections to Latvia and Poland (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: public broadcaster operates 3 channels with the third channel - a satellite channel - introduced in 2007; various privately owned commercial TV broadcasters operate national and multiple regional channels; many privately owned local TV stations; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services available; publicly owned broadcaster operates 3 radio networks; many privately owned commercial broadcasters, with repeater stations in various regions throughout the country Internet country code: .lt Internet users: total: 2,319,755 (2020 est.) percent of population: 83% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 796,814 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 50 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 26,031 (2018) Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: LY Airports: total: 61 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 22 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 9 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 39 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 36 (2021) Pipelines: 1,921 km gas, 121 km refined products (2013) Railways: total: 1,768 km (2014) standard gauge: 22 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge broad gauge: 1,746 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge (122 km electrified) Roadways: total: 84,166 km (2012) paved: 72,297 km (2012) (includes 312 km of expressways) unpaved: 11,869 km (2012) Waterways: 441 km (2007) (navigable year-round) Merchant marine: total: 64 by type: container ship 4, general cargo 24, oil tanker 2, other 34 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Klaipeda oil terminal(s): Butinge oil terminal LNG terminal(s) (import): Klaipeda Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Lithuanian Armed Forces (Lietuvos Ginkluotosios Pajegos): Land Forces (Sausumos Pajegos), Naval Forces (Karines Juru Pajegos), Air Forces (Karines Oro Pajegos), Special Operations Forces (Specialiuju Operaciju Pajegos); National Defense Volunteer Forces (Savanoriu Pajegos); National Riflemen's Union (2022) note: the National Rifleman's Union is a paramilitary force that acts as an additional reserve force Military expenditures: 2% of GDP (2021 est.) 2.1% of GDP (2020) 2% of GDP (2019) (approximately $1.7 billion) 2% of GDP (2018) (approximately $1.59 billion) 1.7% of GDP (2017) (approximately $1.34 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 17,000 active duty personnel (13,500 Army, including about 5,000 National Defense Voluntary Forces; 500 Navy; 1,000 Air Force; 2,000 other, including special operations forces, logistics support, training, etc); estimated 11,000 Riflemen Union (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Lithuanian Armed Forces' inventory is mostly a mix of Western weapons systems and Soviet-era equipment (primarily aircraft and helicopters); as of 2021, Germany was the leading supplier of armaments to Lithuania (2021) Military service age and obligation: 19-26 years of age for conscripted military service (males); 9-month service obligation; in 2015, Lithuania reinstated conscription after having converted to a professional military in 2008; 18-38 for voluntary service (male and female) (2021) note 1: Lithuania conscripts up to 4,000 males each year; conscripts are selected using an automated lottery system note 2: as of 2019, women comprised about 12% of the military's full-time personnel Military deployments: note: contributes about 350-550 troops to the Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine joint military brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG), which was established in 2014; the brigade is headquartered in Poland and is comprised of an international staff, three battalions, and specialized units Military - note: Lithuania became a member of NATO in 2004 since 2017, Lithuania has hosted a German-led multi-national NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; NATO also has provided air protection for Lithuania since 2004 through its Air Policing mission; NATO member countries that possess air combat capabilities voluntarily contribute to the mission on 4-month rotations; NATO fighter aircraft are hosted at Lithuania’s Šiauliai Air Base (2022)since 2017, Lithuania has hosted a German-led multi-national NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; NATO also has provided air protection for Lithuania since 2004 through its Air Policing mission; NATO member countries that possess air combat capabilities voluntarily contribute to the mission on 4-month rotations; NATO fighter aircraft are hosted at Lithuania’s Šiauliai Air Base (2022) Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Lithuania-Belarus: as of January 2007, ground demarcation of the boundary with Belarus was complete and mapped with final ratification documents in preparation Lithuania-Lativa: boundary demarcated with Latvia was completed in 1998 Lithuania-Russia: Lithuania and Russia committed to demarcating their boundary in 2006 in accordance with the land and maritime treaty ratified by Russia in May 2003 and by Lithuania in 1999; Lithuania operates a simplified transit regime for Russian nationals traveling from the Kaliningrad coastal exclave into Russia, while still conforming, as a EU member state having an external border with a non-EU member, to strict Schengen border rules; in January 2018, demarcation of the Lithuania-Russia border was completedLithuania-Belarus: as of January 2007, ground demarcation of the boundary with Belarus was complete and mapped with final ratification documents in preparationLithuania-Lativa: boundary demarcated with Latvia was completed in 1998Lithuania-Russia: Lithuania and Russia committed to demarcating their boundary in 2006 in accordance with the land and maritime treaty ratified by Russia in May 2003 and by Lithuania in 1999; Lithuania operates a simplified transit regime for Russian nationals traveling from the Kaliningrad coastal exclave into Russia, while still conforming, as a EU member state having an external border with a non-EU member, to strict Schengen border rules; in January 2018, demarcation of the Lithuania-Russia border was completed Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 61,847 (Ukraine) (as of 9 August 2022) stateless persons: 2,721 (mid-year 2021) Illicit drugs: source country for  amphetamine tabletssource country for  amphetamine tablets

20220901

countries-latvia

Topic: Photos of Latvia Topic: Introduction Background: Several eastern Baltic tribes merged in medieval times to form the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.). The region subsequently came under the control of Germans, Poles, Swedes, and finally, Russians. A Latvian republic emerged following World War I, but it was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. Latvia reestablished its independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 25% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004; it joined the euro zone in 2014 and the OECD in 2016. A dual citizenship law was adopted in 2013, easing naturalization for non-citizen children.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania Geographic coordinates: 57 00 N, 25 00 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 64,589 sq km land: 62,249 sq km water: 2,340 sq km Area - comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia Land boundaries: total: 1,370 km border countries (4): Belarus 161 km; Estonia 333 km; Lithuania 544 km; Russia 332 km Coastline: 498 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters Terrain: low plain Elevation: highest point: Gaizina Kalns 312 m lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m mean elevation: 87 m Natural resources: peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, timber, arable land Land use: agricultural land: 29.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 18.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 10.5% (2018 est.) forest: 54.1% (2018 est.) other: 16.7% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 12 sq km (2012) note: land in Latvia is often too wet and in need of drainage not irrigation; approximately 16,000 sq km or 85% of agricultural land has been improved by drainage Population distribution: largest concentration of people is found in and around the port and capital city of Riga; small agglomerations are scattered throughout the country Natural hazards: large percentage of agricultural fields can become waterlogged and require drainage Geography - note: most of the country is composed of fertile low-lying plains with some hills in the east Map description: Latvia map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Baltic Sea.Latvia map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Baltic Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 1,842,226 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Latvian(s) adjective: Latvian Ethnic groups: Latvian 62.7%, Russian 24.5%, Belarusian 3.1%, Ukrainian 2.2%, Polish 2%, Lithuanian 1.1%, other 1.8%, unspecified 2.6% (2021 est.) Languages: Latvian (official) 56.3%, Russian 33.8%, other 0.6% (includes Polish, Ukrainian, and Belarusian), unspecified 9.4%; note - data represent language usually spoken at home (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): World Factbook, neaizstājams avots pamata informāciju. (Latvian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Lutheran 36.2%, Roman Catholic 19.5%, Orthodox 19.1%, other Christian 1.6%, other 0.1%, unspecified/none 23.5% (2017 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 15.32% (male 148,120/female 140,028) 15-24 years: 9% (male 87,372/female 81,965) 25-54 years: 40.41% (male 380,817/female 379,359) 55-64 years: 14.77% (male 125,401/female 152,548) 65 years and over: 20.5% (2020 est.) (male 128,151/female 257,471) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 59 youth dependency ratio: 26.1 elderly dependency ratio: 32.9 potential support ratio: 3 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 44.4 years male: 40.5 years female: 48 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -1.11% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 8.73 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 14.65 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -5.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: largest concentration of people is found in and around the port and capital city of Riga; small agglomerations are scattered throughout the country Urbanization: urban population: 68.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 625,000 RIGA (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.84 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.36 male(s)/female total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 27.3 years (2020 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 19 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 4.85 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.27 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.91 years male: 71.47 years female: 80.56 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.54 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99.9% of population rural: 98.6% of population total: 99.5% of population unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population rural: 1.4% of population total: 0.5% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 6.6% (2019) Physicians density: 3.4 physicians/1,000 population (2020) Hospital bed density: 5.5 beds/1,000 population (2018) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 98.9% of population rural: 85.3% of population total: 94.6% of population unimproved: urban: 1.1% of population rural: 14.7% of population total: 5.4% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.3% (2019 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 5,600 (2019 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2019 est.) <100 Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020) vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 23.6% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 37% (2020 est.) male: 50.3% (2020 est.) female: 23.7% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 4.2% of GDP (2018 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.9% male: 99.9% female: 99.9% (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 16 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 14.9% male: 14.4% female: 15.5% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: while land, water, and air pollution are evident, Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service industries after the country regained independence; improvements have occurred in drinking water quality, sewage treatment, household and hazardous waste management, as well as reduction of air pollution; concerns include nature protection and the management of water resources and the protection of the Baltic Sea Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 12.72 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 7 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 1.85 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters Land use: agricultural land: 29.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 18.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 10.5% (2018 est.) forest: 54.1% (2018 est.) other: 16.7% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 68.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.85% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020) vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 857,000 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 181,941 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 21.2% (2015 est.) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 94.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 25.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 61.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 34.94 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Latvia conventional short form: Latvia local long form: Latvijas Republika local short form: Latvija former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR) etymology: the name "Latvia" originates from the ancient Latgalians, one of four eastern Baltic tribes that formed the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.) Government type: parliamentary republic Capital: name: Riga geographic coordinates: 56 57 N, 24 06 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: of the several theories explaining the name's origin, the one relating to the city's role in Baltic and North Sea commerce is the most probable; the name is likely related to the Latvian word "rija," meaning "warehouse," where the 'j' became a 'g' under the heavy German influence in the city from the late Middle Ages to the early 20th century Administrative divisions: 36 municipalities (novadi, singular - novads) and 7 state cities (valstpilsetu pasvaldibas, singular valstspilsetas pasvaldiba) municipalities: Adazi, Aizkraukle, Aluksne, Augsdaugava, Balvi, Bauska, Cesis, Dienvidkurzeme, Dobele, Gulbene, Jekabpils, Jelgava, Kekava, Kraslava, Kuldiga, Limbazi, Livani, Ludza, Madona, Marupe, Ogre, Olaine, Preili, Rezekne, Ropazi, Salaspils, Saldus, Saulkrasti, Sigulda, Smiltene, Talsi, Tukums, Valka, Valmiera, Varaklani, Ventspils cities: Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jurmala, Liepaja, Rezekne, Riga, Ventspils36 municipalities (novadi, singular - novads) and 7 state cities (valstpilsetu pasvaldibas, singular valstspilsetas pasvaldiba)municipalities: Adazi, Aizkraukle, Aluksne, Augsdaugava, Balvi, Bauska, Cesis, Dienvidkurzeme, Dobele, Gulbene, Jekabpils, Jelgava, Kekava, Kraslava, Kuldiga, Limbazi, Livani, Ludza, Madona, Marupe, Ogre, Olaine, Preili, Rezekne, Ropazi, Salaspils, Saldus, Saulkrasti, Sigulda, Smiltene, Talsi, Tukums, Valka, Valmiera, Varaklani, Ventspilscities: Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jurmala, Liepaja, Rezekne, Riga, Ventspils Independence: 18 November 1918 (from Soviet Russia); 4 May 1990 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union) National holiday: Independence Day (Republic of Latvia Proclamation Day), 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 was the date Latvia established its statehood and its concomitant independence from Soviet Russia; 4 May 1990 was the date it declared the restoration of Latvian statehood and its concomitant independence from the Soviet Union Constitution: history: several previous (pre-1991 independence); note - following the restoration of independence in 1991, parts of the 1922 constitution were reintroduced 4 May 1990 and fully reintroduced 6 July 1993 amendments: proposed by two thirds of Parliament members or by petition of one tenth of qualified voters submitted through the president; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of Parliament in each of three readings; amendment of constitutional articles, including national sovereignty, language, the parliamentary electoral system, and constitutional amendment procedures, requires passage in a referendum by majority vote of at least one half of the electorate; amended several times, last in 2019 Legal system: civil law system with traces of socialist legal traditions and practices International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Latvia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Egils LEVITS (since 8 July 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Krisjanis KARINS (since 23 January 2019) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by Parliament elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by Parliament for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 May 2019 (next to be held in 2023); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by Parliament election results: 2019: Egils LEVITS elected president; Parliament vote - Egils LEVITS 61 votes, Didzis SMITS 24, Juris JANSONS 8; Krisjanis KARINS confirmed prime minister 61-39 2015: Raimonds VEJONIS elected president, 55 votes, Egils LEVITS 42 votes Legislative branch: description: unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 6 October 2018 (next to be held in October 2022) election results: percent of vote by party - S 19.8%, KPV LV 14.3%, JKP 13.6%, AP! 12%, NA 11%, ZZS 9.9%, JV 6.7%, other 12.7%; seats by party - S 23, KPV LV 16, JKP 16, AP! 13, NA 13, ZZS 11, JV 8; composition as of April 2022 - men 73, women 27, percent of women 27% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the Senate with 36 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by chief justice and confirmed by the Saeima; judges serve until age 70, but term can be extended 2 years; Constitutional Court judges - 3 nominated by Saeima members, 2 by Cabinet ministers, and 2 by plenum of Supreme Court; all judges confirmed by Saeima majority vote; Constitutional Court president and vice president serve in their positions for 3 years; all judges serve 10-year terms; mandatory retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: district (city) and regional courts Political parties and leaders: Development/For! or AP! [Daniels PAVLUTS, Juris PUCE] For a Humane Latvia previously known as Who Owns the State? or PCL [Jurgis MIEZAINIS] National Alliance "All For Latvia!"-"For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK" or NA [Raivis DZINTARS] New Conservative Conservative Party or K [Janis BORDANS] New Unity or JV [Arvils ASERADENS] Social Democratic Party "Harmony" or S [Janis URBANOVICS] Union of Greens and Farmers or ZZS [Armands KRAUZE] International organization participation: Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Maris SELGA (since 16 September 2019) chancery: 2306 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 328-2840 FAX: [1] (202) 328-2860 email address and website: embassy.usa@mfa.gov.lv https://www2.mfa.gov.lv/en/usa Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John Leslie CARWILE (since 5 November 2019) embassy: 1 Samnera Velsa Street (former Remtes), Riga LV-1510 mailing address: 4520 Riga Place, Washington DC  20521-4520 telephone: [371] 6710-7000 FAX: [371] 6710-7050 email address and website: askconsular-riga@state.gov https://lv.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon; the flag is one of the older banners in the world; a medieval chronicle mentions a red standard with a white stripe being used by Latvian tribes in about 1280 National symbol(s): white wagtail (bird); national colors: maroon, white National anthem: name: "Dievs, sveti Latviju!" (God Bless Latvia) lyrics/music: Karlis BAUMANIS note: adopted 1920, restored 1990; first performed in 1873 while Latvia was a part of Russia; banned during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Center of Riga; Struve Geodetic Arc Topic: Economy Economic overview: Latvia is a small, open economy with exports contributing more than half of GDP. Due to its geographical location, transit services are highly-developed, along with timber and wood-processing, agriculture and food products, and manufacturing of machinery and electronics industries. Corruption continues to be an impediment to attracting foreign direct investment and Latvia's low birth rate and decreasing population are major challenges to its long-term economic vitality.   Latvia's economy experienced GDP growth of more than 10% per year during 2006-07, but entered a severe recession in 2008 as a result of an unsustainable current account deficit and large debt exposure amid the slowing world economy. Triggered by the collapse of the second largest bank, GDP plunged by more than 14% in 2009 and, despite strong growth since 2011, the economy took until 2017 return to pre-crisis levels in real terms. Strong investment and consumption, the latter stoked by rising wages, helped the economy grow by more than 4% in 2017, while inflation rose to 3%. Continued gains in competitiveness and investment will be key to maintaining economic growth, especially in light of unfavorable demographic trends, including the emigration of skilled workers, and one of the highest levels of income inequality in the EU.   In the wake of the 2008-09 crisis, the IMF, EU, and other international donors provided substantial financial assistance to Latvia as part of an agreement to defend the currency's peg to the euro in exchange for the government's commitment to stringent austerity measures. The IMF/EU program successfully concluded in December 2011, although, the austerity measures imposed large social costs. The majority of companies, banks, and real estate have been privatized, although the state still holds sizable stakes in a few large enterprises, including 80% ownership of the Latvian national airline. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization in February 1999 and the EU in May 2004. Latvia also joined the euro zone in 2014 and the OECD in 2016.Latvia is a small, open economy with exports contributing more than half of GDP. Due to its geographical location, transit services are highly-developed, along with timber and wood-processing, agriculture and food products, and manufacturing of machinery and electronics industries. Corruption continues to be an impediment to attracting foreign direct investment and Latvia's low birth rate and decreasing population are major challenges to its long-term economic vitality. Latvia's economy experienced GDP growth of more than 10% per year during 2006-07, but entered a severe recession in 2008 as a result of an unsustainable current account deficit and large debt exposure amid the slowing world economy. Triggered by the collapse of the second largest bank, GDP plunged by more than 14% in 2009 and, despite strong growth since 2011, the economy took until 2017 return to pre-crisis levels in real terms. Strong investment and consumption, the latter stoked by rising wages, helped the economy grow by more than 4% in 2017, while inflation rose to 3%. Continued gains in competitiveness and investment will be key to maintaining economic growth, especially in light of unfavorable demographic trends, including the emigration of skilled workers, and one of the highest levels of income inequality in the EU. In the wake of the 2008-09 crisis, the IMF, EU, and other international donors provided substantial financial assistance to Latvia as part of an agreement to defend the currency's peg to the euro in exchange for the government's commitment to stringent austerity measures. The IMF/EU program successfully concluded in December 2011, although, the austerity measures imposed large social costs. The majority of companies, banks, and real estate have been privatized, although the state still holds sizable stakes in a few large enterprises, including 80% ownership of the Latvian national airline. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization in February 1999 and the EU in May 2004. Latvia also joined the euro zone in 2014 and the OECD in 2016. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $56.92 billion (2020 est.) $59.06 billion (2019 est.) $57.88 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 2.08% (2019 est.) 4.2% (2018 est.) 3.23% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $29,900 (2020 est.) $30,900 (2019 est.) $30,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $34.084 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (2019 est.) 2.5% (2018 est.) 2.9% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: A- (2014) Moody's rating: A3 (2015) Standard & Poors rating: A+ (2020) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 3.9% (2017 est.) industry: 22.4% (2017 est.) services: 73.7% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 61.8% (2017 est.) government consumption: 18.2% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 19.9% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1.5% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 60.6% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -61.9% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: wheat, milk, rapeseed, barley, oats, potatoes, rye, beans, pork, poultry Industries: processed foods, processed wood products, textiles, processed metals, pharmaceuticals, railroad cars, synthetic fibers, electronics Industrial production growth rate: 10.6% (2017 est.) Labor force: 885,000 (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 7.7% industry: 24.1% services: 68.1% (2016 est.) Unemployment rate: 6.14% (2019 est.) 6.51% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 14.9% male: 14.4% female: 15.5% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 22.9% (2018 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 35.6 (2017 est.) 35.4 (2014) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.2% highest 10%: 26.3% (2015) Budget: revenues: 11.39 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 11.53 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 36.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 37.4% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities, including sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government, and social security funds Taxes and other revenues: 37.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$222 million (2019 est.) -$99 million (2018 est.) Exports: $20.23 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $20.5 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $21.12 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Lithuania 16%, Estonia 10%, Russia 9%, Germany 7%, Sweden 6%, United Kingdom 6% (2019) Exports - commodities: lumber, broadcasting equipment, whiskey and other hard liquors, wheat, packaged medicines (2019) Imports: $19.84 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $20.79 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $21.38 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Russia 21%, Lithuania 14%, Germany 9%, Poland 7%, Estonia 7% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, cars, packaged medicines, aircraft (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $4.614 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $3.514 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $40.164 billion (2019 est.) $42.488 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.82771 (2020 est.) 0.90338 (2019 est.) 0.87789 (2018 est.) 0.885 (2014 est.) 0.7634 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 3.089 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 6.706 billion kWh (2020 est.) exports: 2.548 billion kWh (2020 est.) imports: 4.173 billion kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 377 million kWh (2020 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 33.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 3.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 47.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 15.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 39,000 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 3,000 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 40,000 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 1,600 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 39,900 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 16,180 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 54,370 bbl/day (2017 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 1,067,798,000 cubic meters (2020 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 1,067,798,000 cubic meters (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 8.45 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 149,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 5.693 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 2.608 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 86.645 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 211,849 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 2,051,359 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 109 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: the telecom market continues to benefit from investment and from regulatory measures aimed at developing 5G and fiber based infrastructure; there is effective competition in the mobile market, with extensive services based on LTE-A technologies to boost data speeds; operators such as Bité Latvia and Tele2 Latvia have also begun transitioning their networks to support services and applications based on 5G, though with the existing capacity of LTE infrastructure a large scale 5G deployment is not expected until 2023; to facilitate this progress, the regulator in March 2021 approved an application from Tele2 Latvia and Bité to share almost half of their spectrum assets; in the fixed-line broadband sector, the country is ranked second highest in Europe (after Iceland) for fiber coverage and take-up, closely followed by Lithuania; with this infrastructure in place, the country has also developed a sophisticated digital economy, with e-commerce and e-government services widely available. (2021) domestic: fixed-line roughly 11 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 109 per 100 subscriptions (2020) international: country code - 371; the Latvian network is now connected via fiber-optic cable to Estonia, Finland, and Sweden note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: several national and regional commercial TV stations are foreign-owned, 2 national TV stations are publicly owned; system supplemented by privately owned regional and local TV stations; cable and satellite multi-channel TV services with domestic and foreign broadcasts available; publicly owned broadcaster operates 4 radio networks with dozens of stations throughout the country; dozens of private broadcasters also operate radio stations Internet country code: .lv Internet users: total: 1,691,400 (2020 est.) percent of population: 89% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 490,569 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 53 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 4,058,762 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 4.01 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: YL Airports: total: 42 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 18 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 7 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 24 under 914 m: 24 (2021) Heliports: 1 (2021) Pipelines: 1,213 km gas, 417 km refined products (2018) Railways: total: 1,860 km (2018) narrow gauge: 34 km (2018) 0.750-m gauge broad gauge: 1,826 km (2018) 1.520-m gauge Roadways: total: 70,244 km (2018) paved: 15,158 km (2018) unpaved: 55,086 km (2018) Waterways: 300 km (2010) (navigable year-round) Merchant marine: total: 70 by type: general cargo 22, oil tanker 9, other 39 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Riga, Ventspils Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: National Armed Forces (Nacionalie Brunotie Speki): Land Forces (Latvijas Sauszemes Speki), Naval Force (Latvijas Juras Speki, includes Coast Guard (Latvijas Kara Flote)), Air Force (Latvijas Gaisa Speki), National Guard (2022) Military expenditures: 2.2% of GDP (2021 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2020) 2% of GDP (2019) (approximately $920 million) 2.1% of GDP (2018) (approximately $900 million) 1.6% of GDP (2017) (approximately $740 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 7,500 active duty troops (6,500 Land Forces; 500 Naval Force/Coast Guard; 500 Air Force; note - some Land Forces are considered joint forces); 8,200 National Guard (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Latvian military's inventory is limited and consists of a mixture of Soviet-era and more modern--mostly second-hand--European and US equipment; since 2010, it has received limited amounts of equipment from several European countries, Israel, and the US (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary male and female military service; no conscription (abolished 2007) (2022) note 1: in July 2022, the Latvian Government announced that it was reinstating mandatory military service for men aged 18-27 (women voluntarily) beginning in July 2023; service would be for 1 year in the Land Forces or alternatively in internal affairs, health, or welfare structures note 2: as of 2019, women comprised about 16% of the military's full-time personnel Military deployments: 130 Kosovo (KFOR/NATO) (2022) Military - note: Latvia became a member of NATO in 2004 since 2017, Latvia has hosted a Canadian-led multi-national NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; in addition, Latvia hosts a NATO-led divisional headquarters (Multinational Division North; activated 2020), which coordinates training and preparation activities of its respective subordinate NATO battlegroups in Estonia and Latvia NATO also has provided air protection for Latvia since 2004 through its Air Policing mission; NATO member countries that possess air combat capabilities voluntarily contribute to the mission on 4-month rotations (2022) Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Latvia-Belarus: Belarus and Latvia signed joint demarcation map in September 2008 Latvia-Estonia: demarcation reportedly completed in 1998 Latvia-Lithuania: boundary demarcation was completed by the end of 1998; the Latvian parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rights Latvia-Russia: Russia demands better Latvian treatment of ethnic Russians in Latvia; in March 2007, Latvia and Russia signed a border treaty, which includes Latvia withdrawing claims to a district now in Russia that was part of Latvia before WWII; the permanent demarcation of the boundary between Latvia and Russia was completed and came into force in April 2018; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Latvia has implemented the strict Schengen border rules with RussiaLatvia-Belarus: Belarus and Latvia signed joint demarcation map in September 2008Latvia-Estonia: demarcation reportedly completed in 1998Latvia-Lithuania: boundary demarcation was completed by the end of 1998; the Latvian parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rightsLatvia-Russia: Russia demands better Latvian treatment of ethnic Russians in Latvia; in March 2007, Latvia and Russia signed a border treaty, which includes Latvia withdrawing claims to a district now in Russia that was part of Latvia before WWII; the permanent demarcation of the boundary between Latvia and Russia was completed and came into force in April 2018; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Latvia has implemented the strict Schengen border rules with Russia Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 36,161 (Ukraine) (as of 9 August 2022) stateless persons: 209,168 (mid-year 2021); note - individuals who were Latvian citizens prior to the 1940 Soviet occupation and their descendants were recognized as Latvian citizens when the country's independence was restored in 1991; citizens of the former Soviet Union residing in Latvia who have neither Latvian nor other citizenship are considered non-citizens (officially there is no statelessness in Latvia) and are entitled to non-citizen passports; children born after Latvian independence to stateless parents are entitled to Latvian citizenship upon their parents' request; non-citizens cannot vote or hold certain government jobs and are exempt from military service but can travel visa-free in the EU under the Schengen accord like Latvian citizens; non-citizens can obtain naturalization if they have been permanent residents of Latvia for at least five years, pass tests in Latvian language and history, and know the words of the Latvian national anthem Illicit drugs: transshipment and destination point for cocaine, synthetic drugs, opiates, and cannabis from Southwest Asia, Western Europe, Latin America, and neighboring Baltic countries; despite improved legislation, vulnerable to money laundering due to nascent enforcement capabilities and comparatively weak regulation of offshore companies and the gaming industry; CIS organized crime (including counterfeiting, corruption, extortion, stolen cars, and prostitution) accounts for most laundered proceeds

20220901

field-terrain

This entry contains a brief description of the topography. Topic: Afghanistanmostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest Topic: Albaniamostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast Topic: Algeriamostly high plateau and desert; Atlas Mountains in the far north and Hoggar Mountains in the south; narrow, discontinuous coastal plain Topic: American Samoafive volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Atoll, Swains Island) Topic: Andorrarugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys Topic: Angolanarrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau Topic: Anguillaflat and low-lying island of coral and limestone Topic: Antarcticaabout 99% thick continental ice sheet and 1% barren rock, with average elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 m; mountain ranges up to nearly 5,000 m; ice-free coastal areas include parts of southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area, and parts of Ross Island on McMurdo Sound; glaciers form ice shelves along about half of the coastline, and floating ice shelves constitute 11% of the area of the continent Topic: Antigua and Barbudamostly low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some higher volcanic areas Topic: Arctic Oceancentral surface covered by a perennial drifting polar icepack that, on average, is about 3 m thick, although pressure ridges may be three times that thickness; the icepack is surrounded by open seas during the summer, but more than doubles in size during the winter and extends to the encircling landmasses; the ocean floor is about 50% continental shelf (highest percentage of any ocean) with the remainder a central basin interrupted by three submarine ridges (Alpha Cordillera, Nansen Cordillera, and Lomonosov Ridge) major surface currents: two major, slow-moving, wind-driven currents (drift streams) dominate: a clockwise drift pattern in the Beaufort Gyre in the western part of the Arctic Ocean and a nearly straight line Transpolar Drift Stream that moves eastward across the ocean from the New Siberian Islands (Russia) to the Fram Strait (between Greenland and Svalbard); sea ice that lies close to the center of the gyre can complete a 360 degree circle in about 2 years, while ice on the gyre periphery will complete the same circle in about 7-8 years; sea ice in the Transpolar Drift crosses the ocean in about 3 yearscentral surface covered by a perennial drifting polar icepack that, on average, is about 3 m thick, although pressure ridges may be three times that thickness; the icepack is surrounded by open seas during the summer, but more than doubles in size during the winter and extends to the encircling landmasses; the ocean floor is about 50% continental shelf (highest percentage of any ocean) with the remainder a central basin interrupted by three submarine ridges (Alpha Cordillera, Nansen Cordillera, and Lomonosov Ridge)major surface currents: two major, slow-moving, wind-driven currents (drift streams) dominate: a clockwise drift pattern in the Beaufort Gyre in the western part of the Arctic Ocean and a nearly straight line Transpolar Drift Stream that moves eastward across the ocean from the New Siberian Islands (Russia) to the Fram Strait (between Greenland and Svalbard); sea ice that lies close to the center of the gyre can complete a 360 degree circle in about 2 years, while ice on the gyre periphery will complete the same circle in about 7-8 years; sea ice in the Transpolar Drift crosses the ocean in about 3 years Topic: Argentinarich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border Topic: ArmeniaArmenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley Topic: Arubaflat with a few hills; scant vegetation Topic: Ashmore and Cartier Islandslow with sand and coral Topic: Atlantic Oceansurface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea, Denmark Strait, and coastal portions of the Baltic Sea from October to June; surface dominated by two large gyres (broad, circular systems of currents), one in the northern Atlantic and another in the southern Atlantic; the ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged north-south centerline for the entire Atlantic basin major surface currents: clockwise North Atlantic Gyre consists of the northward flowing, warm Gulf Stream in the west, the eastward flowing North Atlantic Current in the north, the southward flowing cold Canary Current in the east, and the westward flowing North Equatorial Current in the south; the counterclockwise South Atlantic Gyre composed of the southward flowing warm Brazil Current in the west, the eastward flowing South Atlantic Current in the south, the northward flowing cold Benguela Current in the east, and the westward flowing South Equatorial Current in the northsurface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea, Denmark Strait, and coastal portions of the Baltic Sea from October to June; surface dominated by two large gyres (broad, circular systems of currents), one in the northern Atlantic and another in the southern Atlantic; the ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged north-south centerline for the entire Atlantic basinmajor surface currents: clockwise North Atlantic Gyre consists of the northward flowing, warm Gulf Stream in the west, the eastward flowing North Atlantic Current in the north, the southward flowing cold Canary Current in the east, and the westward flowing North Equatorial Current in the south; the counterclockwise South Atlantic Gyre composed of the southward flowing warm Brazil Current in the west, the eastward flowing South Atlantic Current in the south, the northward flowing cold Benguela Current in the east, and the westward flowing South Equatorial Current in the north Topic: Australiamostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast Topic: Austriamostly mountains (Alps) in the west and south; mostly flat or gently sloping along the eastern and northern margins Topic: Azerbaijanlarge, flat Kur-Araz Ovaligi (Kura-Araks Lowland, much of it below sea level) with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag Yaylasi (Karabakh Upland) to the west; Baku lies on Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) that juts into Caspian Sea Topic: Bahamas, Thelong, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills Topic: Bahrainmostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment Topic: Bangladeshmostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast Topic: Barbadosrelatively flat; rises gently to central highland region Topic: Belarusgenerally flat with much marshland Topic: Belgiumflat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast Topic: Belizeflat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south Topic: Beninmostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains Topic: Bermudalow hills separated by fertile depressions Topic: Bhutanmostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna Topic: Boliviarugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano), hills, lowland plains of the Amazon Basin Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinamountains and valleys Topic: Botswanapredominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest Topic: Bouvet Islandvolcanic; coast is mostly inaccessible Topic: Brazilmostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt Topic: British Indian Ocean Territoryflat and low (most areas do not exceed two m in elevation) Topic: British Virgin Islandscoral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly Topic: Bruneiflat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west Topic: Bulgariamostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast Topic: Burkina FasoMostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in the west and southeast.  Occupies an extensive plateau with savanna that is grassy in the north and gradually gives way to sparse forests in the south. (2019) Topic: Burmacentral lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands Topic: Burundihilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains Topic: Cabo Verdesteep, rugged, rocky, volcanic Topic: Cambodiamostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north Topic: Cameroondiverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north Topic: Canadamostly plains with mountains in west, lowlands in southeast Topic: Cayman Islandslow-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs Topic: Central African Republicvast, flat to rolling plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest Topic: Chadbroad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south Topic: Chilelow coastal mountains, fertile central valley, rugged Andes in east Topic: Chinamostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills in east Topic: Christmas Islandsteep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau Topic: Clipperton Islandcoral atoll Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandsflat, low-lying coral atolls Topic: Colombiaflat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains (Llanos) Topic: Comorosvolcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thevast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east Topic: Congo, Republic of thecoastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin Topic: Cook Islandslow coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south Topic: Coral Sea Islandssand and coral reefs and islands (cays) Topic: Costa Ricacoastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major active volcanoes Topic: Cote d'Ivoiremostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest Topic: Croatiageographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarian border, low mountains and highlands near Adriatic coastline and islands Topic: Cubamostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast Topic: Curacaogenerally low, hilly terraingenerally low, hilly terrain Topic: Cypruscentral plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast Topic: CzechiaBohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east consists of very hilly country Topic: Denmarklow and flat to gently rolling plains Topic: Djibouticoastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains Topic: Dominicarugged mountains of volcanic origin Topic: Dominican Republicrugged highlands and mountains interspersed with fertile valleys Topic: Ecuadorcoastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente) Topic: Egyptvast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta Topic: El Salvadormostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau Topic: Equatorial Guineacoastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic Topic: Eritreadominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending highlands, descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the northwest to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling plains Topic: Estoniamarshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south Topic: Eswatinimostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains Topic: Ethiopiahigh plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley Topic: European Unionfairly flat along Baltic and Atlantic coasts; mountainous in the central and southern areas Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains Topic: Faroe Islandsrugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast Topic: Fijimostly mountains of volcanic origin Topic: Finlandmostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills Topic: Francemetropolitan France: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east; French Guiana: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains; Guadeloupe: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin; Martinique: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano; Mayotte: generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks; Reunion: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coastmetropolitan France: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east; French Guiana: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains; Guadeloupe: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin; Martinique: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano; Mayotte: generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks; Reunion: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast Topic: French Polynesiamixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs Topic: French Southern and Antarctic LandsIle Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): a volcanic island with steep coastal cliffs; the center floor of the volcano is a large plateau; Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): triangular in shape, the island is the top of a volcano, rocky with steep cliffs on the eastern side; has active thermal springs; Iles Crozet: a large archipelago formed from the Crozet Plateau is divided into two groups of islands; Iles Kerguelen: the interior of the large island of Ile Kerguelen is composed of high mountains, hills, valleys, and plains with peninsulas stretching off its coasts; Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): atoll, awash at high tide; shallow (15 m) lagoon; Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island: low, flat, and sandy; Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): low, flat, sandy; likely volcanic seamountIle Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): a volcanic island with steep coastal cliffs; the center floor of the volcano is a large plateau; Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): triangular in shape, the island is the top of a volcano, rocky with steep cliffs on the eastern side; has active thermal springs; Iles Crozet: a large archipelago formed from the Crozet Plateau is divided into two groups of islands; Iles Kerguelen: the interior of the large island of Ile Kerguelen is composed of high mountains, hills, valleys, and plains with peninsulas stretching off its coasts; Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): atoll, awash at high tide; shallow (15 m) lagoon; Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island: low, flat, and sandy; Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): low, flat, sandy; likely volcanic seamount Topic: Gabonnarrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south Topic: Gambia, Theflood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills Topic: Gaza Stripflat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain Topic: Georgialargely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the north and Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the south; Kolkhet'is Dablobi (Kolkhida Lowland) opens to the Black Sea in the west; Mtkvari River Basin in the east; fertile soils in river valley flood plains and foothills of Kolkhida Lowland Topic: Germanylowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in south Topic: Ghanamostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area Topic: Gibraltara narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar Topic: Greecemountainous with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands Topic: Greenlandflat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast Topic: Grenadavolcanic in origin with central mountains Topic: Guamvolcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat coralline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water), with steep coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low hills in center, mountains in south Topic: Guatemalatwo east-west trending mountain chains divide the country into three regions: the mountainous highlands, the Pacific coast south of mountains, and the vast northern Peten lowlands Topic: Guernseymostly flat with low hills in southwest Topic: Guineagenerally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior Topic: Guinea-Bissaumostly low-lying coastal plain with a deeply indented estuarine coastline rising to savanna in east; numerous off-shore islands including the Arquipelago Dos Bijagos consisting of 18 main islands and many small islets Topic: Guyanamostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south Topic: Haitimostly rough and mountainous Topic: Heard Island and McDonald IslandsHeard Island - 80% ice-covered, bleak and mountainous, dominated by a large massif (Big Ben) and an active volcano (Mawson Peak); McDonald Islands - small and rocky Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)urban; low hill Topic: Hondurasmostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains Topic: Hong Konghilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north Topic: Hungarymostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on the Slovakian border Topic: Icelandmostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords Topic: Indiaupland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north Topic: Indian Oceansurface dominated by a major gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the southern Indian Ocean and a unique reversal of surface currents in the northern Indian Ocean; ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Indian Ocean Ridge and subdivided by the Southeast Indian Ocean Ridge, Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge, and Ninetyeast Ridge major surface currents: the counterclockwise Indian Ocean Gyre comprised of the southward flowing warm Agulhas and East Madagascar Currents in the west, the eastward flowing South Indian Current in the south, the northward flowing cold West Australian Current in the east, and the westward flowing South Equatorial Current in the north; a distinctive annual reversal of surface currents occurs in the northern Indian Ocean; low atmospheric pressure over southwest Asia from hot, rising, summer air results in the southwest monsoon and southwest-to-northeast winds and clockwise currents, while high pressure over northern Asia from cold, falling, winter air results in the northeast monsoon and northeast-to-southwest winds and counterclockwise currentssurface dominated by a major gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the southern Indian Ocean and a unique reversal of surface currents in the northern Indian Ocean; ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Indian Ocean Ridge and subdivided by the Southeast Indian Ocean Ridge, Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge, and Ninetyeast Ridgemajor surface currents: the counterclockwise Indian Ocean Gyre comprised of the southward flowing warm Agulhas and East Madagascar Currents in the west, the eastward flowing South Indian Current in the south, the northward flowing cold West Australian Current in the east, and the westward flowing South Equatorial Current in the north; a distinctive annual reversal of surface currents occurs in the northern Indian Ocean; low atmospheric pressure over southwest Asia from hot, rising, summer air results in the southwest monsoon and southwest-to-northeast winds and clockwise currents, while high pressure over northern Asia from cold, falling, winter air results in the northeast monsoon and northeast-to-southwest winds and counterclockwise currents Topic: Indonesiamostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains Topic: Iranrugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts Topic: Iraqmostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey Topic: Irelandmostly flat to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast Topic: Isle of Manhills in north and south bisected by central valley Topic: IsraelNegev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift Valley Topic: Italymostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands Topic: Jamaicamostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain Topic: Jan Mayenvolcanic island, partly covered by glaciers Topic: Japanmostly rugged and mountainous Topic: Jerseygently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast Topic: Jordanmostly arid desert plateau; a great north-south geological rift along the west of the country is the dominant topographical feature and includes the Jordan River Valley, the Dead Sea, and the Jordanian Highlands Topic: Kazakhstanvast flat steppe extending from the Volga in the west to the Altai Mountains in the east and from the plains of western Siberia in the north to oases and deserts of Central Asia in the south Topic: Kenyalow plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west Topic: Kiribatimostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs Topic: Korea, Northmostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; wide coastal plains in west, discontinuous in east Topic: Korea, Southmostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south Topic: Kosovoflat fluvial basin at an elevation of 400-700 m above sea level surrounded by several high mountain ranges with elevations of 2,000 to 2,500 m Topic: Kuwaitflat to slightly undulating desert plain Topic: Kyrgyzstanpeaks of the Tien Shan mountain range and associated valleys and basins encompass the entire country Topic: Laosmostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus Topic: Latvialow plain Topic: Lebanonnarrow coastal plain; El Beqaa (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains Topic: Lesothomostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains Topic: Liberiamostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast Topic: Libyamostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions Topic: Liechtensteinmostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third Topic: Lithuanialowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil Topic: Luxembourgmostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle flood plain in the southeast Topic: Macaugenerally flat Topic: Madagascarnarrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center Topic: Malawinarrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains Topic: Malaysiacoastal plains rising to hills and mountains Topic: Maldivesflat, with white sandy beaches Topic: Malimostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast Topic: Maltamostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs Topic: Marshall Islandslow coral limestone and sand islands Topic: Mauritaniamostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills Topic: Mauritiussmall coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau Topic: Mexicohigh, rugged mountains; low coastal plains; high plateaus; desert Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofislands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk Topic: Moldovarolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea Topic: Monacohilly, rugged, rocky Topic: Mongoliavast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central Topic: Montenegrohighly indented coastline with narrow coastal plain backed by rugged high limestone mountains and plateaus Topic: Montserratvolcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland Topic: Moroccomountainous northern coast (Rif Mountains) and interior (Atlas Mountains) bordered by large plateaus with intermontane valleys, and fertile coastal plains; the south is mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces  Topic: Mozambiquemostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west Topic: Namibiamostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east Topic: Naurusandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs with phosphate plateau in center Topic: Navassa Islandraised flat to undulating coral and limestone plateau; ringed by vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 m high) Topic: NepalTarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south; central hill region with rugged Himalayas in north Topic: Netherlandsmostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast Topic: New Caledoniacoastal plains with interior mountains Topic: New Zealandpredominately mountainous with large coastal plains Topic: Nicaraguaextensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes Topic: Nigerpredominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north Topic: Nigeriasouthern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in southeast, plains in north Topic: Niuesteep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau Topic: Norfolk Islandvolcanic island with mostly rolling plains Topic: North Macedoniamountainous with deep basins and valleys; three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by the Vardar River Topic: Northern Mariana Islandsthe southern islands in this north-south trending archipelago are limestone, with fringing coral reefs; the northern islands are volcanic, with active volcanoes on several islands Topic: Norwayglaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north Topic: Omancentral desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south Topic: Pacific Oceansurface dominated by two large gyres (broad, circular systems of currents), one in the northern Pacific and another in the southern Pacific; in the northern Pacific, sea ice forms in the Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk in winter; in the southern Pacific, sea ice from Antarctica reaches its northernmost extent in October; the ocean floor in the eastern Pacific is dominated by the East Pacific Rise, while the western Pacific is dissected by deep trenches, including the Mariana Trench, which is the world's deepest at 10,924 m major surface currents: clockwise North Pacific Gyre formed by the warm northward flowing Kuroshio Current in the west, the eastward flowing North Pacific Current in the north, the southward flowing cold California Current in the east, and the westward flowing North Equatorial Current in the south; the counterclockwise South Pacific Gyre composed of the southward flowing warm East Australian Current in the west, the eastward flowing South Pacific Current in the south, the northward flowing cold Peru (Humbolt) Current in the east, and the westward flowing South Equatorial Current in the northsurface dominated by two large gyres (broad, circular systems of currents), one in the northern Pacific and another in the southern Pacific; in the northern Pacific, sea ice forms in the Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk in winter; in the southern Pacific, sea ice from Antarctica reaches its northernmost extent in October; the ocean floor in the eastern Pacific is dominated by the East Pacific Rise, while the western Pacific is dissected by deep trenches, including the Mariana Trench, which is the world's deepest at 10,924 mmajor surface currents: clockwise North Pacific Gyre formed by the warm northward flowing Kuroshio Current in the west, the eastward flowing North Pacific Current in the north, the southward flowing cold California Current in the east, and the westward flowing North Equatorial Current in the south; the counterclockwise South Pacific Gyre composed of the southward flowing warm East Australian Current in the west, the eastward flowing South Pacific Current in the south, the northward flowing cold Peru (Humbolt) Current in the east, and the westward flowing South Equatorial Current in the north Topic: Pakistandivided into three major geographic areas: the northern highlands, the Indus River plain in the center and east, and the Balochistan Plateau in the south and west Topic: Palauvarying topography from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs Topic: Panamainterior mostly steep, rugged mountains with dissected, upland plains; coastal plains with rolling hills Topic: Papua New Guineamostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills Topic: Paracel Islandsmostly low and flat Topic: Paraguaygrassy 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 Topic: Peruwestern coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva) Topic: Philippinesmostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands Topic: Pitcairn Islandsrugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs Topic: Polandmostly flat plain; mountains along southern border Topic: Portugalthe west-flowing Tagus River divides the country: the north is mountainous toward the interior, while the south is characterized by rolling plains Topic: Puerto Ricomostly mountains with coastal plain in north; precipitous mountains to the sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas Topic: Qatarmostly flat and barren desert Topic: Romaniacentral Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Moldavian Plateau on the east by the Eastern Carpathian Mountains and separated from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps Topic: Russiabroad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous forest and tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along southern border regions Topic: Rwandamostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east Topic: Saint Barthelemyhilly, almost completely surrounded by shallow-water reefs, with plentiful beaches Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhathe islands of this group are of volcanic origin associated with the Atlantic Mid-Ocean RidgeSaint Helena: rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains; Ascension: surface covered by lava flows and cinder cones of 44 dormant volcanoes; terrain rises to the east; Tristan da Cunha: sheer cliffs line the coastline of the nearly circular island; the flanks of the central volcanic peak are deeply dissected; narrow coastal plain lies between The Peak and the coastal cliffsthe islands of this group are of volcanic origin associated with the Atlantic Mid-Ocean RidgeSaint Helena: rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains; Ascension: surface covered by lava flows and cinder cones of 44 dormant volcanoes; terrain rises to the east; Tristan da Cunha: sheer cliffs line the coastline of the nearly circular island; the flanks of the central volcanic peak are deeply dissected; narrow coastal plain lies between The Peak and the coastal cliffs Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevisvolcanic with mountainous interiors Topic: Saint Luciavolcanic and mountainous with broad, fertile valleys Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelonmostly barren rock Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesvolcanic, mountainous Topic: Samoatwo main islands (Savaii, Upolu) and several smaller islands and uninhabited islets; narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rugged mountains in interior Topic: San Marinorugged mountains Topic: Sao Tome and Principevolcanic, mountainous Topic: Saudi Arabiamostly sandy desert Topic: Senegalgenerally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast Topic: Serbiaextremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to the east, limestone ranges and basins; to the southeast, ancient mountains and hills Topic: SeychellesMahe Group is volcanic with a narrow coastal strip and rocky, hilly interior; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs Topic: Sierra Leonecoastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east Topic: Singaporelowlying, gently undulating central plateau Topic: Sint Maartenlow, hilly terrain, volcanic originlow, hilly terrain, volcanic origin Topic: Slovakiarugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south Topic: Sloveniaa short southwestern coastal strip of Karst topography on the Adriatic; an alpine mountain region lies adjacent to Italy and Austria in the north; mixed mountains and valleys with numerous rivers to the east Topic: Solomon Islandsmostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls Topic: Somaliamostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north Topic: South Africavast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islandsmost of the islands are rugged and mountainous rising steeply from the sea; South Georgia is largely barren with steep, glacier-covered mountains; the South Sandwich Islands are of volcanic origin with some active volcanoes Topic: South Sudanplains in the north and center rise to southern highlands along the border with Uganda and Kenya; the White Nile, flowing north out of the uplands of Central Africa, is the major geographic feature of the country; The Sudd (a name derived from floating vegetation that hinders navigation) is a large swampy area of more than 100,000 sq km fed by the waters of the White Nile that dominates the center of the country Topic: Southern Oceanthe Southern Ocean is 4,000 to 5,000-m deep over most of its extent with only limited areas of shallow water; the Antarctic continental shelf is generally narrow and unusually deep, its edge lying at depths of 400 to 800 m (the global mean is 133 m); the Antarctic icepack grows from an average minimum of 2.6 million sq km in March to about 18.8 million sq km in September, better than a sixfold increase in area major surface currents: the cold, clockwise-flowing Antarctic Circumpolar Current (West Wind Drift; 21,000 km long) moves perpetually eastward around the continent and is the world's largest and strongest ocean current, transporting 130 million cubic meters of water per second - 100 times the flow of all the world's rivers; it is also the only current that flows all the way around the planet and connects the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans; the cold Antarctic Coastal Current (East Wind Drift) is the southernmost current in the world, flowing westward and parallel to the Antarctic coastlinethe Southern Ocean is 4,000 to 5,000-m deep over most of its extent with only limited areas of shallow water; the Antarctic continental shelf is generally narrow and unusually deep, its edge lying at depths of 400 to 800 m (the global mean is 133 m); the Antarctic icepack grows from an average minimum of 2.6 million sq km in March to about 18.8 million sq km in September, better than a sixfold increase in areamajor surface currents: the cold, clockwise-flowing Antarctic Circumpolar Current (West Wind Drift; 21,000 km long) moves perpetually eastward around the continent and is the world's largest and strongest ocean current, transporting 130 million cubic meters of water per second - 100 times the flow of all the world's rivers; it is also the only current that flows all the way around the planet and connects the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans; the cold Antarctic Coastal Current (East Wind Drift) is the southernmost current in the world, flowing westward and parallel to the Antarctic coastline Topic: Spainlarge, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees Mountains in north Topic: Spratly Islandssmall, flat islands, islets, cays, and reefs Topic: Sri Lankamostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior Topic: Sudangenerally flat, featureless plain; desert dominates the north Topic: Surinamemostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps Topic: Svalbardrugged mountains; much of the upland areas are ice covered; west coast clear of ice about half the year; fjords along west and north coasts Topic: Swedenmostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west Topic: Switzerlandmostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes Topic: Syriaprimarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in west Topic: Taiwaneastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rolling plains in west Topic: Tajikistanmountainous region dominated by the Alay Mountains in the north and the Pamirs in the southeast; western Fergana Valley in north, Kofirnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest Topic: Tanzaniaplains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south Topic: Thailandcentral plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere Topic: Timor-Lestemountainous Topic: Togogently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes Topic: Tokelaulow-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons Topic: Tongamostly flat islands with limestone bedrock formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic rock Topic: Trinidad and Tobagomostly plains with some hills and low mountains Topic: Tunisiamountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)high central plateau (Anatolia); narrow coastal plain; several mountain ranges Topic: Turkmenistanflat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes rising to mountains in the south; low mountains along border with Iran; borders Caspian Sea in west Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandslow, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps Topic: Tuvalulow-lying and narrow coral atolls Topic: Ugandamostly plateau with rim of mountains Topic: Ukrainemostly fertile plains (steppes) and plateaus, with mountains found only in the west (the Carpathians) or in the extreme south of the Crimean Peninsula Topic: United Arab Emiratesflat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert; mountains in east Topic: United Kingdommostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east and southeast Topic: United Statesvast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low mountains in east; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska; rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refugeslow and nearly flat sandy coral islands with narrow fringing reefs that have developed at the top of submerged volcanic mountains, which in most cases rise steeply from the ocean floor Topic: Uruguaymostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland Topic: Uzbekistanmostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad, flat intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya, Syr Darya (Sirdaryo), and Zaravshan; Fergana Valley in east surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in west Topic: Vanuatumostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains Topic: VenezuelaAndes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast Topic: Vietnamlow, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest Topic: Virgin Islandsmostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little flat land Topic: Wake Islandatoll of three low coral islands, Peale, Wake, and Wilkes, built up on an underwater volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim Topic: Wallis and Futunavolcanic origin; low hills Topic: West Bankmostly rugged, dissected upland in west, flat plains descending to Jordan River Valley to the east Topic: Worldtremendous variation of terrain on each of the continents; check the World 'Elevation' entry for a compilation of terrain extremes; the world's ocean floors are marked by mid-ocean ridges while the ocean surfaces form a dynamic, continuously changing environment; check the "Terrain" field and its 'major surface currents' and 'ocean zones' subfields under each of the five ocean (Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, and Southern) entries for further information on oceanic environs Ten Cave Superlatives: compiled from "Geography - note(s)" under various country entries where more details may be found largest cave: Son Doong in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam is the world's largest cave (greatest cross sectional area) and is the largest known cave passage in the world by volume; it currently measures a total of 38.5 million cu m (about 1.35 billion cu ft); it connects to Thung cave (but not yet officially); when recognized, it will add an additional 1.6 million cu m in volume largest ice cave: the Eisriesenwelt (Ice Giants World) inside the Hochkogel mountain near Werfen, Austria is the world's largest and longest ice cave system at 42 km (26 mi) longest cave: Mammoth Cave, in west-central Kentucky, is the world's longest known cave system with more than 650 km (405 mi) of surveyed passageways longest salt cave: the Malham Cave in Mount Sodom in Israel is the world's longest salt cave at 10 km (6 mi); its survey is not complete and its length will undoubtedly increase longest underwater cave: the Sac Actun cave system in Mexico at 348 km (216 mi) is the longest underwater cave in the world and the second longest cave worldwide longest lava tube cave: Kazumura Cave on the island of Hawaii is the world's longest and deepest lava tube cave; it has been surveyed at 66 km (41 mi) long and 1,102 m (3,614 ft) deep deepest cave: Veryovkina Cave in the Caucasus country of Georgia is the world's deepest cave, plunging down 2,212 m (7,257 ft) deepest underwater cave: the Hranice Abyss in Czechia is the world's deepest surveyed underwater cave at 404 m (1,325 ft); its survey is not complete and it could end up being some 800-1,200 m deep largest cave chamber: the Miao Room in the Gebihe cave system at China's Ziyun Getu He Chuandong National Park encloses some 10.78 million cu m (380.7 million cu ft) of volume largest bat cave: Bracken Cave outside of San Antonio, Texas is the world's largest bat cave; it is the summer home to the largest colony of bats in the world; an estimated 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats roost in the cave from March to October making it the world's largest known concentration of mammals Topic: Yemennarrow coastal plain backed by flat-topped hills and rugged mountains; dissected upland desert plains in center slope into the desert interior of the Arabian Peninsula Topic: Zambiamostly high plateau with some hills and mountains Topic: Zimbabwemostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in east

20220901

countries-australia-summaries

Topic: Introduction Background: Prehistoric settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asia at least 40,000 years before the first Europeans began exploration in the 17th century. All of Australia was claimed as British territory in 1829. Independence was achieved in 1901.Prehistoric settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asia at least 40,000 years before the first Europeans began exploration in the 17th century. All of Australia was claimed as British territory in 1829. Independence was achieved in 1901. Topic: Geography Area: total: 7,741,220 sq km land: 7,682,300 sq km water: 58,920 sq km Climate: generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north Natural resources: alumina, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, rare earth elements, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, opals, natural gas, petroleum; note - Australia is the world's largest net exporter of coal accounting for 29% of global coal exports; as well, Australia is by far the world's largest supplier of opals Topic: People and Society Population: 26,141,369 (2022 est.) Ethnic groups: English 36.1%, Australian 33.5%, Irish 11.0%, Scottish 9.3%, Chinese 5.6%, Italian 4.6%, German 4.5%, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 2.8%, Indian 2.8%, Greek 1.8%, Dutch 1.6% (2016 est.)English 36.1%, Australian 33.5%, Irish 11.0%, Scottish 9.3%, Chinese 5.6%, Italian 4.6%, German 4.5%, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 2.8%, Indian 2.8%, Greek 1.8%, Dutch 1.6% Languages: English 72.7%, Mandarin 2.5%, Arabic 1.4%, Cantonese 1.2%, Vietnamese 1.2%, Italian 1.2%, Greek 1%, other 14.8%, unspecified 6.5% (2016 est.) Religions: Protestant 23.1% (Anglican 13.3%, Uniting Church 3.7%, Presbyterian and Reformed 2.3%, Baptist 1.5%, Pentecostal 1.1%, Lutheran .7%, other Protestant .5%), Roman Catholic 22.6%, other Christian 4.2%, Muslim 2.6%, Buddhist 2.4%, Orthodox 2.3% (Eastern Orthodox 2.1%, Oriental Orthodox .2%), Hindu 1.9%, other 1.3%, none 30.1%, unspecified 9.6% (2016 est.) Population growth rate: 1.25% (2022 est.) Topic: Government Government type: federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm Capital: name: Canberra Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General David HURLEY (since 1 July 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Anthony ALBANESE (since 23 May 2022) Legislative branch: description: bicameral Federal Parliament consists of: Senate (76 seats; 12 members from each of the 6 states and 2 each from the 2 mainland territories; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 6-year terms with one-half of state membership renewed every 3 years and territory membership renewed every 3 years) House of Representatives (151 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by majority preferential vote; members serve terms of up to 3 years) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Asian and global economic leader and partner for 3 decades; strong financial sector and highly traded domestic currency support best credit ratings; aging workforce; export-led model; reduced consumer spending offset by government and business; energy investorAsian and global economic leader and partner for 3 decades; strong financial sector and highly traded domestic currency support best credit ratings; aging workforce; export-led model; reduced consumer spending offset by government and business; energy investor Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $1,250,900,000,000 (2020 est.) Real GDP per capita: $48,700 (2020 est.) Agricultural products: sugar cane, wheat, barley, milk, rapeseed, beef, cotton, grapes, poultry, potatoes Industries: mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel Exports: $299.04 billion (2020 est.) Exports - partners: China 39%, Japan 15%, South Korea 7%, India 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: iron ore, coal, natural gas, gold, aluminum oxide (2019) Imports: $249.07 billion (2020 est.) Imports - partners: China 25%, United States 12%, Japan 7%, Germany 5%, Thailand 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, crude petroleum, broadcasting equipment, delivery trucks (2019)Page last updated: Friday, May 27, 2022

20220901

countries-syria-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to Syria due to terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, armed conflict, and risk of unjust detention. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport is valid at the date of their entering the country. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp and or visa that will be required. A visa is required. US citizens will need to get in touch with the country’s embassy or nearest consulate to obtain a visa prior to visiting the country. US Embassy/Consulate: [963] (11) 3391-4444; US Embassy in Damascus, Abou Roumaneh, 2 Al Mansour Street, Damascus, Syria; USIS_damascus@embassy.mzv.cz; https://sy.usembassy.gov/ Telephone Code: 963 Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 110; Fire 113; Police: 112 Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations http://www.who.int/ Climate: Mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather with snow or sleet periodically in Damascus Currency (Code): Syrian pounds (SYP) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 220 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, E, L Major Languages: Arabic, Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian, French, English Major Religions: Muslim 87% (includes Sunni 74% and Alawi, Ismaili, and Shia 13%), Christian 10% (includes Orthodox, Uniate, and Nestorian), Druze 3% Time Difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); daylight saving time: +1hr, begins midnight on the last Friday in March, ends at midnight on the last Friday in October Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Palmyra & Valley of The Tombs; Damascus (includes Historic Center, Souq al-Hamidiyya, Umayyad Mosque); Ancient City of Aleppo; Krak des Chevaliers; Bosra Major Sports: Soccer, basketball, tennis, swimming Cultural Practices: Displaying the soles of one’s feet to another person is improper. Similarly, placing one’s feet on top of a table is not acceptable. Tipping Guidelines: Tipping is a common way of showing appreciation, but the amount is left to the discretion of the giver; 10 % is standard in larger restaurants. Souvenirs: Rosewood, ebony, and olive wood carvings; embroidery, woven items, and hand-loomed brocade fabric; leather goods; gold and silver jewelry; mother-of-pearl items; inlaid steel and copper items; pottery Traditional Cuisine: Kibbeh — ground lamb, bulgur, and seasonings baked, fried, stuffed or served raw; often served with tabbouleh (a salad made with tomatoes, parsley, bulgur, and onions mixed in a sauce of lemon juice, olive oil, and salt)Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Monday, June 20, 2022

20220901

countries-burundi

Topic: Photos of Burundi Topic: Introduction Background: Established in the 1600s, the Burundi Kingdom has had borders similar to those of modern Burundi since the 1800s. Burundi’s two major ethnic groups, the majority Hutu and minority Tutsi, share a common language and culture and largely lived in peaceful cohabitation under Tutsi monarchs in pre-colonial Burundi. Regional, class, and clan distinctions contributed to social status in the Burundi Kingdom, yielding a complex class structure. German colonial rule in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and Belgian rule after World War I preserved Burundi’s monarchy. Seeking to simplify administration, Belgian colonial officials reduced the number of chiefdoms and eliminated most Hutu chiefs from positions of power. In 1961, the Burundian Tutsi king’s oldest son, Louis RWAGASORE was murdered by a competing political faction shortly before he was set to become prime minister, triggering increased political competition that contributed to later instability. Burundi gained its independence from Belgium in 1962 as the Kingdom of Burundi. Revolution in neighboring Rwanda stoked ethnic polarization as the Tutsi increasingly feared violence and loss of political power. A failed Hutu-led coup in 1965 triggered a purge of Hutu officials and set the stage for Tutsi officers to overthrow the monarchy in 1966 and establish a Tutsi-dominated republic. A Hutu rebellion in 1972 that resulted in the death of several thousand Tutsi civilians sparked a brutal crackdown on Hutu civilians by the Tutsi-led military, which ultimately killed 100,000-200,000 people. International pressure led to a new constitution in 1992 and democratic elections in June 1993. Burundi's first democratically elected president, Hutu Melchior NDADAYE, was assassinated in October 1993 after only 100 days in office by Tutsi military officers fearing Hutu domination, sparking a civil war. His successor, Cyprien NTARYAMIRA, died when the Rwandan president’s plane he was traveling on was shot down in April 1994, which triggered the Rwandan genocide and further entrenched ethnic conflict in Burundi. The internationally brokered Arusha Agreement, signed in 2000, and subsequent cease-fire agreements with armed movements ended the 1993-2005 civil war. Burundi’s second democratic elections were held in 2005, resulting in the election of Pierre NKURUNZIZA as president. He was reelected in 2010 and again in 2015 after a controversial court decision allowed him to circumvent a term limit. President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE - from NKURUNZIZA’s ruling party - was elected in 2020.Established in the 1600s, the Burundi Kingdom has had borders similar to those of modern Burundi since the 1800s. Burundi’s two major ethnic groups, the majority Hutu and minority Tutsi, share a common language and culture and largely lived in peaceful cohabitation under Tutsi monarchs in pre-colonial Burundi. Regional, class, and clan distinctions contributed to social status in the Burundi Kingdom, yielding a complex class structure. German colonial rule in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and Belgian rule after World War I preserved Burundi’s monarchy. Seeking to simplify administration, Belgian colonial officials reduced the number of chiefdoms and eliminated most Hutu chiefs from positions of power. In 1961, the Burundian Tutsi king’s oldest son, Louis RWAGASORE was murdered by a competing political faction shortly before he was set to become prime minister, triggering increased political competition that contributed to later instability. Burundi gained its independence from Belgium in 1962 as the Kingdom of Burundi.Revolution in neighboring Rwanda stoked ethnic polarization as the Tutsi increasingly feared violence and loss of political power. A failed Hutu-led coup in 1965 triggered a purge of Hutu officials and set the stage for Tutsi officers to overthrow the monarchy in 1966 and establish a Tutsi-dominated republic. A Hutu rebellion in 1972 that resulted in the death of several thousand Tutsi civilians sparked a brutal crackdown on Hutu civilians by the Tutsi-led military, which ultimately killed 100,000-200,000 people. International pressure led to a new constitution in 1992 and democratic elections in June 1993. Burundi's first democratically elected president, Hutu Melchior NDADAYE, was assassinated in October 1993 after only 100 days in office by Tutsi military officers fearing Hutu domination, sparking a civil war. His successor, Cyprien NTARYAMIRA, died when the Rwandan president’s plane he was traveling on was shot down in April 1994, which triggered the Rwandan genocide and further entrenched ethnic conflict in Burundi. The internationally brokered Arusha Agreement, signed in 2000, and subsequent cease-fire agreements with armed movements ended the 1993-2005 civil war. Burundi’s second democratic elections were held in 2005, resulting in the election of Pierre NKURUNZIZA as president. He was reelected in 2010 and again in 2015 after a controversial court decision allowed him to circumvent a term limit. President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE - from NKURUNZIZA’s ruling party - was elected in 2020.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Central Africa, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, west of Tanzania Geographic coordinates: 3 30 S, 30 00 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 27,830 sq km land: 25,680 sq km water: 2,150 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland Land boundaries: total: 1,140 km border countries (3): Democratic Republic of the Congo 236 km; Rwanda 315 km; Tanzania 589 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,670 m above sea level); average annual temperature varies with altitude from 23 to 17 degrees Celsius but is generally moderate as the average altitude is about 1,700 m; average annual rainfall is about 150 cm; two wet seasons (February to May and September to November), and two dry seasons (June to August and December to January) Terrain: hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains Elevation: highest point: unnamed elevation on Mukike Range 2,685 m note - the Factbook map is incorrect; it shows the wrong high elevation lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m mean elevation: 1,504 m Natural resources: nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum, vanadium, arable land, hydropower, niobium, tantalum, gold, tin, tungsten, kaolin, limestone Land use: agricultural land: 73.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 38.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 15.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 18.8% (2018 est.) forest: 6.6% (2018 est.) other: 20.1% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 230 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Tanganyika (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia) - 32,000 sq km Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) Population distribution: one of Africa's most densely populated countries; concentrations tend to be in the north and along the northern shore of Lake Tanganyika in the west; most people live on farms near areas of fertile volcanic soil as shown in this population distribution map Natural hazards: flooding; landslides; drought Geography - note: landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed; the Kagera, which drains into Lake Victoria, is the most remote headstream of the White Nile Map description: Burundi map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries.Burundi map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries. Topic: People and Society Population: 12,696,478 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Nationality: noun: Burundian(s) adjective: Burundian Ethnic groups: Hutu, Tutsi, Twa (Pygmy) Languages: Kirundi only 29.7% (official); French only .3% (official); Swahili only .2%; English only .1% (official); Kirundi and French 8.4%; Kirundi, French, and English 2.4%, other language combinations 2%, unspecified 56.9% (2008 est.) major-language sample(s): Igitabo Mpuzamakungu c'ibimenyetso bifatika, isoko ntabanduka ku nkuru z'urufatiro. (Kirundi) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: data represent languages read and written by people 10 years of age or older; spoken Kirundi is nearly universal Religions: Roman Catholic 58.6%, Protestant 35.3% (includes Adventist 2.7% and other Protestant 32.6%), Muslim 3.4%, other 1.3%, none 1.3% (2016-17 est.) Demographic profile: Burundi is a densely populated country with a high population growth rate, factors that combined with land scarcity and poverty place a large share of its population at risk of food insecurity. About 90% of the population relies on subsistence agriculture. Subdivision of land to sons, and redistribution to returning refugees, results in smaller, overworked, and less productive plots. Food shortages, poverty, and a lack of clean water contribute to a 60% chronic malnutrition rate among children. A lack of reproductive health services has prevented a significant reduction in Burundi’s maternal mortality and fertility rates, which are both among the world’s highest. With two-thirds of its population under the age of 25 and a birth rate of about 6 children per woman, Burundi’s population will continue to expand rapidly for decades to come, putting additional strain on a poor country.Historically, migration flows into and out of Burundi have consisted overwhelmingly of refugees from violent conflicts. In the last decade, more than a half million Burundian refugees returned home from neighboring countries, mainly Tanzania. Reintegrating the returnees has been problematic due to their prolonged time in exile, land scarcity, poor infrastructure, poverty, and unemployment. Repatriates and existing residents (including internally displaced persons) compete for limited land and other resources. To further complicate matters, international aid organizations reduced their assistance because they no longer classified Burundi as a post-conflict country. Conditions have deteriorated since renewed violence erupted in April 2015, causing another outpouring of refugees. In addition to refugee out-migration, Burundi has hosted thousands of refugees from neighboring countries, mostly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and lesser numbers from Rwanda.Burundi is a densely populated country with a high population growth rate, factors that combined with land scarcity and poverty place a large share of its population at risk of food insecurity. About 90% of the population relies on subsistence agriculture. Subdivision of land to sons, and redistribution to returning refugees, results in smaller, overworked, and less productive plots. Food shortages, poverty, and a lack of clean water contribute to a 60% chronic malnutrition rate among children. A lack of reproductive health services has prevented a significant reduction in Burundi’s maternal mortality and fertility rates, which are both among the world’s highest. With two-thirds of its population under the age of 25 and a birth rate of about 6 children per woman, Burundi’s population will continue to expand rapidly for decades to come, putting additional strain on a poor country.Historically, migration flows into and out of Burundi have consisted overwhelmingly of refugees from violent conflicts. In the last decade, more than a half million Burundian refugees returned home from neighboring countries, mainly Tanzania. Reintegrating the returnees has been problematic due to their prolonged time in exile, land scarcity, poor infrastructure, poverty, and unemployment. Repatriates and existing residents (including internally displaced persons) compete for limited land and other resources. To further complicate matters, international aid organizations reduced their assistance because they no longer classified Burundi as a post-conflict country. Conditions have deteriorated since renewed violence erupted in April 2015, causing another outpouring of refugees. In addition to refugee out-migration, Burundi has hosted thousands of refugees from neighboring countries, mostly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and lesser numbers from Rwanda. Age structure: 0-14 years: 43.83% (male 2,618,868/female 2,581,597) 15-24 years: 19.76% (male 1,172,858/female 1,171,966) 25-54 years: 29.18% (male 1,713,985/female 1,748,167) 55-64 years: 4.17% (male 231,088/female 264,131) 65 years and over: 3.06% (2020 est.) (male 155,262/female 207,899) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 91 youth dependency ratio: 86.4 elderly dependency ratio: 4.5 potential support ratio: 22 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 17.7 years male: 17.4 years female: 18 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 3.63% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 35.17 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 5.96 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 7.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: one of Africa's most densely populated countries; concentrations tend to be in the north and along the northern shore of Lake Tanganyika in the west; most people live on farms near areas of fertile volcanic soil as shown in this population distribution map Urbanization: urban population: 14.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 5.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 1.139 million BUJUMBURA (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 21.5 years (2016/17 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Maternal mortality ratio: 548 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 37.84 deaths/1,000 live births male: 42.02 deaths/1,000 live births female: 33.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.42 years male: 65.32 years female: 69.59 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 5.03 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 28.5% (2016/17) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 98.7% of population rural: 78.9% of population total: 81.6% of population unimproved: urban: 1.3% of population rural: 21.1% of population total: 18.4% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 8% (2019) Physicians density: 0.07 physicians/1,000 population (2020) Hospital bed density: 0.8 beds/1,000 population (2014) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 87.4% of population rural: 53.7% of population total: 58.4% of population unimproved: urban: 12.6% of population rural: 46.3% of population total: 41.6% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 83,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 1,700 (2020 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 5.4% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 11.8% (2020 est.) male: 17.4% (2020 est.) female: 6.1% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 27% (2018/19) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 2.8% women married by age 18: 19% men married by age 18: 1.4% (2017 est.) Education expenditures: 5.1% of GDP (2018 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 68.4% male: 76.3% female: 61.2% (2017) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2018) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 2.9% male: 4.4% female: 2% (2014 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion of agriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little forested land remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel); habitat loss threatens wildlife populations Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 35.61 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.5 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 1.42 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,670 m above sea level); average annual temperature varies with altitude from 23 to 17 degrees Celsius but is generally moderate as the average altitude is about 1,700 m; average annual rainfall is about 150 cm; two wet seasons (February to May and September to November), and two dry seasons (June to August and December to January) Land use: agricultural land: 73.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 38.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 15.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 18.8% (2018 est.) forest: 6.6% (2018 est.) other: 20.1% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 14.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 5.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 10.31% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies Food insecurity: widespread lack of access: due to the effects of weather - about 1 million people are estimated to be severely food insecure between January and March 2022, due to livelihood losses and displacements caused by the rising water level of Lake Tanganyika and the overflow of rivers, sustained repatriation flows and the socio-economic impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic (2022) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,872,016 tons (2002 est.) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Tanganyika (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia) - 32,000 sq km Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 43.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 15 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 222 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 12.536 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Burundi conventional short form: Burundi local long form: Republique du Burundi (French)/ Republika y'u Burundi (Kirundi) local short form: Burundi former: Urundi, German East Africa, Ruanda-Urundi, Kingdom of Burundi etymology: name derived from the pre-colonial Kingdom of Burundi (17th-19th century) Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Gitega (political capital), Bujumbura (commercial capital); note - in January 2019, the Burundian parliament voted to make Gitega the political capital of the country while Bujumbura would remain its economic capital; all branches of the government are expected to have moved from Bujumbura to Gitega by 2022 geographic coordinates: 3 25 S, 29 55 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the naming origins for both Gitega and Bujumbura are obscure; Bujumbura's name prior to independence in 1962 was Usumbura Administrative divisions: 18 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura Mairie, Bujumbura Rural, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro, Ngozi, Rumonge, Rutana, Ruyigi Independence: 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration) National holiday: Independence Day, 1 July (1962) Constitution: history: several previous, ratified by referendum 28 February 2005 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic after consultation with the government or by absolute majority support of the membership in both houses of Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Senate membership and at least four-fifths majority vote by the National Assembly; the president can opt to submit amendment bills to a referendum; constitutional articles including those on national unity, the secularity of Burundi, its democratic form of government, and its sovereignty cannot be amended; amended 2018 (amendments extended the presidential term from 5 to 7 years, reintroduced the position of prime minister, and reduced the number of vice presidents from 2 to 1) Legal system: mixed legal system of Belgian civil law and customary law International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; withdrew from ICCt in October 2017 Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Burundi dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (since 18 June 2020); Vice President Prosper BAZOMBANZA (since 24 June 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (since 18 June 2020); Vice President Prosper BAZOMBANZA (since 24 June 2020); Prime Minister Alain-Guillaume BUNYONI (since 24 June 2020) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 May 2020 (next to be held in 2025); vice presidents nominated by the president, endorsed by Parliament; note - a 2018 constitutional referendum effective for the 2020 election, increased the presidential term from 5 to 7 years with a 2-consecutive-term limit, reinstated the position of the prime minister position, and reduced the number of vice presidents from 2 to 1 (2020) election results: Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE elected president; percent of vote - Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (CNDD-FDD) 71.5%, Agathon RWASA (CNL) 25.2%, Gaston SINDIMWO (UPRONA) 1.7%, OTHER 1.6% Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of: Senate or Inama Nkenguzamateka (39 seats in the July 2020 election); 36 members indirectly elected by an electoral college of provincial councils using a three-round voting system, which requires a two-thirds majority vote in the first two rounds and simple majority vote for the two leading candidates in the final round; 3 seats reserved for Twas, and 30% of all votes reserved for women; members serve 5-year terms) National Assembly or Inama Nshingamateka (123 seats in the May 2020 election; 100 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 23 co-opted members; 60% of seats allocated to Hutu and 40% to Tutsi; 3 seats reserved for Twas; 30% of total seats reserved for women; members serve 5-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 20 July 2020 (next to be held in 2025) National Assembly - last held on 20 May 2020 (next to be held in 2025) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - CNDD-FDD 87.2%, Twa 7.7%, CNL 2.6%, UPRONA 2.6%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 34, CNL 1, UPRONA 1, Twa 3; composition - men 23, women 16, percent of women 37.2% National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CNDD-FDD 70.9%, CNL 23.4%, UPRONA 2.5%, other (co-opted Twa) 3.2%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 86, CNL 32, UPRONA 2, Twa 3; composition - men 76, women 47, percent of women 38.2%; note - total Parliament percent of women 38% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of 9 judges and organized into judicial, administrative, and cassation chambers); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 members) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the Judicial Service Commission, a 15-member independent body of judicial and legal profession officials), appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate and serve 6-year nonrenewable terms subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; County Courts; Courts of Residence; Martial Court; Court Against Corruption; Commercial Court Political parties and leaders: Front for Democracy in Burundi-Nyakuri or FRODEBU-Nyakuri [Keffa NIBIZI] Front for Democracy in Burundi-Sahwanya or FRODEBU-Sahwanya [Pierre Claver NAHIMANA] National Congress for Liberty or CNL [Agathon RWASA] National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front for the Defense of Democracy or CNDD-FDD [Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE] National Liberation Forces or FNL [Jacques BIGITIMANA] Union for National Progress (Union pour le Progress Nationale) or UPRONA [Abel GASHATSI] International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, CEMAC, CEPGL, CICA, COMESA, EAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jean de Dieu NDIKUMANA (since 7 July 2021) chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574 FAX: [1] (202) 342-2578 email address and website: burundiembusadc@gmail.com https://burundiembassy-usa.com/index.php Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Melanie Harris HIGGINS (since 2 March 2021) embassy: B.P. 1720, Avenue Des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura mailing address: 2100 Bujumbura Place, Washington DC  20521-2100 telephone: [257] 22-207-000 FAX: [257] 22-222-926 email address and website: BujumburaC@state.gov https://bi.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and bottom) and green panels (hoist side and fly side) with a white disk superimposed at the center bearing three red six-pointed stars outlined in green arranged in a triangular design (one star above, two stars below); green symbolizes hope and optimism, white purity and peace, and red the blood shed in the struggle for independence; the three stars in the disk represent the three major ethnic groups: Hutu, Twa, Tutsi, as well as the three elements in the national motto: unity, work, progress National symbol(s): lion; national colors: red, white, green National anthem: name: "Burundi Bwacu" (Our Beloved Burundi) lyrics/music: Jean-Baptiste NTAHOKAJA/Marc BARENGAYABO note: adopted 1962 Topic: Economy Economic overview: Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector. Agriculture accounts for over 40% of GDP and employs more than 90% of the population. Burundi's primary exports are coffee and tea, which account for more than half of foreign exchange earnings, but these earnings are subject to fluctuations in weather and international coffee and tea prices, Burundi is heavily dependent on aid from bilateral and multilateral donors, as well as foreign exchange earnings from participation in the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM). Foreign aid represented 48% of Burundi's national income in 2015, one of the highest percentages in Sub-Saharan Africa, but this figure decreased to 33.5% in 2016 due to political turmoil surrounding President NKURUNZIZA’s bid for a third term. Burundi joined the East African Community (EAC) in 2009.   Burundi faces several underlying weaknesses – low governmental capacity, corruption, a high poverty rate, poor educational levels, a weak legal system, a poor transportation network, and overburdened utilities – that have prevented the implementation of planned economic reforms. The purchasing power of most Burundians has decreased as wage increases have not kept pace with inflation, which reached approximately 18% in 2017.   Real GDP growth dropped precipitously following political events in 2015 and has yet to recover to pre-conflict levels. Continued resistance by donors and the international community will restrict Burundi’s economic growth as the country deals with a large current account deficit.Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector. Agriculture accounts for over 40% of GDP and employs more than 90% of the population. Burundi's primary exports are coffee and tea, which account for more than half of foreign exchange earnings, but these earnings are subject to fluctuations in weather and international coffee and tea prices, Burundi is heavily dependent on aid from bilateral and multilateral donors, as well as foreign exchange earnings from participation in the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM). Foreign aid represented 48% of Burundi's national income in 2015, one of the highest percentages in Sub-Saharan Africa, but this figure decreased to 33.5% in 2016 due to political turmoil surrounding President NKURUNZIZA’s bid for a third term. Burundi joined the East African Community (EAC) in 2009. Burundi faces several underlying weaknesses – low governmental capacity, corruption, a high poverty rate, poor educational levels, a weak legal system, a poor transportation network, and overburdened utilities – that have prevented the implementation of planned economic reforms. The purchasing power of most Burundians has decreased as wage increases have not kept pace with inflation, which reached approximately 18% in 2017. Real GDP growth dropped precipitously following political events in 2015 and has yet to recover to pre-conflict levels. Continued resistance by donors and the international community will restrict Burundi’s economic growth as the country deals with a large current account deficit. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $8.69 billion (2020 est.) $8.67 billion (2019 est.) $8.51 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 0% (2017 est.) -1% (2016 est.) -4% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $700 (2020 est.) $800 (2019 est.) $800 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $3.027 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.6% (2019 est.) -2.5% (2018 est.) 15.9% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 39.5% (2017 est.) industry: 16.4% (2017 est.) services: 44.2% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 83% (2017 est.) government consumption: 20.8% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 16% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 5.5% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -25.3% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: cassava, bananas, sweet potatoes, plantains, beans, vegetables, potatoes, cashew nuts, maize, taro Industries: light consumer goods (sugar, shoes, soap, beer); cement, assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing (fruits) Industrial production growth rate: -2% (2017 est.) Labor force: 5.012 million (2017 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 93.6% industry: 2.3% services: 4.1% (2002 est.) Unemployment rate: NANA Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 2.9% male: 4.4% female: 2% (2014 est.) Population below poverty line: 64.6% (2014 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 38.6 (2013 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 28% (2006) Budget: revenues: 536.7 million (2017 est.) expenditures: 729.6 million (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -5.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 51.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 48.4% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 15.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$418 million (2017 est.) -$411 million (2016 est.) Exports: $290 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $283 million (2018 est.) $315 million (2017 est.) Exports - partners: United Arab Emirates 50%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 7% (2019) Exports - commodities: gold, coffee, tea, raw earth metal ores, wheat flours (2019) Imports: $910 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $927 million (2018 est.) $1.295 billion (2017 est.) Imports - partners: China 14%, Saudi Arabia 14%, India 9%, Kenya 7%, United Arab Emirates 7%, Tanzania 5%, Zambia 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, packaged medicines, cement, raw sugar, cars (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $97.4 million (31 December 2017 est.) $95.17 million (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $610.9 million (31 December 2017 est.) $622.4 million (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: Burundi francs (BIF) per US dollar - 1,945 (2020 est.) 1,876.25 (2019 est.) 1,800.495 (2018 est.) 1,571.9 (2014 est.) 1,546.7 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 11% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 66% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 2% (2019) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 100,000 kW (2020 est.) consumption: 440.774 million kWh (2019 est.) exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.) imports: 100 million kWh (2019 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 15.96 million kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 33.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 62.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 1.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 1,374 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 715,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 715,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 1.087 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 18,300 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2020 est.) less than 1 Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 6,631,151 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 56 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Burundi provides an attractive telecom market given its high population density and existing low subscription rates for all services; one downside for investors is that the country has a very low economic output, disposable income is also very low, and fixed-line infrastructure is poor outside the main urban areas; this is a greater motivation for investors to focus on improving mobile networks than in expanding fixed-line infrastructure; to overcome difficulties associated with the poor telecom infrastructure, the government has supported a number of prominent telcos building a national fiber backbone network; this network offers onward connectivity to submarine cable infrastructure landings in Kenya and Tanzania; the first sections of this network were switched on in early 2014, and additional provinces have since been connected; in addition, the government in early 2018 kick-started the Burundi Broadband project, which aims to deliver national connectivity by 2025; based on this improved infrastructure the government and ITU have developed an ICT strategy to make use of telecoms to promote the country’s socio-economic development through to 2028; progress made by Tanzania with its own national backbone network has benefited Burundi, which has been provided with onward connectivity to most countries in the region; International bandwidth capacity has continued to increase in recent years, including a 38% increase in the nine months to September 2021, resulting in lower retail prices for consumers; two of the mobile operators have launched 3G and LTE services to capitalize on the growing demand for internet access; the number of mobile subscribers increased 7% in the third quarter of 2021, quarter-on-quarter; similar growth is expected for the next two years at least, which will help bring the mobile level closer to the average for the region. (2022) domestic: telephone density one of the lowest in the world; fixed-line connections stand at less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage is about 56 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 257; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); the government, supported by the Word Bank, has backed a joint venture with a number of prominent telecoms to build a national fiber backbone network, offering onward connectivity to submarine cable infrastructure landings in Kenya and Tanzania (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: state-controlled Radio Television Nationale de Burundi (RTNB) operates a TV station and a national radio network; 3 private TV stations and about 10 privately owned radio stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are available in Bujumbura (2019) Internet country code: .bi Internet users: total: 1,070,170 (2020 est.) percent of population: 9% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 4,230 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.04 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9U Airports: total: 7 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2021) Heliports: 1 (2021) Roadways: total: 12,322 km (2016) paved: 1,500 km (2016) unpaved: 10,822 km (2016) Waterways: 673 km (2022) (mainly on Lake Tanganyika between Bujumbura, Burundi's principal port, and lake ports in Tanzania, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo) Ports and terminals: lake port(s): Bujumbura (Lake Tanganyika) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: National Defense Forces (Forces de Defense Nationale, FDN): Army (includes maritime wing, air wing); Ministry of Public Security: National Police (Police Nationale du Burundi) (2022) Military expenditures: 2% of GDP (2021 est.) 2.1% of GDP (2020 est.) 3% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $120 million) 2.3% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $100 million) 2.1% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $95 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 30,000 active duty troops, the majority of which are ground forces (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FDN is armed mostly with weapons from Russia and the former Soviet Union, with some Western equipment, largely from France; since 2010, the FDN has received small amounts of mostly second-hand equipment from China, South Africa, and the US (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2021) Military deployments: 760 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 5,400 Somalia (ATMIS) (2022) Military - note: in addition to its foreign deployments, the FDN was focused on internal security missions, particularly against rebel groups opposed to the regime such as National Forces of Liberation (FNL), the Resistance for the Rule of Law-Tabara (aka RED Tabara), and Popular Forces of Burundi (FPB or FOREBU); these groups were based in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo and have carried out sporadic attacks in Burundi (2022) Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: cross-border conflicts persist among Tutsi, Hutu, other ethnic groups, associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces in the Great Lakes region Burundi-Rwanda: Burundi's Ngozi province and Rwanda's Butare province dispute the two-kilometer-square hilly farmed area of Sabanerwa in the Rukurazi Valley where the Akanyaru/Kanyaru River shifted its course southward after heavy rains in 1965 around Kibinga Hill in Rwanda's Butare Province cross-border conflicts persist among Tutsi, Hutu, other ethnic groups, associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces in the Great Lakes region Burundi-Rwanda: Burundi's Ngozi province and Rwanda's Butare province dispute the two-kilometer-square hilly farmed area of Sabanerwa in the Rukurazi Valley where the Akanyaru/Kanyaru River shifted its course southward after heavy rains in 1965 around Kibinga Hill in Rwanda's Butare Province Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 84,961 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2022) IDPs: 84,791 (some ethnic Tutsis remain displaced from intercommunal violence that broke out after the 1,993 coup and fighting between government forces and rebel groups; violence since April 2015) (2022) stateless persons: 767 (mid-year 2021) Trafficking in persons: current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Burundi and victims from Burundi abroad; traffickers take advantage of Burundians in precarious or desperate situations, including returned refugees; children were reportedly recruited by armed groups and forced to participate in anti-government activities; non-state armed groups allegedly used threats, intimidation, and physical assaults to coerce refugees in a camp in Rwanda to support the Burundian opposition; children and young adults are trafficked by relatives, neighbors, and friends and are subjected to forced labor in agriculture, mining, informal commerce, charcoal production, and fishing; some girls and young women are forced into domestic servitude and sex trafficking in restaurants and bars around Lake Tanganyika; women and girls who go to the Middle East for domestic service jobs report physical and sexual abuse tier rating: Tier 3 — Burundi does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government worked with an international organization to provide training to immigration officials, identified victims of trafficking abroad, and conducted public awareness campaigns with an international organization; however, authorities did not convict any traffickers for the fifth consecutive year and did not investigate, prosecute, or convict officials allegedly complicit in human trafficking; the government did not have standard operating procedures to identify and refer victims to services and did not have adequate protection services for victims; authorities continued to lack a clear understanding of trafficking despite the government providing training to immigration officials (2020)

20220901

countries-turkey-turkiye-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise increased caution when traveling to Turkey due to terrorism and arbitrary detentions. Some areas have increased risk. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp and or visa that will be required. A visa is required. US citizens will need to get in touch with the country’s embassy or nearest consulate to obtain a visa prior to visiting the country. US Embassy/Consulate: [90] (312) 455-5555; US Embassy Ankara, 110 Atatürk Blvd., Kavakl?dere, 06100 Ankara, Turkey; Ankara-ACS@state.gov; https://tr.usembassy.gov/ Telephone Code: 90 Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 112; Fire: 112; Police: 112 Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations http://www.who.int/ Climate: Temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior Currency (Code): Turkish liras (TRY) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, F Major Languages: Turkish, Kurdish, other minority languages Major Religions: Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christian and Jews) Time Difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Istanbul (includes Hagia Sofia & Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace); Ephesus; Pamukkale; Sumela Monastery; Mount Nemrut; Goreme National Park & rock sites of Cappadocia; Troy ruins; Catalhoyuk Major Sports: Soccer, basketball, volleyball Cultural Practices: Removing shoes in Turkish homes is customary. Be careful not to point your bare feet at anyone though, as this is often considered taboo. Tipping Guidelines: Tipping 10-15% in restaurants, cafes, and bars is typical. Hotel staff expect 5-20 liras for their services. Round up taxi fares. Souvenirs: Turkish/Kilim rugs, nargile smoking pipes, evil eye items, Turkish Delight candy, ceramics and pottery, copperwork, inlaid woodwork, chess sets, musical instruments, Turkish coffee sets and coffee, leather items, gold jewelry and onyx and mother-of-pearl items, embroidered items Traditional Cuisine: Döner Kebab — grilled, sliced, or shaved seasoned lamb and/or beef shredded from a vertical skewer and typically folded in flat bread with tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and cucumbers; cheese is also occasionally added Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Monday, June 20, 2022

20220901

countries-belize-summaries

Topic: Introduction Background: Belize was the site of several Mayan city states until their decline at the end of the first millennium A.D. It formally became the colony of British Honduras in 1862. Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize until 1981.Belize was the site of several Mayan city states until their decline at the end of the first millennium A.D. It formally became the colony of British Honduras in 1862. Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize until 1981. Topic: Geography Area: total: 22,966 sq km land: 22,806 sq km water: 160 sq km Climate: tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May) Natural resources: arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower Topic: People and Society Population: 412,387 (2022 est.) Ethnic groups: Mestizo 52.9%, Creole 25.9%, Maya 11.3%, Garifuna 6.1%, East Indian 3.9%, Mennonite 3.6%, White 1.2%, Asian 1%, other 1.2%, unknown 0.3% (2010 est.) Languages: English 62.9% (official), Spanish 56.6%, Creole 44.6%, Maya 10.5%, German 3.2%, Garifuna 2.9%, other 1.8%, unknown 0.5%; note - shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census (2010 est.) Religions: Roman Catholic 40.1%, Protestant 31.5% (includes Pentecostal 8.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 5.4%, Anglican 4.7%, Mennonite 3.7%, Baptist 3.6%, Methodist 2.9%, Nazarene 2.8%), Jehovah's Witness 1.7%, other 10.5% (includes Baha'i, Buddhist, Hindu, Church of Jesus Christ, Muslim, Rastafarian, Salvation Army), unspecified 0.6%, none 15.5% (2010 est.) Population growth rate: 1.64% (2022 est.) Topic: Government Government type: parliamentary democracy (National Assembly) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm Capital: name: Belmopan Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Froyla TZALAM (since 27 May 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Juan Antonio BRICENO (since 12 November 2020); Deputy Prime Minister Cordel HYDE (since 16 November 2020) Legislative branch: description: bicameral National Assembly consists of: Senate (14 seats, including the president); members appointed by the governor general - 6 on the advice of the prime minister, 3 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and 1 each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Better Business Bureau, non-governmental organizations in good standing, and the National Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee; Senate president elected from among the Senate members or from outside the Senate; members serve 5-year terms House of Representatives (31 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms) Topic: Economy Economic overview: tourism- and agriculture-driven economy initially hard hit by COVID-19; ongoing export recovery, especially fruits and sugar demand surges; investing towards a “blue economy”; central bank offering USD-denominated treasury notes; high mobility across borderstourism- and agriculture-driven economy initially hard hit by COVID-19; ongoing export recovery, especially fruits and sugar demand surges; investing towards a “blue economy”; central bank offering USD-denominated treasury notes; high mobility across borders Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $2.43 billion (2020 est.) Real GDP per capita: $6,100 (2020 est.) Agricultural products: sugar care, oranges, bananas, maize, poultry, rice, sorghum, papayas, grapefruit, soybeans Industries: garment production, food processing, tourism, construction, oil Exports: $710 million (2020 est.) Exports - partners: United Kingdom 27%, United States 24%, Spain 6%, Jamaica 5%, Ireland 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: raw sugar, bananas, fruit juice, fish products, crude petroleum (2019) Imports: $900 million (2020 est.) Imports - partners: United States 36%, China 13%, Mexico 12%, Guatemala 10% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cigarettes, recreational boats, natural gas, cars (2019)Page last updated: Monday, May 16, 2022

20220901

countries-ecuador-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise increased caution in Ecuador due to civil unrest and crime. Some areas have increased risk Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws, and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required as long as you do not stay in the country more than 89 days in a 12-month period. US Embassy/Consulate: [593] (2) 398-5000; US Embassy Quito, E12-170 Avigiras Ave. and Eloy Alfaro Ave., Quito, Ecuador; https://ec.usembassy.gov/; ACSQuito@state.gov Telephone Code: 593 Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 131; Fire: 102; Police: 101 Vaccinations: An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations. http://www.who.int/ Climate: Tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands Currency (Code): US $ (USD) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 120 V / 60 Hz / plug types(s): A, B Major Languages: Spanish (Castilian), Quechua Major Religions: Roman Catholic 74%, Evangelical 10.4%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, other 6.4%, atheist 7.9%, agnostic 0.1% Time Difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time); note: Ecuador has two time zones, including the Galapagos Islands (UTC-6) Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested; additionally, if you plan to drive in Ecuador, you will need an Inter-American Driving Permit issued by the AAA Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Galápagos Islands; Quito historic center; Cuenca historic center; Cotopaxi; Cajas National Park; Guayaquil Boardwalk (Malecon 2000); Nariz del Diablo; Qhapaq Nan/Andean Road System Major Sports: Soccer, cycling Cultural Practices: Roses make excellent gifts, and among close friends perfume is considered appropriate. Tipping Guidelines: Tipping 10% is common in restaurants, usually handed directly to the server. Round up the fare for taxis. Hotel bellhops receive $1-2 (USD) per bag and housekeepers about $1 (USD) per day. Souvenirs: Coffee, llama wool products, woven baskets and straw hats, carpets, tagua vegetable and wood carvings, non-edible dough figurines, leather goods, sheepskin paintings; tribal instruments, masks, jewelry, and fabrics Traditional Cuisine: Ceviche — raw fresh fish marinated with lime juice and mixed with chilies, onions, tomatoes, and cilantro; typically served with patacones (thick fried green plantains), chifles (very thin fried green plantain chips), corn nuts, or popcornPlease visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Wednesday, July 20, 2022

20220901

field-member-states

This entry, which appears only in the European Union, Government category, provides a listing of all of the European Union member countries, as well as their associated overseas countries and territories. Topic: European Union27 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden; note - candidate countries: Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey there are 13 overseas countries and territories (OCTs) (1 with Denmark [Greenland], 6 with France [French Polynesia; French Southern and Antarctic Lands; New Caledonia; Saint Barthelemy; Saint Pierre and Miquelon; Wallis and Futuna], and 6 with the Netherlands [Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten]), all are part of the Overseas Countries and Territories Association (OCTA) note: there are non-European OCTs having special relations with Denmark, France, and the Netherlands (list is annexed to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union), that are associated with the EU to promote their economic and social development; member states apply to their trade with OCTs the same treatment as they accord each other pursuant to the treaties; OCT nationals are in principle EU citizens, but these countries are neither part of the EU, nor subject to the EU27 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden; note - candidate countries: Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkeythere are 13 overseas countries and territories (OCTs) (1 with Denmark [Greenland], 6 with France [French Polynesia; French Southern and Antarctic Lands; New Caledonia; Saint Barthelemy; Saint Pierre and Miquelon; Wallis and Futuna], and 6 with the Netherlands [Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten]), all are part of the Overseas Countries and Territories Association (OCTA)

20220901

field-revenue-from-forest-resources-country-comparison

20220901

south-asia

20220901

field-civil-aircraft-registration-country-code-prefix

This entry provides the one- or two-character alphanumeric code indicating the nationality of civil aircraft. Article 20 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), signed in 1944, requires that all aircraft engaged in international air navigation bear appropriate nationality marks. The aircraft registration number consists of two parts: a prefix consisting of a one- or two-character alphanumeric code indicating nationality and a registration suffix of one to five characters for the specific aircraft. The prefix codes are based upon radio call-signs allocated by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to each country. Since 1947, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has managed code standards and their allocation. Topic: AfghanistanYA Topic: AlbaniaZA Topic: Algeria7T Topic: AndorraC3 Topic: AngolaD2 Topic: AnguillaVP-A Topic: Antigua and BarbudaV2 Topic: ArgentinaLV Topic: ArmeniaEK Topic: ArubaP4 Topic: AustraliaVH Topic: AustriaOE Topic: Azerbaijan4K Topic: Bahamas, TheC6 Topic: BahrainA9C Topic: BangladeshS2 Topic: Barbados8P Topic: BelarusEW Topic: BelgiumOO Topic: BelizeV3 Topic: BeninTY Topic: BermudaVP-B Topic: BhutanA5 Topic: BoliviaCP Topic: Bosnia and HerzegovinaT9 Topic: BotswanaA2 Topic: BrazilPP Topic: British Virgin IslandsVP-L Topic: BruneiV8 Topic: BulgariaLZ Topic: Burkina FasoXT Topic: BurmaXY Topic: Burundi9U Topic: Cabo VerdeD4 Topic: CambodiaXU Topic: CameroonTJ Topic: CanadaC Topic: Cayman IslandsVP-C Topic: Central African RepublicTL Topic: ChadTT Topic: ChileCC Topic: ChinaB Topic: ColombiaHJ, HK Topic: ComorosD6 Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the9Q Topic: Congo, Republic of theTN Topic: Cook IslandsE5 Topic: Costa RicaTI Topic: Cote d'IvoireTU Topic: Croatia9A Topic: CubaCU Topic: CuracaoPJ Topic: Cyprus5B Topic: CzechiaOK Topic: DenmarkOY Topic: DjiboutiJ2 Topic: DominicaJ7 Topic: Dominican RepublicHI Topic: EcuadorHC Topic: EgyptSU Topic: El SalvadorYS Topic: Equatorial Guinea3C Topic: EritreaE3 Topic: EstoniaES Topic: Eswatini3DC Topic: EthiopiaET Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)VP-F Topic: Faroe IslandsOY-H Topic: FijiDQ Topic: FinlandOH Topic: FranceF Topic: French PolynesiaF-OH Topic: GabonTR Topic: Gambia, TheC5 Topic: Georgia4L Topic: GermanyD Topic: Ghana9G Topic: GibraltarVP-G Topic: GreeceSX Topic: GreenlandOY-H Topic: GrenadaJ3 Topic: GuamN Topic: GuatemalaTG Topic: Guernsey2 Topic: Guinea3X Topic: Guinea-BissauJ5 Topic: Guyana8R Topic: HaitiHH Topic: HondurasHR Topic: Hong KongB-H Topic: HungaryHA Topic: IcelandTF Topic: IndiaVT Topic: IndonesiaPK Topic: IranEP Topic: IraqYI Topic: IrelandEI Topic: Isle of ManM Topic: Israel4X Topic: ItalyI Topic: Jamaica6Y Topic: JapanJA Topic: JordanJY Topic: KazakhstanUP Topic: Kenya5Y Topic: KiribatiT3 Topic: Korea, NorthP Topic: Korea, SouthHL Topic: KosovoZ6 Topic: Kuwait9K Topic: KyrgyzstanEX Topic: LaosRDPL Topic: LatviaYL Topic: LebanonOD Topic: Lesotho7P Topic: LiberiaA8 Topic: Libya5A Topic: LiechtensteinHB Topic: LithuaniaLY Topic: LuxembourgLX Topic: MacauB-M Topic: Madagascar5R Topic: Malawi7Q Topic: Malaysia9M Topic: Maldives8Q Topic: MaliTZ, TT Topic: Malta9H Topic: Marshall IslandsV7 Topic: Mauritania5T Topic: Mauritius3B Topic: MexicoXA Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofV6 Topic: MoldovaER Topic: Monaco3A Topic: MongoliaJU Topic: Montenegro4O Topic: MontserratVP-M Topic: MoroccoCN Topic: MozambiqueC9 Topic: NamibiaV5 Topic: NauruC2 Topic: Nepal9N Topic: NetherlandsPH Topic: New ZealandZK Topic: NicaraguaYN Topic: Niger5U Topic: Nigeria5N Topic: North MacedoniaZ3 Topic: NorwayLN Topic: OmanA4O Topic: PakistanAP Topic: PalauT8 Topic: PanamaHP Topic: Papua New GuineaP2 Topic: ParaguayZP Topic: PeruOB Topic: PhilippinesRP Topic: PolandSP Topic: PortugalCR, CS Topic: QatarA7 Topic: RomaniaYR Topic: RussiaRA Topic: Rwanda9XR Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da CunhaVQ-H Topic: Saint Kitts and NevisV4 Topic: Saint LuciaJ6 Topic: Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesJ8 Topic: Samoa5W Topic: San MarinoT7 Topic: Sao Tome and PrincipeS9 Topic: Saudi ArabiaHZ Topic: Senegal6V Topic: SerbiaYU Topic: SeychellesS7 Topic: Sierra Leone9L Topic: Singapore9V Topic: SlovakiaOM Topic: SloveniaS5 Topic: Solomon IslandsH4 Topic: Somalia6O Topic: South AfricaZS Topic: South SudanZ8 Topic: SpainEC Topic: Sri Lanka4R Topic: SudanST Topic: SurinamePZ Topic: SwedenSE Topic: SwitzerlandHB Topic: SyriaYK Topic: TaiwanB Topic: TajikistanEY Topic: Tanzania5H Topic: ThailandHS Topic: Timor-Leste4W Topic: Togo5V Topic: TongaA3 Topic: Trinidad and Tobago9Y Topic: TunisiaTS Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)TC Topic: TurkmenistanEZ Topic: Turks and Caicos IslandsVQ-T Topic: TuvaluT2 Topic: Uganda5X Topic: UkraineUR Topic: United Arab EmiratesA6 Topic: United KingdomG Topic: United StatesN Topic: UruguayCX Topic: UzbekistanUK Topic: VanuatuYJ Topic: VenezuelaYV Topic: VietnamVN Topic: Yemen7O Topic: Zambia9J Topic: ZimbabweZ

20220901

countries-new-zealand

Topic: Photos of New Zealand Topic: Introduction Background: Polynesian settlers may have arrived in New Zealand in the late 1200s, with widespread settlement in the mid-1300s. They called the land Aotearoa, which legend holds is the name of the canoe that Kupe, the first Polynesian in New Zealand, used to sail to the country; the name Aotearoa is now in widespread use as the local Maori name for the country. Competition for land and resources led to intermittent fighting between different Maori iwi (tribes) by the 1500s as large game became extinct. Dutch explorer Abel TASMAN was the first European to see the islands in 1642 but after an encounter with local Maori, he sailed away. British captain James COOK was the next European to arrive in New Zealand in 1769, followed by whalers, sealers, and traders. The UK only nominally claimed New Zealand and included it as part of New South Wales in Australia. Concerns about increasing lawlessness led the UK to appoint its first British Resident in New Zealand in 1832, although he had few legal powers. In 1835, some Maori iwi from the North Island declared independence as the United Tribes of New Zealand. Fearing an impending French settlement and takeover, they asked the British for protection. In 1840, the British negotiated their protection in the Treaty of Waitangi, which was eventually signed by more than 500 different Maori chiefs, although many chiefs did not or were not asked to sign. In the English-language version of the treaty, the British thought the Maori ceded their land to the UK, but translations of the treaty appeared to give the British less authority, and land tenure issues stemming from the treaty are still present and being actively negotiated in New Zealand. The UK declared New Zealand a separate colony in 1841 and gave it limited self-government in 1852. Different traditions of authority and land use led to a series of wars from the 1840s to the 1870s fought between Europeans and various Maori iwi. Along with disease, these conflicts halved the Maori population. In the 1890s, New Zealand initially expressed interest in joining independence talks with Australia but ultimately opted against it and changed its status to an independent dominion in 1907. New Zealand provided more than 100,000 troops during each World War, many of whom fought as part of the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). New Zealand reaffirmed its independence in 1947, signed the Australia, New Zealand, and US (ANZUS) Treaty, and militarily supported the US in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Beginning in 1984, New Zealand began to adopt nuclear-free policies, contributing to a dispute with the US over naval ship visits that led the US to suspend its defense obligations to New Zealand in 1986. In recent years, New Zealand has explored reducing some of its ties to the UK. There in an active, minority movement about changing New Zealand to a republic, and in 2015-16, a referendum on changing the New Zealand flag to remove the Union Jack failed 57% to 43%.Polynesian settlers may have arrived in New Zealand in the late 1200s, with widespread settlement in the mid-1300s. They called the land Aotearoa, which legend holds is the name of the canoe that Kupe, the first Polynesian in New Zealand, used to sail to the country; the name Aotearoa is now in widespread use as the local Maori name for the country. Competition for land and resources led to intermittent fighting between different Maori iwi (tribes) by the 1500s as large game became extinct. Dutch explorer Abel TASMAN was the first European to see the islands in 1642 but after an encounter with local Maori, he sailed away. British captain James COOK was the next European to arrive in New Zealand in 1769, followed by whalers, sealers, and traders. The UK only nominally claimed New Zealand and included it as part of New South Wales in Australia. Concerns about increasing lawlessness led the UK to appoint its first British Resident in New Zealand in 1832, although he had few legal powers. In 1835, some Maori iwi from the North Island declared independence as the United Tribes of New Zealand. Fearing an impending French settlement and takeover, they asked the British for protection. In 1840, the British negotiated their protection in the Treaty of Waitangi, which was eventually signed by more than 500 different Maori chiefs, although many chiefs did not or were not asked to sign. In the English-language version of the treaty, the British thought the Maori ceded their land to the UK, but translations of the treaty appeared to give the British less authority, and land tenure issues stemming from the treaty are still present and being actively negotiated in New Zealand. The UK declared New Zealand a separate colony in 1841 and gave it limited self-government in 1852. Different traditions of authority and land use led to a series of wars from the 1840s to the 1870s fought between Europeans and various Maori iwi. Along with disease, these conflicts halved the Maori population. In the 1890s, New Zealand initially expressed interest in joining independence talks with Australia but ultimately opted against it and changed its status to an independent dominion in 1907. New Zealand provided more than 100,000 troops during each World War, many of whom fought as part of the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). New Zealand reaffirmed its independence in 1947, signed the Australia, New Zealand, and US (ANZUS) Treaty, and militarily supported the US in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Beginning in 1984, New Zealand began to adopt nuclear-free policies, contributing to a dispute with the US over naval ship visits that led the US to suspend its defense obligations to New Zealand in 1986. In recent years, New Zealand has explored reducing some of its ties to the UK. There in an active, minority movement about changing New Zealand to a republic, and in 2015-16, a referendum on changing the New Zealand flag to remove the Union Jack failed 57% to 43%.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia Geographic coordinates: 41 00 S, 174 00 E Map references: Oceania Area: total: 268,838 sq km land: 264,537 sq km water: 4,301 sq km note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands Area - comparative: almost twice the size of North Carolina; about the size of Colorado Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 15,134 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin Climate: temperate with sharp regional contrasts Terrain: predominately mountainous with large coastal plains Elevation: highest point: Aoraki/Mount Cook 3,724 m; note - the mountain's height was 3,764 m until 14 December 1991 when it lost about 10 m in an avalanche of rock and ice; erosion of the ice cap since then has brought the height down another 30 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 388 m Natural resources: natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone Land use: agricultural land: 43.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 41.1% (2018 est.) forest: 31.4% (2018 est.) other: 25.4% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 7,210 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Taupo - 610 sq km Population distribution: over three-quarters of New Zealanders, including the indigenous Maori, live on the North Island, primarily in urban areas Natural hazards: earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activityvolcanism: significant volcanism on North Island; Ruapehu (2,797 m), which last erupted in 2007, has a history of large eruptions in the past century; Taranaki has the potential to produce dangerous avalanches and lahars; other historically active volcanoes include Okataina, Raoul Island, Tongariro, and White Island; see note 2 under "Geography - note"earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activityvolcanism: significant volcanism on North Island; Ruapehu (2,797 m), which last erupted in 2007, has a history of large eruptions in the past century; Taranaki has the potential to produce dangerous avalanches and lahars; other historically active volcanoes include Okataina, Raoul Island, Tongariro, and White Island; see note 2 under "Geography - note" Geography - note: note 1: consists of two main islands and a number of smaller islands; South Island, the larger main island, is the 12th largest island in the world and is divided along its length by the Southern Alps; North Island is the 14th largest island in the world and is not as mountainous, but it is marked by volcanism note 2: New Zealand lies along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire note 3: almost 90% of the population lives in cities and over three-quarters on North Island; Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the worldnote 1: consists of two main islands and a number of smaller islands; South Island, the larger main island, is the 12th largest island in the world and is divided along its length by the Southern Alps; North Island is the 14th largest island in the world and is not as mountainous, but it is marked by volcanismnote 2: New Zealand lies along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Firenote 3: almost 90% of the population lives in cities and over three-quarters on North Island; Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the world Map description: New Zealand map showing major cities and islands of this archipelagic country in the South Pacific Ocean.New Zealand map showing major cities and islands of this archipelagic country in the South Pacific Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 5,053,004 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: New Zealander(s) adjective: New Zealand Ethnic groups: European 64.1%, Maori 16.5%, Chinese 4.9%, Indian 4.7%, Samoan 3.9%, Tongan 1.8%, Cook Islands Maori 1.7%, English 1.5%, Filipino 1.5%, New Zealander 1%, other 13.7% (2018 est.) note: based on the 2018 census of the usually resident population; percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one ethnic group Languages: English (de facto official) 95.4%, Maori (de jure official) 4%, Samoan 2.2%, Northern Chinese 2%, Hindi 1.5%, French 1.2%, Yue 1.1%, New Zealand Sign Language (de jure official) 0.5%, other or not stated 17.2% (2018 est.) note: shares sum to 124.1% due to multiple responses on the 2018 census Religions: Christian 37.3% (Catholic 10.1%, Anglican 6.8%, Presbyterian and Congregational 5.2%, Pentecostal 1.8%, Methodist 1.6%, Church of Jesus Christ 1.2%, other 10.7%), Hindu 2.7%, Maori 1.3%, Muslim, 1.3%, Buddhist 1.1%, other religion 1.6% (includes Judaism, Spiritualism and New Age religions, Baha'i, Asian religions other than Buddhism), no religion 48.6%, objected to answering 6.7% (2018 est.) note: based on the 2018 census of the usually resident population; percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one religion Age structure: 0-14 years: 19.63% (male 496,802/female 469,853) 15-24 years: 12.92% (male 328,327/female 308,132) 25-54 years: 39.98% (male 996,857/female 972,566) 55-64 years: 11.93% (male 285,989/female 301,692) 65 years and over: 15.54% (2020 est.) (male 358,228/female 407,031) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 55.8 youth dependency ratio: 30.3 elderly dependency ratio: 25.5 potential support ratio: 3.9 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 37.2 years male: 36.4 years female: 37.9 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 1.17% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 12.78 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 6.89 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 5.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: over three-quarters of New Zealanders, including the indigenous Maori, live on the North Island, primarily in urban areas Urbanization: urban population: 86.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 1.652 million Auckland, 419,000 WELLINGTON (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 27.8 years (2009 est.) note: median age at first birth Maternal mortality ratio: 9 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 3.44 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.64 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 82.54 years male: 80.78 years female: 84.39 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.86 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 79.9% (2014/15) note: percent of women aged 16-49 Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 9.7% (2019) Physicians density: 3.62 physicians/1,000 population (2020) Hospital bed density: 2.6 beds/1,000 population (2019) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2020) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: (2020 est.) <.1% HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 3,600 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <100 note: estimate does not include children Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 30.8% (2016) Tobacco use: total: 13.7% (2020 est.) male: 15% (2020 est.) female: 12.3% (2020 est.) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 6% of GDP (2018 est.) Literacy: total population: NA male: NA female: NA School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 20 years male: 20 years female: 21 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 12.4% male: 12.2% female: 12.6% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: water quality and availability; rapid urbanisation; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation; native flora and fauna hard-hit by invasive species; negative effects of climate change Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Antarctic Seals, Marine Life Conservation Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 5.73 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 34.38 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 34.3 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: temperate with sharp regional contrasts Land use: agricultural land: 43.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 41.1% (2018 est.) forest: 31.4% (2018 est.) other: 25.4% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 86.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.5% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.03% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 3.405 million tons (2016 est.) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Taupo - 610 sq km Total water withdrawal: municipal: 810 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 1.184 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 3.207 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 327 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: New Zealand abbreviation: NZ etymology: Dutch explorer Abel TASMAN was the first European to reach New Zealand in 1642; he named it Staten Landt, but Dutch cartographers renamed it Nova Zeelandia in 1645 after the Dutch province of Zeeland; British explorer Captain James COOK subsequently anglicized the name to New Zealand when he mapped the islands in 1769 Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm Capital: name: Wellington geographic coordinates: 41 18 S, 174 47 E time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April time zone note: New Zealand has two time zones: New Zealand standard time (UTC+12) and Chatham Islands time (45 minutes in advance of New Zealand standard time; UTC+12:45) etymology: named in 1840 after Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington and victorious general at the Battle of Waterloo Administrative divisions: 16 regions and 1 territory*; Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Chatham Islands*, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu-Wanganui, Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman, Waikato, Wellington, West Coast Dependent areas: Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau Independence: 26 September 1907 (from the UK) National holiday: Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840); Anzac Day (commemorated as the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915) Constitution: history: New Zealand has no single constitution document; the Constitution Act 1986, effective 1 January 1987, includes only part of the uncodified constitution; others include a collection of statutes or "acts of Parliament," the Treaty of Waitangi, Orders in Council, letters patent, court decisions, and unwritten conventions amendments: proposed as bill by Parliament or by referendum called either by the government or by citizens; passage of a bill as an act normally requires two separate readings with committee reviews in between to make changes and corrections, a third reading approved by the House of Representatives membership or by the majority of votes in a referendum, and assent of the governor-general; passage of amendments to reserved constitutional provisions affecting the term of Parliament, electoral districts, and voting restrictions requires approval by 75% of the House membership or the majority of votes in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2020 Legal system: common law system, based on English model, with special legislation and land courts for the Maori International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of New Zealand dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor-General Dame Cindy KIRO (since 21 October 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Jacinda ARDERN (since 26 October 2017); Deputy Prime Minister Grant ROBERTSON (since 2 November 2020) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor-general on the recommendation of the prime minister elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor-general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor-general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor-general; note - Prime Minister ARDERN heads up a minority coalition government consisting of the Labor and New Zealand First parties with confidence and supply support from the Green Party Legislative branch: description: unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament (120 seats for 2020-23 term); 72 members directly elected in 65 single-seat constituencies and 7 Maori constituencies by simple majority vote and 48 directly elected by closed party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 3-year terms) elections: last held on 17 October 2020 (next scheduled for 2023) election results: percent of vote by party - Labor Party 49.1%, National Party 26.8%, ACT Party 8%, Green Party 6.3%, Maori Party 1%; seats by party - Labor Party 64, National Party 35, Green Party 10, ACT Party 10, Maori Party 1; composition - men 61, women 59, percent of women 49.2% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of 5 justices, including the chief justice); note - the Supreme Court in 2004 replaced the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) as the final appeals court judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor-general upon the recommendation of the attorney- general; justices appointed until compulsory retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; tribunals and authorities; district courts; specialized courts for issues related to employment, environment, family, Maori lands, youth, military; tribunals Political parties and leaders: ACT New Zealand [David SEYMOUR] Green Party [James SHAW] Mana Movement [Hone HARAWIRA] (formerly Mana Party) Maori Party [Che WILSON and Kaapua SMITH] New Zealand First Party or NZ First [Winston PETERS] New Zealand Labor Party [Jacinda ARDERN] New Zealand National Party [Christopher LUXON] United Future New Zealand [Damian LIGHT] International organization participation: ADB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CD, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, PIF, SICA (observer), Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Rosemary BANKS (since 11 January 2019) chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800 FAX: [1] (202) 667-5277 email address and website: wshinfo@mfat.govt.nz https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/countries-and-regions/americas/united-states-of-america/ consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas Stewart UDALL (since 1 December 2021) note - also accredited to Samoa embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington 6011 mailing address: 4370 Auckland Place, Washington DC  20521-4370 telephone: [64] (4) 462-6000 FAX: [64] (4) 499-0490 email address and website: AucklandACS@state.gov https://nz.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Auckland Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation National symbol(s): Southern Cross constellation (four, five-pointed stars), kiwi (bird), silver fern; national colors: black, white, red (ochre) National anthem: name: "God Defend New Zealand" lyrics/music: Thomas BRACKEN [English], Thomas Henry SMITH [Maori]/John Joseph WOODS note: adopted 1940 as national song, adopted 1977 as co-national anthem; New Zealand has two national anthems with equal status; as a commonwealth realm, in addition to "God Defend New Zealand," "God Save the Queen" serves as a national anthem (see United Kingdom); "God Save the Queen" normally played only when a member of the royal family or the governor-general is present; in all other cases, "God Defend New Zealand" is played National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 natural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand (n); Tongariro National Park (m); New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands (n) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Over the past 40 years, the government has transformed New Zealand from an agrarian economy, dependent on concessionary British market access, to a more industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes, but left behind some at the bottom of the ladder and broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector.   Per capita income rose for 10 consecutive years until 2007 in purchasing power parity terms, but fell in 2008-09. Debt-driven consumer spending drove robust growth in the first half of the decade, fueling a large balance of payments deficit that posed a challenge for policymakers. Inflationary pressures caused the central bank to raise its key rate steadily from January 2004 until it was among the highest in the OECD in 2007 and 2008. The higher rate attracted international capital inflows, which strengthened the currency and housing market while aggravating the current account deficit. Rising house prices, especially in Auckland, have become a political issue in recent years, as well as a policy challenge in 2016 and 2017, as the ability to afford housing has declined for many.   Expanding New Zealand’s network of free trade agreements remains a top foreign policy priority. New Zealand was an early promoter of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and was the second country to ratify the agreement in May 2017. Following the United States’ withdrawal from the TPP in January 2017, on 10 November 2017 the remaining 11 countries agreed on the core elements of a modified agreement, which they renamed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). In November 2016, New Zealand opened negotiations to upgrade its FTA with China; China is one of New Zealand’s most important trading partners.Over the past 40 years, the government has transformed New Zealand from an agrarian economy, dependent on concessionary British market access, to a more industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes, but left behind some at the bottom of the ladder and broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector. Per capita income rose for 10 consecutive years until 2007 in purchasing power parity terms, but fell in 2008-09. Debt-driven consumer spending drove robust growth in the first half of the decade, fueling a large balance of payments deficit that posed a challenge for policymakers. Inflationary pressures caused the central bank to raise its key rate steadily from January 2004 until it was among the highest in the OECD in 2007 and 2008. The higher rate attracted international capital inflows, which strengthened the currency and housing market while aggravating the current account deficit. Rising house prices, especially in Auckland, have become a political issue in recent years, as well as a policy challenge in 2016 and 2017, as the ability to afford housing has declined for many. Expanding New Zealand’s network of free trade agreements remains a top foreign policy priority. New Zealand was an early promoter of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and was the second country to ratify the agreement in May 2017. Following the United States’ withdrawal from the TPP in January 2017, on 10 November 2017 the remaining 11 countries agreed on the core elements of a modified agreement, which they renamed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). In November 2016, New Zealand opened negotiations to upgrade its FTA with China; China is one of New Zealand’s most important trading partners. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $215.6 billion (2020 est.) $213.5 billion (2019 est.) $210.07 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 2.22% (2019 est.) 3.22% (2018 est.) 3.8% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $42,400 (2020 est.) $42,900 (2019 est.) $42,900 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $205.202 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.6% (2019 est.) 1.5% (2018 est.) 1.8% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: AA (2011) Moody's rating: Aaa (2002) Standard & Poors rating: AA (2011) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 5.7% (2017 est.) industry: 21.5% (2017 est.) services: 72.8% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 57.2% (2017 est.) government consumption: 18.2% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.4% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.3% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 27% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -26.1% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: milk, beef, kiwi fruit, apples, potatoes, mutton, grapes, wheat, barley, green onions/shallots Industries: agriculture, forestry, fishing, logs and wood articles, manufacturing, mining, construction, financial services, real estate services, tourism Industrial production growth rate: 1.8% (2017 est.) Labor force: 2.709 million (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 6.6% industry: 20.7% services: 72.7% (2017 est.) Unemployment rate: 4.13% (2019 est.) 4.32% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 12.4% male: 12.2% female: 12.6% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: NA Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 36.2 (1997) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 74.11 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 70.97 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 1.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 31.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 33.5% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 36.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March note: this is the fiscal year for tax purposes Current account balance: -$6.962 billion (2019 est.) -$8.742 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $50.43 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $57.16 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $57.71 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: China 28%, Australia 14%, United States 9%, Japan 6% (2019) Exports - commodities: dairy products, sheep/goat meats, lumber, beef products, fresh fruits (2019) Imports: $47.86 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $57.75 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $58.39 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: China 18%, Australia 15%, United States 9%, Japan 6%, Germany 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: cars, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, delivery trucks, gas turbines (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $20.68 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $17.81 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $190.621 billion (2019 est.) $192.327 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.41794 (2020 est.) 1.52334 (2019 est.) 1.45709 (2018 est.) 1.4279 (2014 est.) 1.2039 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity: installed generating capacity: 9.615 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 41,169,838,000 kWh (2019 est.) exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 2,256,332,000 kWh (2019 est.) Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 19.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 5.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 54.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 18.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) Coal: production: 3.226 million metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 3.001 million metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 1.14 million metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 1.09 million metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 7.575 billion metric tons (2019 est.) Petroleum: total petroleum production: 13,400 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 184,600 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 21,600 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 99,900 barrels/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 41 million barrels (2021 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 115,100 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 1,782 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 56,000 bbl/day (2017 est.) Natural gas: production: 4,771,126,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) consumption: 4,946,237,000 cubic meters (2019 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 31.148 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) Carbon dioxide emissions: 40.344 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 5.139 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 25.76 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 9.445 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) Energy consumption per capita: 186.804 million Btu/person (2019 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 858,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 6.148 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 127 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: the principal growth areas in in New Zealand’s telecom market have been in mobile broadband and fiber; the UFB1 rollout was completed in November 2019 and the UFB2 rollout is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2022; Chorus noted that as of the beginning of 2022, 1Gb/s plans accounted for about 23% of all fiber connections, while 43% of business customers adopted a gigabit service; New Zealand’s mobile market continues to undergo significant developments; there have been considerable gains made in LTE services, with effective competition between Spark, Vodafone NZ, and 2degrees; the widening coverage of LTE networks has been supported by the Rural Broadband Initiative rollout, which added a significant number of mobile sites to new or underserved areas; as the initiative is winding down, this has enabled the participating telcos to invest in NB-IoT and other platforms; Vodafone NZ expects to extend its NB-IoT footprint to cover at least 60% of the country by 2024; the market is undergoing additional consolidation, with approval of the merger between 2degrees and Orcon Group having been granted by regulators in May 2022; this will create the country’s third-largest integrated telco, offering fixed and mobile services in competition with Spark and Vodafone NZ. The merger proposal came fast of the heels of Vocus Group and its local subsidiary Orcon having acquired 2degrees from Trilogy International in December 2021; this deal created a new company, Voyage Digital. (2022) domestic: fixed-line roughly 37 per 100 and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership 136 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 64; landing points for the Southern Cross NEXT, Aqualink, Nelson-Levin, SCCN and Hawaiki submarine cable system providing links to Australia, Fiji, American Samoa, Kiribati, Samo, Tokelau, US and around New Zealand; satellite earth stations - 8 (1 Inmarsat - Pacific Ocean, 7 other) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services Broadcast media: state-owned Television New Zealand operates multiple TV networks and state-owned Radio New Zealand operates 3 radio networks and an external shortwave radio service to the South Pacific region; a small number of national commercial TV and radio stations and many regional commercial television and radio stations are available; cable and satellite TV systems are available, as are a range of streaming services (2019) Internet country code: .nz Internet users: total: 4,677,556 (2020 est.) percent of population: 92% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 1,764,984 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 15 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 199 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 17,249,049 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,349,300,000 (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: ZK Airports: total: 123 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 39 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 84 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 33 under 914 m: 48 (2021) Pipelines: 331 km condensate, 2,500 km gas, 172 km liquid petroleum gas, 288 km oil, 198 km refined products (2018) Railways: total: 4,128 km (2018) narrow gauge: 4,128 km (2018) 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified) Roadways: total: 94,000 km (2017) paved: 61,600 km (2017) (includes 199 km of expressways) unpaved: 32,400 km (2017) Merchant marine: total: 115 by type: container ship 1, general cargo 12, oil tanker 4, other 98 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Auckland, Lyttelton, Manukau Harbor, Marsden Point, Tauranga, Wellington Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF): New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force (2022) Military expenditures: 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2020) 1.4% of GDP (2019) (approximately $3.1 billion) 1.2% of GDP (2018) (approximately $2.62 billion) 1.1% of GDP (2017) (approximately $2.43 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: the New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF) has about 9,500 active duty troops (4,700 Army; 2,300 Navy; 2,500 Air Force) (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: NZDF is equipped mostly with imported weapons and equipment from Western suppliers; the US is the leading provider since 2010 (2022) Military service age and obligation: 17 years of age for voluntary military service (men and women); soldiers cannot be deployed until the age of 18; no conscription (2022) note: New Zealand opened up all military occupations to women in 2000; in 2019, women accounted for about 18% of the uniformed full-time personnel Military deployments: up to 220 Antarctica (summer season only) (2022) Military - note: New Zealand is a member of the Five Powers Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a series of mutual assistance agreements reached in 1971 embracing Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK; the FPDA commits the members to consult with one another in the event or threat of an armed attack on any of the members and to mutually decide what measures should be taken, jointly or separately; there is no specific obligation to intervene militarily New Zealand has been part of the Australia, New Zealand, and US Security (ANZUS) Treaty since 1951; however, the US suspended its ANZUS security obligations to New Zealand in 1986 after New Zealand implemented a policy barring nuclear-armed and nuclear-powered warships from its ports; the US and New Zealand signed the Wellington Declaration in 2010, which reaffirmed close ties between the two countries, and in 2012 signed the Washington Declaration, which provided a framework for future security cooperation and defense dialogues; in 2016, a US naval ship conducted the first bilateral warship visit to New Zealand since the 1980s  New Zealand has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments (2022) Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: New Zealand-Antarctica: asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)New Zealand-Antarctica: asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency) Illicit drugs: significant consumer of amphetamines

20220901

countries-algeria-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise increased caution in Algeria due to terrorism and kidnapping. Consult its website daily via the link below for any travel advisories about visiting this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp and or visa that will be required. A visa is required, unless entering via cruise ship. US citizens will need to get in touch with the country’s embassy or nearest consulate to obtain a visa prior to visiting the country, if not entering via cruise ship. US Embassy/Consulate: [213] (0) 770-08-2000; US Embassy in Algiers, 05 Chemin Cheikh Bachir Ibrahimi, El-Biar 16030, Alger, Algeria; https://dz.usembassy.gov/; ACSAlgiers@state.gov Telephone Code: 213 Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 21606666; Fire: 14; Police: 17 Vaccinations: An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations. http://www.who.int/ Climate: Arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers on high plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer Currency (Code): Dinars (DZD) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, F Major Languages: Arabic (official), French (lingua franca), Berber or Tamazight (official); Berber dialects include Kabyle, Shawiya, Mzab, and Tuareg Major Religions: Muslim (official; predominantly Sunni) 99% Time Difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Algiers, particularly the Casbah; Hoggar Mts. and Atakor Volcanic Field; Oran City; Constantine Major Sports: Soccer, boxing, judo Cultural Practices: It is best for men to allow the woman to extend her hand or offer her cheek first. If the hand is not extended, a man may make a slight bow or nod as a polite acknowledgement. Tipping Guidelines: Waiters and bartenders should be tipped 10% of the total bill. Taxi fares are usually pre-negotiated, but a tip of 5-10 dinars is appreciated. Hotel maids should be tipped 90-100 dinars a night. Souvenirs: Kandura tunics, leather items, rugs, copper and brassware, coral jewelryPlease visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination. World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination. US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens. To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) How to get help in an emergency?  Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444 Page last updated: Monday, April 18, 2022

20220901

countries-french-southern-and-antarctic-lands

Topic: Photos of French Southern and Antarctic Lands Topic: Introduction Background: In February 2007, the Iles Eparses became an integral part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF). The Southern Lands are now divided into five administrative districts, two of which are archipelagos, Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen; the third is a district composed of two volcanic islands, Ile Saint-Paul and Ile Amsterdam; the fourth, Iles Eparses, consists of five scattered tropical islands around Madagascar. They contain no permanent inhabitants and are visited only by researchers studying the native fauna, scientists at the various scientific stations, fishermen, and military personnel. The fifth district is the Antarctic portion, which consists of "Adelie Land," a thin slice of the Antarctic continent discovered and claimed by the French in 1840. Ile Amsterdam: Discovered but not named in 1522 by the Spanish, the island subsequently received the appellation of Nieuw Amsterdam from a Dutchman; it was claimed by France in 1843. A short-lived attempt at cattle farming began in 1871. A French meteorological station established on the island in 1949 is still in use.; Ile Saint Paul: Claimed by France since 1893, the island was a fishing industry center from 1843 to 1914. In 1928, a spiny lobster cannery was established, but when the company went bankrupt in 1931, seven workers were abandoned. Only two survived until 1934 when rescue finally arrived.; Iles Crozet: A large archipelago formed from the Crozet Plateau, Iles Crozet is divided into two main groups: L'Occidental (the West), which includes Ile aux Cochons, Ilots des Apotres, Ile des Pingouins, and the reefs Brisants de l'Heroine; and L'Oriental (the East), which includes Ile d'Est and Ile de la Possession (the largest island of the Crozets). Discovered and claimed by France in 1772, the islands were used for seal hunting and as a base for whaling. Originally administered as a dependency of Madagascar, they became part of the TAAF in 1955.; Iles Kerguelen: This island group, discovered in 1772, consists of one large island (Ile Kerguelen) and about 300 smaller islands. A permanent group of 50 to 100 scientists resides at the main base at Port-aux-Francais.; Adelie Land: The only non-insular district of the TAAF is the Antarctic claim known as "Adelie Land." The US Government does not recognize it as a French dependency.; Bassas da India: A French possession since 1897, this atoll is a volcanic rock surrounded by reefs and is awash at high tide.; Europa Island: This heavily wooded island has been a French possession since 1897; it is the site of a small military garrison that staffs a weather station.; Glorioso Islands: A French possession since 1892, the Glorioso Islands are composed of two lushly vegetated coral islands (Ile Glorieuse and Ile du Lys) and three rock islets. A military garrison operates a weather and radio station on Ile Glorieuse.; Juan de Nova Island: Named after a famous 15th-century Spanish navigator and explorer, the island has been a French possession since 1897. It has been exploited for its guano and phosphate. Presently a small military garrison oversees a meteorological station.; Tromelin Island: First explored by the French in 1776, the island came under the jurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. At present, it serves as a sea turtle sanctuary and is the site of an important meteorological station.In February 2007, the Iles Eparses became an integral part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF). The Southern Lands are now divided into five administrative districts, two of which are archipelagos, Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen; the third is a district composed of two volcanic islands, Ile Saint-Paul and Ile Amsterdam; the fourth, Iles Eparses, consists of five scattered tropical islands around Madagascar. They contain no permanent inhabitants and are visited only by researchers studying the native fauna, scientists at the various scientific stations, fishermen, and military personnel. The fifth district is the Antarctic portion, which consists of "Adelie Land," a thin slice of the Antarctic continent discovered and claimed by the French in 1840.Ile Amsterdam: Discovered but not named in 1522 by the Spanish, the island subsequently received the appellation of Nieuw Amsterdam from a Dutchman; it was claimed by France in 1843. A short-lived attempt at cattle farming began in 1871. A French meteorological station established on the island in 1949 is still in use.;Ile Saint Paul: Claimed by France since 1893, the island was a fishing industry center from 1843 to 1914. In 1928, a spiny lobster cannery was established, but when the company went bankrupt in 1931, seven workers were abandoned. Only two survived until 1934 when rescue finally arrived.;Iles Crozet: A large archipelago formed from the Crozet Plateau, Iles Crozet is divided into two main groups: L'Occidental (the West), which includes Ile aux Cochons, Ilots des Apotres, Ile des Pingouins, and the reefs Brisants de l'Heroine; and L'Oriental (the East), which includes Ile d'Est and Ile de la Possession (the largest island of the Crozets). Discovered and claimed by France in 1772, the islands were used for seal hunting and as a base for whaling. Originally administered as a dependency of Madagascar, they became part of the TAAF in 1955.;Iles Kerguelen: This island group, discovered in 1772, consists of one large island (Ile Kerguelen) and about 300 smaller islands. A permanent group of 50 to 100 scientists resides at the main base at Port-aux-Francais.;Adelie Land: The only non-insular district of the TAAF is the Antarctic claim known as "Adelie Land." The US Government does not recognize it as a French dependency.;Bassas da India: A French possession since 1897, this atoll is a volcanic rock surrounded by reefs and is awash at high tide.;Europa Island: This heavily wooded island has been a French possession since 1897; it is the site of a small military garrison that staffs a weather station.;Glorioso Islands: A French possession since 1892, the Glorioso Islands are composed of two lushly vegetated coral islands (Ile Glorieuse and Ile du Lys) and three rock islets. A military garrison operates a weather and radio station on Ile Glorieuse.;Juan de Nova Island: Named after a famous 15th-century Spanish navigator and explorer, the island has been a French possession since 1897. It has been exploited for its guano and phosphate. Presently a small military garrison oversees a meteorological station.;Tromelin Island: First explored by the French in 1776, the island came under the jurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. At present, it serves as a sea turtle sanctuary and is the site of an important meteorological station.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: southeast and east of Africa, islands in the southern Indian Ocean, some near Madagascar and others about equidistant between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia; note - French Southern and Antarctic Lands include Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet, Iles Kerguelen, Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island in the southern Indian Ocean, along with the French-claimed sector of Antarctica, "Adelie Land"; the US does not recognize the French claim to "Adelie Land" Geographic coordinates: Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): 37 50 S, 77 32 E; Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): 38 72 S, 77 53 E; Iles Crozet: 46 25 S, 51 00 E; Iles Kerguelen: 49 15 S, 69 35 E; Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): 21 30 S, 39 50 E; Europa Island (Iles Eparses): 22 20 S, 40 22 E; Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): 11 30 S, 47 20 E; Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): 17 03 S, 42 45 E; Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): 15 52 S, 54 25 EIle Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): 37 50 S, 77 32 E; Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): 38 72 S, 77 53 E; Iles Crozet: 46 25 S, 51 00 E; Iles Kerguelen: 49 15 S, 69 35 E; Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): 21 30 S, 39 50 E; Europa Island (Iles Eparses): 22 20 S, 40 22 E; Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): 11 30 S, 47 20 E; Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): 17 03 S, 42 45 E; Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): 15 52 S, 54 25 E Map references: Antarctic RegionAfrica Area: Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): total - 55 sq km; land - 55 sq km; water - 0 sq km Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): total - 7 sq km; land - 7 sq km; water - 0 sq km Iles Crozet: total - 352 sq km; land - 352 sq km; water - 0 sq km Iles Kerguelen: total - 7,215 sq km; land - 7,215 sq km; water - 0 sq km Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): total - 80 sq km; land - 0.2 sq km; water - 79.8 sq km (lagoon) Europa Island (Iles Eparses): total - 28 sq km; land - 28 sq km; water - 0 sq km Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): total - 5 sq km; land - 5 sq km; water - 0 sq km Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): total - 4.4 sq km; land - 4.4 sq km; water - 0 sq km Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): total - 1 sq km; land - 1 sq km; water - 0 sq km note: excludes "Adelie Land" claim of about 500,000 sq km in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US Area - comparative: Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): less than one-half the size of Washington, DC; Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): more than 10 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC; Iles Crozet: about twice the size of Washington, DC; Iles Kerguelen: slightly larger than Delaware; Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): land area about one-third the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC; Europa Island (Iles Eparses): about one-sixth the size of Washington, DC; Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): about eight times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC; Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): about seven times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC; Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): about 1.7 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DCIle Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): less than one-half the size of Washington, DC; Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): more than 10 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC; Iles Crozet: about twice the size of Washington, DC; Iles Kerguelen: slightly larger than Delaware; Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): land area about one-third the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC; Europa Island (Iles Eparses): about one-sixth the size of Washington, DC; Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): about eight times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC; Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): about seven times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC; Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): about 1.7 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): 28 km Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): Iles Kerguelen: 2,800 km Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): 35.2 km Europa Island (Iles Eparses): 22.2 km Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): 35.2 km Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): 24.1 km Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): 3.7 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm from Iles Kerguelen and Iles Eparses (does not include the rest of French Southern and Antarctic Lands); Juan de Nova Island and Tromelin Island claim a continental shelf of 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation Climate: Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul: oceanic with persistent westerly winds and high humidity; Iles Crozet: windy, cold, wet, and cloudy; Iles Kerguelen: oceanic, cold, overcast, windy; Iles Eparses: tropicalIle Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul: oceanic with persistent westerly winds and high humidity; Iles Crozet: windy, cold, wet, and cloudy; Iles Kerguelen: oceanic, cold, overcast, windy; Iles Eparses: tropical Terrain: Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): a volcanic island with steep coastal cliffs; the center floor of the volcano is a large plateau; Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): triangular in shape, the island is the top of a volcano, rocky with steep cliffs on the eastern side; has active thermal springs; Iles Crozet: a large archipelago formed from the Crozet Plateau is divided into two groups of islands; Iles Kerguelen: the interior of the large island of Ile Kerguelen is composed of high mountains, hills, valleys, and plains with peninsulas stretching off its coasts; Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): atoll, awash at high tide; shallow (15 m) lagoon; Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island: low, flat, and sandy; Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): low, flat, sandy; likely volcanic seamountIle Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): a volcanic island with steep coastal cliffs; the center floor of the volcano is a large plateau; Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): triangular in shape, the island is the top of a volcano, rocky with steep cliffs on the eastern side; has active thermal springs; Iles Crozet: a large archipelago formed from the Crozet Plateau is divided into two groups of islands; Iles Kerguelen: the interior of the large island of Ile Kerguelen is composed of high mountains, hills, valleys, and plains with peninsulas stretching off its coasts; Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): atoll, awash at high tide; shallow (15 m) lagoon; Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island: low, flat, and sandy; Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): low, flat, sandy; likely volcanic seamount Elevation: highest point: Mont de la Dives on Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul) 867 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest points throughout the French Southern and Antarctic Lands: unnamed location on Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul) 272 m; Pic Marion-Dufresne in Iles Crozet 1090 m; Mont Ross in Iles Kerguelen 1850 m; unnamed location on Bassas de India (Iles Eparses) 2.4 m;24 unnamed location on Europa Island (Iles Eparses) 24 m; unnamed location on Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses) 12 m; unnamed location on Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses) 10 m; unnamed location on Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) 7 m Natural resources: fish, crayfish, note, Glorioso Islands and Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) have guano, phosphates, and coconuts note: in the 1950's and 1960's, several species of trout were introduced to Iles Kerguelen of which two, Brown trout and Brook trout, survived to establish wild populations; reindeer were also introduced to Iles Kerguelen in 1956 as a source of fresh meat for whaling crews, the herd today, one of two in the Southern Hemisphere, is estimated to number around 4,000 Natural hazards: Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are inactive volcanoes; Iles Eparses subject to periodic cyclones; Bassas da India is a maritime hazard since it is under water for a period of three hours prior to and following the high tide and surrounded by reefsvolcanism: Reunion Island - Piton de la Fournaise (2,632 m), which has erupted many times in recent years including 2010, 2015, and 2017, is one of the world's most active volcanoes; although rare, eruptions outside the volcano's caldera could threaten nearby citiesIle Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are inactive volcanoes; Iles Eparses subject to periodic cyclones; Bassas da India is a maritime hazard since it is under water for a period of three hours prior to and following the high tide and surrounded by reefsvolcanism: Reunion Island - Piton de la Fournaise (2,632 m), which has erupted many times in recent years including 2010, 2015, and 2017, is one of the world's most active volcanoes; although rare, eruptions outside the volcano's caldera could threaten nearby cities Geography - note: islands' component is widely scattered across remote locations in the southern Indian OceanBassas da India (Iles Eparses): atoll is a circular reef atop a long-extinct, submerged volcano; Europa Island and Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): wildlife sanctuary for seabirds and sea turtles; Glorioso Island (Iles Eparses): islands and rocks are surrounded by an extensive reef system; Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones in the western Indian Ocean; wildlife sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises)islands' component is widely scattered across remote locations in the southern Indian OceanBassas da India (Iles Eparses): atoll is a circular reef atop a long-extinct, submerged volcano; Europa Island and Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): wildlife sanctuary for seabirds and sea turtles; Glorioso Island (Iles Eparses): islands and rocks are surrounded by an extensive reef system; Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones in the western Indian Ocean; wildlife sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises) Map description: French Southern and Antarctic Lands map showing the many scattered Indian Ocean islands that make up French territory in the South Pacific Ocean. The French Antarctic claim is not shown.French Southern and Antarctic Lands map showing the many scattered Indian Ocean islands that make up French territory in the South Pacific Ocean. The French Antarctic claim is not shown. Topic: People and Society Population: no indigenous inhabitants Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): uninhabited but has a meteorological station Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): uninhabited but is frequently visited by fishermen and has a scientific research cabin for short stays Iles Crozet: uninhabited except for 18 to 30 people staffing the Alfred Faure research station on Ile del la Possession Iles Kerguelen: 50 to 100 scientists are located at the main base at Port-aux-Francais on Ile Kerguelen Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): uninhabitable Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): a small French military garrison and a few meteorologists on each possession; visited by scientists Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): uninhabited, except for visits by scientists Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-24 years: NA 25-54 years: NA 55-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Birth rate: NA Death rate: NA Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA Current Health Expenditure: NA HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: NA Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: introduction of foreign species on Iles Crozet has caused severe damage to the original ecosystem; overfishing of Patagonian toothfish around Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen Climate: Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul: oceanic with persistent westerly winds and high humidity; Iles Crozet: windy, cold, wet, and cloudy; Iles Kerguelen: oceanic, cold, overcast, windy; Iles Eparses: tropicalIle Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul: oceanic with persistent westerly winds and high humidity; Iles Crozet: windy, cold, wet, and cloudy; Iles Kerguelen: oceanic, cold, overcast, windy; Iles Eparses: tropical Topic: Government 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 abbreviation: TAAF etymology: self-descriptive name specifying the territories' affiliation and location in the Southern Hemisphere Dependency status: overseas territory of France since 1955 Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 5 administrative districts named Iles Crozet, Iles Eparses, Iles Kerguelen, Ile Saint-Paul et Ile Amsterdam; the fifth district is the "Adelie Land" claim in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US Legal system: the laws of France, where applicable, apply Citizenship: see France Executive branch: chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017), represented by Prefect Charles GIUSTI (since 12 October 2020) International organization participation: UPU Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of France) Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (overseas territory of France) Flag description: the flag of France is used National anthem: note: as a territory of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)note: as a territory of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Economic activity is limited to servicing meteorological and geophysical research stations, military bases, and French and other fishing fleets. The fish catches landed on Iles Kerguelen by foreign ships are exported to France and Reunion. Topic: Communications Internet country code: .tf Communications - note: has one or more meteorological stations on each possession Topic: Transportation Airports: total: 4 (2021) Merchant marine: total: 2 by type: other 2 (2021) Ports and terminals: none; offshore anchorage only Topic: Military and Security Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: French claim to "Adelie Land" in Antarctica is not recognized by the US; Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): ; claimed by Madagascar; the vegetated drying cays of Banc du Geyser, which were claimed by Madagascar in 1976, also fall within the EEZ claims of the Comoros and France (Glorioso Islands); ; Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): ; claimed by MauritiusFrench claim to "Adelie Land" in Antarctica is not recognized by the US; Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): ; claimed by Madagascar; the vegetated drying cays of Banc du Geyser, which were claimed by Madagascar in 1976, also fall within the EEZ claims of the Comoros and France (Glorioso Islands); ; Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): ; claimed by Mauritius