Chapter LVIII: Front Matter (58)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.8% (male 35,499; female 33,992)
15-64 years: 61.8% (male 63,021; female 60,149)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 3,605; female 3,148) (2003 est.)

Median age:
total: 21.9 years
male: 22 years
female: 21.8 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
1.61% (2003 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
0 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: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.15 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 58.11 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 55.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 60.76 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 61.71 years
male: 60.28 years
female: 63.21 years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate:
2.98 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: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)
adjective: Ni-Vanuatu

Ethnic groups:
indigenous Melanesian 98%, French, Vietnamese, Chinese, other
Pacific Islanders

Religions:
Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Roman Catholic 15%, indigenous
beliefs 7.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of Christ 3.8%,
other 15.7% (including Jon Frum Cargo cult)

Languages:
three official languages: English, French, pidgin (known as Bislama
or Bichelama), plus more than 100 local languages

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 53%
male: 57%
female: 48% (1979 est.)

Government Vanuatu

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu
conventional short form: Vanuatu
former: New Hebrides

Government type:
parliamentary republic

Capital:
Port-Vila

Administrative divisions:
6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba

Independence:
30 July 1980 (from France and UK)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 30 July (1980)

Constitution:
30 July 1980

Legal system:
unified system being created from former dual French and British
systems

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Father John BANI (since 25 March 1999)
elections: president elected for a four-year term by an electoral
college consisting of Parliament and the presidents of the regional
councils for a five-year term; election for president last held 25
March 1999 (next to be held NA 2004); following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is
usually elected prime minister by Parliament from among its members;
election for prime minister last held 2 August 2002 (next to be held
NA 2003)
election results: Father John BANI elected president on second vote
(24 March 1999) after the first (17 March 1999) did not have any
candidate with the required two-thirds majority; percent of
electoral college vote - NA%
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister,
responsible to Parliament
head of government: Prime Minister Edward Nipake NATAPEI (since 13
April 2001); Deputy Prime Minister Ham LINI (since NA)

Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 2 May 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
UMP 15, VP 14, VRP 3, MPP 2, other and independent 18; note -
political party associations are fluid
note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom
and land

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president after
consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the
opposition, three other justices are appointed by the president on
the advice of the Judicial Service Commission)

Political parties and leaders:
Jon Frum Movement [Song KEASPAI]; Melanesian Progressive Party or
MPP [Barak SOPE]; National United Party or NUP [Dinh Van THAN];
Union of Moderate Parties or UMP [Serge VOHOR]; Vanuaaku Party (Our
Land Party) or VP [Edward NATAPEI]; Vanuatu Republican Party or VRP
[Maxime Carlot KORMAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, NAM, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
Vanuatu does not have an embassy in the US; it does, however, have
a Permanent Mission to the UN

Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the ambassador to Papua
New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu

Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black
isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a
black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two
points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle);
centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed
namele leaves, all in yellow

Economy Vanuatu

Economy - overview:
The economy is based primarily on subsistence or small-scale
agriculture, which provides a living for 65% of the population.
Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with about 50,000
visitors in 1997, are other mainstays of the economy. Mineral
deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleum
deposits. A small light industry sector caters to the local market.
Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Economic development is
hindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports,
vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from main
markets and between constituent islands. A severe earthquake in
November 1999 followed by a tsunami, caused extensive damage to the
northern island of Pentecote and left thousands homeless. Another
powerful earthquake in January 2002 caused extensive damage in the
capital, Port-Vila, and surrounding areas, and also was followed by
a tsunami. GDP growth rose less than 3% on average in the 1990s. In
response to foreign concerns, the government has promised to tighten
regulation of its offshore financial center. In mid-2002 the
government stepped up efforts to boost tourism. Australia and New
Zealand are the main suppliers of foreign aid.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $563 million (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
-0.3% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,900 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 26%
industry: 12%
services: 62% (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% (2001 est.)

Labor force:
NA

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 65%, services 30%, industry 5% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:
NA%

Budget:
revenues: $94.4 million
expenditures: $99.8 million, including capital expenditures of $30.4
million (1996 est.)

Industries:
food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning

Industrial production growth rate:
1% (1997 est.)

Electricity - production:
43.46 million kWh (2001)

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

Electricity - consumption:
40.42 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

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

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

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Agriculture - products:
copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, coconuts, fruits,
vegetables; fish, beef

Exports:
$22 million f.o.b. (2001)

Exports - commodities:
copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee

Exports - partners:
India 32.5%, Thailand 22.8%, South Korea 10.5%, Indonesia 6.3%,
Japan 4.9% (2002)

Imports:
$93 million c.i.f. (2001)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels

Imports - partners:
Australia 22.1%, Japan 19.2%, New Zealand 10.1%, Singapore 8.1%,
Fiji 6.6%, Taiwan 5%, India 5% (2002)

Debt - external:
$68.6 million (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$45.8 million (1995)

Currency:
vatu (VUV)

Currency code:
VUV

Exchange rates:
vatu per US dollar - 139.2 (2002), 145.31 (2001), 137.64 (2000),
129.08 (1999), 127.52 (1998)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Vanuatu

Telephones - main lines in use:
5,500 (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
310 (2000)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 1 (2002)

Radios:
67,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (2002)

Televisions:
2,300 (1999)

Internet country code:
.vu

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)

Internet users:
3,000 (2000)

Transportation Vanuatu

Railways:
0 km

Highways:
total: 1,070 km
paved: 256 km
unpaved: 814 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:
none

Ports and harbors:
Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo)

Merchant marine:
total: 52 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,181,463 GRT/1,552,813 DWT
ships by type: bulk 26, cargo 5, combination bulk 3, container 3,
liquefied gas 2, multi-function large-load carrier 1, refrigerated
cargo 7, vehicle carrier 5
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Australia 3, Canada 2, China 1, Japan 25, Monaco 4,
Netherlands 1, NZ 5, Panama 1, Poland 1, Switzerland 2, UK 4, US 2,
Vietnam 1 (2002 est.)

Airports:
30 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1524 to 2437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 27
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 17 (2002)

Military Vanuatu

Military branches:
no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF; including
the paramilitary Mobile Force or VMF)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA%

Transnational Issues Vanuatu

Disputes - international:
Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by Vanuatu
and France

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@Venezuela

Introduction Venezuela

Background:
Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse
of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Colombia and Ecuador).
For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled
by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil
industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected
governments have held sway since 1959. Current concerns include: an
embattled president who is losing his once solid support among
Venezuelans, a divided military, drug-related conflicts along the
Colombian border, increasing internal drug consumption,
overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price
fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that are
endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples.

Geography Venezuela

Location:
Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana

Geographic coordinates:
8 00 N, 66 00 W

Map references:
South America

Area:
total: 912,050 sq km
land: 882,050 sq km
water: 30,000 sq km

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

Land boundaries:
total: 4,993 km
border countries: Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km

Coastline:
2,800 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 15 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM

Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

Terrain:
Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains
(llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m

Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals,
hydropower, diamonds

Land use:
arable land: 2.99%
permanent crops: 0.96%
other: 96.05% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
540 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:
sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of
Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and
industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast; threat
to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping

Geography - note:
on major sea and air routes linking North and South America; Angel
Falls in the Guiana Highlands is the world's highest waterfall

People Venezuela

Population:
24,654,694 (July 2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 31% (male 3,944,749; female 3,700,799)
15-64 years: 64.1% (male 7,931,194; female 7,864,697)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 552,291; female 660,964) (2003 est.)

Median age:
total: 24.8 years
male: 24.3 years
female: 25.4 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
1.48% (2003 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
-0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 23.79 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 27.05 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.81 years
male: 70.78 years
female: 77.07 years (2003 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% - note: no country specific models provided (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
62,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
2,000 (2001 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Venezuelan(s)
adjective: Venezuelan

Ethnic groups:
Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous
people

Religions:
nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%

Languages:
Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.4%
male: 93.8%
female: 93.1% (2003 est.)

Government Venezuela

Country name:
conventional long form: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
conventional short form: Venezuela
local short form: Venezuela
local long form: Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela

Government type:
federal republic

Capital:
Caracas

Administrative divisions:
23 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 federal district*
(distrito federal), and 1 federal dependency** (dependencia
federal); Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar,
Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales**, Distrito
Federal*, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva
Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Vargas, Yaracuy, Zulia
note: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled
island groups with a total of 72 individual islands

Independence:
5 July 1811 (from Spain)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 5 July (1811)

Constitution:
30 December 1999

Legal system:
based on organic laws as of July 1999; open, adversarial court
system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February
1999); Vice President Jose Vicente RANGEL (since 28 April 2002);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February
1999); Vice President Jose Vicente RANGEL (since 28 April 2002);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
election results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias reelected president; percent of
vote - 60%
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 30 July 2000 (next to be held NA 2006)

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (165 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; three
seats reserved for the indigenous peoples of Venezuela)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
pro-government 108 (MVR 92, MAS 6, indigenous 3, other 7),
opposition 57 (AD 33, COPEI 6, Justice First 5, other 13)
elections: last held 30 July 2000 (next to be held NA 2005)

Judicial branch:
Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Tribuna Suprema de Justicia
(magistrates are elected by the National Assembly for a single
12-year term)

Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Action or AD [Claudio FERMIN]; Fifth Republic Movement
or MVR [Garcia PONCE]; Homeland for All or PPT [Jose ALBORNIZ];
Justice First [Julio BORGES]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS
[Hector MUJICA]; National Convergence or Convergencia [Juan Jose
CALDERA]; Radical Cause or La Causa R [Antonio HERRERA]; Social
Christian Party or COPEI [Oswaldo ALVAREZ Paz]; Venezuela Project or
PV [Henrique SALAS Romer]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; VECINOS groups;
Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or CTV (labor organization
dominated by the Democratic Action)

International organization participation:
CAN, Caricom (observer), CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-15, G-19, G-24,
G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA,
NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Bernardo ALVAREZ
chancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans,
New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
FAX: [1] (202) 342-6820
telephone: [1] (202) 342-2214

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles S. SHAPIRO
embassy: Calle F con Calle Suapure, Urbanizacion Colinas de Valle
Arriba, Caracas 1080
mailing address: P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037
telephone: [58] (212) 975-9234, 975-6411
FAX: [58] (212) 975-8991

Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with
the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of
seven white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band

Economy Venezuela

Economy - overview:
Venezuela continues to be highly dependent on the petroleum sector,
which accounts for roughly one-third of GDP, around 80% of export
earnings, and more than half of government operating revenues.
Despite higher oil prices at the end of 2002 and into 2003, domestic
political instability, culminating in a two-month national oil
strike from December 2002 to February 2003, temporarily halted
economic activity. The economy is likely to remain in a recession in
2003, after sinking an estimated 8.9 percent in 2002.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $131.7 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
-8.9% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $5,400 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 50%
services: 45% (2001)

Population below poverty line:
47% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 36.5% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
49.5 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
31.2% (2002 est.)

Labor force:
9.9 million (1999)

Labor force - by occupation:
services 64%, industry 23%, agriculture 13% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate:
17% (2002 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $21.5 billion
expenditures: $27 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)

Industries:
petroleum, iron ore mining, construction materials, food
processing, textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly

Industrial production growth rate:
-5.4% (2002 est.)

Electricity - production:
87.6 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 31.7%
hydro: 68.3%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption:
81.47 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

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

Oil - consumption:
505,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:
63.95 billion bbl (37257)

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

Natural gas - consumption:
31.71 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:
4.202 trillion cu m (37257)

Agriculture - products:
corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee; beef,
pork, milk, eggs; fish

Exports:
$28.6 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Exports - commodities:
petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural
products, basic manufactures

Exports - partners:
US 53.4%, Netherlands Antilles 17.3%, Canada 2.9% (2002)

Imports:
$18.8 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Imports - commodities:
raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment,
construction materials

Imports - partners:
US 27.5%, Colombia 6.9%, Brazil 5.7%, Mexico 4.4% (2002)

Debt - external:
$38.2 billion (2000)

Economic aid - recipient:
$74 million (2000)

Currency:
bolivar (VEB)

Currency code:
VEB

Exchange rates:
bolivares per US dollar - 1,160.44 (2002), 723.67 (2001), 679.96
(2000), 605.72 (1999), 547.56 (1998)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Venezuela

Telephones - main lines in use:
2.6 million (however, 3,500,000 have been installed) (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
2 million (1998)

Telephone system:
general assessment: modern and expanding
domestic: domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations; recent
substantial improvement in telephone service in rural areas;
substantial increase in digitalization of exchanges and trunk lines;
installation of a national interurban fiber-optic network capable of
digital multimedia services
international: 3 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth stations
- 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 PanAmSat; participating with
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia in the construction of an
international fiber-optic network

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 201, FM NA (20 in Caracas), shortwave 11 (1998)

Radios:
10.75 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
66 (plus 45 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:
4.1 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.ve

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
16 (2000)

Internet users:
1.3 million (2002)

Transportation Venezuela

Railways:
total: 682 km
standard gauge: 682 km 1.435-m gauge (2002)

Highways:
total: 96,155 km
paved: 32,308 km
unpaved: 63,847 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:
7,100 km
note: Rio Orinoco and Lago de Maracaibo accept oceangoing vessels

Pipelines:
extra heavy crude 992 km; gas 5,262 km; oil 7,484 km; refined
products 1,681 km; unknown (oil/water) 141 km (2003)

Ports and harbors:
Amuay, Bajo Grande, El Tablazo, La Guaira, La Salina, Maracaibo,
Matanzas, Palua, Puerto Cabello, Puerto la Cruz, Puerto Ordaz,
Puerto Sucre, Punta Cardon

Merchant marine:
total: 47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 714,073 GRT/1,256,667 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Denmark 1, Greece 1, Italy 1, UK 1, US 2 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 8, chemical tanker 1, container 1,
liquefied gas 4, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 15, roll
on/roll off 10, short-sea passenger 1

Airports:
373 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 127
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 61
under 914 m: 18 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 32

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 246
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 97
under 914 m: 139 (2002)

Heliports:
1 (2002)

Military Venezuela

Military branches:
National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales or FAN) includes
Ground Forces or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or Ejercito), Naval Forces
(Fuerzas Navales or Armada - including marines and Coast Guard), Air
Force (Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces of Cooperation or
National Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperacion or Guardia Nacional)

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

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 6,767,862 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,870,751 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 249,319 (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$934 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.9% (FY99)

Transnational Issues Venezuela

Disputes - international:
claims all of Guyana west of the Essequibo River; maritime boundary
dispute with Colombia in the Gulf of Venezuela and the Caribbean
Sea; US, France and the Netherlands recognize Venezuela's claim to
give full effect to Aves Island, which creates a Venezuelan
EEZ/continental shelf extending over a large portion of the
Caribbean Sea; Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines protest the claim and other states'
recognition of it

Illicit drugs:
small-scale illicit producer of opium and coca for the processing
of opiates and coca derivatives; however, large quantities of
cocaine, heroin, and marijuana transit the country from Colombia
bound for US and Europe; significant narcotics-related
money-laundering activity, especially along the border with Colombia
and on Margarita Island; active eradication program primarily
targeting opium; increasing signs of drug-related activities by
Colombian insurgents on border

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@Vietnam

Introduction Vietnam

Background:
France occupied all of Vietnam by 1884. Independence was declared
after World War II, but the French continued to rule until 1954 when
they were defeated by Communist forces under Ho Chi MINH, who took
control of the North. US economic and military aid to South Vietnam
grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster the government, but
US armed forces were withdrawn following a cease-fire agreement in
1973. Two years later, North Vietnamese forces overran the South.
Economic reconstruction of the reunited country has proven difficult
as aging Communist Party leaders have only grudgingly initiated
reforms necessary for a free market.

Geography Vietnam

Location:
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin,
and South China Sea, alongside China, Laos, and Cambodia

Geographic coordinates:
16 00 N, 106 00 E

Map references:
Southeast Asia

Area:
total: 329,560 sq km
land: 325,360 sq km
water: 4,200 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries:
total: 4,639 km
border countries: Cambodia 1,228 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 2,130 km

Coastline:
3,444 km (excludes islands)

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM

Climate:
tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season
(mid-May to mid-September) and warm, dry season (mid-October to
mid-March)

Terrain:
low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly,
mountainous in far north and northwest

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Fan Si Pan 3,144 m

Natural resources:
phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and
gas deposits, forests, hydropower

Land use:
arable land: 17.41%
permanent crops: 4.71%
other: 77.88% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
30,000 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding,
especially in the Mekong River delta

Environment - current issues:
logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices contribute to
deforestation and soil degradation; water pollution and overfishing
threaten marine life populations; groundwater contamination limits
potable water supply; growing urban industrialization and population
migration are rapidly degrading environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh
City

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

Geography - note:
extending 1,650 km north to south, the country is only 50 km across
at its narrowest point

People Vietnam

Population:
81,624,716 (July 2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.2% (male 12,699,002; female 11,967,674)
15-64 years: 64.2% (male 25,776,600; female 26,599,005)
65 years and over: 5.6% (male 1,902,464; female 2,679,971) (2003
est.)

Median age:
total: 24.5 years
male: 23.6 years
female: 25.5 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
1.29% (2003 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
-0.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 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: 30.83 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 34.71 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.05 years
male: 67.58 years
female: 72.7 years (2003 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
130,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
6,600 (2001 est.)

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

Ethnic groups:
Vietnamese 85%-90%, Chinese, Hmong, Thai, Khmer, Cham, mountain
groups

Religions:
Buddhist, Hoa Hao, Cao Dai, Christian (predominantly Roman
Catholic, some Protestant), indigenous beliefs, Muslim

Languages:
Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a second
language), some French, Chinese, and Khmer; mountain area languages
(Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94%
male: 95.8%
female: 92.3% (2003 est.)

Government Vietnam

Country name:
conventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnam
conventional short form: Vietnam
local short form: Viet Nam
abbreviation: SRV
local long form: Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Nam

Government type:
Communist state

Capital:
Hanoi

Administrative divisions:
58 provinces (tinh, singular and plural), and 3 municipalities*
(thu do, singular and plural); An Giang, Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Bac
Lieu, Bac Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Duong,
Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Ca Mau, Can Tho, Cao Bang, Dac Lak, Da Nang,
Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Hai Duong, Hai Phong*, Ha
Nam, Ha Noi*, Ha Tay, Ha Tinh, Hoa Binh, Ho Chi Minh*, Hung Yen,
Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Lao
Cai, Long An, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Tho, Phu
Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc
Trang, Son La, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Thua
Thien-Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phuc,
Yen Bai

Independence:
2 September 1945 (from France)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 2 September (1945)

Constitution:
15 April 1992

Legal system:
based on communist legal theory and French civil law system

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Tran Duc LUONG (since 24 September 1997)
elections: president elected by the National Assembly from among its
members for a five-year term; election last held 25 July 2002 (next
to be held when National Assembly meets following legislative
elections in 2007); prime minister appointed by the president from
among the members of the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers
appointed by the prime minister
head of government: Prime Minister Phan Van KHAI (since 25 September
1997); First Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan DUNG (since 29
September 1997); Deputy Prime Ministers Vu KHOAN (since NA) and Pham
Gia KHIEM (since 29 September 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the proposal of the
prime minister and ratification of the National Assembly
election results: Tran Duc LUONG elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote - NA%

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Quoc-Hoi (498 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 19 May 2002 (next to be held 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - CPV 90%, other 10% (the
10% are not CPV members but are approved by the CPV to stand for
election); seats by party - CPV 447, CPV-approved 51

Judicial branch:
Supreme People's Court (chief justice is elected for a five-year
term by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president)

Political parties and leaders:
only party - Communist Party of Vietnam or CPV [Nong Duc MANH,
general secretary]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
none

International organization participation:
ACCT, APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Nguyen Tam CHIEN
consulate(s) general: San Francisco
FAX: [1] (202) 861-0917
telephone: [1] (202) 861-0737
chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond F. BURGHARDT
embassy: 7 Lang Ha Road, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002
telephone: [84] (4) 772-1500
FAX: [84] (4) 772-1510
consulate(s) general: Ho Chi Minh City

Flag description:
red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center

Economy Vietnam

Economy - overview:
Vietnam is a poor, densely-populated country that has had to
recover from the ravages of war, the loss of financial support from
the old Soviet Bloc, and the rigidities of a centrally planned
economy. Substantial progress was achieved from 1986 to 1996 in
moving forward from an extremely low starting point - growth
averaged around 9% per year from 1993 to 1997. The 1997 Asian
financial crisis highlighted the problems in the Vietnamese economy
but, rather than prompting reform, reaffirmed the government's
belief that shifting to a market-oriented economy would lead to
disaster. GDP growth of 8.5% in 1997 fell to 6% in 1998 and 5% in
1999. Growth then rose to 6% to 7% in 2000-02 even against the
background of global recession. These numbers mask some major
difficulties in economic performance. Many domestic industries,
including coal, cement, steel, and paper, have reported large
stockpiles of inventory and tough competition from more efficient
foreign producers. Meanwhile, Vietnamese authorities have moved to
implement the structural reforms needed to modernize the economy and
to produce more competitive, export-driven industries. The
US-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement entered into force near the end
of 2001 and is expected to significantly increase Vietnam's exports
to the US. The US is assisting Vietnam with implementing the legal
and structural reforms called for in the agreement.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $183.8 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
7% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,300 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 24%
industry: 37%
services: 39% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:
37% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 29.9% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.1 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.9% (2002 est.)

Labor force:
38.2 million (1998 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 63%, industry and services 37% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:
25% (1995 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $5.3 billion
expenditures: $5.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.8
billion (1999 est.)

Industries:
food processing, garments, shoes, machine-building, mining, cement,
chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, coal, steel, paper

Industrial production growth rate:
10.2% (2002 est.)

Electricity - production:
29.8 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 43.7%
hydro: 56.3%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption:
27.71 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
356,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
185,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:
1.4 billion bbl (37257)

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

Natural gas - consumption:
1.3 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:
192.6 billion cu m (37257)

Agriculture - products:
paddy rice, corn, potatoes, rubber, soybeans, coffee, tea, bananas,
sugar; poultry, pigs; fish

Exports:
$16.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:
crude oil, marine products, rice, coffee, rubber, tea, garments,
shoes

Exports - partners:
US 15.2%, Japan 14.9%, Australia 7.6%, China 6.6%, Germany 6.5%,
Singapore 5.5%, UK 4.3% (2002)

Imports:
$16.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer, steel
products, raw cotton, grain, cement, motorcycles

Imports - partners:
South Korea 12.7%, China 12.2%, Japan 12.1%, Singapore 11.8%,
Taiwan 10.6%, Thailand 5.4% (2002)

Debt - external:
$14.1 billion (2001)

Economic aid - recipient:
$2.1 billion in credits and grants pledged by international donors
for 2000

Currency:
dong (VND)

Currency code:
VND

Exchange rates:
dong per US dollar - 15,325.8 (2002), 14,725.2 (2001), 14,167.7
(2000), 13,943.2 (1999), 13,268 (1998)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Vietnam

Telephones - main lines in use:
2.6 million (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
730,155 (2000)

Telephone system:
general assessment: Vietnam is putting considerable effort into
modernization and expansion of its telecommunication system, but its
performance continues to lag behind that of its more modern neighbors
domestic: all provincial exchanges are digitalized and connected to
Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City by fiber-optic cable or
microwave radio relay networks; since 1991, main lines in use have
been substantially increased and the use of mobile telephones is
growing rapidly
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Indian
Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 65, FM 7, shortwave 29 (1999)

Radios:
8.2 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
at least 7 (plus 13 repeaters) (1998)

Televisions:
3.57 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.vn

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2000)

Internet users:
400,000 (2002)

Transportation Vietnam

Railways:
total: 3,142 km
standard gauge: 209 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 2,625 km 1.000-m gauge
dual gauge: 308 km three-rail track combining 1.435-m and 1.000-m
gauges (2002)

Highways:
total: 93,300 km
paved: 23,418 km
unpaved: 69,882 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:
17,702 km
note: more than 5,149 km are navigable at all times by vessels up to
1.8 m draft

Pipelines:
condensate/gas 432 km; gas 210 km; oil 3 km; refined products 206
km (2003)

Ports and harbors:
Cam Ranh, Da Nang, Haiphong, Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Long, Quy Nhon,
Nha Trang, Vinh, Vung Tau

Merchant marine:
total: 180 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,054,423 GRT/1,588,732 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Cambodia 1, Japan 1, Singapore 1, UK 2 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 13, cargo 128, chemical tanker 1, combination
bulk 1, container 9, liquefied gas 4, petroleum tanker 21,
refrigerated cargo 3

Airports:
47 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 24
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 6 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 23
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 12 (2002)

Military Vietnam

Military branches:
People's Army of Vietnam (includes Ground Forces, People's Navy
Command [including Naval Infantry], Air and Air Defense Force, Coast
Guard)

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

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 22,888,109 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 14,366,732 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 871,036 (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$650 million (FY98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.5% (FY98)

Transnational Issues Vietnam

Disputes - international:
demarcation of the land boundary with China continues, but maritime
boundary and joint fishing zone agreement remains unratified;
Cambodia and Laos protest Vietnamese squatters and armed
encroachments along border; China occupies Paracel Islands also
claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; involved in a complex dispute over
Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and
possibly Brunei; claimants in November 2002 signed the "Declaration
on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea", a mechanism to
ease tension but which fell short of a legally binding "code of
conduct"

Illicit drugs:
minor producer of opium poppy; probable minor transit point for
Southeast Asian heroin; domestic opium/heroin/methamphetamine
addiction problems

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@Virgin Islands

Introduction Virgin Islands

Background:
During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two
territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane,
produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th
and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish
portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of
slavery in 1848.

Geography Virgin Islands

Location:
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

Geographic coordinates:
18 20 N, 64 50 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 352 sq km
water: 3 sq km
land: 349 sq km

Area - comparative:
twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
188 km

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

Climate:
subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low
humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to
November

Terrain:
mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m

Natural resources:
sun, sand, sea, surf

Land use:
arable land: 15%
permanent crops: 6%
other: 79% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
NA sq km

Natural hazards:
several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts
and floods; occasional earthquakes

Environment - current issues:
lack of natural freshwater resources

Geography - note:
important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane
for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural
deepwater harbors in the Caribbean

People Virgin Islands

Population:
124,778 (July 2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 26% (male 16,685; female 15,794)
15-64 years: 64.4% (male 36,241; female 44,157)
65 years and over: 9.5% (male 5,078; female 6,823) (2003 est.)

Median age:
total: 31.2 years
male: 28.6 years
female: 33.7 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
1.02% (2003 est.)

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

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

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

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 10.12 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.59 years
male: 74.73 years
female: 82.68 years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate:
2.22 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: Virgin Islander(s)
adjective: Virgin Islander

Ethnic groups:
black 78%, white 10%, other 12%
note: West Indian 81% (49% born in the Virgin Islands and 32% born
elsewhere in the West Indies), US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 4%,
other 2%

Religions:
Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%

Languages:
English (official), Spanish, Creole

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

Government Virgin Islands

Country name:
conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands
conventional short form: Virgin Islands
former: Danish West Indies

Dependency status:
organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations
between the Virgin Islands and the US under the jurisdiction of the
Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior

Government type:
NA

Capital:
Charlotte Amalie

Administrative divisions:
none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative
divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three
islands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas

National holiday:
Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917)

Constitution:
Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954

Legal system:
based on US laws

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; note - 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)
election results: Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL reelected governor;
percent of vote - Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (Democrat) 50.5%, John
de JONGH 24.4%
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 5 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2006)
head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5
January 1999) and Lieutenant Governor Vargrave RICHARDS (since NA
January 2003)
cabinet: NA

Legislative branch:
unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve two-year terms)
elections: last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held NA November
2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
Democratic Party 8, ICM NA, no party affiliation NA
note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the
US House of Representatives; election last held 6 November 2002
(next to be held NA November 2004); results - Donna M.
CHRISTIAN-CHRISTENSON (Democrat) reelected

Judicial branch:
US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit
jurisdiction); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governor
for 10-year terms)

Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens'
Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC

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

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

Flag description:
white, with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the
large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow eagle
holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other
with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a
blue panel

Economy Virgin Islands

Economy - overview:
Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than
70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The islands normally host 2
million visitors a year. The manufacturing sector consists of
petroleum refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and
watch assembly. The agricultural sector is small, with most food
being imported. International business and financial services are a
small but growing component of the economy. One of the world's
largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The islands are
subject to substantial damage from storms. The government is working
to improve fiscal discipline, support construction projects in the
private sector, expand tourist facilities, reduce crime, and protect
the environment.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $2.4 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $19,000 (2001 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):
2% (1992)

Labor force:
49,000 (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 1%, industry 20%, services 79% (1990 est.)

Unemployment rate:
4.9% (March 1999)

Budget:
revenues: $364.4 million
expenditures: $364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1990 est.)

Industries:
tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling,
construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics

Industrial production growth rate:
NA%

Electricity - production:
1.03 billion kWh (2001)

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

Electricity - consumption:
957.9 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

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

Oil - consumption:
66,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Agriculture - products:
fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle

Exports:
$NA

Exports - commodities:
refined petroleum products

Exports - partners:
US, Puerto Rico

Imports:
$NA

Imports - commodities:
crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials

Imports - partners:
US, Puerto Rico

Debt - external:
$NA

Economic aid - recipient:
$NA

Currency:
US dollar (USD)

Currency code:
USD

Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used

Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September

Communications Virgin Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:
65,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
2,000 (1992)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay
international: submarine cable and satellite communications;
satellite earth stations - NA

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 5, FM 11, shortwave 0 (2002)

Radios:
107,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
2 (2002)

Televisions:
68,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.vi

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
50 (2000)

Internet users:
12,000 (2000)

Transportation Virgin Islands

Railways:
0 km

Highways:
total: 856 km
paved: NA km
note: the only US possession where driving on the left side of the
road is practiced (2000)
unpaved: NA km

Waterways:
none

Ports and harbors:
Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix

Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)

Airports:
2 (2002)

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

Military Virgin Islands

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues Virgin Islands

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@Wake Island

Introduction Wake Island

Background:
The US annexed Wake Island in 1899 for a cable station. An
important air and naval base was constructed in 1940-41. In December
1941, the island was captured by the Japanese and held until the end
of World War II. In subsequent years, Wake was developed as a
stopover and refueling site for military and commercial aircraft
transiting the Pacific. Since 1974, the island's airstrip has been
used by the US military and some commercial cargo planes, as well as
for emergency landings. There are over 700 landings a year on the
island.

Geography Wake Island

Location:
Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the
way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands

Geographic coordinates:
19 17 N, 166 36 E

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 6.5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 6.5 sq km

Area - comparative:
about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
19.3 km

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

Climate:
tropical

Terrain:
atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater volcano;
central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim

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

Natural resources:
none

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

Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
occasional typhoons

Environment - current issues:
NA

Geography - note:
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing
location for transpacific flights

People Wake Island

Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: US military personnel have left the island, but contractor
personnel remain; as of October 2001, 200 contractor personnel were
present (July 2003 est.)

Government Wake Island

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Wake Island

Dependency status:
unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington,
DC, by the Department of the Interior; activities on the island are
managed by the US Air Force

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

Flag description:
the flag of the US is used

Economy Wake Island

Economy - overview:
Economic activity is limited to providing services to contractors
located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must be
imported.

Electricity - production:
NA

Communications Wake Island

Telephone system:
general assessment: satellite communications; 1 DSN circuit off the
Overseas Telephone System (OTS)
domestic: NA
international: NA

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM NA, shortwave NA
note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio service
provided by satellite (1998)

Television broadcast stations:
0 (1997)

Transportation Wake Island

Waterways:
none

Ports and harbors:
none; two offshore anchorages for large ships

Airports:
1 (2002)

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

Transportation - note:
formerly an important commercial aviation base, now used by US
military, some commercial cargo planes, and for emergency landings

Military Wake Island

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues Wake Island

Disputes - international:
claimed by Marshall Islands

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@Wallis and Futuna

Introduction Wallis and Futuna

Background:
Although discovered by the Dutch and the British in the 17th and
18th centuries, it was the French who declared a protectorate over
the islands in 1842. In 1959, the inhabitants of the islands voted
to become a French overseas territory.

Geography Wallis and Futuna

Location:
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of
the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Geographic coordinates:
13 18 S, 176 12 W

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 274 sq km
note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island),
Ile Alofi, and 20 islets
water: 0 sq km
land: 274 sq km

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

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
129 km

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

Climate:
tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season
(May to October); rains 2,500-3,000 mm per year (80% humidity);
average temperature 26.6 degrees C

Terrain:
volcanic origin; low hills

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Singavi 765 m

Natural resources:
NEGL

Land use:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 20%
other: 75% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
NA sq km

Natural hazards:
NA

Environment - current issues:
deforestation (only small portions of the original forests remain)
largely as a result of the continued use of wood as the main fuel
source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests, the
mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion;
there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of
natural fresh water resources

Geography - note:
both island groups have fringing reefs

People Wallis and Futuna

Population:
15,734 (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.)

Net migration rate:
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New
Caledonia (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: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders
adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander

Ethnic groups:
Polynesian

Religions:
Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%

Languages:
French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 50%
male: 50%
female: 50% (1969 est.)

Government Wallis and Futuna

Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands
conventional short form: Wallis and Futuna
local short form: Wallis et Futuna
local long form: Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna

Dependency status:
overseas territory of France

Government type:
NA

Capital:
Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)

Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are three kingdoms at the second order named Alo, Sigave, Wallis

Independence:
none (overseas territory of France)

National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Constitution:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system:
French legal system

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal