Chapter XXVIII: Part 28

Population:
4,456,737 (July 1992), growth rate -0.2% (1992)
Birth rate:
46 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
20 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
-28 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
148 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
43 years male, 48 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
6.1 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Sierra Leonean(s); adjective - Sierra Leonean
Ethnic divisions:
native African 99% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%); Creole, European, Lebanese, and
Asian 1%; 13 tribes
Religions:
Muslim 30%, indigenous beliefs 30%, Christian 10%, other or none 30%
Languages:
English (official); regular use limited to literate minority; principal
vernaculars are Mende in south and Temne in north; Krio is the language of
the resettled ex-slave population of the Freetown area and is lingua franca
Literacy:
21% (male 31%, female 11%) age 15 and over can read and write English,
Mende, Temne, or Arabic (1990 est.)
Labor force:
1,369,000 (est.); agriculture 65%, industry 19%, services 16% (1981); only
about 65,000 earn wages (1985); 55% of population of working age
Organized labor:
35% of wage earners

:Sierra Leone Government

Long-form name:
Republic of Sierra Leone
Type:
military government
Capital:
Freetown
Administrative divisions:
Western Area and 3 provinces; Eastern, Northern, Southern
Independence:
27 April 1961 (from UK)
Constitution:
1 October 1991; amended September 1991
Legal system:
based on English law and customary laws indigenous to local tribes; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Republic Day, 27 April (1961)
Executive branch:
National Provisional Ruling Council
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Representatives (suspended after coup of 29 April 1992)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (suspended after coup of 29 April 1992)
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
President Gen. Joseph Saidu MOMOH was ousted in coup of 29 April 1992;
succeeded by Chairman of the National Provisional Ruling Council Valentine
STRASSER (since 29 April 1992)
Political parties and leaders:
status of existing political parties are unknown following 29 April 1992
coup
Suffrage:
universal at age 18
Elections:
suspended after 29 April 1992 coup; Chairman STRASSER promises multi-party
elections sometime in the future
Member of:
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU,
OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador (vacant); Chancery at 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009;
telephone (202) 939-9261
US:
Ambassador Johnny YOUNG; Embassy at the corner of Walpole and Siaka Stevens
Street, Freetown; telephone [232] (22) 226-481; FAX [232] (22) 225471
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and light blue

:Sierra Leone Economy

Overview:
The economic and social infrastructure is not well developed. Subsistence
agriculture dominates the economy, generating about one-third of GDP and
employing about two-thirds of the working population. Manufacturing, which
accounts for roughly 10% of GDP, consists mainly of the processing of raw
materials and of light manufacturing for the domestic market. Diamond mining
provides an important source of hard currency. The economy suffers from high
unemployment, rising inflation, large trade deficits, and a growing
dependency on foreign assistance. The government in 1990 was attempting to
get the budget deficit under control and, in general, to bring economic
policy in line with the recommendations of the IMF and the World Bank. Since
March 1991, however, military incursions by Liberian rebels in southern and
eastern Sierra Leone have severely strained the economy and have undermined
efforts to institute economic reforms.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $1.4 billion, per capita $330; real growth rate
3% (FY91 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
110% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $134 million; expenditures $187 million, including capital
expenditures of $32 million (FY91 est.)
Exports:
$138 million (f.o.b., 1990)
commodities:
rutile 50%, bauxite 17%, cocoa 11%, diamonds 3%, coffee 3%
partners:
US, UK, Belgium, FRG, other Western Europe
Imports:
$146 million (c.i.f., 1990)
commodities:
capital goods 40%, food 32%, petroleum 12%, consumer goods 7%, light
industrial goods
partners:
US, EC, Japan, China, Nigeria
External debt:
$572 million (1990)
Industrial production:
NA
Electricity:
85,000 kW capacity; 185 million kWh produced, 45 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
mining (diamonds, bauxite, rutile), small-scale manufacturing (beverages,
textiles, cigarettes, footwear), petroleum refinery
Agriculture:
accounts for over 30% of GDP and two-thirds of the labor force; largely
subsistence farming; cash crops - coffee, cocoa, palm kernels; harvests of
food staple rice meets 80% of domestic needs; annual fish catch averages
53,000 metric tons
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $161 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $848 million; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $18 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $101
million
Currency:
leone (plural - leones); 1 leone (Le) = 100 cents

:Sierra Leone Economy

Exchange rates:
leones (Le) per US$1 - 476.74 (March 1992), 295.34 (1991), 144.9275 (1990),
58.1395 (1989), 31.2500 (1988), 30.7692 (1987)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

:Sierra Leone Communications

Railroads:
84 km 1.067-meter narrow-gauge mineral line is used on a limited basis
because the mine at Marampa is closed
Highways:
7,400 km total; 1,150 km paved, 490 km laterite (some gravel), remainder
improved earth
Inland waterways:
800 km; 600 km navigable year round
Ports:
Freetown, Pepel, Bonthe
Merchant marine:
1 cargo ship totaling 5,592 GRT/9,107 DWT
Civil air:
no major transport aircraft
Airports:
12 total, 7 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over
3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 3 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
marginal telephone and telegraph service; national microwave system
unserviceable at present; 23,650 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1
FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

:Sierra Leone Defense Forces

Branches:
Army, Navy, National Police Force, Special Security Detachment
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, 976,147; 472,112 fit for military service; no conscription
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $6 million, 0.7% of GDP (1988 est.)

:Singapore Geography

Total area:
632.6 km2
Land area:
622.6 km2
Comparative area:
slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
none
Coastline:
193 km
Maritime claims:
Exclusive fishing zone:
12 nm
Territorial sea:
3 nm
Disputes:
two islands in dispute with Malaysia
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid, rainy; no pronounced rainy or dry seasons;
thunderstorms occur on 40% of all days (67% of days in April)
Terrain:
lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment area and
nature preserve
Natural resources:
fish, deepwater ports
Land use:
arable land 4%; permanent crops 7%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and
woodland 5%; other 84%
Environment:
mostly urban and industrialized
Note:
focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes

:Singapore People

Population:
2,792,092 (July 1992), growth rate 1.3% (1992)
Birth rate:
18 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
5 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
6 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
73 years male, 78 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
1.9 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Singaporean(s); adjective - Singapore
Ethnic divisions:
Chinese 76.4%, Malay 14.9%, Indian 6.4%, other 2.3%
Religions:
majority of Chinese are Buddhists or atheists; Malays are nearly all Muslim
(minorities include Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Taoists, Confucianists)
Languages:
Chinese, Malay, Tamil, and English (all official); Malay (national)
Literacy:
88% (male 93%, female 84%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Labor force:
1,485,800; financial, business, and other services 30.2%, manufacturing
28.4%, commerce 22.0%, construction 9.0%, other 10.4% (1990)
Organized labor:
210,000; 16.1% of labor force (1989)

:Singapore Government

Long-form name:
Republic of Singapore
Type:
republic within Commonwealth
Capital:
Singapore
Administrative divisions:
none
Independence:
9 August 1965 (from Malaysia)
Constitution:
3 June 1959, amended 1965; based on preindependence State of Singapore
Constitution
Legal system:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
National Day, 9 August (1965)
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, two deputy prime ministers, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President WEE Kim Wee (since 3 September 1985)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 28 November 1990); Deputy Prime Minister
LEE Hsien Loong (since 28 November 1990); Deputy Prime Ministers ONG Teng
Cheong (since 2 January 1985) and LEE Hsien Loong
Political parties and leaders:
government:
People's Action Party (PAP), LEE Kuan Yew, secretary general;
opposition:
Workers' Party (WP), J. B. JEYARETNAM; Singapore Democratic Party (SDP),
CHIAM See Tong; National Solidarity Party (NSP), leader NA; Barisan Sosialis
(BS, Socialist Front), leader NA
Suffrage:
universal and compulsory at age 20
Elections:
President:
last held 31 August 1989 (next to be held NA August 1993); results -
President WEE Kim Wee was reelected by Parliament without opposition
Parliament:
last held 31 August 1991 (next to be held 31 August 1996); results - percent
of vote by party NA; seats - (81 total) PAP 77, SDP 3, WP 1
Communists:
200-500; Barisan Sosialis infiltrated by Communists; note - Communist party
illegal
Member of:
APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador S. R. NATHAN; Chancery at 1824 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009;
telephone (202) 667-7555
US:
Ambassador Robert D. ORR; Embassy at 30 Hill Street, Singapore 0617 (mailing
address is FPO AP 96534); telephone [65] 338-0251; FAX [65] 338-4550

:Singapore Government

Flag:
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

:Singapore Economy

Overview:
Singapore has an open entrepreneurial economy with strong service and
manufacturing sectors and excellent international trading links derived from
its entrepot history. During the 1970s and early 1980s, the economy expanded
rapidly, achieving an average annual growth rate of 9%. Per capita GDP is
among the highest in Asia. The economy grew at a respectable 6.5% in 1991,
down from 8.3% in 1990, in part because of a slowdown in overseas demand and
lower growth in the financial and business services sector.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $38.3 billion, per capita $13,900; real growth
rate 6.5% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.4% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
1.5% (1991 est.)
Budget:
revenues $9.8 billion; expenditures $9.0 billion, including capital
expenditures of $2.8 billion (FY91 est.)
Exports:
$57.8 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
commodities:
includes transshipments to Malaysia - petroleum products, rubber,
electronics, manufactured goods
partners:
US 20%, Malaysia 15%, Japan 9%, Hong Kong 7%, Thailand 6%
Imports:
$65.8 billion (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
commodities:
includes transshipments from Malaysia - capital equipment, petroleum,
chemicals, manufactured goods, foodstuffs
partners:
Japan 21%, US 16%, Malaysia 15%, Taiwan 4%
External debt:
$3.8 billion (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 9% (1991 est.); accounts for 29% of GDP (1990)
Electricity:
4,000,000 kW capacity; 14,400 million kWh produced, 5,300 kWh per capita
(1990)
Industries:
petroleum refining, electronics, oil drilling equipment, rubber processing
and rubber products, processed food and beverages, ship repair, entrepot
trade, financial services, biotechnology
Agriculture:
occupies a position of minor importance in the economy; self-sufficient in
poultry and eggs; must import much of other food; major crops - rubber,
copra, fruit, vegetables
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-83), $590 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.0 billion
Currency:
Singapore dollar (plural - dollars); 1 Singapore dollar (S$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
Singapore dollars (S$) per US$1 - 1.6596 (March 1992), 1.7276 (1991), 1.8125
(1990), 1.9503 (1989), 2.0124 (1988), 2.1060 (1987)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

:Singapore Communications

Railroads:
38 km of 1.000-meter gauge
Highways:
2,597 km total (1984)
Ports:
Singapore
Merchant marine:
468 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 8,751,619 GRT/14,195,718 DWT;
includes 1 passenger-cargo, 126 cargo, 74 container, 7 roll-on/roll-off
cargo, 5 refrigerated cargo, 18 vehicle carrier, 1 livestock carrier, 144
petroleum tanker, 5 chemical tanker, 4 combination ore/oil, 1 specialized
tanker, 5 liquefied gas, 74 bulk, 2 combination bulk, 1 short-sea passenger;
note - many Singapore flag ships are foreign owned
Civil air:
38 major transport aircraft (est.)
Airports:
10 total, 10 usable; 10 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways over
3,659 m; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 3 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
good domestic facilities; good international service; good radio and
television broadcast coverage; 1,110,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 13
AM, 4 FM, 2 TV; submarine cables extend to Malaysia (Sabah and peninsular
Malaysia), Indonesia, and the Philippines; satellite earth stations - 1
Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT

:Singapore Defense Forces

Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, People's Defense Force, Police Force
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, 847,435; 626,914 fit for military service
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $1.7 billion, 4% of GDP (1990 est.)

:Slovenia Geography

Total area:
20,296 km2
Land area:
20,296 km2
Comparative area:
slightly larger than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
998 km total; Austria 262 km, Croatia 455 km, Italy 199 km, Hungary 83 km
Coastline:
32 km
Maritime claims:
Contiguous zone:
NA nm
Continental shelf:
200 m or to depth of exploitation
Exclusive economic zone:
NA nm
Exclusive fishing zone:
NA nm
Territorial sea:
12 nm
Disputes:
dispute with Croatia over fishing rights in the Adriatic; small vocal
minority in northern Italy seeks the return of parts of southwestern
Slovenia
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 coastal strip on the Adriatic, an alpine mountain region adjacent to
Italy, mixed mountain and valleys with numerous rivers to the east
Natural resources:
lignite coal, lead, zinc, mercury, uranium, silver
Land use:
arable land 10%; permanent crops 2%; meadows and pastures 20%; forest and
woodland 45%; other 23%; includes irrigated 1%
Environment:
Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial waste; heavy metals and
toxic chemicals along coastal waters; near Koper, forest damage from air
pollutants originating at metallurgical and chemical plants; subject to
flooding and earthquakes

:Slovenia People

Population:
1,963,000 (July 1992), growth rate 0.2% (1992)
Birth rate:
NA births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
NA migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
NA deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
70 years male, 78 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
NA children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Slovene(s); adjective - Slovenia
Ethnic divisions:
Slovene 91%, Croat 3%, Serb 2%, Muslim 1%, other 3%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 94%, Orthodox Catholic 2%, Muslim 1%, other 3%
Languages:
Slovenian 91%, Serbo-Croatian 7%, other 2%
Literacy:
99.2% (male 99.3%, female 99.1%) age 10 and over can read and write
Labor force:
786,036; 2% agriculture, manufacturing and mining 46%
Organized labor:
NA

:Slovenia Government

Long-form name:
Republic of Slovenia
Type:
emerging democracy
Capital:
Ljubljana
Administrative divisions:
62 provinces (pokajine, singular - pokajina)
Independence:
25 June 1991; 15 January 1992 from Yugoslavia
Constitution:
adopted 23 December 1991, effective 23 December 1991
Legal system:
based on civil law system
National holiday:
NA
Executive branch:
president, 4 vice presidents
Legislative branch:
bicameral; consists of the State Assembly and the State Council; note - will
take effect after next election
Judicial branch:
NA
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Milan KUCAN (since 22 April 1990); Vice President Matjaz KMECL
(since 11 April 1990); Vice President Ivan OMAN (since 11 April 1990); Vice
President Dusan PLUT (since 11 April 1990); Vice President Ciril ZLOBEC
(since 11 April 1990)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Janez DRNOVSEK (since 14 May 1992)
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic, Lozje PETERLE, chairman; Liberal Democratic, Janez
DRNOVSEK, chairman; Social Democratic, Joze PUNIK, chairman; Socialist,
Viktor ZAKELJ, chairman; Greens, Dusan PLUT, chairman; National Democratic,
Rajko PIRNAT, chairman; Democratic Peoples Party, Marjan PODOBNIK, chairman;
Reformed Socialists (former Communist Party), Ciril RIBICIC, chairman
Suffrage:
at age 16 if employed, universal at age 18
Elections:
President:
last held NA (next to be held NA)
State Assembly:
last held NA (next to be held NA);
State Council:
last held NA (next to be held NA)
Communists:
NA
Other political or pressure groups:
NA
Member of:
CSCE, IMF, UN
Diplomatic representation:
Representative Ernest PETRIC; Chancery at 1300 19th Street NW, Washington,
DC 20036; telephone (202) 828-1650
US:
Ambassador Ignac GOLOB, Embassy at NA (mailing address is APO AE 09862);
telephone NA

:Slovenia Government

Flag:
a three color flag, white (hoist side), blue, and red of equal width with
the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav in white against a
blue background at the center; beneath it are two wavy blue lines depicting
seas and rivers; around it, there are three six-sided stars arranged in an
inverted triangle); the seal is located in the upper hoist side of the flag
centered in the white and blue band

:Slovenia Economy

Overview:
Slovenia was by far the most prosperous of the old Yugoslav republics, with
a per capita income more than twice the Yugoslav average, indeed not far
below the levels in neighboring Austria and Italy. Because of its strong
ties to Western Europe and the small scale of damage during internecine
fighting in Yugoslavia, Slovenia has the brightest prospects among the
former Yugoslav republics for economic reform and recovery over the next few
years. The political and economic disintegration of Yugoslavia, however, has
led to severe short-term dislocations in production, employment, and trade
ties. For example, overall industrial production fell 10% in 1991;
particularly hard hit were the iron and steel, machine-building, chemical,
and textile industries. Meanwhile, fighting has continued in other republics
leading to further destruction of long-established trade channels and to an
influx of tens of thousands of Croatian refugees. As in other former
Communist areas in Eastern Europe, economic reform has often sputtered not
only because of the vested interests of old bosses in retaining old rules of
the game but also because of the tangible losses experienced by
rank-and-file people in the transition to a more market-oriented system. The
key program for breaking up and privatizing major industrial firms has not
yet begun. Bright spots for encouraging Western investors are Slovenia's
comparatively well-educated work force, its developed infrastructure, and
its Western business attitudes. Slovenia in absolute terms is a small
economy, and a little Western investment would go a long way.
GDP:
$21 billion, per capita $10,700; real growth rate -10% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15-20% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
10% (April 1992)
Budget:
revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
$4,120 million (f.o.b., 1990)
commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 38%, other manufactured goods 44%,
chemicals 9%, food and live animals 4.6%, raw materials 3%, beverages and
tobacco less than 1%
partners:
principally the other former Yugoslav republics, Austria, and Italy
Imports:
$4,679 million (c.i.f., 1990)
commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 35%, other manufactured goods 26.7%,
chemicals 14.5%, raw materials 9.4%, fuels and lubricants 7%, food and live
animals 6%
partners:
principally the other former Yugoslav republics, Germany, former USSR, US,
Hungary, Italy, and Austria
External debt:
$2.5 billion
Industrial production:
industrial production has been declining at a rate of about 1% per month
(1991-92), mostly because of lost markets in the other former Yugoslav
republics
Electricity:
2,900,000 kW capacity; 12,250 million kWh produced, 6,447 kWh per capita
(1991)

:Slovenia Economy

Industries:
ferrous metallurgy and rolling mill products, aluminum reduction and rolled
products, lead and zinc smelting, electronics (including military
electronics), trucks, electric power equipment, wood products, textiles,
chemicals, machine tools
Agriculture:
dominated by stock breeding (sheep and cattle) and dairy farming; main crops
are potatoes, hops, hemp, and flax; although self-sufficient and having an
export surplus in these commodities, Slovenia must import many other
agricultural products and has a negative overall trade balance in this
sector
Illicit drugs:
NA
Economic aid:
NA
Currency:
Slovene Tolar (plural - Tolars); 1 Tolar (SLT) = 100 NA
Exchange rates:
Tolars (SLT) per US$1 - 28 (January 1992)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

:Slovenia Communications

Railroads:
NA
Highways:
14,553 km total; 10,525 km paved, 4,028 km gravel
Inland waterways:
NA
Pipelines:
crude oil 290 km, natural gas 305 km
Ports:
maritime - Koper
Merchant marine:
0 ships (1,000 GRT or over) are under Slovenian flag; note - Slovenian
owners control 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 334,995 GRT/558,621
DWT; includes 14 bulk carriers and 7 general cargo ships all under Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines flag
Civil air:
NA major transport aircraft
Airports:
3 main airports
Telecommunications:
130,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 6 AM, 5 FM, 7 TV; 370,000 radios;
330,000 TVs

:Slovenia Defense Forces

Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, 444,030; NA fit for military service; 18,219 reach military age
(18) annually
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - 13.5 billion Slovene Tolars, 4.5% of GDP (1992);
note - conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the current
exchange rate could produce misleading results

:Solomon Islands Geography

Total area:
28,450 km2
Land area:
27,540 km2
Comparative area:
slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries:
none
Coastline:
5,313 km
Maritime claims:
(measured from claimed archipelagic baselines)
Exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
Territorial sea:
12 nm
Disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather
Terrain:
mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls
Natural resources:
fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates
Land use:
arable land 1%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 1%; forest and
woodland 93%; other 4%
Environment:
subject to typhoons, which are rarely destructive; geologically active
region with frequent earth tremors
Note:
located just east of Papua New Guinea in the South Pacific Ocean

:Solomon Islands People

Population:
360,010 (July 1992), growth rate 3.5% (1992)
Birth rate:
40 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
5 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
30 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
67 years male, 72 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
6.0 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Solomon Islander(s); adjective - Solomon Islander
Ethnic divisions:
Melanesian 93.0%, Polynesian 4.0%, Micronesian 1.5%, European 0.8%, Chinese
0.3%, other 0.4%
Religions:
almost all at least nominally Christian; Anglican 34%, Roman Catholic 19%,
Baptist 17%, United (Methodist/Presbyterian) 11%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10%,
other Protestant 5%
Languages:
120 indigenous languages; Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua
franca; English spoken by 1-2% of population
Literacy:
NA% (male NA%, female NA%)
Labor force:
23,448 economically active; agriculture, forestry, and fishing 32.4%;
services 25%; construction, manufacturing, and mining 7.0%; commerce,
transport, and finance 4.7% (1984)
Organized labor:
NA, but most of the cash-economy workers have trade union representation

:Solomon Islands Government

Long-form name:
none
Type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Honiara
Administrative divisions:
7 provinces and 1 town*; Central, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira,
Malaita, Temotu, Western
Independence:
7 July 1978 (from UK; formerly British Solomon Islands)
Constitution:
7 July 1978
Legal system:
common law
National holiday:
Independence Day, 7 July (1978)
Executive branch:
British monarch, governor general, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Parliament
Judicial branch:
High Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General
Sir George LEPPING (since 27 June 1989, previously acted as governor general
since 7 July 1988)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Solomon MAMALONI (since 28 March 1989); Deputy Prime Minister
Sir Baddeley DEVESI (since NA October 1990)
Political parties and leaders:
People's Alliance Party (PAP); United Party (UP), leader NA; Solomon Islands
Liberal Party (SILP), Bartholemew ULUFA'ALU; Nationalist Front for Progress
(NFP), Andrew NORI; Labor Party (LP), Joses TUHANUKU
Suffrage:
universal at age 21
Elections:
National Parliament:
last held 22 February 1989 (next to be held NA February 1993); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (38 total) PAP 13, UP 6, NFP 4, SILP 4,
LP 2, independents 9
Member of:
ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IOC, ITU, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador (vacant) resides in Honiara (Solomon Islands)
US:
the ambassador in Papua New Guinea is accredited to the Solomon Islands;
Embassy at Mud Alley, Honiara (mailing address is American Embassy, P. O.
Box 561, Honiara); telephone (677) 23890; FAX (677) 23488
Flag:
divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower hoist-side corner;
the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five white five-pointed stars
arranged in an X pattern; the lower triangle is green

:Solomon Islands Economy

Overview:
About 90% of the population depend on subsistence agriculture, fishing, and
forestry for at least part of their livelihood. Agriculture, fishing, and
forestry contribute about 70% to GDP, with the fishing and forestry sectors
being important export earners. The service sector contributes about 25% to
GDP. Most manufactured goods and petroleum products must be imported. The
islands are rich in undeveloped mineral resources such as lead, zinc,
nickel, and gold. The economy suffered from a severe cyclone in mid-1986
that caused widespread damage to the infrastructure.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $200 million, per capita $600; real growth rate
6.0% (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10.2% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $44 million; expenditures $45 million, including capital
expenditures of $22 million (1989 est.)
Exports:
$67.3 million (f.o.b., 1990)
commodities:
fish 46%, timber 31%, copra 5%, palm oil 5%
partners:
Japan 51%, UK 12%, Thailand 9%, Netherlands 8%, Australia 2%, US 2% (1985)
Imports:
$86.0 million (c.i.f., 1990)
commodities:
plant and machinery 30%, fuel 19%, food 16%
partners:
Japan 36%, US 23%, Singapore 9%, UK 9%, NZ 9%, Australia 4%, Hong Kong 4%,
China 3% (1985)
External debt:
$128 million (1988 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 0% (1987); accounts for 5% of GDP
Electricity:
21,000 kW capacity; 39 million kWh produced, 115 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
copra, fish (tuna)
Agriculture:
including fishing and forestry, accounts for about 70% of GDP; mostly
subsistence farming; cash crops - cocoa, beans, coconuts, palm kernels,
timber; other products - rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruit, cattle, pigs;
not self-sufficient in food grains; 90% of the total fish catch of 44,500
metric tons was exported (1988)
Economic aid:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89),
$250 million
Currency:
Solomon Islands dollar (plural - dollars); 1 Solomon Islands dollar (SI$) =
100 cents
Exchange rates:
Solomon Islands dollars (SI$) per US$1 - 2.8740 (March 1992), 2.7148 (1991),
2.5288 (1990), 2.2932 (1989), 2.0825 (1988), 2.0033 (1987)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

:Solomon Islands Communications

Highways:
about 2,100 km total (1982); 30 km paved, 290 km gravel, 980 km earth, 800
private logging and plantation roads of varied construction
Ports:
Honiara, Ringi Cove
Civil air:
no major transport aircraft
Airports:
33 total, 30 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways
over 2,439 m; 3 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
3,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 4 AM, no FM, no TV; 1 Pacific Ocean
INTELSAT earth station

:Solomon Islands Defense Forces

Branches:
Police Force
Manpower availability:
NA
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

:Somalia Geography

Total area:
637,660 km2
Land area:
627,340 km2
Comparative area:
slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
2,340 km total; Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,600 km, Kenya 682 km
Coastline:
3,025 km
Maritime claims:
Territorial sea:
200 nm
Disputes:
southern half of boundary with Ethiopia is a Provisional Administrative
Line; territorial dispute with Ethiopia over the Ogaden; possible claims to
Djibouti and parts of Ethiopia and Kenya based on unification of ethnic
Somalis
Climate:
desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), cooler southwest monsoon
(May to October); irregular rainfall; hot, humid periods (tangambili)
between monsoons
Terrain:
mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north
Natural resources:
uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite,
copper, salt
Land use:
arable land 2%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 46%; forest and
woodland 14%; other 38%; includes irrigated 3%
Environment:
recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer;
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Note:
strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el
Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal

:Somalia People

Population:
7,235,226 (July 1992), growth rate 2.1% (1992)
Birth rate:
46 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
13 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
-12 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
115 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
56 years male, 57 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
7.1 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Somali(s); adjective - Somali
Ethnic divisions:
Somali 85%, rest mainly Bantu; Arabs 30,000, Europeans 3,000, Asians 800
Religions:
almost entirely Sunni Muslim
Languages:
Somali (official); Arabic, Italian, English
Literacy:
24% (male 36%, female 14%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Labor force:
2,200,000; very few are skilled laborers; pastoral nomad 70%, agriculture,
government, trading, fishing, handicrafts, and other 30%; 53% of population
of working age (1985)
Organized labor:
General Federation of Somali Trade Unions was controlled by the government
prior to January 1991; the fall of SIAD regime may have led to collapse of
Trade Union organization

:Somalia Government

Long-form name:
none
Type:
none
Capital:
Mogadishu
Administrative divisions:
16 regions (plural - NA, singular - gobolka); Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay,
Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe, Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal,
Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe, Shabeellaha Hoose, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed
Independence:
1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which became independent
from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian Somaliland, which became
independent from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to
form the Somali Republic)
Constitution:
25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979
National holiday:
NA
Executive branch:
president, two vice presidents, prime minister, Council of Ministers
(cabinet)
Legislative branch:
unicameral People's Assembly (Golaha Shacbiga)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Interim President ALI Mahdi Mohamed (since 27 January 1991)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister OMAR Arteh Ghalib (since 27 January 1991)
Political parties and leaders:
the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the former regime on 27 January
1991; note - formerly the only party was the Somali Revolutionary Socialist
Party (SRSP), headed by former President and Commander in Chief of the Army
Maj. Gen. Mohamed SIAD Barre
Suffrage:
universal at age 18
Elections:
President:
last held 23 December 1986 (next to be held NA); results - President SIAD
was reelected without opposition
People's Assembly:
last held 31 December 1984 (next to be held NA); results - SRSP was the only
party; seats - (177 total, 171 elected) SRSP 171; note - the United Somali
Congress (USC) ousted the regime of Maj. Gen. Mohamed SIAD Barre on 27
January 1991; the provisional government has promised that a democratically
elected government will be established
Member of:
ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador (vacant); Chancery at Suite 710, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20037; telephone (202) 342-1575; there is a Somali Consulate
General in New York; note - Somalian Embassy ceased operations on 8 May 1991

:Somalia Government

US:
Ambassador (vacant); Embassy at K-7, AFGOI Road, Mogadishu (mailing address
is P. O. Box 574, Mogadishu); telephone [252] (01) 39971; note - US Embassy
evacuated and closed indefinitely in January 1991
Flag:
light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; design based
on the flag of the UN (Italian Somaliland was a UN trust territory)

:Somalia Economy

Overview:
One of the world's poorest and least developed countries, Somalia has few
resources. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, with the
livestock sector accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export
earnings. Nomads and seminomads who are dependent upon livestock for their
livelihoods make up more than half of the population. Crop production
generates only 10% of GDP and employs about 20% of the work force. The main
export crop is bananas; sugar, sorghum, and corn are grown for the domestic
market. The small industrial sector is based on the processing of
agricultural products and accounts for less than 10% of GDP. Greatly
increased political turmoil in 1991-92 has resulted in a substantial drop in
output, with widespread famine a grim fact of life.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $1.7 billion, per capita $210; real growth rate
-1.4% (1988)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
210% (1989)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $190 million; expenditures $195 million, including capital
expenditures of $111 million (1989 est.)
Exports:
$58.0 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
commodities:
bananas, livestock, fish, hides, skins
partners:
US 0.5%, Saudi Arabia, Italy, FRG (1986)
Imports:
$249 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.)
commodities:
petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials
partners:
US 13%, Italy, FRG, Kenya, UK, Saudi Arabia (1986)
External debt:
$1.9 billion (1989)
Industrial production:
growth rate -5.0% (1988); accounts for 5% of GDP
Electricity:
75,000 kW capacity; 60 million kWh produced, 10 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
a few small industries, including sugar refining, textiles, petroleum
refining
Agriculture:
dominant sector, led by livestock raising (cattle, sheep, goats); crops -
bananas, sorghum, corn, mangoes, sugarcane; not self-sufficient in food;
fishing potential largely unexploited
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $639 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.8 billion; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $1.1 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $336
million
Currency:
Somali shilling (plural - shillings); 1 Somali shilling (So. Sh.) = 100
centesimi
Exchange rates:
Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1 - 3,800.00 (December 1990), 490.7
(1989), 170.45 (1988), 105.18 (1987), 72.00 (1986)

:Somalia Economy

Fiscal year:
calendar year

:Somalia Communications

Highways:
15,215 km total; including 2,335 km paved, 2,880 km gravel, and 10,000 km
improved earth or stabilized soil (1983)
Pipelines:
crude oil 15 km
Ports:
Mogadishu, Berbera, Chisimayu, Bosaso
Merchant marine:
3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,913 GRT/8,718 DWT; includes 2 cargo,
1 refrigerated cargo
Civil air:
1 major transport aircraft
Airports:
53 total, 40 usable; 7 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways over
3,659 m; 6 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 15 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
minimal telephone and telegraph service; microwave and troposcatter system
centered on Mogadishu connects a few towns; 6,000 telephones; broadcast
stations - 2 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station;
scheduled to receive an ARABSAT ground station

:Somalia Defense Forces

Branches:
NA
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, 1,673,542; 942,153 fit for military service
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

:South Africa Geography

Total area:
1,221,040 km2
Land area:
1,221,040 km2; includes Walvis Bay, Marion Island, and Prince Edward Island
Comparative area:
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
4,973 km total; Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491 km,
Namibia 1,078 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km
Coastline:
2,881 km
Maritime claims:
Continental shelf:
200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation
Exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
Territorial sea:
12 nm
Disputes:
claim by Namibia to Walvis Bay exclave and 12 offshore islands administered
by South Africa; South Africa and Namibia have agreed to jointly administer
the area for an interim period; the terms and dates to be covered by joint
administration arrangements have not been established at this time; and
Namibia will continue to maintain a claim to sovereignty over the entire
area
Climate:
mostly semiarid; subtropical along coast; sunny days, cool nights
Terrain:
vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain
Natural resources:
gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates,
tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas
Land use:
arable land 10%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 65%; forest and
woodland 3%; other 21%; includes irrigated 1%
Environment:
lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water
conservation and control measures
Note:
Walvis Bay is an exclave of South Africa in Namibia; South Africa completely
surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Swaziland

:South Africa People

Population:
41,688,360 (July 1992), growth rate 2.6% (1992); includes the 10 so-called
homelands, which are not recognized by the US
Population:
four independent homelands:
Bophuthatswana 2,489,347, growth rate 2.86%; Ciskei 1,088,476, growth rate
2.99%; Transkei 4,746,796, growth rate 4.13%; Venda 718,207, growth rate
3.81%
six other homelands:
Gazankulu 803,806, growth rate 3.96%; Kangwane 597,783, growth rate 3.60%;
KwaNdebele 373,012, growth rate 3.40%; KwaZulu 5,748,950, growth rate 3.58%;
Lebowa 2,924,584, growth rate 3.90%; QwaQwa 288,155, growth rate 3.60%
Birth rate:
34 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
8 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
50 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
62 years male, 67 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
4.4 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - South African(s); adjective - South African
Ethnic divisions:
black 75.2%, white 13.6%, Colored 8.6%, Indian 2.6%
Religions:
most whites and Coloreds and about 60% of blacks are Christian; about 60% of
Indians are Hindu; Muslim 20%
Languages:
Afrikaans, English (both official); many vernacular languages, including
Zulu, Xhosa, North and South Sotho, Tswana
Literacy:
76% (male 78%, female 75%) age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
Labor force:
11,000,000 economically active (1989); services 34%, agriculture 30%,
industry and commerce 29%, mining 7% (1985)
Organized labor:
about 17% of total labor force belongs to a registered trade union (1989);
African unions represent 15% of black labor force

:South Africa Government

Long-form name:
Republic of South Africa; abbreviated RSA
Type:
republic
Capital:
Pretoria (administrative); Cape Town (legislative); Bloemfontein (judicial)
Administrative divisions:
4 provinces; Cape, Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal; there are 10
homelands not recognized by the US - 4 independent (Bophuthatswana, Ciskei,
Transkei, Venda) and 6 other (Gazankulu, Kangwane, KwaNdebele, KwaZulu,
Lebowa, QwaQwa)
Independence:
31 May 1910 (from UK)
Constitution:
3 September 1984
Legal system:
based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
Republic Day, 31 May (1910)
Executive branch:
state president, Executive Council (cabinet), Ministers' Councils (from the
three houses of Parliament)
Legislative branch:
tricameral Parliament (Parlement) consists of the House of Assembly
(Volksraad; whites), House of Representatives (Raad van Verteenwoordigers;
Coloreds), and House of Delegates (Raad van Afgevaardigdes; Indians)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
State President Frederik W. DE KLERK (since 13 September 1989)
Political parties and leaders:
white political parties and leaders:
National Party (NP), Frederik W. DE KLERK (majority party); Conservative
Party (CP), Dr. Andries P. TREURNICHT (official opposition party);
Democratic Party (DP), Zach DE BEER
Colored political parties and leaders:
Labor Party (LP), Allan HENDRICKSE (majority party); Freedom Party; note -
the Democratic Reform Party (DRP) and the United Democratic Party (UDP) were
disbanded in May 1991
Indian political parties and leaders:
Solidarity, J. N. REDDY (majority party); National People's Party (NPP),
Amichand RAJBANSI; Merit People's Party
Suffrage:
universal at age 18, but voting rights are racially based
Elections:
House of Assembly (whites):
last held 6 September 1989 (next to be held by NA March 1995); results - NP
58%, CP 23%, DP 19%; seats - (178 total, 166 elected) NP 103, CP 41, DP 34;
note - by February 1992 because of byelections, changes in number of seats
held by parties were as follows: NP 102, CP 42, DP 33, vacant 1
House of Representatives (Coloreds):
last held 6 September 1989 (next to be held no later than March 1995);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (85 total, 80 elected) LP 69,
DRP 5, UDP 3, Freedom Party 1, independents 2; note - since the National
Party became multiracial, by February 1992 many representatives from other
parties have changed their allegiance causing the following changes in
seating: LP 39, NP 38, Freedom Party 1, independents 7

:South Africa Government

House of Delegates (Indians):
last held 6 September 1989 (next to be held no later than March 1995);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (45 total, 40 elected)
Solidarity 16, NPP 9, Merit People's Party 3, independents 6, other 6; note
- due to delegates changing party affiliation, seating as of February 1992
is as follows: Solidarity 25, NPP 7, Merit People's Party 2, other 5,
independents 5, vacancy 1
Communists:
South African Communist Party, Chris HANI, secretary general, and Joe SLOVO,
national chairman
Other political or pressure groups:
African National Congress (ANC), Nelson MANDELA, president; Inkatha Freedom
Party (IFP), Mangosuthu BUTHELEZI, president; Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC),
Clarence MAKWETU, president
Member of:
BIS, CCC, ECA, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO (suspended), ICC, IDA, IFC, IMF,
INTELSAT, ISO, ITU (suspended), LORCS, SACU, UN, UNCTAD, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO (suspended)
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Harry SCHWARZ; Chancery at 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 232-4400; there are South African
Consulates General in Beverly Hills (California), Chicago, Houston, and New
York
US:
Ambassador William L. SWING; Embassy at Thibault House, 225 Pretorius
Street, Pretoria; telephone [27] (12) 28-4266, FAX [27] (12) 21-92-78; there
are US Consulates General in Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg
Flag:
actually four flags in one - three miniature flags reproduced in the center
of the white band of the former flag of the Netherlands, which has three
equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and blue; the miniature flags
are a vertically hanging flag of the old Orange Free State with a horizontal
flag of the UK adjoining on the hoist side and a horizontal flag of the old
Transvaal Republic adjoining on the other side

:South Africa Economy

Overview:
Many of the white one-seventh of the South African population enjoy incomes,
material comforts, and health and educational standards equal to those of
Western Europe. In contrast, most of the remaining population suffers from
the poverty patterns of the Third World, including unemployment, lack of job
skills, and barriers to movement into higher-paying fields. Inputs and
outputs thus do not move smoothly into the most productive employments, and
the effectiveness of the market is further lowered by international
constraints on dealings with South Africa. The main strength of the economy
lies in its rich mineral resources, which provide two-thirds of exports.
Average growth of less than 2% in output in recent years falls far short of
the 5% to 6% level needed to absorb some 300,000 new entrants to the labor
force annually. Economic developments in the 1990s will be driven partly by
the changing relations among the various ethnic groups.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $104 billion, per capita $2,600; real growth rate
- 0.5% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15.7% (March 1992)
Unemployment rate:
40% (1991); well over 50% in some homeland areas (1991 est.)
Budget:
revenues $29.4 billion; expenditures $35.0 billion, including capital
expenditures of $1.1 billion (FY93 est.)
Exports:
$24.0 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
gold 25-30%, minerals and metals 20-25%, food 5%, chemicals 3%
partners:
Italy, Japan, US, FRG, UK, other EC members, Hong Kong
Imports:
$18.8 billion (c.i.f., 1991)
commodities:
machinery 32%, transport equipment 15%, chemicals 11%, oil, textiles,
scientific instruments, base metals
partners:
FRG, Japan, UK, US, Italy
External debt:
$19.0 billion (December 1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%; accounts for about 40% of GDP
Electricity:
46,000,000 kW capacity; 180,000 million kWh produced, 4,100 kWh per capita
(1991)
Industries:
mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile
assembly, metalworking, machinery, textile, iron and steel, chemical,
fertilizer, foodstuffs
Agriculture:
accounts for about 5% of GDP and 30% of labor force; diversified
agriculture, with emphasis on livestock; products - cattle, poultry, sheep,
wool, milk, beef, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables;
self-sufficient in food
Economic aid:
NA
Currency:
rand (plural - rand); 1 rand (R) = 100 cents

:South Africa Economy

Exchange rates:
rand (R) per US$1 - 2.7814 (January 1992), 2.7563 (1991), 2.5863 (1990),
2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988), 2.0350 (1987)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

:South Africa Communications

Railroads:
20,638 km route distance total; 35,079 km of 1.067-meter gauge trackage
(counts double and multiple tracking as single track); 314 km of 610 mm
gauge
Highways:
188,309 km total; 54,013 km paved, 134,296 km crushed stone, gravel, or
improved earth
Pipelines:
crude oil 931 km, petroleum products 1,748 km, natural gas 322 km
Ports:
Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Richard's Bay, Saldanha, Mosselbaai,
Walvis Bay
Merchant marine:
5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 213,708 GRT/201,043 DWT; includes 4
container, 1 vehicle carrier
Civil air:
90 major transport aircraft
Airports:
901 total, 732 usable; 132 with permanent-surface runways; 5 with runways
over 3,659 m; 10 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 224 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
the system is the best developed, most modern, and has the highest capacity
in Africa; it consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines, coaxial cables,
radio relay links, fiber optic cable, and radiocommunication stations; key
centers are Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth,
and Pretoria; over 4,500,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 14 AM, 286 FM,
67 TV; 1 submarine cable; satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT
and 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT

:South Africa Defense Forces

Branches:
South African Defense Force (SADF; including Army, Navy, Air Force, Medical
Services), South African Police (SAP)
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, 10,051,202; 6,133,484 fit for military service; 420,275 reach
military age (18) annually; obligation for service in Citizen Force or
Commandos begins at 18; volunteers for service in permanent force must be
17; national service obligation is one year; figures include the so-called
homelands not recognized by the US
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $3.5 billion, about 3% of GDP (FY92)

:South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Geography

Total area:
4,066 km2
Land area:
4,066 km2; includes Shag and Clerke Rocks, South Georgia, Bird Island, South
Sandwich Islands
Comparative area:
slightly larger than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
none
Coastline:
undetermined
Maritime claims:
Territorial sea:
12 nm
Disputes:
administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina
Climate:
variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year, interspersed with
periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as snow
Terrain:
most of the islands, rising steeply from the sea, are rugged and
mountainous; South Georgia is largely barren and has steep, glacier-covered
mountains; the South Sandwich Islands are of volcanic origin with some
active volcanoes
Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and
woodland 0%; other 100%; largely covered by permanent ice and snow with some
sparse vegetation consisting of grass, moss, and lichen
Environment:
reindeer, introduced early in this century, live on South Georgia; weather
conditions generally make it difficult to approach the South Sandwich
Islands; the South Sandwich Islands are subject to active volcanism
Note:
the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays, which provide good
anchorage

:South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands People

Population:
no permanent population; there is a small military garrison on South
Georgia, and the British Antarctic Survey has a biological station on Bird
Island; the South Sandwich Islands are uninhabited

:South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Government

Long-form name:
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (no short-form name)
Type:
dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
none; Grytviken on South Georgia is the garrison town
Administrative divisions:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Constitution:
3 October 1985
Legal system:
English common law
National holiday:
Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Executive branch:
British monarch, commissioner
Legislative branch:
none
Judicial branch:
none
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Commissioner
William Hugh FULLERTON (since 1988; resident at Stanley, Falkland Islands)

:South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Economy

Overview:
Some fishing takes place in adjacent waters. There is a potential source of
income from harvesting fin fish and krill. The islands receive income from
postage stamps produced in the UK.
Budget:
revenues $291,777; expenditures $451,011, including capital expenditures of
$NA (FY88 est.)
Electricity:
900 kW capacity; 2 million kWh produced, NA kWh per capita (1990)

:South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Communications

Highways:
NA
Ports:
Grytviken on South Georgia
Airports:
5 total, 5 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runway
2,440-3,659 m
Telecommunications:
coastal radio station at Grytviken; no broadcast stations

:South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Defense Forces

Note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK

:Spain Geography

Total area:
504,750 km2
Land area:
499,400 km2; includes Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, and five places of
sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - Ceuta,
Mellila, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la
Gomera
Comparative area:
slightly more than twice the size of Oregon
Land boundaries:
1,903.2 km total; Andorra 65 km, France 623 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km, Portugal
1,214 km
Coastline:
4,964 km
Maritime claims:
Exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
Territorial sea:
12 nm
Disputes:
Gibraltar question with UK; Spain controls five places of sovereignty
(plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - the coastal enclaves
of Ceuta and Melilla, which Morocco contests, as well as the islands of
Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de Velez de la Gomera, and Islas Chafarinas
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 in
north
Natural resources:
coal, lignite, iron ore, uranium, mercury, pyrites, fluorspar, gypsum, zinc,
lead, tungsten, copper, kaolin, potash, hydropower
Land use:
arable land 31%; permanent crops 10%; meadows and pastures 21%; forest and
woodland 31%; other 7%; includes irrigated 6%
Environment:
deforestation; air pollution
Note:
strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar

:Spain People

Population:
39,118,399 (July 1992), growth rate 0.2% (1992)
Birth rate:
11 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
9 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
7 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
74 years male, 81 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
1.4 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Spaniard(s); adjective - Spanish
Ethnic divisions:
composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types
Religions:
Roman Catholic 99%, other sects 1%
Languages:
Castilian Spanish; second languages include Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque
2%
Literacy:
95% (male 97%, female 93%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Labor force:
14,621,000; services 53%, industry 24%, agriculture 14%, construction 9%
(1988)
Organized labor:
less 10% of labor force (1988)

:Spain Government

Long-form name:
Kingdom of Spain
Type:
parliamentary monarchy
Capital:
Madrid
Administrative divisions:
17 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular - comunidad
autonoma); Andalucia, Aragon, Asturias, Canarias, Cantabria, Castilla-La
Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Cataluna, Communidad Valencia, Extremadura,
Galicia, Islas Baleares, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra, Pais Vasco; note
- there are five places of sovereignty on and off the coast of Morocco
(Ceuta, Mellila, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de
la Gomera) with administrative status unknown
Independence:
1492 (expulsion of the Moors and unification)
Constitution:
6 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978
Legal system:
civil law system, with regional applications; does not accept compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
National holiday:
National Day, 12 October
Executive branch:
monarch, president of the government (prime minister), deputy prime
minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet), Council of State
Legislative branch:
bicameral The General Courts or National Assembly (Las Cortes Generales)
consists of an upper house or Senate (Senado) and a lower house or Congress
of Deputies (Congreso de los Diputados)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo)
Leaders:
Chief of State:
King JUAN CARLOS I (since 22 November 1975)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Felipe GONZALEZ Marquez (since 2 December 1982); Deputy Prime
Minister Narcis SERRA (since 13 March 1991)
Political parties and leaders:
principal national parties, from right to left - Popular Party (PP), Jose
Maria AZNAR; Popular Democratic Party (PDP), Luis DE GRANDES; Social
Democratic Center (CDS), Rafael Calvo ORTEGA; Spanish Socialist Workers
Party (PSOE), Felipe GONZALEZ Marquez; Socialist Democracy Party (DS),
Ricardo Garcia DAMBORENEA; Spanish Communist Party (PCE), Julio ANGUITA;
chief regional parties - Convergence and Unity (CiU), Jordi PUJOL Saley, in
Catalonia; Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), Xabier ARZALLUS; Basque
Solidarity (EA), Carlos GARAICOETXEA Urizza; Basque Popular Unity (HB), Jon
IDIGORAS; Basque Left (EE), Kepa AULESTIA; Andalusian Party (PA), Pedro
PACHECO; Independent Canary Group (AIC); Aragon Regional Party (PAR);
Valencian Union (UV)
Suffrage:
universal at age 18
Elections:
Senate:
last held 29 October 1989 (next to be held NA October 1993); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (208 total) PSOE 106, PP 79, CiU 10,
PNV 4, HB 3, AIC 1, other 5

:Spain Government