Chapter XIV: Front Matter (14)

Population below poverty line:
15.9%; note - this figure is the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO), a
calculation that results in higher figures than found in many
comparable economies; Canada does not have an official poverty line
(2003)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 23.8% (1994)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
33.1 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
20.5% of GDP (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $159.6 billion
expenditures: $152.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2004)

Public debt:
69.6% of GDP (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy
products; forest products; fish

Industries:
transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed
minerals, food products, wood and paper products, fish products,
petroleum and natural gas

Industrial production growth rate:
2.6% (2005 est.)

Electricity - production:
566.3 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 28%
hydro: 57.9%
nuclear: 12.9%
other: 1.3% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
520.9 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:
22 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
33 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
2.4 million bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
2.3 million bbl/day (2004)

Oil - exports:
1.6 million bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports:
963,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves:
178.9 billion bbl
note: includes oil sands (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:
165.8 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
90.95 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
91.52 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
8.73 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.673 trillion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:
$24.96 billion (2005 est.)

Exports:
$364.8 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, aircraft,
telecommunications equipment; chemicals, plastics, fertilizers; wood
pulp, timber, crude petroleum, natural gas, electricity, aluminum

Exports - partners:
US 84.2%, Japan 2.1%, UK 1.8% (2005)

Imports:
$317.7 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil,
chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods

Imports - partners:
US 56.7%, China 7.8%, Mexico 3.8% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$33.02 billion (2005 est.)

Debt - external:
$439.8 billion (30 November 2005)

Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $2.6 billion (2004)

Currency (code):
Canadian dollar (CAD)

Currency code:
CAD

Exchange rates:
Canadian dollars per US dollar - 1.2118 (2005), 1.301 (2004),
1.4011 (2003), 1.5693 (2002), 1.5488 (2001)

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Canada

Telephones - main lines in use:
18.276 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
16.6 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent service provided by modern technology
domestic: domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stations
international: country code - 1-xxx; 5 coaxial submarine cables;
satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 Atlantic Ocean and 1
Pacific Ocean) and 2 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 245, FM 582, shortwave 6 (2004)

Radios:
32.3 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
80 (plus many repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:
21.5 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.ca

Internet hosts:
3,934,223 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
760 (2000 est.)

Internet users:
21.9 million (2005)

Transportation Canada

Airports:
1,337 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 509
over 3,047 m: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 151
914 to 1,523 m: 248
under 914 m: 77 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 828
1,524 to 2,437 m: 66
914 to 1,523 m: 355
under 914 m: 407 (2006)

Heliports:
319 (2006)

Pipelines:
crude and reined oil 23,564 km; liquid petroleum gas 74,980 km
(2005)

Railways:
total: 48,467 km
standard gauge: 48,467 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 1,042,300 km
paved: 415,600 km (including 17,000 km of expressways)
unpaved: 626,700 km (2005)

Waterways:
631 km
note: Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint
Lawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with United States (2003)

Merchant marine:
total: 173 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,129,243 GRT/2,716,340 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 62, cargo 10, chemical tanker 9, container 2,
passenger 6, passenger/cargo 63, petroleum tanker 13, roll on/roll
off 8
foreign-owned: 7 (Germany 3, Netherlands 1, Norway 1, US 2)
registered in other countries: 111 (Australia 1, Bahamas 18,
Barbados 8, Cambodia 6, Cyprus 2, Denmark 1, Honduras 1, Hong Kong
28, Liberia 2, Malta 18, Marshall Islands 6, Panama 4, Russia 1,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6, US 4, Vanuatu 5) (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Fraser River Port, Halifax, Montreal, Port Cartier, Quebec, Saint
John's (Newfoundland), Sept Isles, Vancouver

Military Canada

Military branches:
Canadian Forces: Land Forces Command, Maritime Command, Air
Command, Canada Command (homeland security) (2006)

Military service age and obligation:
16 years of age for voluntary military service; women comprise
approximately 11% of Canada's armed forces (2001)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 8,216,510
females age 16-49: 8,034,939 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,740,490
females age 16-49: 6,580,868 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 223,821
females age 16-49: 212,900 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$9,801.7 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.1% (2003)

Transnational Issues Canada

Disputes - international:
managed maritime boundary disputes with the US at Dixon Entrance,
Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and around the disputed
Machias Seal Island and North Rock; working toward greater
cooperation with US in monitoring people and commodities crossing
the border; uncontested sovereignty dispute with Denmark over Hans
Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland

Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug market and
export to US; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plant
large quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors; transit point
for ecstasy entering the US market; vulnerable to narcotics money
laundering because of its mature financial services sector

This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006

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

@Cape Verde

Introduction Cape Verde

Background:
The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the
Portuguese in the 15th century; Cape Verde subsequently became a
trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and
resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. Following
independence in 1975, and a tentative interest in unification with
Guinea-Bissau, a one-party system was established and maintained
until multi-party elections were held in 1990. Cape Verde continues
to exhibit one of Africa's most stable democratic governments.
Repeated droughts during the second half of the 20th century caused
significant hardship and prompted heavy emigration. As a result,
Cape Verde's expatriate population is greater than its domestic one.
Most Cape Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents.

Geography Cape Verde

Location:
Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west
of Senegal

Geographic coordinates:
16 00 N, 24 00 W

Map references:
Political Map of the World

Area:
total: 4,033 sq km
land: 4,033 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Rhode Island

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
965 km

Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:
temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic

Terrain:
steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island)

Natural resources:
salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum

Land use:
arable land: 11.41%
permanent crops: 0.74%
other: 87.85% (2005)

Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring
dust; volcanically and seismically active

Environment - current issues:
soil erosion; deforestation due to demand for wood used as fuel;
desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species
of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing

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

Geography - note:
strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major
north-south sea routes; important communications station; important
sea and air refueling site

People Cape Verde

Population:
420,979 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.9% (male 80,594/female 79,126)
15-64 years: 55.3% (male 113,450/female 119,423)
65 years and over: 6.7% (male 10,542/female 17,844) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 19.8 years
male: 19 years
female: 20.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.64% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
24.87 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.55 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
-11.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 46.52 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 51.63 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 41.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.73 years
male: 67.41 years
female: 74.15 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
3.38 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.035% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
775 (2001)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
225 (as of 2001)

Nationality:
noun: Cape Verdean(s)
adjective: Cape Verdean

Ethnic groups:
Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%

Religions:
Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs); Protestant
(mostly Church of the Nazarene)

Languages:
Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.6%
male: 85.8%
female: 69.2% (2003 est.)

Government Cape Verde

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verde
conventional short form: Cape Verde
local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde
local short form: Cabo Verde

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Praia
geographic coordinates: 14 55 N, 23 31 W
time difference: UTC-1 (4 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
17 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista,
Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande,
Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Filipe, Sao
Miguel, Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal

Independence:
5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 5 July (1975)

Constitution:
new constitution came into force 25 September 1992; underwent a
major revision on 23 November 1995, substantially increasing the
powers of the president; a 1999 revision created the position of
national ombudsman (Provedor de Justica)

Legal system:
derived from the legal system of Portugal

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Pedro Verona PIRES (since 22 March 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (since 1
February 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 12 February 2006
(next to be held February 2011); prime minister nominated by the
National Assembly and appointed by the president
election results: Pedro PIRES reelected president; percent of vote -
Pedro PIRES (PAICV) 51.2%, Carlos VIEGA (MPD) 48.8%

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 22 January 2006 (next to be held in January
2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAICV 52.3%, MPD 44%,
UCID 2.7%; seats by party - PAICV 41, MPD 29, ADM 2

Judicial branch:
Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de Justia

Political parties and leaders:
African Party for Independence of Cape Verde or PAICV [Jose Maria
Pereira NEVES, chairman]; Democratic Alliance for Change or ADM [Dr.
Eurico MONTEIRO] (a coalition of PCD, PTS, and UCID); Democratic
Christian Party or PDC [Manuel RODRIGUES, chairman]; Democratic
Renovation Party or PRD [Victor FIDALGO, president]; Democratic and
Independent Cape Verdean Union or UCID [Antonio MONTEIRO]; Movement
for Democracy or MPD [Agostinho LOPES, president]; Party for
Democratic Convergence or PCD [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO, president];
Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS [Isaias RODRIGUES, president];
Social Democratic Party or PSD [Joao ALEM, president]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jose BRITO
chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820
FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207
consulate(s) general: Boston

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Roger D. PIERCE
embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo n6, Praia
mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia
telephone: [238] 2-60-89-00
FAX: [238] 2-61-13-55

Flag description:
three horizontal bands of light blue (top, double width), white
(with a horizontal red stripe in the middle third), and light blue;
a circle of 10 yellow five-pointed stars is centered on the hoist
end of the red stripe and extends into the upper and lower blue bands

Economy Cape Verde

Economy - overview:
This island economy suffers from a poor natural resource base,
including serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of long-term
drought. The economy is service-oriented, with commerce, transport,
tourism, and public services accounting for 66% of GDP. Although
nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of
agriculture in GDP in 2004 was only 12%, of which fishing accounted
for 1.5%. About 82% of food must be imported. The fishing potential,
mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited. Cape Verde annually
runs a high trade deficit, financed by foreign aid and remittances
from emigrants; remittances supplement GDP by more than 20%.
Economic reforms are aimed at developing the private sector and
attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy. Future
prospects depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, the
encouragement of tourism, remittances, and the momentum of the
government's development program.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.99 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.128 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$6,200 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12.1%
industry: 21.9%
services: 66% (2004 est.)

Labor force:
120,600

Unemployment rate:
21% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:
30% (2000)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.4% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
24.8% of GDP (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $328.1 million
expenditures: $393.1 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)

Agriculture - products:
bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts;
fish

Industries:
food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt
mining, ship repair

Industrial production growth rate:
NA%

Electricity - production:
44.15 million kWh (2003)

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

Electricity - consumption:
41.06 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - consumption:
1,200 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)

Current account balance:
$-82 million (2005 est.)

Exports:
$73.35 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides

Exports - partners:
Spain 38.2%, Portugal 33.2%, US 9.2%, Morocco 5.4% (2005)

Imports:
$500 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels

Imports - partners:
Portugal 41.5%, Italy 8%, Netherlands 7.3%, Spain 5.5%, France
4.8%, Belgium 4.7%, Brazil 4.3% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$150 million (2005 est.)

Debt - external:
$325 million (2002)

Economic aid - recipient:
$136 million (1999)

Currency (code):
Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)

Currency code:
CVE

Exchange rates:
Cape Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar - 88.67 (2005), 88.808
(2004), 97.703 (2003), 117.168 (2002), 123.228 (2001)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Cape Verde

Telephones - main lines in use:
71,400 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
81,700 (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: effective system, extensive modernization from
1996-2000 following partial privatization in 1995
domestic: major service provider is Cabo Verde Telecom (CVT); fiber
optic ring, completed in 2001, links all islands providing Internet
access and ISDN services; cellular service introduced in 1998
international: country code - 238; 2 coaxial submarine cables; HF
radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station
- 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 22 (and 12 low power repeaters), shortwave 0 (2002)

Radios:
100,000 (2002 est.)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (and 7 repeaters) (2002)

Televisions:
15,000 (2002 est.)

Internet country code:
.cv

Internet hosts:
234 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)

Internet users:
25,000 (2005)

Transportation Cape Verde

Airports:
7 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 1,350 km
paved: 932 km
unpaved: 418 km (2000)

Merchant marine:
total: 7 ships (1000 GRT or over) 12,300 GRT/7,726 DWT
by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 4
foreign-owned: 2 (Spain 1, UK 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal

Military Cape Verde

Military branches:
People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP): Army, Coast Guard
(includes maritime air wing)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 84,641
females age 18-49: 87,310 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 65,614
females age 18-49: 73,662 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$7.18 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.7% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Cape Verde

Disputes - international:
none

Illicit drugs:
used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs moving from Latin
America and Asia destined for Western Europe; the lack of a
well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a
money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006

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

@Cayman Islands

Introduction Cayman Islands

Background:
The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British
during the 18th and 19th centuries, and were administered by Jamaica
after 1863. In 1959, the islands became a territory within the
Federation of the West Indies, but when the Federation dissolved in
1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency.

Geography Cayman Islands

Location:
Caribbean, three island (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman)
group in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of
Jamaica

Geographic coordinates:
19 30 N, 80 30 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 262 sq km
land: 262 sq km
water: 0 sq km

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

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
160 km

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

Climate:
tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool,
relatively dry winters (November to April)

Terrain:
low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: The Bluff (Cayman Brac) 43 m

Natural resources:
fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

Land use:
arable land: 3.85%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 96.15% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

Natural hazards:
hurricanes (July to November)

Environment - current issues:
no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be
met by rainwater catchments

Geography - note:
important location between Cuba and Central America

People Cayman Islands

Population:
45,436
note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.7% (male 4,708/female 4,700)
15-64 years: 70.9% (male 15,707/female 16,504)
65 years and over: 8.4% (male 1,793/female 2,024) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 37.2 years
male: 36.8 years
female: 37.5 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
2.56% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
12.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
4.89 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
17.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2006
est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 8 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.07 years
male: 77.45 years
female: 82.74 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.9 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA

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

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Nationality:
noun: Caymanian(s)
adjective: Caymanian

Ethnic groups:
mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic
groups 20%

Religions:
United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist,
Church of God, other Protestant, Roman Catholic

Languages:
English

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1970 est.)

Government Cayman Islands

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cayman Islands

Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK

Government type:
British crown colony

Capital:
name: George Town (on Grand Cayman)
geographic coordinates: 19 20 N, 81 23 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

Administrative divisions:
8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake
Bay, West End, Western

Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:
Constitution Day, first Monday in July

Constitution:
1959; revised 1962, 1972, and 1994

Legal system:
British common law and local statutes

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
Governor Stuart JACK (since 23 November 2005)
head of government: Leader of Government Business Kurt TIBBETTS
(since 18 May 2005)
cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor,
four members elected by the Legislative Assembly)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor is
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or coalition is appointed by the
governor Leader of Government Business

Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats, 3 appointed members from
the Executive Council and 15 elected by popular vote; members serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 11 May 2005 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PPM 9, UDP 5, independent 1

Judicial branch:
Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders:
no national teams (loose groupings of political organizations) were
formed for the 2000 elections; United Democratic Party or UDP
[leader McKeeva BUSH]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [leader
Kurt TIBBETTS]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO
(associate), UPU

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

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

Flag description:
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and
the Caymanian coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag;
the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with
three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the
bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS

Economy Cayman Islands

Economy - overview:
With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore
financial center. More than 40,000 companies were registered in the
Cayman Islands as of 1998, including almost 600 banks and trust
companies; banking assets exceed $500 billion. A stock exchange was
opened in 1997. Tourism is also a mainstay, accounting for about 70%
of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is
aimed at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North
America. Total tourist arrivals exceeded 1.2 million in 1997, with
600,000 from the US. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer
goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest
outputs per capita and one of the highest standards of living in the
world.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.939 billion (2004 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
NA

GDP - real growth rate:
0.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$43,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 3.2%
services: 95.4% (1994 est.)

Labor force:
23,450 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 12.6%
services: 86% (1995)

Unemployment rate:
4.4% (2004)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.4% (2004)

Budget:
revenues: $423.8 million
expenditures: $392.6 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997)

Agriculture - products:
vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming

Industries:
tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction
materials, furniture

Industrial production growth rate:
NA%

Electricity - production:
441.9 million kWh (2003)

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

Electricity - consumption:
411 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - consumption:
2,450 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)

Exports:
$2.52 million (2004)

Exports - commodities:
turtle products, manufactured consumer goods

Exports - partners:
mostly US (2004)

Imports:
$866.9 million (2004)

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, manufactured goods

Imports - partners:
US, Netherlands Antilles, Japan (2004)

Debt - external:
$70 million (1996)

Economic aid - recipient:
$390,000 $NA

Currency (code):
Caymanian dollar (KYD)

Currency code:
KYD

Exchange rates:
Caymanian dollars per US dollar - 0.82 (29 October 2001), 0.83 (3
November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993)

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Cayman Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:
38,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
17,000 (2002)

Telephone system:
general assessment: reasonably good system
domestic: liberalization of telecom market in 2003 reflected in
falling prices and improving services
international: country code - 1-345; 2 submarine fiber optic cables
(Maya-1, Cayman-Jamaica); satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:
36,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
4 with cable system (2004)

Televisions:
7,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.ky

Internet hosts:
8,611 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
16 (2000)

Internet users:
9,909 (2003)

Transportation Cayman Islands

Airports:
3 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 785 km
paved: 785 km (2002)

Merchant marine:
total: 132 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,746,290 GRT/4,366,790 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 32, cargo 14, chemical tanker 42, liquefied
gas 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 14, refrigerated cargo 23, roll
on/roll off 3, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 130 (Denmark 5, Germany 13, Greece 21, Italy 12,
Japan 1, Malaysia 1, Netherlands 4, Norway 2, Philippines 1,
Singapore 10, Sweden 9, UK 10, US 41) (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Cayman Brac, George Town

Military Cayman Islands

Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 10,703 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 8,600 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 257 (2005 est.)

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues Cayman Islands

Disputes - international:
none

Illicit drugs:
offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the
US and Europe

This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006

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

@Central African Republic

Introduction Central African Republic

Background:
The former French colony of Ubangi-Shari became the Central African
Republic upon independence in 1960. After three tumultuous decades
of misrule - mostly by military governments - civilian rule was
established in 1993 and lasted for one decade. President Ange-Felix
PATASSE's civilian government was plagued by unrest, and in March
2003 he was deposed in a military coup led by General Francois
BOZIZE, who established a transitional government. Though the
government has the tacit support of civil society groups and the
main parties, a wide field of candidates contested the municipal,
legislative, and presidential elections held in March and May of
2005 in which General BOZIZE was affirmed as president. The
government still does not fully control the countryside, where
pockets of lawlessness persist.

Geography Central African Republic

Location:
Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Geographic coordinates:
7 00 N, 21 00 E

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 622,984 sq km
land: 622,984 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:
total: 5,203 km
border countries: Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Democratic
Republic of the Congo 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 467 km, Sudan
1,165 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers

Terrain:
vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in
northeast and southwest

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m
highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m

Natural resources:
diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower

Land use:
arable land: 3.1%
permanent crops: 0.15%
other: 96.75% (2005)

Irrigated land:
20 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are
common

Environment - current issues:
tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished the country's
reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges;
desertification; deforestation

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

Geography - note:
landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa

People Central African Republic

Population:
4,303,356
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.9% (male 907,629/female 897,153)
15-64 years: 53.9% (male 1,146,346/female 1,173,268)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 71,312/female 107,648) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 18.4 years
male: 18 years
female: 18.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.53% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
33.91 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
18.65 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 85.63 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 92.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 78.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 43.54 years
male: 43.46 years
female: 43.62 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
4.41 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
13.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
260,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
23,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005)

Nationality:
noun: Central African(s)
adjective: Central African

Ethnic groups:
Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%,
Yakoma 4%, other 2%

Religions:
indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim
15%
note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the
Christian majority

Languages:
French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language),
tribal languages

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51%
male: 63.3%
female: 39.9% (2003 est.)

Government Central African Republic

Country name:
conventional long form: Central African Republic
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republique Centrafricaine
local short form: none
former: Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire
abbreviation: CAR

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Bangui
geographic coordinates: 4 22 N, 18 35 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture), 2 economic
prefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular - prefecture
economique), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**,
Basse-Kotto, Haute-Kotto, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo, Lobaye, Mambere-Kadei,
Mbomou, Nana-Grebizi*, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham,
Ouham-Pende, Sangha-Mbaere*, Vakaga

Independence:
13 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday:
Republic Day, 1 December (1958)

Constitution:
ratified by popular referendum 5 December 2004; effective 27
December 2004

Legal system:
based on French law

Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Francois BOZIZE (since 15 March 2003 coup)
head of government: Prime Minister Elie DOTE (since 13 June 2005);
note - Celestin GAOMBALET resigned 11 June 2005
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: under the new constitution, the president elected to a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); elections last held 13
March and 8 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010); prime minister
appointed by the political party with a parliamentary majority
election results: Francois BOZIZE elected president; percent of
second round balloting - Francois BOZIZE (KNK) 64.6%, Martin ZIGUELE
(MLPC) 35.4%

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (109 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 13 March 2005 and 8 May 2005 (next to be held
NA 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - MLPC 43%, RDC 18%, MDD
9%, FPP 6%, PSD 5%, ADP 4%, PUN 3%, FODEM 2%, PLD 2%, UPR 1%, FC 1%,
independents 6%; seats by party - MLPC 47, RDC 20, MDD 8, FPP 7, PSD
6, ADP 5, PUN 3, FODEM 2, PLD 2, UPR 1, FC 1, independents 7

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court (3 judges
appointed by the president, 3 by the president of the National
Assembly, and 3 by fellow judges); Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts;
Inferior Courts

Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Jacques MBOLIEDAS];
Central African Democratic Assembly or RDC [Andre KOLINGBA]; Civic
Forum or FC [Gen. Timothee MALENDOMA]; Democratic Forum for
Modernity or FODEM [Charles MASSI]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD
[Nestor KOMBO-NAGUEMON]; Movement for Democracy and Development or
MDD [David DACKO]; Movement for the Liberation of the Central
African People or MLPC [Ange-Felix PATASSE] (the party of deposed
president); National Convergence or KNK; Patriotic Front for
Progress or FPP [Abel GOUMBA]; People's Union for the Republic or
UPR [Pierre Sammy MAKFOY]; National Unity Party or PUN [Jean-Paul
NGOUPANDE]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Enoch LAKOUE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,
ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC (observer), OIF, OPCW, OPCW (signatory), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Emmanuel TOUABOY
chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-7800
FAX: [1] (202) 332-9893

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires James PANOS
embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui
mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui
telephone: [236] 61 02 00
FAX: [236] 61 44 94
note: the embassy is currently operating with a minimal staff

Flag description:
four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow
with a vertical red band in center; there is a yellow five-pointed
star on the hoist side of the blue band

Economy Central African Republic

Economy - overview:
Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry, remains the
backbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with
more than 70% of the population living in outlying areas. The
agricultural sector generates half of GDP. Timber has accounted for
about 16% of export earnings and the diamond industry, for 40%.
Important constraints to economic development include the CAR's
landlocked position, a poor transportation system, a largely
unskilled work force, and a legacy of misdirected macroeconomic
policies. Factional fighting between the government and its
opponents remains a drag on economic revitalization, with GDP growth
at only 0.5% in 2004 and 2.5% in 2005. Distribution of income is
extraordinarily unequal. Grants from France and the international
community can only partially meet humanitarian needs.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4.677 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.462 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
2.2% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,100 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 55%
industry: 20%
services: 25% (2001 est.)

Labor force:
NA

Unemployment rate:
8% (23% for Bangui) (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 47.7% (1993)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
61.3 (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.6% (2001 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA

Agriculture - products:
cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca), yams, millet, corn,
bananas; timber

Industries:
gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, textiles, footwear,
assembly of bicycles and motorcycles

Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2002)

Electricity - production:
106 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 19.8%
hydro: 80.2%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
98.58 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - consumption:
2,400 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)

Exports:
$131 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco

Exports - partners:
Belgium 34.1%, France 9.5%, Spain 8.5%, Italy 7.9%, China 6.9%,
Indonesia 6.2%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 4.6%, US 4.4%,
Turkey 4.4% (2005)

Imports:
$203 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical
equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners:
France 16.7%, Netherlands 10.4%, Cameroon 9.8%, US 7.4% (2005)

Debt - external:
$1.06 billion (2002 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $59.8 million; note - traditional budget subsidies from France
(2002 est.)

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

Currency code:
XAF

Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 527.47
(2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Central African Republic

Telephones - main lines in use:
10,000 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
60,000 (2004)

Telephone system:
general assessment: fair system
domestic: network consists principally of microwave radio relay and
low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication
international: country code - 236; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2002)

Radios:
283,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (2001)

Televisions:
18,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.cf

Internet hosts:
10 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)

Internet users:
9,000 (2005)

Transportation Central African Republic

Airports:
50 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 47
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 13 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 23,810 km (1999)

Waterways:
2,800 km (primarily on the Oubangui and Sangha rivers) (2005)

Ports and terminals:
Bangui, Nola, Salo, Nzinga

Military Central African Republic

Military branches:
Central African Armed Forces (FACA): Ground Forces, Military Air
Service; General Directorate of Gendarmerie Inspection (DGIG),
Republican Guard, National Police (2006)

Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service;
conscript service obligation is two years (2005)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 853,760
females age 18-49: 835,426 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 416,091
females age 18-49: 383,056 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$16.37 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Central African Republic

Disputes - international:
about 30,000 refugees fleeing the 2002 civil conflict in the CAR
still reside in southern Chad; periodic skirmishes over water and
grazing rights among related pastoral populations along the border
with southern Sudan persist

Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 19,470 (Sudan) 1,864 (Chad) 6,484
(Democratic Republic of the Congo)
IDPs: 200,000 (unrest following coup in 2003) (2005)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Central African Republic is a source and
destination country for children trafficked for domestic servitude,
sexual exploitation, and forced labor in shops and commercial labor
activities; while the majority of child victims are trafficked
within the country, some are also trafficked to and from Cameroon
and Nigeria
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - the Central African Republic failed
to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in
persons during 2005, specifically its inadequate law enforcement
response to trafficking crimes

This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006

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

@Chad

Introduction Chad

Background:
Chad, part of France's African holdings until 1960, endured three
decades of civil warfare as well as invasions by Libya before a
semblance of peace was finally restored in 1990. The government
eventually drafted a democratic constitution, and held flawed
presidential elections in 1996 and 2001. In 1998, a rebellion broke
out in northern Chad, which sporadically flares up despite several
peace agreements between the government and the rebels. In 2005 new
rebel groups emerged in western Sudan and have made probing attacks
into eastern Chad. Power remains in the hands of an ethnic minority.
In June 2005, President Idriss DEBY held a referendum successfully
removing constitutional term limits.

Geography Chad

Location:
Central Africa, south of Libya

Geographic coordinates:
15 00 N, 19 00 E

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 1.284 million sq km
land: 1,259,200 sq km
water: 24,800 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly more than three times the size of California

Land boundaries:
total: 5,968 km
border countries: Cameroon 1,094 km, Central African Republic 1,197
km, Libya 1,055 km, Niger 1,175 km, Nigeria 87 km, Sudan 1,360 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
tropical in south, desert in north

Terrain:
broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in
northwest, lowlands in south

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Djourab Depression 160 m
highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m

Natural resources:
petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold,
limestone, sand and gravel, salt

Land use:
arable land: 2.8%
permanent crops: 0.02%
other: 97.18% (2005)

Irrigated land:
300 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts;
locust plagues

Environment - current issues:
inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in
rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification

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

Geography - note:
landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the
Sahel

People Chad

Population:
9,944,201 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 47.9% (male 2,396,393/female 2,369,261)
15-64 years: 49.3% (male 2,355,940/female 2,550,535)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 107,665/female 164,407) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 16 years
male: 15.3 years
female: 16.6 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
2.93% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
45.73 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
16.38 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
-0.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 91.45 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 100.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 82.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 47.52 years
male: 45.88 years
female: 49.21 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
6.25 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
4.8% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
200,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
18,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005)

Nationality:
noun: Chadian(s)
adjective: Chadian

Ethnic groups:
200 distinct groups; in the north and center: Arabs, Gorane
(Toubou, Daza, Kreda), Zaghawa, Kanembou, Ouaddai, Baguirmi,
Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Hausa, Boulala, and Maba, most of whom are
Muslim; in the south: Sara (Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye), Moundang,
Moussei, Massa, most of whom are Christian or animist; about 1,000
French citizens live in Chad

Religions:
Muslim 51%, Christian 35%, animist 7%, other 7%

Languages:
French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than
120 different languages and dialects

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic
total population: 47.5%
male: 56%
female: 39.3% (2003 est.)

Government Chad

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Chad
conventional short form: Chad
local long form: Republique du Tchad/Jumhuriyat Tshad
local short form: Tchad/Tshad

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: N'Djamena
geographic coordinates: 12 07 N, 15 03 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture); Batha,
Biltine, Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Kanem, Lac,
Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mayo-Kebbi, Moyen-Chari,
Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjile
note: instead of 14 prefectures, there may be a new administrative
structure of 28 departments (departments, singular - department) and
1 city*; Assongha, Baguirmi, Bahr El Gazal, Bahr Koh, Batha
Oriental, Batha Occidental, Biltine, Borkou, Dababa, Ennedi, Guera,
Hadjer Lamis, Kabia, Kanem, Lac, Lac Iro, Logone Occidental, Logone
Oriental, Mandoul, Mayo-Boneye, Mayo-Dallah, Monts de Lam,
N'Djamena*, Ouaddai, Salamat, Sila, Tandjile Oriental, Tandjile
Occidental, Tibesti

Independence:
11 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 11 August (1960)

Constitution:
passed by referendum 31 March 1996; a June 2005 referendum removed
constitutional term limits

Legal system:
based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno (since 4
December 1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Pascal YOADIMNADJI (since 3
February 2005)
cabinet: Council of State, members appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote to serve five-year
term; if no candidate receives at least 50% of the total vote, the
two candidates receiving the most votes must stand for a second
round of voting; last held 3 May 2006 (next to be held by May 2011);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno reelected president;
percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 64.7%, Delwa Kassire
COUMAKOYE 15.1%, Albert Pahimi PADACKE 7.8%, Mahamat ABDOULAYE 7.1%,
Brahim KOULAMALLAH 5.3%; note - a June 2005 national referendum
altered the constitution removing presidential term limits and
permitting Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno to run for reelection

Legislative branch:
bicameral according to constitution, consists of a National
Assembly (155 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms) and a Senate (not yet created and size unspecified,
members to serve six-year terms, one-third of membership renewable
every two years)
elections: National Assembly - last held 21 April 2002 (next to be
held by April 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
MPS 110, RDP 12, FAR 9, RNDP 5, URD 5, UNDR 3, other 11

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Magistrate Courts

Political parties and leaders:
Federation Action for the Republic or FAR [Ngarledjy YORONGAR];
National Rally for Development and Progress or RNDP [Delwa Kassire
COUMAKOYE]; National Union for Democracy and Renewal or UNDR [Saleh
KEBZABO]; Party for Liberty and Development or PLD [Ibni Oumar
Mahamat SALEH]; Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS [Mahamat Saleh
AHMAT, chairman]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Lol
Mahamat CHOUA]; Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR [Jean
ALINGUE]; Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD [Gen. Wadal
Abdelkader KAMOUGUE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mahamat Adam BECHIR
chancery: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 462-4009
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1937

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Marc M. WALL
embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena
mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena
telephone: [235] 516-211
FAX: [235] 515-654

Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red;
similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flags of Andorra
and Moldova, both of which have a national coat of arms centered in
the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France

Economy Chad

Economy - overview:
Chad's primarily agricultural economy will continue to be boosted
by major foreign direct investment projects in the oil sector that
began in 2000. Over 80% of Chad's population relies on subsistence
farming and livestock raising for its livelihood. Chad's economy has
long been handicapped by its landlocked position, high energy costs,
and a history of instability. Chad relies on foreign assistance and
foreign capital for most public and private sector investment
projects. A consortium led by two US companies has been investing
$3.7 billion to develop oil reserves - estimated at 1 billion
barrels - in southern Chad. The nation's total oil reserves has been
estimated to be 2 billion barrels. Oil production came on stream in
late 2003. Chad began to export oil in 2004. Cotton, cattle, and gum
arabic provide the bulk of Chad's non-oil export earnings.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$13.98 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.799 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
6% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,400 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 33.5%
industry: 25.9%
services: 40.6% (2005 est.)

Labor force:
2.719 million

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 80% (subsistence farming, herding, and fishing)
industry and services: 20%

Unemployment rate:
NA%

Population below poverty line:
80% (2001 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
18.2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $765.2 million
expenditures: $653.3 million; including capital expenditures of $146
million (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products:
cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca);
cattle, sheep, goats, camels

Industries:
oil, cotton textiles, meatpacking, beer brewing, natron (sodium
carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials

Industrial production growth rate:
5% (1995)

Electricity - production:
120 million kWh (2003)

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

Electricity - consumption:
111.6 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)

Oil - production:
225,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
1,450 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)

Current account balance:
$-602 million (2005 est.)

Exports:
$3.016 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
cotton, cattle, gum arabic, oil

Exports - partners:
US 78.1%, China 9.9%, Taiwan 4.1% (2005)

Imports:
$749.1 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods,
foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners:
France 21.1%, Cameroon 15.5%, US 12.1%, Belgium 6.8%, Portugal
4.6%, Saudi Arabia 4.3%, Netherlands 4.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$297 million (2005 est.)

Debt - external:
$1.5 billion (2003 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$238.3 million received; note - $125 million committed by Taiwan
(August 1997); $30 million committed by African Development Bank;
ODA $246.9 million (2003 est.)

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

Currency code:
XAF

Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 527.47
(2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Chad

Telephones - main lines in use:
13,000 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
210,000 (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: primitive system
domestic: fair system of radiotelephone communication stations
international: country code - 235; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 5 (2002)

Radios:
1.67 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (2002)

Televisions:
10,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.td

Internet hosts:
9 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)

Internet users:
35,000 (2005)

Transportation Chad

Airports:
52 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 45
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 21
under 914 m: 10 (2006)

Pipelines:
oil 205 km (2006)

Roadways:
total: 33,400 km
paved: 267 km
unpaved: 33,133 km (1999)

Waterways:
Chari and Legone rivers are navigable only in wet season (2002)

Military Chad

Military branches:
Chadian National Army (Armee Nationale Tchadienne, ANT), Air Force,
Gendarmerie (2004)

Military service age and obligation:
20 years of age for conscripts, with three-year service obligation;
18 years of age for volunteers; no minimum age restriction for
volunteers with consent from a guardian; women are subject to one
year of compulsory military or civic service at age of 21 (2004)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 20-49: 1,527,580
females age 20-49: 1,629,510 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 20-49: 794,988
females age 20-49: 849,500 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 94,536
females age 20-49: 93,521 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$68.95 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Chad

Disputes - international:
since the expulsions of residents from Darfur in 2003 by Janjawid
armed militia and Sudanese military, about 200,000 refugees remain
in eastern Chad; Chad remains an important mediator in the Sudanese
civil conflict, reducing tensions with Sudan arising from
cross-border banditry; Chadian Aozou rebels reside in southern
Libya; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad
Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty, which
also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries