Chapter XV: Front Matter (15)

Telephone system:
general assessment: poor
domestic: barely adequate wire and microwave radio relay service in
and between urban areas; domestic satellite system with 14 earth
stations
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 2 (2001)

Radios:
18.03 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
4 (2001)

Televisions:
6.478 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.cd

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2001)

Internet users:
6,000 (2002)

Transportation Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Railways:
total: 4,772 km
narrow gauge: 3,621 km 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified); 125 km
1.000-m gauge; 1,026 km 0.600-m gauge (2002)

Highways:
total: 157,000 km (including 30 km of expressways)
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km (1999 est.)

Waterways:
15,000 km (including the Congo and its tributaries, and unconnected
lakes)

Pipelines:
gas 54 km; oil 71 km (2003)

Ports and harbors:
Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma, Kalemie, Kindu, Kinshasa,
Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka

Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)

Airports:
229 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 24
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 205
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 95
under 914 m: 91 (2002)

Heliports:
1 (2002)

Military Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Special Security Battalion

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 12,292,933 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 6,267,752 (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$250 million (FY97)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4.6% (FY97)

Transnational Issues Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Disputes - international:
Democratic Republic of the Congo is in the grip of a civil war that
has drawn in military forces from neighboring states, with Uganda
and Rwanda supporting the rebel movements that occupy much of the
eastern portion of the state - Tutsi, Hutu, Lendu, Hema and other
conflicting ethnic groups, political rebels, and various government
forces continue fighting in Great Lakes region, transcending the
boundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and
Uganda - heads of the Great Lakes states pledge to end conflict, but
localized violence continues despite UN peacekeeping efforts; most
of the Congo River boundary with the Republic of the Congo is
indefinite (no agreement has been reached on the division of the
river or its islands, except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area)

Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for domestic consumption;
while rampant corruption and inadequate supervision leaves the
banking system vulnerable to money laundering, the lack of a
well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a
money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

======================================================================

@Congo, Republic of the

Introduction Congo, Republic of the

Background:
Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo
became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of
experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a
democratically elected government installed in 1992. A brief civil
war in 1997 restored former Marxist President SASSOU-NGUESSO, but
ushered in a period of ethnically based unrest. Southern-based rebel
groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003. The Republic of
Congo is one of Africa's largest petroleum producers with
significant potential for offshore development.

Geography Congo, Republic of the

Location:
Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola
and Gabon

Geographic coordinates:
1 00 S, 15 00 E

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 342,000 sq km
water: 500 sq km
land: 341,500 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Montana

Land boundaries:
total: 5,504 km
border countries: Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km, Central African
Republic 467 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Gabon
1,903 km

Coastline:
169 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 NM

Climate:
tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to
October); constantly high temperatures and humidity; particularly
enervating climate astride the Equator

Terrain:
coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m

Natural resources:
petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates,
natural gas, hydropower

Land use:
arable land: 0.5%
permanent crops: 0.13%
other: 99.37% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
10 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
seasonal flooding

Environment - current issues:
air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the
dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber
94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:
about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or
along the railroad between them

People Congo, Republic of the

Population:
2,954,258
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.4% (male 570,491; female 563,079)
15-64 years: 58% (male 844,655; female 868,851)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 44,166; female 63,016) (2003 est.)

Median age:
total: 20.2 years
male: 19.8 years
female: 20.7 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
1.53% (2003 est.)

Birth rate:
29.46 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate:
14.2 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 95.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 89.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 101.45 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 50.02 years
male: 49.04 years
female: 51.02 years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate:
3.65 children born/woman (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
7.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
110,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
11,000 (2001 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Congolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Congolese or Congo

Ethnic groups:
Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans and other 3%
note: Europeans estimated at 8,500, mostly French, before the 1997
civil war; may be half that in 1998, following the widespread
destruction of foreign businesses in 1997

Religions:
Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%

Languages:
French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade
languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo has
the most users)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.8%
male: 89.6%
female: 78.4% (2003 est.)

Government Congo, Republic of the

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Congo
conventional short form: Congo (Brazzaville)
local short form: none
former: Middle Congo, Congo/Brazzaville, Congo
local long form: Republique du Congo

Government type:
republic

Capital:
Brazzaville

Administrative divisions:
9 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza,
Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux,
Pool, Sangha

Independence:
15 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 August (1960)

Constitution:
constitution approved by referendum 20 January 2002

Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO (since 25 October
1997, following the civil war in which he toppled elected president
Pascal LISSOUBA); note - the president is both the chief of state
and head of government
head of government: President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO (since 25 October
1997, following the civil war in which he toppled elected president
Pascal LISSOUBA); note - the president is both the chief of state
and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second seven-year term); election last held 10 March
2002 (next to be held NA 2009)
election results: Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO reelected president; percent
of vote - Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO 89.4%, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia MBOUNGOU
2.7%

Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (66 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the National
Assembly (137 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 11 July 2002 (next to be held NA July
2007); National Assembly - last held 27 May and 26 June 2002 (next
to be held by NA May 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - FDP 56, other 10; National Assembly - percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - FDP 83, UDR 6, UPADS 3, other 45

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Political parties and leaders:
the most important of the many parties are the Democratic and
Patriotic Forces or FDP (an alliance of Convention for Alternative
Democracy, Congolese Labor Party or PCT, Liberal Republican Party,
National Union for Democracy and Progress, Patriotic Union for the
National Reconstruction, and Union for the National Renewal) [Denis
SASSOU-NGUESSO, president]; Congolese Movement for Democracy and
Integral Development or MCDDI [Michel MAMPOUYA]; Pan-African Union
for Social Development or UPADS [Martin MBERI]; Rally for Democracy
and Social Progress or RDPS [Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA,
president]; Rally for Democracy and the Republic or RDR [Raymond
Damasge NGOLLO]; Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR [leader
NA]; Union of Democratic Forces or UFD [Sebastian EBAO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Congolese Trade Union Congress or CSC; General Union of Congolese
Pupils and Students or UGEEC; Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women
or URFC; Union of Congolese Socialist Youth or UJSC

International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW (signatory), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Serge MOMBOULI
FAX: [1] (202) 726-1860
telephone: [1] (202) 726-5500
chancery: 4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robin R. SANDERS
embassy: NA
mailing address: NA
telephone: [243] (88) 43608
note: the embassy is temporarily collocated with the US Embassy in
the Democratic Republic of the Congo (US Embassy Kinshasa, 310
Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa)

Flag description:
divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; the
upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red;
uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy Congo, Republic of the

Economy - overview:
The economy is a mixture of village agriculture and handicrafts, an
industrial sector based largely on oil, support services, and a
government characterized by budget problems and overstaffing. Oil
has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing a
major share of government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s,
rapidly rising oil revenues enabled the government to finance
large-scale development projects with GDP growth averaging 5%
annually, one of the highest rates in Africa. The government has
mortgaged a substantial portion of its oil earnings, contributing to
a shortage of revenues. The 12 January 1994 devaluation of Franc
Zone currencies by 50% resulted in inflation of 61% in 1994, but
inflation has subsided since. Economic reform efforts continued with
the support of international organizations, notably the World Bank
and the IMF. The reform program came to a halt in June 1997 when
civil war erupted. Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, who returned to power when
the war ended in October 1997, publicly expressed interest in moving
forward on economic reforms and privatization and in renewing
cooperation with international financial institutions. However,
economic progress was badly hurt by slumping oil prices and the
resumption of armed conflict in December 1998, which worsened the
republic's budget deficit. The current administration presides over
an uneasy internal peace and faces difficult economic problems of
stimulating recovery and reducing poverty.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $2.5 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
0% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $900 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 48%
services: 42% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (2002 est.)

Labor force:
NA

Unemployment rate:
NA%

Budget:
revenues: $870 million
expenditures: $970 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)

Industries:
petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil,
soap, flour, cigarettes

Industrial production growth rate:
0% (2002 est.)

Electricity - production:
358.1 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.3%
hydro: 99.7%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption:
633 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
300 million kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
275,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
5,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:
93.5 million bbl (37257)

Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
495.5 million cu m (37257)

Agriculture - products:
cassava (tapioca), sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee,
cocoa; forest products

Exports:
$2.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:
petroleum, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds

Exports - partners:
Taiwan 28.1%, South Korea 20.4%, China 9.3%, US 8.4%, Germany 6.6%,
France 5.2% (2002)

Imports:
$730 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:
capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
France 22.1%, Italy 8.5%, Belgium 6%, US 5.2%, India 4.1% (2002)

Debt - external:
$5 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$159.1 million (1995)

Currency:
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible
authority is the Bank of the Central African States

Currency code:
XAF

Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 697
(2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Congo, Republic of the

Telephones - main lines in use:
22,000 (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
3,300 (1998)

Telephone system:
general assessment: services barely adequate for government use;
key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo;
intercity lines frequently out of order
domestic: primary network consists of microwave radio relay and
coaxial cable
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 3 (2001)

Radios:
341,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (2002)

Televisions:
33,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.cg

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)

Internet users:
500 (2001)

Transportation Congo, Republic of the

Railways:
total: 894 km
narrow gauge: 894 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)

Highways:
total: 12,800 km
paved: 1,242 km
unpaved: 11,558 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:
1,120 km
note: the Congo and Ubangi (Oubangui) rivers provide 1,120 km of
commercially navigable water transport; other rivers are used for
local traffic only

Pipelines:
gas 53 km; oil 673 km (2003)

Ports and harbors:
Brazzaville, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire

Airports:
31 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 11 (2002)

Military Congo, Republic of the

Military branches:
Army, Air Force, Navy, Gendarmerie, National Police

Military manpower - military age:
20 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 754,814 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 381,556 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 31,644 (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$84 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.8% (FY01)

Transnational Issues Congo, Republic of the

Disputes - international:
most of the Congo River boundary with the Democratic Republic of
the Congo is indefinite (no agreement has been reached on the
division of the river or its islands, except in the Stanley
Pool/Pool Malebo area)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

======================================================================

@Cook Islands

Introduction Cook Islands

Background:
Named after Captain Cook, who sighted them in 1770, the islands
became a British protectorate in 1888. By 1900, administrative
control was transferred to New Zealand; in 1965 residents chose
self-government in free association with New Zealand. The emigration
of skilled workers to New Zealand and government deficits are
continuing problems.

Geography Cook Islands

Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Geographic coordinates:
21 14 S, 159 46 W

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 240 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 240 sq km

Area - comparative:
1.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
120 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM

Climate:
tropical; moderated by trade winds

Terrain:
low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Te Manga 652 m

Natural resources:
NEGL

Land use:
arable land: 17.39%
permanent crops: 13.04%
other: 69.57% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
NA sq km

Natural hazards:
typhoons (November to March)

Environment - current issues:
NA

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
the northern Cook Islands are seven low-lying, sparsely populated,
coral atolls; the southern Cook Islands consist of eight elevated,
fertile, volcanic isles where most of the populace lives

People Cook Islands

Population:
21,008 (July 2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)

Population growth rate:
NA% (2003 est.)

Birth rate:
NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Sex ratio:
NA (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate:
NA children born/woman (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Nationality:
noun: Cook Islander(s)
adjective: Cook Islander

Ethnic groups:
Polynesian (full blood) 81.3%, Polynesian and European 7.7%,
Polynesian and non-European 7.7%, European 2.4%, other 0.9%

Religions:
Christian (majority of populace are members of the Cook Islands
Christian Church)

Languages:
English (official), Maori

Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 95%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government Cook Islands

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cook Islands
former: Harvey Islands

Dependency status:
self-governing in free association with New Zealand; Cook Islands
is fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains
responsibility for external affairs and defense, in consultation
with the Cook Islands

Government type:
self-governing parliamentary democracy

Capital:
Avarua

Administrative divisions:
none

Independence:
none (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on
4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to full
independence by unilateral action)

National holiday:
Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965)

Constitution:
4 August 1965

Legal system:
based on New Zealand law and English common law

Suffrage:
NA years of age; universal adult

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Frederick GOODWIN (since NA); New Zealand High
Commissioner Kurt MEYER (since NA), representative of New Zealand
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the UK representative is
appointed by the monarch; the New Zealand high commissioner is
appointed by the New Zealand Government; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition usually becomes prime minister
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Robert WOONTON (since 12
February 2002); Deputy Prime Minister Ngamau MUNOKOA (since 5
November 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively
responsible to Parliament

Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (25 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 16 June 1999 (next to be held by NA 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
CIP 12, DAP 12, NAP 1
note: the House of Ariki (chiefs) advises on traditional matters and
maintains considerable influence, but has no legislative powers

Judicial branch:
High Court

Political parties and leaders:
Cook Islands People's Party or CIP [Geoffrey HENRY]; Democratic
Alliance Party or DAP [Terepai MAOATE]; New Alliance Party or NAP
[Norman GEORGE]; Cook Islands National Party or CIN [Teariki HEATHER]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACP, AsDB, ESCAP (associate), FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFRCS
(associate), IOC, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)

Flag description:
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and
a large circle of 15 white five-pointed stars (one for every island)
centered in the outer half of the flag

Economy Cook Islands

Economy - overview:
Like many other South Pacific island nations, the Cook Islands'
economic development is hindered by the isolation of the country
from foreign markets, the limited size of domestic markets, lack of
natural resources, periodic devastation from natural disasters, and
inadequate infrastructure. Agriculture provides the economic base
with major exports made up of copra and citrus fruit. Manufacturing
activities are limited to fruit processing, clothing, and
handicrafts. Trade deficits are offset by remittances from emigrants
and by foreign aid, overwhelmingly from New Zealand. In the 1980s
and 1990s, the country lived beyond its means, maintaining a bloated
public service and accumulating a large foreign debt. Subsequent
reforms, including the sale of state assets, the strengthening of
economic management, the encouragement of tourism, and a debt
restructuring agreement, have rekindled investment and growth.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $105 million (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
7.1% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 17%
industry: 7.8%
services: 75.2% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.2% (2000 est.)

Labor force:
8,000 (1996)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 29%, industry 15%, services 56%
note: shortage of skilled labor (1995)

Unemployment rate:
13% (1996)

Budget:
revenues: $28 million
expenditures: $27 million, including capital expenditures of $3.3
million (FY 00/01 est.)

Industries:
fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate:
1% (2002)

Electricity - production:
27.43 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption:
25.51 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
450 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Agriculture - products:
copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams,
taro, coffee; pigs, poultry

Exports:
$9.1 million (2000)

Exports - commodities:
copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls
and pearl shells; clothing

Exports - partners:
Australia 34%, Japan 27%, New Zealand 25%, US 8% (2000)

Imports:
$50.7 million (2000)

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods

Imports - partners:
NZ 61%, Fiji 19%, US 9%, Australia 6%, Japan 2% (2000)

Debt - external:
$141 million (1996 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$13.1 million; note - New Zealand continues to furnish the greater
part (1995)

Currency:
New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Currency code:
NZD

Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.3535 (January 2002), 2.3776
(2001), 2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997)

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Cook Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:
5,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
0 (1994)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: the individual islands are connected by a combination of
satellite earth stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HF
radiotelephone; within the islands, service is provided by small
exchanges connected to subscribers by open-wire, cable, and
fiber-optic cable
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:
14,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
2 (plus eight low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:
4,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.ck

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2000)

Internet users:
NA

Transportation Cook Islands

Railways:
0 km

Highways:
total: 320 km
paved: 33 km
unpaved: 287 km (2000)

Waterways:
none

Ports and harbors:
Avarua, Avatiu

Airports:
7 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)

Military Cook Islands

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with
the Cook Islands and at its request

Transnational Issues Cook Islands

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

======================================================================

@Coral Sea Islands

Introduction Coral Sea Islands

Background:
Scattered over some 1 million square kilometers of ocean, the Coral
Sea Islands were declared a territory of Australia in 1969. They are
uninhabited except for a small meteorological staff on the Willis
Islets. Automated weather stations, beacons, and a lighthouse occupy
many other islands and reefs.

Geography Coral Sea Islands

Location:
Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia

Geographic coordinates:
18 00 S, 152 00 E

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: less than 3 sq km
note: includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea
area of about 780,000 sq km, with the Willis Islets the most
important
water: 0 sq km
land: less than 3 sq km

Area - comparative:
NA

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
3,095 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 3 NM

Climate:
tropical

Terrain:
sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays)

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m

Natural resources:
NEGL

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover) (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
occasional tropical cyclones

Environment - current issues:
no permanent fresh water resources

Geography - note:
important nesting area for birds and turtles

People Coral Sea Islands

Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological
station (July 2003 est.)

Government Coral Sea Islands

Country name:
conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory
conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands

Dependency status:
territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the
Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories

Legal system:
the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply

Executive branch:
administered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment,
Sport, and Territories

Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of Australia)

Flag description:
the flag of Australia is used

Economy Coral Sea Islands

Economy - overview:
no economic activity

Communications Coral Sea Islands

Communications - note:
there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs
relaying data to the mainland

Transportation Coral Sea Islands

Waterways:
none

Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only

Military Coral Sea Islands

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by
the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities
of visitors

Transnational Issues Coral Sea Islands

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

======================================================================

@Costa Rica

Introduction Costa Rica

Background:
Costa Rica is a Central American success story: since the late 19th
century, only two brief periods of violence have marred its
democratic development. Although still a largely agricultural
country, it has expanded its economy to include strong technology
and tourism sectors. The standard of living is relatively high. Land
ownership is widespread.

Geography Costa Rica

Location:
Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North
Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama

Geographic coordinates:
10 00 N, 84 00 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 51,100 sq km
water: 440 sq km
note: includes Isla del Coco
land: 50,660 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries:
total: 639 km
border countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km

Coastline:
1,290 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate:
tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy
season (May to November); cooler in highlands

Terrain:
coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100
volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m

Natural resources:
hydropower

Land use:
arable land: 4.41%
permanent crops: 5.48%
other: 90.11% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
1,260 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent
flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active
volcanoes

Environment - current issues:
deforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing
of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; coastal
marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air
pollution

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life
Conservation

Geography - note:
four volcanoes, two of them active, rise near the capital of San
Jose in the center of the country; one of the volcanoes, Irazu,
erupted destructively in 1963-65

People Costa Rica

Population:
3,896,092 (July 2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.1% (male 600,812; female 573,375)
15-64 years: 64.4% (male 1,269,667; female 1,241,097)
65 years and over: 5.4% (male 98,156; female 112,985) (2003 est.)

Median age:
total: 25.4 years
male: 24.9 years
female: 25.8 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
1.56% (2003 est.)

Birth rate:
19.4 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate:
4.31 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Net migration rate:
0.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 10.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 11.49 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.43 years
male: 73.87 years
female: 79.11 years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate:
2.38 children born/woman (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
11,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
890 (2001 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Costa Rican(s)
adjective: Costa Rican

Ethnic groups:
white (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%,
other 1%

Religions:
Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%,
other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%

Languages:
Spanish (official), English

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 95.9%
female: 96.1% (2003 est.)

Government Costa Rica

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica
conventional short form: Costa Rica
local short form: Costa Rica
local long form: Republica de Costa Rica

Government type:
democratic republic

Capital:
San Jose

Administrative divisions:
7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago,
Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose

Independence:
15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution:
7 November 1949

Legal system:
based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative
acts in the Supreme Court; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Abel PACHECO (since 8 May 2002); First
Vice President Lineth SABORIO (since NA May 2002); Second Vice
President Luis FISHMAN (since NA May 2002); note - the president is
both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Abel PACHECO (since 8 May 2002); First
Vice President Lineth SABORIO (since NA May 2002); Second Vice
President Luis FISHMAN (since NA May 2002); note - the president is
both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president
elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 3 February
2002; run-off election held 7 April 2002 (next to be held NA
February 2006)
election results: Abel PACHECO elected president; percent of vote -
Abel PACHECO (PUSC) 58%; Rolando ARAYA (PLN) 42%

Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (57 seats;
members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 3 February 2002 (next to be held 3 February
2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PUSC 19, PLN 17, PAC 14, PML 6, PRC 1

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 justices are elected for
eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:
Agricultural Labor Action or PALA [Carlos Alberto SOLIS Blanco];
Citizen Action Party or PAC [Otton SOLIS]; Costa Rican Renovation
Party or PRC [Justo OROZCO]; Democratic Force Party or PFD [Jose M.
NUNEZ]; Libertarian Movement Party or PML [Otto GUEVARA Guth];
National Christian Alliance Party or ANC [Alejandro MADRIGAL];
National Independent Party or PNI [Jorge GONZALEZ Marten]; National
Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes]; National
Liberation Party or PLN [Sonia PICADO]; Social Christian Unity Party
or PUSC [Luis Manuel CHACON]
note: mainly a two-party system - PUSC and PLN - until the 3
February 2002 election in which the PAC captured a significant
percentage, forcing a run-off in April 2002

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Authentic Confederation of Democratic Workers or CATD (Communist
Party affiliate); Chamber of Coffee Growers; Confederated Union of
Workers or CUT (Communist Party affiliate); Costa Rican
Confederation of Democratic Workers or CCTD (Liberation Party
affiliate); Federation of Public Service Workers or FTSP; National
Association for Economic Development or ANFE; National Association
of Educators or ANDE; Rerum Novarum or CTRN (PLN affiliate) [Gilbert
Brown]

International organization participation:
BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL,
OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime DAREMBLUM Rosenstein
chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Durham (North
Carolina), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York,
Phoenix, San Antonio, San Francisco, St. Paul, and Tampa
consulate(s): Austin
FAX: [1] (202) 265-4795
telephone: [1] (202) 234-2945

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John J. DANILOVICH
embassy: Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose
mailing address: APO AA 34020
telephone: [506] 220-3939
FAX: [506] 220-2305

Flag description:
five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width),
white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white elliptical disk on
the hoist side of the red band; above the coat of arms a light blue
ribbon contains the words, AMERICA CENTRAL, and just below it near
the top of the coat of arms is a white ribbon with the words,
REPUBLICA COSTA RICA

Economy Costa Rica

Economy - overview:
Costa Rica's basically stable economy depends on tourism,
agriculture, and electronics exports. Poverty has been substantially
reduced over the past 15 years, and a strong social safety net has
been put into place. At the same time, distribution of income
remains severely unequal. Foreign investors remain attracted by the
country's political stability and high education levels, and tourism
continues to bring in foreign exchange. However, traditional export
sectors have not kept pace. Low coffee prices and an overabundance
of bananas have hurt the agricultural sector. The government
continues to grapple with its large deficit and massive internal
debt, with the need to modernize the state-owned electricity and
telecommunications sector, and with the problem of bringing down
inflation.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $32 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
2.8% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $8,300 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9%
industry: 30%
services: 61% (2002 est.)

Population below poverty line:
20.6% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 34.6% (2001)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
45.9 (1997)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.1% (2002 est.)

Labor force:
1.9 million (1999)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 20%, industry 22%, services 58% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:
6.3% (2002 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.91 billion
expenditures: $2.35 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)

Industries:
microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing,
construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products

Industrial production growth rate:
2.9% (2002 est.)

Electricity - production:
6.839 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 1.5%
hydro: 81.9%
other: 16.6% (2001)
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption:
6.109 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
379 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
128 million kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
37,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Agriculture - products:
coffee, pineapples, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes;
beef; timber

Exports:
$5.1 billion (2002)

Exports - commodities:
coffee, bananas, sugar; pineapples; textiles, electronic
components, medical equipment

Exports - partners:
US 31.5%, Netherlands 8.9%, UK 4.5% (2002)

Imports:
$6.4 billion (2002)

Imports - commodities:
raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum

Imports - partners:
US 36.7%, Japan 4.4%, Mexico 4.2% (2002)

Debt - external:
$4.8 billion (2002 est.)

Currency:
Costa Rican colon (CRC)

Currency code:
CRC

Exchange rates:
Costa Rican colones per US dollar - 359.82 (2002), 328.87 (2001),
308.19 (2000), 285.69 (1999), 257.23 (1998)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Costa Rica

Telephones - main lines in use:
450,000 (1998)
note: 584,000 installed in 1997, but only about 450,000 were in use
in 1998

Telephones - mobile cellular:
143,000 (2000)

Telephone system:
general assessment: very good domestic telephone service
domestic: point-to-point and point-to-multi-point microwave,
fiber-optic, and coaxial cable link rural areas; Internet service is
available
international: connected to Central American Microwave System;
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); two
submarine cables (1999)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 50, FM 43, shortwave 19 (1998)

Radios:
980,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
6 (plus 11 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:
525,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.cr

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (of which only one is legal) (2000)

Internet users:
384,000 (2002)

Transportation Costa Rica

Railways:
total: 950 km
narrow gauge: 950 km 1.067-m gauge (260 km electrified) (2002)

Highways:
total: 35,892 km
paved: 7,896 km
unpaved: 27,996 km (2000)

Waterways:
730 km (seasonally navigable)

Pipelines:
refined products 421 km (2003)

Ports and harbors:
Caldera, Golfito, Moin, Puerto Limon, Puerto Quepos, Puntarenas

Merchant marine:
total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,716 GRT/ DWT
ships by type: passenger 1 (2002 est.)

Airports:
151 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 30
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 19
under 914 m: 8 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 121
914 to 1,523 m: 28
under 914 m: 93 (2002)

Military Costa Rica

Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; Air Section, Ministry of
Public Forces (Fuerza Publica)

Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,080,254 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 722,043 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 41,453 (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$69 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.6% (FY99)

Transnational Issues Costa Rica

Disputes - international:
legal dispute over navigational rights of Rio San Juan on border
with Nicaragua

Illicit drugs:
transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America;
illicit production of cannabis on small, scattered plots; domestic
cocaine consumption is rising, particularly crack cocaine

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

======================================================================

@Cote d'Ivoire

Introduction Cote d'Ivoire

Background:
Close ties to France since independence in 1960, the development of
cocoa production for export, and foreign investment made Cote
d'Ivoire one of the most prosperous of the tropical African states,
but did not protect it from political turmoil. On 25 December 1999,
a military coup - the first ever in Cote d'Ivoire's history -
overthrew the government led by President Henri Konan BEDIE. Junta
leader Robert GUEI held elections in late 2000, but excluded
prominent opposition leader Alassane OUATTARA, blatantly rigged the
polling results, and declared himself winner. Popular protest forced
GUEI to step aside and brought runner-up Laurent GBAGBO into power.
GBAGBO spent his first two years in office trying to consolidate
power to strengthen his weak mandate, but he was unable to appease
his opponents, who launched a failed coup attempt in September 2002.
Rebel forces claimed the northern half of the country and in January
2003 were granted ministerial positions in a unity government.
However, the central government has yet to exert control over the
northern regions and tension remains high between GBAGBO and rebel
leaders. Several thousand French and West African troops remain in
Cote d'Ivoire to maintain peace and help implement the peace accords.

Geography Cote d'Ivoire

Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana
and Liberia

Geographic coordinates:
8 00 N, 5 00 W

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 322,460 sq km
water: 4,460 sq km
land: 318,000 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries:
total: 3,110 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 584 km, Ghana 668 km, Guinea 610 km,
Liberia 716 km, Mali 532 km

Coastline:
515 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate:
tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons - warm
and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet
(June to October)

Terrain:
mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Gulf of Guinea 0 m
highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m

Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt,
bauxite, copper, hydropower

Land use:
arable land: 9.28%
permanent crops: 13.84%
other: 76.88% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
730 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy
season torrential flooding is possible

Environment - current issues:
deforestation (most of the country's forests - once the largest in
West Africa - have been heavily logged); water pollution from sewage
and industrial and agricultural effluents

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

Geography - note:
most of the inhabitants live along the sandy coastal region; apart
from the capital area, the forested interior is sparsely populated

People Cote d'Ivoire

Population:
16,962,491
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 45.4% (male 3,796,393; female 3,902,210)
15-64 years: 52.4% (male 4,541,997; female 4,347,531)
65 years and over: 2.2% (male 179,323; female 195,037) (2003 est.)

Median age:
total: 17 years
male: 17.3 years
female: 16.6 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
2.15% (2003 est.)

Birth rate:
40.01 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate:
18.41 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Net migration rate:
-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 98.33 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 80.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 115.29 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 42.65 years
male: 40.34 years
female: 45.04 years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate:
5.51 children born/woman (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
9.7% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
770,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
75,000 (2001 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Ivorian(s)
adjective: Ivorian

Ethnic groups:
Akan 42.1%, Voltaiques or Gur 17.6%, Northern Mandes 16.5%, Krous
11%, Southern Mandes 10%, other 2.8% (includes 130,000 Lebanese and
20,000 French) (1998)

Religions:
Christian 20-30%, Muslim 35-40%, indigenous 25-40% (2001)
note: the majority of foreigners (migratory workers) are Muslim
(70%) and Christian (20%)

Languages:
French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the most widely
spoken

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 50.9%
male: 57.9%
female: 43.6% (2003 est.)

Government Cote d'Ivoire

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cote d'Ivoire
conventional short form: Cote d'Ivoire
local short form: Cote d'Ivoire
former: Ivory Coast
local long form: Republique de Cote d'Ivoire

Government type:
republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960

Capital:
Yamoussoukro; note - although Yamoussoukro has been the official
capital since 1983, Abidjan remains the commercial and
administrative center; the US, like other countries, maintains its
Embassy in Abidjan

Administrative divisions:
58 departments (departements, singular - departement); Abengourou,
Abidjan, Aboisso, Adiake, Adzope, Agboville, Agnibilekrou, Alepe,
Bocanda, Bangolo, Beoumi, Biankouma, Bondoukou, Bongouanou, Bouafle,
Bouake, Bouna, Boundiali, Dabakala, Dabou, Daloa, Danane, Daoukro,
Dimbokro, Divo, Duekoue, Ferkessedougou, Gagnoa, Grand-Bassam,
Grand-Lahou, Guiglo, Issia, Jacqueville, Katiola, Korhogo, Lakota,
Man, Mankono, Mbahiakro, Odienne, Oume, Sakassou, San-Pedro,
Sassandra, Seguela, Sinfra, Soubre, Tabou, Tanda, Tiebissou,
Tingrela, Tiassale, Touba, Toulepleu, Toumodi, Vavoua, Yamoussoukro,
Zuenoula

Independence:
7 August (1960) (from France)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 7 August (1960)

Constitution:
3 November 1960; has been amended numerous times, last time 27 July
1998

Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review
in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Laurent GBAGBO (since 26 October 2000);
note - took power following a popular overthrow of the interim
leader Gen. Robert GUEI who had claimed a dubious victory in
presidential elections; Gen. GUEI himself had assumed power on 25
December 1999, following a military coup against the government of
former President Henri Konan BEDIE
head of government: Prime Minister Seydou DIARRA (since 25 January
2003); note - appointed as transitional Prime Minister by President
GBAGBO as part of a French brokered peace plan
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 26 October 2000 (next to be held NA 2005); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: Laurent GBAGBO elected president; percent of vote
- Laurent GBAGBO 59.4%, Robert GUEI 32.7%, Francis WODIE 5.7%, other
2.2%

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (225 seats;
members are elected in single- and multi-district elections by
direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: elections last held 10 December 2000 with by-elections on
14 January 2001 (next to be held NA 2005)
note: a Senate is scheduled to be created in the next full election
in 2005
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
FPI 96, PDCI-RDA 94, RDR 5, PIT 4, other 2, independents 22, vacant 2

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consists of four chambers: Judicial
Chamber for criminal cases, Audit Chamber for financial cases,
Constitutional Chamber for judicial review cases, and Administrative
Chamber for civil cases; there is no legal limit to the number of
members

Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally or
PDCI-RDA [Aime Henri Konan BEDIE]; Ivorian Popular Front or FPI
[Laurent GBAGBO]; Ivorian Worker's Party or PIT [Francis WODIE];
Rally of the Republicans or RDR [Alassane OUATTARA]; Union for
Democracy and Peace or UDPCI [leader NA]; over 20 smaller parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Pascal Dago KOKORA
chancery: 3421 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
FAX: [1] (202) 462-9444
telephone: [1] (202) 797-0300

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Arlene RENDER
embassy: 5 Rue Jesse Owens, Abidjan
mailing address: B. P. 1712, Abidjan 01
telephone: [225] 20 21 09 79
FAX: [225] 20 22 32 59

Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side), white, and
green; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and has the
colors reversed - green (hoist side), white, and orange; also
similar to the flag of Italy, which is green (hoist side), white,
and red; design was based on the flag of France

Economy Cote d'Ivoire

Economy - overview:
Cote d'Ivoire is among the world's largest producers and exporters
of coffee, cocoa beans, and palm oil. Consequently, the economy is
highly sensitive to fluctuations in international prices for these
products and to weather conditions. Despite government attempts to
diversify the economy, it is still largely dependent on agriculture
and related activities, which engage roughly 68% of the population.
After several years of lagging performance, the Ivorian economy
began a comeback in 1994, due to the 50% devaluation of the CFA
franc and improved prices for cocoa and coffee, growth in
nontraditional primary exports such as pineapples and rubber,
limited trade and banking liberalization, offshore oil and gas
discoveries, and generous external financing and debt rescheduling
by multilateral lenders and France. Moreover, government adherence
to donor-mandated reforms led to a jump in growth to 5% annually
during 1996-99. Growth was negative in 2000-02 because of the
difficulty of meeting the conditions of international donors,
continued low prices of key exports, and severe civil war fighting.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $24.03 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
-1.6% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 29%
industry: 22%
services: 49% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:
37% (1995)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 28.8% (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.7 (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.2% (2002 est.)

Labor force:
68% agricultural (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:
13% in urban areas (1998)

Budget:
revenues: $1.72 billion
expenditures: $2.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $420
million (2001 est.)

Industries:
foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, truck and bus
assembly, textiles, fertilizer, building materials, electricity

Industrial production growth rate:
15% (1998 est.)

Electricity - production:
4.605 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 61.9%
hydro: 38.1%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption:
2.983 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
1.3 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
11,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
32,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:
50 million bbl (37257)

Natural gas - production:
1.35 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
1.35 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
14.87 billion cu m (37257)

Agriculture - products:
coffee, cocoa beans, bananas, palm kernels, corn, rice, manioc
(tapioca), sweet potatoes, sugar, cotton, rubber; timber

Exports:
$4.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:
cocoa, coffee, timber, petroleum, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm
oil, fish

Exports - partners:
France 14.5%, Netherlands 12.9%, US 7.6%, Germany 5.4%, Mali 4.6%,
Belgium 4.4%, Spain 4.3% (2002)

Imports:
$2.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:
fuel, capital equipment, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
France 22.7%, Nigeria 16.6%, China 7.9%, Italy 4.2% (2002)

Debt - external:
$10.3 billion (2002 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $1 billion (1996 est.)

Currency:
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible
authority is the Central Bank of the West African States

Currency code:
XOF

Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 696.99
(2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Cote d'Ivoire

Telephones - main lines in use:
263,700 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
450,000 (2000)

Telephone system:
general assessment: well developed by African standards but
operating well below capacity
domestic: open-wire lines and microwave radio relay; 90% digitalized
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic
Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); 2 coaxial submarine cables (June 1999)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (1998)

Radios:
2.26 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
14 (1999)

Televisions:
1.09 million (2000)

Internet country code:
.ci

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2001)

Internet users:
70,000 (2002)

Transportation Cote d'Ivoire

Railways:
total: 660 km
narrow gauge: 660 km 1.000-meter gauge
note: an additional 622 km of this railroad extends into Burkina
Faso (2002)

Highways:
total: 50,400 km
paved: 4,889 km
unpaved: 45,511 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:
980 km (navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastal lagoons)

Pipelines:
condensate 107 km; gas 223 km; oil 104 km (2003)

Ports and harbors:
Abidjan, Aboisso, Dabou, San-Pedro

Airports:
36 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 29
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 8 (2002)

Military Cote d'Ivoire

Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary Gendarmerie, Republican Guard
(includes Presidential Guard)

Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)