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Topic: Photos of Cabo Verde Topic: Introduction Background: The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; Cabo Verde subsequently became a trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. The fusing of European and various African cultural traditions is reflected in Cabo Verde’s Krioulo language, music, and pano textiles. Following independence in 1975, and a tentative interest in unification with Guinea-Bissau, a one-party system was established and maintained until multi-party elections were held in 1990. Cabo Verde continues to sustain one of Africa's most stable democratic governments and one of its most stable economies, maintaining a currency formerly pegged to the Portuguese escudo and then the euro since 1998. Repeated droughts during the second half of the 20th century caused significant hardship and prompted heavy emigration. As a result, Cabo Verde's expatriate population - concentrated in Boston and Western Europe - is greater than its domestic one. Most Cabo Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents. Cabo Verde’s population descends from its first permanent inhabitants in the late 15th-century – a preponderance of West African slaves, a small share of Portuguese colonists, and even fewer Italians and Spaniards. Among the nine inhabited islands, population distribution is variable. Islands in the east are very dry and are home to the country's growing tourism industry. The more western islands receive more precipitation and support larger populations, but agriculture and livestock grazing have damaged their soil fertility and vegetation. For centuries, the country’s overall population size has fluctuated significantly, as recurring periods of famine and epidemics have caused high death tolls and emigration. In November 2021, Jose Maria NEVES was sworn in as Cabo Verde's latest president.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N, 24 00 W Map references: Africa Area: total: 4,033 sq km land: 4,033 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: slightly larger than Rhode Island Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 965 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm measured from claimed archipelagic baselines Climate: temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and erratic Terrain: steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic Elevation: highest point: Mt. Fogo (a volcano on Fogo Island) 2,829 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m Natural resources: salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum Land use: agricultural land: 18.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.7% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 6.2% (2018 est.) forest: 21% (2018 est.) other: 60.4% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 35 sq km (2012) Population distribution: among the nine inhabited islands, population distribution is variable; islands in the east are very dry and are only sparsely settled to exploit their extensive salt deposits; the more southerly islands receive more precipitation and support larger populations, but agriculture and livestock grazing have damaged the soil fertility and vegetation; approximately half of the population lives on Sao Tiago Island, which is the location of the capital of Praia; Mindelo, on the northern island of Sao Vicente, also has a large urban population as shown in this population distribution map Natural hazards: prolonged 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 Geography - note: strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site; one of four North Atlantic archipelagos that make up Macaronesia; the others are Azores (Portugal), Canary Islands (Spain), and Madeira (Portugal) Map description: Cabo Verde map showing the many islands that make up the country in the North Atlantic Ocean.Cabo Verde map showing the many islands that make up the country in the North Atlantic Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 596,707 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Cabo Verdean(s) adjective: Cabo Verdean Ethnic groups: Creole (Mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1% Languages: Portuguese (official), Krioulo (a Portuguese-based Creole language with two main dialects spoken in Cabo Verde and in the Cabo Verdean diaspora worldwide) Religions: Roman Catholic 77.3%, Protestant 4.6% (includes Church of the Nazarene 1.7%, Adventist 1.5%, Assembly of God 0.9%, Universal Kingdom of God 0.4%, and God and Love 0.1%), other Christian 3.4% (includes Christian Rationalism 1.9%, Jehovah's Witness 1%, and New Apostolic 0.5%), Muslim 1.8%, other 1.3%, none 10.8%, unspecified 0.7% (2010 est.) Demographic profile: Cabo Verde’s population descends from its first permanent inhabitants in the late 15th-century – a preponderance of West African slaves, a small share of Portuguese colonists, and even fewer Italians, Spaniards, and Portuguese Jews. Over the centuries, the country’s overall population size has fluctuated significantly, as recurring periods of famine and epidemics have caused high death tolls and emigration.Labor migration historically reduced Cabo Verde’s population growth and still provides a key source of income through remittances. Expatriates probably outnumber Cabo Verde’s resident population, with most families having a member abroad. Cabo Verdeans have settled in the US, Europe, Africa, and South America. The largest diaspora community in New Bedford, Massachusetts, dating to the early 1800s, is a byproduct of the transatlantic whaling industry. Cabo Verdean men fleeing poverty at home joined the crews of US whaling ships that stopped in the islands. Many settled in New Bedford and stayed in the whaling or shipping trade, worked in the textile or cranberry industries, or operated their own transatlantic packet ships that transported compatriots to the US. Increased Cabo Verdean emigration to the US coincided with the gradual and eventually complete abolition of slavery in the archipelago in 1878.During the same period, Portuguese authorities coerced Cabo Verdeans to go to Sao Tome and Principe and other Portuguese colonies in Africa to work as indentured laborers on plantations. In the 1920s, when the US implemented immigration quotas, Cabo Verdean emigration shifted toward Portugal, West Africa (Senegal), and South America (Argentina). Growing numbers of Cabo Verdean labor migrants headed to Western Europe in the 1960s and 1970s. They filled unskilled jobs in Portugal, as many Portuguese sought out work opportunities in the more prosperous economies of northwest Europe. Cabo Verdeans eventually expanded their emigration to the Netherlands, where they worked in the shipping industry. Migration to the US resumed under relaxed migration laws. Cabo Verdean women also began migrating to southern Europe to become domestic workers, a trend that continues today and has shifted the gender balance of Cabo Verdean emigration.Emigration has declined in more recent decades due to the adoption of more restrictive migration policies in destination countries. Reduced emigration along with a large youth population, decreased mortality rates, and increased life expectancies, has boosted population growth, putting further pressure on domestic employment and resources. In addition, Cabo Verde has attracted increasing numbers of migrants in recent decades, consisting primarily of people from West Africa, Portuguese-speaking African countries, Portugal, and China. Since the 1990s, some West African migrants have used Cabo Verde as a stepping stone for illegal migration to Europe.Cabo Verde’s population descends from its first permanent inhabitants in the late 15th-century – a preponderance of West African slaves, a small share of Portuguese colonists, and even fewer Italians, Spaniards, and Portuguese Jews. Over the centuries, the country’s overall population size has fluctuated significantly, as recurring periods of famine and epidemics have caused high death tolls and emigration.Labor migration historically reduced Cabo Verde’s population growth and still provides a key source of income through remittances. Expatriates probably outnumber Cabo Verde’s resident population, with most families having a member abroad. Cabo Verdeans have settled in the US, Europe, Africa, and South America. The largest diaspora community in New Bedford, Massachusetts, dating to the early 1800s, is a byproduct of the transatlantic whaling industry. Cabo Verdean men fleeing poverty at home joined the crews of US whaling ships that stopped in the islands. Many settled in New Bedford and stayed in the whaling or shipping trade, worked in the textile or cranberry industries, or operated their own transatlantic packet ships that transported compatriots to the US. Increased Cabo Verdean emigration to the US coincided with the gradual and eventually complete abolition of slavery in the archipelago in 1878.During the same period, Portuguese authorities coerced Cabo Verdeans to go to Sao Tome and Principe and other Portuguese colonies in Africa to work as indentured laborers on plantations. In the 1920s, when the US implemented immigration quotas, Cabo Verdean emigration shifted toward Portugal, West Africa (Senegal), and South America (Argentina). Growing numbers of Cabo Verdean labor migrants headed to Western Europe in the 1960s and 1970s. They filled unskilled jobs in Portugal, as many Portuguese sought out work opportunities in the more prosperous economies of northwest Europe. Cabo Verdeans eventually expanded their emigration to the Netherlands, where they worked in the shipping industry. Migration to the US resumed under relaxed migration laws. Cabo Verdean women also began migrating to southern Europe to become domestic workers, a trend that continues today and has shifted the gender balance of Cabo Verdean emigration.Emigration has declined in more recent decades due to the adoption of more restrictive migration policies in destination countries. Reduced emigration along with a large youth population, decreased mortality rates, and increased life expectancies, has boosted population growth, putting further pressure on domestic employment and resources. In addition, Cabo Verde has attracted increasing numbers of migrants in recent decades, consisting primarily of people from West Africa, Portuguese-speaking African countries, Portugal, and China. Since the 1990s, some West African migrants have used Cabo Verde as a stepping stone for illegal migration to Europe. Age structure: 0-14 years: 27.95% (male 82,010/female 81,012) 15-24 years: 18.69% (male 54,521/female 54,504) 25-54 years: 40.76% (male 115,811/female 121,923) 55-64 years: 7.12% (male 18,939/female 22,597) 65 years and over: 5.48% (2020 est.) (male 12,037/female 19,901) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 49 youth dependency ratio: 41.8 elderly dependency ratio: 7.1 potential support ratio: 14 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 26.8 years male: 25.9 years female: 27.6 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 1.21% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 18.49 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 5.8 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -0.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: among the nine inhabited islands, population distribution is variable; islands in the east are very dry and are only sparsely settled to exploit their extensive salt deposits; the more southerly islands receive more precipitation and support larger populations, but agriculture and livestock grazing have damaged the soil fertility and vegetation; approximately half of the population lives on Sao Tiago Island, which is the location of the capital of Praia; Mindelo, on the northern island of Sao Vicente, also has a large urban population as shown in this population distribution map Urbanization: urban population: 67.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.83% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 168,000 PRAIA (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.86 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 58 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 23.53 deaths/1,000 live births male: 27.64 deaths/1,000 live births female: 19.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.75 years male: 71.41 years female: 76.15 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.13 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 55.8% (2018) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 90% of population total: 96.7% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 10% of population total: 3.3% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 4.9% (2019) Physicians density: 0.78 physicians/1,000 population (2015) Hospital bed density: 2.1 beds/1,000 population Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 91.7% of population rural: 73.3% of population total: 85.6% of population unimproved: urban: 8.3% of population rural: 26.7% of population total: 14.4% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.5% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 2,400 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <100 Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 11.8% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 4.7% of GDP (2019) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 86.8% male: 91.7% female: 82% (2015) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 13 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2018) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 50.4% male: 41.4% female: 65.3% (2019) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: deforestation due to demand for firewood; water shortages; prolonged droughts and improper use of land (overgrazing, crop cultivation on hillsides lead to desertification and erosion); environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing 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, 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: 31.99 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.54 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.13 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and erratic Land use: agricultural land: 18.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.7% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 6.2% (2018 est.) forest: 21% (2018 est.) other: 60.4% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 67.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.83% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.38% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 132,555 tons (2012 est.) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 1.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 400,000 cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 25 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 300 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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 Government type: parliamentary republic Capital: name: Praia geographic coordinates: 14 55 N, 23 31 W time difference: UTC-1 (4 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the earlier Portuguese name was Villa de Praia ("Village of the Beach"); it became just Praia in 1974 (prior to full independence in 1975) Administrative divisions: 22 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Porto Novo, Praia, Ribeira Brava, Ribeira Grande, Ribeira Grande de Santiago, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Catarina do Fogo, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Filipe, Sao Lourenco dos Orgaos, Sao Miguel, Sao Salvador do Mundo, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal, Tarrafal de Sao Nicolau Independence: 5 July 1975 (from Portugal) National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1975) Constitution: history: previous 1981; latest effective 25 September 1992 amendments: proposals require support of at least four fifths of the active National Assembly membership; amendment drafts require sponsorship of at least one third of the active Assembly membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership; constitutional sections, including those on national independence, form of government, political pluralism, suffrage, and human rights and liberties, cannot be amended; revised 1995, 1999, 2010 Legal system: civil law system of Portugal 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 Cabo Verde dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Jose Maria NEVES (since 9 November 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Ulisses CORREIA E. SILVA (since 22 April 2016) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister 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 17 October 2021 (next to be held on 17 October 2026); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president election results: Jose Maria NEVES elected president; percent of vote - Jose Maria NEVES (APICV) 51.73%, Carlos Veiga (MFD) 42.37%, Casimiro de Pina (Independent) 1.81%, Fernando Rocha Delgado (Independent) 1.36%, Helio Sanches (Independent) 1.14%, Gilson Alves (Independent)  0.84%, Joaquim Monteiro (Independent) 0.74% Jorge Carlos FONSECA reelected president; percent of vote - Jorge Carlos FONSECA (MPD) 74%, Albertino GRACA (independent) 23%, other 3% African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (APICV) Movement for Democracy (MFD) Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 18 April 2021 (next to be held on 18 April 2026) election results: percent of vote by party Monument for Democracy 50.2%, African Party for Independence in Cape Verde 39.55%, Democratic and Independent Cape Verdean Union 9.0%; seats by party - MD 38, APICV 30, DICVU 4; composition - men 44, women 28, percent of women 37.5% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the chief justice and at least 7 judges and organized into civil, criminal, and administrative sections) judge selection and term of office: judge appointments - 1 by the president of the republic, 1 elected by the National Assembly, and 3 by the Superior Judicial Council (SJC), a 16-member independent body chaired by the chief justice and includes the attorney general, 8 private citizens, 2 judges, 2 prosecutors, the senior legal inspector of the Attorney General's office, and a representative of the Ministry of Justice; chief justice appointed by the president of the republic from among peers of the Supreme Court of Justice and in consultation with the SJC; judges appointed for life subordinate courts: appeals courts, first instance (municipal) courts; audit, military, and fiscal and customs courts Political parties and leaders: rz African Party for Independence of Cabo Verde or PAICV [Janira Hopffer ALMADA] Democratic and Independent Cabo Verdean Union or UCID [Antonio MONTEIRO] Democratic Christian Party or PDC [Manuel RODRIGUES] Democratic Renovation Party or PRD [Victor FIDALGO] Movement for Democracy or MPD [Ulisses CORREIA E SILVA] Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO] Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS [Anibal MEDINA] Social Democratic Party or PSD [Joao ALEM] International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CD, CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Luis do Livramento MONTEIRO ALVES DE BRITO (since 23 December 2020) chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820 FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207 email address and website: embassy@caboverdeus.net https://www.embcv-usa.gov.cv/ consulate(s) general: Boston Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John "Jeff" DAIGLE (since 10 September 2019) embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo 6, Praia mailing address: 2460 Praia Place, Washington DC  20521-2460 telephone: [238] 260-8900 FAX: [238] 261-1355 email address and website: PraiaConsular@state.gov https://cv.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: five unequal horizontal bands; the top-most band of blue - equal to one half the width of the flag - is followed by three bands of white, red, and white, each equal to 1/12 of the width, and a bottom stripe of blue equal to one quarter of the flag width; a circle of 10 yellow, five-pointed stars is centered on the red stripe and positioned 3/8 of the length of the flag from the hoist side; blue stands for the sea and the sky, the circle of stars represents the 10 major islands united into a nation, the stripes symbolize the road to formation of the country through peace (white) and effort (red) National symbol(s): ten, five-pointed, yellow stars; national colors: blue, white, red, yellow National anthem: name: "Cantico da Liberdade" (Song of Freedom) lyrics/music: Amilcar Spencer LOPES/Adalberto Higino Tavares SILVA note: adopted 1996 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Cidade Velha, Historic Center of Ribeira Grande Topic: Economy Economic overview: Cabo Verde’s economy depends on development aid, foreign investment, remittances, and tourism. The economy is service-oriented with commerce, transport, tourism, and public services accounting for about three-fourths of GDP. Tourism is the mainstay of the economy and depends on conditions in the euro-zone countries. Cabo Verde annually runs a high trade deficit financed by foreign aid and remittances from its large pool of emigrants; remittances as a share of GDP are one of the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa.   Although about 40% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of food production in GDP is low. The island economy suffers from a poor natural resource base, including serious water shortages, exacerbated by cycles of long-term drought, and poor soil for growing food on several of the islands, requiring it to import most of what it consumes. The fishing potential, mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited.   Economic reforms are aimed at developing the private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy and mitigate high unemployment. The government’s elevated debt levels have limited its capacity to finance any shortfalls.Cabo Verde’s economy depends on development aid, foreign investment, remittances, and tourism. The economy is service-oriented with commerce, transport, tourism, and public services accounting for about three-fourths of GDP. Tourism is the mainstay of the economy and depends on conditions in the euro-zone countries. Cabo Verde annually runs a high trade deficit financed by foreign aid and remittances from its large pool of emigrants; remittances as a share of GDP are one of the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although about 40% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of food production in GDP is low. The island economy suffers from a poor natural resource base, including serious water shortages, exacerbated by cycles of long-term drought, and poor soil for growing food on several of the islands, requiring it to import most of what it consumes. The fishing potential, mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited. Economic reforms are aimed at developing the private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy and mitigate high unemployment. The government’s elevated debt levels have limited its capacity to finance any shortfalls. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $3.36 billion (2020 est.) $3.94 billion (2019 est.) $3.73 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 4% (2017 est.) 4.7% (2016 est.) 1% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $6,000 (2020 est.) $7,200 (2019 est.) $6,900 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $1.971 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.1% (2019 est.) 1.2% (2018 est.) 0.7% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: B- (2020) Standard & Poors rating: B (2013) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 8.9% (2017 est.) industry: 17.5% (2017 est.) services: 73.7% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 50.1% (2017 est.) government consumption: 18.3% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 32.2% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1.9% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 48.6% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -51.1% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: sugar cane, tomatoes, bananas, cabbages, coconuts, cassava, pulses nes, vegetables, milk, goat milk Industries: food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt mining, ship repair Industrial production growth rate: 2.9% (2017 est.) Labor force: 196,100 (2007 est.) Unemployment rate: 9% (2017 est.) 9% (2016 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 50.4% male: 41.4% female: 65.3% (2019) Population below poverty line: 35% (2015 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 42.4 (2015 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 40.6% (2000) Budget: revenues: 493.5 million (2017 est.) expenditures: 546.7 million (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 125.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 127.6% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 27.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$109 million (2017 est.) -$40 million (2016 est.) Exports: $420 million (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $1 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $960 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Spain 65%, Portugal 14%, Italy 8% (2019) Exports - commodities: processed and frozen fish, mollusks, clothing, scrap iron (2019) Imports: $1.02 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $1.29 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $1.34 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Portugal 36%, Netherlands 16%, Spain 11%, China 6% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, delivery trucks, coal tar oil, cars, rice (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $617.4 million (31 December 2017 est.) $572.7 million (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $1.713 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $1.688 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: Cabo Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar - 101.8 (2017 est.) 99.688 (2016 est.) 99.688 (2015 est.) 99.426 (2014 est.) 83.114 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 96% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 99% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 89% (2019) Electricity - production: 395 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 367.4 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 162,500 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 79% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 21% 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: 5,600 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 5,607 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 2016 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 57,668 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 544,729 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 98 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: LTE reaches almost 40% of the population; regulator awards commercial 4G licenses and starts 5G pilot; govt. extends USD 25 million for submarine fiber-optic cable project linking Africa to Portugal and Brazil; major service provider is Cabo Verde Telecom (CVT) (2020) domestic: a little over 10 per 100 fixed-line teledensity and nearly 98 per 100 mobile-cellular; fiber-optic ring, completed in 2001, links all islands providing Internet access and ISDN services; cellular service introduced in 1998; broadband services launched early in the decade (2020) international: country code - 238; landing points for the Atlantis-2, EllaLink, Cabo Verde Telecom Domestic Submarine Cable Phase 1, 2, 3 and WACS fiber-optic transatlantic telephone cable that provides links to South America, Africa, and Europe; HF radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 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 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: state-run TV and radio broadcast network plus a growing number of private broadcasters; Portuguese public TV and radio services for Africa are available; transmissions of a few international broadcasters are available (2019) Internet country code: .cv Internet users: total: 361,392 (2020 est.) percent of population: 65% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 24,839 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 5 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 140,429 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,728,152 (2015) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: D4 Airports: total: 9 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 9 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2021) Roadways: total: 1,350 km (2013) paved: 932 km (2013) unpaved: 418 km (2013) Merchant marine: total: 46 by type: general cargo 16, oil tanker 3, other 27 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Porto Grande Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Cabo Verdean Armed Forces (FACV): Army (also called the National Guard, GN; includes a small air component), Cabo Verde Coast Guard (Guardia Costeira de Cabo Verde, GCCV); Ministry of Internal Affairs: National Police (2022) Military expenditures: 0.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.5% of GDP (2020 est.) 0.5% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $20 million) 0.5% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $20 million) 0.5% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $20 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 1,200 personnel including about 100 in the Coast Guard (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FACV has a limited amount of mostly dated and second-hand equipment, largely from China, European countries, and the former Soviet Union (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-35 years of age for male and female selective compulsory military service; 2-years conscript service obligation; 17 years of age for voluntary service (with parental consent) (2021) Military - note: as of 2022, the FACV/National Guard was mostly a ground force with 2 infantry battalions and a small air component with a maritime patrol squadron; the Coast Guard had a few coastal patrol craft and patrol boatsas of 2022, the FACV/National Guard was mostly a ground force with 2 infantry battalions and a small air component with a maritime patrol squadron; the Coast Guard had a few coastal patrol craft and patrol boats Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: nonenone Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons: 115 (mid-year 2021) Illicit drugs: Cabo Verde is a transit hub for cocaine, marijuana, and other drugs trafficked from Latin America to Europe; marijuana, cocaine, hashish, heroin, and methamphetamine are the most frequently consumed drugs in Cabo Verde

20220601

countries-bouvet-island

Topic: Photos of Bouvet Island Topic: Introduction Background: This uninhabited, volcanic, Antarctic island is almost entirely covered by glaciers making it difficult to approach; it is recognized as the most remote island on Earth. (It is furthest in distance from any other point of land, 1,639 km from Antarctica.) Bouvet Island was discovered in 1739 by a French naval officer after whom it is named. No claim was made until 1825, when the British flag was raised. A few expeditions visited the island in the late 19th century. In 1929, the UK waived its claim in favor of Norway, which had occupied the island two years previously. In 1971, Norway designated Bouvet Island and the adjacent territorial waters a nature reserve. Since 1977, Norway has run an automated meteorological station and studied foraging strategies and distribution of fur seals and penguins on the island. In February 2006, an earthquake weakened the station's foundation causing it to be blown out to sea in a winter storm. Norway erected a new research station in 2014 that can hold six people for periods of two to four months.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: island in the South Atlantic Ocean, southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) Geographic coordinates: 54 26 S, 3 24 E Map references: Antarctic Region Area: total: 49 sq km land: 49 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 29.6 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 4 nm Climate: antarctic Terrain: volcanic; coast is mostly inaccessible Elevation: highest point: Olavtoppen (Olav Peak) 780 m lowest point: South Atlantic Ocean 0 m Natural resources: none Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) arable land: 0% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) Natural hazards: occasional volcanism, rock slides; harsh climate, surrounded by pack ice in winter Geography - note: almost entirely covered by glacial ice (93%); declared a nature reserve by Norway; the distance from Bouvet Island to Norway is 12,776 km, which is almost one-third the circumference of the earth Map description: Bouvet Island map showing the island – a territory of Norway – situated in the South Atlantic Ocean.Bouvet Island map showing the island – a territory of Norway – situated in the South Atlantic Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: uninhabited 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 Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: none; almost entirely ice covered Climate: antarctic Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) arable land: 0% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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 Dependency status: territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice and Oslo Police Legal system: the laws of Norway apply where applicable Flag description: the flag of Norway is used Topic: Economy Economic overview: no economic activity; declared a nature reserve Topic: Communications Internet country code: .bv Communications - note: has an automated meteorological station Topic: Transportation Ports and terminals: none; offshore anchorage only Topic: Military and Security Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Norway Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none identifiednone identified

20220601

countries-united-kingdom

Topic: Photos of United Kingdom Topic: Introduction Background: The United Kingdom has historically played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith in the 19th century, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw two World Wars seriously deplete the UK's strength and the Irish Republic withdraw from the union. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council and a founding member of NATO and the Commonwealth of Nations, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy. The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1998. The UK was an active member of the EU after its accession in 1973, although it chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union. However, motivated in part by frustration at a remote bureaucracy in Brussels and massive migration into the country, UK citizens on 23 June 2016 voted by 52 to 48 percent to leave the EU. The UK became the first country to depart the EU on 31 January 2020, after prolonged negotiations on EU-UK economic and security relationships had been hammered out.The United Kingdom has historically played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith in the 19th century, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw two World Wars seriously deplete the UK's strength and the Irish Republic withdraw from the union. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council and a founding member of NATO and the Commonwealth of Nations, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy. The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1998.The UK was an active member of the EU after its accession in 1973, although it chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union. However, motivated in part by frustration at a remote bureaucracy in Brussels and massive migration into the country, UK citizens on 23 June 2016 voted by 52 to 48 percent to leave the EU. The UK became the first country to depart the EU on 31 January 2020, after prolonged negotiations on EU-UK economic and security relationships had been hammered out.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Western Europe, islands - including the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland - between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea; northwest of France Geographic coordinates: 54 00 N, 2 00 W Map references: Europe Area: total: 243,610 sq km land: 241,930 sq km water: 1,680 sq km note 1: the percentage area breakdown of the four UK countries is: England 53%, Scotland 32%, Wales 9%, and Northern Ireland 6% note 2: includes Rockall and the Shetland Islands, which are part of Scotland Area - comparative: twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon Land boundaries: total: 499 km border countries (1): Ireland 499 km Coastline: 12,429 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: as defined in continental shelf orders or in accordance with agreed upon boundaries exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Climate: temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast Terrain: mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east and southeast Elevation: highest point: Ben Nevis 1,345 m lowest point: The Fens -4 m mean elevation: 162 m Natural resources: coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, arable land Land use: agricultural land: 71% (2018 est.) arable land: 25.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 45.7% (2018 est.) forest: 11.9% (2018 est.) other: 17.1% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 950 sq km (2012) Population distribution: the core of the population lies in and around London, with significant clusters found in central Britain around Manchester and Liverpool, in the Scottish lowlands between Edinburgh and Glasgow, southern Wales in and around Cardiff, and far eastern Northern Ireland centered on Belfast Natural hazards: winter windstorms; floods Geography - note: lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km from France and linked by tunnel under the English Channel (the Channel Tunnel or Chunnel); because of heavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125 km from tidal waters Map description: United Kingdom map showing the British Isles (including Northern Ireland) situated in the North Sea.United Kingdom map showing the British Isles (including Northern Ireland) situated in the North Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 67,791,400 (2022 est.) United Kingdom constituent countries by percentage of total population: England 84.3% Scotland 8.1% Wales 4.7% Northern Ireland 2.8% Nationality: noun: Briton(s), British (collective plural) adjective: British Ethnic groups: White 87.2%, Black/African/Caribbean/black British 3%, Asian/Asian British: Indian 2.3%, Asian/Asian British: Pakistani 1.9%, mixed 2%, other 3.7% (2011 est.) Languages: English note: the following are recognized regional languages: Scots (about 30% of the population of Scotland), Scottish Gaelic (about 60,000 speakers in Scotland), Welsh (about 20% of the population of Wales), Irish (about 10% of the population of Northern Ireland), Cornish (some 2,000 to 3,000 people in Cornwall) (2012 est.) Religions: Christian (includes Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 59.5%, Muslim 4.4%, Hindu 1.3%, other 2%, unspecified 7.2%, none 25.7% (2011 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 17.63% (male 5,943,435/female 5,651,780) 15-24 years: 11.49% (male 3,860,435/female 3,692,398) 25-54 years: 39.67% (male 13,339,965/female 12,747,598) 55-64 years: 12.73% (male 4,139,378/female 4,234,701) 65 years and over: 18.48% (2020 est.) (male 5,470,116/female 6,681,311) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 57.1 youth dependency ratio: 27.8 elderly dependency ratio: 29.3 potential support ratio: 3.4 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 40.6 years male: 39.6 years female: 41.7 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.53% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 10.79 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 9.07 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 3.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: the core of the population lies in and around London, with significant clusters found in central Britain around Manchester and Liverpool, in the Scottish lowlands between Edinburgh and Glasgow, southern Wales in and around Cardiff, and far eastern Northern Ireland centered on Belfast Urbanization: urban population: 84.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 9.426 million LONDON (capital), 2.750 million Manchester, 2.626 million Birmingham, 1.902 million West Yorkshire, 1.681 million Glasgow, 944,000 Southampton/Portsmouth (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 29 years (2018 est.) note: data represent England and Wales only Maternal mortality ratio: 7 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 3.82 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.27 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 81.94 years male: 79.95 years female: 84.04 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.63 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 76.1% (2010/12) 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: 10.2% (2019) Physicians density: 2.81 physicians/1,000 population (2018) Hospital bed density: 2.5 beds/1,000 population (2019) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 99.8% of population rural: 99.8% of population total: 99.8% of population unimproved: urban: 0.2% of population rural: 0.2% 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 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 the UK; as of 30 March 2022, the UK has reported a total of 20,986,175  cases of COVID-19 or 30,913.84 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 164,974 cumulative deaths or a rate of 243.02 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 March 2022, 77.39% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine; the US Department of Homeland Security has issued instructions requiring US passengers who have been in the UK to travel through select airports where the US Government has implemented enhanced screening procedures Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 27.8% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Child marriage: women married by age 18: 0.1% (2020 est.) Education expenditures: 5.2% of GDP (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 17 years male: 17 years female: 18 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 11.2% male: 13% female: 9.2% (2019 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: air pollution improved but remains a concern, particularly in the London region; soil pollution from pesticides and heavy metals; decline in marine and coastal habitats brought on by pressures from housing, tourism, and industry 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 Seals, 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: 10.53 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 379.02 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 49.16 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast Land use: agricultural land: 71% (2018 est.) arable land: 25.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 45.7% (2018 est.) forest: 11.9% (2018 est.) other: 17.1% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 84.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.8% 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.) 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 the UK; as of 30 March 2022, the UK has reported a total of 20,986,175  cases of COVID-19 or 30,913.84 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 164,974 cumulative deaths or a rate of 243.02 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 March 2022, 77.39% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine; the US Department of Homeland Security has issued instructions requiring US passengers who have been in the UK to travel through select airports where the US Government has implemented enhanced screening procedures Waste and recycling: municipal 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.) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 6.227 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 1.01 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 1.183 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 147 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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) Government type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm Capital: name: London geographic coordinates: 51 30 N, 0 05 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 time zone note: the time statements apply to the United Kingdom proper, not to its crown dependencies or overseas territories etymology: the name derives from the Roman settlement of Londinium, established on the current site of London around A.D. 43; the original meaning of the name is uncertain Administrative divisions: England: 24 two-tier counties, 32 London boroughs and 1 City of London or Greater London, 36 metropolitan districts, 59 unitary authorities (including 4 single-tier counties*); two-tier counties: Cambridgeshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Warwickshire, West Sussex, Worcestershire London boroughs and City of London or Greater London: Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, City of London, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Westminster metropolitan districts: Barnsley, Birmingham, Bolton, Bradford, Bury, Calderdale, Coventry, Doncaster, Dudley, Gateshead, Kirklees, Knowlsey, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Oldham, Rochdale, Rotherham, Salford, Sandwell, Sefton, Sheffield, Solihull, South Tyneside, St. Helens, Stockport, Sunderland, Tameside, Trafford, Wakefield, Walsall, Wigan, Wirral, Wolverhampton unitary authorities: Bath and North East Somerset; Bedford; Blackburn with Darwen; Blackpool; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole; Bracknell Forest; Brighton and Hove; City of Bristol; Buckinghamshire; Central Bedfordshire; Cheshire East; Cheshire West and Chester; Cornwall; Darlington; Derby; Dorset; Durham County*; East Riding of Yorkshire; Halton; Hartlepool; Herefordshire*; Isle of Wight*; Isles of Scilly; City of Kingston upon Hull; Leicester; Luton; Medway; Middlesbrough; Milton Keynes; North East Lincolnshire; North Lincolnshire; North Northamptonshire; North Somerset; Northumberland*; Nottingham; Peterborough; Plymouth; Portsmouth; Reading; Redcar and Cleveland; Rutland; Shropshire; Slough; South Gloucestershire; Southampton; Southend-on-Sea; Stockton-on-Tees; Stoke-on-Trent; Swindon; Telford and Wrekin; Thurrock; Torbay; Warrington; West Berkshire; West Northamptonshire; Wiltshire; Windsor and Maidenhead; Wokingham; York Northern Ireland: 5 borough councils, 4 district councils, 2 city councils; borough councils: Antrim and Newtownabbey; Ards and North Down; Armagh City, Banbridge, and Craigavon; Causeway Coast and Glens; Mid and East Antrim district councils: Derry City and Strabane; Fermanagh and Omagh; Mid Ulster; Newry, Murne, and Down city councils: Belfast; Lisburn and Castlereagh Scotland: 32 council areas; council areas: Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and Bute, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee City, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, City of Edinburgh, Eilean Siar (Western Isles), Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow City, Highland, Inverclyde, Midlothian, Moray, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Orkney Islands, Perth and Kinross, Renfrewshire, Shetland Islands, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, The Scottish Borders, West Dunbartonshire, West Lothian Wales: 22 unitary authorities; unitary authorities: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea, The Vale of Glamorgan, Torfaen, WrexhamEngland: 24 two-tier counties, 32 London boroughs and 1 City of London or Greater London, 36 metropolitan districts, 59 unitary authorities (including 4 single-tier counties*);two-tier counties: Cambridgeshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Warwickshire, West Sussex, WorcestershireLondon boroughs and City of London or Greater London: Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, City of London, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Westminstermetropolitan districts: Barnsley, Birmingham, Bolton, Bradford, Bury, Calderdale, Coventry, Doncaster, Dudley, Gateshead, Kirklees, Knowlsey, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Oldham, Rochdale, Rotherham, Salford, Sandwell, Sefton, Sheffield, Solihull, South Tyneside, St. Helens, Stockport, Sunderland, Tameside, Trafford, Wakefield, Walsall, Wigan, Wirral, Wolverhamptonunitary authorities: Bath and North East Somerset; Bedford; Blackburn with Darwen; Blackpool; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole; Bracknell Forest; Brighton and Hove; City of Bristol; Buckinghamshire; Central Bedfordshire; Cheshire East; Cheshire West and Chester; Cornwall; Darlington; Derby; Dorset; Durham County*; East Riding of Yorkshire; Halton; Hartlepool; Herefordshire*; Isle of Wight*; Isles of Scilly; City of Kingston upon Hull; Leicester; Luton; Medway; Middlesbrough; Milton Keynes; North East Lincolnshire; North Lincolnshire; North Northamptonshire; North Somerset; Northumberland*; Nottingham; Peterborough; Plymouth; Portsmouth; Reading; Redcar and Cleveland; Rutland; Shropshire; Slough; South Gloucestershire; Southampton; Southend-on-Sea; Stockton-on-Tees; Stoke-on-Trent; Swindon; Telford and Wrekin; Thurrock; Torbay; Warrington; West Berkshire; West Northamptonshire; Wiltshire; Windsor and Maidenhead; Wokingham; YorkNorthern Ireland: 5 borough councils, 4 district councils, 2 city councils;borough councils: Antrim and Newtownabbey; Ards and North Down; Armagh City, Banbridge, and Craigavon; Causeway Coast and Glens; Mid and East Antrimdistrict councils: Derry City and Strabane; Fermanagh and Omagh; Mid Ulster; Newry, Murne, and Downcity councils: Belfast; Lisburn and CastlereaghScotland: 32 council areas;council areas: Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and Bute, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee City, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, City of Edinburgh, Eilean Siar (Western Isles), Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow City, Highland, Inverclyde, Midlothian, Moray, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Orkney Islands, Perth and Kinross, Renfrewshire, Shetland Islands, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, The Scottish Borders, West Dunbartonshire, West LothianWales: 22 unitary authorities;unitary authorities: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea, The Vale of Glamorgan, Torfaen, Wrexham Dependent areas: Anguilla; 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 Independence: no official date of independence: 927 (minor English kingdoms unite); 3 March 1284 (enactment of the Statute of Rhuddlan uniting England and Wales); 1536 (Act of Union formally incorporates England and Wales); 1 May 1707 (Acts of Union formally unite England, Scotland, and Wales as Great Britain); 1 January 1801 (Acts of Union formally unite Great Britain and Ireland as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland); 6 December 1921 (Anglo-Irish Treaty formalizes partition of Ireland; six counties remain part of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland); 12 April 1927 (Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act establishes current name of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) National holiday: the UK does not celebrate one particular national holiday Constitution: history: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice amendments: proposed as a bill for an Act of Parliament by the government, by the House of Commons, or by the House of Lords; passage requires agreement by both houses and by the monarch (Royal Assent); many previous, last in 2020 -  The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020, European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2020 (2021) Legal system: common law system; has nonbinding judicial review of Acts of Parliament under the Human Rights Act of 1998 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 the United Kingdom dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Heir Apparent Prince CHARLES (son of the queen, born 14 November 1948) head of government: Prime Minister Boris JOHNSON (Conservative) (since 24 July 2019) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually becomes the prime minister; election last held on 12 December 2019 (next to be held by 2 May 2024) note: in addition to serving as the UK head of state, the British sovereign is the constitutional monarch for 15 additional Commonwealth countries (these 16 states are each referred to as a Commonwealth realm) Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament consists of: House of Lords (membership not fixed; as of October 2021, 787 lords were eligible to participate in the work of the House of Lords - 673 life peers, 88 hereditary peers, and 26 clergy; members are appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister and non-party political members recommended by the House of Lords Appointments Commission); note - House of Lords total does not include ineligible members or members on leave of absence House of Commons (650 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority popular vote to serve 5-year terms unless the House is dissolved earlier) elections: House of Lords - no elections; note - in 1999, as provided by the House of Lords Act, elections were held in the House of Lords to determine the 92 hereditary peers who would remain; elections held only as vacancies in the hereditary peerage arise) House of Commons - last held on 12 December 2019 (next to be held by 2 May 2024) election results: House of Lords - composition - men 579, women 217, percent of women 27.3% House of Commons - percent of vote by party - Conservative 43.6%, Labor 32.1%, Lib Dems 11.6%, SNP 3.9%, Greens 2.7%, Brexit Party 2.0%, other 4.1%; seats by party - Conservative 365, Labor 202, SNP 48, Lib Dems 11, DUP 8, Sinn Fein 7, Plaid Cymru 4, other 9; composition - men 430, women 220, percent of women 34%; total Parliament percent of women 30.2% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of 12 justices, including the court president and deputy president); note - the Supreme Court was established by the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 and implemented in 2009, replacing the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords as the highest court in the United Kingdom judge selection and term of office: judge candidates selected by an independent committee of several judicial commissions, followed by their recommendations to the prime minister, and appointed by the monarch; justices serve for life subordinate courts: England and Wales: Court of Appeal (civil and criminal divisions); High Court; Crown Court; County Courts; Magistrates' Courts; Scotland: Court of Sessions; Sheriff Courts; High Court of Justiciary; tribunals; Northern Ireland: Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland; High Court; county courts; magistrates' courts; specialized tribunals Political parties and leaders: Alliance Party (Northern Ireland) [Naomi LONG]  Conservative and Unionist Party [Boris JOHNSON] Democratic Unionist Party or DUP (Northern Ireland) [Jeffrey DONALDSON] Green Party of England and Wales or Greens [Sian BERRY and Jonathan BARTLEY] Labor (Labour) Party [Sir Keir STARMER] Liberal Democrats (Lib Dems) [Ed Davey] Party of Wales (Plaid Cymru) [Adam PRICE] Scottish National Party or SNP [Nicola STURGEON] Sinn Fein (Northern Ireland) [Mary Lou MCDONALD] Social Democratic and Labor Party or SDLP (Northern Ireland) [Colum EASTWOOD] Ulster Unionist Party or UUP (Northern Ireland) [Robin SWANN] UK Independence Party or UKIP [Pat MOUNTAIN, interim leader] International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, C, CBSS (observer), CD, CDB, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNMISS, UNRWA, UN Security Council (permanent), UNSOM, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Karen Elizabeth PIERCE (since 8 April 2020) chancery: 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 588-6500 FAX: [1] (202) 588-7870 email address and website: britishembassyenquiries@gmail.com https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-washington consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco consulate(s): Orlando (FL), San Juan (Puerto Rico) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Philip T. REEKER (since 1 August 2021) embassy: 33 Nine Elms Lane, London, SW11 7US mailing address: 8400 London Place, Washington DC  20521-8400 telephone: [44] (0) 20-7499-9000 FAX: [44] (0) 20-7891-3845 email address and website: SCSLondon@state.gov https://uk.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Belfast, Edinburgh Flag description: blue field with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) edged in white superimposed on the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland), which is superimposed on the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland); properly known as the Union Flag, but commonly called the Union Jack; the design and colors (especially the Blue Ensign) have been the basis for a number of other flags including other Commonwealth countries and their constituent states or provinces, and British overseas territories National symbol(s): lion (Britain in general); lion, Tudor rose, oak (England); lion, unicorn, thistle (Scotland); dragon, daffodil, leek (Wales); shamrock, flax (Northern Ireland); national colors: red, white, blue (Britain in general); red, white (England); blue, white (Scotland); red, white, green (Wales) National anthem: name: God Save the Queen lyrics/music: unknown note: in use since 1745; by tradition, the song serves as both the national and royal anthem of the UK; it is known as either "God Save the Queen" or "God Save the King," depending on the gender of the reigning monarch; it also serves as the royal anthem of many Commonwealth nations National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 33 (28 cultural, 4 natural, 1 mixed); note - includes one site in Bermuda selected World Heritage Site locales: Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast (n), Ironbridge Gorge (c), Stonehenge, Avebury, and Associated Sites (c), Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd (c), Blenheim Palace (c), City of Bath (c), Tower of London (c), St Kilda (m), Maritime Greenwich (c), Old and New Towns of Edinburgh (c), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (c), The English Lake District (c) Topic: Economy Economic overview: The UK, a leading trading power and financial center, is the third largest economy in Europe after Germany and France. Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanized, and efficient by European standards, producing about 60% of food needs with less than 2% of the labor force. The UK has large coal, natural gas, and oil resources, but its oil and natural gas reserves are declining; the UK has been a net importer of energy since 2005. Services, particularly banking, insurance, and business services, are key drivers of British GDP growth. Manufacturing, meanwhile, has declined in importance but still accounts for about 10% of economic output. In 2008, the global financial crisis hit the economy particularly hard, due to the importance of its financial sector. Falling home prices, high consumer debt, and the global economic slowdown compounded the UK’s economic problems, pushing the economy into recession in the latter half of 2008 and prompting the then BROWN (Labour) government to implement a number of measures to stimulate the economy and stabilize the financial markets. Facing burgeoning public deficits and debt levels, in 2010 the then CAMERON-led coalition government (between Conservatives and Liberal Democrats) initiated an austerity program, which has continued under the Conservative government. However, the deficit still remains one of the highest in the G7, standing at 3.6% of GDP as of 2017, and the UK has pledged to lower its corporation tax from 20% to 17% by 2020. The UK had a debt burden of 90.4% GDP at the end of 2017. The UK economy has begun to slow since the referendum vote to leave the EU in June 2016. A sustained depreciation of the British pound has increased consumer and producer prices, weighing on consumer spending without spurring a meaningful increase in exports. The UK has an extensive trade relationship with other EU members through its single market membership, and economic observers have warned the exit will jeopardize its position as the central location for European financial services. The UK is slated to leave the EU at the end of January 2020.The UK, a leading trading power and financial center, is the third largest economy in Europe after Germany and France. Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanized, and efficient by European standards, producing about 60% of food needs with less than 2% of the labor force. The UK has large coal, natural gas, and oil resources, but its oil and natural gas reserves are declining; the UK has been a net importer of energy since 2005. Services, particularly banking, insurance, and business services, are key drivers of British GDP growth. Manufacturing, meanwhile, has declined in importance but still accounts for about 10% of economic output.In 2008, the global financial crisis hit the economy particularly hard, due to the importance of its financial sector. Falling home prices, high consumer debt, and the global economic slowdown compounded the UK’s economic problems, pushing the economy into recession in the latter half of 2008 and prompting the then BROWN (Labour) government to implement a number of measures to stimulate the economy and stabilize the financial markets. Facing burgeoning public deficits and debt levels, in 2010 the then CAMERON-led coalition government (between Conservatives and Liberal Democrats) initiated an austerity program, which has continued under the Conservative government. However, the deficit still remains one of the highest in the G7, standing at 3.6% of GDP as of 2017, and the UK has pledged to lower its corporation tax from 20% to 17% by 2020. The UK had a debt burden of 90.4% GDP at the end of 2017.The UK economy has begun to slow since the referendum vote to leave the EU in June 2016. A sustained depreciation of the British pound has increased consumer and producer prices, weighing on consumer spending without spurring a meaningful increase in exports. The UK has an extensive trade relationship with other EU members through its single market membership, and economic observers have warned the exit will jeopardize its position as the central location for European financial services. The UK is slated to leave the EU at the end of January 2020. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $2,797,980,000,000 (2020 est.) $3,101,640,000,000 (2019 est.) $3,059,690,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 1.26% (2019 est.) 1.25% (2018 est.) 1.74% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $41,600 (2020 est.) $46,400 (2019 est.) $46,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $2,827,918,000,000 (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (2019 est.) 2.4% (2018 est.) 2.6% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: AA- (2020) Moody's rating: Aaa (2020) Standard & Poors rating: AA (2016) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0.7% (2017 est.) industry: 20.2% (2017 est.) services: 79.2% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 65.8% (2017 est.) government consumption: 18.3% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 17.2% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.2% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 30.2% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -31.5% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: wheat, milk, barley, sugar beet, potatoes, rapeseed, poultry, oats, pork, beef Industries: machine tools, electric power equipment, automation equipment, railroad equipment, shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, electronics and communications equipment, metals, chemicals, coal, petroleum, paper and paper products, food processing, textiles, clothing, other consumer goods Industrial production growth rate: 3.4% (2017 est.) Labor force: 35.412 million (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1.3% industry: 15.2% services: 83.5% (2014 est.) Unemployment rate: 3.17% (2019 est.) 2.51% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 11.2% male: 13% female: 9.2% (2019 est.) Population below poverty line: 18.6% (2017 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 34.8 (2016 est.) 33.4 (2010) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.7% highest 10%: 31.1% (2012) Budget: revenues: 1.028 trillion (2017 est.) expenditures: 1.079 trillion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -1.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 87.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 87.9% 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: 39.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: 6 April - 5 April Current account balance: -$121.921 billion (2019 est.) -$104.927 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $741.95 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $879.92 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $882.65 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: United States 15%, Germany 10%, China 7%, Netherlands 7%, France 7%, Ireland 6% (2019) Exports - commodities: cars, gas turbines, gold, crude petroleum, packaged medicines (2019) Imports: $752.77 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $914.96 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $916.4 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Germany 13%, China 10%, United States 8%, Netherlands 7%, France 6%, Belgium 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: gold, cars, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $150.8 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $129.6 billion (31 December 2015 est.) Debt - external: $8,721,590,000,000 (2019 est.) $8,696,559,000,000 (2018 est.) Exchange rates: British pounds (GBP) per US dollar - 0.7836 (2017 est.) 0.738 (2016 est.) 0.738 (2015 est.) 0.607 (2014 est.) 0.6391 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 318.2 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 309.2 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 2.153 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 19.7 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 97.06 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 50% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 9% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 39% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 1 million bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 710,600 bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - imports: 907,100 bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 2.069 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 1.29 million bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 1.584 million bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 613,800 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 907,500 bbl/day (2017 est.) Natural gas - production: 42.11 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 79.17 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 11.27 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 47 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 176 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 32.037 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 80.967 million (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119.9 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: UK’s telecom market remains one of the largest in Europe, characterized by competition, affordable pricing, and its technologically advanced systems; mobile penetration above the EU average; government to invest in infrastructure and 5G technologies with ambition for a fully-fibered nation by 2033; operators expanded the reach of 5G services in 2020; super-fast broadband available to about 95% of customers; London is developing smart city technology, in collaboration with private, tech, and academic sectors; in 2020 the UK Government banned Chinese company Huawei's 5G equipment from the UK's 5G networks following advisement from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC); importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: equal mix of buried cables, microwave radio relay, and fiber-optic systems; fixed-line over 47 per 100 and mobile-cellular over 116 per 100 (2020) international: country code - 44; Landing points for the GTT Atlantic, Scotland-Northern Ireland -1, & -2, Lanis 1,-2, &-3, Sirius North, BT-MT-1, SHEFA-2, BT Highlands and Islands Submarine Cable System, Northern Lights, FARICE-1, Celtic Norse, Tampnet Offshore FOC Network, England Cable, CC-2, E-LLan, Sirius South, ESAT -1 & -2, Rockabill, Geo-Eirgrid, UK-Netherlands-14, Circle North & South, Ulysses2, Conceto, Farland North, Pan European Crossing, Solas, Swansea-Bream, GTT Express, Tata TGN-Atlantic & -Western Europe, Apollo, EIG, Glo-1, TAT-14, Yellow, Celtic, FLAG Atlantic-1, FEA, Isle of Scilly Cable, UK-Channel Islands-8 and SeaMeWe-3 submarine cables providing links throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia, and US; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (7 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), and 1 Eutelsat; at least 8 large 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 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: public service broadcaster, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world; BBC operates multiple TV networks with regional and local TV service; a mixed system of public and commercial TV broadcasters along with satellite and cable systems provide access to hundreds of TV stations throughout the world; BBC operates multiple national, regional, and local radio networks with multiple transmission sites; a large number of commercial radio stations, as well as satellite radio services are available (2018) Internet country code: .uk Internet users: total: 63,854,528 (2020 est.) percent of population: 95% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 27,330,297 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 40 (2020 est.) Communications - note: note 1: the British Library claims to be the largest library in the world with well over 150 million items and in most known languages; it receives copies of all books produced in the UK or Ireland, as well as a significant proportion of overseas titles distributed in the UK; in addition to books (print and digital), holdings include: journals, manuscripts, newspapers, magazines, sound and music recordings, videos, maps, prints, patents, and drawings note 2: on 1 May 1840, the United Kingdom led the world with the introduction of postage stamps; the Austrian Empire had examined the idea of an "adhesive tax postmark" for the prepayment of postage in 1835; while the suggestion was reviewed in detail, it was rejected for the time being; other countries (including Austria) soon followed the UK's example with their own postage stamps; by the 1860s, most countries were issuing stamps; originally, stamps had to be cut from sheets; the UK issued the first postage stamps with perforations in 1854 Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 20 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 794 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 165,388,610 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 6,198,370,000 (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: G Airports: total: 460 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 271 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 29 1,524 to 2,437 m: 89 914 to 1,523 m: 80 under 914 m: 66 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 189 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 26 under 914 m: 160 (2021) Heliports: 9 (2021) Pipelines: 502 km condensate, 9 km condensate/gas, 28603 km gas, 59 km liquid petroleum gas, 5256 km oil, 175 km oil/gas/water, 4919 km refined products, 255 km water (2013) Railways: total: 16,837 km (2015) standard gauge: 16,534 km (2015) 1.435-m gauge (5,357 km electrified) broad gauge: 303 km (2015) 1.600-m gauge (in Northern Ireland) Roadways: total: 394,428 km (2009) paved: 394,428 km (2009) (includes 3,519 km of expressways) Waterways: 3,200 km (2009) (620 km used for commerce) Merchant marine: total: 1,249 by type: bulk carrier 140, container ship 59, general cargo 109, oil tanker 84, other 857 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Dover, Felixstowe, Immingham, Liverpool, London, Southampton, Teesport (England); Forth Ports (Scotland); Milford Haven (Wales) oil terminal(s): Fawley Marine terminal, Liverpool Bay terminal (England); Braefoot Bay terminal, Finnart oil terminal, Hound Point terminal (Scotland) container port(s) (TEUs): Felixstowe (3,584,000), London (2,790,000), Southampton (1,924,847) (2019) LNG terminal(s) (import): Isle of Grain, Milford Haven, Teesside Transportation - note: begun in 1988 and completed in 1994, the Channel Tunnel (nicknamed the Chunnel) is a 50.5-km (31.4-mi) rail tunnel beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover that runs from Folkestone, Kent, England to Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais in northern France; it is the only fixed link between the island of Great Britain and mainland Europe Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: British Army, Royal Navy (includes Royal Marines), Royal Air Force (2021) note - in 2021 the UK formed a joint service Space Command staffed by Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel, as well as civilians and key members of the commercial sector to manage space operations, training, and capabilities; in 2019, the UK formed the Strategic Command (formerly Joint Forces Command) to develop and manage the British military's medical services, training and education, defense intelligence, and information systems across the land, sea, air, space, and cyber domains; national-level special forces (UK Special Forces, UKSF) also fall under Strategic Command; in addition, the command manages joint overseas operations Military expenditures: 2.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 2.3% of GDP (2020) 2.1% of GDP (2019) (approximately $68.4 billion) 2.1% of GDP (2018) (approximately $67.8 billion) 2.1% of GDP (2017) (approximately $65.9 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 155,000 total active troops (85,000 Army, including about 4,000 Gurkhas; 35,000 Navy, including about 7,000 Royal Marines; 35,000 Air Force) (2021) note - as of 2021, the military also had approximately 40-45,000 reserves on active duty Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the British military is comprised of a mix of domestically-produced and imported Western weapons systems; the US is the leading supplier of armaments to the UK since 2010; the UK defense industry is capable of producing a wide variety of air, land, and sea weapons systems and is one of the world's top weapons suppliers (2021) Military service age and obligation: slight variations by service, but generally 16-36 years of age for enlisted (with parental consent under 18) and 18-29 for officers; minimum length of service 4 years; women serve in military services including ground combat roles; conscription abolished in 1963 (2021) note - as of 2019, women made up about 11% of the military's full-time personnel Military deployments: approximately 1,000 Brunei; approximately 400 Canada (BATUS); approximately 2,500 Cyprus (250 for UNFICYP); approximately 900 Estonia (NATO); approximately 1,200 Falkland Islands; approximately 200 Germany; 570 Gibraltar; approximately 1,400 Middle East (including Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, UAE; coalition against ISIS; NATO); up to 350 Kenya (BATUK); approximately 350 Mali (EUTM, MINUSMA, and Operation Barkhane); 150 Poland (NATO) (2022) note - NATO troop deployment numbers in eastern Europe are as of February 2022; in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries, including the UK, have sent additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe Military - note: the UK is a member of NATO and was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949 in 2010, France and the UK signed a declaration on defense and security cooperation that included greater military interoperability and a Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF), a deployable, combined Anglo-French military force for use in a wide range of crisis scenarios, up to and including high intensity combat operations; the CJEF has no standing forces, but would be available at short notice for UK-French bilateral, NATO, EU, UN, or other operations; combined training exercises began in 2011; as of 2020, the CJEF was assessed as having full operating capacity with the ability to rapidly deploy over 10,000 personnel capable of high intensity operations, peacekeeping, disaster relief, and humanitarian assistance in 2014, the UK led the formation of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), a pool of high-readiness military forces from Baltic and Scandinavian countries able to respond to a wide range of contingencies both in peacetime and in times of crisis or conflict; its principal geographic area of interest is the High North, North Atlantic, and Baltic Sea regions, where the JEF can complement national capabilities or NATO’s deterrence posture, although it is designed to be flexible and prepared to respond to humanitarian crises further afield; the JEF consists of 10 countries (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the UK) and was declared operational in 2018; most of the forces in the pool are British, and the UK provides the most rapidly deployable units as well as the command and control elementsin 2010, France and the UK signed a declaration on defense and security cooperation that included greater military interoperability and a Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF), a deployable, combined Anglo-French military force for use in a wide range of crisis scenarios, up to and including high intensity combat operations; the CJEF has no standing forces, but would be available at short notice for UK-French bilateral, NATO, EU, UN, or other operations; combined training exercises began in 2011; as of 2020, the CJEF was assessed as having full operating capacity with the ability to rapidly deploy over 10,000 personnel capable of high intensity operations, peacekeeping, disaster relief, and humanitarian assistance in 2014, the UK led the formation of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), a pool of high-readiness military forces from Baltic and Scandinavian countries able to respond to a wide range of contingencies both in peacetime and in times of crisis or conflict; its principal geographic area of interest is the High North, North Atlantic, and Baltic Sea regions, where the JEF can complement national capabilities or NATO’s deterrence posture, although it is designed to be flexible and prepared to respond to humanitarian crises further afield; the JEF consists of 10 countries (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the UK) and was declared operational in 2018; most of the forces in the pool are British, and the UK provides the most rapidly deployable units as well as the command and control elements Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Continuity Irish Republican Army; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); New Irish Republican Army 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 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement between the UK and Spain; the Government of Gibraltar insisted on equal participation in talks between the two countries; Spain disapproved of UK plans to grant Gibraltar greater autonomy; Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago (British Indian Ocean Territory); in 2001, the former inhabitants of the archipelago, evicted 1967 - 1973, were granted UK citizenship and the right of return, followed by Orders in Council in 2004 that banned rehabitation, a High Court ruling reversed the ban, a Court of Appeal refusal to hear the case, and a Law Lords' decision in 2008 denied the right of return; in addition, the UK created the world's largest marine protection area around the Chagos islands prohibiting the extraction of any natural resources therein; UK rejects sovereignty talks requested by Argentina, which still claims the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; territorial claim in Antarctica (British Antarctic Territory) overlaps Argentine claim and partially overlaps Chilean claim; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nmin 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement between the UK and Spain; the Government of Gibraltar insisted on equal participation in talks between the two countries; Spain disapproved of UK plans to grant Gibraltar greater autonomy; Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago (British Indian Ocean Territory); in 2001, the former inhabitants of the archipelago, evicted 1967 - 1973, were granted UK citizenship and the right of return, followed by Orders in Council in 2004 that banned rehabitation, a High Court ruling reversed the ban, a Court of Appeal refusal to hear the case, and a Law Lords' decision in 2008 denied the right of return; in addition, the UK created the world's largest marine protection area around the Chagos islands prohibiting the extraction of any natural resources therein; UK rejects sovereignty talks requested by Argentina, which still claims the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; territorial claim in Antarctica (British Antarctic Territory) overlaps Argentine claim and partially overlaps Chilean claim; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 21,011 (Iran), 14,503 (Eritrea), 11,251 (Sudan), 11,412 (Syria), 9,469 (Afghanistan), 8,357 (Pakistan), 6,933 (Iraq), 5,200 (Sri Lanka) (2020) stateless persons: 3,968 (mid-year 2021) Illicit drugs: consumer and transit country for illicit drugs; cocaine and heroin consumption rates among Europe’s highest; criminal organizations engage in domestic drug trafficking and financial crimes; drug use remains linked to serious violence; major source of precursor chemicals used in the production of illicit narcoticsconsumer and transit country for illicit drugs; cocaine and heroin consumption rates among Europe’s highest; criminal organizations engage in domestic drug trafficking and financial crimes; drug use remains linked to serious violence; major source of precursor chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics

20220601

countries-navassa-island

Topic: Photos of Navassa Island Topic: Introduction Background: This uninhabited island was claimed by the US in 1857 for its guano. Mining took place between 1865 and 1898. The lighthouse, built in 1917, was shut down in 1996 and administration of Navassa Island transferred from the US Coast Guard to the Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs. A 1998 scientific expedition to the island described it as a "unique preserve of Caribbean biodiversity." The following year it became a National Wildlife Refuge and annual scientific expeditions have continued.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, 30 nm west of Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti Geographic coordinates: 18 25 N, 75 02 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 5 sq km land: 5.4 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: about nine times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 8 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: marine, tropical Terrain: raised flat to undulating coral and limestone plateau; ringed by vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 m high) Elevation: highest point: 200 m NNW of lighthouse 85 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m Natural resources: guano (mining discontinued in 1898) Land use: other: 100% (2018 est.) Natural hazards: hurricanes Geography - note: strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock with numerous solution holes (limestone sinkholes) but with enough grassland to support goat herds; dense stands of fig trees, scattered cactus Map description: Navassa Island map shows some features on this island in the Caribbean Sea.Navassa Island map shows some features on this island in the Caribbean Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: uninhabited; transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the island 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 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 Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: some coral bleaching Climate: marine, tropical Land use: other: 100% (2018 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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" Dependency status: unorganized, unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service, US Department of the Interior from the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge in Boqueron, Puerto Rico; in September 1996, the Coast Guard ceased operations and maintenance of the Navassa Island Light, a 46-meter-tall lighthouse on the southern side of the island; Haiti has claimed the island since the 19th century Legal system: the laws of the US apply where applicable Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (territory of the US) Flag description: the flag of the US is used Topic: Economy Economic overview: Subsistence fishing and commercial trawling occur within refuge waters. Topic: Transportation Ports and terminals: none; offshore anchorage only Topic: Military and Security Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: claimed by Haiti, source of subsistence fishingclaimed by Haiti, source of subsistence fishing

20220601

countries-cyprus

Topic: Photos of Cyprus Topic: Introduction Background: A former British colony, Cyprus became independent in 1960 following years of resistance to British rule. Tensions between the Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority communities came to a head in December 1963, when violence broke out in the capital of Nicosia. Despite the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadic intercommunal violence continued, forcing most Turkish Cypriots into enclaves throughout the island. In 1974, a Greek Government-sponsored attempt to overthrow the elected president of Cyprus was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot administered area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC"), but it is recognized only by Turkey. An UN-mediated agreement, the Annan Plan, failed to win approval by both communities in 2004. In February 2014, after a hiatus of nearly two years, the leaders of the two communities resumed formal discussions under UN auspices aimed at reuniting the divided island. The most recent round of negotiations to reunify the island were suspended in July 2017 after failure to achieve a breakthrough. The entire island entered the EU on 1 May 2004, although the EU acquis - the body of common rights and obligations - applies only to the areas under the internationally recognized government, and is suspended in the "TRNC." However, individual Turkish Cypriots able to document their eligibility for Republic of Cyprus citizenship legally enjoy the same rights accorded to other citizens of EU states.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey; note - Cyprus views itself as part of Europe; geopolitically, it can be classified as falling within Europe, the Middle East, or both Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 33 00 E Map references: Middle East Area: total: 9,251 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in north Cyprus) land: 9,241 sq km water: 10 sq km Area - comparative: about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut Land boundaries: total: 156 km border sovereign base areas: Akrotiri 48 km; Dhekelia 108 km Coastline: 648 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation Climate: temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters Terrain: central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast Elevation: highest point: Mount Olympus 1,951 m lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m mean elevation: 91 m Natural resources: copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment Land use: agricultural land: 13.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 9.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 3.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.4% (2018 est.) forest: 18.8% (2018 est.) other: 67.8% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 460 sq km (2012) Population distribution: population concentrated in central Nicosia and in the major cities of the south: Paphos, Limassol, and Larnaca Natural hazards: moderate earthquake activity; droughts Geography - note: the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and Sardinia); several small Cypriot enclaves exist within the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area Map description: Cyprus map showing the island country in the Mediterranean Sea.Cyprus map showing the island country in the Mediterranean Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 1,295,102 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Cypriot(s) adjective: Cypriot Ethnic groups: Greek 98.8%, other 1% (includes Maronite, Armenian, Turkish-Cypriot), unspecified 0.2% (2011 est.) note: data represent only the Greek-Cypriot citizens in the Republic of Cyprus Languages: Greek (official) 80.9%, Turkish (official) 0.2%, English 4.1%, Romanian 2.9%, Russian 2.5%, Bulgarian 2.2%, Arabic 1.2%, Filipino 1.1%, other 4.3%, unspecified 0.6%; note - data represent only the Republic of Cyprus (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): Το Παγκόσμιο Βιβλίο Δεδομένων, η απαραίτητη πηγή βασικών πληροφοριών. (Greek) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Orthodox Christian 89.1%, Roman Catholic 2.9%, Protestant/Anglican 2%, Muslim 1.8%, Buddhist 1%, other (includes Maronite, Armenian Church, Hindu) 1.4%, unknown 1.1%, none/atheist 0.6% (2011 est.) note: data represent only the government-controlled area of Cyprus Age structure: 0-14 years: 15.69% (male 102,095/female 96,676) 15-24 years: 12.29% (male 84,832/female 70,879) 25-54 years: 47.12% (male 316,710/female 280,167) 55-64 years: 11.92% (male 72,476/female 78,511) 65 years and over: 12.97% (2020 est.) (male 71,053/female 93,277) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 44.9 youth dependency ratio: 24 elderly dependency ratio: 20.9 potential support ratio: 4.8 (2020 est.) note: data represent the whole country Median age: total: 37.9 years male: 36.7 years female: 39.4 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 1.06% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 10.57 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 6.94 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 6.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: population concentrated in central Nicosia and in the major cities of the south: Paphos, Limassol, and Larnaca Urbanization: urban population: 66.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.76% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 269,000 NICOSIA (capital) (2018) 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: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.78 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.55 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 29.2 years (2019 est.) note: data represent only government-controlled areas Maternal mortality ratio: 6 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 8.36 deaths/1,000 live births male: 10.22 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.74 years male: 76.93 years female: 82.68 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.48 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99.7% of population rural: 99.8% of population total: 99.8% of population unimproved: urban: 0.3% of population rural: 0.2% of population total: 0.2% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 7% (2019) Physicians density: 1.95 physicians/1,000 population (2016) Hospital bed density: 3.4 beds/1,000 population (2017) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 99.7% of population rural: 98.8% of population total: 99.4% of population unimproved: urban: 0.3% of population rural: 1.2% of population total: 0.6% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2017 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: (2017 est.) <1000 HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2017 est.) <100 Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 21.8% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 5.8% of GDP (2017) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.1% male: 99.5% female: 98.7% (2015) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 16 years male: 16 years female: 16 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 18.2% male: 24.4% female: 12.3% (2020 est.) People - note: demographic data for Cyprus represent the population of the government-controlled area and the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, unless otherwise indicated Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island's largest aquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution from sewage, industrial wastes, and pesticides; coastal degradation; erosion; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization 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, 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, 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: 16.79 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 6.63 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.86 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters Land use: agricultural land: 13.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 9.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 3.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.4% (2018 est.) forest: 18.8% (2018 est.) other: 67.8% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 66.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.76% 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: 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.) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 110 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 17 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 184 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 780 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus conventional short form: Cyprus local long form: Kypriaki Dimokratia/Kibris Cumhuriyeti local short form: Kypros/Kibris 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") Government type: Republic of Cyprus - presidential republic; "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (self-declared) - parliamentary republic with enhanced presidency note: a separation of the two main ethnic communities inhabiting the island began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this separation was further solidified when a Greek military-junta-supported coup attempt prompted the Turkish military intervention in July 1974 that gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the only internationally recognized government on the island; on 15 November 1983, then Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTAS declared independence and the formation of the "TRNC,” which is recognized only by Turkey Capital: name: Nicosia (Lefkosia/Lefkosa) geographic coordinates: 35 10 N, 33 22 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: a mispronunciation of the city's Greek name Lefkosia and its Turkish name Lefkosa, both of which mean "White City"; the Greek name may derive from the Greek phrase "leuke ousia" ("white estate") Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Ammochostos (Famagusta); (all but a small part located in the Turkish Cypriot community), Keryneia (Kyrenia; the only district located entirely in the Turkish Cypriot community), Larnaka (Larnaca; with a small part located in the Turkish Cypriot community), Lefkosia (Nicosia; a small part administered by Turkish Cypriots), Lemesos (Limassol), Pafos (Paphos); note - the 5 "districts" of the "TRNC" are Gazimagusa (Famagusta), Girne (Kyrenia), Guzelyurt (Morphou), Iskele (Trikomo), Lefkosa (Nicosia) Independence: 16 August 1960 (from the UK); note - Turkish Cypriots proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983, but these proclamations are recognized only by Turkey National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriots celebrate 15 November (1983) as "Republic Day" Constitution: history: ratified 16 August 1960; note - in 1963, the constitution was partly suspended as Turkish Cypriots withdrew from the government; Turkish-held territory in 1983 was declared the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC"); in 1985, the "TRNC" approved its own constitution amendments: constitution of the Republic of Cyprus - proposed by the House of Representatives; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership of the "Greek Community" and the "Turkish Community"; however, all seats of Turkish Cypriot members have remained vacant since 1964; amended many times, last in 2020; constitution of the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” - proposed by at least 10 members of the "Assembly of the Republic"; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total Assembly membership and approval by referendum; amended 2014 Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law and civil law with European law supremacy International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICC jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cyprus dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Nikos ANASTASIADIS (since 28 February 2013); the president is both chief of state and head of government; note - vice presidency reserved for a Turkish Cypriot, but vacant since 1974 because Turkish Cypriots do not participate in the Republic of Cyprus Government head of government: President Nikos ANASTASIADIS (since 28 February 2013) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note - under the 1960 constitution, 3 of the ministerial posts reserved for Turkish Cypriots, appointed by the vice president; positions currently filled by Greek Cypriots elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term; election last held on 28 January 2018 with a runoff on 4 February 2018 (next to be held in February 2023) election results: Nikos ANASTASIADIS reelected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Nikos ANASTASIADIS (DISY) 35.5%, Stavros MALAS (AKEL) 30.2%, Nicolas PAPADOPOULOS (DIKO) 25.7%, other 8.6%; percent of vote in second round - Nikos ANASTASIADIS 56%, Stavros MALAS 44% note: the first round of the TRNC presidential election, originally scheduled for 26 April 2020, was postponed to 11 October 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic; the second round was held on 18 October 2020; percent of vote in the first round - Ersin TATAR (UBP) 32.4%, Mustafa AKINCI (independent) 29.8%, Tufan ERHURMAN (RTP) 21.7%, Kudret OZERSAY (independent) 5.7%, Erhan ARIKLI (YDP) 5.4%, Serdar DENKTAS (independent) 4.2%, other 0.8%; percent of vote in the second round - Ersin TATAR 51.7%, Mustafa AKINCI 48.3% Legislative branch: description: area under government control: unicameral House of Representatives or Vouli Antiprosopon (80 seats; 56 assigned to Greek Cypriots, 24 to Turkish Cypriots, but only those assigned to Greek Cypriots are filled; members directly elected by both proportional representation and preferential vote; members serve 5-year terms); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: unicameral "Assembly of the Republic" or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members directly elected to 5-year terms by proportional representation system using a hybrid d'Hondt method with voter preferences for individual candidates elections: area under government control: last held on 30 May 2021 (next to be held in 2026); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: last held on 7 January 2018 (next to be held in 2023, unless early election called) election results: area under government control: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - DISY 27.8%, AKEL 22.3%, DIKO 11.3%, ELAM 6.8%, EDEK-SP 6.7%, DiPa 6.1%, Movement of Ecologists - Citizens' Cooperation 4.4%, other 14.6%; seats by party/coalition - DISY 17, AKEL 15, DIKO 9, ELAM 4, EDEK-SP 4, DiPa 4, Movement of Ecologists - Citizens' Cooperation 3; area administered by Turkish Cypriots: "Assembly of the Republic" - percent of vote by party - UBP 35.6%, CTP 20.9%, HP 17.1%, TDP 8.6%, DP 7.8%, YDP 7%, 3%; seats by party - UBP 21, CTP 12, HP 9, DP 3, TDP 3, YDP 2 Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of Cyprus (consists of 13 judges, including the court president); note - the highest court in the "TRNC" is the "Supreme Court" (consists of 8 "judges," including the "court president") judge selection and term of office: Republic of Cyprus Supreme Court judges appointed by the president of the republic upon the recommendation of the Supreme Court judges; judges can serve until age 68; "TRNC Supreme Court" judges appointed by the "Supreme Council of Judicature," a 12-member body of judges, the attorney general, appointees by the president of the "TRNC," and by the "Legislative Assembly," and members elected by the bar association; judge tenure NA subordinate courts: Republic of Cyprus district courts; Assize Courts; Administrative Court; specialized courts for issues relating to family, industrial disputes, the military, and rent control; "TRNC Assize Courts"; "district and family courts" Political parties and leaders: area under government control: Citizens' Alliance or SP [Giorgos LILLIKAS] Democratic Front or DiPa [Marios GAROYIAN] Democratic Party or DIKO [Nikolas PAPADOPOULOS] Democratic Rally or DISY [Averof NEOPHYTOU] Movement of Ecologists - Citizens' Alliance [Charalambos THEOPEMPTOU] Movement of Social Democrats EDEK [Marinos SIZOPOULOS] National Popular Front or ELAM [Christos CHRISTOU] Progressive Party of the Working People or AKEL (Communist party) [Stefanos STEFANOU] Solidarity Movement [Eleni THEOCHAROUS] area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Communal Democracy Party or TDP [Cemal OZYIGIT] Communal Liberation Party-New Forces or TKP-YG [Mehmet CAKICI] Cyprus Socialist Party or KSP [Mehmet BIRINCI] Democratic Party or DP [Serdar DENKTAS] National Democratic Party or NDP [Buray BUSKUVUTCU] National Unity Party or UBP [Faiz SUCUOGLU] New Cyprus Party or YKP [Murat KANATLI] People's Party or HP [Kudret OZERSAY] Rebirth Party or YDP [Erhan ARIKLI] Republican Turkish Party or CTP [Tufan ERHURMAN] United Cyprus Party or BKP [Izzet IZCAN] International organization participation: Australia Group, C, CD, CE, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, 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), MIGA, NAM, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marios LYSIOTIS (since 17 September 2018) chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772 FAX: [1] (202) 483-6710 email address and website: info@cyprusembassy.net https://www.cyprusembassy.net/ consulate(s) general: New York honorary consulate(s): Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Kirkland (WA), Los Angeles, New Orleans, San Francisco note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot community in the US is Mustafa LAKADAMYALI; office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC; telephone [1] (202) 887-6198 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Judith Gail GARBER (since 18 March 2019) embassy: Metochiou and Ploutarchou Street, 2407, Engomi, Nicosia mailing address: 5450 Nicosia Place, Washington DC  20521-5450 telephone: [357] (22) 393939 FAX: [357] (22) 780944 email address and website: ACSNicosia@state.gov https://cy.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: centered on a white field is a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the island has long been famous for its copper deposits) above two olive-green-colored, crossed olive branches; the branches symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities note: one of only two national flags that uses a map as a design element; the flag of Kosovo is the other note: the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" flag retains the white field of the Cyprus national flag but displays narrow horizontal red stripes positioned a small distance from the top and bottom edges between which are centered a red crescent and a red five-pointed star; the banner is modeled after the Turkish national flag but with the colors reversed National symbol(s): Cypriot mouflon (wild sheep), white dove; national colors: blue, white National anthem: name: "Ymnos eis tin Eleftherian" (Hymn to Liberty) lyrics/music: Dionysios SOLOMOS/Nikolaos MANTZAROS note: adopted 1960; Cyprus adopted the Greek national anthem as its own; the Turkish Cypriot community in Cyprus uses the anthem of Turkey National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Paphos, Painted Churches in the Troodos Region, Choirokoitia Topic: Economy Economic overview: The area of the Republic of Cyprus under government control has a market economy dominated by a services sector that accounts for more than four-fifths of GDP. Tourism, finance, shipping, and real estate have traditionally been the most important services. Cyprus has been a member of the EU since May 2004 and adopted the euro as its national currency in January 2008.   During the first five years of EU membership, the Cyprus economy grew at an average rate of about 4%, with unemployment between 2004 and 2008 averaging about 4%. However, the economy tipped into recession in 2009 as the ongoing global financial crisis and resulting low demand hit the tourism and construction sectors. An overextended banking sector with excessive exposure to Greek debt added to the contraction. Cyprus’ biggest two banks were among the largest holders of Greek bonds in Europe and had a substantial presence in Greece through bank branches and subsidiaries. Following numerous downgrades of its credit rating, Cyprus lost access to international capital markets in May 2011. In July 2012, Cyprus became the fifth euro-zone government to request an economic bailout program from the European Commission, European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund - known collectively as the "Troika."   Shortly after the election of President Nikos ANASTASIADES in February 2013, Cyprus reached an agreement with the Troika on a $13 billion bailout that triggered a two-week bank closure and the imposition of capital controls that remained partially in place until April 2015. Cyprus' two largest banks merged and the combined entity was recapitalized through conversion of some large bank deposits to shares and imposition of losses on bank bondholders. As with other EU countries, the Troika conditioned the bailout on passing financial and structural reforms and privatizing state-owned enterprises. Despite downsizing and restructuring, the Cypriot financial sector remains burdened by the largest stock of non-performing loans in the euro zone, equal to nearly half of all loans. Since the bailout, Cyprus has received positive appraisals by the Troika and outperformed fiscal targets but has struggled to overcome political opposition to bailout-mandated legislation, particularly regarding privatizations. The rate of non-performing loans (NPLs) is still very high at around 49%, and growth would accelerate if Cypriot banks could increase the pace of resolution of the NPLs.   In October 2013, a US-Israeli consortium completed preliminary appraisals of hydrocarbon deposits in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which estimated gross mean reserves of about 130 billion cubic meters. Though exploration continues in Cyprus’ EEZ, no additional commercially exploitable reserves have been identified. Developing offshore hydrocarbon resources remains a critical component of the government’s economic recovery efforts, but development has been delayed as a result of regional developments and disagreements about exploitation methods.The area of the Republic of Cyprus under government control has a market economy dominated by a services sector that accounts for more than four-fifths of GDP. Tourism, finance, shipping, and real estate have traditionally been the most important services. Cyprus has been a member of the EU since May 2004 and adopted the euro as its national currency in January 2008. During the first five years of EU membership, the Cyprus economy grew at an average rate of about 4%, with unemployment between 2004 and 2008 averaging about 4%. However, the economy tipped into recession in 2009 as the ongoing global financial crisis and resulting low demand hit the tourism and construction sectors. An overextended banking sector with excessive exposure to Greek debt added to the contraction. Cyprus’ biggest two banks were among the largest holders of Greek bonds in Europe and had a substantial presence in Greece through bank branches and subsidiaries. Following numerous downgrades of its credit rating, Cyprus lost access to international capital markets in May 2011. In July 2012, Cyprus became the fifth euro-zone government to request an economic bailout program from the European Commission, European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund - known collectively as the "Troika." Shortly after the election of President Nikos ANASTASIADES in February 2013, Cyprus reached an agreement with the Troika on a $13 billion bailout that triggered a two-week bank closure and the imposition of capital controls that remained partially in place until April 2015. Cyprus' two largest banks merged and the combined entity was recapitalized through conversion of some large bank deposits to shares and imposition of losses on bank bondholders. As with other EU countries, the Troika conditioned the bailout on passing financial and structural reforms and privatizing state-owned enterprises. Despite downsizing and restructuring, the Cypriot financial sector remains burdened by the largest stock of non-performing loans in the euro zone, equal to nearly half of all loans. Since the bailout, Cyprus has received positive appraisals by the Troika and outperformed fiscal targets but has struggled to overcome political opposition to bailout-mandated legislation, particularly regarding privatizations. The rate of non-performing loans (NPLs) is still very high at around 49%, and growth would accelerate if Cypriot banks could increase the pace of resolution of the NPLs. In October 2013, a US-Israeli consortium completed preliminary appraisals of hydrocarbon deposits in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which estimated gross mean reserves of about 130 billion cubic meters. Though exploration continues in Cyprus’ EEZ, no additional commercially exploitable reserves have been identified. Developing offshore hydrocarbon resources remains a critical component of the government’s economic recovery efforts, but development has been delayed as a result of regional developments and disagreements about exploitation methods. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $33.67 billion (2020 est.) $35.48 billion (2019 est.) $34.42 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 3.08% (2019 est.) 5.25% (2018 est.) 5.16% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $37,700 (2020 est.) $40,200 (2019 est.) $39,600 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $24.946 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.2% (2019 est.) 1.4% (2018 est.) 0.5% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BBB- (2018) Moody's rating: Ba2 (2018) Standard & Poors rating: BBB- (2018) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2% (2017 est.) industry: 12.5% (2017 est.) services: 85.5% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 68.7% (2017 est.) government consumption: 14.9% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 21.1% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: -0.7% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 63.8% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -67.8% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: milk, potatoes, pork, sheep milk, goat milk, barley, wheat, poultry, olives, tangerines/mandarins Industries: tourism, food and beverage processing, cement and gypsum, ship repair and refurbishment, textiles, light chemicals, metal products, wood, paper, stone and clay products Industrial production growth rate: 13.4% (2017 est.) Labor force: 416,000 (2019 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 3.8% industry: 15.2% services: 81% (2014 est.) Unemployment rate: 7.07% (2019 est.) 8.37% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 18.2% male: 24.4% female: 12.3% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 14.7% (2018 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 31.4 (2017 est.) 32.4 (2013 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 28.8% (2014) Budget: revenues: 8.663 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 8.275 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 1.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 97.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 106.6% 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 exclude 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 Taxes and other revenues: 39.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$1.578 billion (2019 est.) -$958 million (2018 est.) Exports: $16.1 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $17.92 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $19.02 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: India 9%, Greece 9%, Libya 8%, United Kingdom 7% (2019) Exports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, cheese, crude petroleum (2019) Imports: $17.58 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $18.2 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $18.6 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Greece 16%, Italy 10%, Turkey 8%, Russia 5%, Germany 5%, United Kingdom 5%, China 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, ships, cars, coal tar oil, packaged medicines (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $888.2 million (31 December 2017 est.) $817.7 million (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $213.19 billion (2019 est.) $231.885 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.) Economy of the area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Economy - overview: Even though the whole of the island is part of the EU, implementation of the EU "acquis communautaire" has been suspended in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, known locally as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC"), until political conditions permit the reunification of the island. The market-based economy of the "TRNC" is roughly one-fifth the size of its southern neighbor and is likewise dominated by the service sector with a large portion of the population employed by the government. In 2012 - the latest year for which data are available - the services sector, which includes the public sector, trade, tourism, and education, contributed 58.7% to economic output. In the same year, light manufacturing and agriculture contributed 2.7% and 6.2%, respectively. Manufacturing is limited mainly to food and beverages, furniture and fixtures, construction materials, metal and non-metal products, textiles and clothing. The "TRNC" maintains few economic ties with the Republic of Cyprus outside of trade in construction materials. Since its creation, the "TRNC" has heavily relied on financial assistance from Turkey, which supports the "TRNC" defense, telecommunications, water and postal services. The Turkish Lira is the preferred currency, though foreign currencies are widely accepted in business transactions. The "TRNC" remains vulnerable to the Turkish market and monetary policy because of its use of the Turkish Lira. The "TRNC" weathered the European financial crisis relatively unscathed - compared to the Republic of Cyprus - because of the lack of financial sector development, the health of the Turkish economy, and its separation from the rest of the island. The "TRNC" economy experienced growth estimated at 2.8% in 2013 and 2.3% in 2014 and is projected to grow 3.8% in 2015.; GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.829 billion (2007 est.); GDP - real growth rate: 2.3% (2014 est.); 2.8% (2013 est.); GDP - per capita: $11,700 (2007 est.); GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6.2%,; industry: 35.1%,; services: 58.7% (2012 est.); Labor force: 95,030 (2007 est.); Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 14.5%,; industry: 29%,; services: 56.5% (2004); Unemployment rate: 9.4% (2005 est.); Population below poverty line: %NA; Inflation rate: 11.4% (2006); Budget: revenues: $2.5 billion,; expenditures: $2.5 billion (2006); Agriculture - products: citrus fruit, dairy, potatoes, grapes, olives, poultry, lamb; Industries: foodstuffs, textiles, clothing, ship repair, clay, gypsum, copper, furniture; Industrial production growth rate: -0.3% (2007 est.); Electricity production: 998.9 million kWh (2005); Electricity consumption: 797.9 million kWh (2005); Exports: $68.1 million, f.o.b. (2007 est.); Export - commodities: citrus, dairy, potatoes, textiles; Export - partners: Turkey 40%; direct trade between the area administered by Turkish Cypriots and the area under government control remains limited; Imports: $1.2 billion, f.o.b. (2007 est.); Import - commodities: vehicles, fuel, cigarettes, food, minerals, chemicals, machinery; Import - partners: Turkey 60%; direct trade between the area administered by Turkish Cypriots and the area under government control remains limited; Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: NA; Debt - external: NA; Currency (code): Turkish new lira (YTL); Exchange rates: Turkish new lira per US dollar:; 1.9 (2013); 1.8 (2012); 1.668 (2011); 1.5026 (2010); 1.55 (2009); Economy - overview: Even though the whole of the island is part of the EU, implementation of the EU "acquis communautaire" has been suspended in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, known locally as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC"), until political conditions permit the reunification of the island. The market-based economy of the "TRNC" is roughly one-fifth the size of its southern neighbor and is likewise dominated by the service sector with a large portion of the population employed by the government. In 2012 - the latest year for which data are available - the services sector, which includes the public sector, trade, tourism, and education, contributed 58.7% to economic output. In the same year, light manufacturing and agriculture contributed 2.7% and 6.2%, respectively. Manufacturing is limited mainly to food and beverages, furniture and fixtures, construction materials, metal and non-metal products, textiles and clothing. The "TRNC" maintains few economic ties with the Republic of Cyprus outside of trade in construction materials. Since its creation, the "TRNC" has heavily relied on financial assistance from Turkey, which supports the "TRNC" defense, telecommunications, water and postal services. The Turkish Lira is the preferred currency, though foreign currencies are widely accepted in business transactions. The "TRNC" remains vulnerable to the Turkish market and monetary policy because of its use of the Turkish Lira. The "TRNC" weathered the European financial crisis relatively unscathed - compared to the Republic of Cyprus - because of the lack of financial sector development, the health of the Turkish economy, and its separation from the rest of the island. The "TRNC" economy experienced growth estimated at 2.8% in 2013 and 2.3% in 2014 and is projected to grow 3.8% in 2015.; GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.829 billion (2007 est.); GDP - real growth rate: 2.3% (2014 est.); 2.8% (2013 est.); GDP - per capita: $11,700 (2007 est.); GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6.2%,; industry: 35.1%,; services: 58.7% (2012 est.); Labor force: 95,030 (2007 est.); Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 14.5%,; industry: 29%,; services: 56.5% (2004); Unemployment rate: 9.4% (2005 est.); Population below poverty line: %NA; Inflation rate: 11.4% (2006); Budget: revenues: $2.5 billion,; expenditures: $2.5 billion (2006); Agriculture - products: citrus fruit, dairy, potatoes, grapes, olives, poultry, lamb; Industries: foodstuffs, textiles, clothing, ship repair, clay, gypsum, copper, furniture; Industrial production growth rate: -0.3% (2007 est.); Electricity production: 998.9 million kWh (2005); Electricity consumption: 797.9 million kWh (2005); Exports: $68.1 million, f.o.b. (2007 est.); Export - commodities: citrus, dairy, potatoes, textiles; Export - partners: Turkey 40%; direct trade between the area administered by Turkish Cypriots and the area under government control remains limited; Imports: $1.2 billion, f.o.b. (2007 est.); Import - commodities: vehicles, fuel, cigarettes, food, minerals, chemicals, machinery; Import - partners: Turkey 60%; direct trade between the area administered by Turkish Cypriots and the area under government control remains limited; Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: NA; Debt - external: NA; Currency (code): Turkish new lira (YTL); Exchange rates: Turkish new lira per US dollar:; 1.9 (2013); 1.8 (2012); 1.668 (2011); 1.5026 (2010); 1.55 (2009); Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 4.618 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 4.355 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 1.77 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 85% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 15% 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: 49,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 500 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 49,240 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: 141.6 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 311,439 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 1,239,960 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 140 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: despite the growth of Cyprus's telecom sector, the market is dominated by its state-owned operator; one of the highest broadband penetration rates in the region; DSL remains the dominant access platform as broadband is restricted to a few towns; fixed-line and mobile cable infrastructure available for more than half of premises; fiber infrastructure in development; improved regulations provide confidence for investment in network infrastructure and competing services; operator expanded FttP services and initiated cable connection to France and Egypt; operator signed vendor agreement with international investor, Huawei, to develop 5G; operators extended LTE services and upgraded transmission capacity on TE-North Cable System (2020) domestic: fixed-line about 35 per 100 and about 139 per 100 for mobile-cellular teledensity; open-wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay (2020) international: country code - 357 (area administered by Turkish Cypriots uses the country code of Turkey - 90); a number of submarine cables, including the SEA-ME-WE-3, CADMOS, MedNautilus Submarine System, POSEIDON, TE North/TGN-Eurasia/SEACOM/Alexandros/Medes, UGARIT, Aphrodite2, Hawk, Lev Submarine System, and Tamares combine to provide connectivity to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Southeast Asia; Turcyos-1 and Turcyos-2 submarine cable in Turkish North Cyprus link to Turkey; tropospheric scatter; satellite earth stations - 8 (3 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean, 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat) (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: mixture of state and privately run TV and radio services; the public broadcaster operates 2 TV channels and 4 radio stations; 6 private TV broadcasters, satellite and cable TV services including telecasts from Greece and Turkey, and a number of private radio stations are available; in areas administered by Turkish Cypriots, there are 2 public TV stations, 4 public radio stations, and 7 privately owned TV and 21 radio broadcast stations plus 6 radio and 4 TV channels of local universities, plus 1 radio station of military, security forces and 1 radio station of civil defense cooperation, as well as relay stations from Turkey (2019) Internet country code: .cy Internet users: total: 1,098,699 (2020 est.) percent of population: 91% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 332,080 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (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: 401,408 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 20,000 (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 5B Airports: total: 15 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2021) Heliports: 9 (2021) Pipelines: 0 km oil Roadways: total: 19,901 km (2016) government control: 12,901 km (2016) (includes 272 km of expressways) paved: 8,631 km (2016) unpaved: 4,270 km (2016) Turkish Cypriot control: 7,000 km (2011) Merchant marine: total: 1,051 by type: bulk carrier 269, container ship 182, general cargo 197, oil tanker 59, other 344 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): area under government control: Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Famagusta, Kyrenia Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Republic of Cyprus: Cypriot National Guard (Ethniki Froura, EF, includes Army Land Forces, Naval Command, Air Command) (2022) Military expenditures: 2% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2019) (approximately $610 million) 1.8% of GDP (2018) (approximately $650 million) 1.6% of GDP (2017) (approximately $540 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: the Cypriot National Guard has approximately 15,000 total active duty personnel (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Cypriot National Guard is a mix of Soviet-era and some more modern weapons systems; since 2010, it has received equipment from several countries, including France, Israel, Russia, and Serbia (2021) Military service age and obligation: Cypriot National Guard (CNG): 18-50 years of age for compulsory military service for all Greek Cypriot males; 17 years of age for voluntary service; 14-month service obligation (2021) Military - note: the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) was set up in 1964 to prevent further fighting between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities on the island and bring about a return to normal conditions; the UNFICYP mission had about 850 personnel as of February 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: hostilities in 1974 divided the island into two de facto autonomous entities, the internationally recognized Cypriot Government and a Turkish-Cypriot community (north Cyprus); the 1,000-strong UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has served in Cyprus since 1964 and maintains the buffer zone between north and south; on 1 May 2004, Cyprus entered the EU still divided, with the EU's body of legislation and standards (acquis communitaire) suspended in the north; Turkey protests Cypriot Government creating hydrocarbon blocks and maritime boundary with Lebanon in March 2007hostilities in 1974 divided the island into two de facto autonomous entities, the internationally recognized Cypriot Government and a Turkish-Cypriot community (north Cyprus); the 1,000-strong UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has served in Cyprus since 1964 and maintains the buffer zone between north and south; on 1 May 2004, Cyprus entered the EU still divided, with the EU's body of legislation and standards (acquis communitaire) suspended in the north; Turkey protests Cypriot Government creating hydrocarbon blocks and maritime boundary with Lebanon in March 2007 Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 9,820 (Syria) (mid-year 2021) IDPs: 228,000 (both Turkish and Greek Cypriots; many displaced since 1974) (2020) stateless persons: 66 (mid-year 2021) note: 37,550 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-April 2022) Illicit drugs: vulnerable to money laundering from illegal drugs  vulnerable to money laundering from illegal drugs 

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countries-brazil

Topic: Photos of Brazil Topic: Introduction Background: Following more than three centuries under Portuguese rule, Brazil gained its independence in 1822, maintaining a monarchical system of government until the abolition of slavery in 1888 and the subsequent proclamation of a republic by the military in 1889. Brazilian coffee exporters politically dominated the country until populist leader Getulio VARGAS rose to power in 1930. VARGAS governed over various versions of democratic and authoritarian regimes from 1930 to 1945. Democratic rule returned (including a democratically elected VARGAS administration from 1951-55) and lasted until 1964, when the military overthrew President Joao GOULART. The military regime censored journalists and repressed and tortured dissidents in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The dictatorship lasted until 1985, when the military regime peacefully ceded power to civilian rulers, and the Brazilian Congress passed its current constitution in 1989.  By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil continues to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of its interior. Having successfully weathered a period of global financial difficulty in the late 20th century, under President Luiz Inacio LULA da Silva (2003-2010) Brazil was seen as one of the world's strongest emerging markets and a contributor to global growth. The awarding of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympic Games, the first ever to be held in South America, was symbolic of the country's rise. However, from about 2013 to 2016, Brazil was plagued by a sagging economy, high unemployment, and high inflation, only emerging from recession in 2017. Former President Dilma ROUSSEFF (2011-2016) was removed from office in 2016 by Congress for having committed impeachable acts against Brazil's budgetary laws, and her vice president, Michel TEMER, served the remainder of her second term. A money-laundering investigation, Operation Lava Jato, uncovered a vast corruption scheme and prosecutors charged several high-profile Brazilian politicians with crimes. Former-President LULA was convicted of accepting bribes and served jail time from 2018-19, although his conviction was overturned in early 2021. In October 2018, Jair BOLSONARO won the presidency with 55% of the second-round vote and assumed office on 1 January 2019. The next national elections are scheduled for October 2022.Following more than three centuries under Portuguese rule, Brazil gained its independence in 1822, maintaining a monarchical system of government until the abolition of slavery in 1888 and the subsequent proclamation of a republic by the military in 1889. Brazilian coffee exporters politically dominated the country until populist leader Getulio VARGAS rose to power in 1930. VARGAS governed over various versions of democratic and authoritarian regimes from 1930 to 1945. Democratic rule returned (including a democratically elected VARGAS administration from 1951-55) and lasted until 1964, when the military overthrew President Joao GOULART. The military regime censored journalists and repressed and tortured dissidents in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The dictatorship lasted until 1985, when the military regime peacefully ceded power to civilian rulers, and the Brazilian Congress passed its current constitution in 1989.  By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil continues to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of its interior. Having successfully weathered a period of global financial difficulty in the late 20th century, under President Luiz Inacio LULA da Silva (2003-2010) Brazil was seen as one of the world's strongest emerging markets and a contributor to global growth. The awarding of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympic Games, the first ever to be held in South America, was symbolic of the country's rise. However, from about 2013 to 2016, Brazil was plagued by a sagging economy, high unemployment, and high inflation, only emerging from recession in 2017. Former President Dilma ROUSSEFF (2011-2016) was removed from office in 2016 by Congress for having committed impeachable acts against Brazil's budgetary laws, and her vice president, Michel TEMER, served the remainder of her second term. A money-laundering investigation, Operation Lava Jato, uncovered a vast corruption scheme and prosecutors charged several high-profile Brazilian politicians with crimes. Former-President LULA was convicted of accepting bribes and served jail time from 2018-19, although his conviction was overturned in early 2021. In October 2018, Jair BOLSONARO won the presidency with 55% of the second-round vote and assumed office on 1 January 2019. The next national elections are scheduled for October 2022.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean Geographic coordinates: 10 00 S, 55 00 W Map references: South America Area: total: 8,515,770 sq km land: 8,358,140 sq km water: 157,630 sq km note: includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo Area - comparative: slightly smaller than the US Land boundaries: total: 16,145 km border countries (10): Argentina 1,263 km; Bolivia 3,403 km; Colombia 1,790 km; French Guiana 649 km; Guyana 1,308 km; Paraguay 1,371 km; Peru 2,659 km; Suriname 515 km; Uruguay 1,050 km; Venezuela 2,137 km Coastline: 7,491 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin Climate: mostly tropical, but temperate in south Terrain: mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt Elevation: highest point: Pico da Neblina 2,994 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 320 m Natural resources: alumina, bauxite, beryllium, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, niobium, phosphates, platinum, tantalum, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber Land use: agricultural land: 32.9% (2018 est.) arable land: 8.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 23.5% (2018 est.) forest: 61.9% (2018 est.) other: 5.2% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 54,000 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lagoa dos Patos - 10,140 sq km Salt water lake(s): Lagoa Mirim (shared with Uruguay) - 2,970 sq km Major rivers (by length in km): Amazon river mouth (shared with Peru [s]) - 6,400 km; Rio de la Plata/Parana river source (shared with Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay [m]) - 4,880 km; Tocantins - 3,650 km; Sao Francisco - 3,180 km; Paraguay river source (shared with Argentina and Paraguay [m]) - 2,549 km; Rio Negro river mouth (shared with Colombia [s] and Venezuela) - 2,250 km; Uruguay river source (shared with Argentina and Uruguay [m]) - 1,610 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), Paraná (2,582,704 sq km), São Francisco (617,814 sq km), Tocantins (764,213 sq km) Major aquifers: Amazon Basin, Guarani Aquifer System, Maranhao Basin Population distribution: the vast majority of people live along, or relatively near, the Atlantic coast in the east; the population core is in the southeast, anchored by the cities of Sao Paolo, Brasilia, and Rio de Janeiro Natural hazards: recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south Geography - note: note 1: largest country in South America and in the Southern Hemisphere; shares common boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador; most of the Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetland, extends through the west central part of the country; shares Iguazu Falls, the world's largest waterfalls system, with Argentina note 2: cassava (manioc) the sixth most important food crop in the world - after maize, rice, wheat, potatoes, and soybeans - seems to have originated in the west-central part of Brazil; pineapples are probably indigenous to the southern Brazil-Paraguay region Map description: Brazil map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Atlantic Ocean.Brazil map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Atlantic Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 217,240,060 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Brazilian(s) adjective: Brazilian Ethnic groups: White 47.7%, mixed 43.1%, Black 7.6%, Asian 1.1%, Indigenous 0.4% (2010 est.) Languages: Portuguese (official and most widely spoken language); note - less common languages include Spanish (border areas and schools), German, Italian, Japanese, English, and a large number of minor Amerindian languages major-language sample(s): O Livro de Fatos Mundiais, a fonte indispensável para informação básica. (Brazilian Portuguese) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Roman Catholic 64.6%, other Catholic 0.4%, Protestant 22.2% (includes Adventist 6.5%, Assembly of God 2.0%, Christian Congregation of Brazil 1.2%, Universal Kingdom of God 1.0%, other Protestant 11.5%), other Christian 0.7%, Spiritist 2.2%, other 1.4%, none 8%, unspecified 0.4% (2010 est.) Demographic profile: Brazil's rapid fertility decline since the 1960s is the main factor behind the country's slowing population growth rate, aging population, and fast-paced demographic transition. Brasilia has not taken full advantage of its large working-age population to develop its human capital and strengthen its social and economic institutions but is funding a study abroad program to bring advanced skills back to the country. The current favorable age structure will begin to shift around 2025, with the labor force shrinking and the elderly starting to compose an increasing share of the total population. Well-funded public pensions have nearly wiped out poverty among the elderly, and Bolsa Familia and other social programs have lifted tens of millions out of poverty. More than half of Brazil's population is considered middle class, but poverty and income inequality levels remain high; the Northeast, North, and Center-West, women, and black, mixed race, and indigenous populations are disproportionately affected. Disparities in opportunities foster social exclusion and contribute to Brazil's high crime rate, particularly violent crime in cities and favelas (slums).Brazil has traditionally been a net recipient of immigrants, with its southeast being the prime destination. After the importation of African slaves was outlawed in the mid-19th century, Brazil sought Europeans (Italians, Portuguese, Spaniards, and Germans) and later Asians (Japanese) to work in agriculture, especially coffee cultivation. Recent immigrants come mainly from Argentina, Chile, and Andean countries (many are unskilled illegal migrants) or are returning Brazilian nationals. Since Brazil's economic downturn in the 1980s, emigration to the United States, Europe, and Japan has been rising but is negligible relative to Brazil's total population. The majority of these emigrants are well-educated and middle-class. Fewer Brazilian peasants are emigrating to neighboring countries to take up agricultural work.Brazil's rapid fertility decline since the 1960s is the main factor behind the country's slowing population growth rate, aging population, and fast-paced demographic transition. Brasilia has not taken full advantage of its large working-age population to develop its human capital and strengthen its social and economic institutions but is funding a study abroad program to bring advanced skills back to the country. The current favorable age structure will begin to shift around 2025, with the labor force shrinking and the elderly starting to compose an increasing share of the total population. Well-funded public pensions have nearly wiped out poverty among the elderly, and Bolsa Familia and other social programs have lifted tens of millions out of poverty. More than half of Brazil's population is considered middle class, but poverty and income inequality levels remain high; the Northeast, North, and Center-West, women, and black, mixed race, and indigenous populations are disproportionately affected. Disparities in opportunities foster social exclusion and contribute to Brazil's high crime rate, particularly violent crime in cities and favelas (slums).Brazil has traditionally been a net recipient of immigrants, with its southeast being the prime destination. After the importation of African slaves was outlawed in the mid-19th century, Brazil sought Europeans (Italians, Portuguese, Spaniards, and Germans) and later Asians (Japanese) to work in agriculture, especially coffee cultivation. Recent immigrants come mainly from Argentina, Chile, and Andean countries (many are unskilled illegal migrants) or are returning Brazilian nationals. Since Brazil's economic downturn in the 1980s, emigration to the United States, Europe, and Japan has been rising but is negligible relative to Brazil's total population. The majority of these emigrants are well-educated and middle-class. Fewer Brazilian peasants are emigrating to neighboring countries to take up agricultural work. Age structure: 0-14 years: 21.11% (male 22,790,634/female 21,907,018) 15-24 years: 16.06% (male 17,254,363/female 16,750,581) 25-54 years: 43.83% (male 46,070,240/female 46,729,640) 55-64 years: 9.78% (male 9,802,995/female 10,911,140) 65 years and over: 9.21% (2020 est.) (male 8,323,344/female 11,176,018) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 43.5 youth dependency ratio: 29.7 elderly dependency ratio: 13.8 potential support ratio: 7.3 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 33.2 years male: 32.3 years female: 34.1 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.7% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 13.96 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 6.81 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: the vast majority of people live along, or relatively near, the Atlantic coast in the east; the population core is in the southeast, anchored by the cities of Sao Paolo, Brasilia, and Rio de Janeiro Urbanization: urban population: 87.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 22.430 million Sao Paulo, 13.634 million Rio de Janeiro, 6.194 million Belo Horizonte, 4.804 million BRASILIA (capital), 4.220 million Recife, 4.185 million Porto Alegre (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: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 60 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 13.31 deaths/1,000 live births male: 14.75 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.92 years male: 72.5 years female: 79.5 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 80.2% (2013) note: percent of women aged 18-49 Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99.8% of population rural: 96.9% of population total: 99.4% of population unimproved: urban: 0.2% of population rural: 3.1% of population total: 0.6% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 9.6% (2019) Physicians density: 2.16 physicians/1,000 population (2018) Hospital bed density: 2.1 beds/1,000 population (2017) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 94.1% of population rural: 63.6% of population total: 90.2% of population unimproved: urban: 5.9% of population rural: 36.4% of population total: 9.8% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.6% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 930,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 13,000 (2020 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria water contact diseases: schistosomiasis note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Brazil; as of 30 March 2022, Brazil has reported a total of 29,852,341 cases of COVID-19 or 14,044.23 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 658,956 cumulative deaths or a rate 310.01 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 March 2022, 84.62% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 22.1% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 6.1% of GDP (2018) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.2% male: 93% female: 93.4% (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 16 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 31.3% male: 27.5% female: 36.3% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; illegal wildlife trade; illegal poaching; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large cities; land degradation and water pollution caused by improper mining activities; wetland degradation; severe oil spills Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, 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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Protocol Air pollutants: particulate 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.) Climate: mostly tropical, but temperate in south Land use: agricultural land: 32.9% (2018 est.) arable land: 8.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 23.5% (2018 est.) forest: 61.9% (2018 est.) other: 5.2% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 87.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.62% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria water contact diseases: schistosomiasis note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Brazil; as of 30 March 2022, Brazil has reported a total of 29,852,341 cases of COVID-19 or 14,044.23 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 658,956 cumulative deaths or a rate 310.01 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 March 2022, 84.62% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Waste and recycling: municipal 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.) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lagoa dos Patos - 10,140 sq km Salt water lake(s): Lagoa Mirim (shared with Uruguay) - 2,970 sq km Major rivers (by length in km): Amazon river mouth (shared with Peru [s]) - 6,400 km; Rio de la Plata/Parana river source (shared with Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay [m]) - 4,880 km; Tocantins - 3,650 km; Sao Francisco - 3,180 km; Paraguay river source (shared with Argentina and Paraguay [m]) - 2,549 km; Rio Negro river mouth (shared with Colombia [s] and Venezuela) - 2,250 km; Uruguay river source (shared with Argentina and Uruguay [m]) - 1,610 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), Paraná (2,582,704 sq km), São Francisco (617,814 sq km), Tocantins (764,213 sq km) Major aquifers: Amazon Basin, Guarani Aquifer System, Maranhao Basin Total water withdrawal: municipal: 16.74 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 9.511 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 39.43 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 8.647 trillion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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 Government type: federal presidential republic Capital: name: Brasilia geographic coordinates: 15 47 S, 47 55 W time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) time zone note: Brazil has four time zones, including one for the Fernando de Noronha Islands etymology: name bestowed on the new capital of Brazil upon its inauguration in 1960; previous Brazilian capitals had been Salvador from 1549 to 1763 and Rio de Janeiro from 1763 to 1960 Administrative divisions: 26 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins Independence: 7 September 1822 (from Portugal) National holiday: Independence Day, 7 September (1822) Constitution: history: several previous; latest ratified 5 October 1988 amendments: proposed by at least one third of either house of the National Congress, by the president of the republic, or by simple majority vote by more than half of the state legislative assemblies; passage requires at least three-fifths majority vote by both houses in each of two readings; constitutional provisions affecting the federal form of government, separation of powers, suffrage, or individual rights and guarantees cannot be amended; amended many times, last in 2020 (2021) Legal system: civil law; note - a new civil law code was enacted in 2002 replacing the 1916 code 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: 4 years Suffrage: voluntary between 16 to 18 years of age, over 70, and if illiterate; compulsory between 18 to 70 years of age; note - military conscripts by law cannot vote Executive branch: chief of state: President Jair BOLSONARO (since 1 January 2019); Vice President Antonio Hamilton Martins MOURAO (since 1 January 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Jair BOLSONARO (since 1 January 2019); Vice President Antonio Hamilton Martins MOURAO (since 1 January 2019) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a single 4-year term (eligible for an immediate second term, and additional terms after a one-term break); election last held on 7 October 2018 with runoff on 28 October 2018 (next to be held in October 2022) election results: 2018:  Jair BOLSONARO elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Jair BOLSONARO (PSL) 46%, Fernando HADDAD (PT) 29.3%, Ciro GOMEZ (PDT) 12.5%, Geraldo ALCKMIN (PSDB) 4.8%, other 7.4%; percent of vote in second round - Jair BOLSONARO (PSL) 55.1%, Fernando HADDAD (PT) 44.9% 2014:  Dilma ROUSSEFF reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Dilma ROUSSEFF (PT) 51.6%, Aecio NEVES (PSDB) 48.4%; note - on 12 May 2016, Brazil's Senate voted to hold an impeachment trial of President Dilma ROUSSEFF, who was then suspended from her executive duties; Vice President Michel TEMER took over as acting president; on 31 August 2016 the Senate voted 61-20 in favor of conviction and her removal from office; TEMER served as president for the remainder of ROUSSEFF's term, which ended 1 January 2019 Legislative branch: description: bicameral National Congress or Congresso Nacional consists of: Federal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats; 3 members each from 26 states and 3 from the federal district directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 8-year terms, with one-third and two-thirds of the membership elected alternately every 4 years) Chamber of Deputies or Camara dos Deputados (513 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms) elections: Federal Senate - last held on 7 October 2018 for two-thirds of the Senate (next to be held on 2 October 2022 for one-third of the Senate) Chamber of Deputies - last held on 7 October 2018 (next to be held on 2 October 2022) election results: Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PMDB 7, PP 5, REDE 5, DEM 4, PSDB 4, PSDC 4, PSL 4, PT 4, PDT 2, PHS 2, PPS 2, PSB 2, PTB 2, Podemos 1, PR 1, PRB 1, PROS 1, PRP 1, PSC 1, SD 1; composition - men 67, women 14, percent of women 17.3%     Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PT 56, PSL 52, PP 37, PMDB 34, PSDC 34, PR 33, PSB 32, PRB 30, DEM 29, PSDB 29, PDT 28, SD 13, Podemos 11, PSOL 10, PTB 10, PCdoB 9, NOVO 8, PPS 8, PROS 8, PSC 8, Avante 7, PHS 6, Patriota 5, PRP 4, PV 4, PMN 3, PTC 2, DC 1, PPL 1, REDE 1; composition - men 437, women 76, percent of women 14.8%; total National Congress percent of women 15.2% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Federal Court or Supremo Tribunal Federal (consists of 11 justices) judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the president and approved by the Federal Senate; justices appointed to serve until mandatory retirement at age 75 subordinate courts: Tribunal of the Union, Federal Appeals Court, Superior Court of Justice, Superior Electoral Court, regional federal courts; state court system Political parties and leaders: Avante [Luis TIBE] (formerly Labor Party of Brazil or PTdoB)  Brazilian Communist Party or PCB [Edmilson COSTA] Brazilian Democratic Movement or MDB [Luiz Felipe Baleia Tenuto ROSSI] Brazilian Labor Party or PTB [Graciela NIENOV] Brazilian Renewal Labor Party or PRTB [Jose Levy FIDELIX da Cruz] Brazilian Republican Party or PRB [Marcos Antonio PEREIRA] Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB [Bruno ARAUJO] Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB [Carlos Roberto SIQUEIRA de Barros] Christian Democracy or DC [Jose Maria EYMAEL] (formerly Christian Social Cidadania [Roberto Joao Pereira FREIRE] (formerly Popular Socialist Party or PPS) Democratic Party or PSDC) Christian Labor Party or PTC [Daniel TOURINHO] Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB [Luciana SANTOS] Democratic Labor Party or PDT [Antonio Carlos Peixoto MAGALHAES Neto] The Democrats or DEM [Jose AGRIPINO] (formerly Liberal Front Party or PFL) Green Party or PV [Jose Luiz PENNA] Liberal Party or PL [Valdemar COSTA Neto] (formerly Party of the Republic or PR) National Mobilization Party or PMN [Antonio Carlos Bosco MASSAROLLO] New Party or NOVO [Eduardo RIBEIRO] Patriota [Ovasco RESENDE] (formerly National Ecologic Party or PEN) Podemos [Renata ABREU] (formerly National Labor Party or PTN) Progressive Party or PP [Ciro NOGUEIRA] Republican Social Order Party or PROS [Euripedes JUNIOR] Social Christian Party or PSC [Everaldo Dias PEREIRA] Social Democratic Party or PSD [Gilberto KASSAB] Social Liberal Party or PSL [Luciano Caldas BIVAR] Socialism and Freedom Party or PSOL [Juliano MEDEIROS] Solidarity or SD [Paulo PEREIRA DA SILVA] Sustainability Network or REDE [Marina SILVA] United Socialist Workers' Party or PSTU [Jose Maria DE ALMEIDA] Workers' Cause Party or PCO [Rui Costa PIMENTA] Workers' Party or PT [Gleisi HOFFMANN] International organization participation: AfDB (nonregional member), BIS, BRICS, CAN (associate), CD, CELAC, CPLP, FAO, FATF, G-15, G-20, G-24, G-5, 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, LAS (observer), Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OECD (enhanced engagement), OPANAL, OPCW, Paris Club (associate), PCA, PROSUR, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nestor Jose FORSTER, Jr. (since 23 December 2020) chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 238-2700 FAX: [1] (202) 238-2827 email address and website: http://washington.itamaraty.gov.br/en-us/Main.xml consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Hartford (CT), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Washington, DC Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Douglas A. KONEFF (since July 2021) embassy: SES - Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, 70403-900 - Brasilia, DF mailing address: 7500 Brasilia Place, Washington DC  20521-7500 telephone: [55] (61) 3312-7000 FAX: [55] (61) 3225-9136 email address and website: BrasilliaACS@state.gov https://br.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Recife, Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo branch office(s): Belo Horizonte Flag description: green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars; the globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress); the current flag was inspired by the banner of the former Empire of Brazil (1822-1889); on the imperial flag, the green represented the House of Braganza of Pedro I, the first Emperor of Brazil, while the yellow stood for the Habsburg Family of his wife; on the modern flag the green represents the forests of the country and the yellow rhombus its mineral wealth (the diamond shape roughly mirrors that of the country); the blue circle and stars, which replaced the coat of arms of the original flag, depict the sky over Rio de Janeiro on the morning of 15 November 1889 - the day the Republic of Brazil was declared; the number of stars has changed with the creation of new states and has risen from an original 21 to the current 27 (one for each state and the Federal District) 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, Eritrea, and Vanuatu National symbol(s): Southern Cross constellation; national colors: green, yellow, blue National anthem: name: "Hino Nacional Brasileiro" (Brazilian National Anthem) lyrics/music: Joaquim Osorio Duque ESTRADA/Francisco Manoel DA SILVA note: music adopted 1890, lyrics adopted 1922; the anthem's music, composed in 1822, was used unofficially for many years before it was adopted National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 23 (15 cultural, 7 natural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Brasilia (c), Historic Salvador de Bahia (c), Historic Ouro Preto (c), Historic Olinda (c), Iguaçu National Park (n), Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis (c), Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes (c), Central Amazon Conservation Complex (n), Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves (n) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Brazil is the eighth-largest economy in the world, but is recovering from a recession in 2015 and 2016 that ranks as the worst in the country’s history. In 2017, Brazil`s GDP grew 1%, inflation fell to historic lows of 2.9%, and the Central Bank lowered benchmark interest rates from 13.75% in 2016 to 7%.   The economy has been negatively affected by multiple corruption scandals involving private companies and government officials, including the impeachment and conviction of Former President Dilma ROUSSEFF in August 2016. Sanctions against the firms involved — some of the largest in Brazil — have limited their business opportunities, producing a ripple effect on associated businesses and contractors but creating opportunities for foreign companies to step into what had been a closed market.   The succeeding TEMER administration has implemented a series of fiscal and structural reforms to restore credibility to government finances. Congress approved legislation in December 2016 to cap public spending. Government spending growth had pushed public debt to 73.7% of GDP at the end of 2017, up from over 50% in 2012. The government also boosted infrastructure projects, such as oil and natural gas auctions, in part to raise revenues. Other economic reforms, proposed in 2016, aim to reduce barriers to foreign investment, and to improve labor conditions. Policies to strengthen Brazil’s workforce and industrial sector, such as local content requirements, have boosted employment, but at the expense of investment.   Brazil is a member of the Common Market of the South (Mercosur), a trade bloc that includes Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay - Venezuela’s membership in the organization was suspended In August 2017. After the Asian and Russian financial crises, Mercosur adopted a protectionist stance to guard against exposure to volatile foreign markets and it currently is negotiating Free Trade Agreements with the European Union and Canada.Brazil is the eighth-largest economy in the world, but is recovering from a recession in 2015 and 2016 that ranks as the worst in the country’s history. In 2017, Brazil`s GDP grew 1%, inflation fell to historic lows of 2.9%, and the Central Bank lowered benchmark interest rates from 13.75% in 2016 to 7%. The economy has been negatively affected by multiple corruption scandals involving private companies and government officials, including the impeachment and conviction of Former President Dilma ROUSSEFF in August 2016. Sanctions against the firms involved — some of the largest in Brazil — have limited their business opportunities, producing a ripple effect on associated businesses and contractors but creating opportunities for foreign companies to step into what had been a closed market. The succeeding TEMER administration has implemented a series of fiscal and structural reforms to restore credibility to government finances. Congress approved legislation in December 2016 to cap public spending. Government spending growth had pushed public debt to 73.7% of GDP at the end of 2017, up from over 50% in 2012. The government also boosted infrastructure projects, such as oil and natural gas auctions, in part to raise revenues. Other economic reforms, proposed in 2016, aim to reduce barriers to foreign investment, and to improve labor conditions. Policies to strengthen Brazil’s workforce and industrial sector, such as local content requirements, have boosted employment, but at the expense of investment. Brazil is a member of the Common Market of the South (Mercosur), a trade bloc that includes Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay - Venezuela’s membership in the organization was suspended In August 2017. After the Asian and Russian financial crises, Mercosur adopted a protectionist stance to guard against exposure to volatile foreign markets and it currently is negotiating Free Trade Agreements with the European Union and Canada. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $2,989,430,000,000 (2020 est.) $3,115,910,000,000 (2019 est.) $3,072,550,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 1.13% (2019 est.) 1.2% (2018 est.) 1.62% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $14,100 (2020 est.) $14,800 (2019 est.) $14,700 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $1,877,942,000,000 (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (2019 est.) 3.6% (2018 est.) 3.4% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BB- (2018) Moody's rating: Ba2 (2016) Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2018) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 6.6% (2017 est.) industry: 20.7% (2017 est.) services: 72.7% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 63.4% (2017 est.) government consumption: 20% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 15.6% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: -0.1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 12.6% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -11.6% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: sugar cane, soybeans, maize, milk, cassava, oranges, poultry, rice, beef, cotton Industries: textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment Industrial production growth rate: 0% (2017 est.) Labor force: 86.621 million (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 9.4% industry: 32.1% services: 58.5% (2017 est.) Unemployment rate: 11.93% (2019 est.) 12.26% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 31.3% male: 27.5% female: 36.3% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 4.2% (2016 est.) note: approximately 4% of the population are below the "extreme" poverty line Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 53.9 (2018 est.) 54 (2004) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.8% highest 10%: 43.4% (2016 est.) Budget: revenues: 733.7 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 756.3 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -1.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 84% of GDP (2017 est.) 78.4% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 35.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$50.927 billion (2019 est.) -$41.54 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $239.18 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $260.07 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $274.9 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: China 28%, United States 13% (2019) Exports - commodities: soybeans, crude petroleum, iron, corn, wood pulp products (2019) Imports: $227.44 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $269.02 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $267.52 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: China 21%, United States 18%, Germany 6%, Argentina 6% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, vehicle parts, crude petroleum, integrated circuits, pesticides (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $374 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $367.5 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $681.336 billion (2019 est.) $660.693 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: reals (BRL) per US dollar - 5.12745 (2020 est.) 4.14915 (2019 est.) 3.862 (2018 est.) 3.3315 (2014 est.) 2.3535 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 567.9 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 509.1 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 219 million kWh (2015 est.) Electricity - imports: 41.31 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 150.8 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 17% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 64% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 18% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 2.587 million bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 736,600 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 297,700 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 12.63 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 2.811 million bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 2.956 million bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 279,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 490,400 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 23.96 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 34.35 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 134.5 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 10.51 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 377.4 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 30,653,813 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 205,834,781 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 97 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Brazil is one of the largest mobile and broadband markets in Latin America with healthy competition and pricing; 5G launched on limited basis; countrywide network spectrum auction held in November 2021; large fixed-line broadband market with focus on fiber; landing point for submarine cables and investment into terrestrial fiber cables to neighboring countries; Internet penetration has increased, access varies along geographic and socio-economic lines; government provides free WiFi in urban public spaces; pioneer in the region for M-commerce; major importer of integrated circuits from South Korea and China, and broadcasting equipment from China   (2021) domestic: fixed-line connections stand at roughly 14 per 100 persons; less-expensive mobile-cellular technology has been a major impetus broadening telephone service to the lower-income segments of the population with mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 97 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 55; landing points for a number of submarine cables, including Malbec, ARBR, Tamnat, SAC, SAm-1, Atlantis -2, Seabras-1, Monet, EllaLink, BRUSA, GlobeNet, AMX-1, Brazilian Festoon, Bicentenario, Unisur, Junior, Americas -II, SAE x1, SAIL, SACS and SABR that provide direct connectivity to South and Central America, the Caribbean, the US, Africa, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region east), connected by microwave relay system to Mercosur Brazilsat B3 satellite earth station; satellites is a major communication platform, as it is almost impossible to lay fiber optic cable in the thick vegetation (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: state-run Radiobras operates a radio and a TV network; more than 1,000 radio stations and more than 100 TV channels operating - mostly privately owned; private media ownership highly concentrated Internet country code: .br Internet users: total: 172,173,121 (2020 est.) percent of population: 81% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 36,344,670 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 9 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 443 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 102,109,977 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,845,650,000 (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: PP Airports: total: 4,093 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 698 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 27 1,524 to 2,437 m: 179 914 to 1,523 m: 436 (2017) under 914 m: 49 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3,395 1,524 to 2,437 m: 92 914 to 1,523 m: 1,619 under 914 m: 1,684 (2021) Heliports: 13 (2021) Pipelines: 5959 km refined petroleum product (1,165 km distribution, 4,794 km transport), 11696 km natural gas (2,274 km distribution, 9,422 km transport), 1985 km crude oil (distribution), 77 km ethanol/petrochemical (37 km distribution, 40 km transport) (2016) Railways: total: 29,850 km (2014) standard gauge: 194 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 23,341.6 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge (24 km electrified) broad gauge: 5,822.3 km (2014) 1.600-m gauge (498.3 km electrified) dual gauge: 492 km (2014) 1.600-1.000-m gauge Roadways: total: 2 million km (2018) paved: 246,000 km (2018) unpaved: 1.754 million km (2018) Waterways: 50,000 km (2012) (most in areas remote from industry and population) Merchant marine: total: 864 by type: bulk carrier 11, container ship 19, general cargo 42, oil tanker 31, other 761 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Belem, Itajai, Paranagua, Rio Grande, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Sao Sebastiao, Tubarao oil terminal(s): DTSE/Gegua oil terminal, Ilha Grande (Gebig), Guaiba Island terminal, Guamare oil terminal container port(s) (TEUs): Itajai (1,223,262), Paranagua (865,110), Santos (4,165,248) (2019) LNG terminal(s) (import): Pecem, Rio de Janiero river port(s): Manaus (Amazon) dry bulk cargo port(s): Sepetiba ore terminal, Tubarao Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Brazilian Armed Forces: Brazilian Army (Exercito Brasileiro, EB), Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brasil, MB, includes Naval Aviation (Aviacao Naval Brasileira) and Marine Corps (Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais)), Brazilian Air Force (Forca Aerea Brasileira, FAB) (2021) Military expenditures: 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2019) (approximately $35.6 billion) 1.5% of GDP (2018) (approximately $36 billion) 1.4% of GDP (2017) (approximately $34.4 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: the Brazilian Armed Forces have approximately 360,000 active personnel (220,000 Army; 70,000 Navy; 70,000 Air Force) (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Brazilian military's inventory consists of a mix of domestically-produced and imported weapons, largely from Europe and the US; since 2010, the US and several European countries are the leading suppliers of military equipment to Brazil; Brazil's defense industry is capable of designing and manufacturing equipment for all three military services and for export; it also jointly produces equipment with other countries (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-45 years of age for compulsory military service for men (women exempted); only 5-10% of those inducted are required to serve; conscript service obligation is 10-12 months; 17-45 years of age for voluntary service (2022) note - in 2020, women comprised approximately 9% of the Brazilian military Military - note: the origins of Brazil's military stretch back to the 1640s the three national police forces – the Federal Police, Federal Highway Police, and Federal Railway Police – have domestic security responsibilities and report to the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (Ministry of Justice); there are two distinct units within the state police forces: the civil police, which performs an investigative role, and the military police, charged with maintaining law and order in the states and the Federal District; despite the name, military police forces report to the Ministry of Justice, not the Ministry of Defense; the National Public Security Force (Forca Nacional de Seguranca Publica or SENASP) is a national police force made up of Military Police from various states; the armed forces also have some domestic security responsibilities and report to the Ministry of Defense Brazil 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) Maritime threats: the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of Brazil are a risk for armed robbery against ships; in 2021, three attacks against commercial vessels were reported, a decrease from the seven attacks in 2020; all of these occurred in the port of Macapa while ships were berthed or at anchor Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Brazil-Bolivia: The Roboré Accord of March 29, 1958 placed the long-disputed Isla Suárez/Ilha de Guajará-Mirim, a fluvial island on the Río Mamoré, between the two towns of Guajará-Mirim (Brazil) and Guayaramerin (Bolivia), under Bolivian administration but did not resolve the sovereignty dispute Brazil-Colombia: Contraband smuggling (narcotics and arms), illegal migration, trafficking in animals, plants, lumber, illegal exploitation of mineral resources, Colombian (FARC) insurgent incursions in the area remain problematic issues. Brazil-Uruguay: The uncontested boundary dispute between Brazil and Uruguay over over Arroyo de la Invernada triangle and sovereignty over Isla Brsillera leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question. Smuggling of firearms and narcotics continues to be an issue along the Uruguay-Brazil border. Brazil-Venezuela: Colombian-organized illegal narcotics and paramilitary activities penetrate Brazil's border region with Venezuela.Brazil-Bolivia: The Roboré Accord of March 29, 1958 placed the long-disputed Isla Suárez/Ilha de Guajará-Mirim, a fluvial island on the Río Mamoré, between the two towns of Guajará-Mirim (Brazil) and Guayaramerin (Bolivia), under Bolivian administration but did not resolve the sovereignty dispute Brazil-Colombia: Contraband smuggling (narcotics and arms), illegal migration, trafficking in animals, plants, lumber, illegal exploitation of mineral resources, Colombian (FARC) insurgent incursions in the area remain problematic issues. Brazil-Uruguay: The uncontested boundary dispute between Brazil and Uruguay over over Arroyo de la Invernada triangle and sovereignty over Isla Brsillera leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question. Smuggling of firearms and narcotics continues to be an issue along the Uruguay-Brazil border. Brazil-Venezuela: Colombian-organized illegal narcotics and paramilitary activities penetrate Brazil's border region with Venezuela. Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 261,441 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or received alternative legal stay) (2020) stateless persons: 14 (mid-year 2021) Illicit drugs: a significant transit and destination country for cocaine;  most of the cocaine that entering Brazil is destined for domestic use or transits to Europe via West Africa;  substantial and growing domestic drug consumption problem;  second-largest consumer of cocaine hydrochloride and cocaine-derivative productsa significant transit and destination country for cocaine;  most of the cocaine that entering Brazil is destined for domestic use or transits to Europe via West Africa;  substantial and growing domestic drug consumption problem;  second-largest consumer of cocaine hydrochloride and cocaine-derivative products

20220601

countries-cuba

Topic: Photos of Cuba Topic: Introduction Background: The native Amerindian population of Cuba began to decline after the European encounter of the island by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1492 and following its development as a Spanish colony during the next several centuries. Large numbers of African slaves were imported to work the coffee and sugar plantations, and Havana became the launching point for the annual treasure fleets bound for Spain from Mexico and Peru. Spanish rule eventually provoked an independence movement and occasional rebellions were harshly suppressed. US intervention during the Spanish-American War in 1898 assisted the Cubans in overthrowing Spanish rule. The Treaty of Paris established Cuban independence from Spain in 1898 and, following three-and-a-half years of subsequent US military rule, Cuba became an independent republic in 1902 after which the island experienced a string of governments mostly dominated by the military and corrupt politicians. Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his authoritarian rule held the subsequent regime together for nearly five decades. He handed off the pesidency in February 2008 to his younger brother Raul CASTRO. Cuba's communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez, hand-picked by Raul CASTRO to succeed him, was approved as president by the National Assembly and took office on 19 April 2018. DIAZ-CANEL was appointed First Secretary of the Communist Party on 19 April 2021 following the retirement of Raul CASTRO, and continues to serve as both president and first secretary. Cuba traditionally and consistently portrays the US embargo, in place since 1961, as the source of its difficulties. As a result of efforts begun in December 2014 to reestablish diplomatic relations with the Cuban Government, which were severed in January 1961, the US and Cuba reopened embassies in their respective countries in July 2015. The embargo remains in place, and the relationship between the US and Cuba remains tense.  Illicit migration of Cuban nationals to the US via maritime and overland routes has been a longstanding challenge. On 12 January 2017, the US and Cuba signed a Joint Statement ending the so-called "wet-foot, dry-foot" policy – by which Cuban nationals who reached US soil were permitted to stay. Irregular Cuban maritime migration has dropped significantly since FY 2016, when migrant interdictions at sea topped 5,000, but land border crossings continue. In FY 2021, the US Coast Guard interdicted 838 Cuban nationals at sea. Also in FY 2021, 39,303 Cuban nationals presented themselves at various land border ports of entry throughout the US.The native Amerindian population of Cuba began to decline after the European encounter of the island by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1492 and following its development as a Spanish colony during the next several centuries. Large numbers of African slaves were imported to work the coffee and sugar plantations, and Havana became the launching point for the annual treasure fleets bound for Spain from Mexico and Peru. Spanish rule eventually provoked an independence movement and occasional rebellions were harshly suppressed. US intervention during the Spanish-American War in 1898 assisted the Cubans in overthrowing Spanish rule. The Treaty of Paris established Cuban independence from Spain in 1898 and, following three-and-a-half years of subsequent US military rule, Cuba became an independent republic in 1902 after which the island experienced a string of governments mostly dominated by the military and corrupt politicians. Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his authoritarian rule held the subsequent regime together for nearly five decades. He handed off the pesidency in February 2008 to his younger brother Raul CASTRO. Cuba's communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez, hand-picked by Raul CASTRO to succeed him, was approved as president by the National Assembly and took office on 19 April 2018. DIAZ-CANEL was appointed First Secretary of the Communist Party on 19 April 2021 following the retirement of Raul CASTRO, and continues to serve as both president and first secretary.Cuba traditionally and consistently portrays the US embargo, in place since 1961, as the source of its difficulties. As a result of efforts begun in December 2014 to reestablish diplomatic relations with the Cuban Government, which were severed in January 1961, the US and Cuba reopened embassies in their respective countries in July 2015. The embargo remains in place, and the relationship between the US and Cuba remains tense. Illicit migration of Cuban nationals to the US via maritime and overland routes has been a longstanding challenge. On 12 January 2017, the US and Cuba signed a Joint Statement ending the so-called "wet-foot, dry-foot" policy – by which Cuban nationals who reached US soil were permitted to stay. Irregular Cuban maritime migration has dropped significantly since FY 2016, when migrant interdictions at sea topped 5,000, but land border crossings continue. In FY 2021, the US Coast Guard interdicted 838 Cuban nationals at sea. Also in FY 2021, 39,303 Cuban nationals presented themselves at various land border ports of entry throughout the US.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, 150 km south of Key West, Florida Geographic coordinates: 21 30 N, 80 00 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 110,860 sq km land: 109,820 sq km water: 1,040 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania Land boundaries: total: 28.5 km border countries (1): US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 28.5 km note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and remains part of Cuba Coastline: 3,735 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October) Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast Elevation: highest point: Pico Turquino 1,974 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m mean elevation: 108 m Natural resources: cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land Land use: agricultural land: 60.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 33.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 3.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 22.9% (2018 est.) forest: 27.3% (2018 est.) other: 12.4% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 8,700 sq km (2012) Population distribution: large population clusters found throughout the country, the more significant ones being in the larger towns and cities, particularly the capital of Havana Natural hazards: the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to November (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year); droughts are common Geography - note: largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the Greater Antilles Map description: Cuba map showing the island country in the Caribbean Sea.Cuba map showing the island country in the Caribbean Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 11,008,112 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Cuban(s) adjective: Cuban Ethnic groups: White 64.1%, Mulatto or mixed 26.6%, Black 9.3% (2012 est.) note: data represent racial self-identification from Cuba's 2012 national census Languages: Spanish (official) 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 58.9%, folk religion 17.6%, Buddhist <1%, Hindu <1%, Jewish <1%, Muslim <1%, other <1%, none 23.2% (2020 est.) note: folk religions include religions of African origin, spiritualism, and others intermingled with Catholicism or Protestantism; data is estimative because no authoritative source on religious affiliation exists for Cuba Age structure: 0-14 years: 16.34% (male 929,927/female 877,035) 15-24 years: 11.81% (male 678,253/female 627,384) 25-54 years: 41.95% (male 2,335,680/female 2,303,793) 55-64 years: 14.11% (male 760,165/female 799,734) 65 years and over: 15.8% (2020 est.) (male 794,743/female 952,348) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 46.7 youth dependency ratio: 23.3 elderly dependency ratio: 23.3 potential support ratio: 4.3 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 42.1 years male: 40.2 years female: 43.8 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -0.21% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 10.11 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 9.29 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -2.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: large population clusters found throughout the country, the more significant ones being in the larger towns and cities, particularly the capital of Havana Urbanization: urban population: 77.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 2.146 million HAVANA (capital) (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: 1.01 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 36 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 4.13 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.65 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.64 years male: 77.29 years female: 82.14 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.71 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 69% (2019) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 98.9% of population rural: 97% of population total: 98.5% of population unimproved: urban: 1.1% of population rural: 3% of population total: 1.5% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 11.3% (2019) Physicians density: 8.42 physicians/1,000 population (2018) Hospital bed density: 5.3 beds/1,000 population (2017) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 94.8% of population rural: 87% of population total: 93% of population unimproved: urban: 5.2% of population rural: 13% of population total: 7% of population (2017 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.4% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 33,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <500 Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: dengue fever Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 24.6% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.4% (2019) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 4.8% (2019) women married by age 18: 29.4% (2019) men married by age 18: 5.9% (2019 est.) Education expenditures: NA Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.8% male: 99.9% female: 99.8% (2015) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2020) People - note: illicit emigration is a continuing problem; Cubans attempt to depart the island and enter the US using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, direct flights, or falsified visas; Cubans also use non-maritime routes to enter the US including direct flights to Miami and overland via the southwest border; the number of Cubans migrating to the US surged after the announcement of normalization of US-Cuban relations in late December 2014 but has decreased since the end of the so-called "wet-foot, dry-foot" policy on 12 January 2017 Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: soil degradation and desertification (brought on by poor farming techniques and natural disasters) are the main environmental problems; biodiversity loss; deforestation; air and water pollution Environment - international agreements: party to: 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, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation Air pollutants: particulate 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.) Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October) Land use: agricultural land: 60.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 33.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 3.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 22.9% (2018 est.) forest: 27.3% (2018 est.) other: 12.4% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 77.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.06% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: dengue fever Waste and recycling: municipal 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.) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 1.7 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 740 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 4.519 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 38.12 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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" Government type: communist state Capital: name: Havana geographic coordinates: 23 07 N, 82 21 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November; note - Cuba has been known to alter the schedule of DST on short notice in an attempt to conserve electricity for lighting etymology: the sites of Spanish colonial cities often retained their original Taino names; Habana, the Spanish name for the city, may be based on the name of a local Taino chief, HABAGUANEX Administrative divisions: 15 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 special municipality* (municipio especial); Artemisa, Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla de la Juventud*, La Habana, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Mayabeque, Pinar del Rio, Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara Independence: 20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the US from 1898 to 1902); not acknowledged by the Cuban Government as a day of independence National holiday: Triumph of the Revolution (Liberation Day), 1 January (1959) Constitution: history: several previous; latest drafted 14 July 2018, approved by the National Assembly 22 December 2018, approved by referendum 24 February 2019 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly of People’s Power; passage requires approval of at least two-thirds majority of the National Assembly membership; amendments to constitutional articles on the authorities of the National Assembly, Council of State, or any rights and duties in the constitution also require approval in a referendum; constitutional articles on the Cuban political, social, and economic system cannot be amended Legal system: civil law system based on Spanish civil code International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: unknown Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez (since 19 April 2018); Vice President Salvador Antonio VALDES Mesa (since 10 October 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Manuel MARRERO Cruz (since 21 December 2019); Deputy Prime Ministers Ramiro VALDES Menendez, Ines Maria CHAPMAN Waugh, Jorge Luis TAPIA Fonseca, Alejandro GIL Fernandez, Ricardo CABRISAS Ruiz (since 21 December 2019), and Jorge Luis PERDOMO DI-LELLA (since 20 April 2021) cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president and appointed by the National Assembly elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (may be reelected for another 5-year term); election last held on 10 October 2019 (next to be held NA) election results: Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez (PCC) elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 98.8%; Salvador Antonio VALDES Mesa (PCC) elected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote - 98.1% note - on 19 April 2018, DIAZ-CANEL succeeded Raul CASTRO as president of the Councils of State and Ministers; on 10 October 2019 he was elected to the newly created position of President of the Republic, which replaced the position of President of the Councils of State and Ministers Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly of People's Power or Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular (605 seats; (586 seats filled in 2021); members directly elected by absolute majority vote; members serve 5-year terms); note 1 - the National Candidature Commission submits a slate of approved candidates; to be elected, candidates must receive more than 50% of valid votes otherwise the seat remains vacant or the Council of State can declare another election; note 2 - in July 2019, the National Assembly passed a law which reduces the number of members from 605 to 474, effective with the 2023 general election elections: last held on 11 March 2018 (next to be held in early 2023) election results: Cuba's Communist Party is the only legal party, and officially sanctioned candidates run unopposed; composition (as of June 2021) - men 273, women 313, percent of women 53.4% Judicial branch: highest courts: People's Supreme Court (consists of court president, vice president, 41 professional justices, and NA lay judges); organization includes the State Council, criminal, civil, administrative, labor, crimes against the state, and military courts) judge selection and term of office: professional judges elected by the National Assembly are not subject to a specific term; lay judges nominated by workplace collectives and neighborhood associations and elected by municipal or provincial assemblies; lay judges appointed for 5-year terms and serve up to 30 days per year subordinate courts: People's Provincial Courts; People's Regional Courts; People's Courts Political parties and leaders: Cuban Communist Party or PCC [Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez] International organization participation: ACP, ALBA, AOSIS, CELAC, EAEU (observer), FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962), OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, PIF (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Lianys TORRES RIVERA (since 14 January 2021) chancery: 2630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 797-8515 through 8518 FAX: [1] (202) 797-8521 email address and website: recepcion@usadc.embacuba.cu http://misiones.minrex.gob.cu/en/usa Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Timothy ZUNIGA-BROWN (since 31 July 2020) embassy: Calzada between L & M Streets, Vedado, Havana mailing address: 3200 Havana Place, Washington DC  20521-3200 telephone: [53] (7) 839-4100 FAX: [53] (7) 839-4247 email address and website: acshavana@state.gov https://cu.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: five equal horizontal bands of blue (top, center, and bottom) alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bears a white, five-pointed star in the center; the blue bands refer to the three old divisions of the island: central, occidental, and oriental; the white bands describe the purity of the independence ideal; the triangle symbolizes liberty, equality, and fraternity, while the red color stands for the blood shed in the independence struggle; the white star, called La Estrella Solitaria (the Lone Star) lights the way to freedom and was taken from the flag of Texas note: design similar to the Puerto Rican flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed National symbol(s): royal palm; national colors: red, white, blue National anthem: name: "La Bayamesa" (The Bayamo Song) lyrics/music: Pedro FIGUEREDO note: adopted 1940; Pedro FIGUEREDO first performed "La Bayamesa" in 1868 during the Ten Years War against the Spanish; a leading figure in the uprising, FIGUEREDO was captured in 1870 and executed by a firing squad; just prior to the fusillade he is reputed to have shouted, "Morir por la Patria es vivir" (To die for the country is to live), a line from the anthem National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 9 (7 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Old Havana (c); Trinidad and the Valley de los Ingenios (c); San Pedro de la Roca Castle (c); Desembarco del Granma National Park (n); Viñales Valley (c); Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations (c); Alejandro de Humboldt National Park (n); Historic Cienfuegos (c); Historic Camagüey (c) Topic: Economy Economic overview: The government continues to balance the need for loosening its socialist economic system against a desire for firm political control. In April 2011, the government held the first Cuban Communist Party Congress in almost 13 years, during which leaders approved a plan for wide-ranging economic changes. Since then, the government has slowly and incrementally implemented limited economic reforms, including allowing Cubans to buy electronic appliances and cell phones, stay in hotels, and buy and sell used cars. The government has cut state sector jobs as part of the reform process, and it has opened up some retail services to "self-employment," leading to the rise of so-called "cuentapropistas" or entrepreneurs. More than 500,000 Cuban workers are currently registered as self-employed. The Cuban regime has updated its economic model to include permitting the private ownership and sale of real estate and new vehicles, allowing private farmers to sell agricultural goods directly to hotels, allowing the creation of non-agricultural cooperatives, adopting a new foreign investment law, and launching a "Special Development Zone" around the Mariel port. Since 2016, Cuba has attributed slowed economic growth in part to problems with petroleum product deliveries from Venezuela. Since late 2000, Venezuela provided petroleum products to Cuba on preferential terms, supplying at times nearly 100,000 barrels per day. Cuba paid for the oil, in part, with the services of Cuban personnel in Venezuela, including some 30,000 medical professionals.The government continues to balance the need for loosening its socialist economic system against a desire for firm political control. In April 2011, the government held the first Cuban Communist Party Congress in almost 13 years, during which leaders approved a plan for wide-ranging economic changes. Since then, the government has slowly and incrementally implemented limited economic reforms, including allowing Cubans to buy electronic appliances and cell phones, stay in hotels, and buy and sell used cars. The government has cut state sector jobs as part of the reform process, and it has opened up some retail services to "self-employment," leading to the rise of so-called "cuentapropistas" or entrepreneurs. More than 500,000 Cuban workers are currently registered as self-employed.The Cuban regime has updated its economic model to include permitting the private ownership and sale of real estate and new vehicles, allowing private farmers to sell agricultural goods directly to hotels, allowing the creation of non-agricultural cooperatives, adopting a new foreign investment law, and launching a "Special Development Zone" around the Mariel port.Since 2016, Cuba has attributed slowed economic growth in part to problems with petroleum product deliveries from Venezuela. Since late 2000, Venezuela provided petroleum products to Cuba on preferential terms, supplying at times nearly 100,000 barrels per day. Cuba paid for the oil, in part, with the services of Cuban personnel in Venezuela, including some 30,000 medical professionals. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $137 billion (2017 est.) $134.8 billion (2016 est.) $134.2 billion (2015 est.) note: data are in 2016 US dollars Real GDP growth rate: 1.6% (2017 est.) 0.5% (2016 est.) 4.4% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $12,300 (2016 est.) $12,200 (2015 est.) $12,100 (2014 est.) note: data are in 2016 US dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $93.79 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in Cuban Pesos at 1 CUP = 1 US$; official exchange rate Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.5% (2017 est.) 4.5% (2016 est.) Credit ratings: Moody's rating: Caa2 (2014) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 4% (2017 est.) industry: 22.7% (2017 est.) services: 73.4% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 57% (2017 est.) government consumption: 31.6% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 9.6% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 14.6% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -12.7% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: sugar cane, cassava, vegetables, plantains, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, milk, pumpkins, mangoes/guavas, rice Industries: petroleum, nickel, cobalt, pharmaceuticals, tobacco, construction, steel, cement, agricultural machinery, sugar Industrial production growth rate: -1.2% (2017 est.) Labor force: 4.691 million (2017 est.) note: state sector 72.3%, non-state sector 27.7% Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 18% industry: 10% services: 72% (2016 est.) Unemployment rate: 2.6% (2017 est.) 2.4% (2016 est.) note: data are official rates; unofficial estimates are about double Population below poverty line: NA Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 54.52 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 64.64 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -10.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 47.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 42.7% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 58.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: $985.4 million (2017 est.) $2.008 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $2.63 billion (2017 est.) $2.546 billion (2016 est.) Exports - partners: China 38%, Spain 11%, Netherlands 5%, Germany 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: cigars, raw sugar, nickel products, rum, zinc (2019) Imports: $11.06 billion (2017 est.) $10.28 billion (2016 est.) Imports - partners: Spain 19%, China 15%, Italy 6%, Canada 5%, Russia 5%, United States 5%, Brazil 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: poultry meat, wheat, soybean products, corn, concentrated milk (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $11.35 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $12.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $30.06 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $29.89 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: Cuban pesos (CUP) per US dollar - 1 (2017 est.) 1 (2016 est.) 1 (2015 est.) 1 (2014 est.) 22.7 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 19.28 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 16.16 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 6.998 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 91% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 8% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 50,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 112,400 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 124 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 104,100 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 175,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 24,190 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 52,750 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 1.189 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 1.189 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 70.79 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 1,502,230 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 6,661,763 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 59 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: internet availability has increased substantially over the past few years, but only about 64 percent of Cubans have Internet access, and even fewer Cubans--about 60 percent of the population--have access to cell phone service; in 2021 the Cuban Government passed a decree that strengthened its authority to censor Internet and telephonic communications; state control of the telecom sector hinders development; Cuba has the lowest mobile phone and Internet penetration rates in the region; fixed-line density is also very low; thaw of US-Cuba relations encouraged access to services, such as Wi-Fi hotspots; access to sites is controlled and censored; DSL and Internet are available in Havana, though costs are too high for most Cubans; international investment and agreement to improve Internet access through cost-free and direct connection between networks (2021) domestic: fixed-line density remains low at a little over 13 per 100 inhabitants; mobile-cellular service has expanded to about 59 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 53; the ALBA-1, GTMO-1, and GTMO-PR fiber-optic submarine cables link Cuba, Jamaica, and Venezuela; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) (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: government owns and controls all broadcast media: five national TV channels (Cubavision, Tele Rebelde, Multivision, Educational Channel 1 and 2), two international channels (Cubavision Internacional and Caribe), 16 regional TV stations, 6 national radio networks, and multiple regional stations; the Cuban Government beams over the Radio-TV Marti signal; although private ownership of electronic media is prohibited, several online independent news sites exist; those that are not openly critical of the government are often tolerated; the others are blocked by the government; there are no independent TV channels, but several outlets have created strong audiovisual content (El Toque, for example); a community of young Youtubers is also growing, mostly with channels about sports, technology and fashion; Christian denominations are creating original video content to distribute via social media (2019) Internet country code: .cu Internet users: total: 8,381,696 (2020 est.) percent of population: 74% (2020 est.) note: private citizens are prohibited from buying computers or accessing the Internet without special authorization; foreigners may access the Internet in large hotels but are subject to firewalls; some Cubans buy illegal passwords on the black market or take advantage of public outlets to access limited email and the government-controlled "intranet"; issues relating to COVID-19 impact research into internet adoption, so actual internet user figures may be different than published numbers suggest Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 231,654 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 4 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 18 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 560,754 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 17.76 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: CU Airports: total: 133 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 64 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 27 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 69 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 58 (2021) Pipelines: 41 km gas, 230 km oil (2013) Railways: total: 8,125 km (2017) standard gauge: 8,195 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (124 km electrified) narrow gauge: 172 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge note: As of 2013, 70 km of standard gauge and 12 km of narrow gauge track were not for public use Roadways: total: 71,140 km (2015) paved: 20,000 km (2001) unpaved: 40,000 km (2001) Waterways: 240 km (2011) (almost all navigable inland waterways are near the mouths of rivers) Merchant marine: total: 59 by type: general cargo 12, oil tanker 7, other 40 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Antilla, Cienfuegos, Guantanamo, Havana, Matanzas, Mariel, Nuevitas Bay, Santiago de Cuba Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Revolutionary Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias, FAR): Revolutionary Army (Ejercito Revolucionario, ER), Revolutionary Navy (Marina de Guerra Revolucionaria, MGR, includes Marine Corps), Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Forces (Defensas Anti-Aereas y Fuerza Aerea Revolucionaria, DAAFAR); Paramilitary forces: Youth Labor Army (Ejercito Juvenil del Trabajo, EJT), Territorial Militia Troops (Milicia de Tropas de Territoriales, MTT), Civil Defense Force; Ministry of Interior: Border Guards, State Security, National Revolutionary Police (2022) Military expenditures: 4.2% of GDP (2020 est.) 3.2% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $5.9 billion) 2.9% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $5.6 billion) 2.9% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $5.5 billion) 3.1% of GDP (2016 est.) (approximately $5.5 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: limited available information; estimated 50,000 active personnel (approximately 40,000 Army; 3,000 Navy; 8,000 Air Force) (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Cuban military inventory is comprised of ageing Russian and Soviet-era equipment; the last recorded arms delivery to Cuba was by Russia in 2004; in 2019, Russia approved a loan for approximately $43-50 million for Cuba's purchase of spare parts and armored vehicles (2022) Military service age and obligation: 17-28 years of age for compulsory (men) and volunteer (men and women) military service; 2-year service obligation for men (2021) Military - note: the FAR has a large role in the Cuban economy through several military owned and operated conglomerates, including such sectors as banking, hotels, industry, retail, transportation, and tourism (2022) Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to US and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the facility can terminate the leaseUS Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to US and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the facility can terminate the lease Trafficking in persons: current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Cuba and Cubans abroad; individuals are forced or coerced into participating and threatened to stay in labor export programs, most notably foreign medical missions; sex trafficking and sex tourism occur within Cuba; traffickers exploit Cubans in sex trafficking and forced labor in South America, the Caribbean, Asia, Africa, the Mediterranean, and the US; foreigners from Africa and Asia are subject to sex trafficking and forced labor in Cuba to pay off travel debts; the government uses high school students in some rural areas to harvest crops without pay, claiming that the work is voluntary tier rating: Tier 3 — Cuba does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government made some efforts to investigate, prosecute, and convict sex traffickers and sex tourists and identified and provided assistance to some victims; however, no efforts were made to address forced labor; there was a government policy or pattern to profit from labor export programs with strong indications of forced labor, particularly in foreign medical missions; authorities did not protect potential trafficking victims, leaving them at risk of being detained or charged for crimes their traffickers forced them to commit (2020)Tier 3 — Cuba does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government made some efforts to investigate, prosecute, and convict sex traffickers and sex tourists and identified and provided assistance to some victims; however, no efforts were made to address forced labor; there was a government policy or pattern to profit from labor export programs with strong indications of forced labor, particularly in foreign medical missions; authorities did not protect potential trafficking victims, leaving them at risk of being detained or charged for crimes their traffickers forced them to commit (2020) Illicit drugs: Cuba is not a major consumer, producer, or transit point of illicit drugs; strict policing on smuggling, production and consumption; prescription drug abuse is increasingCuba is not a major consumer, producer, or transit point of illicit drugs; strict policing on smuggling, production and consumption; prescription drug abuse is increasing

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countries-kingman-reef

20220601

countries-greenland

Topic: Photos of Greenland Topic: Introduction Background: Greenland, the world's largest island, is about 80% ice-capped. Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from Iceland; Danish colonization began in the 18th century, and Greenland became an integral part of the Danish Realm in 1953. It joined the European Community (now the EU) with Denmark in 1973 but withdrew in 1985 over a dispute centered on stringent fishing quotas. Greenland remains a member of the Overseas Countries and Territories Association of the EU. Greenland was granted self-government in 1979 by the Danish parliament; the law went into effect the following year. Greenland voted in favor of increased self-rule in November 2008 and acquired greater responsibility for internal affairs when the Act on Greenland Self-Government was signed into law in June 2009. Denmark, however, continues to exercise control over several policy areas on behalf of Greenland, including foreign affairs, security, and financial policy in consultation with Greenland's Self-Rule Government.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada Geographic coordinates: 72 00 N, 40 00 W Map references: Arctic Region Area: total: 2,166,086 sq km land: 2,166,086 sq km (approximately 1,710,000 sq km ice-covered) Area - comparative: slightly more than three times the size of Texas Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 44,087 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line Climate: arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters Terrain: flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast Elevation: highest point: Gunnbjorn Fjeld 3,694 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 1,792 m Natural resources: coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, diamonds, gold, platinum, niobium, tantalite, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas Land use: agricultural land: 0.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 0% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.6% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 99.4% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: NA Population distribution: settlement concentrated on the southwest shoreline, with limited settlements scattered along the remaining coast; interior is uninhabited Natural hazards: continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island Geography - note: dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast; close to one-quarter of the population lives in the capital, Nuuk; world's second largest ice sheet after that of Antarctica covering an area of 1.71 million sq km (660,000 sq mi) or about 79% of the island, and containing 2.85 million cu km (684 thousand cu mi) of ice (this is almost 7% 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 7.2 m (24 ft) Map description: Greenland map showing the massive island that makes up this part of Denmark in the North Atlantic Ocean.Greenland map showing the massive island that makes up this part of Denmark in the North Atlantic Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 57,792 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Greenlander(s) adjective: Greenlandic Ethnic groups: Greenlandic 89.1%, Danish 7.5%, other Nordic peoples 0.9%, and other 2.5% (2022 est.) note: data represent population by country of birth Languages: Greenlandic (West Greenlandic or Kalaallisut is the official language), Danish, English Religions: Evangelical Lutheran, traditional Inuit spiritual beliefs Age structure: 0-14 years: 20.82% (male 6,079/female 5,916) 15-24 years: 14.45% (male 4,186/female 4,137) 25-54 years: 39.72% (male 11,962/female 10,921) 55-64 years: 14.66% (male 4,561/female 3,886) 65 years and over: 10.36% (2020 est.) (male 3,170/female 2,798) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Median age: total: 34.3 years male: 35.1 years female: 33.4 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -0.02% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 13.79 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 8.96 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: settlement concentrated on the southwest shoreline, with limited settlements scattered along the remaining coast; interior is uninhabited Urbanization: urban population: 87.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 18,000 NUUK (capital) (2018) 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: 1.08 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 8.75 deaths/1,000 live births male: 10.25 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.98 years male: 71.28 years female: 76.82 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.91 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: NA Physicians density: 1.87 physicians/1,000 population (2016) Hospital bed density: 14 beds/1,000 population (2016) 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 Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 10.6% of GDP (2018) NA Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (2015) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: especially vulnerable to climate change and disruption of the Arctic environment; preservation of the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting Air pollutants: carbon dioxide emissions: 0.51 megatons (2016 est.) Climate: arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters Land use: agricultural land: 0.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 0% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.6% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 99.4% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 87.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.41% 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: 50,000 tons (2010 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Greenland local long form: none local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat note: named by Norwegian adventurer Erik THORVALDSSON (Erik the Red) in A.D. 985 in order to entice settlers to the island Government type: parliamentary democracy (Parliament of Greenland or Inatsisartut) Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979 Capital: name: Nuuk (Godthaab) geographic coordinates: 64 11 N, 51 45 W time difference: UTC-3 (2 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: Greenland has four time zones etymology: "nuuk" is the Inuit word for "cape" and refers to the city's position at the end of the Nuup Kangerlua fjord Administrative divisions: 5 municipalities (kommuner, singular kommune); Avannaata, Kujalleq, Qeqertalik, Qeqqata, Sermersooq note: Northeast Greenland National Park (Kalaallit Nunaanni Nuna Eqqissisimatitaq) and the Thule Air Base in Pituffik (in northwest Greenland) are two unincorporated areas; the national park's 972,000 sq km - about 46% of the island - makes it the largest national park in the world and also the most northerly Independence: none (extensive self-rule as part of the Kingdom of Denmark; foreign affairs is the responsibility of Denmark, but Greenland actively participates in international agreements relating to Greenland) National holiday: National Day, June 21; note - marks the summer solstice and the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere Constitution: history: previous 1953 (Greenland established as a constituency in the Danish constitution), 1979 (Greenland Home Rule Act); latest 21 June 2009 (Greenland Self-Government Act) (2021) Legal system: the laws of Denmark apply where applicable and Greenlandic law applies to other areas 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 Mikaela ENGELL (since April 2011) head of government: Premier Mute B. EGEDE (since 23 April 2021) cabinet: Self-rule Government (Naalakkersuisut) elected by the Parliament (Inatsisartut) on the basis of the strength of parties elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; premier indirectly elected by Parliament for a 4-year term election results: Kim KIELSEN elected premier; Parliament vote - Kim KIELSEN (S) 27.2%, Sara OLSVIG (IA) 25.5%, Randi Vestergaard EVALDSEN (D) 19.5%, other 27.8% Legislative branch: description: unicameral Parliament or Inatsisartut (31 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote  - using the d'Hondt method - to serve 4-year terms) Greenland elects 2 members to the Danish Parliament to serve 4-year terms elections: Greenland Parliament - last held on 6 April 2021 (next to be held in 2025) Greenland members to Danish Parliament - last held on 5 June 2019 (next to be held by 4 June 2023) election results: Greenland Parliament - percent of vote by party - IA 36.6%, S 29.5%, N 12%, D 9.1%, A 6.9%, other 3.8%; seats by party - IA 12, S 10, PN 4, D 3, A 2; composition - men 21, women 10, percent of women 32.2% Greenland members in Danish Parliament - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - IA 1, S 1; composition - 2 women Judicial branch: highest courts: High Court of Greenland (consists of the presiding professional judge and 2 lay assessors); note - appeals beyond the High Court of Greenland can be heard by the Supreme Court (in Copenhagen) judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the monarch upon the recommendation of the Judicial Appointments Council, a 6-member independent body of judges and lawyers; judges appointed for life with retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: Court of Greenland; 18 district or magistrates' courts Political parties and leaders: Democrats Party (Demokraatit) or D [Jens Frederik NIELSEN] Forward Party (Siumut) or S [Erik JENSEN] Inuit Community (Inuit Ataqatigiit) or IA [Mute Bourup EGEDE] Signpost Party (Partii Naleraq) or N [Hans ENOKSEN] Fellowship Party (Atassut) or A [Aqqalu JERIMIASSEN] International organization participation: Arctic Council, ICC, NC, NIB, UPU Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Kenneth HOEGH, Head of Representation; note - Greenland also has offices in the Danish consulates in Chicago and New York chancery: Greenland Representation 3200 Whitehaven Street, NW Washington, DC  20008 telephone: 202-797-5392 email address and website: washington@nanoq.gl https://naalakkersuisut.gl/en/Naalakkersuisut/Groenlands-repraesentation-Washington Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Joanie SIMON, Consul (since June 2021) embassy: Aalisartut Aqqutaa 47 Nuuk 3900 Greenland telephone: (+299) 384100 email address and website: https://dk.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulate/nuuk/ Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a large disk slightly to the hoist side of center - the top half of the disk is red, the bottom half is white; the design represents the sun reflecting off a field of ice; the colors are the same as those of the Danish flag and symbolize Greenland's links to the Kingdom of Denmark National symbol(s): polar bear; national colors: red, white National anthem: name: "Nunarput utoqqarsuanngoravit" ("Our Country, Who's Become So Old" also translated as "You Our Ancient Land") lyrics/music: Henrik LUND/Jonathan PETERSEN note: adopted 1916; the government also recognizes "Nuna asiilasooq" as a secondary anthem National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural); note - excerpted from the Denmark entry selected World Heritage Site locales: Ilulissat Icefjord (n); Kujataa, Norse and Inuit Farming (c); Aasivissuit–Nipisat, Inuit Hunting Ground (c) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Greenland’s economy depends on exports of shrimp and fish, and on a substantial subsidy from the Danish Government. Fish account for over 90% of its exports, subjecting the economy to price fluctuations. The subsidy from the Danish Government is budgeted to be about $535 million in 2017, more than 50% of government revenues, and 25% of GDP.   The economy is expanding after a period of decline. The economy contracted between 2012 and 2014, grew by 1.7% in 2015 and by 7.7%in 2016. The expansion has been driven by larger quotas for shrimp, the predominant Greenlandic export, and also by increased activity in the construction sector, especially in Nuuk, the capital. Private consumption and tourism also are contributing to GDP growth more than in previous years. Tourism in Greenland grew annually around 20% in 2015 and 2016, largely a result of increasing numbers of cruise lines now operating in Greenland's western and southern waters during the peak summer tourism season.   The public sector, including publicly owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays a dominant role in Greenland's economy. During the last decade the Greenland Self Rule Government pursued conservative fiscal and monetary policies, but public pressure has increased for better schools, health care, and retirement systems. The budget was in deficit in 2014 and 2016, but public debt remains low at about 5% of GDP. The government plans a balanced budget for the 2017–20 period.   Significant challenges face the island, including low levels of qualified labor, geographic dispersion, lack of industry diversification, the long-term sustainability of the public budget, and a declining population due to emigration. Hydrocarbon exploration has ceased with declining oil prices. The island has potential for natural resource exploitation with rare-earth, uranium, and iron ore mineral projects proposed, but a lack of infrastructure hinders development.Greenland’s economy depends on exports of shrimp and fish, and on a substantial subsidy from the Danish Government. Fish account for over 90% of its exports, subjecting the economy to price fluctuations. The subsidy from the Danish Government is budgeted to be about $535 million in 2017, more than 50% of government revenues, and 25% of GDP. The economy is expanding after a period of decline. The economy contracted between 2012 and 2014, grew by 1.7% in 2015 and by 7.7%in 2016. The expansion has been driven by larger quotas for shrimp, the predominant Greenlandic export, and also by increased activity in the construction sector, especially in Nuuk, the capital. Private consumption and tourism also are contributing to GDP growth more than in previous years. Tourism in Greenland grew annually around 20% in 2015 and 2016, largely a result of increasing numbers of cruise lines now operating in Greenland's western and southern waters during the peak summer tourism season. The public sector, including publicly owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays a dominant role in Greenland's economy. During the last decade the Greenland Self Rule Government pursued conservative fiscal and monetary policies, but public pressure has increased for better schools, health care, and retirement systems. The budget was in deficit in 2014 and 2016, but public debt remains low at about 5% of GDP. The government plans a balanced budget for the 2017–20 period. Significant challenges face the island, including low levels of qualified labor, geographic dispersion, lack of industry diversification, the long-term sustainability of the public budget, and a declining population due to emigration. Hydrocarbon exploration has ceased with declining oil prices. The island has potential for natural resource exploitation with rare-earth, uranium, and iron ore mineral projects proposed, but a lack of infrastructure hinders development. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $2.413 billion (2015 est.) $2.24 billion (2014 est.) $2.203 billion (2013 est.) note: data are in 2015 US dollars Real GDP growth rate: 7.7% (2016 est.) 1.7% (2015 est.) -0.8% (2014 est.) Real GDP per capita: $41,800 (2015 est.) $38,800 (2014 est.) $38,500 (2013 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $2.221 billion (2015 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.3% (January 2017 est.) 1.2% (January 2016 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 15.9% (2015 est.) industry: 10.1% (2015 est.) services: 73.9% (2015) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 68.1% (2015 est.) government consumption: 28% (2015 est.) investment in fixed capital: 14.3% (2015 est.) investment in inventories: -13.9% (2015 est.) exports of goods and services: 18.2% (2015 est.) imports of goods and services: -28.6% (2015 est.) Agricultural products: sheep, cattle, reindeer, fish, shellfish Industries: fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut); anorthosite and ruby mining; handicrafts, hides and skins, small shipyards Industrial production growth rate: NA Labor force: 26,840 (2015 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 15.9% industry: 10.1% services: 73.9% (2015 est.) Unemployment rate: 9.1% (2015 est.) 10.3% (2014 est.) Population below poverty line: 16.2% (2015 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 33.9 (2015 est.) 34.3 (2014 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 1.719 billion (2016 est.) expenditures: 1.594 billion (2016 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 5.6% (of GDP) (2016 est.) Public debt: 13% of GDP (2015 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 77.4% (of GDP) (2016 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Exports: $407.1 million (2015 est.) $599.7 million (2014 est.) Exports - partners: Denmark 55%, China 22%, Japan 6% (2019) Exports - commodities: fish, crustaceans, fishing ships (2019) Imports: $783.5 million (2015 est.) $866.1 million (2014 est.) Imports - partners: Denmark 51%, Spain 23%, Sweden 12%, Iceland 7% (2019) Imports - commodities: fishing ships, refined petroleum, construction vehicles, crustaceans, delivery trucks (2019) Debt - external: $36.4 million (2010) $58 million (2009) Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 6.586 (2017 est.) 6.7309 (2016 est.) 6.7309 (2015 est.) 6.7326 (2014 est.) 5.6125 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 538 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 468 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 187,000 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 51% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 49% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 0% 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: 4,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 3,973 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: 6,352 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 61,656 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 108.8 (2019 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: adequate domestic and international service provided by satellite, cables, and microwave radio relay; the fundamental telecommunications infrastructure consists of a digital radio link from Nanortalik in south Greenland to Uummannaq in north Greenland; satellites cover north and east Greenland for domestic and foreign telecommunications; a marine cable connects south and west Greenland to the rest of the world, extending from Nuuk and Qaqortoq to Canada and Iceland (2018) domestic: nearly 13 per 100 for fixed-line subscriptions and 109 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2019) international: country code - 299; landing points for Greenland Connect, Greenland Connect North, Nunavut Undersea Fiber System submarine cables to Greenland, Iceland, and Canada; satellite earth stations - 15 (12 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 2 Americom GE-2 (all 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 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: the Greenland Broadcasting Company provides public radio and TV services throughout the island with a broadcast station and a series of repeaters; a few private local TV and radio stations; Danish public radio rebroadcasts are available (2019) Internet country code: .gl Internet users: total: 39,358 (2019 est.) percent of population: 70% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 15,649 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (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: 8 (registered in Denmark) Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: OY-H Airports: total: 15 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 6 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2021) Roadways: note: although there are short roads in towns, there are no roads between towns; inter-urban transport is either by sea or by airnote: although there are short roads in towns, there are no roads between towns; inter-urban transport is either by sea or by air Merchant marine: total: 8 by type: other 8 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Sisimiut Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: no regular military forces or conscription Military - note: the Danish military’s Joint Arctic Command in Nuuk is responsible for the defense of Greenland Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: managed dispute between Canada and Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Canada's Ellesmere Island and Greenland; Denmark (Greenland) and Norway have made submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) and Russia is collecting additional data to augment its 2001 CLCS submissionmanaged dispute between Canada and Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Canada's Ellesmere Island and Greenland; Denmark (Greenland) and Norway have made submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) and Russia is collecting additional data to augment its 2001 CLCS submission

20220601

field-industrial-production-growth-rate-country-comparison

20220601

countries-marshall-islands

Topic: Photos of Marshall Islands Topic: Introduction Background: Humans arrived in the Marshall Islands in the first millennium B.C. and gradually created permanent settlements on the various atolls. The early inhabitants were skilled navigators who frequently traveled between atolls using stick charts to map the islands. Society became organized under two paramount chiefs, one each for the Ratak (Sunrise) Chain and the Ralik (Sunset) Chain. The traditional hierarchy continued even after contact with Europeans in the early 1500s. Spain formally claimed the islands in 1592, but few other Europeans passed by the islands in the next two centuries. In 1788, British sea captain John MARSHALL undertook an exploratory voyage, and the islands were mapped in the early 1800s by Russian explorers. In the 1850s, US Protestant missionaries began arriving on the islands. Germany established a supply station on Jaluit Atoll and bought the islands from Spain in 1884, although paramount chiefs continued to rule. Japan seized the Marshall Islands in 1914 and was granted a League of Nations Mandate to administer the islands in 1920. Japan built large military bases throughout the Marshall Islands, and during World War II, the US captured the bases on Kwajalein, Enewetak, and Majuro Atolls in Operations Flintlock and Catchpole. The Marshall Islands came under US administration as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) in 1947. Between 1946 and 1958, the US resettled populations from Bikini and Enewetak Atolls and conducted 67 nuclear tests; people from Ailinginae and Rongelap Atolls were also evacuated because of nuclear fallout, and all four atolls remain largely uninhabited. In 1979, the Marshall Islands drafted a constitution separate from the rest of the TTPI and declared independence under President Amata KABUA, a paramount chief. In 2000, Kessai NOTE became the first commoner elected president. In 2016, Hilda HEINE was the first woman elected president. In 1982, the Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the US, which granted the Marshall Islands financial assistance and access to many US domestic programs in exchange for exclusive US military access and defense responsibilities; the COFA entered into force in 1986 and its funding was renewed in 2003. The Marshall Islands hosts the US Army Kwajalein Atoll Reagan Missile Test Site, a key installation in the US missile defense network. Kwajalein also hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system (the others are at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US), on Ascension (Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha), and at Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory)).Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Oceania, consists of 29 atolls and five isolated islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia; the atolls and islands are situated in two, almost-parallel island chains - the Ratak (Sunrise) group and the Ralik (Sunset) group; the total number of islands and islets is about 1,225; 22 of the atolls and four of the islands are uninhabited Geographic coordinates: 9 00 N, 168 00 E Map references: Oceania Area: total: 181 sq km land: 181 sq km water: 0 sq km note: the archipelago includes 11,673 sq km of lagoon waters and encompasses the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, Majuro, Rongelap, and Utirik Area - comparative: about the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 370.4 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November; islands border typhoon belt Terrain: low coral limestone and sand islands Elevation: highest point: East-central Airik Island, Maloelap Atoll 14 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 2 m Natural resources: coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals Land use: agricultural land: 50.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 7.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 31.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 11.7% (2018 est.) forest: 49.3% (2018 est.) other: 0% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012) Population distribution: most people live in urban clusters found on many of the country's islands; more than two-thirds of the population lives on the atolls of Majuro and Ebeye Natural hazards: infrequent typhoons Geography - note: the islands of Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein atoll, famous as a World War II battleground, surrounds the world's largest lagoon and is used as a US missile test range; the island city of Ebeye is the second largest settlement in the Marshall Islands, after the capital of Majuro, and one of the most densely populated locations in the Pacific Map description: Marshall Islands map showing the major islands of this archipelagic country in the North Pacific Ocean.Marshall Islands map showing the major islands of this archipelagic country in the North Pacific Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 79,906 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Marshallese (singular and plural) adjective: Marshallese Ethnic groups: Marshallese 92.1%, mixed Marshallese 5.9%, other 2% (2006 est.) Languages: Marshallese (official) 98.2%, other languages 1.8% (1999 est.) major-language sample(s): Bok eo an Lalin kin Melele ko Rejimwe ej jikin ebōk melele ko raurōk. (Marshallese) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: English (official), widely spoken as a second language Bok eo an Lalin kin Melele ko Rejimwe ej jikin ebōk melele ko raurōk. (Marshallese) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. 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.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 32.94% (male 13,090/female 12,575) 15-24 years: 19.09% (male 7,568/female 7,308) 25-54 years: 37.35% (male 14,834/female 14,270) 55-64 years: 5.92% (male 2,269/female 2,341) 65 years and over: 4.7% (2020 est.) (male 1,805/female 1,857) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Median age: total: 23.8 years male: 23.6 years female: 23.9 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 1.34% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 22 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 4.28 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -4.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: most people live in urban clusters found on many of the country's islands; more than two-thirds of the population lives on the atolls of Majuro and Ebeye Urbanization: urban population: 78.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 31,000 MAJURO (capital) (2018) 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: 1.05 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 21.66 deaths/1,000 live births male: 25.19 deaths/1,000 live births female: 17.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.65 years male: 72.4 years female: 77.01 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.76 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 99.8% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0.2% of population total: 0% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 16.3% (2019) Physicians density: 0.42 physicians/1,000 population (2012) Hospital bed density: 2.7 beds/1,000 population Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 96.6% of population rural: 65.4% of population total: 89.7% of population unimproved: urban: 3.4% of population rural: 34.6% of population total: 10.3% 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 Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 52.9% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 11.9% (2017) Education expenditures: 9.6% of GDP (2019) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.3% male: 98.3% female: 98.2% (2011) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 10 years male: 10 years female: 10 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 26% male: 31% female: 14.2% (2019 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels; sea level rise Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate 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.) Climate: tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November; islands border typhoon belt Land use: agricultural land: 50.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 7.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 31.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 11.7% (2018 est.) forest: 49.3% (2018 est.) other: 0% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 78.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.61% 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: 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.) Total renewable water resources: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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 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 geographic coordinates: 7 06 N, 171 23 E time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: Majuro means "two openings" or "two eyes" and refers to the two major northern passages through the atoll into the Majuro lagoon Administrative divisions: 24 municipalities; Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur, Bikini & Kili, Ebon, Enewetak & Ujelang, Jabat, Jaluit, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili, Namorik, Namu, Rongelap, Ujae, Utrik, Wotho, Wotje Independence: 21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship) National holiday: Constitution Day, 1 May (1979) Constitution: history: effective 1 May 1979 amendments: proposed by the National Parliament or by a constitutional convention; passage by Parliament requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership in each of two readings and approval by a majority of votes in a referendum; amendments submitted by a constitutional convention require approval of at least two thirds of votes in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2018 Legal system: mixed legal system of US and English common law, customary law, and local statutes 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 the Marshall Islands dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal 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) cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president from among members of the Nitijela, appointed by Nitijela speaker elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the Nitijela from among its members for a 4-year term (no term limits); election last held on 6 January 2020 (next to be held in 2024) election results: David KABUA elected president; Parliament vote - David KABUA 20, Hilda C. HEINE 12 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 elections: last held on 18 November 2019 (next to be held by November 2023) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 33 Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices) judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the Cabinet upon the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission (consists of the chief justice of the High Court, the attorney general and a private citizen selected by the Cabinet) and upon approval of the Nitijela; the current chief justice, appointed in 2013, serves for 10 years; Marshallese citizens appointed as justices serve until retirement at age 72 subordinate courts: High Court; District Courts; Traditional Rights Court; Community Courts Political parties and leaders: traditionally there have been no formally organized political parties; what has existed more closely resembles factions or interest groups because they do not have party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Gerald M. ZACKIOS (since 16 September 2016) chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414 FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236 email address and website: info@rmiembassyus.org https://www.rmiembassyus.org/ consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Springdale (AR) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Roxanne CABRAL (since 6 February 2020) embassy: Mejen Weto, Ocean Side, Majuro mailing address: 4380 Majuro Place, Washington DC  20521-4380 telephone: [692] 247-4011 FAX: [692] 247-4012 email address and website: MAJConsular@state.gov https://mh.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner - orange (top) and white; a white star with four large rays and 20 small rays appears on the hoist side above the two stripes; blue represents the Pacific Ocean, the orange stripe signifies the Ralik Chain or sunset and courage, while the white stripe signifies the Ratak Chain or sunrise and peace; the star symbolizes the cross of Christianity, each of the 24 rays designates one of the electoral districts in the country and the four larger rays highlight the principal cultural centers of Majuro, Jaluit, Wotje, and Ebeye; the rising diagonal band can also be interpreted as representing the equator, with the star showing the archipelago's position just to the north National symbol(s): a 24-rayed star; national colors: blue, white, orange National anthem: name: Forever Marshall Islands lyrics/music: Amata KABUA note: adopted 1981 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Bikini Atoll Nuclear Test Site Topic: Economy Economic overview: US assistance and lease payments for the use of Kwajalein Atoll as a US military base are the mainstay of this small island country. Agricultural production, primarily subsistence, is concentrated on small farms; the most important commercial crops are coconuts and breadfruit. Industry is limited to handicrafts, tuna processing, and copra. Tourism holds some potential. The islands and atolls have few natural resources, and imports exceed exports.   The Marshall Islands received roughly $1 billion in aid from the US during the period 1986-2001 under the original Compact of Free Association (Compact). In 2002 and 2003, the US and the Marshall Islands renegotiated the Compact's financial package for a 20-year period, 2004 to 2024. Under the amended Compact, the Marshall Islands will receive roughly $1.5 billion in direct US assistance. Under the amended Compact, the US and Marshall Islands are also jointly funding a Trust Fund for the people of the Marshall Islands that will provide an income stream beyond 2024, when direct Compact aid ends.US assistance and lease payments for the use of Kwajalein Atoll as a US military base are the mainstay of this small island country. Agricultural production, primarily subsistence, is concentrated on small farms; the most important commercial crops are coconuts and breadfruit. Industry is limited to handicrafts, tuna processing, and copra. Tourism holds some potential. The islands and atolls have few natural resources, and imports exceed exports. The Marshall Islands received roughly $1 billion in aid from the US during the period 1986-2001 under the original Compact of Free Association (Compact). In 2002 and 2003, the US and the Marshall Islands renegotiated the Compact's financial package for a 20-year period, 2004 to 2024. Under the amended Compact, the Marshall Islands will receive roughly $1.5 billion in direct US assistance. Under the amended Compact, the US and Marshall Islands are also jointly funding a Trust Fund for the people of the Marshall Islands that will provide an income stream beyond 2024, when direct Compact aid ends. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $240 million (2019 est.) $220 million (2018 est.) $219 million (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 2.5% (2017 est.) 3.6% (2016 est.) 2% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $4,000 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $3,800 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $3,776 (2017 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $222 million (2017 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0% (2017 est.) -1.5% (2016 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 4.4% (2013 est.) industry: 9.9% (2013 est.) services: 85.7% (2013 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption: 50% (2016 est.) investment in fixed capital: 17.8% (2016 est.) investment in inventories: 0.2% (2016 est.) exports of goods and services: 52.9% (2016 est.) imports of goods and services: -102.3% (2016 est.) Agricultural products: coconuts Industries: copra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items (from seashells, wood, and pearls) Industrial production growth rate: NA Labor force: 10,670 (2013 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 11% industry: 16.3% services: 72.7% (2011 est.) Unemployment rate: 36% (2006 est.) 30.9% (2000 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 26% male: 31% female: 14.2% (2019 est.) Population below poverty line: NA Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 116.7 million (2013 est.) expenditures: 113.9 million (2013 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 1.3% (of GDP) (2013 est.) Public debt: 25.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 30% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 52.6% (of GDP) (2013 est.) Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September Current account balance: -$1 million (2017 est.) $15 million (2016 est.) Exports: $130 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars 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.) note: data are in current year dollars $103.8 million (2016 est.) Imports - partners: South Korea 39%, China 27%, Japan 15% (2019) Imports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, centrifuges, recreational boats, boat propellers (2019) Debt - external: $97.96 million (2013 est.) $87 million (2008 est.) Exchange rates: the US dollar is usedthe US dollar is used Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 96.3% (2018) electrification - urban areas: 95.7% (2018) electrification - rural areas: 98.4% (2018) Electricity - production: 650 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 604.5 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 52,000 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 81% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 19% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2017 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: 2,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 2,060 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.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 2,361 (2018 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2018 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 16,000 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 27.56 (2019 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: some telecom infrastructure improvements made in recent years; modern services include fiber optic cable service, cellular, Internet, international calling, caller ID, and leased data circuits; the US Government, World Bank, UN and International Telecommunication Union (ITU), have aided in improvements and monetary aid to the islands telecom; mobile penetrations is around 30%; radio communication is especially vital to remote islands (2018) domestic: Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular, seven-digit, direct-dial telephones; other islands interconnected by high frequency radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes) and mini-satellite telephones; fixed-line roughly 4 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular is nearly 28 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 692; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein 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: no TV broadcast station; a cable network is available on Majuro with programming via videotape replay and satellite relays; 4 radio broadcast stations; American Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) provides satellite radio and television service to Kwajalein Atoll (2019) Internet country code: .mh Internet users: total: 22,929 (2019 est.) percent of population: 39% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 1,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1.7 (2020 est.) Communications - note: Kwajalein hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system (the others are at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US), on Ascension (Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha), and at Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory)) 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: 24,313 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 130,000 (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: V7 Airports: total: 15 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Roadways: total: 2,028 km (2007) paved: 75 km (2007) unpaved: 1,953 km Merchant marine: total: 3,817 by type: bulk carrier 1,733, container ship 248, general cargo 66, oil tanker 970, other 800 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Enitwetak Island, Kwajalein, Majuro Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: no regular military forces; the national police (Marshall Islands Police Department, MIPD), local police forces, and the Sea Patrol (maritime police) maintain internal security; the MIPD and Sea Patrol report to the Ministry of Justice; local police report to their respective local government councils Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: claims US territory of Wake Islandclaims US territory of Wake Island Trafficking in persons: current situation: The Marshall Islands are a destination country for women from East Asia subjected to sex trafficking; foreign women are reportedly forced into prostitution in bars frequented by crew members of fishing vessels; some Chinese women are recruited to the Marshall Islands with promises of legitimate work and are subsequently forced into prostitution; wealthy or powerful families use traditional cultural practices to exploit impoverished Marshallese from outer islands as indentured laborers on their property; Marshallese children are transported to the United States and subjected to sexual abuse tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the Marshall Islands does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; efforts include its first trafficking prosecution since 2011 and opening an investigation into an immigration official for alleged trafficking complicity; however, no efforts were made to identify trafficking victims and no assistance was provided to victims; the government has not convicted any traffickers since 2011 (2020)

20220601

countries-nicaragua-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to Nicaragua due to COVID-19. Reconsider travel due to limited healthcare availability and arbitrary enforcement of laws. Exercise increased caution in Nicaragua due to crime. 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 30 days. You must purchase a tourist card for $10 USD at the airport (exact change recommended), valid for up to a total of 90 days. US Embassy/Consulate: +(505) 2252-7100; US Embassy Managua, Km 5 ½ Carretera Sur, Managua, Nicaragua; ACS.Managua@state.gov; https://ni.usembassy.gov/ Telephone Code: 505 Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 128; Fire: 115, 911; Police: 118 Vaccinations: Travelers must show proof of yellow fever vaccination administered at least 10 days before travel in order to be permitted entry to Nicaragua. See WHO recommendations. http://www.who.int/ Climate: Tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands Currency (Code): Cordobas (NIO) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 120 V / 60 Hz / plug types(s): A, B Major Languages: Spanish, Miskito, Mestizo Major Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Evangelical 33.2%, other 2.9%, unspecified 13.2% Time Difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Potable Water: Yes, but some opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested; additionally, if you plan to drive in Nicaragua, you will need an Inter-American Driving Permit issued by the AAA Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Somoto Canyon; Masaya Volcano National Park; Cerro Mogotón; Isla Ometepe; Cerro Negro; Pearl Cays; Bosawas Biosphere Reserve Major Sports: Soccer, baseball, boxing Cultural Practices: Pointing is accomplished with the lips - pucker the lips and raise the chin briefly in the direction you are pointing to. Tipping Guidelines: Leaving a 8-10% tip at restaurants is appropriate. Tipping a porter 50 cents (USD), a doorman $1-2 (USD), and hotel housekeeping $1 (USD) per day is common.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, March 22, 2022

20220601

countries-nepal

Topic: Photos of Nepal Topic: Introduction Background: During the late 18th-early 19th centuries, the principality of Gorkha united many of the other principalities and states of the sub-Himalayan region into a Nepali Kingdom. Nepal retained its independence following the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814-16 and the subsequent peace treaty laid the foundations for two centuries of amicable relations between Britain and Nepal. (The Brigade of Gurkhas continues to serve in the British Army to the present day.) In 1951, the Nepali monarch ended the century-old system of rule by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system that brought political parties into the government. That arrangement lasted until 1960, when political parties were again banned, but was reinstated in 1990 with the establishment of a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. An insurgency led by Maoists broke out in 1996. During the ensuing 10-year civil war between Maoist and government forces, the monarchy dissolved the cabinet and parliament and re-assumed absolute power in 2002, after the crown prince massacred the royal family in 2001. A peace accord in 2006 led to the promulgation of an interim constitution in 2007. Following a nationwide Constituent Assembly (CA) election in 2008, the newly formed CA declared Nepal a federal democratic republic, abolished the monarchy, and elected the country's first president. After the CA failed to draft a constitution by a 2012 deadline set by the Supreme Court, then-Prime Minister Baburam BHATTARAI dissolved the CA. Months of negotiations ensued until 2013 when the major political parties agreed to create an interim government headed by then-Chief Justice Khil Raj REGMI with a mandate to hold elections for a new CA. Elections were held in 2013, in which the Nepali Congress (NC) won the largest share of seats in the CA and in 2014 formed a coalition government with the second-place Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML) with NC President Sushil KOIRALA serving as prime minister. Nepal's new constitution came into effect in 2015, at which point the CA became the Parliament. Khagda Prasad Sharma OLI served as the first post-constitution prime minister from 2015 to 2016. OLI resigned ahead of a no-confidence motion against him, and Parliament elected Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) leader Pushpa Kamal DAHAL (aka "Prachanda") prime minister. The constitution provided for a transitional period during which three sets of elections – local, provincial, and national – needed to take place. The first local elections in 20 years occurred in three phases between May and September 2017, and state and federal elections proceeded in two phases in November and December 2017. The parties headed by OLI and DAHAL ran in coalition and swept the parliamentary elections, and OLI, who led the larger of the two parties, was sworn in as prime minister in February 2018. In May 2018, OLI and DAHAL announced the merger of their parties - the UML and CPN-M - to establish the Nepal Communist Party (NCP), which headed the government for roughly two years before infighting led the party to split. OLI from late 2020 sought to dissolve parliament and hold elections. The supreme court in July 2021 declared OLI's efforts unconstitutional and called for an appointment of the opposition-supported, NC leader Sher Bahadur DEUBA as prime minister.  During the late 18th-early 19th centuries, the principality of Gorkha united many of the other principalities and states of the sub-Himalayan region into a Nepali Kingdom. Nepal retained its independence following the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814-16 and the subsequent peace treaty laid the foundations for two centuries of amicable relations between Britain and Nepal. (The Brigade of Gurkhas continues to serve in the British Army to the present day.) In 1951, the Nepali monarch ended the century-old system of rule by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system that brought political parties into the government. That arrangement lasted until 1960, when political parties were again banned, but was reinstated in 1990 with the establishment of a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy.An insurgency led by Maoists broke out in 1996. During the ensuing 10-year civil war between Maoist and government forces, the monarchy dissolved the cabinet and parliament and re-assumed absolute power in 2002, after the crown prince massacred the royal family in 2001. A peace accord in 2006 led to the promulgation of an interim constitution in 2007. Following a nationwide Constituent Assembly (CA) election in 2008, the newly formed CA declared Nepal a federal democratic republic, abolished the monarchy, and elected the country's first president. After the CA failed to draft a constitution by a 2012 deadline set by the Supreme Court, then-Prime Minister Baburam BHATTARAI dissolved the CA. Months of negotiations ensued until 2013 when the major political parties agreed to create an interim government headed by then-Chief Justice Khil Raj REGMI with a mandate to hold elections for a new CA. Elections were held in 2013, in which the Nepali Congress (NC) won the largest share of seats in the CA and in 2014 formed a coalition government with the second-place Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML) with NC President Sushil KOIRALA serving as prime minister. Nepal's new constitution came into effect in 2015, at which point the CA became the Parliament. Khagda Prasad Sharma OLI served as the first post-constitution prime minister from 2015 to 2016. OLI resigned ahead of a no-confidence motion against him, and Parliament elected Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) leader Pushpa Kamal DAHAL (aka "Prachanda") prime minister. The constitution provided for a transitional period during which three sets of elections – local, provincial, and national – needed to take place. The first local elections in 20 years occurred in three phases between May and September 2017, and state and federal elections proceeded in two phases in November and December 2017. The parties headed by OLI and DAHAL ran in coalition and swept the parliamentary elections, and OLI, who led the larger of the two parties, was sworn in as prime minister in February 2018. In May 2018, OLI and DAHAL announced the merger of their parties - the UML and CPN-M - to establish the Nepal Communist Party (NCP), which headed the government for roughly two years before infighting led the party to split. OLI from late 2020 sought to dissolve parliament and hold elections. The supreme court in July 2021 declared OLI's efforts unconstitutional and called for an appointment of the opposition-supported, NC leader Sher Bahadur DEUBA as prime minister. Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southern Asia, between China and India Geographic coordinates: 28 00 N, 84 00 E Map references: Asia Area: total: 147,181 sq km land: 143,351 sq km water: 3,830 sq km Area - comparative: slightly larger than New York state Land boundaries: total: 3,159 km border countries (2): China 1,389 km; India 1,770 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south Terrain: Tarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south; central hill region with rugged Himalayas in north Elevation: highest point: Mount Everest (highest peak in Asia and highest point on earth above sea level) 8,849 m lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m mean elevation: 2,565 m Natural resources: quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore Land use: agricultural land: 28.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 15.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 12.5% (2018 est.) forest: 25.4% (2018 est.) other: 45.8% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 13,320 sq km (2012) Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage: Brahmaputra (651,335 sq km), Ganges (1,016,124 sq km), Indus (1,081,718 sq km) Major aquifers: Indus-Ganges-Brahmaputra Basin Population distribution: most of the population is divided nearly equally between a concentration in the southern-most plains of the Tarai region and the central hilly region; overall density is quite low Natural hazards: severe thunderstorms; flooding; landslides; drought and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons Geography - note: landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga - the world's tallest and third tallest mountains - on the borders with China and India respectively Map description: Nepal map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries – China to the north, India to the south.Nepal map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries – China to the north, India to the south. Topic: People and Society Population: 30,666,598 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Nepali (singular and plural) adjective: Nepali Ethnic groups: Chhettri 16.6%, Brahman-Hill 12.2%, Magar 7.1%, Tharu 6.6%, Tamang 5.8%, Newar 5%, Kami 4.8%, Muslim 4.4%, Yadav 4%, Rai 2.3%, Gurung 2%, Damai/Dholii 1.8%, Thakuri 1.6%, Limbu 1.5%, Sarki 1.4%, Teli 1.4%, Chamar/Harijan/Ram 1.3%, Koiri/Kushwaha 1.2%, other 19% (2011 est.) note: 125 caste/ethnic groups were reported in the 2011 national census Languages: Nepali (official) 44.6%, Maithali 11.7%, Bhojpuri 6%, Tharu 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.2%, Bajjika 3%, Magar 3%, Doteli 3%, Urdu 2.6%, Avadhi 1.9%, Limbu 1.3%, Gurung 1.2%, Baitadeli 1%, other 6.4%, unspecified 0.2%; note - 123 languages reported as mother tongue in 2011 national census; many in government and business also speak English (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): विश्व तथ्य पुस्तक,आधारभूत जानकारीको लागि अपरिहार्य स्रोत (Nepali) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Hindu 81.3%, Buddhist 9%, Muslim 4.4%, Kirant 3.1%, Christian 1.4%, other 0.5%, unspecified 0.2% (2011 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 28.36% (male 4,526,786/female 4,073,642) 15-24 years: 20.93% (male 3,276,431/female 3,070,843) 25-54 years: 38.38% (male 5,251,553/female 6,387,365) 55-64 years: 6.64% (male 954,836/female 1,059,360) 65 years and over: 5.69% (2020 est.) (male 852,969/female 874,092) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 53 youth dependency ratio: 44.1 elderly dependency ratio: 8.9 potential support ratio: 11.2 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 25.3 years male: 23.9 years female: 26.9 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.78% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 17.53 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 5.58 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -4.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: most of the population is divided nearly equally between a concentration in the southern-most plains of the Tarai region and the central hilly region; overall density is quite low Urbanization: urban population: 21.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 1.521 million KATHMANDU (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.87 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 21.6 years (2016 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Maternal mortality ratio: 186 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 25.13 deaths/1,000 live births male: 26.47 deaths/1,000 live births female: 23.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.4 years male: 71.66 years female: 73.17 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 46.7% (2019) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 92.7% of population rural: 94.4% of population total: 94.1% of population unimproved: urban: 7.3% of population rural: 5.6% of population total: 5.9% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 4.5% (2019) Physicians density: 0.75 physicians/1,000 population (2018) Hospital bed density: 0.3 beds/1,000 population (2012) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 95.1% of population rural: 85.7% of population total: 87.7% of population unimproved: urban: 4.9% of population rural: 14.3% of population total: 12.3% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 30,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <1000 Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: Japanese encephalitis, malaria, and dengue fever Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 4.1% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 24.4% (2019) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 7.9% (2019) women married by age 18: 32.8% (2019) men married by age 18: 9% (2019 est.) Education expenditures: 4.4% of GDP (2018) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 67.9% male: 78.6% female: 59.7% (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 21.4% male: 19.7% female: 23.9% (2017 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); forest degradation; soil erosion; contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); unmanaged solid-waste; wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Marine Life Conservation Air pollutants: particulate 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.) Climate: varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south Land use: agricultural land: 28.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 15.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 12.5% (2018 est.) forest: 25.4% (2018 est.) other: 45.8% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 21.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.45% 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 E, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: Japanese encephalitis, malaria, and dengue fever Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,768,977 tons (2016 est.) Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage: Brahmaputra (651,335 sq km), Ganges (1,016,124 sq km), Indus (1,081,718 sq km) Major aquifers: Indus-Ganges-Brahmaputra Basin Total water withdrawal: municipal: 147.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 29.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 9.32 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 210.2 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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 Government type: federal parliamentary republic Capital: name: Kathmandu geographic coordinates: 27 43 N, 85 19 E time difference: UTC+5.75 (10.75 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: name derives from the Kasthamandap temple that stood in Durbar Square; in Sanskrit, "kastha" means "wood" and "mandapa" means "pavilion"; the three-story structure was made entirely of wood, without iron nails or supports, and dated to the late 16th century; it collapsed during a 2015 earthquake Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (pradesh, singular - pradesh); Bagmati, Gandaki, Karnali, Lumbini, Province No. One, Province No. Two, Sudurpashchim Independence: 1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH) National holiday: Constitution Day, 20 September (2015); note - marks the promulgation of Nepal’s constitution in 2015 and replaces the previous 28 May Republic Day as the official national day in Nepal; the Gregorian day fluctuates based on Nepal’s Hindu calendar Constitution: history: several previous; latest approved by the Second Constituent Assembly 16 September 2015, signed by the president and effective 20 September 2015 amendments: proposed as a bill by either house of the Federal Parliament; bills affecting a state border or powers delegated to a state must be submitted to the affected state assembly; passage of such bills requires a majority vote of that state assembly membership; bills not requiring state assembly consent require at least two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses of the Federal Parliament; parts of the constitution on the sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty vested in the people cannot be amended; amended 2016, 2020 Legal system: English common law and Hindu legal concepts; note - new criminal and civil codes came into effect on 17 August 2018 International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 15 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Bidhya Devi BHANDARI (since 29 October 2015); Vice President Nanda Bahadar PUN (since 31 October 2015) head of government: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur DEUBA (since 13 July 2021); deputy prime ministers Ishwar POKHREL, Upendra YADAV (since 1 June 2018) (an) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister; cabinet dominated by the Nepal Communist Party elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by an electoral college of the Federal Parliament and of the state assemblies for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 13 March 2018 (next to be held in 2023); prime minister indirectly elected by the Federal Parliament election results: Bidhya Devi BHANDARI reelected president; electoral vote - Bidhya Devi BHANDARI (CPN-UML) 39,275, Kumari Laxmi RAI (NC) 11,730 Legislative branch: description: bicameral Federal Parliament consists of: National Assembly (59 seats; 56 members, including at least 3 women, 1 Dalit, 1 member with disabilities, or 1 minority indirectly elected by an electoral college of state and municipal government leaders, and 3 members, including 1 woman, nominated by the president of Nepal on the recommendation of the government; members serve 6-year terms with renewal of one-third of the membership every 2 years) House of Representatives (275 seats; 165 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 110 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by closed-list proportional representation vote, with a threshold of 3% overall valid vote to be allocated a seat; members serve 5-year terms); note - the House of Representatives was dissolved on 22 May 2021, but on 13 July, the Supreme Court directed its reinstatement elections: first election for the National Assembly held on 7 February 2018 (next to be held in 2024) first election for House of Representatives held on 26 November and 7 December 2017 (next scheduled for 12, 19 November 2021) election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NCP 42, NC 13, FSFN 2, RJPN 2; composition - men 37, women 22, percent of women 37.3% House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NCP 174, NC 63, RJPN 17, FSFN 16, other 4, independent 1; composition - men 185, women 90, percent of women 32.7%; note - total Federal Parliament percent of women 33.5% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and up to 20 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the Constitutional Council, a 5-member, high-level advisory body headed by the prime minister; other judges appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the Judicial Council, a 5-member advisory body headed by the chief justice; the chief justice serves a 6-year term; judges serve until age 65 subordinate courts: High Court; district courts Political parties and leaders: the Election Commission of Nepal granted ballot access under the proportional system to 88 political parties for the November-December 2017 House of Representatives election to the Federal Parliament; of these, the following 8 parties won seats: Federal Socialist Forum, Nepal or FSFN [Upendra YADAV] Naya Shakti Party, Nepal [Baburam BHATTARAI] Nepal Communist Party or NCP [Khadga Prasad OLI, Pushpa Kamal DAHAL] Nepali Congress or NC [Sher Bahadur DEUBA] Nepal Mazdoor Kisan Party [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE] Rastriya Janamorcha [Chitra Bahadur K.C.] Rastriya Janata Party or RJPN [Mahanta THAKUR] Rastriya Prajatantra party or RPP [Kamal THAPA]the Election Commission of Nepal granted ballot access under the proportional system to 88 political parties for the November-December 2017 House of Representatives election to the Federal Parliament; of these, the following 8 parties won seats: Federal Socialist Forum, Nepal or FSFN [Upendra YADAV] Naya Shakti Party, Nepal [Baburam BHATTARAI] Nepal Communist Party or NCP [Khadga Prasad OLI, Pushpa Kamal DAHAL] Nepali Congress or NC [Sher Bahadur DEUBA] Nepal Mazdoor Kisan Party [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE] Rastriya Janamorcha [Chitra Bahadur K.C.] Rastriya Janata Party or RJPN [Mahanta THAKUR] Rastriya Prajatantra party or RPP [Kamal THAPA] International organization participation: ADB, BIMSTEC, CD, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNSOM, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Shreedhar KHATRI (since 25 April 2022) chancery: 2730 34th Place NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 667-4550 FAX: [1] (202) 667-5534 email address and website: info@nepalembassyusa.org https://us.nepalembassy.gov.np/ consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Randy BERRY (since 25 October 2018) embassy: Maharajgunj, Kathmandu mailing address: 6190 Kathmandu Place, Washington DC  20521-6190 telephone: [977] (1) 423-4000 FAX: [977] (1) 400-7272 email address and website: usembktm@state.gov https://np.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: crimson red with a blue border around the unique shape of two overlapping right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylized moon and the larger, lower triangle displays a white 12-pointed sun; the color red represents the rhododendron (Nepal's national flower) and is a sign of victory and bravery, the blue border signifies peace and harmony; the two right triangles are a combination of two single pennons (pennants) that originally symbolized the Himalaya Mountains while their charges represented the families of the king (upper) and the prime minister, but today they are understood to denote Hinduism and Buddhism, the country's two main religions; the moon represents the serenity of the Nepalese people and the shade and cool weather in the Himalayas, while the sun depicts the heat and higher temperatures of the lower parts of Nepal; the moon and the sun are also said to express the hope that the nation will endure as long as these heavenly bodies note: Nepal is the only country in the world whose flag is not rectangular or square National symbol(s): rhododendron blossom; national color: red National anthem: name: "Sayaun Thunga Phool Ka" (Hundreds of Flowers) lyrics/music: Pradeep Kumar RAI/Ambar GURUNG note: adopted 2007; after the abolition of the monarchy in 2006, a new anthem was required because of the previous anthem's praise for the king National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 4 (2 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Kathmandu Valley (c); Sagarmatha National Park (n); Chitwan National Park (n); Lumbini, Buddha Birthplace (c) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Nepal is among the least developed countries in the world, with about one-quarter of its population living below the poverty line. Nepal is heavily dependent on remittances, which amount to as much as 30% of GDP. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for almost two-thirds of the population but accounting for less than a third of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural products, including pulses, jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain.   Nepal has considerable scope for exploiting its potential in hydropower, with an estimated 42,000 MW of commercially feasible capacity. Nepal has signed trade and investment agreements with India, China, and other countries, but political uncertainty and a difficult business climate have hampered foreign investment. The United States and Nepal signed a $500 million Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact in September 2017 which will expand Nepal’s electricity infrastructure and help maintain transportation infrastructure.   Massive earthquakes struck Nepal in early 2015, which damaged or destroyed infrastructure and homes and set back economic development. Although political gridlock and lack of capacity have hindered post-earthquake recovery, government-led reconstruction efforts have progressively picked up speed, although many hard hit areas still have seen little assistance. Additional challenges to Nepal's growth include its landlocked geographic location, inconsistent electricity supply, and underdeveloped transportation infrastructure.Nepal is among the least developed countries in the world, with about one-quarter of its population living below the poverty line. Nepal is heavily dependent on remittances, which amount to as much as 30% of GDP. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for almost two-thirds of the population but accounting for less than a third of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural products, including pulses, jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. Nepal has considerable scope for exploiting its potential in hydropower, with an estimated 42,000 MW of commercially feasible capacity. Nepal has signed trade and investment agreements with India, China, and other countries, but political uncertainty and a difficult business climate have hampered foreign investment. The United States and Nepal signed a $500 million Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact in September 2017 which will expand Nepal’s electricity infrastructure and help maintain transportation infrastructure. Massive earthquakes struck Nepal in early 2015, which damaged or destroyed infrastructure and homes and set back economic development. Although political gridlock and lack of capacity have hindered post-earthquake recovery, government-led reconstruction efforts have progressively picked up speed, although many hard hit areas still have seen little assistance. Additional challenges to Nepal's growth include its landlocked geographic location, inconsistent electricity supply, and underdeveloped transportation infrastructure. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $110.72 billion (2020 est.) $113.08 billion (2019 est.) $106.03 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 7.9% (2017 est.) 0.6% (2016 est.) 3.3% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $3,800 (2020 est.) $4,000 (2019 est.) $3,800 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $24.88 billion (2017 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (2017 est.) 9.9% (2016 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 27% (2017 est.) industry: 13.5% (2017 est.) services: 59.5% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 78% (2017 est.) government consumption: 11.7% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 33.8% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 8.7% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 9.8% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -42% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: rice, vegetables, sugar cane, potatoes, maize, wheat, buffalo milk, milk, fruit, mangoes/guavas Industries: tourism, carpets, textiles; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarettes, cement and brick production Industrial production growth rate: 12.4% (2017 est.) Labor force: 16.81 million (2017 est.) note: severe lack of skilled labor Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 69% industry: 12% services: 19% (2015 est.) Unemployment rate: 3% (2017 est.) 3.2% (2016 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 21.4% male: 19.7% female: 23.9% (2017 est.) Population below poverty line: 25.2% (2011 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 32.8 (2010 est.) 47.2 (2008 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 29.5% (2011) Budget: revenues: 5.925 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 5.945 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -0.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 26.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 27.9% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 23.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: 16 July - 15 July Current account balance: -$93 million (2017 est.) $1.339 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $1.79 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $2.73 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $2.68 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: India 68%, United States 10% (2019) Exports - commodities: palm oil, clothing and apparel, carpets, soybean oil, flavored water (2019) Imports: $10.68 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $13.83 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $14.65 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: India 70%, China 15% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, iron, broadcasting equipment, natural gas, rice (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $9.091 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $8.506 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $5.849 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $4.321 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: Nepalese rupees (NPR) per US dollar - 104 (2017 est.) 107.38 (2016 est.) 107.38 (2015 est.) 102.41 (2014 est.) 99.53 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 93% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 94% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 93% (2019) Electricity - production: 4.244 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 4.983 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 2.69 million kWh (FY 2017 est.) Electricity - imports: 2.175 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 943,100 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 5% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 92% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 3% 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: 27,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 26,120 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: 726,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 39,178,451 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 130.6 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: poverty, inconsistent electricity, and mountainous topography stymie development of telecom infrastructure; mobile market is developed and has been extended to all districts covering 90% of Nepal; fixed broadband is low due to limited number of fixed-lines and preeminence of the mobile platform; increasing 3G and 4G subscribers; fiber-optic networks developing under private and public funding to meet demand for Internet; government supports digital society, whereby 90% of the population will have access to broadband and free Internet access for students; plans to launch a Nepalese satellite by 2022; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: 3G coverage is available in 20 major cities (2019); disparity between high coverage in cities and coverage available in underdeveloped rural regions; fixed-line less than 3 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular nearly 131 per 100 persons; fair radiotelephone communication service; 20% of the market share is fixed (wired) broadband, 2% is fixed (wireless) broadband, and 78% is mobile broadband (2019) international: country code - 977; Nepal, China and Tibet connected across borders with underground and all-dielectric self-supporting (ADSS) fiber-optic cables; radiotelephone communications; microwave and fiber landlines to India; 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 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: state operates 3 TV stations, as well as national and regional radio stations; 117 television channels are licensed, among those 71 are cable television channels, three are distributed through Direct-To-Home (DTH) system, and four are digital terrestrial; 736 FM radio stations are licensed and at least 314 of those radio stations are community radio stations (2019) Internet country code: .np Internet users: total: 11,071,987 (2020 est.) percent of population: 38% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 1.27 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 6 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 39 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 3,296,953 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 4.66 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9N Airports: total: 47 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 29 (2021) Railways: total: 59 km (2018) narrow gauge: 59 km (2018) 0.762-m gauge Roadways: total: 27,990 km (2016) paved: 11,890 km (2016) unpaved: 16,100 km (2016) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Nepal Army (includes Air Wing); Nepal Armed Police Force (under the Ministry of Home Affairs; paramilitary force responsible for border and internal security, including counter-insurgency, and assisting the Army in the event of an external invasion) (2021) Military expenditures: 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2020 est.) 2.1% of GDP (2019) (approximately $1.1 billion) 2.3% of GDP (2018) (approximately $1.11 billion) 2.6% of GDP (2017) (approximately $1.12 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 95,000 active troops (including a small air wing of about 500 personnel) (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Army's inventory includes a mix of older equipment largely of British, Chinese, Indian, Russian, and South African origin; since 2010, Nepal has received limited amounts of newer hardware from several countries, including China, Italy, and Russia (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service (including women); no conscription (2021) note - as of 2020, women comprised about 5% of the active duty military Military deployments: 750 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,140 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 400 Golan Heights (UNDOF); 875 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 230 Liberia (UNSMIL); 175 Mali (MINUSMA); 1,625 South Sudan (UNMISS) (Feb 2022) Military - note: Nepal became a member of the UN in 1955 and has been an active participant in UN peacekeeping operations since, sending its first military observers to a UN peacekeeping mission in 1958 and its first peacekeeping military contingent to Egypt in 1974 the British began to recruit Nepalese citizens (Gurkhas) into the East India Company Army during the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814-1816); the Gurkhas subsequently were brought into the British Indian Army and by 1914, there were 10 Gurkha regiments, collectively known as the Gurkha Brigade; following the partition of India in 1947, an agreement between Nepal, India, and Great Britain allowed for the transfer of the 10 regiments from the British Indian Army to the separate British and Indian armies; four regiments were transferred to the British Army, where they have since served continuously as the Brigade of Gurkhas until merged to form the Royal Gurkha Rifles in 1994; six Gurkha (aka Gorkha in India) regiments went to the new Indian Army; a seventh regiment was later added; Gurkhas are also recruited into the Singaporean Police and a special guard in the Sultanate of Brunei known as the Gurkha Reserve Unit (2022)Nepal became a member of the UN in 1955 and has been an active participant in UN peacekeeping operations since, sending its first military observers to a UN peacekeeping mission in 1958 and its first peacekeeping military contingent to Egypt in 1974 Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Indian Mujahedeen (2019) 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 continues to work on contested sections of boundary with India, including the 400 sq km dispute over the source of the Kalapani River; India has instituted a stricter border regime to restrict transit of illegal cross-border activitiesjoint border commission continues to work on contested sections of boundary with India, including the 400 sq km dispute over the source of the Kalapani River; India has instituted a stricter border regime to restrict transit of illegal cross-border activities Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 12,540 (Tibet/China), 6,365 (Bhutan) (mid-year 2021) stateless persons: undetermined (mid-year 2021) Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis and hashish for the domestic and international drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast Asia to the Westillicit producer of cannabis and hashish for the domestic and international drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast Asia to the West

20220601

field-airports-with-unpaved-runways

This entry gives the total number of airports with unpaved runways (grass, dirt, sand, or gravel surfaces) by length. For airports with more than one runway, only the longest runway is included according to the following five groups - (1) over 3,047 m (over 10,000 ft), (2) 2,438 to 3,047 m (8,000 to 10,000 ft), (3) 1,524 to 2,437 m (5,000 to 8,000 ft), (4) 914 to 1,523 m (3,000 to 5,000 ft), and (5) under 914 m (under 3,000 ft). Only airports with usable runways are included in this listing. Not all airports have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control. The type of aircraft capable of operating from a runway of a given length is dependent upon a number of factors including elevation of the runway, runway gradient, average maximum daily temperature at the airport, engine types, flap settings, and take-off weight of the aircraft. Topic: Afghanistantotal: 17 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 5 (2021) Topic: Algeriatotal: 82 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 36 under 914 m: 28 (2021) Topic: Angolatotal: 70 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 27 under 914 m: 22 (2021) Topic: Antarcticatotal: 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) Topic: Antigua and Barbudatotal: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Topic: Argentinatotal: 977 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 43 914 to 1,523 m: 484 under 914 m: 448 (2021) Topic: Armeniatotal: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2021) Topic: Australiatotal: 131 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 101 under 914 m: 14 (2021) Topic: Austriatotal: 28 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 24 (2021) Topic: Azerbaijantotal: 7 under 914 m: 7 (2021) Topic: Bahamas, Thetotal: 37 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 17 (2021) Topic: Bangladeshtotal: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Topic: Belarustotal: 32 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 28 (2021) Topic: Belgiumtotal: 15 under 914 m: 15 (2021) Topic: Belizetotal: 41 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 29 (2021) Topic: Benintotal: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2021) Topic: Bhutantotal: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2012) Topic: Boliviatotal: 834 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 47 914 to 1,523 m: 151 under 914 m: 631 (2021) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinatotal: 17 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 11 (2021) Topic: Botswanatotal: 64 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 46 under 914 m: 13 (2021) Topic: Braziltotal: 3,395 1,524 to 2,437 m: 92 914 to 1,523 m: 1,619 under 914 m: 1,684 (2021) Topic: British Virgin Islandstotal: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2021) Topic: Bulgariatotal: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 9 (2021) Topic: Burkina Fasototal: 21 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 5 (2021) Topic: Burmatotal: 28 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 13 (2021) Topic: Burunditotal: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2021) Topic: Cambodiatotal: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Topic: Cameroontotal: 22 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 8 (2021) Topic: Canadatotal: 944 1,524 to 2,437 m: 75 914 to 1,523 m: 385 under 914 m: 484 (2021) Topic: Cayman Islandstotal: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2012) Topic: Central African Republictotal: 37 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 19 under 914 m: 6 (2021) Topic: Chadtotal: 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) Topic: Chiletotal: 391 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 56 under 914 m: 319 (2021) Topic: Chinatotal: 23 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 0 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 13 (2021) Topic: Colombiatotal: 715 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 201 under 914 m: 488 (2021) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thetotal: 172 1,524 to 2,437 m: 20 914 to 1,523 m: 87 under 914 m: 65 (2021) Topic: Congo, Republic of thetotal: 19 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 2 (2021) Topic: Cook Islandstotal: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Topic: Costa Ricatotal: 114 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 96 (2021) Topic: Cote d'Ivoiretotal: 20 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 3 (2021) Topic: Croatiatotal: 45 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 38 (2021) Topic: Cubatotal: 69 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 58 (2021) Topic: Cyprustotal: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2021) Topic: Czechiatotal: 87 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 25 under 914 m: 61 (2021) Topic: Denmarktotal: 52 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 47 (2021) Topic: Djiboutitotal: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 2 (2021) Topic: Dominican Republictotal: 20 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 18 (2021) Topic: Ecuadortotal: 328 914 to 1,523 m: 37 under 914 m: 291 (2021) Topic: Egypttotal: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2021) Topic: El Salvadortotal: 63 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 51 (2021) Topic: Equatorial Guineatotal: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2021) Topic: Eritreatotal: 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) Topic: Estoniatotal: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 3 (2021) Topic: Eswatinitotal: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 7 (2021) Topic: Ethiopiatotal: 40 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 8 (2021) Topic: European Uniontotal: 1,244 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 245 under 914 m: 982 (2013) Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)total: 5 under 914 m: 5 (2021) Topic: Fijitotal: 24 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 19 (2021) Topic: Finlandtotal: 74 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 71 (2021) Topic: Francetotal: 170 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 64 under 914 m: 105 (2021) Topic: French Polynesiatotal: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 5 (2021) Topic: Gabontotal: 30 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 9 (2013) under 914 m: 14 (2021) Topic: Georgiatotal: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Topic: Germanytotal: 221 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 35 under 914 m: 185 (2021) Topic: Ghanatotal: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2021) Topic: Greecetotal: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 7 (2021) Topic: Greenlandtotal: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2021) Topic: Guamtotal: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Topic: Guatemalatotal: 275 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 77 under 914 m: 195 (2021) Topic: Guineatotal: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2021) Topic: Guinea-Bissautotal: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (2021) Topic: Guyanatotal: 106 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 89 (2021) Topic: Haititotal: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 8 (2021) Topic: Hondurastotal: 90 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 73 (2021) Topic: Hungarytotal: 21 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 11 (2021) Topic: Icelandtotal: 89 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 26 under 914 m: 60 (2021) Topic: Indiatotal: 93 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 38 under 914 m: 45 (2021) Topic: Indonesiatotal: 487 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 460 (2021) Topic: Irantotal: 179 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 135 under 914 m: 32 (2021) Topic: Iraqtotal: 30 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 6 (2021) Topic: Irelandtotal: 24 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 21 (2021) Topic: Israeltotal: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 6 (2021) Topic: Italytotal: 31 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 20 (2021) Topic: Jamaicatotal: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 16 (2021) Topic: Jan Mayentotal: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021) Topic: Japantotal: 33 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 28 (2021) Topic: Jordantotal: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2021) Topic: Kazakhstantotal: 33 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 13 (2021) Topic: Kenyatotal: 181 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 107 under 914 m: 60 (2021) Topic: Kiribatitotal: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 5 (2021) Topic: Korea, Northtotal: 43 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 8 (2021) Topic: Korea, Southtotal: 40 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 38 (2021) Topic: Kosovototal: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2021) Topic: Kuwaittotal: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2021) Topic: Kyrgyzstantotal: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 8 (2021) Topic: Laostotal: 33 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 22 (2021) Topic: Latviatotal: 24 under 914 m: 24 (2021) Topic: Lebanontotal: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Topic: Lesothototal: 21 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 16 (2021) Topic: Liberiatotal: 27 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 14 (2021) Topic: Libyatotal: 78 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 37 under 914 m: 20 (2021) Topic: Lithuaniatotal: 39 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 36 (2021) Topic: Luxembourgtotal: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Topic: Madagascartotal: 57 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 38 under 914 m: 18 (2021) Topic: Malawitotal: 25 (2013) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 13 (2021) Topic: Malaysiatotal: 75 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 69 (2021) Topic: Maldivestotal: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2021) Topic: Malitotal: 17 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 5 (2021) Topic: Marshall Islandstotal: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Topic: Mauritaniatotal: 21 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 2 (2021) Topic: Mauritiustotal: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Topic: Mexicototal: 1,471 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 42 914 to 1,523 m: 281 under 914 m: 1,146 (2021) Topic: Moldovatotal: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Topic: Mongoliatotal: 29 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 24 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Topic: Moroccototal: 26 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 6 (2021) Topic: Mozambiquetotal: 77 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 38 (2021) Topic: Namibiatotal: 93 1,524 to 2,437 m: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 52 under 914 m: 16 (2021) Topic: Nepaltotal: 36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 29 (2021) Topic: Netherlandstotal: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2021) Topic: New Caledoniatotal: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 8 (2021) Topic: New Zealandtotal: 84 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 33 under 914 m: 48 (2021) Topic: Nicaraguatotal: 135 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 119 (2021) Topic: Nigertotal: 20 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 2 (2021) Topic: Nigeriatotal: 14 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 3 (2021) Topic: North Macedoniatotal: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Topic: Northern Mariana Islandstotal: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Topic: Norwaytotal: 28 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 22 (2021) Topic: Omantotal: 119 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 51 914 to 1,523 m: 33 under 914 m: 26 (2021) Topic: Pakistantotal: 43 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 24 (2021) Topic: Palautotal: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2021) Topic: Panamatotal: 60 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 51 (2021) Topic: Papua New Guineatotal: 540 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 53 under 914 m: 476 (2021) Topic: Paraguaytotal: 784 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 290 under 914 m: 471 (2021) Topic: Perutotal: 132 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 30 under 914 m: 82 (2021) Topic: Philippinestotal: 158 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 56 under 914 m: 99 (2021) Topic: Polandtotal: 39 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 21 (2021) Topic: Portugaltotal: 21 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 20 (2021) Topic: Puerto Ricototal: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 10 (2021) Topic: Qatartotal: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Topic: Romaniatotal: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 14 (2021) Topic: Russiatotal: 624 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 69 914 to 1,523 m: 81 under 914 m: 457 (2021) Topic: Rwandatotal: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinestotal: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Topic: Samoatotal: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2021) Topic: Saudi Arabiatotal: 132 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 72 914 to 1,523 m: 37 under 914 m: 16 (2021) Topic: Senegaltotal: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Topic: Serbiatotal: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 5 (2021) Topic: Seychellestotal: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 5 (2021) Topic: Sierra Leonetotal: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2021) Topic: Slovakiatotal: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 5 (2021) Topic: Sloveniatotal: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2021) Topic: Solomon Islandstotal: 35 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 24 (2021) Topic: Somaliatotal: 44 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 22 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Topic: South Africatotal: 277 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 178 under 914 m: 79 (2021) Topic: South Sudantotal: 84 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 38 under 914 m: 33 (2021) Topic: Spaintotal: 33 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 19 (2021) Topic: Spratly Islandstotal: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2021) Topic: Sri Lankatotal: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2021) Topic: Sudantotal: 50 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 24 under 914 m: 9 (2021) Topic: Surinametotal: 49 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 45 (2021) Topic: Svalbardtotal: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2021) Topic: Swedentotal: 82 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 77 (2021) Topic: Switzerlandtotal: 23 under 914 m: 23 (2021) Topic: Syriatotal: 61 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 48 (2021) Topic: Taiwantotal: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Topic: Tajikistantotal: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 5 (2021) Topic: Tanzaniatotal: 156 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 24 914 to 1,523 m: 98 under 914 m: 33 (2021) Topic: Thailandtotal: 38 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 26 (2021) Topic: Timor-Lestetotal: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2021) Topic: Togototal: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2021) Topic: Tongatotal: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Topic: Trinidad and Tobagototal: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Topic: Tunisiatotal: 14 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 8 (2021) Topic: Turkeytotal: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2021) Topic: Turkmenistantotal: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (2021) Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandstotal: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2021) Topic: Tuvalutotal: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021) Topic: Ugandatotal: 42 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 26 under 914 m: 7 (2021) Topic: Ukrainetotal: 79 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 69 (2021) Topic: United Arab Emiratestotal: 18 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 6 (2021) Topic: United Kingdomtotal: 189 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 26 under 914 m: 160 (2021) Topic: United Statestotal: 8,459 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 140 914 to 1,523 m: 1,552 under 914 m: 6,760 (2021) Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2016) - Palmyra Atoll Topic: Uruguaytotal: 122 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 40 under 914 m: 79 (2021) Topic: Uzbekistantotal: 20 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 under 914 m: 18 (2021) Topic: Vanuatutotal: 28 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 21 (2021) Topic: Venezuelatotal: 317 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 57 914 to 1,523 m: 127 under 914 m: 130 (2021) Topic: Vietnamtotal: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2021) Topic: Yementotal: 40 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 9 (2021) Topic: Zambiatotal: 80 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 53 under 914 m: 21 (2021) Topic: Zimbabwetotal: 179 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 104 under 914 m: 72 (2021)

20220601

oceans-indian-ocean

Topic: Photos of Indian Ocean Topic: Introduction Background: The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, but larger than the Southern Ocean and Arctic Ocean). Four critically important access waterways are the Suez Canal (Egypt), Bab el Mandeb (Djibouti-Yemen), Strait of Hormuz (Iran-Oman), and Strait of Malacca (Indonesia-Malaysia).The decision by the International Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 to delimit a fifth ocean, the Southern Ocean, removed the portion of the Indian Ocean south of 60 degrees south latitude.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: body of water between Africa, the Southern Ocean, Asia, and Australia Geographic coordinates: 20 00 S, 80 00 E Map references: Political Map of the World Area: total: 70.560 million sq km note: includes Andaman Sea, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Great Australian Bight, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Mozambique Channel, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Savu Sea, Strait of Malacca, Timor Sea, and other tributary water bodies Area - comparative: almost 7 times the size of the US Coastline: 66,526 km Climate: northeast monsoon (December to April), southwest monsoon (June to October); tropical cyclones occur during May/June and October/November in the northern Indian Ocean and January/February in the southern Indian Ocean Terrain: surface 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 Elevation: highest point: sea level lowest point: Java Trench -7,192 m unnamed deep mean depth: -3,741 m ocean zones: Composed of water and in a fluid state, the oceans are delimited differently than the solid continents. Oceans are divided into three zones based on depth and light level. Although some sea creatures depend on light to live, others can do without it. Sunlight entering the water may travel about 1,000 m into the oceans under the right conditions, but there is rarely any significant light beyond 200 m. The upper 200 m (656 ft) of oceans is called the euphotic, or "sunlight," zone. This zone contains the vast majority of commercial fisheries and is home to many protected marine mammals and sea turtles. Only a small amount of light penetrates beyond this depth. The zone between 200 m (656 ft) and 1,000 m (3,280 ft) is usually referred to as the "twilight" zone, but is officially the dysphotic zone. In this zone, the intensity of light rapidly dissipates as depth increases. Such a minuscule amount of light penetrates beyond a depth of 200 m that photosynthesis is no longer possible. The aphotic, or "midnight," zone exists in depths below 1,000 m (3,280 ft). Sunlight does not penetrate to these depths and the zone is bathed in darkness. Natural resources: oil and gas fields, fish, shrimp, sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules Natural hazards: occasional icebergs pose navigational hazard in southern reaches Geography - note: major chokepoints include Bab el Mandeb, Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, southern access to the Suez Canal, and the Lombok Strait Map description: Indian Ocean map highlights the Ocean in relation to surrounding continents and shows the major chokepoints.Indian Ocean map highlights the Ocean in relation to surrounding continents and shows the major chokepoints. Volume: Ocean volume: 264 million cu km Percent of total ocean volume: 19.8% Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: marine pollution caused by ocean dumping, waste disposal, and oil spills; deep sea mining; oil pollution in Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea; coral reefs threatened due climate change, direct human pressures, and inadequate governance, awareness, and political will; loss of biodiversity; endangered marine species include the dugong, seals, turtles, and whales Marine fisheries: the Indian Ocean fisheries are the third most important in the world accounting for 15.3%, or 12,248,064 mt of the global catch in 2019; tuna, small pelagic fish, and shrimp are important species in these regions; the Food and Agriculture Organization delineated two fishing regions in the Indian Ocean: Eastern Indian Ocean region (Region 57) is the most important region and the fifth largest producing region in the world with 8.5%, or 6,784,778 mt, of the global catch in 2019; the region encompasses the waters north of 55º South latitude and east of 80º East longitude including the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea with the major producers including India (2,362,481 mt), Indonesia (1,940,558 mt), Burma (1,114,777 mt), Bangladesh (877,837 mt), and Sri Lanka (373,369 mt); the principal catches include shad, Skipjack tuna, mackerel, shrimp, and sardinellas Western Indian Ocean region (Region 51) is the world’s sixth largest producing region with more than 6.8% or 5,463,286 mt of the global catch in 2019; this region encompasses the waters north of 40º South latitude and west of 80º East longitude including the western Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea as well as the waters along the east coast of Africa and Madagascar, the south coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and the west coast of India with major producers including India (2,207,125 mt), Oman (580,048 mt), Pakistan (341,730 mt), and Mozambique (274,791 mt); the principal catches include Skipjack and Yellowfin tuna, mackerel, sardines, shrimp, and cephalopods Regional fisheries bodies: Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna, Regional Commission for Fisheries (Persian Gulf/Gulf of Oman), Southeast Asia Fisheries Development Center, Southwest Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission, South Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreementthe Indian Ocean fisheries are the third most important in the world accounting for 15.3%, or 12,248,064 mt of the global catch in 2019; tuna, small pelagic fish, and shrimp are important species in these regions; the Food and Agriculture Organization delineated two fishing regions in the Indian Ocean:Eastern Indian Ocean region (Region 57) is the most important region and the fifth largest producing region in the world with 8.5%, or 6,784,778 mt, of the global catch in 2019; the region encompasses the waters north of 55º South latitude and east of 80º East longitude including the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea with the major producers including India (2,362,481 mt), Indonesia (1,940,558 mt), Burma (1,114,777 mt), Bangladesh (877,837 mt), and Sri Lanka (373,369 mt); the principal catches include shad, Skipjack tuna, mackerel, shrimp, and sardinellas Climate: northeast monsoon (December to April), southwest monsoon (June to October); tropical cyclones occur during May/June and October/November in the northern Indian Ocean and January/February in the southern Indian Ocean Topic: Government Country name: etymology: named for the country of India, which makes up much of its northern border Topic: Economy Economic overview: The Indian Ocean provides major sea routes connecting the Middle East, Africa, and East Asia with Europe and the Americas. It carries a particularly heavy traffic of petroleum and petroleum products from the oilfields of the Persian Gulf and Indonesia. Its fish are of great and growing importance to the bordering countries for domestic consumption and export. Fishing fleets from Russia, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan also exploit the Indian Ocean, mainly for shrimp and tuna. Large reserves of hydrocarbons are being tapped in the offshore areas of Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, and western Australia. An estimated 40% of the world's offshore oil production comes from the Indian Ocean. Beach sands rich in heavy minerals and offshore placer deposits are actively exploited by bordering countries, particularly India, South Africa, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Topic: Transportation Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Chennai (Madras, India); Colombo (Sri Lanka); Durban (South Africa); Jakarta (Indonesia); Kolkata (Calcutta, India); Melbourne (Australia); Mumbai (Bombay, India); Richards Bay (South Africa) Topic: Military and Security Maritime threats: the International Maritime Bureau continues to report the territorial waters of littoral states and offshore waters as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships, particularly in the Gulf of Aden, along the east coast of Africa, the Bay of Bengal, and the Strait of Malacca; the presence of several naval task forces in the Gulf of Aden and additional anti-piracy measures on the part of ship operators, including the use of on-board armed security teams, have reduced incidents of piracy; 2021 saw one incident in the region of the Horn of Africa; the EU naval mission, Operation ATALANTA, continues its operations in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean through 2022; naval units from Japan, India, and China also operate in conjunction with EU forces; China has established a logistical base in Djibouti to support its deployed naval units in the Horn of Africa the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2022-003 Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Red Sea-Threats to US and International Shipping from Iran) effective 28 February 2022, which states in part that "heightened military activities and increased political tensions in this region continue to present risk to commercial shipping...there is a continued possibility that Iran and/or its regional proxies could take actions against US and partner interests in the region;" Coalition Task Force (CTF) Sentinel has been established to provide escorts for commercial shipping transiting the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: some maritime disputes (see littoral states)some maritime disputes (see littoral states)

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about-copyright-and-contributors

The World Factbook is prepared by the Central Intelligence Agency for the use of US Government officials, and the style, format, coverage, and content are designed to meet their specific requirements. Information is provided by Antarctic Information Program (National Science Foundation), Armed Forces Medical Intelligence Center (Department of Defense), Bureau of the Census (Department of Commerce), Bureau of Labor Statistics (Department of Labor), Central Intelligence Agency, Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs, Defense Intelligence Agency (Department of Defense), Department of Energy, Department of State, Fish and Wildlife Service (Department of the Interior), Maritime Administration (Department of Transportation), National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (Department of Defense), Naval Facilities Engineering Command (Department of Defense), Office of Insular Affairs (Department of the Interior), Office of Naval Intelligence (Department of Defense), US Board on Geographic Names (Department of the Interior), US Transportation Command (Department of Defense), United Nations Population Division (World Urbanization Prospects: The 2018 Revision and World Population Prospects: The 2019 Revision urbanization and population data used with permission), International Telecommunication Union, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Oil Gas Journal, and other public and private sources.The Factbook is in the public domain. Accordingly, it may be copied freely without permission of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The official seal of the CIA, however, may NOT be copied without permission as required by the CIA Act of 1949 (50 U.S.C. section 403m). Misuse of the official seal of the CIA could result in civil and criminal penalties. Topic: Citation ModelThe World Factbook 2021. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency, 2021. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/ Comments and queries are welcome and may be addressed to:: Central Intelligence Agency Attn: Office of Public Affairs Washington, DC 20505

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countries-kyrgyzstan

Topic: Photos of Kyrgyzstan Topic: Introduction Background: A Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions, most of the territory of present-day Kyrgyzstan was formally annexed by the Russian Empire in 1876. The Kyrgyz staged a major revolt against the Tsarist Empire in 1916 in which almost one-sixth of the Kyrgyz population was killed. Kyrgyzstan became a Soviet republic in 1926 and achieved independence in 1991 when the USSR dissolved. Nationwide demonstrations in 2005 and 2010 resulted in the ouster of the country’s first two presidents, Askar AKAEV and Kurmanbek BAKIEV. Interim President Roza OTUNBAEVA led a transitional government and following a nation-wide election, President Almazbek ATAMBAEV was sworn in as president in 2011. In 2017, ATAMBAEV became the first Kyrgyzstani president to step down after serving one full six-year term as required in the country’s constitution. Former prime minister and ruling Social-Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan member Sooronbay JEENBEKOV replaced him after winning the 2017 presidential election that was the most competitive in the country’s history, although international and local election observers noted cases of vote buying and abuse of public resources. In October 2020, protests against legislative election results spread across Kyrgyzstan, leading to JEENBEKOV’s resignation from the presidency, and catapulting previously imprisoned Sadyr JAPAROV to acting president. In January 2021, Kyrgyzstanis formerly elected JAPAROV as president and approved a referendum to move Kyrgyzstan from a parliamentary to a presidential system. In April 2021, Kyrgyzstanis voted in favor of draft constitutional changes that consolidated power in the presidency. Pro-government parties won a majority in the Jogorku Kenesh (Kyrgyzstan’s legislature) in November 2021 elections. Continuing concerns for Kyrgyzstan include the trajectory of democratization, endemic corruption, a history of tense, and at times violent, interethnic relations, border security vulnerabilities, and potential terrorist threats.A Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions, most of the territory of present-day Kyrgyzstan was formally annexed by the Russian Empire in 1876. The Kyrgyz staged a major revolt against the Tsarist Empire in 1916 in which almost one-sixth of the Kyrgyz population was killed. Kyrgyzstan became a Soviet republic in 1926 and achieved independence in 1991 when the USSR dissolved. Nationwide demonstrations in 2005 and 2010 resulted in the ouster of the country’s first two presidents, Askar AKAEV and Kurmanbek BAKIEV. Interim President Roza OTUNBAEVA led a transitional government and following a nation-wide election, President Almazbek ATAMBAEV was sworn in as president in 2011. In 2017, ATAMBAEV became the first Kyrgyzstani president to step down after serving one full six-year term as required in the country’s constitution. Former prime minister and ruling Social-Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan member Sooronbay JEENBEKOV replaced him after winning the 2017 presidential election that was the most competitive in the country’s history, although international and local election observers noted cases of vote buying and abuse of public resources. In October 2020, protests against legislative election results spread across Kyrgyzstan, leading to JEENBEKOV’s resignation from the presidency, and catapulting previously imprisoned Sadyr JAPAROV to acting president. In January 2021, Kyrgyzstanis formerly elected JAPAROV as president and approved a referendum to move Kyrgyzstan from a parliamentary to a presidential system. In April 2021, Kyrgyzstanis voted in favor of draft constitutional changes that consolidated power in the presidency. Pro-government parties won a majority in the Jogorku Kenesh (Kyrgyzstan’s legislature) in November 2021 elections. Continuing concerns for Kyrgyzstan include the trajectory of democratization, endemic corruption, a history of tense, and at times violent, interethnic relations, border security vulnerabilities, and potential terrorist threats.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Central Asia, west of China, south of Kazakhstan Geographic coordinates: 41 00 N, 75 00 E Map references: Asia Area: total: 199,951 sq km land: 191,801 sq km water: 8,150 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than South Dakota Land boundaries: total: 4,573 km border countries (4): China 1,063 km; Kazakhstan 1,212 km; Tajikistan 984 km; Uzbekistan 1,314 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan Mountains; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone Terrain: peaks of the Tien Shan mountain range and associated valleys and basins encompass the entire country Elevation: highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m lowest point: Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 m mean elevation: 2,988 m Natural resources: abundant hydropower; gold, rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc Land use: agricultural land: 55.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 6.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 48.3% (2018 est.) forest: 5.1% (2018 est.) other: 39.5% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 10,233 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Ozero Issyk-Kul 6,240 sq km note - second largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea; second highest mountain lake after Lake Titicaca; it is an endorheic mountain basin; although surrounded by snow capped mountains it never freezes Major rivers (by length in km): Syr Darya river source (shared with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan [m] ) - 3,078 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 vast majority of Kyrgyzstanis live in rural areas; densest population settlement is to the north in and around the capital, Bishkek, followed by Osh in the west; the least densely populated area is the east, southeast in the Tien Shan mountains Natural hazards: major flooding during snow melt; prone to earthquakes Geography - note: landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien Shan range; 94% of the country is 1,000 m above sea level with an average elevation of 2,750 m; many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude lakes Map description: Kyrgyzstan showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries.Kyrgyzstan showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries. Topic: People and Society Population: 6,071,750 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Kyrgyzstani(s) adjective: Kyrgyzstani Ethnic groups: Kyrgyz 73.8%, Uzbek 14.8%, Russian 5.1%, Dungan 1.1%, other 5.2% (includes Uyghur, Tajik, Turk, Kazakh, Tatar, Ukrainian, Korean, German) (2021 est.) Languages: Kyrgyz (official) 71.4%, Uzbek 14.4%, Russian (official) 9%, other 5.2% (2009 est.) major-language sample(s): Дүйнөлүк фактылар китеби, негизги маалыматтын маанилүү булагы. (Kyrgyz) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Muslim 90% (majority Sunni), Christian 7% (Russian Orthodox 3%), other 3% (includes Jewish, Buddhist, Baha'i) (2017 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 30.39% (male 930,455/female 882,137) 15-24 years: 15.7% (male 475,915/female 460,604) 25-54 years: 40.02% (male 1,172,719/female 1,214,624) 55-64 years: 8.09% (male 210,994/female 271,480) 65 years and over: 5.8% (2020 est.) (male 132,134/female 213,835) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 59.7 youth dependency ratio: 52.1 elderly dependency ratio: 7.5 potential support ratio: 13.2 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 27.3 years male: 26.1 years female: 28.5 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.86% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 19.54 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 6.12 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -4.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: the vast majority of Kyrgyzstanis live in rural areas; densest population settlement is to the north in and around the capital, Bishkek, followed by Osh in the west; the least densely populated area is the east, southeast in the Tien Shan mountains Urbanization: urban population: 37.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 1.082 million BISHKEK (capital) (2022) 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: 0.96 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.78 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.5 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 22.6 years (2019 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 60 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 25.66 deaths/1,000 live births male: 29.83 deaths/1,000 live births female: 21.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.35 years male: 68.27 years female: 76.71 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.5 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 39.4% (2018) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 89.9% of population total: 93.6% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 10.1% of population total: 6.4% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 4.5% (2019) Physicians density: 2.21 physicians/1,000 population (2014) Hospital bed density: 4.4 beds/1,000 population (2014) 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: 9,200 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <100 Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 16.6% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.8% (2018) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 0.3% (2018) women married by age 18: 12.9% (2018 est.) Education expenditures: 5.4% of GDP (2019) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.6% male: 99.7% female: 99.5% (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2020) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 9.6% male: 7.8% female: 13.4% (2018 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: water pollution; many people get their water directly from contaminated streams and wells; as a result, water-borne diseases are prevalent; increasing soil salinity from faulty irrigation practices; air pollution due to rapid increase of traffic 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, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate 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.) Climate: dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan Mountains; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone Land use: agricultural land: 55.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 6.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 48.3% (2018 est.) forest: 5.1% (2018 est.) other: 39.5% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 37.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.21% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,113,300 tons (2015 est.) Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Ozero Issyk-Kul 6,240 sq km note - second largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea; second highest mountain lake after Lake Titicaca; it is an endorheic mountain basin; although surrounded by snow capped mountains it never freezes Major rivers (by length in km): Syr Darya river source (shared with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan [m] ) - 3,078 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: 224 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 336 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 7.1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 23.618 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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 Government type: parliamentary republic Capital: name: Bishkek geographic coordinates: 42 52 N, 74 36 E time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: founded in 1868 as a Russian settlement on the site of a previously destroyed fortress named "Pishpek"; the name was retained and overtime became "Bishkek" Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (oblustar, singular - oblus) and 2 cities* (shaarlar, singular - shaar); Batken Oblusu, Bishkek Shaary*, Chuy Oblusu (Bishkek), Jalal-Abad Oblusu, Naryn Oblusu, Osh Oblusu, Osh Shaary*, Talas Oblusu, Ysyk-Kol Oblusu (Karakol) note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses) Independence: 31 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union) National holiday: Independence Day, 31 August (1991) Constitution: history: previous 1993; latest adopted by referendum 27 June 2010, effective 2 July 2010; note - constitutional amendments that bolstered some presidential powers and transferred others from the president to the prime minister were passed in late 2017 amendments: proposed as a draft law by the majority of the Supreme Council membership or by petition of 300,000 voters; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Council membership in each of at least three readings of the draft two months apart; the draft may be submitted to a referendum if approved by two thirds of the Council membership; adoption requires the signature of the president; amended 2017, 2021; note - voters approved a constitutional referendum in April 2021 that transitioned Kyrgyzstan from a parliamentary to a presidential system, and implemented changes that allow the president to serve for two five-year terms rather that one six-year term, reduces the number of seats in Kyrgyzstan's legislature from 120 to 90, and establishes a Kurultay - a public advisory council Legal system: civil law system, which includes features of French civil law and Russian Federation laws 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 Kyrgyzstan dual citizenship recognized: yes, but only if a mutual treaty on dual citizenship is in force residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Sadyr JAPAROV (since 28 January 2021) head of government: President Sadyr JAPAROV (2021) 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 five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 10 January 2021 (next to be held in 2027) election results: Sadyr JAPAROV elected president in first round; percent of vote - Sadyr JAPAROV 79.5%, Adakhan MADUMAROV 6.5%, other 14% Legislative branch: description: unicameral Supreme Council or Jogorku Kenesh (90 seats statutory, current 88; 54 seats allocated for proportional division among political party lists from the national vote and 36 seats allocated for candidates running in single-seat constituencies; members serve 5-year terms; parties must receive 5% of the vote to win seats in the Council) elections: last held on 28 November 2021 (next to be held in 2026) election results: percent of vote by party - Ata-Jurt Kyrgyzstan 19.1%, Ishenim 15%, Yntymak 12.1%, Alliance 9.2%, Butun Kyrgyzstan 7.8%, Yiman Nuru 6.8%, other 30%; seats by party - Ata-Jurt Kyrgyzstan 15, Ishenim 12, Yntymak 9, Alliance 7, Butun Kyrgyzstan 6, Yiman Nuru 5, other 36; composition - men 70, women 18, percent of women 20.5% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of 25 judges); Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (consists of the chairperson, deputy chairperson, and 9 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the Supreme Council on the recommendation of the president; Supreme Court judges serve for 10 years, Constitutional Court judges serve for 15 years; mandatory retirement at age 70 for judges of both courts subordinate courts: Higher Court of Arbitration; oblast (provincial) and city courts Political parties and leaders: Alliance [Mirlan JEENCHOROEV] Ata-Jurt Kyrgyzstan (Homeland) [Aybek MATKERIMOV] Butun Kyrgyzstan (All Kyrgyzstan) [Adakhan MADUMAROV] Ishenim (Trust in Kyrgyz) [Rysbat AMATOV] Yntymak (Unity) [Marlen MAMATALIEV] Yyman Nuru (Light of Faith) [Nurjigit KADYRBEKOV] International organization participation: ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAEU, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EITI (compliant country), FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Baktybek AMANBAYEV (since 7 July 2021) chancery: 2360 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 449-9822 FAX: [1] (202) 449-8275 email address and website: kgembassy.usa@mfa.gov.kg; kgconsulate.washington@mfa.gov.kg https://mfa.gov.kg/en/dm/-Embassy-of-the-Kyrgyz-Republic-in-the-USA-and-Canada honorary consulate(s): Maple Valley (WA) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Sonata COULTER (September 2021) embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, Bishkek 720016 mailing address: 7040 Bishkek Place, Washington DC  20521-7040 telephone: [996] (312) 597-000 FAX: [996] (312) 597-744 email address and website: ConsularBishkek@state.gov https://kg.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays representing the 40 Kyrgyz tribes; on the obverse side the rays run counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized representation of a "tunduk" - the crown of a traditional Kyrgyz yurt; red symbolizes bravery and valor, the sun evinces peace and wealth National symbol(s): white falcon; national colors: red, yellow National anthem: name: "Kyrgyz Respublikasynyn Mamlekettik Gimni" (National Anthem of the Kyrgyz Republic) lyrics/music: Djamil SADYKOV and Eshmambet KULUEV/Nasyr DAVLESOV and Kalyi MOLDOBASANOV note: adopted 1992 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Sulaiman-Too Sacred Mountain (c); Silk Roads: the Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor (c); Western Tien Shan (n) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked, mountainous, lower middle income country with an economy dominated by minerals extraction, agriculture, and reliance on remittances from citizens working abroad. Cotton, wool, and meat are the main agricultural products, although only cotton is exported in any quantity. Other exports include gold, mercury, uranium, natural gas, and - in some years - electricity. The country has sought to attract foreign investment to expand its export base, including construction of hydroelectric dams, but a difficult investment climate and an ongoing legal battle with a Canadian firm over the joint ownership structure of the nation’s largest gold mine deter potential investors. Remittances from Kyrgyz migrant workers, predominantly in Russia and Kazakhstan, are equivalent to more than one-quarter of Kyrgyzstan’s GDP.   Following independence, Kyrgyzstan rapidly implemented market reforms, such as improving the regulatory system and instituting land reform. In 1998, Kyrgyzstan was the first Commonwealth of Independent States country to be accepted into the World Trade Organization. The government has privatized much of its ownership shares in public enterprises. Despite these reforms, the country suffered a severe drop in production in the early 1990s and has again faced slow growth in recent years as the global financial crisis and declining oil prices have dampened economies across Central Asia. The Kyrgyz government remains dependent on foreign donor support to finance its annual budget deficit of approximately 3 to 5% of GDP.   Kyrgyz leaders hope the country’s August 2015 accession to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) will bolster trade and investment, but slowing economies in Russia and China and low commodity prices continue to hamper economic growth. Large-scale trade and investment pledged by Kyrgyz leaders has been slow to develop. Many Kyrgyz entrepreneurs and politicians complain that non-tariff measures imposed by other EAEU member states are hurting certain sectors of the Kyrgyz economy, such as meat and dairy production, in which they have comparative advantage. Since acceding to the EAEU, the Kyrgyz Republic has continued harmonizing its laws and regulations to meet EAEU standards, though many local entrepreneurs believe this process as disjointed and incomplete. Kyrgyzstan’s economic development continues to be hampered by corruption, lack of administrative transparency, lack of diversity in domestic industries, and difficulty attracting foreign aid and investment.Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked, mountainous, lower middle income country with an economy dominated by minerals extraction, agriculture, and reliance on remittances from citizens working abroad. Cotton, wool, and meat are the main agricultural products, although only cotton is exported in any quantity. Other exports include gold, mercury, uranium, natural gas, and - in some years - electricity. The country has sought to attract foreign investment to expand its export base, including construction of hydroelectric dams, but a difficult investment climate and an ongoing legal battle with a Canadian firm over the joint ownership structure of the nation’s largest gold mine deter potential investors. Remittances from Kyrgyz migrant workers, predominantly in Russia and Kazakhstan, are equivalent to more than one-quarter of Kyrgyzstan’s GDP. Following independence, Kyrgyzstan rapidly implemented market reforms, such as improving the regulatory system and instituting land reform. In 1998, Kyrgyzstan was the first Commonwealth of Independent States country to be accepted into the World Trade Organization. The government has privatized much of its ownership shares in public enterprises. Despite these reforms, the country suffered a severe drop in production in the early 1990s and has again faced slow growth in recent years as the global financial crisis and declining oil prices have dampened economies across Central Asia. The Kyrgyz government remains dependent on foreign donor support to finance its annual budget deficit of approximately 3 to 5% of GDP. Kyrgyz leaders hope the country’s August 2015 accession to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) will bolster trade and investment, but slowing economies in Russia and China and low commodity prices continue to hamper economic growth. Large-scale trade and investment pledged by Kyrgyz leaders has been slow to develop. Many Kyrgyz entrepreneurs and politicians complain that non-tariff measures imposed by other EAEU member states are hurting certain sectors of the Kyrgyz economy, such as meat and dairy production, in which they have comparative advantage. Since acceding to the EAEU, the Kyrgyz Republic has continued harmonizing its laws and regulations to meet EAEU standards, though many local entrepreneurs believe this process as disjointed and incomplete. Kyrgyzstan’s economic development continues to be hampered by corruption, lack of administrative transparency, lack of diversity in domestic industries, and difficulty attracting foreign aid and investment. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $31.02 billion (2020 est.) $33.95 billion (2019 est.) $32.46 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 4.6% (2017 est.) 4.3% (2016 est.) 3.9% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $4,700 (2020 est.) $5,300 (2019 est.) $5,100 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $8.442 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.1% (2019 est.) 1.5% (2018 est.) 3.1% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Moody's rating: B2 (2015) Standard & Poors rating: NR (2016) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 14.6% (2017 est.) industry: 31.2% (2017 est.) services: 54.2% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 85.4% (2017 est.) government consumption: 18.9% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 33.2% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1.8% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 39.7% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -79% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: milk, potatoes, sugar beet, maize, wheat, barley, tomatoes, watermelons, onions, carrots/turnips Industries: small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, lumber, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earth metals Industrial production growth rate: 10.9% (2017 est.) Labor force: 2.841 million (2017 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 48% industry: 12.5% services: 39.5% (2005 est.) Unemployment rate: 3.18% (2019 est.) 2.59% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 9.6% male: 7.8% female: 13.4% (2018 est.) Population below poverty line: 20.1% (2019 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 27.7 (2018 est.) 29 (2001) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.4% highest 10%: 22.9% (2014 est.) Budget: revenues: 2.169 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 2.409 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -3.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 56% of GDP (2017 est.) 55.9% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 28.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$306 million (2017 est.) -$792 million (2016 est.) Exports: $3.11 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $2.73 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $2.352 billion (2017 est.) Exports - partners: United Kingdom 56%, Kazakhstan 13%, Russia 13%, Uzbekistan 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: gold, precious metals, various beans, refined petroleum, scrap copper (2019) Imports: $5.67 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $5.86 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $4.953 billion (2017 est.) Imports - partners: China 53%, Russia 17%, Kazakhstan 7%, Uzbekistan 7%, Turkey 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, footwear, clothing and apparel, broadcasting equipment, walnuts (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $2.177 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $1.97 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $8.372 billion (2019 est.) $8.066 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: soms (KGS) per US dollar - 68.35 (2017 est.) 69.914 (2016 est.) 69.914 (2015 est.) 64.462 (2014 est.) 53.654 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 13.04 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 10.52 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 184 million kWh (2015 est.) Electricity - imports: 331 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 4.046 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 24% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 76% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 1,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 4,480 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 40 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 6,996 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 37,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 2,290 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 34,280 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 28.32 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 186.9 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 169.9 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 299,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 8.511 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 130 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: fixed-line declining as 4G LTE mobile is universally available; brief interruptions of service with security as pretext; ICT sector rocked by allegation of corruption in 2020; digital radio-relay stations and fiber-optic links; 5G in development; importer of broadcasting equipment from UAE and computers from China; Chinese Economic Corridor investment into domestic backbone; World Bank investment into digital infrastructure with aims to provide broadband Internet to 60% of the population; social disparity evident in pandemic as many school children could not attend classes on-line (2020 ) domestic: fixed-line penetration at nearly 5 per 100 persons remains low and concentrated in urban areas; mobile-cellular subscribership up to over 134 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 996; connections with other CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States, 9 members post-Soviet Republics in EU) countries by landline or microwave radio relay and with other countries by leased connections with Moscow international gateway switch and by satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intersputnik, 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 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: state-funded public TV broadcaster KTRK has nationwide coverage; also operates Ala-Too 24 news channel which broadcasts 24/7 and 4 other educational, cultural, and sports channels; ELTR and Channel 5 are state-owned stations with national reach; the switchover to digital TV in 2017 resulted in private TV station growth; approximately 20 stations are struggling to increase their own content up to 50% of airtime, as required by law, instead of rebroadcasting primarily programs from Russian channels or airing unlicensed movies and music; 3 Russian TV stations also broadcast; state-funded radio stations and about 10 significant private radio stations also exist (2019) Internet country code: .kg Internet users: total: 3,355,749 (2020 est.) percent of population: 51% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 289,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 5 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 17 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 709,198 (2018) Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: EX Airports: total: 28 (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: 11 under 914 m: 3 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 8 (2021) Pipelines: 3566 km gas (2018), 16 km oil (2013) Railways: total: 424 km (2018) broad gauge: 424 km (2018) 1.520-m gauge Roadways: total: 34,000 km (2018) Waterways: 600 km (2010) Ports and terminals: lake port(s): Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)(Lake Ysyk-Kol) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Kyrgyz Armed Forces: Land Forces, Air Defense Forces, National Guard; State Border Service; Internal Troops; State Committee for National Security (2021) Military expenditures: 2.3% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $410 million) 2.3% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $400 million) 2.3% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $390 million) 2.6% of GDP (2016 est.) (approximately $380 million) 2.6% of GDP (2015 est.) (approximately $360 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: the Kyrgyz Armed Forces have approximately 12,000 active duty troops (8,500 Land Forces; 2,500 Air Force/Air Defense; 1,000 National Guard) (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Kyrgyz Armed Forces' inventory is comprised of mostly older Russian and Soviet-era equipment; Kyrgyzstan relies on donations of military equipment, which come mostly from Russia under a 2013 agreement between Bishkek and Moscow (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary male military service in the Armed Forces or Interior Ministry; 1-year service obligation (9 months for university graduates), with optional fee-based 3-year service in the call-up mobilization reserve; women may volunteer at age 19; 16-17 years of age for military cadets, who cannot take part in military operations (2021) Military - note: Kyrgyzstan 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: disputes in Isfara Valley delay completion of delimitation with Tajikistan; delimitation of approximately 15% or 200 km of border with Uzbekistan is hampered by serious disputes over enclaves and other areasdisputes in Isfara Valley delay completion of delimitation with Tajikistan; delimitation of approximately 15% or 200 km of border with Uzbekistan is hampered by serious disputes over enclaves and other areas Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons: 16 (mid-year 2021) Trafficking in persons: current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Kyrgyzstan and Kyrgyzstanis abroad; Kyrgyz men, women, and children are exploited in forced labor in Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey and other European countries specifically in agriculture, construction, textiles, domestic service, and childcare; sex traffickers exploit Kyrgyz women and girls domestically and in India, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates; problems with police misconduct and corruption include allegations that police threaten and extort sex trafficking victims and accept bribes from alleged traffickers to drop cases; street children who beg or do domestic work are vulnerable to traffickers tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Kyrgyzstan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; the government adopted a National Referral Mechanism (NRM) that established formal policies on victim identification and the provision of social services;  the government established an interagency focus group to accelerate implementation of the NRM and improve law enforcement investigations; authorities increased investigations but did not prosecute or convict any traffickers; the government conducted limited training on the NRM; some officials reportedly  dropped charges or tipped off suspects and allowed victims to be pressured or paid to drop charges against alleged traffickers; the government’s written plan, if implemented, would meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, Kyrgyzstan was granted a waiver per the Trafficking Victims Protection Act from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 (2020) Illicit drugs: a prime transshipment location; illegal drugs move from Afghanistan to Russia, and sometimes into Europe  a prime transshipment location; illegal drugs move from Afghanistan to Russia, and sometimes into Europe 

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countries-afghanistan

Topic: Photos of Afghanistan Topic: Introduction Background: Ahmad Shah DURRANI unified the Pashtun tribes and founded Afghanistan in 1747. The country served as a buffer between the British and Russian Empires until it won independence from notional British control in 1919. A brief experiment in increased democracy ended in a 1973 coup and a 1978 communist countercoup. The Soviet Union invaded in 1979 to support the tottering Afghan communist regime, touching off a long and destructive war. The USSR withdrew in 1989 under relentless pressure by internationally supported anti-communist mujahidin rebels. A series of subsequent civil wars saw Kabul finally fall in 1996 to the Taliban, a hardline Pakistani-sponsored movement that emerged in 1994 to end the country's civil war and anarchy. Following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, a US, Allied, and anti-Taliban Northern Alliance military action toppled the Taliban for sheltering Usama BIN LADIN. A UN-sponsored Bonn Conference in 2001 established a process for political reconstruction that included the adoption of a new constitution, a presidential election in 2004, and National Assembly elections in 2005. In December 2004, Hamid KARZAI became the first democratically elected president of Afghanistan and was reelected in August 2009. In February 2020, the United States and the Taliban signed the “US-Taliban Agreement,” which contained commitments by the United States related to the withdrawal from Afghanistan of military forces of the United States, its allies, and Coalition partners, as well as commitments by the Taliban related to counterterrorism, among other topics. Following a US drawdown of virtually all its troops, a summer 2021 Taliban offensive quickly overran the country and the Taliban took over Kabul in August of 2021. Ahmad Shah DURRANI unified the Pashtun tribes and founded Afghanistan in 1747. The country served as a buffer between the British and Russian Empires until it won independence from notional British control in 1919. A brief experiment in increased democracy ended in a 1973 coup and a 1978 communist countercoup. The Soviet Union invaded in 1979 to support the tottering Afghan communist regime, touching off a long and destructive war. The USSR withdrew in 1989 under relentless pressure by internationally supported anti-communist mujahidin rebels. A series of subsequent civil wars saw Kabul finally fall in 1996 to the Taliban, a hardline Pakistani-sponsored movement that emerged in 1994 to end the country's civil war and anarchy. Following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, a US, Allied, and anti-Taliban Northern Alliance military action toppled the Taliban for sheltering Usama BIN LADIN.A UN-sponsored Bonn Conference in 2001 established a process for political reconstruction that included the adoption of a new constitution, a presidential election in 2004, and National Assembly elections in 2005. In December 2004, Hamid KARZAI became the first democratically elected president of Afghanistan and was reelected in August 2009. In February 2020, the United States and the Taliban signed the “US-Taliban Agreement,” which contained commitments by the United States related to the withdrawal from Afghanistan of military forces of the United States, its allies, and Coalition partners, as well as commitments by the Taliban related to counterterrorism, among other topics. Following a US drawdown of virtually all its troops, a summer 2021 Taliban offensive quickly overran the country and the Taliban took over Kabul in August of 2021. Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran Geographic coordinates: 33 00 N, 65 00 E Map references: Asia Area: total: 652,230 sq km land: 652,230 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: almost six times the size of Virginia; slightly smaller than Texas Land boundaries: total: 5,987 km border countries (6): China 91 km; Iran 921 km; Pakistan 2,670 km; Tajikistan 1,357 km; Turkmenistan 804 km; Uzbekistan 144 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest Elevation: highest point: Noshak 7,492 m lowest point: Amu Darya 258 m mean elevation: 1,884 m Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones, arable land Land use: agricultural land: 58.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.8% (2018) permanent crops: 0.3% (2018) permanent pasture: 46% (2018) forest: 1.85% (2018 est.) other: 40.1% (2018) Irrigated land: 32,080 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Ab-e Istadah-ye Muqur (endorheic basin) - 520 sq km Major rivers (by length in km): Amu Darya (shared with Tajikistan [s], Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan [m]) - 2,620 km; Helmand river source (shared with Iran) - 1,130 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage: Indus (1,081,718 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Amu Darya (534,739 sq km); Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km) Population distribution: populations tend to cluster in the foothills and periphery of the rugged Hindu Kush range; smaller groups are found in many of the country's interior valleys; in general, the east is more densely settled, while the south is sparsely populated Natural hazards: damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding; droughts Geography - note: landlocked; the Hindu Kush mountains that run northeast to southwest divide the northern provinces from the rest of the country; the highest peaks are in the northern Vakhan (Wakhan Corridor) Map description: Afghanistan map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries.Afghanistan map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries. Topic: People and Society Population: 38,346,720 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Afghan(s) adjective: Afghan Ethnic groups: Current, reliable statistical data on ethnicity in Afghanistan are not available; Afghanistan's 2004 Constitution cited Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Turkman, Baluch, Pachaie, Nuristani, Aymaq, Arab, Qirghiz, Qizilbash, Gujur, and Brahwui ethnicities; Afghanistan has dozens of other small ethnic groups Languages: Afghan Persian or Dari (official, lingua franca) 77%, Pashto (official) 48%, Uzbeki 11%, English 6%, Turkmani 3%, Urdu 3%, Pachaie 1%, Nuristani 1%, Arabic 1%, Balochi 1%, other <1% (2020 est.) major-language sample(s): کتاب حقایق جهان، مرجعی ضروری برای اطلاعات اولیە (Dari) د دنیا د حقائېقو کتاب، بنیادی معلوماتو لپاره ضروری سرچینه- (Pashto) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note 1: percentages sum to more than 100% because many people are multilingual note 2: Uzbeki, Turkmani, Pachaie, Nuristani, Balochi, and Pamiri are the third official languages in areas where the majority speaks themکتاب حقایق جهان، مرجعی ضروری برای اطلاعات اولیە (Dari) Religions: Muslim 99.7% (Sunni 84.7 - 89.7%, Shia 10 - 15%), other <0.3% (2009 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 40.62% (male 7,562,703/female 7,321,646) 15-24 years: 21.26% (male 3,960,044/female 3,828,670) 25-54 years: 31.44% (male 5,858,675/female 5,661,887) 55-64 years: 4.01% (male 724,597/female 744,910) 65 years and over: 2.68% (2020 est.) (male 451,852/female 528,831) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 88.8 youth dependency ratio: 75.3 elderly dependency ratio: 4.8 potential support ratio: 21 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 19.5 years male: 19.4 years female: 19.5 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 2.3% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 35.46 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 12.33 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: populations tend to cluster in the foothills and periphery of the rugged Hindu Kush range; smaller groups are found in many of the country's interior valleys; in general, the east is more densely settled, while the south is sparsely populated Urbanization: urban population: 26.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 4.458 million KABUL (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.9 years (2015 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Maternal mortality ratio: 638 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 104.89 deaths/1,000 live births male: 113.33 deaths/1,000 live births female: 96.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 53.65 years male: 52.1 years female: 55.28 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.62 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 18.9% (2018) note:  percent of women aged 12-49 Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 68.3% of population total: 76.5% of population 70.2% unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 31.7% of population total: 23.5% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 13.2% (2019) Physicians density: 0.28 physicians/1,000 population (2016) Hospital bed density: 0.4 beds/1,000 population (2017) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 88.2% of population rural: 52% of population total: 61.4% of population unimproved: urban: 11.8% of population rural: 48% of population total: 38.6% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: (2020 est.) <.1% HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 12,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <1,000 Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: Crimea-Congo hemorrhagic fever, malaria note: Afghanistan is one of two countries with endemic wild polio virus (the other is Pakistan) and considered high risk for international spread of the disease; 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, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (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: 5.5% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 19.1% (2018) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 4.2% (2017) women married by age 18: 28.3% (2017 est.) Education expenditures: 3.2% of GDP (2019) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 37.3% male: 52.1% female: 22.6% (2021) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 10 years male: 13 years female: 8 years (2018) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 16.2% male: 14.5% female: 21.1% (2020) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: limited natural freshwater resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification; air and water pollution in overcrowded 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, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation Air pollutants: particulate 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.) Climate: arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers Land use: agricultural land: 58.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.8% (2018) permanent crops: 0.3% (2018) permanent pasture: 46% (2018) forest: 1.85% (2018 est.) other: 40.1% (2018) Urbanization: urban population: 26.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.2% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.45% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: Crimea-Congo hemorrhagic fever, malaria note: Afghanistan is one of two countries with endemic wild polio virus (the other is Pakistan) and considered high risk for international spread of the disease; 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, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (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 conflict, population displacement, and economic slowdown - a record of 19 million people were estimated to face acute food insecurity between September and October 2021, due to the devastating combined effects of drought, conflict, and collapse of the local economy; 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) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 5,628,525 tons (2016 est.) Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Ab-e Istadah-ye Muqur (endorheic basin) - 520 sq km Major rivers (by length in km): Amu Darya (shared with Tajikistan [s], Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan [m]) - 2,620 km; Helmand river source (shared with Iran) - 1,130 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage: Indus (1,081,718 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Amu Darya (534,739 sq km); Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 203.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 169.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 20 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 65.33 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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" Government type: the United States does not recognize the Taliban governmentthe United States does not recognize the Taliban government Capital: name: Kabul geographic coordinates: 34 31 N, 69 11 E time difference: UTC+4.5 (9.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: does not observe daylight savings time etymology: named for the Kabul River, but the river's name is of unknown origin Administrative divisions: 34 provinces (welayat, singular - welayat); Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamyan, Daykundi, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghor, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabul, Kandahar, Kapisa, Khost, Kunar, Kunduz, Laghman, Logar, Nangarhar, Nimroz, Nuristan, Paktika, Paktiya, Panjshir, Parwan, Samangan, Sar-e Pul, Takhar, Uruzgan, Wardak, Zabul Independence: 19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs) National holiday: Independence Day, 19 August (1919) Constitution: history: last ratified in 2004 amendments: formerly proposed by a commission formed by presidential decree followed by the convention of a Grand Council (Loya Jirga) decreed by the president; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Loya Jirga membership and endorsement by the president Legal system: before the Taliban's takeover of Kabul in August 2021, Afghanistan had a mixed legal system of civil, customary, and Islamic (sharia) law; after August 2021, the Taliban’s so-called “interim government” has claimed to be implementing its own interpretation of Islamic law, partially based on the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence. (2021)before the Taliban's takeover of Kabul in August 2021, Afghanistan had a mixed legal system of civil, customary, and Islamic (sharia) law; after August 2021, the Taliban’s so-called “interim government” has claimed to be implementing its own interpretation of Islamic law, partially based on the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence. International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; formerly accepted ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must have been born in - and continuously lived in - Afghanistan dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: president (vacant); note – before 15 August, 2021, the president was both chief of state and head of government; President Ashraf GHANI departed the country on 15 August 2021; on 7 September 2021, the Taliban announced Mullah Mohammad HASSAN Akhund as the so-called “acting Prime Minister” of a so-called “interim government”; as of November 2021, the group had announced three acting so-called “Deputy Prime Ministers”: Mullah Abdul Ghani BERADER, Mullah Abdul Salam HANAFI, and Maulawi Abdul KABIR head of government: president (vacant); note - President Ashraf GHANI departed the country on 15 August 2021; on 7 September 2021, the Taliban announced Mullah Mohammad HASSAN Akhund as the acting Prime Minister of an interim Taliban government; the US does not recognize the Taliban government; as of November 2021, the group had announced three acting Deputy Prime Ministers: Mullah Abdul Ghani BERADER, Mullah Abdul Salam HANAFI, and Maulawi Abdul KABIR cabinet: before 15 August 2021, the cabinet formerly consisted of 25 ministers appointed by the president, approved by the National Assembly; the Taliban have announced a so-called “cabinet” which includes 33 ministries elections/appointments: the 2004 Afghan constitution directed that the president should be elected by majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 28 September 2019 election results: no elections have been held since 2019; in that election, Ashraf GHANI was declared winner by the Independent Election Commission on 18 February 2020; the IEC declared Ashraf GHANI the winner with 50.6% of the vote, Abdullah ABDULLAH, Dr. 39.5%, other 0.9%president (vacant); note – before 15 August, 2021, the president was both chief of state and head of government; President Ashraf GHANI departed the country on 15 August 2021; on 7 September 2021, the Taliban announced Mullah Mohammad HASSAN Akhund as the so-called “acting Prime Minister” of a so-called “interim government”; as of November 2021, the group had announced three acting so-called “Deputy Prime Ministers”: Mullah Abdul Ghani BERADER, Mullah Abdul Salam HANAFI, and Maulawi Abdul KABIR Legislative branch: description: before 15 August, 2021, Afghanistan had a bicameral National Assembly that consisted of a House of Elders and a House of People; since August 15, the Taliban’s so-called “interim government” has not purported to announce the formation of a legislative branch elections: before 15 August, 2021:  House of Elders - district councils - held within 5 days of installation; provincial councils - within 15 days of installation; and presidential appointees - within 2 weeks after the presidential inauguration; note - in early 2016, former President Ashraf Ghani extended their mandate until parliamentary and district elections could be held; former House of People - last held on 20 October 2018 election results: before 15 August 2021, House of Elders - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 85, women 17, percent of women 16.7% before 15 August 2021, House of People - percent of vote by party NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 179, women 69, percent of women 27.7%; note - total National Assembly percent of women 24.4% Judicial branch: highest courts: the Taliban’s so-called “interim government” has a “Supreme Court” (consisting of a supreme court chief and an unknown number of justices); before 15 August, 2021, Afghanistan had a Supreme Court (consisting of a supreme court chief and 8 justices organized into criminal, public security, civil, and commercial divisions) judge selection and term of office: the court chief and justices were appointed by the president with the approval of the Wolesi Jirga; court chief and justices served single 10-year terms subordinate courts: before 15 August 2021, consisted of Appeals Courts; Primary Courts; and Special Courts for issues including narcotics, security, property, family, and juveniles Political parties and leaders: the Taliban’s so-called “interim government” includes mostly Taliban members and not other political parties; before 15 August, 2021, the Ministry of Justice had licensed 72 political parties as of April 2019             International organization participation: before 15 August, 2021, Afghanistan was a member or participant in the following organizations: ADB, CICA, CP, ECO, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SAARC, SACEP, SCO (dialogue member), UN, UNAMA, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: the Afghan Embassy closed in March 2022 chancery: 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-6410 FAX: [1] (202) 483-6488 email address and website: info@afghanembassy.us https://www.afghanembassy.us/ Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d’Affaires: Ian MCCARY (since August 2021); note – since 15 August 2021, the United States has not yet made a decision whether to recognize the Taliban or any other entity as the Government of Afghanistan         embassy: Embassy Kabul, operations have been suspended; Department of State’s Afghanistan Affairs Unit operates from Doha, Qatar.                 Flag description: three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), red, and green, with the national emblem in white centered on the red band and slightly overlapping the other 2 bands; the center of the emblem features a mosque with pulpit and flags on either side, below the mosque are Eastern Arabic numerals for the solar year 1298 (1919 in the Gregorian calendar, the year of Afghan independence from the UK); this central image is circled by a border consisting of sheaves of wheat on the left and right, in the upper-center is an Arabic inscription of the Shahada (Muslim creed) below which are rays of the rising sun over the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great"), and at bottom center is a scroll bearing the name Afghanistan; black signifies the past, red is for the blood shed for independence, and green can represent either hope for the future, agricultural prosperity, or Islam note 1: the United States has not recognized the Taliban or any other entity as the government of Afghanistan and, accordingly, continues to display the flag of Afghanistan as set forth in the country's constitution note 2: Afghanistan had more changes to its national flag in the 20th century - 19 by one count - than any other country; the colors black, red, and green appeared on most of them National symbol(s): lion; national colors: red, green, black National anthem: name: "Milli Surood" (National Anthem) lyrics/music: Abdul Bari JAHANI/Babrak WASA note: adopted 2006; the 2004 constitution of the post-Taliban government mandated that a new national anthem should be written containing the phrase "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest) and mentioning the names of Afghanistan's ethnic groups National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Minaret of Jam, Buddhas of Bamyan Topic: Economy Economic overview: Prior to 2001, Afghanistan was an extremely poor, landlocked, and foreign aid-dependent country. Increased domestic economic activity occurred following the US-led invasion, as well as significant international economic development assistance. This increased activity expanded access to water, electricity, sanitation, education, and health services, and fostered consistent growth in government revenues since 2014. While international security forces have been drawing down since 2012, with much higher U.S. forces’ drawdowns occurring since 2017, economic progress continues, albeit uneven across sectors and key economic indicators. After recovering from the 2018 drought and growing 3.9% in 2019, political instability, expiring international financial commitments, and the COVID-19 pandemic have wrought significant adversity on the Afghan economy, with a projected 5% contraction. Current political parties’ power-sharing agreement following the September 2019 presidential elections as well as ongoing Taliban attacks and peace talks have led to Afghan economic instability. This instability, coupled with expiring international grant and assistance, endangers recent fiscal gains and has led to more internally displaced persons. In November 2020, Afghanistan secured $12 billion in additional international aid for 2021-2025, much of which is conditional upon Taliban peace progress. Additionally, Afghanistan continues to experience influxes of repatriating Afghanis, mostly from Iran, significantly straining economic and security institutions. Afghanistan’s trade deficit remains at approximately 31% of GDP and is highly dependent on financing through grants and aid. While Afghan agricultural growth remains consistent, recent industrial and services growth have been enormously impacted by COVID-19 lockdowns and trade cessations. While trade with the People’s Republic of China has rapidly expanded in recent years, Afghanistan still relies heavily upon India and Pakistan as export partners but is more diverse in its import partners. Furthermore, Afghanistan still struggles to effectively enforce business contracts, facilitate easy tax collection, and enable greater international trade for domestic enterprises. Current Afghan priorities focus on the following goals: Securing international economic agreements, many of which are contingent on Taliban peace progress; Increasing exports to $2 billion USD by 2023; Continuing to expand government revenue collection; Countering corruption and navigating challenges from the power-sharing agreement; and Developing a strong private sector that can empower the economy. Prior to 2001, Afghanistan was an extremely poor, landlocked, and foreign aid-dependent country. Increased domestic economic activity occurred following the US-led invasion, as well as significant international economic development assistance. This increased activity expanded access to water, electricity, sanitation, education, and health services, and fostered consistent growth in government revenues since 2014. While international security forces have been drawing down since 2012, with much higher U.S. forces’ drawdowns occurring since 2017, economic progress continues, albeit uneven across sectors and key economic indicators. After recovering from the 2018 drought and growing 3.9% in 2019, political instability, expiring international financial commitments, and the COVID-19 pandemic have wrought significant adversity on the Afghan economy, with a projected 5% contraction.Current political parties’ power-sharing agreement following the September 2019 presidential elections as well as ongoing Taliban attacks and peace talks have led to Afghan economic instability. This instability, coupled with expiring international grant and assistance, endangers recent fiscal gains and has led to more internally displaced persons. In November 2020, Afghanistan secured $12 billion in additional international aid for 2021-2025, much of which is conditional upon Taliban peace progress. Additionally, Afghanistan continues to experience influxes of repatriating Afghanis, mostly from Iran, significantly straining economic and security institutions.Afghanistan’s trade deficit remains at approximately 31% of GDP and is highly dependent on financing through grants and aid. While Afghan agricultural growth remains consistent, recent industrial and services growth have been enormously impacted by COVID-19 lockdowns and trade cessations. While trade with the People’s Republic of China has rapidly expanded in recent years, Afghanistan still relies heavily upon India and Pakistan as export partners but is more diverse in its import partners. Furthermore, Afghanistan still struggles to effectively enforce business contracts, facilitate easy tax collection, and enable greater international trade for domestic enterprises. Current Afghan priorities focus on the following goals: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $77.04 billion (2020 est.) $78.56 billion (2019 est.) $75.6 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 2.7% (2017 est.) 2.2% (2016 est.) 1% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $2,000 (2020 est.) $2,100 (2019 est.) $2,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $20.24 billion (2017 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (2017 est.) 4.4% (2016 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 23% (2016 est.) industry: 21.1% (2016 est.) services: 55.9% (2016 est.) note: data exclude opium production GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 81.6% (2016 est.) government consumption: 12% (2016 est.) investment in fixed capital: 17.2% (2016 est.) investment in inventories: 30% (2016 est.) exports of goods and services: 6.7% (2016 est.) imports of goods and services: -47.6% (2016 est.) Agricultural products: wheat, milk, grapes, vegetables, potatoes, watermelons, melons, rice, onions, apples Industries: small-scale production of bricks, textiles, soap, furniture, shoes, fertilizer, apparel, food products, non-alcoholic beverages, mineral water, cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, coal, copper Industrial production growth rate: -1.9% (2016 est.) Labor force: 8.478 million (2017 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 44.3% industry: 18.1% services: 37.6% (2017 est.) Unemployment rate: 23.9% (2017 est.) 22.6% (2016 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 16.2% male: 14.5% female: 21.1% (2020) Population below poverty line: 54.5% (2016 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 29.4 (2008) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.8% highest 10%: 24% (2008) Budget: revenues: 2.276 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 5.328 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -15.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 7% of GDP (2017 est.) 7.8% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 11.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: 21 December - 20 December Current account balance: $1.014 billion (2017 est.) $1.409 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $1.48 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $1.52 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $1.61 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars note: not including illicit exports or reexports Exports - partners: United Arab Emirates 45%, Pakistan 24%, India 22%, China 1% (2019) Exports - commodities: gold, grapes, opium, fruits and nuts, insect resins, cotton, handwoven carpets, soapstone, scrap metal (2019) Imports: $6.98 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $7.37 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $7.98 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: United Arab Emirates 23%, Pakistan 17%, India 13%, China 9%, United States 9%, Uzbekistan 7%, Kazakhstan 6% (2019) Imports - commodities: wheat flours, broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, rolled tobacco, aircraft parts, synthetic fabrics (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $7.187 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $6.901 billion (31 December 2015 est.) Debt - external: $284 million (FY10/11) Exchange rates: afghanis (AFA) per US dollar - 7.87 (2017 est.) 68.03 (2016 est.) 67.87 (2015) 61.14 (2014 est.) 57.25 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 99% (2018) electrification - urban areas: 100% (2018) electrification - rural areas: 98% (2018) Electricity - production: 1.211 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 5.526 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 4.4 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 634,100 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 45% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 52% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 4% 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: 35,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 34,210 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 164.2 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 164.2 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 49.55 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 145,787 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0 (2020 est.) less than 1 Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 22,678,024 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 58 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: before 15 August 2021, Afghanistan had successfully rebuilt infrastructure to create a functional telecom sector that covered nearly all of the population; due to mountainous geography, Afghanistan relies on its mobile network; mobile broadband penetration growing, but is still low compared to other countries in Asia; operator launched LTE in Kabul; World Bank and other donors support development of a nationwide fiber backbone; terrestrial cable connectivity to five neighboring countries; work on the ‘Wakhan Corridor Fiber Optic Survey Project’ to connect to China is nearing completion; major importer of broadcasting equipment from UAE (2021) domestic: before 15 August 2021, less than 1 per 100 for fixed-line teledensity; 59 per 100 for mobile-cellular; an increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone networks (2021) international: country code - 93; multiple VSAT's provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2019) Broadcast media: since 15 August 2021, independent media outlets have decreased in number due to financial hardships, departure of staff from the country, and restrictions placed by the Taliban; media workers report self-censoring criticism of the Taliban; before 15 August 2021, the former Afghan Government-owned broadcaster, Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA), operated a series of radio and television stations in Kabul and the provinces and the country had an estimated 174 private radio stations and 83 TV stations; television and radio are key media platforms; only about a fifth of Afghans in urban areas use the internet, mostly through smartphones, and young adults are significantly more likely to use the internet (2021) Internet country code: .af Internet users: total: 7,007,101 (2020 est.) percent of population: 18% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 26,570 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.07 (2020 est.) less than 1 Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 13 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,722,612 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 29.56 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: YA Airports: total: 46 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 29 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 17 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 5 (2021) Heliports: 1 (2021) Pipelines: 466 km gas (2013) Roadways: total: 34,903 km (2017) paved: 17,903 km (2017) unpaved: 17,000 km (2017) Waterways: 1,200 km (2011) (chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up to 500 DWT) Ports and terminals: river port(s): Hairatan, Qizil Qal`ah (Amu Darya) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: as of 2022, the Taliban had established a Ministry of Defense and named commanders and deputy commanders for 8 regional corps; in December 2021, it announced the formation of a police force (2022) Military expenditures: 3.3% of GDP (2019) (approximately $2.35 billion) 3.2% of GDP (2018) (approximately $2.31 billion) 3.3% of GDP (2017) (approximately $2.34 billion) 3.1% of GDP (2016) (approximately $2.6 billion) 2.9% of GDP (2015) (approximately $2.22 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: not available; in early 2022, the Taliban announced intentions to form a military of approximately 110,000 personnel; prior to August 2021, the ANDSF had approximately 300,000 personnel (180,000 Ministry of Defense; 120,000 Ministry of Interior) (2022) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the former Afghan military's inventory was mostly a mix of Soviet-era and more modern US and Russian equipment (2021) Military service age and obligation: not available Military - note: as of early 2022, the Taliban’s primary security objective was maintaining public order in urban areas, especially Kabul, fighting ISIS-K, and maintaining border securityas of early 2022, the Taliban’s primary security objective was maintaining public order in urban areas, especially Kabul, fighting ISIS-K, and maintaining border security Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Haqqani Taliban Network; Harakat ul-Mujahidin; Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami; Islamic Jihad Union; Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham-Khorasan Province; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Jaish-e-Mohammed; Jaysh al Adl (Jundallah); Lashkar i Jhangvi; Lashkar-e Tayyiba; al-Qa’ida; al-Qa'ida in the Indian Subcontinent; Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan 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: Afghanistan-China: None identified Afghanistan-Iran: Afghan and Iranian commissioners have discussed boundary monument densification and resurvey; Iran protests Afghanistan's restricting flow of dammed Helmand River tributaries during drought Afghanistan-Pakistan: Pakistan has built fences in some portions of its border with Afghanistan which remains open in some areas to terrorist and other illegal activities. Their alignments may not always be in conformance with Durand Line and original surveyed definitions of the boundary. Afghan, Coalition, and Pakistan military meet periodically to clarify the alignment of the boundary on the ground and on maps and since 2014 have met to discuss collaboration on the Taliban insurgency and counterterrorism efforts. Afghanistan-Tajikistan: None identified Afghanistan-Turkmenistan: None identified Afghanistan-Uzbekistan: None identified. Boundary follows Amu Darya river as delimited in the Afghan-Soviet treaties and not by the river's current course. The boundary was delimited and possibly demarcated during Soviet times (pre-1991). No current negotiations between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan to redelimit the boundary have been identified.  Russia remains concerned about the smuggling of poppy derivatives from Afghanistan through Central Asian countriesAfghanistan-China: None identified Afghanistan-Iran: Afghan and Iranian commissioners have discussed boundary monument densification and resurvey; Iran protests Afghanistan's restricting flow of dammed Helmand River tributaries during drought Afghanistan-Pakistan: Pakistan has built fences in some portions of its border with Afghanistan which remains open in some areas to terrorist and other illegal activities. Their alignments may not always be in conformance with Durand Line and original surveyed definitions of the boundary. Afghan, Coalition, and Pakistan military meet periodically to clarify the alignment of the boundary on the ground and on maps and since 2014 have met to discuss collaboration on the Taliban insurgency and counterterrorism efforts. Afghanistan-Tajikistan: None identified Afghanistan-Turkmenistan: None identified Afghanistan-Uzbekistan: None identified. Boundary follows Amu Darya river as delimited in the Afghan-Soviet treaties and not by the river's current course. The boundary was delimited and possibly demarcated during Soviet times (pre-1991). No current negotiations between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan to redelimit the boundary have been identified.  Russia remains concerned about the smuggling of poppy derivatives from Afghanistan through Central Asian countries Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 72,188 (Pakistan) (mid-year 2021) IDPs: 3.547 million (mostly Pashtuns and Kuchis displaced in the south and west due to natural disasters and political instability) (2020) Trafficking in persons: current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims and returning Afghan migrants and exploit Afghan victims abroad; internal trafficking is more prevalent than transnational trafficking; traffickers exploit men, women, and a large number of children domestically; victims are subjected to forced labor in agriculture, brick kilns, carpet weaving, domestic servitude, commercial sex, begging, poppy cultivation and harvesting, salt mining, transnational drug smuggling, and truck driving; Afghan security forces and non-state armed groups, including the pro-government militias and the Taliban, continue to unlawfully recruit and use child soldiers; sexual exploitation of boys remains pervasive nationwide, and traffickers subject some boys to sexual exploitation abroad tier rating: Tier 3 — Afghanistan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government decreased law enforcement efforts against civilian and official perpetrators of trafficking, and officials complicit in recruitment and use of child soldiers and the sexual exploitation of boys continued to operate with impunity; authorities continued to arrest, detain, and penalize many trafficking victims, including punishing sex trafficking victims for “moral crimes”; the judiciary remained underfunded, understaffed, and undertrained (2020)Tier 3 — Afghanistan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government decreased law enforcement efforts against civilian and official perpetrators of trafficking, and officials complicit in recruitment and use of child soldiers and the sexual exploitation of boys continued to operate with impunity; authorities continued to arrest, detain, and penalize many trafficking victims, including punishing sex trafficking victims for “moral crimes”; the judiciary remained underfunded, understaffed, and undertrained (2020) Illicit drugs: the world’s largest producer of illicit opiates but it is not a major supplier to the United States; 215,000 hectares (ha) of opium poppy cultivated in Afghanistan in 2019; also produces methamphetamine and cannabis products; one of the highest domestic substance abuse rates in the world (2018)the world’s largest producer of illicit opiates but it is not a major supplier to the United States; 215,000 hectares (ha) of opium poppy cultivated in Afghanistan in 2019; also produces methamphetamine and cannabis products; one of the highest domestic substance abuse rates in the world

20220601

countries-wake-island

Topic: Photos of Wake Island Topic: Introduction Background: Wake Island was probably visited by Micronesian and Polynesian settlers, and oral legends tell of periodic voyages to the islands by people from the Marshall Islands. Wake Island was uninhabited when Spanish explorer Alvaro de Mendana de NEYRA became the first European to see it in 1568 and still had no humans when English captain Samuel WAKE sailed by it in 1796. The United States Exploring Expedition visited the island in 1841 and the US annexed it in 1899 to use as a cable and refueling station between its newly acquired Pacific territories of Hawaii and the Philippines and Guam. In the 1930s, Pan-American Airways built facilities on Wake Island so that it could be used as a stopover for flights from the US to China. In January 1941, the US began to install military assets on Wake Island and in early December of that year, Japan attacked Wake Island, capturing it by the end of the month after a heroic resistance. Japan held Wake Island until the end of World War II, and in 1946, commercial airlines once again used Wake Island as a refueling stop. In 1973, the Marshall Islands claimed Wake Island based on the oral legends, although the US has not recognized these claims. In 1974, the US military took exclusive control of the island’s airstrip and restricted visitors. In 1978, Bikini Islanders from the Marshall Islands, who were evacuated in the 1950s and 1960s because of US nuclear tests, considered rehoming on Wake Island, but the US military rejected that plan. Since the 1970s, the island has been important for missile defense testing. In 2009, Wake Island was included in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument.Wake Island was probably visited by Micronesian and Polynesian settlers, and oral legends tell of periodic voyages to the islands by people from the Marshall Islands. Wake Island was uninhabited when Spanish explorer Alvaro de Mendana de NEYRA became the first European to see it in 1568 and still had no humans when English captain Samuel WAKE sailed by it in 1796. The United States Exploring Expedition visited the island in 1841 and the US annexed it in 1899 to use as a cable and refueling station between its newly acquired Pacific territories of Hawaii and the Philippines and Guam. In the 1930s, Pan-American Airways built facilities on Wake Island so that it could be used as a stopover for flights from the US to China. In January 1941, the US began to install military assets on Wake Island and in early December of that year, Japan attacked Wake Island, capturing it by the end of the month after a heroic resistance. Japan held Wake Island until the end of World War II, and in 1946, commercial airlines once again used Wake Island as a refueling stop. In 1973, the Marshall Islands claimed Wake Island based on the oral legends, although the US has not recognized these claims. In 1974, the US military took exclusive control of the island’s airstrip and restricted visitors. In 1978, Bikini Islanders from the Marshall Islands, who were evacuated in the 1950s and 1960s because of US nuclear tests, considered rehoming on Wake Island, but the US military rejected that plan. Since the 1970s, the island has been important for missile defense testing. In 2009, Wake Island was included in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands Geographic coordinates: 19 17 N, 166 39 E Map references: Oceania Area: total: 7 sq km land: 6.5 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: about 11 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 19.3 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical Terrain: atoll 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 Elevation: highest point: unnamed location 8 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m Natural resources: none Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012) Natural hazards: subject to occasional typhoons Geography - note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing location for transpacific flights Map description: Wake Island map showing the three component islands and surrounding reef that make up the US territory in the North Pacific Ocean.Wake Island map showing the three component islands and surrounding reef that make up the US territory in the North Pacific Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: (2018 est.) no indigenous inhabitants note: approximately 100 military personnel and civilian contractors maintain and operate the airfield and communications facilities 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: potable water obtained through a catchment rainwater system and a desalinization plant for brackish ground water; hazardous wastes moved to an accumulation site for storage and eventual transport off site via barge Climate: tropical Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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 Dependency status: unincorporated unorganized territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Department of the Interior; activities in the atoll are currently conducted by the 11th US Air Force and managed from Pacific Air Force Support Center Independence: none (territory of the US) Legal system: US common law Citizenship: see United States Flag description: the flag of the US is used Topic: Economy Economic overview: Economic activity is limited to providing services to military personnel and contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported. Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telecommunication systems: general assessment: satellite communications; 2 Defense Switched Network circuits off the Overseas Telephone System (OTS); located in the Hawaii area code - 808 (2018) Broadcast media: American Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) provides satellite radio/TV broadcasts (2018) Topic: Transportation Airports: total: 1 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2021) Ports and terminals: none; two offshore anchorages for large ships Transportation - note: there are no commercial or civilian flights to and from Wake Island, except in direct support of island missions; emergency landing is available Topic: Military and Security Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US; the US Air Force is responsible for overall administration and operation of the island facilities; the launch support facility is administered by the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: claimed by Marshall Islandsclaimed by Marshall Islands

20220601

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

This entry measures the degree of inequality in the distribution of family income in a country. The index is calculated from the Lorenz curve, in which cumulative family income is plotted against the number of families arranged from the poorest to the richest. The index is the ratio of (a) the area between a country's Lorenz curve and the 45 degree helping line to (b) the entire triangular area under the 45 degree line. The more nearly equal a country's income distribution, the closer its Lorenz curve to the 45 degree line and the lower its Gini index, e.g., a Scandinavian country with an index of 25. The more unequal a country's income distribution, the farther its Lorenz curve from the 45 degree line and the higher its Gini index, e.g., a Sub-Saharan country with an index of 50. If income were distributed with perfect equality, the Lorenz curve would coincide with the 45 degree line and the index would be zero; if income were distributed with perfect inequality, the Lorenz curve would coincide with the horizontal axis and the right vertical axis and the index would be 100. Topic: Afghanistan29.4 (2008) Topic: Albania33.2 (2017 est.) 30 (2008 est.) Topic: Algeria27.6 (2011 est.) Topic: Angola51.3 (2018 est.) Topic: Argentina41.4 (2018 est.) 45.8 (2009) Topic: Armenia34.4 (2018 est.) 31.5 (2013 est.) Topic: Australia34.4 (2014 est.) 35.2 (1994) Topic: Austria29.7 (2017 est.) 30.5 (2014) Topic: Azerbaijan33.7 (2008) 36.5 (2001) Topic: Bangladesh32.4 (2016 est.) 33.2 (2005) Topic: Belarus25.2 (2018 est.) 21.7 (1998) Topic: Belgium27.4 (2017 est.) 28.7 (1996) Topic: Benin47.8 (2015 est.) Topic: Bhutan37.4 (2017 est.) 38.1 (2007) Topic: Bolivia42.2 (2018 est.) 57.9 (1999) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina33 (2011 est.) 33.1 (2007) Topic: Botswana53.3 (2015 est.) 63 (1993) Topic: Brazil53.9 (2018 est.) 54 (2004) Topic: Bulgaria40.4 (2017 est.) 38.3 (2016) Topic: Burkina Faso35.3 (2014 est.) 48.2 (1994) Topic: Burma30.7 (2017 est.) Topic: Burundi38.6 (2013 est.) Topic: Cabo Verde42.4 (2015 est.) Topic: Cambodia37.9 (2008 est.) 41.9 (2004 est.) Topic: Cameroon46.5 (2014 est.) 46.6 (2014 est.) Topic: Canada33.3 (2017 est.) 31.5 (1994) Topic: Central African Republic43.6 (2003 est.) 61.3 (1993) Topic: Chad43.3 (2011 est.) Topic: Chile44.4 (2017 est.) 57.1 (2000) Topic: China38.5 (2016 est.) 46.2 (2015 est.) Topic: Colombia50.4 (2018 est.) 53.5 (2014) Topic: Comoros45.3 (2014 est.) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the42.1 (2012 est.) Topic: Congo, Republic of the48.9 (2011 est.) Topic: Costa Rica48 (2018 est.) 49.2 (2013) Topic: Cote d'Ivoire41.5 (2015 est.) 36.7 (1995) Topic: Croatia30.4 (2017 est.) 32.1 (2014 est.) Topic: Cyprus31.4 (2017 est.) 32.4 (2013 est.) Topic: Czechia24.9 (2017 est.) 25.1 (2014) Topic: Denmark28.7 (2017 est.) 27.5 (2010 est.) Topic: Djibouti41.6 (2017 est.) Topic: Dominican Republic43.7 (2018 est.) 45.7 (2012 est.) Topic: Ecuador45.4 (2018 est.) 48.5 (December 2017) note: data are for urban households only Topic: Egypt31.5 (2017 est.) 29.8 (2012) Topic: El Salvador38.6 (2018 est.) 38 (2014) Topic: Estonia30.4 (2017 est.) 35.6 (2014) Topic: Eswatini54.6 (2016 est.) Topic: Ethiopia35 (2015 est.) 30 (2000) Topic: European Union30.8 (2016 est.) 31 (2015 est.) Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)36 (2015) Topic: Faroe Islands22.7 (2013 est.) 21.6 (2011 est.) Topic: Fiji36.7 (2013 est.) Topic: Finland27.4 (2017 est.) 22.2 (1995) Topic: France31.6 (2017 est.) 29.2 (2015) Topic: Gabon38 (2017 est.) Topic: Gambia, The35.9 (2015 est.) Topic: Gaza Strip33.7 (2016 est.) Topic: Georgia36.4 (2018 est.) 46 (2011) Topic: Germany31.9 (2016 est.) 30 (1994) Topic: Ghana43.5 (2016 est.) 42.3 (2012-13) 41.9 (2005-06) Topic: Greece34.4 (2017 est.) 35.7 (2011) Topic: Greenland33.9 (2015 est.) 34.3 (2014 est.) Topic: Guatemala48.3 (2014 est.) 56 (2011) Topic: Guinea33.7 (2012 est.) 40.3 (1994) Topic: Guinea-Bissau50.7 (2010 est.) Topic: Guyana44.6 (2007) 43.2 (1999) Topic: Haiti41.1 (2012 est.) 59.2 (2001) Topic: Honduras52.1 (2018 est.) 45.7 (2009) Topic: Hong Kong53.9 (2016) 53.7 (2011 est.) Topic: Hungary30.6 (2017 est.) 28.6 (2014) Topic: Iceland26.8 (2015 est.) 25 (2005) Topic: India35.7 (2011 est.) 37.8 (1997) Topic: Indonesia37.8 (2018 est.) 39.4 (2005) Topic: Iran40.8 (2017 est.) Topic: Iraq29.5 (2012 est.) Topic: Ireland32.8 (2016 est.) 35.9 (1987 est.) Topic: Israel37 (2018 est.) 39 (2016 est.) 39.2 (2008) Topic: Italy35.9 (2017 est.) 27.3 (1995) Topic: Jamaica35 (2016) 38 (2015) Topic: Japan32.9 (2013 est.) 24.9 (1993) Topic: Jersey0.3 (2014 est.) 0.3 (2013 est.) Topic: Jordan33.7 (2010 est.) 36.4 (1997) Topic: Kazakhstan27.5 (2017 est.) 31.5 (2003) Topic: Kenya40.8 (2015 est.) 42.5 (2008 est.) Topic: Korea, South35.4 (2015 est.) 31.6 (2012 est.) Topic: Kosovo29 (2017 est.) 24.1 (2014 est.) Topic: Kyrgyzstan27.7 (2018 est.) 29 (2001) Topic: Laos36.4 (2012 est.) 34.6 (2002) Topic: Latvia35.6 (2017 est.) 35.4 (2014) Topic: Lebanon31.8 (2011 est.) Topic: Lesotho44.9 (2017 est.) 56 (1986-87) Topic: Liberia35.3 (2016 est.) 38.2 (2007) Topic: Lithuania37.3 (2017 est.) 35 (2014) Topic: Luxembourg34.9 (2017 est.) 26 (2005 est.) Topic: Macau35 (2013) 38 (2008) Topic: Madagascar42.6 (2012 est.) 42.7 (2010) Topic: Malawi44.7 (2016 est.) 39 (2004) Topic: Malaysia41 (2015 est.) 49.2 (1997) Topic: Maldives31.3 (2016 est.) 37.4 (2004 est.) Topic: Mali40.1 (2001) 50.5 (1994) Topic: Malta29.2 (2017 est.) 27.7 (2014) Topic: Mauritania32.6 (2014 est.) 39 (2006 est.) Topic: Mauritius36.8 (2017 est.) 39 (2006 est.) Topic: Mexico36.8 (2018 est.) 48.3 (2008) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of40.1 (2013 est.) Topic: Moldova25.7 (2018 est.) 26.8 (2014 est.) Topic: Mongolia32.7 (2018 est.) 36.5 (2008) Topic: Montenegro39 (2015 est.) 32.3 (2013 est.) Topic: Morocco39.5 (2013 est.) 39.5 (1999 est.) Topic: Mozambique54 (2014 est.) 47.3 (2002) Topic: Namibia59.1 (2015 est.) 70.7 (2003) Topic: Nepal32.8 (2010 est.) 47.2 (2008 est.) Topic: Netherlands28.5 (2017 est.) 25.1 (2013 est.) Topic: New Zealand36.2 (1997) Topic: Nicaragua46.2 (2014 est.) 45.8 (2009) Topic: Niger34.3 (2014 est.) 50.5 (1995) Topic: Nigeria35.1 (2018 est.) 50.6 (1997) Topic: North Macedonia34.2 (2017 est.) 35.2 (2014) Topic: Norway27 (2017 est.) 25.8 (1995) Topic: Pakistan33.5 (2015 est.) 30.9 (FY2011) Topic: Panama49.2 (2018 est.) 56.1 (2003) Topic: Papua New Guinea50.9 (1996) Topic: Paraguay46.2 (2018 est.) 53.2 (2009) Topic: Peru42.8 (2018 est.) 51 (2005) Topic: Philippines44.4 (2015 est.) 46 (2012 est.) Topic: Poland29.7 (2017 est.) 33.7 (2008) Topic: Portugal33.8 (2017 est.) 34 (2014 est.) Topic: Qatar41.1 (2007) Topic: Romania36 (2017 est.) 28.2 (2010) Topic: Russia37.5 (2018 est.) 41.9 (2013) Topic: Rwanda43.7 (2016 est.) 51.3 (2010 est.) Topic: Saint Lucia51.2 (2016 est.) Topic: Samoa38.7 (2013 est.) Topic: Sao Tome and Principe56.3 (2017 est.) 32.1 (2000 est.) Topic: Saudi Arabia45.9 (2013 est.) Topic: Senegal40.3 (2011 est.) Topic: Serbia36.2 (2017 est.) 28.2 (2008 est.) Topic: Seychelles46.8 (2013 est.) Topic: Sierra Leone35.7 (2018 est.) 62.9 (1989) Topic: Singapore45.9 (2017) 45.8 (2016) Topic: Slovakia25.2 (2016 est.) 26.1 (2014) Topic: Slovenia24.2 (2017 est.) 24.5 (2015) Topic: Solomon Islands37.1 (2013 est.) Topic: South Africa63 (2014 est.) 63.4 (2011 est.) Topic: South Sudan46 (2010 est.) Topic: Spain34.7 (2017 est.) 32 (2005) Topic: Sri Lanka39.8 (2016 est.) 46 (1995) Topic: Sudan34.2 (2014 est.) Topic: Sweden28.8 (2017 est.) 25 (1992) Topic: Switzerland32.7 (2017 est.) 33.1 (1992) Topic: Taiwan33.6 (2014) 32.6 (2000) Topic: Tajikistan34 (2015 est.) 34.7 (1998) Topic: Tanzania40.5 (2017 est.) 34.6 (2000) Topic: Thailand36.4 (2018 est.) 48.4 (2011) Topic: Timor-Leste28.7 (2014 est.) 38 (2002 est.) Topic: Togo43.1 (2015 est.) Topic: Tonga37.6 (2015 est.) Topic: Tunisia32.8 (2015 est.) 41.7 (1995 est.) Topic: Turkey41.9 (2018 est.) 43.6 (2003) Topic: Turkmenistan40.8 (1998) Topic: Tuvalu39.1 (2010 est.) Topic: Uganda42.8 (2016 est.) 45.7 (2002) Topic: Ukraine26.1 (2018 est.) 28.2 (2009) Topic: United Arab Emirates32.5 (2014 est.) Topic: United Kingdom34.8 (2016 est.) 33.4 (2010) Topic: United States41.1 (2016 est.) 40.8 (1997) Topic: Uruguay39.7 (2018 est.) 41.9 (2013) Topic: Uzbekistan36.8 (2003) 44.7 (1998) Topic: Vanuatu37.6 (2010 est.) Topic: Venezuela39 (2011) 49.5 (1998) Topic: Vietnam35.7 (2018 est.) 37.6 (2008) Topic: West Bank33.7 (2016 est.) 38.7 (2007 est.) note: includes Gaza Strip Topic: World37.9 (2012 est.) 37.9 (2005 est.) Topic: Yemen36.7 (2014 est.) 37.3 (1999 est.) Topic: Zambia57.1 (2015 est.) 50.8 (2004) Topic: Zimbabwe44.3 (2017 est.) 50.1 (2006)

20220601

countries-tonga

Topic: Photos of Tonga Topic: Introduction Background: The first humans arrived in Tonga around 1000 B.C. The islands’ politics were probably highly centralized under the Tu’i Tonga, or Tongan king, by A.D. 950, and by 1200, the Tu’i Tonga had expanded his influence throughout Polynesia and into Melanesia and Micronesia. The Tongan Empire began to decline in the 1300s, descending into civil wars, a military defeat to Samoa, and internal political strife that saw successive leaders assassinated. By the mid-1500s, some Tu’i Tongans were ethnic Samoan and day-to-day administration of Tonga was transferred to a new position occupied by ethnic Tongans. Dutch sailors explored the islands in the 1600s and British Captain James COOK visited Tonga three times in the 1770s, naming them the Friendly Islands for the positive reception he thought he received, even though the Tongans he encountered were plotting ways to kill him. In 1799, Tonga fell into a new round of civil wars over succession. Wesleyan missionaries arrived in 1822, quickly converting the population. In the 1830s, a low-ranking chief from Ha’apai began to consolidate control over the islands and won the support of the missionaries by declaring that he would dedicate Tonga to God. The chief soon made alliances with leaders on most of the other islands and was crowned King George TUPOU I in 1845, establishing the only still-extant Polynesian monarchy. Tupou I declared Tonga a constitutional monarchy in 1875 and his successor, King George TUPOU II, agreed to enter a protectorate agreement with the UK in 1900 after rival Tongan chiefs tried to overthrow him. As a protectorate, Tonga never completely lost its indigenous governance, but it did become more isolated and the social hierarchy became more stratified between a group of nobles and a large class of commoners. Today, about one third of parliamentary seats are reserved for nobles. Queen Salote TUPOU III negotiated the end of the protectorate in 1965, which was achieved under King TUPOU IV, who in 1970 withdrew from the protectorate and joined the Commonwealth of Nations. A prodemocracy movement gained steam in the early 2000s, led by future Prime Minister ‘Akilisi POHIVA, and in 2006, riots broke out in Nuku’alofa to protest the lack of progress on prodemocracy legislation. To appease the activists, in 2008, King George TUPOU V announced he was relinquishing most of his powers leading up to parliamentary elections in 2010; he died in 2012 and was succeeded by his brother ‘Aho’eitu TUPOU VI. Tropical Cyclone Gita, the strongest-ever recorded storm to impact Tonga, hit the islands in February 2018 causing extensive damage.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand Geographic coordinates: 20 00 S, 175 00 W Map references: Oceania Area: total: 747 sq km land: 717 sq km water: 30 sq km Area - comparative: four times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 419 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; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December) Terrain: mostly flat islands with limestone bedrock formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic rock Elevation: highest point: Kao Volcano on Kao Island 1,046 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m Natural resources: arable land, fish Land use: agricultural land: 43.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 22.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 15.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 5.6% (2018 est.) forest: 12.5% (2018 est.) other: 44.4% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012) Population distribution: over two-thirds of the population lives on the island of Tongatapu; only 45 of the nation's 171 islands are occupied Natural hazards: cyclones (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 Geography - note: the western islands (making up the Tongan Volcanic Arch) are all of volcanic origin; the eastern islands are nonvolcanic and are composed of coral limestone and sand Map description: Tonga map showing the major islands that make up this archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean.Tonga map showing the major islands that make up this archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 105,517 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Tongan(s) adjective: Tongan Ethnic groups: Tongan 97%, part-Tongan 0.8%, other 2.2%, unspecified <0.1% (2016 est.) Languages: Tongan and English 76.8%, Tongan, English, and other language 10.6%, Tongan only (official) 8.7%, English only (official) 0.7%, other 1.7%, none 2.2% (2016 est.) note: data represent persons aged 5 and older who can read and write a simple sentence in Tongan, English, or another language Religions: Protestant 64.1% (includes Free Wesleyan Church 35%, Free Church of Tonga 11.9%, Church of Tonga 6.8%, Assembly of God 2.3%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.2%, Tokaikolo Christian Church 1.6%, other 4.3%), Church of Jesus Christ 18.6%, Roman Catholic 14.2%, other 2.4%, none 0.5%, unspecified 0.1% (2016 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 32% (male 17,250/female 16,698) 15-24 years: 19.66% (male 10,679/female 10,175) 25-54 years: 35.35% (male 18,701/female 18,802) 55-64 years: 6.17% (male 3,345/female 3,202) 65 years and over: 6.83% (2020 est.) (male 3,249/female 3,994) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 68.6 youth dependency ratio: 58.6 elderly dependency ratio: 10 potential support ratio: 10 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 24.1 years male: 23.6 years female: 24.5 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -0.26% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 20.31 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 4.95 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -18.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: over two-thirds of the population lives on the island of Tongatapu; only 45 of the nation's 171 islands are occupied Urbanization: urban population: 23.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 23,000 NUKU'ALOFA (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 24.9 years (2012 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Maternal mortality ratio: 52 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 12.41 deaths/1,000 live births male: 13.43 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.53 years male: 75.89 years female: 79.23 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.76 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 29.3% (2019) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99.8% of population rural: 99.6% of population total: 99.6% of population unimproved: urban: 0.2% of population rural: 0.4% of population total: 0.4% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 5% (2019) Physicians density: 0.54 physicians/1,000 population (2013) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 99.4% of population rural: 98.8% of population total: 98.9% of population unimproved: urban: 0.6% of population rural: 1.2% of population total: 1.1% 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: 48.2% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 0.8% (2019) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 0.4% (2019) women married by age 18: 10.1% (2019) men married by age 18: 2.8% (2019 est.) Education expenditures: 8% of GDP (2019) Literacy: definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English total population: 99.4% male: 99.4% female: 99.5% (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 16 years male: 15 years female: 17 years (2020) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 8.9% male: 5.7% female: 13.1% (2018) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: deforestation from land being cleared for agriculture and settlement; soil exhaustion; water pollution due to salinization, sewage, and toxic chemicals from farming activities; coral reefs and marine populations threatened Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, 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 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate 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.) Climate: tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December) Land use: agricultural land: 43.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 22.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 15.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 5.6% (2018 est.) forest: 12.5% (2018 est.) other: 44.4% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 23.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.03% 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 vectorborne diseases: malaria Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 17,238 tons (2012 est.) Total renewable water resources: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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 Government type: constitutional monarchy Capital: name: Nuku'alofa geographic coordinates: 21 08 S, 175 12 W time difference: UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in November; ends second Sunday in January etymology: composed of the words "nuku," meaning "residence or abode," and "alofa," meaning "love," to signify "abode of love" Administrative divisions: 5 island divisions; 'Eua, Ha'apai, Ongo Niua, Tongatapu, Vava'u Independence: 4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate status) National holiday: Official Birthday of King TUPOU VI, 4 July (1959); note - actual birthday of the monarch is 12 July 1959, 4 July (2015) is the day the king was crowned; Constitution Day (National Day), 4 November (1875) Constitution: history: adopted 4 November 1875, revised 1988, 2016 amendments: proposed by the Legislative Assembly; passage requires approval by the Assembly in each of three readings, the unanimous approval of the Privy Council (a high-level advisory body to the monarch), the Cabinet, and assent to by the monarch; revised 1988; amended many times, last in 2013 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: the father must be a citizen of Tonga; if a child is born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen of Tonga dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: King TUPOU VI (since 18 March 2012); Heir Apparent Crown Prince Siaosi Manumataogo 'Alaivahamama'o 'Ahoeitu Konstantin Tuku'aho, son of the king (born 17 September 1985); note - on 18 March 2012, King George TUPOU V died and his brother, Crown Prince TUPOUTO'A Lavaka, assumed the throne as TUPOU VI head of government: Prime Minister Siaosi SOVALENI (since 27 December 2021) cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly and appointed by the monarch; election last held on 18 November 2021 (next to be held in in November 2025) election results: Siaosi SOVALENI elected prime minister by the Legislative Assembly; Siaosi SOVALENI 16 votes, Aisake EKE 10 note: a Privy Council advises the monarch Legislative branch: description: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (26 seats); 17 people's representatives directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, and 9 indirectly elected by hereditary leaders; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 18 November 2021 (next to be held in November 2025) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party (elected members) - independents 11, nobles' representatives 9,  Democratic Party 3, Peoples Party 3; composition - men 26, women 0, percent of women 0% Judicial branch: highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and a number of judges determined by the monarch); note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are brought before the King in Privy Council, the monarch's advisory organ that has both judicial and legislative powers judge selection and term of office: judge appointments and tenures made by the King in Privy Council and subject to consent of the Legislative Assembly subordinate courts: Supreme Court; Magistrates' Courts; Land Courts Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands or DPFI or PTOA People's Democratic Party or PDP [Tesina FUKO] Sustainable Nation-Building Party [Sione FONUA] Tonga Democratic Labor Party Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement or THRDM Tonga People's Party or PAK (Paati ʻa e Kakai ʻo Tonga) [Pohiva TU'I'ONETOA] (split from Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands) International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Viliami Va’inga TONE (since 20 April 2021) chancery: 250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022 telephone: [1] (917) 369-1025 FAX: [1] (917) 369-1024 email address and website: tongaunmission@aol.com consulate(s) general: San Francisco Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga Flag description: red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner; the cross reflects the deep-rooted Christianity in Tonga, red represents the blood of Christ and his sacrifice, and white signifies purity National symbol(s): red cross on white field, arms equal length; national colors: red, white National anthem: name: "Ko e fasi `o e tu"i `o e `Otu Tonga" (Song of the King of the Tonga Islands) lyrics/music: Uelingatoni Ngu TUPOUMALOHI/Karl Gustavus SCHMITT note: in use since 1875; more commonly known as "Fasi Fakafonua" (National Song) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Tonga has a small, open island economy and is the last constitutional monarchy among the Pacific Island countries. It has a narrow export base in agricultural goods. Squash, vanilla beans, and yams are the main crops. Agricultural exports, including fish, make up two-thirds of total exports. Tourism is the second-largest source of hard currency earnings following remittances. Tonga had 53,800 visitors in 2015. The country must import a high proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand.   The country remains dependent on external aid and remittances from overseas Tongans to offset its trade deficit. The government is emphasizing the development of the private sector, encouraging investment, and is committing increased funds for health care and education. Tonga's English-speaking and educated workforce offers a viable labor market, and the tropical climate provides fertile soil. Renewable energy and deep-sea mining also offer opportunities for investment.   Tonga has a reasonably sound basic infrastructure and well developed social services. But the government faces high unemployment among the young, moderate inflation, pressures for democratic reform, and rising civil service expenditures.Tonga has a small, open island economy and is the last constitutional monarchy among the Pacific Island countries. It has a narrow export base in agricultural goods. Squash, vanilla beans, and yams are the main crops. Agricultural exports, including fish, make up two-thirds of total exports. Tourism is the second-largest source of hard currency earnings following remittances. Tonga had 53,800 visitors in 2015. The country must import a high proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. The country remains dependent on external aid and remittances from overseas Tongans to offset its trade deficit. The government is emphasizing the development of the private sector, encouraging investment, and is committing increased funds for health care and education. Tonga's English-speaking and educated workforce offers a viable labor market, and the tropical climate provides fertile soil. Renewable energy and deep-sea mining also offer opportunities for investment. Tonga has a reasonably sound basic infrastructure and well developed social services. But the government faces high unemployment among the young, moderate inflation, pressures for democratic reform, and rising civil service expenditures. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $670 million (2019 est.) $660 million (2018 est.) $660 million (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 2.5% (2017 est.) 4.2% (2016 est.) 3.5% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $6,400 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $6,400 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $6,472 (2017 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $455 million (2017 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.4% (2017 est.) 2.6% (2016 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 19.9% (2017 est.) industry: 20.3% (2017 est.) services: 59.8% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 99.4% (2017 est.) government consumption: 21.9% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 24.1% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 22.8% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -68.5% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: coconuts, gourds, cassava, sweet potatoes, vegetables, yams, taro, roots/tubers nes, plantains, lemons/limes Industries: tourism, construction, fishing Industrial production growth rate: 5% (2017 est.) Labor force: 33,800 (2011 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 2,006% (2006 est.) industry: 27.5% (2006 est.) services: 2,006% (2006 est.) Unemployment rate: 1.1% (2011 est.) 1.1% (2006) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 8.9% male: 5.7% female: 13.1% (2018) Population below poverty line: 22.5% (2010 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 37.6 (2015 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 181.2 million (2017 est.) expenditures: 181.2 million (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 0% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 48% of GDP (FY2017 est.) 51.8% of GDP (FY2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 39.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June Current account balance: -$53 million (2017 est.) -$30 million (2016 est.) Exports: $90 million (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $110 million (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $100 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: United States 38%, South Korea 18%, Australia 14%, New Zealand 14%, Japan 6%,  (2019) Exports - commodities: squash, fish, various fruits and nuts, antiques, coral and shells (2019) Imports: $300 million (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $330 million (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $320 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Fiji 29%, New Zealand 23%, China 14%, United States 8%, Australia 6%, Japan 6% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, poultry meats, audio equipment, mutton, goat meat, broadcasting equipment (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $198.5 million (31 December 2017 est.) $176.5 million (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $189.9 million (31 December 2017 est.) $198.2 million (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: pa'anga (TOP) per US dollar - 2.27015 (2020 est.) 2.29095 (2019 est.) 2.22717 (2018 est.) 2.106 (2014 est.) 1.847 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 98.9% (2018) electrification - urban areas: 98.9% (2018) electrification - rural areas: 98.9% (2018) Electricity - production: 52 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 48.36 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 20,300 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 74% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 26% 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 (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 900 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 910 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: 7,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 62,104 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 59.43 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: high speed Internet provided by 3 MNOs, has subsequently allowed for better health care services, faster connections for education and growing e-commerce services; in 2018 new 4G LTE network; fixed-line teledensity has dropped given mobile subscriptions; mobile technology dominates given the island's geography; satellite technology is widespread and is important especially in areas away from the city; the launch in 2019 of the Kacific-1 broadband satellite has made broadband more widely available for around 89 remote communities (2020) domestic: fixed-line 6 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity 59 telephones per 100; fully automatic switched network (2019) international: country code - 676; landing point for the Tonga Cable and the TDCE connecting to Fiji and 3 separate Tonga islands; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (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 and 3 privately owned TV stations; satellite and cable TV services are available; 1 state-owned and 5 privately owned radio stations; Radio Australia broadcasts available via satellite (2019) Internet country code: .to Internet users: total: 42,844 (2019 est.) percent of population: 41% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 5,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2020 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: A3 Airports: total: 6 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Roadways: total: 680 km (2011) paved: 184 km (2011) unpaved: 496 km (2011) Merchant marine: total: 32 by type: container ship 4, general cargo 13, oil tanker 1, other 14 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Nuku'alofa, Neiafu, Pangai Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Tonga Defense Services (His Majesty's Armed Forces): Joint Force headquarters, Territorial Forces, Land Force, Tonga Navy, Training Wing, Air Wing, and Support Unit (2021) Military expenditures: 2.1% of GDP (2020 est.) (approximately $10 million) 2.4% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $12 million) 1.5% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $7.1 million) 2.1% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $10 million) 1.7% of GDP (2016 est.) (approximately $7.6 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: the Tonga Defense Services have approximately 500 personnel (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Tonga military's inventory includes mostly light weapons and equipment from European (primarily the UK) countries and the US, as well as naval patrol vessels from Australia; Australia is the only supplier of military systems since 2010 (2021) Military service age and obligation: men and women, 18-25, may volunteer; no conscription (2021) Military - note: Tonga participated in World War I as part of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, but the Tonga Defense Force (TDF) was not established until 1939 at the beginning of World War II; in 1943, New Zealand helped train about 2,000 Tongan troops who saw action in the Solomon Islands; the TDF was disbanded at the end of the war, but was reactivated in 1946 as the Tonga Defense Services (TDS); in 2013, the name of the TDS was changed to His Majesty’s Armed Forces of Tonga (HMAF); Tongan troops deployed to Iraq from 2004-2008 and Afghanistan to support UK forces from 2010-2014Tonga participated in World War I as part of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, but the Tonga Defense Force (TDF) was not established until 1939 at the beginning of World War II; in 1943, New Zealand helped train about 2,000 Tongan troops who saw action in the Solomon Islands; the TDF was disbanded at the end of the war, but was reactivated in 1946 as the Tonga Defense Services (TDS); in 2013, the name of the TDS was changed to His Majesty’s Armed Forces of Tonga (HMAF); Tongan troops deployed to Iraq from 2004-2008 and Afghanistan to support UK forces from 2010-2014 Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: maritime boundary dispute with Fiji  maritime boundary dispute with Fiji 

20220601

countries-gabon

Topic: Photos of Gabon Topic: Introduction Background: Gabon, a sparsely populated country known for its dense rainforests and vast petroleum reserves, is one of the most prosperous and stable countries in central Africa. Approximately 40 ethnic groups are represented, the largest of which is the Fang, a group that covers the northern third of Gabon and expands north into Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon. From about the early 1300s, various kingdoms emerged in and surrounding present-day Gabon, including the Kingdoms of Loango and Orungu. Because most early Bantu languages spoken in these kingdoms did not have a written form, historical traditions were passed on orally, resulting in much of Gabon's early history being lost over time. Portuguese traders who arrived in the mid-1400s gave the area its name of Gabon. At that time, indigenous trade networks began to engage with European traders, exchanging goods such as ivory and wood. For a century beginning in the 1760s, trade came to focus mostly on enslaved people. While many groups in Gabon participated in the slave trade, the Fang were a notable exception. As the slave trade declined in the late 1800s, France colonized the country and directed a widespread extraction of Gabonese resources. Anti-colonial rhetoric by Gabon’s educated elites increased significantly in the early 1900s, but no widespread rebellion materialized. French decolonization following World War II led to the country’s independence in 1960. Within a year of independence, the government changed from a parliamentary to a presidential system, and Leon M’BA won the first presidential election in 1961. El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest ruling heads of state in history - was M’BA’s vice president and assumed the presidency after M’BA’s death in 1967. BONGO went on to dominate the country's political scene for four decades (1967-2009). In 1968, he declared Gabon a single-party state and created the Parti Democratique Gabonais (PDG), which remains the predominant party in Gabonese politics today. In the early 1990s, he reintroduced a multiparty system under a new constitution after he was confronted with growing political opposition. He was reelected by wide margins in 1995, 1998, 2002, and 2005 against a divided opposition and amidst allegations of fraud. Following President BONGO's death in 2009, a new election brought his son, Ali BONGO Ondimba, to power. President Ali BONGO Ondimba was reelected in 2016 in a close election against a united opposition. Gabon’s Constitutional Court reviewed the contested election results and ruled in his favor.Gabon, a sparsely populated country known for its dense rainforests and vast petroleum reserves, is one of the most prosperous and stable countries in central Africa. Approximately 40 ethnic groups are represented, the largest of which is the Fang, a group that covers the northern third of Gabon and expands north into Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon. From about the early 1300s, various kingdoms emerged in and surrounding present-day Gabon, including the Kingdoms of Loango and Orungu. Because most early Bantu languages spoken in these kingdoms did not have a written form, historical traditions were passed on orally, resulting in much of Gabon's early history being lost over time. Portuguese traders who arrived in the mid-1400s gave the area its name of Gabon. At that time, indigenous trade networks began to engage with European traders, exchanging goods such as ivory and wood. For a century beginning in the 1760s, trade came to focus mostly on enslaved people. While many groups in Gabon participated in the slave trade, the Fang were a notable exception. As the slave trade declined in the late 1800s, France colonized the country and directed a widespread extraction of Gabonese resources. Anti-colonial rhetoric by Gabon’s educated elites increased significantly in the early 1900s, but no widespread rebellion materialized. French decolonization following World War II led to the country’s independence in 1960.Within a year of independence, the government changed from a parliamentary to a presidential system, and Leon M’BA won the first presidential election in 1961. El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest ruling heads of state in history - was M’BA’s vice president and assumed the presidency after M’BA’s death in 1967. BONGO went on to dominate the country's political scene for four decades (1967-2009). In 1968, he declared Gabon a single-party state and created the Parti Democratique Gabonais (PDG), which remains the predominant party in Gabonese politics today. In the early 1990s, he reintroduced a multiparty system under a new constitution after he was confronted with growing political opposition. He was reelected by wide margins in 1995, 1998, 2002, and 2005 against a divided opposition and amidst allegations of fraud. Following President BONGO's death in 2009, a new election brought his son, Ali BONGO Ondimba, to power. President Ali BONGO Ondimba was reelected in 2016 in a close election against a united opposition. Gabon’s Constitutional Court reviewed the contested election results and ruled in his favor.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Central Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea Geographic coordinates: 1 00 S, 11 45 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 267,667 sq km land: 257,667 sq km water: 10,000 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Colorado Land boundaries: total: 3,261 km border countries (3): Cameroon 349 km; Republic of the Congo 2,567 km; Equatorial Guinea 345 km Coastline: 885 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical; always hot, humid Terrain: narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south Elevation: highest point: Mont Bengoue 1,050 m note - the Factbook map is incorrect; it shows the wrong high elevation lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 377 m Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower Land use: agricultural land: 19% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 17.2% (2018 est.) forest: 81% (2018 est.) other: 0% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 40 sq km (2012) Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km) Major aquifers: Congo Basin Population distribution: the relatively small population is spread in pockets throughout the country; the largest urban center is the capital of Libreville, located along the Atlantic coast in the northwest as shown in this population distribution map Natural hazards: none Geography - note: a small population and oil and mineral reserves have helped Gabon become one of Africa's wealthier countries; in general, these circumstances have allowed the country to maintain and conserve its pristine rain forest and rich biodiversity Map description: Gabon map showing major cities and towns as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Atlantic Ocean.Gabon map showing major cities and towns as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Atlantic Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 2,340,613 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Nationality: noun: Gabonese (singular and plural) adjective: Gabonese Ethnic groups: Gabonese-born 80.1% (includes Fang 23.2%, Shira-Punu/Vili 18.9%, Nzabi-Duma 11.3%, Mbede-Teke 6.9%, Myene 5%, Kota-Kele 4.9%, Okande-Tsogo 2.1%, Pygmy .3%, other 7.5%), Cameroonian 4.6%, Malian 2.4%, Beninese 2.1%, acquired Gabonese nationality 1.6%, Togolese 1.6%, Senegalese 1.1%, Congolese (Brazzaville) 1%, other 5.5% (includes Congolese (Kinshasa), Equatorial Guinean, Nigerian) (2012 est.) Languages: French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi Religions: Roman Catholic 42.3%, Protestant 12.3%, other Christian 27.4%, Muslim 9.8%, animist 0.6%, other 0.5%, none/no answer 7.1% (2012 est.) Demographic profile: Gabon’s oil revenues have given it one of the highest per capita income levels in Sub-Saharan Africa, but the wealth is not evenly distributed and poverty is widespread. Unemployment is especially prevalent among the large youth population; more than 60% of the population is under the age of 25. With a fertility rate still averaging more than 4 children per woman, the youth population will continue to grow and further strain the mismatch between Gabon’s supply of jobs and the skills of its labor force.Gabon has been a magnet to migrants from neighboring countries since the 1960s because of the discovery of oil, as well as the country’s political stability and timber, mineral, and natural gas resources. Nonetheless, income inequality and high unemployment have created slums in Libreville full of migrant workers from Senegal, Nigeria, Cameroon, Benin, Togo, and elsewhere in West Africa. In 2011, Gabon declared an end to refugee status for 9,500 remaining Congolese nationals to whom it had granted asylum during the Republic of the Congo’s civil war between 1997 and 2003. About 5,400 of these refugees received permits to reside in Gabon.Gabon’s oil revenues have given it one of the highest per capita income levels in Sub-Saharan Africa, but the wealth is not evenly distributed and poverty is widespread. Unemployment is especially prevalent among the large youth population; more than 60% of the population is under the age of 25. With a fertility rate still averaging more than 4 children per woman, the youth population will continue to grow and further strain the mismatch between Gabon’s supply of jobs and the skills of its labor force.Gabon has been a magnet to migrants from neighboring countries since the 1960s because of the discovery of oil, as well as the country’s political stability and timber, mineral, and natural gas resources. Nonetheless, income inequality and high unemployment have created slums in Libreville full of migrant workers from Senegal, Nigeria, Cameroon, Benin, Togo, and elsewhere in West Africa. In 2011, Gabon declared an end to refugee status for 9,500 remaining Congolese nationals to whom it had granted asylum during the Republic of the Congo’s civil war between 1997 and 2003. About 5,400 of these refugees received permits to reside in Gabon. Age structure: 0-14 years: 36.45% (male 413,883/female 399,374) 15-24 years: 21.9% (male 254,749/female 233,770) 25-54 years: 32.48% (male 386,903/female 337,776) 55-64 years: 5.19% (male 58,861/female 56,843) 65 years and over: 3.98% (2020 est.) (male 44,368/female 44,381) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 68.9 youth dependency ratio: 62.9 elderly dependency ratio: 6 potential support ratio: 16.8 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 21 years male: 21.4 years female: 20.6 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 2.4% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 26.03 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 5.67 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 3.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: the relatively small population is spread in pockets throughout the country; the largest urban center is the capital of Libreville, located along the Atlantic coast in the northwest as shown in this population distribution map Urbanization: urban population: 90.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 857,000 LIBREVILLE (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.6 years (2012 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 Maternal mortality ratio: 252 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 28.56 deaths/1,000 live births male: 31.58 deaths/1,000 live births female: 25.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.7 years male: 67.98 years female: 71.48 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.31 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 31.1% (2012) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 97.2% of population rural: 55.3% of population total: 93.1% of population unimproved: urban: 2.8% of population rural: 44.7% of population total: 6.9% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 2.8% (2019) Physicians density: 0.68 physicians/1,000 population (2017) Hospital bed density: 6.3 beds/1,000 population Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 81.3% of population rural: 55.1% of population total: 78.7% of population unimproved: urban: 18.7% of population rural: 44.9% of population total: 21.3% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 3% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 46,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <1000 Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 15% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 6.4% (2012) Education expenditures: 2.8% of GDP (2019) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 84.7% male: 85.9% female: 83.4% (2018) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: deforestation (the forests that cover three-quarters of the country are threatened by excessive logging); burgeoning population exacerbating disposal of solid waste; oil industry contributing to water pollution; wildlife poaching 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, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate 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.) Climate: tropical; always hot, humid Land use: agricultural land: 19% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 17.2% (2018 est.) forest: 81% (2018 est.) other: 0% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 90.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 2.6% 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: malaria and dengue fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 238,102 tons (1995 est.) Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km) Major aquifers: Congo Basin Total water withdrawal: municipal: 84.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 14.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 40.3 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 166 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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 Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Libreville geographic coordinates: 0 23 N, 9 27 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: original site settled by freed slaves and the name means "free town" in French; named in imitation of Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem Independence: 17 August 1960 (from France) National holiday: Independence Day, 17 August (1960) Constitution: history: previous 1961; latest drafted May 1990, adopted 15 March 1991, promulgated 26 March 1991 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic, by the Council of Ministers, or by one third of either house of Parliament; passage requires Constitutional Court evaluation, at least two-thirds majority vote of two thirds of the Parliament membership convened in joint session, and approval in a referendum; constitutional articles on Gabon’s democratic form of government cannot be amended; amended several times, last in 2020 Legal system: mixed legal system of 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 Gabon dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Ali BONGO Ondimba (since 16 October 2009) head of government: Prime Minister Rose Christiane Ossouka RAPONDA (since 16 July 2020) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president  elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-year term (no term limits); election last held on 27 August 2016 (next to be held in August 2023); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Ali BONGO Ondimba reelected president; percent of vote - Ali BONGO Ondimba (PDG) 49.8%, Jean PING (UFC) 48.2%, other 2.0% Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of: Senate or Senat (102 seats; members indirectly elected by municipal councils and departmental assemblies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; members serve 6-year terms) National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (143 seats; members elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; members serve 5-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 30 January and 6 February 2021 (next to be held in December 2026) National Assembly - held in 2 rounds on 6 and 27 October 2018 (next to be held in 2023) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 81, CLR 7, PSD 2, ADERE-UPG 1, UPG 1, PGCI 1, independent 7; composition - NA National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 98, The Democrats or LD 11, RV 8, Social Democrats of Gabon 5, RH&M 4, other 9, independent 8; composition - men 121, women 22, percent of women 15.4%; note - total Parliament percent of women NA Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of 4 permanent specialized supreme courts - Supreme Court or Cour de Cassation, Administrative Supreme Court or Conseil d'Etat, Accounting Supreme Court or Cour des Comptes, Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle, and the non-permanent Court of State Security, initiated only for cases of high treason by the president and criminal activity by executive branch officials) judge selection and term of office: appointment and tenure of Supreme, Administrative, Accounting, and State Security courts NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed - 3 by the national president, 3 by the president of the Senate, and 3 by the president of the National Assembly; judges serve single renewable 7-year terms subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; county courts; military courts Political parties and leaders: Circle of Liberal Reformers or CLR [Gen. Jean-Boniface ASSELE] Democratic and Republican Alliance or ADERE [DIDJOB Divungui di Ndinge] Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG [Ali BONGO Ondimba] Independent Center Party of Gabon or PGCI [Luccheri GAHILA] Legacy and Modernity Party or RH&M Rally for Gabon or RPG Restoration of Republican Values or RV Social Democratic Party or PSD [Pierre Claver MAGANGA-MOUSSAVOU] Social Democrats of Gabon The Democrats or LD Union for the New Republic or UPRN [Louis Gaston MAYILA] Union of Gabonese People or UPG [Richard MOULOMBA] Union of Forces for Change or UFC [Jean PING] International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Charge D'Affaires Rod Ciangillan REMBENDAMBYA, Counselor (17 March 2021) chancery: 2034 20th Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 797-1000 FAX: [1] (301) 332-0668 email address and website: info@gaboneembassyusa.org https://gabonembassyusa.org/en/ Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Samuel R. WATSON; note - also accredited to Sao Tome and Principe embassy: Sabliere, B.P. 4000, Libreville mailing address: 2270 Libreville Place, Washington, DC 20521-2270 telephone: [241] 011-45-71-00 FAX: [241] 011-45-71-05 email address and website: ACSLibreville@state.gov https://ga.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue; green represents the country's forests and natural resources, gold represents the equator (which transects Gabon) as well as the sun, blue represents the sea National symbol(s): black panther; national colors: green, yellow, blue National anthem: name: "La Concorde" (The Concorde) lyrics/music: Georges Aleka DAMAS note: adopted 1960 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 natural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Ecosystem and Relict Cultural Landscape of Lopé-Okanda (m), Ivindo National Park (n) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most Sub-Saharan African nations, but because of high income inequality, a large proportion of the population remains poor. Gabon relied on timber and manganese exports until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s. From 2010 to 2016, oil accounted for approximately 80% of Gabon’s exports, 45% of its GDP, and 60% of its state budget revenues.   Gabon faces fluctuating international prices for its oil, timber, and manganese exports. A rebound of oil prices from 2001 to 2013 helped growth, but declining production, as some fields passed their peak production, has hampered Gabon from fully realizing potential gains. GDP grew nearly 6% per year over the 2010-14 period, but slowed significantly from 2014 to just 1% in 2017 as oil prices declined. Low oil prices also weakened government revenue and negatively affected the trade and current account balances. In the wake of lower revenue, Gabon signed a 3-year agreement with the IMF in June 2017.   Despite an abundance of natural wealth, poor fiscal management and over-reliance on oil has stifled the economy. Power cuts and water shortages are frequent. Gabon is reliant on imports and the government heavily subsidizes commodities, including food, but will be hard pressed to tamp down public frustration with unemployment and corruption.Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most Sub-Saharan African nations, but because of high income inequality, a large proportion of the population remains poor. Gabon relied on timber and manganese exports until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s. From 2010 to 2016, oil accounted for approximately 80% of Gabon’s exports, 45% of its GDP, and 60% of its state budget revenues. Gabon faces fluctuating international prices for its oil, timber, and manganese exports. A rebound of oil prices from 2001 to 2013 helped growth, but declining production, as some fields passed their peak production, has hampered Gabon from fully realizing potential gains. GDP grew nearly 6% per year over the 2010-14 period, but slowed significantly from 2014 to just 1% in 2017 as oil prices declined. Low oil prices also weakened government revenue and negatively affected the trade and current account balances. In the wake of lower revenue, Gabon signed a 3-year agreement with the IMF in June 2017. Despite an abundance of natural wealth, poor fiscal management and over-reliance on oil has stifled the economy. Power cuts and water shortages are frequent. Gabon is reliant on imports and the government heavily subsidizes commodities, including food, but will be hard pressed to tamp down public frustration with unemployment and corruption. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $32.05 billion (2020 est.) $32.48 billion (2019 est.) $31.25 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 0.5% (2017 est.) 2.1% (2016 est.) 3.9% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $14,400 (2020 est.) $15,000 (2019 est.) $14,700 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $16.064 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.4% (2019 est.) 4.7% (2018 est.) 2.6% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: CCC (2020) Moody's rating: Caa1 (2018) Standard & Poors rating: N/A (2016) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 5% (2017 est.) industry: 44.7% (2017 est.) services: 50.4% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 37.6% (2017 est.) government consumption: 14.1% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 29% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: -0.6% (2016 est.) exports of goods and services: 46.7% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -26.8% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: plantains, cassava, sugar cane, yams, taro, vegetables, maize, groundnuts, game meat, rubber Industries: petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, gold; chemicals, ship repair, food and beverages, textiles, lumbering and plywood, cement Industrial production growth rate: 1.8% (2017 est.) Labor force: 557,800 (2017 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 64% industry: 12% services: 24% (2005 est.) Unemployment rate: 28% (2015 est.) 20.4% (2014 est.) Population below poverty line: 33.4% (2017 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 38 (2017 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 32.7% (2005) Budget: revenues: 2.634 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 2.914 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -1.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 62.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 64.2% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 17.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$725 million (2017 est.) -$1.389 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $10.8 billion (2019 est.) $9.533 billion (2018 est.) $9.145 billion (2017 est.) Exports - partners: China 63%, Singapore 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, manganese, lumber, veneer sheeting, refined petroleum (2019) Imports: $5.02 billion (2019 est.) $4.722 billion (2018 est.) $4.749 billion (2017 est.) Imports - partners: France 22%, China 17%, Belgium 6%, United States 6%, United Arab Emirates 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: poultry meats, excavation machinery, packaged medicines, cars, rice (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $981.6 million (31 December 2017 est.) $804.1 million (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $6.49 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $5.321 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: 92% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 99% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 39% (2019) Electricity - production: 2.244 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 2.071 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 344 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 671,000 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 51% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 49% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 196,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 214,200 bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 2 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 16,580 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 24,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 4,662 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 10,680 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 401 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 401 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 25,428 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 3,049,530 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 137 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: politically stable and oil laden, Gabon is one of wealthiest nations in Africa; liberalized and competitive market led development of mobile broadband, data service, and tests of 5G; fixed-line sector underdeveloped due to the lack of competition and high prices; South Korean investment in fiber segments as part of Central African backbone; sufficient international bandwidth through submarine cable systems; government committed to backbone infrastructure and e-health services; efforts towards new legal and regulatory improvements (2020) domestic: fixed-line is a little over 1 per 100 subscriptions; a growing mobile cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available with mobile cellular teledensity at nearly 139 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 241; landing points for the SAT-3/WASC, ACE and Libreville-Port Gentil Cable fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and West Africa; satellite earth stations - 3 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 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: state owns and operates 2 TV stations and 2 radio broadcast stations; a few private radio and TV stations; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are accessible; satellite service subscriptions are available Internet country code: .ga Internet users: total: 1,379,951 (2020 est.) percent of population: 62% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 44,607 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 8 Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TR Airports: total: 44 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 30 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 9 (2013) under 914 m: 14 (2021) Pipelines: 807 km gas, 1639 km oil, 3 km water (2013) Railways: total: 649 km (2014) standard gauge: 649 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge Roadways: total: 14,300 km (2001) paved: 900 km (2001) unpaved: 13,400 km (2001) Waterways: 1,600 km (2010) (310 km on Ogooue River) Merchant marine: total: 62 by type: bulk carrier 1, general cargo 17, oil tanker 17, other 27 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Libreville, Owendo, Port-Gentil oil terminal(s): Gamba, Lucina Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Gabonese Defense Forces (Forces de Defense Gabonaise): Land Forces (Army), Navy, Air Forces, National Gendarmerie; Republican Guard (land forces under direct presidential control) (2022) Military expenditures: 1.7% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $450 million) 1.6% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $440 million) 1.8% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $480 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 6,500 active duty troops including the Republican Guard and Gendarmerie (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FDG is lightly armed with a mixed inventory from a variety of suppliers; since 2010, providers have included Brazil, China, France, Germany, and South Africa (2021) Military service age and obligation: 20 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2021) Military - note: members of the Gabonese Defense Forces attempted a failed coup in January 2019 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: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: UN urges Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to resolve the sovereignty dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane Island and lesser islands and to establish a maritime boundary in hydrocarbon-rich Corisco BayUN urges Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to resolve the sovereignty dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane Island and lesser islands and to establish a maritime boundary in hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay

20220601

countries-spratly-islands

Topic: Photos of Spratly Islands Topic: Introduction Background: The Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs surrounded by rich fishing grounds - and potentially by gas and oil deposits. They are claimed in their entirety by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, while portions are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines. About 45 islands are occupied by relatively small numbers of military forces from China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Since 1985 Brunei has claimed a continental shelf that overlaps a southern reef but has not made any formal claim to the reef. Brunei claims an exclusive economic zone over this area.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southeastern Asia, group of reefs and islands in the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines Geographic coordinates: 8 38 N, 111 55 E Map references: Southeast Asia Area: total: 5 sq km less than land: 5 sq km less than water: 0 sq km note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over an area of nearly 410,000 sq km (158,000 sq mi) of the central South China Sea Area - comparative: land area is about seven times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 926 km Maritime claims: NA Climate: tropical Terrain: small, flat islands, islets, cays, and reefs Elevation: highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 6 m lowest point: South China Sea 0 m Natural resources: fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential Land use: other: 100% (2018 est.) Natural hazards: typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious maritime hazard Geography - note: strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs Map description: Spratly Islands map showing the major islands and reefs of this archipelago in the South China Sea.Spratly Islands map showing the major islands and reefs of this archipelago in the South China Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: (July 2021 est.) no indigenous inhabitants note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by military personnel of several claimant states 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: (2021 est.) 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 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 Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: China's use of dredged sand and coral to build artificial islands harms reef systems; illegal fishing practices indiscriminately harvest endangered species, including sea turtles and giant clams Climate: tropical Land use: other: 100% (2018 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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: Economy Economic overview: Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. The proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins indicate potential oil and gas deposits, but the region is largely unexplored. No reliable estimates of potential reserves are available. Commercial exploitation has yet to be developed. Topic: Transportation Airports: total: 8 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2021) Heliports: 5 (2021) Ports and terminals: none; offshore anchorage only Topic: Military and Security Military - note: Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs of which about 45 are claimed and occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam China: occupies 7 outposts (Fiery Cross, Mischief, Subi, Cuarteron, Gavin, Hughes, and Johnson reefs); the outposts on Fiery Cross, Mischief, and Subi include air bases with helipads and aircraft hangers, naval port facilities, surveillance radars, air defense and anti-ship missile sites, and other military infrastructure such as communications, barracks, maintenance facilities, and ammunition and fuel bunkers Malaysia:  occupies 5 outposts in the southern portion of the archipelago, closest to the Malaysian state of Sabah (Ardasier Reef, Eric Reef, Mariveles Reef, Shallow Reef, and Investigator Shoal); all the outposts have helicopter landing pads, while Shallow Reef also has an airstrip Philippines: occupies 9 features (Commodore Reef, Second Thomas Shoal, Flat Island, Loaita Cay, Loaita Island, Nanshan Island, Northeast Cay, Thitu Island, and West York Island); Thitu Island has the only Philippine airstrip in the Spratlys Taiwan: maintains a coast guard outpost with an airstrip on Itu Aba Island Vietnam: occupies about 50 outposts spread across 27 features, including facilities on 21 rocks and reefs in the Spratlys, plus 14 platforms known as “economic, scientific, and technological service stations,” or Dịch vụ-Khoa (DK1), on six underwater banks to the southeast that Vietnam does not consider part of the disputed island chain, although China and Taiwan disagree; Spratly Islands outposts are on Alison Reef, Amboyna Cay, Barque Canada Reef, Central Reef, Collins Reef, Cornwallis South Reef, Discovery Great Reef, East Reef, Grierson Reef, Ladd Reef, Landsdowne Reef, Namyit Island, Pearson Reef, Petley Reef, Sand Cay, Sin Cowe Island, South Reef, Southwest Cay, Spratly Island, Tennent Reef, West Reef; Spratly Island includes an airstrip with aircraft hangers; the six underwater banks with outposts include Vanguard, Rifleman, Prince of Wales, Prince Consort, Grainger, and Alexandra; over the past few years, Vietnam has continued to make modest improvements to its outposts, including defensive positions and infrastructure (2022)Taiwan: maintains a coast guard outpost with an airstrip on Itu Aba Island Vietnam: occupies about 50 outposts spread across 27 features, including facilities on 21 rocks and reefs in the Spratlys, plus 14 platforms known as “economic, scientific, and technological service stations,” or Dịch vụ-Khoa (DK1), on six underwater banks to the southeast that Vietnam does not consider part of the disputed island chain, although China and Taiwan disagree; Spratly Islands outposts are on Alison Reef, Amboyna Cay, Barque Canada Reef, Central Reef, Collins Reef, Cornwallis South Reef, Discovery Great Reef, East Reef, Grierson Reef, Ladd Reef, Landsdowne Reef, Namyit Island, Pearson Reef, Petley Reef, Sand Cay, Sin Cowe Island, South Reef, Southwest Cay, Spratly Island, Tennent Reef, West Reef; Spratly Island includes an airstrip with aircraft hangers; the six underwater banks with outposts include Vanguard, Rifleman, Prince of Wales, Prince Consort, Grainger, and Alexandra; over the past few years, Vietnam has continued to make modest improvements to its outposts, including defensive positions and infrastructure Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China (including Taiwan) and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines; despite no public territorial claim to Louisa Reef, Brunei implicitly lays claim by including it within the natural prolongation of its continental shelf and basis for a seabed median with Vietnam; claimants in November 2002 signed the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," which has eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct"; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islandsall of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China (including Taiwan) and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines; despite no public territorial claim to Louisa Reef, Brunei implicitly lays claim by including it within the natural prolongation of its continental shelf and basis for a seabed median with Vietnam; claimants in November 2002 signed the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," which has eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct"; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands

20220601

countries-yemen

Topic: Photos of Yemen Topic: Introduction Background: The Kingdom of Yemen (colloquially known as North Yemen) became independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1918 and in 1962 became the Yemen Arab Republic. The British, who had set up a protectorate area around the southern port of Aden in the 19th century, withdrew in 1967 from what became the People's Republic of Southern Yemen (colloquially known as South Yemen). Three years later, the southern government adopted a Marxist orientation and changed the country's name to the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen. The massive exodus of hundreds of thousands of Yemenis from the south to the north contributed to two decades of hostility between the states. The two countries were formally unified as the Republic of Yemen in 1990. A southern secessionist movement and brief civil war in 1994 was quickly subdued. In 2000, Saudi Arabia and Yemen agreed to delineate their border. Fighting in the northwest between the government and the Huthis, a Zaydi Shia Muslim minority, continued intermittently from 2004 to 2010, and then again from 2014-present. The southern secessionist movement was revitalized in 2007. Public rallies in Sana'a against then President Ali Abdallah SALIH - inspired by similar Arab Spring demonstrations in Tunisia and Egypt - slowly built momentum starting in late January 2011 fueled by complaints over high unemployment, poor economic conditions, and corruption. By the following month, some protests had resulted in violence, and the demonstrations had spread to other major cities. By March the opposition had hardened its demands and was unifying behind calls for SALIH's immediate ouster. In April 2011, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), in an attempt to mediate the crisis in Yemen, proposed the GCC Initiative, an agreement in which the president would step down in exchange for immunity from prosecution. SALIH's refusal to sign an agreement led to further violence. The UN Security Council passed Resolution 2014 in October 2011 calling for an end to the violence and completing a power transfer deal. In November 2011, SALIH signed the GCC Initiative to step down and to transfer some of his powers to Vice President Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI. Following HADI's uncontested election victory in February 2012, SALIH formally transferred all presidential powers. In accordance with the GCC Initiative, Yemen launched a National Dialogue Conference (NDC) in March 2013 to discuss key constitutional, political, and social issues. HADI concluded the NDC in January 2014 and planned to begin implementing subsequent steps in the transition process, including constitutional drafting, a constitutional referendum, and national elections. The Huthis, perceiving their grievances were not addressed in the NDC, joined forces with SALIH and expanded their influence in northwestern Yemen, which culminated in a major offensive against military units and rival tribes and enabled their forces to overrun the capital, Sanaa, in September 2014. In January 2015, the Huthis surrounded the presidential palace, HADI's residence, and key government facilities, prompting HADI and the cabinet to submit their resignations. HADI fled to Aden in February 2015 and rescinded his resignation. He subsequently escaped to Oman and then moved to Saudi Arabia and asked the GCC to intervene militarily in Yemen to protect the legitimate government from the Huthis. In March, Saudi Arabia assembled a coalition of Arab militaries and began airstrikes against the Huthis and Huthi-affiliated forces. Ground fighting between Huthi-aligned forces and anti-Huthi groups backed by the Saudi-led coalition continued through 2016. In 2016, the UN brokered a months-long cessation of hostilities that reduced airstrikes and fighting, and initiated peace talks in Kuwait. However, the talks ended without agreement. The Huthis and SALIH’s political party announced a Supreme Political Council in August 2016 and a National Salvation Government, including a prime minister and several dozen cabinet members, in November 2016, to govern in Sanaa and further challenge the legitimacy of HADI’s government. However, amid rising tensions between the Huthis and SALIH, sporadic clashes erupted in mid-2017, and escalated into open fighting that ended when Huthi forces killed SALIH in early December 2017. In 2018, anti-Huthi forces made the most battlefield progress in Yemen since early 2016, most notably in Al Hudaydah Governorate. In December 2018, the Huthis and Yemeni Government participated in the first UN-brokered peace talks since 2016, agreeing to a limited ceasefire in Al Hudaydah Governorate and the establishment of a UN Mission to monitor the agreement. In April 2019, Yemen’s parliament convened in Say'un for the first time since the conflict broke out in 2014. In August 2019, violence erupted between HADI's government and the pro-secessionist Southern Transition Council (STC) in southern Yemen. In November 2019, HADI's government and the STC signed a power-sharing agreement to end the fighting between them, and in December 2020, the signatories formed a new cabinet. In 2020 and 2021, fighting continued on the ground in Yemen as the Houthis gained territory, and also conducted regular UAV and missile attacks against targets in Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom of Yemen (colloquially known as North Yemen) became independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1918 and in 1962 became the Yemen Arab Republic. The British, who had set up a protectorate area around the southern port of Aden in the 19th century, withdrew in 1967 from what became the People's Republic of Southern Yemen (colloquially known as South Yemen). Three years later, the southern government adopted a Marxist orientation and changed the country's name to the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen. The massive exodus of hundreds of thousands of Yemenis from the south to the north contributed to two decades of hostility between the states. The two countries were formally unified as the Republic of Yemen in 1990. A southern secessionist movement and brief civil war in 1994 was quickly subdued. In 2000, Saudi Arabia and Yemen agreed to delineate their border.Fighting in the northwest between the government and the Huthis, a Zaydi Shia Muslim minority, continued intermittently from 2004 to 2010, and then again from 2014-present. The southern secessionist movement was revitalized in 2007.Public rallies in Sana'a against then President Ali Abdallah SALIH - inspired by similar Arab Spring demonstrations in Tunisia and Egypt - slowly built momentum starting in late January 2011 fueled by complaints over high unemployment, poor economic conditions, and corruption. By the following month, some protests had resulted in violence, and the demonstrations had spread to other major cities. By March the opposition had hardened its demands and was unifying behind calls for SALIH's immediate ouster. In April 2011, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), in an attempt to mediate the crisis in Yemen, proposed the GCC Initiative, an agreement in which the president would step down in exchange for immunity from prosecution. SALIH's refusal to sign an agreement led to further violence. The UN Security Council passed Resolution 2014 in October 2011 calling for an end to the violence and completing a power transfer deal. In November 2011, SALIH signed the GCC Initiative to step down and to transfer some of his powers to Vice President Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI. Following HADI's uncontested election victory in February 2012, SALIH formally transferred all presidential powers. In accordance with the GCC Initiative, Yemen launched a National Dialogue Conference (NDC) in March 2013 to discuss key constitutional, political, and social issues. HADI concluded the NDC in January 2014 and planned to begin implementing subsequent steps in the transition process, including constitutional drafting, a constitutional referendum, and national elections.The Huthis, perceiving their grievances were not addressed in the NDC, joined forces with SALIH and expanded their influence in northwestern Yemen, which culminated in a major offensive against military units and rival tribes and enabled their forces to overrun the capital, Sanaa, in September 2014. In January 2015, the Huthis surrounded the presidential palace, HADI's residence, and key government facilities, prompting HADI and the cabinet to submit their resignations. HADI fled to Aden in February 2015 and rescinded his resignation. He subsequently escaped to Oman and then moved to Saudi Arabia and asked the GCC to intervene militarily in Yemen to protect the legitimate government from the Huthis. In March, Saudi Arabia assembled a coalition of Arab militaries and began airstrikes against the Huthis and Huthi-affiliated forces. Ground fighting between Huthi-aligned forces and anti-Huthi groups backed by the Saudi-led coalition continued through 2016. In 2016, the UN brokered a months-long cessation of hostilities that reduced airstrikes and fighting, and initiated peace talks in Kuwait. However, the talks ended without agreement. The Huthis and SALIH’s political party announced a Supreme Political Council in August 2016 and a National Salvation Government, including a prime minister and several dozen cabinet members, in November 2016, to govern in Sanaa and further challenge the legitimacy of HADI’s government. However, amid rising tensions between the Huthis and SALIH, sporadic clashes erupted in mid-2017, and escalated into open fighting that ended when Huthi forces killed SALIH in early December 2017. In 2018, anti-Huthi forces made the most battlefield progress in Yemen since early 2016, most notably in Al Hudaydah Governorate. In December 2018, the Huthis and Yemeni Government participated in the first UN-brokered peace talks since 2016, agreeing to a limited ceasefire in Al Hudaydah Governorate and the establishment of a UN Mission to monitor the agreement. In April 2019, Yemen’s parliament convened in Say'un for the first time since the conflict broke out in 2014. In August 2019, violence erupted between HADI's government and the pro-secessionist Southern Transition Council (STC) in southern Yemen. In November 2019, HADI's government and the STC signed a power-sharing agreement to end the fighting between them, and in December 2020, the signatories formed a new cabinet. In 2020 and 2021, fighting continued on the ground in Yemen as the Houthis gained territory, and also conducted regular UAV and missile attacks against targets in Saudi Arabia. Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 48 00 E Map references: Middle East Area: total: 527,968 sq km land: 527,968 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Perim, Socotra, the former Yemen Arab Republic (YAR or North Yemen), and the former People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY or South Yemen) Area - comparative: almost four times the size of Alabama; slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming Land boundaries: total: 1,601 km border countries (2): Oman 294 km; Saudi Arabia 1,307 km Coastline: 1,906 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: mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in western mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry, harsh desert in east Terrain: narrow 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 Elevation: highest point: Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,666 m lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m mean elevation: 999 m Natural resources: petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble; small deposits of coal, gold, lead, nickel, and copper; fertile soil in west Land use: agricultural land: 44.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 41.7% (2018 est.) forest: 1% (2018 est.) other: 54.5% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 6,800 sq km (2012) Population distribution: the vast majority of the population is found in the Asir Mountains (part of the larger Sarawat Mountain system), located in the far western region of the country Natural hazards: sandstorms 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 Geography - note: strategic location on Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, one of world's most active shipping lanes Map description: Yemen map showing major population centers as well as parts of neighboring countries and the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.Yemen map showing major population centers as well as parts of neighboring countries and the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 30,984,689 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Yemeni(s) adjective: Yemeni Ethnic groups: predominantly Arab; but also Afro-Arab, South Asian, European Languages: Arabic (official); note - a distinct Socotri language is widely used on Socotra Island and Archipelago; Mahri is still fairly widely spoken in eastern Yemen major-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Muslim 99.1% (official; virtually all are citizens, an estimated 65% are Sunni and 35% are Shia), other 0.9% (includes Jewish, Baha'i, Hindu, and Christian; many are refugees or temporary foreign residents) (2020 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 39.16% (male 5,711,709 /female 5,513,526) 15-24 years: 21.26% (male 3,089,817 /female 3,005,693) 25-54 years: 32.78% (male 4,805,059 /female 4,591,811) 55-64 years: 4% (male 523,769 /female 623,100) 65 years and over: 2.8% (2018 est.) (male 366,891 /female 435,855) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 71.7 youth dependency ratio: 66.7 elderly dependency ratio: 5 potential support ratio: 19.9 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 19.8 years (2018 est.) male: 19.6 years female: 19.9 years Population growth rate: 1.88% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 24.64 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 5.62 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: the vast majority of the population is found in the Asir Mountains (part of the larger Sarawat Mountain system), located in the far western region of the country Urbanization: urban population: 39.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.71% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) Major urban areas - population: 3.182 million SANAA (capital), 1.045 million Aden (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: 1.04 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.84 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.8 years (2013 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Maternal mortality ratio: 164 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 46.54 deaths/1,000 live births male: 51.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 40.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.51 years male: 65.19 years female: 69.94 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.01 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 33.5% (2013) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 98.5% of population rural: 84.2% of population total: 99.6% of population unimproved: urban: 1.5% of population rural: 15.8% of population total: 10.4% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 4.3% (2015) Physicians density: 0.53 physicians/1,000 population (2014) Hospital bed density: 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2017) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 83.5% of population rural: 44.2% of population total: 59.1% of population unimproved: urban: 16.5% of population rural: 55.8% of population total: 40.9% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: (2020 est.) <.1% HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 11,000 (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 water contact diseases: schistosomiasis note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Asia; Yemen 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: 17.1% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 39.9% (2013) Education expenditures: NA Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 70.1% male: 85.1% female: 55% (2015) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 9 years male: 11 years female: 8 years (2011) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 24.5% male: 23.5% female: 34.6% (2014 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: limited natural freshwater resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Air pollutants: particulate 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.) Climate: mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in western mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry, harsh desert in east Land use: agricultural land: 44.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 41.7% (2018 est.) forest: 1% (2018 est.) other: 54.5% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 39.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.71% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.04% 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 water contact diseases: schistosomiasis note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Asia; Yemen 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 Food insecurity: widespread 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) Waste and recycling: municipal 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.) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 265 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 65 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 3.235 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 2.1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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) Government type: in transition Capital: name: Sanaa geographic coordinates: 15 21 N, 44 12 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name is reputed to mean "well-fortified" in Sabaean, the South Arabian language that went extinct in Yemen in the 6th century A.D. Administrative divisions: 22 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Abyan, 'Adan (Aden), Ad Dali', Al Bayda', Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, Amanat al 'Asimah (Sanaa City), 'Amran, Arkhabil Suqutra (Socotra Archipelago), Dhamar, Hadramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib, Raymah, Sa'dah, San'a' (Sanaa), Shabwah, Ta'izz Independence: 22 May 1990 (Republic of Yemen was established with the merger of the Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and the Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]); notable earlier dates: North Yemen became independent on 1 November 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and became a republic with the overthrow of the theocratic Imamate on 27 September 1962; South Yemen became independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK) National holiday: Unification Day, 22 May (1990) Constitution: history: adopted by referendum 16 May 1991 (following unification); note - after the National  Dialogue ended in January 2015, a Constitutional Drafting Committee appointed by the president worked to prepare a new draft constitution that was expected to be put to a national referendum before being adopted; however, the start of the current conflict in early 2015 interrupted the process amendments: amended several times, last in 2009 Legal system: mixed legal system of Islamic (sharia) law, Napoleonic law, English common law, 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: the father must be a citizen of Yemen; if the father is unknown, the mother must be a citizen dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: on 7 April 2022, President Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI announced the dismissal of Vice President ALI MUHSIN al-Ahmar and formation of the Presidential Leadership Council, an eight-member body chaired by former minister Rashad AL-ALIMI; the council will assume the responsibilities of the president and vice president and carry out the political, security, and military duties of the government head of government: on 7 April 2022, President Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI announced the dismissal of Vice President ALI MUHSIN al-Ahmar and the formation of a Presidential Leadership Council, an eight-member body chaired by former minister Rashad AL-ALIMI; the council will assume the responsibilities of the president and vice president and carry out the political, security, and military duties of the government cabinet: NA elections/appointments: formerly, the president was 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 21 February 2012 (next election NA); note - a special election was held on 21 February 2012 to remove Ali Abdallah SALIH under the terms of a Gulf Cooperation Council-mediated deal during the political crisis of 2011; vice president appointed by the president; prime minister appointed by the president election results: in a special election held on 21 February 2012, Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI (GPC) was elected as a consensus president Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament or Majlis consists of: Shura Council or Majlis Alshoora (111 seats; members appointed by the president; member tenure NA) House of Representatives or Majlis al Nuwaab (301 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 6-year terms) elections: Shura Council - last appointments NA (next appointments NA) House of Representatives - last held in April 2019 (next to be held NA) election results: percent of vote by party - GPC 58.0%, Islah 22.6%, YSP 3.8%, Unionist Party 1.9%, other 13.7%; seats by party - GPC 238, Islah 46, YSP 8, Nasserist Unionist Party 3, National Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party 2, independent 4 Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the court president, 2 deputies, and nearly 50 judges; court organized into constitutional, civil, commercial, family, administrative, criminal, military, and appeals scrutiny divisions) judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council, which is chaired by the president of the republic and includes 10 high-ranking judicial officers; judges serve for life with mandatory retirement at age 65 subordinate courts: appeal courts; district or first instance courts; commercial courts Political parties and leaders: General People’s Congress or GPC (3 factions: pro-Hadi [Abdrabbi Mansur HADI], pro-Houthi [Sadeq Ameen Abu RAS], pro-Saleh [Ahmed SALEH] National Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party [Qassem Salam SAID] Nasserist Unionist People's Organization [Abdulmalik al-MEKHLAFI] Southern Transitional Council or STC [Aidarus al-ZOUBAIDA] Yemeni Reform Grouping or Islah [Muhammed Abdallah al-YADUMI] Yemeni Socialist Party or YSP [Dr. Abd al-Rahman Umar al-SAQQAF] ( International organization participation: AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CD, EITI (temporarily suspended), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMHA, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNVIM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: ambassador (vacant); note - on 18 December 2020, former Ambassador Ahmad Awadh BIN MUBARAK (since 3 August 2015) was appointed Yemen's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates chancery: 2319 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 965-4760 FAX: [1] (202) 337-2017 email address and website: Information@yemenembassy.org https://www.yemenembassy.org/ Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Cathy WESTLEY (since 23 May 2021); note - the embassy closed in March 2015; Yemen Affairs Unit currently operates out of US Embassy Riyadh embassy: previously - Sa'awan Street, Sanaa mailing address: 6330 Sanaa Place, Washington DC  20521-6330 telephone: US Embassy Riyadh [966] 11-488-3800 previously - [967] 1 755-2000 FAX: US Embassy Riyadh [966] 11-488-7360 email address and website: YemenEmergencyUSC@state.gov https://ye.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white) note: similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars in the white band, and of Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a heraldic eagle centered in the white band National symbol(s): golden eagle; national colors: red, white, black National anthem: name: "al-qumhuriyatu l-muttahida" (United Republic) lyrics/music: Abdullah Abdulwahab NOA'MAN/Ayyoab Tarish ABSI note: adopted 1990; the music first served as the anthem for South Yemen before unification with North Yemen in 1990 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Old Walled City of Shibam (c), Old City of Sana'a (c), Historic Town of Zabid (c), Socotra Archipelago (n) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Yemen is a low-income country that faces difficult long-term challenges to stabilizing and growing its economy, and the current conflict has only exacerbated those issues. The ongoing war has halted Yemen’s exports, pressured the currency’s exchange rate, accelerated inflation, severely limited food and fuel imports, and caused widespread damage to infrastructure. The conflict has also created a severe humanitarian crisis - the world’s largest cholera outbreak currently at nearly 1 million cases, more than 7 million people at risk of famine, and more than 80% of the population in need of humanitarian assistance.   Prior to the start of the conflict in 2014, Yemen was highly dependent on declining oil and gas resources for revenue. Oil and gas earnings accounted for roughly 25% of GDP and 65% of government revenue. The Yemeni Government regularly faced annual budget shortfalls and tried to diversify the Yemeni economy through a reform program designed to bolster non-oil sectors of the economy and foreign investment. In July 2014, the government continued reform efforts by eliminating some fuel subsidies and in August 2014, the IMF approved a three-year, $570 million Extended Credit Facility for Yemen.   However, the conflict that began in 2014 stalled these reform efforts and ongoing fighting continues to accelerate the country’s economic decline. In September 2016, President HADI announced the move of the main branch of Central Bank of Yemen from Sanaa to Aden where his government could exert greater control over the central bank’s dwindling resources. Regardless of which group controls the main branch, the central bank system is struggling to function. Yemen’s Central Bank’s foreign reserves, which stood at roughly $5.2 billion prior to the conflict, have declined to negligible amounts. The Central Bank can no longer fully support imports of critical goods or the country’s exchange rate. The country also is facing a growing liquidity crisis and rising inflation. The private sector is hemorrhaging, with almost all businesses making substantial layoffs. Access to food and other critical commodities such as medical equipment is limited across the country due to security issues on the ground. The Social Welfare Fund, a cash transfer program for Yemen’s neediest, is no longer operational and has not made any disbursements since late 2014.   Yemen will require significant international assistance during and after the protracted conflict to stabilize its economy. Long-term challenges include a high population growth rate, high unemployment, declining water resources, and severe food scarcity.Yemen is a low-income country that faces difficult long-term challenges to stabilizing and growing its economy, and the current conflict has only exacerbated those issues. The ongoing war has halted Yemen’s exports, pressured the currency’s exchange rate, accelerated inflation, severely limited food and fuel imports, and caused widespread damage to infrastructure. The conflict has also created a severe humanitarian crisis - the world’s largest cholera outbreak currently at nearly 1 million cases, more than 7 million people at risk of famine, and more than 80% of the population in need of humanitarian assistance. Prior to the start of the conflict in 2014, Yemen was highly dependent on declining oil and gas resources for revenue. Oil and gas earnings accounted for roughly 25% of GDP and 65% of government revenue. The Yemeni Government regularly faced annual budget shortfalls and tried to diversify the Yemeni economy through a reform program designed to bolster non-oil sectors of the economy and foreign investment. In July 2014, the government continued reform efforts by eliminating some fuel subsidies and in August 2014, the IMF approved a three-year, $570 million Extended Credit Facility for Yemen. However, the conflict that began in 2014 stalled these reform efforts and ongoing fighting continues to accelerate the country’s economic decline. In September 2016, President HADI announced the move of the main branch of Central Bank of Yemen from Sanaa to Aden where his government could exert greater control over the central bank’s dwindling resources. Regardless of which group controls the main branch, the central bank system is struggling to function. Yemen’s Central Bank’s foreign reserves, which stood at roughly $5.2 billion prior to the conflict, have declined to negligible amounts. The Central Bank can no longer fully support imports of critical goods or the country’s exchange rate. The country also is facing a growing liquidity crisis and rising inflation. The private sector is hemorrhaging, with almost all businesses making substantial layoffs. Access to food and other critical commodities such as medical equipment is limited across the country due to security issues on the ground. The Social Welfare Fund, a cash transfer program for Yemen’s neediest, is no longer operational and has not made any disbursements since late 2014. Yemen will require significant international assistance during and after the protracted conflict to stabilize its economy. Long-term challenges include a high population growth rate, high unemployment, declining water resources, and severe food scarcity. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $73.63 billion (2017 est.) $78.28 billion (2016 est.) $90.63 billion (2015 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: -5.9% (2017 est.) -13.6% (2016 est.) -16.7% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $2,500 (2017 est.) $2,700 (2016 est.) $3,200 (2015 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $54.356 billion (2018 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 24.7% (2017 est.) -12.6% (2016 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 20.3% (2017 est.) industry: 11.8% (2017 est.) services: 67.9% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 116.6% (2017 est.) government consumption: 17.6% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 2.2% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 7.5% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -43.9% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: mangoes/guavas, potatoes, sorghum, onions, milk, poultry, watermelons, grapes, oranges, bananas Industries: crude oil production and petroleum refining; small-scale production of cotton textiles, leather goods; food processing; handicrafts; aluminum products; cement; commercial ship repair; natural gas production Industrial production growth rate: 8.9% (2017 est.) Labor force: 7.425 million (2017 est.) Labor force - by occupation: note: 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 Unemployment rate: 27% (2014 est.) 35% (2003 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 24.5% male: 23.5% female: 34.6% (2014 est.) Population below poverty line: 48.6% (2014 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 36.7 (2014 est.) 37.3 (1999 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 30.3% (2008 est.) Budget: revenues: 2.821 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 4.458 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -5.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 74.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 68.1% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$1.236 billion (2017 est.) -$1.868 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $384.5 million (2017 est.) $940 million (2016 est.) Exports - partners: China 53%, Saudi Arabia 10%, United Arab Emirates 7%, Australia 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, gold, fish, industrial chemical liquids, scrap iron (2019) Imports: $4.079 billion (2017 est.) $3.117 billion (2016 est.) Imports - partners: China 25%, Turkey 10%, United Arab Emirates 9%, Saudi Arabia 8%, India 7% (2019) Imports - commodities: wheat, refined petroleum, iron, rice, cars (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $245.4 million (31 December 2017 est.) $592.6 million (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $6.805 billion (2018 est.) $7.181 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: Yemeni rials (YER) per US dollar - 275 (2017 est.) 214.9 (2016 est.) 214.9 (2015 est.) 228 (2014 est.) 214.89 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: population without electricity: 16 million (2019) electrification - total population: 47% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 72% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 31% (2019) Electricity - production: 4.784 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 3.681 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 1.819 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 79% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 21% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 61,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 8,990 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 3 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 20,180 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 104,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 12,670 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 75,940 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 481.4 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 481.4 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 478.5 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 1.24 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 15,357,900 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 55.18 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: large percent of the population is in need of humanitarian assistance and telecom services are vital but disrupted; mobile towers are often deliberately targeted; maintenance is dangerous to staff; aid organizations rely on satellite and radio communications; scarcity of telecom equipment in rural areas; ownership of telecom services and the related revenues and taxes have become a political issue; Chinese company Huawei helping to rebuild some equipment (2020) domestic: the national network consists of microwave radio relay, cable, tropospheric scatter, GSM and CDMA mobile-cellular telephone systems; fixed-line teledensity remains low by regional standards at roughly 4 per 100 but mobile cellular use expanding at over 55 per 100 (2019) international: country code - 967; landing points for the FALCON, SeaMeWe-5, Aden-Djibouti, and the AAE-1 international submarine cable connecting Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Southeast Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 2 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and Djibouti (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: state-run TV with 2 stations; state-run radio with 2 national radio stations and 5 local stations; stations from Oman and Saudi Arabia can be accessed Internet country code: .ye Internet users: total: 7,873,719 (2019 est.) percent of population: 27% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 391,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1.3 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 8 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 336,310 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 3.27 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 7O Airports: total: 57 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 17 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 40 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 9 (2021) Pipelines: 641 km gas, 22 km liquid petroleum gas, 1370 km oil (2013) Roadways: total: 71,300 km (2005) paved: 6,200 km (2005) unpaved: 65,100 km (2005) Merchant marine: total: 34 by type: general cargo 2, oil tanker 4, other 28 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Aden, Al Hudaydah, Al Mukalla Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: as of 2021, military and security forces operating in Yemen consisted of a patchwork of government, non-state, and foreign-backed regular, semi-regular/militia, and paramilitary forces, often with informal command organizations and conflicting, fluid, or overlapping agendas, loyalties, and relationships; in addition, the Huthis maintained opposition military and security forces Republic of Yemen Government (ROYG) forces; Ministry of Defense: Yemeni National Army, Air Force and Air Defense, Navy and Coastal Defense Forces, Border Guard, Strategic Reserve Forces (includes Special Forces and Presidential Protection Brigades, which are under the Ministry of Defense but responsible to the president), Popular Committee Forces (government-backed tribal militia); Ministry of Interior: Special Security Forces (paramilitary; formerly known as Central Security Forces), Political Security Organization (state security), National Security Bureau (intelligence), Counterterrorism Unit Saudi-backed forces: paramilitary/militia border security brigades based largely on tribal or regional affiliation (deployed along the Saudi-Yemen border, especially the areas bordering the governorates of Saada and Al-Jawf) United Arab Emirates-backed forces included tribal and regionally-based militia and paramilitary forces (concentrated in the southern governates):  Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces, including the Security Belt Forces, the Shabwani and Hadrami “Elit­e” Forces, the Support and Backup Forces (aka Logistics and Support Forces), Facilities Protection Forces, and Anti-Terrorism Forces; Republican Forces; Joint Forces; note – under the 2019 Riyadh Agreement, the STC forces were to be incorporated into Yemen’s Ministries of Defense and Interior under the authority of the HADI government Huthi: ground, air/air defense, coastal defense, presidential protection, special operations, missile, and tribal militia forces note – a considerable portion--up to 70 percent by some estimates--of Yemen’s military and security forces defected in whole or in part to former president SALAH and the Huthi opposition in 2011-2015as of 2021, military and security forces operating in Yemen consisted of a patchwork of government, non-state, and foreign-backed regular, semi-regular/militia, and paramilitary forces, often with informal command organizations and conflicting, fluid, or overlapping agendas, loyalties, and relationships; in addition, the Huthis maintained opposition military and security forcesRepublic of Yemen Government (ROYG) forces; Ministry of Defense: Yemeni National Army, Air Force and Air Defense, Navy and Coastal Defense Forces, Border Guard, Strategic Reserve Forces (includes Special Forces and Presidential Protection Brigades, which are under the Ministry of Defense but responsible to the president), Popular Committee Forces (government-backed tribal militia); Ministry of Interior: Special Security Forces (paramilitary; formerly known as Central Security Forces), Political Security Organization (state security), National Security Bureau (intelligence), Counterterrorism UnitSaudi-backed forces: paramilitary/militia border security brigades based largely on tribal or regional affiliation (deployed along the Saudi-Yemen border, especially the areas bordering the governorates of Saada and Al-Jawf)United Arab Emirates-backed forces included tribal and regionally-based militia and paramilitary forces (concentrated in the southern governates):  Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces, including the Security Belt Forces, the Shabwani and Hadrami “Elit­e” Forces, the Support and Backup Forces (aka Logistics and Support Forces), Facilities Protection Forces, and Anti-Terrorism Forces; Republican Forces; Joint Forces; note – under the 2019 Riyadh Agreement, the STC forces were to be incorporated into Yemen’s Ministries of Defense and Interior under the authority of the HADI governmentHuthi: ground, air/air defense, coastal defense, presidential protection, special operations, missile, and tribal militia forces Military expenditures: prior to the start of the civil war, annual military expenditures were approximately 4-5% of Yemen's GDP prior to the start of the civil war, annual military expenditures were approximately 4-5% of Yemen's GDP  Military and security service personnel strengths: information limited and widely varied; ROYG: up to 300,000 estimated military, paramilitary, and militia forces; UAE- and Saudi-backed forces: 150-200,000 estimated trained fighters; Huthis: up to 200,000 estimated fighters  (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Yemeni Government forces consists primarily of Russian and Soviet-era equipment, although much of it has been lost in the current conflict; since the start of the civil war in 2014, it has received limited amounts of donated equipment from some Gulf States, including Saudi Arabia and UAE (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2001; 2-year service obligation (note - limited information since the start of the civil war) (2021) Military - note: in 2015, a Saudi-led coalition of Arab states intervened militarily in Yemen in support of the Republic of Yemen Government (ROYG) against the separatist Huthis; as of early 2022, the conflict had become largely stalemated, but the coalition (consisting largely of Saudi forces), ROYG forces, and the Huthis continued to engage in fighting, mostly with air and missile forces, although heavy ground fighting was also taking place over the key oil-rich province of Marib; the Saudis have conducted numerous air strikes in northern Yemen, while the Huthis have launched attacks into Saudi territory with ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles armed with explosives; Saudi Arabia also has raised and equipped paramilitary/militia security forces in Yemen based largely on tribal or regional affiliation to deploy along the Saudi-Yemen border, especially the areas bordering the governorates of Saada and Al-Jawf; in April 2022, the warring parties agreed to a two-month cease-fire the United Arab Emirates (UAE) intervened in Yemen in 2015 as part of the Saudi-led coalition with about 3,500 troops, as well as supporting air and naval forces; UAE withdrew its main military force from Yemen in 2019, but has retained a small military presence while working with proxies in southern Yemen, most notably the Southern Transitional Council (STC); as of 2021, UAE had recruited, trained, and equipped an estimated 150-200,000 Yemeni fighters and formed them into dozens of militia and paramilitary unitsin 2015, a Saudi-led coalition of Arab states intervened militarily in Yemen in support of the Republic of Yemen Government (ROYG) against the separatist Huthis; as of early 2022, the conflict had become largely stalemated, but the coalition (consisting largely of Saudi forces), ROYG forces, and the Huthis continued to engage in fighting, mostly with air and missile forces, although heavy ground fighting was also taking place over the key oil-rich province of Marib; the Saudis have conducted numerous air strikes in northern Yemen, while the Huthis have launched attacks into Saudi territory with ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles armed with explosives; Saudi Arabia also has raised and equipped paramilitary/militia security forces in Yemen based largely on tribal or regional affiliation to deploy along the Saudi-Yemen border, especially the areas bordering the governorates of Saada and Al-Jawf; in April 2022, the warring parties agreed to a two-month cease-firethe United Arab Emirates (UAE) intervened in Yemen in 2015 as part of the Saudi-led coalition with about 3,500 troops, as well as supporting air and naval forces; UAE withdrew its main military force from Yemen in 2019, but has retained a small military presence while working with proxies in southern Yemen, most notably the Southern Transitional Council (STC); as of 2021, UAE had recruited, trained, and equipped an estimated 150-200,000 Yemeni fighters and formed them into dozens of militia and paramilitary units Maritime threats: the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued Maritime Advisory 2022-003 (Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean-Violence Due to Regional Conflict and Piracy) effective 28 February 2022, which states in part the "Conflict in Yemen continues to pose potential risk to US flagged commercial vessels transiting the southern Red Sea, Bab al Mandeb Strait, and Gulf of Aden. Threats may come from a variety of different sources including, but not limited to, missiles, rockets, projectiles, mines, small arms, unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned surface vessels, or waterborne improvised explosive devices. These threat vectors continue to pose a direct or collateral risk to US flagged commercial vessels operating in the region. Additionally, piracy poses a threat in the Gulf of Aden, Western Arabian Sea, and Western Indian Ocean."the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued Maritime Advisory 2022-003 (Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean-Violence Due to Regional Conflict and Piracy) effective 28 February 2022, which states in part the "Conflict in Yemen continues to pose potential risk to US flagged commercial vessels transiting the southern Red Sea, Bab al Mandeb Strait, and Gulf of Aden. Threats may come from a variety of different sources including, but not limited to, missiles, rockets, projectiles, mines, small arms, unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned surface vessels, or waterborne improvised explosive devices. These threat vectors continue to pose a direct or collateral risk to US flagged commercial vessels operating in the region. Additionally, piracy poses a threat in the Gulf of Aden, Western Arabian Sea, and Western Indian Ocean." Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - Yemen; al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula 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: Saudi Arabia has reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal cross-border activitiesSaudi Arabia has reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal cross-border activities Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 68,874 (Somalia), 17,705 (Ethiopia) (2022) IDPs: 4,288,739 (conflict in Sa'ada Governorate; clashes between al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula and government forces) (2022)

20220601

countries-thailand

Topic: Photos of Thailand Topic: Introduction Background: Two unified Thai kingdoms emerged in the mid-13th century. The Sukhothai, located in the south-central plains, gained its independence from the Khmer empire to the east. By the late 13th century, Sukhothai’s territory extended into present-day Burma and Laos. Sukhotai lasted until the mid-15th century. The Thai Lan Na kingdom was established in the north with its capital at Chang Mai. Lan Na was conquered by the Burmese in the 16th century. The Ayutthaya kingdom (14th-18th centuries) succeeded the Sukhothai and would become known as the Siamese Kingdom. During the Ayutthaya period, the Thai/Siamese peoples consolidated their hold on what is present-day central and north-central Thailand. Following a military defeat at the hands of the Burmese in 1767, the Siamese Kingdom rose to new heights under the military ruler TAKSIN, who defeated the Burmese occupiers and expanded the kingdom’s territory into modern-day northern Thailand (formerly the Lan Na kingdom), Cambodia, Laos, and the Malay Peninsula. The kingdom fought off additional Burmese invasions and raids in the late 1700s and early 1800s. In the mid-1800s, Western pressure led to Siam signing trade treaties that reduced the country’s sovereignty and independence. In the 1890s and 1900s, the British and French forced the kingdom to cede Cambodian, Laotian, and Malay territories that had been under Siamese control. A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to the establishment of a constitutional monarchy. After the Japanese invaded Thailand in 1941, the government split into a pro-Japan faction and a pro-Ally faction backed by the king. Following the war, Thailand became a US treaty ally in 1954 after sending troops to Korea and later fighting alongside the US in Vietnam. Thailand since 2005 has experienced several rounds of political turmoil including a military coup in 2006 that ousted then Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat, followed by large-scale street protests by competing political factions in 2008, 2009, and 2010. THAKSIN's youngest sister, YINGLAK Chinnawat, in 2011 led the Puea Thai Party to an electoral win and assumed control of the government. In early May 2014, after months of large-scale anti-government protests in Bangkok beginning in November 2013, YINGLAK was removed from office by the Constitutional Court and in late May 2014 the Royal Thai Army, led by Royal Thai Army Gen. PRAYUT Chan-ocha, staged a coup against the caretaker government. The military-affiliated National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), led by PRAYUT as the appointed minister, ruled the country for more than four years, during which time the NCPO drafted a new constitution guaranteeing military sway over Thai politics in future elections by allowing the military to appoint the entire 250 member Senate and requiring a joint meeting of the House and Senate to select the prime minister, effectively giving the military a veto over the top executive. King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet passed away in October 2016 after 70 years on the throne; his only son, WACHIRALONGKON Bodinthrathepphayawarangkun (aka King Rama X), ascended the throne in December 2016. He signed the new constitution in April 2017. A long-delayed election in March 2019, disputed and widely viewed as skewed in favor of the party aligned with the military, allowed PRAYUT to continue his premiership. The country experienced large-scale pro-democracy protests in 2020.Two unified Thai kingdoms emerged in the mid-13th century. The Sukhothai, located in the south-central plains, gained its independence from the Khmer empire to the east. By the late 13th century, Sukhothai’s territory extended into present-day Burma and Laos. Sukhotai lasted until the mid-15th century. The Thai Lan Na kingdom was established in the north with its capital at Chang Mai. Lan Na was conquered by the Burmese in the 16th century. The Ayutthaya kingdom (14th-18th centuries) succeeded the Sukhothai and would become known as the Siamese Kingdom. During the Ayutthaya period, the Thai/Siamese peoples consolidated their hold on what is present-day central and north-central Thailand. Following a military defeat at the hands of the Burmese in 1767, the Siamese Kingdom rose to new heights under the military ruler TAKSIN, who defeated the Burmese occupiers and expanded the kingdom’s territory into modern-day northern Thailand (formerly the Lan Na kingdom), Cambodia, Laos, and the Malay Peninsula. The kingdom fought off additional Burmese invasions and raids in the late 1700s and early 1800s. In the mid-1800s, Western pressure led to Siam signing trade treaties that reduced the country’s sovereignty and independence. In the 1890s and 1900s, the British and French forced the kingdom to cede Cambodian, Laotian, and Malay territories that had been under Siamese control.A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to the establishment of a constitutional monarchy. After the Japanese invaded Thailand in 1941, the government split into a pro-Japan faction and a pro-Ally faction backed by the king. Following the war, Thailand became a US treaty ally in 1954 after sending troops to Korea and later fighting alongside the US in Vietnam. Thailand since 2005 has experienced several rounds of political turmoil including a military coup in 2006 that ousted then Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat, followed by large-scale street protests by competing political factions in 2008, 2009, and 2010. THAKSIN's youngest sister, YINGLAK Chinnawat, in 2011 led the Puea Thai Party to an electoral win and assumed control of the government.In early May 2014, after months of large-scale anti-government protests in Bangkok beginning in November 2013, YINGLAK was removed from office by the Constitutional Court and in late May 2014 the Royal Thai Army, led by Royal Thai Army Gen. PRAYUT Chan-ocha, staged a coup against the caretaker government. The military-affiliated National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), led by PRAYUT as the appointed minister, ruled the country for more than four years, during which time the NCPO drafted a new constitution guaranteeing military sway over Thai politics in future elections by allowing the military to appoint the entire 250 member Senate and requiring a joint meeting of the House and Senate to select the prime minister, effectively giving the military a veto over the top executive. King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet passed away in October 2016 after 70 years on the throne; his only son, WACHIRALONGKON Bodinthrathepphayawarangkun (aka King Rama X), ascended the throne in December 2016. He signed the new constitution in April 2017. A long-delayed election in March 2019, disputed and widely viewed as skewed in favor of the party aligned with the military, allowed PRAYUT to continue his premiership. The country experienced large-scale pro-democracy protests in 2020.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 100 00 E Map references: Southeast Asia Area: total: 513,120 sq km land: 510,890 sq km water: 2,230 sq km Area - comparative: about three times the size of Florida; slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming Land boundaries: total: 5,673 km border countries (4): Burma 2,416 km; Cambodia 817 km; Laos 1,845 km; Malaysia 595 km Coastline: 3,219 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; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid Terrain: central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere Elevation: highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,565 m lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m mean elevation: 287 m Natural resources: tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite, arable land Land use: agricultural land: 41.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 30.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 8.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 1.6% (2018 est.) forest: 37.2% (2018 est.) other: 21.6% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 64,150 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Thalesap Songkhla - 1,290 sq km Major rivers (by length in km): Mekong (shared with China [s], Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km; Salween (shared with China [s] and Burma [m]) - 3,060 km; Mun - 1,162 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage: Salween (271,914 sq km) Pacific Ocean drainage: Mekong (805,604 sq km) Population distribution: highest population density is found in and around Bangkok; significant population clusters found througout large parts of the country, particularly north and northeast of Bangkok and in the extreme southern region of the country Natural hazards: land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the water table; droughts Geography - note: controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore; ideas for the construction of a canal across the Kra Isthmus that would create a bypass to the Strait of Malacca and shorten shipping times around Asia continue to be discussed Map description: Thailand map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Gulf of Thailand.Thailand map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Gulf of Thailand. Topic: People and Society Population: 69,648,117 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Thai (singular and plural) adjective: Thai Ethnic groups: Thai 97.5%, Burmese 1.3%, other 1.1%, unspecified <.1% (2015 est.) note: data represent population by nationality Languages: Thai (official) only 90.7%, Thai and other languages 6.4%, only other languages 2.9% (includes Malay, Burmese); note - data represent population by language(s) spoken at home; English is a secondary language of the elite (2010 est.) major-language sample(s): สารานุกรมโลก - แหล่งข้อมูลพื้นฐานที่สำคัญ (Thai) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Buddhist 94.6%, Muslim 4.3%, Christian 1%, other <0.1%, none <0.1% (2015 est.) Demographic profile: Thailand has experienced a substantial fertility decline since the 1960s largely due to the nationwide success of its voluntary family planning program.  In just one generation, the total fertility rate (TFR) shrank from 6.5 children per woman in 1960s to below the replacement level of 2.1 in the late 1980s.  Reduced fertility occurred among all segments of the Thai population, despite disparities between urban and rural areas in terms of income, education, and access to public services.  The country’s “reproductive revolution” gained momentum in the 1970s as a result of the government’s launch of an official population policy to reduce population growth, the introduction of new forms of birth control, and the assistance of foreign non-government organizations.  Contraceptive use rapidly increased as new ways were developed to deliver family planning services to Thailand’s then overwhelmingly rural population.  The contraceptive prevalence rate increased from just 14% in 1970 to 58% in 1981 and has remained about 80% since 2000.  Thailand’s receptiveness to family planning reflects the predominant faith, Theravada Buddhism, which emphasizes individualism, personal responsibility, and independent decision-making.  Thai women have more independence and a higher status than women in many other developing countries and are not usually pressured by their husbands or other family members about family planning decisions.  Thailand’s relatively egalitarian society also does not have the son preference found in a number of other Asian countries; most Thai ideally want one child of each sex. Because of its low fertility rate, increasing life expectancy, and growing elderly population, Thailand has become an aging society that will face growing labor shortages.  The proportion of the population under 15 years of age has shrunk dramatically, the proportion of working-age individuals has peaked and is starting to decrease, and the proportion of elderly is growing rapidly.  In the short-term, Thailand will have to improve educational quality to increase the productivity of its workforce and to compete globally in skills-based industries.  An increasing reliance on migrant workers will be necessary to mitigate labor shortfalls. Thailand is a destination, transit, and source country for migrants. It has 3-4 million migrant workers as of 2017, mainly providing low-skilled labor in the construction, agriculture, manufacturing, services, and fishing and seafood processing sectors.  Migrant workers from other Southeast Asian countries with lower wages – primarily Burma and, to a lesser extent, Laos and Cambodia – have been coming to Thailand for decades to work in labor-intensive industries.  Many are undocumented and are vulnerable to human trafficking for forced labor, especially in the fisheries industry, or sexual exploitation.  A July 2017 migrant worker law stiffening fines on undocumented workers and their employers, prompted tens of thousands of migrants to go home.  Fearing a labor shortage, the Thai Government has postponed implementation of the law until January 2018 and is rapidly registering workers.  Thailand has also hosted ethnic minority refugees from Burma for more than 30 years; as of 2016, approximately 105,000 mainly Karen refugees from Burma were living in nine camps along the Thailand-Burma border. Thailand has a significant amount of internal migration, most often from rural areas to urban centers, where there are more job opportunities.  Low- and semi-skilled Thais also go abroad to work, mainly in Asia and a smaller number in the Middle East and Africa, primarily to more economically developed countries where they can earn higher wages.Thailand has experienced a substantial fertility decline since the 1960s largely due to the nationwide success of its voluntary family planning program.  In just one generation, the total fertility rate (TFR) shrank from 6.5 children per woman in 1960s to below the replacement level of 2.1 in the late 1980s.  Reduced fertility occurred among all segments of the Thai population, despite disparities between urban and rural areas in terms of income, education, and access to public services.  The country’s “reproductive revolution” gained momentum in the 1970s as a result of the government’s launch of an official population policy to reduce population growth, the introduction of new forms of birth control, and the assistance of foreign non-government organizations.  Contraceptive use rapidly increased as new ways were developed to deliver family planning services to Thailand’s then overwhelmingly rural population.  The contraceptive prevalence rate increased from just 14% in 1970 to 58% in 1981 and has remained about 80% since 2000. Thailand’s receptiveness to family planning reflects the predominant faith, Theravada Buddhism, which emphasizes individualism, personal responsibility, and independent decision-making.  Thai women have more independence and a higher status than women in many other developing countries and are not usually pressured by their husbands or other family members about family planning decisions.  Thailand’s relatively egalitarian society also does not have the son preference found in a number of other Asian countries; most Thai ideally want one child of each sex.Because of its low fertility rate, increasing life expectancy, and growing elderly population, Thailand has become an aging society that will face growing labor shortages.  The proportion of the population under 15 years of age has shrunk dramatically, the proportion of working-age individuals has peaked and is starting to decrease, and the proportion of elderly is growing rapidly.  In the short-term, Thailand will have to improve educational quality to increase the productivity of its workforce and to compete globally in skills-based industries.  An increasing reliance on migrant workers will be necessary to mitigate labor shortfalls.Thailand is a destination, transit, and source country for migrants. It has 3-4 million migrant workers as of 2017, mainly providing low-skilled labor in the construction, agriculture, manufacturing, services, and fishing and seafood processing sectors.  Migrant workers from other Southeast Asian countries with lower wages – primarily Burma and, to a lesser extent, Laos and Cambodia – have been coming to Thailand for decades to work in labor-intensive industries.  Many are undocumented and are vulnerable to human trafficking for forced labor, especially in the fisheries industry, or sexual exploitation.  A July 2017 migrant worker law stiffening fines on undocumented workers and their employers, prompted tens of thousands of migrants to go home.  Fearing a labor shortage, the Thai Government has postponed implementation of the law until January 2018 and is rapidly registering workers.  Thailand has also hosted ethnic minority refugees from Burma for more than 30 years; as of 2016, approximately 105,000 mainly Karen refugees from Burma were living in nine camps along the Thailand-Burma border.Thailand has a significant amount of internal migration, most often from rural areas to urban centers, where there are more job opportunities.  Low- and semi-skilled Thais also go abroad to work, mainly in Asia and a smaller number in the Middle East and Africa, primarily to more economically developed countries where they can earn higher wages. Age structure: 0-14 years: 16.45% (male 5,812,803/female 5,533,772) 15-24 years: 13.02% (male 4,581,622/female 4,400,997) 25-54 years: 45.69% (male 15,643,583/female 15,875,353) 55-64 years: 13.01% (male 4,200,077/female 4,774,801) 65 years and over: 11.82% (2020 est.) (male 3,553,273/female 4,601,119) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 41.9 youth dependency ratio: 23.5 elderly dependency ratio: 18.4 potential support ratio: 5.4 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 39 years male: 37.8 years female: 40.1 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.23% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 10.14 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 7.76 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: highest population density is found in and around Bangkok; significant population clusters found througout large parts of the country, particularly north and northeast of Bangkok and in the extreme southern region of the country Urbanization: urban population: 52.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 10.900 million BANGKOK (capital), 1.436 Chon Buri, 1.342 million Samut Prakan, 1.198 million Chiang Mai, 992,000 Songkla, 988,000 Nothaburi (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: 0.97 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 23.3 years (2009 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 37 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 6.47 deaths/1,000 live births male: 7.09 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.66 years male: 74.65 years female: 80.83 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.54 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 73% (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: 3.8% (2019) Physicians density: 0.81 physicians/1,000 population (2018) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 99.9% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 500,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 12,000 (2020 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and malaria Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 10% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 7.7% (2019) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 3% (2019) women married by age 18: 20.2% (2019) men married by age 18: 9.8% (2019 est.) Education expenditures: 3% of GDP (2019) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.8% male: 95.2% female: 92.4% (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2016) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 5.2% male: 4.6% female: 5.9% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; water scarcity; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting; hazardous waste disposal 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 Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate 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.) Climate: tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid Land use: agricultural land: 41.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 30.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 8.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 1.6% (2018 est.) forest: 37.2% (2018 est.) other: 21.6% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 52.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.34% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.03% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and malaria Waste and recycling: municipal 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.) Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Thalesap Songkhla - 1,290 sq km Major rivers (by length in km): Mekong (shared with China [s], Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km; Salween (shared with China [s] and Burma [m]) - 3,060 km; Mun - 1,162 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage: Salween (271,914 sq km) Pacific Ocean drainage: Mekong (805,604 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 2.739 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 2.777 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 51.79 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 438.61 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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 Government type: constitutional monarchy Capital: name: Bangkok geographic coordinates: 13 45 N, 100 31 E time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: Bangkok was likely originally a colloquial name, but one that was widely adopted by foreign visitors; the name may derive from "bang ko," where "bang" is the Thai word for "village on a stream" and "ko" means "island," both referencing the area's landscape, which was carved by rivers and canals; alternatively, the name may come from "bang makok," where "makok" is the name of the Java plum, a plant bearing olive-like fruit; this possibility is supported by the former name of Wat Arun, a historic temple in the area, that used to be called Wat Makok; Krung Thep, the city's Thai name, means "City of the Deity" and is a shortening of the full ceremonial name: Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit; translated the meaning is: City of angels, great city of immortals, magnificent city of the nine gems, seat of the king, city of royal palaces, home of gods incarnate, erected by Vishvakarman at Indra's behest; it holds the world's record as the longest place name (169 letters) Administrative divisions: 76 provinces (changwat, singular and plural) and 1 municipality* (maha nakhon); Amnat Charoen, Ang Thong, Bueng Kan, Buri Ram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep* (Bangkok), Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae, Phuket, Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Roi Et, Sa Kaeo, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Saraburi, Satun, Sing Buri, Si Sa Ket, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon Independence: 1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized) National holiday: Birthday of King WACHIRALONGKON, 28 July (1952) Constitution: history: many previous; latest drafted and presented 29 March 2016, approved by referendum 7 August 2016, signed into law by the king 6 April 2017 amendments: amendments require a majority vote in a joint session of the House and Senate and further require at least 1/5 of opposition House members and 1/3 of the Senate vote in favor; a national referendum is additionally required for certain amendments; all amendments require signature by the king; Thailand's 2017 constitution was amended in November 2021 to increase the number of constituency members of parliament (MPs) from 350 to 400, reduce the number of party-list MPs from 150 to 100, and change the election to a two-ballot system Legal system: civil law system with common 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 Thailand dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory Executive branch: chief of state: King WACHIRALONGKON, also spelled Vajiralongkorn, (since 1 December 2016) head of government: Prime Minister PRAYUT Chan-ocha (since 11 June 2019) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the king; a Privy Council advises the king elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; the House of Representatives and Senate approves a person for Prime Minister who must then be appointed by the King (as stated in the transitory provision of the 2017 constitution); the office of prime minister can be held for up to a total of 8 years note:  PRAYUT Chan-ocha was appointed interim prime minister in August 2014, three months after he staged the coup that removed the previously elected government of Prime Minister YINGLAK Chinnawat; on 5 June 2019 PRAYUT (independent) was approved as prime minister by the parliament  Legislative branch: description: bicameral National Assembly or Ratthasapha consists of: Senate or Wuthisapha (250 seats; members appointed by the Royal Thai Army to serve 5-year terms) House of Representatives or Saphaphuthan Ratsadon (500 seats; 375 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 150 members elected in a single nationwide constituency by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 14 May 2019 (next to be held in 2024) House of Representatives - last held on 24 March 2019 (next to be held in 2023) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 224, women 26, percent of women 10.4% House of Representatives - percent of vote by party in 2019 election- PPRP 23.7%, PTP 22.2%, FFP* 17.8%, DP 11.1%, PJT 10.5%, TLP 2.3%, CTP 2.2%, NEP 1.4%, PCC 1.4%, ACT 1.2%, PCP 1.2%,  other 5.1%; seats by party - PTP 136, PPRP 116, FFP 81, DP 53, PJT 51, CTP 10, TLP 10, PCC 7, PCP 5, NEP 6, ACT 5, other 20; composition - men 421, women 79, percent of women 15.8%; note(s) - total National Assembly percent of women 14%; the FFP was dissolved by the Constitutional Court in February of 2020 and its representatives moved to the newly-formed Move Forward Party or to other political parties Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the court president, 6 vice presidents, 60-70 judges, and organized into 10 divisions); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president and 8 judges); Supreme Administrative Court (number of judges determined by Judicial Commission of the Administrative Courts) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges selected by the Judicial Commission of the Courts of Justice and approved by the monarch; judge term determined by the monarch; Constitutional Court justices - 3 judges drawn from the Supreme Court, 2 judges drawn from the Administrative Court, and 4 judge candidates selected by the Selective Committee for Judges of the Constitutional Court, and confirmed by the Senate; judges appointed by the monarch serve single 9-year terms; Supreme Administrative Court judges selected by the Judicial Commission of the Administrative Courts and appointed by the monarch; judges serve for life subordinate courts: courts of first instance and appeals courts within both the judicial and administrative systems; military courts Political parties and leaders: Action Coalition of Thailand Party or ACT [ANEK Laothamatas] Bhumjaithai Party or BJT [ANUTIN Charnvirakul] Chat Phatthana Party (National Development Party) [THEWAN Liptaphanlop] Chat Thai Phatthana Party (Thai Nation Development Party) or CTP [KANCHANA Sinlapa-acha] New Economics Party or NEP [MINGKHWAN Sangsuwan] Move Forward Party or MFP (formed in 2020 from the disbanded Future Forward Party, FPP) [PHITHA Limcharoenrat] Palang Pracharat Party or PPP (a pro-military party formed in 2018 by members of the military junta’s cabinet) [PRAWIT Wongsuwan] Phumchai Thai Party (Thai Pride Party) or PJT [ANUTHIN Chanwirakun] Prachachat Party of PCC [WAN Muhamad NOOR Matha] Prachathipat Party (Democrat Party) or DEM [JURIN Laksanawisit] Puea Chat Party (For Nation Party) or PCP [SARUNWUT Sarunket] Puea Thai Party (For Thais Party) or PTP [CHONLANON Sikaew] Puea Tham Party (For Dharma Party) [NALINI Thawisin] Seri Ruam Thai Party (Thai Liberal Party) or TLP [SERIPHISUT Temiyawet] Thai Civilized Party or TCL [MONGKOLKIT Suksintharanon] Thai Forest Conservation Party or TFCP [DAMRONG Phidet] Thai Liberal Party or TLP [SERIPISUT TEMIYAVET] Thai Local Power Party or TLP [CHATCHAWAI Kong-udom] Thai People Power Party or TLPT [NIKHOM Bunwiset] Thai Raksa Chat Party (Thai National Preservation Party) [PRICHAPHON Phongpanit] note - as of 5 April 2018, 98 new parties applied to be registered with the Election Commission in accordance with the provisions of the new organic law on political parties International organization participation: ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, BIS, CD, CICA, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador MANATSAWI Sisodaphon (since 17 February 2021) chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 944-3600 FAX: [1] (202) 944-3611 email address and website: https://thaiembdc.org consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Michael HEATH (since August 2019) embassy: 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330 mailing address: 7200 Bangkok Place, Washington DC  20521-7200 telephone: [66] 2-205-4000 FAX: [66] 2-205-4103 email address and website: acsbkk@state.gov https://th.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai Flag description: five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red; the red color symbolizes the nation and the blood of life, white represents religion and the purity of Buddhism, and blue stands for the monarchy note: similar to the flag of Costa Rica but with the blue and red colors reversed National symbol(s): garuda (mythical half-man, half-bird figure), elephant; national colors: red, white, blue National anthem: name: "Phleng Chat Thai" (National Anthem of Thailand) lyrics/music: Luang SARANUPRAPAN/Phra JENDURIYANG note: music adopted 1932, lyrics adopted 1939; by law, people are required to stand for the national anthem at 0800 and 1800 every day; the anthem is played in schools, offices, theaters, and on television and radio during this time; "Phleng Sanlasoen Phra Barami" (A Salute to the Monarch) serves as the royal anthem and is played in the presence of the royal family and during certain state ceremonies National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 6 (3 cultural, 3 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic City of Ayutthaya (c), Historic Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns (c), Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries (n), Ban Chiang Archaeological Site (c), Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex (n), Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex (n) Topic: Economy Economic overview: With a relatively well-developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise economy, and generally pro-investment policies, Thailand is highly dependent on international trade, with exports accounting for about two thirds of GDP. Thailand’s exports include electronics, agricultural commodities, automobiles and parts, and processed foods. The industry and service sectors produce about 90% of GDP. The agricultural sector, comprised mostly of small-scale farms, contributes only 10% of GDP but employs about one third of the labor force. Thailand has attracted an estimated 3.0-4.5 million migrant workers, mostly from neighboring countries. Over the last few decades, Thailand has reduced poverty substantially. In 2013, the Thai Government implemented a nationwide 300 baht (roughly $10) per day minimum wage policy and deployed new tax reforms designed to lower rates on middle-income earners. Thailand’s economy is recovering from slow growth during the years since the 2014 coup. Thailand’s economic fundamentals are sound, with low inflation, low unemployment, and reasonable public and external debt levels. Tourism and government spending - mostly on infrastructure and short-term stimulus measures – have helped to boost the economy, and The Bank of Thailand has been supportive, with several interest rate reductions. Over the longer-term, household debt levels, political uncertainty, and an aging population pose risks to growth.With a relatively well-developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise economy, and generally pro-investment policies, Thailand is highly dependent on international trade, with exports accounting for about two thirds of GDP. Thailand’s exports include electronics, agricultural commodities, automobiles and parts, and processed foods. The industry and service sectors produce about 90% of GDP. The agricultural sector, comprised mostly of small-scale farms, contributes only 10% of GDP but employs about one third of the labor force. Thailand has attracted an estimated 3.0-4.5 million migrant workers, mostly from neighboring countries.Over the last few decades, Thailand has reduced poverty substantially. In 2013, the Thai Government implemented a nationwide 300 baht (roughly $10) per day minimum wage policy and deployed new tax reforms designed to lower rates on middle-income earners.Thailand’s economy is recovering from slow growth during the years since the 2014 coup. Thailand’s economic fundamentals are sound, with low inflation, low unemployment, and reasonable public and external debt levels. Tourism and government spending - mostly on infrastructure and short-term stimulus measures – have helped to boost the economy, and The Bank of Thailand has been supportive, with several interest rate reductions.Over the longer-term, household debt levels, political uncertainty, and an aging population pose risks to growth. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $1,206,620,000,000 (2020 est.) $1,284,830,000,000 (2019 est.) $1,256,360,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 2.62% (2019 est.) 4.31% (2018 est.) 4.26% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $17,300 (2020 est.) $18,500 (2019 est.) $18,100 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $543.798 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.7% (2019 est.) 1% (2018 est.) 0.6% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BBB+ (2013) Moody's rating: Baa1 (2003) Standard & Poors rating: BBB+ (2004) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 8.2% (2017 est.) industry: 36.2% (2017 est.) services: 55.6% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 48.8% (2017 est.) government consumption: 16.4% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.2% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: -0.4% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 68.2% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -54.6% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: sugar cane, cassava, rice, oil palm fruit, rubber, maize, tropical fruit, poultry, pineapples, mangoes/guavas Industries: tourism, textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing such as jewelry and electric appliances, computers and parts, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics, automobiles and automotive parts, agricultural machinery, air conditioning and refrigeration, ceramics, aluminum, chemical, environmental management, glass, granite and marble, leather, machinery and metal work, petrochemical, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, printing, pulp and paper, rubber, sugar, rice, fishing, cassava, world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer Industrial production growth rate: 1.6% (2017 est.) Labor force: 37.546 million (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 31.8% industry: 16.7% services: 51.5% (2015 est.) Unemployment rate: 0.99% (2019 est.) 1.06% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 5.2% male: 4.6% female: 5.9% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 9.9% (2018 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 36.4 (2018 est.) 48.4 (2011) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 31.5% (2009 est.) Budget: revenues: 69.23 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 85.12 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -3.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 41.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 41.8% 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 sold at public auctions Taxes and other revenues: 15.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September Current account balance: $37.033 billion (2019 est.) $28.423 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $258.42 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $323.88 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $328.58 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: United States 13%, China 12%, Japan 10%, Vietnam 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: office machinery/parts, cars and vehicle parts, integrated circuits, delivery trucks, gold (2019) Imports: $233.75 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $272.83 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $283.66 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: China 22%, Japan 14%, United States 7%, Malaysia 6% (2019) Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, integrated circuits, natural gas, vehicle parts, gold (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $202.6 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $171.9 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $167.89 billion (2019 est.) $158.964 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: baht per US dollar - 30.03 (2020 est.) 30.29749 (2019 est.) 32.8075 (2018 est.) 34.248 (2014 est.) 32.48 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 181.5 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 187.7 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 2.267 billion kWh (2015 est.) Electricity - imports: 19.83 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 44.89 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 76% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 8% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 16% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 228,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 790 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 875,400 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 349.4 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 1.328 million bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 1.326 million bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 278,300 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 134,200 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 38.59 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 52.64 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 14.41 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 193.4 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 5.003 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 129.614 million (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 186.16 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: high-quality system, especially in urban areas; mobile and mobile broadband penetration are on the increase; FttH has strong growth in cities; 4G-LTE available with adoption of 5G services; seven smart cities with aim for 100 smart cities by 2024; one of the biggest e-commerce markets in Southeast Asia; fixed-broadband and mobile marketplace on par with other developed Asian markets; development of Asian data center underway; Internet connectivity supported by international bandwidth to Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong, and terrestrial cables with neighboring countries; two more submarine cables under construction with anticipated landings in 2022; government restricts Internet and freedom of press, with additional constraints in response to pandemic-related criticism in 2020; importer of broadcasting equipment and integrated circuits from China and export of same to neighboring countries in Asia (2020) domestic: fixed-line system provided by both a government-owned and commercial provider; wireless service expanding; fixed-line over 7 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 167 per 100 (2020) international: country code - 66; landing points for the AAE-1, FEA, SeaMeWe-3,-4, APG, SJC2, TIS, MCT and AAG submarine cable systems providing links throughout Asia, Australia, Africa, Middle East, Europe, and US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 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 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: 26 digital TV stations in Bangkok broadcast nationally, 6 terrestrial TV stations in Bangkok broadcast nationally via relay stations - 2 of the stations are owned by the military, the other 4 are government-owned or controlled, leased to private enterprise, and all are required to broadcast government-produced news programs twice a day; multi-channel satellite and cable TV subscription services are available; radio frequencies have been allotted for more than 500 government and commercial radio stations; many small community radio stations operate with low-power transmitters (2017) Internet country code: .th Internet users: total: 54,443,983 (2020 est.) percent of population: 78% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 11,478,265 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 15 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 283 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 76,053,042 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 2,666,260,000 (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HS Airports: total: 101 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 63 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 6 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 38 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 26 (2021) Heliports: 7 (2021) Pipelines: 2 km condensate, 5900 km gas, 85 km liquid petroleum gas, 1 km oil, 1097 km refined products (2013) Railways: total: 4,127 km (2017) standard gauge: 84 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (84 km electrified) narrow gauge: 4,043 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge Roadways: total: 180,053 km (2006) (includes 450 km of expressways) Waterways: 4,000 km (2011) (3,701 km navigable by boats with drafts up to 0.9 m) Merchant marine: total: 839 by type: bulk carrier 26, container ship 27, general cargo 94, oil tanker 251, other 441 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Map Ta Phut, Prachuap Port, Si Racha container port(s) (TEUs): Laem Chabang (8,106,928) (2019) LNG terminal(s) (import): Map Ta Phut Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Royal Thai Armed Forces (Kongthap Thai, RTARF): Royal Thai Army (Kongthap Bok Thai, RTA), Royal Thai Navy (Kongthap Ruea Thai, RTN; includes Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force (Kongthap Akaat Thai, RTAF); Office of the Prime Minister: Royal Thai Police; Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC; oversees counter-insurgency operations, as well as countering terrorism, narcotics and weapons trafficking, and other internal security duties; primarily run by the Army) (2021) note(s) - official paramilitary forces in Thailand include the Thai Rangers (Thahan Phran or "Hunter Soldiers") under the Army; the Paramilitary Marines under the Navy; the Border Patrol Police (BPP) under the Royal Thai Police; the Volunteer Defense Corps (VDC or O So) and National Defense Volunteers (NDV), both under the Ministry of Interior; there are also several government-backed volunteer militias created to provide village security against insurgents in the deep south or to assist the ISOC Military expenditures: 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2020) 1.3% of GDP (2019) (approximately $14.6 billion) 1.3% of GDP (2018) (approximately $14.2 billion) 1.4% of GDP (2017) (approximately $13.8 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: estimates vary widely; approximately 300,000 active duty personnel (200,000 Army; 70,000 Navy; 30,000 Air Force); est. 20,000 Thai Rangers; est. 5,000 Internal Security Operations Command (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the RTARF has a diverse array of foreign-supplied weapons systems, including a large amount of obsolescent or second-hand US equipment; since 2010, Thailand has received military equipment from nearly 20 countries with China, South Korea, Sweden, Ukraine, and the US as the leading suppliers (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service (men and women); 21 years of age for compulsory military service (men only); males register at 18 years of age; 2-year conscript service obligation varies by educational qualifications (2021) note(s) - information varies, but conscripts reportedly comprise as much as 50% of the RTARF; around 100,000 males are drafted each year; as of 2020, women comprised about 8% of active military personnel Military deployments: 275 South Sudan (UNMISS) (Feb 2022) Military - note: including the most recent in 2014, the military has attempted more than 20 coups since the fall of absolute monarchy in 1932 since 2004, the military has fought against separatist insurgents in the southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, as well as parts of Songkhla; the insurgency is rooted in ethnic Malay nationalist resistance to Thai rule that followed the extension of Siamese sovereignty over the Patani Sultanate in the 18th century; the insurgency consists of several armed groups, the largest of which is the Barisan Revolusi Nasional-Koordinasi (BRN-C): since 2020, the Thai military has been negotiating with BRN, and has parallel talks with an umbrella organization, MARA Pattani, that claims to represent the insurgency groups; since 2004, the fighting has claimed more than 7,000 lives (as of early 2022); as of 2021, at least 70,000 military, paramilitary, and government-backed militia forces were estimated to be deployed in the south to combat the insurgency Thailand 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: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Malay-Muslim southern provinces prompt border closures and controls with Malaysia to stem insurgent activities; Southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; talks continue on completion of demarcation with Laos but disputes remain over several islands in the Mekong River; despite continuing border committee talks, Thailand must deal with Karen and other ethnic rebels, refugees, and illegal cross-border activities; Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of boundary; in 2011, Thailand and Cambodia resorted to arms in the dispute over the location of the boundary on the precipice surmounted by Preah Vihear temple ruins, awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962 and part of a planned UN World Heritage site; Thailand is studying the feasibility of jointly constructing the Hatgyi Dam on the Salween river near the border with Burma; in 2004, international environmentalist pressure prompted China to halt construction of 13 dams on the Salween River that flows through China, Burma, and Thailand; approximately 100,000 mostly Karen refugees fleeing civil strife, political upheaval and economic stagnation in Burma live in remote camps in Thailand near the borderseparatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Malay-Muslim southern provinces prompt border closures and controls with Malaysia to stem insurgent activities; Southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; talks continue on completion of demarcation with Laos but disputes remain over several islands in the Mekong River; despite continuing border committee talks, Thailand must deal with Karen and other ethnic rebels, refugees, and illegal cross-border activities; Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of boundary; in 2011, Thailand and Cambodia resorted to arms in the dispute over the location of the boundary on the precipice surmounted by Preah Vihear temple ruins, awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962 and part of a planned UN World Heritage site; Thailand is studying the feasibility of jointly constructing the Hatgyi Dam on the Salween river near the border with Burma; in 2004, international environmentalist pressure prompted China to halt construction of 13 dams on the Salween River that flows through China, Burma, and Thailand; approximately 100,000 mostly Karen refugees fleeing civil strife, political upheaval and economic stagnation in Burma live in remote camps in Thailand near the border Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 91,349 (Burma) (2022) IDPs: 41,000 stateless persons: 554,103 (mid-year 2021) (estimate represents stateless persons registered with the Thai Government; actual number may be as high as 3.5 million); note - about half of Thailand's northern hill tribe people do not have citizenship and make up the bulk of Thailand's stateless population; most lack documentation showing they or one of their parents were born in Thailand; children born to Burmese refugees are not eligible for Burmese or Thai citizenship and are stateless; most Chao Lay, maritime nomadic peoples, who travel from island to island in the Andaman Sea west of Thailand are also stateless; stateless Rohingya refugees from Burma are considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities and are detained in inhumane conditions or expelled; stateless persons are denied access to voting, property, education, employment, healthcare, and driving note: Thai nationality was granted to more than 23,000 stateless persons between 2012 and 2016; in 2016, the Government of Thailand approved changes to its citizenship laws that could make 80,000 stateless persons eligible for citizenship, as part of its effort to achieve zero statelessness by 2024 (2018) Illicit drugs: a minor producer of opium, heroin, and cannabis products; major part of the illegal drug market for the Southeast Asia region and the interconnected markets in East Asia and Oceania; transit point for illicit heroin en route to the international drug market from Burma and Laos; . “Yaba,” a tablet containing methamphetamine, caffeine, and other stimulants, is the most widely abused drug in Thailand

20220601

countries-moldova-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to Moldova due to armed conflict in neighboring Ukraine, the unresolved conflict between the breakaway region of Transnistria and the central government, and COVID-19. U.S. citizens in Transnistria should depart immediately via commercial or private means. 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, within a six-month period. US Embassy/Consulate: +(373)(22) 40-83-00; US Embassy Chisinau, 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009, Republic of Moldova; ChisinauACS@state.gov; https://md.usembassy.gov/ Telephone Code: 373 Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 903; Fire: 901; Police; 902 Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations http://www.who.int/ Climate: Moderate winters, warm summers Currency (Code): Moldovan lei (MDL) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, F Major Languages: Moldovan/Romanian, Russian, Gagauz, Ukrainian, Bulgarian Major Religions: Orthodox 90.1%, other Christian 2.6% 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 Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Orheiul Vechi complex; Saharna Monastery; Milestii Mici Wine Cellar; Chisinau; Republic of Transnistria & Tiraspol Major Sports: Soccer, rugby, basketball, cycling Cultural Practices: Better to address people with their last name until invited to use their first name. Tipping Guidelines: A service charge is often included in restaurant bills, but a further 5-10% is expected. Tips are not customary for taxis, but are appreciated.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, March 22, 2022

20220601

countries-netherlands-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise increased caution in the Netherlands 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 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 not more than 89 days. US Embassy/Consulate: [31] (70) 310-2209; US Embassy The Hague, John Adams Park 1, 2244 BZ Wassenaar The Hague; AmsterdamUSC@state.gov; https://nl.usembassy.gov/ Telephone Code: 31 Local Emergency Phone: 112 Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations http://www.who.int/ Climate: Temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters Currency (Code): Euros (EUR) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, F Major Languages: Dutch Major Religions: Roman Catholic 23.6%, Protestant 14.9%, Muslim 5.1%, other 5.6% (includes Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish), none 50.7% 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: time descriptions apply to the continental Netherlands only, for the constituent countries of the Caribbean, the time difference is UTC -4 Potable Water: Yes International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Amsterdam (includes Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Westerkerk, Anne Frank House, Floating Tulip Museum, Sloten Windmill); Windmills of Kinderdijk; Hoge Veluwe National Park; Towns of the Ijsselmeer (Zuiderzee); Zeeland's Delta Works Major Sports: Soccer, field hockey, speed skating, cycling Cultural Practices: It is polite to introduce yourself in a group; the lack of an introduction can be seen as standoffish or rude. Tipping Guidelines: Tipping is expected in restaurants for good or exceptional service. Tip 10% of the bill. At hotels, tipping is not expected since service charges are generally factored into the bill, but you may leave a few euros for good service. Round up taxi fares.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, April 25, 2022

20220601

oceans-arctic-ocean

Topic: Photos of Arctic Ocean Topic: Introduction Background: The Arctic Ocean is the smallest of the world's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and the Southern Ocean). The Northwest Passage (US and Canada) and Northern Sea Route (Norway and Russia) are two important seasonal waterways. In recent years the polar ice pack has receded in the summer allowing for increased navigation and raising the possibility of future sovereignty and shipping disputes among the six countries bordering the Arctic Ocean (Canada, Denmark (Greenland), Iceland, Norway, Russia, US).Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: body of water between Europe, Asia, and North America, mostly north of the Arctic Circle Geographic coordinates: 90 00 N, 0 00 E Map references: Arctic Region Area: total: 15.558 million sq km note: includes Barents Sea, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea, East Siberian Sea, Greenland Sea, Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, Northwest Passage, Norwegian Sea, and other tributary water bodies Area - comparative: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US Coastline: 45,389 km Climate: polar climate characterized by persistent cold and relatively narrow annual temperature range; winters characterized by continuous darkness, cold and stable weather conditions, and clear skies; summers characterized by continuous daylight, damp and foggy weather, and weak cyclones with rain or snow Terrain: central 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 Elevation: highest point: sea level lowest point: Molloy Deep -5,577 m mean depth: -1,205 m ocean zones: Composed of water and in a fluid state, the oceans are delimited differently than the solid continents. Oceans are divided into three zones based on depth and light level. Although some sea creatures depend on light to live, others can do without it. Sunlight entering the water may travel about 1,000 m into the oceans under the right conditions, but there is rarely any significant light beyond 200 m. The upper 200 m (656 ft) of oceans is called the euphotic, or "sunlight," zone. This zone contains the vast majority of commercial fisheries and is home to many protected marine mammals and sea turtles. Only a small amount of light penetrates beyond this depth. The zone between 200 m (656 ft) and 1,000 m (3,280 ft) is usually referred to as the "twilight" zone, but is officially the dysphotic zone. In this zone, the intensity of light rapidly dissipates as depth increases. Such a minuscule amount of light penetrates beyond a depth of 200 m that photosynthesis is no longer possible. The aphotic, or "midnight," zone exists in depths below 1,000 m (3,280 ft). Sunlight does not penetrate to these depths and the zone is bathed in darkness. Natural resources: sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales) Natural hazards: ice 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 Geography - note: major chokepoint is the southern Chukchi Sea (northern access to the Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait); strategic location between North America and Russia; shortest marine link between the extremes of eastern and western Russia; floating research stations operated by the US and Russia; maximum snow cover in March or April about 20 to 50 centimeters over the frozen ocean; snow cover lasts about 10 months Map description: Arctic Ocean map centered on the North Pole showing the major sea routes along the outer edges of the Ocean.Arctic Ocean map centered on the North Pole showing the major sea routes along the outer edges of the Ocean. Volume: Ocean volume: 18.75 million cu km Percent of total ocean volume: 1.4% Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: climate change; changes in biodiversity; use of toxic chemicals; endangered marine species include walruses and whales; fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from disruptions or damage; thinning polar icepack Marine fisheries: the Arctic fishery region (Region 18) is the smallest in the world with a catch of only 515 mt in 2019, although the Food and Agriculture Organization assesses that some Arctic catches are reported in adjacent regions; Russia and Canada were historically the major producers; in 2017, Canada, Denmark (Greenland), Iceland, Norway, Russia, and the US, along with the People’s Republic of China, the European Union, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, agreed to a 16 year ban on fishing in the Central Arctic Ocean to allow for time to study the ecological system of these waters Regional fisheries bodies: International Council for the Exploration of the Seas Climate: polar climate characterized by persistent cold and relatively narrow annual temperature range; winters characterized by continuous darkness, cold and stable weather conditions, and clear skies; summers characterized by continuous daylight, damp and foggy weather, and weak cyclones with rain or snow Topic: Government Country name: etymology: 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: Economy Economic overview: Economic activity is limited to the exploitation of natural resources, including petroleum, natural gas, fish, and seals. Topic: Transportation Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Churchill (Canada), Murmansk (Russia), Prudhoe Bay (US) Transportation - note: sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes; the Northwest Passage (North America) and Northern Sea Route (Eurasia) are important seasonal waterways Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: record summer melting of sea ice in the Arctic has renewed interest in maritime shipping lanes and sea floor exploration Canada-US: dispute how to divide the Beaufort Sea and the status of the Northwest Passage but continue to work cooperatively to survey the Arctic continental shelf Canada-Denmark (Greenland)-Norway: have made submissions to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental shelf (CLCS) Norway-Russia: signed a comprehensive maritime boundary agreement in 2010; Russia has augmented its 2001 CLCS submissionrecord summer melting of sea ice in the Arctic has renewed interest in maritime shipping lanes and sea floor exploration Canada-US: dispute how to divide the Beaufort Sea and the status of the Northwest Passage but continue to work cooperatively to survey the Arctic continental shelf Canada-Denmark (Greenland)-Norway: have made submissions to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental shelf (CLCS) Norway-Russia: signed a comprehensive maritime boundary agreement in 2010; Russia has augmented its 2001 CLCS submission

20220601

countries-mongolia-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to Mongolia 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. If you know you will be in country for more than 30 days, register with Mongolian Immigration within 7 days of arrival. US Embassy/Consulate: +976-7007-6001; US Embassy Ulaanbaatar, Denver Street #3, 11th Micro-District, Ulaanbaatar 14190, Mongolia; UlaanbaatarACS@state.gov; https://mn.usembassy.gov/ Telephone Code: 976 Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 103; Fire: 101; Police: 102 Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations http://www.who.int/ Climate: Desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges) Currency (Code): Togrog/tugriks (MNT) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, E Major Languages: Mongolian, Turkic, Russian Major Religions: Buddhist 53%, Muslim 3%, Shamanist 2.9%, Christian 2.2% Time Difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Saturday in March; ends last Saturday in September; note: Mongolia has two time zones - Ulaanbaatar Time (8 hours in advance of UTC) and Hovd Time (7 hours in advance of UTC) Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested / Note: Mongolia is sparsely inhabited and most of the country's road network consists of simple cross-country tracks. Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Karakorum; Gorkhi-Terelj National Park; Lake Khovsgol; Altai Tavan Bogd National Park; Orkhon Valley; Khustain Nuruu National Park; Petroglyphic Complexes of the Mongolian Altai Major Sports: Soccer, horse racing, archery, wrestling, basketball Cultural Practices: Displaying the middle finger outward is not the obscene gesture that it is in many western countries, but rather translates to "so-so." Tipping Guidelines: Tipping 10% in restaurants is customary. It is accepted practice to tip guides and drivers $10-20 (USD) per person per day.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, March 22, 2022

20220601

countries-clipperton-island

Topic: Photos of Clipperton Island Topic: Introduction Background: This isolated atoll was named for John CLIPPERTON, an English pirate who was rumored to have made it his hideout early in the 18th century. Annexed by France in 1855 and claimed by the US, it was seized by Mexico in 1897. Arbitration eventually awarded the island to France in 1931, which took possession in 1935.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120 km southwest of Mexico Geographic coordinates: 10 17 N, 109 13 W Map references: Political Map of the World Area: total: 6 sq km land: 6 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 11.1 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical; humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees Celsius, wet season (May to October) Terrain: coral atoll Elevation: highest point: Rocher Clipperton 29 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m Natural resources: fish Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) Natural hazards: subject to tropical storms and hurricanes from May to October Geography - note: the atoll reef is approximately 12 km (7.5 mi) in circumference; an attempt to colonize the atoll in the early 20th century ended in disaster and was abandoned in 1917 Map description: Clipperton Island map showing the French possession in the North Pacific Ocean.Clipperton Island map showing the French possession in the North Pacific Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: uninhabited 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 - deaths: NA Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: NA Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: no natural resources, guano deposits depleted; the ring-shaped atoll encloses a stagnant fresh-water lagoon Climate: tropical; humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees Celsius, wet season (May to October) Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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 Dependency status: possession of France; administered directly by the Minister of Overseas France Legal system: the laws of France apply Flag description: the flag of France is used Topic: Economy Economic overview: Although 115 species of fish have been identified in the territorial waters of Clipperton Island, tuna fishing is the only economically viable species. Topic: Transportation Ports and terminals: none; offshore anchorage only Topic: Military and Security Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: nonenone

20220601

field-national-air-transport-system

This entry includes four subfields describing the air transport system of a given country in terms of both structure and performance. The first subfield, number of registered air carriers, indicates the total number of air carriers registered with the country’s national aviation authority and issued an air operator certificate as required by the Convention on International Civil Aviation. The second subfield, inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers, lists the total number of aircraft operated by all registered air carriers in the country. The last two subfields measure the performance of the air transport system in terms of both passengers and freight. The subfield, annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers, includes the total number of passengers carried by air carriers registered in the country, including both domestic and international passengers, in a given year. The last subfield, annual freight traffic on registered air carriers, includes the volume of freight, express, and diplomatic bags carried by registered air carriers and measured in metric tons times kilometers traveled. Freight ton-kilometers equal the sum of the products obtained by multiplying the number of tons of freight, express, and diplomatic bags carried on each flight stage by the stage distance (operation of an aircraft from takeoff to its next landing). For statistical purposes, freight includes express and diplomatic bags but not passenger baggage. Topic: Afghanistannumber of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 13 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,722,612 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 29.56 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Albanianumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 5 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 303,137 (2018) Topic: Algerianumber of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 87 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 6,442,442 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 28.28 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Angolanumber of registered air carriers: 10 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 55 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,516,628 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 78.16 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Anguillanumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 4 Topic: Antigua and Barbudanumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 10 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 580,174 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 290,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Argentinanumber of registered air carriers: 6 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 107 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 18,081,937 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 311.57 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Armenianumber of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 5 Topic: Arubanumber of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 19 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 274,280 (2018) Topic: Australianumber of registered air carriers: 25 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 583 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 75,667,645 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 2,027,640,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Austrianumber 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 Topic: Azerbaijannumber of registered air carriers: 42 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 44 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,279,546 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 44.09 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Bahamas, Thenumber of registered air carriers: 5 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 35 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,197,116 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 160,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Bahrainnumber of registered air carriers: 6 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 42 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 5,877,003 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 420.98 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Bangladeshnumber of registered air carriers: 6 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 30 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 5,984,155 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 63.82 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Belarusnumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 30 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,760,168 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1.9 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Belgiumnumber of registered air carriers: 7 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 117 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 13,639,487 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,285,340,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Belizenumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 28 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,297,533 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 3.78 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Beninnumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2015) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1 (2015) annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 112,392 (2015) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 805,347 (2015) mt-km Topic: Bhutannumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 275,849 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 690,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Bolivianumber of registered air carriers: 7 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 39 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 4,122,113 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 13.73 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinanumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 7,070 (2015) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 87 (2015) mt-km Topic: Botswananumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 253,417 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 110,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Brazilnumber of registered air carriers: 9 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 443 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 102,109,977 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,845,650,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Bruneinumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 10 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,234,455 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 129.35 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Bulgarianumber of registered air carriers: 8 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 44 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,022,645 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1.38 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Burkina Fasonumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 151,531 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 100,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Burmanumber of registered air carriers: 8 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 42 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 3,407,788 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 4.74 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Cabo Verdenumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 5 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 140,429 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,728,152 (2015) mt-km Topic: Cambodianumber of registered air carriers: 6 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 25 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,411,059 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 680,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Cameroonnumber 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 Topic: Canadanumber of registered air carriers: 51 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 879 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 89.38 million (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 3,434,070,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Cayman Islandsnumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6 Topic: Central African Republicnumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 2 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 46,364 (2015) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0 (2015) mt-km Topic: Chadnumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3 Topic: Chilenumber of registered air carriers: 9 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 173 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 19,517,185 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,226,440,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Chinanumber of registered air carriers: 56 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 2,890 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 436,183,969 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 611,439,830 (2018) mt-km Topic: Colombianumber 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 Topic: Comorosnumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 9 Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thenumber of registered air carriers: 8 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 13 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 932,043 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 890,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Congo, Republic of thenumber of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 12 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 333,899 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 4.6 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Cook Islandsnumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6 Topic: Costa Ricanumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 39 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,948,546 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 11.13 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Cote d'Ivoirenumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 10 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 779,482 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 5.8 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Croatianumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 18 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,093,577 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 530,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Cubanumber of registered air carriers: 4 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 18 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 560,754 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 17.76 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Curacaonumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 11 Topic: Cyprusnumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 401,408 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 20,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Czechianumber of registered air carriers: 4 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 48 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 5,727,200 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 25.23 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Denmarknumber of registered air carriers: 10 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 76 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 582,011 (2015) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0 (2015) mt-km Topic: Djiboutinumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 4 Topic: Dominican Republicnumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6 Topic: Ecuadornumber of registered air carriers: 7 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 35 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 5,365,261 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 64.2 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Egyptnumber of registered air carriers: 14 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 101 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 12,340,832 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 437.63 million (2018) mt-km Topic: El Salvadornumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 13 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,545,105 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 10.73 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Equatorial Guineanumber of registered air carriers: 6 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 15 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 466,435 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 350,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Eritreanumber 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) Topic: Estonianumber of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 14 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 31,981 (2018) Topic: Ethiopianumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 75 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 11,501,244 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 2,089,280,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: European Unionannual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 636,860,155 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 31,730,660,000 (2018) Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 5 Topic: Faroe Islandsnumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) (registered in Denmark) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3 (registered in Denmark) Topic: Fijinumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 16 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,670,216 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 106.83 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Finlandnumber 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 Topic: Francenumber of registered air carriers: 19 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 553 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 70,188,028 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 4,443,790,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: French Polynesianumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) (registered in France) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 19 (registered in France) Topic: Gabonnumber of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 8 Topic: Gambia, Thenumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 53,735 (2018) Topic: Georgianumber of registered air carriers: 4 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 12 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 516,034 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 750,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Germanynumber of registered air carriers: 20 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1,113 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 109,796,202 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 7,969,860,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Ghananumber of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 21 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 467,438 (2018) Topic: Greecenumber of registered air carriers: 11 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 97 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 15,125,933 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 21.91 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Greenlandnumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) (registered in Denmark) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 8 (registered in Denmark) Topic: Guatemalanumber of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 5 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 145,795 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 110,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Guernseynumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) (registered in UK) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 9 (registered in UK) Topic: Haitinumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1 Topic: Hondurasnumber of registered air carriers: 4 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 26 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 251,149 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 450,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Hong Kongnumber 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 Topic: Hungarynumber of registered air carriers: 5 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 145 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 31,226,848 (2018) Topic: Icelandnumber of registered air carriers: 6 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 63 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 7,819,740 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 163.65 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Indianumber of registered air carriers: 14 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 485 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 164,035,637 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 2,703,960,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Indonesianumber of registered air carriers: 25 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 611 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 115,154,100 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,131,910,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Irannumber of registered air carriers: 22 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 237 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 25,604,871 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 290.74 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Iraqnumber of registered air carriers: 4 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 34 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,075,065 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 16.2 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Irelandnumber of registered air carriers: 9 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 450 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 167,598,633 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 168.71 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Israelnumber of registered air carriers: 6 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 64 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 7,404,373 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 994.54 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Italynumber of registered air carriers: 9 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 180 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 27,630,435 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1.418 billion (2018) mt-km Topic: Jamaicanumber of registered air carriers: 0 (2020) Topic: Japannumber of registered air carriers: 22 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 673 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 126,387,527 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 9,420,660,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Jerseynumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) (registered in UK) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 4 (registered in UK) Topic: Jordannumber of registered air carriers: 4 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 54 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 3,383,805 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 175.84 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Kazakhstannumber of registered air carriers: 12 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 84 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 7,143,797 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 50.22 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Kenyanumber of registered air carriers: 25 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 188 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 5,935,831 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 294.97 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Kiribatinumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 8 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 66,567 (2018) Topic: Korea, Northnumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 4 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 103,560 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 250,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Korea, Southnumber of registered air carriers: 14 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 424 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 88,157,579 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 11,929,560,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Kosovonumber of registered air carriers: 0 (2020) Topic: Kuwaitnumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 44 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 6,464,847 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 392.36 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Kyrgyzstannumber of registered air carriers: 5 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 17 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 709,198 (2018) Topic: Laosnumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 12 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,251,961 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1.53 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Latvianumber 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 Topic: Lebanonnumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 21 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,981,937 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 56.57 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Libyanumber of registered air carriers: 9 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 55 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 927,153 (2018) Topic: Lithuanianumber 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) Topic: Luxembourgnumber of registered air carriers: 4 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 66 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,099,102 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 7,323,040,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Macaunumber 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 Topic: Madagascarnumber of registered air carriers: 4 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 18 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 541,290 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 16.25 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Malawinumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 9 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 10,545 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 10,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Malaysianumber of registered air carriers: 13 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 270 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 60,481,772 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,404,410,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Maldivesnumber 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) Topic: Malinumber of registered air carriers: 0 (2020) Topic: Maltanumber of registered air carriers: 13 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 180 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,576,898 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 5.14 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Marshall Islandsnumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 24,313 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 130,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Mauritanianumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 454,435 (2018) Topic: Mauritiusnumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 13 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,745,291 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 233.72 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Mexiconumber of registered air carriers: 16 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 370 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 64,569,640 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,090,380,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Moldovanumber of registered air carriers: 6 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 21 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,135,999 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 640,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Mongolianumber of registered air carriers: 4 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 12 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 670,360 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 7.82 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Montenegronumber 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 Topic: Montserratnumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3 Topic: Morocconumber of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 76 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 8,132,917 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 97.71 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Mozambiquenumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 11 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 540,124 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 4.78 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Namibianumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 21 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 602,893 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 26.29 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Naurunumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 5 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 45,457 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 7.94 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Nepalnumber of registered air carriers: 6 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 39 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 3,296,953 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 4.66 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Netherlandsnumber of registered air carriers: 8 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 238 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 43,996,044 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 5,886,510,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: New Caledonianumber of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) (registered in France) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 15 (registered in France) Topic: New Zealandnumber 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 Topic: Nicaraguanumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 7 Topic: Nigernumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3 Topic: Nigerianumber of registered air carriers: 13 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 104 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 8,169,192 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 19.42 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Norwaynumber of registered air carriers: 8 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 125 Topic: Omannumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 57 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 10,438,241 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 510.43 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Pakistannumber of registered air carriers: 5 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 52 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 6,880,637 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 217.53 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Palaunumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1 Topic: Panamanumber of registered air carriers: 4 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 122 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 12,939,350 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 47.63 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Papua New Guineanumber of registered air carriers: 6 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 48 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 964,713 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 30.93 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Paraguaynumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 8 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 560,631 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1.97 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Perunumber of registered air carriers: 6 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 62 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 17,758,527 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 313.26 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Philippinesnumber of registered air carriers: 13 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 200 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 43,080,118 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 835.9 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Polandnumber of registered air carriers: 6 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 169 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 9,277,538 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 271.49 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Portugalnumber of registered air carriers: 10 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 168 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 17,367,956 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 454.21 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Qatarnumber of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 251 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 29,178,923 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 12,666,710,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Romanianumber of registered air carriers: 8 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 60 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 4,908,235 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 2.71 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Russianumber of registered air carriers: 32 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 958 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 99,327,311 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 6,810,610,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Rwandanumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 12 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,073,528 (2018) Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesnumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 11 Topic: Samoanumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 4 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 137,770 (2018) Topic: Sao Tome and Principenumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1 Topic: Saudi Arabianumber of registered air carriers: 12 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 230 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 39,141,660 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,085,470,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Senegalnumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 11 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 21,038 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 40,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Serbianumber 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 Topic: Seychellesnumber 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 Topic: Sierra Leoneannual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 50,193 (2015) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0 (2015) mt-km Topic: Singaporenumber 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 Topic: Slovakianumber of registered air carriers: 4 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 45 Topic: Slovenianumber 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 Topic: Solomon Islandsnumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 427,806 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 3.84 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Somalianumber of registered air carriers: 6 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 7 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 4,486 (2018) Topic: South Africanumber of registered air carriers: 17 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 243 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 23,921,748 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 716.25 million (2018) mt-km Topic: South Sudannumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 2 annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0 mt-km Topic: Spainnumber 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 Topic: Sri Lankanumber of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 34 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 5,882,376 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 436.2 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Sudannumber of registered air carriers: 9 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 42 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 269,958 (2018) Topic: Surinamenumber 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 Topic: Swedennumber of registered air carriers: 11 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 316 Topic: Switzerlandnumber 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 Topic: Syrianumber of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 11 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 17,896 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 30,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Taiwannumber of registered air carriers: 7 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 216 Topic: Tajikistannumber 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 Topic: Tanzanianumber of registered air carriers: 11 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 91 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,481,557 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 390,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Thailandnumber of registered air carriers: 15 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 283 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 76,053,042 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 2,666,260,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Timor-Lestenumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 2 Topic: Togonumber 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 Topic: Tonganumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1 Topic: Trinidad and Tobagonumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 19 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,525,130 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 41.14 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Tunisianumber of registered air carriers: 7 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 53 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 4,274,199 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 13.23 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Turkeynumber of registered air carriers: 11 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 618 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 115,595,495 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 5,949,210,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Turkmenistannumber 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 Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandsnumber of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 22 Topic: Ugandanumber of registered air carriers: 6 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 26 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 21,537 (2018) Topic: Ukrainenumber of registered air carriers: 14 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 126 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 7,854,842 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 75.26 million (2018) mt-km Topic: United Arab Emiratesnumber of registered air carriers: 10 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 497 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 95,533,069 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 15,962,900,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: United Kingdomnumber of registered air carriers: 20 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 794 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 165,388,610 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 6,198,370,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: United Statesnumber of registered air carriers: 99 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 7,249 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 889.022 million (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 42,985,300,000 (2018) mt-km Topic: Uruguaynumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 5 Topic: Uzbekistannumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 34 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 3,056,558 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 89.43 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Vanuatunumber of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 8 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 374,603 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1.66 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Venezuelanumber of registered air carriers: 12 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 75 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,137,771 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1.55 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Vietnamnumber 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 Topic: Yemennumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 8 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 336,310 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 3.27 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Zambianumber of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 8,904 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 75.08 million (2018) mt-km Topic: Zimbabwenumber of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 12 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 285,539 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 670,000 (2018) mt-km

20220601

countries-bhutan

Topic: Photos of Bhutan Topic: Introduction Background: Following Britain’s victory in the 1865 Duar War, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding land to British India. Ugyen WANGCHUCK - who had served as the de facto ruler of an increasingly unified Bhutan and had improved relations with the British toward the end of the 19th century - was named king in 1907. Three years later, a treaty was signed whereby the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs, and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs. Bhutan negotiated a similar arrangement with independent India in 1949. The Indo-Bhutanese Treaty of Friendship returned to Bhutan a small piece of the territory annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. Under a succession of modernizing monarchs beginning in the 1950s, Bhutan joined the UN in 1971 and slowly continued its engagement beyond its borders. In 2005, King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK unveiled the draft of Bhutan's first constitution - which introduced major democratic reforms - and held a national referendum for its approval. The King abdicated the throne in 2006 in favor of his son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK. In 2007, India and Bhutan renegotiated their treaty, eliminating the clause that stated that Bhutan would be "guided by" India in conducting its foreign policy, although Thimphu continues to coordinate closely with New Delhi. In 2008, Bhutan held its first parliamentary election in accordance with the constitution. Bhutan experienced a peaceful turnover of power following a parliamentary election in 2013, which resulted in the defeat of the incumbent party. In 2018, the incumbent party again lost the parliamentary election. Of the more than 100,000 ethnic Nepali - predominantly Lhotshampa - refugees who fled or were forced out of Bhutan in the 1990s, about 6,500 remain displaced in Nepal.Following Britain’s victory in the 1865 Duar War, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding land to British India. Ugyen WANGCHUCK - who had served as the de facto ruler of an increasingly unified Bhutan and had improved relations with the British toward the end of the 19th century - was named king in 1907. Three years later, a treaty was signed whereby the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs, and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs. Bhutan negotiated a similar arrangement with independent India in 1949. The Indo-Bhutanese Treaty of Friendship returned to Bhutan a small piece of the territory annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. Under a succession of modernizing monarchs beginning in the 1950s, Bhutan joined the UN in 1971 and slowly continued its engagement beyond its borders.In 2005, King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK unveiled the draft of Bhutan's first constitution - which introduced major democratic reforms - and held a national referendum for its approval. The King abdicated the throne in 2006 in favor of his son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK. In 2007, India and Bhutan renegotiated their treaty, eliminating the clause that stated that Bhutan would be "guided by" India in conducting its foreign policy, although Thimphu continues to coordinate closely with New Delhi. In 2008, Bhutan held its first parliamentary election in accordance with the constitution. Bhutan experienced a peaceful turnover of power following a parliamentary election in 2013, which resulted in the defeat of the incumbent party. In 2018, the incumbent party again lost the parliamentary election. Of the more than 100,000 ethnic Nepali - predominantly Lhotshampa - refugees who fled or were forced out of Bhutan in the 1990s, about 6,500 remain displaced in Nepal.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southern Asia, between China and India Geographic coordinates: 27 30 N, 90 30 E Map references: Asia Area: total: 38,394 sq km land: 38,394 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: slightly larger than Maryland; about one-half the size of Indiana Land boundaries: total: 1,136 km border countries (2): China 477 km; India 659 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas Terrain: mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna Elevation: highest point: Gangkar Puensum 7,570 m lowest point: Drangeme Chhu 97 m mean elevation: 2,220 m Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate Land use: agricultural land: 13.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 10.7% (2018 est.) forest: 85.5% (2018 est.) other: 0.9% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 320 sq km (2012) Natural hazards: violent 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 Geography - note: landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes Map description: Bhutan map showing major towns as well as parts of surrounding countries.Bhutan map showing major towns as well as parts of surrounding countries. Topic: People and Society Population: 867,775 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural) adjective: Bhutanese Ethnic groups: Ngalop (also known as Bhote) 50%, ethnic Nepali 35% (predominantly Lhotshampas), indigenous or migrant tribes 15% Languages: Sharchopkha 28%, Dzongkha (official) 24%, Lhotshamkha 22%, other 26% (includes foreign languages) (2005 est.) Religions: Lamaistic Buddhist 75.3%, Indian- and Nepali-influenced Hinduism 22.1%, other 2.6% (2005 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 24.52% (male 98,113/female 93,740) 15-24 years: 17.77% (male 70,768/female 68,211) 25-54 years: 44.72% (male 184,500/female 165,374) 55-64 years: 6.39% (male 26,714/female 23,280) 65 years and over: 6.6% (2020 est.) (male 26,797/female 24,821) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 45.1 youth dependency ratio: 36.1 elderly dependency ratio: 9 potential support ratio: 11.1 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 29.1 years male: 29.6 years female: 28.6 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.97% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 15.94 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 6.22 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 43.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 203,000 THIMPHU (capital) (2018) 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: 1.12 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 183 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 27.04 deaths/1,000 live births male: 27.22 deaths/1,000 live births female: 26.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.31 years male: 71.19 years female: 73.49 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.79 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99.5% of population rural: 100% of population total: 99.8% of population unimproved: urban: 0.5% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0.2% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 3.6% (2019) Physicians density: 0.42 physicians/1,000 population (2018) Hospital bed density: 1.7 beds/1,000 population (2012) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 90.8% of population rural: 83.1% of population total: 86.4% of population unimproved: urban: 9.2% of population rural: 16.9% of population total: 13.6% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2020) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 1,300 (2020) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020) <100 Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 6.4% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 6.9% of GDP (2018) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 66.6% male: 75% female: 57.1% (2017) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2018) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 10.7% male: 8.2% female: 12.7% (2015 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: soil erosion; limited access to potable water; wildlife conservation; industrial pollution; waste disposal Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea Air pollutants: particulate 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.) Climate: varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas Land use: agricultural land: 13.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 10.7% (2018 est.) forest: 85.5% (2018 est.) other: 0.9% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 43.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 1.89% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal 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.) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 17 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 3 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 318 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 78 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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" Government type: constitutional monarchy Capital: name: Thimphu geographic coordinates: 27 28 N, 89 38 E time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the origins of the name are unclear; the traditional explanation, dating to the 14th century, is that "thim" means "dissolve" and "phu" denotes "high ground" to express the meaning of "dissolving high ground," in reference to a local deity that dissolved before a traveler's eyes, becoming a part of the rock on which the present city stands Administrative divisions: 20 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Dagana, Gasa, Haa, Lhuentse, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatshel, Punakha, Samdrup Jongkhar, Samtse, Sarpang, Thimphu, Trashigang, Trashi Yangtse, Trongsa, Tsirang, Wangdue Phodrang, Zhemgang Independence: 17 December 1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king); 8 August 1949 (Treaty of Friendship with India maintains Bhutanese independence) National holiday: National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907) Constitution: history: previous governing documents were various royal decrees; first constitution drafted November 2001 to March 2005, ratified 18 July 2008 amendments: proposed as a motion by simple majority vote in a joint session of Parliament; passage requires at least a three-fourths majority vote in a joint session of the next Parliament and assent by the king Legal system: civil law based on Buddhist 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: the father must be a citizen of Bhutan dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK (since 14 December 2006); note - King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK abdicated the throne on 14 December 2006 to his son head of government: Prime Minister Lotay TSHERING (since 7 November 2018) cabinet: Council of Ministers or Lhengye Zhungtshog members nominated by the monarch in consultation with the prime minister and approved by the National Assembly; members serve 5-year terms elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary but can be removed by a two-thirds vote of Parliament; leader of the majority party in Parliament is nominated as the prime minister, appointed by the monarch Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament or Chi Tshog consists of: non-partisan National Council or Gyelyong Tshogde (25 seats; 20 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 5 members appointed by the king; members serve 5-year terms) National Assembly or Tshogdu (47 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies in a two-round majoritarian voting system; members serve 5-year terms) elections: National Council election last held on 20 April 2018 (next to be held in 2023) National Assembly - first round held on 15 September 2018 and second round held on 18 October 2018 (next to be held in 2023) election results: National Council - seats by party - independent 20 (all candidates ran as independents); composition - men 23, women 2, percent of women 8% National Assembly - first round - percent of vote by party - DNT 31.9%, DPT 30.9%, PDP 27.4%, BKP 9.8%; second round - percent of vote by party -  NA; seats by party - DNT 30, DPT 17; composition - men 40, women 7, percent of women 14.9%; note - total Parliament percent of women 12.5% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 4 associate justices); note - the Supreme Court has sole jurisdiction in constitutional matters judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the monarch upon the advice of the National Judicial Commission, a 4-member body to include the Legislative Committee of the National Assembly, the attorney general, the Chief Justice of Bhutan and the senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court; other judges (drangpons) appointed by the monarch from among the High Court judges selected by the National Judicial Commission; chief justice serves a 5-year term or until reaching age 65 years, whichever is earlier; the 4 other judges serve 10-year terms or until age 65, whichever is earlier subordinate courts: High Court (first appellate court); District or Dzongkhag Courts; sub-district or Dungkhag Courts Political parties and leaders: Bhutan Kuen-Nyam Party or BKP Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party (Druk Phuensum Tshogpa) or DPT [Pema GYAMTSHO] (Druk Chirwang Tshogpa or DCT merged with DPT in March 2018) People's Democratic Party or PDP [Tshering TOBGAY] United Party of Bhutan (Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa) or DNT [Lotay TSHERING] International organization participation: ADB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: none; the Permanent Mission to the UN for Bhutan has consular jurisdiction in the US; the permanent representative to the UN is Doma TSHERING (since 13 September 2017); address: 343 East 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017; telephone [1] (212) 682-2268; FAX [1] (212) 661-0551; email consulate.pmbny@mfa.gov.bt consulate(s) general: New York Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none; frequent informal contact is maintained via the US embassy in New Delhi (India) and Bhutan's Permanent Mission to the UN Flag description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side; the dragon, called the Druk (Thunder Dragon), is the emblem of the nation; its white color stands for purity and the jewels in its claws symbolize wealth; the background colors represent spiritual and secular powers within Bhutan: the orange is associated with Buddhism, while the yellow denotes the ruling dynasty National symbol(s): thunder dragon known as Druk Gyalpo; national colors: orange, yellow National anthem: name: "Druk tsendhen" (The Thunder Dragon Kingdom) lyrics/music: Gyaldun Dasho Thinley DORJI/Aku TONGMI note: adopted 1953 Topic: Economy Economic overview: Bhutan's small economy is based largely on hydropower, agriculture, and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for more than half the population. Because rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive, industrial production is primarily of the cottage industry type. The economy is closely aligned with India's through strong trade and monetary links and is dependent on India for financial assistance and migrant laborers for development projects, especially for road construction. Bhutan signed a pact in December 2014 to expand duty-free trade with Bangladesh.   Multilateral development organizations administer most educational, social, and environment programs, and take into account the government's desire to protect the country's environment and cultural traditions. For example, the government is cautious in its expansion of the tourist sector, restricing visits to environmentally conscientious tourists. Complicated controls and uncertain policies in areas such as industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.   Bhutan’s largest export - hydropower to India - could spur sustainable growth in the coming years if Bhutan resolves chronic delays in construction. Bhutan’s hydropower exports comprise 40% of total exports and 25% of the government’s total revenue. Bhutan currently taps only 6.5% of its 24,000-megawatt hydropower potential and is behind schedule in building 12 new hydropower dams with a combined capacity of 10,000 megawatts by 2020 in accordance with a deal signed in 2008 with India. The high volume of imported materials to build hydropower plants has expanded Bhutan's trade and current account deficits. Bhutan also signed a memorandum of understanding with Bangladesh and India in July 2017 to jointly construct a new hydropower plant for exporting electricity to Bangladesh.Bhutan's small economy is based largely on hydropower, agriculture, and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for more than half the population. Because rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive, industrial production is primarily of the cottage industry type. The economy is closely aligned with India's through strong trade and monetary links and is dependent on India for financial assistance and migrant laborers for development projects, especially for road construction. Bhutan signed a pact in December 2014 to expand duty-free trade with Bangladesh. Multilateral development organizations administer most educational, social, and environment programs, and take into account the government's desire to protect the country's environment and cultural traditions. For example, the government is cautious in its expansion of the tourist sector, restricing visits to environmentally conscientious tourists. Complicated controls and uncertain policies in areas such as industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment. Bhutan’s largest export - hydropower to India - could spur sustainable growth in the coming years if Bhutan resolves chronic delays in construction. Bhutan’s hydropower exports comprise 40% of total exports and 25% of the government’s total revenue. Bhutan currently taps only 6.5% of its 24,000-megawatt hydropower potential and is behind schedule in building 12 new hydropower dams with a combined capacity of 10,000 megawatts by 2020 in accordance with a deal signed in 2008 with India. The high volume of imported materials to build hydropower plants has expanded Bhutan's trade and current account deficits. Bhutan also signed a memorandum of understanding with Bangladesh and India in July 2017 to jointly construct a new hydropower plant for exporting electricity to Bangladesh. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $8.42 billion (2020 est.) $9.03 billion (2019 est.) $8.56 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 7.4% (2017 est.) 7.3% (2016 est.) 6.2% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $10,900 (2020 est.) $11,800 (2019 est.) $11,300 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $2.405 billion (2017 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.8% (2017 est.) 7.6% (2016 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 16.2% (2017 est.) industry: 41.8% (2017 est.) services: 42% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 58% (2017 est.) government consumption: 16.8% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 47.2% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 26% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -48% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: milk, rice, maize, potatoes, roots/tubers, oranges, areca nuts, chillies/peppers, spices, ginger Industries: cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide, tourism Industrial production growth rate: 6.3% (2017 est.) Labor force: 397,900 (2017 est.) note: major shortage of skilled labor Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 58% industry: 20% services: 22% (2015 est.) Unemployment rate: 3.2% (2017 est.) 3.2% (2016 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 10.7% male: 8.2% female: 12.7% (2015 est.) Population below poverty line: 8.2% (2017 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 37.4 (2017 est.) 38.1 (2007) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 30.6% (2012) Budget: revenues: 655.3 million (2017 est.) expenditures: 737.4 million (2017 est.) note: the Government of India finances nearly one-quarter of Bhutan's budget expenditures Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -3.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 106.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 114.2% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 27.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June Current account balance: -$547 million (2017 est.) -$621 million (2016 est.) Exports: $790 million (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $780 million (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $790 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: India 94% (2019) Exports - commodities: iron alloys, dolomite, refined iron, cement, silicon carbides (2019) Imports: $1.19 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $1.23 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $1.25 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: India 85%, Thailand 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, iron products, delivery trucks, cars, wood charcoal (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $1.206 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $1.127 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $2.671 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $2.355 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: ngultrum (BTN) per US dollar - 64.97 (2017 est.) 67.2 (2016 est.) 67.2 (2015 est.) 64.15 (2014 est.) 61.03 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 7.883 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 2.184 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 5.763 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 84 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 1.632 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 1% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 99% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 0% 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 (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 3,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 3,120 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 (2016 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 22,987 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 745,137 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 97 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Bhutan’s telecom market is dominated by the mobile sector for voice and data connections due to poor fixed-line infrastructure and topographic issues; investment is focused on mobile infrastructure and an emergency telecom network for natural disasters; extended LTE to 60% of all mobile Internet users; regulator developing 5G plan; international communication through landline and microwave relay; nascent satellite service; importer of broadcast equipment from India  (2021) domestic: approximately 3 to 100 fixed-line and 97 to 100 mobile cellular; domestic service inadequate, notably in rural areas (2020) international: country code - 975; international telephone and telegraph service via landline and microwave relay through India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat 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 governmentsBhutan’s telecom market is dominated by the mobile sector for voice and data connections due to poor fixed-line infrastructure and topographic issues; investment is focused on mobile infrastructure and an emergency telecom network for natural disasters; extended LTE to 60% of all mobile Internet users; regulator developing 5G plan; international communication through landline and microwave relay; nascent satellite service; importer of broadcast equipment from India  Broadcast media: state-owned TV station established in 1999; cable TV service offers dozens of Indian and other international channels; first radio station, privately launched in 1973, is now state-owned; 5 private radio stations are currently broadcasting (2012) Internet country code: .bt Internet users: total: 416,671 (2020 est.) percent of population: 54% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 3,189 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.4 (2020 est.) less than 1 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: 275,849 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 690,000 (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: A5 Airports: total: 2 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2012) Roadways: total: 12,205 km (2017) urban: 437 km (2017) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Royal Bhutan Army (includes Royal Bodyguard and an air wing); National Militia; Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs: Royal Bhutan Police (2022) note - the Royal Bhutan Police (RBP) agency is responsible for internal security; the Army is responsible for external threats but also has responsibility for some internal security functions, including conducting counterinsurgency operations, guarding forests, and providing security for prominent persons Military and security service personnel strengths: the Royal Bhutan Army has an estimated 8,000 personnel (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: India has provided most of the Royal Bhutan Army's equipment (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; militia training is compulsory for males aged 20-25, over a 3-year period; in 2021, the Royal Bhutan Army graduated from a year-long training course the first batch of 150 women to be allowed to serve in combat roles; previously, women were allowed to serve in medical and other non-combat roles (2021) Military - note: India is responsible for military training, arms supplies, and the air defense of Bhutan (2022) Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Bhutan-China: Lacking any treaty describing the boundary, Bhutan and China continue negotiations to establish a common boundary alignment to resolve territorial disputes arising from substantial cartographic discrepancies, the most contentious of which lie in Bhutan's west along China’s Chumbi salient. Bhutan-India: none identifiedBhutan-China: Lacking any treaty describing the boundary, Bhutan and China continue negotiations to establish a common boundary alignment to resolve territorial disputes arising from substantial cartographic discrepancies, the most contentious of which lie in Bhutan's west along China’s Chumbi salient. Bhutan-India: none identified Trafficking in persons: current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Bhutan and Bhutanese abroad; some traffickers posing as recruiters use the lure of well-paying jobs overseas to exploit Bhutanese citizens for forced labor; some Bhutanese working in hospitality, retail, and service industries in the Gulf states and India, Thailand, and the UK reported trafficking indicators, including illegal recruitment fees, wage deductions, restricted movement, passport retention, and non-payment of wages; Bhutanese women and girls working as domestics, caregivers, and entertainers are subject to sex and labor trafficking domestically; Bhutanese and Indian women may be forced to work in hotels, massage parlors, and nightclubs, while male Indian workers face unauthorized deductions and non-payment of wages in the construction and hydropower sectors tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Bhutan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; among its accomplishments, Bhutan convicted one trafficker, appealed the dismissal of trafficking charges in a second case, finalized and disseminated standard operating procedures for victim identification and referral, and initiated an investigation into reports of labor exploitation; the government also continued to work with an international organization on anti-trafficking training and public awareness events; however, Bhutanese courts continued to dismiss and refile on lesser charges human trafficking cases due to inconsistencies between Bhutanese law and the international definition of trafficking; additionally, authorities did not identify any trafficking victims during the reporting period and did not provide protective services to Bhutanese victims of forced labor abroad (2020)Tier 2 Watch List — Bhutan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; among its accomplishments, Bhutan convicted one trafficker, appealed the dismissal of trafficking charges in a second case, finalized and disseminated standard operating procedures for victim identification and referral, and initiated an investigation into reports of labor exploitation; the government also continued to work with an international organization on anti-trafficking training and public awareness events; however, Bhutanese courts continued to dismiss and refile on lesser charges human trafficking cases due to inconsistencies between Bhutanese law and the international definition of trafficking; additionally, authorities did not identify any trafficking victims during the reporting period and did not provide protective services to Bhutanese victims of forced labor abroad (2020)

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countries-european-union

Topic: Photos of European Union Topic: Introduction Preliminary statement: The evolution of what is today the European Union (EU) from a regional economic agreement among six neighboring states in 1951 to today's hybrid intergovernmental and supranational organization of 27 countries across the European continent stands as an unprecedented phenomenon in the annals of history. Dynastic unions for territorial consolidation were long the norm in Europe; on a few occasions even country-level unions were arranged - the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Austro-Hungarian Empire were examples. But for such a large number of nation-states to cede some of their sovereignty to an overarching entity is unique. Although the EU is not a federation in the strict sense, it is far more than a free-trade association such as ASEAN or Mercosur, and it has certain attributes associated with independent nations: its own flag, currency (for some members), and law-making abilities, as well as diplomatic representation and a common foreign and security policy in its dealings with external partners. Thus, inclusion of basic intelligence on the EU has been deemed appropriate as a separate entity in The World Factbook.The evolution of what is today the European Union (EU) from a regional economic agreement among six neighboring states in 1951 to today's hybrid intergovernmental and supranational organization of 27 countries across the European continent stands as an unprecedented phenomenon in the annals of history. Dynastic unions for territorial consolidation were long the norm in Europe; on a few occasions even country-level unions were arranged - the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Austro-Hungarian Empire were examples. But for such a large number of nation-states to cede some of their sovereignty to an overarching entity is unique.Although the EU is not a federation in the strict sense, it is far more than a free-trade association such as ASEAN or Mercosur, and it has certain attributes associated with independent nations: its own flag, currency (for some members), and law-making abilities, as well as diplomatic representation and a common foreign and security policy in its dealings with external partners.Thus, inclusion of basic intelligence on the EU has been deemed appropriate as a separate entity in The World Factbook. Background: Following the two devastating World Wars in the first half of the 20th century, a number of far-sighted European leaders in the late 1940s sought a response to the overwhelming desire for peace and reconciliation on the continent. In 1950, the French Foreign Minister Robert SCHUMAN proposed pooling the production of coal and steel in Western Europe and setting up an organization for that purpose that would bring France and the Federal Republic of Germany together and would be open to other countries as well. The following year, the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was set up when six members - Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands - signed the Treaty of Paris. The ECSC was so successful that within a few years the decision was made to integrate other elements of the member states' economies. In 1957, envisioning an "ever closer union," the Treaties of Rome were signed creating the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), and the six member states strove to eliminate trade barriers among themselves by forming a common market. In 1967, the institutions of all three communities were formally merged into the European Community (EC), creating a single Commission, a single Council of Ministers, and the body known today as the European Parliament. Members of the European Parliament were initially selected by national parliaments, but in 1979 the first direct elections were undertaken and have been held every five years since. In 1973, the first enlargement of the EC took place with the addition of Denmark, Ireland, and the UK. The 1980s saw further membership expansion with Greece joining in 1981 and Spain and Portugal in 1986. The 1992 Treaty of Maastricht laid the basis for further forms of cooperation in foreign and defense policy, in judicial and internal affairs, and in the creation of an economic and monetary union - including a common currency. This further integration created the European Union (EU), at the time standing alongside the EC. In 1995, Austria, Finland, and Sweden joined the EU/EC, raising the total number of member states to 15. A new currency, the euro, was launched in world money markets on 1 January 1999; it became the unit of exchange for all EU member states except Denmark, Sweden, and the UK. In 2002, citizens of those 12 countries began using euro banknotes and coins. Ten new countries joined the EU in 2004 - Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Bulgaria and Romania joined in 2007 and Croatia in 2013, but the UK withdrew in 2020. Current membership stands at 27. (Seven of the new countries - Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia, and Slovenia - have now adopted the euro, bringing total euro-zone membership to 19.) In an effort to ensure that the EU could function efficiently with an expanded membership, the Treaty of Nice (concluded in 2000; entered into force in 2003) set forth rules to streamline the size and procedures of EU institutions. An effort to establish a "Constitution for Europe," growing out of a Convention held in 2002-2003, foundered when it was rejected in referenda in France and the Netherlands in 2005. A subsequent effort in 2007 incorporated many of the features of the rejected draft Constitutional Treaty while also making a number of substantive and symbolic changes. The new treaty, referred to as the Treaty of Lisbon, sought to amend existing treaties rather than replace them. The treaty was approved at the EU intergovernmental conference of member states held in Lisbon in December 2007, after which the process of national ratifications began. In October 2009, an Irish referendum approved the Lisbon Treaty (overturning a previous rejection) and cleared the way for an ultimate unanimous endorsement. Poland and the Czech Republic ratified soon after. The Lisbon Treaty came into force on 1 December 2009 and the EU officially replaced and succeeded the EC. The Lisbon Treaty's provisions are part of the basic consolidated versions of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) now governing what remains a very specific integration project. UK citizens on 23 June 2016 narrowly voted to leave the EU; the formal exit took place on 31 January 2020. The EU and UK negotiated and ratified a Withdrawal Agreement that included a status quo transition period through December 2020, when the follow-on EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement was concluded.Following the two devastating World Wars in the first half of the 20th century, a number of far-sighted European leaders in the late 1940s sought a response to the overwhelming desire for peace and reconciliation on the continent. In 1950, the French Foreign Minister Robert SCHUMAN proposed pooling the production of coal and steel in Western Europe and setting up an organization for that purpose that would bring France and the Federal Republic of Germany together and would be open to other countries as well. The following year, the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was set up when six members - Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands - signed the Treaty of Paris.The ECSC was so successful that within a few years the decision was made to integrate other elements of the member states' economies. In 1957, envisioning an "ever closer union," the Treaties of Rome were signed creating the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), and the six member states strove to eliminate trade barriers among themselves by forming a common market. In 1967, the institutions of all three communities were formally merged into the European Community (EC), creating a single Commission, a single Council of Ministers, and the body known today as the European Parliament. Members of the European Parliament were initially selected by national parliaments, but in 1979 the first direct elections were undertaken and have been held every five years since.In 1973, the first enlargement of the EC took place with the addition of Denmark, Ireland, and the UK. The 1980s saw further membership expansion with Greece joining in 1981 and Spain and Portugal in 1986. The 1992 Treaty of Maastricht laid the basis for further forms of cooperation in foreign and defense policy, in judicial and internal affairs, and in the creation of an economic and monetary union - including a common currency. This further integration created the European Union (EU), at the time standing alongside the EC. In 1995, Austria, Finland, and Sweden joined the EU/EC, raising the total number of member states to 15.A new currency, the euro, was launched in world money markets on 1 January 1999; it became the unit of exchange for all EU member states except Denmark, Sweden, and the UK. In 2002, citizens of those 12 countries began using euro banknotes and coins. Ten new countries joined the EU in 2004 - Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Bulgaria and Romania joined in 2007 and Croatia in 2013, but the UK withdrew in 2020. Current membership stands at 27. (Seven of the new countries - Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia, and Slovenia - have now adopted the euro, bringing total euro-zone membership to 19.)In an effort to ensure that the EU could function efficiently with an expanded membership, the Treaty of Nice (concluded in 2000; entered into force in 2003) set forth rules to streamline the size and procedures of EU institutions. An effort to establish a "Constitution for Europe," growing out of a Convention held in 2002-2003, foundered when it was rejected in referenda in France and the Netherlands in 2005. A subsequent effort in 2007 incorporated many of the features of the rejected draft Constitutional Treaty while also making a number of substantive and symbolic changes. The new treaty, referred to as the Treaty of Lisbon, sought to amend existing treaties rather than replace them. The treaty was approved at the EU intergovernmental conference of member states held in Lisbon in December 2007, after which the process of national ratifications began. In October 2009, an Irish referendum approved the Lisbon Treaty (overturning a previous rejection) and cleared the way for an ultimate unanimous endorsement. Poland and the Czech Republic ratified soon after. The Lisbon Treaty came into force on 1 December 2009 and the EU officially replaced and succeeded the EC. The Lisbon Treaty's provisions are part of the basic consolidated versions of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) now governing what remains a very specific integration project.UK citizens on 23 June 2016 narrowly voted to leave the EU; the formal exit took place on 31 January 2020. The EU and UK negotiated and ratified a Withdrawal Agreement that included a status quo transition period through December 2020, when the follow-on EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement was concluded.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Europe between the North Atlantic Ocean in the west and Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine to the east Map references: Europe Area: total: 4,236,351 sq km rank by area (sq km): 1. France (includes five overseas regions) 643,801 2. Spain 505,370 3. Sweden 450,295 4. Germany 357,022 5. Finland 338,145 6. Poland 312,685 7. Italy 301,340 8. Romania 238,391 9. Greece 131,957 10. Bulgaria 110,879 11. Hungary 93,028 12. Portugal 92,090 13. Austria 83,871 14. Czechia 78,867 15. Ireland 70,273 16. Lithuania 65,300 17. Latvia 64,589 18. Croatia 56,594 19. Slovakia 49,035 20. Estonia 45,228 21. Denmark 43,094 22. Netherlands 41,543 23. Belgium 30,528 24. Slovenia 20,273 25. Cyprus 9,251 26. Luxembourg 2,586 27. Malta 316 Area - comparative: less than one-half the size of the US Land boundaries: total: 13,770 km border countries (20): Albania 212 km; Andorra 118 km; Belarus 1,176 km; Bosnia and Herzegovina 956 km; Holy See 3 km; Liechtenstein 34 km; North Macedonia 396 km; Moldova 683 km; Monaco 6 km; Montenegro 19 km; Norway 2,375 km; Russia 2,435 km; San Marino 37 km; Serbia 1,353 km; Switzerland 1,729 km; Turkey 415 km; United Kingdom 499 km; Ukraine 1,324 km; note - the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement (2020) commits the United Kingdom (UK) to maintain an open border in Ireland, so the border between Northern Ireland (UK) and the Republic of Ireland is only de jure and is not a hard border; the de facto border is the Irish Sea between the islands of Ireland and Great Britain note: data for European continent only Coastline: 53,563.9 km Climate: cold temperate; potentially subarctic in the north to temperate; mild wet winters; hot dry summers in the south Terrain: fairly flat along Baltic and Atlantic coasts; mountainous in the central and southern areas Elevation: highest point: Mont Blanc, France 4,810 m lowest point: Zuidplaspolder, Netherlands -7 m Natural resources: iron ore, natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, lead, zinc, bauxite, uranium, potash, salt, hydropower, arable land, timber, fish Irrigated land: 154,539.82 sq km (2011 est.) Population distribution: population distribution varies considerably from country to country, but tends to follow a pattern of coastal and river settlement, with urban agglomerations forming large hubs facilitating large scale housing, industry, and commerce; the area in and around the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg (known collectively as Benelux), is the most densely populated area in the EU Natural hazards: flooding along coasts; avalanches in mountainous area; earthquakes in the south; volcanic eruptions in Italy; periodic droughts in Spain; ice floes in the Baltic Map description: European Union map highlighting the member and candidate countries.European Union map highlighting the member and candidate countries. Topic: People and Society Population: (July 2021 est.) 450,131,902 rank by population: Germany - 79,903,481;  France - 68,084,217;  Italy - 62,390,364;  Spain - 47,260,584;  Poland - 38,185,913;  Romania - 21,230,362;  Netherlands - 17,337,403;  Belgium - 11,778,842;  Czechia - 10,702,596;  Greece - 10,569,703;  Portugal - 10,263,850;  Sweden - 10,261,767;  Hungary - 9,728,337;  Austria - 8,884,864;  Bulgaria - 6,919,180;  Denmark - 5,894,687;  Finland - 5,587,442;  Slovakia - 5,436,066;  Ireland - 5,224,884;  Croatia - 4,208,973;  Lithuania - 2,711,566;  Slovenia - 2,102,106;  Latvia - 1,862,687;  Cyprus - 1,281,506;  Estonia - 1,220,042;  Luxembourg - 639,589;  Malta - 460,891 (July 2021 est.) Languages: Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish, Swedish note: only the 24 official languages are listed; German, the major language of Germany and Austria, is the most widely spoken mother tongue - about 16% of the EU population; English is the most widely spoken foreign language - about 29% of the EU population is conversant with it; English is an official language in Ireland and Malta and thus remained an official EU language after the UK left the bloc (2020) Religions: Roman Catholic 41%, Orthodox 10%, Protestant 9%, other Christian 4%, Muslim 2%, other 4% (includes Jewish, Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu), atheist 10%, non-believer/agnostic  17%, unspecified 3% (2019 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 15.05% (male 34,978,216/female 33,217,600) 15-24 years: 10.39% (male 24,089,260/female 22,990,579) 25-54 years: 40.54% (male 92,503,000/female 91,144,596) 55-64 years: 13.52% (male 29,805,200/female 31,424,172) 65 years and over: 20.5% (2020 est.) (male 39,834,507/female 53,020,673) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA Median age: total: 44 years male: 42.6 years female: 45.5 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -0.69% (2021 est.) 0.10% Birth rate: (2020 est.) 9.5 births/1,000 population Death rate: (2021 est.) 10.7 deaths/1,000 population Net migration rate: -2.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) 2.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population Population distribution: population distribution varies considerably from country to country, but tends to follow a pattern of coastal and river settlement, with urban agglomerations forming large hubs facilitating large scale housing, industry, and commerce; the area in and around the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg (known collectively as Benelux), is the most densely populated area in the EU Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2020 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 3.47 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.32 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.63 years male: 72.98 years female: 82.51 years (2021 est.) Total fertility rate: (2021 est.) 1.62 children born/woman Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA Current Health Expenditure: 9.9% (2016) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: note - see individual entries of member states HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: note - see individual entries of member states HIV/AIDS - deaths: note - see individual entries of member states Major infectious diseases: note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring regionally; the US Department of Homeland Security has issued instructions requiring US passengers who have been in the European Union’s Schengen Area (comprised of the following 26 European states: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland) to travel through select airports where the US Government has implemented enhanced screening procedures Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 4.7% of GDP (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 18.7% male: 18.5% female: 19.2% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: various forms of air, soil, and water pollution; see individual country entries 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-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006 signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds Air pollutants: carbon dioxide emissions: 2,881.62 megatons (2016 est.) Climate: cold temperate; potentially subarctic in the north to temperate; mild wet winters; hot dry summers in the south Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.05% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.02% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring regionally; the US Department of Homeland Security has issued instructions requiring US passengers who have been in the European Union’s Schengen Area (comprised of the following 26 European states: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland) to travel through select airports where the US Government has implemented enhanced screening procedures Total renewable water resources: 2,057.76 cubic meters (2011) Topic: Government Union name: conventional long form: European Union abbreviation: EU Political structure: a hybrid and unique intergovernmental and supranational organization Capital: name: Brussels (Belgium), Strasbourg (France), Luxembourg, Frankfurt (Germany); note - the European Council, a gathering of the EU heads of state and/or government, and the Council of the European Union, a ministerial-level body of 10 formations, meet in Brussels, Belgium, except for Council meetings held in Luxembourg in April, June, and October; the European Parliament meets in Brussels and Strasbourg, France, and has administrative offices in Luxembourg; the Court of Justice of the European Union is located in Luxembourg; and the European Central Bank is located in Frankfurt, Germany geographic coordinates: (Brussels) 50 50 N, 4 20 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 time zone note: the 27 European Union countries spread across three time zones; a proposal has been put forward to do away with daylight savings time in all EU member states Member states: 27 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) Independence: 7 February 1992 (Maastricht Treaty signed establishing the European Union); 1 November 1993 (Maastricht Treaty entered into force) note: the Treaties of Rome, signed on 25 March 1957 and subsequently entered into force on 1 January 1958, created the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community; a series of subsequent treaties have been adopted to increase efficiency and transparency, to prepare for new member states, and to introduce new areas of cooperation - such as a single currency; the Treaty of Lisbon, signed on 13 December 2007 and entered into force on 1 December 2009 is the most recent of these treaties and is intended to make the EU more democratic, more efficient, and better able to address global problems with one voice National holiday: Europe Day (also known as Schuman Day), 9 May (1950); note - the day in 1950 that Robert SCHUMAN proposed the creation of what became the European Coal and Steel Community, the progenitor of today's European Union, with the aim of achieving a united Europe Constitution: history: none; note - the EU legal order relies primarily on two consolidated texts encompassing all provisions as amended from a series of past treaties: the Treaty on European Union (TEU), as modified by the 2009 Lisbon Treaty states in Article 1 that "the HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES establish among themselves a EUROPEAN UNION ... on which the Member States confer competences to attain objectives they have in common"; Article 1 of the TEU states further that the EU is "founded on the present Treaty and on the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (hereinafter referred to as 'the Treaties')," both possessing the same legal value; Article 6 of the TEU provides that a separately adopted Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union "shall have the same legal value as the Treaties" amendments: European Union treaties can be amended in several ways: 1) Ordinary Revision Procedure (for key amendments to the treaties); initiated by an EU country’s government, by the European Parliament, or by the European Commission; following adoption of the proposal by the European Council, a convention is formed of national government representatives to review the proposal and subsequently a conference of government representatives also reviews the proposal; passage requires ratification by all EU member states; 2) Simplified Revision Procedure (for amendment of EU internal policies and actions); passage of a proposal requires unanimous European Council vote following European Council consultation with the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the European Central Bank (if the amendment concerns monetary matters) and requires ratification by all EU member states; 3) Passerelle Clause (allows the alteration of a legislative procedure without a formal amendment of the treaties); 4) Flexibility Clause (permits the EU to decide in subject areas where EU competences have not been explicitly granted in the Treaties but are necessary to the attainment of the objectives set out in the Treaty); note - the Treaty of Lisbon (signed in December 2007 and effective in December 2009) amended the two treaties that formed the EU - the Maastricht Treaty (1993) and the Treaty of Rome (1958), known in updated form as the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union Legal system: unique supranational law system in which, according to an interpretive declaration of member-state governments appended to the Treaty of Lisbon, "the Treaties and the law adopted by the Union on the basis of the Treaties have primacy over the law of Member States" under conditions laid down in the case law of the Court of Justice; key principles of EU law include fundamental rights as guaranteed by the Charter of Fundamental Rights and as resulting from constitutional traditions common to the EU's 27 member states; EU law is divided into 'primary' and 'secondary' legislation; primary legislation is derived from the consolidated versions of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and are the basis for all EU action; secondary legislation - which includes directives, regulations, and decisions - is derived from the principles and objectives set out in the treaties Suffrage: 18 years of age (16 years in Austria); universal; voting for the European Parliament is permitted in each member state Executive branch: under the EU treaties there are three distinct institutions, each of which conducts functions that may be regarded as executive in nature: European Council - brings together heads of state and government, along with the president of the European Commission, and meets at least four times a year; its aim is to provide the impetus for the development of the Union and to issue general policy guidelines; the Treaty of Lisbon established the position of "permanent" (full-time) president of the European Council; leaders of the EU member states appoint the president for a 2 1/2 year term, renewable once; the president's responsibilities include chairing the EU summits and providing policy and organizational continuity; the current president is Charles MICHEL (Belgium), since 1 December 2019, succeeding Donald TUSK (Poland; 2014 - 2019) Council of the European Union - consists of ministers of each EU member state and meets regularly in 10 different configurations depending on the subject matter; it conducts policymaking and coordinating functions as well as legislative functions; ministers of EU member states chair meetings of the Council of the EU based on a 6-month rotating presidency except for the meetings of EU Foreign Ministers in the Foreign Affairs Council that are chaired by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy European Commission - headed by a College of Commissioners comprised of 28 members (one from each member country) including the president; each commissioner is responsible for one or more policy areas; the Commission's main responsibilities include the sole right to initiate EU legislation (except for foreign and security/defense policy), promoting the general interest of the EU, acting as "guardian of the Treaties" by monitoring the application of EU law, implementing/executing the EU budget, managing programs, negotiating on the EU's behalf in core policy areas such as trade, and ensuring the Union's external representation in some policy areas; its current president is Ursula VON DER LEYEN (Germany) elected on 16 July 2019 (took office on 1 December 2019); the president of the European Commission is nominated by the European Council and formally "elected" by the European Parliament; the Commission president allocates specific responsibilities among the members of the College (appointed by common accord of the member state governments in consultation with the president-elect); the European Parliament confirms the entire Commission for a 5-year term. note: for external representation and foreign policy making, leaders of the EU member states appointed Joseph BORRELL (Spain) as the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy; BORRELL took office on 1 December 2019, succeeding Federica MOGHERINI (Italy (2014 - 2019); the High Representative's concurrent appointment as Vice President of the European Commission was meant to bring more coherence to the EU’s foreign policy (horizontally, between policies managed by the Commission that are particularly relevant for EU external relations, such as trade, humanitarian aid and crisis management, neighborhood policy and enlargement; and vertically, between member-state capitals and the EU); the High Representative helps develop and implement the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy and Common Security and Defense Policy components, chairs the Foreign Affairs Council, represents and acts for the Union in many international contexts, and oversees the European External Action Service, the diplomatic corps of the EU, established on 1 December 2010under the EU treaties there are three distinct institutions, each of which conducts functions that may be regarded as executive in nature: European Council - brings together heads of state and government, along with the president of the European Commission, and meets at least four times a year; its aim is to provide the impetus for the development of the Union and to issue general policy guidelines; the Treaty of Lisbon established the position of "permanent" (full-time) president of the European Council; leaders of the EU member states appoint the president for a 2 1/2 year term, renewable once; the president's responsibilities include chairing the EU summits and providing policy and organizational continuity; the current president is Charles MICHEL (Belgium), since 1 December 2019, succeeding Donald TUSK (Poland; 2014 - 2019) Council of the European Union - consists of ministers of each EU member state and meets regularly in 10 different configurations depending on the subject matter; it conducts policymaking and coordinating functions as well as legislative functions; ministers of EU member states chair meetings of the Council of the EU based on a 6-month rotating presidency except for the meetings of EU Foreign Ministers in the Foreign Affairs Council that are chaired by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy European Commission - headed by a College of Commissioners comprised of 28 members (one from each member country) including the president; each commissioner is responsible for one or more policy areas; the Commission's main responsibilities include the sole right to initiate EU legislation (except for foreign and security/defense policy), promoting the general interest of the EU, acting as "guardian of the Treaties" by monitoring the application of EU law, implementing/executing the EU budget, managing programs, negotiating on the EU's behalf in core policy areas such as trade, and ensuring the Union's external representation in some policy areas; its current president is Ursula VON DER LEYEN (Germany) elected on 16 July 2019 (took office on 1 December 2019); the president of the European Commission is nominated by the European Council and formally "elected" by the European Parliament; the Commission president allocates specific responsibilities among the members of the College (appointed by common accord of the member state governments in consultation with the president-elect); the European Parliament confirms the entire Commission for a 5-year term. Legislative branch: description: two legislative bodies consisting of the Council of the European Union (27 seats; ministers representing the 27 member states) and the European Parliament (705 seats; seats allocated among member states roughly in proportion to population size; members elected by proportional representation to serve 5-year terms); note - the European Parliament President, David SASSOLI (Italian center-left), was elected in July 2019 by a majority of fellow members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and represents the Parliament within the EU and internationally; the Council of the EU and the MEPs share responsibilities for adopting the bulk of EU legislation, normally acting in co-decision on Commission proposals (but not in the area of Common Foreign and Security Policy, which is governed by consensus of the EU member state governments) elections: last held on 23-26 May 2019 (next to be held May 2024) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party (as of 31 January 2020) - EPP 187, S&D 148, ALDE/EDP 97, ID 76, Greens/EFA 67, ECR 59, GUE-NGL 40, non-inscripts 31; Parliament composition - men 428, women 277, percent of women 39.3%; note - composition of the European Council - men 23, women 4, percent of women 11.1%; total Council and Parliament percent of women 38.3% Judicial branch: highest courts: Court of Justice of the European Union, which includes the Court of Justice (informally known as the European Court of Justice or ECJ) and the General Court (consists of 27 judges, one drawn from each member state; the ECJ includes 11 Advocates General while the General Court can include additional judges; both the ECJ and the General Court may sit in a "Grand Chamber" of 15 judges in special cases but usually in chambers of 3 to 5 judges judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the common consent of the member states to serve 6-year renewable terms note: the ECJ is the supreme judicial authority of the EU; it ensures that EU law is interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU, resolves disputed issues among the EU institutions and with member states, and reviews issues and opinions regarding questions of EU law referred by member state courts Political parties and leaders: European United Left-Nordic Green Left or GUE/NGL [Manon AUBRY and Martin SCHIRDEWAN] European Conservatives and Reformists or ECR [Raffaele FITTO and Ryszard LEGUTKO] European Greens/European Free Alliance or Greens/EFA [Ska KELLER, Philippe LAMBERTS] European People's Party or EPP [Manfred WEBER] Identity and Democracy Party or ID [Marco ZANNI] Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats or S&D [Iratxe PEREZ] Renew Europe - RE (successor to Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe or ALDE) [Stephane SEJOURNE] International organization participation: ARF, ASEAN (dialogue member), Australian Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CERN, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-8, G-10, G-20, IDA, IEA, IGAD (partners), LAIA (observer), NSG (observer), OAS (observer), OECD, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SICA (observer), UN (observer), UNRWA (observer), WCO, WTO, ZC (observer) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Stavros LAMBRINIDIS (since 1 March 2019)  chancery: 2175 K Street, NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 862-9500 FAX: [1] (202) 429-1766 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (Vacant); Charge D' Affaires Kelly Adams-Smith (since 1 July 2021) embassy: Zinnerstraat - 13 - Rue Zinner, B-1000 Brussels mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [32] (2) 811-4100 email address and website: https://useu.usmission.gov/ Flag description: a blue field with 12 five-pointed gold stars arranged in a circle in the center; blue represents the sky of the Western world, the stars are the peoples of Europe in a circle, a symbol of unity; the number of stars is fixed National symbol(s): a circle of 12, five-pointed, golden yellow stars on a blue field; union colors: blue, yellow National anthem: name: Ode to Joy lyrics/music: no lyrics/Ludwig VAN BEETHOVEN, arranged by Herbert VON KARAJAN note: official EU anthem since 1985; the anthem is meant to represent all of Europe rather than just the organization, conveying ideas of peace, freedom, and unity Topic: Economy Economic overview: The 27 member states that make up the EU have adopted an internal single market with free movement of goods, services, capital, and labor. The EU, which is also a customs union, aims to bolster Europe's trade position and its political and economic weight in international affairs.   Despite great differences in per capita income among member states (from $28,000 to $109,000) and in national attitudes toward issues like inflation, debt, and foreign trade, the EU has achieved a high degree of coordination of monetary and fiscal policies. A common currency – the euro – circulates among 19 of the member states that make up the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Eleven member states introduced the euro as their common currency on 1 January 1999 (Greece did so two years later). Since 2004, 13 states acceded to the EU. Of the 13, Slovenia (2007), Cyprus and Malta (2008), Slovakia (2009), Estonia (2011), Latvia (2014), and Lithuania (2015) have adopted the euro; seven other member states - excluding Denmark, which has a formal opt-out - are required by EU treaties to adopt the common currency upon meeting fiscal and monetary convergence criteria.   The EU economy posted moderate GDP growth for 2014 through 2017, capping five years of sustained growth since the 2008-09 global economic crisis and the ensuing sovereign debt crisis in the euro zone in 2011. However, the bloc’s recovery was uneven. Some EU member states (Czechia, Ireland, Malta, Romania, Sweden, and Spain) recorded strong growth, others (Italy) experienced modest expansion, and Greece finally ended its EU rescue program in August 2018. Overall, the EU’s recovery was buoyed by lower commodities prices and accommodative monetary policy, which lowered interest rates and stimulated demand. The euro zone, which makes up about 70% of the total EU economy, performed well, achieving a growth rate not seen in a decade. In October 2017 the European Central Bank (ECB) announced it would extend its bond-buying program through September 2018, and possibly beyond that date, to keep the euro zone recovery on track. The ECB’s efforts to spur more lending and investment through its asset-buying program, negative interest rates, and long-term loan refinancing programs have not yet raised inflation in line with the ECB’s statutory target of just under 2%.   Despite its performance, high unemployment in some member states, high levels of public and private debt, muted productivity, an incomplete single market in services, and an aging population remain sources of potential drag on the EU’s future growth. Moreover, the EU economy remains vulnerable to a slowdown of global trade and bouts of political and financial turmoil. In June 2016, the UK voted to withdraw from the EU, the first member country ever to attempt to secede. Continued uncertainty about the implications of the UK’s exit from the EU (concluded January 2020) could hurt consumer and investor confidence and dampen EU growth, particularly if trade and cross-border investment significantly declines. Political disagreements between EU member states on reforms to fiscal and economic policy also may impair the EU’s ability to bolster its crisis-prevention and resolution mechanisms. International investors’ fears of a broad dissolution of the single currency area have largely dissipated, but these concerns could resurface if elected leaders implement policies that contravene euro-zone budget or banking rules. State interventions in ailing banks, including rescue of banks in Italy and resolution of banks in Spain, have eased financial vulnerabilities in the European banking sector even though some banks are struggling with low profitability and a large stock of bad loans, fragilities that could precipitate localized crises. Externally, the EU has continued to pursue comprehensive free trade agreements to expand EU external market share, particularly with Asian countries; EU and Japanese leaders reached a political-level agreement on a free trade agreement in July 2017, and agreement with Mexico in April 2018 on updates to an existing free trade agreement.The 27 member states that make up the EU have adopted an internal single market with free movement of goods, services, capital, and labor. The EU, which is also a customs union, aims to bolster Europe's trade position and its political and economic weight in international affairs. Despite great differences in per capita income among member states (from $28,000 to $109,000) and in national attitudes toward issues like inflation, debt, and foreign trade, the EU has achieved a high degree of coordination of monetary and fiscal policies. A common currency – the euro – circulates among 19 of the member states that make up the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Eleven member states introduced the euro as their common currency on 1 January 1999 (Greece did so two years later). Since 2004, 13 states acceded to the EU. Of the 13, Slovenia (2007), Cyprus and Malta (2008), Slovakia (2009), Estonia (2011), Latvia (2014), and Lithuania (2015) have adopted the euro; seven other member states - excluding Denmark, which has a formal opt-out - are required by EU treaties to adopt the common currency upon meeting fiscal and monetary convergence criteria. The EU economy posted moderate GDP growth for 2014 through 2017, capping five years of sustained growth since the 2008-09 global economic crisis and the ensuing sovereign debt crisis in the euro zone in 2011. However, the bloc’s recovery was uneven. Some EU member states (Czechia, Ireland, Malta, Romania, Sweden, and Spain) recorded strong growth, others (Italy) experienced modest expansion, and Greece finally ended its EU rescue program in August 2018. Overall, the EU’s recovery was buoyed by lower commodities prices and accommodative monetary policy, which lowered interest rates and stimulated demand. The euro zone, which makes up about 70% of the total EU economy, performed well, achieving a growth rate not seen in a decade. In October 2017 the European Central Bank (ECB) announced it would extend its bond-buying program through September 2018, and possibly beyond that date, to keep the euro zone recovery on track. The ECB’s efforts to spur more lending and investment through its asset-buying program, negative interest rates, and long-term loan refinancing programs have not yet raised inflation in line with the ECB’s statutory target of just under 2%. Despite its performance, high unemployment in some member states, high levels of public and private debt, muted productivity, an incomplete single market in services, and an aging population remain sources of potential drag on the EU’s future growth. Moreover, the EU economy remains vulnerable to a slowdown of global trade and bouts of political and financial turmoil. In June 2016, the UK voted to withdraw from the EU, the first member country ever to attempt to secede. Continued uncertainty about the implications of the UK’s exit from the EU (concluded January 2020) could hurt consumer and investor confidence and dampen EU growth, particularly if trade and cross-border investment significantly declines. Political disagreements between EU member states on reforms to fiscal and economic policy also may impair the EU’s ability to bolster its crisis-prevention and resolution mechanisms. International investors’ fears of a broad dissolution of the single currency area have largely dissipated, but these concerns could resurface if elected leaders implement policies that contravene euro-zone budget or banking rules. State interventions in ailing banks, including rescue of banks in Italy and resolution of banks in Spain, have eased financial vulnerabilities in the European banking sector even though some banks are struggling with low profitability and a large stock of bad loans, fragilities that could precipitate localized crises. Externally, the EU has continued to pursue comprehensive free trade agreements to expand EU external market share, particularly with Asian countries; EU and Japanese leaders reached a political-level agreement on a free trade agreement in July 2017, and agreement with Mexico in April 2018 on updates to an existing free trade agreement. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $19,885,625,000,000 (2019 est.) $19,551,328,000,000 (2018 est.) $19,115,988,000,000 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 2.3% (2017 est.) 2% (2016 est.) 2.3% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $44,436 (2019 est.) $43,761 (2018 est.) $42,848 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $17.11 trillion (2017 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.1% (2019 est.) 1.7% (2018 est.) 1.5% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: AAA (2010) Moody's rating: Aaa (2014) Standard & Poors rating: AA (2016) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 1.6% (2017 est.) industry: 25.1% (2017 est.) services: 70.9% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 54.4% (2016 est.) government consumption: 20.4% (2016 est.) investment in fixed capital: 19.8% (2016 est.) investment in inventories: 0.4% (2016 est.) exports of goods and services: 43.9% (2016 est.) imports of goods and services: -40.5% (2016 est.) Agricultural products: wheat, barley, oilseeds, sugar beets, wine, grapes; dairy products, cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry; fish Industries: among the world's largest and most technologically advanced regions, the EU industrial base includes: ferrous and non-ferrous metal production and processing, metal products, petroleum, coal, cement, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, rail transportation equipment, passenger and commercial vehicles, construction equipment, industrial equipment, shipbuilding, electrical power equipment, machine tools and automated manufacturing systems, electronics and telecommunications equipment, fishing, food and beverages, furniture, paper, textiles Industrial production growth rate: 3.5% (2017 est.) Labor force: 238.9 million (2016 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 5% industry: 21.9% services: 73.1% (2014 est.) Unemployment rate: 8.6% (2016 est.) 9.4% (2015 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 18.7% male: 18.5% female: 19.2% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 9.8% (2013 est.) note: see individual country entries of member states Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 30.8 (2016 est.) 31 (2015 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 23.8% (2016 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -3% (of GDP) (2014) Public debt: 86.8% of GDP (2014) 85.5% of GDP (2013) Taxes and other revenues: 45.2% (of GDP) (2014) Fiscal year: NA Current account balance: $404.9 billion (2017 est.) $359.7 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $7,102,345,000,000 (2019 est.) $6,929,845,000,000 (2018 est.) $6,690,764,000,000 (2017 est.) note: external exports, excluding intra-EU trade Exports - partners: United States 20.7%, China 9.6%, Switzerland 8.1%, Turkey 4.4%, Russia 4.1% (2016 est.) Exports - commodities: machinery, motor vehicles, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, fuels, aircraft, plastics, iron and steel, wood pulp and paper products, alcoholic beverages, furniture Imports: $6,649,513,000,000 (2019 est.) $6,400,412,000,000 (2018 est.) $6,177,446,000,000 (2017 est.) note: external imports, excluding intra-EU trade Imports - partners: China 20.1%, United States 14.5%, Switzerland 7.1%, Russia 6.3% (2016 est.) Imports - commodities: fuels and crude oil, machinery, vehicles, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, precious gemstones, textiles, aircraft, plastics, metals, ships Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $740.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.) $746.9 billion (31 December 2013) note: data are for the European Central Bank Debt - external: $29.27 trillion (31 December 2016 est.) $28.68 trillion (31 December 2015 est.) Exchange rates: euros 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 - production: 3.043 trillion kWh (2015 est.) Electricity - consumption: 2.845 trillion kWh (2015 est.) Electricity - exports: 390 billion kWh (2015 est.) Electricity - imports: 397 billion kWh (2015 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 975 million kW (2015 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 44% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 12% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 11% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 44% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) Crude oil - production: 1.488 million bbl/day (2016 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 5.1 billion bbl (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 11.66 million bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 12.89 million bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 2.196 million bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 8.613 million bbl/day (2017 est.) Natural gas - production: 118.2 billion cu m (2016 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 428.8 billion cu m (2016 est.) Natural gas - exports: 93.75 billion cu m (2010 est.) Natural gas - imports: 420.6 billion cu m (2010 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 1.3 trillion cu m (1 January 2017 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 160,149,025 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 540,557,924 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: note - see individual country entries of member states Internet country code: .eu; note - see country entries of member states for individual country codes Internet users: total: 380,357,569 (2020 est.) percent of population: 85% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 163,772,540 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 636,860,155 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 31,730,660,000 (2018) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1,882 over 3,047 m: 120 2,438 to 3,047 m: 341 1,524 to 2,437 m: 507 914 to 1,523 m: 425 under 914 m: 489 (2017) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1,244 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 245 under 914 m: 982 (2013) Heliports: (2021) 90 Railways: total: (2013) 230,548 km Roadways: total: (2013) 10,582,653 km Waterways: (2013) 53,384 km Ports and terminals: major port(s): Antwerp (Belgium), Barcelona (Spain), Braila (Romania), Bremen (Germany), Burgas (Bulgaria), Constanta (Romania), Copenhagen (Denmark), Galati (Romania), Gdansk (Poland), Hamburg (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain), Le Havre (France), Lisbon (Portugal), Marseille (France), Naples (Italy), Peiraiefs or Piraeus (Greece), Riga (Latvia), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Split (Croatia), Stockholm (Sweden), Talinn (Estonia), Tulcea (Romania), Varna (Bulgaria) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: the EU's Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) provides the civilian, military, and political structures for EU crisis management and security issues; the highest bodies are: the Political and Security Committee (PSC), which meets at the ambassadorial level as a preparatory body for the Council of the EU; it assists with defining policies and preparing a crisis response the European Union Military Committee (EUMC) is the EU's highest military body; it is composed of the chiefs of defense (CHODs) of the Member States, who are regularly represented by their permanent Military Representatives; the EUMC provides the PSC with advice and recommendations on all military matters within the EU the Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management (CIVCOM) provides advice and recommendations to the PSC in parallel with the EUMC on civilian aspects of crisis management the Politico-Military Group (PMG) provides advice and recommendations to the PSC on political aspects of EU military and civil-military issues, including concepts, capabilities and operations and missions, and monitors implementation other bodies set up under the CSDP include; the Security and Defense Policy Directorate (SECDEFPOL), the Integrated approach for Security and Peace Directorate (ISP), the EU Military Staff (EUMS), the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC), the Military  Planning  and  Conduct  Capability (MPCC), the European Defense Agency, the European Security and Defense College (ESDC), the EU Institute for Security Studies, and the EU Satellite Center (2021)the EU's Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) provides the civilian, military, and political structures for EU crisis management and security issues; the highest bodies are:the Political and Security Committee (PSC), which meets at the ambassadorial level as a preparatory body for the Council of the EU; it assists with defining policies and preparing a crisis responsethe European Union Military Committee (EUMC) is the EU's highest military body; it is composed of the chiefs of defense (CHODs) of the Member States, who are regularly represented by their permanent Military Representatives; the EUMC provides the PSC with advice and recommendations on all military matters within the EUthe Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management (CIVCOM) provides advice and recommendations to the PSC in parallel with the EUMC on civilian aspects of crisis managementthe Politico-Military Group (PMG) provides advice and recommendations to the PSC on political aspects of EU military and civil-military issues, including concepts, capabilities and operations and missions, and monitors implementationother bodies set up under the CSDP include; the Security and Defense Policy Directorate (SECDEFPOL), the Integrated approach for Security and Peace Directorate (ISP), the EU Military Staff (EUMS), the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC), the Military  Planning  and  Conduct  Capability (MPCC), the European Defense Agency, the European Security and Defense College (ESDC), the EU Institute for Security Studies, and the EU Satellite Center (2021) Military expenditures: 1.6% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2019) 1.4% of GDP (2018) 1.35% of GDP (2017) 1.3% of GDP (2016) Military deployments: since 2003, the EU has launched more than 30 civilian and military crisis-management, advisory, and training missions in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, as well as counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and a naval operation in the Mediterranean to disrupt human smuggling and trafficking networks and prevent the loss of life at sea (2022) Military - note: EU Battlegroups are rapid reaction multinational military units that form a key part of the EU's capacity to respond to emerging crises and conflicts; their deployment is subject to a unanimous decision by the EU Council; the core of a battlegroup typically consists of one infantry battalion (about 1,500 troops) reinforced with combat and combat service support units; the composition of the supporting units may differ depending on the mission; the troops and equipment are drawn from EU member states and under the direction of a lead nation; 2 battlegroups are always on standby for a period of 6 months; the battlegroups were declared operational in 2007, but have never been used operationally due to political and financial obstacles  the EU partners with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); NATO is an alliance of 30 countries from North America and Europe; its role is to safeguard the security of its member countries by political and military means; NATO conducts crisis management and peacekeeping missions; member countries that participate in the military aspect of the Alliance contribute forces and equipment, which remain under national command and control until a time when they are required by NATO for a specific purpose (i.e. conflict or crisis, peacekeeping); NATO, however, does possess some common capabilities owned and operated by the Alliance, such as some early warning radar aircraft; relations between NATO and the EU were institutionalized in the early 2000s, building on steps taken during the 1990s to promote greater European responsibility in defense matters; cooperation and coordination covers a broad array of issues, including crisis management, defense and political consultations, civil preparedness, capacity building, military capabilities, maritime security, planning, cyber defense, countering hybrid threats, information sharing, logistics, defense industry, counterterrorism, etc.; NATO and the EU have 21 member countries in common Eurocorps, which supports both the EU and NATO, was formally established in 1992 and activated the following year; it originated in 1987 with the French-German Brigade; Belgium (1993), Spain (1994), and Luxembourg (1996) joined over the next few years; five additional countries participate in Eurocorps as associated nations: Greece, Poland, and Turkey (since 2002), Italy and Romania (since 2009 and 2016 respectively); Eurocorps is headquartered in Strasbourg, France (2021)EU Battlegroups are rapid reaction multinational military units that form a key part of the EU's capacity to respond to emerging crises and conflicts; their deployment is subject to a unanimous decision by the EU Council; the core of a battlegroup typically consists of one infantry battalion (about 1,500 troops) reinforced with combat and combat service support units; the composition of the supporting units may differ depending on the mission; the troops and equipment are drawn from EU member states and under the direction of a lead nation; 2 battlegroups are always on standby for a period of 6 months; the battlegroups were declared operational in 2007, but have never been used operationally due to political and financial obstacles  the EU partners with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); NATO is an alliance of 30 countries from North America and Europe; its role is to safeguard the security of its member countries by political and military means; NATO conducts crisis management and peacekeeping missions; member countries that participate in the military aspect of the Alliance contribute forces and equipment, which remain under national command and control until a time when they are required by NATO for a specific purpose (i.e. conflict or crisis, peacekeeping); NATO, however, does possess some common capabilities owned and operated by the Alliance, such as some early warning radar aircraft; relations between NATO and the EU were institutionalized in the early 2000s, building on steps taken during the 1990s to promote greater European responsibility in defense matters; cooperation and coordination covers a broad array of issues, including crisis management, defense and political consultations, civil preparedness, capacity building, military capabilities, maritime security, planning, cyber defense, countering hybrid threats, information sharing, logistics, defense industry, counterterrorism, etc.; NATO and the EU have 21 member countries in common Eurocorps, which supports both the EU and NATO, was formally established in 1992 and activated the following year; it originated in 1987 with the French-German Brigade; Belgium (1993), Spain (1994), and Luxembourg (1996) joined over the next few years; five additional countries participate in Eurocorps as associated nations: Greece, Poland, and Turkey (since 2002), Italy and Romania (since 2009 and 2016 respectively); Eurocorps is headquartered in Strasbourg, France Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): see individual EU member states Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: as a political union, the EU has no border disputes with neighboring countries, but Estonia has no land boundary agreements with Russia, Slovenia disputes its land and maritime boundaries with Croatia, and Spain has territorial and maritime disputes with Morocco and with the UK over Gibraltar; the EU has set up a Schengen area - consisting of 22 EU member states that have signed the convention implementing the Schengen agreements or "acquis" (1985 and 1990) on the free movement of persons and the harmonization of border controls in Europe; these agreements became incorporated into EU law with the implementation of the 1997 Treaty of Amsterdam on 1 May 1999; in addition, non-EU states Iceland and Norway (as part of the Nordic Union) have been included in the Schengen area since 1996 (full members in 2001), Switzerland since 2008, and Liechtenstein since 2011 bringing the total current membership to 26; the UK (since 2000) and Ireland (since 2002) take part in only some aspects of the Schengen area, especially with respect to police and criminal matters; nine of the 13 new member states that joined the EU since 2004 joined Schengen on 21 December 2007; of the four remaining EU states, Romania, Bulgaria, and Croatia are obligated to eventually join, while Cyprus' entry is held up by the ongoing Cyprus disputeas a political union, the EU has no border disputes with neighboring countries, but Estonia has no land boundary agreements with Russia, Slovenia disputes its land and maritime boundaries with Croatia, and Spain has territorial and maritime disputes with Morocco and with the UK over Gibraltar; the EU has set up a Schengen area - consisting of 22 EU member states that have signed the convention implementing the Schengen agreements or "acquis" (1985 and 1990) on the free movement of persons and the harmonization of border controls in Europe; these agreements became incorporated into EU law with the implementation of the 1997 Treaty of Amsterdam on 1 May 1999; in addition, non-EU states Iceland and Norway (as part of the Nordic Union) have been included in the Schengen area since 1996 (full members in 2001), Switzerland since 2008, and Liechtenstein since 2011 bringing the total current membership to 26; the UK (since 2000) and Ireland (since 2002) take part in only some aspects of the Schengen area, especially with respect to police and criminal matters; nine of the 13 new member states that joined the EU since 2004 joined Schengen on 21 December 2007; of the four remaining EU states, Romania, Bulgaria, and Croatia are obligated to eventually join, while Cyprus' entry is held up by the ongoing Cyprus dispute

20220601

countries-benin-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens Exercise increased caution in Benin due to crime, kidnapping, and maritime 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 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: [229] 21-30-06-50; US Embassy Cotonou, Marina Avenue, 01 BP 2012, Cotonou, Benin; https://bj.usembassy.gov/; ACSCotonou@state.gov Telephone Code: 229 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; Benin 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 in south; semiarid in north Currency (Code): Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (Western African CFA francs, XOF) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 220 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, E Major Languages: French, Fon, Yoruba Major Religions: Muslim 27.7%, Roman Catholic 25.5%, Protestant 13.5%, Vodoun 11.6%, other Christian 9.5%, other traditional religions 2.6%, other 2.6%, none 5.8 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: Cotonou; Ouidah; Porto Novo; Royal Palaces at Abomey Major Sports: Soccer, tennis, track and field Cultural Practices: Many people in Benin eat using the fingers of the right hand; eating or offering food to others with the left hand is considered rude. Tipping Guidelines: Tipping in restaurants is appreciated; round up the bill in smaller establishments or tip up to 10%. Tipping at bars is unexpected. When taking a taxi, round up the fare. Tipping in hotels is not required, but if you enjoyed your stay you could tip the bellboy 200 francs per bag and the maid 200 francs per night.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

20220601

countries-haiti

Topic: Photos of Haiti Topic: Introduction Background: The native Taino - who inhabited the island of Hispaniola when Christopher COLUMBUS first landed on it in 1492 - were virtually wiped out by Spanish settlers within 25 years. In the early 17th century, the French established a presence on Hispaniola. In 1697, Spain ceded to the French the western third of the island, which later became Haiti. The French colony, based on forestry and sugar-related industries, became one of the wealthiest in the Caribbean but relied heavily on the forced labor of enslaved Africans and environmentally degrading practices. In the late 18th century, Toussaint L'OUVERTURE led a revolution of Haiti's nearly half a million slaves that ended France's rule on the island. After a prolonged struggle, and under the leadership of Jean-Jacques DESSALINES, Haiti became the first country in the world led by former slaves after declaring its independence in 1804, but it was forced to pay an indemnity of 100 million francs (equivalent to $21 billion USD in March 2022) to France for more than a century and was shunned by other countries for nearly 40 years. On 12 July 1862, the US officially recognized Haiti, but foreign economic influence and internal political instability induced the US to occupy Haiti from 1915-1934. Subsequently, Francois "Papa Doc" DUVALIER and then his son Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" DUVALIER led repressive and corrupt regimes that ruled Haiti in 1957-1971 and 1971-1986, respectively. President Jovenel MOISE was assassinated on 7 July 2021, leading the country further into an extra-constitutional governance structure and contributing to the country’s growing fragility. President MOISE's five-year term would have ended on 7 February 2022; his assassination plunged Haiti deeper into a political crisis that was not anticipated in its constitution. Thus, on 20 July 2021, the Government of Haiti installed Ariel HENRY - whom President MOISE had nominated - as prime minister. As of March 2022, Haiti had no president, no parliamentary quorum, and a dysfunctional high court due to a lack of judges. Haiti has long been plagued by natural disasters. In January 2010, a massive magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti with an epicenter about 25 km (15 mi) west of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Estimates are that over 300,000 people were killed and some 1.5 million left homeless. The earthquake was assessed as the worst in this region over the last 200 years. A 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti’s southern peninsula in August 2021, causing well over 2,000 deaths; an estimated 500,000 required emergency humanitarian aid. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, as well as one of the most unequal in wealth distribution.The native Taino - who inhabited the island of Hispaniola when Christopher COLUMBUS first landed on it in 1492 - were virtually wiped out by Spanish settlers within 25 years. In the early 17th century, the French established a presence on Hispaniola. In 1697, Spain ceded to the French the western third of the island, which later became Haiti. The French colony, based on forestry and sugar-related industries, became one of the wealthiest in the Caribbean but relied heavily on the forced labor of enslaved Africans and environmentally degrading practices. In the late 18th century, Toussaint L'OUVERTURE led a revolution of Haiti's nearly half a million slaves that ended France's rule on the island. After a prolonged struggle, and under the leadership of Jean-Jacques DESSALINES, Haiti became the first country in the world led by former slaves after declaring its independence in 1804, but it was forced to pay an indemnity of 100 million francs (equivalent to $21 billion USD in March 2022) to France for more than a century and was shunned by other countries for nearly 40 years. On 12 July 1862, the US officially recognized Haiti, but foreign economic influence and internal political instability induced the US to occupy Haiti from 1915-1934. Subsequently, Francois "Papa Doc" DUVALIER and then his son Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" DUVALIER led repressive and corrupt regimes that ruled Haiti in 1957-1971 and 1971-1986, respectively. President Jovenel MOISE was assassinated on 7 July 2021, leading the country further into an extra-constitutional governance structure and contributing to the country’s growing fragility. President MOISE's five-year term would have ended on 7 February 2022; his assassination plunged Haiti deeper into a political crisis that was not anticipated in its constitution. Thus, on 20 July 2021, the Government of Haiti installed Ariel HENRY - whom President MOISE had nominated - as prime minister. As of March 2022, Haiti had no president, no parliamentary quorum, and a dysfunctional high court due to a lack of judges. Haiti has long been plagued by natural disasters. In January 2010, a massive magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti with an epicenter about 25 km (15 mi) west of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Estimates are that over 300,000 people were killed and some 1.5 million left homeless. The earthquake was assessed as the worst in this region over the last 200 years. A 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti’s southern peninsula in August 2021, causing well over 2,000 deaths; an estimated 500,000 required emergency humanitarian aid. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, as well as one of the most unequal in wealth distribution.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic Geographic coordinates: 19 00 N, 72 25 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 27,750 sq km land: 27,560 sq km water: 190 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland Land boundaries: total: 376 km border countries (1): Dominican Republic 376 km Coastline: 1,771 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: to depth of exploitation Climate: tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds Terrain: mostly rough and mountainous Elevation: highest point: Pic la Selle 2,674 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m mean elevation: 470 m Natural resources: bauxite, copper, calcium carbonate, gold, marble, hydropower, arable land Land use: agricultural land: 66.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 38.5% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 10.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 17.7% (2018 est.) forest: 3.6% (2018 est.) other: 30% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 970 sq km (2012) Population distribution: fairly even distribution; largest concentrations located near coastal areas Natural hazards: lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes; periodic droughts Geography - note: shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (western one-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic); it is the most mountainous nation in the Caribbean Map description: Haiti map shows the country’s border with the Dominican Republic and its position in the Caribbean Sea.Haiti map shows the country’s border with the Dominican Republic and its position in the Caribbean Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 11,334,637 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Nationality: noun: Haitian(s) adjective: Haitian Ethnic groups: Black 95%, mixed and White 5% Languages: French (official), Creole (official) 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: Catholic 55%, Protestant 29%, Vodou 2.1%, other 4.6%, none 10% (2018 est.) note: 50-80% of Haitians incorporate some elements of Vodou culture or practice in addition to another religion, most often Roman Catholicism; Vodou was recognized as an official religion in 2003 Age structure: 0-14 years: 31.21% (male 1,719,961/female 1,734,566) 15-24 years: 20.71% (male 1,145,113/female 1,146,741) 25-54 years: 38.45% (male 2,110,294/female 2,145,209) 55-64 years: 5.3% (male 280,630/female 305,584) 65 years and over: 4.33% (2020 est.) (male 210,451/female 269,228) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 60.4 youth dependency ratio: 52.1 elderly dependency ratio: 8.3 potential support ratio: 13.3 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 24.1 years male: 23.8 years female: 24.3 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 1.2% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 21.12 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 7.23 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -1.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: fairly even distribution; largest concentrations located near coastal areas Urbanization: urban population: 58.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 2.915 million PORT-AU-PRINCE (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 22.4 years (2016/7 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Maternal mortality ratio: 480 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 40.02 deaths/1,000 live births male: 45.71 deaths/1,000 live births female: 34.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.95 years male: 63.26 years female: 68.67 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.43 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 34.3% (2016/17) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 91.9% of population rural: 56.1% of population total: 76.5% of population unimproved: urban: 8.1% of population rural: 43.9% of population total: 23.5% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 4.7% (2019) Physicians density: 0.23 physicians/1,000 population (2018) Hospital bed density: 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2013) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 82.9% of population rural: 42.6% of population total: 65.6% of population unimproved: urban: 17.1% of population rural: 57.4% of population total: 34.4% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.9% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 150,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 2,200 (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: dengue fever and malaria Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 22.7% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 9.5% (2016/17) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 2.1% (2017) women married by age 18: 14.9% (2017) men married by age 18: 1.6% (2017 est.) Education expenditures: 1.7% of GDP (2018) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 61.7% male: 65.3% female: 58.3% (2016) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion; overpopulation leads to inadequate supplies of potable water and and a lack of sanitation; natural disasters Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban Air pollutants: particulate 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.) Climate: tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds Land use: agricultural land: 66.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 38.5% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 10.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 17.7% (2018 est.) forest: 3.6% (2018 est.) other: 30% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 58.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.68% 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: dengue fever and malaria Food insecurity: severe 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) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 2,309,852 tons (2015 est.) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 190 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 51 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 1.209 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 14.022 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Haiti conventional short form: Haiti local long form: Republique d'Haiti/Repiblik d Ayiti local short form: Haiti/Ayiti etymology: the native Taino name means "Land of High Mountains" and was originally applied to the entire island of Hispaniola Government type: semi-presidential republic Capital: name: Port-au-Prince geographic coordinates: 18 32 N, 72 20 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November etymology: according to tradition, in 1706, a Captain de Saint-Andre named the bay and its surrounding area after his ship Le Prince; the name of the town that grew there means, "the Port of The Prince" Administrative divisions: 10 departments (departements, singular - departement); Artibonite, Centre, Grand'Anse, Nippes, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est Independence: 1 January 1804 (from France) National holiday: Independence Day, 1 January (1804) Constitution: history: many previous; latest adopted 10 March 1987 amendments: proposed by the executive branch or by either the Senate or the Chamber of Deputies; consideration of proposed amendments requires support by at least two-thirds majority of both houses; passage requires at least two-thirds majority of the membership present and at least two-thirds majority of the votes cast; approved amendments enter into force after installation of the next president of the republic; constitutional articles on the democratic and republican form of government cannot be amended; amended many times, last in 2012 Legal system: civil law system strongly influenced by Napoleonic Code 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 native-born citizen of Haiti dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President (vacant); note - Prime Minister Ariel HENRY assumed executive responsibilities, including naming Cabinet members, following the assassination President MOISE on 7 July 2021; new elections have not yet been scheduled. head of government: Prime Minister Ariel HENRY (since 20 July 2021) cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president; parliament must ratify the Cabinet and Prime Minister's governing policy elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a single non-consecutive term); last election had been originally scheduled for 9 October 2016 but was postponed until 20 November 2016 due to Hurricane Matthew election results: 2016: Jovenel MOISE elected president in first round; percent of vote - Jovenel MOISE (PHTK) 55.6%, Jude CELESTIN (LAPEH) 19.6%, Jean-Charles MOISE (PPD) 11%, Maryse NARCISSE (FL) 9%; other 4.8% 2011: Michel MARTELLY elected president in runoff; percent of vote - Michel MARTELLY (Peasant's Response) 68%, Mirlande MANIGAT (RDNP) 32% Legislative branch: description: bicameral legislature or le Corps legislatif ou le Parlement consists of: le Senat or Senate (30 seats statutory, reduced to 10 as of July 2021; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; members serve 6-year terms (2-term limit) with one-third of the membership renewed every 2 years) la Chambre de deputes or Chamber of Deputies (119 seats; 0 filled as of July 2021; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; members serve 4-year terms; no term limits); note - when the 2 chambers meet collectively it is known as L'Assemblee nationale or the National Assembly and is convened for specific purposes spelled out in the constitution elections: Senate - last held on 20 November 2016 with runoff on 29 January 2017 (next originally scheduled for 27 October 2019, but postponed to 26 September 2021) Chamber of Deputies - last held on 9 August 2015 with runoff on 25 October 2015 and 20 November 2016 (next originally scheduled for 27 October 2019, but postponed to 26 September 2021) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 10, women 0, percent of women 0% Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - NA Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court or Cour de cassation (consists of a chief judge and other judges); note - Haiti is a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president from candidate lists submitted by the Senate of the National Assembly; note - Article 174 of Haiti's constitution states that judges of the Supreme Court are appointed for 10 years, whereas Article 177 states that judges of the Supreme Court are appointed for life subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; magistrate's courts;  land, labor, and children's courts note: the Superior Council of the Judiciary or Conseil Superieur du Pouvoir Judiciaire is a 9-member body charged with the administration and oversight of the judicial branch of government Political parties and leaders: Alternative League for Haitian Progress and Empowerment or LAPEH [Jude CELESTIN] Christian Movement for a New Haiti or MCNH [Luc MESADIEU] Christian National Movement for the Reconstruction of Haiti or UNCRH [Chavannes JEUNE] Convention for Democratic Unity or KID [Evans PAUL] Cooperative Action to Rebuild Haiti or KONBA [Jean William JEANTY] December 16 Platform or Platfom 16 Desanm [Dr. Gerard BLOT] Democratic Alliance Party or ALYANS [Evans PAUL] (coalition includes KID and PPRH) Democratic Centers' National Council or CONACED [Osner FEVRY] Dessalinian Patriotic and Popular Movement or MOPOD [Jean Andre VICTOR] Effort and Solidarity to Create an Alternative for the People or ESKAMP [Joseph JASME] Fanmi Lavalas or FL [Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE] For Us All or PONT [Jean-Marie CHERESTAL] Fusion of Haitian Social Democrats or FHSD [Edmonde Supplice BEAUZILE] Haiti in Action or AAA [Youri LATORTUE] Haitian Tet Kale Party or PHTK [Line BALTHAZAR] Independent Movement for National Reconciliation or MIRN [Luc FLEURINORD] Lavni Organization or LAVNI [Yves CRISTALIN] Love Haiti or Renmen Ayiti [Jean-Henry CEANT, Camille LEBLANC] Party for the Integral Advancement of the Haitian People or PAIPH Patriotic Unity or Inite [Rene PREVAL] Peasant's Response or Repons Peyizan [Michel MARTELLY] Platform Alternative for Progress and Democracy or ALTENATIV [Victor BENOIT and Evans PAUL] Platform of Haitian Patriots or PLAPH [Dejean BELISAIRE, Himmler REBU] Platform Pitit Desaline or PPD [Jean-Charles MOISE] Rally of Progressive National Democrats or RDNP [Mirlande MANIGAT] Renmen Ayiti or RA [Jean-Henry CEANT] Respect (Grouping of Citizens for Hope) or RESPE [Charles-Henri BAKER] Strength in Unity or Platform Ansanm Nou For [Leslie VOLTAIRE] Struggling People's Organization or OPL [Jacques-Edouard ALEXIS] Vigilance or Veye Yo [Lavarice GUADIN] International organization participation: ACP, AOSIS, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bocchit EDMOND (since 23 December 2020) chancery: 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-4090 FAX: [1] (202) 745-7215 email address and website: amb.washington@diplomatie.ht https://www.haiti.org/ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Orlando (FL), New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Nicole D. THERIOT embassy: Tabarre 41, Route de Tabarre, Port-au-Prince mailing address: 3400 Port-au-Prince Place, Washington, DC 20521-3400 telephone: [011] (509) 2229-8000 FAX: [011] (529) 2229-8027 email address and website: acspap@state.gov https://ht.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a centered white rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains a palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength); the colors are taken from the French Tricolor and represent the union of blacks and mulattoes National symbol(s): Hispaniolan trogon (bird), hibiscus flower; national colors: blue, red National anthem: name: "La Dessalinienne" (The Dessalines Song) lyrics/music: Justin LHERISSON/Nicolas GEFFRARD note: adopted 1904; named for Jean-Jacques DESSALINES, a leader in the Haitian Revolution and first ruler of an independent Haiti National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: National History Park – Citadel, Sans Souci, Ramiers Topic: Economy Economic overview: Haiti is a free market economy with low labor costs and tariff-free access to the US for many of its exports. Two-fifths of all Haitians depend on the agricultural sector, mainly small-scale subsistence farming, which remains vulnerable to damage from frequent natural disasters. Poverty, corruption, vulnerability to natural disasters, and low levels of education for much of the population represent some of the most serious impediments to Haiti’s economic growth. Remittances are the primary source of foreign exchange, equivalent to more than a quarter of GDP, and nearly double the combined value of Haitian exports and foreign direct investment.   Currently the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with close to 60% of the population living under the national poverty line, Haiti’s GDP growth rose to 5.5% in 2011 as the Haitian economy began recovering from the devastating January 2010 earthquake that destroyed much of its capital city, Port-au-Prince, and neighboring areas. However, growth slowed to below 2% in 2015 and 2016 as political uncertainty, drought conditions, decreasing foreign aid, and the depreciation of the national currency took a toll on investment and economic growth. Hurricane Matthew, the fiercest Caribbean storm in nearly a decade, made landfall in Haiti on 4 October 2016, with 140 mile-per-hour winds, creating a new humanitarian emergency. An estimated 2.1 million people were affected by the category 4 storm, which caused extensive damage to crops, houses, livestock, and infrastructure across Haiti’s southern peninsula.   US economic engagement under the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) and the 2008 Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act (HOPE II) have contributed to an increase in apparel exports and investment by providing duty-free access to the US. The Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) Act of 2010 extended the CBTPA and HOPE II until 2020, while the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 extended trade benefits provided to Haiti in the HOPE and HELP Acts through September 2025. Apparel sector exports in 2016 reached approximately $850 million and account for over 90% of Haitian exports and more than 10% of the GDP.   Investment in Haiti is hampered by the difficulty of doing business and weak infrastructure, including access to electricity. Haiti's outstanding external debt was cancelled by donor countries following the 2010 earthquake, but has since risen to $2.6 billion as of December 2017, the majority of which is owed to Venezuela under the PetroCaribe program. Although the government has increased its revenue collection, it continues to rely on formal international economic assistance for fiscal sustainability, with over 20% of its annual budget coming from foreign aid or direct budget support.Haiti is a free market economy with low labor costs and tariff-free access to the US for many of its exports. Two-fifths of all Haitians depend on the agricultural sector, mainly small-scale subsistence farming, which remains vulnerable to damage from frequent natural disasters. Poverty, corruption, vulnerability to natural disasters, and low levels of education for much of the population represent some of the most serious impediments to Haiti’s economic growth. Remittances are the primary source of foreign exchange, equivalent to more than a quarter of GDP, and nearly double the combined value of Haitian exports and foreign direct investment. Currently the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with close to 60% of the population living under the national poverty line, Haiti’s GDP growth rose to 5.5% in 2011 as the Haitian economy began recovering from the devastating January 2010 earthquake that destroyed much of its capital city, Port-au-Prince, and neighboring areas. However, growth slowed to below 2% in 2015 and 2016 as political uncertainty, drought conditions, decreasing foreign aid, and the depreciation of the national currency took a toll on investment and economic growth. Hurricane Matthew, the fiercest Caribbean storm in nearly a decade, made landfall in Haiti on 4 October 2016, with 140 mile-per-hour winds, creating a new humanitarian emergency. An estimated 2.1 million people were affected by the category 4 storm, which caused extensive damage to crops, houses, livestock, and infrastructure across Haiti’s southern peninsula. US economic engagement under the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) and the 2008 Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act (HOPE II) have contributed to an increase in apparel exports and investment by providing duty-free access to the US. The Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) Act of 2010 extended the CBTPA and HOPE II until 2020, while the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 extended trade benefits provided to Haiti in the HOPE and HELP Acts through September 2025. Apparel sector exports in 2016 reached approximately $850 million and account for over 90% of Haitian exports and more than 10% of the GDP. Investment in Haiti is hampered by the difficulty of doing business and weak infrastructure, including access to electricity. Haiti's outstanding external debt was cancelled by donor countries following the 2010 earthquake, but has since risen to $2.6 billion as of December 2017, the majority of which is owed to Venezuela under the PetroCaribe program. Although the government has increased its revenue collection, it continues to rely on formal international economic assistance for fiscal sustainability, with over 20% of its annual budget coming from foreign aid or direct budget support. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $31.62 billion (2020 est.) $32.72 billion (2019 est.) $33.28 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 1.2% (2017 est.) 1.5% (2016 est.) 1.2% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $2,800 (2020 est.) $2,900 (2019 est.) $3,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $8.608 billion (2017 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14.7% (2017 est.) 13.4% (2016 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 22.1% (2017 est.) industry: 20.3% (2017 est.) services: 57.6% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 99.1% (2017 est.) government consumption: 10% (2016 est.) investment in fixed capital: 32.6% (2016 est.) investment in inventories: -1.4% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 20% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -60.3% (2017 est.) note: figure for household consumption also includes government consumption Agricultural products: sugar cane, cassava, mangoes/guavas, plantains, bananas, yams, avocados, maize, rice, vegetables Industries: textiles, sugar refining, flour milling, cement, light assembly using imported parts Industrial production growth rate: 0.9% (2017 est.) Labor force: 4.594 million (2014 est.) note: shortage of skilled labor; unskilled labor abundant Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 38.1% industry: 11.5% services: 50.4% (2010) Unemployment rate: 40.6% (2010 est.) note: widespread unemployment and underemployment; more than two-thirds of the labor force do not have formal jobs Population below poverty line: 58.5% (2012 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 41.1 (2012 est.) 59.2 (2001) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 47.7% (2001) Budget: revenues: 1.567 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 1.65 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 31.1% of GDP (2017 est.) 33.9% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 18.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September Current account balance: -$348 million (2017 est.) -$83 million (2016 est.) Exports: $1.73 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $1.78 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: United States 81%, Canada 7% (2019) Exports - commodities: clothing and apparel, eels, essential oils, perfumes, mangoes, cocoa beans (2019) Imports: $5.21 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $5.67 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: United States 39%, China 22%, Turkey 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, rice, clothing and apparel, palm oil, poultry meats (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $2.361 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $2.11 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $2.762 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $2.17 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: gourdes (HTG) per US dollar - 65.21 (2017 est.) 63.34 (2016 est.) 63.34 (2015 est.) 50.71 (2014 est.) 45.22 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 39% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 60% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 12% (2019) Electricity - production: 1.023 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 406.2 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 332,000 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 82% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 18% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 0% 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: 21,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 20,030 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: 6,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 7.319 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 64 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: plagued by political and economic turmoil complicated by natural disasters, Haiti’s telecommunications infrastructure is among the least-developed in the world; it relies on satellite and wireless mobile technology due to poor fixed-line infrastructure; investment boosted broadband availability though customer base is poor and theft of equipment remains problematic; promotion of LTE will enable access to remote areas and e-money services; World Bank grant to provide digital preparation and response for any future crises (2020) domestic: fixed-line is less than 1 per 100; mobile-cellular telephone services have expanded greatly in the last decade due to low-cost GSM (Global Systems for Mobile) phones and pay-as-you-go plans; mobile-cellular teledensity is nearly 61 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 509; landing points for the BDSNi and Fibralink submarine cables to 14 points in the Bahamas and Dominican Republic; satellite earth station - 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 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: per 2019 data released by Haitian telecommunications regulator CONATEL (Conseil National des Télécommunications), there are 398 legal sound broadcasting stations on the territory, including about 60 community radio stations, and 7 radio stations on the AM band; the FM band in Haiti is oversaturated by 158%; most radio stations broadcast 17 to 19 hours a day; there are 105 television stations operating in Haiti, including 36 TV stations in Port- au- Prince, 41 others in the provinces, and more than 40 radio-television stations; a large number of broadcasting stations operate irregularly and some stations operate with technical parameters that do not comply with established standards, thus causing harmful interference to existing telecommunications systems; VOA Creole Service broadcasts daily on 30 affiliate stations (2019)per 2019 data released by Haitian telecommunications regulator CONATEL (Conseil National des Télécommunications), there are 398 legal sound broadcasting stations on the territory, including about 60 community radio stations, and 7 radio stations on the AM band; the FM band in Haiti is oversaturated by 158%; most radio stations broadcast 17 to 19 hours a day; there are 105 television stations operating in Haiti, including 36 TV stations in Port- au- Prince, 41 others in the provinces, and more than 40 radio-television stations; a large number of broadcasting stations operate irregularly and some stations operate with technical parameters that do not comply with established standards, thus causing harmful interference to existing telecommunications systems; VOA Creole Service broadcasts daily on 30 affiliate stations Internet country code: .ht Internet users: total: 3,990,887 (2020 est.) percent of population: 35% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 31,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.27 (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: 1 Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HH Airports: total: 14 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 8 (2021) Roadways: total: 4,266 km (2009) Note – total paved plus unpaved is less than total roadways because some roads are under construction or only partially paved paved: 600 km (2009) unpaved: 3,502 km (2009) Merchant marine: total: 4 by type: general cargo 3, other 1 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, Jacmel, Port-au-Prince Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: the Haitian Armed Forces (FAdH), disbanded in 1995, began to be reconstituted in 2017 to assist with natural disaster relief, border security, and combating transnational crime; it established an Army command in 2018 (2022) note - the Haitian National Police (under the Ministry of Justice and Public Security) has a number of specialized units, including a coast guard, a presidential guard, and a paramilitary rapid-response Motorized Intervention Unit or BIM    Military expenditures: not available Military and security service personnel strengths: the FAdH has approximately 500 troops (the force is planned to eventually have around 5,000 personnel); approximately 16,000 National Police (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: not available Military - note: according to the Haitian Government, the mission of the reconstituted armed forces will focus on patrolling the border with the Dominican Republic, combating smuggling, and executing recovery efforts after natural disasters the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) operated in Haiti from 2004 until 2017; its mission was to help restore stability after President Bertrand ARISTIDE fled the country, including assisting with the political process, strengthening government institutions, and promoting and protecting human rights; following the completion of MINUSTAH’s mandate in 2017, a smaller peacekeeping mission, the UN Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH), operated until 2019; its mission was to assist with the further development and strengthening of the national police, as well as Haiti’s justice and prison systems, and to promote and protect human rights; in 2019, the UN established the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) with the political mission of advising the Haiti Government in elections, governance, and security; as of 2021, BINUH continued to operateaccording to the Haitian Government, the mission of the reconstituted armed forces will focus on patrolling the border with the Dominican Republic, combating smuggling, and executing recovery efforts after natural disastersthe UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) operated in Haiti from 2004 until 2017; its mission was to help restore stability after President Bertrand ARISTIDE fled the country, including assisting with the political process, strengthening government institutions, and promoting and protecting human rights; following the completion of MINUSTAH’s mandate in 2017, a smaller peacekeeping mission, the UN Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH), operated until 2019; its mission was to assist with the further development and strengthening of the national police, as well as Haiti’s justice and prison systems, and to promote and protect human rights; in 2019, the UN established the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) with the political mission of advising the Haiti Government in elections, governance, and security; as of 2021, BINUH continued to operate Maritime threats: the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of Haiti are a risk for armed robbery against ships; in 2021, four attacks against commercial vessels were reported, a slight decrease from the five attacks reported in 2020; most of these occurred in the main port of Port-au-Prince while ships were berthed or at anchor Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: since 2004, peacekeepers from the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti have assisted in maintaining civil order in Haiti; the mission currently includes 6,685 military, 2,607 police, and 443 civilian personnel; despite efforts to control illegal migration, Haitians cross into the Dominican Republic and sail to neighboring countries; Haiti claims US-administered Navassa Islandsince 2004, peacekeepers from the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti have assisted in maintaining civil order in Haiti; the mission currently includes 6,685 military, 2,607 police, and 443 civilian personnel; despite efforts to control illegal migration, Haitians cross into the Dominican Republic and sail to neighboring countries; Haiti claims US-administered Navassa Island Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs: 17,105 (violence among armed gangs in the metropolitan area os Port-au-Prince) (2021) stateless persons: 2,992 (2018); note - individuals without a nationality who were born in the Dominican Republic prior to January 2010 Illicit drugs: a transit point for cocaine from South America and marijuana from Jamaica en route to the United States; not a producer or large consumer of illicit drugs; some cultivation of cannabis for local consumptiona transit point for cocaine from South America and marijuana from Jamaica en route to the United States; not a producer or large consumer of illicit drugs; some cultivation of cannabis for local consumption

20220601

countries-united-kingdom-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise increased caution in the United Kingdom 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 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 as long as you do not stay in the country more than 6 months. US Embassy/Consulate: [44] 20 7499-9000; Embassy of the United States of America, 33 Nine Elms Lane, London, SW11 7US (mailing postcode), SW8 5DB (driving/GPS postcode), United Kingdom; SCSLondon@state.gov; https://uk.usembassy.gov/ Telephone Code: 44 Local Emergency Phone: 112, 999 Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations http://www.who.int/ Climate: Temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one half of the days are overcast Currency (Code): British pounds (GBP) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): G Major Languages: English, Scots, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Irish, Cornish Major Religions: Christian (includes Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 59.5%, Muslim 4.4%, Hindu 1.3%, none 25.7% 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: applies to the United Kingdom proper, not to its crown dependencies or overseas territories Potable Water: Yes International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Left Tourist Destinations: London (includes the Tower of London, British Museum, Parliament, Trafalgar Square); Windsor Castle; Stonehenge; Roman Baths & Georgian City of Bath; York Minster & historic Yorkshire; Chester Zoo; Cotswolds & Lake District; Hadrian's Wall; Edinburgh; Cardiff Major Sports: Soccer, cricket, rugby, badminton, tennis, netball, field hockey Cultural Practices: It is considered rude to wave one's hand or to call when summoning a waiter at a restaurant. Tipping Guidelines: It is customary to leave 10-15% of the total bill as a tip when eating out, although some restaurants add on a service charge instead. Tip bartenders 1 pound. It is polite to tip 10-15% of the taxi fare, or round up to the nearest pound as a convenience. Tip porters 2 pounds to bring luggage to your room. Souvenirs: Teas, preserves, stationary, Jasperware, shortbread cookies, chocolate, scotchPlease 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

20220601

countries-peru

Topic: Photos of Peru Topic: Introduction Background: Ancient Peru was the seat of several prominent Andean civilizations, most notably that of the Incas whose empire was captured by Spanish conquistadors in 1533. Peru declared its independence in 1821, and remaining Spanish forces were defeated in 1824. After a dozen years of military rule, Peru returned to democratic leadership in 1980, but experienced economic problems and the growth of a violent insurgency. President Alberto FUJIMORI's election in 1990 ushered in a decade that saw a dramatic turnaround in the economy and significant progress in curtailing guerrilla activity. Nevertheless, the president's increasing reliance on authoritarian measures and an economic slump in the late 1990s generated mounting dissatisfaction with his regime, which led to his resignation in 2000. A caretaker government oversaw a new election in the spring of 2001, which installed Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique as the new head of government - Peru's first democratically elected president of indigenous ethnicity. The presidential election of 2006 saw the return of Alan GARCIA Perez who, after a disappointing presidential term from 1985 to 1990, oversaw a robust economic rebound. Former army officer Ollanta HUMALA Tasso was elected president in June 2011, and carried on the sound, market-oriented economic policies of the three preceding administrations. Poverty and unemployment levels have fallen dramatically in the last decade, and today Peru boasts one of the best performing economies in Latin America. Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard won a very narrow presidential runoff election in June 2016. Facing impeachment after evidence surfaced of his involvement in a vote-buying scandal, President KUCZYNSKI offered his resignation on 21 March 2018. Two days later, First Vice President Martin Alberto VIZCARRA Cornejo was sworn in as president. On 30 September 2019, President VIZCARRA invoked his constitutional authority to dissolve Peru's Congress after months of battling with the body over anticorruption reforms. New congressional elections took place on 26 January 2020 resulting in the return of an opposition-led legislature. President VIZCARRA was impeached by Congress on 9 November 2020 for a second time and removed from office after being accused of corruption and mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of vacancies in the vice-presidential positions, constitutional succession led to the President of the Peruvian Congress, Manuel MERINO, becoming the next president of Peru. His ascension to office was not well received by the population, and large protests forced his resignation on 15 November 2020. On 17 November, Francisco SAGASTI assumed the position of President of Peru after being appointed President of the Congress the previous day. Jose Pedro CASTILLO Terrones won the second round of presidential elections on 6 June 2021 and was inaugurated on 28 July.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador Geographic coordinates: 10 00 S, 76 00 W Map references: South America Area: total: 1,285,216 sq km land: 1,279,996 sq km water: 5,220 sq km Area - comparative: almost twice the size of Texas; slightly smaller than Alaska Land boundaries: total: 7,062 km border countries (5): Bolivia 1,212 km; Brazil 2,659 km; Chile 168 km; Colombia 1,494 km; Ecuador 1,529 km Coastline: 2,414 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm Climate: varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate to frigid in Andes Terrain: western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva) Elevation: highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,746 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 1,555 m Natural resources: copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash, hydropower, natural gas Land use: agricultural land: 18.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 3.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 14.6% (2018 est.) forest: 53% (2018 est.) other: 28.2% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 25,800 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lago Titicaca (shared with Bolivia) - 8,030 sq km Major rivers (by length in km): Amazon river source (shared with Brazil [m]) - 6,400 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) Major aquifers: Amazon Basin Population distribution: approximately one-third of the population resides along the desert coastal belt in the west, with a strong focus on the capital city of Lima; the Andean highlands, or sierra, which is strongly identified with the country's Amerindian population, contains roughly half of the overall population; the eastern slopes of the Andes, and adjoining rainforest, are sparsely populated Natural hazards: 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"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" Geography - note: note 1: shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake, with Bolivia; a remote slope of Nevado Mismi, a 5,316 m peak, is the ultimate source of the Amazon River note 2: Peru is one of the countries 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: on 19 February 1600, Mount Huaynaputina in the southern Peruvian Andes erupted in the largest volcanic explosion in South America in historical times; intermittent eruptions lasted until 5 March 1600 and pumped an estimated 16 to 32 million metric tons of particulates into the atmosphere reducing the amount of sunlight reaching the earth's surface and affecting weather worldwide; over the next two and a half years, millions died around the globe in famines from bitterly cold winters, cool summers, and the loss of crops and animals note 4: the southern regions of Peru and the extreme northwestern part of Bolivia are considered to be the place of origin for the common potato note 1: shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake, with Bolivia; a remote slope of Nevado Mismi, a 5,316 m peak, is the ultimate source of the Amazon Rivernote 2: Peru is one of the countries 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: on 19 February 1600, Mount Huaynaputina in the southern Peruvian Andes erupted in the largest volcanic explosion in South America in historical times; intermittent eruptions lasted until 5 March 1600 and pumped an estimated 16 to 32 million metric tons of particulates into the atmosphere reducing the amount of sunlight reaching the earth's surface and affecting weather worldwide; over the next two and a half years, millions died around the globe in famines from bitterly cold winters, cool summers, and the loss of crops and animals note 4: the southern regions of Peru and the extreme northwestern part of Bolivia are considered to be the place of origin for the common potato Map description: Peru map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the South Pacific Ocean.Peru map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the South Pacific Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 32,275,736 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Peruvian(s) adjective: Peruvian Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and White) 60.2%, Amerindian 25.8%, White 5.9%, African descent 3.6%, other (includes Chinese and Japanese descent) 1.2%, unspecified 3.3% (2017 est.) Languages: Spanish (official) 82.9%, Quechua (official) 13.6%, Aymara (official) 1.6%, Ashaninka 0.3%, other native languages (includes a large number of minor Amazonian languages) 0.8%, other (includes foreign languages and sign language) 0.2%, none 0.1%, unspecified 0.7% (2017 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 60%, Christian 14.6% (includes Evangelical 11.1%, other 3.5%), other 0.3%, none 4%, unspecified 21.1% (2017 est.) Demographic profile: Peru's urban and coastal communities have benefited much more from recent economic growth than rural, Afro-Peruvian, indigenous, and poor populations of the Amazon and mountain regions. The poverty rate has dropped substantially during the last decade but remains stubbornly high at about 30% (more than 55% in rural areas). After remaining almost static for about a decade, Peru's malnutrition rate began falling in 2005, when the government introduced a coordinated strategy focusing on hygiene, sanitation, and clean water. School enrollment has improved, but achievement scores reflect ongoing problems with educational quality. Many poor children temporarily or permanently drop out of school to help support their families. About a quarter to a third of Peruvian children aged 6 to 14 work, often putting in long hours at hazardous mining or construction sites.Peru was a country of immigration in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but has become a country of emigration in the last few decades. Beginning in the 19th century, Peru brought in Asian contract laborers mainly to work on coastal plantations. Populations of Chinese and Japanese descent - among the largest in Latin America - are economically and culturally influential in Peru today. Peruvian emigration began rising in the 1980s due to an economic crisis and a violent internal conflict, but outflows have stabilized in the last few years as economic conditions have improved. Nonetheless, more than 2 million Peruvians have emigrated in the last decade, principally to the US, Spain, and Argentina.Peru's urban and coastal communities have benefited much more from recent economic growth than rural, Afro-Peruvian, indigenous, and poor populations of the Amazon and mountain regions. The poverty rate has dropped substantially during the last decade but remains stubbornly high at about 30% (more than 55% in rural areas). After remaining almost static for about a decade, Peru's malnutrition rate began falling in 2005, when the government introduced a coordinated strategy focusing on hygiene, sanitation, and clean water. School enrollment has improved, but achievement scores reflect ongoing problems with educational quality. Many poor children temporarily or permanently drop out of school to help support their families. About a quarter to a third of Peruvian children aged 6 to 14 work, often putting in long hours at hazardous mining or construction sites.Peru was a country of immigration in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but has become a country of emigration in the last few decades. Beginning in the 19th century, Peru brought in Asian contract laborers mainly to work on coastal plantations. Populations of Chinese and Japanese descent - among the largest in Latin America - are economically and culturally influential in Peru today. Peruvian emigration began rising in the 1980s due to an economic crisis and a violent internal conflict, but outflows have stabilized in the last few years as economic conditions have improved. Nonetheless, more than 2 million Peruvians have emigrated in the last decade, principally to the US, Spain, and Argentina. Age structure: 0-14 years: 25.43% (male 4,131,985/female 3,984,546) 15-24 years: 17.21% (male 2,756,024/female 2,736,394) 25-54 years: 41.03% (male 6,279,595/female 6,815,159) 55-64 years: 8.28% (male 1,266,595/female 1,375,708) 65 years and over: 8.05% (2020 est.) (male 1,207,707/female 1,361,276) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 50.2 youth dependency ratio: 37.1 elderly dependency ratio: 13.1 potential support ratio: 7.6 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 29.1 years male: 28.3 years female: 29.9 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.51% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 17.21 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 11.32 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -0.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: approximately one-third of the population resides along the desert coastal belt in the west, with a strong focus on the capital city of Lima; the Andean highlands, or sierra, which is strongly identified with the country's Amerindian population, contains roughly half of the overall population; the eastern slopes of the Andes, and adjoining rainforest, are sparsely populated Urbanization: urban population: 78.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 11.045 million LIMA (capital), 947,000 Arequipa, 891,000 Trujillo (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 21.9 years (2013 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Maternal mortality ratio: 88 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 10.8 deaths/1,000 live births male: 11.89 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.94 years male: 65.38 years female: 72.67 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 76.3% (2018) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 97.2% of population rural: 82.4% of population total: 94% of population unimproved: urban: 2.8% of population rural: 17.6% of population total: 6% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 5.2% (2019) Physicians density: 1.3 physicians/1,000 population (2016) Hospital bed density: 1.6 beds/1,000 population (2017) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 93.6% of population rural: 65.3% of population total: 87.4% of population unimproved: urban: 6.4% of population rural: 34.7% of population total: 12.6% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.3% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 91,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <1000 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 Bartonellosis (Oroya fever) note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Peru; as of 30 March 2022, Peru has reported a total of 3,545,628 cases of COVID-19 or 10,753.49 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 212,157 cumulative deaths or a rate of 643.45 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 March 2022, 85.08% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 19.7% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.4% (2019) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 2.5% (2018) women married by age 18: 17.4% (2018 est.) Education expenditures: 4.2% of GDP (2020) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94.5% male: 97% female: 92% (2020) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 15 years (2017) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 12.6% male: 13% female: 12.1% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: deforestation (some the result of illegal logging); overgrazing of the slopes of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes; overfishing 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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, 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: 24.27 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 57.41 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 30.17 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate to frigid in Andes Land use: agricultural land: 18.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 3.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 14.6% (2018 est.) forest: 53% (2018 est.) other: 28.2% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 78.7% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.12% 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, malaria, and Bartonellosis (Oroya fever) note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Peru; as of 30 March 2022, Peru has reported a total of 3,545,628 cases of COVID-19 or 10,753.49 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 212,157 cumulative deaths or a rate of 643.45 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 March 2022, 85.08% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Waste and recycling: municipal 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.) Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lago Titicaca (shared with Bolivia) - 8,030 sq km Major rivers (by length in km): Amazon river source (shared with Brazil [m]) - 6,400 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) Major aquifers: Amazon Basin Total water withdrawal: municipal: 2.797 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 206.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 13.1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 1,879,800,000,000 cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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" Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Lima geographic coordinates: 12 03 S, 77 03 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the word "Lima" derives from the Spanish pronunciation of "Limaq," the native name for the valley in which the city was founded in 1535; "limaq" means "talker" in coastal Quechua and referred to an oracle that was situated in the valley but which was eventually destroyed by the Spanish and replaced with a church Administrative divisions: 25 regions (regiones, singular - region) and 1 province* (provincia); Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Callao, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huanuco, Ica, Junin, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Lima*, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua, Pasco, Piura, Puno, San Martin, Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali note: Callao, the largest port in Peru, is also referred to as a constitutional province, the only province of the Callao region Independence: 28 July 1821 (from Spain) National holiday: Independence Day, 28-29 July (1821) Constitution: history: several previous; latest promulgated 29 December 1993, enacted 31 December 1993 amendments: proposed by Congress, by the president of the republic with the approval of the "Cabinet, " or by petition of at least 0.3% of voters; passage requires absolute majority approval by the Congress membership, followed by approval in a referendum; a referendum is not required if Congress approves the amendment by greater than two-thirds majority vote in each of two successive sessions; amended many times, last in 2021 Legal system: civil law system International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 2 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70 Executive branch: chief of state: President Jose Pedro CASTILLO Terrones (since 28 July 2021); First Vice President Dina Ercilia BOLUARTE Zegarra (since 28 July 2021); Second Vice President (vacant); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Jose Pedro CASTILLO Terrones (since 28 July 2021); First Vice President Dina Ercilia BOLUARTE Zegarra (since 28 July 2021); Second Vice President (vacant) 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 nonconsecutive terms); election last held on 11 April 2021 with a runoff on 6 June 2021 (next to be held in April 2026) election results: 2021: Jose Pedro CASTILLO Terrones elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Jose Pedro CASTILLO Terrones (Free Peru) 18.9%, Keiko Sofia FUJIMORI Higuchi (Popular Force) 13.4%, Rafael LOPEZ ALIAGA Cazorla (Popular Renewal) 11.8%, Hernando DE SOTO Polar (Social Integration Party) 11.6%, Yonhy LESCANO Ancieta (Popular Action) 9.1%, Veronika MENDOZA Frisch (JP) 7.9%, Cesar ACUNA Peralta (APP) 6%, George FORSYTH Sommer (National Victory) 5.7%, Daniel Belizario URRESTI Elera (We Can Peru) 5.6%, other 10%; percent of vote second round - Jose Pedro CASTILLO Terrones (Free Peru) 50.1%, Keiko Sofia FUJIMORI Higuchi (Popular Force) 49.9% 2016: Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Keiko FUJIMORI Higuchi (Popular Force) 39.9%, Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard (PPK) 21.1%, Veronika MENDOZA (Broad Front) 18.7%, Alfredo BARNECHEA (Popular Action) 7%, Alan GARCIA (APRA) 5.8%, other 7.5%; percent of vote in second round - Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard 50.1%, Keiko FUJIMORI Higuchi 49.9% note: President Martin Alberto VIZCARRA Cornejo assumed office after President Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard resigned from office on 21 March 2018; after VIZCARRA was impeached on 9 November 2020, the constitutional line of succession led to the inauguration of the President of the Peruvian Congress, Manuel Arturo MERINO, as President of Peru on 10 November 2020; following his resignation only days later on 15 November 2020, Francisco Rafael SAGASTI Hochhausler - who had been elected by the legislature to be the new President of Congress on 16 November 2020 - was then sworn in as President of Peru on 17 November 2020 by line of succession and remained president until the inauguration of Jose Pedro CASTILLO Terrones, winner of the 2021 presidential election note: Prime Minister Anibal TORRES Vasquez (since 8 February 2022) does not exercise executive power; this power rests with the president Legislative branch: description: unicameral Congress of the Republic of Peru or Congreso de la Republica del Peru (130 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote to serve single 5-year terms) elections: last held on 11 April 2021 (next to be held in April 2026) election results: percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - Free Peru 32, Popular Force 24, AP 15, APP 15, Avanza Pais 10, Popular Renewal 9, Democratic Peru 7, We Are Peru 5, We Can Peru 5, JP 5, Purple Party 3; composition - men 78, women 52, percent of women 40% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of 16 judges and divided into civil, criminal, and constitutional-social sectors) judge selection and term of office: justices proposed by the National Board of Justice (a 7-member independent body), nominated by the president, and confirmed by the Congress; justices can serve until mandatory retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: Court of Constitutional Guarantees; Superior Courts or Cortes Superiores; specialized civil, criminal, and mixed courts; 2 types of peace courts in which professional judges and selected members of the local communities preside Political parties and leaders: Advance the Nation (Avanza Pais) [Aldo BORRERO Zeta] Alliance for Progress (Alianza para el Progreso) or APP [Cesar ACUNA Peralta] Broad Front (Frente Amplio) [Marco ARANA] Free Peru (Peru Libre) [Vladimir CERRON Rojas] Front for Hope (Frente Esperanza) [Fernando OLIVERA Vega] National Victory (Victoria Nacional) or VN [George FORSYTH Sommer] Popular Action (Accion Popular) or AP [Mesias GUEVARA Amasifuen] Popular Force (Fuerza Popular or FP) [Keiko FUJIMORI Higuchi] Popular Renewal (Renovacion Popular) [Rafael LOPEZ ALIAGA] Purple Party (Partido Morado) [Luis DURAN Rojo] Social Integration Party (Avanza Pais - Partido de Integracion Social) [Aldo BORRERO] Together For Peru (Juntos por el Peru) or JP [Robert SANCHEZ Palomino] We Are Peru (Somos Peru) [Patricia LI] We Can Peru (Podemos Peru) [Jose Leon LUNA Galvez]Advance the Nation (Avanza Pais) [Aldo BORRERO Zeta] Alliance for Progress (Alianza para el Progreso) or APP [Cesar ACUNA Peralta] Broad Front (Frente Amplio) [Marco ARANA] Free Peru (Peru Libre) [Vladimir CERRON Rojas] Front for Hope (Frente Esperanza) [Fernando OLIVERA Vega] National Victory (Victoria Nacional) or VN [George FORSYTH Sommer] Popular Action (Accion Popular) or AP [Mesias GUEVARA Amasifuen] Popular Force (Fuerza Popular or FP) [Keiko FUJIMORI Higuchi] Popular Renewal (Renovacion Popular) [Rafael LOPEZ ALIAGA] Purple Party (Partido Morado) [Luis DURAN Rojo] Social Integration Party (Avanza Pais - Partido de Integracion Social) [Aldo BORRERO] Together For Peru (Juntos por el Peru) or JP [Robert SANCHEZ Palomino] We Are Peru (Somos Peru) [Patricia LI] We Can Peru (Podemos Peru) [Jose Leon LUNA Galvez] International organization participation: APEC, BIS, CAN, CD, CELAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), 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, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance, PCA, PROSUR, SICA (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UN Security Council (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Oswaldo DE RIVERO Barreto (since 17 November 2021) chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 833-9860 through 9869 FAX: [1] (202) 659-8124 email address and website: Webadmin@embassyofperu.us consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Hartford (CT), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (NJ), San Francisco, Washington DC Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa Suzanne KENNA (since 18 March 2021) embassy: Avenida La Encalada, Cuadra 17 s/n, Surco, Lima 33 mailing address: 3230 Lima Place, Washington DC  20521-3230 telephone: [51] (1) 618-2000 FAX: [51] (1) 618-2724 email address and website: LimaACS@state.gov https://pe.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), white, and red with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a shield bearing a vicuna (representing fauna), a cinchona tree (the source of quinine, signifying flora), and a yellow cornucopia spilling out coins (denoting mineral wealth); red recalls blood shed for independence, white symbolizes peace National symbol(s): vicuna (a camelid related to the llama); national colors: red, white National anthem: name: "Himno Nacional del Peru" (National Anthem of Peru) lyrics/music: Jose DE LA TORRE Ugarte/Jose Bernardo ALZEDO note: adopted 1822; the song won a national anthem contest National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 13 (9 cultural, 2 natural, 2 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Cuzco (c), Machu Picchu (m), Chavin (c), Historic Lima (c), Huascarán National Park (n), Chan Chan (c), Manú National Park (n), Lines and Geoglyphs of Nazca (c), Rio Abiseo National Park (m), Historic Arequipa (c), Sacred City of Caral-Supe (c), Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Peru's economy reflects its varied topography - an arid lowland coastal region, the central high sierra of the Andes, and the dense forest of the Amazon. A wide range of important mineral resources are found in the mountainous and coastal areas, and Peru's coastal waters provide excellent fishing grounds. Peru is the world's second largest producer of silver and copper.   The Peruvian economy grew by an average of 5.6% per year from 2009-13 with a stable exchange rate and low inflation. This growth was due partly to high international prices for Peru's metals and minerals exports, which account for 55% of the country's total exports. Growth slipped from 2014 to 2017, due to weaker world prices for these resources. Despite Peru's strong macroeconomic performance, dependence on minerals and metals exports and imported foodstuffs makes the economy vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices.   Peru's rapid expansion coupled with cash transfers and other programs have helped to reduce the national poverty rate by over 35 percentage points since 2004, but inequality persists and continued to pose a challenge for the Ollanta HUMALA administration, which championed a policy of social inclusion and a more equitable distribution of income. Poor infrastructure hinders the spread of growth to Peru's non-coastal areas. The HUMALA administration passed several economic stimulus packages in 2014 to bolster growth, including reforms to environmental regulations in order to spur investment in Peru’s lucrative mining sector, a move that was opposed by some environmental groups. However, in 2015, mining investment fell as global commodity prices remained low and social conflicts plagued the sector.   Peru's free trade policy continued under the HUMALA administration; since 2006, Peru has signed trade deals with the US, Canada, Singapore, China, Korea, Mexico, Japan, the EU, the European Free Trade Association, Chile, Thailand, Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Honduras, concluded negotiations with Guatemala and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and begun trade talks with El Salvador, India, and Turkey. Peru also has signed a trade pact with Chile, Colombia, and Mexico, called the Pacific Alliance, that seeks integration of services, capital, investment and movement of people. Since the US-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement entered into force in February 2009, total trade between Peru and the US has doubled. President Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI succeeded HUMALA in July 2016 and is focusing on economic reforms and free market policies aimed at boosting investment in Peru. Mining output increased significantly in 2016-17, which helped Peru attain one of the highest GDP growth rates in Latin America, and Peru should maintain strong growth in 2018. However, economic performance was depressed by delays in infrastructure mega-projects and the start of a corruption scandal associated with a Brazilian firm. Massive flooding in early 2017 also was a drag on growth, offset somewhat by additional public spending aimed at recovery efforts.Peru's economy reflects its varied topography - an arid lowland coastal region, the central high sierra of the Andes, and the dense forest of the Amazon. A wide range of important mineral resources are found in the mountainous and coastal areas, and Peru's coastal waters provide excellent fishing grounds. Peru is the world's second largest producer of silver and copper. The Peruvian economy grew by an average of 5.6% per year from 2009-13 with a stable exchange rate and low inflation. This growth was due partly to high international prices for Peru's metals and minerals exports, which account for 55% of the country's total exports. Growth slipped from 2014 to 2017, due to weaker world prices for these resources. Despite Peru's strong macroeconomic performance, dependence on minerals and metals exports and imported foodstuffs makes the economy vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices. Peru's rapid expansion coupled with cash transfers and other programs have helped to reduce the national poverty rate by over 35 percentage points since 2004, but inequality persists and continued to pose a challenge for the Ollanta HUMALA administration, which championed a policy of social inclusion and a more equitable distribution of income. Poor infrastructure hinders the spread of growth to Peru's non-coastal areas. The HUMALA administration passed several economic stimulus packages in 2014 to bolster growth, including reforms to environmental regulations in order to spur investment in Peru’s lucrative mining sector, a move that was opposed by some environmental groups. However, in 2015, mining investment fell as global commodity prices remained low and social conflicts plagued the sector. Peru's free trade policy continued under the HUMALA administration; since 2006, Peru has signed trade deals with the US, Canada, Singapore, China, Korea, Mexico, Japan, the EU, the European Free Trade Association, Chile, Thailand, Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Honduras, concluded negotiations with Guatemala and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and begun trade talks with El Salvador, India, and Turkey. Peru also has signed a trade pact with Chile, Colombia, and Mexico, called the Pacific Alliance, that seeks integration of services, capital, investment and movement of people. Since the US-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement entered into force in February 2009, total trade between Peru and the US has doubled. President Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI succeeded HUMALA in July 2016 and is focusing on economic reforms and free market policies aimed at boosting investment in Peru. Mining output increased significantly in 2016-17, which helped Peru attain one of the highest GDP growth rates in Latin America, and Peru should maintain strong growth in 2018. However, economic performance was depressed by delays in infrastructure mega-projects and the start of a corruption scandal associated with a Brazilian firm. Massive flooding in early 2017 also was a drag on growth, offset somewhat by additional public spending aimed at recovery efforts. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $371.29 billion (2020 est.) $417.88 billion (2019 est.) $408.87 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 2.18% (2019 est.) 3.97% (2018 est.) 2.48% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $11,300 (2020 est.) $12,900 (2019 est.) $12,800 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $230.707 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.1% (2019 est.) 1.3% (2018 est.) 2.8% (2017 est.) note: data are for metropolitan Lima, annual average Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BBB+ (2013) Moody's rating: A3 (2014) Standard & Poors rating: BBB+ (2013) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 7.6% (2017 est.) industry: 32.7% (2017 est.) services: 59.9% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 64.9% (2017 est.) government consumption: 11.7% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 21.7% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: -0.2% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 24% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -22% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: sugar cane, potatoes, rice, plantains, milk, poultry, maize, cassava, oil palm fruit, grapes Industries: mining and refining of minerals; steel, metal fabrication; petroleum extraction and refining, natural gas and natural gas liquefaction; fishing and fish processing, cement, glass, textiles, clothing, food processing, beer, soft drinks, rubber, machinery, electrical machinery, chemicals, furniture Industrial production growth rate: 2.7% (2017 est.) Labor force: 3.421 million (2020 est.) note: individuals older than 14 years of age Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 25.8% industry: 17.4% services: 56.8% (2011) Unemployment rate: 6.58% (2019 est.) 6.73% (2018 est.) note: data are for metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 12.6% male: 13% female: 12.1% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 20.2% (2019 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 42.8 (2018 est.) 51 (2005) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.4% highest 10%: 36.1% (2010 est.) Budget: revenues: 58.06 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 64.81 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -3.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 25.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 24.5% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued by government entities other than the treasury; the data exclude treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities Taxes and other revenues: 27.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$3.531 billion (2019 est.) -$3.821 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $54.88 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $55.84 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $53.823 billion (2017 est.) Exports - partners: China 29%, United States 12%, Canada 5%, South Korea 5%, Switzerland 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: copper, gold, refined petroleum, zinc, fishmeal, tropical fruits, lead, iron, molybdenum (2019) Imports: $51.38 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $51.41 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $46.15 billion (2017 est.) Imports - partners: China 24%, United States 22%, Brazil 6% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, crude petroleum, cars, broadcasting equipment, delivery trucks (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $63.83 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $61.81 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $81.333 billion (2019 est.) $75.467 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: nuevo sol (PEN) per US dollar - 3.599 (2020 est.) 3.3799 (2019 est.) 3.366 (2018 est.) 3.185 (2014 est.) 2.8383 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 97% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 99% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 86% (2019) Electricity - production: 50.13 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 44.61 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 55 million kWh (2015 est.) Electricity - imports: 22 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 14.73 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 61% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 35% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 4% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 49,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 7,995 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 86,060 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 434.9 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 166,600 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 250,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 62,640 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 65,400 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 12.99 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 7.483 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 5.505 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 455.9 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 2.47 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 38,915,400 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 123.76 (2019 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: economic impact on telcom services during pandemic due to consumer unemployment; good mobile operator competition with LTE services; fixed-line tele-density remains among lowest in South America, with obstacles to growth including widespread poverty, fixed-to-mobile substitution, expensive telephone services, and geographical inaccessibility in the Andean mountains and Amazon jungles; government investment in underserved areas with fiber backbone; government facilitated virtual learning during pandemic via tablets with Internet connectivity; 3G network and new LTE services expanded providing mobile broadband to rural communities, though low penetration still exists; major importer of broadcasting equipment and computers from China (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity is nearly 10 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity, spurred by competition among multiple providers, now nearly 124 telephones per 100 persons; nationwide microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations (2019) international: country code - 51; landing points for the SAM-1, IGW, American Movil-Telxius, SAC and PAN-AM submarine cable systems that provide links to parts of Central and South America, the Caribbean, and US; 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 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: 10 major TV networks of which only one, Television Nacional de Peru, is state owned; multi-channel cable TV services are available; in excess of 5,000 radio stations including a substantial number of indigenous language stations (2021) Internet country code: .pe Internet users: total: 21,431,700 (2020 est.) percent of population: 65% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 3.044 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 6 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 62 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 17,758,527 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 313.26 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: OB Airports: total: 191 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 59 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 21 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 5 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 132 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 30 under 914 m: 82 (2021) Heliports: 5 (2021) Pipelines: 786 km extra heavy crude, 1526 km gas, 679 km liquid petroleum gas, 1106 km oil, 15 km refined products (2021) Railways: total: 1,940 km (2017) standard gauge: 1,730.4 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (34 km electrified) narrow gauge: 124 km (2014) 0.914-m gauge Roadways: total: 168,473 km (2018) (18,699 km paved) paved: 26,916 km note: includes 27,109 km of national roads (21,434 km paved), 247,505 km of departmental roads (3,623 km paved), and 113,857 km of local roads (1,858 km paved) Waterways: 8,808 km (2011) (8,600 km of navigable tributaries on the Amazon River system and 208 km on Lago Titicaca) Merchant marine: total: 98 by type: general cargo 1, oil tanker 8, other 89 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Callao, Matarani, Paita oil terminal(s): Conchan oil terminal, La Pampilla oil terminal container port(s) (TEUs): Callao (2,313,907) (2019) river port(s): Iquitos, Pucallpa, Yurimaguas (Amazon) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Joint Command of the Armed Forces of Peru (CCFFAA): Peruvian Army (Ejercito del Peru), Peruvian Navy (Marina de Guerra del Peru, MGP, includes naval infantry and Coast Guard), Air Force of Peru (Fuerza Aerea del Peru, FAP); Ministry of the Interior (Ministerio del Interior): Peruvian National Police (Policía Nacional del Perú, PNP) (2021) Military expenditures: 1.1% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2019) (approximately $3.87 billion) 1.2% of GDP (2018) (approximately $3.83 billion) 1.2% of GDP (2017) (approximately $3.86 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 95,000 active personnel (60,000 Army; 25,000 Navy, including about 4,000 naval infantry and 1,000 Coast Guard; 10,000 Air Force) (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Peruvian military's inventory is a mix of mostly older equipment from a wide variety of suppliers, including Brazil, Europe, the former Soviet Union, and the US; since 2010, Peru has received military equipment from more than a dozen countries, led by Russia and South Korea (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-50 years of age for male and 18-45 years of age for female voluntary military service (12 months); no conscription (abolished in 1999) (2021) note - as of 2019, women made up about 10% of the active duty military Military deployments: 210 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (Feb 2022) Military - note: as of 2021, the Peruvian security forces continued to conduct operations against remnants of the Shining Path terrorist group (aka Sendero Luminoso; see Appendix T), particularly in the Apurimac, Ene, and Mantaro River Valleys (VRAEM) of eastern Peru; the military had approximately 8,000-10,000 troops in the VRAEM under a special combined military-police command, including 3 army infantry battalionsas of 2021, the Peruvian security forces continued to conduct operations against remnants of the Shining Path terrorist group (aka Sendero Luminoso; see Appendix T), particularly in the Apurimac, Ene, and Mantaro River Valleys (VRAEM) of eastern Peru; the military had approximately 8,000-10,000 troops in the VRAEM under a special combined military-police command, including 3 army infantry battalions Maritime threats: the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of Peru are a risk for armed robbery against ships; in 2021, 18 attacks against commercial vessels were reported, a more than 50% increase over the eight attacks in 2020; all of these occurred in the main port of Callao while ships were berthed or at anchor Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso) 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: Chile and Ecuador rejected Peru's November 2005 unilateral legislation to shift the axis of their joint treaty-defined maritime boundaries along the parallels of latitude to equidistance lines which favor Peru; organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia have penetrated Peru's shared border; Peru rejects Bolivia's claim to restore maritime access through a sovereign corridor through Chile along the Peruvian borderChile and Ecuador rejected Peru's November 2005 unilateral legislation to shift the axis of their joint treaty-defined maritime boundaries along the parallels of latitude to equidistance lines which favor Peru; organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia have penetrated Peru's shared border; Peru rejects Bolivia's claim to restore maritime access through a sovereign corridor through Chile along the Peruvian border Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 1,286,434 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2021) IDPs: 60,000 (civil war from 1980-2000; most IDPs are indigenous peasants in Andean and Amazonian regions; as of 2011, no new information on the situation of these IDPs) (2020) Illicit drugs: world’s second-largest producer of cocaine, with an estimated 88,200 hectares under coca cultivation in 2020; cocaine is trafficked throughout South America for shipment to Europe, East Asia, Mexico, and the United States; major importer of precursor chemicals for cocaine production

20220601

countries-romania

Topic: Photos of Romania Topic: Introduction Background: The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - for centuries under the suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire - secured their autonomy in 1856; they were de facto linked in 1859 and formally united in 1862 under the new name of Romania. The country gained recognition of its independence in 1878. It joined the Allied Powers in World War I and acquired new territories - most notably Transylvania - following the conflict. In 1940, Romania allied with the Axis powers and participated in the 1941 German invasion of the USSR. Three years later, overrun by the Soviets, Romania signed an armistice. The post-war Soviet occupation led to the formation of a communist "people's republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king. The decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU, who took power in 1965, and his Securitate police state became increasingly oppressive and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrown and executed in late 1989. Former communists dominated the government until 1996 when they were swept from power. Romania joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N, 25 00 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 238,391 sq km land: 229,891 sq km water: 8,500 sq km Area - comparative: twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon Land boundaries: total: 2,844 km border countries (5): Bulgaria 605 km; Hungary 424 km; Moldova 683 km; Serbia 531 km; Ukraine 601 km Coastline: 225 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms Terrain: central 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 Elevation: highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m lowest point: Black Sea 0 m mean elevation: 414 m Natural resources: petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt, arable land, hydropower Land use: agricultural land: 60.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 39.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 19.7% (2018 est.) forest: 28.7% (2018 est.) other: 10.6% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 31,490 sq km (2012) Major rivers (by length in km): Danube river mouth (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Ukraine) - 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: urbanization is not particularly high, and a fairly even population distribution can be found throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations; Hungarians, the country's largest minority, have a particularly strong presence in eastern Transylvania Natural hazards: earthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure and climate promote landslides Geography - note: controls the most easily traversable land route between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine; the Carpathian Mountains dominate the center of the country, while the Danube River forms much of the southern boundary with Serbia and Bulgaria Map description: Romania map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Black Sea.Romania map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Black Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 18,519,899 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Romanian(s) adjective: Romanian Ethnic groups: Romanian 83.4%, Hungarian 6.1%, Romani 3.1%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German 0.2%, other 0.7%, unspecified 6.1% (2011 est.) note: Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 5–11% of Romania's population Languages: Romanian (official) 85.4%, Hungarian 6.3%, Romani 1.2%, other 1%, unspecified 6.1% (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): Cartea informativa a lumii, sursa indispensabila pentru informatii de baza. (Romanian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 81.9%, Protestant (various denominations including Reformed and Pentecostal) 6.4%, Roman Catholic 4.3%, other (includes Muslim) 0.9%, none or atheist 0.2%, unspecified 6.3% (2011 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 14.12% (male 1,545,196/female 1,463,700) 15-24 years: 10.31% (male 1,126,997/female 1,068,817) 25-54 years: 46.26% (male 4,993,886/female 4,860,408) 55-64 years: 11.73% (male 1,176,814/female 1,322,048) 65 years and over: 17.58% (2020 est.) (male 1,516,472/female 2,228,555) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 53.3 youth dependency ratio: 23.8 elderly dependency ratio: 29.5 potential support ratio: 3.4 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 42.5 years male: 41 years female: 44 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -1.09% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 8.76 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 15.26 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -4.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: urbanization is not particularly high, and a fairly even population distribution can be found throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations; Hungarians, the country's largest minority, have a particularly strong presence in eastern Transylvania Urbanization: urban population: 54.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -0.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 1.785 million BUCHAREST (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 26.9 years (2019 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 19 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 5.84 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.07 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.75 years male: 72.3 years female: 79.4 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.63 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: 5.7% (2019) Physicians density: 2.98 physicians/1,000 population (2017) Hospital bed density: 6.9 beds/1,000 population (2017) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 96.9% of population rural: 76% of population total: 87.3% of population unimproved: urban: 3.1% of population rural: 24% of population total: 12.7% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 19,000 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <500 note: estimate does not include children Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 22.5% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 3.3% of GDP (2018) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.8% male: 99.1% female: 98.6% (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 17.3% male: 17.9% female: 16.5% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: soil erosion, degradation, and desertification; water pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, 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, 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: 14.29 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 69.26 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 27.62 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms Land use: agricultural land: 60.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 39.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 19.7% (2018 est.) forest: 28.7% (2018 est.) other: 10.6% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 54.5% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -0.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.16% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.03% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal 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.) Major rivers (by length in km): Danube river mouth (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Ukraine) - 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: 1.048 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 4.234 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 1.491 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 212.01 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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 Government type: semi-presidential republic Capital: name: Bucharest geographic coordinates: 44 26 N, 26 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: related to the Romanian word "bucura" that is believed to be of Dacian origin and whose meaning is "to be glad (happy)"; Bucharest's meaning is thus akin to "city of joy" Administrative divisions: 41 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1 municipality* (municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti (Bucharest)*, Buzau, Calarasi, Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dambovita, Dolj, Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Ilfov, Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Valcea, Vrancea Independence: 9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire; 13 July 1878 (independence recognized by the Treaty of Berlin); 26 March 1881 (kingdom proclaimed); 30 December 1947 (republic proclaimed) National holiday: Unification Day (unification of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918) Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 21 November 1991, approved by referendum and effective 8 December 1991 amendments: initiated by the president of Romania through a proposal by the government, by at least one fourth of deputies or senators in Parliament, or by petition of eligible voters representing at least half of Romania’s counties; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by both chambers or – if mediation is required - by three-fourths majority vote in a joint session, followed by approval in a referendum; articles, including those on national sovereignty, form of government, political pluralism, and fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended; amended 2003 Legal system: civil law system 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 Romania dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Klaus Werner IOHANNIS (since 21 December 2014) head of government: Prime Minister Nicolae CIUCA (since 25 November 2021); Deputy Prime Ministers Sorin GRINDEANU (since 25 November 2021) and Kelemen HUNOR (since 23 December 2020) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister 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 10 November 2019 with a runoff on 24 November 2019 (next to be held in November 2024); prime minister appointed by the president with consent of Parliament election results: Klaus IOHANNIS reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Klaus IOHANNIS (PNL) 66.1%, Viorica DANCILA (PSD) 33.9%; Nicolae CIUCA approved as prime minister with 318 votes Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of: Senate or Senat (136 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies - including 2 seats for diaspora - by party-list, proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) Chamber of Deputies or Camera Deputatilor (330 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies - including 4 seats for diaspora - by party-list, proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 6 December 2020 (next to be held in 2024) Chamber of Deputies - last held on 6 December 2020 (next to be held in 2024) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PSD 29.3%, PNL 25.6%, 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance 15.9%, AUR 9.2%, UDMR 5.9%, other 14.1%; seats by party - PSD 47, PNL 41, 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance 25, AUR 14, UDMR 9; composition - men NA, women NA, percent of women NA% Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - PSD 28.9%, PNL 25.2%, 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance 15.4%, AUR 9.1%, UDMR 5.7%, other 15.7%; seats by party - PSD 110, PNL 93, 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance 55, AUR 33, UDMR 21, other 18; composition men NA, women NA, percent of women NA; note - total Parliament percent of women NA% Judicial branch: highest courts: High Court of Cassation and Justice (consists of 111 judges organized into civil, penal, commercial, contentious administrative and fiscal business, and joint sections); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members) judge selection and term of office: High Court of Cassation and Justice judges appointed by the president upon nomination by the Superior Council of Magistracy, a 19-member body of judges, prosecutors, and law specialists; judges appointed for 6-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court members - 6 elected by Parliament and 3 appointed by the president; members serve 9-year, nonrenewable terms subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; regional tribunals; first instance courts; military and arbitration courts Political parties and leaders: 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance [Dan BARNA and Dacian CIOLOS] (dissolved 16 April 2021) Alliance for the Fatherland or APP [Codrin STEFANESCU] Alliance for the Unity of Romanians or AUR [George SIMION and Claudiu TARZIU] Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party or PNT-CD [Aurelian PAVELESCU] Civic Hungarian Party [Zsolt BIRO] Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR [Hunor KELEMEN] Ecologist Party of Romania or PER [Danut POP] Greater Romania Party or PRM [Victor IOVICI] Green Party [Florin CALINESCU] Liberal Force [Ludovic ORBAN] National Liberal Party or PNL [Florin CITU] Our Romania Alliance [Marian MUNTEANU] Party of Liberty, Unity, and Solidarity or PLUS [Dacian CIOLOS] (dissolved 16 April 2021) Party of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats or ALDE [Calin POPESCU TARICEANU] Party of the Humanist Power-Social Liberal or PPU-SL [Daniel IONASCU] Party of the Romanian Nation [Ninel PEIA] Popular Movement Party or PMP [Cristian DIACONESCU] PRO Romania [Victor PONTA] Save Romania Union Party or USR [Dacian CIOLOS] Social Democratic Party or PSD [Marcel CIOLACU] United Romania Party or PRU [Robert BUGA] International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G-9, 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), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Andrei MURARU (since 15 September 2021) chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-4829; [1] (202) 332-4846 FAX: [1] (202) 232-4748 email address and website: washington@mae.ro (chancery) contact@informatiiconsulare.ro (consular section) https://washington.mae.ro/en consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires David MUNIZ (since 20 January 2021) embassy: 4-6, Dr. Liviu Librescu Blvd., District 1, Bucharest, 015118 mailing address: 5260 Bucharest Place, Washington, DC  20521-5260 telephone: [40] (21) 200-3300 FAX: [40] (21) 200-3442 email address and website: ACSBucharest@state.gov https://ro.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three equal vertical bands of cobalt blue (hoist side), chrome yellow, and vermilion red; modeled after the flag of France, the colors are those of the principalities of Walachia (red and yellow) and Moldavia (red and blue), which united in 1862 to form Romania; the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow band has been removed note: now similar to the flag of Chad, whose blue band is darker; also resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova National symbol(s): golden eagle; national colors: blue, yellow, red National anthem: name: "Desteapta-te romane!" (Wake up, Romanian!) lyrics/music: Andrei MURESIANU/Anton PANN note: adopted 1990; the anthem was written during the 1848 Revolution National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 9 (7 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Danube Delta (n), Churches of Moldavia (c), Monastery of Horezu (c), Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania (c), Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains (c), Historic Center of Sighişoara (c), Wooden Churches of Maramureş (c), Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians (n), Roșia Montană Mining Landscape (c) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Romania, which joined the EU on 1 January 2007, began the transition from communism in 1989 with a largely obsolete industrial base and a pattern of output unsuited to the country's needs. Romania's macroeconomic gains have only recently started to spur creation of a middle class and to address Romania's widespread poverty. Corruption and red tape continue to permeate the business environment.   In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, Romania signed a $26 billion emergency assistance package from the IMF, the EU, and other international lenders, but GDP contracted until 2011. In March 2011, Romania and the IMF/EU/World Bank signed a 24-month precautionary standby agreement, worth $6.6 billion, to promote fiscal discipline, encourage progress on structural reforms, and strengthen financial sector stability; no funds were drawn. In September 2013, Romanian authorities and the IMF/EU agreed to a follow-on standby agreement, worth $5.4 billion, to continue with reforms. This agreement expired in September 2015, and no funds were drawn. Progress on structural reforms has been uneven, and the economy still is vulnerable to external shocks.   Economic growth rebounded in the 2013-17 period, driven by strong industrial exports, excellent agricultural harvests, and, more recently, expansionary fiscal policies in 2016-2017 that nearly quadrupled Bucharest’s annual fiscal deficit, from +0.8% of GDP in 2015 to -3% of GDP in 2016 and an estimated -3.4% in 2017. Industry outperformed other sectors of the economy in 2017. Exports remained an engine of economic growth, led by trade with the EU, which accounts for roughly 70% of Romania trade. Domestic demand was the major driver, due to tax cuts and large wage increases that began last year and are set to continue in 2018.   An aging population, emigration of skilled labor, significant tax evasion, insufficient health care, and an aggressive loosening of the fiscal package compromise Romania’s long-term growth and economic stability and are the economy's top vulnerabilities.Romania, which joined the EU on 1 January 2007, began the transition from communism in 1989 with a largely obsolete industrial base and a pattern of output unsuited to the country's needs. Romania's macroeconomic gains have only recently started to spur creation of a middle class and to address Romania's widespread poverty. Corruption and red tape continue to permeate the business environment. In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, Romania signed a $26 billion emergency assistance package from the IMF, the EU, and other international lenders, but GDP contracted until 2011. In March 2011, Romania and the IMF/EU/World Bank signed a 24-month precautionary standby agreement, worth $6.6 billion, to promote fiscal discipline, encourage progress on structural reforms, and strengthen financial sector stability; no funds were drawn. In September 2013, Romanian authorities and the IMF/EU agreed to a follow-on standby agreement, worth $5.4 billion, to continue with reforms. This agreement expired in September 2015, and no funds were drawn. Progress on structural reforms has been uneven, and the economy still is vulnerable to external shocks. Economic growth rebounded in the 2013-17 period, driven by strong industrial exports, excellent agricultural harvests, and, more recently, expansionary fiscal policies in 2016-2017 that nearly quadrupled Bucharest’s annual fiscal deficit, from +0.8% of GDP in 2015 to -3% of GDP in 2016 and an estimated -3.4% in 2017. Industry outperformed other sectors of the economy in 2017. Exports remained an engine of economic growth, led by trade with the EU, which accounts for roughly 70% of Romania trade. Domestic demand was the major driver, due to tax cuts and large wage increases that began last year and are set to continue in 2018. An aging population, emigration of skilled labor, significant tax evasion, insufficient health care, and an aggressive loosening of the fiscal package compromise Romania’s long-term growth and economic stability and are the economy's top vulnerabilities. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $556.07 billion (2020 est.) $578.39 billion (2019 est.) $555.47 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 4.2% (2019 est.) 4.54% (2018 est.) 7.11% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $28,800 (2020 est.) $29,900 (2019 est.) $28,500 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $249.543 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.8% (2019 est.) 4.6% (2018 est.) 1.3% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BBB- (2011) Moody's rating: Baa3 (2006) Standard & Poors rating: BBB- (2014) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 4.2% (2017 est.) industry: 33.2% (2017 est.) services: 62.6% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 70% (2017 est.) government consumption: 7.7% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 22.6% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1.9% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 41.4% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -43.6% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: maize, wheat, milk, sunflower seed, potatoes, barley, grapes, sugar beet, rapeseed, plums/sloes Industries: electric machinery and equipment, auto assembly, textiles and footwear, light machinery, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining, mining, timber, construction materials Industrial production growth rate: 5.5% (2017 est.) Labor force: 4.889 million (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 28.3% industry: 28.9% services: 42.8% (2014) Unemployment rate: 3.06% (2019 est.) 3.56% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 17.3% male: 17.9% female: 16.5% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 23.8% (2018 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 36 (2017 est.) 28.2 (2010) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 15.3% highest 10%: 7.6% (2014 est.) Budget: revenues: 62.14 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 68.13 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -2.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 36.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 38.8% 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 subsectors: central government, state government, local government, and social security funds Taxes and other revenues: 29.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$11.389 billion (2019 est.) -$10.78 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $93.01 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $100.9 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $101.11 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Germany 22%, Italy 10%, France 7% (2019) Exports - commodities: cars and vehicle parts, insulated wiring, refined petroleum, electrical control boards, seats (2019) Imports: $104.16 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $111.18 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $109.26 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Germany 19%, Italy 9%, Hungary 7%, Poland 6%, China 5%, France 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: cars and vehicle parts, crude petroleum, packaged medicines, insulated wiring, broadcasting equipment (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $44.43 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $40 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $117.829 billion (2019 est.) $115.803 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: lei (RON) per US dollar - 4.02835 (2020 est.) 4.31655 (2019 est.) 4.0782 (2018 est.) 4.0057 (2014 est.) 3.3492 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 61.78 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 49.64 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 11.22 billion kWh (2015 est.) Electricity - imports: 4.177 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 23.94 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 47% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 6% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 29% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 19% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 70,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 2,076 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 145,300 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 600 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 232,600 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 198,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 103,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 49,420 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 10.87 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 11.58 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 22.65 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 1.218 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 105.5 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 3.025 million (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 22.671 million (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 117.08 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Romania’s telecom sector benefits from infrastructure-based competition; domestic and international service improving rapidly, especially mobile-cellular services; fiber sector is one of strongest in Europe; government secured EU funding to extend broadband to rural areas; operators invest in networks’ capacity upgrades; operator testing IoT; importer of broadcasting equipment from EU neighbors (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity is about 16 telephones per 100 persons; mobile market served by four mobile network operators; mobile-cellular teledensity over 117 telephones per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 40; landing point for the Diamond Link Global submarine cable linking Romania with Georgia; satellite earth stations - 10; digital, international, direct-dial exchanges operate in Bucharest (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: a mixture of public and private TV stations; there are 7 public TV stations (2 national, 5 regional) using terrestrial broadcasting and 187 private TV stations (out of which 171 offer local coverage) using terrestrial broadcasting, plus 11 public TV stations using satellite broadcasting and 86 private TV stations using satellite broadcasting; state-owned public radio broadcaster operates 4 national networks and regional and local stations, having in total 20 public radio stations by terrestrial broadcasting plus 4 public radio stations by satellite broadcasting; there are 502 operational private radio stations using terrestrial broadcasting and 26 private radio stations using satellite broadcasting Internet country code: .ro Internet users: total: 15,020,866 (2020 est.) percent of population: 78% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 5,684,782 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 8 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 60 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 4,908,235 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 2.71 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: YR Airports: total: 45 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 26 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 14 (2021) Heliports: 2 (2021) Pipelines: 3726 km gas, 2451 km oil (2013) Railways: total: 11,268 km (2014) standard gauge: 10,781 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (3,292 km electrified) narrow gauge: 427 km (2014) 0.760-m gauge broad gauge: 60 km (2014) 1.524-m gauge Roadways: total: 84,185 km (2012) paved: 49,873 km (2012) (includes 337 km of expressways) unpaved: 34,312 km (2012) Waterways: 1,731 km (2010) (includes 1,075 km on the Danube River, 524 km on secondary branches, and 132 km on canals) Merchant marine: total: 121 by type: general cargo 11, oil tanker 6, other 104 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Constanta, Midia river port(s): Braila, Galati (Galatz), Mancanului (Giurgiu), Tulcea (Danube River) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Romanian Armed Forces: Land Forces, Naval Forces, Air Force; Ministry of Internal Affairs: Romanian Gendarmerie (2021) Military expenditures: 2% of GDP (2021 est.) 2% of GDP (2020) 1.8% of GDP (2019) (approximately $7.47 billion) 1.8% of GDP (2018) (approximately $6.9 billion) 1.7% of GDP (2017) (approximately $6.2 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: the Romanian Armed Forces have approximately 67,000 active duty personnel (50,000 Land Forces; 7,000 Naval Forces; 10,000 Air Force) (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Romanian Armed Forces is comprised mostly of Soviet-era and older domestically-produced weapons systems; there is also a smaller mix of Western-origin equipment received in more recent years from European countries and the US  (2021) Military service age and obligation: conscription ended 2006; 18 years of age for male and female voluntary service; all military inductees (including women) contract for an initial 5-year term of service, with subsequent successive 3-year terms until age 36 (2021) Military deployments: up to 120 Poland (NATO) (2022) Military - note: Romania officially became a member of NATO in 2004 Romania conducts its own air policing mission, but because of Russian aggression in the Black Sea region, NATO allies have sent detachments of fighters to augment the Romanian Air Force since 2014 Romania hosts a NATO multinational divisional (Multinational Division Southeast; became operational in 2017) and a brigade-sized headquarters as part of NATO's tailored forward presence in the southeastern part of the Alliance 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: the ICJ ruled largely in favor of Romania in its dispute submitted in 2004 over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary delimitation; Romania opposes Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Seathe ICJ ruled largely in favor of Romania in its dispute submitted in 2004 over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary delimitation; Romania opposes Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Sea Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 972,203 (Ukraine) (as of 24 May 2022) stateless persons: 314 (mid-year 2021) note: 9,935 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-May 2022) Trafficking in persons: current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Romania and Romanians abroad;  Romania remains a primary source country for sex and labor trafficking victims in Europe; Romanian men, women, and children are subjected to forced labor in agriculture, construction, hotels, manufacturing, domestic service, commercial sex, and forced begging and theft; Romania is a destination country for a limited number of foreign trafficking victims, including migrants from Africa, Europe, and South and Southeast Asia, exploited in the construction, hotel, and food-processing industries tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Romania does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; the government identified more trafficking victims during the reporting period, participated in more international investigations, and conducted awareness campaigns; however, authorities investigated, prosecuted, and convicted fewer traffickers; officials complicit in trafficking crimes, especially with minors in government-run homes or placement centers, were not prosecuted; government funding of services for child trafficking victims remained inadequate (2020) Illicit drugs: a source country for cannabisa source country for cannabis

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countries-luxembourg

Topic: Photos of Luxembourg Topic: Introduction Background: Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and an independent state under the Netherlands. It lost more than half of its territory to Belgium in 1839 but gained a larger measure of autonomy. In 1867, Luxembourg attained full independence under the condition that it promise perpetual neutrality. Overrun by Germany in both world wars, it ended its neutrality in 1948 when it entered into the Benelux Customs Union and when it joined NATO the following year. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countries of the EEC (later the EU), and in 1999 it joined the euro currency zone.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Western Europe, between France and Germany Geographic coordinates: 49 45 N, 6 10 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 2,586 sq km land: 2,586 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island; about half the size of Delaware Land boundaries: total: 327 km border countries (3): Belgium 130 km; France 69 km; Germany 128 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: modified continental with mild winters, cool summers Terrain: mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle flood plain in the southeast Elevation: highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 m lowest point: Moselle River 133 m mean elevation: 325 m Natural resources: iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land Land use: agricultural land: 50.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 24% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 26.1% (2018 est.) forest: 33.5% (2018 est.) other: 15.8% (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 people live in the south, on or near the border with France Natural hazards: occasional flooding Geography - note: landlocked; the only grand duchy in the world Map description: Luxembourg map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries. Topic: People and Society Population: 650,364 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Luxembourger(s) adjective: Luxembourg Ethnic groups: Luxembourger 52.9%, Portuguese 14.5%, French 7.6%, Italian 3.7%, Belgian 3%, German 2%, Spanish 1.3%, Romania 1%, other 14% (2022 est.) note: data represent population by nationality Languages: Luxembourgish (official administrative and judicial language and national language (spoken vernacular)) 55.8%, Portuguese 15.7%, French (official administrative, judicial, and legislative language) 12.1%, German (official administrative and judicial language) 3.1%, Italian 2.9%, English 2.1%, other 8.4% (2011 est.) Religions: Christian (predominantly Roman Catholic) 70.6%, Muslim 2.3%, other (includes Buddhist, folk religions, Hindu, Jewish) 0.4%, unaffiliated 26.7% (2020 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 16.73% (male 54,099/female 51,004) 15-24 years: 11.78% (male 37,946/female 36,061) 25-54 years: 43.93% (male 141,535/female 134,531) 55-64 years: 12.19% (male 39,289/female 37,337) 65 years and over: 15.37% (2020 est.) (male 43,595/female 52,984) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 42.8 youth dependency ratio: 22.2 elderly dependency ratio: 20.5 potential support ratio: 4.9 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 39.5 years male: 38.9 years female: 40 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 1.64% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 11.61 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 7.21 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 12.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: most people live in the south, on or near the border with France Urbanization: urban population: 91.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 120,000 LUXEMBOURG (capital) (2018) 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: 1.05 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 31.1 years (2019 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 5 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 3.25 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.65 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 82.98 years male: 80.52 years female: 85.58 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.63 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 98.6% of population total: 99.9% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 1.4% of population total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 5.4% (2019) Physicians density: 3.01 physicians/1,000 population (2017) Hospital bed density: 4.3 beds/1,000 population (2019) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 99.9% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0.1% of population total: 0% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.3% (2018 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 1,200 (2018 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2018 est.) <100 Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 22.6% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 3.7% of GDP (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 14 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 23.2% male: 24.8% female: 21.3% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland; unsustainable patterns of consumption (transport, energy, recreation, space) threaten biodiversity and landscapes 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, 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: Environmental Modification Air pollutants: particulate 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.) Climate: modified continental with mild winters, cool summers Land use: agricultural land: 50.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 24% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 26.1% (2018 est.) forest: 33.5% (2018 est.) other: 15.8% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 91.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.43% 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: 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.) Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 43.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 1.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 400,000 cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 3.5 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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 Government type: constitutional monarchy Capital: name: Luxembourg geographic coordinates: 49 36 N, 6 07 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 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 city that grew around the fortress Administrative divisions: 12 cantons (cantons, singular - canton); Capellen, Clervaux, Diekirch, Echternach, Esch-sur-Alzette, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg, Mersch, Redange, Remich, Vianden, Wiltz Independence: 1839 (from the Netherlands) National holiday: National Day (birthday of Grand Duke HENRI), 23 June; note - this date of birth is not the true date of birth for any of the Royals, but the national festivities were shifted in 1962 to allow observance during a more favorable time of year Constitution: history: previous 1842 (heavily amended 1848, 1856); latest effective 17 October 1868 amendments: proposed by the Chamber of Deputies or by the monarch to the Chamber; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Chamber in two successive readings three months apart; a referendum can be substituted for the second reading if approved by more than a quarter of the Chamber members or by 25,000 valid voters; adoption by referendum requires a majority of all valid voters; amended many times, last in 2020 Legal system: civil law system International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: limited to situations where the parents are either unknown, stateless, or when the nationality law of the parents' state of origin does not permit acquisition of citizenship by descent when the birth occurs outside of national territory citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Luxembourg dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory Executive branch: chief of state: Grand Duke HENRI (since 7 October 2000); Heir Apparent Prince GUILLAUME (son of the monarch, born 11 November 1981) head of government: Prime Minister Xavier BETTEL (since 4 December 2013); Deputy Prime Minister Francois BAUSCH (since 11 October 2019); Deputy Prime Minister Daniel KERSCH (since 4 February 2020) cabinet: Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister, appointed by the monarch elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following elections to the Chamber of Deputies, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; deputy prime minister appointed by the monarch; prime minister and deputy prime minister are responsible to the Chamber of Deputies Legislative branch: description: unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (60 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms); note - a 21-member Council of State appointed by the Grand Duke on the advice of the prime minister serves as an advisory body to the Chamber of Deputies elections: last held on 14 October 2018 (next to be held by 31 October 2023) election results: percent of vote by party - CSV 28.3%, LSAP 17.6%, DP 16.9%, Green Party 15.1%, ADR 8.3%, Pirate Party 6.4%, The Left 5.5%, other 1.9%; seats by party - CSV 21, DP 12, LSAP 10, Green Party 9, ADR 4, Pirate Party 2, The Left 2; composition (as of September 2021) - men 39, women 21, percent of women 35% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of Justice includes Court of Appeal and Court of Cassation (consists of 27 judges on 9 benches); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members) judge selection and term of office: judges of both courts appointed by the monarch for life subordinate courts: Court of Accounts; district and local tribunals and courts Political parties and leaders: Alternative Democratic Reform Party or ADR [Jean SCHOOS] Christian Social People's Party or CSV [Felix EISCHEN] Democratic Party or DP [Corinne CAHEN] Green Party [Djuna BERNARD, Meris SEHOVIC] Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party or LSAP [Yves CRUCHTEN] The Left (dei Lenk/la Gauche) [collective leadership, Central Committee] other minor parties International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nicole BINTNER-BAKSHIAN (since 19 August 2021) chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-4171 FAX: [1] (202) 328-8270 email address and website: washington.amb@mae.etat.lu https://washington.mae.lu/en.html consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Casey MACE (since 20 January 2021) embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel Servais, L-2535 Luxembourg City mailing address: 5380 Luxembourg Place, Washington DC  20521-5380 telephone: [352] 46-01-23-00 FAX: [352] 46-14-01 email address and website: Luxembourgconsular@state.gov https://lu.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue; similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue and is shorter; the coloring is derived from the Grand Duke's coat of arms (a red lion on a white and blue striped field) National symbol(s): red, rampant lion; national colors: red, white, light blue National anthem: name: "Ons Heemecht" (Our Motherland); "De Wilhelmus" (The William) lyrics/music: Michel LENTZ/Jean-Antoine ZINNEN; Nikolaus WELTER/unknown note: "Ons Heemecht," adopted 1864, is the national anthem, while "De Wilhelmus," adopted 1919, serves as a royal anthem for use when members of the grand ducal family enter or exit a ceremony in Luxembourg National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Luxembourg City Old Quarters and Fortifications Topic: Economy Economic overview: This small, stable, high-income economy has historically featured solid growth, low inflation, and low unemployment. Luxembourg, the only Grand Duchy in the world, is a landlocked country in northwestern Europe surrounded by Belgium, France, and Germany. Despite its small landmass and small population, Luxembourg is the fifth-wealthiest country in the world when measured on a gross domestic product (PPP) per capita basis. Luxembourg has one of the highest current account surpluses as a share of GDP in the euro zone, and it maintains a healthy budgetary position, with a 2017 surplus of 0.5% of GDP, and the lowest public debt level in the region.   Since 2002, Luxembourg’s government has proactively implemented policies and programs to support economic diversification and to attract foreign direct investment. The government focused on key innovative industries that showed promise for supporting economic growth: logistics, information and communications technology (ICT); health technologies, including biotechnology and biomedical research; clean energy technologies, and more recently, space technology and financial services technologies. The economy has evolved and flourished, posting strong GDP growth of 3.4% in 2017, far outpacing the European average of 1.8%.   Luxembourg remains a financial powerhouse – the financial sector accounts for more than 35% of GDP - because of the exponential growth of the investment fund sector through the launch and development of cross-border funds (UCITS) in the 1990s. Luxembourg is the world’s second-largest investment fund asset domicile, after the US, with $4 trillion of assets in custody in financial institutions.   Luxembourg has lost some of its advantage as a favorable tax location because of OECD and EU pressure, as well as the "LuxLeaks" scandal, which revealed advantageous tax treatments offered to foreign corporations. In 2015, the government’s compliance with EU requirements to implement automatic exchange of tax information on savings accounts - thus ending banking secrecy - has constricted banking activity. Likewise, changes to the way EU members collect taxes from e-commerce has cut Luxembourg’s sales tax revenues, requiring the government to raise additional levies and to reduce some direct social benefits as part of the tax reform package of 2017. The tax reform package also included reductions in the corporate tax rate and increases in deductions for families, both intended to increase purchasing power and increase competitiveness.This small, stable, high-income economy has historically featured solid growth, low inflation, and low unemployment. Luxembourg, the only Grand Duchy in the world, is a landlocked country in northwestern Europe surrounded by Belgium, France, and Germany. Despite its small landmass and small population, Luxembourg is the fifth-wealthiest country in the world when measured on a gross domestic product (PPP) per capita basis. Luxembourg has one of the highest current account surpluses as a share of GDP in the euro zone, and it maintains a healthy budgetary position, with a 2017 surplus of 0.5% of GDP, and the lowest public debt level in the region. Since 2002, Luxembourg’s government has proactively implemented policies and programs to support economic diversification and to attract foreign direct investment. The government focused on key innovative industries that showed promise for supporting economic growth: logistics, information and communications technology (ICT); health technologies, including biotechnology and biomedical research; clean energy technologies, and more recently, space technology and financial services technologies. The economy has evolved and flourished, posting strong GDP growth of 3.4% in 2017, far outpacing the European average of 1.8%. Luxembourg remains a financial powerhouse – the financial sector accounts for more than 35% of GDP - because of the exponential growth of the investment fund sector through the launch and development of cross-border funds (UCITS) in the 1990s. Luxembourg is the world’s second-largest investment fund asset domicile, after the US, with $4 trillion of assets in custody in financial institutions. Luxembourg has lost some of its advantage as a favorable tax location because of OECD and EU pressure, as well as the "LuxLeaks" scandal, which revealed advantageous tax treatments offered to foreign corporations. In 2015, the government’s compliance with EU requirements to implement automatic exchange of tax information on savings accounts - thus ending banking secrecy - has constricted banking activity. Likewise, changes to the way EU members collect taxes from e-commerce has cut Luxembourg’s sales tax revenues, requiring the government to raise additional levies and to reduce some direct social benefits as part of the tax reform package of 2017. The tax reform package also included reductions in the corporate tax rate and increases in deductions for families, both intended to increase purchasing power and increase competitiveness. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $69.72 billion (2020 est.) $70.64 billion (2019 est.) $69.06 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 2.31% (2019 est.) 3.14% (2018 est.) 1.81% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $110,300 (2020 est.) $113,900 (2019 est.) $113,600 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $71.089 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (2019 est.) 1.5% (2018 est.) 1.7% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: AAA (1994) Moody's rating: Aaa (1989) Standard & Poors rating: AAA (1994) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0.3% (2017 est.) industry: 12.8% (2017 est.) services: 86.9% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 30.2% (2017 est.) government consumption: 16.5% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 16.2% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1.1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 230% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -194% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: milk, wheat, barley, triticale, potatoes, pork, beef, grapes, rapeseed, oats Industries: banking and financial services, construction, real estate services, iron, metals, and steel, information technology, telecommunications, cargo transportation and logistics, chemicals, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum, tourism, biotechnology Industrial production growth rate: 1.9% (2017 est.) Labor force: 476,000 (2020 est.) note: data exclude foreign workers; in addition to the figure for domestic labor force, about 150,000 workers commute daily from France, Belgium, and Germany Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1.1% industry: 20% services: 78.9% (2013 est.) Unemployment rate: 5.36% (2019 est.) 5.46% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 23.2% male: 24.8% female: 21.3% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 17.5% (2018 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 34.9 (2017 est.) 26 (2005 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.5% highest 10%: 23.8% (2000) Budget: revenues: 27.75 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 26.8 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 1.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 23% of GDP (2017 est.) 20.8% 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: 44.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: $3.254 billion (2019 est.) $3.296 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $137.09 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $133.59 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $136.11 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Germany 23%, France 13%, Belgium 12%, Netherlands 6%, Italy 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: iron and iron products, tires, cars, broadcasting equipment, clothing and apparel  (2019) Imports: $110.1 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $108.29 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $110.28 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Belgium 27%, Germany 24%, France 11%, Netherlands 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: cars, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, scrap iron, aircraft (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $878 million (31 December 2017 est.) $974 million (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $4,266,792,000,000 (2019 est.) $4,581,617,000,000 (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 - production: 334.5 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 6.475 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 1.42 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 7.718 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 1.709 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 25% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 8% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 67% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 59,850 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 59,020 bbl/day (2017 est.) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 792.8 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 792.8 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 268,090 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 43 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 890,000 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 142.2 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: small but highly developed telecom system dominated by state-owned operator; gains in fixed-line and drop in mobile/roving sector during 2020 travel restrictions; government-state operator extended 1GB/s service with aims to make Luxembourg the first fully fiber country in Europe; regulator completed auction for 5G spectrum; importer of broadcast equipment from China (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity about 43 per 100 persons; nationwide mobile-cellular telephone system with market for mobile-cellular phones virtually saturated with about 142 per 100 mobile-cellular (2020) international: country code - 352 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: Luxembourg has a long tradition of operating radio and TV services for pan-European audiences and is home to Europe's largest privately owned broadcast media group, the RTL Group, which operates 46 TV stations and 29 radio stations in Europe; also home to Europe's largest satellite operator, Societe Europeenne des Satellites (SES); domestically, the RTL Group operates TV and radio networks; other domestic private radio and TV operators and French and German stations available; satellite and cable TV services available Internet country code: .lu Internet users: total: 624,115 (2020 est.) percent of population: 99% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 235,155 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 4 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 66 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,099,102 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 7,323,040,000 (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: LX Airports: total: 2 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Heliports: 1 (2021) Pipelines: 142 km gas, 27 km refined products (2013) Railways: total: 275 km (2014) standard gauge: 275 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (275 km electrified) Roadways: total: 2,875 km (2019) Waterways: 37 km (2010) (on Moselle River) Merchant marine: total: 153 by type: bulk carrier 4, container ship 1, general cargo 23, oil tanker 3, other 122 (2021) Ports and terminals: river port(s): Mertert (Moselle) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Luxembourg Army (l'Armée Luxembourgeoise) (2021) Military expenditures: 0.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.6% of GDP (2020) 0.5% of GDP (2019) (approximately $420 million) 0.5% of GDP (2018) (approximately $380 million) 0.5% of GDP (2017) (approximately $370 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: the Luxembourg Army has approximately 800 active personnel (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of Luxembourg's Army is a small mix of Western-origin equipment; since 2010, it has received equipment from several European countries (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-26 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription (abolished 1969); Luxembourg citizen or EU citizen with 3-year residence in Luxembourg (2021) note - as of 2019, women made up about 8% of the military's full-time personnel Military - note: Luxembourg is a member of NATO and was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949 in 2015, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg signed an agreement to conduct joint air policing of their territories; under the agreement, which went into effect in January of 2017, the Belgian and Dutch Air Forces trade responsibility for patrolling the skies over the three countriesin 2015, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg signed an agreement to conduct joint air policing of their territories; under the agreement, which went into effect in January of 2017, the Belgian and Dutch Air Forces trade responsibility for patrolling the skies over the three countries Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: nonenone Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons: 194 (mid-year 2021)

20220601

field-maritime-threats

This entry describes the threat of piracy, as defined in Article 101, UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), or armed robbery against ships, as defined in Resolution A. 1025 (26) adopted on 2 December 2009 at the 26th Assembly Session of the International Maritime Organization. The entry includes the number of ships on the high seas or in territorial waters that were boarded or attacked by pirates, and the number of crewmen abducted or killed, as compiled by the International Maritime Bureau. Information is also supplied on the geographical range of attacks. Topic: Angolathe International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of Angola are a risk for armed robbery against ships; in 2021, four attacks against commercial vessels were reported, a decrease from the six attacks in 2020; most of these occurred in the main port of Luanda while ships were berthed or at anchor Topic: Atlantic Oceanthe 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;” South American ports in Brazil and Colombia, as well as Caribbean ports in Mexico and Haiti continue to be affected by the crime of armed robbery against ships with 15 incidents reported in 2021 compared to 17 in 2020 with most of these occurring while berthed or anchoredthe 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;” South American ports in Brazil and Colombia, as well as Caribbean ports in Mexico and Haiti continue to be affected by the crime of armed robbery against ships with 15 incidents reported in 2021 compared to 17 in 2020 with most of these occurring while berthed or anchored Topic: Bangladeshthe International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of Bangladesh remain a risk for armed robbery against ships; there were no attacks reported in 2021 as opposed to four ships that were boarded in 2020 Topic: Beninthe 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"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: Brazilthe International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of Brazil are a risk for armed robbery against ships; in 2021, three attacks against commercial vessels were reported, a decrease from the seven attacks in 2020; all of these occurred in the port of Macapa while ships were berthed or at anchor Topic: Cameroonthe 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: Colombiathe 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: Cote d'Ivoirethe 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: Djiboutithe International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) Piracy Reporting Center (PRC) received one incident of piracy and armed robbery in 2021 for the Horn of Africa; while there were no recorded incidents, the IMB PRC warns that Somalia pirates continue to possess the capacity to carry out attacks in the Somali basin and wider Indian Ocean; in particular, the report warns that, "Masters and crew must remain vigilant and cautious when transiting these waters."; the presence of several naval task forces in the Gulf of Aden and additional anti-piracy measures on the part of ship operators, including the use of on-board armed security teams, contributed to the drop in incidents; the EU naval mission, Operation ATALANTA, continues its operations in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean through 2022; naval units from China, India, Japan, Pakistan, South Korea, the US, and other countries also operate in conjunction with EU forces; China has established a logistical base in Djibouti to support its deployed naval units in the Horn of Africa Topic: Ecuadorthe International Maritime Bureau continues to report the territorial and offshore waters of Ecuador as at risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; vessels, including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen; there has been a slight decrease with four attacks reported in 2021 and five in 2020; one ship was boarded while underway and two ships were fired upon Topic: Equatorial Guineathe 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: Gabonthe 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: Ghanathe 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"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: Guineathe 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: Haitithe International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of Haiti are a risk for armed robbery against ships; in 2021, four attacks against commercial vessels were reported, a slight decrease from the five attacks reported in 2020; most of these occurred in the main port of Port-au-Prince while ships were berthed or at anchor Topic: Indian Oceanthe International Maritime Bureau continues to report the territorial waters of littoral states and offshore waters as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships, particularly in the Gulf of Aden, along the east coast of Africa, the Bay of Bengal, and the Strait of Malacca; the presence of several naval task forces in the Gulf of Aden and additional anti-piracy measures on the part of ship operators, including the use of on-board armed security teams, have reduced incidents of piracy; 2021 saw one incident in the region of the Horn of Africa; the EU naval mission, Operation ATALANTA, continues its operations in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean through 2022; naval units from Japan, India, and China also operate in conjunction with EU forces; China has established a logistical base in Djibouti to support its deployed naval units in the Horn of Africa the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2022-003 Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Red Sea-Threats to US and International Shipping from Iran) effective 28 February 2022, which states in part that "heightened military activities and increased political tensions in this region continue to present risk to commercial shipping...there is a continued possibility that Iran and/or its regional proxies could take actions against US and partner interests in the region;" Coalition Task Force (CTF) Sentinel has been established to provide escorts for commercial shipping transiting the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman Topic: Indonesiathe International Maritime Bureau continues to report the territorial and offshore waters in the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; the number of attacks decreased from 26 incidents in 2020 to nine in 2021 due to aggressive maritime patrolling by regional authorities; vessels continue to be boarded while anchored or berthed at Indonesian ports with seven vessels attacked; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia Topic: Iranthe Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2022-003 Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Red Sea-Threats to US and International Shipping from Iran) effective 28 February 2022, which states in part that "heightened military activities and increased political tensions in this region continue to present risk to commercial shipping...there is a continued possibility that Iran and/or its regional proxies could take actions against US and partner interests in the region;" Coalition Task Force (CTF) Sentinel has been established to provide escorts for commercial shipping transiting the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Omanthe Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2022-003 Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Red Sea-Threats to US and International Shipping from Iran) effective 28 February 2022, which states in part that "heightened military activities and increased political tensions in this region continue to present risk to commercial shipping...there is a continued possibility that Iran and/or its regional proxies could take actions against US and partner interests in the region;" Coalition Task Force (CTF) Sentinel has been established to provide escorts for commercial shipping transiting the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman Topic: Kenyathe International Maritime Bureau reports that shipping in territorial and offshore waters in the Indian Ocean remain at risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships Topic: Liberiathe 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: Malaysiathe 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 incidentsthe 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: Nigeriathe 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"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: Omanthe Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2022-003 Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Red Sea-Threats to US and International Shipping from Iran) effective 28 February 2022, which states in part that "heightened military activities and increased political tensions in this region continue to present risk to commercial shipping...there is a continued possibility that Iran and/or its regional proxies could take actions against US and partner interests in the region"; Coalition Task Force (CTF) Sentinel has been established to provide escorts for commercial shipping transiting the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Omanthe Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2022-003 Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Red Sea-Threats to US and International Shipping from Iran) effective 28 February 2022, which states in part that "heightened military activities and increased political tensions in this region continue to present risk to commercial shipping...there is a continued possibility that Iran and/or its regional proxies could take actions against US and partner interests in the region"; Coalition Task Force (CTF) Sentinel has been established to provide escorts for commercial shipping transiting the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman Topic: Pacific Oceanthe International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of littoral states and offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; an emerging threat area lies in the Celebes and Sulu Seas between the Philippines and Malaysia where 11 ships were attacked in 2021; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargoes stolen Topic: Peruthe International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of Peru are a risk for armed robbery against ships; in 2021, 18 attacks against commercial vessels were reported, a more than 50% increase over the eight attacks in 2020; all of these occurred in the main port of Callao while ships were berthed or at anchor Topic: Philippinesthe International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of littoral states and offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; an emerging threat area lies in the Celebes and Sulu Seas between the Philippines and Malaysia where 11 ships were attacked in 2021; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargoes stolenthe International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of littoral states and offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; an emerging threat area lies in the Celebes and Sulu Seas between the Philippines and Malaysia where 11 ships were attacked in 2021; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargoes stolen Topic: Sao Tome and Principethe 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: Singaporethe 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: Somaliathe International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) Piracy Reporting Center (PRC) received one incident of piracy and armed robbery in 2021 for the Horn of Africa; while there were no recorded incidents, the IMB PRC warns that Somalia pirates continue to possess the capacity to carry out attacks in the Somali basin and wider Indian Ocean; in particular, the report warns that, "Masters and crew must remain vigilant and cautious when transiting these waters."; the presence of several naval task forces in the Gulf of Aden and additional anti-piracy measures on the part of ship operators, including the use of on-board armed security teams, contributed to the drop in incidents; the EU naval mission, Operation ATALANTA, continues its operations in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean through 2022; naval units from China, India, Japan, Pakistan, South Korea, the US, and other countries also operate in conjunction with EU forces; China has established a logistical base in Djibouti to support its deployed naval units in the Horn of Africathe International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) Piracy Reporting Center (PRC) received one incident of piracy and armed robbery in 2021 for the Horn of Africa; while there were no recorded incidents, the IMB PRC warns that Somalia pirates continue to possess the capacity to carry out attacks in the Somali basin and wider Indian Ocean; in particular, the report warns that, "Masters and crew must remain vigilant and cautious when transiting these waters."; the presence of several naval task forces in the Gulf of Aden and additional anti-piracy measures on the part of ship operators, including the use of on-board armed security teams, contributed to the drop in incidents; the EU naval mission, Operation ATALANTA, continues its operations in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean through 2022; naval units from China, India, Japan, Pakistan, South Korea, the US, and other countries also operate in conjunction with EU forces; China has established a logistical base in Djibouti to support its deployed naval units in the Horn of Africa Topic: Tanzaniathe International Maritime Bureau reports that shipping in territorial and offshore waters in the Indian Ocean remain at risk for piracy and armed robbery against shipsthe International Maritime Bureau reports that shipping in territorial and offshore waters in the Indian Ocean remain at risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships Topic: Togothe 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: VenezuelaThe International Maritime Bureau continues to report the territorial and offshore waters in the Caribbean Sea as at risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous vessels, including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen; in 2021, no attacks were reported Topic: Vietnamthe 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: Worldthe International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reports that 2021 saw a decrease in global pirate activities; in 2021, pirates attacked a total of 132 ships worldwide including boarding 115 ships, hijacking one ship, and firing on five; this activity is a decrease from 195 incidents in 2020 and the lowest number recorded since 1994; in 2021, the number of hostages taken was eight, and the number of seafarers kidnapped for ransom decreased to 57 compared with 135 in 2020, with all taken off West Africa the EU naval mission, Operation ATALANTA, continues its operations in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean through 2022; naval units from Japan, India, and China also operate in conjunction with EU forces; China has established a logistical base in Djibouti to support its deployed naval units in the Horn of Africa the Horn of Africa saw one incident of pirate activity in 2021, up from no attacks in 2020; the decrease in successful pirate attacks off the Horn of Africa since the peak in 2007 was due, in part, to anti-piracy operations by international naval forces, the hardening of vessels, and the increased use of armed security teams aboard merchant ships; despite these preventative measures, the assessed risk remains high West Africa remains a dangerous area for piracy in the world, but saw a dramatic decrease in incidents with 34 attacks in 2021 compared to 81 in 2020, including one hijacking and three of five ships fired upon; Nigerian pirates are very aggressive, operating as far as 200 nm offshore and kidnapping 57 mariners in seven incidents accounting for all crew kidnappings world-wide; attacks against ships underway in the Singapore Straits increased 50% to 35 incidents in 2021; there were nine attacks in Indonesian waters in 2021 compared to 26 in 2020, primarily to ships anchored or berthed; the majority (71%) of global attacks against shipping have occurred in the offshore waters of eight countries - Colombia, Ghana, Indonesia, Malaysia/Singapore, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, and Sao Tome and Principe (2021) Topic: Yementhe Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued Maritime Advisory 2022-003 (Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean-Violence Due to Regional Conflict and Piracy) effective 28 February 2022, which states in part the "Conflict in Yemen continues to pose potential risk to US flagged commercial vessels transiting the southern Red Sea, Bab al Mandeb Strait, and Gulf of Aden. Threats may come from a variety of different sources including, but not limited to, missiles, rockets, projectiles, mines, small arms, unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned surface vessels, or waterborne improvised explosive devices. These threat vectors continue to pose a direct or collateral risk to US flagged commercial vessels operating in the region. Additionally, piracy poses a threat in the Gulf of Aden, Western Arabian Sea, and Western Indian Ocean."the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued Maritime Advisory 2022-003 (Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean-Violence Due to Regional Conflict and Piracy) effective 28 February 2022, which states in part the "Conflict in Yemen continues to pose potential risk to US flagged commercial vessels transiting the southern Red Sea, Bab al Mandeb Strait, and Gulf of Aden. Threats may come from a variety of different sources including, but not limited to, missiles, rockets, projectiles, mines, small arms, unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned surface vessels, or waterborne improvised explosive devices. These threat vectors continue to pose a direct or collateral risk to US flagged commercial vessels operating in the region. Additionally, piracy poses a threat in the Gulf of Aden, Western Arabian Sea, and Western Indian Ocean."

20220601

https:--www.cia.gov-the-world-factbook

The World Factbook provides basic intelligence on the history, people, government, economy, energy, geography, environment, communications, transportation, military, terrorism, and transnational issues for 266 world entities. Topic: Travel the globe with CIA’s World Factbook. Topic: What's NewIn the Environment category, the “Food insecurity” field was recently updated with first quarter 2022 information for 44 – mostly African and Asian – countries where access to food supplies remains a concern. While there have been no significant changes, lingering effects of COVID-19 restrictions are still apparent. More ominously, the ongoing Ukraine war is preventing grain deliveries and raising warnings of an impending global food crisis. Topic: Explore CountriesSearch over 260 locations across the globe. Topic: The World & Its RegionsWorldAfricaAntarcticaAustralia and OceaniaCentral America and the CaribbeanCentral AsiaEast and Southeast AsiaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaSouth Asia Topic: OceansArctic OceanAtlantic OceanIndian OceanPacific OceanSouthern OceanTravel more intelligently with The World Factbook Travel Facts. Here’s what you should know about each country before you go.Pressed for time? Check out our one-page summaries for essential information on each country.Every flag has a story. View flags of all the world’s countries and territories to learn the symbolism behind each design.Love data? The World Factbook has over 65 rank order pages that compare country data in specific fields. Topic: World Factbook Is Just the Start. Apply for a Job at CIA.Curious about other cultures? Want to use your knowledge to help keep America safe? Make a career out of learning about the world.

20220601

field-national-holiday

This entry gives the primary national day of celebration - usually independence day. Topic: AfghanistanIndependence Day, 19 August (1919) Topic: AlbaniaIndependence Day, 28 November (1912), also known as Flag Day Topic: AlgeriaIndependence Day, 5 July (1962); Revolution Day, 1 November (1954) Topic: American SamoaFlag Day, 17 April (1900) Topic: AndorraOur Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278) Topic: AngolaIndependence Day, 11 November (1975) Topic: AnguillaAnguilla Day, 30 May (1967) Topic: Antigua and BarbudaIndependence Day, 1 November (1981) Topic: ArgentinaRevolution Day (May Revolution Day), 25 May (1810) Topic: ArmeniaIndependence Day, 21 September (1991) Topic: ArubaNational Anthem and Flag Day, 18 March (1976) Topic: AustraliaAustralia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788); ANZAC Day (commemorates 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) Topic: AustriaNational Day (commemorates passage of the law on permanent neutrality), 26 October (1955) Topic: AzerbaijanRepublic Day (founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan), 28 May (1918) Topic: Bahamas, TheIndependence Day, 10 July (1973) Topic: BahrainNational Day, 16 December (1971); note - 15 August 1971 was the date of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 was the date of independence from British protection Topic: BangladeshIndependence Day, 26 March (1971); Victory Day, 16 December (1971); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of the Awami League's declaration of an independent Bangladesh, and 16 December (Victory Day) memorializes the military victory over Pakistan and the official creation of the state of Bangladesh Topic: BarbadosIndependence Day, 30 November (1966) Topic: BelarusIndependence Day, 3 July (1944); note - 3 July 1944 was the date Minsk was liberated from German troops, 25 August 1991 was the date of independence from the Soviet Union Topic: BelgiumBelgian National Day (ascension to the throne of King LEOPOLD I), 21 July (1831) Topic: BelizeBattle of St. George's Caye Day (National Day), 10 September (1798); Independence Day, 21 September (1981) Topic: BeninIndependence Day, 1 August (1960) Topic: BermudaBermuda Day, 24 May; note - formerly known as Victoria Day, Empire Day, and Commonwealth Day Topic: BhutanNational Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907) Topic: BoliviaIndependence Day, 6 August (1825) Topic: Bosnia and HerzegovinaIndependence Day, 1 March (1992) and Statehood Day, 25 November (1943) - both observed in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity; Victory Day, 9 May (1945) and Dayton Agreement Day, 21 November (1995) - both observed in the Republika Srpska entity note: there is no national-level holiday Topic: BotswanaIndependence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966) Topic: BrazilIndependence Day, 7 September (1822) Topic: British Virgin IslandsTerritory Day, 1 July (1956) Topic: BruneiNational Day, 23 February (1984); note - 1 January 1984 was the date of independence from the UK, 23 February 1984 was the date of independence from British protection; the Sultan's birthday, 15 June Topic: BulgariaLiberation Day, 3 March (1878) Topic: Burkina FasoRepublic Day, 11 December (1958); note - commemorates the day that Upper Volta became an autonomous republic in the French Community Topic: BurmaIndependence Day, 4 January (1948); Union Day, 12 February (1947) Topic: BurundiIndependence Day, 1 July (1962) Topic: Cabo VerdeIndependence Day, 5 July (1975) Topic: CambodiaIndependence Day, 9 November (1953) Topic: CameroonState Unification Day (National Day), 20 May (1972) Topic: CanadaCanada Day, 1 July (1867) Topic: Cayman IslandsConstitution Day, the first Monday in July (1959) Topic: Central African RepublicRepublic Day, 1 December (1958) Topic: ChadIndependence Day, 11 August (1960) Topic: ChileIndependence Day, 18 September (1810) Topic: ChinaNational Day (anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949) Topic: Christmas IslandAustralia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788) Topic: Cocos (Keeling) IslandsAustralia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788) Topic: ColombiaIndependence Day, 20 July (1810) Topic: ComorosIndependence Day, 6 July (1975) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of theIndependence Day, 30 June (1960) Topic: Congo, Republic of theIndependence Day, 15 August (1960) Topic: Cook IslandsConstitution Day, the first Monday in August (1965) Topic: Costa RicaIndependence Day, 15 September (1821) Topic: Cote d'IvoireIndependence Day, 7 August (1960) Topic: CroatiaStatehood Day (National Day), 30 May (1990); note - marks the day in 1990 that the first modern multi-party Croatian parliament convened Topic: CubaTriumph of the Revolution (Liberation Day), 1 January (1959) Topic: CuracaoKing's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967); note - King's or Queen's Day are observed on the ruling monarch's birthday; celebrated on 26 April if 27 April is a SundayKing's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967); note - King's or Queen's Day are observed on the ruling monarch's birthday; celebrated on 26 April if 27 April is a Sunday Topic: CyprusIndependence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriots celebrate 15 November (1983) as "Republic Day" Topic: CzechiaCzechoslovak Founding Day, 28 October (1918) Topic: DenmarkConstitution Day, 5 June (1849); note - closest equivalent to a national holiday Topic: DjiboutiIndependence Day, 27 June (1977) Topic: DominicaIndependence Day, 3 November (1978) Topic: Dominican RepublicIndependence Day, 27 February (1844) Topic: EcuadorIndependence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809) Topic: EgyptRevolution Day, 23 July (1952) Topic: El SalvadorIndependence Day, 15 September (1821) Topic: Equatorial GuineaIndependence Day, 12 October (1968) Topic: EritreaIndependence Day, 24 May (1991) Topic: EstoniaIndependence Day, 24 February (1918); note - 24 February 1918 was the date Estonia declared its independence from Soviet Russia and established its statehood; 20 August 1991 was the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union restoring its statehood Topic: EswatiniIndependence Day (Somhlolo Day), 6 September (1968) Topic: EthiopiaDerg Downfall Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991) Topic: European UnionEurope Day (also known as Schuman Day), 9 May (1950); note - the day in 1950 that Robert SCHUMAN proposed the creation of what became the European Coal and Steel Community, the progenitor of today's European Union, with the aim of achieving a united Europe Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)Liberation Day, 14 June (1982) Topic: Faroe IslandsOlaifest (Olavsoka) (commemorates the death in battle of King OLAF II of Norway, later St. OLAF), 29 July (1030) Topic: FijiFiji (Independence) Day, 10 October (1970) Topic: FinlandIndependence Day, 6 December (1917) Topic: FranceFete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - although often incorrectly referred to as Bastille Day, the celebration actually commemorates the holiday held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille (on 14 July 1789) and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy; other names for the holiday are Fete Nationale (National Holiday) and quatorze juillet (14th of July) Topic: French PolynesiaFete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - the local holiday is Internal Autonomy Day, 29 June (1880) Topic: GabonIndependence Day, 17 August (1960) Topic: Gambia, TheIndependence Day, 18 February (1965) Topic: GeorgiaIndependence Day, 26 May (1918); note - 26 May 1918 was the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 9 April 1991 was the date of independence from the Soviet Union Topic: GermanyGerman Unity Day, 3 October (1990) Topic: GhanaIndependence Day, 6 March (1957) Topic: GibraltarNational Day, 10 September (1967); note - day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or join Spain Topic: GreeceIndependence Day, 25 March (1821) Topic: GreenlandNational Day, June 21; note - marks the summer solstice and the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere Topic: GrenadaIndependence Day, 7 February (1974) Topic: GuamDiscovery Day (or Magellan Day), first Monday in March (1521) Topic: GuatemalaIndependence Day, 15 September (1821) Topic: GuernseyLiberation Day, 9 May (1945) Topic: GuineaIndependence Day, 2 October (1958) Topic: Guinea-BissauIndependence Day, 24 September (1973) Topic: GuyanaRepublic Day, 23 February (1970) Topic: HaitiIndependence Day, 1 January (1804) Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)Election Day of Pope FRANCIS, 13 March (2013) Topic: HondurasIndependence Day, 15 September (1821) Topic: Hong KongNational 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 Topic: HungarySaint Stephen's Day, 20 August (1083); note - commemorates his canonization and the transfer of his remains to Buda (now Budapest) in 1083 Topic: IcelandIndependence Day, 17 June (1944) Topic: IndiaRepublic Day, 26 January (1950) Topic: IndonesiaIndependence Day, 17 August (1945) Topic: IranRepublic Day, 1 April (1979) Topic: IraqIndependence Day, 3 October (1932); Republic Day, 14 July (1958) Topic: IrelandSaint Patrick's Day, 17 March; note - marks the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, during the latter half of the fifth century A.D. (most commonly cited years are c. 461 and c. 493); although Saint Patrick's feast day was celebrated in Ireland as early as the ninth century, it only became an official public holiday in Ireland in 1903 Topic: Isle of ManTynwald Day, 5 July (1417); date Tynwald Day was first recorded Topic: IsraelIndependence Day, 14 May (1948); note - Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the holiday may occur in April or May Topic: ItalyRepublic Day, 2 June (1946) Topic: JamaicaIndependence Day, 6 August (1962) Topic: JapanBirthday of Emperor NARUHITO, 23 February (1960); note - celebrates the birthday of the current emperor Topic: JerseyLiberation Day, 9 May (1945) Topic: JordanIndependence Day, 25 May (1946) Topic: KazakhstanIndependence Day, 16 December (1991) Topic: KenyaJamhuri Day (Independence Day), 12 December (1963); note - Madaraka Day, 1 June (1963) marks the day Kenya attained internal self-rule Topic: KiribatiIndependence Day, 12 July (1979) Topic: Korea, NorthFounding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), 9 September (1948) Topic: Korea, SouthLiberation Day, 15 August (1945) Topic: KosovoIndependence Day, 17 February (2008) Topic: KuwaitNational Day, 25 February (1950) Topic: KyrgyzstanIndependence Day, 31 August (1991) Topic: LaosRepublic Day (National Day), 2 December (1975) Topic: LatviaIndependence 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 Topic: LebanonIndependence Day, 22 November (1943) Topic: LesothoIndependence Day, 4 October (1966) Topic: LiberiaIndependence Day, 26 July (1847) Topic: LibyaLiberation Day, 23 October (2011) Topic: LiechtensteinNational 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 Topic: LithuaniaIndependence 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 Topic: LuxembourgNational Day (birthday of Grand Duke HENRI), 23 June; note - this date of birth is not the true date of birth for any of the Royals, but the national festivities were shifted in 1962 to allow observance during a more favorable time of year Topic: MacauNational 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 Topic: MadagascarIndependence Day, 26 June (1960) Topic: MalawiIndependence Day, 6 July (1964); note - also called Republic Day since 6 July 1966 Topic: MalaysiaIndependence Day (or Merdeka Day), 31 August (1957) (independence of Malaya); Malaysia Day, 16 September (1963) (formation of Malaysia) Topic: MaldivesIndependence Day, 26 July (1965) Topic: MaliIndependence Day, 22 September (1960) Topic: MaltaIndependence Day, 21 September (1964); Republic Day, 13 December (1974) Topic: Marshall IslandsConstitution Day, 1 May (1979) Topic: MauritaniaIndependence Day, 28 November (1960) Topic: MauritiusIndependence and Republic Day, 12 March (1968 & 1992); note - became independent and a republic on the same date in 1968 and 1992 respectively Topic: MexicoIndependence Day, 16 September (1810) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofConstitution Day, 10 May (1979) Topic: MoldovaIndependence Day, 27 August (1991) Topic: MonacoNational Day (Saint Rainier's Day), 19 November (1857) Topic: MongoliaNaadam (games) holiday (commemorates independence from China in the 1921 Revolution), 11-15 July; Constitution Day (marks the date that the Mongolian People's Republic was created under a new constitution), 26 November (1924) Topic: MontenegroStatehood 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) Topic: MontserratBirthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, usually celebrated the Monday after the second Saturday in June (1926) Topic: MoroccoThrone Day (accession of King MOHAMMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999) Topic: MozambiqueIndependence Day, 25 June (1975) Topic: NamibiaIndependence Day, 21 March (1990) Topic: NauruIndependence Day, 31 January (1968) Topic: NepalConstitution Day, 20 September (2015); note - marks the promulgation of Nepal’s constitution in 2015 and replaces the previous 28 May Republic Day as the official national day in Nepal; the Gregorian day fluctuates based on Nepal’s Hindu calendar Topic: NetherlandsKing's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967); note - King's or Queen's Day are observed on the ruling monarch's birthday; currently celebrated on 26 April if 27 April is a Sunday Topic: New CaledoniaFete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - the local holiday is New Caledonia Day, 24 September (1853) Topic: New ZealandWaitangi 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) Topic: NicaraguaIndependence Day, 15 September (1821) Topic: NigerRepublic Day, 18 December (1958); note - commemorates the founding of the Republic of Niger which predated independence from France in 1960 Topic: NigeriaIndependence Day (National Day), 1 October (1960) Topic: NiueWaitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840) Topic: Norfolk IslandBounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856) Topic: North MacedoniaIndependence Day, 8 September (1991), also known as National Day Topic: Northern Mariana IslandsCommonwealth Day, 8 January (1978) Topic: NorwayConstitution Day, 17 May (1814) Topic: OmanNational Day, 18 November; note - celebrates Oman's independence from Portugal in 1650 and the birthday of Sultan QABOOS bin Said al Said, who reigned from 1970 to 2020 Topic: PakistanPakistan Day (also referred to as Pakistan Resolution Day or Republic Day), 23 March (1940); note - commemorates both the adoption of the Lahore Resolution by the All-India Muslim League during its 22-24 March 1940 session, which called for the creation of independent Muslim states, and the adoption of the first constitution of Pakistan on 23 March 1956 during the transition to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Topic: PalauConstitution Day, 9 July (1981), day of a national referendum to pass the new constitution; Independence Day, 1 October (1994) Topic: PanamaIndependence Day (Separation Day), 3 November (1903) Topic: Papua New GuineaIndependence Day, 16 September (1975) Topic: ParaguayIndependence Day, 14-15 May (1811) (observed 15 May); 14 May is celebrated as Flag Day Topic: PeruIndependence Day, 28-29 July (1821) Topic: PhilippinesIndependence Day, 12 June (1898); note - 12 June 1898 was date of declaration of independence from Spain; 4 July 1946 was date of independence from the US Topic: Pitcairn IslandsBirthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926); Discovery Day (Pitcairn Day), 2 July (1767) Topic: PolandConstitution Day, 3 May (1791) Topic: PortugalPortugal Day (Dia de Portugal), 10 June (1580); note - also called Camoes Day, the day that revered national poet Luis DE CAMOES (1524-80) died Topic: Puerto RicoUS Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25 July (1952) Topic: QatarNational Day, 18 December (1878), anniversary of Al Thani family accession to the throne; Independence Day, 3 September (1971) Topic: RomaniaUnification Day (unification of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918) Topic: RussiaRussia Day, 12 June (1990); note - commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) Topic: RwandaIndependence Day, 1 July (1962) Topic: Saint BarthelemyFete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - local holiday is St. Barthelemy Day, 24 August (1572) Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da CunhaBirthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, third Monday in April (1926) Topic: Saint Kitts and NevisIndependence Day, 19 September (1983) Topic: Saint LuciaIndependence Day, 22 February (1979) Topic: Saint MartinFete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - local holiday is Schoelcher Day (Slavery Abolition Day) 12 July (1848), as well as St. Martin's Day, 11 November (1985), which commemorates the discovery of the island by COLUMBUS on Saint Martin's Day, 11 November 1493; the latter holiday celebrated on both halves of the island Topic: Saint Pierre and MiquelonFete de la Federation, 14 July (1790) Topic: Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesIndependence Day, 27 October (1979) Topic: SamoaIndependence Day Celebration, 1 June (1962); note - 1 January 1962 is the date of independence from the New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship, but it is observed in June Topic: San MarinoFounding of the Republic (or Feast of Saint Marinus), 3 September (A.D. 301) Topic: Sao Tome and PrincipeIndependence Day, 12 July (1975) Topic: Saudi ArabiaSaudi National Day (Unification of the Kingdom), 23 September (1932) Topic: SenegalIndependence Day, 4 April (1960) Topic: SerbiaStatehood Day, 15 February (1835), the day the first constitution of the country was adopted Topic: SeychellesConstitution Day, 18 June (1993); Independence Day (National Day), 29 June (1976) Topic: Sierra LeoneIndependence Day, 27 April (1961) Topic: SingaporeNational Day, 9 August (1965) Topic: Sint MaartenKing's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967); note - King's or Queen's Day are observed on the ruling monarch's birthday; celebrated on 26 April if 27 April is a Sunday; local holiday Sint Maarten's Day, 11 November (1985), commemorates the discovery of the island by COLUMBUS on Saint Martin's Day, 11 November 1493; celebrated on both halves of the islandKing's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967); note - King's or Queen's Day are observed on the ruling monarch's birthday; celebrated on 26 April if 27 April is a Sunday; local holiday Sint Maarten's Day, 11 November (1985), commemorates the discovery of the island by COLUMBUS on Saint Martin's Day, 11 November 1493; celebrated on both halves of the island Topic: SlovakiaConstitution Day, 1 September (1992) Topic: SloveniaIndependence Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991) Topic: Solomon IslandsIndependence Day, 7 July (1978) Topic: SomaliaFoundation of the Somali Republic, 1 July (1960); note - 26 June (1960) in Somaliland Topic: South AfricaFreedom Day, 27 April (1994) Topic: South SudanIndependence Day, 9 July (2011) Topic: SpainNational Day (Hispanic Day), 12 October (1492); note - commemorates the arrival of COLUMBUS in the Americas Topic: Sri LankaIndependence Day (National Day), 4 February (1948) Topic: SudanIndependence Day, 1 January (1956) Topic: SurinameIndependence Day, 25 November (1975) Topic: SwedenNational Day, 6 June (1983); note - from 1916 to 1982 this date was celebrated as Swedish Flag Day Topic: SwitzerlandFounding of the Swiss Confederation in 1291; note - since 1 August 1891 celebrated as Swiss National Day Topic: SyriaIndependence Day (Evacuation Day), 17 April (1946); note - celebrates the leaving of the last French troops and the proclamation of full independence Topic: TaiwanRepublic Day (National Day), 10 October (1911); note - celebrates the anniversary of the Chinese Revolution, also known as Double Ten (10-10) Day Topic: TajikistanIndependence Day (or National Day), 9 September (1991) Topic: TanzaniaUnion Day (Tanganyika and Zanzibar), 26 April (1964) Topic: ThailandBirthday of King WACHIRALONGKON, 28 July (1952) Topic: Timor-LesteRestoration of Independence Day, 20 May (2002); Proclamation of Independence Day, 28 November (1975) Topic: TogoIndependence Day, 27 April (1960) Topic: TokelauWaitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840) Topic: TongaOfficial Birthday of King TUPOU VI, 4 July (1959); note - actual birthday of the monarch is 12 July 1959, 4 July (2015) is the day the king was crowned; Constitution Day (National Day), 4 November (1875) Topic: Trinidad and TobagoIndependence Day, 31 August (1962) Topic: TunisiaIndependence Day, 20 March (1956); Revolution and Youth Day, 14 January (2011) Topic: TurkeyRepublic Day, 29 October (1923) Topic: TurkmenistanIndependence Day, 27 October (1991) Topic: Turks and Caicos IslandsBirthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, usually celebrated the Monday after the second Saturday in June Topic: TuvaluIndependence Day, 1 October (1978) Topic: UgandaIndependence Day, 9 October (1962) Topic: UkraineIndependence Day, 24 August (1991); note - 22 January 1918, the day Ukraine first declared its independence from Soviet Russia, and the date the short-lived Western and Greater (Eastern) Ukrainian republics united (1919), is now celebrated as Unity Day Topic: United Arab EmiratesIndependence Day (National Day), 2 December (1971) Topic: United Kingdomthe UK does not celebrate one particular national holiday Topic: United StatesIndependence Day, 4 July (1776) Topic: UruguayIndependence Day, 25 August (1825) Topic: UzbekistanIndependence Day, 1 September (1991) Topic: VanuatuIndependence Day, 30 July (1980) Topic: VenezuelaIndependence Day, 5 July (1811) Topic: VietnamIndependence Day (National Day), 2 September (1945) Topic: Virgin IslandsTransfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 31 March (1917) Topic: Wallis and FutunaBastille Day, 14 July (1789) Topic: YemenUnification Day, 22 May (1990) Topic: ZambiaIndependence Day, 24 October (1964) Topic: ZimbabweIndependence Day, 18 April (1980)

20220601

countries-ashmore-and-cartier-islands

Topic: Photos of Ashmore and Cartier Islands Topic: Introduction Background: Indonesian fishermen have long fished in the area around Ashmore Reef and Cartier Island. British explorers were the first Europeans to see Cartier Island and Ashmore Reef in 1800 and 1811, respectively. American whalers frequently sailed by the islands in the 1850s and later settled to mine the phosphate deposits on Ashmore Reef, which were exhausted by 1891. The UK disputed US access to Ashmore Reef and formally annexed it in 1878. Cartier Island was annexed in 1909. In 1931, the UK transferred the islands to Australia, which accepted them in 1934 as part of Western Australia. In 1938, Australia transferred governance to the Northern Territory. During World War II, the islands saw several Allied ship visits and post-war, Cartier Island became a bombing range. In 1978, governance of Ashmore and Cartier Islands was moved to the federal government. Ashmore Reef and Cartier Island became marine reserves in 1983 and 2000 respectively. In 1974, Australia and Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to allow Indonesian fishermen to continue fishing around the islands. The MOU also allows Indonesian fishermen to visit the graves of past fishermen, replenish their fresh water, and shelter in the West Island Lagoon of Ashmore Reef. In the 1990s, Indonesia challenged Australia’s claims to the islands, which was settled in a maritime boundary treaty in 1997. The islands were a popular first point of contact for migrants and refugees seeking to enter Australia, so in 2001, Australia declared the islands outside the Australian migration zone.Indonesian fishermen have long fished in the area around Ashmore Reef and Cartier Island. British explorers were the first Europeans to see Cartier Island and Ashmore Reef in 1800 and 1811, respectively. American whalers frequently sailed by the islands in the 1850s and later settled to mine the phosphate deposits on Ashmore Reef, which were exhausted by 1891. The UK disputed US access to Ashmore Reef and formally annexed it in 1878. Cartier Island was annexed in 1909. In 1931, the UK transferred the islands to Australia, which accepted them in 1934 as part of Western Australia. In 1938, Australia transferred governance to the Northern Territory. During World War II, the islands saw several Allied ship visits and post-war, Cartier Island became a bombing range. In 1978, governance of Ashmore and Cartier Islands was moved to the federal government. Ashmore Reef and Cartier Island became marine reserves in 1983 and 2000 respectively. In 1974, Australia and Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to allow Indonesian fishermen to continue fishing around the islands. The MOU also allows Indonesian fishermen to visit the graves of past fishermen, replenish their fresh water, and shelter in the West Island Lagoon of Ashmore Reef. In the 1990s, Indonesia challenged Australia’s claims to the islands, which was settled in a maritime boundary treaty in 1997. The islands were a popular first point of contact for migrants and refugees seeking to enter Australia, so in 2001, Australia declared the islands outside the Australian migration zone.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, midway between northwestern Australia and Timor island; Ashmore Reef is 840 km west of Darwin and 610 km north of Broome; Cartier Islet is 70 km east of Ashmore Reef Geographic coordinates: 12 25 S, 123 20 E note - Ashmore Reef - 12 14 S, 123 05 E; Cartier Islet - 12 32 S, 123 32 E Map references: Southeast Asia Area: total: 5 sq km land: 5 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island Area - comparative: about eight times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 74.1 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical Terrain: low with sand and coral Elevation: highest point: Cartier Island 5 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m Natural resources: fish Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) Natural hazards: surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards Geography - note: Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983; Cartier Island Marine Reserve established in 2000 Map description: Ashmore and Cartier Islands map showing the islands and reefs that make up this Australian territory in the Indian Ocean.Ashmore and Cartier Islands map showing the islands and reefs that make up this Australian territory in the Indian Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: (July 2021 est.) no indigenous inhabitants note: Indonesian fishermen are allowed access to the lagoon and fresh water at Ashmore Reef's West Island; access to East and Middle Islands is by permit only 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: 0.32% (2021 est.) Birth rate: NA Death rate: (2021 est.) 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: illegal killing of protected wildlife by traditional Indonesian fisherman, as well as fishing by non-traditional Indonesian vessels, are ongoing problems; sea level rise, changes in sea temperature, and ocean acidification are concerns; marine debris Climate: tropical Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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 Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport Legal system: the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and the laws of the Northern Territory of Australia, where applicable, apply Citizenship: see Australia Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia) Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (territory of Australia) Flag description: the flag of Australia is used Topic: Economy Economic overview: no economic activity Topic: Transportation Ports and terminals: none; offshore anchorage only Topic: Military and Security Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Australia-Indonesia:  Australia has closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier reserve to Indonesian traditional fishing; Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore ReefAustralia-Indonesia:  Australia has closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier reserve to Indonesian traditional fishing; Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef

20220601

countries-jarvis-island

20220601

countries-iran

Topic: Photos of Iran Topic: Introduction Background: Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and Shah Mohammad Reza PAHLAVI was forced into exile. Conservative clerical forces led by Ayatollah Ruhollah KHOMEINI established a theocratic system of government with ultimate political authority vested in a learned religious scholar referred to commonly as the Supreme Leader who, according to the constitution, is accountable only to the Assembly of Experts (AOE) - a popularly elected 88-member body of clerics. US-Iranian relations became strained when a group of Iranian students seized the US Embassy in Tehran in November 1979 and held embassy personnel hostages until mid-January 1981. The US cut off diplomatic relations with Iran in April 1980. During the period 1980-88, Iran fought a bloody, indecisive war with Iraq that eventually expanded into the Persian Gulf and led to clashes between US Navy and Iranian military forces. Iran has been designated a state sponsor of terrorism and was subject to US, UN, and EU economic sanctions and export controls because of its continued involvement in terrorism and concerns over possible military dimensions of its nuclear program until Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Implementation Day in 2016. The US began gradually re-imposing sanctions on Iran after the US withdrawal from JCPOA in May 2018. Following the election of reformer Hojjat ol-Eslam Mohammad KHATAMI as president in 1997 and a reformist Majles (legislature) in 2000, a campaign to foster political reform in response to popular dissatisfaction was initiated. The movement floundered as conservative politicians, supported by the Supreme Leader, unelected institutions of authority like the Council of Guardians, and the security services reversed and blocked reform measures while increasing security repression. Starting with nationwide municipal elections in 2003 and continuing through Majles elections in 2004, conservatives reestablished control over Iran's elected government institutions, which culminated with the August 2005 inauguration of hardliner Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD as president. His controversial reelection in June 2009 sparked nationwide protests over allegations of electoral fraud, but the protests were quickly suppressed. Deteriorating economic conditions due primarily to government mismanagement and international sanctions prompted at least two major economically based protests in July and October 2012, but Iran's internal security situation remained stable. President AHMADI-NEJAD's independent streak angered regime establishment figures, including the Supreme Leader, leading to conservative opposition to his agenda for the last year of his presidency, and an alienation of his political supporters. In June 2013 Iranians elected a centrist cleric Dr. Hasan Fereidun RUHANI to the presidency. A longtime senior member in the regime, he made promises of reforming society and Iran's foreign policy. In July 2015, Iran and the five permanent members, plus Germany (P5+1) signed the JCPOA under which Iran agreed to restrictions on its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief; however, the US reimposed sanctions in 2018 dealing a blow to RUHANI's legacy and the Iranian economy. Negotiations to restore the deal started in 2021 and are ongoing. Iran held elections in February 2020 for the Majles and the president in June 2021, resulting in a hardline and conservative monopoly across the regime's elected and unelected institutions. President Ebrahim RAISI is a hardline cleric with a decades-long career in Iran's judiciary and has had limited foreign policy and economic experience.Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and Shah Mohammad Reza PAHLAVI was forced into exile. Conservative clerical forces led by Ayatollah Ruhollah KHOMEINI established a theocratic system of government with ultimate political authority vested in a learned religious scholar referred to commonly as the Supreme Leader who, according to the constitution, is accountable only to the Assembly of Experts (AOE) - a popularly elected 88-member body of clerics. US-Iranian relations became strained when a group of Iranian students seized the US Embassy in Tehran in November 1979 and held embassy personnel hostages until mid-January 1981. The US cut off diplomatic relations with Iran in April 1980. During the period 1980-88, Iran fought a bloody, indecisive war with Iraq that eventually expanded into the Persian Gulf and led to clashes between US Navy and Iranian military forces. Iran has been designated a state sponsor of terrorism and was subject to US, UN, and EU economic sanctions and export controls because of its continued involvement in terrorism and concerns over possible military dimensions of its nuclear program until Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Implementation Day in 2016. The US began gradually re-imposing sanctions on Iran after the US withdrawal from JCPOA in May 2018.Following the election of reformer Hojjat ol-Eslam Mohammad KHATAMI as president in 1997 and a reformist Majles (legislature) in 2000, a campaign to foster political reform in response to popular dissatisfaction was initiated. The movement floundered as conservative politicians, supported by the Supreme Leader, unelected institutions of authority like the Council of Guardians, and the security services reversed and blocked reform measures while increasing security repression. Starting with nationwide municipal elections in 2003 and continuing through Majles elections in 2004, conservatives reestablished control over Iran's elected government institutions, which culminated with the August 2005 inauguration of hardliner Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD as president. His controversial reelection in June 2009 sparked nationwide protests over allegations of electoral fraud, but the protests were quickly suppressed. Deteriorating economic conditions due primarily to government mismanagement and international sanctions prompted at least two major economically based protests in July and October 2012, but Iran's internal security situation remained stable. President AHMADI-NEJAD's independent streak angered regime establishment figures, including the Supreme Leader, leading to conservative opposition to his agenda for the last year of his presidency, and an alienation of his political supporters. In June 2013 Iranians elected a centrist cleric Dr. Hasan Fereidun RUHANI to the presidency. A longtime senior member in the regime, he made promises of reforming society and Iran's foreign policy. In July 2015, Iran and the five permanent members, plus Germany (P5+1) signed the JCPOA under which Iran agreed to restrictions on its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief; however, the US reimposed sanctions in 2018 dealing a blow to RUHANI's legacy and the Iranian economy. Negotiations to restore the deal started in 2021 and are ongoing. Iran held elections in February 2020 for the Majles and the president in June 2021, resulting in a hardline and conservative monopoly across the regime's elected and unelected institutions. President Ebrahim RAISI is a hardline cleric with a decades-long career in Iran's judiciary and has had limited foreign policy and economic experience.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan Geographic coordinates: 32 00 N, 53 00 E Map references: Middle East Area: total: 1,648,195 sq km land: 1,531,595 sq km water: 116,600 sq km Area - comparative: almost 2.5 times the size of Texas; slightly smaller than Alaska Land boundaries: total: 5,894 km border countries (7): Afghanistan 921 km; Armenia 44 km; Azerbaijan 689 km; Iraq 1,599 km; Pakistan 959 km; Turkey 534 km; Turkmenistan 1,148 km Coastline: 2,440 km - note: Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km) Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements or median lines in the Persian Gulf continental shelf: natural prolongation Climate: mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast Terrain: rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts Elevation: highest point: Kuh-e Damavand 5,625 m lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m mean elevation: 1,305 m Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur Land use: agricultural land: 30.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 10.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 18.1% (2018 est.) forest: 6.8% (2018 est.) other: 63.1% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 95,530 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Caspian Sea (shared with Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan) - 374,000 sq km; Lake Urmia - 5,200 sq km; Lake Namak - 750 sq km Major rivers (by length in km): Euphrates (shared with Turkey [s], Syria, and Iraq [m]) - 3,596 km; Tigris (shared with Turkey, Syria, and Iraq [m]) - 1,950 km; Helmand (shared with Afghanistan [s]) - 1,130 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km) Population distribution: population is concentrated in the north, northwest, and west, reflecting the position of the Zagros and Elburz Mountains; the vast dry areas in the center and eastern parts of the country, around the deserts of the Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut, have a much lower population density Natural hazards: periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes Geography - note: strategic location on the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, which are vital maritime pathways for crude oil transport Map description: Iran map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.Iran map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. Topic: People and Society Population: 86,758,304 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Iranian(s) adjective: Iranian Ethnic groups: Persian, Azeri, Kurd, Lur, Baloch, Arab, Turkmen and Turkic tribes Languages: Persian Farsi (official), Azeri and other Turkic dialects, Kurdish, Gilaki and Mazandarani, Luri, Balochi, Arabic major-language sample(s): چکیده نامه جهان، منبعی ضروری برای کسب اطلاعات کلی جهان (Persian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Muslim (official) 99.6% (Shia 90-95%, Sunni 5-10%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, and Christian) 0.3%, unspecified 0.2% (2016 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 24.11% (male 10,472,844/female 10,000,028) 15-24 years: 13.36% (male 5,806,034/female 5,537,561) 25-54 years: 48.94% (male 21,235,038/female 20,327,384) 55-64 years: 7.72% (male 3,220,074/female 3,337,420) 65 years and over: 5.87% (2020 est.) (male 2,316,677/female 2,670,254) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 45.6 youth dependency ratio: 36 elderly dependency ratio: 9.6 potential support ratio: 14.2 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 31.7 years male: 31.5 years female: 32 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.98% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 15.27 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 5.17 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: population is concentrated in the north, northwest, and west, reflecting the position of the Zagros and Elburz Mountains; the vast dry areas in the center and eastern parts of the country, around the deserts of the Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut, have a much lower population density Urbanization: urban population: 76.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 9.382 million TEHRAN (capital), 3.318 million Mashhad, 2.219 million Esfahan, 1.699 million Shiraz, 1.644 million Tabriz, 1.587 million Karaj (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: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 16 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 14.84 deaths/1,000 live births male: 15.97 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.25 years male: 73.89 years female: 76.67 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.93 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 77.4% (2010/11) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99.8% of population rural: 98.1% of population total: 99.4% of population unimproved: urban: 0.2% of population rural: 1.9% of population total: 0.6% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 6.7% (2019) Physicians density: 1.58 physicians/1,000 population (2018) Hospital bed density: 1.6 beds/1,000 population (2017) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2015 est.) rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: (2020 est.) <.1% HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 54,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 3,200 (2020 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever note: a new coronavirus is causing sustained community spread of respiratory illness (COVID-19) in Iran; sustained community spread means that people have been infected with the virus, but how or where they became infected is not known, and the spread is ongoing; illness with this virus has ranged from mild to severe with fatalities reported; as of 30 March 2022, Iran has reported a total of 7,156,746 cases of COVID-19 or 8,520.65 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 140,109 cumulative deaths or a rate 166.81 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 March 2022, 75.12% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 25.8% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 4.1% (2010/11) Education expenditures: 3.7% of GDP (2019) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 85.5% male: 90.4% female: 80.8% (2016) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 15 years (2017) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 23.7% male: 21.2% female: 36% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf; wetland losses from drought; soil degradation (salination); inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution from raw sewage and industrial waste; urbanization Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation Air pollutants: particulate 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.) Climate: mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast Land use: agricultural land: 30.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 10.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 18.1% (2018 est.) forest: 6.8% (2018 est.) other: 63.1% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 76.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2017 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2017 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever note: a new coronavirus is causing sustained community spread of respiratory illness (COVID-19) in Iran; sustained community spread means that people have been infected with the virus, but how or where they became infected is not known, and the spread is ongoing; illness with this virus has ranged from mild to severe with fatalities reported; as of 30 March 2022, Iran has reported a total of 7,156,746 cases of COVID-19 or 8,520.65 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 140,109 cumulative deaths or a rate 166.81 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 March 2022, 75.12% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Waste and recycling: municipal 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.) Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Caspian Sea (shared with Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan) - 374,000 sq km; Lake Urmia - 5,200 sq km; Lake Namak - 750 sq km Major rivers (by length in km): Euphrates (shared with Turkey [s], Syria, and Iraq [m]) - 3,596 km; Tigris (shared with Turkey, Syria, and Iraq [m]) - 1,950 km; Helmand (shared with Afghanistan [s]) - 1,130 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 6.2 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 1.1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 86 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 137.045 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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]" Government type: theocratic republic Capital: name: Tehran geographic coordinates: 35 42 N, 51 25 E time difference: UTC+3.5 (8.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins fourth Wednesday in March; ends fourth Friday in September etymology: various explanations of the city's name have been proffered, but the most plausible states that it derives from the Persian words "tah" meaning "end or bottom" and "ran" meaning "[mountain] slope" to signify "bottom of the mountain slope"; Tehran lies at the bottom slope of the Elburz Mountains Administrative divisions: 31 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Alborz, Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi (West Azerbaijan), Azarbayjan-e Sharqi (East Azerbaijan), Bushehr, Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khorasan-e Jonubi (South Khorasan), Khorasan-e Razavi (Razavi Khorasan), Khorasan-e Shomali (North Khorasan), Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh va Bowyer Ahmad, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan Independence: 1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed); notable earlier dates: ca. 550 B.C. (Achaemenid (Persian) Empire established); A.D. 1501 (Iran reunified under the Safavid Dynasty); 1794 (beginning of Qajar Dynasty); 12 December 1925 (modern Iran established under the PAHLAVI Dynasty) National holiday: Republic Day, 1 April (1979) Constitution: history: previous 1906; latest adopted 24 October 1979, effective 3 December 1979 amendments: proposed by the supreme leader – after consultation with the Exigency Council – and submitted as an edict to the "Council for Revision of the Constitution," a body consisting of various executive, legislative, judicial, and academic leaders and members; passage requires absolute majority vote in a referendum and approval of the supreme leader; articles including Iran’s political system, its religious basis, and its form of government cannot be amended; amended 1989 Legal system: religious legal system based on secular and Islamic 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: the father must be a citizen of Iran dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Supreme Leader Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June 1989) head of government: President Ebrahim RAISI (since 18 June 2021); First Vice President Mohammad MOKHBER (since 8 August 2021) cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president with legislative approval; the supreme leader has some control over appointments to several ministries elections/appointments: supreme leader appointed for life by Assembly of Experts; president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term and an additional nonconsecutive term); election last held on 18 June 2021 (next to be held in June 2025) election results: 2021: Ebrahim RAISI elected president; percent of vote - Ebrahim RAISI (CCA) 72.4%, Mohsen REZAI (RFII) 13.8%, Abbdolnaser HEMATI (ECP) 9.8%, Amir-Hosein Qazizadeh-HASHEMI (Islamic Law Party) 4% 2017: Hasan Fereidun RUHANI reelected president; percent of vote - Hasan Fereidun RUHANI (Moderation and Development Party) 58.8%, Ebrahim RAISI (Combat Clergy Association) 39.4% , Mostafa Mir-SALIM Islamic Coalition Party) 1.2%, Mostafa HASHEMI-TABA(Executives of Construction Party) 0.5% note: 3 oversight bodies are also considered part of the executive branch of government Legislative branch: description: unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly or Majles-e Shura-ye Eslami or Majles (290 seats; 285 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by 2-round vote, and 1 seat each for Zoroastrians, Jews, Assyrian and Chaldean Christians, Armenians in the north of the country and Armenians in the south; members serve 4-year terms); note - all candidates to the Majles must be approved by the Council of Guardians, a 12-member group of which 6 are appointed by the supreme leader and 6 are jurists nominated by the judiciary and elected by the Majles elections: first round held on 21 February 2020 and second round for 11 remaining seats held on 11 September 2020 (next full Majles election to be held in 2024) election results: percent of vote by coalition (first round) - NA; seats by coalition (first round) - conservatives and hardliners 226, reformists 19, independents 40, religious minorities 5; as of June 2021 by-elections; composition - men 274, women 16, percent of women 5.6% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and organized into 42 two-bench branches, each with a justice and a judge) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president appointed by the head of the High Judicial Council (HJC), a 5-member body to include the Supreme Court chief justice, the prosecutor general, and 3 clergy, in consultation with judges of the Supreme Court; president appointed for a single, renewable 5-year term; other judges appointed by the HJC; judge tenure NA subordinate courts: Penal Courts I and II; Islamic Revolutionary Courts; Courts of Peace; Special Clerical Court (functions outside the judicial system and handles cases involving clerics); military courts Political parties and leaders: Combatant Clergy Association (an active political group) Executives of Construction Party Followers of the Guardianship of the Jurisprudent [Ali LARIJANI] Front of Islamic Revolutionary Stability [Morteza AGHA-TEHRANI, general secretary] Islamic Coalition Party Islamic Iran Participation Front [associated with former President Mohammed KHATAMI] Islamic Law Party Militant Clerics Society Moderation and Development Party National Trust Party National Unity Party Pervasive Coalition of Reformists [Ali SUFI, chairman] (includes Council for Coordinating the Reforms Front, National Trust Party, Union of Islamic Iran People Party, Moderation and Development Party) Principlists Grand Coalition (includes Combatant Clergy Association and Islamic Coalition Party, Society of Devotees and Pathseekers of the Islamic Revolution, Front of Islamic Revolution Stability) Progress, Welfare, and Justice Front Progress and Justice Population of Islamic Iran or PJP [Hosein GHORBANZADEH, general secretary] Resistance Front of Islamic Iran [Yadollah HABIBI, general secretary] Steadfastness Front Union of Islamic Iran People's Party Wayfarers of the Islamic Revolution International organization participation: CICA, CP, D-8, ECO, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, SAARC (observer), SCO (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: none; Iran has an Interests Section in the Pakistani Embassy; address: Iranian Interests Section, Embassy of Pakistan, 1250 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20037; telephone: [1] (202) 965-4990; FAX [1] (202) 965-1073; info@daftar.org Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none; the US Interests Section is located in the Embassy of Switzerland; US Foreign Interests Section, Embassy of Switzerland, Pasdaran, Shahid Mousavi Street (Golestan 5th), Corner of Paydarfard Street, No. 55, Tehran Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; the national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah in the shape of a tulip, a symbol of martyrdom) in red is centered in the white band; ALLAH AKBAR (God is Great) in white Arabic script is repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and 11 times along the top edge of the red band; green is the color of Islam and also represents growth, white symbolizes honesty and peace, red stands for bravery and martyrdom National symbol(s): lion; national colors: green, white, red National anthem: name: "Soroud-e Melli-ye Jomhouri-ye Eslami-ye Iran" (National Anthem of the Islamic Republic of Iran) lyrics/music: multiple authors/Hassan RIAHI note 1: adopted 1990; Iran has had six national anthems; the first, entitled Salam-e Shah (Royal Salute) was in use from 1873-1909; next came Salamati-ye Dowlat-e Elliye-ye Iran (Salute of the Sublime State of Persia, 1909-1933); it was followed by Sorud-e melli (The Imperial Anthem of Iran; 1933-1979), which chronicled the exploits of the Pahlavi Dynasty; Ey Iran (Oh Iran) functioned unofficially as the national anthem for a brief period between the ouster of the Shah in 1979 and the early days of the Islamic Republic in 1980; Payandeh Bada Iran (Long Live Iran) was used between 1980 and 1990 during the time of Ayatollah KHOMEINI note 2: a recording of the current Iranian national anthem is unavailable since the US Navy Band does not record anthems for countries from which the US does not anticipate official visits; the US does not have diplomatic relations with Iran National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 26 (24 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Persepolis (c), Tchogha Zanbil (c), Bam and its Cultural Landscape (c), Golestan Palace (c), Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System (c), Pasargadae (c), Hyrcanian Forests (n), Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex (c), Meidan Emam, Esfahan (c), Bisotun (c) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Iran's economy is marked by statist policies, inefficiencies, and reliance on oil and gas exports, but Iran also possesses significant agricultural, industrial, and service sectors. The Iranian government directly owns and operates hundreds of state-owned enterprises and indirectly controls many companies affiliated with the country's security forces. Distortions - including corruption, price controls, subsidies, and a banking system holding billions of dollars of non-performing loans - weigh down the economy, undermining the potential for private-sector-led growth.   Private sector activity includes small-scale workshops, farming, some manufacturing, and services, in addition to medium-scale construction, cement production, mining, and metalworking. Significant informal market activity flourishes and corruption is widespread.   The lifting of most nuclear-related sanctions under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in January 2016 sparked a restoration of Iran’s oil production and revenue that drove rapid GDP growth, but economic growth declined in 2017 as oil production plateaued. The economy continues to suffer from low levels of investment and declines in productivity since before the JCPOA, and from high levels of unemployment, especially among women and college-educated Iranian youth.   In May 2017, the re-election of President Hasan RUHANI generated widespread public expectations that the economic benefits of the JCPOA would expand and reach all levels of society. RUHANI will need to implement structural reforms that strengthen the banking sector and improve Iran’s business climate to attract foreign investment and encourage the growth of the private sector. Sanctions that are not related to Iran’s nuclear program remain in effect, and these—plus fears over the possible re-imposition of nuclear-related sanctions—will continue to deter foreign investors from engaging with Iran.Iran's economy is marked by statist policies, inefficiencies, and reliance on oil and gas exports, but Iran also possesses significant agricultural, industrial, and service sectors. The Iranian government directly owns and operates hundreds of state-owned enterprises and indirectly controls many companies affiliated with the country's security forces. Distortions - including corruption, price controls, subsidies, and a banking system holding billions of dollars of non-performing loans - weigh down the economy, undermining the potential for private-sector-led growth. Private sector activity includes small-scale workshops, farming, some manufacturing, and services, in addition to medium-scale construction, cement production, mining, and metalworking. Significant informal market activity flourishes and corruption is widespread. The lifting of most nuclear-related sanctions under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in January 2016 sparked a restoration of Iran’s oil production and revenue that drove rapid GDP growth, but economic growth declined in 2017 as oil production plateaued. The economy continues to suffer from low levels of investment and declines in productivity since before the JCPOA, and from high levels of unemployment, especially among women and college-educated Iranian youth. In May 2017, the re-election of President Hasan RUHANI generated widespread public expectations that the economic benefits of the JCPOA would expand and reach all levels of society. RUHANI will need to implement structural reforms that strengthen the banking sector and improve Iran’s business climate to attract foreign investment and encourage the growth of the private sector. Sanctions that are not related to Iran’s nuclear program remain in effect, and these—plus fears over the possible re-imposition of nuclear-related sanctions—will continue to deter foreign investors from engaging with Iran. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $1,044,310,000,000 (2020 est.) $1,027,240,000,000 (2019 est.) $1.102 trillion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 3.7% (2017 est.) 12.5% (2016 est.) -1.6% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $12,400 (2020 est.) $12,400 (2019 est.) $13,500 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $581.252 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (2017 est.) 9.6% (2017 est.) 9.1% (2016 est.) note: official Iranian estimate GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 9.6% (2016 est.) industry: 35.3% (2016 est.) services: 55% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 49.7% (2017 est.) government consumption: 14% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 20.6% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 14.5% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 26% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -24.9% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: wheat, sugar cane, milk, sugar beet, tomatoes, barley, potatoes, oranges, poultry, apples Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, gas, fertilizer, caustic soda, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), ferrous and nonferrous metal fabrication, armaments Industrial production growth rate: 3% (2017 est.) Labor force: 30.5 million (2017 est.) note: shortage of skilled labor Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 16.3% industry: 35.1% services: 48.6% (2013 est.) Unemployment rate: 11.8% (2017 est.) 12.4% (2016 est.) note: data are Iranian Government numbers Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 23.7% male: 21.2% female: 36% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 18.7% (2007 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 40.8 (2017 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 29.6% (2005) Budget: revenues: 74.4 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 84.45 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -2.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 39.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 47.5% of GDP (2016 est.) note: includes publicly guaranteed debt Taxes and other revenues: 17.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: 21 March - 20 March Current account balance: $9.491 billion (2017 est.) $16.28 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $101.4 billion (2017 est.) $83.98 billion (2016 est.) Exports - partners: China 48%, India 12%, South Korea 8%, Turkey 6%, United Arab Emirates 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, polymers, industrial alcohols, iron, pistachios (2019) Imports: $76.39 billion (2017 est.) $63.14 billion (2016 est.) Imports - partners: China 28%, United Arab Emirates 20%, India 11%, Turkey 7%, Brazil 6%, Germany 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: rice, corn, broadcasting equipment, soybean products, beef (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $120.6 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $133.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $7.995 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $8.196 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: Iranian rials (IRR) per US dollar - 32,769.7 (2017 est.) 30,914.9 (2016 est.) 30,914.9 (2015 est.) 29,011.5 (2014 est.) 25,912 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 272.3 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 236.3 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 6.822 billion kWh (2015 est.) Electricity - imports: 4.221 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 77.6 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 84% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 15% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 4.251 million bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 750,200 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 157.2 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 1.764 million bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 1.804 million bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 397,200 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 64,160 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 214.5 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 206.9 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 11.64 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 3.993 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 33.72 trillion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 29,093,587 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 127,624,951 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 152 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: challenged by censorship and international sanctions; large, youthful, tech-savvy demographic with unmet demand; state-owned operators provided special offerings for services during pandemic, driving mobile broadband and deployment of 4G to nearly all of the population; government expanding fiber network and preparing for 5G to grow digital economy and smart city infrastructure; importer of broadcasting and computer equipment from UAE and China (2020) domestic: approximately 35 per 100 for fixed-line and 152 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions; investment by Iran's state-owned telecom company has greatly improved and expanded both the fixed-line and mobile cellular networks; a huge percentage of the cell phones in the market have been smuggled into the country (2020) international: country code - 98; landing points for Kuwait-Iran, GBICS & MENA, FALCON, OMRAN/3PEG Cable System, POI and UAE-Iran submarine fiber-optic cable to the Middle East, Africa and India; (TAE) fiber-optic line runs from Azerbaijan through the northern portion of Iran to Turkmenistan with expansion to Georgia and Azerbaijan; HF radio and microwave radio relay to Turkey, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Syria, Kuwait, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; satellite earth stations - 13 (9 Intelsat and 4 Inmarsat) (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: state-run broadcast media with no private, independent broadcasters; Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the state-run TV broadcaster, operates 19 nationwide channels including a news channel, about 34 provincial channels, and several international channels; about 20 foreign Persian-language TV stations broadcasting on satellite TV are capable of being seen in Iran; satellite dishes are illegal and, while their use is subjectively tolerated, authorities confiscate satellite dishes from time to time; IRIB operates 16 nationwide radio networks, a number of provincial stations, and an external service; most major international broadcasters transmit to Iran (2019) Internet country code: .ir Internet users: total: 75,594,081 (2020 est.) percent of population: 84% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 9,564,195 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 22 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 237 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 25,604,871 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 290.74 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: EP Airports: total: 319 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 140 over 3,047 m: 42 2,438 to 3,047 m: 29 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 36 under 914 m: 7 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 179 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 135 under 914 m: 32 (2021) Heliports: 26 (2021) Pipelines: 7 km condensate, 973 km condensate/gas, 20794 km gas, 570 km liquid petroleum gas, 8625 km oil, 7937 km refined products (2013) Railways: total: 8,484 km (2014) standard gauge: 8,389.5 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (189.5 km electrified) broad gauge: 94 km (2014) 1.676-m gauge Roadways: total: 223,485 km (2018) paved: 195,485 km (2018) unpaved: 28,000 km (2018) Waterways: 850 km (2012) (on Karun River; some navigation on Lake Urmia) Merchant marine: total: 893 by type: bulk carrier 32, container ship 31, general cargo 371, oil tanker 84, other 375 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Bandar-e Asaluyeh, Bandar Abbas, Bandar-e Emam Khomeyni container port(s) (TEUs): Bandar Abbas Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Islamic Republic of Iran Regular Forces (Artesh): Ground Forces, Navy (includes marines), Air Force, Air Defense Forces; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (Sepah, IRGC): Ground Forces, Navy (includes marines), Aerospace Force (controls strategic missile force), Qods Force (aka Quds Force; special operations), Cyber Electronic Command, Basij Paramilitary Forces (Popular Mobilization Army); Law Enforcement Forces (border and security troops, assigned to the armed forces in wartime) (2022) note(s) - the Artesh Navy operates Iran’s larger warships and operates in the Gulf of Oman, the Caspian Sea, and deep waters in the region and beyond; the IRGC Navy has responsibility for the closer-in Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz; the Basij is a volunteer paramilitary group with local organizations across the country, which sometimes acts as an auxiliary law enforcement unit subordinate to IRGC ground forces Military expenditures: 2.3% of GDP (2021 est.) 2.1% of GDP (2020 est.) 2.5% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $22.8 billion) 3.4% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $29.1 billion) 3.4% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $31.2 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 550-600,000 total active personnel; approximately 400,000 Islamic Republic of Iran Regular Forces (350,000 Ground Forces; 18,000 Navy; 40,000 Air Force/Air Defense Forces); approximately 150-190,000 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (100-150,000 Ground Forces; 20,000 Navy; 15,000 Aerospace Force; 5-15,000 Qods Force); est. 90,000 active Basij Paramilitary Forces (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Iranian military's inventory includes a mix of domestically-produced and mostly older foreign equipment largely of Chinese, Russian, Soviet, and US origin (US equipment acquired prior to the Islamic Revolution in 1979); Iran has also received some military equipment from North Korea, including midget submarines and ballistic missiles; Iran has a defense industry with the capacity to develop, produce, support, and sustain air, land, missile, and naval weapons programs (2021) note - in 2020, the UN lifted a 2010 embargo on exports of most types of major arms to Iran" Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for volunteers; 17 years of age for Law Enforcement Forces; 15 years of age for Basij Forces (Popular Mobilization Army); conscript military service obligation is 18-24 months, depending on the location of service (soldiers serving in places of high security risk and deprived areas serve shorter terms); women exempt from military service (2021) note - as of 2019, approximately 80% of Artesh ground forces personnel were conscripts, while Navy and Air/Air Defense Force personnel were primarily volunteers; conscripts reportedly comprised more than 50 percent of the IRGC (most volunteers were reportedly recruited from the Basij Forces) Military deployments: estimated 1-3,000 Syria (2022) note - Iran has recruited, trained, and funded thousands of Syrian and foreign fighters to support the ASAD regime during the Syrian civil war Military - note: the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was formed in May 1979 in the immediate aftermath of Shah Mohammad Reza PAHLAVI’s fall, as leftists, nationalists, and Islamists jockeyed for power; while the interim prime minister controlled the government and state institutions, such as the Army, followers of Ayatollah Ruhollah KHOMEINI organized counterweights, including the IRGC, to protect the Islamic revolution; the IRGC’s command structure bypassed the elected president and went directly to KHOMEINI; the Iran-Iraq War (1980–88) transformed the IRGC into more of a conventional fighting force with its own ground, air, naval, and special forces, plus control over Iran’s strategic missile and rocket forces; as of 2022, the IRGC was a highly institutionalized and parallel military force to Iran’s regular armed forces (Artesh); it was heavily involved in internal security and had significant influence in the political and economic spheres of Iranian society, as well as Iran’s foreign policy; its special operations forces, known as the Qods/Quds Force, specialized in foreign missions and has provided advice, funding, guidance, material support, training, and weapons to militants in countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, as well as extremist groups, including HAMAS, Hizballah, Kata’ib Hizballah, and Palestine Islamic Jihad (see Appendix-T for additional details on the IRGC and Qods Force); the Qods Force also conducts intelligence and reconnaissance operations  the Supreme Council for National Security (SCNS) is the senior-most body for formulating Iran’s foreign and security policy; it is formally chaired by the president, who also appoints the SCNS secretary; its members include the speaker of the Majles, the head of the judiciary, the chief of the Armed Forces General Staff (chief of defense or CHOD), the commanders of the Artesh (regular forces) and IRGC, and the ministers of defense, foreign affairs, interior, and intelligence; the SCNS reports to the supreme leader; the supreme leader is the commander-in-chief of the armed forcesthe Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was formed in May 1979 in the immediate aftermath of Shah Mohammad Reza PAHLAVI’s fall, as leftists, nationalists, and Islamists jockeyed for power; while the interim prime minister controlled the government and state institutions, such as the Army, followers of Ayatollah Ruhollah KHOMEINI organized counterweights, including the IRGC, to protect the Islamic revolution; the IRGC’s command structure bypassed the elected president and went directly to KHOMEINI; the Iran-Iraq War (1980–88) transformed the IRGC into more of a conventional fighting force with its own ground, air, naval, and special forces, plus control over Iran’s strategic missile and rocket forces; as of 2022, the IRGC was a highly institutionalized and parallel military force to Iran’s regular armed forces (Artesh); it was heavily involved in internal security and had significant influence in the political and economic spheres of Iranian society, as well as Iran’s foreign policy; its special operations forces, known as the Qods/Quds Force, specialized in foreign missions and has provided advice, funding, guidance, material support, training, and weapons to militants in countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, as well as extremist groups, including HAMAS, Hizballah, Kata’ib Hizballah, and Palestine Islamic Jihad (see Appendix-T for additional details on the IRGC and Qods Force); the Qods Force also conducts intelligence and reconnaissance operations the Supreme Council for National Security (SCNS) is the senior-most body for formulating Iran’s foreign and security policy; it is formally chaired by the president, who also appoints the SCNS secretary; its members include the speaker of the Majles, the head of the judiciary, the chief of the Armed Forces General Staff (chief of defense or CHOD), the commanders of the Artesh (regular forces) and IRGC, and the ministers of defense, foreign affairs, interior, and intelligence; the SCNS reports to the supreme leader; the supreme leader is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces Maritime threats: the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2022-003 Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Red Sea-Threats to US and International Shipping from Iran) effective 28 February 2022, which states in part that "heightened military activities and increased political tensions in this region continue to present risk to commercial shipping...there is a continued possibility that Iran and/or its regional proxies could take actions against US and partner interests in the region;" Coalition Task Force (CTF) Sentinel has been established to provide escorts for commercial shipping transiting the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Omanthe Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2022-003 Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Red Sea-Threats to US and International Shipping from Iran) effective 28 February 2022, which states in part that "heightened military activities and increased political tensions in this region continue to present risk to commercial shipping...there is a continued possibility that Iran and/or its regional proxies could take actions against US and partner interests in the region;" Coalition Task Force (CTF) Sentinel has been established to provide escorts for commercial shipping transiting the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Jaysh al Adl (Jundallah); Kurdistan Workers' Party; 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: Iran protests Afghanistan's limiting flow of dammed Helmand River tributaries during drought; Iraq's lack of a maritime boundary with Iran prompts jurisdiction disputes beyond the mouth of the Shatt al Arab in the Persian Gulf; Iran and UAE dispute Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island, which are occupied by Iran; Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratified Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance, while Iran continues to insist on a one-fifth slice of the sea; Afghan and Iranian commissioners have discussed boundary monument densification and resurveyIran protests Afghanistan's limiting flow of dammed Helmand River tributaries during drought; Iraq's lack of a maritime boundary with Iran prompts jurisdiction disputes beyond the mouth of the Shatt al Arab in the Persian Gulf; Iran and UAE dispute Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island, which are occupied by Iran; Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratified Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance, while Iran continues to insist on a one-fifth slice of the sea; Afghan and Iranian commissioners have discussed boundary monument densification and resurvey Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 2.6 million undocumented Afghans, 780,000 Afghan refugee card holders, 20,000 Iraqi refugee card holders (2020) stateless persons: 34 (mid-year 2021) Trafficking in persons: current situation: Iran is a presumed source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; Iranian and Afghan boys and girls are forced into prostitution domestically; Iranian women are subjected to sex trafficking in Iran, Pakistan, the Persian Gulf, and Europe; Azerbaijani women and children are also sexually exploited in Iran; Afghan migrants and refugees and Pakistani men and women are subjected to conditions of forced labor in Iran; NGO reports indicate that criminal organizations play a significant role in human trafficking in Iran tier rating: Tier 3 — Iran does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; therefore, Iran remained in Tier 3; the government continued a policy of recruiting and using child soldiers, government officials perpetrated sex trafficking of adults and children and continued trafficking both in Iran and overseas; the government continued to force or coerce children and adults to fight for Iranian-led militias operating in Syria and provided financial support to militias fighting in armed conflicts in the region using child soldiers; authorities failed to identify and protect trafficking victims among vulnerable populations; law enforcement treated trafficking victims as criminals, facing severe punishment or death for unlawful acts traffickers compelled them to commit (2020) Illicit drugs: significant transit and destination country for opiates and cannabis products mainly from Afghanistan; produces and consumes methamphetamine and traffics it to  international markets; one of the primary transshipment routes for Southwest Asian heroin to Europesignificant transit and destination country for opiates and cannabis products mainly from Afghanistan; produces and consumes methamphetamine and traffics it to  international markets; one of the primary transshipment routes for Southwest Asian heroin to Europe

20220601

countries-denmark

Topic: Photos of Denmark Topic: Introduction Background: Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is participating in the general political and economic integration of Europe. It joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the EU) in 1973. However, the country has opted out of certain elements of the EU's Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economic and Monetary Union, European defense cooperation, and issues concerning certain justice and home affairs.Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is participating in the general political and economic integration of Europe. It joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the EU) in 1973. However, the country has opted out of certain elements of the EU's Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economic and Monetary Union, European defense cooperation, and issues concerning certain justice and home affairs.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes several major islands (Sjaelland, Fyn, and Bornholm) Geographic coordinates: 56 00 N, 10 00 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 43,094 sq km land: 42,434 sq km water: 660 sq km note: includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest of metropolitan Denmark (the Jutland Peninsula, and the major islands of Sjaelland and Fyn), but excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts; about two-thirds the size of West Virginia Land boundaries: total: 140 km border countries (1): Germany 140 km Coastline: 7,314 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation Climate: temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers Terrain: low and flat to gently rolling plains Elevation: highest point: Store Mollehoj 171 m lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m mean elevation: 34 m Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish, arable land, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel and sand Land use: agricultural land: 63.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 58.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 4.4% (2018 est.) forest: 12.9% (2018 est.) other: 23.7% (2018 est.) note: highest percentage of arable land for any country in the world Irrigated land: 4,350 sq km (2012) Population distribution: with excellent access to the North Sea, Skagerrak, Kattegat, and the Baltic Sea, population centers tend to be along coastal areas, particularly in Copenhagen and the eastern side of the country's mainland Natural hazards: flooding 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 Geography - note: composed of the Jutland Peninsula and a group of more than 400 islands (Danish Archipelago); controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in greater Copenhagen Map description: Denmark map showing major cities and the country in relation to neighboring countries and water bodies.Denmark map showing major cities and the country in relation to neighboring countries and water bodies. Topic: People and Society Population: 5,920,767 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Dane(s) adjective: Danish Ethnic groups: Danish (includes Greenlandic (who are predominantly Inuit) and Faroese) 85.6%, Turkish 1.1%, other 13.3% (largest groups are Polish, Syrian, Romanian, German, and Iraqi) (2022 est.) note: data represent population by ancestry Languages: Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority); note - English is the predominant second language major-language sample(s): Verdens Faktabog, den uundværlig kilde til grundlæggende oplysninger. (Danish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Evangelical Lutheran (official) 74.7%, Muslim 5.5%, other/none/unspecified (denominations of less than 1% each in descending order of size include Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Serbian Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Baptist, Buddhist, Church of Jesus Christ, Pentecostal, and nondenominational Christian) 19.8% (2019 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 16.42% (male 494,806/female 469,005) 15-24 years: 12.33% (male 370,557/female 352,977) 25-54 years: 38.71% (male 1,149,991/female 1,122,016) 55-64 years: 12.63% (male 370,338/female 371,149) 65 years and over: 19.91% (2020 est.) (male 538,096/female 630,475) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 57.3 youth dependency ratio: 25.6 elderly dependency ratio: 31.7 potential support ratio: 3.2 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 42 years male: 40.9 years female: 43.1 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.44% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 11.22 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 9.52 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 2.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: with excellent access to the North Sea, Skagerrak, Kattegat, and the Baltic Sea, population centers tend to be along coastal areas, particularly in Copenhagen and the eastern side of the country's mainland Urbanization: urban population: 88.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 1.370 million COPENHAGEN (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 29.7 years (2019 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 4 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 3.04 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.49 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 81.66 years male: 79.74 years female: 83.71 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.77 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: 10% (2019) Physicians density: 4.01 physicians/1,000 population (2016) 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 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 6,700 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <100 note: estimate does not include children Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 19.7% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 7.8% of GDP (2017) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 19 years male: 18 years female: 19 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 11.6% male: 12.6% female: 10.6% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: air pollution, principally from vehicle and power plant emissions; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; drinking and surface water becoming polluted from animal wastes and pesticides; much of country's household and industrial waste is recycled 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 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: Antarctic-Environmental Protection Air pollutants: particulate 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.) Climate: temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers Land use: agricultural land: 63.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 58.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 4.4% (2018 est.) forest: 12.9% (2018 est.) other: 23.7% (2018 est.) note: highest percentage of arable land for any country in the world Urbanization: urban population: 88.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.02% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal 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.) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 381.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 32.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 326.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 6 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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 Government type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy Capital: name: Copenhagen geographic coordinates: 55 40 N, 12 35 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; note - applies to continental Denmark only, not to its North Atlantic components etymology: name derives from the city's Danish appellation Kobenhavn, meaning "Merchant's Harbor" Administrative divisions: metropolitan Denmark - 5 regions (regioner, singular - region); Hovedstaden (Capital), Midtjylland (Central Jutland), Nordjylland (North Jutland), Sjaelland (Zealand), Syddanmark (Southern Denmark) Independence: ca. 965 (unified and Christianized under HARALD I Gormsson); 5 June 1849 (became a parliamentary constitutional monarchy) National holiday: Constitution Day, 5 June (1849); note - closest equivalent to a national holiday Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 5 June 1953 amendments: proposed by the Folketing with consent of the government; passage requires approval by the next Folketing following a general election, approval by simple majority vote of at least 40% of voters in a referendum, and assent of the chief of state; changed several times, last in 2009 (Danish Act of Succession) Legal system: civil law; judicial review of legislative acts 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 Denmark dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972); Heir Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK (elder son of the monarch, born on 26 May 1968) head of government: Prime Minister Mette FREDERIKSEN (since 27 June 2019) cabinet: Council of State appointed by the monarch elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch Legislative branch: description: unicameral People's Assembly or Folketing (179 seats, including 2 each representing Greenland and the Faroe Islands; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms unless the Folketing is dissolved earlier) elections: last held on 5 June 2019 (next to be held in June 2023) election results: percent of vote by party - SDP 25.9%, V 23.4%, DF 8.7%, SLP 8.6%, SF 7.7%, EL 6.9%, C 6.6%, AP 3.0%, NB 2.4%, LA 2.3%; seats by party - SDP 48, V 43, DF 16, SLP 16, SF 14, EL 13, C 12, AP 5, NB 4, LA 4; composition (as of September 2021) - men 108, women 71 (includes 2 from Greenland), percent of women 39.7% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 18 judges) judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the monarch upon the recommendation of the Minister of Justice, with the advice of the Judicial Appointments Council, a 6-member independent body of judges and lawyers; judges appointed for life with retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: Special Court of Indictment and Revision; 2 High Courts; Maritime and Commercial Court; county courts Political parties and leaders: The Alternative AP (Franciska ROSENKILDE) Conservative People's Party or DKF or C [Soren PAPE POULSEN] Danish People's Party or DF or O [Kristian THULESEN DAHL] Liberal Alliance or LA or I [Alex VANOPSLAGH] Liberal Party (Venstre) or V [Jakob ELLEMANN-JENSEN] New Right Party or NB or D [Pernille VERMUND] Red-Green Alliance (Unity List) or EL [collective leadership, Mai VILLADSEN, spokesperson] Social Democrats or SDP or A [Mette FREDERIKSEN] Social Liberal Party or SLP or B [Sofie CARSTEN NIELSEN] Socialist People's Party or SF or F [Pia OLSEN DYHR] 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), ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lone Dencker WISBORG (since 8 April 2019) chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300 FAX: [1] (202) 328-1470 email address and website: wasamb@um.dk https://usa.um.dk/en consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, Silicon Valley (CA) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Stuart A. DWYER (since 20 January 2021) embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Kobenhavn 0 mailing address: 5280 Copenhagen Place, Washington DC  20521-5280 telephone: [45] 33-41-71-00 FAX: [45] 35-43-02-23 email address and website: CopenhagenACS@state.gov https://dk.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side; the banner is referred to as the Dannebrog (Danish flag) and is one of the oldest national flags in the world; traditions as to the origin of the flag design vary, but the best known is a legend that the banner fell from the sky during an early-13th century battle; caught up by the Danish king before it ever touched the earth, this heavenly talisman inspired the royal army to victory; in actuality, the flag may derive from a crusade banner or ensign note: the shifted cross design element was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, as well as by the Faroe Islands National symbol(s): lion, mute swan; national colors: red, white National anthem: name: "Der er et yndigt land" (There is a Lovely Country); "Kong Christian" (King Christian) lyrics/music: Adam Gottlob OEHLENSCHLAGER/Hans Ernst KROYER; Johannes EWALD/unknown note: Denmark has two national anthems with equal status; "Der er et yndigt land," adopted 1844, is a national anthem, while "Kong Christian," adopted 1780, serves as both a national and royal anthem; "Kong Christian" is also known as "Kong Christian stod ved hojen mast" (King Christian Stood by the Lofty Mast) and "Kongesangen" (The King's Anthem); within Denmark, the royal anthem is played only when royalty is present and is usually followed by the national anthem; when royalty is not present, only the national anthem is performed; outside Denmark, the royal anthem is played, unless the national anthem is requested National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 10 (7 cultural, 3 natural); note - includes three sites in Greenland selected World Heritage Site locales: Denmark: Mounds, Runic Stones, and Church at Jelling (c); Roskilde Cathedral (c); Kronborg Castle (c); Wadden Sea (n); Stevns Klint (n); Christiansfeld, Moravian Church Settlement (c); Par force hunting landscape, North Zealand (c); Greenland: Ilulissat Icefjord (n); Kujataa, Norse and Inuit Farming (c); Aasivissuit–Nipisat, Inuit Hunting Ground (c) Topic: Economy Economic overview: This thoroughly modern market economy features advanced industry with world-leading firms in pharmaceuticals, maritime shipping, and renewable energy, and a high-tech agricultural sector. Danes enjoy a high standard of living, and the Danish economy is characterized by extensive government welfare measures and an equitable distribution of income. An aging population will be a long-term issue.   Denmark’s small open economy is highly dependent on foreign trade, and the government strongly supports trade liberalization. Denmark is a net exporter of food, oil, and gas and enjoys a comfortable balance of payments surplus, but depends on imports of raw materials for the manufacturing sector.   Denmark is a member of the EU but not the eurozone. Despite previously meeting the criteria to join the European Economic and Monetary Union, Denmark has negotiated an opt-out with the EU and is not required to adopt the euro.   Denmark is experiencing a modest economic expansion. The economy grew by 2.0% in 2016 and 2.1% in 2017. The expansion is expected to decline slightly in 2018. Unemployment stood at 5.5% in 2017, based on the national labor survey. The labor market was tight in 2017, with corporations experiencing some difficulty finding appropriately-skilled workers to fill billets. The Danish Government offers extensive programs to train unemployed persons to work in sectors that need qualified workers.   Denmark maintained a healthy budget surplus for many years up to 2008, but the global financial crisis swung the budget balance into deficit. Since 2014 the balance has shifted between surplus and deficit. In 2017 there was a surplus of 1.0%. The government projects a lower deficit in 2018 and 2019 of 0.7%, and public debt (EMU debt) as a share of GDP is expected to decline to 35.6% in 2018 and 34.8% in 2019. The Danish Government plans to address increasing municipal, public housing and integration spending in 2018.This thoroughly modern market economy features advanced industry with world-leading firms in pharmaceuticals, maritime shipping, and renewable energy, and a high-tech agricultural sector. Danes enjoy a high standard of living, and the Danish economy is characterized by extensive government welfare measures and an equitable distribution of income. An aging population will be a long-term issue. Denmark’s small open economy is highly dependent on foreign trade, and the government strongly supports trade liberalization. Denmark is a net exporter of food, oil, and gas and enjoys a comfortable balance of payments surplus, but depends on imports of raw materials for the manufacturing sector. Denmark is a member of the EU but not the eurozone. Despite previously meeting the criteria to join the European Economic and Monetary Union, Denmark has negotiated an opt-out with the EU and is not required to adopt the euro. Denmark is experiencing a modest economic expansion. The economy grew by 2.0% in 2016 and 2.1% in 2017. The expansion is expected to decline slightly in 2018. Unemployment stood at 5.5% in 2017, based on the national labor survey. The labor market was tight in 2017, with corporations experiencing some difficulty finding appropriately-skilled workers to fill billets. The Danish Government offers extensive programs to train unemployed persons to work in sectors that need qualified workers. Denmark maintained a healthy budget surplus for many years up to 2008, but the global financial crisis swung the budget balance into deficit. Since 2014 the balance has shifted between surplus and deficit. In 2017 there was a surplus of 1.0%. The government projects a lower deficit in 2018 and 2019 of 0.7%, and public debt (EMU debt) as a share of GDP is expected to decline to 35.6% in 2018 and 34.8% in 2019. The Danish Government plans to address increasing municipal, public housing and integration spending in 2018. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $326.2 billion (2020 est.) $335.36 billion (2019 est.) $326.07 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 2.85% (2019 est.) 2.18% (2018 est.) 2.83% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $55,900 (2020 est.) $57,700 (2019 est.) $56,300 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $350.037 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.7% (2019 est.) 0.8% (2018 est.) 1.1% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: AAA (2003) Moody's rating: Aaa (1999) Standard & Poors rating: AAA (2001) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 1.3% (2017 est.) industry: 22.9% (2017 est.) services: 75.8% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 48% (2017 est.) government consumption: 25.2% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 20% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: -0.2% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 54.5% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -47.5% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: milk, wheat, barley, potatoes, sugar beet, pork, rye, rapeseed, oats, poultry Industries: wind turbines, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, shipbuilding and refurbishment, iron, steel, nonferrous metals, chemicals, food processing, machinery and transportation equipment, textiles and clothing, electronics, construction, furniture and other wood products Industrial production growth rate: 2.5% (2017 est.) Labor force: 2.736 million (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 2.4% industry: 18.3% services: 79.3% (2016 est.) Unemployment rate: 3.05% (2019 est.) 3.07% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 11.6% male: 12.6% female: 10.6% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 12.5% (2018 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 28.7 (2017 est.) 27.5 (2010 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 9% highest 10%: 23.4% (2016 est.) Budget: revenues: 172.5 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 168.9 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 1.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 35.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 37.9% 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 intra-governmental 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% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: $30.935 billion (2019 est.) $24.821 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $191.53 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $204.14 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $200.81 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Germany 14%, United States 11%, Sweden 10%, United Kingdom 7%, Norway 6%, Netherlands 5%, China 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: packaged medicines, electric generators, pork, refined petroleum, medical cultures/vaccines (2019) Imports: $170.33 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $178.44 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $179.95 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Germany 21%, Sweden 11%, Netherlands 8%, China 7% (2019) Imports - commodities: cars, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, crude petroleum, broadcasting equipment (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $75.25 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $64.25 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $504.808 billion (2019 est.) $517.972 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 6.16045 (2020 est.) 6.7506 (2019 est.) 6.5533 (2018 est.) 6.7236 (2014 est.) 5.6125 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 29.84 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 33.02 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 9.919 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 14.98 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 14.34 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 46% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 54% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 115,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 82,980 bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - imports: 98,240 bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 439 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 183,900 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 158,500 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 133,700 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 109,700 bbl/day (2017 est.) Natural gas - production: 4.842 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 3.115 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 2.237 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 509.7 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 12.86 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 734,436 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 7,252,675 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 125 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Denmark has one of the highest broadband penetration rates globally, with near universal availability of superfast connections; progressive regulator encouraged upgrades to cable and DSL infrastructure; fast growing fiber networks with aim for nation-wide build-out; comprehensive LTE with 90% coverage of 5G; operator expands NB-IoT across its LTE network; survey underway for cable connecting Denmark to Norway; upgrades to submarine cable connection to North America; importer of broadcasting equipment from EU neighbors (2020) domestic: fixed-line roughly 16 per 100 and about 123 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2020) international: country code - 45; landing points for the NSC, COBRAcable, CANTAT-3, DANICE, Havfrue/AEC-2, TAT-14m Denmark-Norway-5 & 6, Skagenfiber West & East, GC1, GC2, GC3, GC-KPN, Kattegat 1 & 2 & 3, Energinet Lyngsa-Laeso, Energinet Laeso-Varberg, Fehmarn Balt, Baltica, German-Denmark 2 & 3, Ronne-Rodvig, Denmark-Sweden 15 & 16 & 17 & 18, IP-Only Denmark-Sweden, Scandinavian South, Scandinavian Ring North, Danica North, 34 series of fiber-optic submarine cables link Denmark with Canada, Faroe Islands, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, US and UK; satellite earth stations - 18 (6 Intelsat, 10 Eutelsat, 1 Orion, 1 Inmarsat (Blaavand-Atlantic-East)); note - the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) share the Danish earth station and the Eik, Norway, station for worldwide Inmarsat access (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: strong public-sector TV presence with state-owned Danmarks Radio (DR) operating 6 channels and publicly owned TV2 operating roughly a half-dozen channels; broadcasts of privately owned stations are available via satellite and cable feed; DR operates 4 nationwide FM radio stations, 10 digital audio broadcasting stations, and 14 web-based radio stations; 140 commercial and 187 community (non-commercial) radio stations (2019) Internet country code: .dk Internet users: total: 5,656,462 (2020 est.) percent of population: 97% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 2,590,282 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 45 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 10 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 76 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 582,011 (2015) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0 (2015) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: OY Airports: total: 80 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 28 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 2 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 52 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 47 (2021) Pipelines: 1536 km gas, 330 km oil (2015) Railways: total: 3,476 km (2017) standard gauge: 3,476 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (1,756 km electrified) Roadways: total: 74,558 km (2017) paved: 74,558 km (2017) (includes 1,205 km of expressways) Waterways: 400 km (2010) Merchant marine: total: 717 by type: bulk carrier 8, container ship 148, general cargo 68, oil tanker 105, other 388 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Baltic Sea - Aarhus, Copenhagen, Fredericia, Kalundborg cruise port(s): Copenhagen river port(s): Aalborg (Langerak) dry bulk cargo port(s): Ensted (coal) North Sea - Esbjerg, Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Danish Armed Forces (Forsvaret): Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air Force, Danish Home Guard (Reserves) (2022) note - the Danish military maintains a Joint Arctic Command with the mission of protecting the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark in the Arctic Region, including the Faroe Islands and Greenland; the command also conducts maritime pollution prevention, environmental monitoring, fishery inspections, search and rescue, hydrographical surveys, and provides support to governmental science missions Military expenditures: 1.4% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2020) 1.3% of GDP (2019) (approximately $5.02 billion) 1.3% of GDP (2018) (approximately $4.8 billion) 1.1% of GDP (2017) (approximately $4.11 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: the Danish military has approximately 17,000 active duty personnel (9,000 Army; 3,000 Navy; 3,000 Air Force; 2,000 other) (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Danish military inventory is comprised of a mix of modern European, US, and domestically-produced equipment; the US is the largest supplier of military equipment to Denmark since 2010; the Danish defense industry is active in the production of naval vessels, defense electronics, and subcomponents of larger weapons systems, such as the US F-35 fighter aircraft (2022) Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscripts serve an initial training period that varies from 4 to 12 months depending on specialization; former conscripts are assigned to mobilization units; women eligible to volunteer for military service; in addition to full time employment, the Danish Military offers reserve contracts in all three branches (2021) note(s) - women have been able serve in all military occupations, including combat arms, since 1988; as of 2019, they made up about 8% of the military's full-time personnel; conscientious objectors can choose to instead serve 6 months in a non-military position, for example in Beredskabsstyrelsen (dealing with non-military disasters like fires, flood, pollution, etc.) or overseas foreign aid work Military deployments: approximately 200 Baltics (NATO); approximately 100 Middle East/Iraq (NATO) (2022) note - in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries, including Denmark, have sent additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe Military - note: Denmark is a member of NATO and was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949 Denmark is a member of the EU, but opted out of the EU’s Common Defense and Security Policy, and therefore does not participate in EU military operations or in the cooperation on development and acquisition of military capabilities within the EU framework the Danish Armed Forces cooperate closely 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 in 2018, the Defense Ministers of Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the creation of a Composite Special Operations Component Command (C-SOCC); the C-SOCC was declared operational in December 2020 (2022)the Danish Armed Forces cooperate closely 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 in 2018, the Defense Ministers of Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the creation of a Composite Special Operations Component Command (C-SOCC); the C-SOCC was declared operational in December 2020 Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force 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: Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm; sovereignty dispute with Canada over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland; Denmark (Greenland) and Norway have made submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) and Russia is collecting additional data to augment its 2001 CLCS submissionIceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm; sovereignty dispute with Canada over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland; Denmark (Greenland) and Norway have made submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) and Russia is collecting additional data to augment its 2001 CLCS submission Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 19,833 (Syria), 5,634 (Eritrea) (mid-year 2021) stateless persons: 11,608 (mid-year 2021)

20220601

countries-colombia-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens Reconsider Travel due to crime, terrorism, and COVID-19. Exercise increased caution due to civil unrest and kidnapping. 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. US Embassy/Consulate: [57] (1) 275-2000; US Embassy in Bogota, Carrera 45 No. 24B-27 Bogotá, D.C. Colombia; https://co.usembassy.gov/; ACSBogota@state.gov Telephone Code: 57 Local Emergency Phone: 119 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 and eastern plains; cooler in highlands Currency (Code): Pesos (COP) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 110 V / 60 Hz / plug types(s): A, B Major Languages: Spanish Major Religions: Roman Catholic 79%, Protestant 14% Time Difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested; additionally, if you plan to drive in Colombia, you will need an Inter-American Driving Permit issued by the AAA Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Salt Cathedral; Tayrona National Park; Monserrate; Santuario de Las Lajas; Los Nevados National Park; Cartagena; Cano Cristales; Qhapaq Nan/Andean Road System; San Agustin Archaeological Park; National Archeological Park of Tierradentro Major Sports: Soccer, boxing, shooting sports, taekwondo, wrestling, tejo (involves throwing a disc at a small target) Cultural Practices: Roses are well-received gifts in Colombia, but marigolds and lilies are disliked because of their association with funerals. Tipping Guidelines: A 10% tip is common at restaurants. Taxi drivers are rarely tipped. An appropriate tip for a porter/bellboy is about $1 (USD) per bag. It is also good tipping etiquette to leave a small gratuity of about $1-2 (USD) per day for housekeeping.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, March 25, 2022

20220601

field-nationality

This entry provides the identifying terms for citizens - noun and adjective. Topic: Afghanistannoun: Afghan(s) adjective: Afghan Topic: Albanianoun: Albanian(s) adjective: Albanian Topic: Algerianoun: Algerian(s) adjective: Algerian Topic: American Samoanoun: American Samoan(s) (US nationals) adjective: American Samoan Topic: Andorranoun: Andorran(s) adjective: Andorran Topic: Angolanoun: Angolan(s) adjective: Angolan Topic: Anguillanoun: Anguillan(s) adjective: Anguillan Topic: Antigua and Barbudanoun: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s) adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan Topic: Argentinanoun: Argentine(s) adjective: Argentine Topic: Armenianoun: Armenian(s) adjective: Armenian Topic: Arubanoun: Aruban(s) adjective: Aruban; Dutch Topic: Australianoun: Australian(s) adjective: Australian Topic: Austrianoun: Austrian(s) adjective: Austrian Topic: Azerbaijannoun: Azerbaijani(s) adjective: Azerbaijani Topic: Bahamas, Thenoun: Bahamian(s) adjective: Bahamian Topic: Bahrainnoun: Bahraini(s) adjective: Bahraini Topic: Bangladeshnoun: Bangladeshi(s) adjective: Bangladeshi Topic: Barbadosnoun: Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial) adjective: Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial) Topic: Belarusnoun: Belarusian(s) adjective: Belarusian Topic: Belgiumnoun: Belgian(s) adjective: Belgian Topic: Belizenoun: Belizean(s) adjective: Belizean Topic: Beninnoun: Beninese (singular and plural) adjective: Beninese Topic: Bermudanoun: Bermudian(s) adjective: Bermudian Topic: Bhutannoun: Bhutanese (singular and plural) adjective: Bhutanese Topic: Bolivianoun: Bolivian(s) adjective: Bolivian Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinanoun: Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s) adjective: Bosnian, Herzegovinian Topic: Botswananoun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural) adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural) Topic: Brazilnoun: Brazilian(s) adjective: Brazilian Topic: British Virgin Islandsnoun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander Topic: Bruneinoun: Bruneian(s) adjective: Bruneian Topic: Bulgarianoun: Bulgarian(s) adjective: Bulgarian Topic: Burkina Fasonoun: Burkinabe (singular and plural) adjective: Burkinabe Topic: Burmanoun: Burmese (singular and plural) adjective: Burmese Topic: Burundinoun: Burundian(s) adjective: Burundian Topic: Cabo Verdenoun: Cabo Verdean(s) adjective: Cabo Verdean Topic: Cambodianoun: Cambodian(s) adjective: Cambodian Topic: Cameroonnoun: Cameroonian(s) adjective: Cameroonian Topic: Canadanoun: Canadian(s) adjective: Canadian Topic: Cayman Islandsnoun: Caymanian(s) adjective: Caymanian Topic: Central African Republicnoun: Central African(s) adjective: Central African Topic: Chadnoun: Chadian(s) adjective: Chadian Topic: Chilenoun: Chilean(s) adjective: Chilean Topic: Chinanoun: Chinese (singular and plural) adjective: Chinese Topic: Christmas Islandnoun: Christmas Islander(s) adjective: Christmas Island Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandsnoun: Cocos Islander(s) adjective: Cocos Islander Topic: Colombianoun: Colombian(s) adjective: Colombian Topic: Comorosnoun: Comoran(s) adjective: Comoran Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thenoun: Congolese (singular and plural) adjective: Congolese or Congo Topic: Congo, Republic of thenoun: Congolese (singular and plural) adjective: Congolese or Congo Topic: Cook Islandsnoun: Cook Islander(s) adjective: Cook Islander Topic: Costa Ricanoun: Costa Rican(s) adjective: Costa Rican Topic: Cote d'Ivoirenoun: Ivoirian(s) adjective: Ivoirian Topic: Croatianoun: Croat(s), Croatian(s) adjective: Croatian note: the French designation of "Croate" to Croatian mercenaries in the 17th century eventually became "Cravate" and later came to be applied to the soldiers' scarves - the cravat; Croatia celebrates Cravat Day every 18 October Topic: Cubanoun: Cuban(s) adjective: Cuban Topic: Curacaonoun: Curacaoan adjective: Curacaoan; Dutch Topic: Cyprusnoun: Cypriot(s) adjective: Cypriot Topic: Czechianoun: Czech(s) adjective: Czech Topic: Denmarknoun: Dane(s) adjective: Danish Topic: Djiboutinoun: Djiboutian(s) adjective: Djiboutian Topic: Dominicanoun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican Topic: Dominican Republicnoun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican Topic: Ecuadornoun: Ecuadorian(s) adjective: Ecuadorian Topic: Egyptnoun: Egyptian(s) adjective: Egyptian Topic: El Salvadornoun: Salvadoran(s) adjective: Salvadoran Topic: Equatorial Guineanoun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s) adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean Topic: Eritreanoun: Eritrean(s) adjective: Eritrean Topic: Estonianoun: Estonian(s) adjective: Estonian Topic: Eswatininoun: liSwati (singular), emaSwati (plural); note - former term, Swazi(s), still used among English speakers adjective: Swati; note - former term, Swazi, still used among English speakers Topic: Ethiopianoun: Ethiopian(s) adjective: Ethiopian Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)noun: Falkland Islander(s) adjective: Falkland Island Topic: Faroe Islandsnoun: Faroese (singular and plural) adjective: Faroese Topic: Fijinoun: Fijian(s) adjective: Fijian Topic: Finlandnoun: Finn(s) adjective: Finnish Topic: Francenoun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women) adjective: French Topic: French Polynesianoun: French Polynesian(s) adjective: French Polynesian Topic: Gabonnoun: Gabonese (singular and plural) adjective: Gabonese Topic: Gambia, Thenoun: Gambian(s) adjective: Gambian Topic: Gaza Stripnoun: NA adjective: NA Topic: Georgianoun: Georgian(s) adjective: Georgian Topic: Germanynoun: German(s) adjective: German Topic: Ghananoun: Ghanaian(s) adjective: Ghanaian Topic: Gibraltarnoun: Gibraltarian(s) adjective: Gibraltar Topic: Greecenoun: Greek(s) adjective: Greek Topic: Greenlandnoun: Greenlander(s) adjective: Greenlandic Topic: Grenadanoun: Grenadian(s) adjective: Grenadian Topic: Guamnoun: Guamanian(s) (US citizens) adjective: Guamanian Topic: Guatemalanoun: Guatemalan(s) adjective: Guatemalan Topic: Guernseynoun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander Topic: Guineanoun: Guinean(s) adjective: Guinean Topic: Guinea-Bissaunoun: Bissau-Guinean(s) adjective: Bissau-Guinean Topic: Guyananoun: Guyanese (singular and plural) adjective: Guyanese Topic: Haitinoun: Haitian(s) adjective: Haitian Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)noun: none adjective: none Topic: Hondurasnoun: Honduran(s) adjective: Honduran Topic: Hong Kongnoun: Chinese/Hong Konger adjective: Chinese/Hong Kong Topic: Hungarynoun: Hungarian(s) adjective: Hungarian Topic: Icelandnoun: Icelander(s) adjective: Icelandic Topic: Indianoun: Indian(s) adjective: Indian Topic: Indonesianoun: Indonesian(s) adjective: Indonesian Topic: Irannoun: Iranian(s) adjective: Iranian Topic: Iraqnoun: Iraqi(s) adjective: Iraqi Topic: Irelandnoun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural) adjective: Irish Topic: Isle of Mannoun: Manxman(men), Manxwoman(women) adjective: Manx Topic: Israelnoun: Israeli(s) adjective: Israeli Topic: Italynoun: Italian(s) adjective: Italian Topic: Jamaicanoun: Jamaican(s) adjective: Jamaican Topic: Japannoun: Japanese (singular and plural) adjective: Japanese Topic: Jerseynoun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander Topic: Jordannoun: Jordanian(s) adjective: Jordanian Topic: Kazakhstannoun: Kazakhstani(s) adjective: Kazakhstani Topic: Kenyanoun: Kenyan(s) adjective: Kenyan Topic: Kiribatinoun: I-Kiribati (singular and plural) adjective: I-Kiribati Topic: Korea, Northnoun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean Topic: Korea, Southnoun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean Topic: Kosovonoun: Kosovan adjective: Kosovan note: Kosovo, a neutral term, is sometimes also used as a noun or adjective as in Kosovo Albanian, Kosovo Serb, Kosovo minority, or Kosovo citizen Topic: Kuwaitnoun: Kuwaiti(s) adjective: Kuwaiti Topic: Kyrgyzstannoun: Kyrgyzstani(s) adjective: Kyrgyzstani Topic: Laosnoun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s) adjective: Lao or Laotian Topic: Latvianoun: Latvian(s) adjective: Latvian Topic: Lebanonnoun: Lebanese (singular and plural) adjective: Lebanese Topic: Lesothonoun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural) adjective: Basotho Topic: Liberianoun: Liberian(s) adjective: Liberian Topic: Libyanoun: Libyan(s) adjective: Libyan Topic: Liechtensteinnoun: Liechtensteiner(s) adjective: Liechtenstein Topic: Lithuanianoun: Lithuanian(s) adjective: Lithuanian Topic: Luxembourgnoun: Luxembourger(s) adjective: Luxembourg Topic: Macaunoun: Chinese adjective: Chinese Topic: Madagascarnoun: Malagasy (singular and plural) adjective: Malagasy Topic: Malawinoun: Malawian(s) adjective: Malawian Topic: Malaysianoun: Malaysian(s) adjective: Malaysian Topic: Maldivesnoun: Maldivian(s) adjective: Maldivian Topic: Malinoun: Malian(s) adjective: Malian Topic: Maltanoun: Maltese (singular and plural) adjective: Maltese Topic: Marshall Islandsnoun: Marshallese (singular and plural) adjective: Marshallese Topic: Mauritanianoun: Mauritanian(s) adjective: Mauritanian Topic: Mauritiusnoun: Mauritian(s) adjective: Mauritian Topic: Mexiconoun: Mexican(s) adjective: Mexican Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofnoun: Micronesian(s) adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese Topic: Moldovanoun: Moldovan(s) adjective: Moldovan Topic: Monaconoun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s) adjective: Monegasque or Monacan Topic: Mongolianoun: Mongolian(s) adjective: Mongolian Topic: Montenegronoun: Montenegrin(s) adjective: Montenegrin Topic: Montserratnoun: Montserratian(s) adjective: Montserratian Topic: Morocconoun: Moroccan(s) adjective: Moroccan Topic: Mozambiquenoun: Mozambican(s) adjective: Mozambican Topic: Namibianoun: Namibian(s) adjective: Namibian Topic: Naurunoun: Nauruan(s) adjective: Nauruan Topic: Nepalnoun: Nepali (singular and plural) adjective: Nepali Topic: Netherlandsnoun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women) adjective: Dutch Topic: New Caledonianoun: New Caledonian(s) adjective: New Caledonian Topic: New Zealandnoun: New Zealander(s) adjective: New Zealand Topic: Nicaraguanoun: Nicaraguan(s) adjective: Nicaraguan Topic: Nigernoun: Nigerien(s) adjective: Nigerien Topic: Nigerianoun: Nigerian(s) adjective: Nigerian Topic: Niuenoun: Niuean(s) adjective: Niuean Topic: Norfolk Islandnoun: Norfolk Islander(s) adjective: Norfolk Islander(s) Topic: North Macedonianoun: Macedonian(s) adjective: Macedonian Topic: Northern Mariana Islandsnoun: NA (US citizens) adjective: NA Topic: Norwaynoun: Norwegian(s) adjective: Norwegian Topic: Omannoun: Omani(s) adjective: Omani Topic: Pakistannoun: Pakistani(s) adjective: Pakistani Topic: Palaunoun: Palauan(s) adjective: Palauan Topic: Panamanoun: Panamanian(s) adjective: Panamanian Topic: Papua New Guineanoun: Papua New Guinean(s) adjective: Papua New Guinean Topic: Paraguaynoun: Paraguayan(s) adjective: Paraguayan Topic: Perunoun: Peruvian(s) adjective: Peruvian Topic: Philippinesnoun: Filipino(s) adjective: Philippine Topic: Pitcairn Islandsnoun: Pitcairn Islander(s) adjective: Pitcairn Islander Topic: Polandnoun: Pole(s) adjective: Polish Topic: Portugalnoun: Portuguese (singular and plural) adjective: Portuguese Topic: Puerto Riconoun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens) adjective: Puerto Rican Topic: Qatarnoun: Qatari(s) adjective: Qatari Topic: Romanianoun: Romanian(s) adjective: Romanian Topic: Russianoun: Russian(s) adjective: Russian Topic: Rwandanoun: Rwandan(s) adjective: Rwandan Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhanoun: Saint Helenian(s) adjective: Saint Helenian note: referred to locally as "Saints" Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevisnoun: Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s) adjective: Kittitian, Nevisian Topic: Saint Lucianoun: Saint Lucian(s) adjective: Saint Lucian Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelonnoun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women) adjective: French Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesnoun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s) adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian Topic: Samoanoun: Samoan(s) adjective: Samoan Topic: San Marinonoun: Sammarinese (singular and plural) adjective: Sammarinese Topic: Sao Tome and Principenoun: Sao Tomean(s) adjective: Sao Tomean Topic: Saudi Arabianoun: Saudi(s) adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian Topic: Senegalnoun: Senegalese (singular and plural) adjective: Senegalese Topic: Serbianoun: Serb(s) adjective: Serbian Topic: Seychellesnoun: Seychellois (singular and plural) adjective: Seychellois Topic: Sierra Leonenoun: Sierra Leonean(s) adjective: Sierra Leonean Topic: Singaporenoun: Singaporean(s) adjective: Singapore Topic: Slovakianoun: Slovak(s) adjective: Slovak Topic: Slovenianoun: Slovene(s) adjective: Slovenian Topic: Solomon Islandsnoun: Solomon Islander(s) adjective: Solomon Islander Topic: Somalianoun: Somali(s) adjective: Somali Topic: South Africanoun: South African(s) adjective: South African Topic: South Sudannoun: South Sudanese (singular and plural) adjective: South Sudanese Topic: Spainnoun: Spaniard(s) adjective: Spanish Topic: Sri Lankanoun: Sri Lankan(s) adjective: Sri Lankan Topic: Sudannoun: Sudanese (singular and plural) adjective: Sudanese Topic: Surinamenoun: Surinamer(s) adjective: Surinamese Topic: Swedennoun: Swede(s) adjective: Swedish Topic: Switzerlandnoun: Swiss (singular and plural) adjective: Swiss Topic: Syrianoun: Syrian(s) adjective: Syrian Topic: Taiwannoun: Taiwan (singular and plural) adjective: Taiwan (or Taiwanese) note: example - he or she is from Taiwan; they are from Taiwan Topic: Tajikistannoun: Tajikistani(s) adjective: Tajikistani Topic: Tanzanianoun: Tanzanian(s) adjective: Tanzanian Topic: Thailandnoun: Thai (singular and plural) adjective: Thai Topic: Timor-Lestenoun: Timorese adjective: Timorese Topic: Togonoun: Togolese (singular and plural) adjective: Togolese Topic: Tokelaunoun: Tokelauan(s) adjective: Tokelauan Topic: Tonganoun: Tongan(s) adjective: Tongan Topic: Trinidad and Tobagonoun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s) adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian note: Trinbagonian is used on occasion to describe a citizen of the country without specifying the island of origin Topic: Tunisianoun: Tunisian(s) adjective: Tunisian Topic: Turkeynoun: Turk(s) adjective: Turkish Topic: Turkmenistannoun: Turkmenistani(s) adjective: Turkmenistani Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandsnoun: none adjective: none Topic: Tuvalunoun: Tuvaluan(s) adjective: Tuvaluan Topic: Ugandanoun: Ugandan(s) adjective: Ugandan Topic: Ukrainenoun: Ukrainian(s) adjective: Ukrainian Topic: United Arab Emiratesnoun: Emirati(s) adjective: Emirati Topic: United Kingdomnoun: Briton(s), British (collective plural) adjective: British Topic: United Statesnoun: American(s) adjective: American Topic: Uruguaynoun: Uruguayan(s) adjective: Uruguayan Topic: Uzbekistannoun: Uzbekistani adjective: Uzbekistani Topic: Vanuatunoun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural) adjective: Ni-Vanuatu Topic: Venezuelanoun: Venezuelan(s) adjective: Venezuelan Topic: Vietnamnoun: Vietnamese (singular and plural) adjective: Vietnamese Topic: Virgin Islandsnoun: Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens) adjective: Virgin Islander Topic: Wallis and Futunanoun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander Topic: West Banknoun: NA adjective: NA Topic: Yemennoun: Yemeni(s) adjective: Yemeni Topic: Zambianoun: Zambian(s) adjective: Zambian Topic: Zimbabwenoun: Zimbabwean(s) adjective: Zimbabwean

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countries-micronesia-federated-states-of

Topic: Photos of Micronesia, Federated States of Topic: Introduction Background: Each of the four states that compose the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) - Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap - has its own unique history and cultural traditions. The first humans arrived in what is now the FSM in the second millennium B.C. In the 800s A.D., construction of the artificial islets at the Nan Madol complex in Pohnpei began, with the main architecture being built around 1200. At its height, Nan Madol united the approximately 25,000 people of Pohnpei under the Saudeleur Dynasty. Around the same time, Kosrae was united in a kingdom centered in Leluh by 1250. Yap’s society became strictly hierarchical, with chiefs receiving tributes from islands up to 1,100 km (700 mi) away. Widespread human settlement in Chuuk began in the 1300s, and the different islands in the Chuuk Lagoon were frequently at war with one another. Portuguese and Spanish explorers visited a few of the islands in the 1500s and Spain began exerting nominal, but not day-to-day, control over some of the islands - which they named the Caroline Islands - in the 1600s. Christian missionaries arrived in the 1800s, in particular to Chuuk and Kosrae. By the 1870s, nearly every Kosraean had converted to Christianity and religion continues to play an important role in daily life on the island. In 1899, Spain sold all of the FSM to Germany. Japan seized the islands in 1914 and was granted a League of Nations mandate to administer them in 1920. The Japanese navy built bases across most of the islands and headquartered their Pacific naval operations in Chuuk. The US bombed Chuuk in 1944 during Operation Hailstone in World War II, destroying 250 Japanese planes and 40 ships. The US military largely bypassed the other islands in its leapfrog campaign across the Pacific. The FSM came under US administration as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in 1947, which comprised six districts: Chuuk, the Marshall Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Pohnpei, and Yap; Kosrae was separated from Pohnpei into a separate district in 1977. In 1979, Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap ratified the FSM Constitution and declared independence while the other three districts opted to pursue separate political statuses. In 1982, the FSM signed a Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the US, which granted the FSM financial assistance and access to many US domestic programs in exchange for exclusive US military access and defense responsibilities; the COFA entered into force in 1986 and its funding was renewed in 2003. There are significant inter-island rivalries stemming from their different histories and cultures. Chuuk, the most populous but poorest state, is planning an independence referendum for 2022. Eligible Micronesians can live, work, and study in any part of the US and its territories without a visa - this privilege reduces stresses on the island economy and the environment. Micronesians serve in the US armed forces and military recruiting from the FSM, per capita, is higher than many US states.Each of the four states that compose the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) - Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap - has its own unique history and cultural traditions. The first humans arrived in what is now the FSM in the second millennium B.C. In the 800s A.D., construction of the artificial islets at the Nan Madol complex in Pohnpei began, with the main architecture being built around 1200. At its height, Nan Madol united the approximately 25,000 people of Pohnpei under the Saudeleur Dynasty. Around the same time, Kosrae was united in a kingdom centered in Leluh by 1250. Yap’s society became strictly hierarchical, with chiefs receiving tributes from islands up to 1,100 km (700 mi) away. Widespread human settlement in Chuuk began in the 1300s, and the different islands in the Chuuk Lagoon were frequently at war with one another.Portuguese and Spanish explorers visited a few of the islands in the 1500s and Spain began exerting nominal, but not day-to-day, control over some of the islands - which they named the Caroline Islands - in the 1600s. Christian missionaries arrived in the 1800s, in particular to Chuuk and Kosrae. By the 1870s, nearly every Kosraean had converted to Christianity and religion continues to play an important role in daily life on the island. In 1899, Spain sold all of the FSM to Germany. Japan seized the islands in 1914 and was granted a League of Nations mandate to administer them in 1920. The Japanese navy built bases across most of the islands and headquartered their Pacific naval operations in Chuuk. The US bombed Chuuk in 1944 during Operation Hailstone in World War II, destroying 250 Japanese planes and 40 ships. The US military largely bypassed the other islands in its leapfrog campaign across the Pacific.The FSM came under US administration as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in 1947, which comprised six districts: Chuuk, the Marshall Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Pohnpei, and Yap; Kosrae was separated from Pohnpei into a separate district in 1977. In 1979, Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap ratified the FSM Constitution and declared independence while the other three districts opted to pursue separate political statuses. In 1982, the FSM signed a Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the US, which granted the FSM financial assistance and access to many US domestic programs in exchange for exclusive US military access and defense responsibilities; the COFA entered into force in 1986 and its funding was renewed in 2003. There are significant inter-island rivalries stemming from their different histories and cultures. Chuuk, the most populous but poorest state, is planning an independence referendum for 2022. Eligible Micronesians can live, work, and study in any part of the US and its territories without a visa - this privilege reduces stresses on the island economy and the environment. Micronesians serve in the US armed forces and military recruiting from the FSM, per capita, is higher than many US states.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia Geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 15 E Map references: Oceania Area: total: 702 sq km land: 702 sq km water: 0 sq km (fresh water only) note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae (Kosaie) Area - comparative: four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only) Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 6,112 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage Terrain: islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk Elevation: highest point: Nanlaud on Pohnpei 782 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m Natural resources: timber, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate Land use: agricultural land: 25.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 19.7% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.5% (2018 est.) forest: 74.5% (2018 est.) other: 0% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012) NA Population distribution: the majority of the populaton lives in the coastal areas of the high islands; the mountainous interior is largely uninhabited; less than half of the population lives in urban areas Natural hazards: typhoons (June to December) Geography - note: composed of four major island groups totaling 607 islands Map description: Federated States of Micronesia map showing the major islands of this archipelagic country in the North Pacific Ocean.Federated States of Micronesia map showing the major islands of this archipelagic country in the North Pacific Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 101,009 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Micronesian(s) adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese Ethnic groups: Chuukese/Mortlockese 49.3%, Pohnpeian 29.8%, Kosraean 6.3%, Yapese 5.7%, Yap outer islanders 5.1%, Polynesian 1.6%, Asian 1.4%, other 0.8% (2010 est.) Languages: English (official and common language), Chuukese, Kosrean, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi Religions: Roman Catholic 54.7%, Protestant 41.1% (includes Congregational 38.5%, Baptist 1.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 0.8%, Assembly of God 0.7%), Church of Jesus Christ 1.5%, other 1.9%, none 0.7%, unspecified 0.1% (2010 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 28.24% (male 14,585/female 14,129) 15-24 years: 18.62% (male 9,473/female 9,461) 25-54 years: 40.81% (male 19,998/female 21,493) 55-64 years: 7.38% (male 3,602/female 3,898) 65 years and over: 4.95% (2021 est.) (male 2,260/female 2,776) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 55.2 youth dependency ratio: 48.4 elderly dependency ratio: 6.8 potential support ratio: 14.7 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 26.3 years male: 25.5 years female: 27.1 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -0.67% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 18.39 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 4.19 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -20.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: the majority of the populaton lives in the coastal areas of the high islands; the mountainous interior is largely uninhabited; less than half of the population lives in urban areas Urbanization: urban population: 23.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 7,000 PALIKIR (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 88 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 21.9 deaths/1,000 live births male: 25.02 deaths/1,000 live births female: 18.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.44 years male: 72.34 years female: 76.66 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.24 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: total: 78.6% of population unimproved: total: 21.4% of population (2017 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 11.4% (2019) Hospital bed density: 3.2 beds/1,000 population Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 88.3% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 11.7% of population (2017 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: 45.8% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 9.7% of GDP (2018) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 18.9% male: 10.4% female: 29.9% (2014) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: overfishing; climate change; water pollution, toxic pollution from mining; solid waste disposal Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate 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.) Climate: tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage Land use: agricultural land: 25.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 19.7% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.5% (2018 est.) forest: 74.5% (2018 est.) other: 0% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 23.2% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 1.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.02% 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: 26,040 tons (2016 est.) Total renewable water resources: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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 Government type: federal republic in free association with the US Capital: name: Palikir geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 09 E time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) time zone note: Micronesia has two time zones note: Palikir became the new capital of the country in 1989, three years after independence; Kolonia, the former capital, remains the site for many foreign embassies; it also serves as the Pohnpei state capital Administrative divisions: 4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap Independence: 3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship) National holiday: Constitution Day, 10 May (1979) Constitution: history: drafted June 1975, ratified 1 October 1978, entered into force 10 May 1979 amendments: proposed by Congress, by a constitutional convention, or by public petition; passage requires approval by at least three-fourths majority vote in at least three fourths of the states; amended 1990; note – at least every 10 years as part of a general or special election, voters are asked whether to hold a constitution convention; a majority of affirmative votes is required to proceed; amended many times, last in 2019 (approval by referendum to hold a constitutional convention) Legal system: mixed legal system of 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 FSM dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President David W. PANUELO (since 11 May 2019); Vice President Yosiwo P. GEORGE (since 11 May 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President David W. PANUELO (since 11 May 2019); Vice President Yosiwo P. GEORGE (since 11 May 2015) cabinet: Cabinet includes the vice president and the heads of the 8 executive departments elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by Congress from among the 4 'at large' senators for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 May 2019 (next to be held in 2023) election results: David W. PANUELO elected president by Congress; Yosiwo P. GEORGE reelected vice president Legislative branch: description: unicameral Congress (14 seats; 10 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 2-year terms and 4 at- large members directly elected from each of the 4 states by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 2 March 2021 (next to be held on March 2023) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 14; composition - men 14, women 0 Judicial branch: highest courts: Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and not more than 5 associate justices and organized into appellate and criminal divisions) judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the FSM president with the approval of two-thirds of Congress; justices appointed for life subordinate courts: the highest state-level courts are: Chuuk Supreme Court; Korsae State Court; Pohnpei State Court; Yap State Court Political parties and leaders: no formal parties International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Akillino Harris SUSAIA (since 24 April 2017) chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383 FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391 email address and website: dcmission@fsmembassy.fm https://fsmembassy.fm/ consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Portland (OR), Tamuning (Guam) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Carmen G. CANTOR (since 31 January 2020) embassy: 1286 US Embassy Place, Kolonia, Pohnpei, FM 96941 mailing address: 4120 Kolonia Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-4120 telephone: [691] 320-2187 FAX: [691] 320-2186 email address and website: koloniaacs@state.gov https://fm.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern; blue symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, the stars represent the four island groups of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap National symbol(s): four, five-pointed, white stars on a light blue field, hibiscus flower; national colors: light blue, white National anthem: name: Patriots of Micronesia lyrics/music: unknown note: adopted 1991; also known as "Across All Micronesia"; the music is based on the 1820 German patriotic song "Ich hab mich ergeben", which was the West German national anthem from 1949-1950; variants of this tune are used in Johannes Brahms' "Festival Overture" and Gustav Mahler's "Third Symphony" National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Nan Madol: Ceremonial Center of Eastern Micronesia Topic: Economy Economic overview: Economic activity consists largely of subsistence farming and fishing, and government, which employs two-thirds of the adult working population and receives funding largely - 58% in 2013 – from Compact of Free Association assistance provided by the US. The islands have few commercially valuable mineral deposits. The potential for tourism is limited by isolation, lack of adequate facilities, and limited internal air and water transportation.   Under the terms of the original Compact, the US provided $1.3 billion in grants and aid from 1986 to 2001. The US and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) negotiated a second (amended) Compact agreement in 2002-03 that took effect in 2004. The amended Compact runs for a 20-year period to 2023; during which the US will provide roughly $2.1 billion to the FSM. The amended Compact also develops a trust fund for the FSM that will provide a comparable income stream beyond 2024 when Compact grants end.   The country's medium-term economic outlook appears fragile because of dependence on US assistance and lackluster performance of its small and stagnant private sector.Economic activity consists largely of subsistence farming and fishing, and government, which employs two-thirds of the adult working population and receives funding largely - 58% in 2013 – from Compact of Free Association assistance provided by the US. The islands have few commercially valuable mineral deposits. The potential for tourism is limited by isolation, lack of adequate facilities, and limited internal air and water transportation. Under the terms of the original Compact, the US provided $1.3 billion in grants and aid from 1986 to 2001. The US and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) negotiated a second (amended) Compact agreement in 2002-03 that took effect in 2004. The amended Compact runs for a 20-year period to 2023; during which the US will provide roughly $2.1 billion to the FSM. The amended Compact also develops a trust fund for the FSM that will provide a comparable income stream beyond 2024 when Compact grants end. The country's medium-term economic outlook appears fragile because of dependence on US assistance and lackluster performance of its small and stagnant private sector. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $390 million (2019 est.) $390 million (2018 est.) $389 million (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 2% (2017 est.) 2.9% (2016 est.) 3.9% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $3,500 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $3,500 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $3,200 (2015 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $328 million (2017 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.5% (2017 est.) 0.5% (2016 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 26.3% (2013 est.) industry: 18.9% (2013 est.) services: 54.8% (2013 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 83.5% (2013 est.) government consumption: 48.4% (2016 est.) investment in fixed capital: 29.5% (2016 est.) investment in inventories: 1.9% (2016 est.) exports of goods and services: 27.5% (2016 est.) imports of goods and services: -77% (2016 est.) Agricultural products: coconuts, cassava, vegetables, sweet potatoes, bananas, pork, plantains, fruit, eggs, beef Industries: tourism, construction; specialized aquaculture, craft items (shell and wood) Industrial production growth rate: NA Labor force: 37,920 (2010 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 0.9% industry: 5.2% services: 93.9% (2013 est.) note: two-thirds of the labor force are government employees Unemployment rate: 16.2% (2010 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 18.9% male: 10.4% female: 29.9% (2014) Population below poverty line: 41.2% (2013 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 40.1 (2013 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 213.8 million (FY12/13 est.) expenditures: 192.1 million (FY12/13 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 6.6% (of GDP) (FY12/13 est.) Public debt: 24.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 25.3% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 65.2% (of GDP) (FY12/13 est.) Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September Current account balance: $12 million (2017 est.) $11 million (2016 est.) Exports: $88.3 million (2013 est.) Exports - partners: Thailand 73%, Japan 10%, China 9% (2019) Exports - commodities: fish and fish products, coral/shells, scrap metals, mollusks, office machinery/parts (2019) Imports: $167.8 million (2015 est.) $258.5 million (2013 est.) Imports - partners: United States 32%, China 16%, Japan 14%, Taiwan 9%, Philippines 6%, South Korea 6% (2019) Imports - commodities: poultry meats, netting, broadcasting equipment, various meats, fish products (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $203.7 million (31 December 2017 est.) $135.1 million (31 December 2015 est.) Debt - external: $93.6 million (2013 est.) $93.5 million (2012 est.) Exchange rates: the US dollar is usedthe US dollar is used Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 82% (2018) electrification - urban areas: 93.5% (2018) electrification - rural areas: 78.7% (2018) Electricity - production: 192 million kWh (2002) Electricity - consumption: 178.6 million kWh (2002) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2013 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2013 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 18,000 kW (2015 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 96% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 1% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 3% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2014) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2014) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2014) Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2014) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2014) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2014) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 7,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 23,114 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20.74 (2019 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: adequate system, the demand for mobile broadband is increasing due to mobile services being the primary and most wide-spread source for Internet access across the region (2020) domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone, satellite (Intelsat) ground stations, and some coaxial and fiber-optic cable; mobile-cellular service available on the major islands; fixed line teledensity roughly 6 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 21 per 100 (2019) international: country code - 691; landing points for the Chuukk-Pohnpei Cable and HANTRU-1 submarine cable system linking the Federated States of Micronesia and the US; satellite earth stations - 5 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 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: no TV broadcast stations; each state has a multi-channel cable service with TV transmissions carrying roughly 95% imported programming and 5% local programming; about a half-dozen radio stations (2009) Internet country code: .fm Internet users: total: 39,834 (2019 est.) percent of population: 35% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 6,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: V6 Airports: total: 6 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2021) Roadways: note - paved and unpaved circumferential roads, most interior roads are unpaved Merchant marine: total: 38 by type: general cargo 19, oil tanker 4, other 15 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Colonia (Tamil Harbor), Molsron Lele Harbor, Pohnepi Harbor Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: no military forces; Federated States of Micronesia National Police (includes a maritime wing) Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: nonenone Illicit drugs: major consumer of cannabis

20220601

countries-vanuatu

Topic: Photos of Vanuatu Topic: Introduction Background: Vanuatu was first settled around 2000 B.C. by Austronesian speakers from Solomon Islands. By around 1000, localized chieftain systems began to develop on the islands. In the mid-1400s, the Kuwae Volcano erupted, causing frequent conflict and internal strife amid declining food availability, especially on Efate Island. Around 1600, Chief ROI MATA united Efate under his rule. In 1606, Portuguese explorer Pedro Fernandes de QUEIROS was the first European to see the Banks Islands and Espiritu Santo, setting up a short-lived settlement on the latter. The next European explorers arrived in the 1760s, and in 1774, British navigator James COOK named the islands the New Hebrides. The islands were frequented by whalers in the 1800s and interest in harvesting the islands’ sandalwood trees caused conflict between Europeans and local Ni-Vanuatu. Catholic and Protestant missionaries arrived in the 1840s but faced difficulties converting the locals. In the 1860s, European planters in Australia, Fiji, New Caledonia, and Samoa needed labor and kidnapped almost half the adult males of the islands and forced them to work as indentured servants. With growing and overlapping interests in the islands, France and the UK agreed that the New Hebrides would be neutral in 1878 and established a joint naval commission in 1887. In 1906, the two countries created the British-French Condominium to jointly administer the islands and they established separate laws, police forces, currencies, and education and health systems. The condominium arrangement was dysfunctional and the UK used France’s defeat to Germany in World War II to assert greater control over the islands. As Japan pushed into Melanesia, the US stationed up to 50,000 soldiers in Vanuatu to prevent further advances. In 1945, US troops withdrew and sold their equipment, leading to the rise of political and religious cargo cults, such as the John Frum movement. The France-UK condominium was reestablished after World War II. The UK was interested in moving the condominium toward independence in the 1960s but France was hesitant and political parties agitating independence began to form, largely divided along linguistic lines. France eventually relented and elections were held in 1974 with independence granted in 1980 as Vanuatu under English-speaking Prime Minister Walter LINI. At independence, the Nagriamel Movement, with support from French-speaking landowners, declared Espiritu Santo independent, but the short-lived state was dissolved 12 weeks later. Linguistic divisions have lessened over time but highly fractious political parties have led to weak coalition governments that require support from both Anglophone and Francophone parties. Since 2008, prime ministers have been ousted through no-confidence motions or temporary procedural issues 10 times. Vanuatu was first settled around 2000 B.C. by Austronesian speakers from Solomon Islands. By around 1000, localized chieftain systems began to develop on the islands. In the mid-1400s, the Kuwae Volcano erupted, causing frequent conflict and internal strife amid declining food availability, especially on Efate Island. Around 1600, Chief ROI MATA united Efate under his rule. In 1606, Portuguese explorer Pedro Fernandes de QUEIROS was the first European to see the Banks Islands and Espiritu Santo, setting up a short-lived settlement on the latter. The next European explorers arrived in the 1760s, and in 1774, British navigator James COOK named the islands the New Hebrides. The islands were frequented by whalers in the 1800s and interest in harvesting the islands’ sandalwood trees caused conflict between Europeans and local Ni-Vanuatu. Catholic and Protestant missionaries arrived in the 1840s but faced difficulties converting the locals. In the 1860s, European planters in Australia, Fiji, New Caledonia, and Samoa needed labor and kidnapped almost half the adult males of the islands and forced them to work as indentured servants. With growing and overlapping interests in the islands, France and the UK agreed that the New Hebrides would be neutral in 1878 and established a joint naval commission in 1887. In 1906, the two countries created the British-French Condominium to jointly administer the islands and they established separate laws, police forces, currencies, and education and health systems. The condominium arrangement was dysfunctional and the UK used France’s defeat to Germany in World War II to assert greater control over the islands. As Japan pushed into Melanesia, the US stationed up to 50,000 soldiers in Vanuatu to prevent further advances. In 1945, US troops withdrew and sold their equipment, leading to the rise of political and religious cargo cults, such as the John Frum movement. The France-UK condominium was reestablished after World War II. The UK was interested in moving the condominium toward independence in the 1960s but France was hesitant and political parties agitating independence began to form, largely divided along linguistic lines. France eventually relented and elections were held in 1974 with independence granted in 1980 as Vanuatu under English-speaking Prime Minister Walter LINI. At independence, the Nagriamel Movement, with support from French-speaking landowners, declared Espiritu Santo independent, but the short-lived state was dissolved 12 weeks later. Linguistic divisions have lessened over time but highly fractious political parties have led to weak coalition governments that require support from both Anglophone and Francophone parties. Since 2008, prime ministers have been ousted through no-confidence motions or temporary procedural issues 10 times. Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia Geographic coordinates: 16 00 S, 167 00 E Map references: Oceania Area: total: 12,189 sq km land: 12,189 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes more than 80 islands, about 65 of which are inhabited Area - comparative: slightly larger than Connecticut Land boundaries: total: 0 km Coastline: 2,528 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 measured from claimed archipelagic baselines Climate: tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds from May to October; moderate rainfall from November to April; may be affected by cyclones from December to April Terrain: mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains Elevation: highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m Natural resources: manganese, hardwood forests, fish Land use: agricultural land: 15.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 10.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.4% (2018 est.) forest: 36.1% (2018 est.) other: 48.6% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012) Population distribution: three-quarters of the population lives in rural areas; the urban populace lives primarily in two cities, Port-Vila and Lugenville; three largest islands - Espiritu Santo, Malakula, and Efate - accomodate over half of the populace Natural hazards: tropical 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 Geography - note: a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller islands; several of the islands have active volcanoes and there are several underwater volcanoes as well Map description: Vanuatu map showing the major islands that make up this archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean.Vanuatu map showing the major islands that make up this archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 308,043 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural) adjective: Ni-Vanuatu Ethnic groups: Melanesian 99.2%, non-Melanesian 0.8% (2016 est.) Languages: local languages (more than 100) 63.2%, Bislama (official; creole) 33.7%, English (official) 2%, French (official) 0.6%, other 0.5% (2009 est.) Religions: Protestant 70% (includes Presbyterian 27.9%, Anglican 15.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.5%, Assemblies of God 4.7%, Church of Christ 4.5%, Neil Thomas Ministry 3.1%, and Apostolic 2.2%), Roman Catholic 12.4%, customary beliefs 3.7% (including Jon Frum cargo cult), other 12.6%, none 1.1%, unspecified 0.2% (2009 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 33.65% (male 51,267/female 49,111) 15-24 years: 19.99% (male 29,594/female 30,050) 25-54 years: 36.09% (male 52,529/female 55,130) 55-64 years: 5.89% (male 8,666/female 8,904) 65 years and over: 4.39% (2020 est.) (male 6,518/female 6,564) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 72.5 youth dependency ratio: 66.2 elderly dependency ratio: 12.3 potential support ratio: 8.1 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 23 years male: 22.6 years female: 23.5 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 1.63% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 21.57 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 3.98 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -1.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: three-quarters of the population lives in rural areas; the urban populace lives primarily in two cities, Port-Vila and Lugenville; three largest islands - Espiritu Santo, Malakula, and Efate - accomodate over half of the populace Urbanization: urban population: 25.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.55% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 53,000 PORT-VILA (capital) (2018) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 72 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 14.34 deaths/1,000 live births male: 15.76 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.14 years male: 73.45 years female: 76.91 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.66 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 49% (2013) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 89.7% of population total: 92.3% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 10.3% of population total: 7.7% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 3.4% (2019) Physicians density: 0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2016) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 91.1% of population rural: 60.4% of population total: 68.2% of population unimproved: urban: 8.9% of population rural: 39.6% of population total: 31.8% 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: 25.2% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 11.7% (2013) Education expenditures: 2.3% of GDP (2020) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 87.5% male: 88.3% female: 86.7% (2018) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 18% male: 16.1% female: 20.1% (2019 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: population growth; water pollution, most of the population does not have access to a reliable supply of potable water; inadequate sanitation; deforestation Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, 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, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate 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.) Climate: tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds from May to October; moderate rainfall from November to April; may be affected by cyclones from December to April Land use: agricultural land: 15.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 10.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.4% (2018 est.) forest: 36.1% (2018 est.) other: 48.6% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 25.8% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.55% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.54% 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 vectorborne diseases: malaria Waste and recycling: municipal 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.) Total renewable water resources: 10 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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" Government type: parliamentary republic Capital: name: Port-Vila (on Efate) geographic coordinates: 17 44 S, 168 19 E time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: there are two possibilities for the origin of the name: early European settlers were Portuguese and "vila" means "village or town" in Portuguese, hence "Port-Vila" would mean "Port Town"; alternatively, the site of the capital is referred to as "Efil" or "Ifira" in native languages, "Vila" is a likely corruption of these names Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba Independence: 30 July 1980 (from France and the UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 30 July (1980) Constitution: history: draft completed August 1979, finalized by constitution conference 19 September 1979, ratified by French and British Governments 23 October 1979, effective 30 July 1980 at independence amendments: proposed by the prime minister or by the Parliament membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by Parliament in special session with at least three fourths of the membership; passage of amendments affecting the national and official languages, or the electoral and parliamentary system also requires approval in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2013 Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law, French 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: both parents must be citizens of Vanuatu; in the case of only one parent, it must be the father who is a citizen dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Tallis Obed MOSES (since 6 July 2017) head of government: Prime Minister Bob LOUGHMAN (since 20 April 2020) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, responsible to Parliament elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by an electoral college consisting of Parliament and presidents of the 6 provinces; Vanuatu president serves a 5-year term; election last held on 17 June 2017 (next to be held in 2022); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually elected prime minister by Parliament from among its members; election for prime minister last held on 20 April 2020 (next to be held following general elections in 2024) election results: Bob LOUGHMAN elected prime minister on 20 April 2020; Bob LOUGHMAN 31 votes, Ralph REGENVANU 21 votes Legislative branch: description: unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members directly elected in 8 single-seat and 9 multi-seat constituencies by single non-transferable vote to serve 4-year terms (candidates in multi-seat constituencies can be elected with only 4% of the vote) elections: last held on 19–20 March 2020 (next to be held in 2024) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - GJP 9, RMC 7, VP 7, LPV 5, UMP 5, NUP 4, other 15; composition - men 52, women 0; percent of women 0%; note - political party associations are fluid note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of culture and language Judicial branch: highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of 2 or more judges of the Supreme Court designated by the chief justice); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 6 puisne judges - 3 local and 3 expatriate) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition; other judges appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, a 4-member advisory body; judges serve until the age of retirement subordinate courts: Magistrates Courts; Island Courts Political parties and leaders: Greens Confederation or GC [Moana CARCASSES Kalosil] Iauko Group or IG [Tony NARI] Land and Justice Party (Graon mo Jastis Pati) or GJP [Ralph REGENVANU] Melanesian Progressive Party or MPP [Barak SOPE] Nagriamel movement or NAG [Frankie STEVENS] Natatok Indigenous People's Democratic Party or (NATATOK) or NIPDP [Alfred Roland CARLOT] National United Party or NUP [Ham LINI] People's Progressive Party or PPP [Sato KILMAN] People's Service Party or PSP [Don KEN] Reunification of Movement for Change or RMC [Charlot SALWAI] Rural Development Party or RDP [Jay NGWELE, spokesman] Union of Moderate Parties or UMP [Serge VOHOR] Vanua'aku Pati (Our Land Party) or VP [Edward NATAPEI] Vanuatu Democratic Party [Maxime Carlot KORMAN] Vanuatu First or Vanuatu [Russel NARI] Vanuatu Liberal Movement or VLM [Gaetan PIKIOUNE] Vanuatu Liberal Democratic Party or VLDP [Tapangararua WILLIE] Vanuatu National Party or VNP [Issac HAMARILIU] Vanuatu National Development Party or VNDP [Robert Bohn SIKOL] Vanuatu Republican Party or VRP [Marcellino PIPITE] International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, IOC, IOM, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: none; the Vanuatu Permanent Mission to the UN serves as the embassy; it is headed by Odo TEVI (since 8 September 2017); address: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400B, New York, NY 10017; telephone: [1] (212) 661-4303; FAX: [1] (212) 422-3427; email: vanunmis@aol.com Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the US Ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed namele fern fronds, all in yellow; red represents the blood of boars and men, as well as unity, green the richness of the islands, and black the ni-Vanuatu people; the yellow Y-shape - which reflects the pattern of the islands in the Pacific Ocean - symbolizes the light of the Gospel spreading through the islands; the boar's tusk is a symbol of prosperity frequently worn as a pendant on the islands; the fern fronds represent peace 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 Eritrea National symbol(s): boar's tusk with crossed fern fronds; national colors: red, black, green, yellow National anthem: name: "Yumi, Yumi, Yumi" (We, We, We) lyrics/music: Francois Vincent AYSSAV note: adopted 1980; the anthem is written in Bislama, a Creole language that mixes Pidgin English and French National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Chief Roi Mata’s Domain Topic: Economy Economic overview: This South Pacific island economy is based primarily on small-scale agriculture, which provides a living for about two thirds of the population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with more than 330,000 visitors in 2017, are other mainstays of the economy. Tourism has struggled after Efate, the most populous and most popular island for tourists, was damaged by Tropical Cyclone Pam in 2015. Ongoing infrastructure difficulties at Port Vila’s Bauerfield Airport have caused air travel disruptions, further hampering tourism numbers. Australia and New Zealand are the main source of tourists and foreign aid. A small light industry sector caters to the local market. Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleum deposits.   Economic development is hindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports, vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from main markets and between constituent islands. In response to foreign concerns, the government has promised to tighten regulation of its offshore financial center.   Since 2002, the government has stepped up efforts to boost tourism through improved air connections, resort development, and cruise ship facilities. Agriculture, especially livestock farming, is a second target for growth.This South Pacific island economy is based primarily on small-scale agriculture, which provides a living for about two thirds of the population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with more than 330,000 visitors in 2017, are other mainstays of the economy. Tourism has struggled after Efate, the most populous and most popular island for tourists, was damaged by Tropical Cyclone Pam in 2015. Ongoing infrastructure difficulties at Port Vila’s Bauerfield Airport have caused air travel disruptions, further hampering tourism numbers. Australia and New Zealand are the main source of tourists and foreign aid. A small light industry sector caters to the local market. Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleum deposits. Economic development is hindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports, vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from main markets and between constituent islands. In response to foreign concerns, the government has promised to tighten regulation of its offshore financial center. Since 2002, the government has stepped up efforts to boost tourism through improved air connections, resort development, and cruise ship facilities. Agriculture, especially livestock farming, is a second target for growth. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $850 million (2020 est.) $930 million (2019 est.) $910 million (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 4.2% (2017 est.) 3.5% (2016 est.) 0.2% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $2,800 (2020 est.) $3,100 (2019 est.) $3,100 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $870 million (2017 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.1% (2017 est.) 0.8% (2016 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 27.3% (2017 est.) industry: 11.8% (2017 est.) services: 60.8% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 59.9% (2017 est.) government consumption: 17.4% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 28.7% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 42.5% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -48.5% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: coconuts, roots/tubers nes, bananas, vegetables, pork, fruit, milk, beef, groundnuts, cocoa Industries: food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning Industrial production growth rate: 4.5% (2017 est.) Labor force: 115,900 (2007 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 65% industry: 5% services: 30% (2000 est.) Unemployment rate: 1.7% (1999 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 18% male: 16.1% female: 20.1% (2019 est.) Population below poverty line: NA Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 37.6 (2010 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA Budget: revenues: 236.7 million (2017 est.) expenditures: 244.1 million (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -0.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 48.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 46.1% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 27.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$13 million (2017 est.) -$37 million (2016 est.) Exports: $380 million (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $520 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Japan 33%, Thailand 13%, Mauritania 13%, South Korea 11%, China 9%, Fiji 7% (2019) Exports - commodities: fish and fish products, tug boats, perfume plants, mollusks, cocoa beans (2019) Imports: $460 million (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $460 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: China 29%, Australia 18%, New Zealand 11%, Fiji 11%, Taiwan 5%, Thailand 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, fishing ships, delivery trucks, poultry meats, broadcasting equipment (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $395.1 million (31 December 2017 est.) $267.4 million (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $200.5 million (31 December 2017 est.) $182.5 million (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: vatu (VUV) per US dollar - 111.015 (2020 est.) 117.035 (2019 est.) 113.005 (2018 est.) 108.99 (2014 est.) 97.07 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 61.8% (2018) electrification - urban areas: 93.7% (2018) electrification - rural areas: 51.1% (2018) Electricity - production: 63 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 58.59 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 37,000 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 71% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 29% 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: 1,100 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 1,073 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: 3,472 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 265,219 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 88.44 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: liberalized telecom services; mobile phones are primary means of communication; LTE services and rural satellite broadband services; mobile phone use in some rural areas is constrained by electricity shortages; investment in fixed-broadband infrastructure and installation of fiber-optic cables supported sector growth; mobile broadband infrastructure expanded in 2020, resulting in reduced consumer prices; Kacific-1 broadband satellite has improved broadband capacity and access since 2019; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity a bit over 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular just over 80 per 100 (2020) international: country code - 678; landing points for the ICN1 & ICN2 submarine cables providing connectivity to the Solomon Islands and Fiji; cables helped end-users with Internet bandwidth; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (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; multi-channel pay TV is available; state-owned Radio Vanuatu operates 2 radio stations; 2 privately owned radio broadcasters; programming from multiple international broadcasters is available Internet country code: .vu Internet users: total: 77,969 (2019 est.) percent of population: 26% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 2,785 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.9 (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: 374,603 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1.66 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: YJ Airports: total: 31 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 28 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 21 (2021) Roadways: total: 1,070 km (2000) paved: 256 km (2000) unpaved: 814 km (2000) Merchant marine: total: 306 by type: bulk carrier 18, container ship 2, general cargo 55, oil tanker 2, other 229 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Forari Bay, Luganville (Santo, Espiritu Santo), Port-Vila Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF; includes Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF) and Police Maritime Wing (VPMW)) (2021) Military - note: the separate British and French police forces were unified in 1980 under Ni-Vanuatu officers as the New Hebrides Constabulary; the force retained some British and French officers as advisors; the Constabulary was subsequently renamed the Vanuatu Police Force later in 1980 as of 2021, the Vanuatu Mobile Force had received training and other support from Australia, China, France, New Zealand, and the USthe separate British and French police forces were unified in 1980 under Ni-Vanuatu officers as the New Hebrides Constabulary; the force retained some British and French officers as advisors; the Constabulary was subsequently renamed the Vanuatu Police Force later in 1980as of 2021, the Vanuatu Mobile Force had received training and other support from Australia, China, France, New Zealand, and the US Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by Vanuatu and FranceMatthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by Vanuatu and France

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countries-ghana

Topic: Photos of Ghana Topic: Introduction Background: Ghana is a multiethnic country rich in natural resources and is one of the most stable and democratic countries in West Africa. Ghana has been inhabited for at least several thousand years, however, little is known about its early inhabitants. By the 12th century, the gold trade started to boom in Bono (Bonoman) state in what is today southern Ghana, and it became the genesis of Akan power and wealth in the region. Beginning in the 15th century, the Portuguese, followed by other European powers, arrived and contested for trading rights. Numerous kingdoms and empires emerged in the area, among the most powerful were the Kingdom of Dagbon in the north and the Asante (Ashanti) Empire in the south. By the mid-18th century, Asante was a highly organized state with immense wealth; it provided enslaved people for the Atlantic slave trade, and in return received firearms that facilitated its territorial expansion. The Asante resisted increasing British influence in the coastal areas, engaging in a series of wars during the 19th century before ultimately falling under British control. Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first Sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence, with Kwame NKRUMAH as its first leader. Ghana endured a series of coups before Lt. Jerry RAWLINGS took power in 1981 and banned political parties. After approving a new constitution and restoring multiparty politics in 1992, RAWLINGS won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996 but was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term in 2000. John KUFUOR of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) succeeded him and was reelected in 2004. John Atta MILLS of the National Democratic Congress won the 2008 presidential election and took over as head of state. MILLS died in July 2012 and was constitutionally succeeded by his vice president, John Dramani MAHAMA, who subsequently won the December 2012 presidential election. In 2016, Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO of the NPP defeated MAHAMA, marking the third time that Ghana’s presidency had changed parties since the return to democracy. AKUFO-ADDO was reelected in 2020. In recent years, Ghana has taken an active role in promoting regional stability and is highly integrated in international affairs.Ghana is a multiethnic country rich in natural resources and is one of the most stable and democratic countries in West Africa. Ghana has been inhabited for at least several thousand years, however, little is known about its early inhabitants. By the 12th century, the gold trade started to boom in Bono (Bonoman) state in what is today southern Ghana, and it became the genesis of Akan power and wealth in the region. Beginning in the 15th century, the Portuguese, followed by other European powers, arrived and contested for trading rights. Numerous kingdoms and empires emerged in the area, among the most powerful were the Kingdom of Dagbon in the north and the Asante (Ashanti) Empire in the south. By the mid-18th century, Asante was a highly organized state with immense wealth; it provided enslaved people for the Atlantic slave trade, and in return received firearms that facilitated its territorial expansion. The Asante resisted increasing British influence in the coastal areas, engaging in a series of wars during the 19th century before ultimately falling under British control. Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first Sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence, with Kwame NKRUMAH as its first leader. Ghana endured a series of coups before Lt. Jerry RAWLINGS took power in 1981 and banned political parties. After approving a new constitution and restoring multiparty politics in 1992, RAWLINGS won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996 but was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term in 2000. John KUFUOR of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) succeeded him and was reelected in 2004. John Atta MILLS of the National Democratic Congress won the 2008 presidential election and took over as head of state. MILLS died in July 2012 and was constitutionally succeeded by his vice president, John Dramani MAHAMA, who subsequently won the December 2012 presidential election. In 2016, Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO of the NPP defeated MAHAMA, marking the third time that Ghana’s presidency had changed parties since the return to democracy. AKUFO-ADDO was reelected in 2020. In recent years, Ghana has taken an active role in promoting regional stability and is highly integrated in international affairs.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 2 00 W Map references: Africa Area: total: 238,533 sq km land: 227,533 sq km water: 11,000 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon Land boundaries: total: 2,420 km border countries (3): Burkina Faso 602 km; Cote d'Ivoire 720 km; Togo 1098 km Coastline: 539 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm Climate: tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north Terrain: mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area Elevation: highest point: Mount Afadjato 885 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 190 m Natural resources: gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone Land use: agricultural land: 69.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 20.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 11.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 36.5% (2018 est.) forest: 21.2% (2018 est.) other: 9.7% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 340 sq km (2012) Major rivers (by length in km): Volta river mouth (shared with Burkina Faso [s]) - 1,600 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Volta (410,991 sq km) Population distribution: population is concentrated in the southern half of the country, with the highest concentrations being on or near the Atlantic coast as shown in this population distribution map Natural hazards: dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds from January to March; droughts Geography - note: Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake (manmade reservoir) by surface area (8,482 sq km; 3,275 sq mi); the lake was created following the completion of the Akosombo Dam in 1965, which holds back the White Volta and Black Volta Rivers Map description: Ghana map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Gulf of Guinea.Ghana map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Gulf of Guinea. Topic: People and Society Population: 33,107,275 (2022 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Nationality: noun: Ghanaian(s) adjective: Ghanaian Ethnic groups: Akan 45.7%, Mole-Dagbani 18.5%, Ewe 12.8%, Ga-Dangme 7.1%, Gurma 6.4%, Guan 3.2%, Grusi 2.7%, Mande 2%, other 1.6% (2021 est.) Languages: Asante 16%, Ewe 14%, Fante 11.6%, Boron (Brong) 4.9%, Dagomba 4.4%, Dangme 4.2%, Dagarte (Dagaba) 3.9%, Kokomba 3.5%, Akyem 3.2%, Ga 3.1%, other 31.2% (2010 est.) note: English is the official language Religions: Christian 71.3% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 31.6%, Protestant 17.4%, Catholic 10%, other 12.3%), Muslim 19.9%, traditionalist 3.2%, other 4.5%, none 1.1% (2021 est.) Demographic profile: Ghana has a young age structure, with approximately 57% of the population under the age of 25. Its total fertility rate fell significantly during the 1980s and 1990s but has stalled at around four children per woman for the last few years. Fertility remains higher in the northern region than the Greater Accra region. On average, desired fertility has remained stable for several years; urban dwellers want fewer children than rural residents. Increased life expectancy, due to better health care, nutrition, and hygiene, and reduced fertility have increased Ghana’s share of elderly persons; Ghana’s proportion of persons aged 60+ is among the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa. Poverty has declined in Ghana, but it remains pervasive in the northern region, which is susceptible to droughts and floods and has less access to transportation infrastructure, markets, fertile farming land, and industrial centers. The northern region also has lower school enrollment, higher illiteracy, and fewer opportunities for women.Ghana was a country of immigration in the early years after its 1957 independence, attracting labor migrants largely from Nigeria and other neighboring countries to mine minerals and harvest cocoa – immigrants composed about 12% of Ghana’s population in 1960. In the late 1960s, worsening economic and social conditions discouraged immigration, and hundreds of thousands of immigrants, mostly Nigerians, were expelled.During the 1970s, severe drought and an economic downturn transformed Ghana into a country of emigration; neighboring Cote d’Ivoire was the initial destination. Later, hundreds of thousands of Ghanaians migrated to Nigeria to work in its booming oil industry, but most were deported in 1983 and 1985 as oil prices plummeted. Many Ghanaians then turned to more distant destinations, including other parts of Africa, Europe, and North America, but the majority continued to migrate within West Africa. Since the 1990s, increased emigration of skilled Ghanaians, especially to the US and the UK, drained the country of its health care and education professionals. Internally, poverty and other developmental disparities continue to drive Ghanaians from the north to the south, particularly to its urban centers.Ghana has a young age structure, with approximately 57% of the population under the age of 25. Its total fertility rate fell significantly during the 1980s and 1990s but has stalled at around four children per woman for the last few years. Fertility remains higher in the northern region than the Greater Accra region. On average, desired fertility has remained stable for several years; urban dwellers want fewer children than rural residents. Increased life expectancy, due to better health care, nutrition, and hygiene, and reduced fertility have increased Ghana’s share of elderly persons; Ghana’s proportion of persons aged 60+ is among the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa. Poverty has declined in Ghana, but it remains pervasive in the northern region, which is susceptible to droughts and floods and has less access to transportation infrastructure, markets, fertile farming land, and industrial centers. The northern region also has lower school enrollment, higher illiteracy, and fewer opportunities for women.Ghana was a country of immigration in the early years after its 1957 independence, attracting labor migrants largely from Nigeria and other neighboring countries to mine minerals and harvest cocoa – immigrants composed about 12% of Ghana’s population in 1960. In the late 1960s, worsening economic and social conditions discouraged immigration, and hundreds of thousands of immigrants, mostly Nigerians, were expelled.During the 1970s, severe drought and an economic downturn transformed Ghana into a country of emigration; neighboring Cote d’Ivoire was the initial destination. Later, hundreds of thousands of Ghanaians migrated to Nigeria to work in its booming oil industry, but most were deported in 1983 and 1985 as oil prices plummeted. Many Ghanaians then turned to more distant destinations, including other parts of Africa, Europe, and North America, but the majority continued to migrate within West Africa. Since the 1990s, increased emigration of skilled Ghanaians, especially to the US and the UK, drained the country of its health care and education professionals. Internally, poverty and other developmental disparities continue to drive Ghanaians from the north to the south, particularly to its urban centers. Age structure: 0-14 years: 37.44% (male 5,524,932/female 5,460,943) 15-24 years: 18.64% (male 2,717,481/female 2,752,601) 25-54 years: 34.27% (male 4,875,985/female 5,177,959) 55-64 years: 5.21% (male 743,757/female 784,517) 65 years and over: 4.44% (2020 est.) (male 598,387/female 703,686) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 67.4 youth dependency ratio: 62.2 elderly dependency ratio: 5.3 potential support ratio: 17.1 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 21.4 years male: 21 years female: 21.9 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 2.23% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 28.55 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 6.14 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -0.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: population is concentrated in the southern half of the country, with the highest concentrations being on or near the Atlantic coast as shown in this population distribution map Urbanization: urban population: 58.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 3.630 million Kumasi, 2.605 million ACCRA (capital), 1.035 million Sekondi Takoradi (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.89 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.7 years (2014 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Maternal mortality ratio: 308 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 32.59 deaths/1,000 live births male: 36.05 deaths/1,000 live births female: 29.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.37 years male: 67.7 years female: 71.09 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.66 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 27.2% (2017/18) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 98.7% of population rural: 83.8% of population total: 92.4% of population unimproved: urban: 1.3% of population rural: 16.2% of population total: 7.6% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 3.4% (2019) Physicians density: 0.14 physicians/1,000 population (2017) Hospital bed density: 0.9 beds/1,000 population (2011) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 84.8% of population rural: 52.8% of population total: 71.1% of population unimproved: urban: 15.2% of population rural: 47.2% of population total: 28.9% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.7% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 350,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 13,000 (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 note: since October 2021, there has been a yellow fever outbreak in Ghana with numerous cases, including some deaths, in the following regions: Savannah, Upper West, Bono, and Oti; the CDC recommends travelers going to Ghana should receive vaccination against yellow fever at least 10 days before travel and should take steps to prevent mosquito bites while there; those never vaccinated against yellow fever should avoid travel to Nigeria during the outbreak; there are no medications to treat or cure yellow fever Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 10.9% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 12.6% (2017/18) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 5% (2018) women married by age 18: 19.3% (2018) men married by age 18: 3.9% (2018 est.) Education expenditures: 4% of GDP (2018) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 79% male: 83.5% female: 74.5% (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2020) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 9.1% male: 9.4% female: 8.7% (2017 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threaten wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water 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, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation Air pollutants: particulate 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.) Climate: tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north Land use: agricultural land: 69.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 20.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 11.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 36.5% (2018 est.) forest: 21.2% (2018 est.) other: 9.7% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 58.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 3.51% 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 note: since October 2021, there has been a yellow fever outbreak in Ghana with numerous cases, including some deaths, in the following regions: Savannah, Upper West, Bono, and Oti; the CDC recommends travelers going to Ghana should receive vaccination against yellow fever at least 10 days before travel and should take steps to prevent mosquito bites while there; those never vaccinated against yellow fever should avoid travel to Nigeria during the outbreak; there are no medications to treat or cure yellow fever Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 3,538,275 tons (2005 est.) Major rivers (by length in km): Volta river mouth (shared with Burkina Faso [s]) - 1,600 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Volta (410,991 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 299.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 95 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 1.07 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 56.2 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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 Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Accra geographic coordinates: 5 33 N, 0 13 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name derives from the Akan word "nkran" meaning "ants," and refers to the numerous anthills in the area around the capital Administrative divisions: 16 regions; Ahafo, Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, North East, Northern, Oti, Savannah, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western, Western North Independence: 6 March 1957 (from the UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 6 March (1957) Constitution: history: several previous; latest drafted 31 March 1992, approved and promulgated 28 April 1992, entered into force 7 January 1993 amendments: proposed by Parliament; consideration requires prior referral to the Council of State, a body of prominent citizens who advise the president of the republic; passage of amendments to "entrenched" constitutional articles (including those on national sovereignty, fundamental rights and freedoms, the structure and authorities of the branches of government, and amendment procedures) requires approval in a referendum by at least 40% participation of eligible voters and at least 75% of votes cast, followed by at least two-thirds majority vote in Parliament, and assent of the president; amendments to non-entrenched articles do not require referenda; amended 1996 Legal system: mixed system of English common 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 or grandparent must be a citizen of Ghana dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (since 7 January 2017); Vice President Mahamudu BAWUMIA (since 7 January 2017); the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (since 7 January 2017); Vice President Mahamudu BAWUMIA (since 7 January 2017) cabinet: Council of Ministers; nominated by the president, approved by Parliament elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 7 December 2020 (next to be held in December 2024) election results: Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (NPP) 51.3%, John Dramani MAHAMA (NDC) 47.4%, other 1.3% Legislative branch: description: unicameral Parliament (275 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 7 December 2020 (next to be held in December 2024) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party (preliminary) - NPP 137, NDC 137, independent 1; composition - men 235, women 40, percent of women 14.5% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 13 justices) judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the president in consultation with the Council of State (a small advisory body of prominent citizens) and with the approval of Parliament; other justices appointed by the president upon the advice of the Judicial Council (an 18-member independent body of judicial, military and police officials, and presidential nominees) and on the advice of the Council of State; justices can retire at age 60, with compulsory retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Circuit Court; District Court; regional tribunals Political parties and leaders: All Peoples Congress or APC [Hassan AYARIGA] Convention People's Party or CPP [Edmund N. DELLE] Ghana Freedom Party or GFP [Akua DONKOR] Ghana Union Movement or GUM [Christian Kwabena ANDREWS] Great Consolidated Popular Party or GCPP [Henry Herbert LARTEY] Liberal Party of Ghana or LPG [Kofi AKPALOO] National Democratic Congress or NDC [John Dramani MAHAMA] National Democratic Party or NDP [Nana Konadu Agyeman RAWLINGS] New Patriotic Party or NPP [Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO] People's Action Party or PAP [Imoru AYARNA] People's National Convention or PNC [Edward MAHAMA] Progressive People's Party or PPP [Paa Kwesi NDUOM] United Front Party or UFP [Dr. Nana A. BOATENG] United Progressive Party or UPP [Akwasi Addai ODIKE] note: Ghana has more than 20 registered parties; included are those which participated in the 2020 general election International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alima MAHAMA (since 7 July 2021) chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520 FAX: [1] (202) 686-4527 email address and website: info@ghanaembassydc.org https://ghanaembassydc.org/ consulate(s) general: New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Stephanie S. SULLIVAN (since 23 January 2019) embassy: No.24, Fourth Circular Road, Cantonments, Accra, P.O. Box 2288, Accra mailing address: 2020 Accra Place, Washington DC  20521-2020 telephone: [233] (0) 30-274-1000 email address and website: ACSAccra@state.gov https://gh.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green, with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; red symbolizes the blood shed for independence, yellow represents the country's mineral wealth, while green stands for its forests and natural wealth; the black star is said to be the lodestar of African freedom note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band National symbol(s): black star, golden eagle; national colors: red, yellow, green, black National anthem: name: God Bless Our Homeland Ghana lyrics/music: unknown/Philip GBEHO note: music adopted 1957, lyrics adopted 1966; the lyrics were changed twice, in 1960 when a republic was declared and after a 1966 coup National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions; Asante Traditional Buildings Topic: Economy Economic overview: Ghana has a market-based economy with relatively few policy barriers to trade and investment in comparison with other countries in the region, and Ghana is endowed with natural resources. Ghana's economy was strengthened by a quarter century of relatively sound management, a competitive business environment, and sustained reductions in poverty levels, but in recent years has suffered the consequences of loose fiscal policy, high budget and current account deficits, and a depreciating currency.   Agriculture accounts for about 20% of GDP and employs more than half of the workforce, mainly small landholders. Gold, oil, and cocoa exports, and individual remittances, are major sources of foreign exchange. Expansion of Ghana’s nascent oil industry has boosted economic growth, but the fall in oil prices since 2015 reduced by half Ghana’s oil revenue. Production at Jubilee, Ghana's first commercial offshore oilfield, began in mid-December 2010. Production from two more fields, TEN and Sankofa, started in 2016 and 2017 respectively. The country’s first gas processing plant at Atuabo is also producing natural gas from the Jubilee field, providing power to several of Ghana’s thermal power plants.   As of 2018, key economic concerns facing the government include the lack of affordable electricity, lack of a solid domestic revenue base, and the high debt burden. The AKUFO-ADDO administration has made some progress by committing to fiscal consolidation, but much work is still to be done. Ghana signed a $920 million extended credit facility with the IMF in April 2015 to help it address its growing economic crisis. The IMF fiscal targets require Ghana to reduce the deficit by cutting subsidies, decreasing the bloated public sector wage bill, strengthening revenue administration, boosting tax revenues, and improving the health of Ghana’s banking sector. Priorities for the new administration include rescheduling some of Ghana’s $31 billion debt, stimulating economic growth, reducing inflation, and stabilizing the currency. Prospects for new oil and gas production and follow through on tighter fiscal management are likely to help Ghana’s economy in 2018.Ghana has a market-based economy with relatively few policy barriers to trade and investment in comparison with other countries in the region, and Ghana is endowed with natural resources. Ghana's economy was strengthened by a quarter century of relatively sound management, a competitive business environment, and sustained reductions in poverty levels, but in recent years has suffered the consequences of loose fiscal policy, high budget and current account deficits, and a depreciating currency. Agriculture accounts for about 20% of GDP and employs more than half of the workforce, mainly small landholders. Gold, oil, and cocoa exports, and individual remittances, are major sources of foreign exchange. Expansion of Ghana’s nascent oil industry has boosted economic growth, but the fall in oil prices since 2015 reduced by half Ghana’s oil revenue. Production at Jubilee, Ghana's first commercial offshore oilfield, began in mid-December 2010. Production from two more fields, TEN and Sankofa, started in 2016 and 2017 respectively. The country’s first gas processing plant at Atuabo is also producing natural gas from the Jubilee field, providing power to several of Ghana’s thermal power plants. As of 2018, key economic concerns facing the government include the lack of affordable electricity, lack of a solid domestic revenue base, and the high debt burden. The AKUFO-ADDO administration has made some progress by committing to fiscal consolidation, but much work is still to be done. Ghana signed a $920 million extended credit facility with the IMF in April 2015 to help it address its growing economic crisis. The IMF fiscal targets require Ghana to reduce the deficit by cutting subsidies, decreasing the bloated public sector wage bill, strengthening revenue administration, boosting tax revenues, and improving the health of Ghana’s banking sector. Priorities for the new administration include rescheduling some of Ghana’s $31 billion debt, stimulating economic growth, reducing inflation, and stabilizing the currency. Prospects for new oil and gas production and follow through on tighter fiscal management are likely to help Ghana’s economy in 2018. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $164.84 billion (2020 est.) $164.16 billion (2019 est.) $154.13 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 8.4% (2017 est.) 3.7% (2016 est.) 3.8% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $5,300 (2020 est.) $5,400 (2019 est.) $5,200 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $65.363 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.4% (2019 est.) 9.8% (2018 est.) 12.3% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: B (2013) Moody's rating: B3 (2015) Standard & Poors rating: B- (2020) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 18.3% (2017 est.) industry: 24.5% (2017 est.) services: 57.2% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 80.1% (2017 est.) government consumption: 8.6% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 13.7% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1.1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 43% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -46.5% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: cassava, yams, plantains, maize, oil palm fruit, taro, rice, cocoa, oranges, pineapples Industries: mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building, petroleum Industrial production growth rate: 16.7% (2017 est.) Labor force: 12.49 million (2017 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 44.7% industry: 14.4% services: 40.9% (2013 est.) Unemployment rate: 11.9% (2015 est.) 5.2% (2013 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 9.1% male: 9.4% female: 8.7% (2017 est.) Population below poverty line: 23.4% (2016 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 43.5 (2016 est.) 42.3 (2012-13) 41.9 (2005-06) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 32.8% (2006) Budget: revenues: 9.544 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 12.36 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -6% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 71.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 73.4% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 20.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$2.131 billion (2017 est.) -$2.86 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $25.59 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $22.51 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Switzerland 23%, India 17%, China 12%, United Arab Emirates 8%, South Africa 8% (2019) Exports - commodities: gold, crude petroleum, cocoa products, manganese, cashews (2019) Imports: $26.91 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $23.22 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: China 24%, Nigeria 22%, United States 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: metal tubing, ships, cars, refined petroleum, rice (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $7.555 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $6.162 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $20.467 billion (2019 est.) $17.885 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: cedis (GHC) per US dollar - 5.86 (2020 est.) 5.68 (2019 est.) 4.9 (2018 est.) 3.712 (2014 est.) 2.895 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 85% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 93% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 75% (2019) Electricity - production: 12.52 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 9.363 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 187 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 511 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 3.801 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 58% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 42% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 173,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 104,000 bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - imports: 6,220 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 660 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 2,073 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 90,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 2,654 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 85,110 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 914.4 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 1.232 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 317.4 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 22.65 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 307,668 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 40,461,609 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 130 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: challenged by unreliable electricity and shortage of skilled labor, Ghana seeks to extend telecom services nationally; investment in fiber infrastructure and off-grid solutions provide data coverage to over 23 million people; launch of LTE has improved mobile data services, including m-commerce and banking; moderately competitive Internet market, most through mobile networks; international submarine cables, and terrestrial cables have improved Internet capacity  (2020) domestic: fixed-line data about 1 per 100 subscriptions; competition among multiple mobile-cellular providers has spurred growth with a voice subscribership of more than 130 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 233; landing points for the SAT-3/WASC, MainOne, ACE, WACS and GLO-1 fiber-optic submarine cables that provide connectivity to South and West Africa, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay link to Panaftel system connects Ghana to its neighbors; GhanaSat-1 nanosatellite launched in 2017 (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: state-owned TV station, 2 state-owned radio networks; several privately owned TV stations and a large number of privately owned radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are accessible; several cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable Internet country code: .gh Internet users: total: 18,022,308 (2020 est.) percent of population: 58% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 78,371 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.25 (2020 est.) less than 1 Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 21 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 467,438 (2018) Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9G Airports: total: 10 (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: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2021) Pipelines: 681.3 km gas, 11.4 km oil, 435 km refined products (2013) Railways: total: 1,300 km (2014) narrow gauge: 947 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge Roadways: total: 94,203 km (2021) paved: 14,948 km (2021) unpaved: 50,777 km (2021) urban: 28,480 km 27% total paved 73% total unpaved Waterways: 1,293 km (2011) (168 km for launches and lighters on Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers; 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways on Lake Volta) Merchant marine: total: 51 by type: general cargo 7, oil tanker 3, other 41 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Takoradi, Tema Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Ghana Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (2022) Military expenditures: 0.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2020 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $360 million) 0.3% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $330 million) 0.3% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $300 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 14,000 active personnel (10,000 Army; 2,000 Navy; 2,000 Air Force) (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Ghana Armed Forces is a mix of Russian, Chinese, and Western equipment; since 2010, China is the leading supplier of arms (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-26 years of age for voluntary military service, with basic education certificate; no conscription (2021) Military deployments: 150 Mali (MINUSMA); 875 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 730 (plus about 300 police) South Sudan (UNMISS) (Jan 2022) Military - note: the military of Ghana traces its origins to the Gold Coast Constabulary that was established in 1879 and renamed the Gold Coast Regiment in 1901; the Gold Coast Regiment was part of the West African Frontier Force (WAFF), a multi-regiment force formed by the British colonial office in 1900 to garrison the West African colonies of Gold Coast (Ghana), Nigeria (Lagos and the protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria), Sierra Leone, and Gambia; the WAFF served with distinction in both East and West Africa during World War I; in 1928, it received royal recognition and was re-named the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF); the RWAFF went on to serve in World War II as part of the British 81st and 82nd (West African) divisions in the East Africa and Burma campaigns; following independence in 1957, the Gold Coast Regiment formed the basis for the new Ghanaian Army as of 2022, the primary missions for the Ghanaian military included assisting other security services with internal security and patrolling the country’s economic exclusion zone, which has led to efforts to expand the Navy’s capabilities in recent years; since sending a contingent of troops to the Congo in 1960, the Ghana military has been a regular contributor to African- and UN-sponsored peacekeeping missionsthe military of Ghana traces its origins to the Gold Coast Constabulary that was established in 1879 and renamed the Gold Coast Regiment in 1901; the Gold Coast Regiment was part of the West African Frontier Force (WAFF), a multi-regiment force formed by the British colonial office in 1900 to garrison the West African colonies of Gold Coast (Ghana), Nigeria (Lagos and the protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria), Sierra Leone, and Gambia; the WAFF served with distinction in both East and West Africa during World War I; in 1928, it received royal recognition and was re-named the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF); the RWAFF went on to serve in World War II as part of the British 81st and 82nd (West African) divisions in the East Africa and Burma campaigns; following independence in 1957, the Gold Coast Regiment formed the basis for the new Ghanaian Armyas of 2022, the primary missions for the Ghanaian military included assisting other security services with internal security and patrolling the country’s economic exclusion zone, which has led to efforts to expand the Navy’s capabilities in recent years; since sending a contingent of troops to the Congo in 1960, the Ghana military has been a regular contributor to African- and UN-sponsored peacekeeping missions 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"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: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: disputed maritime border between Ghana and Cote d'Ivoiredisputed maritime border between Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 5,779 (Cote d'Ivoire) (flight from 2010 post-election fighting) (2022) Illicit drugs: a transit and destination point for illicit drugs trafficked from Asia and South America to other African nations and Europe, and to a lesser extent the United States; cultivation of cannabis for domestic use and is trafficked to regional markets or to Europe

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countries-poland

Topic: Photos of Poland Topic: Introduction Background: Poland's history as a state began near the middle of the 10th century. By the mid-16th century, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth ruled a vast tract of land in Central and Eastern Europe. During the 18th century, internal disorders weakened the nation, and in a series of agreements between 1772 and 1795, Russia, Prussia, and Austria partitioned Poland among themselves. Poland regained its independence in 1918 only to be overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in World War II. It became a Soviet satellite state following the war. Labor turmoil in 1980 led to the formation of the independent trade union "Solidarity" that over time became a political force with over 10 million members. Free elections in 1989 and 1990 won Solidarity control of the parliament and the presidency, bringing the communist era to a close. A "shock therapy" program during the early 1990s enabled the country to transform its economy into one of the most robust in Central Europe. Poland joined NATO in 1999 and the EU in 2004.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Central Europe, east of Germany Geographic coordinates: 52 00 N, 20 00 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 312,685 sq km land: 304,255 sq km water: 8,430 sq km Area - comparative: about twice the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than New Mexico Land boundaries: total: 2,865 km border countries (6): Belarus 375 km; Czechia 699 km; Germany 467 km; Lithuania 100 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 209 km; Slovakia 517 km; Ukraine 498 km Coastline: 440 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties Climate: temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers Terrain: mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border Elevation: highest point: Rysy 2,499 m lowest point: near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m mean elevation: 173 m Natural resources: coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land Land use: agricultural land: 48.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 36.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 10.7% (2018 est.) forest: 30.6% (2018 est.) other: 21.2% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 970 sq km (2012) Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Zalew Szczecinski/Stettiner Haff (shared with Germany) - 900 sq km Major rivers (by length in km): Vistula river source and mouth (shared with Belarus and Ukraine) - 1,213 km note - longest river in Poland Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Population distribution: population concentrated in the southern area around Krakow and the central area around Warsaw and Lodz, with an extension to the northern coastal city of Gdansk Natural hazards: flooding Geography - note: historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain Map description: Poland map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Baltic Sea.Poland map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Baltic Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 38,093,101 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Pole(s) adjective: Polish Ethnic groups: Polish 96.9%, Silesian 1.1%, German 0.2%, Ukrainian 0.1%, other and unspecified 1.7% (2011 est.) note: represents ethnicity declared first Languages: Polish (official) 98.2%, Silesian 1.4%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.3%; note - data represent the language spoken at home; shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census; Poland ratified the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in 2009 recognizing Kashub as a regional language, Czech, Hebrew, Yiddish, Belarusian, Lithuanian, German, Armenian, Russian, Slovak, and Ukrainian as national minority languages, and Karaim, Lemko, Romani (Polska Roma and Bergitka Roma), and Tatar as ethnic minority languages (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): Księga Faktów Świata, niezbędne źródło podstawowych informacji. (Polish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Catholic 85% (includes Roman Catholic 84.8% and other Catholic 0.3%), Orthodox 1.3% (almost all are Polish Autocephalous Orthodox), Protestant 0.4% (mainly Augsburg Evangelical and Pentecostal), other 0.3% (includes Jehovah's Witness, Buddhist, Hare Krishna, Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Muslim, Jewish, Church of Jesus Christ), unspecified 12.9% (2020 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 14.83% (male 2,918,518/female 2,756,968) 15-24 years: 9.8% (male 1,928,637/female 1,823,894) 25-54 years: 43.33% (male 8,384,017/female 8,203,646) 55-64 years: 13.32% (male 2,424,638/female 2,675,351) 65 years and over: 18.72% (2020 est.) (male 2,867,315/female 4,299,341) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 51.4 youth dependency ratio: 23 elderly dependency ratio: 28.4 potential support ratio: 3.5 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 41.9 years male: 40.3 years female: 43.6 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -0.26% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 8.5 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 10.71 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -0.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: population concentrated in the southern area around Krakow and the central area around Warsaw and Lodz, with an extension to the northern coastal city of Gdansk Urbanization: urban population: 60.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -0.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 1.795 million WARSAW (capital), 770,000 Krakow (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: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 27.6 years (2019 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 2 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 4.16 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.58 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.76 years male: 75.02 years female: 82.73 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.4 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 62.3% (2014) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99.9% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 6.5% (2019) Physicians density: 2.38 physicians/1,000 population (2017) Hospital bed density: 6.5 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: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2016) vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis (2016) Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 23.1% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 0.7% (2010/12) Education expenditures: 4.6% of GDP (2018) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.8% male: 99.9% female: 99.7% (2015) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 16 years male: 15 years female: 17 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 10.8% male: 10.3% female: 11.6% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: decreased emphasis on heavy industry and increased environmental concern by post-communist governments has improved environment; air pollution remains serious because of emissions from burning low-quality coals in homes and from coal-fired power plants; the resulting acid rain causes forest damage; water pollution from industrial and municipal sources is a problem, as is disposal of hazardous wastes Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic- Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, 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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants Air pollutants: particulate 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.) Climate: temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers Land use: agricultural land: 48.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 36.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 10.7% (2018 est.) forest: 30.6% (2018 est.) other: 21.2% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 60.1% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -0.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.17% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.27% of GDP (2018 est.) Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2016) vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis (2016) Waste and recycling: municipal 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.) Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Zalew Szczecinski/Stettiner Haff (shared with Germany) - 900 sq km Major rivers (by length in km): Vistula river source and mouth (shared with Belarus and Ukraine) - 1,213 km note - longest river in Poland Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 2.028 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 7.035 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 1.018 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 60.5 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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 Government type: parliamentary republic Capital: name: Warsaw geographic coordinates: 52 15 N, 21 00 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 unknown; the Polish designation "Warszawa" was the name of a fishing village and several legends/traditions link the city's founding to a man named Wars or Warsz Administrative divisions: 16 voivodships [provinces] (wojewodztwa, singular - wojewodztwo); Dolnoslaskie (Lower Silesia), Kujawsko-Pomorskie (Kuyavia-Pomerania), Lodzkie (Lodz), Lubelskie (Lublin), Lubuskie (Lubusz), Malopolskie (Lesser Poland), Mazowieckie (Masovia), Opolskie (Opole), Podkarpackie (Subcarpathia), Podlaskie, Pomorskie (Pomerania), Slaskie (Silesia), Swietokrzyskie (Holy Cross), Warminsko-Mazurskie (Warmia-Masuria), Wielkopolskie (Greater Poland), Zachodniopomorskie (West Pomerania) Independence: 11 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 14 April 966 (adoption of Christianity, traditional founding date), 1 July 1569 (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created) National holiday: Constitution Day, 3 May (1791) Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 2 April 1997, approved by referendum 25 May 1997, effective 17 October 1997 amendments: proposed by at least one fifth of Sejm deputies, by the Senate, or by the president of the republic; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote in the Sejm and absolute majority vote in the Senate; amendments to articles relating to sovereignty, personal freedoms, and constitutional amendment procedures also require passage by majority vote in a referendum; amended 2006, 2009 Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative, administrative, and other governmental acts; constitutional law rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal are final International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: both parents must be citizens of Poland dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Andrzej DUDA (since 6 August 2015) head of government: Prime Minister Mateusz MORAWIECKI (since 11 December 2017); Deputy Prime Ministers Piotr GLINSKI (since 16 November 2015), Jacek SASIN (since 15 November 2019), Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI (6 October 2020) and Henryk KOWALCZYK (26 October 2021) cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president, and approved by the Sejm 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 28 June 2020 with a second round on 12 July 2020 (next to be held in 2025); prime minister, deputy prime ministers, and Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the Sejm election results: 2020: Andrzej DUDA reelected president in runoff; percent of vote - Andrzej DUDA (independent) 51%, Rafal TRZASKOWSKI (KO) 49% 2015: Andrzej DUDA elected president in runoff; percent of vote - Andrzej DUDA (independent) 51.5%, Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI (independent) 48.5% Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament consists of: Senate or Senat (100 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) Sejm (460 seats statutory - current 459; members elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote with 5% threshold of total votes needed for parties and 8% for coalitions to gain seats; minorities exempt from threshold; members serve 4-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 13 October 2019 (next to be held in October 2023) Sejm - last held on 13 October 2019 (next to be held in October 2023) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PiS 48, KO 43, PSL 3, SLD 2, independent 4; composition (as of October 2021) - men 76, women 24, percent of women 24% Sejm - percent of vote by party - PiS 43.6%, KO 27.4%, SLD 12.6%, PSL 8.5% Confederation 6.8%, other 1.1%; seats by party - PiS 235, KO 134, SLD 49, PSL 30, KWiN 11, MN 1; men 329, women 130, percent of women 28.3%; note - total Parliament percent of women 27.5% note: the designation National Assembly or Zgromadzenie Narodowe is only used on those rare occasions when the 2 houses meet jointly Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court or Sad Najwyzszy (consists of the first president of the Supreme Court and 120 justices organized in criminal, civil, labor and social insurance, and extraordinary appeals and public affairs and disciplinary chambers); Constitutional Tribunal (consists of 15 judges, including the court president and vice president) judge selection and term of office: president of the Supreme Court nominated by the General Assembly of the Supreme Court and selected by the president of Poland; other judges nominated by the 25-member National Judicial Council and appointed by the president of Poland; judges serve until retirement, usually at age 65, but tenure can be extended; Constitutional Tribunal judges chosen by the Sejm for single 9-year terms subordinate courts: administrative courts; military courts; local, regional and appellate courts subdivided into military, civil, criminal, labor, and family courts Political parties and leaders: Civic Coalition or KO [Donald TUSK] Confederation Liberty and Independence or KWiN [Janusz KORWIN-MIKKE, Robert WINNICKI, Grzegorz BRAUN] New Left [Wlodzimierz CZARZASTY] German Minority or MN [Ryszard GALLA] Kukiz 15 or K15 [Pawel KUKIZ] Law and Justice or PiS [Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI] TERAZ! (NOW!) [Ryszard PETRU] Nowoczesna (Modern) or N [Adam SZLAPKA] Poland 2050 or PL2050 [Szymon HOLOWNIA] Polish People's Party or PSL [Wladyslaw KOSINIAK-KAMYSZ] Razem (Together) [collective leadership] International organization participation: Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UN Security Council (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Piotr Mark MAGIEROWSKI (since 23 November 2021) chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 499-1700 FAX: [1] (202) 328-2152 email address and website: washington.amb.sekretariat@msz.gov.pl https://www.gov.pl/web/usa-en/embassy-washington consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mark BRZEZINSKI (since 19 January 2022) embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31, 00-540 Warsaw mailing address: 5010 Warsaw Place, Washington, DC 20521-5010 telephone: [48] (22) 504-2000 FAX: [48] (22) 504-2088 email address and website: acswarsaw@state.gov https://pl.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Krakow Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; colors derive from the Polish emblem - a white eagle on a red field note: similar to the flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and white National symbol(s): white crowned eagle; national colors: white, red National anthem: name: "Mazurek Dabrowskiego" (Dabrowski's Mazurka) lyrics/music: Jozef WYBICKI/traditional note: adopted 1927; the anthem, commonly known as "Jeszcze Polska nie zginela" (Poland Has Not Yet Perished), was written in 1797; the lyrics resonate strongly with Poles because they reflect the numerous occasions in which the nation's lands have been occupied National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 17 (15 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Krakow (c); Historic Warsaw (c); Medieval Torun (c); Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpathian Region (c); Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork (c); Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines (c); Auschwitz Birkenau Concentration Camp (c); Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians (n); Białowieza Forest (n); Old City of Zamość (c) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Poland has the sixth-largest economy in the EU and has long had a reputation as a business-friendly country with largely sound macroeconomic policies. Since 1990, Poland has pursued a policy of economic liberalization. During the 2008-09 economic slowdown Poland was the only EU country to avoid a recession, in part because of the government’s loose fiscal policy combined with a commitment to rein in spending in the medium-term Poland is the largest recipient of EU development funds and their cyclical allocation can significantly impact the rate of economic growth.   The Polish economy performed well during the 2014-17 period, with the real GDP growth rate generally exceeding 3%, in part because of increases in government social spending that have helped to accelerate consumer-driven growth. However, since 2015, Poland has implemented new business restrictions and taxes on foreign-dominated economic sectors, including banking and insurance, energy, and healthcare, that have dampened investor sentiment and has increased the government’s ownership of some firms. The government reduced the retirement age in 2016 and has had mixed success in introducing new taxes and boosting tax compliance to offset the increased costs of social spending programs and relieve upward pressure on the budget deficit. Some credit ratings agencies estimate that Poland during the next few years is at risk of exceeding the EU’s 3%-of-GDP limit on budget deficits, possibly impacting its access to future EU funds. Poland’s economy is projected to perform well in the next few years in part because of an anticipated cyclical increase in the use of its EU development funds and continued, robust household spending.   Poland faces several systemic challenges, which include addressing some of the remaining deficiencies in its road and rail infrastructure, business environment, rigid labor code, commercial court system, government red tape, and burdensome tax system, especially for entrepreneurs. Additional long-term challenges include diversifying Poland’s energy mix, strengthening investments in innovation, research, and development, as well as stemming the outflow of educated young Poles to other EU member states, especially in light of a coming demographic contraction due to emigration, persistently low fertility rates, and the aging of the Solidarity-era baby boom generation.Poland has the sixth-largest economy in the EU and has long had a reputation as a business-friendly country with largely sound macroeconomic policies. Since 1990, Poland has pursued a policy of economic liberalization. During the 2008-09 economic slowdown Poland was the only EU country to avoid a recession, in part because of the government’s loose fiscal policy combined with a commitment to rein in spending in the medium-term Poland is the largest recipient of EU development funds and their cyclical allocation can significantly impact the rate of economic growth. The Polish economy performed well during the 2014-17 period, with the real GDP growth rate generally exceeding 3%, in part because of increases in government social spending that have helped to accelerate consumer-driven growth. However, since 2015, Poland has implemented new business restrictions and taxes on foreign-dominated economic sectors, including banking and insurance, energy, and healthcare, that have dampened investor sentiment and has increased the government’s ownership of some firms. The government reduced the retirement age in 2016 and has had mixed success in introducing new taxes and boosting tax compliance to offset the increased costs of social spending programs and relieve upward pressure on the budget deficit. Some credit ratings agencies estimate that Poland during the next few years is at risk of exceeding the EU’s 3%-of-GDP limit on budget deficits, possibly impacting its access to future EU funds. Poland’s economy is projected to perform well in the next few years in part because of an anticipated cyclical increase in the use of its EU development funds and continued, robust household spending. Poland faces several systemic challenges, which include addressing some of the remaining deficiencies in its road and rail infrastructure, business environment, rigid labor code, commercial court system, government red tape, and burdensome tax system, especially for entrepreneurs. Additional long-term challenges include diversifying Poland’s energy mix, strengthening investments in innovation, research, and development, as well as stemming the outflow of educated young Poles to other EU member states, especially in light of a coming demographic contraction due to emigration, persistently low fertility rates, and the aging of the Solidarity-era baby boom generation. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $1,223,460,000,000 (2020 est.) $1,257,440,000,000 (2019 est.) $1,202,820,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 4.55% (2019 est.) 5.36% (2018 est.) 4.83% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $32,200 (2020 est.) $33,100 (2019 est.) $31,700 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $595.72 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.1% (2019 est.) 1.7% (2018 est.) 2% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: A- (2007) Moody's rating: A2 (2002) Standard & Poors rating: A- (2018) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2.4% (2017 est.) industry: 40.2% (2017 est.) services: 57.4% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 58.6% (2017 est.) government consumption: 17.7% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 17.7% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 2% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 54% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -49.9% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: milk, sugar beet, wheat, potatoes, triticale, maize, barley, apples, mixed grains, rye Industries: machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles Industrial production growth rate: 7.5% (2017 est.) Labor force: 9.561 million (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 11.5% industry: 30.4% services: 57.6% (2015) Unemployment rate: 5.43% (2019 est.) 6.08% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 10.8% male: 10.3% female: 11.6% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 15.4% (2018 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 29.7 (2017 est.) 33.7 (2008) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 23.9% (2015 est.) Budget: revenues: 207.5 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 216.2 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -1.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 50.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 54.2% 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 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: 39.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: $2.92 billion (2019 est.) -$7.52 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $333.54 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $330.68 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $324.22 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: Germany 27%, Czechia 6%, United Kingdom 6%, France 6%, Italy 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: cars and vehicle parts, seats, furniture, computers, video displays (2019) Imports: $292.44 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $302.87 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $306.43 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Germany 25%, China 10%, Italy 5%, Netherlands 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: cars and vehicle parts, crude petroleum,  packaged medicines, broadcasting equipment, office machinery/parts (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $113.3 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $114.4 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $351.77 billion (2019 est.) $373.721 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: zlotych (PLN) per US dollar - 3.6684 (2020 est.) 3.8697 (2019 est.) 3.76615 (2018 est.) 3.7721 (2014 est.) 3.1538 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 156.9 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 149.4 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 12.02 billion kWh (2016) Electricity - imports: 14.02 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 38.11 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 79% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 19% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 21,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 4,451 bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - imports: 493,100 bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 126 million bbl (1 January 2018) Refined petroleum products - production: 554,200 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 649,600 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 104,800 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 222,300 bbl/day (2017 est.) Natural gas - production: 5.748 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 20.1 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 1.246 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 15.72 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 79.79 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 5,777,428 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 48,392,900 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 127.73 (2019 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: liberalized telecom market supported by market competition in broadband and mobile sectors ensuring access to cable and fiber infrastructure; rapid extension of LTE networks and development of mobile data service; mobile penetration is above European average; fixed broadband benefits from DSL infrastructure and investment in fiber through EU support; major importer of broadcasting equipment and accessories from Germany (2020) domestic: several nation-wide networks provide mobile-cellular service; fixed-line roughly 15 per 100 (service lags in rural areas), mobile-cellular over 130 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 48; landing points for the Baltica and the Denmark-Poland2 submarine cables connecting Poland, Denmark and Sweden; international direct dialing with automated exchanges; satellite earth station - 1 with access to Intelsat, Eutelsat, Inmarsat, and Intersputnik (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: state-run public TV operates 2 national channels supplemented by 16 regional channels and several niche channels; privately owned entities operate several national TV networks and a number of special interest channels; many privately owned channels broadcasting locally; roughly half of all households are linked to either satellite or cable TV systems providing access to foreign television networks; state-run public radio operates 5 national networks and 17 regional radio stations; 2 privately owned national radio networks, several commercial stations broadcasting to multiple cities, and many privately owned local radio stations (2019) Internet country code: .pl Internet users: total: 31,456,228 (2020 est.) percent of population: 83% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 8,369,218 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 6 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 169 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 9,277,538 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 271.49 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: SP Airports: total: 126 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 87 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 30 1,524 to 2,437 m: 36 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 6 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 39 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 21 (2021) Heliports: 6 (2021) Pipelines: 14198 km gas, 1374 km oil, 2483 km refined products (2019) Railways: total: 19,231 km (2016) standard gauge: 18,836 km (2016) 1.435-m gauge (11,874 km electrified) broad gauge: 395 km (2016) 1.524-m gauge Roadways: total: 420,000 km (2016) paved: 291,000 km (2016) (includes 1,492 km of expressways, 1,559 of motorways) unpaved: 129,000 km (2016) Waterways: 3,997 km (2009) (navigable rivers and canals) Merchant marine: total: 143 by type: general cargo 7, oil tanker 6, other 130 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Gdansk, Gdynia, Swinoujscie container port(s) (TEUs): Gdansk (2,073,215) (2019) LNG terminal(s) (import): Swinoujscie river port(s): Szczecin (River Oder) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Polish Armed Forces: Land Forces (Wojska Ladowe), Navy (Marynarka Wojenna), Air Force (Sily Powietrzne), Special Forces (Wojska Specjalne), Territorial Defense Force (Wojska Obrony Terytorialnej); Ministry of the Interior: Border Guard (includes coast guard duties) (2021) note - the Polish Armed Forces are organized into a General Staff, an Armed Forces General Command, an Armed Forces Operational Command, Territorial Defense Forces (established 2017), Military Police, and the Warsaw Garrison Command Military expenditures: 2.3% of GDP (2021 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2020) 2% of GDP (2019) (approximately $17.5 billion) 2% of GDP (2018) (approximately $16.8 billion) 1.9% of GDP (2017) (approximately $14.9 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 120,000 total active duty personnel (approximately 60,000 Army; 7,000 Navy; 17,000 Air Force; 3,500 Special Forces; 7,500 joint service; 25,000 Territorial Defense Forces) (2021) note - in June 2019, the Polish Government approved a plan to increase the size of the military over a period of 10 years to over 200,000 troops, including doubling the size of the Territorial Defense Forces Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Polish Armed Forces consists of a mix of Soviet-era and more modern Western weapons systems; since 2010, the leading suppliers of armaments to Poland are Finland, Germany, Italy, and the US (2021) note - in late 2018, Poland announced a 7-year (through 2026) approximately $50 billion defense modernization plan that would include such items as 5th generation combat aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, rocket artillery, helicopters, submarines, frigates, and improved cyber security Military service age and obligation: 18-28 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; conscription phased out in 2009-12; professional soldiers serve on a permanent basis (for an unspecified period of time) or on a contract basis (for a specified period of time); initial contract period is 24 months; women serve in the military on the same terms as men (2021) note - as of 2019, women made up about 7% of the military's full-time personnel Military deployments: 240 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); up to 180 Latvia (NATO); 190 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2022) note - Poland contributes about 2,500 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: Poland joined NATO in 1999; Czechia, Hungary, and Poland were invited to begin accession talks at NATO's Madrid Summit in 1997, and in March 1999 they became the first former members of the Warsaw Pact to join the Alliance since 2017, Poland has hosted a US-led multi-national NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; since 2014, Poland has also hosted NATO fighter detachments at Malbork Air Base under NATO's enhanced air policing arrangements Poland hosts a NATO-led divisional headquarters (Multinational Division Northeast; operational in 2018), which coordinates training and preparation activities of its respective subordinate battlegroups in Poland and Lithuania; Poland also hosts a corps-level headquarters (Multinational Corps Northeast) (2022)since 2017, Poland has hosted a US-led multi-national NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; since 2014, Poland has also hosted NATO fighter detachments at Malbork Air Base under NATO's enhanced air policing arrangementsPoland hosts a NATO-led divisional headquarters (Multinational Division Northeast; operational in 2018), which coordinates training and preparation activities of its respective subordinate battlegroups in Poland and Lithuania; Poland also hosts a corps-level headquarters (Multinational Corps Northeast) 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: as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Poland has implemented the strict Schengen border rules to restrict illegal immigration and trade along its eastern borders with Belarus and Ukraineas a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Poland has implemented the strict Schengen border rules to restrict illegal immigration and trade along its eastern borders with Belarus and Ukraine Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 9,870 (Russia) (2019); 3,544,995 (as of 24 May 2022) stateless persons: 1,389 (mid-year 2021) Illicit drugs: source country for amphetaminessource country for amphetamines

20220601

countries-korea-south

Topic: Photos of Korea, South Topic: Introduction Background: The first recorded kingdom (Choson) on the Korean Peninsula dates from approximately 2300 B.C. Over the subsequent centuries, three main kingdoms - Kogoryo, Paekche, and Silla - were established on the Peninsula.  By the 5th century A.D., Kogoryo emerged as the most powerful, with control over much of the Peninsula, as well as part of Manchuria (modern-day northeast China).  However, Silla allied with the Chinese to create the first unified Korean state in the late 7th century (688).  Following the collapse of Silla in the 9th century, Korea was unified under the Koryo (Goryeo; 918-1392) and the Chosen (Joseon; 1392-1910) dynasties. Korea became the object of intense imperialistic rivalry between the Chinese (its traditional benefactor), Japanese, and Russian empires in the latter half of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Following the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95) and the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), Korea was occupied by Imperial Japan. In 1910, Tokyo formally annexed the entire Peninsula. Korea regained its independence following Japan's surrender to the US and its allies in 1945. After World War II, a democratic government (Republic of Korea, ROK) was set up in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula while a communist-style government was installed in the north (North Korea; aka Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK). During the Korean War (1950-53), US troops and UN forces fought alongside ROK soldiers to defend South Korea from a North Korea invasion supported by communist China and the Soviet Union. A 1953 armistice split the Peninsula along a demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. PARK Chung-hee took over leadership of the country in a 1961 coup. During his regime from 1961 to 1979, South Korea achieved rapid economic growth, with per capita income rising to roughly 17 times the level of North Korea in 1979. Park was assassinated in 1979, and subsequent years were marked by political turmoil and continued authoritarian rule as the country's pro-democracy movement grew. South Korea held its first free presidential election under a revised democratic constitution in 1987, with former South Korean Army general ROH Tae-woo winning a close race. In 1993, KIM Young-sam (1993-98) became the first civilian president of South Korea's new democratic era. President KIM Dae-jung (1998-2003) won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his contributions to South Korean democracy and his "Sunshine Policy" of engagement with North Korea. President PARK Geun-hye, daughter of former South Korean President PARK Chung-hee, took office in February 2013 as South Korea's first female leader. In December 2016, the National Assembly passed an impeachment motion against President PARK over her alleged involvement in a corruption and influence-peddling scandal, immediately suspending her presidential authorities. The impeachment was upheld in March 2017, triggering an early presidential election in May 2017 won by MOON Jae-in. South Korea hosted the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in February 2018, in which North Korea also participated. Discord with North Korea has permeated inter-Korean relations for much of the past decade, highlighted by North Korea's attacks on a South Korean ship and island in 2010, the exchange of artillery fire across the DMZ in 2015, and multiple nuclear and missile tests in 2016 and 2017. North Korea’s participation in the Winter Olympics, dispatch of a senior delegation to Seoul, and three inter-Korean summits in 2018 appear to have ushered in a temporary period of respite, buoyed by the historic US-North Korea summits in 2018 and 2019. Nevertheless, relations were stagnant into early 2022  The first recorded kingdom (Choson) on the Korean Peninsula dates from approximately 2300 B.C. Over the subsequent centuries, three main kingdoms - Kogoryo, Paekche, and Silla - were established on the Peninsula.  By the 5th century A.D., Kogoryo emerged as the most powerful, with control over much of the Peninsula, as well as part of Manchuria (modern-day northeast China).  However, Silla allied with the Chinese to create the first unified Korean state in the late 7th century (688).  Following the collapse of Silla in the 9th century, Korea was unified under the Koryo (Goryeo; 918-1392) and the Chosen (Joseon; 1392-1910) dynasties.Korea became the object of intense imperialistic rivalry between the Chinese (its traditional benefactor), Japanese, and Russian empires in the latter half of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Following the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95) and the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), Korea was occupied by Imperial Japan. In 1910, Tokyo formally annexed the entire Peninsula. Korea regained its independence following Japan's surrender to the US and its allies in 1945. After World War II, a democratic government (Republic of Korea, ROK) was set up in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula while a communist-style government was installed in the north (North Korea; aka Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK). During the Korean War (1950-53), US troops and UN forces fought alongside ROK soldiers to defend South Korea from a North Korea invasion supported by communist China and the Soviet Union. A 1953 armistice split the Peninsula along a demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. PARK Chung-hee took over leadership of the country in a 1961 coup. During his regime from 1961 to 1979, South Korea achieved rapid economic growth, with per capita income rising to roughly 17 times the level of North Korea in 1979.Park was assassinated in 1979, and subsequent years were marked by political turmoil and continued authoritarian rule as the country's pro-democracy movement grew. South Korea held its first free presidential election under a revised democratic constitution in 1987, with former South Korean Army general ROH Tae-woo winning a close race. In 1993, KIM Young-sam (1993-98) became the first civilian president of South Korea's new democratic era. President KIM Dae-jung (1998-2003) won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his contributions to South Korean democracy and his "Sunshine Policy" of engagement with North Korea. President PARK Geun-hye, daughter of former South Korean President PARK Chung-hee, took office in February 2013 as South Korea's first female leader. In December 2016, the National Assembly passed an impeachment motion against President PARK over her alleged involvement in a corruption and influence-peddling scandal, immediately suspending her presidential authorities. The impeachment was upheld in March 2017, triggering an early presidential election in May 2017 won by MOON Jae-in. South Korea hosted the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in February 2018, in which North Korea also participated. Discord with North Korea has permeated inter-Korean relations for much of the past decade, highlighted by North Korea's attacks on a South Korean ship and island in 2010, the exchange of artillery fire across the DMZ in 2015, and multiple nuclear and missile tests in 2016 and 2017. North Korea’s participation in the Winter Olympics, dispatch of a senior delegation to Seoul, and three inter-Korean summits in 2018 appear to have ushered in a temporary period of respite, buoyed by the historic US-North Korea summits in 2018 and 2019. Nevertheless, relations were stagnant into early 2022Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea Geographic coordinates: 37 00 N, 127 30 E Map references: Asia Area: total: 99,720 sq km land: 96,920 sq km water: 2,800 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania; slightly larger than Indiana Land boundaries: total: 237 km border countries (1): North Korea 237 km Coastline: 2,413 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the Korea Strait contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: not specified Climate: temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter; cold winters Terrain: mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south Elevation: highest point: Halla-san 1,950 m lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m mean elevation: 282 m Natural resources: coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential Land use: agricultural land: 18.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 15.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.6% (2018 est.) forest: 63.9% (2018 est.) other: 18% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 7,780 sq km (2012) Population distribution: with approximately 70% of the country considered mountainous, the country's population is primarily concentrated in the lowland areas, where density is quite high; Gyeonggi Province in the northwest, which surrounds the capital of Seoul and contains the port of Incheon, is the most densely populated province; Gangwon in the northeast is the least populated Natural hazards: occasional 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 Geography - note: strategic location on Korea Strait; about 3,000 mostly small and uninhabited islands lie off the western and southern coasts Map description: South Korea map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and water bodies.South Korea map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and water bodies. Topic: People and Society Population: 51,844,834 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean Ethnic groups: homogeneous Languages: Korean, English (widely taught in elementary, junior high, and high school) major-language sample(s): 월드 팩트북, 필수적인 기본 정보 제공처 (Korean) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. Religions: Protestant 19.7%, Buddhist 15.5%, Catholic 7.9%, none 56.9% (2015 est.) note: many people also carry on at least some Confucian traditions and practices Age structure: 0-14 years: 12.02% (male 3,191,584/female 3,025,029) 15-24 years: 10.75% (male 2,900,013/female 2,658,057) 25-54 years: 44.83% (male 12,106,860/female 11,077,642) 55-64 years: 15.66% (male 3,958,718/female 4,142,322) 65 years and over: 16.74% (2021 est.) (male 3,766,138/female 4,888,799) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 39.5 youth dependency ratio: 17.5 elderly dependency ratio: 22 potential support ratio: 4.5 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 43.2 years male: 41.6 years female: 45 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 0.24% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 6.92 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 7.12 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 2.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: with approximately 70% of the country considered mountainous, the country's population is primarily concentrated in the lowland areas, where density is quite high; Gyeonggi Province in the northwest, which surrounds the capital of Seoul and contains the port of Incheon, is the most densely populated province; Gangwon in the northeast is the least populated Urbanization: urban population: 81.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.31% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 9.976 million SEOUL (capital), 3.468 million Busan, 2.834 million Incheon, 2.185 million Daegu (Taegu), 1.573 million Daejon (Taejon), 1.526 million Gwangju (Kwangju) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 32.2 years (2019 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 11 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 2.87 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.08 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 82.97 years male: 79.88 years female: 86.24 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.1 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 82.3% (2018) note: percent of women aged 20-49 Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 99.9% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 8.2% (2019) Physicians density: 2.36 physicians/1,000 population (2017) Hospital bed density: 12.4 beds/1,000 population (2018) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 99.9% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0.1% 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: respiratory diseases: Covid-19 (see note) (2020) note: a novel coronavirus is causing an outbreak of respiratory illness (COVID-19) in South Korea; as of 30 March 2022, South Korea has reported a total of 12,774,956 cases of COVID-19 or 24,917.41 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 15,855 cumulative deaths or a rate of 30.92 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 March 2022, 87.61% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 4.7% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 4.5% of GDP (2018) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2019) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 17 years male: 17 years female: 16 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 10.3% male: 11% female: 9.7% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing; solid waste disposal; transboundary pollution 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: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate 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.) Climate: temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter; cold winters Land use: agricultural land: 18.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 15.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.6% (2018 est.) forest: 63.9% (2018 est.) other: 18% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 81.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 0.31% 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.) Major infectious diseases: respiratory diseases: Covid-19 (see note) (2020) note: a novel coronavirus is causing an outbreak of respiratory illness (COVID-19) in South Korea; as of 30 March 2022, South Korea has reported a total of 12,774,956 cases of COVID-19 or 24,917.41 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 15,855 cumulative deaths or a rate of 30.92 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 March 2022, 87.61% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Waste and recycling: municipal 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.) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 6.672 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 4.45 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 15.96 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 69.7 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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.) Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Seoul; note - Sejong, located some 120 km (75 mi) south of Seoul, is serving as an administrative capital for segments of the South Korean Government geographic coordinates: 37 33 N, 126 59 E time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name originates from the Korean word meaning "capital city" and which is believed to be derived from Seorabeol, the name of the capital of the ancient Korean Kingdom of Silla Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural), 6 metropolitan cities (gwangyeoksi, singular and plural), 1 special city (teugbyeolsi), and 1 special self-governing city (teukbyeoljachisi) provinces: Chungcheongbuk-do (North Chungcheong), Chungcheongnam-do (South Chungcheong), Gangwon-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do (North Gyeongsang), Gyeonggi-do, Gyeongsangnam-do (South Gyeongsang), Jeju-do (Jeju), Jeollabuk-do (North Jeolla), Jeollanam-do (South Jeolla) metropolitan cities: Busan (Pusan), Daegu (Taegu), Daejeon (Taejon), Gwangju (Kwangju), Incheon (Inch'on), Ulsan special city: Seoul special self-governing city: Sejong9 provinces (do, singular and plural), 6 metropolitan cities (gwangyeoksi, singular and plural), 1 special city (teugbyeolsi), and 1 special self-governing city (teukbyeoljachisi)provinces: Chungcheongbuk-do (North Chungcheong), Chungcheongnam-do (South Chungcheong), Gangwon-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do (North Gyeongsang), Gyeonggi-do, Gyeongsangnam-do (South Gyeongsang), Jeju-do (Jeju), Jeollabuk-do (North Jeolla), Jeollanam-do (South Jeolla)metropolitan cities: Busan (Pusan), Daegu (Taegu), Daejeon (Taejon), Gwangju (Kwangju), Incheon (Inch'on), Ulsanspecial city: Seoulspecial self-governing city: Sejong Independence: 15 August 1945 (from Japan) National holiday: Liberation Day, 15 August (1945) Constitution: history: several previous; latest passed by National Assembly 12 October 1987, approved in referendum 28 October 1987, effective 25 February 1988 amendments: proposed by the president or by majority support of the National Assembly membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership, approval in a referendum by more than one half of the votes by more than one half of eligible voters, and promulgation by the president; amended several times, last in 1987 Legal system: mixed legal system combining European civil law, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought 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 South Korea dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18years of age; universal; note - the voting age was lowered from 19 to 18 beginning with the 2020 national election Executive branch: chief of state: President YOON Suk Yeol (since 10 May 2022); the president is both chief of state and head of government; Prime Minister HAN Deok-Soo (since 21 May 2022) serves as the principal executive assistant to the president, similar to the role of a vice president head of government: President YOON Suk Yeol (since 10 May 2022) cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a single 5-year term; election last held on 9 March 2022 (next election held March 2027); prime minister appointed by president with consent of National Assembly election results: YOON Suk-yeol (PPP) 48.56%, LEE Jae-myung (DP) 47.83% (note - voter turnout 77.1%) Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly or Kuk Hoe (300 seats statutory, current 295; 253 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 47 directly elected in a single national constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 15 April 2020 (next to be held on 10 April 2024) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - DP/Together Citizens Party 180, UFP/Free Korea Party 103, JP 6, ODP 3, PP 3, independent 5; composition as of April 2022 - men 240, women 55, percent of women 18.6% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of a chief justice and 13 justices); Constitutional Court (consists of a court head and 8 justices) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president with the consent of the National Assembly; other justices appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the chief justice and consent of the National Assembly; position of the chief justice is a 6-year nonrenewable term; other justices serve 6-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court justices appointed - 3 by the president, 3 by the National Assembly, and 3 by the Supreme Court chief justice; court head serves until retirement at age 70, while other justices serve 6-year renewable terms with mandatory retirement at age 65 subordinate courts: High Courts; District Courts; Branch Courts (organized under the District Courts); specialized courts for family and administrative issues Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party or DP [SONG Young-gil] (renamed from Minjoo Party of Korea or MPK in October 2016; formerly New Politics Alliance for Democracy or NPAD, which was a merger of the Democratic Party or DP (formerly DUP) [KIM Han-gil] and the New Political Vision Party or NPVP [AHN Cheol-soo] in March 2014) Justice Party or JP [YEO Young-kug] Open Democratic Party or ODP [CHOE Kang-wook] (formed in early 2020) People's Party or PP [AHN Cheol-soo] (formed in February 2020) Together Citizens' Party [WOO Hee-jong, ChOI Bae-geun] (formed in early 2020 in alliance with the Democratic Party) Transition Korea [CHO Jung-hun] (formed in February 2020) Basic Income Party [SHIN Ji-hye] (formed in January 2020) People Power Party or PPP [LEE Jun-seok] (renamed from United Future Party in September 2020, formerly Liberty Korea Party) (2021) note - the Democratic (Minjoo) Party is South Korea’s largest party and its main progressive party; the People Power Party (PPP) is a conservative grouping and is South Korea’s second-largest party; the PPP and its predecessor parties have controlled the National Assembly for all but nine of the 33 years since the 1987 Constitution went into effect (2022) International organization participation: ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, Arctic Council (observer), ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CICA, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20, 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, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador LEE Soo-hyuck (since 6 January 2020) chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600 FAX: [1] (202) 797-0595 email address and website: generalusa@mofa.go.kr https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/us-en/index.do consulate(s) general: Anchorage (AK), Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas (TX), Hagatna (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant);  Chargé d’Affaires Christopher DEL CORSO (since 16 July 2021) embassy: 188 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul mailing address: 9600 Seoul Place, Washington, DC  20521-9600 telephone: [82] (2) 397-4114 FAX: [82] (2) 397-4101 email address and website: seoulinfoACS@state.gov https://kr.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s): Busan Flag description: white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in the center; there is a different black trigram from the ancient I Ching (Book of Changes) in each corner of the white field; the South Korean national flag is called Taegukki; white is a traditional Korean color and represents peace and purity; the blue section represents the negative cosmic forces of the yin, while the red symbolizes the opposite positive forces of the yang; each trigram (kwae) denotes one of the four universal elements, which together express the principle of movement and harmony National symbol(s): taegeuk (yin yang symbol), Hibiscus syriacus (Rose of Sharon), Siberian tiger; national colors: red, white, blue, black National anthem: name: "Aegukga" (Patriotic Song) lyrics/music: YUN Ch'i-Ho or AN Ch'ang-Ho/AHN Eaktay note: adopted 1948, well-known by 1910; both North Korea's and South Korea's anthems share the same name and have a vaguely similar melody but have different lyrics National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 15 (13 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes (n); Changdeokgung Palace Complex (c); Jongmyo Shrine (c); Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple (c); Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites (c); Gyeongju Historic Areas (c); Namhansanseong (c); Baekje Historic Areas (c); Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea (c); Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty (c) Topic: Economy Economic overview: After emerging from the 1950-53 war with North Korea, South Korea emerged as one of the 20th century’s most remarkable economic success stories, becoming a developed, globally connected, high-technology society within decades. In the 1960s, GDP per capita was comparable with levels in the poorest countries in the world. In 2004, South Korea's GDP surpassed one trillion dollars.   Beginning in the 1960s under President PARK Chung-hee, the government promoted the import of raw materials and technology, encouraged saving and investment over consumption, kept wages low, and directed resources to export-oriented industries that remain important to the economy to this day. Growth surged under these policies, and frequently reached double-digits in the 1960s and 1970s. Growth gradually moderated in the 1990s as the economy matured, but remained strong enough to propel South Korea into the ranks of the advanced economies of the OECD by 1997. These policies also led to the emergence of family-owned chaebol conglomerates such as Daewoo, Hyundai, and Samsung, which retained their dominant positions even as the government loosened its grip on the economy amid the political changes of the 1980s and 1990s.   The Asian financial crisis of 1997-98 hit South Korea’s companies hard because of their excessive reliance on short-term borrowing, and GDP ultimately plunged by 7% in 1998. South Korea tackled difficult economic reforms following the crisis, including restructuring some chaebols, increasing labor market flexibility, and opening up to more foreign investment and imports. These steps lead to a relatively rapid economic recovery. South Korea also began expanding its network of free trade agreements to help bolster exports, and has since implemented 16 free trade agreements covering 58 countries—including the United State and China—that collectively cover more than three-quarters of global GDP.   In 2017, the election of President MOON Jae-in brought a surge in consumer confidence, in part, because of his successful efforts to increase wages and government spending. These factors combined with an uptick in export growth to drive real GDP growth to more than 3%, despite disruptions in South Korea’s trade with China over the deployment of a US missile defense system in South Korea.   In 2018 and beyond, South Korea will contend with gradually slowing economic growth - in the 2-3% range - not uncommon for advanced economies. This could be partially offset by efforts to address challenges arising from its rapidly aging population, inflexible labor market, continued dominance of the chaebols, and heavy reliance on exports rather than domestic consumption. Socioeconomic problems also persist, and include rising inequality, poverty among the elderly, high youth unemployment, long working hours, low worker productivity, and corruption.After emerging from the 1950-53 war with North Korea, South Korea emerged as one of the 20th century’s most remarkable economic success stories, becoming a developed, globally connected, high-technology society within decades. In the 1960s, GDP per capita was comparable with levels in the poorest countries in the world. In 2004, South Korea's GDP surpassed one trillion dollars. Beginning in the 1960s under President PARK Chung-hee, the government promoted the import of raw materials and technology, encouraged saving and investment over consumption, kept wages low, and directed resources to export-oriented industries that remain important to the economy to this day. Growth surged under these policies, and frequently reached double-digits in the 1960s and 1970s. Growth gradually moderated in the 1990s as the economy matured, but remained strong enough to propel South Korea into the ranks of the advanced economies of the OECD by 1997. These policies also led to the emergence of family-owned chaebol conglomerates such as Daewoo, Hyundai, and Samsung, which retained their dominant positions even as the government loosened its grip on the economy amid the political changes of the 1980s and 1990s. The Asian financial crisis of 1997-98 hit South Korea’s companies hard because of their excessive reliance on short-term borrowing, and GDP ultimately plunged by 7% in 1998. South Korea tackled difficult economic reforms following the crisis, including restructuring some chaebols, increasing labor market flexibility, and opening up to more foreign investment and imports. These steps lead to a relatively rapid economic recovery. South Korea also began expanding its network of free trade agreements to help bolster exports, and has since implemented 16 free trade agreements covering 58 countries—including the United State and China—that collectively cover more than three-quarters of global GDP. In 2017, the election of President MOON Jae-in brought a surge in consumer confidence, in part, because of his successful efforts to increase wages and government spending. These factors combined with an uptick in export growth to drive real GDP growth to more than 3%, despite disruptions in South Korea’s trade with China over the deployment of a US missile defense system in South Korea. In 2018 and beyond, South Korea will contend with gradually slowing economic growth - in the 2-3% range - not uncommon for advanced economies. This could be partially offset by efforts to address challenges arising from its rapidly aging population, inflexible labor market, continued dominance of the chaebols, and heavy reliance on exports rather than domestic consumption. Socioeconomic problems also persist, and include rising inequality, poverty among the elderly, high youth unemployment, long working hours, low worker productivity, and corruption. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $2,187,800,000,000 (2020 est.) $2,208,960,000,000 (2019 est.) $2,164,810,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 2.04% (2019 est.) 2.91% (2018 est.) 3.16% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $42,300 (2020 est.) $42,700 (2019 est.) $41,900 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $1,646,604,000,000 (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.3% (2019 est.) 1.4% (2018 est.) 1.9% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: AA- (2012) Moody's rating: Aa2 (2015) Standard & Poors rating: AA (2016) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2.2% (2017 est.) industry: 39.3% (2017 est.) services: 58.3% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 48.1% (2017 est.) government consumption: 15.3% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 31.1% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 43.1% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -37.7% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: rice, vegetables, cabbages, milk, onions, pork, poultry, eggs, tangerines/mandarins, potatoes Industries: electronics, telecommunications, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding, steel Industrial production growth rate: 4.6% (2017 est.) Labor force: 26.839 million (2020 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 4.8% industry: 24.6% services: 70.6% (2017 est.) Unemployment rate: 3.76% (2019 est.) 3.85% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 10.3% male: 11% female: 9.7% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 14.4% (2016 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 35.4 (2015 est.) 31.6 (2012 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 6.8% highest 10%: 48.5% (2015 est.) Budget: revenues: 357.1 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 335.8 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 1.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 39.5% of GDP (2017 est.) 39.9% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 23.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: $59.971 billion (2019 est.) $77.467 billion (2018 est.) Exports: $606.71 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $660.51 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $729.94 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: China 25%, United States 14%, Vietnam 9%, Hong Kong 6%, Japan 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: integrated circuits, cars and vehicle parts, refined petroleum, ships, office machinery (2019) Imports: $540.96 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $607.54 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $649.23 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: China 22%, United States 12%, Japan 9% (2019) Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, integrated circuits, natural gas, refined petroleum, coal (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $389.2 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $371.1 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $457.745 billion (2019 est.) $435.98 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: South Korean won (KRW) per US dollar - 1,084.65 (2020 est.) 1,189.9 (2019 est.) 1,119.8 (2018 est.) 1,130.95 (2014 est.) 1,052.96 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 526 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 507.6 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 111.2 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 70% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 21% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 8% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - imports: 3.057 million bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: (1 January 2017 est.) NA Refined petroleum products - production: 3.302 million bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 2.584 million bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 1.396 million bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 908,800 bbl/day (2017 est.) Natural gas - production: 339.8 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 45.28 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 48.65 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 7.079 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 23,858,239 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 70,513,676 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 138 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: excellent domestic and international services featuring rapid incorporation of new technologies; exceedingly high mobile, mobile broadband, and fixed broadband penetration; strong support from government for initiatives; tech-savvy population has catapulted the nation into one of the world's most active telecommunication markets; all mobile operators offer 5G networks; Chinese telecom Huawei partnered with operators including launch of Seoul TechCity; import of integrated circuits, broadcasting equipment, and phones from China; government and private partnership on national e-commerce and smart city development (2020) domestic: fixed-line approximately 47 per 100 and mobile-cellular services 138 per 100 persons; rapid assimilation of a full range of telecommunications technologies leading to a boom in e-commerce (2020) international: country code - 82; landing points for EAC-C2C, FEA, SeaMeWe-3, TPE, APCN-2, APG, FLAG North Asia Loop/REACH North Asia Loop, KJCN, NCP, and SJC2 submarine cables providing links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia and US; satellite earth stations - 66 (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: multiple national TV networks with 2 of the 3 largest networks publicly operated; the largest privately owned network, Seoul Broadcasting Service (SBS), has ties with other commercial TV networks; cable and satellite TV subscription services available; publicly operated radio broadcast networks and many privately owned radio broadcasting networks, each with multiple affiliates, and independent local stations Internet country code: .kr Internet users: total: 50,281,152 (2020 est.) percent of population: 97% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 22,327,182 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 14 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 424 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 88,157,579 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 11,929,560,000 (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HL Airports: total: 111 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 71 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 19 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 23 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 40 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 38 (2021) Heliports: 466 (2021) Pipelines: 3790 km gas, 16 km oil, 889 km refined products (2017) Railways: total: 3,979 km (2016) standard gauge: 3,979 km (2016) 1.435-m gauge (2,727 km electrified) Roadways: total: 100,428 km (2016) paved: 92,795 km (2016) (includes 4,193 km of expressways) unpaved: 7,633 km (2016) Waterways: 1,600 km (2011) (most navigable only by small craft) Merchant marine: total: 1,904 by type: bulk carrier 78, container ship 91, general cargo 360, oil tanker 184, other 1,191 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Busan, Incheon, Gunsan, Kwangyang, Mokpo, Pohang, Ulsan, Yeosu container port(s) (TEUs): Busan (21,992,001), Incheon (3,091,955), Kwangyang (2,378,337) (2019) LNG terminal(s) (import): Incheon, Kwangyang, Pyeongtaek, Samcheok, Tongyeong, Yeosu Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Armed Forces of the Republic of Korea: Republic of Korea Army (ROKA), Navy (ROKN, includes Marine Corps, ROKMC), Air Force (ROKAF); Military reserves include Mobilization Reserve Forces (First Combat Forces) and Homeland Defense Forces (Regional Combat Forces); Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries: Korea Coast Guard (2022) note - in January 2022, the South Korean military announced the formation of a space branch Military expenditures: 2.6% of GDP (2021 est.) 2.6% of GDP (2020) 2.7% of GDP (2019) (approximately $58.1 billion) 2.5% of GDP (2018) (approximately $55.8 billion) 2.5% of GDP (2017) (approximately $52.5 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: the Republic of Korea Armed Forces have approximately 555,000 active duty personnel (420,000 Army; 70,000 Navy/Marines; 65,000 Air Force) (2021) note - South Korea intends to reduce the size of its military to about 522,000 by 2022 Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the South Korean military is equipped with a mix of domestically-produced and imported weapons systems; South Korea has a robust defense industry and production includes armored fighting vehicles, artillery, aircraft, and naval ships; since 2010, the top foreign weapons supplier is the US and some domestically-produced systems are built under US license (2022) Military service age and obligation: 18-28 years of age for compulsory military service; minimum conscript service obligation varies by service- 21 months (Army, Marines), 23 months (Navy), 24 months (Air Force); 18-26 years of age for voluntary military service  (2021) note(s) - women, in service since 1950, are able to serve in all branches, including as officers, and in 2020 comprised about 7.5% of the active duty military; in 2021, about 330,000 of the military's active personnel were conscripts; South Korea intends to reduce the length of military service to 18 – 22 months by 2022 Military deployments: 260 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 280 South Sudan (UNMISS); 170 United Arab Emirates; note - since 2009, the ROK has kept a naval flotilla with approximately 300 personnel in the waters off of the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula (2021-2022) Military - note: the 1953 US-South Korea Mutual Defense Treaty is a cornerstone of South Korea’s security; the Treaty committed the US to provide assistance in the event of an attack, particularly from North Korea; in addition, the Treaty gave the US permission to station land, air, and sea forces in and about the territory of South Korea as determined by mutual agreement; as of 2021, the US maintained approximately 28,000 military personnel in the country the South Korean military has assisted the US in conflicts in Afghanistan (5,000 troops; 2001-2014), Iraq (20,000 troops; 2003-2008), and Vietnam (325,000 troops; 1964-1973) South Korea 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 in 2016, South Korea concluded an agreement with the European Union for participation in EU Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) missions and operations, such as the EU Naval Force Somalia – Operation Atalanta, which protects maritime shipping and conducts counter-piracy operations off the coast of East Africa South Korea has been engaged with NATO through dialogue and security cooperation since 2005 and is considered by NATO to be a global partner; it has participated in NATO-led missions and exercises, including leading an integrated civilian-military reconstruction team in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, 2010-2013; it has also cooperated with NATO in countering the threat of piracy in the Gulf of Aden by providing naval vessels as escorts in addition to the invasion of South Korea and the subsequent Korean War (1950-53), North Korea from the 1960s to the 1980s launched a considerable number of limited military and subversive actions against South Korea using special forces and terrorist tactics; including aggressive skirmishes along the DMZ, overt attempts to assassinate South Korean leaders, kidnappings, the bombing of an airliner, and a failed effort in 1968 to foment an insurrection and conduct a guerrilla war in the South with more than 100 seaborne commandos; from the 1990s until 2010, the North lost two submarines and a semi-submersible boat attempting to insert infiltrators into the South (1996, 1998) and provoked several engagements in the Northwest Islands area along the disputed Northern Limit Line (NLL), including naval skirmishes between patrol boats in 1999 and 2002, the torpedoing and sinking of a South Korean corvette, the Cheonan, in 2010, and the bombardment of a South Korean Marine Corps installation on Yeonpyeong Island, also in 2010; since 2010, further minor incidents continue to occur periodically along the DMZ, where both the North and the South Korean militaries maintain large numbers of troops in 2018, North Korea and South Korea signed a tension reduction agreement known as the Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA), which established land, sea, and air buffer zones along the DMZ and the NLL; implementation of the CMA required the removal of some land mines and guard posts; the efforts led to a reduction of tension in the DMZ, but as of 2021 North Korea had failed to uphold much of its side of the agreementthe 1953 US-South Korea Mutual Defense Treaty is a cornerstone of South Korea’s security; the Treaty committed the US to provide assistance in the event of an attack, particularly from North Korea; in addition, the Treaty gave the US permission to station land, air, and sea forces in and about the territory of South Korea as determined by mutual agreement; as of 2021, the US maintained approximately 28,000 military personnel in the countrythe South Korean military has assisted the US in conflicts in Afghanistan (5,000 troops; 2001-2014), Iraq (20,000 troops; 2003-2008), and Vietnam (325,000 troops; 1964-1973) South Korea 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 in 2016, South Korea concluded an agreement with the European Union for participation in EU Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) missions and operations, such as the EU Naval Force Somalia – Operation Atalanta, which protects maritime shipping and conducts counter-piracy operations off the coast of East AfricaSouth Korea has been engaged with NATO through dialogue and security cooperation since 2005 and is considered by NATO to be a global partner; it has participated in NATO-led missions and exercises, including leading an integrated civilian-military reconstruction team in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, 2010-2013; it has also cooperated with NATO in countering the threat of piracy in the Gulf of Aden by providing naval vessels as escortsin addition to the invasion of South Korea and the subsequent Korean War (1950-53), North Korea from the 1960s to the 1980s launched a considerable number of limited military and subversive actions against South Korea using special forces and terrorist tactics; including aggressive skirmishes along the DMZ, overt attempts to assassinate South Korean leaders, kidnappings, the bombing of an airliner, and a failed effort in 1968 to foment an insurrection and conduct a guerrilla war in the South with more than 100 seaborne commandos; from the 1990s until 2010, the North lost two submarines and a semi-submersible boat attempting to insert infiltrators into the South (1996, 1998) and provoked several engagements in the Northwest Islands area along the disputed Northern Limit Line (NLL), including naval skirmishes between patrol boats in 1999 and 2002, the torpedoing and sinking of a South Korean corvette, the Cheonan, in 2010, and the bombardment of a South Korean Marine Corps installation on Yeonpyeong Island, also in 2010; since 2010, further minor incidents continue to occur periodically along the DMZ, where both the North and the South Korean militaries maintain large numbers of troops in 2018, North Korea and South Korea signed a tension reduction agreement known as the Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA), which established land, sea, and air buffer zones along the DMZ and the NLL; implementation of the CMA required the removal of some land mines and guard posts; the efforts led to a reduction of tension in the DMZ, but as of 2021 North Korea had failed to uphold much of its side of the agreement Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km-wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic incidents with North Korea in the Yellow Sea over the Northern Limit Line, which South Korea claims as a maritime boundary; South Korea and Japan claim Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima), occupied by South Korea since 1954Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km-wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic incidents with North Korea in the Yellow Sea over the Northern Limit Line, which South Korea claims as a maritime boundary; South Korea and Japan claim Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima), occupied by South Korea since 1954 Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons: 204 (mid-year 2021) Illicit drugs: precursor chemicals used for illicit drugs, such as acetic anhydride, pseudoephedrine, and ephedrine, imported from the United States, Japan, India, and China and then either resold within South Korea or smuggled into other countries  precursor chemicals used for illicit drugs, such as acetic anhydride, pseudoephedrine, and ephedrine, imported from the United States, Japan, India, and China and then either resold within South Korea or smuggled into other countries 

20220601

countries-guam-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/visa-waiver-program. Note: all travelers transiting the US are subject to US customs and/or immigration laws. US Embassy/Consulate: N/A Telephone Code: 671 Local Emergency Phone: 911 (USA) Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations http://www.who.int/ Climate: Tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season (January to June), rainy season (July to December); little seasonal temperature variation Currency (Code): US $ (USD) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 110 V / 60 Hz / plug types(s): A, B Major Languages: English, Filipino, Chamorro, other Pacific island languages, Asian languages Major Religions: Christian (predominantly Roman Catholic) 94.2%, folk religions 1.5%, Buddhist 1.1% Time Difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Potable Water: Yes International Driving Permit: Suggested for non-US citizens. Road Driving Side: Right Tourist Destinations: Chamorro Village; Guam Museum; Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica; Fort Apugan; Latte Stone Park; Ritidian Point; Two Lover's Point; War in the Pacific National Historic Park (includes Apaca Point) Major Sports: Soccer, basketball, rugby Cultural Practices: Respect for family, community, and elders are major components of traditional Chamorro culture. Island culture has also been heavily influenced by both Spanish and American customs. The latter are pervasive in government and the media. Korean, Micronesian, Filipino, Chinese and Japanese immigrants have also enriched Guam's culture. Tipping Guidelines: Tipping is common practice in the same way as it is in the US.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, March 22, 2022

20220601

countries-sudan

Topic: Photos of Sudan Topic: Introduction Background: Long referred to as Nubia, modern-day Sudan was the site of the Kingdom of Kerma (ca. 2500-1500 B.C.) until it was absorbed into the New Kingdom of Egypt. By the 11th century B.C., the Kingdom of Kush gained independence from Egypt; it lasted in various forms until the middle of the 4th century A.D. After the fall of Kush, the Nubians formed three Christian kingdoms of Nobatia, Makuria, and Alodia. The latter two endured until around 1500. Between the 14th and 15th centuries much of Sudan was settled by Arab nomads, and between the 16th–19th centuries it underwent extensive Islamization. Following Egyptian occupation early in the 19th century, the British established an Anglo-Egyptian Sudan - nominally a condominium, but in effect a British colony. Military regimes favoring Islamic-oriented governments have dominated national politics since Sudan gained independence from Anglo-Egyptian co-rule in 1956. The 30-year reign of President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR, following months of nationwide protests, ended with the military forcing him out in April 2019. In July 2019, the country’s Transitional Military Council signed an agreement with the Forces for Freedom and Change (an umbrella group of civilian actors) to form a transitional government under a Constitutional Declaration. Economist and former international civil servant Abdalla HAMDOUK al-Kinani was selected to serve as prime minister of a civilian-led transitional government, which was to have guided the country to credible democratic elections in late 2022. In October 2021, the Sudanese military organized a takeover that ousted Prime Minister HAMDOUK and his government and replaced civilian members of the Sovereign Council (Sudan’s collective Head of State) with individuals selected by the military. HAMDOUK was briefly reinstated in November 2021, but resigned in January 2022. As of March 2022, General Abd-al-Fatah al-BURHAN Abd-al-Rahman, the Chair of Sudan’s Sovereign Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces, serves as de facto head of state and government. He presides over a Sovereign Council consisting of military leaders, former armed opposition group representatives, and civilians appointed by the military. A cabinet of acting ministers handles day-to-day administration. These acting ministers are either senior civil servants (some appointed by former Prime Minister HAMDOUK and some selected by the military) or hold-over ministers from Prime Minister HAMDOUK’s former cabinet who were appointed by former armed opposition groups that the military allowed to remain in their positions. The UN, the African Union, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development are currently facilitating a Sudanese-led political process intended to enable Sudanese civilian and military stakeholders to agree on the framework for a new civilian-led transitional government. During most of the second half of the 20th century, Sudan was embroiled in two prolonged civil wars rooted in northern economic, political, and social domination of the largely non-Muslim, non-Arab southern portion of the country. The first civil war ended in 1972, but another broke out in 1983. Peace talks gained momentum in 2002-04, and the final North/South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), signed in January 2005, granted the southern rebels autonomy for six years followed by a referendum on independence for Southern Sudan. South Sudan became independent on 9 July 2011, but Sudan and South Sudan have yet to fully implement security and economic agreements relating to the normalization of relations between the two countries. In the 21st century, Sudan faced conflict in Darfur, Southern Kordofan, and Blue Nile starting in 2003. Together, these conflicts displaced more than 3 million people; while some repatriation has taken place, about 2.28 million IDPs remained in Sudan as of December 2020. Sudan also faces refugee influxes from neighboring countries, primarily Central African Republic, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.  Long referred to as Nubia, modern-day Sudan was the site of the Kingdom of Kerma (ca. 2500-1500 B.C.) until it was absorbed into the New Kingdom of Egypt. By the 11th century B.C., the Kingdom of Kush gained independence from Egypt; it lasted in various forms until the middle of the 4th century A.D. After the fall of Kush, the Nubians formed three Christian kingdoms of Nobatia, Makuria, and Alodia. The latter two endured until around 1500. Between the 14th and 15th centuries much of Sudan was settled by Arab nomads, and between the 16th–19th centuries it underwent extensive Islamization. Following Egyptian occupation early in the 19th century, the British established an Anglo-Egyptian Sudan - nominally a condominium, but in effect a British colony. Military regimes favoring Islamic-oriented governments have dominated national politics since Sudan gained independence from Anglo-Egyptian co-rule in 1956. The 30-year reign of President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR, following months of nationwide protests, ended with the military forcing him out in April 2019. In July 2019, the country’s Transitional Military Council signed an agreement with the Forces for Freedom and Change (an umbrella group of civilian actors) to form a transitional government under a Constitutional Declaration. Economist and former international civil servant Abdalla HAMDOUK al-Kinani was selected to serve as prime minister of a civilian-led transitional government, which was to have guided the country to credible democratic elections in late 2022. In October 2021, the Sudanese military organized a takeover that ousted Prime Minister HAMDOUK and his government and replaced civilian members of the Sovereign Council (Sudan’s collective Head of State) with individuals selected by the military. HAMDOUK was briefly reinstated in November 2021, but resigned in January 2022.As of March 2022, General Abd-al-Fatah al-BURHAN Abd-al-Rahman, the Chair of Sudan’s Sovereign Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces, serves as de facto head of state and government. He presides over a Sovereign Council consisting of military leaders, former armed opposition group representatives, and civilians appointed by the military. A cabinet of acting ministers handles day-to-day administration. These acting ministers are either senior civil servants (some appointed by former Prime Minister HAMDOUK and some selected by the military) or hold-over ministers from Prime Minister HAMDOUK’s former cabinet who were appointed by former armed opposition groups that the military allowed to remain in their positions. The UN, the African Union, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development are currently facilitating a Sudanese-led political process intended to enable Sudanese civilian and military stakeholders to agree on the framework for a new civilian-led transitional government. During most of the second half of the 20th century, Sudan was embroiled in two prolonged civil wars rooted in northern economic, political, and social domination of the largely non-Muslim, non-Arab southern portion of the country. The first civil war ended in 1972, but another broke out in 1983. Peace talks gained momentum in 2002-04, and the final North/South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), signed in January 2005, granted the southern rebels autonomy for six years followed by a referendum on independence for Southern Sudan. South Sudan became independent on 9 July 2011, but Sudan and South Sudan have yet to fully implement security and economic agreements relating to the normalization of relations between the two countries. In the 21st century, Sudan faced conflict in Darfur, Southern Kordofan, and Blue Nile starting in 2003. Together, these conflicts displaced more than 3 million people; while some repatriation has taken place, about 2.28 million IDPs remained in Sudan as of December 2020. Sudan also faces refugee influxes from neighboring countries, primarily Central African Republic, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: north-eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 30 00 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 1,861,484 sq km land: 1,731,671 sq km water: 129,813 sq km Area - comparative: slightly less than one-fifth the size of the US Land boundaries: total: 6,819 km border countries (7): Central African Republic 174 km; Chad 1,403 km; Egypt 1,276 km; Eritrea 682 km; Ethiopia 744 km; Libya 382 km; South Sudan 2,158 km note: Sudan-South Sudan boundary represents 1 January 1956 alignment; final alignment pending negotiations and demarcation; final sovereignty status of Abyei region pending negotiations between Sudan and South Sudan Coastline: 853 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation Climate: hot and dry; arid desert; rainy season varies by region (April to November) Terrain: generally flat, featureless plain; desert dominates the north Elevation: highest point: Jabal Marrah 3,042 m lowest point: Red Sea 0 m mean elevation: 568 m Natural resources: petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold; hydropower Land use: agricultural land: 100% (2018 est.) arable land: 15.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 84.2% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 0% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 18,900 sq km (2012) Major rivers (by length in km): Nile (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km; Blue Nile river mouth (shared with Ethiopia [s]) - 1,600 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouthNile (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km; Blue Nile river mouth (shared with Ethiopia [s]) - 1,600 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km) Major aquifers: Nubian Aquifer System, Sudd Basin (Umm Ruwaba Aquifer) Population distribution: with the exception of a ribbon of settlement that corresponds to the banks of the Nile, northern Sudan, which extends into the dry Sahara, is sparsely populated; more abundant vegetation and broader access to water increases population distribution in the south extending habitable range along nearly the entire border with South Sudan; sizeable areas of population are found around Khartoum, southeast between the Blue and White Nile Rivers, and througout South Darfur as shown on this population distribution map Natural hazards: dust storms and periodic persistent droughts Geography - note: the Nile is Sudan's primary water source; its major tributaries, the White Nile and the Blue Nile, meet at Khartoum to form the River Nile which flows northward through Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea Map description: Sudan showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Red Sea.Sudan showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Red Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 47,958,856 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Sudanese (singular and plural) adjective: Sudanese Ethnic groups: Sudanese Arab (approximately 70%), Fur, Beja, Nuba, Ingessana, Uduk, Fallata, Masalit, Dajo, Gimir, Tunjur, Berti; there are over 500 ethnic groups Languages: Arabic (official), English (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, Fur major-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English) Religions: Sunni Muslim, small Christian minority Age structure: 0-14 years: 42.01% (male 9,726,937/female 9,414,988) 15-24 years: 20.94% (male 4,852,903/female 4,687,664) 25-54 years: 29.89% (male 6,633,567/female 6,986,241) 55-64 years: 4.13% (male 956,633/female 923,688) 65 years and over: 3.03% (2020 est.) (male 729,214/female 649,721) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 76.9 youth dependency ratio: 70.4 elderly dependency ratio: 6.5 potential support ratio: 15.4 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 18.3 years male: 18.1 years female: 18.5 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 2.55% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 33.47 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 6.3 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -1.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: with the exception of a ribbon of settlement that corresponds to the banks of the Nile, northern Sudan, which extends into the dry Sahara, is sparsely populated; more abundant vegetation and broader access to water increases population distribution in the south extending habitable range along nearly the entire border with South Sudan; sizeable areas of population are found around Khartoum, southeast between the Blue and White Nile Rivers, and througout South Darfur as shown on this population distribution map Urbanization: urban population: 36% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 6.160 million KHARTOUM (capital), 1.012 million Nyala (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 295 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 42.27 deaths/1,000 live births male: 47.76 deaths/1,000 live births female: 36.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.12 years male: 64.89 years female: 69.46 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.6 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 12.2% (2014) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99% of population rural: 80.7% of population total: 87.1% of population unimproved: urban: 1% of population rural: 19.3% of population total: 12.9% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 4.6% (2019) Physicians density: 0.26 physicians/1,000 population (2017) Hospital bed density: 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2017) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 72.1% of population rural: 30.6% of population total: 45.3% of population unimproved: urban: 27.9% of population rural: 69.4% of population total: 54.7% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 49,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 2,300 (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, dengue fever, and Rift Valley fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 6.6% (2014) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 33% (2014) Education expenditures: NA Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 60.7% male: 65.4% female: 56.1% (2018) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 8 years male: 8 years female: 7 years (2015) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 32.6% male: 27.4% female: 43.5% (2011 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; water scarcity and periodic drought; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification; deforestation; loss of biodiversity  water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; water scarcity and periodic drought; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification; deforestation; loss of biodiversity  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: none of the selected agreements Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 47.92 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 20 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 75.1 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: hot and dry; arid desert; rainy season varies by region (April to November) Land use: agricultural land: 100% (2018 est.) arable land: 15.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 84.2% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 0% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 36% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 3.01% 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, dengue fever, and Rift Valley fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis Food insecurity: severe 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) Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 2,831,291 tons (2015 est.) Major rivers (by length in km): Nile (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km; Blue Nile river mouth (shared with Ethiopia [s]) - 1,600 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouthNile (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km; Blue Nile river mouth (shared with Ethiopia [s]) - 1,600 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km) Major aquifers: Nubian Aquifer System, Sudd Basin (Umm Ruwaba Aquifer) Total water withdrawal: municipal: 950 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 75 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 25.91 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 37.8 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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]" Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Khartoum geographic coordinates: 15 36 N, 32 32 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: several explanations of the name exist; two of the more plausible are that it is derived from Arabic "al-jartum" meaning "elephant's trunk" or "hose," and likely referring to the narrow strip of land extending between the Blue and White Niles; alternatively, the name could derive from the Dinka words "khar-tuom," indicating a "place where rivers meet" Administrative divisions: 18 states (wilayat, singular - wilayah); Blue Nile, Central Darfur, East Darfur, Gedaref, Gezira, Kassala, Khartoum, North Darfur, North Kordofan, Northern, Red Sea, River Nile, Sennar, South Darfur, South Kordofan, West Darfur, West Kordofan, White Nile note: the peace Agreement signed in October 2020 included a provision to establish a system of governance that will likely restructure the country's current 18 provinces/states into regions Independence: 1 January 1956 (from Egypt and the UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 1 January (1956) Constitution: history: history: previous 1973, 1998; 2005 (interim constitution, which was suspended in April 2019); latest initial draft completed by Transitional Military Council in May 2019; revised draft known as the "Draft Constitutional Charter for the 2019 Transitional Period," or “2019 Constitutional Declaration” was signed by the Council and opposition coalition on 4 August 2019 amendments: amended 2020 to incorporate the Juba Agreement for Peace in Sudan; the military suspended several provisions of the Constitutional Declaration in October 2021 amendments: amended 2020 to incorporate the Juba Agreement for Peace in Sudan Legal system: mixed legal system of Islamic law and English common law; note - in mid-July 2020, Sudan amended 15 provisions of its 1991 penal code International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; withdrew acceptance of ICCt jurisdiction in 2008 Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Sudan dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Sovereign Council Chair and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces General Abd-al-Fatah al-BURHAN Abd-al-Rahman (de facto); note – the 2019 Constitutional Declaration established a collective chief of state the "Sovereign Council," which was chaired by al-BURHAN; on 25 October 2021, al-BURHAN dissolved the Sovereign Council but subsequently reinstated it on 11 November 2021 replacing its civilian members (previously selected by the umbrella civilian coalition the Forces for Freedom and Change) with civilians of the military’s choosing; the Sovereign Council currently consists of five military appointed civilians, five generals, and three representatives selected by former armed opposition groups head of government: Sovereign Council Chair and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces General Abd-al-Fatah al-BURHAN Abd-al-Rahman (de facto); note –the 2019 Constitutional Declaration calls for the appointment of a civilian Prime Minister; Prime Minister Abdallah HAMDOUK (since August 2019, ousted by military in October 2021 and then reinstated November 2021) resigned on 2 January 2022; he has not been replaced and Gen. BURHAN has effectively assumed his role cabinet: most members of the Council of Ministers were forced from office in October 2021 by the military and subsequently resigned in November 2021; the military allowed a handful of ministers appointed by former armed opposition groups to retain their posts; at present, most of the members of the Council are senior civil servants serving in an acting minister capacity appointed either by Prime Minister HAMDOUK prior to his resignation or by the military elections/appointments: the 2019 Constitutional Declaration originally called for elections to be held in late 2022 at the end of the transitional period; that date was pushed back to late 2023 by the Juba Peace Agreement; the methodology for future elections has not yet been defined; according to the 2019 Constitutional Declaration, civilian members of the Sovereign Council and the Prime Minister were to have been nominated by an umbrella coalition of civilian actors known as the Forces for Freedom and Change; this methodology was followed in selecting HAMDOUK as Prime Minister in August 2019; the military purports to have suspended this provision of the 2019 Constitutional Declaration in October 2021; Prime Minister HAMDOUK’s restoration to office in November 2021 was the result of an agreement signed between him and Sovereign Council Chair BURHAN; military members of the Sovereign Council are selected by the leadership of the security forces;  representatives of former armed groups to the Sovereign Council are selected by the signatories of the Juba Peace Agreement election results: NASovereign Council Chair and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces General Abd-al-Fatah al-BURHAN Abd-al-Rahman (de facto); note – the 2019 Constitutional Declaration established a collective chief of state the "Sovereign Council," which was chaired by al-BURHAN; on 25 October 2021, al-BURHAN dissolved the Sovereign Council but subsequently reinstated it on 11 November 2021 replacing its civilian members (previously selected by the umbrella civilian coalition the Forces for Freedom and Change) with civilians of the military’s choosing; the Sovereign Council currently consists of five military appointed civilians, five generals, and three representatives selected by former armed opposition groups Legislative branch: description: according to the August 2019 Constitutional Declaration, which established Sudan's transitional government, the Transitional Legislative Council (TLC) was to have served as the national legislature during the transitional period until elections could be held; as of March 2022, the TLC had not been established elections: Council of State - last held 1 June 2015; subsequently dissolved in April 2019 National Assembly - last held on 13-15 April 2015; subsequently dissolved in April 2019 note – according to the 2019 Constitutional Declaration, elections for a new legislature are to be held at an undetermined date in late 2023 election results: Council of State - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; former composition - men 35, women 19, percent of women 35.2% National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; former seats by party - NCP 323, DUP 25, Democratic Unionist Party 15, other 44, independent 19; former composition - men 296 women 130, percent of women 30.5%; note - former total National Legislature percent of women 31% Judicial branch: highest courts: National Supreme Court (consists of 70 judges organized into panels of 3 judges and includes 4 circuits that operate outside the capital); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 justices including the court president); note - the Constitutional Court resides outside the national judiciary and has not been appointed since the signature of the 2019 Constitutional Declaration judge selection and term of office: National Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges selected by the Supreme Judicial Council, which replaced the National Judicial Service Commission upon enactment of the 2019 Constitutional Declaration d subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; other national courts; public courts; district, town, and rural courts subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; other national courts; public courts; district, town, and rural courts Political parties and leaders: Democratic Unionist Party or DUP [Jalal al-DIGAIR] Democratic Unionist Party [Muhammad Uthman al-MIRGHANI] Federal Umma Party [Dr. Ahmed Babikir NAHAR] Muslim Brotherhood or MB National Congress Party or NCP (in November 2019, Sudan's transitional government approved a law to "dismantle" the regime of former President Omar al-Bashir, including the dissolution of his political party, the NCP) National Umma Party or NUP [Saddiq al-MAHDI] Popular Congress Party or PCP [Hassan al-TURABI] Reform Movement Now [Dr. Ghazi Salahuddin al-ATABANI]Sudan National Front [Ali Mahmud HASANAYN] Sudanese Communist Party or SCP [Mohammed Moktar Al-KHATEEB] Sudanese Congress Party or SCoP [Ibrahim Al-SHEIKH] Umma Party for Reform and Development Unionist Movement Party or UMP International organization participation: ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Charge D’Affaires Ismat Kamil GABBANI (since 14 January 2022) chancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 338-8565 FAX: [1] (202) 667-2406 email address and website: consular@sudanembassy.org https://www.sudanembassy.org/ Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Lucy TAMLYN  (since February  2022) embassy: P.O. Box 699, Kilo 10, Soba, Khartoum mailing address: 2200 Khartoum Place, Washington DC  20521-2200 telephone: [249] 187-0-22000 email address and website: ACSKhartoum@state.gov https://sd.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; colors and design based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I, but the meanings of the colors are expressed as follows: red signifies the struggle for freedom, white is the color of peace, light, and love, black represents the people of Sudan (in Arabic 'Sudan' means black), green is the color of Islam, agriculture, and prosperity National symbol(s): secretary bird; national colors: red, white, black, green National anthem: name: "Nahnu Djundulla Djundulwatan" (We Are the Army of God and of Our Land) lyrics/music: Sayed Ahmad Muhammad SALIH/Ahmad MURJAN note: adopted 1956; originally served as the anthem of the Sudanese military National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Gebel Barkal and the Sites of the Napatan Region (c), Archaeological Sites of the Island of Meroe (c), Sanganeb Marine National Park and Dungonab Bay – Mukkawar Island Marine National Park (n) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Sudan has experienced protracted social conflict and the loss of three quarters of its oil production due to the secession of South Sudan. The oil sector had driven much of Sudan's GDP growth since 1999. For nearly a decade, the economy boomed on the back of rising oil production, high oil prices, and significant inflows of foreign direct investment. Since the economic shock of South Sudan's secession, Sudan has struggled to stabilize its economy and make up for the loss of foreign exchange earnings. The interruption of oil production in South Sudan in 2012 for over a year and the consequent loss of oil transit fees further exacerbated the fragile state of Sudan’s economy. Ongoing conflicts in Southern Kordofan, Darfur, and the Blue Nile states, lack of basic infrastructure in large areas, and reliance by much of the population on subsistence agriculture, keep close to half of the population at or below the poverty line. Sudan was subject to comprehensive US sanctions, which were lifted in October 2017. Sudan is attempting to develop non-oil sources of revenues, such as gold mining and agriculture, while carrying out an austerity program to reduce expenditures. The world’s largest exporter of gum Arabic, Sudan produces 75-80% of the world’s total output. Agriculture continues to employ 80% of the work force. Sudan introduced a new currency, still called the Sudanese pound, following South Sudan's secession, but the value of the currency has fallen since its introduction. Khartoum formally devalued the currency in June 2012, when it passed austerity measures that included gradually repealing fuel subsidies. Sudan also faces high inflation, which reached 47% on an annual basis in November 2012 but fell to about 35% per year in 2017. (2017)Sudan has experienced protracted social conflict and the loss of three quarters of its oil production due to the secession of South Sudan. The oil sector had driven much of Sudan's GDP growth since 1999. For nearly a decade, the economy boomed on the back of rising oil production, high oil prices, and significant inflows of foreign direct investment. Since the economic shock of South Sudan's secession, Sudan has struggled to stabilize its economy and make up for the loss of foreign exchange earnings. The interruption of oil production in South Sudan in 2012 for over a year and the consequent loss of oil transit fees further exacerbated the fragile state of Sudan’s economy. Ongoing conflicts in Southern Kordofan, Darfur, and the Blue Nile states, lack of basic infrastructure in large areas, and reliance by much of the population on subsistence agriculture, keep close to half of the population at or below the poverty line.Sudan was subject to comprehensive US sanctions, which were lifted in October 2017. Sudan is attempting to develop non-oil sources of revenues, such as gold mining and agriculture, while carrying out an austerity program to reduce expenditures. The world’s largest exporter of gum Arabic, Sudan produces 75-80% of the world’s total output. Agriculture continues to employ 80% of the work force.Sudan introduced a new currency, still called the Sudanese pound, following South Sudan's secession, but the value of the currency has fallen since its introduction. Khartoum formally devalued the currency in June 2012, when it passed austerity measures that included gradually repealing fuel subsidies. Sudan also faces high inflation, which reached 47% on an annual basis in November 2012 but fell to about 35% per year in 2017. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $176.4 billion (2020 est.) $179.2 billion (2019 est.) $181.61 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 1.4% (2017 est.) 3% (2016 est.) 1.3% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $4,000 (2020 est.) $4,200 (2019 est.) $4,300 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $24.918 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 50.2% (2019 est.) 62.8% (2018 est.) 32.5% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 39.6% (2017 est.) industry: 2.6% (2017 est.) services: 57.8% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 77.3% (2017 est.) government consumption: 5.8% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 18.4% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.6% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 9.7% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -11.8% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: sugar cane, sorghum, milk, groundnuts, onions, sesame seed, goat milk, millet, bananas, wheat Industries: oil, cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, armaments, automobile/light truck assembly, milling Industrial production growth rate: 4.5% (2017 est.) Labor force: 11.92 million (2007 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 80% industry: 7% services: 13% (1998 est.) Unemployment rate: 19.6% (2017 est.) 20.6% (2016 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 32.6% male: 27.4% female: 43.5% (2011 est.) Population below poverty line: 46.5% (2009 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 34.2 (2014 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 26.7% (2009 est.) Budget: revenues: 8.48 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 13.36 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -10.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 121.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 99.5% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 18.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$4.811 billion (2017 est.) -$4.213 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $5.11 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $5 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Exports - partners: United Arab Emirates 31%, China 19%, Saudi Arabia 14%, India 12%, Egypt 5% (2019) Exports - commodities: gold, crude petroleum, sesame seeds, sheep, goats, cotton, ground nuts (2019) Imports: $9.79 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $8.24 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: China 31%, India 14%, United Arab Emirates 11%, Egypt 6% (2019) Imports - commodities: raw sugar, wheat, packaged medicines, jewelry, tires, cars and vehicle parts (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $198 million (31 December 2017 est.) $168.3 million (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $56.05 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $51.26 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: Sudanese pounds (SDG) per US dollar - 6.72 (2017 est.) 6.14 (2016 est.) 6.14 (2015 est.) 6.03 (2014 est.) 5.74 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 47% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 71% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 35% (2019) Electricity - production: 13.99 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 12.12 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 3.437 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 44% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 51% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 6% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 95,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 19,540 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 9,440 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 5 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 94,830 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 112,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 8,541 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 24,340 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: 84.95 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 129,408 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2020 est.) less than 1 Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 33,014,200 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 77.11 (2019) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: well-equipped system by regional standards with ongoing upgrades; despite economic challenges, government continues to boost mobile infrastructure through build-out of fiber-broadband network across country; economic climate has not encouraged client growth in telecom, but some investment has been made to build mobile towers and expand LTE services; growth of e-money services; interim constitution safeguards rights and freedoms, though some Internet users continue to face harassment for activities; importer of broadcasting equipment from UAE and China (2020) domestic: consists of microwave radio relay, cable, fiber optic, radiotelephone communications, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations; teledensity fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular over 80 telephones per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 249; landing points for the EASSy, FALCON and SAS-1,-2, fiber-optic submarine cable systems linking Africa, the Middle East, Indian Ocean Islands and Asia; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn because of supply-chain disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. Security services imposed periodic internet and cellular communication blackouts during civilian protests of the military takeover in October, November, and December 2021. Broadcast media: Following the establishment of Sudan’s civilian-led transitional government in August 2019, government-owned broadcasters became increasingly independent from government and military control. Following the October 2021 military takeover, additional restrictions were imposed on these government-owned broadcasters, which now practice a heightened degree of self-censorship but still operate more independently than in the pre-2019 environment. (2022) Internet country code: .sd Internet users: total: 12,277,795 (2020 est.) percent of population: 28% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 28,782 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.07 (2020 est.) less than 1 Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 9 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 42 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 269,958 (2018) Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: ST Airports: total: 67 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 17 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 50 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 24 under 914 m: 9 (2021) Heliports: 7 (2021) Pipelines: 156 km gas, 4070 km oil, 1613 km refined products (2013) Railways: total: 7,251 km (2014) narrow gauge: 5,851 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge 1,400 km 0.600-m gauge for cotton plantations Roadways: total: 31,000 km (2019) paved: 8,000 km (2019) unpaved: 23,000 km (2019) urban: 1,000 km (2019) Waterways: 4,068 km (2011) (1,723 km open year-round on White and Blue Nile Rivers) Merchant marine: total: 15 by type: other 15 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Port Sudan Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF): Ground Force, Navy, Sudanese Air Force; Rapid Support Forces (RSF); Reserve Department (formerly the paramilitary Popular Defense Forces); Border Guards (Ministry of Defense) Ministry of Interior: security police, special forces police, traffic police, and the combat-trained Central Reserve Police (2022) note - the RSF is a semi-autonomous paramilitary force formed in 2013 to fight armed rebel groups in Sudan, with Mohammed Hamdan DAGALO (aka Hemeti) as its commander (he is also a member of the Sovereign Council); it was initially placed under the National Intelligence and Security Service, then came under the direct command of former president Omar al-BASHIR, who boosted the RSF as his own personal security force; as a result, the RSF was better funded and equipped than the regular armed forces; the RSF has since recruited from all parts of Sudan beyond its original Darfuri Arab groups but remains under the personal patronage and control of DAGALO; the RSF has been accused of committing rights abuses against civilians; it is also reportedly involved in business enterprises, such as gold mining; in late 2019, Sovereign Council Chairman and SAF Commander-in-Chief General Abd-al-Fatah al-BURHAN said the RSF would be fully integrated into the SAF, but did not give a timeline Military expenditures: 2.4% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $2.08 billion) 2% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $2.08 billion) 3.6% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $2.75 billion) 2.9% of GDP (2016 est.) (approximately $2.55 billion) 2.4% of GDP (2015 est.) (approximately $2.64 billion) note - many defense expenditures are probably off-budget Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies widely, ranging from about 100,000 to more than 200,000 active personnel, including approximately 5,000 combined Navy and Air Force; approximately 30-40,000 paramilitary Rapid Support Forces; approximately 20,000 Reserve Department (formerly the paramilitary Popular Defense Forces) (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the SAF's inventory includes a mix of Chinese, Russian, Soviet-era, Ukrainian, and domestically-produced weapons systems; since 2010, the leading arms providers to the SAF are Belarus, China, Russia, and Ukraine; North Korea has also provided arms; Sudan has a domestic arms industry that manufactures ammunition, small arms, and armored vehicles, largely based on older Chinese and Russian systems (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-33 years of age for male and female compulsory or voluntary military service; 1-2 year service obligation (2021) note - implementation of conscription is reportedly uneven Military deployments: Sudan joined the Saudi-led coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015, reportedly providing as many as 40,000 troops during the peak of the war in 2016-17, mostly from the Rapid Support Forces; by 2021, Sudan had reduced the size of the force to about a brigade (approximately 2-3,000 troops) (2021) Military - note: the Sudanese military has been a dominant force in the ruling of the country since its independence in 1956; in addition, the Sudanese military and security forces have a large role in the country's economy, reportedly controlling over 200 commercial companies, including businesses involved in gold mining, rubber production, agriculture, and meat exports the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) has operated in the disputed Abyei region along the border between Sudan and South Sudan since 2011; UNISFA's mission includes ensuring security, protecting civilians, strengthening the capacity of the Abyei Police Service, de-mining, monitoring/verifying the redeployment of armed forces from the area, and facilitating the flow of humanitarian aid; UNISFA had about 3,300 personnel deployed as of February 2022 in addition, the United Nations African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) operated in the war-torn Darfur region between 2007 and the end of its mandate in July 2021; UNAMID was a joint African Union-UN peacekeeping force with the mission of bringing stability to Darfur, including protecting civilians, facilitating humanitarian assistance, and promoting mediation efforts, while peace talks on a final settlement continued; UNAMID withdrew the last of its personnel in December 2021; note - the October 2020 peace agreement provided for the establishment of a joint security force comprised of 12,000 members tasked with securing the Darfur region in the place of UNAMID; in June 2021, Sudan's transitional government announced it would increase the size of this force to 20,000 and expand its mission scope to include the capital and other parts of the country suffering from violence; the force would include the SAF, RSF, police, intelligence, and representatives from armed groups involved in peace negotiations (2022)the Sudanese military has been a dominant force in the ruling of the country since its independence in 1956; in addition, the Sudanese military and security forces have a large role in the country's economy, reportedly controlling over 200 commercial companies, including businesses involved in gold mining, rubber production, agriculture, and meat exports Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS), al-Qa’ida, Harakat Sawa’d Misr Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: the effects of Sudan's ethnic and rebel militia fighting since the mid-20th century have penetrated all of the neighboring states; 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; civil unrest in eastern Sudan has hampered efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with Ethiopia; as of early 2019, more than 590,000 Sudanese refugees are being hosted in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Sudan; Sudan, in turn, is hosting more than 975,000 refugees and asylum seekers, including more than 845,000 from South Sudan; Sudan accuses South Sudan of supporting Sudanese rebel groups; Sudan claims but Egypt de facto administers security and economic development of the Halaib region north of the 22nd parallel boundary; periodic violent skirmishes with Sudanese residents over water and grazing rights persist among related pastoral populations along the border with the Central African Republic; South Sudan-Sudan boundary represents 1 January 1956 alignment, final alignment pending negotiations and demarcation; final sovereignty status of Abyei Area pending negotiations between South Sudan and Sudanthe effects of Sudan's ethnic and rebel militia fighting since the mid-20th century have penetrated all of the neighboring states; 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; civil unrest in eastern Sudan has hampered efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with Ethiopia; as of early 2019, more than 590,000 Sudanese refugees are being hosted in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Sudan; Sudan, in turn, is hosting more than 975,000 refugees and asylum seekers, including more than 845,000 from South Sudan; Sudan accuses South Sudan of supporting Sudanese rebel groups; Sudan claims but Egypt de facto administers security and economic development of the Halaib region north of the 22nd parallel boundary; periodic violent skirmishes with Sudanese residents over water and grazing rights persist among related pastoral populations along the border with the Central African Republic; South Sudan-Sudan boundary represents 1 January 1956 alignment, final alignment pending negotiations and demarcation; final sovereignty status of Abyei Area pending negotiations between South Sudan and Sudan Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 803,634 (South Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers), 128,996 (Eritrea) (refugees and asylum seekers), 93,482 (Syria) (refugees and asylum seekers), 73,335 (Ethiopia) (refugees and asylum seekers), 28,028 (Central African Republic) (2022) IDPs: 2,276,000 (civil war 1983-2005; ongoing conflict in Darfur region; government and rebel fighting along South Sudan border; inter-tribal clashes) (2020) Trafficking in persons: current situation: Sudan is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children who are subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; traffickers exploit homeless children and unaccompanied migrant children from West and Central Africa in forced labor for begging, public transportation, large markets, and in sex trafficking; business owners, informal mining operators, community members, and farmers exploit children in brick-making factories, gold mining, collecting medical waste, street vending, and agriculture; children are exposed to threats, physical and sexual abuse, and hazardous working conditions; criminal groups exploit Sudanese women and girls from rural areas in domestic work and in sex trafficking; Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, a semi-autonomous paramilitary branch of the government, recruited child soldiers; Eritrean, Ethiopian, and other Africans refugees at government encampments risk exploitation tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Sudan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; authorities prosecuted more suspected traffickers and launched an awareness campaign; the government streamlined its national anti-trafficking mechanism and focused resources on the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking; a national action plan was drafted, finalized, and approved; Sudanese Armed Forces officials launched a unit for child protection efforts in conflict areas and trained more than 5,000 members of its military on child protection issues; however, the Rapid Support Forces, a semi-autonomous paramilitary branch of the government, recruited child soldiers; the government has not developed a system to identify, demobilize, and rehabilitate victims; officials’ denial of trafficking, smuggling, and kidnapping for ransom impeded anti-trafficking efforts; investigations and convictions of trafficking crimes decreased; Sudan was granted a waiver per the Trafficking Victims Protection Act from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3; Sudan remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the third consecutive year (2020)

20220601

field-disputes-international

This entry includes a wide variety of situations that range from traditional bilateral boundary disputes to unilateral claims of one sort or another. Information regarding disputes over international terrestrial and maritime boundaries has been reviewed by the US Department of State. References to other situations involving borders or frontiers may also be included, such as resource disputes, geopolitical questions, or irredentist issues; however, inclusion does not necessarily constitute official acceptance or recognition by the US Government. Topic: AfghanistanAfghanistan-China: None identified Afghanistan-Iran: Afghan and Iranian commissioners have discussed boundary monument densification and resurvey; Iran protests Afghanistan's restricting flow of dammed Helmand River tributaries during drought Afghanistan-Pakistan: Pakistan has built fences in some portions of its border with Afghanistan which remains open in some areas to terrorist and other illegal activities. Their alignments may not always be in conformance with Durand Line and original surveyed definitions of the boundary. Afghan, Coalition, and Pakistan military meet periodically to clarify the alignment of the boundary on the ground and on maps and since 2014 have met to discuss collaboration on the Taliban insurgency and counterterrorism efforts. Afghanistan-Tajikistan: None identified Afghanistan-Turkmenistan: None identified Afghanistan-Uzbekistan: None identified. Boundary follows Amu Darya river as delimited in the Afghan-Soviet treaties and not by the river's current course. The boundary was delimited and possibly demarcated during Soviet times (pre-1991). No current negotiations between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan to redelimit the boundary have been identified.  Russia remains concerned about the smuggling of poppy derivatives from Afghanistan through Central Asian countriesAfghanistan-China: None identified Afghanistan-Iran: Afghan and Iranian commissioners have discussed boundary monument densification and resurvey; Iran protests Afghanistan's restricting flow of dammed Helmand River tributaries during drought Afghanistan-Pakistan: Pakistan has built fences in some portions of its border with Afghanistan which remains open in some areas to terrorist and other illegal activities. Their alignments may not always be in conformance with Durand Line and original surveyed definitions of the boundary. Afghan, Coalition, and Pakistan military meet periodically to clarify the alignment of the boundary on the ground and on maps and since 2014 have met to discuss collaboration on the Taliban insurgency and counterterrorism efforts. Afghanistan-Tajikistan: None identified Afghanistan-Turkmenistan: None identified Afghanistan-Uzbekistan: None identified. Boundary follows Amu Darya river as delimited in the Afghan-Soviet treaties and not by the river's current course. The boundary was delimited and possibly demarcated during Soviet times (pre-1991). No current negotiations between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan to redelimit the boundary have been identified.  Russia remains concerned about the smuggling of poppy derivatives from Afghanistan through Central Asian countries Topic: Albanianonenone Topic: AlgeriaAlgeria-Morocco: the Algerian-Moroccan land border remains closed; Algeria's border with Morocco remains an irritant to bilateral relations, each nation accusing the other of harboring militants and arms smuggling; the National Liberation Front's (FLN) assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco remain a dormant dispute Algeria-Libya: dormant dispute includes Libyan claims of about 32,000 sq km still reflected on its maps of southeastern Algeria Algeria-Mali: none identified Algeria-Mauritania: none identified Algeria-Niger: none identified Algeria-Tunisia: none identifiedAlgeria-Morocco: the Algerian-Moroccan land border remains closed; Algeria's border with Morocco remains an irritant to bilateral relations, each nation accusing the other of harboring militants and arms smuggling; the National Liberation Front's (FLN) assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco remain a dormant dispute Algeria-Libya: dormant dispute includes Libyan claims of about 32,000 sq km still reflected on its maps of southeastern Algeria Algeria-Mali: none identified Algeria-Mauritania: none identified Algeria-Niger: none identified Algeria-Tunisia: none identified Topic: American Samoanone identifiednone identified Topic: AndorraAndorra-France: none identified Andorra-Spain: none identifiedAndorra-France: none identified Andorra-Spain: none identified Topic: AngolaAngola-Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): DRC accuses Angola of shifting monuments Angola-Namibia: none identified Angola-Republic of Congo: (Kabinda Exclave) none identified Angola-Zambia: because the straight-line segments along the left bank (Zambian side) of the Cuando/Kwando River do not conform with the physical alignment of the unstable shoreline, Zambian residents in some areas have settled illegally on sections of shoreline that fall on the Angolan side of the boundaryAngola-Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): DRC accuses Angola of shifting monuments Angola-Namibia: none identified Angola-Republic of Congo: (Kabinda Exclave) none identified Angola-Zambia: because the straight-line segments along the left bank (Zambian side) of the Cuando/Kwando River do not conform with the physical alignment of the unstable shoreline, Zambian residents in some areas have settled illegally on sections of shoreline that fall on the Angolan side of the boundary Topic: Anguillanone identifiednone identified Topic: Antarcticathe 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 Topic: Antigua and Barbudanone identifiednone identified Topic: Arctic Oceanrecord summer melting of sea ice in the Arctic has renewed interest in maritime shipping lanes and sea floor exploration Canada-US: dispute how to divide the Beaufort Sea and the status of the Northwest Passage but continue to work cooperatively to survey the Arctic continental shelf Canada-Denmark (Greenland)-Norway: have made submissions to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental shelf (CLCS) Norway-Russia: signed a comprehensive maritime boundary agreement in 2010; Russia has augmented its 2001 CLCS submissionrecord summer melting of sea ice in the Arctic has renewed interest in maritime shipping lanes and sea floor exploration Canada-US: dispute how to divide the Beaufort Sea and the status of the Northwest Passage but continue to work cooperatively to survey the Arctic continental shelf Canada-Denmark (Greenland)-Norway: have made submissions to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental shelf (CLCS) Norway-Russia: signed a comprehensive maritime boundary agreement in 2010; Russia has augmented its 2001 CLCS submission Topic: ArgentinaArgentina-Bolivia: Contraband smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal narcotic trafficking are problems in the porous areas of the border with Bolivia Argentina-Brazil: Uncontested dispute between Brazil and Uruguay over Braziliera/Brasiliera Island in the Quarai/Cuareim River leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question. Argentina-Chile: The joint boundary commission, established by Chile and Argentina in 2001 has yet to map and demarcate the delimited boundary in the inhospitable Andean Southern Ice Field (Campo de Hielo Sur). Argentina-Paraguay: None identified Argentina-Uruguay: In 2010, the ICJ ruled in favor of Uruguay's operation of two paper mills on the Uruguay River, which forms the border with Argentina; the two countries formed a joint pollution monitoring regime. Isla de Martín Garcia situated in the Rio de la Plata estuary is wholly within Uruguayan territorial waters but up to its low tide mark, the island is Argentinian territory.  The island is accorded unrestricted access rights. Argentina-United Kingdom: Argentina continues to assert its claims to the UK-administered Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), South Georgia, and the South Sandwich Islands in its constitution, forcibly occupying the Falklands in 1982, but in 1995 agreed to no longer seek settlement by force; UK continues to reject Argentine requests for sovereignty talks.Argentina-Bolivia: Contraband smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal narcotic trafficking are problems in the porous areas of the border with Bolivia Argentina-Brazil: Uncontested dispute between Brazil and Uruguay over Braziliera/Brasiliera Island in the Quarai/Cuareim River leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question. Argentina-Chile: The joint boundary commission, established by Chile and Argentina in 2001 has yet to map and demarcate the delimited boundary in the inhospitable Andean Southern Ice Field (Campo de Hielo Sur). Argentina-Paraguay: None identified Argentina-Uruguay: In 2010, the ICJ ruled in favor of Uruguay's operation of two paper mills on the Uruguay River, which forms the border with Argentina; the two countries formed a joint pollution monitoring regime. Isla de Martín Garcia situated in the Rio de la Plata estuary is wholly within Uruguayan territorial waters but up to its low tide mark, the island is Argentinian territory.  The island is accorded unrestricted access rights. Argentina-United Kingdom: Argentina continues to assert its claims to the UK-administered Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), South Georgia, and the South Sandwich Islands in its constitution, forcibly occupying the Falklands in 1982, but in 1995 agreed to no longer seek settlement by force; UK continues to reject Argentine requests for sovereignty talks. Topic: Armenialocal 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.  Topic: Arubanone identifiednone identified Topic: Ashmore and Cartier IslandsAustralia-Indonesia:  Australia has closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier reserve to Indonesian traditional fishing; Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore ReefAustralia-Indonesia:  Australia has closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier reserve to Indonesian traditional fishing; Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef Topic: Atlantic Oceansome maritime disputes (see littoral states)some maritime disputes (see littoral states) Topic: AustraliaAustralia-Indonesia (Maritime Boundary): All borders between Indonesia and Australia have been agreed upon bilaterally, but a 1997 treaty that would settle the last of their maritime and EEZ boundary has yet to be ratified by Indonesia's legislature. Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef. Australia closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier reserve to Indonesian traditional fishing. Australia-Timor-Leste (Maritime Boundary): In 2007, Australia and Timor-Leste agreed to a 50-year development zone and revenue sharing arrangement and deferred a maritime boundary.Australia-Indonesia (Maritime Boundary): All borders between Indonesia and Australia have been agreed upon bilaterally, but a 1997 treaty that would settle the last of their maritime and EEZ boundary has yet to be ratified by Indonesia's legislature. Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef. Australia closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier reserve to Indonesian traditional fishing. Australia-Timor-Leste (Maritime Boundary): In 2007, Australia and Timor-Leste agreed to a 50-year development zone and revenue sharing arrangement and deferred a maritime boundary. Topic: Austrianone identifiednone identified Topic: AzerbaijanLocal 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. Azerbaijan-Georgia: A joint boundary commission agrees on most of the alignment, leaving only small areas at certain crossing points in dispute.  Consequently, the two states have yet to agree on a delimitation or demarcation of their common boundary. One area of contention is where the international boundary should run through the 6th-13th Century David-Gareja monastery complex. Azerbaijan-Iran: None identified Azerbaijan-Russia: Russia complains of cross-border smuggling. Azerbaijan-Turkey: None identified Caspian Sea (Maritime Boundary): Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratified the Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance, while Iran continues to insist on a one-fifth slice of the sea. Bilateral talks continue with Turkmenistan on dividing the seabed and contested oilfields in the middle of the Caspian.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. Azerbaijan-Georgia: A joint boundary commission agrees on most of the alignment, leaving only small areas at certain crossing points in dispute.  Consequently, the two states have yet to agree on a delimitation or demarcation of their common boundary. One area of contention is where the international boundary should run through the 6th-13th Century David-Gareja monastery complex. Azerbaijan-Iran: None identified Azerbaijan-Russia: Russia complains of cross-border smuggling. Azerbaijan-Turkey: None identified Caspian Sea (Maritime Boundary): Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratified the Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance, while Iran continues to insist on a one-fifth slice of the sea. Bilateral talks continue with Turkmenistan on dividing the seabed and contested oilfields in the middle of the Caspian. Topic: Bahamas, TheThe Bahamas-US (Maritime Boundary): In declaring its archipelagic waters and 200 nm EEZ in 1993 legislation, The Bahamas did not delimit the outer limits of the EEZ; but in areas where EEZs overlap with neighbors, The Bahamas agreed to equidistance as a line of separation.  However, The Bahamas has yet to define maritime boundaries with any of its neighbors, including the United States, whose Florida coast lays about 70 nm from Grand Bahama Island.The Bahamas-US (Maritime Boundary): In declaring its archipelagic waters and 200 nm EEZ in 1993 legislation, The Bahamas did not delimit the outer limits of the EEZ; but in areas where EEZs overlap with neighbors, The Bahamas agreed to equidistance as a line of separation.  However, The Bahamas has yet to define maritime boundaries with any of its neighbors, including the United States, whose Florida coast lays about 70 nm from Grand Bahama Island. Topic: Bahrainnone identifiednone identified Topic: BangladeshBangladesh-Burma: Burmese border authorities are constructing a 200 km (124 mi) wire fence designed to deter illegal cross-border transit and tensions from the military build-up along border. Bangladesh-India: Bangladesh referred its maritime boundary claims with Burma and India to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea; Indian Prime Minister Singh's September 2011 visit to Bangladesh resulted in the signing of a Protocol to the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh, which had called for the settlement of longstanding boundary disputes over un-demarcated areas and the exchange of territorial enclaves, but which had never been implemented.Bangladesh-Burma: Burmese border authorities are constructing a 200 km (124 mi) wire fence designed to deter illegal cross-border transit and tensions from the military build-up along border. Bangladesh-India: Bangladesh referred its maritime boundary claims with Burma and India to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea; Indian Prime Minister Singh's September 2011 visit to Bangladesh resulted in the signing of a Protocol to the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh, which had called for the settlement of longstanding boundary disputes over un-demarcated areas and the exchange of territorial enclaves, but which had never been implemented. Topic: BarbadosBarbados-Venezuela (Maritime Boundary): Barbados joins other Caribbean states and the United Kingdom to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island, a large sandbar with some vegetation, sustains human habitation or economic life, the criteria under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Article 121, which would permit Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea.  The dispute hampers hydrocarbon prospecting and creation of exploration blocks.  Barbados-Trinidad and Tobago (Maritime Boundary): Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago abide by the April 2006 Permanent Court of Arbitration decision delimiting a maritime boundary and limiting catches of flying fish in Trinidad and Tobago's exclusive economic zone.Barbados-Venezuela (Maritime Boundary): Barbados joins other Caribbean states and the United Kingdom to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island, a large sandbar with some vegetation, sustains human habitation or economic life, the criteria under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Article 121, which would permit Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea.  The dispute hampers hydrocarbon prospecting and creation of exploration blocks.  Barbados-Trinidad and Tobago (Maritime Boundary): Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago abide by the April 2006 Permanent Court of Arbitration decision delimiting a maritime boundary and limiting catches of flying fish in Trinidad and Tobago's exclusive economic zone. Topic: BelarusBelarus-Latvia: Boundary demarcated with Latvia. Belarus-Lithuania: Boundary demarcated with Lithuania. Belarus-Poland: As a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Poland has implemented strict Schengen border rules to restrict illegal immigration and trade along its border with Belarus.Belarus-Latvia: Boundary demarcated with Latvia. Belarus-Lithuania: Boundary demarcated with Lithuania. Belarus-Poland: As a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Poland has implemented strict Schengen border rules to restrict illegal immigration and trade along its border with Belarus. Topic: Belgiumnone identifiednone identified Topic: BelizeBelize-Guatemala: Demarcated but insecure boundary due to Guatemala’s claims to more than half of Belizean territory.  Line of Adjacency operates in lieu of an international boundary to control influx of Guatemalan squatters onto Belizean territory. Smuggling, narcotics trafficking, and human trafficking for sexual exploitation and debt bondage are all problems. Belize lacks resources to detect and extradite impoverished Guatemalan peasants squatting in Belizean rain forests in the remote border areas.  Belize-Mexico: Belize and Mexico are working to solve minor border demarcation discrepancies arising from inaccuracies in the 1898 border treaty. Transshipment of illegal narcotics, smuggling, human trafficking, illegal immigration, and the growing of marijuana in very low population areas are all issues in the region today.Belize-Guatemala: Demarcated but insecure boundary due to Guatemala’s claims to more than half of Belizean territory.  Line of Adjacency operates in lieu of an international boundary to control influx of Guatemalan squatters onto Belizean territory. Smuggling, narcotics trafficking, and human trafficking for sexual exploitation and debt bondage are all problems. Belize lacks resources to detect and extradite impoverished Guatemalan peasants squatting in Belizean rain forests in the remote border areas. Belize-Mexico: Belize and Mexico are working to solve minor border demarcation discrepancies arising from inaccuracies in the 1898 border treaty. Transshipment of illegal narcotics, smuggling, human trafficking, illegal immigration, and the growing of marijuana in very low population areas are all issues in the region today. Topic: BeninBenin-Burkina Faso: Benin retains a border dispute with Burkina Faso near the town of Koualau/Kourou. Benin-Togo: Talks continue between Benin and Togo on funding the Adjarala hydroelectric dam on the Mona River. Benin-Niger: The location of Benin-Niger-Nigeria tripoint is unresolved.Benin-Burkina Faso: Benin retains a border dispute with Burkina Faso near the town of Koualau/Kourou. Benin-Togo: Talks continue between Benin and Togo on funding the Adjarala hydroelectric dam on the Mona River. Benin-Niger: The location of Benin-Niger-Nigeria tripoint is unresolved. Topic: Bermudanone identifiednone identified Topic: BhutanBhutan-China: Lacking any treaty describing the boundary, Bhutan and China continue negotiations to establish a common boundary alignment to resolve territorial disputes arising from substantial cartographic discrepancies, the most contentious of which lie in Bhutan's west along China’s Chumbi salient. Bhutan-India: none identifiedBhutan-China: Lacking any treaty describing the boundary, Bhutan and China continue negotiations to establish a common boundary alignment to resolve territorial disputes arising from substantial cartographic discrepancies, the most contentious of which lie in Bhutan's west along China’s Chumbi salient. Bhutan-India: none identified Topic: BoliviaContraband smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal narcotic trafficking are problems in the porous areas of its border regions with all of its neighbors (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Peru). Bolivia-Chile: Despite tariff-free access to ports in southern Peru and northern Chile, Bolivia persists with its long-standing claims to regain sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean. Bolivia-Peru: Despite tariff-free access to ports in southern Peru and northern Chile, Bolivia persists with its long-standing claims to regain sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean. Smuggling of archaeological artifacts from Peru to Bolivia, illegal timber and narcotics smuggling, human trafficking, and falsified documents are current issues.  Bolivia-Brazil: The Roboré Accord of March 29, 1958 placed the long-disputed Isla Suárez/Ilha de Guajará-Mirim, a fluvial island on the Río Mamoré, between the two towns of Guajará-Mirim (Brazil) and Guayaramerin (Bolivia), under Bolivian administration but did not resolve the sovereignty dispute Bolivia-Argentina: Contraband smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal narcotic trafficking are problems in the porous areas of the border.  Bolivia-Paraguay: On April 27, 2009, the president of Argentina hosted the presidents of Bolivia and Paraguay together with representatives of the fiver other guarantor states -- Brazil, Chile, Peru, the United States, and Uruguay -- to the signing for the Final Record of the Boundary Commission in execution of the 1938 Peace Treaty between Bolivia and Paraguay.Contraband smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal narcotic trafficking are problems in the porous areas of its border regions with all of its neighbors (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Peru). Bolivia-Chile: Despite tariff-free access to ports in southern Peru and northern Chile, Bolivia persists with its long-standing claims to regain sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean. Bolivia-Peru: Despite tariff-free access to ports in southern Peru and northern Chile, Bolivia persists with its long-standing claims to regain sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean. Smuggling of archaeological artifacts from Peru to Bolivia, illegal timber and narcotics smuggling, human trafficking, and falsified documents are current issues.  Bolivia-Brazil: The Roboré Accord of March 29, 1958 placed the long-disputed Isla Suárez/Ilha de Guajará-Mirim, a fluvial island on the Río Mamoré, between the two towns of Guajará-Mirim (Brazil) and Guayaramerin (Bolivia), under Bolivian administration but did not resolve the sovereignty dispute Bolivia-Argentina: Contraband smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal narcotic trafficking are problems in the porous areas of the border.  Bolivia-Paraguay: On April 27, 2009, the president of Argentina hosted the presidents of Bolivia and Paraguay together with representatives of the fiver other guarantor states -- Brazil, Chile, Peru, the United States, and Uruguay -- to the signing for the Final Record of the Boundary Commission in execution of the 1938 Peace Treaty between Bolivia and Paraguay. Topic: Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina-Serbia: Serbia delimited about half of the boundary with Bosnia and Herzegovina, but sections along the Drina River remain in dispute. Bosnia and Herzegovina-Croatia: none identified Bosnia and Herzegovina-Montenegro: none identifiedBosnia and Herzegovina-Serbia: Serbia delimited about half of the boundary with Bosnia and Herzegovina, but sections along the Drina River remain in dispute. Bosnia and Herzegovina-Croatia: none identified Bosnia and Herzegovina-Montenegro: none identified Topic: Botswananone identifiednone identified Topic: Bouvet Islandnone identifiednone identified Topic: BrazilBrazil-Bolivia: The Roboré Accord of March 29, 1958 placed the long-disputed Isla Suárez/Ilha de Guajará-Mirim, a fluvial island on the Río Mamoré, between the two towns of Guajará-Mirim (Brazil) and Guayaramerin (Bolivia), under Bolivian administration but did not resolve the sovereignty dispute Brazil-Colombia: Contraband smuggling (narcotics and arms), illegal migration, trafficking in animals, plants, lumber, illegal exploitation of mineral resources, Colombian (FARC) insurgent incursions in the area remain problematic issues. Brazil-Uruguay: The uncontested boundary dispute between Brazil and Uruguay over over Arroyo de la Invernada triangle and sovereignty over Isla Brsillera leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question. Smuggling of firearms and narcotics continues to be an issue along the Uruguay-Brazil border. Brazil-Venezuela: Colombian-organized illegal narcotics and paramilitary activities penetrate Brazil's border region with Venezuela.Brazil-Bolivia: The Roboré Accord of March 29, 1958 placed the long-disputed Isla Suárez/Ilha de Guajará-Mirim, a fluvial island on the Río Mamoré, between the two towns of Guajará-Mirim (Brazil) and Guayaramerin (Bolivia), under Bolivian administration but did not resolve the sovereignty dispute Brazil-Colombia: Contraband smuggling (narcotics and arms), illegal migration, trafficking in animals, plants, lumber, illegal exploitation of mineral resources, Colombian (FARC) insurgent incursions in the area remain problematic issues. Brazil-Uruguay: The uncontested boundary dispute between Brazil and Uruguay over over Arroyo de la Invernada triangle and sovereignty over Isla Brsillera leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question. Smuggling of firearms and narcotics continues to be an issue along the Uruguay-Brazil border. Brazil-Venezuela: Colombian-organized illegal narcotics and paramilitary activities penetrate Brazil's border region with Venezuela. Topic: British Indian Ocean TerritoryMauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands; negotiations between 1971 and 1982 resulted in the establishment of a trust fund by the British Government as compensation for the displaced islanders, known as Chagossians, who were evicted between 1967-73; in 2001, the former inhabitants of the archipelago were granted UK citizenship and the right of return; in 2006 and 2007, British court rulings invalidated the immigration policies contained in the 2004 BIOT Constitution Order that had excluded the islanders from the archipelago; in 2008, a House of Lords' decision overturned lower court rulings, once again denying the right of return to Chagossians; in addition, the UK created the world's largest marine protection area around the Chagos islands prohibiting the extraction of any natural resources thereinMauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands; negotiations between 1971 and 1982 resulted in the establishment of a trust fund by the British Government as compensation for the displaced islanders, known as Chagossians, who were evicted between 1967-73; in 2001, the former inhabitants of the archipelago were granted UK citizenship and the right of return; in 2006 and 2007, British court rulings invalidated the immigration policies contained in the 2004 BIOT Constitution Order that had excluded the islanders from the archipelago; in 2008, a House of Lords' decision overturned lower court rulings, once again denying the right of return to Chagossians; in addition, the UK created the world's largest marine protection area around the Chagos islands prohibiting the extraction of any natural resources therein Topic: British Virgin Islandsnonenone Topic: Bruneiper Letters of Exchange signed in 2009, Malaysia in 2010 ceded two hydrocarbon concession blocks to Brunei in exchange for Brunei's sultan dropping claims to the Limbang corridor, which divides Brunei; nonetheless, Brunei claims a maritime boundary extending as far as a median with Vietnam, thus asserting an implicit claim to Louisa Reefper Letters of Exchange signed in 2009, Malaysia in 2010 ceded two hydrocarbon concession blocks to Brunei in exchange for Brunei's sultan dropping claims to the Limbang corridor, which divides Brunei; nonetheless, Brunei claims a maritime boundary extending as far as a median with Vietnam, thus asserting an implicit claim to Louisa Reef Topic: Bulgarianonenone Topic: Burkina Fasoadding to illicit cross-border activities, Burkina Faso has issues concerning unresolved boundary alignments with its neighbors; demarcation is currently underway with Mali; the dispute with Niger was referred to the ICJ in 2010, and a dispute over several villages with Benin persists; Benin retains a border dispute with Burkina Faso around the town of Koualau/Kourouadding to illicit cross-border activities, Burkina Faso has issues concerning unresolved boundary alignments with its neighbors; demarcation is currently underway with Mali; the dispute with Niger was referred to the ICJ in 2010, and a dispute over several villages with Benin persists; Benin retains a border dispute with Burkina Faso around the town of Koualau/Kourou Topic: Burmaover half of Burma's population consists of diverse ethnic groups who have substantial numbers of kin in neighboring countries; Bangladesh struggles to accommodate 912,000 Rohingya, Burmese Muslim minority from Rakhine State, living as refugees in Cox's Bazar; Burmese border authorities are constructing a 200 km (124 mi) wire fence designed to deter illegal cross-border transit and tensions from the military build-up along border with Bangladesh in 2010; Bangladesh referred its maritime boundary claims with Burma and India to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea; Burmese forces attempting to dig in to the largely autonomous Shan State to rout local militias tied to the drug trade, prompts local residents to periodically flee into neighboring Yunnan Province in China; fencing along the India-Burma international border at Manipur's Moreh town is in progress to check illegal drug trafficking and movement of militants; over 100,000 mostly Karen refugees and asylum seekers fleeing civil strife, political upheaval, and economic stagnation in Burma were living in remote camps in Thailand near the border as of May 2017over half of Burma's population consists of diverse ethnic groups who have substantial numbers of kin in neighboring countries; Bangladesh struggles to accommodate 912,000 Rohingya, Burmese Muslim minority from Rakhine State, living as refugees in Cox's Bazar; Burmese border authorities are constructing a 200 km (124 mi) wire fence designed to deter illegal cross-border transit and tensions from the military build-up along border with Bangladesh in 2010; Bangladesh referred its maritime boundary claims with Burma and India to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea; Burmese forces attempting to dig in to the largely autonomous Shan State to rout local militias tied to the drug trade, prompts local residents to periodically flee into neighboring Yunnan Province in China; fencing along the India-Burma international border at Manipur's Moreh town is in progress to check illegal drug trafficking and movement of militants; over 100,000 mostly Karen refugees and asylum seekers fleeing civil strife, political upheaval, and economic stagnation in Burma were living in remote camps in Thailand near the border as of May 2017 Topic: Burundicross-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 Topic: Cabo Verdenonenone Topic: CambodiaCambodia-Laos: Cambodia is concerned that Laos' extensive upstream dam construction will affect Cambodian waters downstream Cambodia-Thailand: Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to maintain peace along the border regardless of the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over territorial dispute near Cambodia's Preah Vihear Temple; the ICJ decision of 11 November 2013 determined that Cambodia had sovereignty over the whole territory of the promontory of Preah Vihear; the border disputes do not involve large amounts of territory, and most of the issues were settled by the Nov. 11, 2013 ICJ ruling Cambodia-Vietnam: issues include casinos built in Cambodia near the border (gambling and prostitution); narcotics (criminals, crime, and abuse); trafficking of women and children, petrol smuggling into Cambodia from Vietnam, illegal logging, and illegal migration; a positive development is the special economic Zone in Bavet, Svay Rieng Province, Cambodia that is being developed by the Manhattan (Svay Rieng) International Group of TaiwanCambodia-Laos: Cambodia is concerned that Laos' extensive upstream dam construction will affect Cambodian waters downstreamCambodia-Thailand: Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to maintain peace along the border regardless of the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over territorial dispute near Cambodia's Preah Vihear Temple; the ICJ decision of 11 November 2013 determined that Cambodia had sovereignty over the whole territory of the promontory of Preah Vihear; the border disputes do not involve large amounts of territory, and most of the issues were settled by the Nov. 11, 2013 ICJ rulingCambodia-Vietnam: issues include casinos built in Cambodia near the border (gambling and prostitution); narcotics (criminals, crime, and abuse); trafficking of women and children, petrol smuggling into Cambodia from Vietnam, illegal logging, and illegal migration; a positive development is the special economic Zone in Bavet, Svay Rieng Province, Cambodia that is being developed by the Manhattan (Svay Rieng) International Group of Taiwan Topic: CameroonJoint 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 Topic: Canadamanaged maritime boundary disputes with the US at Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Gulf of Maine, including the disputed Machias Seal Island and North Rock; Canada and the United States dispute how to divide the Beaufort Sea and the status of the Northwest Passage but continue to work cooperatively to survey the Arctic continental shelf; US works closely with Canada to intensify security measures for monitoring and controlling legal and illegal movement of people, transport, and commodities across the international border; sovereignty dispute with Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland; commencing the collection of technical evidence for submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf in support of claims for continental shelf beyond 200 nm from its declared baselines in the Arctic, as stipulated in Article 76, paragraph 8, of the UN Convention on the Law of the Seamanaged maritime boundary disputes with the US at Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Gulf of Maine, including the disputed Machias Seal Island and North Rock; Canada and the United States dispute how to divide the Beaufort Sea and the status of the Northwest Passage but continue to work cooperatively to survey the Arctic continental shelf; US works closely with Canada to intensify security measures for monitoring and controlling legal and illegal movement of people, transport, and commodities across the international border; sovereignty dispute with Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland; commencing the collection of technical evidence for submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf in support of claims for continental shelf beyond 200 nm from its declared baselines in the Arctic, as stipulated in Article 76, paragraph 8, of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea Topic: Cayman Islandsnonenone Topic: Central African RepublicCentral African Republic-South Sudan: periodic violent skirmishes persist among related pastoral populations along the border with the Central African Republic over water and grazing rights Central African Republic-Sudan: periodic violent skirmishes persist among related pastoral populations along the border with the Central African Republic over water and grazing rightsCentral African Republic-South Sudan: periodic violent skirmishes persist among related pastoral populations along the border with the Central African Republic over water and grazing rightsCentral African Republic-Sudan: periodic violent skirmishes persist among related pastoral populations along the border with the Central African Republic over water and grazing rights Topic: Chadsince 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 Topic: ChileChile and Peru rebuff Bolivia's reactivated claim to restore the Atacama corridor, ceded to Chile in 1884, but Chile has offered instead unrestricted but not sovereign maritime access through Chile to Bolivian natural gas; Chile rejects Peru's unilateral legislation to change its latitudinal maritime boundary with Chile to an equidistance line with a southwestern axis favoring Peru; in October 2007, Peru took its maritime complaint with Chile to the ICJ; territorial claim in Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory) partially overlaps Argentine and British claims; the joint boundary commission, established by Chile and Argentina in 2001, has yet to map and demarcate the delimited boundary in the inhospitable Andean Southern Ice Field (Campo de Hielo Sur)Chile and Peru rebuff Bolivia's reactivated claim to restore the Atacama corridor, ceded to Chile in 1884, but Chile has offered instead unrestricted but not sovereign maritime access through Chile to Bolivian natural gas; Chile rejects Peru's unilateral legislation to change its latitudinal maritime boundary with Chile to an equidistance line with a southwestern axis favoring Peru; in October 2007, Peru took its maritime complaint with Chile to the ICJ; territorial claim in Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory) partially overlaps Argentine and British claims; the joint boundary commission, established by Chile and Argentina in 2001, has yet to map and demarcate the delimited boundary in the inhospitable Andean Southern Ice Field (Campo de Hielo Sur) Topic: ChinaChina and India continue their security and foreign policy dialogue started in 2005 related to a number of boundary disputes across the 2,000 mile shared border; India does not recognize Pakistan's 1964 ceding to China of the Aksai Chin, a territory designated as part of the princely state of Kashmir by the British Survey of India in 1865; China claims most of the Indian state Arunachal Pradesh to the base of the Himalayas, but the US recognizes the state of Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory; Bhutan and China continue negotiations to establish a common boundary alignment to resolve territorial disputes arising from substantial cartographic discrepancies, the most contentious of which lie in Bhutan's west along China's Chumbi salient; Chinese maps show an international boundary symbol (the so-called “nine-dash line”) off the coasts of the littoral states of the South China Sea, where China has interrupted Vietnamese hydrocarbon exploration; China asserts sovereignty over Scarborough Reef along with the Philippines and Taiwan, and over the Spratly Islands together with Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Brunei; the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea eased tensions in the Spratlys, and in 2017 China and ASEAN began confidential negotiations for an updated Code of Conduct for the South China Sea designed not to settle territorial disputes but establish rules and norms in the region; this still is not the legally binding code of conduct sought by some parties; Vietnam and China continue to expand construction of facilities in the Spratlys and in early 2018 China began deploying advanced military systems to disputed Spratly outposts; China occupies some of the Paracel Islands also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands are also claimed by China and Taiwan; certain islands in the Yalu and Tumen Rivers are in dispute with North Korea; North Korea and China seek to stem illegal migration to China by North Koreans, fleeing privation and oppression; China and Russia have demarcated the once disputed islands at the Amur and Ussuri confluence and in the Argun River in accordance with their 2004 Agreement; China and Tajikistan have begun demarcating the revised boundary agreed to in the delimitation of 2002; the decade-long demarcation of the China-Vietnam land boundary was completed in 2009; citing environmental, cultural, and social concerns, China has reconsidered construction of 13 dams on the Salween River, but energy-starved Burma, with backing from Thailand, continues to consider building five hydro-electric dams downstream despite regional and international protestsChina and India continue their security and foreign policy dialogue started in 2005 related to a number of boundary disputes across the 2,000 mile shared border; India does not recognize Pakistan's 1964 ceding to China of the Aksai Chin, a territory designated as part of the princely state of Kashmir by the British Survey of India in 1865; China claims most of the Indian state Arunachal Pradesh to the base of the Himalayas, but the US recognizes the state of Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory; Bhutan and China continue negotiations to establish a common boundary alignment to resolve territorial disputes arising from substantial cartographic discrepancies, the most contentious of which lie in Bhutan's west along China's Chumbi salient; Chinese maps show an international boundary symbol (the so-called “nine-dash line”) off the coasts of the littoral states of the South China Sea, where China has interrupted Vietnamese hydrocarbon exploration; China asserts sovereignty over Scarborough Reef along with the Philippines and Taiwan, and over the Spratly Islands together with Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Brunei; the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea eased tensions in the Spratlys, and in 2017 China and ASEAN began confidential negotiations for an updated Code of Conduct for the South China Sea designed not to settle territorial disputes but establish rules and norms in the region; this still is not the legally binding code of conduct sought by some parties; Vietnam and China continue to expand construction of facilities in the Spratlys and in early 2018 China began deploying advanced military systems to disputed Spratly outposts; China occupies some of the Paracel Islands also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands are also claimed by China and Taiwan; certain islands in the Yalu and Tumen Rivers are in dispute with North Korea; North Korea and China seek to stem illegal migration to China by North Koreans, fleeing privation and oppression; China and Russia have demarcated the once disputed islands at the Amur and Ussuri confluence and in the Argun River in accordance with their 2004 Agreement; China and Tajikistan have begun demarcating the revised boundary agreed to in the delimitation of 2002; the decade-long demarcation of the China-Vietnam land boundary was completed in 2009; citing environmental, cultural, and social concerns, China has reconsidered construction of 13 dams on the Salween River, but energy-starved Burma, with backing from Thailand, continues to consider building five hydro-electric dams downstream despite regional and international protests Topic: Christmas Islandnonenone Topic: Clipperton Islandnonenone Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandsnonenone Topic: Colombiain 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 Topic: Comorosclaims French-administered Mayotte and challenges France's and Madagascar's claims to Banc du Geyser, a drying reef in the Mozambique Channel; in May 2008, African Union forces assisted the Comoros military recapture Anjouan Island from rebels who seized it in 2001claims French-administered Mayotte and challenges France's and Madagascar's claims to Banc du Geyser, a drying reef in the Mozambique Channel; in May 2008, African Union forces assisted the Comoros military recapture Anjouan Island from rebels who seized it in 2001 Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of theheads of the Great Lakes states and UN pledged in 2004 to abate tribal, rebel, and militia fighting in the region, including northeast Congo, where the UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), organized in 1999, maintains over 16,500 uniformed peacekeepers Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC)-Republic of the Congo: the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River is indefinite except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC)-Uganda: Uganda rejects the DRC claim to Margherita Peak in the Rwenzori mountains and considers it a boundary divide; there is tension and violence on Lake Albert over prospective oil reserves at the mouth of the Semliki River Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC)-Zambia: boundary commission continues discussions over Congolese-administered triangle of land on the right bank of the Lunkinda River claimed by Zambia near the DRC village of Pweto Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC)-Angola: DRC accuses Angola of shifting monumentsheads of the Great Lakes states and UN pledged in 2004 to abate tribal, rebel, and militia fighting in the region, including northeast Congo, where the UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), organized in 1999, maintains over 16,500 uniformed peacekeepers Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC)-Republic of the Congo: the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River is indefinite except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC)-Uganda: Uganda rejects the DRC claim to Margherita Peak in the Rwenzori mountains and considers it a boundary divide; there is tension and violence on Lake Albert over prospective oil reserves at the mouth of the Semliki River Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC)-Zambia: boundary commission continues discussions over Congolese-administered triangle of land on the right bank of the Lunkinda River claimed by Zambia near the DRC village of Pweto Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC)-Angola: DRC accuses Angola of shifting monuments Topic: Congo, Republic of theRepublic of the Congo-Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC): the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River is indefinite except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area Republic of the Congo-Angola: (Kabinda Exclave) None identifiedRepublic of the Congo-Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC): the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River is indefinite except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area Republic of the Congo-Angola: (Kabinda Exclave) None identified Topic: Cook Islandsnonenone Topic: Coral Sea Islandsnonenone Topic: Costa RicaCosta Rica and Nicaragua regularly file border dispute cases over the delimitations of the San Juan River and the northern tip of Calero Island to the International Court of Justice (ICJ); 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 regionCosta Rica and Nicaragua regularly file border dispute cases over the delimitations of the San Juan River and the northern tip of Calero Island to the International Court of Justice (ICJ); 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 Topic: Cote d'Ivoiredisputed maritime border between Cote d'Ivoire and Ghanadisputed maritime border between Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana Topic: Croatiadispute remains with Bosnia and Herzegovina over several small sections of the boundary related to maritime access that hinders ratification of the 1999 border agreement; since the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, Croatia and Slovenia have each claimed sovereignty over Piranski 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 to Slovenia lifting its objections to Croatia joining the EU; Slovenia continues to impose a hard border Schengen regime with Croatia, which joined the EU in 2013 but has not yet fulfilled Schengen requirementsdispute remains with Bosnia and Herzegovina over several small sections of the boundary related to maritime access that hinders ratification of the 1999 border agreement; since the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, Croatia and Slovenia have each claimed sovereignty over Piranski 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 to Slovenia lifting its objections to Croatia joining the EU; Slovenia continues to impose a hard border Schengen regime with Croatia, which joined the EU in 2013 but has not yet fulfilled Schengen requirements Topic: CubaUS Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to US and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the facility can terminate the leaseUS Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to US and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the facility can terminate the lease Topic: Cyprushostilities in 1974 divided the island into two de facto autonomous entities, the internationally recognized Cypriot Government and a Turkish-Cypriot community (north Cyprus); the 1,000-strong UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has served in Cyprus since 1964 and maintains the buffer zone between north and south; on 1 May 2004, Cyprus entered the EU still divided, with the EU's body of legislation and standards (acquis communitaire) suspended in the north; Turkey protests Cypriot Government creating hydrocarbon blocks and maritime boundary with Lebanon in March 2007hostilities in 1974 divided the island into two de facto autonomous entities, the internationally recognized Cypriot Government and a Turkish-Cypriot community (north Cyprus); the 1,000-strong UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has served in Cyprus since 1964 and maintains the buffer zone between north and south; on 1 May 2004, Cyprus entered the EU still divided, with the EU's body of legislation and standards (acquis communitaire) suspended in the north; Turkey protests Cypriot Government creating hydrocarbon blocks and maritime boundary with Lebanon in March 2007 Topic: Czechianonenone Topic: DenmarkIceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm; sovereignty dispute with Canada over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland; Denmark (Greenland) and Norway have made submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) and Russia is collecting additional data to augment its 2001 CLCS submissionIceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm; sovereignty dispute with Canada over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland; Denmark (Greenland) and Norway have made submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) and Russia is collecting additional data to augment its 2001 CLCS submission Topic: DjiboutiDjibouti maintains economic ties and border accords with "Somaliland" leadership while maintaining some political ties to various factions in Somalia; Kuwait is chief investor in the 2008 restoration and upgrade of the Ethiopian-Djibouti rail link; in 2008, Eritrean troops moved across the border on Ras Doumera peninsula and occupied Doumera Island with undefined sovereignty in the Red SeaDjibouti maintains economic ties and border accords with "Somaliland" leadership while maintaining some political ties to various factions in Somalia; Kuwait is chief investor in the 2008 restoration and upgrade of the Ethiopian-Djibouti rail link; in 2008, Eritrean troops moved across the border on Ras Doumera peninsula and occupied Doumera Island with undefined sovereignty in the Red Sea Topic: DominicaDominica is the only Caribbean state to challenge Venezuela's sovereignty claim over Aves Island and joins the other island nations in challenging whether the feature sustains human habitation, a criterion under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ and continental shelf claims over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean SeaDominica is the only Caribbean state to challenge Venezuela's sovereignty claim over Aves Island and joins the other island nations in challenging whether the feature sustains human habitation, a criterion under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ and continental shelf claims over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea Topic: Dominican RepublicHaitian migrants cross the porous border into the Dominican Republic to find work; illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage each year to Puerto Rico to find better workHaitian migrants cross the porous border into the Dominican Republic to find work; illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage each year to Puerto Rico to find better work Topic: Ecuadororganized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia penetrate across Ecuador's shared borderorganized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia penetrate across Ecuador's shared border Topic: EgyptSudan claims but Egypt de facto administers security and economic development of Halaib region north of the 22nd parallel boundary; Egypt no longer shows its administration of the Bir Tawil trapezoid in Sudan on its maps; Gazan breaches in the security wall with Egypt in January 2008 highlight difficulties in monitoring the Sinai borderSudan claims but Egypt de facto administers security and economic development of Halaib region north of the 22nd parallel boundary; Egypt no longer shows its administration of the Bir Tawil trapezoid in Sudan on its maps; Gazan breaches in the security wall with Egypt in January 2008 highlight difficulties in monitoring the Sinai border Topic: El SalvadorInternational Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras boundary, in 1992, with final agreement by the parties in 2006 after an Organization of American States survey and a further ICJ ruling in 2003; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca advocating Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not identified in the ICJ decision, off Honduras in the Gulf of FonsecaInternational Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras boundary, in 1992, with final agreement by the parties in 2006 after an Organization of American States survey and a further ICJ ruling in 2003; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca advocating Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not identified in the ICJ decision, off Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca Topic: Equatorial Guineain 2002, ICJ ruled on an equidistance settlement of Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf of Guinea, but a dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River and imprecisely defined maritime coordinates in the ICJ decision delayed final delimitation; UN urged Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to resolve the sovereignty dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane and lesser islands and to create a maritime boundary in the hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bayin 2002, ICJ ruled on an equidistance settlement of Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf of Guinea, but a dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River and imprecisely defined maritime coordinates in the ICJ decision delayed final delimitation; UN urged Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to resolve the sovereignty dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane and lesser islands and to create a maritime boundary in the hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay Topic: EritreaEritrea 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 Topic: EstoniaRussia and Estonia in May 2005 signed a technical border agreement, but Russia in June 2005 recalled its signature after the Estonian parliament added to its domestic ratification act a historical preamble referencing the Soviet occupation and Estonia's pre-war borders under the 1920 Treaty of Tartu; Russia contends that the preamble allows Estonia to make territorial claims on Russia in the future, while Estonian officials deny that the preamble has any legal impact on the treaty text; Russia demands better treatment of the Russian-speaking population in Estonia; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Estonia implements strict Schengen border rules with RussiaRussia and Estonia in May 2005 signed a technical border agreement, but Russia in June 2005 recalled its signature after the Estonian parliament added to its domestic ratification act a historical preamble referencing the Soviet occupation and Estonia's pre-war borders under the 1920 Treaty of Tartu; Russia contends that the preamble allows Estonia to make territorial claims on Russia in the future, while Estonian officials deny that the preamble has any legal impact on the treaty text; Russia demands better treatment of the Russian-speaking population in Estonia; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Estonia implements strict Schengen border rules with Russia Topic: Eswatiniin 2006, Swati king advocated resorting to ICJ to claim parts of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal from South Africain 2006, Swati king advocated resorting to ICJ to claim parts of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal from South Africa Topic: EthiopiaEthiopia-Eritrea: Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by the 2002 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision, but neither party responded to the revised line detailed in the November 2006 EEBC Demarcation Statement Ethiopia-Somalia: While border clashes continue in the al-Fashqa (Fashaga) area,  the US views the 1902 boundary treaty between Ethiopia and Sudan as being in force; the undemarcated former British administrative line has little meaning as a political separation to rival clans within Ethiopia's Ogaden and southern Somalia's Oromo region; Ethiopian forces invaded southern Somalia and routed Islamist courts from Mogadishu in January 2007; "Somaliland" secessionists provide port facilities in Berbera and trade ties to landlocked Ethiopia;  Ethiopia-Sudan: Ethiopia's construction of a large dam (the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam) on the Blue Nile since 2011 has become a focal point of relations with Egypt and Sudan; as of 2020, four years of three-way talks between the three capitals over operating the dam and filling its reservoir had made little progress; Ethiopia began filling the dam in July 2020; civil unrest in eastern Sudan has hampered efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with EthiopiaEthiopia-Eritrea: Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by the 2002 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision, but neither party responded to the revised line detailed in the November 2006 EEBC Demarcation Statement Ethiopia-Somalia: While border clashes continue in the al-Fashqa (Fashaga) area,  the US views the 1902 boundary treaty between Ethiopia and Sudan as being in force; the undemarcated former British administrative line has little meaning as a political separation to rival clans within Ethiopia's Ogaden and southern Somalia's Oromo region; Ethiopian forces invaded southern Somalia and routed Islamist courts from Mogadishu in January 2007; "Somaliland" secessionists provide port facilities in Berbera and trade ties to landlocked Ethiopia;  Ethiopia-Sudan: Ethiopia's construction of a large dam (the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam) on the Blue Nile since 2011 has become a focal point of relations with Egypt and Sudan; as of 2020, four years of three-way talks between the three capitals over operating the dam and filling its reservoir had made little progress; Ethiopia began filling the dam in July 2020; civil unrest in eastern Sudan has hampered efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with Ethiopia Topic: European Unionas a political union, the EU has no border disputes with neighboring countries, but Estonia has no land boundary agreements with Russia, Slovenia disputes its land and maritime boundaries with Croatia, and Spain has territorial and maritime disputes with Morocco and with the UK over Gibraltar; the EU has set up a Schengen area - consisting of 22 EU member states that have signed the convention implementing the Schengen agreements or "acquis" (1985 and 1990) on the free movement of persons and the harmonization of border controls in Europe; these agreements became incorporated into EU law with the implementation of the 1997 Treaty of Amsterdam on 1 May 1999; in addition, non-EU states Iceland and Norway (as part of the Nordic Union) have been included in the Schengen area since 1996 (full members in 2001), Switzerland since 2008, and Liechtenstein since 2011 bringing the total current membership to 26; the UK (since 2000) and Ireland (since 2002) take part in only some aspects of the Schengen area, especially with respect to police and criminal matters; nine of the 13 new member states that joined the EU since 2004 joined Schengen on 21 December 2007; of the four remaining EU states, Romania, Bulgaria, and Croatia are obligated to eventually join, while Cyprus' entry is held up by the ongoing Cyprus disputeas a political union, the EU has no border disputes with neighboring countries, but Estonia has no land boundary agreements with Russia, Slovenia disputes its land and maritime boundaries with Croatia, and Spain has territorial and maritime disputes with Morocco and with the UK over Gibraltar; the EU has set up a Schengen area - consisting of 22 EU member states that have signed the convention implementing the Schengen agreements or "acquis" (1985 and 1990) on the free movement of persons and the harmonization of border controls in Europe; these agreements became incorporated into EU law with the implementation of the 1997 Treaty of Amsterdam on 1 May 1999; in addition, non-EU states Iceland and Norway (as part of the Nordic Union) have been included in the Schengen area since 1996 (full members in 2001), Switzerland since 2008, and Liechtenstein since 2011 bringing the total current membership to 26; the UK (since 2000) and Ireland (since 2002) take part in only some aspects of the Schengen area, especially with respect to police and criminal matters; nine of the 13 new member states that joined the EU since 2004 joined Schengen on 21 December 2007; of the four remaining EU states, Romania, Bulgaria, and Croatia are obligated to eventually join, while Cyprus' entry is held up by the ongoing Cyprus dispute Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)Argentina, which claims the islands in its constitution and briefly occupied them by force in 1982, agreed in 1995 to no longer seek settlement by force; UK continues to reject Argentine requests for sovereignty talksArgentina, which claims the islands in its constitution and briefly occupied them by force in 1982, agreed in 1995 to no longer seek settlement by force; UK continues to reject Argentine requests for sovereignty talks Topic: Faroe Islandsbecause 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 Topic: Fijimaritime boundary dispute with Tonga Topic: Finlandvarious 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 Topic: FranceMadagascar claims the French territories of Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island; Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; territorial dispute between Suriname and the French overseas department of French Guiana; France asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land); France and Vanuatu claim Matthew and Hunter Islands, east of New CaledoniaMadagascar claims the French territories of Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island; Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; territorial dispute between Suriname and the French overseas department of French Guiana; France asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land); France and Vanuatu claim Matthew and Hunter Islands, east of New Caledonia Topic: French Polynesianonenone Topic: French Southern and Antarctic LandsFrench 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 Topic: GabonUN urges Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to resolve the sovereignty dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane Island and lesser islands and to establish a maritime boundary in hydrocarbon-rich Corisco BayUN urges Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to resolve the sovereignty dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane Island and lesser islands and to establish a maritime boundary in hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay Topic: Gambia, Theattempts to stem refugees, cross-border raids, arms smuggling, and other illegal activities by separatists from southern Senegal's Casamance region, as well as from conflicts in other west African statesattempts to stem refugees, cross-border raids, arms smuggling, and other illegal activities by separatists from southern Senegal's Casamance region, as well as from conflicts in other west African states Topic: Gaza Stripaccording to the Oslo Accords, the status of the Gaza Strip is a final status issue to be resolved through negotiations; Israel removed settlers and military personnel from Gaza Strip in September 2005according to the Oslo Accords, the status of the Gaza Strip is a final status issue to be resolved through negotiations; Israel removed settlers and military personnel from Gaza Strip in September 2005 Topic: GeorgiaRussia's military support and subsequent recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia independence in 2008 continue to sour relations with GeorgiaRussia's military support and subsequent recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia independence in 2008 continue to sour relations with Georgia Topic: Germanynonenone Topic: Ghanadisputed maritime border between Ghana and Cote d'Ivoiredisputed maritime border between Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire Topic: Gibraltarin 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 disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar even greater autonomyin 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 disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar even greater autonomy Topic: GreeceGreece and Turkey continue discussions to resolve their complex maritime, air, territorial, and boundary disputes in the Aegean Sea; the mass migration of unemployed Albanians still remains a problem for developed countries, chiefly Greece and ItalyGreece and Turkey continue discussions to resolve their complex maritime, air, territorial, and boundary disputes in the Aegean Sea; the mass migration of unemployed Albanians still remains a problem for developed countries, chiefly Greece and Italy Topic: Greenlandmanaged dispute between Canada and Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Canada's Ellesmere Island and Greenland; Denmark (Greenland) and Norway have made submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) and Russia is collecting additional data to augment its 2001 CLCS submissionmanaged dispute between Canada and Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Canada's Ellesmere Island and Greenland; Denmark (Greenland) and Norway have made submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) and Russia is collecting additional data to augment its 2001 CLCS submission Topic: Grenadanonenone Topic: Guamnonenone Topic: Guatemalaannual ministerial meetings under the Organization of American States-initiated Agreement on the Framework for Negotiations and Confidence Building Measures continue to address Guatemalan land and maritime claims in Belize and the Caribbean Sea; Guatemala persists in its territorial claim to half of Belize, but agrees to Line of Adjacency to keep Guatemalan squatters out of Belize's forested interior; both countries agreed in April 2012 to hold simultaneous referenda, scheduled for 6 October 2013, to decide whether to refer the dispute to the ICJ for binding resolution, but this vote was suspended indefinitely; Mexico must deal with thousands of impoverished Guatemalans and other Central Americans who cross the porous border looking for work in Mexico and the USannual ministerial meetings under the Organization of American States-initiated Agreement on the Framework for Negotiations and Confidence Building Measures continue to address Guatemalan land and maritime claims in Belize and the Caribbean Sea; Guatemala persists in its territorial claim to half of Belize, but agrees to Line of Adjacency to keep Guatemalan squatters out of Belize's forested interior; both countries agreed in April 2012 to hold simultaneous referenda, scheduled for 6 October 2013, to decide whether to refer the dispute to the ICJ for binding resolution, but this vote was suspended indefinitely; Mexico must deal with thousands of impoverished Guatemalans and other Central Americans who cross the porous border looking for work in Mexico and the US Topic: Guernseynonenone Topic: GuineaSierra Leone considers Guinea's definition of the flood plain limits to define the left bank boundary of the Makona and Moa Rivers excessive and protests Guinea's continued occupation of these lands, including the hamlet of Yenga, occupied since 1998Sierra Leone considers Guinea's definition of the flood plain limits to define the left bank boundary of the Makona and Moa Rivers excessive and protests Guinea's continued occupation of these lands, including the hamlet of Yenga, occupied since 1998 Topic: Guinea-Bissaua longstanding low-grade conflict continues in parts of Casamance, in Senegal across the border; some rebels use Guinea-Bissau as a safe havena longstanding low-grade conflict continues in parts of Casamance, in Senegal across the border; some rebels use Guinea-Bissau as a safe haven Topic: Guyanaall of the area west of the Essequibo River is claimed by Venezuela preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana has expressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claims before UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela extends into their waters; Suriname claims a triangle of land between the New and Kutari/Koetari Rivers in a historic dispute over the headwaters of the Courantyneall of the area west of the Essequibo River is claimed by Venezuela preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana has expressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claims before UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela extends into their waters; Suriname claims a triangle of land between the New and Kutari/Koetari Rivers in a historic dispute over the headwaters of the Courantyne Topic: Haitisince 2004, peacekeepers from the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti have assisted in maintaining civil order in Haiti; the mission currently includes 6,685 military, 2,607 police, and 443 civilian personnel; despite efforts to control illegal migration, Haitians cross into the Dominican Republic and sail to neighboring countries; Haiti claims US-administered Navassa Islandsince 2004, peacekeepers from the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti have assisted in maintaining civil order in Haiti; the mission currently includes 6,685 military, 2,607 police, and 443 civilian personnel; despite efforts to control illegal migration, Haitians cross into the Dominican Republic and sail to neighboring countries; Haiti claims US-administered Navassa Island Topic: Heard Island and McDonald Islandsnonenone Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)nonenone Topic: HondurasInternational Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras border in 1992 with final settlement by the parties in 2006 after an Organization of American States survey and a further ICJ ruling in 2003; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca with consideration of Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not mentioned in the ICJ ruling, off Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca; Honduras claims the Belizean-administered Sapodilla Cays off the coast of Belize in its constitution, but agreed to a joint ecological park around the cays should Guatemala consent to a maritime corridor in the Caribbean under the OAS-sponsored 2002 Belize-Guatemala DifferendumInternational Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras border in 1992 with final settlement by the parties in 2006 after an Organization of American States survey and a further ICJ ruling in 2003; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca with consideration of Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not mentioned in the ICJ ruling, off Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca; Honduras claims the Belizean-administered Sapodilla Cays off the coast of Belize in its constitution, but agreed to a joint ecological park around the cays should Guatemala consent to a maritime corridor in the Caribbean under the OAS-sponsored 2002 Belize-Guatemala Differendum Topic: Hong KongHong 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 Topic: Hungarybilateral government, legal, technical and economic working group negotiations continue in 2006 with Slovakia over Hungary's failure to complete its portion of the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric dam project along the Danube; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Hungary has implemented the strict Schengen border rulesbilateral government, legal, technical and economic working group negotiations continue in 2006 with Slovakia over Hungary's failure to complete its portion of the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric dam project along the Danube; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Hungary has implemented the strict Schengen border rules Topic: IcelandIceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm; the European Free Trade Association Surveillance Authority filed a suit against Iceland, claiming the country violated the Agreement on the European Economic Area in failing to pay minimum compensation to Icesave depositorsIceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm; the European Free Trade Association Surveillance Authority filed a suit against Iceland, claiming the country violated the Agreement on the European Economic Area in failing to pay minimum compensation to Icesave depositors Topic: Indiasince China and India launched a security and foreign policy dialogue in 2005, consolidated discussions related to the dispute over most of their rugged, militarized boundary, regional nuclear proliferation, Indian claims that China transferred missiles to Pakistan, and other matters continue; Kashmir remains the site of the world's largest and most militarized territorial dispute with portions under the de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas); India and Pakistan resumed bilateral dialogue in February 2011 after a two-year hiatus, have maintained the 2003 cease-fire in Kashmir, and continue to have disputes over water sharing of the Indus River and its tributaries; UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan has maintained a small group of peacekeepers since 1949; India does not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in 1964; to defuse tensions and prepare for discussions on a maritime boundary, India and Pakistan seek technical resolution of the disputed boundary in Sir Creek estuary at the mouth of the Rann of Kutch in the Arabian Sea; Pakistani maps continue to show its Junagadh claim in Indian Gujarat State; Prime Minister Singh's September 2011 visit to Bangladesh resulted in the signing of a Protocol to the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh, which had called for the settlement of longstanding boundary disputes over undemarcated areas and the exchange of territorial enclaves, but which had never been implemented; Bangladesh referred its maritime boundary claims with Burma and India to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea; Joint Border Committee with Nepal continues to examine contested boundary sections, including the 400 sq km dispute over the source of the Kalapani River; India maintains a strict border regime to keep out Maoist insurgents and control illegal cross-border activities from Nepalsince China and India launched a security and foreign policy dialogue in 2005, consolidated discussions related to the dispute over most of their rugged, militarized boundary, regional nuclear proliferation, Indian claims that China transferred missiles to Pakistan, and other matters continue; Kashmir remains the site of the world's largest and most militarized territorial dispute with portions under the de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas); India and Pakistan resumed bilateral dialogue in February 2011 after a two-year hiatus, have maintained the 2003 cease-fire in Kashmir, and continue to have disputes over water sharing of the Indus River and its tributaries; UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan has maintained a small group of peacekeepers since 1949; India does not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in 1964; to defuse tensions and prepare for discussions on a maritime boundary, India and Pakistan seek technical resolution of the disputed boundary in Sir Creek estuary at the mouth of the Rann of Kutch in the Arabian Sea; Pakistani maps continue to show its Junagadh claim in Indian Gujarat State; Prime Minister Singh's September 2011 visit to Bangladesh resulted in the signing of a Protocol to the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh, which had called for the settlement of longstanding boundary disputes over undemarcated areas and the exchange of territorial enclaves, but which had never been implemented; Bangladesh referred its maritime boundary claims with Burma and India to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea; Joint Border Committee with Nepal continues to examine contested boundary sections, including the 400 sq km dispute over the source of the Kalapani River; India maintains a strict border regime to keep out Maoist insurgents and control illegal cross-border activities from Nepal Topic: Indian Oceansome maritime disputes (see littoral states)some maritime disputes (see littoral states) Topic: IndonesiaIndonesia has a stated foreign policy objective of establishing stable fixed land and maritime boundaries with all of its neighbors; three stretches of land borders with Timor-Leste have yet to be delimited, two of which are in the Oecussi exclave area, and no maritime or Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundaries have been established between the countries; all borders between Indonesia and Australia have been agreed upon bilaterally, but a 1997 treaty that would settle the last of their maritime and EEZ boundary has yet to be ratified by Indonesia's legislature; Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef; Australia has closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier Reserve to Indonesian traditional fishing and placed restrictions on certain catches; land and maritime negotiations with Malaysia are ongoing, and disputed areas include the controversial Tanjung Datu and Camar Wulan border area in Borneo and the maritime boundary in the Ambalat oil block in the Celebes Sea; Indonesia and Singapore continue to work on finalizing their 1973 maritime boundary agreement by defining unresolved areas north of Indonesia's Batam Island; Indonesian secessionists, squatters, and illegal migrants create repatriation problems for Papua New Guinea; maritime delimitation talks continue with Palau; EEZ negotiations with Vietnam are ongoing, and the two countries in Fall 2011 agreed to work together to reduce illegal fishing along their maritime boundaryIndonesia has a stated foreign policy objective of establishing stable fixed land and maritime boundaries with all of its neighbors; three stretches of land borders with Timor-Leste have yet to be delimited, two of which are in the Oecussi exclave area, and no maritime or Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundaries have been established between the countries; all borders between Indonesia and Australia have been agreed upon bilaterally, but a 1997 treaty that would settle the last of their maritime and EEZ boundary has yet to be ratified by Indonesia's legislature; Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef; Australia has closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier Reserve to Indonesian traditional fishing and placed restrictions on certain catches; land and maritime negotiations with Malaysia are ongoing, and disputed areas include the controversial Tanjung Datu and Camar Wulan border area in Borneo and the maritime boundary in the Ambalat oil block in the Celebes Sea; Indonesia and Singapore continue to work on finalizing their 1973 maritime boundary agreement by defining unresolved areas north of Indonesia's Batam Island; Indonesian secessionists, squatters, and illegal migrants create repatriation problems for Papua New Guinea; maritime delimitation talks continue with Palau; EEZ negotiations with Vietnam are ongoing, and the two countries in Fall 2011 agreed to work together to reduce illegal fishing along their maritime boundary Topic: IranIran protests Afghanistan's limiting flow of dammed Helmand River tributaries during drought; Iraq's lack of a maritime boundary with Iran prompts jurisdiction disputes beyond the mouth of the Shatt al Arab in the Persian Gulf; Iran and UAE dispute Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island, which are occupied by Iran; Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratified Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance, while Iran continues to insist on a one-fifth slice of the sea; Afghan and Iranian commissioners have discussed boundary monument densification and resurveyIran protests Afghanistan's limiting flow of dammed Helmand River tributaries during drought; Iraq's lack of a maritime boundary with Iran prompts jurisdiction disputes beyond the mouth of the Shatt al Arab in the Persian Gulf; Iran and UAE dispute Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island, which are occupied by Iran; Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratified Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance, while Iran continues to insist on a one-fifth slice of the sea; Afghan and Iranian commissioners have discussed boundary monument densification and resurvey Topic: IraqIraq's lack of a maritime boundary with Iran prompts jurisdiction disputes beyond the mouth of the Shatt al Arab in the Persian Gulf; Turkey has expressed concern over the autonomous status of Kurds in IraqIraq's lack of a maritime boundary with Iran prompts jurisdiction disputes beyond the mouth of the Shatt al Arab in the Persian Gulf; Turkey has expressed concern over the autonomous status of Kurds in Iraq Topic: IrelandIreland, Iceland, and the UK dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nmIreland, Iceland, and the UK dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm Topic: Isle of Mannonenone Topic: IsraelWest Bank is Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; in 2002, Israel began construction of a "seam line" separation barrier along parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank; as of mid-2020, plans were to continue barrier construction; Israel withdrew its settlers and military from the Gaza Strip and from four settlements in the West Bank in August 2005; Golan Heights is Israeli-controlled (Lebanon claims the Shab'a Farms area of Golan Heights); in March 2019, the US Government recognized Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights; since 1948, about 350 peacekeepers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization headquartered in Jerusalem monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from escalating, and assist other UN personnel in the regionWest Bank is Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; in 2002, Israel began construction of a "seam line" separation barrier along parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank; as of mid-2020, plans were to continue barrier construction; Israel withdrew its settlers and military from the Gaza Strip and from four settlements in the West Bank in August 2005; Golan Heights is Israeli-controlled (Lebanon claims the Shab'a Farms area of Golan Heights); in March 2019, the US Government recognized Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights; since 1948, about 350 peacekeepers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization headquartered in Jerusalem monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from escalating, and assist other UN personnel in the region Topic: ItalyItaly's long coastline and developed economy entices tens of thousands of illegal immigrants from southeastern Europe and northern AfricaItaly's long coastline and developed economy entices tens of thousands of illegal immigrants from southeastern Europe and northern Africa Topic: Jamaicanonenone Topic: Jan Mayennonenone Topic: Japanthe sovereignty dispute over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan as the "Northern Territories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kuril Islands," occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia and claimed by Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing a peace treaty formally ending World War II hostilities; Japan and South Korea claim Liancourt Rocks (Take-shima/Tok-do) occupied by South Korea since 1954; the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands are also claimed by China and Taiwanthe sovereignty dispute over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan as the "Northern Territories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kuril Islands," occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia and claimed by Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing a peace treaty formally ending World War II hostilities; Japan and South Korea claim Liancourt Rocks (Take-shima/Tok-do) occupied by South Korea since 1954; the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands are also claimed by China and Taiwan Topic: Jerseynonenone Topic: Jordan2004 Agreement settles border dispute with Syria pending demarcation2004 Agreement settles border dispute with Syria pending demarcation Topic: Kazakhstanin January 2019, the Kyrgyz Republic ratified the demarcation agreement of the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border; the demarcation of the Kazakh-Uzbek borders is ongoing; the ongoing demarcation with Russia began in 2007; demarcation with China completed in 2002in January 2019, the Kyrgyz Republic ratified the demarcation agreement of the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border; the demarcation of the Kazakh-Uzbek borders is ongoing; the ongoing demarcation with Russia began in 2007; demarcation with China completed in 2002 Topic: KenyaKenya served as an important mediator in brokering Sudan's north-south separation in February 2005; as of March 2019, Kenya provides shelter to nearly 475,000 refugees and asylum seekers, including Ugandans who flee across the border periodically to seek protection from Lord's Resistance Army rebels; Kenya works hard to prevent the clan and militia fighting in Somalia from spreading across the border, which has long been open to nomadic pastoralists; the boundary that separates Kenya's and Sudan's sovereignty is unclear in the "Ilemi Triangle," which Kenya has administered since colonial times Uganda-Kenya: Kenya and Uganda have begun a joint demarcation of the boundary in 2021 Kenya served as an important mediator in brokering Sudan's north-south separation in February 2005; as of March 2019, Kenya provides shelter to nearly 475,000 refugees and asylum seekers, including Ugandans who flee across the border periodically to seek protection from Lord's Resistance Army rebels; Kenya works hard to prevent the clan and militia fighting in Somalia from spreading across the border, which has long been open to nomadic pastoralists; the boundary that separates Kenya's and Sudan's sovereignty is unclear in the "Ilemi Triangle," which Kenya has administered since colonial times Uganda-Kenya: Kenya and Uganda have begun a joint demarcation of the boundary in 2021  Topic: Kiribatinonenone Topic: Korea, Northrisking arrest, imprisonment, and deportation, tens of thousands of North Koreans cross into China to escape famine, economic privation, and political oppression; North Korea and China dispute the sovereignty of certain islands in Yalu and Tumen Rivers; Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km-wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic incidents in the Yellow Sea with South Korea which claims the Northern Limiting Line as a maritime boundary; North Korea supports South Korea in rejecting Japan's claim to Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima)risking arrest, imprisonment, and deportation, tens of thousands of North Koreans cross into China to escape famine, economic privation, and political oppression; North Korea and China dispute the sovereignty of certain islands in Yalu and Tumen Rivers; Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km-wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic incidents in the Yellow Sea with South Korea which claims the Northern Limiting Line as a maritime boundary; North Korea supports South Korea in rejecting Japan's claim to Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima) Topic: Korea, SouthMilitary Demarcation Line within the 4-km-wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic incidents with North Korea in the Yellow Sea over the Northern Limit Line, which South Korea claims as a maritime boundary; South Korea and Japan claim Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima), occupied by South Korea since 1954Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km-wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic incidents with North Korea in the Yellow Sea over the Northern Limit Line, which South Korea claims as a maritime boundary; South Korea and Japan claim Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima), occupied by South Korea since 1954 Topic: KosovoSerbia with several other states protest 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; NATO-led Kosovo Force peacekeepers under UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo authority continue to ensure a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all Kosovo citizens; Kosovo and North Macedonia completed demarcation of their boundary in September 2008; Kosovo ratified the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro in March 2018, but the actual demarcation has not been completedSerbia with several other states protest 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; NATO-led Kosovo Force peacekeepers under UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo authority continue to ensure a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all Kosovo citizens; Kosovo and North Macedonia completed demarcation of their boundary in September 2008; Kosovo ratified the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro in March 2018, but the actual demarcation has not been completed Topic: KuwaitKuwait and Saudi Arabia continue negotiating a joint maritime boundary with Iran; no maritime boundary exists with Iraq in the Persian GulfKuwait and Saudi Arabia continue negotiating a joint maritime boundary with Iran; no maritime boundary exists with Iraq in the Persian Gulf Topic: Kyrgyzstandisputes in Isfara Valley delay completion of delimitation with Tajikistan; delimitation of approximately 15% or 200 km of border with Uzbekistan is hampered by serious disputes over enclaves and other areasdisputes in Isfara Valley delay completion of delimitation with Tajikistan; delimitation of approximately 15% or 200 km of border with Uzbekistan is hampered by serious disputes over enclaves and other areas Topic: Laossoutheast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; talks continue on completion of demarcation with Thailand but disputes remain over islands in the Mekong River; Cambodia and Laos have a longstanding border demarcation dispute; concern among Mekong River Commission members that China's construction of eight dams on the Upper Mekong River and construction of more dams on its tributaries will affect water levels, sediment flows, and fisheries; Cambodia and Vietnam are concerned about Laos' extensive plans for upstream dam construction for the same reasonssoutheast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; talks continue on completion of demarcation with Thailand but disputes remain over islands in the Mekong River; Cambodia and Laos have a longstanding border demarcation dispute; concern among Mekong River Commission members that China's construction of eight dams on the Upper Mekong River and construction of more dams on its tributaries will affect water levels, sediment flows, and fisheries; Cambodia and Vietnam are concerned about Laos' extensive plans for upstream dam construction for the same reasons Topic: LatviaRussia demands better Latvian treatment of ethnic Russians in Latvia; boundary demarcated with Latvia and Lithuania; the Latvian parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rights; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Latvia has implemented the strict Schengen border rules with RussiaRussia demands better Latvian treatment of ethnic Russians in Latvia; boundary demarcated with Latvia and Lithuania; the Latvian parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rights; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Latvia has implemented the strict Schengen border rules with Russia Topic: Lebanonlacking a treaty or other documentation describing the boundary, portions of the Lebanon-Syria boundary are unclear with several sections in dispute; since 2000, Lebanon has claimed Shab'a Farms area in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights; the roughly 2,000-strong UN Interim Force in Lebanon has been in place since 1978lacking a treaty or other documentation describing the boundary, portions of the Lebanon-Syria boundary are unclear with several sections in dispute; since 2000, Lebanon has claimed Shab'a Farms area in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights; the roughly 2,000-strong UN Interim Force in Lebanon has been in place since 1978 Topic: LesothoSouth Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migrationSouth Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migration Topic: Liberiaas the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) continues to drawdown prior to the 1 March 2018 closure date, the peacekeeping force is being reduced to 434 soldiers and two police units; some Liberian refugees still remain in Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Ghana; Liberia shelters 7,811 Ivoirian refugees, as of February 2022as the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) continues to drawdown prior to the 1 March 2018 closure date, the peacekeeping force is being reduced to 434 soldiers and two police units; some Liberian refugees still remain in Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Ghana; Liberia shelters 7,811 Ivoirian refugees, as of February 2022 Topic: LibyaLibya-Algeria: dormant disputes include Libyan claims of about 32,000 sq km still reflected on its maps of southeastern Algeria Libya-Chad: various Chadian rebels from the Aozou region reside in southern LibyaLibya-Algeria: dormant disputes include Libyan claims of about 32,000 sq km still reflected on its maps of southeastern Algeria Libya-Chad: various Chadian rebels from the Aozou region reside in southern Libya Topic: Liechtensteinnonenone Topic: LithuaniaLithuania 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; boundary demarcated with Latvia and Lithuania; as of January 2007, ground demarcation of the boundary with Belarus was complete and mapped with final ratification documents in preparationLithuania 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; boundary demarcated with Latvia and Lithuania; as of January 2007, ground demarcation of the boundary with Belarus was complete and mapped with final ratification documents in preparation Topic: Luxembourgnonenone Topic: Macaunonenone Topic: Madagascarclaims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island (all administered by France); 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, part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands)claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island (all administered by France); 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, part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands) Topic: Malawidispute with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River; Malawi contends that the entire lake up to the Tanzanian shoreline is its territory, while Tanzania claims the border is in the center of the lake; the conflict was reignited in 2012 when Malawi awarded a license to a British company for oil exploration in the lakedispute with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River; Malawi contends that the entire lake up to the Tanzanian shoreline is its territory, while Tanzania claims the border is in the center of the lake; the conflict was reignited in 2012 when Malawi awarded a license to a British company for oil exploration in the lake Topic: Malaysiawhile the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions over the Spratly Islands, it is not the legally binding "code of conduct" sought by some parties, which is currently being negotiated between China and ASEAN; Malaysia was not party to the March 2005 joint accord among the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam on conducting marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; disputes continue over deliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore's land reclamation, bridge construction, and maritime boundaries in the Johor and Singapore Straits; in 2008, ICJ 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; land and maritime negotiations with Indonesia are ongoing, and disputed areas include the controversial Tanjung Datu and Camar Wulan border area in Borneo and the maritime boundary in the Ambalat oil block in the Celebes Sea; separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Muslim southern provinces prompts measures to close and monitor border with Malaysia to stem terrorist activities; Philippines retains a dormant claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo; per Letters of Exchange signed in 2009, Malaysia in 2010 ceded two hydrocarbon concession blocks to Brunei in exchange for Brunei's sultan dropping claims to the Limbang corridor, which divides Brunei; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Straitwhile the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions over the Spratly Islands, it is not the legally binding "code of conduct" sought by some parties, which is currently being negotiated between China and ASEAN; Malaysia was not party to the March 2005 joint accord among the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam on conducting marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; disputes continue over deliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore's land reclamation, bridge construction, and maritime boundaries in the Johor and Singapore Straits; in 2008, ICJ 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; land and maritime negotiations with Indonesia are ongoing, and disputed areas include the controversial Tanjung Datu and Camar Wulan border area in Borneo and the maritime boundary in the Ambalat oil block in the Celebes Sea; separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Muslim southern provinces prompts measures to close and monitor border with Malaysia to stem terrorist activities; Philippines retains a dormant claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo; per Letters of Exchange signed in 2009, Malaysia in 2010 ceded two hydrocarbon concession blocks to Brunei in exchange for Brunei's sultan dropping claims to the Limbang corridor, which divides Brunei; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait Topic: Maldivesnonenone Topic: Malidemarcation is underway with Burkina Fasodemarcation is underway with Burkina Faso Topic: Maltanonenone Topic: Marshall Islandsclaims US territory of Wake Islandclaims US territory of Wake Island Topic: MauritaniaMauritanian claims to Western Sahara remain dormantMauritanian claims to Western Sahara remain dormant Topic: MauritiusMauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory); claims French-administered Tromelin IslandMauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory); claims French-administered Tromelin Island Topic: Mexicoabundant rainfall in recent years along much of the Mexico-US border region has ameliorated periodically strained water-sharing arrangements; the US has intensified security measures to monitor and control legal and illegal personnel, transport, and commodities across its border with Mexico; Mexico must deal with thousands of impoverished Guatemalans and other Central Americans who cross the porous border looking for work in Mexico and the US; Belize and Mexico are working to solve minor border demarcation discrepancies arising from inaccuracies in the 1898 border treatyabundant rainfall in recent years along much of the Mexico-US border region has ameliorated periodically strained water-sharing arrangements; the US has intensified security measures to monitor and control legal and illegal personnel, transport, and commodities across its border with Mexico; Mexico must deal with thousands of impoverished Guatemalans and other Central Americans who cross the porous border looking for work in Mexico and the US; Belize and Mexico are working to solve minor border demarcation discrepancies arising from inaccuracies in the 1898 border treaty Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofnonenone Topic: MoldovaMoldova and Ukraine operate joint customs posts to monitor the transit of people and commodities through Moldova's break-away Transnistria region, which remains under the auspices of an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe-mandated peacekeeping mission comprised of Moldovan, Transnistrian, Russian, and Ukrainian troopsMoldova and Ukraine operate joint customs posts to monitor the transit of people and commodities through Moldova's break-away Transnistria region, which remains under the auspices of an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe-mandated peacekeeping mission comprised of Moldovan, Transnistrian, Russian, and Ukrainian troops Topic: Monacononenone Topic: Mongolianonenone Topic: MontenegroKosovo ratified the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro in March 2018, but the actual demarcation has not been completedKosovo ratified the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro in March 2018, but the actual demarcation has not been completed Topic: Montserratnonenone Topic: MoroccoMorocco protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, the islands of Penon de Alhucemas and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; both countries claim Isla Perejil (Leila Island); discussions have not progressed on a comprehensive maritime delimitation, setting limits on resource exploration and refugee interdiction, since Morocco's 2002 rejection of Spain's unilateral designation of a median line from the Canary Islands; Morocco serves as one of the primary launching areas of illegal migration into Spain from North Africa; Algeria's border with Morocco remains an irritant to bilateral relations, each nation accusing the other of harboring militants and arms smuggling; the National Liberation Front's assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco is a dormant disputeMorocco protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, the islands of Penon de Alhucemas and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; both countries claim Isla Perejil (Leila Island); discussions have not progressed on a comprehensive maritime delimitation, setting limits on resource exploration and refugee interdiction, since Morocco's 2002 rejection of Spain's unilateral designation of a median line from the Canary Islands; Morocco serves as one of the primary launching areas of illegal migration into Spain from North Africa; Algeria's border with Morocco remains an irritant to bilateral relations, each nation accusing the other of harboring militants and arms smuggling; the National Liberation Front's assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco is a dormant dispute Topic: MozambiqueSouth Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migrationSouth Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migration Topic: Namibiaconcerns from international experts and local populations over the Okavango Delta ecology in Botswana and human displacement scuttled Namibian plans to construct a hydroelectric dam on Popa Falls along the Angola-Namibia border; the governments of South Africa and Namibia have not signed or ratified the text of the 1994 Surveyor's General agreement placing the boundary in the middle of the Orange River; Namibia has supported, and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to, plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river Namibia-Angola: None identifiedconcerns from international experts and local populations over the Okavango Delta ecology in Botswana and human displacement scuttled Namibian plans to construct a hydroelectric dam on Popa Falls along the Angola-Namibia border; the governments of South Africa and Namibia have not signed or ratified the text of the 1994 Surveyor's General agreement placing the boundary in the middle of the Orange River; Namibia has supported, and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to, plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river Namibia-Angola: None identified Topic: Naurunonenone Topic: Navassa Islandclaimed by Haiti, source of subsistence fishingclaimed by Haiti, source of subsistence fishing Topic: Nepaljoint border commission continues to work on contested sections of boundary with India, including the 400 sq km dispute over the source of the Kalapani River; India has instituted a stricter border regime to restrict transit of illegal cross-border activitiesjoint border commission continues to work on contested sections of boundary with India, including the 400 sq km dispute over the source of the Kalapani River; India has instituted a stricter border regime to restrict transit of illegal cross-border activities Topic: Netherlandsnonenone Topic: New CaledoniaMatthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by France and VanuatuMatthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu Topic: New Zealandasserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency) Topic: Nicaraguathe 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; Nicaragua and Costa Rica regularly file border dispute cases over the delimitations of the San Juan River and the northern tip of Calero Island to the ICJ; 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; Nicaragua filed a case 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 Seathe 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; Nicaragua and Costa Rica regularly file border dispute cases over the delimitations of the San Juan River and the northern tip of Calero Island to the ICJ; 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; Nicaragua filed a case 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 Topic: NigerLibya claims about 25,000 sq km in a currently dormant dispute in the Tommo region; location of Benin-Niger-Nigeria tripoint is unresolved; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty that also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries; the dispute with Burkina Faso was referred to the ICJ in 2010Libya claims about 25,000 sq km in a currently dormant dispute in the Tommo region; location of Benin-Niger-Nigeria tripoint is unresolved; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty that also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries; the dispute with Burkina Faso was referred to the ICJ in 2010 Topic: NigeriaJoint Border Commission with Cameroon reviewed 2002 ICJ ruling on the entire boundary and bilaterally resolved differences, including June 2006 Greentree Agreement that immediately cedes sovereignty of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon with a phaseout of Nigerian control within two years while resolving patriation issues; the ICJ ruled on an equidistance settlement of Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf of Guinea, but imprecisely defined coordinates in the ICJ decision and a sovereignty dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River all contribute to the delay in implementation; 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; location of Benin-Niger-Nigeria tripoint is unresolvedJoint Border Commission with Cameroon reviewed 2002 ICJ ruling on the entire boundary and bilaterally resolved differences, including June 2006 Greentree Agreement that immediately cedes sovereignty of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon with a phaseout of Nigerian control within two years while resolving patriation issues; the ICJ ruled on an equidistance settlement of Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf of Guinea, but imprecisely defined coordinates in the ICJ decision and a sovereignty dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River all contribute to the delay in implementation; 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; location of Benin-Niger-Nigeria tripoint is unresolved Topic: Niuenonenone Topic: Norfolk Islandnonenone Topic: North MacedoniaKosovo and North Macedonia completed demarcation of their boundary in September 2008Kosovo and North Macedonia completed demarcation of their boundary in September 2008 Topic: Northern Mariana Islandsnonenone Topic: NorwayNorway asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud Land and its continental shelf); Denmark (Greenland) and Norway have made submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) and Russia is collecting additional data to augment its 2001 CLCS submission; Norway and Russia signed a comprehensive maritime boundary agreement in 2010Norway asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud Land and its continental shelf); Denmark (Greenland) and Norway have made submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) and Russia is collecting additional data to augment its 2001 CLCS submission; Norway and Russia signed a comprehensive maritime boundary agreement in 2010 Topic: Omanboundary agreement reportedly signed and ratified with UAE in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah exclave, but details of the alignment have not been made publicboundary agreement reportedly signed and ratified with UAE in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah exclave, but details of the alignment have not been made public Topic: Pacific Oceansome maritime disputes (see littoral states)some maritime disputes (see littoral states) Topic: Pakistanvarious talks and confidence-building measures cautiously have begun to defuse tensions over Kashmir, particularly since the October 2005 earthquake in the region; Kashmir nevertheless remains the site of the world's largest and most militarized territorial dispute with portions under the de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas); UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan has maintained a small group of peacekeepers since 1949; India does not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in 1964; India and Pakistan have maintained their 2004 cease-fire in Kashmir and initiated discussions on defusing the armed standoff in the Siachen glacier region; Pakistan protests India's fencing the highly militarized Line of Control and construction of the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir, which is part of the larger dispute on water sharing of the Indus River and its tributaries; to defuse tensions and prepare for discussions on a maritime boundary, India and Pakistan seek technical resolution of the disputed boundary in Sir Creek estuary at the mouth of the Rann of Kutch in the Arabian Sea; Pakistani maps continue to show the Junagadh claim in India's Gujarat State; since 2002, with UN assistance, Pakistan has repatriated 3.8 million Afghan refugees, leaving about 2.6 million; Pakistan has sent troops across and built fences along some remote tribal areas of its treaty-defined Durand Line border with Afghanistan, which serve as bases for foreign terrorists and other illegal activities; Afghan, Coalition, and Pakistan military meet periodically to clarify the alignment of the boundary on the ground and on mapsvarious talks and confidence-building measures cautiously have begun to defuse tensions over Kashmir, particularly since the October 2005 earthquake in the region; Kashmir nevertheless remains the site of the world's largest and most militarized territorial dispute with portions under the de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas); UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan has maintained a small group of peacekeepers since 1949; India does not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in 1964; India and Pakistan have maintained their 2004 cease-fire in Kashmir and initiated discussions on defusing the armed standoff in the Siachen glacier region; Pakistan protests India's fencing the highly militarized Line of Control and construction of the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir, which is part of the larger dispute on water sharing of the Indus River and its tributaries; to defuse tensions and prepare for discussions on a maritime boundary, India and Pakistan seek technical resolution of the disputed boundary in Sir Creek estuary at the mouth of the Rann of Kutch in the Arabian Sea; Pakistani maps continue to show the Junagadh claim in India's Gujarat State; since 2002, with UN assistance, Pakistan has repatriated 3.8 million Afghan refugees, leaving about 2.6 million; Pakistan has sent troops across and built fences along some remote tribal areas of its treaty-defined Durand Line border with Afghanistan, which serve as bases for foreign terrorists and other illegal activities; Afghan, Coalition, and Pakistan military meet periodically to clarify the alignment of the boundary on the ground and on maps Topic: Palaumaritime delineation negotiations continue with Philippines, Indonesiamaritime delineation negotiations continue with Philippines, Indonesia Topic: Panamaorganized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within the remote border region with Panamaorganized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within the remote border region with Panama Topic: Papua New Guinearelies on assistance from Australia to keep out illegal cross-border activities from primarily Indonesia, including goods smuggling, illegal narcotics trafficking, and squatters and secessionistsrelies on assistance from Australia to keep out illegal cross-border activities from primarily Indonesia, including goods smuggling, illegal narcotics trafficking, and squatters and secessionists Topic: Paracel Islandsoccupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnamoccupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam Topic: Paraguayunruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcotics trafficking, and fundraising for violent extremist organizationsunruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcotics trafficking, and fundraising for violent extremist organizations Topic: PeruChile and Ecuador rejected Peru's November 2005 unilateral legislation to shift the axis of their joint treaty-defined maritime boundaries along the parallels of latitude to equidistance lines which favor Peru; organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia have penetrated Peru's shared border; Peru rejects Bolivia's claim to restore maritime access through a sovereign corridor through Chile along the Peruvian borderChile and Ecuador rejected Peru's November 2005 unilateral legislation to shift the axis of their joint treaty-defined maritime boundaries along the parallels of latitude to equidistance lines which favor Peru; organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia have penetrated Peru's shared border; Peru rejects Bolivia's claim to restore maritime access through a sovereign corridor through Chile along the Peruvian border Topic: PhilippinesPhilippines claims sovereignty over Scarborough Reef (also claimed by China together with Taiwan) and over certain of the Spratly Islands, known locally as the Kalayaan (Freedom) Islands, also claimed by China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," has eased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; Philippines retains a dormant claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo based on the Sultanate of Sulu's granting the Philippines Government power of attorney to pursue a sovereignty claim on his behalf; maritime delimitation negotiations continue with PalauPhilippines claims sovereignty over Scarborough Reef (also claimed by China together with Taiwan) and over certain of the Spratly Islands, known locally as the Kalayaan (Freedom) Islands, also claimed by China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," has eased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; Philippines retains a dormant claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo based on the Sultanate of Sulu's granting the Philippines Government power of attorney to pursue a sovereignty claim on his behalf; maritime delimitation negotiations continue with Palau Topic: Pitcairn Islandsnonenone Topic: Polandas a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Poland has implemented the strict Schengen border rules to restrict illegal immigration and trade along its eastern borders with Belarus and Ukraineas a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Poland has implemented the strict Schengen border rules to restrict illegal immigration and trade along its eastern borders with Belarus and Ukraine Topic: PortugalPortugal 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 BadajozPortugal 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 Topic: Puerto Ricoincreasing numbers of illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico each year looking for workincreasing numbers of illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico each year looking for work Topic: Qatarnonenone Topic: Romaniathe ICJ ruled largely in favor of Romania in its dispute submitted in 2004 over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary delimitation; Romania opposes Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Seathe ICJ ruled largely in favor of Romania in its dispute submitted in 2004 over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary delimitation; Romania opposes Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Sea Topic: RussiaRussia remains concerned about the smuggling of poppy derivatives from Afghanistan through Central Asian countries; China and Russia have demarcated the once disputed islands at the Amur and Ussuri confluence and in the Argun River in accordance with the 2004 Agreement, ending their centuries-long border disputes; the sovereignty dispute over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan as the "Northern Territories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kurils," occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia, and claimed by Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing a peace treaty formally ending World War II hostilities; Russia's military support and subsequent recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia independence in 2008 continue to sour relations with Georgia; Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratified Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance, while Iran continues to insist on a one-fifth slice of the sea; Norway and Russia signed a comprehensive maritime boundary agreement in 2010; various groups in Finland advocate restoration of Karelia (Kareliya) and other areas ceded to the Soviet Union following World War II but the Finnish Government asserts no territorial demands; Russia and Estonia signed a technical border agreement in May 2005, but Russia recalled its signature in June 2005 after the Estonian parliament added to its domestic ratification act a historical preamble referencing the Soviet occupation and Estonia's pre-war borders under the 1920 Treaty of Tartu; Russia contends that the preamble allows Estonia to make territorial claims on Russia in the future, while Estonian officials deny that the preamble has any legal impact on the treaty text; Russia demands better treatment of the Russian-speaking population in Estonia and Latvia; Russia remains involved in the conflict in eastern Ukraine while also occupying Ukraine’s territory of Crimea; 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 an EU member state with an EU external border, where strict Schengen border rules apply; preparations for the demarcation delimitation of land boundary with Ukraine have commenced; the dispute over the boundary between Russia and Ukraine through the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov is suspended due to the occupation of Crimea by Russia; Kazakhstan and Russia boundary delimitation was ratified on November 2005 and field demarcation should commence in 2007; Russian Duma has not yet ratified 1990 Bering Sea Maritime Boundary Agreement with the US; Denmark (Greenland) and Norway have made submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) and Russia is collecting additional data to augment its 2001 CLCS submissionRussia remains concerned about the smuggling of poppy derivatives from Afghanistan through Central Asian countries; China and Russia have demarcated the once disputed islands at the Amur and Ussuri confluence and in the Argun River in accordance with the 2004 Agreement, ending their centuries-long border disputes; the sovereignty dispute over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan as the "Northern Territories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kurils," occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia, and claimed by Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing a peace treaty formally ending World War II hostilities; Russia's military support and subsequent recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia independence in 2008 continue to sour relations with Georgia; Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratified Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance, while Iran continues to insist on a one-fifth slice of the sea; Norway and Russia signed a comprehensive maritime boundary agreement in 2010; various groups in Finland advocate restoration of Karelia (Kareliya) and other areas ceded to the Soviet Union following World War II but the Finnish Government asserts no territorial demands; Russia and Estonia signed a technical border agreement in May 2005, but Russia recalled its signature in June 2005 after the Estonian parliament added to its domestic ratification act a historical preamble referencing the Soviet occupation and Estonia's pre-war borders under the 1920 Treaty of Tartu; Russia contends that the preamble allows Estonia to make territorial claims on Russia in the future, while Estonian officials deny that the preamble has any legal impact on the treaty text; Russia demands better treatment of the Russian-speaking population in Estonia and Latvia; Russia remains involved in the conflict in eastern Ukraine while also occupying Ukraine’s territory of Crimea; 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 an EU member state with an EU external border, where strict Schengen border rules apply; preparations for the demarcation delimitation of land boundary with Ukraine have commenced; the dispute over the boundary between Russia and Ukraine through the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov is suspended due to the occupation of Crimea by Russia; Kazakhstan and Russia boundary delimitation was ratified on November 2005 and field demarcation should commence in 2007; Russian Duma has not yet ratified 1990 Bering Sea Maritime Boundary Agreement with the US; Denmark (Greenland) and Norway have made submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) and Russia is collecting additional data to augment its 2001 CLCS submission Topic: RwandaRwanda-Burundi: 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 Rwanda-Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): the 2005 DRC and Rwanda border verification mechanism to stem rebel actions on both sides of the border remains in place Rwanda-Uganda: a joint technical committee established in 2007 to demarcate sections of the border Rwanda-Burundi: 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 Rwanda-Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): the 2005 DRC and Rwanda border verification mechanism to stem rebel actions on both sides of the border remains in place Rwanda-Uganda: a joint technical committee established in 2007 to demarcate sections of the border Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhanonenone Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevisjoins 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 Seajoins 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 Topic: Saint Luciajoins 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 Seajoins 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 Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelonnonenone Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesjoins 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 Seajoins 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 Topic: Samoanonenone Topic: San Marinononenone Topic: Sao Tome and Principenonenone Topic: Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia has reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the now fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal cross-border activities; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue discussions on a maritime boundary with IranSaudi Arabia has reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the now fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal cross-border activities; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran Topic: Senegalcross-border trafficking in persons, timber, wildlife, and cannabis; rebels from the Movement of Democratic Forces in the Casamance find refuge in Guinea-Bissaucross-border trafficking in persons, timber, wildlife, and cannabis; rebels from the Movement of Democratic Forces in the Casamance find refuge in Guinea-Bissau Topic: SerbiaSerbia with several other states protest 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; several thousand NATO-led Kosovo Force peacekeepers under UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo authority continue to keep the peace within Kosovo between the ethnic Albanian majority and the Serb minority in Kosovo; Serbia delimited about half of the boundary with Bosnia and Herzegovina, but sections along the Drina River remain in disputeSerbia with several other states protest 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; several thousand NATO-led Kosovo Force peacekeepers under UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo authority continue to keep the peace within Kosovo between the ethnic Albanian majority and the Serb minority in Kosovo; Serbia delimited about half of the boundary with Bosnia and Herzegovina, but sections along the Drina River remain in dispute Topic: SeychellesMauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory)Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory) Topic: Sierra LeoneSierra Leone opposes Guinean troops' continued occupation of Yenga, a small village on the Makona River that serves as a border with Guinea; Guinea's forces came to Yenga in the mid-1990s to help the Sierra Leonean military to suppress rebels and to secure their common border but have remained there even after both countries signed a 2005 agreement acknowledging that Yenga belonged to Sierra Leone; in 2012, the two sides signed a declaration to demilitarize the areaSierra Leone opposes Guinean troops' continued occupation of Yenga, a small village on the Makona River that serves as a border with Guinea; Guinea's forces came to Yenga in the mid-1990s to help the Sierra Leonean military to suppress rebels and to secure their common border but have remained there even after both countries signed a 2005 agreement acknowledging that Yenga belonged to Sierra Leone; in 2012, the two sides signed a declaration to demilitarize the area Topic: Singaporedisputes 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, ICJ 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; Indonesia and Singapore continue to work on finalization of their 1973 maritime boundary agreement by defining unresolved areas north of Indonesia's Batam Island; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Straitdisputes 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, ICJ 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; Indonesia and Singapore continue to work on finalization of their 1973 maritime boundary agreement by defining unresolved areas north of Indonesia's Batam Island; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait Topic: Slovakiabilateral government, legal, technical and economic working group negotiations continued between Slovakia and Hungary over Hungary's completion of its portion of the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric dam project along the Danube; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Slovakia has implemented strict Schengen border rulesbilateral government, legal, technical and economic working group negotiations continued between Slovakia and Hungary over Hungary's completion of its portion of the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric dam project along the Danube; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Slovakia has implemented strict Schengen border rules Topic: Sloveniasince 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 arbitration panel issued a ruling on the border that Croatia has not implemented; 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 requirementssince 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 arbitration panel issued a ruling on the border that Croatia has not implemented; 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 Topic: Solomon Islandssince 2003, the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, consisting of police, military, and civilian advisors drawn from 15 countries, has assisted in reestablishing and maintaining civil and political order while reinforcing regional stability and securitysince 2003, the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, consisting of police, military, and civilian advisors drawn from 15 countries, has assisted in reestablishing and maintaining civil and political order while reinforcing regional stability and security Topic: SomaliaEthiopian forces invaded southern Somalia and routed Islamist Courts from Mogadishu in January 2007; "Somaliland" secessionists provide port facilities in Berbera to landlocked Ethiopia and have established commercial ties with other regional states; "Puntland" and "Somaliland" "governments" seek international support in their secessionist aspirations and overlapping border claims; the undemarcated former British administrative line has little meaning as a political separation to rival clans within Ethiopia's Ogaden and southern Somalia's Oromo region; Kenya works hard to prevent the clan and militia fighting in Somalia from spreading south across the border, which has long been open to nomadic pastoralistsEthiopian forces invaded southern Somalia and routed Islamist Courts from Mogadishu in January 2007; "Somaliland" secessionists provide port facilities in Berbera to landlocked Ethiopia and have established commercial ties with other regional states; "Puntland" and "Somaliland" "governments" seek international support in their secessionist aspirations and overlapping border claims; the undemarcated former British administrative line has little meaning as a political separation to rival clans within Ethiopia's Ogaden and southern Somalia's Oromo region; Kenya works hard to prevent the clan and militia fighting in Somalia from spreading south across the border, which has long been open to nomadic pastoralists Topic: South AfricaSouth Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migration; the governments of South Africa and Namibia have not signed or ratified the text of the 1994 Surveyor's General agreement placing the boundary in the middle of the Orange RiverSouth Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migration; the governments of South Africa and Namibia have not signed or ratified the text of the 1994 Surveyor's General agreement placing the boundary in the middle of the Orange River Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich IslandsArgentina, which claims the islands in its constitution and briefly occupied them by force in 1982, agreed in 1995 to no longer seek settlement by forceArgentina, which claims the islands in its constitution and briefly occupied them by force in 1982, agreed in 1995 to no longer seek settlement by force Topic: South SudanSouth Sudan- Central African Republic: periodic violent skirmishes persist among related pastoral populations along the border with the Central African Republic over water and grazing rights South Sudan-Kenya: the boundary that separates Kenya and South Sudan's sovereignty is unclear in the "Ilemi Triangle," which Kenya has administered since colonial times South Sudan-Sudan: present boundary represents 1 January 1956 alignment, which clearly placed the Kafia Kingi area (adjacent to Central African Republic) within South Sudan as shown on US maps although it is mostly occupied by Sudan; final alignment pending negotiations and demarcation; the final sovereignty status of Abyei Area pending negotiations between South Sudan and Sudan; Sudan accuses South Sudan of supporting Sudanese rebel groupsSouth Sudan- Central African Republic: periodic violent skirmishes persist among related pastoral populations along the border with the Central African Republic over water and grazing rights South Sudan-Kenya: the boundary that separates Kenya and South Sudan's sovereignty is unclear in the "Ilemi Triangle," which Kenya has administered since colonial timesSouth Sudan-Sudan: present boundary represents 1 January 1956 alignment, which clearly placed the Kafia Kingi area (adjacent to Central African Republic) within South Sudan as shown on US maps although it is mostly occupied by Sudan; final alignment pending negotiations and demarcation; the final sovereignty status of Abyei Area pending negotiations between South Sudan and Sudan; Sudan accuses South Sudan of supporting Sudanese rebel groups Topic: Southern OceanAntarctic Treaty defers claims (see Antarctica entry), but Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, and UK assert claims (some overlapping), including the continental shelf in the Southern Ocean; several states have expressed an interest in extending those continental shelf claims under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea to include undersea ridges; the US and most other states do not recognize the land or maritime claims of other states and have made no claims themselves (the US and Russia have reserved the right to do so)Antarctic Treaty defers claims (see Antarctica entry), but Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, and UK assert claims (some overlapping), including the continental shelf in the Southern Ocean; several states have expressed an interest in extending those continental shelf claims under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea to include undersea ridges; the US and most other states do not recognize the land or maritime claims of other states and have made no claims themselves (the US and Russia have reserved the right to do so) Topic: Spainin 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 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; 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); Morocco serves as the primary launching site of illegal migration into Spain from North Africa; 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 Badajozin 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 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; 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); Morocco serves as the primary launching site of illegal migration into Spain from North Africa; 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 Topic: Spratly Islandsall of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China (including Taiwan) and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines; despite no public territorial claim to Louisa Reef, Brunei implicitly lays claim by including it within the natural prolongation of its continental shelf and basis for a seabed median with Vietnam; claimants in November 2002 signed the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," which has eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct"; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islandsall of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China (including Taiwan) and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines; despite no public territorial claim to Louisa Reef, Brunei implicitly lays claim by including it within the natural prolongation of its continental shelf and basis for a seabed median with Vietnam; claimants in November 2002 signed the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," which has eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct"; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands Topic: Sri Lankanonenone Topic: Sudanthe effects of Sudan's ethnic and rebel militia fighting since the mid-20th century have penetrated all of the neighboring states; 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; civil unrest in eastern Sudan has hampered efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with Ethiopia; as of early 2019, more than 590,000 Sudanese refugees are being hosted in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Sudan; Sudan, in turn, is hosting more than 975,000 refugees and asylum seekers, including more than 845,000 from South Sudan; Sudan accuses South Sudan of supporting Sudanese rebel groups; Sudan claims but Egypt de facto administers security and economic development of the Halaib region north of the 22nd parallel boundary; periodic violent skirmishes with Sudanese residents over water and grazing rights persist among related pastoral populations along the border with the Central African Republic; South Sudan-Sudan boundary represents 1 January 1956 alignment, final alignment pending negotiations and demarcation; final sovereignty status of Abyei Area pending negotiations between South Sudan and Sudanthe effects of Sudan's ethnic and rebel militia fighting since the mid-20th century have penetrated all of the neighboring states; 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; civil unrest in eastern Sudan has hampered efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with Ethiopia; as of early 2019, more than 590,000 Sudanese refugees are being hosted in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Sudan; Sudan, in turn, is hosting more than 975,000 refugees and asylum seekers, including more than 845,000 from South Sudan; Sudan accuses South Sudan of supporting Sudanese rebel groups; Sudan claims but Egypt de facto administers security and economic development of the Halaib region north of the 22nd parallel boundary; periodic violent skirmishes with Sudanese residents over water and grazing rights persist among related pastoral populations along the border with the Central African Republic; South Sudan-Sudan boundary represents 1 January 1956 alignment, final alignment pending negotiations and demarcation; final sovereignty status of Abyei Area pending negotiations between South Sudan and Sudan Topic: Surinamearea claimed by French Guiana between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa); Suriname claims a triangle of land between the New and Kutari/Koetari rivers in a historic dispute over the headwaters of the Courantyne; Guyana seeks UN Convention on the Law of the Sea arbitration to resolve the longstanding dispute with Suriname over the axis of the territorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich watersarea claimed by French Guiana between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa); Suriname claims a triangle of land between the New and Kutari/Koetari rivers in a historic dispute over the headwaters of the Courantyne; Guyana seeks UN Convention on the Law of the Sea arbitration to resolve the longstanding dispute with Suriname over the axis of the territorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich waters Topic: Svalbarddespite recent discussions, Russia and Norway dispute their maritime limits in the Barents Sea and Russia's fishing rights beyond Svalbard's territorial limits within the Svalbard Treaty zonedespite recent discussions, Russia and Norway dispute their maritime limits in the Barents Sea and Russia's fishing rights beyond Svalbard's territorial limits within the Svalbard Treaty zone Topic: Swedennonenone Topic: Switzerlandnonenone Topic: SyriaGolan Heights is Israeli-controlled with UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) patrolling a buffer zone since 1974; lacking a treaty or other documentation describing the boundary, portions of the Lebanon-Syria boundary are unclear with several sections in dispute; since 2000, Lebanon has claimed Shab'a Farms in the Golan Heights; 2004 Agreement and pending demarcation would settle border dispute with JordanGolan Heights is Israeli-controlled with UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) patrolling a buffer zone since 1974; lacking a treaty or other documentation describing the boundary, portions of the Lebanon-Syria boundary are unclear with several sections in dispute; since 2000, Lebanon has claimed Shab'a Farms in the Golan Heights; 2004 Agreement and pending demarcation would settle border dispute with Jordan Topic: Taiwaninvolved in complex dispute with Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam over the Spratly Islands, and with China and the Philippines over Scarborough Reef; 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; Paracel Islands are occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam; 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 prospectinginvolved in complex dispute with Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam over the Spratly Islands, and with China and the Philippines over Scarborough Reef; 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; Paracel Islands are occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam; 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 Topic: Tajikistanin 2006, China and Tajikistan pledged to commence demarcation of the revised boundary agreed to in the delimitation of 2002; talks continue with Uzbekistan to delimit border and remove minefields; disputes in Isfara Valley delay delimitation with Kyrgyzstanin 2006, China and Tajikistan pledged to commence demarcation of the revised boundary agreed to in the delimitation of 2002; talks continue with Uzbekistan to delimit border and remove minefields; disputes in Isfara Valley delay delimitation with Kyrgyzstan Topic: Tanzaniadispute with Malawi over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River; Malawi contends that the entire lake up to the Tanzanian shoreline is its territory, while Tanzania claims the border is in the center of the lake; the conflict was reignited in 2012 when Malawi awarded a license to a British company for oil exploration in the lakedispute with Malawi over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River; Malawi contends that the entire lake up to the Tanzanian shoreline is its territory, while Tanzania claims the border is in the center of the lake; the conflict was reignited in 2012 when Malawi awarded a license to a British company for oil exploration in the lake Topic: Thailandseparatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Malay-Muslim southern provinces prompt border closures and controls with Malaysia to stem insurgent activities; Southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; talks continue on completion of demarcation with Laos but disputes remain over several islands in the Mekong River; despite continuing border committee talks, Thailand must deal with Karen and other ethnic rebels, refugees, and illegal cross-border activities; Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of boundary; in 2011, Thailand and Cambodia resorted to arms in the dispute over the location of the boundary on the precipice surmounted by Preah Vihear temple ruins, awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962 and part of a planned UN World Heritage site; Thailand is studying the feasibility of jointly constructing the Hatgyi Dam on the Salween river near the border with Burma; in 2004, international environmentalist pressure prompted China to halt construction of 13 dams on the Salween River that flows through China, Burma, and Thailand; approximately 100,000 mostly Karen refugees fleeing civil strife, political upheaval and economic stagnation in Burma live in remote camps in Thailand near the borderseparatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Malay-Muslim southern provinces prompt border closures and controls with Malaysia to stem insurgent activities; Southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; talks continue on completion of demarcation with Laos but disputes remain over several islands in the Mekong River; despite continuing border committee talks, Thailand must deal with Karen and other ethnic rebels, refugees, and illegal cross-border activities; Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of boundary; in 2011, Thailand and Cambodia resorted to arms in the dispute over the location of the boundary on the precipice surmounted by Preah Vihear temple ruins, awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962 and part of a planned UN World Heritage site; Thailand is studying the feasibility of jointly constructing the Hatgyi Dam on the Salween river near the border with Burma; in 2004, international environmentalist pressure prompted China to halt construction of 13 dams on the Salween River that flows through China, Burma, and Thailand; approximately 100,000 mostly Karen refugees fleeing civil strife, political upheaval and economic stagnation in Burma live in remote camps in Thailand near the border Topic: Timor-Lestethree 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; Timor-Leste and Australia reached agreement on a treaty delimiting a permanent maritime boundary in March 2018; the treaty will enter into force once ratified by the two countries' parliamentsthree 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; Timor-Leste and Australia reached agreement on a treaty delimiting a permanent maritime boundary in March 2018; the treaty will enter into force once ratified by the two countries' parliaments Topic: Togoin 2001, Benin claimed Togo moved boundary monuments - joint commission continues to resurvey the boundary; talks continue between Benin and Togo on funding the Adjrala hydroelectric dam on the Mona Riverin 2001, Benin claimed Togo moved boundary monuments - joint commission continues to resurvey the boundary; talks continue between Benin and Togo on funding the Adjrala hydroelectric dam on the Mona River Topic: TokelauTokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olosega) in its 2006 draft independence constitutionTokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olosega) in its 2006 draft independence constitution Topic: Tongamaritime boundary dispute with Fiji  maritime boundary dispute with Fiji  Topic: Trinidad and TobagoBarbados and Trinidad and Tobago abide by the April 2006 Permanent Court of Arbitration decision delimiting a maritime boundary and limiting catches of flying fish in Trinidad and Tobago's EEZ; in 2005, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago agreed to compulsory international arbitration under UN Convention on the Law of the Sea challenging whether the northern limit of Trinidad and Tobago's and Venezuela's maritime boundary extends into Barbadian waters; Guyana has expressed its intention to include itself in the arbitration, as the Trinidad and Tobago-Venezuela maritime boundary may also extend into its watersBarbados and Trinidad and Tobago abide by the April 2006 Permanent Court of Arbitration decision delimiting a maritime boundary and limiting catches of flying fish in Trinidad and Tobago's EEZ; in 2005, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago agreed to compulsory international arbitration under UN Convention on the Law of the Sea challenging whether the northern limit of Trinidad and Tobago's and Venezuela's maritime boundary extends into Barbadian waters; Guyana has expressed its intention to include itself in the arbitration, as the Trinidad and Tobago-Venezuela maritime boundary may also extend into its waters Topic: Tunisianonenone Topic: Turkeycomplex maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Greece in the Aegean Sea; status of north Cyprus question remains; Turkey has expressed concern over the status of Kurds in Iraq; 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; Turkish authorities have complained that blasting from quarries in Armenia might be damaging the medieval ruins of Ani, on the other side of the Arpacay valleycomplex maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Greece in the Aegean Sea; status of north Cyprus question remains; Turkey has expressed concern over the status of Kurds in Iraq; 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; Turkish authorities have complained that blasting from quarries in Armenia might be damaging the medieval ruins of Ani, on the other side of the Arpacay valley Topic: Turkmenistancotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan creates water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river states; field demarcation of the boundaries with Kazakhstan commenced in 2005; bilateral talks continue with Azerbaijan on dividing the seabed and contested oilfields in the middle of the Caspiancotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan creates water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river states; field demarcation of the boundaries with Kazakhstan commenced in 2005; bilateral talks continue with Azerbaijan on dividing the seabed and contested oilfields in the middle of the Caspian Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandshave received Haitians fleeing economic and civil disorderhave received Haitians fleeing economic and civil disorder Topic: Tuvalunonenone Topic: UgandaUganda is subject to armed fighting among hostile ethnic groups, rebels, armed gangs, militias, and various government forces that extend across its borders Uganda-Kenya: Kenya and Uganda have begun a joint demarcation of the boundary in 2021  Uganda-Rwanda: a joint technical committee established in 2007 to demarcate sections of the border Uganda-Democratic Republic of Congo(DROC): Uganda rejects the DROC claim to Margherita Peak in the Rwenzori mountains and considers it a boundary divide; there is tension and violence on Lake Albert over prospective oil reserves at the mouth of the Semliki River Uganda-South Sudan: Government of South Sudan protests Lord's Resistance Army operations in western Equatorial State, displacing and driving out local populations and stealing grain storesUganda is subject to armed fighting among hostile ethnic groups, rebels, armed gangs, militias, and various government forces that extend across its borders Uganda-Kenya: Kenya and Uganda have begun a joint demarcation of the boundary in 2021  Uganda-Rwanda: a joint technical committee established in 2007 to demarcate sections of the border Uganda-Democratic Republic of Congo(DROC): Uganda rejects the DROC claim to Margherita Peak in the Rwenzori mountains and considers it a boundary divide; there is tension and violence on Lake Albert over prospective oil reserves at the mouth of the Semliki River Uganda-South Sudan: Government of South Sudan protests Lord's Resistance Army operations in western Equatorial State, displacing and driving out local populations and stealing grain stores Topic: Ukraine1997 boundary delimitation treaty with Belarus remains unratified due to unresolved financial claims, stalling demarcation and reducing border security; delimitation of land boundary with Russia is complete and demarcation began in 2012; the dispute over the boundary between Russia and Ukraine through the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov is suspended due to the occupation of Crimea by Russia; Ukraine and Moldova signed an agreement officially delimiting their border in 1999, but the border has not been demarcated due to Moldova's difficulties with the break-away region of Transnistria; Moldova and Ukraine operate joint customs posts to monitor transit of people and commodities through Moldova's Transnistria Region, which remains under the auspices of an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe-mandated peacekeeping mission comprised of Moldovan, Transnistrian, Russian, and Ukrainian troops; the ICJ ruled largely in favor of Romania in its dispute submitted in 2004 over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary delimitation; Romania opposes Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Sea1997 boundary delimitation treaty with Belarus remains unratified due to unresolved financial claims, stalling demarcation and reducing border security; delimitation of land boundary with Russia is complete and demarcation began in 2012; the dispute over the boundary between Russia and Ukraine through the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov is suspended due to the occupation of Crimea by Russia; Ukraine and Moldova signed an agreement officially delimiting their border in 1999, but the border has not been demarcated due to Moldova's difficulties with the break-away region of Transnistria; Moldova and Ukraine operate joint customs posts to monitor transit of people and commodities through Moldova's Transnistria Region, which remains under the auspices of an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe-mandated peacekeeping mission comprised of Moldovan, Transnistrian, Russian, and Ukrainian troops; the ICJ ruled largely in favor of Romania in its dispute submitted in 2004 over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary delimitation; Romania opposes Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Sea Topic: United Arab Emiratesboundary agreement was signed and ratified with Oman in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah enclaves, but contents of the agreement and detailed maps showing the alignment have not been published; Iran and UAE dispute Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island, which Iran occupiesboundary agreement was signed and ratified with Oman in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah enclaves, but contents of the agreement and detailed maps showing the alignment have not been published; Iran and UAE dispute Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island, which Iran occupies Topic: United Kingdomin 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement between the UK and Spain; the Government of Gibraltar insisted on equal participation in talks between the two countries; Spain disapproved of UK plans to grant Gibraltar greater autonomy; Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago (British Indian Ocean Territory); in 2001, the former inhabitants of the archipelago, evicted 1967 - 1973, were granted UK citizenship and the right of return, followed by Orders in Council in 2004 that banned rehabitation, a High Court ruling reversed the ban, a Court of Appeal refusal to hear the case, and a Law Lords' decision in 2008 denied the right of return; in addition, the UK created the world's largest marine protection area around the Chagos islands prohibiting the extraction of any natural resources therein; UK rejects sovereignty talks requested by Argentina, which still claims the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; territorial claim in Antarctica (British Antarctic Territory) overlaps Argentine claim and partially overlaps Chilean claim; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nmin 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement between the UK and Spain; the Government of Gibraltar insisted on equal participation in talks between the two countries; Spain disapproved of UK plans to grant Gibraltar greater autonomy; Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago (British Indian Ocean Territory); in 2001, the former inhabitants of the archipelago, evicted 1967 - 1973, were granted UK citizenship and the right of return, followed by Orders in Council in 2004 that banned rehabitation, a High Court ruling reversed the ban, a Court of Appeal refusal to hear the case, and a Law Lords' decision in 2008 denied the right of return; in addition, the UK created the world's largest marine protection area around the Chagos islands prohibiting the extraction of any natural resources therein; UK rejects sovereignty talks requested by Argentina, which still claims the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; territorial claim in Antarctica (British Antarctic Territory) overlaps Argentine claim and partially overlaps Chilean claim; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm Topic: United Statesthe US has intensified domestic security measures and is collaborating closely with its neighbors, Canada and Mexico, to monitor and control legal and illegal personnel, transport, and commodities across the international borders; abundant rainfall in recent years along much of the Mexico-US border region has ameliorated periodically strained water-sharing arrangements; 1990 Maritime Boundary Agreement in the Bering Sea still awaits Russian Duma ratification; Canada and the United States dispute how to divide the Beaufort Sea and the status of the Northwest Passage but continue to work cooperatively to survey the Arctic continental shelf; The Bahamas and US have not been able to agree on a maritime boundary; US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased from Cuba and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease; Haiti claims US-administered Navassa Island; US has made no territorial claim in Antarctica (but has reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims of any other states; Marshall Islands claims Wake Island; Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island among the islands listed in its 2006 draft constitutionthe US has intensified domestic security measures and is collaborating closely with its neighbors, Canada and Mexico, to monitor and control legal and illegal personnel, transport, and commodities across the international borders; abundant rainfall in recent years along much of the Mexico-US border region has ameliorated periodically strained water-sharing arrangements; 1990 Maritime Boundary Agreement in the Bering Sea still awaits Russian Duma ratification; Canada and the United States dispute how to divide the Beaufort Sea and the status of the Northwest Passage but continue to work cooperatively to survey the Arctic continental shelf; The Bahamas and US have not been able to agree on a maritime boundary; US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased from Cuba and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease; Haiti claims US-administered Navassa Island; US has made no territorial claim in Antarctica (but has reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims of any other states; Marshall Islands claims Wake Island; Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island among the islands listed in its 2006 draft constitution Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refugesnonenone Topic: Uruguayin 2010, the ICJ ruled in favor of Uruguay's operation of two paper mills on the Uruguay River, which forms the border with Argentina; the two countries formed a joint pollution monitoring regime; uncontested boundary dispute between Brazil and Uruguay over Braziliera/Brasiliera Island in the Quarai/Cuareim River leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question; smuggling of firearms and narcotics continues to be an issue along the Uruguay-Brazil borderin 2010, the ICJ ruled in favor of Uruguay's operation of two paper mills on the Uruguay River, which forms the border with Argentina; the two countries formed a joint pollution monitoring regime; uncontested boundary dispute between Brazil and Uruguay over Braziliera/Brasiliera Island in the Quarai/Cuareim River leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question; smuggling of firearms and narcotics continues to be an issue along the Uruguay-Brazil border Topic: Uzbekistanprolonged drought and cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan created water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river states; field demarcation of the boundaries with Kazakhstan commenced in 2004; border delimitation of 130 km of border with Kyrgyzstan is hampered by serious disputes around enclaves and other areasprolonged drought and cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan created water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river states; field demarcation of the boundaries with Kazakhstan commenced in 2004; border delimitation of 130 km of border with Kyrgyzstan is hampered by serious disputes around enclaves and other areas Topic: VanuatuMatthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by Vanuatu and FranceMatthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by Vanuatu and France Topic: Venezuelaclaims all of the area west of the Essequibo River in Guyana, preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana has expressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claims before the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea that Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela extends into their waters; dispute with Colombia over maritime boundary and Venezuelan administered Los Monjes Islands near the Gulf of Venezuela; Colombian organized illegal narcotics and paramilitary activities penetrate Venezuela's shared border region; US, France, and the Netherlands recognize Venezuela's granting full effect to Aves Island, thereby claiming a Venezuelan Economic Exclusion Zone/continental shelf extending over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea; Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines protest Venezuela's full effect claimclaims all of the area west of the Essequibo River in Guyana, preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana has expressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claims before the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea that Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela extends into their waters; dispute with Colombia over maritime boundary and Venezuelan administered Los Monjes Islands near the Gulf of Venezuela; Colombian organized illegal narcotics and paramilitary activities penetrate Venezuela's shared border region; US, France, and the Netherlands recognize Venezuela's granting full effect to Aves Island, thereby claiming a Venezuelan Economic Exclusion Zone/continental shelf extending over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea; Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines protest Venezuela's full effect claim Topic: Vietnamsoutheast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of Asian swine fever; Cambodia and Laos protest Vietnamese squatters and armed encroachments along border; Cambodia accuses Vietnam of a wide variety of illicit cross-border activities; progress on a joint development area with Cambodia is hampered by an unresolved dispute over sovereignty of offshore islands; an estimated 300,000 Vietnamese refugees reside in China; establishment of a maritime boundary with Cambodia is hampered by unresolved dispute over the sovereignty of offshore islands; the decade-long demarcation of the China-Vietnam land boundary was completed in 2009; China occupies the Paracel Islands also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; Brunei claims a maritime boundary extending beyond as far as a median with Vietnam, thus asserting an implicit claim to Lousia Reef; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" eased tensions but differences between the parties negotiating the Code of Conduct continue; Vietnam continues to expand construction of facilities in the Spratly Islands; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; Economic Exclusion Zone negotiations with Indonesia are ongoing, and the two countries in Fall 2011 agreed to work together to reduce illegal fishing along their maritime boundary; in May 2018, Russia’s RosneftVietnam unit started drilling at a block southeast of Vietnam which is within the area outlined by China’s nine-dash line and Beijing issued a warningsoutheast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of Asian swine fever; Cambodia and Laos protest Vietnamese squatters and armed encroachments along border; Cambodia accuses Vietnam of a wide variety of illicit cross-border activities; progress on a joint development area with Cambodia is hampered by an unresolved dispute over sovereignty of offshore islands; an estimated 300,000 Vietnamese refugees reside in China; establishment of a maritime boundary with Cambodia is hampered by unresolved dispute over the sovereignty of offshore islands; the decade-long demarcation of the China-Vietnam land boundary was completed in 2009; China occupies the Paracel Islands also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; Brunei claims a maritime boundary extending beyond as far as a median with Vietnam, thus asserting an implicit claim to Lousia Reef; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" eased tensions but differences between the parties negotiating the Code of Conduct continue; Vietnam continues to expand construction of facilities in the Spratly Islands; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; Economic Exclusion Zone negotiations with Indonesia are ongoing, and the two countries in Fall 2011 agreed to work together to reduce illegal fishing along their maritime boundary; in May 2018, Russia’s RosneftVietnam unit started drilling at a block southeast of Vietnam which is within the area outlined by China’s nine-dash line and Beijing issued a warning Topic: Virgin Islandsnonenone Topic: Wake Islandclaimed by Marshall Islandsclaimed by Marshall Islands Topic: Wallis and Futunanonenone Topic: West Bankthe current status of the West Bank is subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; Israel continues construction of a "seam line" separation barrier along parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank; Israel withdrew from Gaza and four settlements in the northern West Bank in August 2005; since 1948, about 350 peacekeepers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), headquartered in Jerusalem, monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from escalating, and assist other UN personnel in the regionthe current status of the West Bank is subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; Israel continues construction of a "seam line" separation barrier along parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank; Israel withdrew from Gaza and four settlements in the northern West Bank in August 2005; since 1948, about 350 peacekeepers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), headquartered in Jerusalem, monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from escalating, and assist other UN personnel in the region Topic: Worldstretching over some 280,000 km, the world's 325 international land boundaries separate 195 independent states and 70 dependencies, areas of special sovereignty, and other miscellaneous entities; ethnicity, culture, race, religion, and language have divided states into separate political entities as much as history, physical terrain, political fiat, or conquest, resulting in sometimes arbitrary and imposed boundaries; most maritime states have claimed limits that include territorial seas and exclusive economic zones; overlapping limits due to adjacent or opposite coasts create the potential for 430 bilateral maritime boundaries of which 209 have agreements that include contiguous and non-contiguous segments; boundary, borderland/resource, and territorial disputes vary in intensity from managed or dormant to violent or militarized; undemarcated, indefinite, porous, and unmanaged boundaries tend to encourage illegal cross-border activities, uncontrolled migration, and confrontation; territorial disputes may evolve from historical and/or cultural claims, or they may be brought on by resource competition; ethnic and cultural clashes continue to be responsible for much of the territorial fragmentation and internal displacement of the estimated 45.7 million people and cross-border displacements of approximately 30.2 million refugees and asylum seekers around the world as of yearend 2019; approximately 317,200 refugees were repatriated during 2019; other sources of contention include access to water and mineral (especially hydrocarbon) resources, fisheries, and arable land; armed conflict prevails not so much between the uniformed armed forces of independent states as between stateless armed entities that detract from the sustenance and welfare of local populations, leaving the community of nations to cope with resultant refugees, hunger, disease, impoverishment, and environmental degradationstretching over some 280,000 km, the world's 325 international land boundaries separate 195 independent states and 70 dependencies, areas of special sovereignty, and other miscellaneous entities; ethnicity, culture, race, religion, and language have divided states into separate political entities as much as history, physical terrain, political fiat, or conquest, resulting in sometimes arbitrary and imposed boundaries; most maritime states have claimed limits that include territorial seas and exclusive economic zones; overlapping limits due to adjacent or opposite coasts create the potential for 430 bilateral maritime boundaries of which 209 have agreements that include contiguous and non-contiguous segments; boundary, borderland/resource, and territorial disputes vary in intensity from managed or dormant to violent or militarized; undemarcated, indefinite, porous, and unmanaged boundaries tend to encourage illegal cross-border activities, uncontrolled migration, and confrontation; territorial disputes may evolve from historical and/or cultural claims, or they may be brought on by resource competition; ethnic and cultural clashes continue to be responsible for much of the territorial fragmentation and internal displacement of the estimated 45.7 million people and cross-border displacements of approximately 30.2 million refugees and asylum seekers around the world as of yearend 2019; approximately 317,200 refugees were repatriated during 2019; other sources of contention include access to water and mineral (especially hydrocarbon) resources, fisheries, and arable land; armed conflict prevails not so much between the uniformed armed forces of independent states as between stateless armed entities that detract from the sustenance and welfare of local populations, leaving the community of nations to cope with resultant refugees, hunger, disease, impoverishment, and environmental degradation Topic: YemenSaudi Arabia has reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal cross-border activitiesSaudi Arabia has reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal cross-border activities Topic: ZambiaZambia-Angola: because the straight-line segments along the left bank (Zambian side) of the Cuando/Kwando River do not conform with the physical alignment of the unstable shoreline, Zambian residents in some areas have settled illegally on sections of shoreline that fall on the Angolan side of the boundary Zambia-Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC): boundary commission continues discussions over Congolese-administered triangle of land on the right bank of the Lunkinda River claimed by Zambia near the DRC village of Pweto Zambia-Zimbabwe: in 2004, Zimbabwe dropped objections to plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the riverZambia-Angola: because the straight-line segments along the left bank (Zambian side) of the Cuando/Kwando River do not conform with the physical alignment of the unstable shoreline, Zambian residents in some areas have settled illegally on sections of shoreline that fall on the Angolan side of the boundary Zambia-Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC): boundary commission continues discussions over Congolese-administered triangle of land on the right bank of the Lunkinda River claimed by Zambia near the DRC village of Pweto Zambia-Zimbabwe: in 2004, Zimbabwe dropped objections to plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river Topic: ZimbabweZimbabwe-South Africa: South Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migration Zimbabwe-Zambia: in 2004, Zimbabwe dropped objections to plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the riverZimbabwe-South Africa: South Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migration Zimbabwe-Zambia: in 2004, Zimbabwe dropped objections to plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river

20220601

field-major-lakes-area-sq-km

This entry describes one of the two major surface hydrological features of a country: large localized water bodies termed lakes (the other feature is rivers). The entry contains a list of major natural lakes, defined as having an area of 500 sq km or greater. Taken together with major rivers, these features constitute the primary sources of surface freshwater. Topic: AfghanistanSalt water lake(s): Ab-e Istadah-ye Muqur (endorheic basin) - 520 sq km Topic: AlbaniaFresh water lake(s): Lake Scutari (shared with Montenegro) - 400 sq km note - largest lake in the Balkans Topic: ArgentinaFresh water lake(s): Lago Buenos Aires (shared with Chile) - 2,240 sq km; Lago Argentino - 1,410 sq km; Lago Viedma - 1,090 sq km; Lago San Martin (shared with Chile) - 1,010 sq km; Lago Colhue Huapi - 800 sq km; Lago Fagnano (shared with Chile) - 590 sq km; Lago Nahuel Huapi - 550 sq km Salt water lake(s): Laguna Mar Chiquita - 1,850 sq km; Topic: ArmeniaFresh water lake(s): Lake Sevan - 1,360 sq km Topic: AustraliaFresh water lake(s): Lake Alexandrina - 570 sq km Salt water lake(s): Lake Eyre - 9,690 sq km; Lake Torrens (ephemeral) - 5,780 sq km; Lake Gairdner - 4,470 sq km; Lake Mackay (ephemeral) - 3,494 sq km; Lake Frome - 2,410 sq km; Lake Amadeus (ephemeral) - 1,032 sq km Topic: AustriaFresh water lake(s): Lake Constance (shared with Switzerland and Germany) - 540 sq km Topic: AzerbaijanSalt water lake(s): Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan) - 374,000 sq km Topic: BoliviaFresh water lake(s): Lago Titicaca (shared with Peru) - 8,030 sq km Salt water lake(s): Lago Poopo - 1,340 sq km Topic: BrazilFresh water lake(s): Lagoa dos Patos - 10,140 sq km Salt water lake(s): Lagoa Mirim (shared with Uruguay) - 2,970 sq km Topic: BurundiFresh water lake(s): Lake Tanganyika (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia) - 32,000 sq km Topic: CambodiaFresh water lake(s): Tonle Sap - 2,700-16,000 sq km Topic: CameroonFresh 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 Topic: CanadaFresh water lake(s): Huron* - 35,972 sq km; Great Bear Lake - 31,328 sq km; Superior* - 28,754 sq km; Great Slave Lake - 28,568 sq km; Lake Winnipeg - 24,387 sq km; Erie* - 12,776 sq km; Ontario* - 9,790 sq km; Lake Athabasca - 7,935 sq km; Reindeer Lake - 6,650 sq km; Nettilling Lake - 5,542 sq km note - Great Lakes* area shown as Canadian waters Topic: ChadFresh 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 Topic: ChileFresh water lake(s): Lago General Carrera (shared with Argentina) - 2,240 sq km; Lago O'Higgins (shared with Argentina) - 1,010 sq km; Lago Llanquihue - 800 sq km; Lago Fagnano (shared with Argentina) - 590 sq km Topic: ChinaFresh water lake(s): Dongting Hu - 3,100 sq km; Poyang Hu - 3,350 sq km; Hongze Hu - 2,700 sq km; Tai Hu - 2,210 sq km; Hulun Nur - 1,590 Salt water lake(s): Quinghai Hu - 4,460 sq km; Nam Co - 2,500 sq km; Siling Co - 1,860 sq km; Tangra Yumco - 1,400 sq km; Bosten Hu 1,380 sq km Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of theFresh water lake(s): Lake Tanganyika (shared with Burundi, Tanzania, and Zambia) - 32,000 sq km; Lake Albert (shared with Uganda) - 5,590 sq km; Lake Mweru (shared with Zambia) - 4,350 sq km; Lac Mai-Ndombe - 2,300 sq km; Lake Kivu (shared with Rwanda) - 2,220 sq km; Lake Edward (shared with Uganda) - 2,150 sq km; Lac Tumba - 500 sq km; Lac Upemba - 530 sq km Topic: Cote d'IvoireSalt water lake(s): Lagune Aby - 780 sq km Topic: DjiboutiSalt water lake(s): Abhe Bad/Abhe Bid Hayk (shared with Ethiopia) - 780 sq km Topic: Dominican RepublicSalt water lake(s): Lago de Enriquillo - 500 sq km Topic: EgyptSalt water lake(s): Lake Manzala - 1,360 sq km note - largest of Nile Delta lakes Topic: EthiopiaFresh water lake(s): Lake Tana - 3,600 sq km; Abaya Hayk - 1,160 sq km; Ch'amo Hayk - 550 sq km Salt water lake(s): Lake Turkana (shared with Kenya) - 6,400 sq km; Abhe Bid Hayk/Abhe Bad (shared with Djibouti) - 780 sq km;  Topic: FinlandFresh 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 Topic: FranceFresh water lake(s): Lake Geneva (shared with Switzerland) - 580 sq km Topic: GermanyFresh water lake(s): Lake Constance (shared with Switzerland and Austria) - 540 sq km Salt water lake(s): Stettiner Haff/Zalew Szczecinski (shared with Poland) - 900 sq km Topic: GuatemalaFresh water lake(s): Lago de Izabal - 590 sq km Topic: HondurasSalt water lake(s): Laguna de Caratasca - 1,110 sq km Topic: HungaryFresh water lake(s): Lake Balaton - 590 sq km Topic: IndiaSalt water lake(s): Chilika Lake - 1,170 sq km Topic: IndonesiaFresh water lake(s): Danau Toba - 1,150 sq km note - located in the caldera of a super volcano that erupted more than 70,000 years ago; it is the largest volcanic lake in the World Topic: IranSalt water lake(s): Caspian Sea (shared with Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan) - 374,000 sq km; Lake Urmia - 5,200 sq km; Lake Namak - 750 sq km Topic: IraqFresh water lake(s): Lake Hammar - 1,940 sq km Topic: IsraelSalt water lake(s): Dead Sea (shared with Jordan and West Bank) - 1,020 sq km note - endorheic hypersaline lake; 9.6 times saltier than the ocean; lake shore is 431 meters below sea level Topic: JapanFresh water lake(s): Biwa-ko 688 sq km Topic: JordanSalt water lake(s): Dead Sea (shared with Israel and West Bank) - 1,020 sq km note - endorheic hypersaline lake; 9.6 times saltier than the ocean; lake shore is 431 meters below sea level Topic: KazakhstanFresh water lake(s): Ozero Balkhash - 22,000 sq km; Ozero Zaysan - 1,800 sq km Salt water lake(s): Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Russia) - 374,000 sq km; Aral Sea (north) - 3,300 sq km; Ozero Alakol - 2,650 sq km; Ozero Teniz 1,590 sq km; Ozero Seletytenzi - 780 sq km; Ozero Sasykkol - 740 sq km Topic: KenyaFresh water lake(s): Lake Victoria (shared with Tanzania and Uganda) - 62,940 sq km Salt water lake(s): Lake Turkana (shared with Ethiopia) - 6,400 sq km Topic: KyrgyzstanSalt water lake(s): Ozero Issyk-Kul 6,240 sq km note - second largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea; second highest mountain lake after Lake Titicaca; it is an endorheic mountain basin; although surrounded by snow capped mountains it never freezes Topic: LithuaniaSalt water lake(s): Curonian Lagoon (shared with Russia) - 1,620 sq km Topic: MalawiFresh water lake(s): Lake Malawi (shared with Mozambique and Tanzania) - 22,490 Salt water lake(s): Lake Chilwa - 1,040 sq km Topic: MaliFresh water lake(s): Lac Faguibine - 590 sq km note - the Niger River is the only source of water for the lake; in recent years the lake is dry Topic: MexicoFresh water lake(s): Laguna de Chapala - 1,140 sq km Salt water lake(s): Laguna de Terminos - 1,550 sq km Topic: MongoliaFresh water lake(s): Hovsgol Nuur - 2,620 sq km; Har Us Nuur - 1,760 sq km;  Salt water lake(s): Uvs Nuur - 3,350 sq km; Hyargas Nuur - 1,360 sq km Topic: MontenegroFresh water lake(s): Lake Scutari (shared with Albania) - 400 sq km note - largest lake in the Balkans Topic: MozambiqueFresh water lake(s): Lake Malawi (shared with Malawi and Tanzania) - 22,490 Topic: New ZealandFresh water lake(s): Lake Taupo - 610 sq km Topic: NicaraguaFresh water lake(s): Lago de Nicaragua - 8,150 sq km; Lago de Managua - 1,040 sq km Topic: NigerFresh water lake(s): Lake Chad (endorheic lake shared with Chad, Nigeria, and Cameroon) - 10,360-25,900 sq km note - area varies by season and year to year Topic: NigeriaFresh water lake(s): Lake Chad (endorheic lake shared with Niger, Chad, and Cameroon) - 10,360-25,900 sq km note - area varies by season and year to year Topic: PanamaSalt water lake(s): Laguna de Chiriqui - 900 sq km Topic: PeruFresh water lake(s): Lago Titicaca (shared with Bolivia) - 8,030 sq km Topic: PhilippinesSalt water lake(s): Laguna de Bay - 890 sq km Topic: PolandSalt water lake(s): Zalew Szczecinski/Stettiner Haff (shared with Germany) - 900 sq km Topic: RussiaFresh water lake(s): Lake Baikal - 31,500 sq km; Lake Ladoga - 18,130 sq km; Lake Onega - 9,720 sq km; Lake Khanka (shared with China) - 5,010 sq km; Lake Peipus - 4,300 sq km; Ozero Vygozero - 1,250 sq km; Ozero Beloye - 1,120 sq km Salt water lake(s): Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan) - 374,000 sq km; Ozero Malyye Chany - 2,500 sq km; Curonian Lagoon (shared with Lithuania) - 1,620 sq km note - the Caspian Sea is the World's largest lake Topic: RwandaFresh water lake(s): Lake Kivu (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 2,220 sq km Topic: SwedenFresh water lake(s): Vanern - 5,580 sq km; Vattern - 1,910 sq km; Malaren - 1,140 sq km Topic: SwitzerlandFresh water lake(s): Lake Constance (shared with Germany and Austria) - 540 sq km; Lake Geneva (shared with France) - 580 sq km Topic: TanzaniaFresh water lake(s): Lake Victoria (shared with Uganda and Kenya) - 62,940 sq km; Lake Tanganyika (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Zambia) - 32,000 sq km; Lake Malawi (shared with Mozambique and Malawi) - 22,490 Salt water lake(s): Lake Rukwa - 5,760 sq km Topic: ThailandSalt water lake(s): Thalesap Songkhla - 1,290 sq km Topic: TurkeyFresh water lake(s): Lake Beysehir - 650 sq km; Lake Egridir - 520 sq km Salt water lake(s): Lake Van - 3,740 sq km; Lake Tuz - 1,640 sq km; Topic: TurkmenistanSalt water lake(s): Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Kazakhstan) - 374,000 sq km Topic: UgandaFresh water lake(s): Lake Victoria (shared with Tanzania and Kenya) - 62,940 sq km; Lake Albert (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 5,590 sq km; Lake Kyoga - 4,430 sq km; Lake Edward (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 2,150 sq km Topic: United StatesFresh water lake(s): Michigan – 57,750 sq km; Superior* – 53,348 sq km; Huron* – 23,597 sq km; Erie* – 12,890 sq km; Ontario* – 9,220 sq km; Lake of the Woods – 4,350 sq km; Iliamna – 2,590 sq km; Okeechobee – 1,810 sq km; Belcharof – 1,190 sq km; Red – 1,170 sq km; Saint Clair – 1,113 sq km; Champlain – 1,100 sq km note - Great Lakes* area shown as US waters Salt water lake(s): Great Salt – 4,360 sq km; Pontchartrain – 1,620 sq km;  Selawik – 1,400 sq km; Salton Sea – 950 sq km Topic: UruguaySalt water lake(s): Lagoa Mirim (shared with Brazil) - 2,970 sq km Topic: UzbekistanFresh water lake(s): Aral Sea (shared with Kazakhstan) - largely dried up Topic: VenezuelaSalt water lake(s): Lago de Maracaibo - 13,010 sq km Topic: West BankSalt water lake(s): Dead Sea (shared with Jordan and Israel) - 1,020 sq km note - endorheic hypersaline lake; 9.6 times saltier than the ocean; lake shore is 431 meters below sea level Topic: Worldtop ten largest natural lakes: Caspian Sea (Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan) 374,000 sq km; Lake Superior (Canada, United States) 82,100 sq km; Lake Victoria (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) 62,940 sq km; Lake Huron (Canada, United States) 59,600 sq km; Lake Michigan (United States) 57,750 sq km; Lake Tanganyika (Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Zambia) 32,000 sq km; Great Bear Lake (Canada) 31,328 sq km; Lake Baikal (Russia) 31,500 sq km; Lake Malawi (Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania) 22,490 sq km; Great Slave Lake (Canada) 28,568 sq km note 1: the areas of the lakes are subject to seasonal variation; only the Caspian Sea is saline, the rest are fresh water note 2: Lakes Huron and Michigan are technically a single lake because the flow of water between the Straits of Mackinac that connects the two lakes keeps their water levels at near-equilibrium; combined, Lake Huron-Michigan is the largest freshwater lake by surface area in the world Topic: ZambiaFresh water lake(s): Lake Tanganyika (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Burundi) - 32,000 sq km; Lake Mweru (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 4,350 sq km; Lake Bangweulu - 4,000-15,000 sq km seasonal variation

20220601

field-median-age

This entry is the age that divides a population into two numerically equal groups; that is, half the people are younger than this age and half are older. It is a single index that summarizes the age distribution of a population. Currently, the median age ranges from a low of about 15 in Niger and Uganda to 40 or more in several European countries and Japan. See the entry for "Age structure" for the importance of a young versus an older age structure and, by implication, a low versus a higher median age. Topic: Afghanistantotal: 19.5 years male: 19.4 years female: 19.5 years (2020 est.) Topic: Albaniatotal: 34.3 years male: 32.9 years female: 35.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Algeriatotal: 28.9 years male: 28.6 years female: 29.3 years (2020 est.) Topic: American Samoatotal: 27.2 years male: 26.7 years female: 27.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Andorratotal: 46.2 years male: 46.3 years female: 46.1 years (2020 est.) Topic: Angolatotal: 15.9 years male: 15.4 years female: 16.4 years (2020 est.) Topic: Anguillatotal: 35.7 years male: 33.7 years female: 37.6 years (2020 est.) Topic: Antigua and Barbudatotal: 32.7 years male: 30.7 years female: 34.4 years (2020 est.) Topic: Argentinatotal: 32.4 years male: 31.1 years female: 33.6 years (2020 est.) Topic: Armeniatotal: 36.6 years male: 35.1 years female: 38.3 years (2020 est.) Topic: Arubatotal: 39.9 years male: 38.2 years female: 41.5 years (2020 est.) Topic: Australiatotal: 37.5 years male: 36.5 years female: 38.5 years (2020 est.) Topic: Austriatotal: 44.5 years male: 43.1 years female: 45.8 years (2020 est.) Topic: Azerbaijantotal: 32.6 years male: 31.1 years female: 34.2 years (2020 est.) Topic: Bahamas, Thetotal: 32.8 years male: 31.7 years female: 34 years (2020 est.) Topic: Bahraintotal: 32.9 years male: 34.4 years female: 30.3 years (2020 est.) Topic: Bangladeshtotal: 27.9 years male: 27.1 years female: 28.6 years (2020 est.) Topic: Barbadostotal: 39.5 years male: 38.4 years female: 40.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Belarustotal: 40.9 years male: 38 years female: 43.9 years (2020 est.) Topic: Belgiumtotal: 41.6 years male: 40.4 years female: 42.8 years (2020 est.) Topic: Belizetotal: 23.9 years male: 23 years female: 24.8 years (2020 est.) Topic: Benintotal: 17 years male: 16.4 years female: 17.6 years (2020 est.) Topic: Bermudatotal: 43.6 years male: 41.6 years female: 45.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Bhutantotal: 29.1 years male: 29.6 years female: 28.6 years (2020 est.) Topic: Boliviatotal: 25.3 years male: 24.5 years female: 26 years (2020 est.) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinatotal: 43.3 years male: 41.6 years female: 44.8 years (2020 est.) Topic: Botswanatotal: 25.7 years male: 24.5 years female: 26.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Braziltotal: 33.2 years male: 32.3 years female: 34.1 years (2020 est.) Topic: British Virgin Islandstotal: 37.2 years male: 37 years female: 37.5 years (2020 est.) Topic: Bruneitotal: 31.1 years male: 30.5 years female: 31.8 years (2020 est.) Topic: Bulgariatotal: 43.7 years male: 41.9 years female: 45.6 years (2020 est.) Topic: Burkina Fasototal: 17.9 years male: 17 years female: 18.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Burmatotal: 29.2 years male: 28.3 years female: 30 years (2020 est.) Topic: Burunditotal: 17.7 years male: 17.4 years female: 18 years (2020 est.) Topic: Cabo Verdetotal: 26.8 years male: 25.9 years female: 27.6 years (2020 est.) Topic: Cambodiatotal: 26.4 years male: 25.6 years female: 27.2 years (2020 est.) Topic: Cameroontotal: 18.5 years male: 18.2 years female: 18.8 years (2020 est.) Topic: Canadatotal: 41.8 years male: 40.6 years female: 42.9 years (2020 est.) Topic: Cayman Islandstotal: 40.5 years male: 39.7 years female: 41.2 years (2020 est.) Topic: Central African Republictotal: 20 years male: 19.7 years female: 20.3 years (2020 est.) Topic: Chadtotal: 16.1 years male: 15.6 years female: 16.5 years (2020 est.) Topic: Chiletotal: 35.5 years male: 34.3 years female: 36.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Chinatotal: 38.4 years male: 37.5 years female: 39.4 years (2020 est.) Topic: Colombiatotal: 31.2 years male: 30.2 years female: 32.2 years (2020 est.) Topic: Comorostotal: 20.9 years male: 20.2 years female: 21.5 years (2020 est.) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thetotal: 16.7 years male: 16.5 years female: 16.8 years (2020 est.) Topic: Congo, Republic of thetotal: 19.5 years male: 19.3 years female: 19.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Cook Islandstotal: 38.3 years male: 37.8 years female: 38.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Costa Ricatotal: 32.6 years male: 32.1 years female: 33.1 years (2020 est.) Topic: Cote d'Ivoiretotal: 20.3 years male: 20.3 years female: 20.3 years (2020 est.) Topic: Croatiatotal: 43.9 years male: 42 years female: 45.9 years (2020 est.) Topic: Cubatotal: 42.1 years male: 40.2 years female: 43.8 years (2020 est.) Topic: Curacaototal: 36.7 years male: 34.4 years female: 39.5 years (2020 est.) Topic: Cyprustotal: 37.9 years male: 36.7 years female: 39.4 years (2020 est.) Topic: Czechiatotal: 43.3 years male: 42 years female: 44.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Denmarktotal: 42 years male: 40.9 years female: 43.1 years (2020 est.) Topic: Djiboutitotal: 24.9 years male: 23 years female: 26.4 years (2020 est.) Topic: Dominicatotal: 34.9 years male: 34.4 years female: 35.5 years (2020 est.) Topic: Dominican Republictotal: 27.9 years male: 27.8 years female: 28.1 years (2020 est.) Topic: Ecuadortotal: 28.8 years male: 28 years female: 29.6 years (2020 est.) Topic: Egypttotal: 24.1 years male: 23.8 years female: 24.5 years (2020 est.) Topic: El Salvadortotal: 27.7 years male: 26.2 years female: 29.3 years (2020 est.) Topic: Equatorial Guineatotal: 20.3 years male: 19.9 years female: 20.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Eritreatotal: 20.3 years male: 19.7 years female: 20.8 years (2020 est.) Topic: Estoniatotal: 43.7 years male: 40.4 years female: 47 years (2020 est.) Topic: Eswatinitotal: 23.7 years male: 22.5 years female: 24.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Ethiopiatotal: 19.8 years male: 19.6 years female: 20.1 years (2020 est.) Topic: European Uniontotal: 44 years male: 42.6 years female: 45.5 years (2020 est.) Topic: Faroe Islandstotal: 37.2 years male: 36.9 years female: 37.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Fijitotal: 29.9 years male: 29.7 years female: 30.1 years (2020 est.) Topic: Finlandtotal: 42.8 years male: 41.3 years female: 44.4 years (2020 est.) Topic: Francetotal: 41.7 years male: 40 years female: 43.4 years (2020 est.) Topic: French Polynesiatotal: 33.3 years male: 33 years female: 33.5 years (2020 est.) Topic: Gabontotal: 21 years male: 21.4 years female: 20.6 years (2020 est.) Topic: Gambia, Thetotal: 21.8 years male: 21.5 years female: 22.2 years (2020 est.) Topic: Gaza Striptotal: 18 years male: 17.7 years female: 18.4 years (2020 est.) Topic: Georgiatotal: 38.6 years male: 35.9 years female: 41.4 years (2020 est.) Topic: Germanytotal: 47.8 years male: 46.5 years female: 49.1 years (2020 est.) Topic: Ghanatotal: 21.4 years male: 21 years female: 21.9 years (2020 est.) Topic: Gibraltartotal: 35.5 years male: 34.4 years female: 36.6 years (2020 est.) Topic: Greecetotal: 45.3 years male: 43.7 years female: 46.8 years (2020 est.) Topic: Greenlandtotal: 34.3 years male: 35.1 years female: 33.4 years (2020 est.) Topic: Grenadatotal: 33.3 years male: 33.1 years female: 33.4 years (2020 est.) Topic: Guamtotal: 29.4 years male: 28.7 years female: 30.2 years (2020 est.) Topic: Guatemalatotal: 23.2 years male: 22.6 years female: 23.8 years (2020 est.) Topic: Guernseytotal: 44.3 years male: 43 years female: 45.6 years (2020 est.) Topic: Guineatotal: 19.1 years male: 18.9 years female: 19.4 years (2020 est.) Topic: Guinea-Bissautotal: 18 years male: 17.4 years female: 18.6 years (2020 est.) Topic: Guyanatotal: 27.5 years male: 27.2 years female: 27.9 years (2020 est.) Topic: Haititotal: 24.1 years male: 23.8 years female: 24.3 years (2020 est.) Topic: Hondurastotal: 24.4 years male: 23.5 years female: 25.2 years (2020 est.) Topic: Hong Kongtotal: 45.6 years male: 44.2 years female: 46.5 years (2020 est.) Topic: Hungarytotal: 43.6 years male: 41.5 years female: 45.5 years (2020 est.) Topic: Icelandtotal: 37.1 years male: 36.6 years female: 37.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Indiatotal: 28.7 years male: 28 years female: 29.5 years (2020 est.) Topic: Indonesiatotal: 31.1 years male: 30.5 years female: 31.8 years (2020 est.) Topic: Irantotal: 31.7 years male: 31.5 years female: 32 years (2020 est.) Topic: Iraqtotal: 21.2 years male: 20.8 years female: 21.6 years (2020 est.) Topic: Irelandtotal: 37.8 years male: 37.4 years female: 38.2 years (2020 est.) Topic: Isle of Mantotal: 44.6 years male: 43.6 years female: 45.6 years (2020 est.) Topic: Israeltotal: 30.4 years male: 29.8 years female: 31 years (2020 est.) Topic: Italytotal: 46.5 years male: 45.4 years female: 47.5 years (2020 est.) Topic: Jamaicatotal: 29.4 years male: 28.6 years female: 30.1 years (2020 est.) Topic: Japantotal: 48.6 years male: 47.2 years female: 50 years (2020 est.) Topic: Jerseytotal: 37.5 years male: 36 years female: 39.5 years (2020 est.) Topic: Jordantotal: 23.5 years male: 23.9 years female: 22.9 years (2020 est.) Topic: Kazakhstantotal: 31.6 years male: 30.3 years female: 32.8 years (2020 est.) Topic: Kenyatotal: 20 years male: 19.9 years female: 20.1 years (2020 est.) Topic: Kiribatitotal: 25.7 years male: 24.8 years female: 26.6 years (2020 est.) Topic: Korea, Northtotal: 34.6 years male: 33.2 years female: 36.2 years (2020 est.) Topic: Korea, Southtotal: 43.2 years male: 41.6 years female: 45 years (2020 est.) Topic: Kosovototal: 30.5 years male: 30.2 years female: 30.8 years (2020 est.) Topic: Kuwaittotal: 29.7 years male: 30.7 years female: 27.9 years (2020 est.) Topic: Kyrgyzstantotal: 27.3 years male: 26.1 years female: 28.5 years (2020 est.) Topic: Laostotal: 24 years male: 23.7 years female: 24.4 years (2020 est.) Topic: Latviatotal: 44.4 years male: 40.5 years female: 48 years (2020 est.) Topic: Lebanontotal: 33.7 years male: 33.1 years female: 34.4 years (2020 est.) Topic: Lesothototal: 24.7 years male: 24.7 years female: 24.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Liberiatotal: 18 years male: 17.7 years female: 18.2 years (2020 est.) Topic: Libyatotal: 25.8 years male: 25.9 years female: 25.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Liechtensteintotal: 43.7 years male: 42 years female: 45.3 years (2020 est.) Topic: Lithuaniatotal: 44.5 years male: 40.2 years female: 48.2 years (2020 est.) Topic: Luxembourgtotal: 39.5 years male: 38.9 years female: 40 years (2020 est.) Topic: Macautotal: 40.8 years male: 40.7 years female: 40.9 years (2020 est.) Topic: Madagascartotal: 20.3 years male: 20.1 years female: 20.5 years (2020 est.) Topic: Malawitotal: 16.8 years male: 16.7 years female: 16.9 years (2020 est.) Topic: Malaysiatotal: 29.2 years male: 28.9 years female: 29.6 years (2020 est.) Topic: Maldivestotal: 29.5 years male: 29.2 years female: 30 years (2020 est.) Topic: Malitotal: 16 years male: 15.3 years female: 16.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Maltatotal: 42.3 years male: 41.2 years female: 43.5 years (2020 est.) Topic: Marshall Islandstotal: 23.8 years male: 23.6 years female: 23.9 years (2020 est.) Topic: Mauritaniatotal: 21 years male: 20.1 years female: 22 years (2020 est.) Topic: Mauritiustotal: 36.3 years male: 35 years female: 37.6 years (2020 est.) Topic: Mexicototal: 29.3 years male: 28.2 years female: 30.4 years (2020 est.) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States oftotal: 26.3 years male: 25.5 years female: 27.1 years (2020 est.) Topic: Moldovatotal: 37.7 years male: 36.2 years female: 39.5 years (2020 est.) Topic: Monacototal: 55.4 years male: 53.7 years female: 57 years (2020 est.) Topic: Mongoliatotal: 29.8 years male: 28.8 years female: 30.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Montenegrototal: 39.6 years male: 38.1 years female: 41.1 years (2020 est.) Topic: Montserrattotal: 34.8 years male: 34.1 years female: 35.6 years (2020 est.) Topic: Moroccototal: 29.1 years male: 28.7 years female: 29.6 years (2020 est.) note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara Topic: Mozambiquetotal: 17 years male: 16.3 years female: 17.6 years (2020 est.) Topic: Namibiatotal: 21.8 years male: 21.1 years female: 22.6 years (2020 est.) Topic: Naurutotal: 27 years male: 28.2 years female: 25.9 years (2020 est.) Topic: Nepaltotal: 25.3 years male: 23.9 years female: 26.9 years (2020 est.) Topic: Netherlandstotal: 42.8 years male: 41.6 years female: 44 years (2020 est.) Topic: New Caledoniatotal: 32.9 years male: 32.1 years female: 33.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: New Zealandtotal: 37.2 years male: 36.4 years female: 37.9 years (2020 est.) Topic: Nicaraguatotal: 27.3 years male: 26.4 years female: 28.2 years (2020 est.) Topic: Nigertotal: 14.8 years male: 14.5 years female: 15.1 years (2020 est.) Topic: Nigeriatotal: 18.6 years male: 18.4 years female: 18.9 years (2020 est.) Topic: North Macedoniatotal: 39 years male: 38 years female: 40 years (2020 est.) Topic: Northern Mariana Islandstotal: 32.8 years male: 31.8 years female: 34.1 years (2020 est.) Topic: Norwaytotal: 39.5 years male: 38.8 years female: 40.2 years (2020 est.) Topic: Omantotal: 26.2 years male: 27.2 years female: 25.1 years (2020 est.) Topic: Pakistantotal: 22 years male: 21.9 years female: 22.1 years (2020 est.) Topic: Palautotal: 33.9 years male: 32.9 years female: 35.9 years (2020 est.) Topic: Panamatotal: 30.1 years male: 29.6 years female: 30.5 years (2020 est.) Topic: Papua New Guineatotal: 24 years male: 24 years female: 24 years (2020 est.) Topic: Paraguaytotal: 29.7 years male: 29.5 years female: 29.9 years (2020 est.) Topic: Perutotal: 29.1 years male: 28.3 years female: 29.9 years (2020 est.) Topic: Philippinestotal: 24.1 years male: 23.6 years female: 24.6 years (2020 est.) Topic: Polandtotal: 41.9 years male: 40.3 years female: 43.6 years (2020 est.) Topic: Portugaltotal: 44.6 years male: 42.7 years female: 46.5 years (2020 est.) Topic: Puerto Ricototal: 43.6 years male: 41.6 years female: 45.3 years (2020 est.) Topic: Qatartotal: 33.7 years male: 35 years female: 28.2 years (2020 est.) Topic: Romaniatotal: 42.5 years male: 41 years female: 44 years (2020 est.) Topic: Russiatotal: 40.3 years male: 37.5 years female: 43.2 years (2020 est.) Topic: Rwandatotal: 19.7 years male: 18.9 years female: 20.4 years (2020 est.) Topic: Saint Barthelemytotal: 45.6 years male: 45.5 years female: 45.8 years (2020 est.) Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhatotal: 43.2 years male: 43.2 years female: 43.3 years (2020 est.) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevistotal: 36.5 years male: 36.7 years female: 36.3 years (2020 est.) Topic: Saint Luciatotal: 36.9 years male: 35.7 years female: 38 years (2020 est.) Topic: Saint Martintotal: 33.3 years male: 32.5 years female: 34.1 years (2020 est.) Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelontotal: 48.5 years male: 47.9 years female: 49 years (2020 est.) Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinestotal: 35.3 years male: 35.4 years female: 35.1 years (2020 est.) Topic: Samoatotal: 25.6 years male: 25.3 years female: 26 years (2020 est.) Topic: San Marinototal: 45.2 years male: 43.9 years female: 46.3 years (2020 est.) Topic: Sao Tome and Principetotal: 19.3 years male: 18.9 years female: 19.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Saudi Arabiatotal: 30.8 years male: 33 years female: 27.9 years (2020 est.) Topic: Senegaltotal: 19.4 years male: 18.5 years female: 20.3 years (2020 est.) Topic: Serbiatotal: 43.4 years male: 41.7 years female: 45 years (2020 est.) Topic: Seychellestotal: 36.8 years male: 36.3 years female: 37.4 years (2020 est.) Topic: Sierra Leonetotal: 19.1 years male: 18.5 years female: 19.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Singaporetotal: 35.6 years male: 35.4 years female: 35.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Sint Maartentotal: 41.1 years male: 39.6 years female: 42.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Slovakiatotal: 41.8 years male: 40.1 years female: 43.6 years (2020 est.) Topic: Sloveniatotal: 44.9 years male: 43.4 years female: 46.6 years (2020 est.) Topic: Solomon Islandstotal: 23.5 years male: 23.2 years female: 23.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Somaliatotal: 18.5 years male: 18.7 years female: 18.3 years (2020 est.) Topic: South Africatotal: 28 years male: 27.9 years female: 28.1 years (2020 est.) Topic: South Sudantotal: 18.6 years male: 18.9 years female: 18.3 years (2020 est.) Topic: Spaintotal: 43.9 years male: 42.7 years female: 45.1 years (2020 est.) Topic: Sri Lankatotal: 33.7 years male: 32.3 years female: 35.1 years (2020 est.) Topic: Sudantotal: 18.3 years male: 18.1 years female: 18.5 years (2020 est.) Topic: Surinametotal: 31 years male: 30.6 years female: 31.4 years (2020 est.) Topic: Swedentotal: 41.1 years male: 40.1 years female: 42.1 years (2020 est.) Topic: Switzerlandtotal: 42.7 years male: 41.7 years female: 43.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Syriatotal: 23.5 years male: 23 years female: 24 years (2020 est.) Topic: Taiwantotal: 42.3 years male: 41.5 years female: 43.1 years (2020 est.) Topic: Tajikistantotal: 25.3 years male: 24.6 years female: 26 years (2020 est.) Topic: Tanzaniatotal: 18.2 years male: 17.9 years female: 18.4 years (2020 est.) Topic: Thailandtotal: 39 years male: 37.8 years female: 40.1 years (2020 est.) Topic: Timor-Lestetotal: 19.6 years male: 18.9 years female: 20.2 years (2020 est.) Topic: Togototal: 20 years male: 19.7 years female: 20.3 years (2020 est.) Topic: Tongatotal: 24.1 years male: 23.6 years female: 24.5 years (2020 est.) Topic: Trinidad and Tobagototal: 37.8 years male: 37.3 years female: 38.3 years (2020 est.) Topic: Tunisiatotal: 32.7 years male: 32 years female: 33.3 years (2020 est.) Topic: Turkeytotal: 32.2 years male: 31.7 years female: 32.8 years (2020 est.) Topic: Turkmenistantotal: 29.2 years male: 28.7 years female: 29.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandstotal: 34.6 years male: 34.9 years female: 34.4 years (2020 est.) Topic: Tuvalutotal: 26.6 years male: 25.6 years female: 27.6 years (2020 est.) Topic: Ugandatotal: 15.7 years male: 14.9 years female: 16.5 years (2020 est.) Topic: Ukrainetotal: 41.2 years male: 38.2 years female: 44.3 years (2020 est.) Topic: United Arab Emiratestotal: 38.4 years male: 40.4 years female: 31.5 years (2020 est.) Topic: United Kingdomtotal: 40.6 years male: 39.6 years female: 41.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: United Statestotal: 38.5 years male: 37.2 years female: 39.8 years (2020 est.) Topic: Uruguaytotal: 35.5 years male: 33.8 years female: 37.3 years (2020 est.) Topic: Uzbekistantotal: 30.1 years male: 29.4 years female: 30.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Vanuatutotal: 23 years male: 22.6 years female: 23.5 years (2020 est.) Topic: Venezuelatotal: 30 years male: 29.4 years female: 30.7 years (2020 est.) Topic: Vietnamtotal: 31.9 years male: 30.8 years female: 33 years (2020 est.) Topic: Virgin Islandstotal: 41.8 years male: 40.6 years female: 42.8 years (2020 est.) Topic: Wallis and Futunatotal: 34 years male: 33.1 years female: 35.1 years (2020 est.) Topic: West Banktotal: 21.9 years male: 21.7 years female: 22.2 years (2020 est.) Topic: Worldtotal: 31 years male: 30.3 years female: 31.8 years (2020 est.) Topic: Yementotal: 19.8 years (2018 est.) male: 19.6 years female: 19.9 years Topic: Zambiatotal: 16.9 years male: 16.7 years female: 17 years (2020 est.) Topic: Zimbabwetotal: 20.5 years male: 20.3 years female: 20.6 years (2020 est.)

20220601

field-exports

This entry provides the total US dollar amount of merchandise exports on an f.o.b. (free on board) basis. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms. Topic: Afghanistan$1.48 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $1.52 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $1.61 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) note: not including illicit exports or reexports Topic: Albania$3.47 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $4.82 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $4.78 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Algeria$38.32 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $44.39 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: American Samoa$428 million (2016 est.) $427 million (2015 est.) Topic: Andorra$78.71 million (2015 est.) $79.57 million (2014 est.) Topic: Angola$21 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $35.18 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $41.39 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Anguilla$7.9 million (2017 est.) $3.9 million (2016 est.) Topic: Antigua and Barbuda$1.15 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) $56.5 million (2016 est.) Topic: Argentina$64.18 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $79.29 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $77.07 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Armenia$3.82 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $5.64 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $4.91 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Aruba$1.45 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $2.56 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $2.56 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Australia$299.04 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $342.43 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $327.32 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Austria$226.79 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $247.17 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $253.3 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Azerbaijan$15.21 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $23.63 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $25.48 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Bahamas, The$1.69 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $5.14 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $4.75 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Bahrain$30.1 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) $26.762 billion (2017 est.) Topic: Bangladesh$38.78 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $44.96 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $44.13 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Barbados$485.4 million (2017 est.) $516.9 million (2016 est.) Topic: Belarus$37.04 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $41.97 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $42.27 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Belgium$414.79 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $436.3 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $451.25 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Belize$710 million note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $1.1 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $1.07 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Benin$3.58 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $3.85 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Bermuda$1.59 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $1.59 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Bhutan$790 million note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $780 million note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $790 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Bolivia$7.55 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $10.26 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $10.35 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina$6.81 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $8.17 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $8.57 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Botswana$6.16 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $7.53 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Brazil$239.18 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $260.07 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $274.9 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: British Virgin Islands$23 million (2017 est.) $23 million (2015 est.) Topic: Brunei$7.83 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $7.04 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Bulgaria$39.27 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $44.04 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $43.52 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Burkina Faso$4.47 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $4.51 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Burma$17.52 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $15.73 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) note: official export figures are grossly underestimated due to the value of timber, gems, narcotics, rice, and other products smuggled to Thailand, China, and Bangladesh Topic: Burundi$290 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) $283 million (2018 est.) $315 million (2017 est.) Topic: Cabo Verde$420 million note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $1 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $960 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Cambodia$19.4 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $21.07 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $18.41 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Cameroon$7.73 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $7.3 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Canada$477.31 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $555.83 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $556.89 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Cayman Islands$4.13 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $3.96 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Central African Republic$113.7 million (2017 est.) $101.5 million (2016 est.) Topic: Chad$2.464 billion (2017 est.) $2.187 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Chile$79.8 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $78.02 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $84.65 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: China$2,732,370,000,000 note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $2.631 trillion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $2,651,010,000,000 note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Christmas IslandNANA Topic: Cocos (Keeling) IslandsNANA Topic: Colombia$39.14 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $52.96 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $55.06 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Comoros$140 million note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $150 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the$13.93 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $15.17 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $16.08 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Congo, Republic of the$4.193 billion (2017 est.) $4.116 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Cook Islands$3.125 million (2011 est.) $5.163 million (2010 est.) Topic: Costa Rica$21.2 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $20.53 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Cote d'Ivoire$13.79 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $13.08 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Croatia$23.66 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $31.07 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $30.71 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Cuba$2.63 billion (2017 est.) $2.546 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Curacao$1.77 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $1.93 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Cyprus$16.1 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $17.92 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $19.02 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Czechia$174.92 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $186.54 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $191.69 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Denmark$191.53 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $204.14 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $200.81 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Djibouti$5.15 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $4.56 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Dominica$160 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) $43.7 million (2016 est.) Topic: Dominican Republic$14.44 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $20.51 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $20.05 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Ecuador$22.23 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $26.12 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $25.38 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Egypt$40.1 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $53.52 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $51.62 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: El Salvador$6.29 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $7.98 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $7.56 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Equatorial Guinea$8.776 billion (2019 est.) $8.914 billion (2018 est.) $9.94 billion (2017 est.) Topic: Eritrea$624.3 million (2017 est.) $485.4 million (2016 est.) Topic: Estonia$21.69 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $22.94 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $22.69 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Eswatini$1.81 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $2.07 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $1.9 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Ethiopia$7.62 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) $2.814 billion (2016 est.) Topic: European Union$7,102,345,000,000 (2019 est.) $6,929,845,000,000 (2018 est.) $6,690,764,000,000 (2017 est.) note: external exports, excluding intra-EU trade Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)$257.3 million (2015 est.) $125 million (2004 est.) Topic: Faroe Islands$1.184 billion (2016 est.) $1.019 billion (2015 est.) Topic: Fiji$1.23 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $2.64 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $2.67 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Finland$108.22 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $106.01 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) $109.513 billion (2017 est.) Topic: France$746.91 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $891.18 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $918.97 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: French Polynesia$1.245 billion (2014 est.) $1.168 billion (2013 est.) Topic: Gabon$10.8 billion (2019 est.) $9.533 billion (2018 est.) $9.145 billion (2017 est.) Topic: Gambia, The$350 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) $448 million (2018 est.) $435 million (2017 est.) Topic: Gaza Strip$1.955 billion (2017 est.) $1.827 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Georgia$5.94 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $9.54 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $8.9 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Germany$1,671,650,000,000 note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $1,813,190,000,000 note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $1,881,510,000,000 note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Ghana$25.59 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $22.51 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Gibraltar$202.3 million (2014 est.) $271 million (2004 est.) Topic: Greece$59.02 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $81.18 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $81.87 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Greenland$407.1 million (2015 est.) $599.7 million (2014 est.) Topic: Grenada$650 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) $44.2 million (2016 est.) Topic: Guam$1.124 billion (2016 est.) $1.046 billion (2015 est.) Topic: Guatemala$13.12 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $13.6 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $13.35 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: GuernseyNANA Topic: Guinea$4.04 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $4.08 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) $4.733 billion (2017 est.) Topic: Guinea-Bissau$290 million note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $380 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Guyana$1.8 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $1.58 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Haiti$1.73 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $1.78 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Honduras$7.16 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $7.14 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Hong Kong$615.88 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $649.02 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $681.28 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Hungary$123.83 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $134.55 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $134.66 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Iceland$7.43 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $11.01 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $12.26 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: India$484.95 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $546.03 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $537.04 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Indonesia$178.26 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $200.1 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $211.93 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Iran$101.4 billion (2017 est.) $83.98 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Iraq$50.61 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $88.9 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $91.93 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Ireland$502.31 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $471.6 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) $440.693 billion (2017 est.) Topic: Isle of ManNANA Topic: Israel$113.87 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $115.57 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $110.05 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Italy$558.26 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $636.01 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $656.06 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Jamaica$5.92 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $5.79 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Japan$793.32 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $904.63 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $929.83 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: JerseyNANA Topic: Jordan$16.29 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $15.09 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Kazakhstan$51.75 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $65.91 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $67.15 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Kenya$11.49 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $11.56 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) $9.723 billion (2017 est.) Topic: Kiribati$30 million note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $20 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Korea, North$222 million (2018) $4.582 billion (2017 est.) $2.908 billion (2015 est.) Topic: Korea, South$606.71 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $660.51 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $729.94 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Kosovo$1.69 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $2.31 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $2.28 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Kuwait$72.83 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $85.2 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Kyrgyzstan$3.11 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $2.73 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) $2.352 billion (2017 est.) Topic: Laos$6.99 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $6.39 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Latvia$20.23 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $20.5 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $21.12 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Lebanon$18.17 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $19.16 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Lesotho$900 million note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $1.09 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $1.25 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Liberia$550 million note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $530 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) $359 million (2017 est.) Topic: Libya$29.96 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) $11.99 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Liechtenstein$3.217 billion (2015 est.) $3.774 billion (2014 est.) note: trade data exclude trade with Switzerland Topic: Lithuania$41.48 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $42.3 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $40.36 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Luxembourg$137.09 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $133.59 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $136.11 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Macau$45.35 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $45.62 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) note: includes reexports Topic: Madagascar$4.09 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $4.41 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) $4.839 billion (2017 est.) Topic: Malawi$1.16 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $1.11 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) $9.658 billion (2017 est.) Topic: Malaysia$207.37 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $237.83 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $245.89 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Maldives$3.72 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $3.58 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Mali$4.18 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) $2.803 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Malta$19.04 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $20.76 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $20.19 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Marshall Islands$130 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Mauritania$2.52 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $2.06 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) $302 million (2017 est.) Topic: Mauritius$5.17 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $5.59 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Mexico$434.93 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $492.73 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $480.1 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of$88.3 million (2013 est.) Topic: Moldova$3.24 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $3.66 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $3.45 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Monaco$964.6 million (2017 est.) $1.115 billion (2011) note: full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France Topic: Mongolia$7.65 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $8.42 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $7.71 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Montenegro$1.24 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $2.42 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $2.35 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Montserrat$4.4 million (2017 est.) $5.2 million (2016 est.) Topic: Morocco$37.52 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $44.05 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $43.25 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Mozambique$4.35 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $5.6 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $5.97 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Namibia$3.56 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $4.56 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $4.95 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Nauru$30 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) $110.3 million (2012 est.) Topic: Nepal$1.79 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $2.73 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $2.68 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Netherlands$719.78 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $755.77 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $773.74 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: New Caledonia$2.207 billion (2014 est.) Topic: New Zealand$50.43 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $57.16 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $57.71 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Nicaragua$5.34 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $5.71 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $5.56 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Niger$1.39 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $1.45 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Nigeria$39.94 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $69.93 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $66.04 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Niue$201,400 (2004 est.) Topic: Norfolk IslandNANA Topic: North Macedonia$7.18 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $7.78 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $7.61 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Northern Mariana Islands$914 million (2016 est.) $520 million (2015 est.) Topic: Norway$117.06 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $146.71 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $165.37 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Oman$43.69 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $46.32 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Pakistan$27.3 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $30.67 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $30.77 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Palau$23.17 billion (2017 est.) $14.8 million (2015 est.) Topic: Panama$20.18 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $28.58 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $28.55 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) note: includes the Colon Free Zone Topic: Papua New Guinea$10.6 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) $9.224 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Paraguay$11.81 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $13.27 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $14.36 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Peru$54.88 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $55.84 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) $53.823 billion (2017 est.) Topic: Philippines$78.82 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $94.74 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $90.37 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Pitcairn IslandsNANA Topic: Poland$333.54 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $330.68 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $324.22 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Portugal$85.28 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $104.77 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $105.76 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Puerto Rico$73.17 billion (2017 est.) $73.2 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Qatar$70.93 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $92.05 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $102.56 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Romania$93.01 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $100.9 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $101.11 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Russia$379.12 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $481.76 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $508.56 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Rwanda$2.25 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $2.04 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha$19 million (2004 est.) Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis$610 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) $53.9 million (2016 est.) Topic: Saint Lucia$1.22 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) $188.2 million (2016 est.) Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelon$6.641 million (2010 est.) $5.5 million (2005 est.) Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines$320 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) $47.3 million (2016 est.) Topic: Samoa$310 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: San Marino$3.827 billion (2011 est.) $2.576 billion (2010 est.) Topic: Sao Tome and Principe$50 million note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $70 million note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $100 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Saudi Arabia$184.11 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $285.86 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $314.92 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Senegal$5.29 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) $2.498 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Serbia$25.42 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $26.13 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $24.97 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Seychelles$1.09 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $1.61 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $1.68 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Sierra Leone$740 million note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $720 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Singapore$599.2 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $658.54 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $665.7 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Sint Maarten$1.09 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $800 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Slovakia$89.92 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $97.04 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $100.76 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Slovenia$41.73 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $45.41 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $45.93 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Solomon Islands$430 million note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $590 million note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $680 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Somalia$819 million (2014 est.) $779 million (2013 est.) Topic: South Africa$93.01 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $104.85 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $110.07 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: South Sudan$3.01 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $3.09 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Spain$392.85 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $486.15 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $499.55 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Sri Lanka$19.41 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $20.26 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) $15.166 billion (2017 est.) Topic: Sudan$5.11 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $5 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Suriname$2.29 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $2.24 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: SvalbardNANA Topic: Sweden$240.08 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $254.53 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $254.25 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Switzerland$470.91 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $478.34 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $482.58 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) note: trade data exclude trade with Switzerland Topic: Syria$1.85 billion (2017 est.) $1.705 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Taiwan$388.49 billion (2019 est.) $383.484 billion (2018 est.) $382.736 billion (2017 est.) Topic: Tajikistan$1.41 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $1.24 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $1.12 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Tanzania$9.66 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $8.46 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Thailand$258.42 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $323.88 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $328.58 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Timor-Leste$60 million note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $120 million note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $120 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Togo$1.67 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $1.7 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Tokelau$103,000 (2015 est.) $102,826 (2002 est.) Topic: Tonga$90 million note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $110 million note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $100 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Trinidad and Tobago$9.57 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $11.57 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Tunisia$19.17 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $19.42 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Turkey$203.29 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $245.84 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $237.54 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Turkmenistan$7.458 billion (2017 est.) $6.987 billion (2016 est.) Topic: Turks and Caicos Islands$830 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Tuvalu$10 million note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $10 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Uganda$6.12 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $5.63 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) $5.958 billion (2017 est.) Topic: Ukraine$60.67 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $63.56 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $59.18 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: United Arab Emirates$308.5 billion (2017 est.) $298.6 billion (2016 est.) Topic: United Kingdom$741.95 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $879.92 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $882.65 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: United States$2,127,250,000,000 note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $2,528,270,000,000 note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $2,539,380,000,000 note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Uruguay$13.55 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $16.99 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $17.04 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Uzbekistan$14.52 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $16.99 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $14.14 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Vanuatu$380 million note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $520 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Venezuela$83.401 billion (2018 est.) $93.485 billion (2017 est.) Topic: Vietnam$280.83 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $258.49 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) $204.169 billion (2017 est.) Topic: Virgin Islands$1.81 billion (2016 est.) $1.537 billion (2015 est.) Topic: Wallis and Futuna$47,450 (2004 est.) Topic: West Bank$2.65 billion note: data are in current year dollars and includes Gaza Strip (2019 est.) $2.6 billion note: data are in current year dollars and includes Gaza Strip (2018 est.) note: excludes Gaza Strip Topic: World$17.31 trillion (2017 est.) $15.82 trillion (2016 est.) Topic: Yemen$384.5 million (2017 est.) $940 million (2016 est.) Topic: Zambia$8.55 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $8.26 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $9.98 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) Topic: Zimbabwe$4.422 billion (2018 est.) $6.252 billion (2017 est.)

20220601

countries-cayman-islands-travel-facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to the Cayman Islands due to COVID-19-related 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. 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. US Embassy/Consulate: None (overseas territory of the UK); consular services provided through the US Embassy in Jamaica; US citizens may call US Dept of State (202)-501-4444 for emergencies; alternate contact is the Embassy in Jamaica [1] (876) 702-6000; US Embassy in Kingston, 142 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6, Jamaica, WI Telephone Code: 345 Local Emergency Phone: 911 Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations http://www.who.int/ Climate: Tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool , relatively dry winters (November to April) Currency (Code): Caymanian dollars (KYD) Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 120 V / 60 Hz / plug types(s): A, B Major Languages: English, Spanish, Filipino Major Religions: Protestant 67.8%, Roman Catholic 14.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1% Time Difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Potable Water: Opt for bottled water International Driving Permit: Suggested Road Driving Side: Left Tourist Destinations: Seven Mile Beach; Stingray City; George Town; Atlantis Submarines; Cayman Turtle Centre; Bloody Bay Marine Park Major Sports: Soccer, rugby, netball Cultural Practices: Handshakes between men and women are the most common form of greeting. Tipping Guidelines: Tipping is usually expected everywhere you go to eat or drink. Even though many eating establishments may include a service charge; service staff in restaurants and bars rely on tips for a large portion of their salary.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, March 22, 2022

20220601

references

Topic: Guide to Country ProfilesTake a look at the categories, fields, and sub-fields of information generally recorded for each country.Travel more intelligently with The World Factbook Travel Facts. Here’s what you should know about each country before you go.Pressed for time? Check out our summaries for essential information on each country.Every flag has a story. View flags of all the world’s countries and territories to learn the symbolism behind each design.Love data? The World Factbook has over 65 rank order pages that compare country data in specific fields.

20220601

countries-papua-new-guinea

Topic: Photos of Papua New Guinea Topic: Introduction Background: Papua New Guinea (PNG) was first settled between 50,000 and 60,000 years ago. PNG’s harsh geography consisting of mountains, jungles, and numerous river valleys, kept many of the arriving groups isolated, giving rise to PNG’s incredible ethnic and linguistic diversity. Agriculture was independently developed by some of these groups. Around 500 B.C., Austronesian voyagers settled along the coast. Spanish and Portuguese explorers periodically visited the island starting in the 1500s but none made it into the country’s interior. American and British whaling ships frequented the islands off the coast of New Guinea in the mid-1800s. In 1884, Germany declared a protectorate - and eventually a colony - over the northern part of what would become PNG and named it German New Guinea; days later the UK followed suit on the southern part and nearby islands and called it Papua. Most of their focus was on the coastal regions, leaving the highlands largely unexplored. The UK put its colony under Australian administration in 1902 and formalized the act in 1906. At the outbreak of World War I, Australia occupied German New Guinea and continued to rule it after the war as a League of Nations Mandate. The discovery of gold along the Bulolo River in the 1920s, led prospectors to venture into the highlands, where they found about 1 million people living in isolated communities. Japan invaded New Guinea in 1941 and reached Papua the following year. Allied victories during the New Guinea campaign pushed out the Japanese, and after the end of the war, Australia combined the two territories into one administration. Sir Michael SOMARE won elections in 1972 on the promise of achieving independence, which was realized in 1975. A secessionist movement in Bougainville, an island well endowed in copper and gold resources, reignited in 1988 with debates about land use, profits, and an influx of outsiders at the Panguna Copper Mine. Following elections in 1992, the PNG government took a hardline stance against Bougainville rebels and the resulting civil war led to about 20,000 deaths. In 1997, the PNG government hired mercenaries to support its troops in Bougainville, sparking an army mutiny and forcing the prime minister to resign. PNG and Bougainville signed a truce in 1997 and a peace agreement in 2001, which granted Bougainville autonomy. An internationally-monitored nonbinding referendum asking Bougainvilleans to chose independence or greater self rule occurred in November 2019, with 98% of voters opting for independence.Papua New Guinea (PNG) was first settled between 50,000 and 60,000 years ago. PNG’s harsh geography consisting of mountains, jungles, and numerous river valleys, kept many of the arriving groups isolated, giving rise to PNG’s incredible ethnic and linguistic diversity. Agriculture was independently developed by some of these groups. Around 500 B.C., Austronesian voyagers settled along the coast. Spanish and Portuguese explorers periodically visited the island starting in the 1500s but none made it into the country’s interior. American and British whaling ships frequented the islands off the coast of New Guinea in the mid-1800s. In 1884, Germany declared a protectorate - and eventually a colony - over the northern part of what would become PNG and named it German New Guinea; days later the UK followed suit on the southern part and nearby islands and called it Papua. Most of their focus was on the coastal regions, leaving the highlands largely unexplored. The UK put its colony under Australian administration in 1902 and formalized the act in 1906. At the outbreak of World War I, Australia occupied German New Guinea and continued to rule it after the war as a League of Nations Mandate. The discovery of gold along the Bulolo River in the 1920s, led prospectors to venture into the highlands, where they found about 1 million people living in isolated communities. Japan invaded New Guinea in 1941 and reached Papua the following year. Allied victories during the New Guinea campaign pushed out the Japanese, and after the end of the war, Australia combined the two territories into one administration. Sir Michael SOMARE won elections in 1972 on the promise of achieving independence, which was realized in 1975. A secessionist movement in Bougainville, an island well endowed in copper and gold resources, reignited in 1988 with debates about land use, profits, and an influx of outsiders at the Panguna Copper Mine. Following elections in 1992, the PNG government took a hardline stance against Bougainville rebels and the resulting civil war led to about 20,000 deaths. In 1997, the PNG government hired mercenaries to support its troops in Bougainville, sparking an army mutiny and forcing the prime minister to resign. PNG and Bougainville signed a truce in 1997 and a peace agreement in 2001, which granted Bougainville autonomy. An internationally-monitored nonbinding referendum asking Bougainvilleans to chose independence or greater self rule occurred in November 2019, with 98% of voters opting for independence.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Oceania, group of islands including the eastern half of the island of New Guinea between the Coral Sea and the South Pacific Ocean, east of Indonesia Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S, 147 00 E Map references: Oceania Area: total: 462,840 sq km land: 452,860 sq km water: 9,980 sq km Area - comparative: slightly larger than California Land boundaries: total: 824 km border countries (1): Indonesia 824 km Coastline: 5,152 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm measured from claimed archipelagic baselines Climate: tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation Terrain: mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills Elevation: highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 667 m Natural resources: gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries Land use: agricultural land: 2.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.4% (2018 est.) forest: 63.1% (2018 est.) other: 34.3% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012) Major rivers (by length in km): Sepik river source and mouth (shared with Indonesia) - 1,126 km; Fly river source and mouth (shared with Indonesia) - 1,050 km Population distribution: population concentrated in the highlands and eastern coastal areas on the island of New Guinea; predominantly a rural distribution with only about one-fifth of the population residing in urban areas Natural hazards: 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"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" Geography - note: note 1: shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; generally east-west trending highlands break up New Guinea into diverse ecoregions; one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast note 2: two major food crops apparently developed on the island of New Guinea: bananas and sugarcane note 3: Papua New Guinea is one of the countries 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 1: shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; generally east-west trending highlands break up New Guinea into diverse ecoregions; one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast note 2: two major food crops apparently developed on the island of New Guinea: bananas and sugarcanenote 3: Papua New Guinea is one of the countries 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 Map description: Papua New Guinea map showing major cities and islands of this archipelagic Pacific Ocean country as well as parts of neighboring countries.Papua New Guinea map showing major cities and islands of this archipelagic Pacific Ocean country as well as parts of neighboring countries. Topic: People and Society Population: 9,593,498 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Papua New Guinean(s) adjective: Papua New Guinean Ethnic groups: Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian Languages: Tok Pisin (official), English (official), Hiri Motu (official), some 839 indigenous languages spoken (about 12% of the world's total); many languages have fewer than 1,000 speakers note: Tok Pisin, a creole language, is widely used and understood; English is spoken by 1%-2%; Hiri Motu is spoken by less than 2% Religions: Protestant 64.3% (Evangelical Lutheran 18.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.9%, Pentecostal 10.4%, United Church 10.3%, Evangelical Alliance 5.9%, Anglican 3.2%, Baptist 2.8%, Salvation Army .4%), Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 5.3%, non-Christian 1.4%, unspecified 3.1% (2011 est.) note: data represent only the citizen population; roughly 0.3% of the population are non-citizens, consisting of Christian 52% (predominantly Roman Catholic), other 10.7% , none 37.3% Age structure: 0-14 years: 31.98% (male 1,182,539/female 1,139,358) 15-24 years: 19.87% (male 731,453/female 711,164) 25-54 years: 37.68% (male 1,397,903/female 1,337,143) 55-64 years: 5.83% (male 218,529/female 204,717) 65 years and over: 4.64% (2020 est.) (male 164,734/female 171,916) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 63.2 youth dependency ratio: 57.4 elderly dependency ratio: 5.8 potential support ratio: 17.2 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 24 years male: 24 years female: 24 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 2.35% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 29.03 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 5.54 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: population concentrated in the highlands and eastern coastal areas on the island of New Guinea; predominantly a rural distribution with only about one-fifth of the population residing in urban areas Urbanization: urban population: 13.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.91% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 400,000 PORT MORESBY (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: note: median age a first birth among women 25-49 Maternal mortality ratio: 145 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 33.59 deaths/1,000 live births male: 36.91 deaths/1,000 live births female: 30.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.43 years male: 67.76 years female: 71.19 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.92 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 36.7% (2016/18) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 86.2% of population rural: 41.5% of population total: 47.5% of population unimproved: urban: 13.8% of population rural: 58.5% of population total: 52.5% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 2.3% (2019) Physicians density: 0.07 physicians/1,000 population (2018) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 57.8% of population rural: 18.2% of population total: 23.5% of population unimproved: urban: 42.2% of population rural: 81.8% of population total: 76.5% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.9% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 55,000 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <500 note: estimate does not include children 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: 21.3% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 27.8% (2009/11) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 8% (2018) women married by age 18: 27.3% (2018) men married by age 18: 3.7% (2018 est.) Education expenditures: 1.9% of GDP (2018) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 64.2% male: 65.6% female: 62.8% (2015) People - note: the indigenous population of Papua New Guinea (PNG) is one of the most heterogeneous in the world; PNG has several thousand separate communities, most with only a few hundred people; divided by language, customs, and tradition, some of these communities have engaged in low-scale tribal conflict with their neighbors for millennia; the advent of modern weapons and modern migrants into urban areas has greatly magnified the impact of this lawlessness Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: rain forest loss as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; unsustainable logging practices result in soil erosion, water quality degredation, and loss of habitat and biodiversity; large-scale mining projects cause adverse impacts on forests and water quality (discharge of heavy metals, cyanide, and acids into rivers); severe drought; inappropriate farming practices accelerate land degradion (soil erosion, siltation, loss of soil fertility); destructive fishing practices and coastal pollution due to run-off from land-based activities and oil spills Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Air pollutants: particulate 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.) Climate: tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation Land use: agricultural land: 2.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.4% (2018 est.) forest: 63.1% (2018 est.) other: 34.3% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 13.6% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 2.91% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 2.08% 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: 1 million tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 20,000 tons (2016 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 2% (2016 est.) Major rivers (by length in km): Sepik river source and mouth (shared with Indonesia) - 1,126 km; Fly river source and mouth (shared with Indonesia) - 1,050 km Total water withdrawal: municipal: 223.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 167.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 1 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 801 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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 Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm Capital: name: Port Moresby geographic coordinates: 9 27 S, 147 11 E time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) time zone note: Papua New Guinea has two time zones, including Bougainville (UTC+11) etymology: named in 1873 by Captain John Moresby (1830-1922) in honor of his father, British Admiral Sir Fairfax Moresby (1786-1877) Administrative divisions: 20 provinces, 1 autonomous region*, and 1 district**; Bougainville*, Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Hela, Jiwaka, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital**, New Ireland, Northern, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain, West Sepik Independence: 16 September 1975 (from the Australia-administered UN trusteeship) National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1975) Constitution: history: adopted 15 August 1975, effective at independence 16 September 1975 amendments: proposed by the National Parliament; passage has prescribed majority vote requirements depending on the constitutional sections being amended – absolute majority, two-thirds majority, or three-fourths majority; amended many times, last in 2016 Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law 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 Papua New Guinea dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Grand Chief Sir Bob DADAE (since 28 February 2017) head of government: Prime Minister James MARAPE (since 30 May 2019); Deputy Prime Minister Sam BASIL (since 20 December 2020) cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general nominated by the National Parliament and appointed by the chief of state; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general pending the outcome of a National Parliament vote election results: James MARAPE elected prime minister; National Parliament vote - 101 to 8 Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Parliament (111 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies - 89 local, 20 provinicial, the autonomous province of Bouganville, and the National Capital District - by majority preferential vote; members serve 5-year terms); note - the constitution allows up to 126 seats elections: last held from 24 June 2017 to 8 July 2017 (next to be held in June 2022) election results: percent of vote by party - PNC 37%; NA 13%; Pangu 14%; URP 11%; PPP 4%; SDP 4%; Independents 3%; and smaller parties 14%; seats by party - NA; composition - men 108, women 3, percent of women 3% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, deputy chief justice, 35 justices, and 5 acting justices); National Courts (consists of 13 courts located in the provincial capitals, with a total of 19 resident judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the governor general upon advice of the National Executive Council (cabinet) after consultation with the National Justice Administration minister; deputy chief justice and other justices appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, a 5-member body that includes the Supreme Court chief and deputy chief justices, the chief ombudsman, and a member of the National Parliament; full-time citizen judges appointed for 10-year renewable terms; non-citizen judges initially appointed for 3-year renewable terms and after first renewal can serve until age 70; appointment and tenure of National Court resident judges NA subordinate courts: district, village, and juvenile courts, military courts, taxation courts, coronial courts, mining warden courts, land courts, traffic courts, committal courts, grade five courts Political parties and leaders: National Alliance Party or NAP [Patrick PRUAITCH] Papua and Niugini Union Party or PANGU [Sam BASIL] Papua New Guinea Party or PNGP [Belden NAMAH] People's National Congress Party or PNC [Peter Paire O'NEILL] People's Party or PP [Peter IPATAS] People's Progress Party or PPP [Sir Julius CHAN] Social Democratic Party or SDP [Powes PARKOP] Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party or THE [Don POLYE] United Resources Party or URP [William DUMA] note: as of 8 July 2017, 45 political parties were registered International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (observer), C, CD, CP, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge D’Affaires Cephas KAYO, Minister (since 31 January 2018) chancery: 1825 K Street NW, Suite 1010, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680 FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679 email address and website: info@pngembassy.org http://www.pngembassy.org/ Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Erin Elizabeth MCKEE (since 27 November 2019); note - also accredited to the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu embassy: P.O. Box 1492, Port Moresby mailing address: 4240 Port Moresby Place, Washington DC  20521-4240 telephone: [675] 308-2100 email address and website: ConsularPortMoresby@state.gov https://pg.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lower triangle is black with five, white, five-pointed stars of the Southern Cross constellation centered; red, black, and yellow are traditional colors of Papua New Guinea; the bird of paradise - endemic to the island of New Guinea - is an emblem of regional tribal culture and represents the emergence of Papua New Guinea as a nation; the Southern Cross, visible in the night sky, symbolizes Papua New Guinea's connection with Australia and several other countries in the South Pacific National symbol(s): bird of paradise; national colors: red, black National anthem: name: O Arise All You Sons lyrics/music: Thomas SHACKLADY note: adopted 1975 National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Kuk Early Agricultural Site Topic: Economy Economic overview: Papua New Guinea (PNG) is richly endowed with natural resources, but exploitation has been hampered by rugged terrain, land tenure issues, and the high cost of developing infrastructure. The economy has a small formal sector, focused mainly on the export of those natural resources, and an informal sector, employing the majority of the population. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for 85% of the people. The global financial crisis had little impact because of continued foreign demand for PNG's commodities.   Mineral deposits, including copper, gold, and oil, account for nearly two-thirds of export earnings. Natural gas reserves amount to an estimated 155 billion cubic meters. Following construction of a $19 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, PNG LNG, a consortium led by ExxonMobil, began exporting liquefied natural gas to Asian markets in May 2014. The project was delivered on time and only slightly above budget. The success of the project has encouraged other companies to look at similar LNG projects. French supermajor Total is hopes to begin construction on the Papua LNG project by 2020. Due to lower global commodity prices, resource revenues of all types have fallen dramatically. PNG’s government has recently been forced to adjust spending levels downward.   Numerous challenges still face the government of Peter O'NEILL, including providing physical security for foreign investors, regaining investor confidence, restoring integrity to state institutions, promoting economic efficiency by privatizing moribund state institutions, and maintaining good relations with Australia, its former colonial ruler. Other socio-cultural challenges could upend the economy including chronic law and order and land tenure issues. In August, 2017, PNG launched its first-ever national trade policy, PNG Trade Policy 2017-2032. The policy goal is to maximize trade and investment by increasing exports, to reduce imports, and to increase foreign direct investment (FDI).Papua New Guinea (PNG) is richly endowed with natural resources, but exploitation has been hampered by rugged terrain, land tenure issues, and the high cost of developing infrastructure. The economy has a small formal sector, focused mainly on the export of those natural resources, and an informal sector, employing the majority of the population. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for 85% of the people. The global financial crisis had little impact because of continued foreign demand for PNG's commodities. Mineral deposits, including copper, gold, and oil, account for nearly two-thirds of export earnings. Natural gas reserves amount to an estimated 155 billion cubic meters. Following construction of a $19 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, PNG LNG, a consortium led by ExxonMobil, began exporting liquefied natural gas to Asian markets in May 2014. The project was delivered on time and only slightly above budget. The success of the project has encouraged other companies to look at similar LNG projects. French supermajor Total is hopes to begin construction on the Papua LNG project by 2020. Due to lower global commodity prices, resource revenues of all types have fallen dramatically. PNG’s government has recently been forced to adjust spending levels downward. Numerous challenges still face the government of Peter O'NEILL, including providing physical security for foreign investors, regaining investor confidence, restoring integrity to state institutions, promoting economic efficiency by privatizing moribund state institutions, and maintaining good relations with Australia, its former colonial ruler. Other socio-cultural challenges could upend the economy including chronic law and order and land tenure issues. In August, 2017, PNG launched its first-ever national trade policy, PNG Trade Policy 2017-2032. The policy goal is to maximize trade and investment by increasing exports, to reduce imports, and to increase foreign direct investment (FDI). Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $36.69 billion (2020 est.) $38.17 billion (2019 est.) $36.06 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 2.5% (2017 est.) 1.6% (2016 est.) 5.3% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $4,100 (2020 est.) $4,300 (2019 est.) $4,200 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $19.82 billion (2017 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.4% (2017 est.) 6.7% (2016 est.) Credit ratings: Moody's rating: B2 (2016) Standard & Poors rating: B- (2020) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 22.1% (2017 est.) industry: 42.9% (2017 est.) services: 35% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 43.7% (2017 est.) government consumption: 19.7% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 10% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.4% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 49.3% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -22.3% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: oil palm fruit, bananas, coconuts, fruit, sweet potatoes, game meat, yams, roots/tubers nes, vegetables, taro Industries: copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip production; mining (gold, silver, copper); crude oil and petroleum products; construction, tourism, livestock (pork, poultry, cattle), dairy products, spice products (turmeric, vanilla, ginger, cardamom, chili, pepper, citronella, and nutmeg), fisheries products Industrial production growth rate: 3.3% (2017 est.) Labor force: 3.681 million (2017 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 85% industry: NA services: NA Unemployment rate: 2.5% (2017 est.) 2.5% (2016 est.) Population below poverty line: 37% (2002 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 50.9 (1996) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.7% highest 10%: 40.5% (1996) Budget: revenues: 3.638 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 4.591 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -4.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 36.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 36.9% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 18.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: $4.859 billion (2017 est.) $4.569 billion (2016 est.) Exports: $10.6 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $9.224 billion (2016 est.) Exports - partners: Australia 26%, China 26%, Japan 22%, Taiwan 7% (2019) Exports - commodities: natural gas, gold, copper, lumber, crude petroleum, nickel, palm oil, fish, coffee (2019) Imports: $4.84 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $2.077 billion (2016 est.) Imports - partners: Australia 33%, China 19%, Singapore 14%, Malaysia 9% (2019) Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, excavation machinery, crude petroleum, foodstuffs, delivery trucks (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $1.735 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $1.656 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $17.94 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $18.28 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: kina (PGK) per US dollar - 3.5131 (2020 est.) 3.4042 (2019 est.) 3.36915 (2018 est.) 2.7684 (2014 est.) 2.4614 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 58.9% (2018) electrification - urban areas: 82% (2018) electrification - rural areas: 55.4% (2018) Electricity - production: 3.481 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 3.237 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2017 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 900,900 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 63% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 30% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 7% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 45,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 55,600 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 22,220 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 183.8 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 22,170 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 37,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 17,110 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 11.18 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 99.11 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 11.1 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 210.5 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 166,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 4.018 million (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47.62 (2019 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: telecom services stymied by rugged terrain, high cost of infrastructure, and poverty of citizens; services are minimal with little change in fixed-line tele-density in two decades; progress in mobile platforms with almost 90% coverage on 3G and LTE; GSM available in remote areas; Internet slow and expensive, available to pockets of the population; facilities provide radiotelephone, telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services; launch of satellite and landing of submarine cable will improve most services in the region; government supports training to boost digital transformation; Australia attempted to block Chinese investment in cooperative network; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) domestic: access to telephone services is not widely available; fixed-line nearly 2 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 48 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 675; landing points for the Kumul Domestic Submarine Cable System, PNG-LNG, APNG-2, CSCS and the PPC-1 submarine cables to Australia, Guam, PNG and Solomon Islands; 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 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: 4 TV stations: 1 commercial station operating since 1987, 1 state-run station launched in 2008, 1 digital free-to-view network launched in 2014, and 1 satellite network Click TV (PNGTV) launched in 2015; the state-run National Broadcasting Corporation operates 3 radio networks with multiple repeaters and about 20 provincial stations; several commercial radio stations with multiple transmission points as well as several community stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are accessible (2018) Internet country code: .pg Internet users: total: 965,373 (2019 est.) percent of population: 11% (2019 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 21,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.23 (2020 est.) less than 1 Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 6 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 48 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 964,713 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 30.93 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: P2 Airports: total: 561 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 21 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 1 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 540 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 53 under 914 m: 476 (2021) Heliports: 2 (2021) Pipelines: 264 km oil (2013) Roadways: total: 9,349 km (2011) paved: 3,000 km (2011) unpaved: 6,349 km (2011) Waterways: 11,000 km (2011) Merchant marine: total: 177 by type: container ship 6, general cargo 81, oil tanker 3, other 87 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Kimbe, Lae, Madang, Rabaul, Wewak LNG terminal(s) (export): Port Moresby Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF; includes land, maritime, and air elements); Ministry of Police: Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (2021) Military expenditures: 0.4% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2020 est.) 0.3% of GDP (2019) (approximately $100 million) 0.3% of GDP (2018) (approximately $100 million) 0.3% of GDP (2017) (approximately $110 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: the Papau New Guinea Defense Force has approximately 3,000 active duty troops, including a land element of about 2,500 (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the PNGDF has a limited inventory consisting of a diverse mix of foreign-supplied weapons and equipment; Papua New Guinea has received most of its military assistance from Australia (2021) Military service age and obligation: 16 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription (2021) Military - note: as of 2021, Australia and the US were assisting Papua New Guinea with expanding and improving the Defense Force naval base at Lombrum on Manus Island; the US first established a Lombrum base in 1944 during World War IIas of 2021, Australia and the US were assisting Papua New Guinea with expanding and improving the Defense Force naval base at Lombrum on Manus Island; the US first established a Lombrum base in 1944 during World War II Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: relies on assistance from Australia to keep out illegal cross-border activities from primarily Indonesia, including goods smuggling, illegal narcotics trafficking, and squatters and secessionistsrelies on assistance from Australia to keep out illegal cross-border activities from primarily Indonesia, including goods smuggling, illegal narcotics trafficking, and squatters and secessionists Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 11,601 (Indonesia) (mid-year 2021) IDPs: 14,000 (natural disasters, tribal conflict, inter-communal violence, development projects) (2020) stateless persons: 9 (mid-year 2021) Trafficking in persons: current situation: Papua New Guinea is a source, destination, and transit country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; women and children are subjected to sex trafficking and domestic servitude; families may sell girls into forced marriages to settle debts, leaving them vulnerable to forced domestic service; local and Chinese men are forced to labor in logging and mining camps; migrant women from Malaysia, Thailand, China, and the Philippines are subjected to sex trafficking and domestic servitude at logging and mining camps, fisheries, and entertainment sites tier rating: Tier 3 — Papua New Guinea does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; despite remaining at Tier 3, the government continued to identify some trafficking victims and a prominent trafficking case was advanced; however, the government did not provide protective services for victims and did not systematically implement its victim identification procedures; corruption among officials in the logging sector remains a problem, and they continue to facilitate sex trafficking and forced labor; no alleged traffickers were convicted; the government dedicates little financial and human resources to combat trafficking, and awareness of trafficking is low among government officials (2020) Illicit drugs: transit point for smuggling drugs such as methamphetamine and cocaine; major consumer of cannabistransit point for smuggling drugs such as methamphetamine and cocaine; major consumer of cannabis

20220601

field-telephones-fixed-lines-country-comparison

20220601

field-current-health-expenditure

Current Health Expenditure (CHE) describes the share of spending on health in each country relative to the size of its economy.  It includes expenditures corresponding to the final consumption of health care goods and services and excludes investment, exports, and intermediate consumption.  CHE shows the importance of the health sector in the economy and indicates the priority given to health in monetary terms.  Note: Current Health Expenditure replaces the former Health Expenditures field and is calculated differently. Topic: Afghanistan13.2% (2019) Topic: AkrotiriNA Topic: Albania5.2% (2018) Topic: Algeria6.2% (2019) Topic: American SamoaNA Topic: Andorra6.7% (2019) Topic: Angola2.5% (2019) Topic: AnguillaNA Topic: Antigua and Barbuda4.4% (2019) Topic: Argentina9.5% (2019) Topic: Armenia11.3% (2019) Topic: ArubaNA Topic: Ashmore and Cartier IslandsNA Topic: Australia9.9% (2019) Topic: Austria10.4% (2019) Topic: Azerbaijan4% (2019) Topic: Bahamas, The5.8% (2019) Topic: Bahrain4% (2019) Topic: Bangladesh2.5% (2019) Topic: Barbados6.3% (2019) Topic: Belarus5.9% (2019) Topic: Belgium10.7% (2019) Topic: Belize6% (2019) Topic: Benin2.4% (2019) Topic: BermudaNA Topic: Bhutan3.6% (2019) Topic: Bolivia6.9% (2019) Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina9.1% (2019) Topic: Botswana6.1% (2019) Topic: Bouvet IslandNA Topic: Brazil9.6% (2019) Topic: British Indian Ocean TerritoryNA Topic: British Virgin IslandsNA Topic: Brunei2.2% (2019) Topic: Bulgaria7.1% (2019) Topic: Burkina Faso5.5% (2019) Topic: Burma4.7% (2019) Topic: Burundi8% (2019) Topic: Cabo Verde4.9% (2019) Topic: Cambodia7% (2019) Topic: Cameroon3.6% (2019) Topic: Canada10.8% (2019) Topic: Cayman IslandsNA Topic: Central African Republic7.8% (2019) Topic: Chad4.4% (2019) Topic: Chile9.3% (2019) Topic: China5.4% (2019) Topic: Christmas IslandNA Topic: Clipperton IslandNA Topic: Cocos (Keeling) IslandsNA Topic: Colombia7.7% (2019) Topic: Comoros5.2% (2019) Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the3.5% (2019) Topic: Congo, Republic of the2.1% (2019) Topic: Cook Islands3.1% (2019) Topic: Coral Sea IslandsNA Topic: Costa Rica7.3% (2019) Topic: Cote d'Ivoire3.3% (2019) Topic: Croatia7% (2019) Topic: Cuba11.3% (2019) Topic: CuracaoNA Topic: Cyprus7% (2019) Topic: Czechia7.8% (2019) Topic: Denmark10% (2019) Topic: DhekeliaNA Topic: Djibouti1.8% (2019) Topic: Dominica5.5% (2019) Topic: Dominican Republic5.9% (2019) Topic: Ecuador7.8% (2019) Topic: Egypt4.7% (2019) Topic: El Salvador7.2% (2019) Topic: Equatorial Guinea3.1% (2019) Topic: Eritrea4.5% (2019) Topic: Estonia6.7% (2019) Topic: Eswatini6.8% (2019) Topic: Ethiopia3.2% (2019) Topic: European Union9.9% (2016) Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)NA Topic: Faroe IslandsNA Topic: Fiji3.8% (2019) Topic: Finland9.2% (2019) Topic: France11.1% (2019) Topic: French PolynesiaNA Topic: French Southern and Antarctic LandsNA Topic: Gabon2.8% (2019) Topic: Gambia, The3.8% (2019) Topic: Gaza StripNA Topic: Georgia6.7% (2019) Topic: Germany11.7% (2019) Topic: Ghana3.4% (2019) Topic: GibraltarNA Topic: Greece7.8% (2019) Topic: GreenlandNA Topic: Grenada5% (2019) Topic: GuamNA Topic: Guatemala6.2% (2019) Topic: GuernseyNA Topic: Guinea4% (2019) Topic: Guinea-Bissau8.4% (2019) Topic: Guyana4.9% (2019) Topic: Haiti4.7% (2019) Topic: Heard Island and McDonald IslandsNA Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)NA Topic: Honduras7.3% (2019) Topic: Hong KongNA Topic: Hungary6.4% (2019) Topic: Iceland8.6% (2019) Topic: India3% (2019) Topic: Indonesia2.9% (2019) Topic: Iran6.7% (2019) Topic: Iraq4.5% (2019) Topic: Ireland6.7% (2019) Topic: Isle of ManNA Topic: Israel7.5% (2019) Topic: Italy8.7% (2019) Topic: Jamaica6.1% (2019) Topic: Jan MayenNA Topic: Japan10.7% (2019) Topic: JerseyNA Topic: Jordan7.6% (2019) Topic: Kazakhstan2.8% (2019) Topic: Kenya4.6% (2019) Topic: Kiribati10.3% (2019) Topic: Korea, NorthNA Topic: Korea, South8.2% (2019) Topic: KosovoNA Topic: Kuwait5.5% (2019) Topic: Kyrgyzstan4.5% (2019) Topic: Laos2.6% (2019) Topic: Latvia6.6% (2019) Topic: Lebanon8.7% (2019) Topic: Lesotho11.3% (2019) Topic: Liberia8.5% (2019) Topic: LibyaNA Topic: LiechtensteinNA Topic: Lithuania7% (2019) Topic: Luxembourg5.4% (2019) Topic: MacauNA Topic: Madagascar3.7% (2019) Topic: Malawi7.4% (2019) Topic: Malaysia3.8% (2019) Topic: Maldives8% (2019) Topic: Mali3.9% (2019) Topic: Malta8.2% (2019) Topic: Marshall Islands16.3% (2019) Topic: Mauritania3.3% (2019) Topic: Mauritius6.2% (2019) Topic: Mexico5.4% (2019) Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of11.4% (2019) Topic: Moldova6.4% (2019) Topic: Monaco1.5% (2019) Topic: Mongolia3.8% (2019) Topic: Montenegro8.3% (2019) Topic: MontserratNA Topic: Morocco5.3% (2019) note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara Topic: Mozambique7.8% (2019) Topic: Namibia8.5% (2019) Topic: Nauru9.8% (2019) Topic: Navassa IslandNA Topic: Nepal4.5% (2019) Topic: Netherlands10.1% (2019) Topic: New CaledoniaNA Topic: New Zealand9.7% (2019) Topic: Nicaragua8.4% (2019) Topic: Niger5.7% (2019) Topic: Nigeria3% (2019) Topic: Niue5.3% (2019) Topic: Norfolk IslandNA Topic: North Macedonia7.3% (2019) Topic: Northern Mariana IslandsNA Topic: Norway10.5% (2019) Topic: Oman4.1% (2019) Topic: Pakistan3.4% (2019) Topic: Palau15.2% (2019) Topic: Panama7.6% (2019) Topic: Papua New Guinea2.3% (2019) Topic: Paracel IslandsNA Topic: Paraguay7.2% (2019) Topic: Peru5.2% (2019) Topic: Philippines4.1% (2019) Topic: Pitcairn IslandsNA Topic: Poland6.5% (2019) Topic: Portugal9.5% (2019) Topic: Puerto RicoNA Topic: Qatar2.9% (2019) Topic: Romania5.7% (2019) Topic: Russia5.7% (2019) Topic: Rwanda6.4% (2019) Topic: Saint BarthelemyNA Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da CunhaNA Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis5.4% (2019) Topic: Saint Lucia4.3% (2019) Topic: Saint MartinNA Topic: Saint Pierre and MiquelonNA Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines4.8% (2019) Topic: Samoa6.4% (2019) Topic: San Marino6.4% (2019) Topic: Sao Tome and Principe5.5% (2019) Topic: Saudi Arabia5.7% (2019) Topic: Senegal4.1% (2019) Topic: Serbia8.7% (2019) Topic: Seychelles5.2% (2019) Topic: Sierra Leone8.8% (2019) Topic: Singapore4.1% (2019) Topic: Sint MaartenNA Topic: Slovakia7% (2019) Topic: Slovenia8.5% (2019) Topic: Solomon Islands4.8% (2019) Topic: SomaliaNA Topic: South Africa9.1% (2019) Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich IslandsNA Topic: South Sudan6% (2019) Topic: Spain9.1% (2019) Topic: Spratly IslandsNA Topic: Sri Lanka4.1% (2019) Topic: Sudan4.6% (2019) Topic: Suriname9.7% (2019) Topic: SvalbardNA Topic: Sweden10.9% (2019) Topic: Switzerland11.3% (2019) Topic: SyriaNA Topic: TaiwanNA Topic: Tajikistan7.1% (2019) Topic: Tanzania3.8% (2019) Topic: Thailand3.8% (2019) Topic: Timor-Leste7.2% (2019) Topic: Togo5.7% (2019) Topic: TokelauNA Topic: Tonga5% (2019) Topic: Trinidad and Tobago7% (2019) Topic: Tunisia7% (2019) Topic: Turkey4.3% (2019) Topic: Turkmenistan6.6% (2019) Topic: Turks and Caicos IslandsNA Topic: Tuvalu24% (2019) Topic: Uganda3.8% (2019) Topic: Ukraine7.1% (2019) Topic: United Arab Emirates4.3% (2019) Topic: United Kingdom10.2% (2019) Topic: United States16.8% (2019) Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife RefugesNA Topic: Uruguay9.4% (2019) Topic: Uzbekistan5.6% (2019) Topic: Vanuatu3.4% (2019) Topic: Venezuela5.4% (2019) Topic: Vietnam5.3% (2019) Topic: Virgin IslandsNA Topic: Wake IslandNA Topic: Wallis and FutunaNA Topic: West BankNA Topic: World10% (2016) Topic: Yemen4.3% (2015) Topic: Zambia5.3% (2019) Topic: Zimbabwe7.7% (2019)

20220601

field-people-note

This entry includes miscellaneous demographic information of significance not included elsewhere. Topic: Chinain October 2015, the Chinese Government announced that it would change its rules to allow all couples to have two children, loosening a 1979 mandate that restricted many couples to one child; the new policy was implemented on 1 January 2016 to address China’s rapidly aging population and future economic needs Topic: Cubaillicit emigration is a continuing problem; Cubans attempt to depart the island and enter the US using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, direct flights, or falsified visas; Cubans also use non-maritime routes to enter the US including direct flights to Miami and overland via the southwest border; the number of Cubans migrating to the US surged after the announcement of normalization of US-Cuban relations in late December 2014 but has decreased since the end of the so-called "wet-foot, dry-foot" policy on 12 January 2017 Topic: Cyprusdemographic data for Cyprus represent the population of the government-controlled area and the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, unless otherwise indicated Topic: Dominica3,000-3,500 Kalinago (Carib) still living on Dominica are the only pre-Columbian population remaining in the Caribbean; only 70-100 may be "pure" Kalinago because of years of integration into the broader population Topic: IndonesiaIndonesia is the fourth most populous nation in the World after China, India, and the United States; more than half of the Indonesian population - roughly 150 million people or 55% - live on the island of Java (about the size of California) making it the most crowded island on earth Topic: Papua New Guineathe indigenous population of Papua New Guinea (PNG) is one of the most heterogeneous in the world; PNG has several thousand separate communities, most with only a few hundred people; divided by language, customs, and tradition, some of these communities have engaged in low-scale tribal conflict with their neighbors for millennia; the advent of modern weapons and modern migrants into urban areas has greatly magnified the impact of this lawlessness Topic: Philippinesone of only two predominantly Christian nations in Southeast Asia, the other being Timor-Leste Topic: Timor-Lesteone of only two predominantly Christian nations in Southeast Asia, the other being the Philippines Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandsdestination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Bahamas and the US

20220601

countries-gambia-the

Topic: Photos of Gambia, The Topic: Introduction Background: In the 10th century, Muslim merchants established some of The Gambia’s earliest large settlements as trans-Saharan trade hubs. These settlements eventually grew into major export centers sending slaves, gold, and ivory across the Sahara. Between the 16th and 17th centuries, European colonial powers began establishing trade with The Gambia. In 1664, the United Kingdom established a colony in The Gambia focused on exporting enslaved people across the Atlantic. During the roughly 300 years of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, the UK and other European powers may have exported as many as 3 million people from The Gambia. The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed the short-lived confederation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1994, Yahya JAMMEH led a military coup overthrowing the president and banning political activity. He subsequently won every presidential election until 2016, when he lost to Adama BARROW, who headed an opposition coalition during free and fair elections. BARROW won re-election in December 2021. The Gambia is the only member of the Economic Community of West African States that does not have presidential term limits. Since the 2016 election, The Gambia and the US have enjoyed improved relations. US assistance to the country has supported military education and training programs, capacity building, and democracy-strengthening activities.    In the 10th century, Muslim merchants established some of The Gambia’s earliest large settlements as trans-Saharan trade hubs. These settlements eventually grew into major export centers sending slaves, gold, and ivory across the Sahara. Between the 16th and 17th centuries, European colonial powers began establishing trade with The Gambia. In 1664, the United Kingdom established a colony in The Gambia focused on exporting enslaved people across the Atlantic. During the roughly 300 years of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, the UK and other European powers may have exported as many as 3 million people from The Gambia.The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed the short-lived confederation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1994, Yahya JAMMEH led a military coup overthrowing the president and banning political activity. He subsequently won every presidential election until 2016, when he lost to Adama BARROW, who headed an opposition coalition during free and fair elections. BARROW won re-election in December 2021. The Gambia is the only member of the Economic Community of West African States that does not have presidential term limits. Since the 2016 election, The Gambia and the US have enjoyed improved relations. US assistance to the country has supported military education and training programs, capacity building, and democracy-strengthening activities.  Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 16 34 W Map references: Africa Area: total: 11,300 sq km land: 10,120 sq km water: 1,180 sq km Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Delaware Land boundaries: total: 749 km border countries (1): Senegal 749 km Coastline: 80 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: extent not specified exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May) Terrain: flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills Elevation: highest point: unnamed elevation 3 km southeast of the town of Sabi 63 m note - the Factbook map is incorrect; it shows the wrong location of the high elevation lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 34 m Natural resources: fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon Land use: agricultural land: 56.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 41% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 14.6% (2018 est.) forest: 43.9% (2018 est.) other: 0% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 50 sq km (2012) Major rivers (by length in km): Gambia river mouth (shared with Senegal and Guinea [s]) - 1,094 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major aquifers: Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin Population distribution: settlements are found scattered along the Gambia River; the largest communities, including the capital of Banjul, and the country's largest city, Serekunda, are found at the mouth of the Gambia River along the Atlantic coast as shown in this population distribution map Natural hazards: droughts Geography - note: almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the African mainland Map description: The Gambia map showing the country surrounded by Senegal except to the west where the Gambia River empties into the North Atlantic Ocean.The Gambia map showing the country surrounded by Senegal except to the west where the Gambia River empties into the North Atlantic Ocean. Topic: People and Society Population: 2,413,403 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Gambian(s) adjective: Gambian Ethnic groups: Mandinka/Jahanka 33.3%, Fulani/Tukulur/Lorobo 18.2%, Wolof 12.9%, Jola/Karoninka 11%, Serahuleh 7.2%, Serer 3.5%, other 4%, non-Gambian 9.9% (2019-20 est.) Languages: English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars Religions: Muslim 96.4%, Christian 3.5%, other or none 0.1% (2019-20 est.) Demographic profile: The Gambia’s youthful age structure – almost 60% of the population is under the age of 25 – is likely to persist because the country’s total fertility rate remains strong at nearly 4 children per woman. The overall literacy rate is around 55%, and is significantly lower for women than for men. At least 70% of the populace are farmers who are reliant on rain-fed agriculture and cannot afford improved seeds and fertilizers. Crop failures caused by droughts between 2011 and 2013 have increased poverty, food shortages, and malnutrition.The Gambia is a source country for migrants and a transit and destination country for migrants and refugees. Since the 1980s, economic deterioration, drought, and high unemployment, especially among youths, have driven both domestic migration (largely urban) and migration abroad (legal and illegal). Emigrants are largely skilled workers, including doctors and nurses, and provide a significant amount of remittances. The top receiving countries for Gambian emigrants are Spain, the US, Nigeria, Senegal, and the UK. While the Gambia and Spain do not share historic, cultural, or trade ties, rural Gambians have migrated to Spain in large numbers because of its proximity and the availability of jobs in its underground economy (this flow slowed following the onset of Spain’s late 2007 economic crisis).The Gambia’s role as a host country to refugees is a result of wars in several of its neighboring West African countries. Since 2006, refugees from the Casamance conflict in Senegal have replaced their pattern of flight and return with permanent settlement in The Gambia, often moving in with relatives along the Senegal-Gambia border. The strain of providing for about 7,400 Casamance refugees has increased poverty among Gambian villagers.The Gambia’s youthful age structure – almost 60% of the population is under the age of 25 – is likely to persist because the country’s total fertility rate remains strong at nearly 4 children per woman. The overall literacy rate is around 55%, and is significantly lower for women than for men. At least 70% of the populace are farmers who are reliant on rain-fed agriculture and cannot afford improved seeds and fertilizers. Crop failures caused by droughts between 2011 and 2013 have increased poverty, food shortages, and malnutrition.The Gambia is a source country for migrants and a transit and destination country for migrants and refugees. Since the 1980s, economic deterioration, drought, and high unemployment, especially among youths, have driven both domestic migration (largely urban) and migration abroad (legal and illegal). Emigrants are largely skilled workers, including doctors and nurses, and provide a significant amount of remittances. The top receiving countries for Gambian emigrants are Spain, the US, Nigeria, Senegal, and the UK. While the Gambia and Spain do not share historic, cultural, or trade ties, rural Gambians have migrated to Spain in large numbers because of its proximity and the availability of jobs in its underground economy (this flow slowed following the onset of Spain’s late 2007 economic crisis).The Gambia’s role as a host country to refugees is a result of wars in several of its neighboring West African countries. Since 2006, refugees from the Casamance conflict in Senegal have replaced their pattern of flight and return with permanent settlement in The Gambia, often moving in with relatives along the Senegal-Gambia border. The strain of providing for about 7,400 Casamance refugees has increased poverty among Gambian villagers. Age structure: 0-14 years: 35.15% (male 391,993/female 388,816) 15-24 years: 20.12% (male 221,519/female 225,414) 25-54 years: 36.39% (male 396,261/female 412,122) 55-64 years: 4.53% (male 48,032/female 52,538) 65 years and over: 3.81% (2021 est.) (male 38,805/female 45,801) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 86.9 youth dependency ratio: 82.1 elderly dependency ratio: 4.7 potential support ratio: 21.1 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 21.8 years male: 21.5 years female: 22.2 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: 2.29% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 28.78 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 5.81 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -0.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: settlements are found scattered along the Gambia River; the largest communities, including the capital of Banjul, and the country's largest city, Serekunda, are found at the mouth of the Gambia River along the Atlantic coast as shown in this population distribution map Urbanization: urban population: 63.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 470,000 BANJUL (capital) (2022) note: includes the local government areas of Banjul and Kanifing Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.76 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.7 years (2019/20 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Maternal mortality ratio: 597 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 37.19 deaths/1,000 live births male: 40.75 deaths/1,000 live births female: 33.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.6 years male: 65.83 years female: 69.41 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.79 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 16.8% (2018) note: percent of women aged 15-49 Drinking water source: improved: urban: 91.8% of population rural: 85.7% of population total: 89.5% of population unimproved: urban: 8.2% of population rural: 14.3% of population total: 10.5% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 3.8% (2019) Physicians density: 0.1 physicians/1,000 population (2015) Hospital bed density: 1.1 beds/1,000 population (2011) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 75.8% of population rural: 33.6% of population total: 60% of population unimproved: urban: 24.2% of population rural: 66.4% of population total: 40% of population (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.8% (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 27,000 (2020 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: 1,300 (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; The Gambia 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: 10.3% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 11.6% (2019/20) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 7.5% (2018) women married by age 18: 25.7% (2018) men married by age 18: 0.2% (2020 est.) Education expenditures: 2.9% of GDP (2019) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 50.8% male: 61.8% female: 41.6% (2015) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 25.8% male: 21% female: 32.3% (2018 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: deforestation due to slash-and-burn agriculture; desertification; water pollution; water-borne diseases Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Air pollutants: particulate 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.) Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May) Land use: agricultural land: 56.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 41% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 14.6% (2018 est.) forest: 43.9% (2018 est.) other: 0% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 63.9% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: 3.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 2.47% 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; The Gambia 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: 193,441 tons (2002 est.) Major rivers (by length in km): Gambia river mouth (shared with Senegal and Guinea [s]) - 1,094 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth Major aquifers: Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin Total water withdrawal: municipal: 41.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 21.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 39.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 8 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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 Government type: presidential republic Capital: name: Banjul geographic coordinates: 13 27 N, 16 34 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: Banjul is located on Saint Mary's Island at the mouth of the Gambia River; the Mandinka used to gather fibrous plants on the island for the manufacture of ropes; "bang julo" is Mandinka for "rope fiber"; mispronunciation over time caused the term became the word Banjul Administrative divisions: 5 regions, 1 city*, and 1 municipality**; Banjul*, Central River, Kanifing**, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, West Coast Independence: 18 February 1965 (from the UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 18 February (1965) Constitution: history: previous 1965 (Independence Act), 1970; latest adopted 8 April 1996, approved by referendum 8 August 1996, effective 16 January 1997; note - in early 2018, the "Constitutional Review Commission," was established to draft  and assist in instituting a new constitution; a second draft completed in March 2020 was rejected by the National Assembly in September amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote by the Assembly membership in each of several readings and approval by the president of the republic; a referendum is required for amendments affecting national sovereignty, fundamental rights and freedoms, government structures and authorities, taxation, and public funding; passage by referendum requires participation of at least 50% of eligible voters and approval by at least 75% of votes cast; amended 2001, 2004, 2018 Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Adama BARROW (since 19 January 2022); Vice President Isatou TOURAY (since 15 March 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Adama BARROW (since 19 January 2022); Vice President Isatou TOURAY (since 15 March 2019) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 4 December 2021 (next to be held in 2026); vice president appointed by the president election results: Adama BARROW reelected president; percent of vote - Adama BARROW (National People's Party) 53.2%, Ousainou DARBOE (United Democratic Party) 27.7%, Mamma KANDEH (GDC)12.3%, Halifa SALLAH (PDOIS) 3.8%, Essa M. FAAL (Independent) 2%, Abdoulie Ebrima JAMMEH (NUP) 0.96% Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly (58 seats; 53 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 5 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 9 April 2022 (next to be held in 2027) election results: percent of vote by party - NPP 33.9%, UDP 28.3%, independent 22.6%, NRP 7.5%, PDOIS 3.7%, APRL 3.7%; seats by party - NPP 18, UDP 15, independent 12,NRP 4, APRL 2, PDOIS 2; composition - men 52, women 6, percent of women 10.3% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of The Gambia (consists of the chief justice and 6 justices; court sessions held with 5 justices) judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the president after consultation with the Judicial Service Commission, a 6-member independent body of high-level judicial officials, a presidential appointee, and a National Assembly appointee; justices appointed for life or until mandatory retirement at age 75 subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Special Criminal Court; Khadis or Muslim courts; district tribunals; magistrates courts; cadi courts Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Fabakary JATTA] Coalition 2016 [collective leadership] (electoral coalition includes UDP, PDOIS, NRP, GMC, GDC, PPP, and GPDP) Gambia Democratic Congress or GDC [Mama KANDEH] Gambia Moral Congress or GMC [Mai FATTY] Gambia Party for Democracy and Progress or GPDP [Sarja JARJOU] National Convention Party or NCP [Yaya  SANYANG and Majanko SAMUSA (both claiming leadership)] National Democratic Action Movement or NDAM [Lamin Yaa JUARA] National People's Party or NPP [Adama BARROW] National Reconciliation Party or NRP [Hamat BAH] People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS [Sidia JATTA] People's Progressive Party or PPP [Yaya CEESAY)] United Democratic Party or UDP [Ousainou DARBOE] International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dawda D. FADERA (since 24 January 2018) chancery: 5630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 785-1399; [1] (202) 785-1428 FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430 email address and website: info@gambiaembassy.us https://www.gambiaembassydc.us/home Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Richard Carlton "Carl" PASCHALL (since 9 April 2019) embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, P.M.B. 19, Banjul mailing address: 2070 Banjul Place, Washington DC  20521-2070 telephone: [220] 439-2856 FAX: [220] 439-2475 email address and website: ConsularBanjul@state.gov https://gm.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green; red stands for the sun and the savannah, blue represents the Gambia River, and green symbolizes forests and agriculture; the white stripes denote unity and peace National symbol(s): lion; national colors: red, blue, green, white National anthem: name: For The Gambia, Our Homeland lyrics/music: Virginia Julie HOWE/adapted by Jeremy Frederick HOWE note: adopted 1965; the music is an adaptation of the traditional Mandinka song "Foday Kaba Dumbuya" National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites, Stone Circles of Senegambia Topic: Economy Economic overview: The government has invested in the agriculture sector because three-quarters of the population depends on the sector for its livelihood and agriculture provides for about one-third of GDP, making The Gambia largely reliant on sufficient rainfall. The agricultural sector has untapped potential - less than half of arable land is cultivated and agricultural productivity is low. Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of cashews, groundnuts, fish, and hides. The Gambia's reexport trade accounts for almost 80% of goods exports and China has been its largest trade partner for both exports and imports for several years.   The Gambia has sparse natural resource deposits. It relies heavily on remittances from workers overseas and tourist receipts. Remittance inflows to The Gambia amount to about one-fifth of the country’s GDP. The Gambia's location on the ocean and proximity to Europe has made it one of the most frequented tourist destinations in West Africa, boosted by private sector investments in eco-tourism and facilities. Tourism normally brings in about 20% of GDP, but it suffered in 2014 from tourists’ fears of Ebola virus in neighboring West African countries. Unemployment and underemployment remain high.   Economic progress depends on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid, on responsible government economic management, and on continued technical assistance from multilateral and bilateral donors. International donors and lenders were concerned about the quality of fiscal management under the administration of former President Yahya JAMMEH, who reportedly stole hundreds of millions of dollars of the country’s funds during his 22 years in power, but anticipate significant improvements under the new administration of President Adama BARROW, who assumed power in early 2017. As of April 2017, the IMF, the World Bank, the European Union, and the African Development Bank were all negotiating with the new government of The Gambia to provide financial support in the coming months to ease the country’s financial crisis.   The country faces a limited availability of foreign exchange, weak agricultural output, a border closure with Senegal, a slowdown in tourism, high inflation, a large fiscal deficit, and a high domestic debt burden that has crowded out private sector investment and driven interest rates to new highs. The government has committed to taking steps to reduce the deficit, including through expenditure caps, debt consolidation, and reform of state-owned enterprises.The government has invested in the agriculture sector because three-quarters of the population depends on the sector for its livelihood and agriculture provides for about one-third of GDP, making The Gambia largely reliant on sufficient rainfall. The agricultural sector has untapped potential - less than half of arable land is cultivated and agricultural productivity is low. Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of cashews, groundnuts, fish, and hides. The Gambia's reexport trade accounts for almost 80% of goods exports and China has been its largest trade partner for both exports and imports for several years. The Gambia has sparse natural resource deposits. It relies heavily on remittances from workers overseas and tourist receipts. Remittance inflows to The Gambia amount to about one-fifth of the country’s GDP. The Gambia's location on the ocean and proximity to Europe has made it one of the most frequented tourist destinations in West Africa, boosted by private sector investments in eco-tourism and facilities. Tourism normally brings in about 20% of GDP, but it suffered in 2014 from tourists’ fears of Ebola virus in neighboring West African countries. Unemployment and underemployment remain high. Economic progress depends on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid, on responsible government economic management, and on continued technical assistance from multilateral and bilateral donors. International donors and lenders were concerned about the quality of fiscal management under the administration of former President Yahya JAMMEH, who reportedly stole hundreds of millions of dollars of the country’s funds during his 22 years in power, but anticipate significant improvements under the new administration of President Adama BARROW, who assumed power in early 2017. As of April 2017, the IMF, the World Bank, the European Union, and the African Development Bank were all negotiating with the new government of The Gambia to provide financial support in the coming months to ease the country’s financial crisis. The country faces a limited availability of foreign exchange, weak agricultural output, a border closure with Senegal, a slowdown in tourism, high inflation, a large fiscal deficit, and a high domestic debt burden that has crowded out private sector investment and driven interest rates to new highs. The government has committed to taking steps to reduce the deficit, including through expenditure caps, debt consolidation, and reform of state-owned enterprises. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $5.22 billion (2020 est.) $5.22 billion (2019 est.) $4.92 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 4.6% (2017 est.) 0.4% (2016 est.) 5.9% (2015 est.) Real GDP per capita: $2,200 (2020 est.) $2,200 (2019 est.) $2,200 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $1.746 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.1% (2019 est.) 6.5% (2018 est.) 8% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 20.4% (2017 est.) industry: 14.2% (2017 est.) services: 65.4% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 90.7% (2017 est.) government consumption: 12% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 19.2% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: -2.7% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 20.8% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -40% (2017 est.) Agricultural products: groundnuts, milk, oil palm fruit, millet, sorghum, rice, maize, vegetables, cassava, fruit Industries: peanuts, fish, hides, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing Industrial production growth rate: -0.8% (2017 est.) Labor force: 777,100 (2007 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 75% industry: 19% services: 6% (1996 est.) Unemployment rate: NANA Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 25.8% male: 21% female: 32.3% (2018 est.) Population below poverty line: 48.6% (2015 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 35.9 (2015 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 36.9% (2003) Budget: revenues: 300.4 million (2017 est.) expenditures: 339 million (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -2.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 88% of GDP (2017 est.) 82.3% of GDP (2016 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 20.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: -$194 million (2017 est.) -$85 million (2016 est.) Exports: $350 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $448 million (2018 est.) $435 million (2017 est.) Exports - partners: China 38%, India 22%, Mali 7%, Chile 5% (2017) Exports - commodities: lumber, cashews, refined petroleum, fish oil, ground nut oil (2019) Imports: $620 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $851 million (2018 est.) $754 million (2017 est.) Imports - partners: China 33%, India 10%, Senegal 5%, Brazil 5% (2019) Imports - commodities: clothing and apparel, refined petroleum, rice, raw sugar, palm oil (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $170 million (31 December 2017 est.) $87.64 million (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $586.8 million (31 December 2017 est.) $571.2 million (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: dalasis (GMD) per US dollar - 51.75 (2020 est.) 51.4 (2019 est.) 49.515 (2018 est.) 41.89 (2014 est.) 41.733 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 49% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 69% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 16% (2019) Electricity - production: 304.1 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 282.8 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 117,000 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 97% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 3% 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 (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 3,800 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 42 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 3,738 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: 60,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 2,677,954 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 111 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: state-owned telecom partially privatized but retains a monopoly with fixed-line service; multiple mobile networks provide 2G to almost all citizens and above the African average; high poverty rates continue to limit access to the Internet, especially via fixed-line services in rural areas; weak political support for development of communications infrastructure, including National Broadband Network program; government depends on donors and loans from China and Islamic Development banks; two submarine cables provide international connectivity within African continent and Europe (2020) domestic: fixed-line subscriptions nearly 2 per 100 with one dominant company and mobile-cellular teledensity nearly 111 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 220; landing point for the ACE submarine cable to West Africa and Europe; microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 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 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-run TV-channel; one privately-owned TV-station; 1 Online TV-station; three state-owned radio station and 31 privately owned radio stations; eight community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available, some via shortwave radio; cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable in some parts of the country  (2019)1 state-run TV-channel; one privately-owned TV-station; 1 Online TV-station; three state-owned radio station and 31 privately owned radio stations; eight community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available, some via shortwave radio; cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable in some parts of the country  Internet country code: .gm Internet users: total: 894,166 (2020 est.) percent of population: 37% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 5,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.21 (2020 est.) less than 1 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: 53,735 (2018) Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: C5 Airports: total: 1 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2021) Roadways: total: 2,977 km (2011) paved: 518 km (2011) unpaved: 2,459 km (2011) Waterways: 390 km (2010) (on River Gambia; small oceangoing vessels can reach 190 km) Merchant marine: total: 8 by type: other 8 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Banjul Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Gambia Armed Forces: the Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambia Navy, Gambia Air Force, Republican National Guard (responsible for VIP protection, riot control, and presidential security) (2022) Military expenditures: 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2020 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $25 million) 0.7% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $20 million) 0.7% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $20 million) Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 2,000 total active troops (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the GNA has a limited equipment inventory; since 2000, it has received only a few secondhand items (2021) Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service (18-22 for officers); no conscription; service obligation 6 months (2021) Military - note: in 2017, several members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sent security forces to The Gambia to conduct stability operations and provide assistance and training following the 2016 election; as of 2022, the ECOWAS Mission in the Gambia (ECOMIG) was comprised of about 1,000 military and gendarmerie personnel from Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal the Gambian Armed Forces (GAF) traces its origins to the Gambia Regiment of the British Army; established in 1901, the Gambia Regiment was part of the West African Frontier Force (WAFF, later Royal West African Frontier Force or RWAFF) and served in both World Wars, including the British 1944-45 military campaign in Burma; the Gambia Regiment was disbanded in 1958 and replaced by the Field Force, a police paramilitary unit; the Field Force was responsible for The Gambia’s security until the establishment of the Gambian Armed Forces in 1985; in addition, a defense agreement signed in 1965 between The Gambia and Senegal provided mutual assistance in the face of an external threat; from 1981-1989, The Gambia and Senegal formed a Confederal Army that was made up of two-thirds Senegalese and one-third Gambian soldiers the military in Gambia, including the Field Force, has a history of heavy involvement in the country’s politics, including multiple coups or coup attempts and mutinies; as of 2022, the Gambia Armed Forces’ principal responsibilities included aiding civil authorities in emergencies and providing natural disaster relief  in 2017, several members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sent security forces to The Gambia to conduct stability operations and provide assistance and training following the 2016 election; as of 2022, the ECOWAS Mission in the Gambia (ECOMIG) was comprised of about 1,000 military and gendarmerie personnel from Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegalthe Gambian Armed Forces (GAF) traces its origins to the Gambia Regiment of the British Army; established in 1901, the Gambia Regiment was part of the West African Frontier Force (WAFF, later Royal West African Frontier Force or RWAFF) and served in both World Wars, including the British 1944-45 military campaign in Burma; the Gambia Regiment was disbanded in 1958 and replaced by the Field Force, a police paramilitary unit; the Field Force was responsible for The Gambia’s security until the establishment of the Gambian Armed Forces in 1985; in addition, a defense agreement signed in 1965 between The Gambia and Senegal provided mutual assistance in the face of an external threat; from 1981-1989, The Gambia and Senegal formed a Confederal Army that was made up of two-thirds Senegalese and one-third Gambian soldiersthe military in Gambia, including the Field Force, has a history of heavy involvement in the country’s politics, including multiple coups or coup attempts and mutinies; as of 2022, the Gambia Armed Forces’ principal responsibilities included aiding civil authorities in emergencies and providing natural disaster relief  Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: attempts to stem refugees, cross-border raids, arms smuggling, and other illegal activities by separatists from southern Senegal's Casamance region, as well as from conflicts in other west African statesattempts to stem refugees, cross-border raids, arms smuggling, and other illegal activities by separatists from southern Senegal's Casamance region, as well as from conflicts in other west African states Trafficking in persons: current situation: The Gambia is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Gambian women, children, and, to a lesser extent, boys are exploited for prostitution and domestic servitude; women, girls, and boys from West African countries are trafficked to the Gambia for sexual exploitation, particularly catering to European tourists seeking sex with children; some Gambian trafficking victims have been identified in neighboring West African countries and the UK; boys in some Koranic schools are forced into street vending or begging tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — The Gambia does not meet the minimum standards for eliminating trafficking, but it is making significant efforts to do so; the government has increased investigations, identified more trafficking victims, improved security at a Department of Social Welfare shelter, increased training for officials, and raised public awareness of the problem of trafficking; the government was upgraded to Tier 2 Watch List during this rating period; despite these efforts, the government did not convict a trafficker for the third consecutive year; victim services remained inadequate, and some law enforcement officers reportedly requested  bribes to register trafficking complaints (2020)

20220601

countries-bulgaria

Topic: Photos of Bulgaria 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. In succeeding centuries, Bulgaria struggled with the Byzantine Empire to assert its place in the Balkans, but by the end of the 14th century the country was overrun by the Ottoman Turks. Northern Bulgaria attained autonomy in 1878 and all of Bulgaria became independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1908. Having fought on the losing side in both World Wars, 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 and began the contentious process of moving toward political democracy and a market economy while combating inflation, unemployment, corruption, and crime. The country joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic. Topic: Geography Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey Geographic coordinates: 43 00 N, 25 00 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 110,879 sq km land: 108,489 sq km water: 2,390 sq km Area - comparative: almost identical in size to Virginia; slightly larger than Tennessee Land boundaries: total: 1,806 km border countries (5): Greece 472 km; Macedonia 162 km; Romania 605 km; Serbia 344 km; Turkey 223 km Coastline: 354 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers Terrain: mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast Elevation: highest point: Musala 2,925 m lowest point: Black Sea 0 m mean elevation: 472 m Natural resources: bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land Land use: agricultural land: 46.9% (2018 est.) arable land: 29.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 15.5% (2018 est.) forest: 36.7% (2018 est.) other: 16.4% (2018 est.) Irrigated land: 1,020 sq km (2012) Major rivers (by length in km): Danube (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, 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 populations Natural hazards: earthquakes; landslides Geography - note: strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia Map description: Bulgaria map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Black Sea.Bulgaria map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Black Sea. Topic: People and Society Population: 6,873,253 (2022 est.) Nationality: noun: Bulgarian(s) adjective: Bulgarian Ethnic groups: Bulgarian 76.9%, Turkish 8%, Romani 4.4%, other 0.7% (including Russian, Armenian, and Vlach), other (unknown) 10% (2011 est.) note: Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 9–11% of Bulgaria's population Languages: Bulgarian (official) 76.8%, Turkish 8.2%, Romani 3.8%, other 0.7%, unspecified 10.5% (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): Светoвен Алманах, незаменимият източник за основна информация. (Bulgarian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. 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.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 14.52% (male 520,190/female 491,506) 15-24 years: 9.4% (male 340,306/female 314,241) 25-54 years: 42.87% (male 1,538,593/female 1,448,080) 55-64 years: 13.15% (male 433,943/female 482,474) 65 years and over: 20.06% (2020 est.) (male 562,513/female 835,053) Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 56.6 youth dependency ratio: 23 elderly dependency ratio: 33.6 potential support ratio: 3 (2020 est.) Median age: total: 43.7 years male: 41.9 years female: 45.6 years (2020 est.) Population growth rate: -0.67% (2022 est.) Birth rate: 8.05 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Death rate: 14.41 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Net migration rate: -0.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger populations Urbanization: urban population: 76.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Major urban areas - population: 1.287 million SOFIA (capital) (2022) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 26.3 years (2019 est.) Maternal mortality ratio: 10 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 7.98 deaths/1,000 live births male: 9.02 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.57 years male: 72.36 years female: 78.97 years (2022 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (2022 est.) Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99.5% of population rural: 97.4% of population total: 99% of population unimproved: urban: 0.5% of population rural: 2.6% of population total: 1% of population (2020 est.) Current Health Expenditure: 7.1% (2019) Physicians density: 4.03 physicians/1,000 population (2015) Hospital bed density: 7.5 beds/1,000 population (2017) 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: (2019 est.) <.1% HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 3,300 (2019 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2019 est.) <100 Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 25% (2016) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.9% (2014) Education expenditures: 4.1% of GDP (2017) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.4% male: 98.7% female: 98.1% (2015) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 14 years (2019) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 14.2% male: 14.6% female: 13.7% (2020 est.) Topic: Environment Environment - current issues: air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage from air pollution and resulting acid rain; soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes 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, 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: 18.82 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 41.71 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 6.77 megatons (2020 est.) Climate: temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers Land use: agricultural land: 46.9% (2018 est.) arable land: 29.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.5% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 15.5% (2018 est.) forest: 36.7% (2018 est.) other: 16.4% (2018 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 76.4% of total population (2022) rate of urbanization: -0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.22% of GDP (2018 est.) Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.14% of GDP (2018 est.) Waste and recycling: municipal 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.) Major rivers (by length in km): Danube (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, 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: 882 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 3.942 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 834.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.) Total renewable water resources: 21.3 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) Topic: Government Country name: conventional 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. Government type: parliamentary republic Capital: name: Sofia geographic coordinates: 42 41 N, 23 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 Saint Sofia Church in the city, parts of which date back to the 4th century A.D. Administrative divisions: 28 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast); Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Haskovo, Kardzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen, Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofia, Sofia-Grad (Sofia City), Stara Zagora, Targovishte, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol Independence: 3 March 1878 (as an autonomous principality within the Ottoman Empire); 22 September 1908 (complete independence from the Ottoman Empire) National holiday: Liberation Day, 3 March (1878) Constitution: history: several previous; latest drafted between late 1990 and early 1991, adopted 13 July 1991 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly or by the president of the republic; passage requires three-fourths majority vote of National Assembly members in three ballots; signed by the National Assembly chairperson; note - under special circumstances, a "Grand National Assembly" is elected with the authority to write a new constitution and amend certain articles of the constitution, including those affecting basic civil rights and national sovereignty; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote in each of several readings; amended several times, last in 2015 Legal system: civil law 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 Bulgaria dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal 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) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, elected by the National Assembly elections/appointments: president and vice president elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 14 and 21 November 2021 (next to be held in fall 2026); chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) elected by the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers nominated by the prime minister, elected by the National Assembly election results: 2021: Rumen RADEV reelected president in second round; percent of vote in the first round - Rumen RADEV (independent) 49.4%, Anastas GERDZHIKOV (independent) 22.8%, Mustafa KARADAYI (DPS) 11.6%, Kostadin KOSTADINOV (Revival) 3.9%, Lozan PANOV (independent) 3.7%, other 8.6%; percent of vote in the second round - Rumen RADEV 66.7%, Anastas GERDZHIKOV 31.8%, neither 1.5% 2016: Rumen RADEV elected president in second round; percent of vote - Rumen RADEV (independent, supported by Bulgarian Socialist Party) 59.4%, Tsetska TSACHEVA (GERB) 36.2%, neither 4.5% 2011: Rosen PLEVNELIEV elected president in runoff election; percent of vote - Rosen PLEVNELIEV (independent) 52.6%, Ivailo KALFIN (BSP) 47.4% 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) elections: last held on 14 November 2021 (next election to be held in 2025) election results: percent of vote by party/coalition - PP 25.3%, GERB-SDS 22.4%, DPS 12.8%, BSP for Bulgaria 10.1%, ITN 9.4%, DB 6.3%, Revival 4.8%, other 8.9%; seats by party/coalition - PP 67, GERB-SDS 59, DPS 34, BSP for Bulgaria 26, ITN 25, DB 16, Revival 13; composition as of March 2022 - men 186, women 54, percent of women 22.5% Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of Cassation (consists of a chairman and approximately 72 judges organized into penal, civil, and commercial colleges); Supreme Administrative Court (organized into 2 colleges with various panels of 5 judges each); Constitutional Court (consists of 12 justices); note - Constitutional Court resides outside the judiciary judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court of Cassation and Supreme Administrative judges elected by the Supreme Judicial Council or SJC (consists of 25 members with extensive legal experience) and appointed by the president; judges can serve until mandatory retirement at age 65; Constitutional Court justices elected by the National Assembly and appointed by the president and the SJC; justices appointed for 9-year terms with renewal of 4 justices every 3 years subordinate courts: appeals courts; regional and district courts; administrative courts; courts martial Political parties and leaders: Agrarian People's Union or ZNS [Roumen YONCHEV] Bulgarian Agrarian People’s Union [Nikolay NENCHEV] Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP [Korneliya NINOVA] (alliance of BSP, PKT, New Dawn, Ecoglasnost) Bulgaria of the Citizens or DBG [Dimitar DELCHEV]] Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria or GERB (alliance with SDS) [Boyko BORISOV] Democratic Bulgaria or DB (alliance of Yes! Bulgaria, DSB, and The Greens) [Atanas ATANASOV, Hristo IVANOV] Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria or DSB [Atanas ATANASOV] Ecoglasnost [Emil GEORGIEV] Green Movement or The Greens [Borislav SANDOV, Vladislav PENEV] Middle European Class or SEC [Georgi MANEV] Movement for Rights and Freedoms or DPS [Mustafa KARADAYI] Movement 21 or D21 [Tatyana DONCHEVA] New Dawn [Mincho MINCHEV] Political Club Thrace or PKT [Stefan NACHEZ] Political Movement "Social Democrats" or PDS  [Elena NONEVA] Revival [Kostadin KOSTADINOV] Stand Up.BG or IS.BG [Maya MONOLOVA] Stand Up.BG, We Are Coming! or IBG-NI (coalition of IS.BG, D21, DBG, ENP, ZNS, and Volt) [Maya MONOLOVA, Nikolay HADZHIGENOV] There is Such a People or ITN [SLAVI TRIFONOV] United People's Party or ENP [Valentina VASILEVA-FILADELFEVS] Union of Democratic Forces or SDS (alliance with GERB)[Rumen HRISTOV] Yes! Bulgaria [Hristo IVANOV] Volt Bulgaria or Volt [Nastimir ANANIEV] We Continue the Change of PP (electoral alliance of PP, PDS, SEC, and Volt) [Kiril PETKOV and Asen VASILEV] International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EU, FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Stefka Ivanova YOVCHEVA, Counselor chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-0174; [1] (202) 299-0273, [1] (202) 483-1386 FAX: [1] (202) 234-7973 email address and website: office@bulgaria-embassy.org; Embassy.Washington@mfa.bg https://www.bulgaria-embassy.org/en/homepage/ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Herro MUSTAFA (since 18 October 2019) embassy: 16, Kozyak Street, Sofia 1408 mailing address: 5740 Sofia Place, Washington, DC  20521-5740 telephone: [359] (2) 937-5100 FAX: [359] (2) 937-5320 email address and website: acs_sofia@state.gov https://bg.usembassy.gov/ Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red; the pan-Slavic white-blue-red colors were modified by substituting a green band (representing freedom) for the blue note: the national emblem, formerly on the hoist side of the white stripe, has been removed National symbol(s): lion; national colors: white, green, red National anthem: name: "Mila Rodino" (Dear Homeland) lyrics/music: Tsvetan Tsvetkov RADOSLAVOV note: adopted 1964; composed in 1885 by a student en route to fight in the Serbo-Bulgarian War National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 10 (7 cultural, 3 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Boyana Church (c), Madara Rider (c), Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak (c), Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo (c), Rila Monastery (c), Ancient City of Nessebar (c), Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari (c), Srebarna Nature Reserve (n), Pirin National Park (n), Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians (n) Topic: Economy Economic overview: Bulgaria, a former communist country that entered the EU in 2007, has an open economy that historically has demonstrated strong growth, but its per-capita income remains the lowest among EU members and its reliance on energy imports and foreign demand for its exports makes its growth sensitive to external market conditions.   The government undertook significant structural economic reforms in the 1990s to move the economy from a centralized, planned economy to a more liberal, market-driven economy. These reforms included privatization of state-owned enterprises, liberalization of trade, and strengthening of the tax system - changes that initially caused some economic hardships but later helped to attract investment, spur growth, and make gradual improvements to living conditions. From 2000 through 2008, Bulgaria maintained robust, average annual real GDP growth in excess of 6%, which was followed by a deep recession in 2009 as the financial crisis caused domestic demand, exports, capital inflows and industrial production to contract, prompting the government to rein in spending. Real GDP growth remained slow - less than 2% annually - until 2015, when demand from EU countries for Bulgarian exports, plus an inflow of EU development funds, boosted growth to more than 3%. In recent years, strong domestic demand combined with low international energy prices have contributed to Bulgaria’s economic growth approaching 4% and have also helped to ease inflation. Bulgaria’s prudent public financial management contributed to budget surpluses both in 2016 and 2017.   Bulgaria is heavily reliant on energy imports from Russia, a potential vulnerability, and is a participant in EU-backed efforts to diversify regional natural gas supplies. In late 2016, the Bulgarian Government provided funding to Bulgaria’s National Electric Company to cover the $695 million compensation owed to Russian nuclear equipment manufacturer Atomstroyexport for the cancellation of the Belene Nuclear Power Plant project, which the Bulgarian Government terminated in 2012. As of early 2018, the government was floating the possibility of resurrecting the Belene project. The natural gas market, dominated by state-owned Bulgargaz, is also almost entirely supplied by Russia. Infrastructure projects such as the Inter-Connector Greece-Bulgaria and Inter-Connector Bulgaria-Serbia, which would enable Bulgaria to have access to non-Russian gas, have either stalled or made limited progress. In 2016, the Bulgarian Government established the State eGovernment Agency. This new agency is responsible for the electronic governance, coordinating national policies with the EU, and strengthening cybersecurity.   Despite a favorable investment regime, including low, flat corporate income taxes, significant challenges remain. Corruption in public administration, a weak judiciary, low productivity, lack of transparency in public procurements, and the presence of organized crime continue to hamper the country's investment climate and economic prospects.Bulgaria, a former communist country that entered the EU in 2007, has an open economy that historically has demonstrated strong growth, but its per-capita income remains the lowest among EU members and its reliance on energy imports and foreign demand for its exports makes its growth sensitive to external market conditions. The government undertook significant structural economic reforms in the 1990s to move the economy from a centralized, planned economy to a more liberal, market-driven economy. These reforms included privatization of state-owned enterprises, liberalization of trade, and strengthening of the tax system - changes that initially caused some economic hardships but later helped to attract investment, spur growth, and make gradual improvements to living conditions. From 2000 through 2008, Bulgaria maintained robust, average annual real GDP growth in excess of 6%, which was followed by a deep recession in 2009 as the financial crisis caused domestic demand, exports, capital inflows and industrial production to contract, prompting the government to rein in spending. Real GDP growth remained slow - less than 2% annually - until 2015, when demand from EU countries for Bulgarian exports, plus an inflow of EU development funds, boosted growth to more than 3%. In recent years, strong domestic demand combined with low international energy prices have contributed to Bulgaria’s economic growth approaching 4% and have also helped to ease inflation. Bulgaria’s prudent public financial management contributed to budget surpluses both in 2016 and 2017. Bulgaria is heavily reliant on energy imports from Russia, a potential vulnerability, and is a participant in EU-backed efforts to diversify regional natural gas supplies. In late 2016, the Bulgarian Government provided funding to Bulgaria’s National Electric Company to cover the $695 million compensation owed to Russian nuclear equipment manufacturer Atomstroyexport for the cancellation of the Belene Nuclear Power Plant project, which the Bulgarian Government terminated in 2012. As of early 2018, the government was floating the possibility of resurrecting the Belene project. The natural gas market, dominated by state-owned Bulgargaz, is also almost entirely supplied by Russia. Infrastructure projects such as the Inter-Connector Greece-Bulgaria and Inter-Connector Bulgaria-Serbia, which would enable Bulgaria to have access to non-Russian gas, have either stalled or made limited progress. In 2016, the Bulgarian Government established the State eGovernment Agency. This new agency is responsible for the electronic governance, coordinating national policies with the EU, and strengthening cybersecurity. Despite a favorable investment regime, including low, flat corporate income taxes, significant challenges remain. Corruption in public administration, a weak judiciary, low productivity, lack of transparency in public procurements, and the presence of organized crime continue to hamper the country's investment climate and economic prospects. Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $155.06 billion (2020 est.) $161.78 billion (2019 est.) $156.02 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars Real GDP growth rate: 3.39% (2019 est.) 3.2% (2018 est.) 3.5% (2017 est.) Real GDP per capita: $22,400 (2020 est.) $23,200 (2019 est.) $22,200 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $68.49 billion (2019 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.1% (2019 est.) 2.8% (2018 est.) 2% (2017 est.) Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BBB (2017) Moody's rating: Baa1 (2020) Standard & Poors rating: BBB (2019) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 4.3% (2017 est.) industry: 28% (2017 est.) services: 67.4% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 61.6% (2017 est.) government consumption: 16% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 19.2% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1.7% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 66.3% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -64.8% (2017 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 Industrial production growth rate: 3.6% (2017 est.) Labor force: 3.113 million (2020 est.) note: number of employed persons Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 6.8% industry: 26.6% services: 66.6% (2016 est.) Unemployment rate: 5.66% (2019 est.) 6.18% (2018 est.) Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 14.2% male: 14.6% female: 13.7% (2020 est.) Population below poverty line: 23.8% (2019 est.) Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 40.4 (2017 est.) 38.3 (2016) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 31.2% (2017) Budget: revenues: 20.35 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 19.35 billion (2017 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 1.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Public debt: 23.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 27.4% 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 subsectors: central government, state government, local government, and social security funds Taxes and other revenues: 35.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Current account balance: $2.06 billion (2019 est.) $611 million (2018 est.) Exports: $39.27 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $44.04 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $43.52 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars 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.) note: data are in current year dollars $41.84 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $41.91 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars Imports - partners: Germany 11%, Russia 9%, Italy 7%, Romania 7%, Turkey 7% (2019) Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, copper, cars, packaged medicines, refined petroleum (2019) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $28.38 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $25.13 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $39.059 billion (2019 est.) $41.139 billion (2018 est.) Exchange rates: leva (BGN) per US dollar - 1.61885 (2020 est.) 1.7669 (2019 est.) 1.7172 (2018 est.) 1.7644 (2014 est.) 1.4742 (2013 est.) Topic: Energy Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020) Electricity - production: 42.29 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 32.34 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 9.187 billion kWh (2017 est.) Electricity - imports: 4.568 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 10.75 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 39% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 20% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 23% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 19% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 1,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 133,900 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 15 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 144,300 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 97,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 92,720 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 49,260 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 79.28 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 3.313 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 31.15 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 3.256 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 872,757 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 7,945,739 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 114 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Bulgaria’s telecoms sector benefited from adaptation of EU regulatory measures and privatization; population is moving to fiber over DSL for broadband connection; investment towards rural areas; migration from fixed-line voice to mobile and VoIP; private networks pursuing upgrades and development of services based on 5G; broadband market in Bulgaria enjoys cross-platform competition; operators deploy NB-IoT platform in several cities and released smart platform for utilities; government launched e-learning platform to help students continue their studies during lockdown (2021) (2020) domestic: fixed-line over 12 per 100 persons, mobile-cellular teledensity, fostered by multiple service providers, is over 114 telephones per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 359; Caucasus Cable System via submarine cable provides connectivity to Ukraine, Georgia and Russia; a combination submarine cable and land fiber-optic system provides connectivity to Italy, Albania, and Macedonia; satellite earth stations - 3 (1 Intersputnik in the Atlantic Ocean region, 2 Intelsat in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) (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 governmentsBulgaria’s telecoms sector benefited from adaptation of EU regulatory measures and privatization; population is moving to fiber over DSL for broadband connection; investment towards rural areas; migration from fixed-line voice to mobile and VoIP; private networks pursuing upgrades and development of services based on 5G; broadband market in Bulgaria enjoys cross-platform competition; operators deploy NB-IoT platform in several cities and released smart platform for utilities; government launched e-learning platform to help students continue their studies during lockdown (2021) Broadcast media: 4 national terrestrial TV stations with 1 state-owned and 3 privately owned; a vast array of TV stations are available from cable and satellite TV providers; state-owned national radio broadcasts over 3 networks; large number of private radio stations broadcasting, especially in urban areas Internet country code: .bg Internet users: total: 4,853,811 (2020 est.) percent of population: 70% (2020 est.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 2,115,053 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2020 est.) Topic: Transportation National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 8 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 44 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,022,645 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1.38 million (2018) mt-km Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: LZ Airports: total: 68 (2021) Airports - with paved runways: total: 57 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 17 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 under 914 m: 26 (2021) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 9 (2021) Heliports: 1 (2021) Pipelines: 2765 km gas, 346 km oil, 378 km refined products (2017) Railways: total: 5,114 km (2014) standard gauge: 4,989 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (2,880 km electrified) narrow gauge: 125 km (2014) 0.760-m gauge Roadways: total: 19,512 km (2011) paved: 19,235 km (2011) (includes 458 km of expressways) unpaved: 277 km (2011) note: does not include Category IV local roads Waterways: 470 km (2009) Merchant marine: total: 79 by type: bulk carrier 4, general cargo 14, oil tanker 8, other 53 (2021) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Burgas, Varna (Black Sea) Topic: Military and Security Military and security forces: Bulgarian Armed Forces: Land Forces (Army), Naval Forces, Bulgarian Air Forces (Voennovazdushni Sili, VVS), Joint Special Forces; Ministry of Interior: Border Guards (2022) Military expenditures: 1.6% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2020) 3.1% of GDP (2019) (approximately $2.95 billion) 1.5% of GDP (2018) (approximately $1.72 billion) 1.2% of GDP (2017) (approximately $1.5 billion) Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 30,000 active duty personnel (16,000 Army; 4,000 Navy; 7,000 Air Force; 3,000 other, joint staff, support) (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Bulgarian Armed Forces inventory consists primarily of Soviet-era equipment, although in recent years Bulgaria has procured limited amounts of more modern weapons systems from some Western countries (2022) Military service age and obligation: 18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription ended in 2007; service obligation 6-9 months (2021) note - in 2021, women comprised about 17% of the Bulgarian military's full-time personnel Military - note: Bulgaria officially became a member of NATO in 2004; Bulgaria conducts its own air policing mission, but because of Russian aggression in the Black Sea region, NATO allies have sent detachments of fighters to augment the Bulgarian Air Force since 2014 (2022) Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force 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: nonenone Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 19,014 (Syria) (mid-year 2021) stateless persons: 1,143 (mid-year 2021) note: 74,107 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-March 2022); Bulgaria is predominantly a transit country Illicit drugs: source country for amphetamine tablets

20220601

countries-singapore

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: 2.29 physicians/1,000 population (2016) 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) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Child marriage: women married by age 15: 0% (2020) women married by age 18: 0.1% (2020 est.) Education expenditures: 2.5% of GDP (2020) 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 ICC (2019) 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, reelected 10 July 2020) 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: HALIMAH Yacob was declared president on 13 September 2017, being the only eligible candidate; Tony TAN Keng Yam elected president in the previous contested election on 27 August 2011; 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; 93 members directly elected by 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 61.2%, WP 11.2%, PSP 10.2%; seats by party - PAP 83, WP 10, PSP 2; composition - men 79, women 25, percent of women 24% 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 - production: 48.66 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 47.69 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 13.35 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 98% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 14,780 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 783,300 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 755,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 1.322 million bbl/day (2016 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 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 12.97 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 622.9 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 13.48 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2017 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: 155.65 (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 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: 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: 3220 km domestic gas (2014), 1122 km cross-border pipelines (2017), 8 km refined products (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 (aka Singapore Defense Force): Singapore Army, Republic of Singapore Navy, Republic of Singapore Air Force (includes air defense); Police Coast Guard (subordinate to the Singapore Police Force) (2021) note(s) - in 2022, the SAF announced that it would form a Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) by the end of the year; 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 65,000 active duty troops (50,000 Army; 7,000 Navy; 8,000 Air Force) (2021) 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(s) - 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; 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: 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 2021, 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 professionalsthe 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 2021, 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 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: 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, ICJ 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; Indonesia and Singapore continue to work on finalization of their 1973 maritime boundary agreement by defining unresolved areas north of Indonesia's Batam Island; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Straitdisputes 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, ICJ 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; Indonesia and Singapore continue to work on finalization of their 1973 maritime boundary agreement by defining unresolved areas north of Indonesia's Batam Island; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait 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

20220601

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: 1.41 physicians/1,000 population (2017) 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) 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) 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 - production: 202.1 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 185.1 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 51,100 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 96% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 4% 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: 2,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 1,886 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: 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: adequate, island-wide telephone system; lack of local competition, but telecoms are a high contributors to overall GDP; growth sectors include the mobile telephony and data segments (2020) 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 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: 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 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 securityGrenada 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 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

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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 69.3%, German 4.2%, Italian 3.2%, Portuguese 2.5%, French 2.1%, Kosovo 1.1%, Turkish 1%, other 16.6% (2019 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 5.5%, other 1.6%, none 29.5%, unspecified 0.8% (2019 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: 30.7 years (2019 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: 4.3 physicians/1,000 population (2017) 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) 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) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 4.9% of GDP (2018) 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, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais/Wallis, Vaud, Zug, Zuerich note: 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 (since1 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 (FDP.The Liberals); Federal Assembly vote - 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 - CVP 13, FDP 12, SDP 9, Green Party 5, other 1; composition (as of October 2021) - men 34, women 12, percent of women 26.1% National Council - percent of vote by party - SVP 25.6%, SP 16.8%, FDP 15.1%, Green Party 13.2%, CVP 11.4%, GLP 7.8%, other 10.1%; seats by party - SVP 53, SP 39, FDP 29, Green Party 28, CVP 25, GLP 16, other 10; 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) [Christian LEVRAT] 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) [Albert ROESTI] other minor parties 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) 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 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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Eva Weigold SCHULTZ (since 17 January 2021) 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: lyrics/music: Leonhard WIDMER [German], Charles CHATELANAT [French], Camillo VALSANGIACOMO [Italian], and Flurin CAMATHIAS [Romansch]/Alberik ZWYSSIG the Swiss anthem has four names: "Schweizerpsalm" [German] "Cantique Suisse" [French] "Salmo svizzero," [Italian] "Psalm svizzer" [Romansch] (Swiss Psalm) 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 - production: 59.01 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 58.46 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 30.17 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 34.1 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 20.84 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 3% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 18% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 67% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 13% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - imports: 57,400 bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 61,550 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 223,900 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 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 3.709 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 3.681 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: (1 January 2011 est.) NA cu m 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 emerged as a European leader for 1Gb/s fiber broadband, complemented by 5G to 97% of the population; competitive market buttressed by regulator assurances of 5G-compatible network infrastructure; although not a member of the EU, Switzerland follows the EU's telecom framework and regulations; Zurich is being developed as a smart city (2020) 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 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: 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: 5,690 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-m gauge (1,167.3 km electrified) 36 km 0.800-m 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) (2021) 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 (2021) 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: 190 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR) (2022) Military - note: Switzerland has long maintained a policy of military neutrality, but does occasionally 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 2021, continued doing so with about 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 occasionally 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 2021, continued doing so with about 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: nonenone 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) 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

20220601

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

20220601

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.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, March 30, 2022

20220601

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) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 3.2% of GDP (2019) 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 22.4%; 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] Social Democratic Party or PS [Vicenc ALFY FERRER] Liberals of Andorra or L'A [Jordi GALLARDO FERNANDEZ] Third Way/Lauredian Union [Josep PINTAT FORNE] Social Democracy and Progress or SDP [Victor NAUDI ZAMORA] 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) Electricity - production: 99.48 million kWh (2015 est.) Electricity - consumption: 221.6 million kWh (2015 est.) Electricity - exports: 6,000 kWh (2015 est.) Electricity - imports: 471.3 million kWh (2015 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 520,000 kW (2010 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 61% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 23% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 15% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2016) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2016) (2016) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2016) (2016) Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (2016) (2016) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2016) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2016) (2016) Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2016) (2016) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2016) (2016) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2016) (2016) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (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 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 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

20220601

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.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, April 18, 2022

20220601

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: 0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2011) 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, 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) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 11% (2018/19) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 10.7% (2018) women married by age 18: 29.8% (2018) men married by age 18: 2.9% (2018 est.) Education expenditures: 3.1% of GDP (2019) 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, 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/Republic of Cameroon 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% 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 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 (vacant);  Deputy Chief of Mission (currently serving as Charge d'Affaires) Mary E. DASCHBACH 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 - production: 8.108 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 6.411 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 55 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 1.558 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 52% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 47% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 69,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 96,370 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 36,480 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 200 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 39,080 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 45,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 8,545 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 14,090 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 910.4 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 906.1 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 135.1 billion cu m (1 January 2018 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’s 3G and LTE services are improving through growing competition and a government program to improve national connectivity and support digital economy; saturated use of transactions through m-commerce; developing broadband sector; improved submarine and terrestrial cable connectivity strengthened international bandwidth and lowered prices; pushing start of fiber link to Congo; fiber rollout continues with new government funding; operators opened new data center in 2020 and developed contracts for satellite broadband; government awarded contract to provide connectivity to universities (2020) 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 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: 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, 1107 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, BIR), National Gendarmerie, Presidential Guard (2022) note(s) - 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; the Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR) maintains its own command and control structure and reports directly to the president; it is a large brigade-sized force comprised of approximately 9 battalions, detachments, or groups (5 infantry, 1 airborne, 1 amphibious, 1 armored reconnaissance, and 1 counter-terrorism) 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) (2021) 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) (Jan 2022) note - Cameroon has committed approximately 2,000-2,500 troops to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram; 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): 345,622 (Central African Republic), 128,893 (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)

20220601

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; volcanism on Deception Island and isolated areas of West Antarctica; other seismic activity rare and weak; large icebergs may calve from ice shelf 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: Turkeysevere 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

20220601

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

20220601

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

20220601

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 Democratic Republic of the 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.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

20220601

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 physicians/1,000 population (2019) 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) 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 half of the 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 half of the legislature and a 1,200-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 Carrie LAM (since 1 July 2017) 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 election results: John LEE was the only candidate and won with over 99% of the vote by the Election Committee; LEE assumes office on 1 July 2022 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 - production: 35.97 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 41.84 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 1.205 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 11.62 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 12.63 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 0% 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: 403,100 bbl/day (2016 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 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 3.37 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 3.37 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2016 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: excellent domestic and international services; some of the highest peak average broadband speeds and penetration rates in the world; HK government helps subsidize 5G projects and aims to be among earliest adopters of 5G mobile technology; almost all households have access to high-speed broadband connectivity through fiber; high mobile subscribership reflects tourism and multiple-device culture; government has organized the development of smart city and digital economy to encourage social inclusion and economic development, including health care, education, and utilities; US prevented use of Pacific Light submarine cable network due to security issues (2020) 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 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: 4 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: 2,107 km (2017) paved: 2,107 km (2017) 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) 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 (2021) 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

20220601

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.)

20220601

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: 29.4 years (2019 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: 3.81 physicians/1,000 population (2016) 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) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 4,000 (2018) HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2018) <100 Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 22.2% (2016) 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) 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/Republiken Finland local short form: Suomi/Finland 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 17.7%, PS 17.5%, Kok 17.0%. Center Party  13.8%, Vihr 11.5%, Vas 8.2%, SFP 4.5%, KD 3.9%, other 5.9%; seats by party/coalition - SDP 40, PS 39, Kok 38, Centre Party 31, Vihr 20, Vas 16, SFP 9, KD 5; 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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Ian CAMPBELL (since 14 January 2021) 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 - production: 66.54 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 82.79 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 3.159 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 22.11 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 16.27 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 41% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 17% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 20% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 23% 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: 236,700 bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 310,600 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 217,100 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 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 2.35 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 4 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 2.322 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: (1 January 2016 est.) NA cu m 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 most progressive in Europe through favorable regulatory action and competitive technological innovation; orientation towards high technology, research, and development with high investment in information and communication sectors; large proportion of population on 5G and most on LTE; high broadband and mobile penetration; fixed-voice density falling; government provided universal 5Mb/s broadband (2020) 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 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: 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: 1288 km gas transmission pipes, 1976 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 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(s) - 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) (Jan 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) stateless persons: 3,416 (mid-year 2021)

20220601

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 25-49 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: 0.04 physicians/1,000 population (2017) 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, 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) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 29.2% (2019) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 24.2% (2019) women married by age 18: 60.6% (2019) men married by age 18: 8.1% (2019 est.) Education expenditures: 2.4% of GDP (2019) 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, 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 (2021) 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 (2021) 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; 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 took control of the country and dismissed the Chadian parliament, promising elections within eighteen months head of government: Interim President Mahamat Idriss DEBY; note - on 20 April 2021, 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 took control of the country and dismissed the Chadian parliament, promising elections within eighteen months 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 election results: 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) 3.16% 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 MEDAR] 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 David GILMOUR (since December 2020) 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: 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 - production: 224.3 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 208.6 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 48,200 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 98% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 3% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 132,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 70,440 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 1.5 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 2,300 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 2,285 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: 5,340 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0 (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: Chad’s inadequate telecom infrastructure, corruption, and high taxes hinder penetration in fixed, mobile, and Internet sectors; with tax reform, operators are investing in voice and data infrastructure to 3G/4G; government approved telecom infrastructure upgrade; World Bank-funded Central African Backbone (CAB) project; Trans-Saharan Backbone project will link a fiber cable to Nigeria and Algeria (2020) 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 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; 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.) Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 0 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0 (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: (2012) (Chari and Legone Rivers are navigable only in wet season) 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(s) - 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; approximately 30,000 active personnel (20-25,000 Ground Forces; 300 Air Force; 5-10,000 General Direction of the Security Services of State Institutions); approximately 5,000 National Gendarmerie; approximately 3,000 National Nomadic Guard of Chad (2021) 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: 1,425 Mali (MINUSMA) (Jan 2022) note(s) - Chad is part of a five-nation anti-jihadist task force known as the G5 Sahel Group, set up in 2014 with Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger; Chad has committed 550 troops and 100 gendarmes to the force; in early 2020, G5 Sahel military chiefs of staff agreed to allow defense forces from each of the states to pursue terrorist fighters up to 100 km into neighboring countries; the G5 force is backed by the UN, US, and France; G5 troops periodically conduct joint operations with French forces deployed to the Sahel under Operation Barkhane; Chad hosts the headquarters of Operation Barkhane in N’Djamena Chad has committed approximately 1,000-1,500 troops to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram; 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 BH as part of the MNJTF mission 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 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): 388,550 (Sudan), 122,421 (Central African Republic), 42,549 (Cameroon), 19,724 (Nigeria) (2022) IDPs: 406,573 (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)

20220601

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

20220601

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)

20220601

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: Turkeytotal: 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 (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) top ten by passengers (2019): Atlanta (ATL) 110,531,300; Beijing (PEK) - 100,011,438; Los Angeles, CA (LAX) 88,068,013; Dubai, UAE (DXB) 86,396,757; Tokyo (HND) 85,505,054; Chicago (ORD) 84,649,115; London (LHR) 80,888,305; Shanghai (PVG) 76,153,455; Paris (CDG) 76,150,009; Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW) 75,066,956; note - 2019 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): Memphis, TN (MEM) - 4,613,431; Hong Kong (HKG) - 4,468,089; Shanghai (PVG) - 3,686,627; Anchorage, AK (ANC) - 3,157,682; Louisville, KY (SDF) - 2,917,243; Incheon (ICN) - 2,822,370; Taipei (TPE) - 2,342,714; Los Angeles, CA (LAX) 2,229,476; Doha, Qatar (DOH) 2,175,292; Miami, FL (MIA) 2,137,699 (2020) Topic: Yementotal: 57 (2021) Topic: Zambiatotal: 88 (2021) Topic: Zimbabwetotal: 196 (2021)

20220601

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 four straight years of GDP growth above the EU average. Unemployment has fallen, but remains high, especially among youth. Spain is the Eurozone'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 four straight years of GDP growth above the EU average. Unemployment has fallen, but remains high, especially among youth. Spain is the Eurozone'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: 31.1 years (201 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: 3.87 physicians/1,000 population (2017) 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 30 March 2022, Spain has reported a total of 11,508,309 cases of COVID-19 or 24,313.69 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 102,218 cumulative deaths or a rate of 215.95 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 March 2022, 87.99% 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) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 4.2% of GDP (2018) 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 30 March 2022, Spain has reported a total of 11,508,309 cases of COVID-19 or 24,313.69 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 102,218 cumulative deaths or a rate of 215.95 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 29 March 2022, 87.99% 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 97, ERC 15, EAJ/PNV 10, C's 9, other 22; composition (as of October 2021) - men 157, women 108; percent of women 40.8% Congress of Deputies - percent of vote by party - PSOE 28.7%, PP 20.8%,Vox 15.1%, Unidos Podemos 12.8%, C's 6.8%, ERC 3.6%, other 12.8%; seats by party - PSOE 120, PP 88, Vox 52,  Unidos Podemos 35, C's 10, ERC 13, other 23; 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) Junts per Catalunia or JxCat  [Carles PUIDGEMONT] Ciudadanos Party or C's [Ines ARRIMADAS] Compromis - Communist Coalition [Joan BALDOVI] New Canary or NCa [Pedro QUEVEDOS] Unidas Podemos [Ione BELARRA] (formerly Podemos IU; electoral coalition formed for May 2016 election) 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] JxCat-Junts Together for Catalonia [Jordi SANCHEZ] Union of People of Navarra or UPN [Javier ESPARZA] Navarra Suma (electoral Coaltion formed by Navarrese People's Union (UPN), Ciudadanos (C's), and the Popular Partty (PP) ahead of the 2019 election) 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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Conrad TRIBBLE (since 20 January 2021) 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 - production: 258.6 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 239.5 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 14.18 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 21.85 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 105.9 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 47% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 7% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 14% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 32% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 1,700 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - imports: 1.325 million bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 150 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 1.361 million bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 1.296 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: 36.81 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 31.27 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 2.888 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 34.63 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 2.548 billion cu m (1 January 2018 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: well-developed and one of the largest telecom markets in Europe, with average mobile penetration for Europe; regulator has championed competition; LTE is nearly universal with shifts of service to 5G; operator joined government smart cities project; fixed-line broadband is backed by investment in fiber infrastructure; fiber broadband accounts for most of all fixed-line broadband connections; Chinese company Huawei contributes investment to the telecom sector; increased connectivity through submarine cable connection to Brazil; importer of broadcasting equipment from Europe (2020) 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 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: 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: 10481 km gas, 358 km oil, 4378 km refined products (2017) Railways: total: 15,333 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-m and 1.435m gage (190.1 km electrified); 28 km 0.914-m gauge (28 km electrified); 4 km 0.600-m 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, 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) (2021) 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: the Spanish Armed Forces have approximately 120,000 active duty troops (75,000 Army; 25,000 Navy, inc about 5,000 marines; 20,000 Air Force); 80,000 Guardia Civil (2021) 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 (training mission, counter-ISIS coalition); 350 Latvia (NATO); 650 Lebanon (UNIFIL); approximately 400 Mali (EUTM); 150 Turkey (NATO) (2021-2022) note - NATO troop deployment numbers in eastern Europe are as of February 2022; in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries 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: 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 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; 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); Morocco serves as the primary launching site of illegal migration into Spain from North Africa; 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 Badajozin 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 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; 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); Morocco serves as the primary launching site of illegal migration into Spain from North Africa; 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) stateless persons: 6,.92 (mid-year 2021) note: 259,324 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals, including Canary Islands (January 2015-May 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

20220601

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 (2019 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: 5.17 physicians/1,000 population (2017) 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) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 5.2% of GDP (2018) 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 12/2/21 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 April 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: 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 - Alexander VAN DER BELLEN 53.8%, Norbert HOFER 46.2% 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 - NA; seats by party - NA; 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%; note - total Federal Assembly percent of women 41.4% 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 [Werner KOGLER] NEOS - The New Austria [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 (vacant), Mario MESQUITA (since 12 July 2021) 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 - production: 60.78 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 64.6 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 19.21 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 26.37 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 24.79 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 25% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 43% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 31% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 13,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - imports: 146,600 bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 41.2 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 186,500 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 268,000 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: 1.274 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 9.486 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 5.437 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 14.02 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 6.513 billion cu m (1 January 2018 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 benefitting from effective competition; government and regulator are focused on improving telecom infrastructure; program to provide a national gigabit service by 2030 based on 5G networks; fixed-line broadband market is dominated by DSL sector, while cable broadband enjoys steady share of connections; fiber penetration remains low pending build out network infrastructure; EU-funded projects develop infrastructure to enable an 'Internet of Services; Vienna is a smart city; importer of broadcasting equipment from Vietnam and China (2020) 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 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: 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: 1888 km gas, 594 km oil, 157 km refined products (2017) Railways: total: 5,800 km (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 est.) 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: the Austrian Armed Forces have approximately 25,000 total active duty personnel (20,000 Army; 5,000 Air Force) (2021) 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: 275 Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR stabilization force); 240 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); 175 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (Jan 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) 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

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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 cripled 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) 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; 16 members directly elected in 8 2-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 14 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 8 November 2016 (next to be held on 3 November 2020) House of Representatives - last held on 8 November 2016 (next to be held on 3 November 2020) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 21, PPD 7, PIP 1, Independent 1; composition - men 23, women 7, percent of women 23.3% House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 34, PPD 16, PIP 1; composition - men 11, women 4, percent of women 26.7%; total Legislative Assembly percent of women 16% 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: 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) 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 - production: 20.95 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 19.48 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 6.294 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 94% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 4% 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: 98,000 bbl/day (2016 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 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 1.303 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 1.303 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 711,512 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 3,371,970 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 114.95 (2019 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: small telecom market affected by mismanagement and natural disasters; hurricanes in 2017 and earthquake in 2020 caused destruction of telecom infrastructure, leading to market decline; US provided funds to rebuild after some delay; lags behind US in fixed and broadband penetration due to high unemployment and lack of operator investment; multi-national telcoms enable LTE and launch of 5G; growing number of submarine cables helps to reduce costs and supports streaming of international content and cloud services; operator launched connectivity for school children during pandemic (2020) 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 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: 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: increasing numbers of illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico each year looking for workincreasing numbers of illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico each year looking for work

20220601

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.) 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: 2.41 physicians/1,000 population (2010) 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) 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: Fernando CHUI Sai On reelected chief executive; Election Committee vote - 380 of 396; note - HO Iat Seng was elected chief executive (receiving 392 out of 400 votes) on 24 August 2019 and will take office on 20 December 2019 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 - production: 929 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 5.077 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 4.306 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 472,000 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 0% 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: 12,700 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 14,180 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 178.2 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 175.5 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 110,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2020 est.) Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 2,181,194 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 345.3 (2018 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Macau’s sophisticated telecom market boasts one of the highest mobile penetration rates in the world due to high tourism; liberalized market is managed by independent regulator with effective competition in the mobile market; modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and international services; high mobile subscriber numbers and mobile penetration; offering 4G, LTE services and first phase of 5G network rollout; possible synchronizing with neighboring regions; Macau's smart city project spans areas of transportation, medical services, tourism, and e-government; importer of broadcast and video equipment from China (2020) 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 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: 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: nonenone 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

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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% NA (2009 est.) 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% NA (2016 est.) 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: Turkeyagriculture: 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.)

20220601

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

20220601

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: Albania24.8 years (2019 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 (2019 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 (2019 est.) Topic: Benin20.5 years (2017/18 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Bolivia21.2 years (2008 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina27.7 years (2019 est.) Topic: Bulgaria26.3 years (2019 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 25-49 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 the19.8 years (2011/12 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 Topic: Cote d'Ivoire19.6 years (2011/12 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 Topic: Croatia28.9 years (2019 est.) Topic: Cyprus29.2 years (2019 est.) note: data represent only government-controlled areas Topic: Czechia28.5 years (2019 est.) Topic: Denmark29.7 years (2019 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 (2019 est.) Topic: Ethiopia19.3 years (2019 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 Topic: Finland29.4 years (2019 est.) Topic: France28.8 years (2019 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: Germany29.8 years (2019 est.) Topic: Ghana20.7 years (2014 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Greece29.9 years (2019 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: Hungary28.3 years (2019 est.) Topic: Iceland28.7 years (2019 est.) Topic: India21 years (2015/16) 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: Ireland30.7 years (2019 est.) Topic: Israel27.7 years (2019 est.) Topic: Italy31.3 years (2019 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 (2019 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: Lithuania27.5 years (2019 est.) Topic: Luxembourg31.1 years (2019 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: Maldives24.5 years (2009 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 Topic: Mali19.2 years (2018 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 Topic: Malta29 years (2019 est.) note: data refer to the average of the different childbearing ages of first-order births Topic: Mauritania21.4 years (2019-2021) note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 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: Nepal21.6 years (2016 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Netherlands30.1 years (2019 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: Niger20.4 years (2012 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Nigeria20.4 years (2018 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: North Macedonia27 years (2019 est.) Topic: Norway29.7 years (2019 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 Guineanote: 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: Poland27.6 years (2019 est.) Topic: Portugal29.9 years (2019 est.) Topic: Romania26.9 years (2019 est.) Topic: Russia25.2 years (2013 est.) Topic: Rwanda22.7 years (2014/15 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 (2018 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Serbia28.1 years (2019 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 (2019 est.) Topic: Slovenia28.9 years (2019 est.) Topic: Solomon Islands22.6 years (2015 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 Topic: Spain31.1 years (201 est.) Topic: Sri Lanka25.6 years (2016 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 30-34 Topic: Sweden29.5 years (2019 est.) Topic: Switzerland30.7 years (2019 est.) Topic: Tajikistan21.9 years (2017 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 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: Togo20.9 years (2013/14 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Tonga24.9 years (2012 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 Topic: Turkey26.4 years (2019 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

20220601

static-059c90673c12d96c082b8543d067aa19-US_148_large.jpeg

20220601

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 zone 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: 28.9 years (2019 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: 3.09 physicians/1,000 population (2017) 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) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA Education expenditures: 4.9% of GDP (2018) 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 Janez JANSA (since 13 March 2020) 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 by November 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%; Janez JANSA (SDS) elected prime minister on 3 March 2020, National Assembly vote - 52-31 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 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 in 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 31% 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 [Aleksandra PIVEC] 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 AB [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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Susan K. Falatko  (since 20 January 2021) 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 - production: 15.46 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 13.4 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 7.972 billion kWh (2017 est.) Electricity - imports: 8.359 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 3.536 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 37% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 20% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 34% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 9% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 5 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 52,140 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: 8 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 906.1 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 2.832 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 906.1 million cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: (2017 est.) NA cu m 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: well-developed telecom infrastructure with sound regulatory intervention; increase in Internet community utilizing e-government, e-commerce, and e-health; government funds to improve broadband to more municipalities; high mobile penetration rate retaining customers with bundled products; extensive reach of 5G; FttP to 90% of premises; importer of broadcasting equipment from neighboring Central Europe (2020) 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 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: 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: 1155 km gas, 5 km oil (2017) 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: (2012) (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 (2021) 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: the Slovenian Armed Forces have approximately 6,000 active duty troops (2021) 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) (2022) Military - note: Slovenia officially became a member of NATO in 2004; Hungary and Italy provide NATO's air policing mission for Slovenia’s airspace Topic: Transnational Issues Disputes - international: 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 arbitration panel issued a ruling on the border that Croatia has not implemented; 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 requirementssince 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 arbitration panel issued a ruling on the border that Croatia has not implemented; 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 Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons: 10 (2020) note:  538,973 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-April 2022) Illicit drugs: minor transit point for cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe, and for precursor chemicals

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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: 1.42 physicians/1,000 population (2014) 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) 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% 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% 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: 23,743 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 134.41 (2019 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 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: 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: maritime delineation negotiations continue with Philippines, Indonesiamaritime delineation negotiations continue with Philippines, Indonesia

20220601

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 - the food security situation worsened in recent months due to the impact of COVID‑19 as informal labor opportunities and remittances declined; between November 2020 and March 2021, about 13.15 million people were estimated to be in severe acute food insecurity and to require urgent humanitarian assistance, including 8.52 million people in "Crisis" and 4.3 million people in "Emergency"; the food security of the vulnerable populations, including IDPs and the urban poor, is likely to deteriorate as curfews and restrictions on movements to contain the COVID‑19 outbreak limit the employment opportunities for casual laborers (2021) Topic: Bangladeshsevere localized food insecurity: due to economic constraints - food insecurity poverty levels have increased due to income losses and a decline in remittances caused by the effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic (2021) Topic: Burkina Fasosevere localized food insecurity: due to civil insecurity in the north - according to the latest analysis, about 2.87 million people are estimated to need humanitarian assistance in the June−August 2021; in Centre-Nord and Sahel regions, insecurity continues to cause population displacements, further deteriorating the food security situation (2021) 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; persisting conflicts in Rakhine, Chin, Kachin, Kayin, and Shan states have triggered large-scale population displacements particularly since 2017; 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 (2021) Topic: Burundiwidespread lack of access: 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 a March 2021 analysis, about 1.9 million people (7 percent of the total population) were projected to be severely food insecure in the June‑August 2021 period; this mainly results from the effects of Boko Haram incursions in the Far North Region, the socio‑political unrest in the Northwest and Southwest regions and COVID‑19 related economic shocks, which disrupted trade flows and agricultural practices, deteriorated livelihoods and displaced people (2021) Topic: Central African Republicexceptional shortfall in aggregate food production/supplies: 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 - 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: 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 restrictive measures related to the COVID‑19 pandemic - the negative impact of the restrictive measures related to the COVID‑19 pandemic on informal labor and on food supply chains, resulted, on one side, in the loss of income and, on the other, in high food prices due to a decline in food supply; these factors limited the access to food for the most vulnerable population (2021) 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 the reduction in income-generating activities - the economy is only expected to recover moderately in 2021, following the pandemic-driven contraction in 2020, and households will continue to face food access constraints; an estimated 209,000 people are projected to be food insecure in the April−September 2021 period, down from 347,000 in the January−March 2021 period (2021) Topic: Ethiopiawidespread lack of access: due to civil conflict - 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 localized shortfalls of cereal production - despite overall favorable food security conditions, the most vulnerable households still need external food assistance; the aggregate number of severely food insecure people was estimated at 267,000 during the lean season between June and August 2020;  it is very likely that the number of food insecure population increased with the impact of COVID‑19 (2021) Topic: Haitisevere localized food insecurity: due to reduced agricultural production and socio political turmoil - about 4.4 million people are forecast to be facing severe acute food insecurity or to be in need of urgent food assistance in the March-June 2021 time period; the high levels of food insecurity reflect the worsening household access to food, which was constrained by the negative effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic, primarily through income and job losses; the low availability of locally produced staple crops and high prices of food items exacerbated the situation; the ongoing socio‑political unrest has disrupted market activities, especially in urban areas, and reduced mobility due to road blockage has further affected the access to food (2021) Topic: Iraqsevere localized food insecurity: due to civil conflict, low oil prices, and economic slowdown - the 2021 Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) for Iraq identified 4.1 million people in need, of which 2.4 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 (2021) Topic: Kenyaexceptional shortfall in aggregate food production/supplies: 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 in the 2020/21 marketing year (November/October); if this gap is not adequately covered through commercial imports and/or food aid, households could experience a harsh lean period, particularly from August until October, when the 2021 main season grain crops are expected to be available for consumption (2021) Topic: Lebanonexceptional shortfall in aggregate food production/supplies: due to the ongoing financial and economic crisis - in August 2020, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia estimated that more than 55% of the population lived in poverty, up from 28% in 2019; current figures are likely to be higher due to a fall in households' purchasing power; the already worrisome economic conditions, with increasing unemployment, poverty, and skyrocketing inflation rates, have further worsened due to the COVID‑19 pandemic and the measures introduced to contain the spread of the disease (2021)due to the ongoing financial and economic crisis - in August 2020, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia estimated that more than 55% of the population lived in poverty, up from 28% in 2019; current figures are likely to be higher due to a fall in households' purchasing power; the already worrisome economic conditions, with increasing unemployment, poverty, and skyrocketing inflation rates, have further worsened due to the COVID‑19 pandemic and the measures introduced to contain the spread of the disease Topic: Lesothosevere localized food insecurity: due to localized shortfalls in production and loss of income-generating activities -  a slow economic recovery in 2021 will continue to impose constraints on households’ incomes, impinging on their economic capacity to access food; overall, the number of food insecure people is expected to decline from the estimated 582,000 that faced acute food insecurity in the October 2020−March 2021 period; the possibility of a third wave of COVID‑19 cases in the country and neighboring South Africa, increases the risk for the enforcement of new containment measures, which could prolong the high levels of unemployment and cause further income losses among the most vulnerable households (2021)due to localized shortfalls in production and loss of income-generating activities -  a slow economic recovery in 2021 will continue to impose constraints on households’ incomes, impinging on their economic capacity to access food; overall, the number of food insecure people is expected to decline from the estimated 582,000 that faced acute food insecurity in the October 2020−March 2021 period; the possibility of a third wave of COVID‑19 cases in the country and neighboring South Africa, increases the risk for the enforcement of new containment measures, which could prolong the high levels of unemployment and cause further income losses among the most vulnerable households Topic: Libyasevere localized food insecurity: due to civil insecurity, economic and political instability, and high food prices - an estimated 1.3 million people (23% of the population) are in need of humanitarian assistance of which 700,000 require food assistance; half of the people in need of humanitarian assistance are internally displaced or migrants that are residing in, or transiting through, the country (2021) Topic: Madagascarsevere localized food insecurity: due to drought in southern areas and limited income-earning opportunities - an estimated 1.14 million people are food insecure in southern and southeastern regions and require urgent humanitarian assistance; the effects of a severe drought on agricultural production in 2021 and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the loss of incomes due to the economic slowdown, are the key drivers of food insecurity (2021) Topic: Malawisevere localized food insecurity: due to reduced incomes - nationally, cereal production is estimated at a bumper high in 2021, which is expected to result in average to above‑average household cereal supplies and thus improvements in food security; despite the good food supply situation, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to curb access to food due to reduced incomes (2021) Topic: Malisevere localized food insecurity: due to civil insecurity - according to the latest analysis, about 1.37 million people are estimated to be in a food “Crisis”  in the June−August 2021 period as a result of the escalation of the conflict that continues to cause population displacements, combined with the impacts of the pandemic and weather shocks (2021)due to civil insecurity - according to the latest analysis, about 1.37 million people are estimated to be in a food “Crisis”  in the June−August 2021 period as a result of the escalation of the conflict that continues to cause population displacements, combined with the impacts of the pandemic and weather shocks Topic: Mauritaniasevere localized food insecurity: due to poor performance of pastoral cropping season - according to the latest analysis, about 484,000 people are assessed to need humanitarian assistance in the June−August 2021 period as a result of fodder production deficits in Trarza, Brakna, Gorgol, Guidimaka and Assaba districts (2021) Topic: Morocconote:  data does not include former Western Saharanote:  data does not include former Western Sahara Topic: Mozambiquesevere localized food insecurity: due to economic downturn, localized shortfalls in staple food production, and insecurity in northern areas - an estimated 1.65 million people require humanitarian assistance at least up until September 2021; populations in Cabo Delgado are experiencing the severest levels of acute food insecurity, where an estimated 227,000 people are facing "Emergency" levels of food insecurity, reflecting the effects of the conflict on livelihoods and rainfall deficits that caused a drop in cereal production in 2021 (2021)due to economic downturn, localized shortfalls in staple food production, and insecurity in northern areas - an estimated 1.65 million people require humanitarian assistance at least up until September 2021; populations in Cabo Delgado are experiencing the severest levels of acute food insecurity, where an estimated 227,000 people are facing "Emergency" levels of food insecurity, reflecting the effects of the conflict on livelihoods and rainfall deficits that caused a drop in cereal production in 2021 Topic: Namibiasevere localized food insecurity: due to reduced incomes - an above-average harvest in 2021 is expected to lead to an improvement in food security compared to the previous year, however, the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily income and job losses, are expected to continue to constrain households’ access to food (2021) Topic: Nigerexceptional shortfall in aggregate food production/supplies: 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 percent 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 percent 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, about 12.8 million people are assessed to be in need of humanitarian assistance in the June−August 2021 period as a result of worsening conflict that is driving new population displacements; over 2.8 million people are estimated to be internally displaced in northeastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, due to communal clashes in northwestern/northcentral zones and natural disasters; the areas inaccessible to humanitarian interventions are facing the worst food insecurity conditions (2021) Topic: Pakistansevere localized food insecurity: due to population displacements, economic constraints, and high prices of the main food staple - the main causes of food insecurity in the country are limited livelihood opportunities, high food prices, and recurrent natural disasters, amplified by the COVID‑19 pandemic; severe floods in August 2020 in Sindh Province affected the livelihoods of about 2 million people and caused severe damage to housing and infrastructure; in addition, prices of wheat flour, the country’s main staple, were at high levels in most markets in May 2021, constraining access to food of the most vulnerable households; Pakistan hosts large numbers of registered and unregistered Afghan refugees; most of these people are in need of humanitarian assistance and are straining the already limited resources of the host communities; poverty levels have increased due to losses of income-generating opportunities (2021) Topic: Senegalsevere localized food insecurity: due to localized shortfalls in cereal production - according to the latest analysis, about 490,000 people are estimated to need humanitarian assistance in the June−August 2021 period due to the effects of adverse weather events (droughts and floods) on cereal and fodder production (2021) Topic: Sierra Leonesevere localized food insecurity: due to high food prices - about 1.76 million people are estimated to be severely food insecure during the June−August 2021 period on account of high food prices and low purchasing power, resulting in acute constraints on households’ access to food; the main drivers of the food insecurity are the effects of adverse weather events (flooding), Fall Armyworm attacks on maize in some localized areas, high inflation rate, weakening local currency and the effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic restrictions (2021) Topic: Somaliaexceptional shortfall in aggregate food production/supplies: 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; about 7.2 million people (about 60% of the total population) are estimated to be severely food insecure in the April−July 2021 period; particular concern exists for households in Jonglei, Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal and Warrap states and in neighboring Pibor Administrative Area, where 60-85% of the  population is estimated to be severely food insecure, with a total of 108,000 people facing “Catastrophe” levels of food insecurity (2022) Topic: Sudansevere localized food insecurity: due to conflict, civil insecurity, and soaring food prices - the number of severely food insecure people was estimated at 9.8 million in the June−September 2021 period, due to flood-induced livelihood losses sustained in 2020, soaring food prices and inter‑communal conflict; the main drivers are macro‑economic challenges resulting in rampant food and non‑food inflation, the lingering impact of 2020 widespread floods on livelihoods and the escalation of inter‑communal violence in western Greater Darfur Region and in eastern South Kordofan, North Kordofan and Blue Nile states (2021) Topic: Syriaexceptional shortfall in aggregate food production/supplies: due to civil conflict and a stagnant economy - a nationwide food security assessment estimates that about 12.4 million people (60% of the overall population) are now food insecure in 2021, 5.4 million more than at the end of 2019, mostly due to constrained livelihood opportunities and a rapidly worsening economy; although some international food assistance is being provided, Syrian refugees are also pressuring host communities' resources in neighboring countries (2021) Topic: Tanzaniasevere localized food insecurity: due to localized shortfalls in staple food production - number of severely food insecure people estimated at 490,000 for period May‑September 2021, markedly lower than in period November 2019‑April 2020 (2021) Topic: Ugandawidespread lack of access: due to reduced incomes, and floods - in traditionally food secure urban areas, including the capital, Kampala, more than 600,000 people were food insecure due to the restrictive measures introduced to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus; the food security situation in urban areas was the most affected by the COVID‑19‑related restrictive measures, as poor households mainly rely on the daily wages obtained through casual labor, petty trading, food vending, construction activities and domestic work; despite the phasing out of some restrictive measures, the food security situation of the urban poor has not significantly improved, as the restrictions still in place on business operations are resulting in a slow recovery of the economic activities; in rural areas, torrential rains in April and May 2020 resulted in localized crop and livelihood losses (2021) Topic: Venezuelawidespread lack of access: due to severe economic crisis - the total number of refugees and migrants from the country is estimated at 5.4 million, with the largest populations located in Colombia, Peru, and Chile; humanitarian needs for refugees and migrants are significant; 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 (2021) 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 (2021) Topic: Zambiasevere localized food insecurity: due to reduced incomes - the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have aggravated food insecurity across the country, particularly due to income reductions that have constrained households’ economic access to food; cereal production is estimated at a bumper high in 2021 and, as a result, overall food security is expected to improve compared to the previous year (2021) 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)

20220601

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: 24.5 years (2009 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 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: 4.56 physicians/1,000 population (2018) 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) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 14.8% (2016/17) Child marriage: women married by age 15: 0% (2017) women married by age 18: 2.2% (2017) men married by age 18: 2.2% (2017 est.) Education expenditures: 4.1% of GDP (2019) 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 (2020) 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 - production: 402 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 373.9 million kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 278,000 kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 96% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 4% 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: 11,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 10,840 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 2016 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) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 132.8 (2020 est.) Telecommunication systems: general assessment: upgrades to telecom infrastructure extended to outer islands; two mobile operators extend LTE coverage; tourism has strengthened the telecom market with investment and accounts for the high mobile penetration rate; launched 5G tests (2020) 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 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: 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 Male; 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 Defence Force (MNDF) comprised of ground forces, an air element, a coastguard, a presidential security division, and a special protection group (2021) Military expenditures: not available Military and security service personnel strengths: the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) has approximately 2,500 personnel (2021) Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: India has provided most of the equipment in the MNDF's inventory (2021) 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 (2021) Military - note: the MNDF is primarily tasked to reinforce the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and ensure security in the country's exclusive economic zone (2021) Topic: Terrorism Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) (2020) 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: nonenone 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)

20220601

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 Protestnat 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 Tokealu 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 Protestnat 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 Tokealu 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 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 (2021 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA male: NA female: NA (2021 est.) Total fertility rate: NA (2021 est.) 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: 2.72 physicians/1,000 population (2010) 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 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 Patricia Lee REDDY (since 28 September 2016); 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: Energy Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) Topic: Communications Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 0 (2018 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0 (2018 est.) 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 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 included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olosega) in its 2006 draft independence constitutionTokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olosega) in its 2006 draft independence constitution

20220601

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) Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 13.4% (2017) Education expenditures: 4.1% of GDP (2019) 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: Pham Minh CHINH (CPV) reelected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 95.9%; Nguyen Xuan PHUC (CPV) reelected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - 96.8% 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 Dzung (since February 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 - production: 158.2 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - consumption: 143.2 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - exports: 713 million kWh (2017 est.) Electricity - imports: 2.733 billion kWh (2016 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity: 40.77 million kW (2016 est.) Electricity - from fossil fuels: 56% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 43% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Electricity - from other renewable sources: 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) Crude oil - production: 242,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) Crude oil - exports: 324,600 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) Crude oil - proved reserves: 4.4 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.) Refined petroleum products - production: 153,800 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - consumption: 438,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) Refined petroleum products - exports: 25,620 bbl/day (2015 est.) Refined petroleum products - imports: 282,800 bbl/day (2015 est.) Natural gas - production: 8.098 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - consumption: 8.098 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves: 699.4 billion cu m (1 January 2018 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: though communist, government plans to partially privatize the state’s holdings in telecom companies; competition is thriving in the telecom market place and driving e-commerce; mobile dominates over fixed-line; FttH market is growing; government is the driving force for growth with aims of commercializing 5G services with test licenses; Ho Chi Minh City to become the first smart city in Vietnam with cloud computing infrastructure, big data, data centers, and security-monitoring centers (2020) 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 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: 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 (2021) note(s) - 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; 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 (2021) 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 as of 2021, Vietnam maintained 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 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 Secretaryas of 2021, Vietnam maintained 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 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: southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of Asian swine fever; Cambodia and Laos protest Vietnamese squatters and armed encroachments along border; Cambodia accuses Vietnam of a wide variety of illicit cross-border activities; progress on a joint development area with Cambodia is hampered by an unresolved dispute over sovereignty of offshore islands; an estimated 300,000 Vietnamese refugees reside in China; establishment of a maritime boundary with Cambodia is hampered by unresolved dispute over the sovereignty of offshore islands; the decade-long demarcation of the China-Vietnam land boundary was completed in 2009; China occupies the Paracel Islands also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; Brunei claims a maritime boundary extending beyond as far as a median with Vietnam, thus asserting an implicit claim to Lousia Reef; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" eased tensions but differences between the parties negotiating the Code of Conduct continue; Vietnam continues to expand construction of facilities in the Spratly Islands; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; Economic Exclusion Zone negotiations with Indonesia are ongoing, and the two countries in Fall 2011 agreed to work together to reduce illegal fishing along their maritime boundary; in May 2018, Russia’s RosneftVietnam unit started drilling at a block southeast of Vietnam which is within the area outlined by China’s nine-dash line and Beijing issued a warningsoutheast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of Asian swine fever; Cambodia and Laos protest Vietnamese squatters and armed encroachments along border; Cambodia accuses Vietnam of a wide variety of illicit cross-border activities; progress on a joint development area with Cambodia is hampered by an unresolved dispute over sovereignty of offshore islands; an estimated 300,000 Vietnamese refugees reside in China; establishment of a maritime boundary with Cambodia is hampered by unresolved dispute over the sovereignty of offshore islands; the decade-long demarcation of the China-Vietnam land boundary was completed in 2009; China occupies the Paracel Islands also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; Brunei claims a maritime boundary extending beyond as far as a median with Vietnam, thus asserting an implicit claim to Lousia Reef; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" eased tensions but differences between the parties negotiating the Code of Conduct continue; Vietnam continues to expand construction of facilities in the Spratly Islands; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; Economic Exclusion Zone negotiations with Indonesia are ongoing, and the two countries in Fall 2011 agreed to work together to reduce illegal fishing along their maritime boundary; in May 2018, Russia’s RosneftVietnam unit started drilling at a block southeast of Vietnam which is within the area outlined by China’s nine-dash line and Beijing issued a warning 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