Chapter XLI: Front Matter (41)

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Yuan (164 seats-128 elected by popular vote, 36 indirectly elected on the basis of proportional representation; members serve three-year terms; note-in 1997, the National Assembly passed an amendment to increase the membership of the Legislative Yuan to 225 seats, of which 168 are to be elected by popular vote, 41 by proportional representation, and 16 from aboriginal and Chinese groups) and unicameral National Assembly (334 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Legislative Yuan-last held 2 December 1995 (next to be held NA December 1998); National Assembly-last held 23 March 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: Legislative Yuan-percent of vote by party-KMT 46%, DPP 33%, CNP 13%, independents 8%; seats by party-KMT 85, DPP 54, CNP 21, independents 4; note-since the election, there has been a change in the distribution of seats, the new distribution is as follows-KMT 81, DPP 46, CNP 19, independents 8, other 5, vacant 5; National Assembly-percent of vote by party-KMT 55%, DPP 30%, CNP 14%, other 1%; seats by party-KMT 183, DPP 99, CNP 46, other 6

Judicial branch: Judicial Yuan, justices appointed by the president with the consent of the National Assembly

Political parties and leaders: Kuomintang (KMT, Nationalist Party), LEE Teng-hui, chairman; Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), HSU Hsin-Liang, chairman; Chinese New Party (CNP), leader NA; Taiwan Independence Party (TAIP), HSU Shih-Kai; other various parties

Political pressure groups and leaders: Taiwan independence movement, various environmental groups note: debate on Taiwan independence has become acceptable within the mainstream of domestic politics on Taiwan; political liberalization and the increased representation of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan's legislature have opened public debate on the island's national identity; advocates of Taiwan independence, including within the DPP, oppose the ruling party's traditional stand that the island will eventually reunify with mainland China; goals of the Taiwan independence movement include establishing a sovereign nation on Taiwan and entering the UN; other organizations supporting Taiwan independence include the World United Formosans for Independence and the Organization for Taiwan Nation Building

International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, BCIE, ICC, IOC, WCL, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US: none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people of the US are maintained through a private instrumentality, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) with headquarters in Taipei and field offices in Washington and 12 other US cities

Diplomatic representation from the US: none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people on Taiwan are maintained through a private institution, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which has its headquarters in Rosslyn, Virginia (telephone: [1] (703) 525-8474 and FAX: [1] (703) 841-1385) and offices in Taipei at #7 Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road, Section 3, telephone [886] (22) 709-2000, FAX [886] (22) 702-7675, and in Kao-hsiung at #2 Chung Cheng 3d Road, telephone [886] (7) 224-0154 through 0157, FAX [886] (7) 223-8237, and the American Trade Center at Room 3207 International Trade Building, Taipei World Trade Center, 333 Keelung Road Section 1, Taipei 10548, telephone [886] (22) 720-1550, FAX [886] 757-7162

Flag description: red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays

@Taiwan:Economy

Economy-overview: Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with gradually decreasing guidance of investment and foreign trade by government authorities and partial government ownership of some large banks and industrial firms. Spillover from the Asian financial crisis hit Taiwan in the fourth quarter of 1997, wreaking havoc on the stock and currency markets. While the economy remains sound (the government forecasts 6% GDP growth for 1998), the New Taiwan Dollar depreciated 20% in 1997. Real growth in GDP has averaged about 8.5% a year during the past three decades. Export growth has been even faster and has provided the impetus for industrialization. Inflation and unemployment are low. Agriculture contributes only 3% to GDP, down from 35% in 1952. Traditional labor-intensive industries are steadily being moved off-shore and replaced with more capital- and technology-intensive industries. Taiwan has become a major investor in China, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The tightening of labor markets has led to an influx of foreign workers, both legal and illegal.

GDP: purchasing power parity-$308 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate: 6.8% (1997 est.)

GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$14,200 (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 3.3% industry: 35.7% services: 61% (1996)

Inflation rate-consumer price index: 0.9% (1997)

Labor force: total: 9.4 million (1997) by occupation: services 52%, industry 38%, agriculture 10% (1996 est.)

Unemployment rate: 2.7% (1997)

Budget: revenues: $40 billion expenditures: $55 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

Industries: electronics, textiles, chemicals, clothing, food processing, plywood, sugar milling, cement, shipbuilding, petroleum refining

Industrial production growth rate: 7% (1997)

Electricity-capacity: 23.763 million kW (1996)

Electricity-production: 124.973 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity-consumption per capita: 5,500 kWh (1995)

Agriculture-products: rice, wheat, corn, soybeans, vegetables, fruit, tea; pigs, poultry, beef, milk; fish

Exports: total value: $122.1 billion (f.o.b., 1997) commodities: machinery and electrical equipment 21.7%, electronic products 14.8%, information/communications 11.8%, textile products 11.6% (1997) partners: US 24.2%, Hong Kong 23.5%, Europe 15.1%, Japan 9.6% (1997)

Imports: total value: $114.4 billion (c.i.f., 1997) commodities: machinery and electrical equipment 16.5%, electronic products 16.3%, chemicals 10.0%, precision instrument 5.6% (1997) partners: Japan 25.4%, US 20.3%, Europe 18.9%, Hong Kong 1.7% (1997)

Debt-external: $80 million (1997 est.)

Economic aid: $NA

Currency: 1 New Taiwan dollar (NT$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: New Taiwan dollars per US$1-32.45 (yearend 1997), 27.5 (1996), 27.4 (1995), 26.2 (1994), 26.6 (1993), 25.4 (1992)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

Communications

Telephones: 10,010,614 (1996)

Telephone system: domestic: extensive microwave radio relay trunk system on east and west coasts international: satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); submarine cables to Japan (Okinawa), Philippines, Guam, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe

Radio broadcast stations: AM 91, FM 23, shortwave 0

Radios: 8.62 million

Television broadcast stations: 15 (repeaters 13)

Televisions: 10.8 million (1996 est.)

@Taiwan:Transportation

Railways: total: 4,600 km (498 km electrified); note-1,108 km belongs to the Taiwan Railway Administration and the remaining 3,492 km is dedicated to industrial use narrow gauge: 4,600 km 1.067-m

Highways: total: 19,701 km paved: 17,238 km (including 447 km of expressways) unpaved: 2,463 km (1996 est.)

Pipelines: petroleum products 615 km; natural gas 97 km

Ports and harbors: Chi-lung (Keelung), Hua-lien, Kao-hsiung, Su-ao, T'ai-chung

Merchant marine: total: 193 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,621,906 GRT/8,583,808 DWT ships by type: bulk 49, cargo 30, combination bulk 2, container 81, oil tanker 18, refrigerated cargo 11, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1997 est.)

Airports: 40 (1997 est.)

Airports-with paved runways: total: 36 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 5 (1997 est.)

Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (1997 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1997 est.)

@Taiwan:Military

Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, Coastal Patrol and Defense Command, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Combined Service Forces

Military manpower-military age: 19 years of age

Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 6,476,878 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 4,978,865 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 206,975 (1998 est.)

Military expenditures-dollar figure: $11.5 billion (FY96/97)

Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 3.6% (FY96/97)

@Taiwan:Transnational Issues

Disputes-international: involved in complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; Paracel Islands occupied by China, but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; claims Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Tai), as does China

Illicit drugs: considered an important heroin transit point; major problem with domestic consumption of methamphetamines and heroin

______________________________________________________________________

TAJIKISTAN

Introduction

Current issues: Tajikistan has experienced three changes of government and a civil war since it gained independence in September 1991. The current president, Emomali RAHMONOV, was elected in November 1994, yet has been in power since 1992. A peace agreement was signed in June 1997, but implementation is progressing slowly. Russian-led peacekeeping troops are deployed throughout the country, and Russian-commanded border guards are stationed along the Tajikistani-Afghan border.

@Tajikistan:Geography

Location: Central Asia, west of China

Geographic coordinates: 39 00 N, 71 00 E

Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States

Area: total: 143,100 sq km land: 142,700 sq km water: 400 sq km

Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Wisconsin

Land boundaries: total: 3,651 km border countries: Afghanistan 1,206 km, China 414 km, Kyrgyzstan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,161 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: midlatitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains

Terrain: Pamirs and Alay Mountains dominate landscape; western Fergana Valley in north, Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Syrdariya 300 m highest point: Qullai Kommunizm 7,495 m

Natural resources: significant hydropower potential, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten

Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: 4% other: 65% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 6,390 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment-current issues: inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of soil salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides; part of the basin of the shrinking Aral Sea suffers from severe overutilization of available water for irrigation and associated pollution

Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography-note: landlocked

@Tajikistan:People

Population: 6,020,095 (July 1998 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 41% (male 1,258,424; female 1,230,891) 15-64 years: 54% (male 1,616,257; female 1,636,732) 65 years and over: 5% (male 118,485; female 159,306) (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.3% (1998 est.)

Birth rate: 27.67 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate: 7.77 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Net migration rate: -6.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 112.14 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.48 years male: 61.35 years female: 67.77 years (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.53 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Nationality: noun: Tajikistani(s) adjective: Tajikistani

Ethnic groups: Tajik 64.9%, Uzbek 25%, Russian 3.5% (declining because of emigration), other 6.6%

Religions: Sunni Muslim 80%, Shi'a Muslim 5%

Languages: Tajik (official), Russian widely used in government and business

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 99% female: 97% (1989 est.)

@Tajikistan:Government

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Tajikistan conventional short form: Tajikistan local long form: Jumhurii Tojikistan local short form: none former: Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic

Data code: TI

Government type: republic

National capital: Dushanbe

Administrative divisions: 2 oblasts (viloyatho, singular-viloyat) and one autonomous oblast* (viloyati avtonomii); Viloyati Avtonomii Badakhshoni Kuni* (Khorugh-formerly Khorog), Viloyati Khatlon (Qurghonteppa-formerly Kurgan-Tyube), Viloyati Leninobod (Khujand-formerly Leninabad) note: the administrative center name follows in parentheses

Independence: 9 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: National Day, 9 September (1991)

Constitution: 6 November 1994

Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Emomali RAHMONOV (since 6 November 1994; head of state and Assembly chairman since 19 November 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Yahyo AZIMOV (since 8 February 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president who proposes them to the Supreme Assembly for approval elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 6 November 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Emomali RAHMONOV elected president; percent of vote-Emomali RAHMONOV 58%, Abdumalik ABDULLOJANOV 40%

Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Assembly or Majlisi Oli (181 seats; members are popularly elected to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 26 February and 12 March 1995 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; estimated seats by party-Communist Party and affiliates 100, People's Party 10, Party of People's Unity 6, Party of Economic and Political Renewal 1, other 64

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders: People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan or PPT [Emomali RAHMONOV]; National Revival Bloc (Party of Popular Unity and Accord or PPUA) [Abdumalik ABDULLOJONOV]; Tajik Communist Party or CPT [Shodi SHABDOLOV]; Democratic Party or TDP [Jumaboy NIYAZOV, chairman]; Islamic Renaissance Party or IRP [Mohammed Sharif HIMATZODA, chairman]; Rebirth (Rastokhez) [Takhir ABDUZHABOROV]; Lali Badakhshan Society [Atobek AMIRBEKOV]; Tajikistan Party of Economic and Political Renewal or TPEPR; Citizenship, Patriotism, Unity Party [Bobokhon MAHMADOV]; Adolatho "Justice" Party [Abdurahmon KARIMOV, chairman]; Congress of Popular Unity [Saifuddin TURAYEV]; Party of Justice and Development [Rahmutullo ZAINAV]

International organization participation: CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, IOM, ITU, OIC, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US: Tajikistan does not have an embassy in the US, but has a mission at the UN: address-136 East 67th Street, New York, NY 10021, telephone-[1] (212) 472-7645, FAX-[1] (212) 628-0252; permanent representative to the UN is Rashid ALIMOV

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador R. Grant SMITH embassy: interim chancery, Oktyabrskaya Hotel, 105A Prospect Rudaki, Dushanbe 734001 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [7] (3772) 21-03-56 FAX: Telex [7] (3772) 20-03-62

Flag description: three horizontal stripes of red (top), a wider stripe of white, and green; a gold crown surmounted by seven five-pointed gold stars is located in the center of the white stripe

@Tajikistan:Economy

Economy-overview: Tajikistan has the lowest per capita GDP among the former Soviet republics. Agriculture dominates the economy, with cotton the most important crop. Mineral resources, varied but limited in amount, include silver, gold, uranium, and tungsten. Industry is limited to a large aluminum plant, hydropower facilities, and small obsolete factories mostly in light industry and food processing. The Tajik economy has been gravely weakened by four years of civil conflict and by the loss of subsidies from Moscow and of markets for its products. Tajikistan thus depends on aid from Russia and Uzbekistan and on international humanitarian assistance for much of its basic subsistence needs. Even if the peace agreement of June 1997 is honored, the country faces major problems in integrating refugees and former combatants into the economy. Moreover, constant political turmoil and the continued dominance by former communist officials have impeded the introduction of meaningful economic reforms.

GDP: purchasing power parity-$4.1 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate: -10% (1997 est.)

GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$700 (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 25% industry: 35% services: 40% (1997)

Inflation rate-consumer price index: 40% (1996 est.)

Labor force: total: 1.9 million (1996) by occupation: agriculture and forestry 52%, manufacturing, mining, and construction 17%, services 31% (1995)

Unemployment rate: 2.4% includes only officially registered unemployed; also large numbers of underemployed workers and unregistered unemployed people (December 1996)

Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Industries: aluminum, zinc, lead, chemicals and fertilizers, cement, vegetable oil, metal-cutting machine tools, refrigerators and freezers

Industrial production growth rate: -20% (1996 est.)

Electricity-capacity: 4.443 million kW (1995)

Electricity-production: 14.66 billion kWh (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita: 2,302 kWh (1995)

Agriculture-products: cotton, grain, fruits, grapes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats

Exports: total value: $768 million (1996 est.) commodities: cotton, aluminum, fruits, vegetable oil, textiles partners: FSU 78%, Netherlands (1994)

Imports: total value: $657 million (1996 est.) commodities: fuel, chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, textiles, foodstuffs partners: FSU 55%, Switzerland, UK (1994)

Debt-external: $635 million (of which $250 million to Russia) (1995 est.)

Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $22 million (1993) note: commitments, $885 million (disbursements $115 million) (1992-95)

Currency: the Tajikistani ruble (TJR) = 100 tanga; Tajikistan introduced its own currency in May 1995

Exchange rates: Tajikistani rubles (TJR) per US$1-350 (January 1997), 284 (January 1996)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 303,000 (1991 est.)

Telephone system: poorly developed and not well maintained; many towns are not reached by the national network domestic: cable and microwave radio relay international: linked by cable and microwave radio relay to other CIS republics, and by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; Dushanbe linked by Intelsat to international gateway switch in Ankara (Turkey); satellite earth stations-1 Orbita and 2 Intelsat

Radio broadcast stations: 1 state-owned radio broadcast station

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 1 note: 1 Intelsat earth station provides TV receive-only service from Turkey

Televisions: NA

@Tajikistan:Transportation

Railways: total: 480 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines (1990)

Highways: total: 32,752 km paved: 21,119 km (note-these roads are said to be hard-surfaced, meaning that some are paved and some are all-weather gravel surfaced) unpaved: 11,633 km (1992 est.)

Pipelines: natural gas 400 km (1992)

Ports and harbors: none

Airports: 59 (1994 est.)

Airports-with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1994 est.)

Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 45 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 36 (1994 est.)

@Tajikistan:Military

Military branches: Army, Air Force, Presidential National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops)

Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 1,432,800 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 1,174,683 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 62,558 (1998 est.)

Military expenditures-dollar figure: 180 billion rubles (1995); note-conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 3.4% (1995)

@Tajikistan:Transnational Issues

Disputes-international: most of the boundary with China in dispute; territorial dispute with Kyrgyzstan on northern boundary in Isfara Valley area

Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for domestic consumption; increasingly used as transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia to Russia and Western Europe

______________________________________________________________________

TANZANIA

@Tanzania:Geography

Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique

Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S, 35 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area: total: 945,090 sq km land: 886,040 sq km water: 59,050 sq km note: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar

Area-comparative: slightly larger than twice the size of California

Land boundaries: total: 3,402 km border countries: Burundi 451 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi 475 km, Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217 km, Uganda 396 km, Zambia 338 km

Coastline: 1,424 km

Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands

Terrain: plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Kilimanjaro 5,895 m

Natural resources: hydropower potential, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel

Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 40% forests and woodland: 38% other: 18% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 1,500 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: the tsetse fly; flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season

Environment-current issues: soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats; recent droughts affected marginal agriculture

Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography-note: Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa

@Tanzania:People

Population: 30,608,769 (July 1998 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 45% (male 6,804,194; female 6,844,815) 15-64 years: 53% (male 7,835,705; female 8,236,949) 65 years and over: 2% (male 408,827; female 478,279) (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.14% (1998 est.)

Birth rate: 40.75 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate: 16.71 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 96.94 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.37 years male: 44.22 years female: 48.59 years (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.49 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Nationality: noun: Tanzanian(s) adjective: Tanzanian

Ethnic groups: mainland-native African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of more than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of Asian, European, and Arab) note: Zanzibar- Arab, native African, mixed Arab and native African

Religions: mainland-Christian 45%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 20% note: Zanzibar-more than 99% Muslim

Languages: Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguju (name for Swahili in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education), Arabic (widely spoken in Zanzibar), many local languages note: Kiswahili (Swahili) is the mother tongue of Bantu people living in Zanzibar and nearby coastal Tanzania; although Kiswahili is Bantu in structure and origin, its vocabulary draws on a variety of sources, including Arabic and English, and it has become the lingua franca of central and eastern Africa; the first language of most people is one of the local languages

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabic total population: 67.8% male: 79.4% female: 56.8% (1995 est.)

@Tanzania:Government

Country name: conventional long form: United Republic of Tanzania conventional short form: Tanzania former: United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar

Data code: TZ

Government type: republic

National capital: Dar es Salaam note: some government offices have been transferred to Dodoma, which is planned as the new national capital by the end of the 1990s; the National Assembly now meets there on regular basis

Administrative divisions: 25 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Iringa, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Lindi, Mara, Mbeya, Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza, Pemba North, Pemba South, Pwani, Rukwa, Ruvuma, Shinyanga, Singida, Tabora, Tanga, Zanzibar Central/South, Zanzibar North, Zanzibar Urban/West, Ziwa Magharibi note: although some recent maps have referred to Ziwa Magharibi as Kagera, the US Board on Geographic Names has not approved the change

Independence: 26 April 1964; Tanganyika became independent 9 December 1961 (from UK-administered UN trusteeship); Zanzibar became independent 19 December 1963 (from UK); Tanganyika united with Zanzibar 26 April 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; renamed United Republic of Tanzania 29 October 1964

National holiday: Union Day, 26 April (1964)

Constitution: 25 April 1977; major revisions October 1984

Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Benjamin William MKAPA (since 23 November 1995); Vice President Omar Ali JUMA (since 23 November 1995); note the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Benjamin William MKAPA (since 23 November 1995); Vice President Omar Ali JUMA (since 23 November 1995); note-the president is both chief of state and head of government note: Zanzibar elects a president who is head of government for matters internal to Zanzibar; Dr. Salmin AMOUR was elected to that office on 22 October 1995 in a popular election cabinet: Cabinet ministers, including the prime minister, are appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly elections: president and vice president elected on the same ballot by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 29 October-19 November 1995 (next to be held NA October 2000); prime minister appointed by the president election results: percent of vote-Benjamin William MKAPA 62%, MREMA 28%, LIPUMBA 6%, CHEYO 4%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (274 seats-232 directly elected by universal adult suffrage, 37 allocated to women nominated by the president, five to members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives; members serve five-year terms); note-in addition to enacting laws that apply to the entire United Republic of Tanzania, the Assembly enacts laws that apply only to the mainland; Zanzibar has its own House of Representatives to make laws especially for Zanzibar (the Zanzibar House of Representatives has 50 seats, directly elected by universal suffrage to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 29 October-19 November 1995 (next to be held NA October 2000) election results: National Assembly: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-CCM 186, CUF 24, NCCR-Mageuzi 16, CHADEMA 3, UDP 3; Zanzibar House of Representatives: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-CCM 26, CUF 24

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal; High Court, judges appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders: Chama Cha Mapinduzi or CCM (Revolutionary Party) [Benjamin William MKAPA]; Civic United Front or CUF [Seif Sharif HAMAD]; National Convention for Construction and Reform or NCCR [Lyatonga (Augustine) MREMA]; Union for Multiparty Democracy or UMD [Abdullah FUNDIKIRA]; Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo or CHADEMA [Edwin I. M. MTEI, chairman]; Democratic Party (unregistered) [Reverend MTIKLA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [John CHEYO]

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, EADB, ECA, FAO, G- 6, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MONUA, NAM, OAU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mustafa Salim NYANG'ANYI chancery: 2139 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6125 FAX: [1] (202) 797-7408

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires John LANGE embassy: 36 Laibon Road (off Bagamoyo Road), Dar es Salaam mailing address: P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam telephone: [255] (51) 666010 through 666015 FAX: [255] (51) 666701

Flag description: divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is blue

@Tanzania:Economy

Economy-overview: Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, which accounts for 57% of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 90% of the work force. Topography and climatic conditions, however, limit cultivated crops to only 4% of the land area. Industry accounts for 17% of GDP and is mainly limited to processing agricultural products and light consumer goods. The economic recovery program announced in mid-1986 has generated notable increases in agricultural production and financial support for the program by bilateral donors. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's deteriorated economic infrastructure. Growth in 1991-97 has featured a pickup in industrial production and a substantial increase in output of minerals, led by gold. Natural gas exploration in the Rufiji Delta looks promising and production could start by 2002. Recent banking reforms have helped increase private sector growth and investment.

GDP: purchasing power parity-$21.1 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate: 4.3% (1997 est.)

GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$700 (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 57% industry: 17% services: 26% (1995 est.)

Inflation rate-consumer price index: 15% (1997 est.)

Labor force: total: 13.495 million by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 10% (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues: $959 million expenditures: $1.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $214 million (FY96/97 est.)

Industries: primarily agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine), diamond and gold mining, oil refining, shoes, cement, textiles, wood products, fertilizer, salt

Industrial production growth rate: 0.4% (1995 est.)

Electricity-capacity: 439,000 kW (1995)

Electricity-production: 895 million kWh (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita: 31 kWh (1995)

Agriculture-products: coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), cashews, tobacco, cloves (Zanzibar), corn, wheat, cassava (tapioca), bananas, fruits, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats

Exports: total value: $760 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: coffee, manufactured goods, cotton, cashew nuts, minerals, tobacco, sisal (1995) partners: EU, Japan, India, US (1995)

Imports: total value: $1.4 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: consumer goods, machinery and transportation equipment, crude oil partners: EU, Kenya, Japan, China, India (1995)

Debt-external: $7.9 billion (1997 est.)

Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 Tanzanian shilling (TSh) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Tanzanian shillings (TSh) per US$1-631.61 (January 1998), 612.12 (1997), 579.98 (1996), 574.76 (1995), 509.63 (1994), 405.27 (1993)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

Communications

Telephones: 137,000 (1989 est.)

Telephone system: fair system operating below capacity domestic: open wire, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter international: satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios: 720,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 3 (1995 est.); note-all on Zanzibar

Televisions: 55,000 (1993 est.)

@Tanzania:Transportation

Railways: total: 3,569 km (1995) narrow gauge: 2,600 km 1.000-m gauge; 969 km 1.067-m gauge note: the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), which operates 1,860 km of 1.067-m narrow gauge track between Dar es Salaam and New Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia (of which 969 km are in Tanzania and 891 km are in Zambia) is not a part of Tanzania Railways Corporation; because of the difference in gauge, this system does not connect to Tanzania Railways

Highways: total: 88,200 km paved: 3,704 km unpaved: 84,496 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, Lake Nyasa

Pipelines: crude oil 982 km

Ports and harbors: Bukoba, Dar es Salaam, Kigoma, Kilwa Masoko, Lindi, Mtwara, Mwanza, Pangani, Tanga, Wete, Zanzibar

Merchant marine: total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 30,371 GRT/41,269 DWT ships by type: cargo 3, oil tanker 2, passenger-cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1997 est.)

Airports: 123 (1997 est.)

Airports-with paved runways: total: 11 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 112 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 60 under 914 m: 35 (1997 est.)

@Tanzania:Military

Military branches: Tanzanian People's Defense Force or TPDF (includes Army, Navy, and Air Force), paramilitary Police Field Force Unit, Militia

Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 6,935,184 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 4,014,130 (1998 est.)

Military expenditures-dollar figure: $69 million (FY94/95)

Military expenditures-percent of GDP: NA%

@Tanzania:Transnational Issues

Disputes-international: dispute with Malawi over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi); Democratic Republic of the Congo-Tanzania-Zambia tripoint in Lake Tanganyika may no longer be indefinite since it has been informally reported that the indefinite section of the Democratic Republic of the Congo-Zambia boundary has been settled

Illicit drugs: growing role in transshipment of Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for European and US markets and of South Asian methaqualone bound for Southern Africa

______________________________________________________________________

THAILAND

@Thailand: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: 514,000 sq km land: 511,770 sq km water: 2,230 sq km

Area-comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming

Land boundaries: total: 4,863 km border countries: Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km, Malaysia 506 km

Coastline: 3,219 km

Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

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 extremes: lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m

Natural resources: tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite

Land use: arable land: 34% permanent crops: 6% permanent pastures: 2% forests and woodland: 26% other: 32% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 44,000 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the water table; droughts

Environment-current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting

Environment-international agreements: party to: Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Law of the Sea

Geography-note: controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore

@Thailand:People

Population: 60,037,366 (July 1998 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 24% (male 7,440,863; female 7,169,837) 15-64 years: 70% (male 20,605,197; female 21,210,697) 65 years and over: 6% (male 1,596,267; female 2,014,505) (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.97% (1998 est.)

Birth rate: 16.76 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate: 7.11 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 30.82 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69 years male: 65.35 years female: 72.83 years (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.84 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Nationality: noun: Thai (singular and plural) adjective: Thai

Ethnic groups: Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%

Religions: Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism 0.1%, other 0.6% (1991)

Languages: Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and regional dialects

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.8% male: 96% female: 91.6% (1995 est.)

@Thailand:Government

Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand conventional short form: Thailand

Data code: TH

Government type: constitutional monarchy

National capital: Bangkok

Administrative divisions: 76 provinces (changwat, singular and plural); Amnat Charoen, Ang Thong, Buriram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep Mahanakhon (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, Sara Buri, Satun, Sing Buri, Sisaket, 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 His Majesty the King, 5 December (1927)

Constitution: new constitution signed by King PHUMIPHON on 11 October 1997

Legal system: based on civil law system, with influences of common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet (since 9 June 1946) head of government: Prime Minister CHUAN Likphai (since 15 November 1997) cabinet: Council of Ministers note: there is also a Privy Council elections: none; the king is a constitutional monarch; prime minister designated from among the members of the House of Representatives; following a national election for the House of Representatives, the leader of the party that can organize a majority coalition usually becomes prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha consists of the Senate or Wuthisapha (a 270-member appointed body; members serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon (393 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: House of Representatives-last held 17 November 1996 (next must be held by 17 November 2000, but may be held earlier) election results: House of Representatives-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party - NAP 125, DP 123, NDP 52, TNP 39, SAP 20, TCP 18, SP 8, LDP 4, MP 2, other 2

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Sandika), judges appointed by the king

Political parties and leaders: Thai Nation Party (TNP or Chat Thai Party), BANHAN Sinlapa-acha; Democratic Party (DP or Prachathipat Party), CHUAN Likphai; New Aspiration Party (NAP or Khwamwang Mai), Gen. CHAWALIT Yongchaiyut; National Development Party (NDP or Chat Phattana), leader NA; Phalang Dharma Party (PDP or Phalang Tham), SUDARAT Keyuraphan; Social Action Party (SAP or Kitsangkhom Party), MONTRI Phongphanit; Thai Citizen's Party (TCP or Prachakon Thai), SAMAK Sunthonwet; Liberal Democratic Party (LDP or Seri Tham), PHINIT Charusombat; Solidarity Party (SP or Ekkaphap Party), UTHAI Phimchaichon; Mass Party (MP or Muanchon), Pol. Cpt. CHALOEM Yubamrung

International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador NIT Phibunsongkhram chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 944-3600 FAX: [1] (202) 944-3611 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador William H. ITOH embassy: 120-122 Wireless Road, Bangkok mailing address: APO AP 96546 telephone: [66] (2) 205-4000 FAX: [66] (2) 254-2990 consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai

Flag description: five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red

@Thailand:Economy

Economy-overview: In 1997/98, the Thai economy is in a deep recession as a result of the severe financial problems facing many Thai firms, particularly banks and finance companies. In the early 1990s, Thailand liberalized financial inflows; banks and other firms borrowed in dollars and did not hedge their positions because there was no perceived exchange rate risk. These funds financed a property boom that began to taper off in the mid-1990s. In addition, export growth - previously a key driver of the Thai economy-collapsed in 1996, resulting in growing doubts that the Bank of Thailand could maintain the baht's peg to the dollar. The Bank mounted an expensive defense of the exchange rate that nearly depleted foreign exchange reserves, then decided to float the exchange rate, triggering a sharp increase in foreign liabilities that cash-strapped Thai firms were already having trouble repaying. In August 1997, the government headed by Prime Minister CHAWALIT signed an agreement with the IMF for access to a $14 billion facility to supplement foreign exchange reserves and restore financial market stability. CHAWALIT resigned in November 1997, however, under pressure for lacking a coherent approach to managing the IMF program and the financial crisis. Democratic Party leader CHUAN Likphai formed a seven-party coalition government and closely adhered to the IMF program, tentatively reestablishing financial stability by February 1998. An economic turnaround requires rescheduling the large short-term foreign liabilities of Thai firms, restoring high rates of export growth to finance foreign liabilities, and extensively recapitalizing the banking system.

GDP: purchasing power parity-$525 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate: -0.4% (1997 est.)

GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$8,800 (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 10% industry: 28.7% services: 61.3% (1997)

Inflation rate-consumer price index: 5.6% (1997 est.)

Labor force: total: 32.6 million (1997 est.) by occupation: agriculture 54%, industry 15%, services (including government) 31% (1996 est.)

Unemployment rate: 3.5%

Budget: revenues: $24 billion expenditures: $25 billion, including capital expenditures of $8 billion (FY96/97)

Industries: tourism; textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing, such as jewelry; electric appliances and components, computers and parts, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics; world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer

Industrial production growth rate: -15% (1997 est.)

Electricity-capacity: 15.838 million kW (1995)

Electricity-production: 77.5 billion kWh (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita: 1,295 kWh (1995)

Agriculture-products: rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans

Exports: total value: $51.6 billion (f.o.b., 1997) commodities: manufactures 82%, agricultural products and fisheries 14% (1997) partners: US 19.6%, Japan 14.9%, Singapore 11%, Hong Kong 5.7%, Malaysia 4.3%, UK 3.7% (1997)

Imports: total value: $73.5 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: capital goods 50%, consumer goods 10.2%, fuels 8.7% (1997) partners: Japan 25.6%, US 13.9%, Singapore 5%, Taiwan 4.6%, Germany 4.5%, Malaysia 4.1% (1997)

Debt-external: $90 billion (1997)

Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $624 million (1993)

Currency: 1 baht (B) = 100 satang

Exchange rates: baht (B) per US$1-53.812 (January 1998), 31.364 (1997), 25.343 (1996), 24.915 (1995), 25.150 (1994), 25.319 (1993)

Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September

Communications

Telephones: 1,553,200 (1994 est.)

Telephone system: service to general public adequate, but investments in technological upgrades reduced by recession; bulk of service to government activities provided by multichannel cable and microwave radio relay network domestic: microwave radio relay and multichannel cable; domestic satellite system being developed international: satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 200 (in government-controlled network), FM 100 (in government-controlled network), shortwave 0

Radios: 10.75 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 11 (in government-controlled network)

Televisions: 3.3 million (1993 est.)

@Thailand:Transportation

Railways: total: 4,623 km narrow gauge: 4,623 km 1.000-m gauge (99 km double track)

Highways: total: 64,600 km paved: 62,985 km unpaved: 1,615 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: 3,999 km principal waterways; 3,701 km with navigable depths of 0.9 m or more throughout the year; numerous minor waterways navigable by shallow-draft native craft

Pipelines: petroleum products 67 km; natural gas 350 km

Ports and harbors: Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Pattani, Phuket, Sattahip, Si Racha, Songkhla

Merchant marine: total: 304 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,997,060 GRT/3,270,988 DWT ships by type: bulk 48, cargo 145, chemical tanker 7, container 9, liquefied gas tanker 13, multi-function large load carrier 3, oil tanker 62, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 11, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 2 (1997 est.)

Airports: 106 (1997 est.)

Airports-with paved runways: total: 55 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 4 (1997 est.)

Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 51 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 34 (1997 est.)

Heliports: 3 (1997 est.)

@Thailand:Military

Military branches: Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy (includes Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force, Paramilitary Forces

Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 17,296,871 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 10,435,956 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 558,579 (1998 est.)

Military expenditures-dollar figure: $4 billion (FY95/96)

Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 2.5% (FY94/95)

@Thailand:Transnational Issues

Disputes-international: parts of the border with Laos are indefinite; maritime boundary with Vietnam resolved, August 1997; parts of border with Cambodia are indefinite; maritime boundary with Cambodia not clearly defined

Illicit drugs: a minor producer of opium, heroin, and marijuana; major illicit transit point for heroin en route to the international drug market from Burma and Laos; eradication efforts have reduced the area of cannabis cultivation and shifted some production to neighboring countries; opium poppy cultivation has been reduced by eradication efforts; also a drug money-laundering center; role in amphetamine production for regional consumption; increasing indigenous abuse of methamphetamines and heroin

______________________________________________________________________

TOGO

@Togo:Geography

Location: Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana

Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 1 10 E

Map references: Africa

Area: total: 56,790 sq km land: 54,390 sq km water: 2,400 sq km

Area-comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries: total: 1,647 km border countries: Benin 644 km, Burkina Faso 126 km, Ghana 877 km

Coastline: 56 km

Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 30 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Terrain: gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pic Agou 986 m

Natural resources: phosphates, limestone, marble

Land use: arable land: 38% permanent crops: 7% permanent pastures: 4% forests and woodland: 17% other: 34% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 70 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts

Environment-current issues: deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; recent droughts affecting agriculture

Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

@Togo:People

Population: 4,905,827 (July 1998 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 48% (male 1,190,812; female 1,180,739) 15-64 years: 49% (male 1,175,570; female 1,252,274) 65 years and over: 3% (male 48,483; female 57,949) (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.52% (1998 est.)

Birth rate: 45.23 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 79.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 58.78 years male: 56.52 years female: 61.12 years (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.6 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Nationality: noun: Togolese (singular and plural) adjective: Togolese

Ethnic groups: native African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%

Religions: indigenous beliefs 70%, Christian 20%, Muslim 10%

Languages: French (official and the language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (the two major African languages in the south), Kabye (sometimes spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (the two major African languages in the north)

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 51.7% male: 67% female: 37% (1995 est.)

@Togo:Government

Country name: conventional long form: Togolese Republic conventional short form: Togo local long form: Republique Togolaise local short form: none former: French Togo

Data code: TO

Government type: republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule

National capital: Lome

Administrative divisions: 21 circumscriptions (circonscriptions, singular-circonscription); Amlame, Aneho, Atakpame, Badou, Bafilo, Bassar, Dapaong, Kande, Kara, Kpalime, Lome, Niamtougou, Notse, Pagouda, Sansanne-Mango, Sokode, Sotouboua, Tabligbo, Tchamba, Tsevie, Vogan note: the 21 units may have become second-order administrative divisions with the imposition of a new first-order level of five prefectures (singular - prefecture) named De La Kara, Des Plateaux, Des Savanes, Du Centre, and Maritime

Independence: 27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday: Independence Day, 27 April (1960)

Constitution: multiparty draft constitution approved by High Council of the Republic 1 July 1992; adopted by public referendum 27 September 1992

Legal system: French-based court system

Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult

Executive branch: chief of state: President Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA (since 14 April 1967) head of government: Prime Minister Kwassi KLUTSE (since August 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 21 June 1998 (next to be held NA 2003); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Gnassingbe EYADEMA elected president; percent of vote-Gnassingbe EYADEMA 52.13%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (81 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 6 and 20 February 1994 (next to be held NA 1999) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-CAR 36, RPT 35, UTD 7, UJD 2, CFN 1 note: as a result of a byelection in August 1996, ordered by the Supreme Court for three seats of the Action Committee for Renewal and the Togolese Union for Democracy, representation in the National Assembly changed to RPT 38, CAR 34, UTD 6, UJD 2, and CFN 1; as a result of subsequent defections from the CAR to the RPT and the merging of the UJD with the RPT, representation in the National Assembly in August 1997 was RPT 42, CAR 32, UTD 5, CFN 1, independent 1

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Political parties and leaders: Rally of the Togolese People or RPT [President Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA]; Coordination des Forces Nouvelles or CFN [Joseph KOFFIGOH]; Togolese Union for Democracy or UTD [Edem KODJO]; Action Committee for Renewal or CAR [Yao AGBOYIBOR]; Union for Democracy and Solidarity or UDS [Antoine FOLLY]; Pan-African Sociodemocrats Group or GSP, an alliance of three radical parties: CDPA, PDR, and PSP; Democratic Convention of African Peoples or CDPA [Leopold GNININVI]; Party for Democracy and Renewal or PDR [Zarifou AYEVA]; Pan-African Social Party or PSP [Francis AGBAGLI]; Union of Forces for Change or UFC [Gilchrist OLYMPIO (in exile); Jeane-Pierre FABRE, general secretary in Togo]; Union of Justice and Democracy or UJD [Lal TAXPANDJAN] note: Rally of the Togolese People or RPT, led by President EYADEMA, was the only party until the formation of multiple parties was legalized 12 April 1991

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MINURSO, MIPONUH, NAM, OAU, OIC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Pascal BODJONA chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-4212 FAX: [1] (202) 232-3190

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Brenda Brown SCHOONOVER embassy: Rue Pelletier Caventou and Rue Vauban, Lome mailing address: B. P. 852, Lome telephone: [228] 21 77 17, 21 29 91 through 21 29 94 FAX: [228] 21 79 52

Flag description: five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternating with yellow; there is a white five-pointed star on a red square in the upper hoist-side corner; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

@Togo:Economy

Economy-overview: This small sub-Saharan economy is heavily dependent on both commercial and subsistence agriculture, which provides employment for more than 60% of the labor force. Cocoa, coffee, and cotton together generate about 30% of export earnings. Togo is self-sufficient in basic foodstuffs when harvests are normal, with occasional regional supply difficulties. In the industrial sector, phosphate mining is by far the most important activity, although it has suffered from the collapse of world phosphate prices and increased foreign competition. Togo serves as a regional commercial and trade center. The government's decade-long effort, supported by the World Bank and the IMF, to implement economic reform measures, encourage foreign investment, and bring revenues in line with expenditures has stalled. Political unrest, including private and public sector strikes throughout 1992 and 1993, has jeopardized the reform program, shrunk the tax base, and disrupted vital economic activity. The 12 January 1994 devaluation of the currency by 50% provided an important impetus to renewed structural adjustment; these efforts were facilitated by the end of strife in 1994 and a return to overt political calm. The 1998 presidential elections provide an important opportunity for Togo's evolving political system to demonstrate that the country can participate in a peaceful and effective manner with World Bank and IMF programs. Progress depends on continuing privatization, increased transparency in government accounting to accommodate increased social service outlays, and possible downsizing of the military, on which the regime has depended to stay in place.

GDP: purchasing power parity-$6.2 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate: 4.8% (1997 est.)

GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$1,300 (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 32% industry: 23% services: 45% (1995)

Inflation rate-consumer price index: 15.7% (1995)

Labor force: total: 1.538 million (1993 est.) by occupation: agriculture 65%, industry 5%, services 30% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues: $232 million expenditures: $252 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)

Industries: phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement; handicrafts, textiles, beverages

Industrial production growth rate: 13.6% (1995)

Electricity-capacity: 34,000 kW (1995)

Electricity-production: 90 million kWh (1995) note: imports electricity from Ghana

Electricity-consumption per capita: 92 kWh (1995)

Agriculture-products: coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (tapioca), corn, beans, rice, millet, sorghum; meat; annual fish catch of 10,000-14,000 tons

Exports: total value: $196 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa partners: Canada 9.2%, US 8.1%, Taiwan 7.5%, Nigeria 6.7% (1995 est.)

Imports: total value: $404 million (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: machinery and equipment, consumer goods, petroleum products partners: Ghana 17.1%, China 13.3%, France 12.5%, Cameroon 6.0% (1995 est.)

Debt-external: $1.4 billion (1995)

Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1-608.36 (January 1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993) note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 47,000, not including those in the 10,000 telephone capacity cellular system (1998 est.)

Telephone system: fair system based on network of microwave radio relay routes supplemented by open-wire lines and cellular system domestic: microwave radio relay and open-wire lines for conventional system; cellular system has capacity of 10,000 telephones international: satellite earth stations-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Symphonie

Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios: 795,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 3 (relays 2)

Televisions: 24,000 (1992 est.)

@Togo:Transportation

Railways: total: 525 km (1995) narrow gauge: 525 km 1.000-m gauge

Highways: total: 7,520 km paved: 2,376 km unpaved: 5,144 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: 50 km Mono river

Ports and harbors: Kpeme, Lome

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 9 (1997 est.)

Airports-with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (1997 est.)

Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 2 (1997 est.)

@Togo:Military

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie

Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 1,058,480 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 555,263 (1998 est.)

Military expenditures-dollar figure: $48 million (1993)

Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 2.9% (1993)

@Togo:Transnational Issues

Disputes-international: none

Illicit drugs: transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers

______________________________________________________________________

TOKELAU

(territory of New Zealand)

@Tokelau:Geography

Location: Oceania, group of three islands 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: 10 sq km land: 10 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area-comparative: about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 101 km

Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)

Terrain: low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Natural resources: NEGL

Land use: arable land: 0% (soil is thin and infertile) permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: lies in Pacific typhoon belt

Environment-current issues: very limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand

Environment-international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

@Tokelau:People

Population: 1,443 (July 1998 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate: -1.35% (1998 est.)

Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population

Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population

Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population