Chapter XLI: Front Matter (41)

Industries:
crude oil, coal, tin, columbite, palm oil, peanuts, cotton, rubber,
wood, hides and skins, textiles, cement and other construction
materials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing,
ceramics, steel

Industrial production growth rate:
0.4% (2002 est.)

Electricity - production:
15.67 billion kWh (2001)

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

Electricity - consumption:
14.55 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
20 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

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

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

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:
27 billion bbl (37257)

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

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

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

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

Natural gas - proved reserves:
4.007 trillion cu m (37257)

Agriculture - products:
cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava
(tapioca), yams, rubber; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs; timber; fish

Exports:
$17.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber

Exports - partners:
US 32.3%, Brazil 8.3%, Spain 7.2%, Indonesia 5.9%, France 5.6%,
India 4.6% (2002)

Imports:
$13.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery, chemicals, transport equipment, manufactured goods, food
and live animals

Imports - partners:
UK 9.6%, US 9.4%, China 9.3%, France 8.7%, Germany 6.8%, South
Korea 6.1%, Netherlands 5.2%, Italy 4.7% (2002)

Debt - external:
$29.7 billion (2002 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
ODA $250 million (1998)

Currency:
naira (NGN)

Currency code:
NGN

Exchange rates:
nairas per US dollar - NA (2002), 111.23 (2001), 101.7 (2000),
92.34 (1999), 21.89 (1998)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Nigeria

Telephones - main lines in use:
500,000 (2000 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
200,000 (2001)

Telephone system:
general assessment: an inadequate system, further limited by poor
maintenance; major expansion is required and a start has been made
domestic: intercity traffic is carried by coaxial cable, microwave
radio relay, a domestic communications satellite system with 19
earth stations, and a coastal submarine cable; mobile cellular
facilities and the Internet are available
international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic
Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); coaxial submarine cable SAFE (South
African Far East)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 83, FM 36, shortwave 11 (2001)

Radios:
23.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
3 (the government controls 2 of the broadcasting stations and 15
repeater stations) (2002)

Televisions:
6.9 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.ng

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
11 (2000)

Internet users:
100,000 (2000)

Transportation Nigeria

Railways:
total: 3,557 km
narrow gauge: 3,505 km 1.067-m gauge
standard gauge: 52 km 1.435-m gauge (2002)

Highways:
total: 194,394 km
paved: 60,068 km (including 1,194 km of expressways)
unpaved: 134,326 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:
8,575 km
note: consisting of the Niger and Benue rivers and smaller rivers
and creeks

Pipelines:
condensate 105 km; gas 1,660 km; oil 3,634 km (2003)

Ports and harbors:
Calabar, Lagos, Onne, Port Harcourt, Sapele, Warri

Merchant marine:
total: 44 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 327,689 GRT/607,560 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Bulgaria 1, Greece 1, Norway 1, Pakistan 1, Togo 1, US
1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 7, chemical tanker 5, petroleum tanker
29, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1

Airports:
70 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 36
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 3 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 34
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 18 (2002)

Heliports:
1 (2002)

Military Nigeria

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

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

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 31,790,482 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 18,259,696 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 1,418,099 (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$417.9 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1% (FY02)

Transnational Issues Nigeria

Disputes - international:
ICJ ruled in 2002 on the Cameroon-Nigeria land and maritime
boundary by awarding the potentially petroleum-rich Bakassi
Peninsula and offshore region to Cameroon; Nigeria rejected the
cession of the peninsula but the parties formed a Joint Border
Commission to peaceably resolve the dispute and commence with
demarcation in other less-contested sections of the boundary;
several villages along the Okpara River are in dispute with Benin;
Lake Chad Commission continues to urge signatories Cameroon, Chad,
Niger, and Nigeria to ratify delimitation treaty over lake region,
which remains the site of armed clashes among local populations and
militias; Nigeria agreed to ratify the treaty and relinquish
sovereignty of disputed lands to Cameroon by December 2003

Illicit drugs:
a transit point for heroin and cocaine intended for European, East
Asian, and North American markets; safehaven for Nigerian
narcotraffickers operating worldwide; major money-laundering center;
massive corruption and criminal activity, along with unwillingness
of the government to address the deficiencies in its
anti-money-laundering regime make money laundering a major problem

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@Niue

Introduction Niue

Background:
Niue's remoteness, as well as cultural and linguistic differences
between its Polynesian inhabitants and those of the rest of the Cook
Islands, have caused it to be separately administered. The
population of the island continues to drop (from a peak of 5,200 in
1966 to about 2,100 in 2002), with substantial emigration to New
Zealand, 2,400 km to the southwest.

Geography Niue

Location:
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga

Geographic coordinates:
19 02 S, 169 52 W

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 260 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 260 sq km

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

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
64 km

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

Climate:
tropical; modified by southeast trade winds

Terrain:
steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location near Mutalau settlement 68 m

Natural resources:
fish, arable land

Land use:
arable land: 19.23%
permanent crops: 7.69%
other: 73.08% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
NA sq km

Natural hazards:
typhoons

Environment - current issues:
increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss
of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:
one of world's largest coral islands

People Niue

Population:
2,145 (July 2003 est.)

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

Population growth rate:
0.01% (2003 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
NA migrant(s)/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: Niuean(s)
adjective: Niuean

Ethnic groups:
Polynesian (with some 200 Europeans, Samoans, and Tongans)

Religions:
Ekalesia Niue (Niuean Church - a Protestant church closely related
to the London Missionary Society) 75%, Latter-Day Saints 10%, other
15% (mostly Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day
Adventist)

Languages:
Niuean, a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and Samoan;
English

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

Government Niue

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Niue
former: Savage Island

Dependency status:
self-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1974;
Niue fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains
responsibility for external affairs and defense; however, these
responsibilities confer no rights of control and are only exercised
at the request of the Government of Niue

Government type:
self-governing parliamentary democracy

Capital:
Alofi

Administrative divisions:
none; note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as
defined by the US Government, but there are 14 villages at the
second order

Independence:
on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing parliamentary
government in free association with New Zealand

National holiday:
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty
over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)

Constitution:
19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)

Legal system:
English common law
note: Niue is self-governing, with the power to make its own laws

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK
and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner
John BRYAN (since NA May 2000)
election results: Young VIVIAN elected premier; percent of
Legislative Assembly vote - Young VIVIAN (NPP) 70%, Hunukitama
HUNUKI (AI) 30%
elections: the monarch is hereditary; premier elected by the
Legislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held 1 May
2002 (next to be held NA May 2005)
head of government: Premier Young VIVIAN (since 1 May 2002)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and three ministers

Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly (20 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve three-year terms; six elected from a common
roll and 14 are village representatives)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
NPP 9, independents 11; note - all 20 seats were reelected
elections: last held 21 March 2002 (next to be held in March 2005)

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue

Political parties and leaders:
Niue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]; Alliance of
Independents or AI [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACP, ESCAP (associate), FAO, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO

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

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

Flag description:
yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant;
the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars - a large
one on a blue disk in the center and a smaller one on each arm of
the bold red cross

Economy Niue

Economy - overview:
The economy suffers from the typical Pacific island problems of
geographic isolation, few resources, and a small population.
Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, and the shortfall
is made up by critically needed grants from New Zealand that are
used to pay wages to public employees. Niue has cut government
expenditures by reducing the public service by almost half. The
agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening,
although some cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists
primarily of small factories to process passion fruit, lime oil,
honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign
collectors is an important source of revenue. The island in recent
years has suffered a serious loss of population because of migration
of Niueans to New Zealand. Efforts to increase GDP include the
promotion of tourism and a financial services industry, although
Premier LAKATANI announced in February 2002 that Niue will shut down
the offshore banking industry. Economic aid from New Zealand in 2002
was about $2.6 million.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $7.6 million (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
-0.3% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $3,600 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: 55%

Population below poverty line:
NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (1995)

Labor force:
NA

Labor force - by occupation:
most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in
government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board

Unemployment rate:
NA%

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

Industries:
tourism, handicrafts, food processing

Industrial production growth rate:
NA%

Electricity - production:
3 million kWh (2001)

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

Electricity - consumption:
2.79 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

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

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

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Agriculture - products:
coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava
(tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle

Exports:
$137,200 (1999)

Exports - commodities:
canned coconut cream, copra, honey, vanilla, passion fruit
products, pawpaws, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts

Exports - partners:
NZ mainly, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia (2000)

Imports:
$2.38 million (1999)

Imports - commodities:
food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels,
lubricants, chemicals, drugs

Imports - partners:
NZ mainly, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Australia, US (2000)

Debt - external:
$418,000 (2002 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$2.6 million from New Zealand (2002)

Currency:
New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Currency code:
NZD

Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.162 (2002), 2.3776 (2001),
2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8629 (1998)

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Niue

Telephones - main lines in use:
376 (1991)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
0 (1991)

Telephone system:
domestic: single-line telephone system connects all villages on
island
international: NA

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

Radios:
1,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)

Televisions:
NA

Internet country code:
.nu

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)

Internet users:
NA

Transportation Niue

Railways:
0 km

Highways:
total: 234 km
paved: 86 km
unpaved: 148 km (2001)

Waterways:
none

Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only

Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)

Airports:
1 (2002)

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

Military Niue

Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Transnational Issues Niue

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@Norfolk Island

Introduction Norfolk Island

Background:
Two British attempts at establishing the island as a penal colony
(1788-1814 and 1825-55) were ultimately abandoned. In 1856, the
island was resettled by Pitcairn Islanders, descendants of the
Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions.

Geography Norfolk Island

Location:
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia

Geographic coordinates:
29 02 S, 167 57 E

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 34.6 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 34.6 sq km

Area - comparative:
about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
32 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate:
subtropical, mild, little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:
volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Bates 319 m

Natural resources:
fish

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
NA sq km

Natural hazards:
typhoons (especially May to July)

Environment - current issues:
NA

Geography - note:
most of the 32-km coastline consists of almost inaccessible cliffs,
but the land slopes down to the sea in one small southern area on
Sydney Bay, where the capital of Kingston is situated

People Norfolk Island

Population:
1,853 (July 2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.2%
15-64 years: 63.9%
65 years and over: 15.9% (2003 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.01% (2003 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
NA migrant(s)/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: Norfolk Islander(s)
adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)

Ethnic groups:
descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New Zealander,
Polynesians

Religions:
Anglican 37.4%, Uniting Church in Australia 14.5%, Roman Catholic
11.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.1%, none 12.2%, unknown 17.4%, other
3.9% (1996)

Languages:
English (official), Norfolk a mixture of 18th century English and
ancient Tahitian

Literacy:
NA

Government Norfolk Island

Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island
conventional short form: Norfolk Island

Dependency status:
territory of Australia; Canberra administers Commonwealth
responsibilities on Norfolk Island through the Department of
Environment, Sport, and Territories

Government type:
NA

Capital:
Kingston

Administrative divisions:
none (territory of Australia)

Independence:
none (territory of Australia)

National holiday:
Pitcairners Arrival Day, 8 June (1856)

Constitution:
Norfolk Island Act of 1979

Legal system:
based on the laws of Australia, local ordinances and acts; English
common law applies in matters not covered by either Australian or
Norfolk Island law

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK
and Australia are represented by Administrator Anthony J. MESSNER
(since 4 August 1997)
election results: Geoffrey Robert GARDNER elected chief minister;
percent of Legislative Assembly vote - NA%
elections: the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the
governor general of Australia; chief minister elected by the
Legislative Assembly for a term of not more than three years;
election last held 29 November 2001 (next to be held by December
2004)
head of government: Assembly President and Chief Minister Geoffrey
Robert GARDNER (since 5 December 2001)
cabinet: Executive Council is made up of four of the nine members of
the Legislative Assembly; the council devises government policy and
acts as an advisor to the administrator

Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly (9 seats; members elected by
electors who have nine equal votes each but only four votes can be
given to any one candidate; members serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 29 November 2001 (next to be held by December
2004)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Petty Sessions

Political parties and leaders:
none

Political pressure groups and leaders:
none

International organization participation:
none

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

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

Flag description:
three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green with a
large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in the slightly wider
white band

Economy Norfolk Island

Economy - overview:
Tourism, the primary economic activity, has steadily increased over
the years and has brought a level of prosperity unusual among
inhabitants of the Pacific islands. The agricultural sector has
become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $NA

GDP - real growth rate:
NA%

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $NA

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Population below poverty line:
NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%

Labor force:
NA

Labor force - by occupation:
tourism NA%, subsistence agriculture NA%

Unemployment rate:
NA%

Budget:
revenues: $4.6 million
expenditures: $4.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY 92/93)

Industries:
tourism

Industrial production growth rate:
NA%

Electricity - production:
NA kWh

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 0%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2002)
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh

Agriculture - products:
Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables,
fruit; cattle, poultry

Exports:
$1.5 million f.o.b. (FY 91/92)

Exports - commodities:
postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm,
small quantities of avocados

Exports - partners:
Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe

Imports:
$17.9 million c.i.f. (FY 91/92)

Imports - commodities:
NA

Imports - partners:
Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe

Debt - external:
$NA

Economic aid - recipient:
$NA

Currency:
Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code:
AUD

Exchange rates:
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.8406 (2002), 1.9320 (2001),
1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998)

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

Communications Norfolk Island

Telephones - main lines in use:
1,087 (1983)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
0 (1983)

Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate
domestic: NA
international: radiotelephone service with Sydney (Australia)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:
2,500 (1996)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (local programming station plus two repeaters that bring in
Australian programs by satellite) (1998)

Televisions:
1,200 (1996)

Internet country code:
.nf

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)

Internet users:
NA

Transportation Norfolk Island

Railways:
0 km

Highways:
total: 80 km
paved: 53 km
unpaved: 27 km (2001)

Waterways:
none

Ports and harbors:
none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade

Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)

Airports:
1 (2002)

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

Military Norfolk Island

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Australia

Transnational Issues Norfolk Island

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@Northern Mariana Islands

Introduction Northern Mariana Islands

Background:
Under US administration as part of the UN Trust Territory of the
Pacific, the people of the Northern Mariana Islands decided in the
1970s not to seek independence but instead to forge closer links
with the US. Negotiations for territorial status began in 1972. A
covenant to establish a commonwealth in political union with the US
was approved in 1975. A new government and constitution went into
effect in 1978.

Geography Northern Mariana Islands

Location:
Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters
of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

Geographic coordinates:
15 12 N, 145 45 E

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 477 sq km
note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
water: 0 sq km
land: 477 sq km

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

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
1,482 km

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

Climate:
tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little
seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy
season July to October

Terrain:
southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing
coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m

Natural resources:
arable land, fish

Land use:
arable land: 15.22%
permanent crops: 6.52%
other: 78.26% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
NA sq km

Natural hazards:
active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August
to November)

Environment - current issues:
contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease;
clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts
with development

Geography - note:
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean

People Northern Mariana Islands

Population:
80,006 (July 2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.3% (male 9,483; female 9,168)
15-64 years: 74.8% (male 27,839; female 32,041)
65 years and over: 1.8% (male 748; female 727) (2003 est.)

Median age:
total: 30.4 years
male: 31 years
female: 30.1 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
3.37% (2003 est.)

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

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

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

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 6.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.16 years
male: 73.06 years
female: 79.44 years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.75 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: NA
adjective: NA

Ethnic groups:
Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians, Caucasian, Japanese,
Chinese, Filipino, Korean

Religions:
Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs
and taboos may still be found)

Languages:
English, Chamorro, Carolinian
note: 86% of population speaks a language other than English at home

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 96% (1980 est.)

Government Northern Mariana Islands

Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands
former: Mariana Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands)

Dependency status:
commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the
Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior,
Office of Insular Affairs

Government type:
commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor,
lieutenant governor, and legislature

Capital:
Saipan

Administrative divisions:
none (commonwealth in political union with the US); there are no
first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are four municipalities at the second order;
Northern Islands, Rota, Saipan, Tinian

Independence:
none (commonwealth in political union with the US)

National holiday:
Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)

Constitution:
Covenant Agreement effective 4 November 1986 and the Constitution
of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands effective 1
January 1978

Legal system:
based on US system, except for customs, wages, immigration laws,
and taxation

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens
but do not vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch:
chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20
January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January
2001)
head of government: Governor Juan N. BABAUTA (since NA January
2002); Lieutenant Governor Diego T. BENEVENTE (since NA January 2002)
cabinet: NA
elections: US president and vice president elected on the same
ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected
on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election
last held NA November 2001 (next to be held NA November 2005)
election results: Juan N. BABAUTA elected governor in a four-way
race; percent of vote - Juan N. BABAUTA (Republican Party) 49%

Legislative branch:
bicameral Legislature consists of the Senate (9 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve four-year staggered terms) and the
House of Representatives (18 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve two-year terms)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - Republican Party 4, Democratic Party 3, Reform Party 1,
independent 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - Covenant Party 9, Republican Party 7,
Democratic Party 1, independent 1
note: the Northern Mariana Islands does not have a nonvoting
delegate in the US Congress; instead, it has an elected official or
"resident representative" located in Washington, DC; seats by party
- Republican Party 1 (Pedro A. TENORIO)
elections: Senate - last held 5 November 2001 (next to be held NA
November 2003); House of Representatives - last held 1 November 2003
(next to be held NA November 2005)

Judicial branch:
Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District Court

Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party [Dr. Carlos S. CAMACHO]; Republican Party [Benigno
R. FITIAL]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ESCAP (associate), Interpol (subbureau), SPC

Flag description:
blue, with a white, five-pointed star superimposed on the gray
silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in
building) in the center, surrounded by a wreath

Economy Northern Mariana Islands

Economy - overview:
The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from
the US. The rate of funding has declined as locally generated
government revenues have grown. The key tourist industry employs
about 50% of the work force and accounts for roughly one-fourth of
GDP. Japanese tourists predominate. Annual tourist entries have
exceeded one-half million in recent years, but financial
difficulties in Japan have caused a temporary slowdown. The
agricultural sector is made up of cattle ranches and small farms
producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Garment
production is by far the most important industry with employment of
17,500 mostly Chinese workers and sizable shipments to the US under
duty and quota exemptions.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $900 million
note: $900 million $900 million GDP estimate includes US subsidy
(2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
NA%

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $12,500 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Population below poverty line:
NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.2% (1997 est.)

Labor force:
6,006 total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 28,717
foreign workers

Labor force - by occupation:
NA

Unemployment rate:
NA%

Budget:
revenues: $193 million
expenditures: $223 million, including capital expenditures of NA (FY
01/02 est.)

Industries:
tourism, construction, garments, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate:
NA%

Electricity - production:
NA kWh

Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh

Agriculture - products:
coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle

Exports:
$NA

Exports - commodities:
garments

Exports - partners:
US (2000)

Imports:
$NA

Imports - commodities:
food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products

Imports - partners:
US, Japan (2000)

Debt - external:
$NA

Economic aid - recipient:
extensive funding from US

Currency:
US dollar (USD)

Currency code:
USD

Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used

Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September

Communications Northern Mariana Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:
21,000 (1996)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,200 (1995)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:
NA

Television broadcast stations:
1 (on Saipan and one station planned for Rota; in addition, two
cable services on Saipan provide varied programming from satellite
networks) (1997)

Televisions:
NA

Internet country code:
.mp

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2001)

Internet users:
NA

Transportation Northern Mariana Islands

Railways:
0 km

Highways:
total: 362 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km (1991)

Waterways:
none

Ports and harbors:
Saipan, Tinian

Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)

Airports:
6 (2002)

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

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

Heliports:
1 (2002)

Military Northern Mariana Islands

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues Northern Mariana Islands

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@Norway

Introduction Norway

Background:
Two centuries of Viking raids into Europe tapered off following the
adoption of Christianity by King Olav TRYGGVASON in 994. Conversion
of the Norwegian kingdom occurred over the next several decades. In
1397, Norway was absorbed into a union with Denmark that was to last
for more than four centuries. In 1814, Norwegians resisted the
cession of their country to Sweden and adopted a new constitution.
Sweden then invaded Norway but agreed to let Norway keep its
constitution in return for accepting the union under a Swedish king.
Rising nationalism throughout the 19th century led to a 1905
referendum granting Norway independence. Norway remained neutral in
World War I and proclaimed its neutrality at the outset of World War
II. Nevertheless, it was not able to avoid a five-year occupation by
Nazi Germany (1940-1945). In 1949, neutrality was abandoned and
Norway became a member of NATO. Discovery of oil and gas in adjacent
waters in the late 1960s boosted Norway's economic fortunes. The
current focus is on containing spending on the extensive welfare
system and planning for the time when petroleum reserves are
depleted. In referenda held in 1972 and 1994, Norway rejected
joining the EU.

Geography Norway

Location:
Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, west of Sweden

Geographic coordinates:
62 00 N, 10 00 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 324,220 sq km
land: 307,860 sq km
water: 16,360 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries:
total: 2,544 km
border countries: Finland 729 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 196 km

Coastline:
21,925 km (includes mainland 3,419 km, large islands 2,413 km, long
fjords, numerous small islands, and minor indentations 16,093 km)

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 10 NM
territorial sea: 4 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM

Climate:
temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder
interior with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy
year-round on west coast

Terrain:
glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by
fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented
by fjords; arctic tundra in north

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point: Galdhopiggen 2,469 m

Natural resources:
petroleum, copper, natural gas, pyrites, nickel, iron ore, zinc,
lead, fish, timber, hydropower

Land use:
arable land: 2.94%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.06% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
1,270 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
rockslides, avalanches

Environment - current issues:
water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and adversely affecting
lakes, threatening fish stocks; air pollution from vehicle emissions

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography - note:
about two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands off its much
indented coastline; strategic location adjacent to sea lanes and air
routes in North Atlantic; one of most rugged and longest coastlines
in world

People Norway

Population:
4,546,123 (July 2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.9% (male 465,320; female 439,095)
15-64 years: 65.2% (male 1,501,608; female 1,462,590)
65 years and over: 14.9% (male 281,554; female 395,956) (2003 est.)

Median age:
total: 37.7 years
male: 36.7 years
female: 38.7 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
0.46% (2003 est.)

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

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

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

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 4.32 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.09 years
male: 76.15 years
female: 82.22 years (2003 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,800 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Norwegian(s)
adjective: Norwegian

Ethnic groups:
Norwegian, Sami 20,000

Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran 86% (state church), other Protestant and Roman
Catholic 3%, other 1%, none and unknown 10% (1997)

Languages:
Norwegian (official)
note: small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government Norway

Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Norway
conventional short form: Norway
local short form: Norge
local long form: Kongeriket Norge

Government type:
constitutional monarchy

Capital:
Oslo

Administrative divisions:
19 provinces (fylker, singular - fylke); Akershus, Aust-Agder,
Buskerud, Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, More og Romsdal, Nordland,
Nord-Trondelag, Oppland, Oslo, Ostfold, Rogaland, Sogn og Fjordane,
Sor-Trondelag, Telemark, Troms, Vest-Agder, Vestfold

Dependent areas:
Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard

Independence:
7 June 1905 Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved; 26
October 1905 Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union

National holiday:
Constitution Day, 17 May (1814); note - on 14 January 1814 Denmark
ceded Norway to Sweden; resisting Swedish domination, Norwegians
adopted a new constitution four months later; on 14 August 1814
Norway was proclaimed independent but in union with Sweden; on 7
June 1905 Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved

Constitution:
17 May 1814, modified in 1884

Legal system:
mixture of customary law, civil law system, and common law
traditions; Supreme Court renders advisory opinions to legislature
when asked; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir
Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS, son of the monarch (born 20
July 1973)
head of government: Prime Minister Kjell Magne BONDEVIK (since 19
October 2001)
cabinet: State Council appointed by the monarch with the approval of
Parliament
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following parliamentary
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the
monarch with the approval of the Parliament

Legislative branch:
modified unicameral Parliament or Storting (165 seats; members are
elected by popular vote by proportional representation to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 10 September 2001 (next to be held NA September
2005)
note: for certain purposes, the Parliament divides itself into two
chambers and elects one-fourth of its membership to an upper house
or Lagting
election results: percent of vote by party - Labor Party 24.3%,
Conservative Party 21.2%, Progress Party 14.6%, Socialist Left Party
12.5%, Christian People's Party 12.4%, Center Party 5.6%, Liberal
Party 3.9%, Coastal Party 1.7%, other 3.8%; seats by party - Labor
Party 43, Conservative Party 38, Progress Party 26, Socialist Left
Party 23, Christian People's Party 22, Center Party 10, Liberal
Party 2, Coastal Party 1

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Hoyesterett (justices appointed by the monarch)

Political parties and leaders:
Center Party [Aslaug Marie HAGA]; Christian People's Party [Valgerd
Svarstad HAUGLAND]; Coastal Party [Steinar BASTESEN]; Conservative
Party [Jan PETERSEN]; Labor Party [Jens STOLTENBERG]; Liberal Party
[Lars SPONHEIM]; Progress Party [Carl I. HAGEN]; Socialist Left
Party [Kristin HALVORSEN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE,
EFTA, ESA, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,
ITU, NAM (guest), NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD,
OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIBH,
UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOP, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Knut VOLLEBAEK
chancery: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Houston, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, and San
Francisco
FAX: [1] (202) 337-0870
telephone: [1] (202) 333-6000

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John D. ONG
embassy: Drammensveien 18, 0244 Oslo
mailing address: PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707
telephone: [47] (22) 44 85 50
FAX: [47] (22) 44 33 63

Flag description:
red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges
of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist
side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy Norway

Economy - overview:
The Norwegian economy is a prosperous bastion of welfare
capitalism, featuring a combination of free market activity and
government intervention. The government controls key areas, such as
the vital petroleum sector (through large-scale state enterprises).
The country is richly endowed with natural resources - petroleum,
hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals - and is highly dependent on
its oil production and international oil prices; in 1999, oil and
gas accounted for 35% of exports. Only Saudi Arabia and Russia
export more oil than Norway. Norway opted to stay out of the EU
during a referendum in November 1994. The government has moved ahead
with privatization. With arguably the highest quality of life
worldwide, Norwegians still worry about that time in the next two
decades when the oil and gas begin to run out. Accordingly, Norway
has been saving its oil-boosted budget surpluses in a Government
Petroleum Fund, which is invested abroad and now is valued at more
than $43 billion. GDP growth was a lackluster 1% in 2002 and 2003
against the background of a faltering European economy.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $149.1 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $33,000 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.9%
industry: 30.8%
services: 67.3% (2000)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 21.8% (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
25.8 (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.3% (2001 est.)

Labor force:
2.4 million (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
services 74%, industry 22%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 4%
(1995)

Unemployment rate:
3.9% (2002 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $71.7 billion
expenditures: $57.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)

Industries:
petroleum and gas, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and paper
products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles, fishing

Industrial production growth rate:
1.2% (2002 est.)

Electricity - production:
120.1 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.4%
hydro: 99.3%
other: 0.4% (2001)
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption:
115.3 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
7.162 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
10.76 billion kWh (2001)

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

Oil - consumption:
171,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
3.466 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
88,870 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:
9.859 billion bbl (37257)

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

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

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

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

Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.716 trillion cu m (37257)

Agriculture - products:
barley, wheat, potatoes; pork, beef, veal, milk; fish

Exports:
$68.2 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and equipment, metals,
chemicals, ships, fish

Exports - partners:
UK 18.1%, Germany 13.8%, France 11%, US 9.2%, Netherlands 8.2%,
Sweden 8% (2002)

Imports:
$37.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
Sweden 17.7%, Germany 13.4%, UK 7.8%, Denmark 7.7%, US 5.7%,
Netherlands 5.3%, France 4.2%, Italy 4% (2002)

Debt - external:
$0 (Norway is a net external creditor)

Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $1.4 billion (1998)

Currency:
Norwegian krone (NOK)

Currency code:
NOK

Exchange rates:
Norwegian kroner per US dollar - 7.98 (2002), 8.99 (2001), 8.8
(2000), 7.8 (1999), 7.55 (1998)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Norway

Telephones - main lines in use:
2.735 million (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
2,080,408 (1998)

Telephone system:
general assessment: modern in all respects; one of the most
advanced telecommunications networks in Europe
domestic: Norway has a domestic satellite system; moreover, the
prevalence of rural areas encourages the wide use of cellular mobile
systems instead of fixed-wire systems
international: 2 buried coaxial cable systems; 4 coaxial submarine
cables; satellite earth stations - NA Eutelsat, NA Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean), and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean
regions); note - Norway shares the Inmarsat earth station with the
other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden) (1999)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 5, FM at least 650, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:
4.03 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
360 (plus 2,729 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:
2.03 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.no

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
13 (2000)

Internet users:
2.68 million (2002)

Transportation Norway

Railways:
total: 4,178 km
standard gauge: 4,178 km 1.435-m gauge (2,518 km electrified) (2002)

Highways:
total: 91,454 km
paved: 69,505 km (including 143 km of expressways)
unpaved: 21,949 km (2000)

Waterways:
1,577 km (along west coast)
note: navigable by 2.4 m maximum draft vessels

Pipelines:
condensate 411 km; gas 6,199 km; oil 2,213 km; oil/gas/water 746
km; unknown (oil/water) 38 km; water 96 km (2003)

Ports and harbors:
Bergen, Drammen, Floro, Hammerfest, Harstad, Haugesund,
Kristiansand, Larvik, Narvik, Oslo, Porsgrunn, Stavanger, Tromso,
Trondheim

Merchant marine:
total: 714 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 20,247,207 GRT/30,860,236 DWT
ships by type: bulk 68, cargo 136, chemical tanker 125, combination
bulk 5, combination ore/oil 32, container 19, liquefied gas 86,
multi-function large load carrier 1, passenger 6, petroleum tanker
127, refrigerated cargo 6, roll on/roll off 44, short-sea passenger
20, specialized tanker 5, vehicle carrier 34
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Australia 1, Denmark 14, Germany 11, Greece 10, Hong
Kong 7, Iceland 2, Japan 11, Lithuania 1, Monaco 42, Poland 1, Saudi
Arabia 3, Singapore 10, Sweden 42, Switzerland 2, UK 4, US 5 (2002
est.)

Airports:
102 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 66
2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 26 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 36
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 29 (2002)

Military Norway

Military branches:
Norwegian Army, Royal Norwegian Navy (including Coast Artillery and
Coast Guard), Royal Norwegian Air Force, Home Guard

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

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,099,314 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 910,628 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 27,249 (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$3.113 billion (FY98/99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.13% (2002)

Transnational Issues Norway

Disputes - international:
Norway asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud Land
and its continental shelf); despite recent discussions, Russia and
Norway continue to dispute their maritime limits in the Barents Sea
and Russia's fishing rights beyond Svalbard's territorial limits
within the Svalbard Treaty zone

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@Oman

Introduction Oman

Background:
In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al Said ousted his father and has ruled as
sultan ever since. His extensive modernization program has opened
the country to the outside world and has preserved a long-standing
political and military relationship with the UK. Oman's moderate,
independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations
with all Middle Eastern countries.

Geography Oman

Location:
Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian
Gulf, between Yemen and UAE

Geographic coordinates:
21 00 N, 57 00 E

Map references:
Middle East

Area:
total: 212,460 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 212,460 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Kansas

Land boundaries:
total: 1,374 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km

Coastline:
2,092 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate:
dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong
southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south

Terrain:
central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m

Natural resources:
petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium,
gypsum, natural gas

Land use:
arable land: 0.08%
permanent crops: 0.22%
other: 99.7% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
620 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in
interior; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:
rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very limited
natural fresh water resources

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of
Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

People Oman

Population:
2,807,125
note: includes 577,293 non-nationals (July 2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.2% (male 603,664; female 580,469)
15-64 years: 55.4% (male 934,621; female 620,158)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 36,504; female 31,709) (2003 est.)

Median age:
total: 19.4 years
male: 22.3 years
female: 16.5 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
3.38% (2003 est.)

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

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

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

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.51 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.15 male(s)/female
total population: 1.28 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 21.01 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 24.03 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.58 years
male: 70.4 years
female: 74.86 years (2003 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,300 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Nationality:
noun: Omani(s)
adjective: Omani

Ethnic groups:
Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan,
Bangladeshi), African

Religions:
Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu

Languages:
Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects

Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 75.8%
male: 83.1%
female: 67.2% (2003 est.)

Government Oman

Country name:
conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman
conventional short form: Oman
local long form: Saltanat Uman
former: Muscat and Oman
local short form: Uman

Government type:
monarchy

Capital:
Muscat

Administrative divisions:
6 regions (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah) and 2 governorates*
(muhafazat, singular - muhafazah) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al
Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat, Musandam*, Zufar*; note -
the US Embassy in Oman reports that Masqat is a governorate, but
this has not been confirmed by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN)

Independence:
1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)

National holiday:
Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)

Constitution:
none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal
decree promulgating a new basic law which, among other things,
clarifies the royal succession, provides for a prime minister, bars
ministers from holding interests in companies doing business with
the government, establishes a bicameral legislature, and guarantees
basic civil liberties for Omani citizens

Legal system:
based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the
monarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:
in Oman's most recent elections in 2000, limited to approximately
175,000 Omanis chosen by the government to vote in elections for the
Majlis al-Shura

Executive branch:
chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said
(since 23 July 1970); note - the monarch is both the chief of state
and head of government
head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al
Said (since 23 July 1970); note - the monarch is both the chief of
state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary

Legislative branch:
bicameral Majlis Oman consists of an upper chamber or Majlis
al-Dawla (48 seats; members appointed by the monarch; has advisory
powers only) and a lower chamber or Majlis al-Shura (83 seats;
members elected by limited suffrage for three-year term, however,
the monarch makes final selections and can negate election results;
body has some limited power to propose legislation, but otherwise
has only advisory powers)
elections: last held 4 October 2003 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: NA

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
note: the nascent civil court system, administered by region, has
non-Islamic judges as well as traditional Islamic judges

Political parties and leaders:
none

Political pressure groups and leaders:
none

International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Muhammad bin Ali bin Thani AL-KHUSSAIBY
chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980 through 1981, 1988
FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard Lewis BALTIMORE III
embassy: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat
mailing address: P. O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat Al-Sultan Qaboos,
Muscat
telephone: [968] 698989, extension 203
FAX: [968] 699771

Flag description:
three horizontal bands of white, red, and green of equal width with
a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem
(a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords
in scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the vertical band

Economy Oman

Economy - overview:
Oman's economic performance improved significantly in 2000 due
largely to the upturn in oil prices. The government is moving ahead
with privatization of its utilities, the development of a body of
commercial law to facilitate foreign investment, and increased
budgetary outlays. Oman continues to liberalize its markets and
joined the World Trade Organization (WTrO) in November 2000. GDP
growth improved in 2001 despite the global slowdown and then fell
back to 2.2% in 2002. In order to reduce unemployment, the
government is trying to replace expatriate workers with local
workers. Another government objective is the development of the
nation's gas resources.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $22.4 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
2.2% (2002 est.)

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

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 55%
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):
-0.5% (2002 est.)

Labor force:
920,000 (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Unemployment rate:
NA%

Budget:
revenues: $9.2 billion
expenditures: $6.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)

Industries:
crude oil production and refining, natural gas production,
construction, cement, copper

Industrial production growth rate:
4% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:
9.274 billion kWh (2001)

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

Electricity - consumption:
8.625 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
963,800 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
53,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:
5.703 billion bbl (37257)

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

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

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

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

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

Agriculture - products:
dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish

Exports:
$10.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:
petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles