Chapter XXXVII: Front Matter (37)

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

Radios:
NA (2002)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (2000)

Televisions:
NA

Internet country code:
.ls

Internet hosts:
168 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)

Internet users:
43,000 (2005)

Transportation Lesotho

Airports:
28 (2006)

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

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 21 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 5,940 km
paved: 1,087 km
unpaved: 4,853 km (1999)

Military Lesotho

Military branches:
Lesotho Defense Force (LDF): Army and Air Wing

Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 428,982
females age 18-49: 440,102 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 180,797
females age 18-49: 160,681 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$41.1 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.1% (2005 est.)

Military - note:
the Lesotho Government in 1999 began an open debate on the future
structure, size, and role of the armed forces, especially
considering the Lesotho Defense Force's (LDF) history of intervening
in political affairs

Transnational Issues Lesotho

Disputes - international:
none

This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006

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

@Liberia

Introduction Liberia

Background:
Settlement of freed slaves from the US in what is today Liberia
began in 1822; by 1847, the Americo-Liberians were able to establish
a republic. William TUBMAN, president from 1944-71, did much to
promote foreign investment and to bridge the economic, social, and
political gaps between the descendents of the original settlers and
the inhabitants of the interior. In 1980, a military coup led by
Samuel DOE assassinated President William TOLBERT (1971-80) and
ushered in a decade of authoritarian rule followed by a prolonged
civil war, in which DOE himself was killed. In August 2003, a
comprehensive peace agreement ended 14 years of intermittent
fighting and prompted the resignation of former president Charles
TAYLOR, who was exiled to Nigeria. After two years of rule by a
transitional government, democratic elections in late 2005 brought
President Ellen JOHNSON-SIRLEAF to power. The UN Mission in Liberia
(UNMIL), which maintains a strong presence throughout the country,
completed a disarmament program for former combatants in late 2004,
but the security situation is still volatile and the process of
rebuilding the social and economic structure of this war-torn
country remains sluggish.

Geography Liberia

Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote
d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone

Geographic coordinates:
6 30 N, 9 30 W

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 111,370 sq km
land: 96,320 sq km
water: 15,050 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Tennessee

Land boundaries:
total: 1,585 km
border countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone
306 km

Coastline:
579 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm

Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold
nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers

Terrain:
mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and
low mountains in northeast

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m

Natural resources:
iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower

Land use:
arable land: 3.43%
permanent crops: 1.98%
other: 94.59% (2005)

Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)

Environment - current issues:
tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of
biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw
sewage

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the
Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:
facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by
lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland
grassy plateau supports limited agriculture

People Liberia

Population:
3,042,004 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.1% (male 656,016/female 653,734)
15-64 years: 54.2% (male 816,443/female 832,152)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 40,591/female 43,068) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 18.1 years
male: 18 years
female: 18.3 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
4.91% (2006 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
27.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: at least 238,500 Liberian refugees are in surrounding
countries; the uncertain security situation has hindered their
ability to return (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 155.76 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 171.96 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 139.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 39.65 years
male: 37.99 years
female: 41.35 years (2006 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
5.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
100,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
7,200 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever are high risks in
some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2005)

Nationality:
noun: Liberian(s)
adjective: Liberian

Ethnic groups:
indigenous African 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo,
Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, Dei, Bella, Mandingo,
and Mende), Americo-Liberians 2.5% (descendants of immigrants from
the US who had been slaves), Congo People 2.5% (descendants of
immigrants from the Caribbean who had been slaves)

Religions:
indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%

Languages:
English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages, of which a
few can be written and are used in correspondence

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.5%
male: 73.3%
female: 41.6% (2003 est.)

Government Liberia

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Liberia
conventional short form: Liberia

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Monrovia
geographic coordinates: 6 18 N, 10 47 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount,
Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba,
River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe

Independence:
26 July 1847

National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 July (1847)

Constitution:
6 January 1986

Legal system:
dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American common law for
the modern sector and customary law based on unwritten tribal
practices for indigenous sector; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ellen JOHNSON-SIRLEAF (since 16 January
2006); note - the President is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Ellen JOHNSON-SIRLEAF (since 6 January
2006); note - the President is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president and confirmed by the
Senate
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 8 November 2005
(next to be held NA 2011)
election results: Ellen JOHNSON-SIRLEAF elected president; percent
of vote, second round - Ellen JOHNSON-SIRLEAF (UP) 59.6%, George
WEAH (CDC) 40.4%
note: a UN-brokered cease-fire among warring factions and the
Liberian Government resulted in the August 2003 resignation of
former president, Charles TAYLOR; a jointly agreed upon replacement,
Chairman Gyude BRYANT, assumed office as head of the National
Transitional Government on 14 October 2003; free elections were held
11 October 2005, with a runoff election between the two leading
candidates on 8 November 2005

Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (30 seats -
number of seats changed in 11 October 2005 elections; members
elected by popular vote to serve nine-year terms) and the House of
Representatives (64 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
six-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 11 October 2005 (next to be held in
2014); House of Representatives - last held 11 October 2005 (next to
be held NA 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - COTOL 7, NPP 4, CDC 3, LP 3, UP 3, APD 3, other 7; House of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
CDC 15, LP 9, UP 8, COTOL 8, APD 5, NPP 4, other 15
note: the current six-year term for junior senators - those who
received the second most votes in the election - is mandated by the
Liberian constitution to stagger Senate elections and ensure
continuity of government

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Peace and Democracy or APD [Togba-na TIPOTEH];
Coalition for the Transformation of Liberia or COTOL; Congress for
Democratic Change or CDC [George WEAH]; Liberian Action Party or LAP
[H. Varney SHERMAN]; Liberty Party or LP [Charles BRUMSKINE];
National Patriotic Party or NPP [Cyril ALLEN]; Unity Party or UP
[Charles CLARKE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles A. MINOR
chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437
FAX: [1] (202) 723-0436
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald E. BOOTH
embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, P. O. Box 10-0098, Mamba Point,
1000 Monrovia, 10
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [231] 226-370 through 226-380
FAX: [231] 226-148

Flag description:
11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating
with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue square in
the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the US flag

Economy Liberia

Economy - overview:
Civil war and government mismanagement have destroyed much of
Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around
Monrovia, while continued international sanctions on diamonds and
timber exports will limit growth prospects for the foreseeable
future. Many businessmen have fled the country, taking capital and
expertise with them. Some have returned, but many will not. Richly
endowed with water, mineral resources, forests, and a climate
favorable to agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and exporter
of basic products - primarily raw timber and rubber. Local
manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope. The
departure of the former president, Charles TAYLOR, to Nigeria in
August 2003, the establishment of the all-inclusive Transitional
Government, and the arrival of a UN mission have helped defuse the
political crisis, but have done little to encourage economic
development. Wealthy international donors, who are ready to assist
reconstruction efforts, are withholding funding until Liberia's
National Assembly signs onto a Governance and Economic Management
Action Plan (GEMAP). The Plan was created in October 2005 by the
International Contact Group for Liberia to help ensure transparent
revenue collection and allocation - something that was lacking under
the Transitional Government and that has limited Liberia's economic
recovery. The reconstruction of infrastructure and the raising of
incomes in this ravaged economy will largely depend on generous
financial support and technical assistance from donor countries.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.643 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$902.9 million

GDP - real growth rate:
9.8% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$900 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 76.9%
industry: 5.4%
services: 17.7% (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 70%
industry: 8%
services: 22% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:
85% (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line:
80%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15% (2003 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $85.4 million
expenditures: $90.5 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)

Agriculture - products:
rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil,
sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber

Industries:
rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds

Industrial production growth rate:
NA%

Electricity - production:
509.4 million kWh (2003)

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

Electricity - consumption:
473.8 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption:
3,400 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

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

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

Exports:
$910 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee

Exports - partners:
Belgium 41.4%, Spain 11.6%, US 9.1%, Malaysia 5.5%, Thailand 4.6%,
Poland 4.6%, Germany 4.4% (2005)

Imports:
$4.839 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured
goods; foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
South Korea 37.9%, Japan 21.1%, Singapore 14.2%, Croatia 4.7% (2005)

Debt - external:
$3.2 billion (2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$94 million (1999)

Currency (code):
Liberian dollar (LRD)

Currency code:
LRD

Exchange rates:
Liberian dollars per US dollar - NA (2005), 54.906 (2004), 59.379
(2003), 61.754 (2002), 48.583 (2001)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Liberia

Telephones - main lines in use:
6,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
160,000 (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: the limited services available are found almost
exclusively in the capital Monrovia
domestic: fully automatic system with very low density of .23 fixed
main lines per 100 persons; limited wireless service available
international: country code - 231; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 7, shortwave 2 (2001)

Radios:
790,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus four low-power repeaters) (2001)

Televisions:
70,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.lr

Internet hosts:
8 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2001)

Internet users:
1,000 (2002)

Transportation Liberia

Airports:
53 (2006)

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

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 51
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 38 (2006)

Railways:
total: 490 km
standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 145 km 1.067-m gauge
note: railway is inoperable because of damage suffered during the
civil war (2005)

Roadways:
total: 10,600 km
paved: 657 km
unpaved: 9,943 km (1999)

Merchant marine:
total: 1,687 ships (1000 GRT or over) 62,522,787 GRT/96,776,521 DWT
by type: barge carrier 3, bulk carrier 322, cargo 83, chemical
tanker 199, combination ore/oil 2, container 477, liquefied gas 75,
passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 397, refrigerated
cargo 76, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 11, vehicle carrier
35
foreign-owned: 1,611 (Argentina 7, Australia 2, Austria 13, Bahamas,
The 1, Bermuda 1, Brazil 3, Canada 2, China 35, Croatia 7, Cyprus 3,
Denmark 8, Estonia 1, France 3, Germany 587, Greece 267, Hong Kong
37, India 3, Indonesia 1, Isle of Man 5, Israel 5, Italy 16, Japan
102, South Korea 3, Kuwait 1, Latvia 14, Lebanon 2, Mexico 1, Monaco
10, Netherlands 29, Norway 38, Poland 14, Qatar 2, Russia 77, Saudi
Arabia 24, Singapore 28, Slovenia 2, Sweden 8, Switzerland 7, Taiwan
69, Turkey 1, UAE 18, UK 41, Ukraine 16, Uruguay 3, US 93, unknown
1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Buchanan, Monrovia

Military Liberia

Military branches:
Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL): Army, Navy, Air Force

Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2001)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 575,384
females age 18-49: 588,780 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 267,430
females age 18-49: 286,231 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$67.4 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
7.5% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Liberia

Disputes - international:
although Liberia's domestic fighting among disparate rebel groups,
warlords, and youth gangs was declared over in 2003, civil unrest
persists, and in 2004, 133,000 Liberian refugees remained in Guinea,
72,000 in Cote d'Ivoire, 67,000 in Sierra Leone, and 43,000 in
Ghana; Liberia, in turn, shelters refugees fleeing turmoil in Cote
d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone; since 2003, the UN Mission in Liberia
(UNMIL) has maintained about 18,000 peacekeepers in Liberia; the
Cote d'Ivoire Government accuses Liberia of supporting Ivoirian
rebels; UN sanctions ban Liberia from exporting diamonds and timber

Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 13,941 (Sierra Leone) 12,408 (Cote
d'Ivoire)
IDPs: 464,000 (civil war from 1990-2004; IDP resettlement began in
November 2004) (2005)

Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin and
South American cocaine for the European and US markets; corruption,
criminal activity, arms-dealing, and diamond trade provide
significant potential for money laundering, but the lack of
well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a
major money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006

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

@Libya

Introduction Libya

Background:
The Italians supplanted the Ottoman Turks from the area around
Tripoli in 1911 and did not reliquish their hold until 1943 when
defeated in World War II. Libya then passed to UN administration and
achieved independence in 1951. Following a 1969 military coup, Col.
Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI began to espouse his own political
system, the Third Universal Theory. The system is a combination of
socialism and Islam derived in part from tribal practices and is
supposed to be implemented by the Libyan people themselves in a
unique form of "direct democracy." QADHAFI has always seen himself
as a revolutionary and visionary leader. He used oil funds during
the 1970s and 1980s to promote his ideology outside Libya,
supporting subversives and terrorists abroad to hasten the end of
Marxism and capitalism. In addition, beginning in 1973, he engaged
in military operations in northern Chad's Aozou Strip - to gain
access to minerals and to use as a base of influence in Chadian
politics - but was forced to retreat in 1987. UN sanctions in 1992
isolated QADHAFI politically following the downing of Pan AM Flight
103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Libyan support for terrorism appeared
to have decreased after the imposition of sanctions. During the
1990s, QADHAFI also began to rebuild his relationships with Europe.
UN sanctions were suspended in April 1999 and finally lifted in
September 2003 after Libya resolved the Lockerbie case. In December
2003, Libya announced that it had agreed to reveal and end its
programs to develop weapons of mass destruction, and QADHAFI has
made significant strides in normalizing relations with western
nations since then. He has received various Western European leaders
as well as many working-level and commercial delegations, and made
his first trip to Western Europe in 15 years when he traveled to
Brussels in April 2004. QADHAFI also finally resolved in 2004
several outstanding cases against his government for terrorist
activities in the 1980s by compensating the families of victims of
the UTA and La Belle disco bombings.

Geography Libya

Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and
Tunisia

Geographic coordinates:
25 00 N, 17 00 E

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 1,759,540 sq km
land: 1,759,540 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Alaska

Land boundaries:
total: 4,348 km
border countries: Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,115 km,
Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km

Coastline:
1,770 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
note: Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees, 30 minutes north

Climate:
Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior

Terrain:
mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m
highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m

Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, gypsum

Land use:
arable land: 1.03%
permanent crops: 0.19%
other: 98.78% (2005)

Irrigated land:
4,700 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four
days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms

Environment - current issues:
desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources; the
Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in
the world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under
the Sahara to coastal cities

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

Geography - note:
more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert

People Libya

Population:
5,900,754
note: includes 166,510 non-nationals (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 33.6% (male 1,012,748/female 969,978)
15-64 years: 62.2% (male 1,891,643/female 1,778,621)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 121,566/female 126,198) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 23 years
male: 23.1 years
female: 22.9 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
2.3% (2006 est.)

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

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

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

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 23.71 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 25.99 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.69 years
male: 74.46 years
female: 79.02 years (2006 est.)

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

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

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
10,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: may be a significant risk in some locations
during the transmission season (typically April through October)
(2005)

Nationality:
noun: Libyan(s)
adjective: Libyan

Ethnic groups:
Berber and Arab 97%, Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians,
Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, Tunisians

Religions:
Sunni Muslim 97%

Languages:
Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the major
cities

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.6%
male: 92.4%
female: 72% (2003 est.)

Government Libya

Country name:
conventional long form: Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya
conventional short form: Libya
local long form: Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah
al Ishtirakiyah al Uzma
local short form: none

Government type:
Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the
populace through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship

Capital:
name: Tripoli
geographic coordinates: 32 54 N, 13 11 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
25 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ajdabiya, Al
'Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, Al
Kufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash Shati', Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi,
Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt,
Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan; note - the 25
municipalities may have been replaced by 13 regions

Independence:
24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship)

National holiday:
Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)

Constitution:
11 December 1969; amended 2 March 1977

Legal system:
based on Italian civil law system and Islamic law; separate
religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review of
legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state: Revolutionary Leader Col. Muammar Abu Minyar
al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969); note - holds no official title,
but is de facto chief of state
head of government: Secretary of the General People's Committee
(Prime Minister) al-Baghdadi Ali al-MAHMUDI (since 5 March 2006)
cabinet: General People's Committee established by the General
People's Congress
elections: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of
people's committees; head of government elected by the General
People's Congress; election last held 2 March 2000 (next to be held
NA)
election results: NA

Legislative branch:
unicameral General People's Congress (NA seats; members elected
indirectly through a hierarchy of people's committees)

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:
none

Political pressure groups and leaders:
various Arab nationalist movements with almost negligible
memberships may be functioning clandestinely, as well as some
Islamic elements; an anti-QADHAFI Libyan exile movement exists,
primarily based in London, but has little influence

International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW,
OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Ali AUJALI
chancery: 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 705, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 944-9601
FAX: [1] (202) 944-9060

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad Interim
Gregory L. BERRY
embassy: Corinthia Bab Africa Hotel, Souq At-Tlat Al-Qadim, Tripoli
mailing address: US Embassy, 8850 Tripoli Place, Washington, DC
20521-8850
telephone: [218] 21-335-1848

Flag description:
plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state
religion)

Economy Libya

Economy - overview:
The Libyan economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oil
sector, which contribute about 95% of export earnings, about
one-quarter of GDP, and 60% of public sector wages. Substantial
revenues from the energy sector coupled with a small population give
Libya one of the highest per capita GDPs in Africa, but little of
this income flows down to the lower orders of society. Libyan
officials in the past four years have made progress on economic
reforms as part of a broader campaign to reintegrate the country
into the international fold. This effort picked up steam after UN
sanctions were lifted in September 2003 and as Libya announced that
it would abandon programs to build weapons of mass destruction in
December 2003. Almost all US unilateral sanctions against Libya were
removed in April 2004, helping Libya attract more foreign direct
investment, mostly in the energy sector. Libya faces a long road
ahead in liberalizing the socialist-oriented economy, but initial
steps - including applying for WTO membership, reducing some
subsidies, and announcing plans for privatization - are laying the
groundwork for a transition to a more market-based economy. The
non-oil manufacturing and construction sectors, which account for
about 20% of GDP, have expanded from processing mostly agricultural
products to include the production of petrochemicals, iron, steel,
and aluminum. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit
agricultural output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$68 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$31.49 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
8.4% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$11,800 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 7.6%
industry: 49.9%
services: 42.5% (2005 est.)

Labor force:
1.64 million (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 17%
industry: 23%
services: 59% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:
30% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.4% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
11.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $25.34 billion
expenditures: $15.47 billion; including capital expenditures of $5.6
billion (2005 est.)

Public debt:
8.2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts,
soybeans; cattle

Industries:
petroleum, iron and steel, food processing, textiles, handicrafts,
cement

Industrial production growth rate:
NA%

Electricity - production:
14.4 billion kWh (2003)

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

Electricity - consumption:
13.39 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)

Oil - production:
1.643 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
237,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
1.34 million bbl/day NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
0 bbl/day NA bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves:
40 billion bbl (2005 est.)

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

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

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

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

Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.321 trillion cu m (2005)

Current account balance:
$10.73 billion (2005 est.)

Exports:
$30.79 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas

Exports - partners:
Italy 37.9%, Germany 15.2%, Spain 8.7%, Turkey 6.3%, France 6.2%,
US 5.2% (2005)

Imports:
$10.82 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery, transport equipment, semi-finished goods, food, consumer
products

Imports - partners:
Italy 21.5%, Germany 10.4%, Tunisia 5.6%, Turkey 4.9%, UK 4.9%,
France 4.8%, South Korea 4.7%, China 4.6% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$39.7 billion (2005 est.)

Debt - external:
$4.267 billion (2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $4.4 million (2002)

Currency (code):
Libyan dinar (LYD)

Currency code:
LYD

Exchange rates:
Libyan dinars per US dollar - 1.3084 (2005), 1.305 (2004), 1.2929
(2003), 1.2707 (2002), 0.6051 (2001)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Libya

Telephones - main lines in use:
750,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
234,800 (2004)

Telephone system:
general assessment: telecommunications system is being modernized;
mobile cellular telephone system became operational in 1996
domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, cellular,
tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth
stations
international: country code - 218; satellite earth stations - 4
Intelsat, NA Arabsat, and NA Intersputnik; submarine cables to
France and Italy; microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt;
tropospheric scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel (1999)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 16, FM 3, shortwave 3 (2002)

Radios:
1.35 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
12 (plus one low-power repeater) (1999)

Televisions:
730,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.ly

Internet hosts:
31 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)

Internet users:
205,000 (2005)

Transportation Libya

Airports:
141 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 60
over 3,047 m: 23
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 81
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 41
under 914 m: 18 (2006)

Heliports:
2 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate 882 km; gas 3,481 km; oil 6,916 km (2006)

Railways:
0 km
note: Libya is working on seven lines totaling 2,757 km of 1.435-m
gauge track; it hopes to have trains running by 2008 (2005)

Roadways:
total: 83,200 km
paved: 47,590 km
unpaved: 35,610 km (1999)

Merchant marine:
total: 18 ships (1000 GRT or over) 86,034 GRT/89,820 DWT
by type: cargo 10, liquefied gas 3, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum
tanker 2, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 4 (Kuwait 1, Norway 1, Turkey 2) (2006)

Ports and terminals:
As Sidrah, Az Zuwaytinah, Marsa al Burayqah, Ra's Lanuf, Tripoli,
Zawiyah

Military Libya

Military branches:
Armed Peoples on Duty (APOD, Army), Libyan Arab Navy, Libyan Arab
Air Force (LAAF) (2006)

Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age (2004)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 17-49: 1,505,675
females age 17-49: 1,429,152 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 17-49: 1,291,624
females age 17-49: 1,230,824 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 62,034
females age 17-49: 59,533 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.3 billion (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.9% (FY99)

Transnational Issues Libya

Disputes - international:
Libya has claimed more than 32,000 sq km in southeastern Algeria
and about 25,000 sq km in Niger in currently dormant disputes;
various Chadian rebels from the Aozou region reside in southern Libya

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Libya is a transit and destination country for
men, women, and children from sub-Saharan Africa and Asia trafficked
for forced labor and sexual exploitation; many victims willingly
migrate to Libya en route to Europe with the help of smugglers, but
may be forced into prostitution or work as laborers and beggars to
pay off their $800-$1,200 smuggling debt; laborers from Egypt,
Sudan, and Ethiopia are reportedly trafficked to Libya for the
purpose of labor exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Libya is placed on the Tier 2 Watch
List for its lack of evidence of increasing efforts to address
trafficking since 2004

This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006

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

@Liechtenstein

Introduction Liechtenstein

Background:
The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy
Roman Empire in 1719; it became a sovereign state in 1806. Until the
end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the economic
devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to enter
into a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since World War
II (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral), the country's low
taxes have spurred outstanding economic growth. Shortcomings in
banking regulatory oversight have resulted in concerns about the use
of the financial institutions for money laundering. Liechtenstein
has, however, implemented new anti-money-laundering legislation and
recently concluded a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US.

Geography Liechtenstein

Location:
Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland

Geographic coordinates:
47 16 N, 9 32 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 160 sq km
land: 160 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:
about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
total: 76 km
border countries: Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km

Coastline:
0 km (doubly landlocked)

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool
to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers

Terrain:
mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m
highest point: Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m

Natural resources:
hydroelectric potential, arable land

Land use:
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 75% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

Natural hazards:
NA

Environment - current issues:
NA

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:
along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries
in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation

People Liechtenstein

Population:
33,987 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.4% (male 2,922/female 2,988)
15-64 years: 70.2% (male 11,842/female 12,022)
65 years and over: 12.4% (male 1,773/female 2,440) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 39.6 years
male: 39.2 years
female: 40.1 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.78% (2006 est.)

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

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

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

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.64 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.24 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.68 years
male: 76.1 years
female: 83.28 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.51 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: Liechtensteiner(s)
adjective: Liechtenstein

Ethnic groups:
Alemannic 86%, Italian, Turkish, and other 14%

Religions:
Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2%
(June 2002)

Languages:
German (official), Alemannic dialect

Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%

Government Liechtenstein

Country name:
conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein
conventional short form: Liechtenstein
local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein
local short form: Liechtenstein

Government type:
constitutional monarchy

Capital:
name: Vaduz
geographic coordinates: 47 09 N, 9 31 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:
11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen,
Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen,
Triesenberg, Vaduz

Independence:
23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12
July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire)

National holiday:
Assumption Day, 15 August

Constitution:
5 October 1921

Legal system:
local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Prince HANS ADAM II (since 13 November 1989,
assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince
ALOIS, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968); note - on 15 August
2004, HANS ADAM transferred the official duties of the ruling prince
to ALOIS, but HANS ADAM retains status of chief of state
head of government: Head of Government Ottmar HASLER (since 5 April
2001) and Deputy Head of Government Rita KIEBER-BECK (since 5 April
2001)
cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party in the Landtag is
usually appointed the head of government by the monarch and the
leader of the largest minority party in the Landtag is usually
appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch

Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected by
direct, popular vote under proportional representation to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 11 and 13 March 2005 (next to be held by NA
2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - FBP 48.7%, VU 38.2%, FL
13%; seats by party - FBP 12, VU 10, FL 3

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal or
Obergericht

Political parties and leaders:
Patriotic Union (was Fatherland Union) or VU [Adolf HEEB];
Progressive Citizens' Party or FBP [Otmar HASLER]; The Free List or
FL

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU,
OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE
chancery: 888 17th Street NW, Suite 1250, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 331-0590
FAX: [1] (202) 331-3221

Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein, but the US
Ambassador to Switzerland is also accredited to Liechtenstein

Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown
on the hoist side of the blue band

Economy Liechtenstein

Economy - overview:
Despite its small size and limited natural resources, Liechtenstein
has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized,
free-enterprise economy with a vital financial service sector and
living standards on a par with its large European neighbors. The
Liechtenstein economy is widely diversified with a large number of
small businesses. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 20% -
and easy incorporation rules have induced many holding or so-called
letter box companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein,
providing 30% of state revenues. The country participates in a
customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its
national currency. It imports more than 90% of its energy
requirements. Liechtenstein has been a member of the European
Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between the
European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the EU) since May 1995.
The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with
those of an integrated Europe.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.786 billion (2001 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.487 billion

GDP - real growth rate:
11% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$25,000 (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6% NA%
industry: 39%
services: 55% NA% (1999)

Labor force:
29,500 of whom 13,900 commute from Austria, Switzerland, and
Germany to work each day (31 December 2001)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 47%
services: 51% (31 December 2001)

Unemployment rate:
1.3% (September 2002)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (2001)

Budget:
revenues: $424.2 million
expenditures: $414.1 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)

Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products

Industries:
electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics,
pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism,
optical instruments

Industrial production growth rate:
NA%

Exports:
$2.47 billion (1996)

Exports - commodities:
small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts
for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs,
electronic equipment, optical products

Exports - partners:
EU 62.6% (Germany 24.3%, Austria 9.5%, France 8.9%, Italy 6.6%, UK
4.6%), US 18.9%, Switzerland 15.7% (2004)

Imports:
$917.3 million (1996)

Imports - commodities:
agricultural products, raw materials, machinery, metal goods,
textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles

Imports - partners:
EU, Switzerland (2004)

Debt - external:
$0 (2001)

Economic aid - recipient:
$0

Currency (code):
Swiss franc (CHF)

Currency code:
CHF

Exchange rates:
Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.2452 (2005), 1.2435 (2004), 1.3467
(2003), 1.5586 (2002), 1.6876 (2001)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Liechtenstein

Telephones - main lines in use:
19,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
11,400 (2002)

Telephone system:
general assessment: automatic telephone system
domestic: NA
international: country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable
and microwave radio relay

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:
21,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)

Televisions:
12,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.li

Internet hosts:
4,697 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
44 (Liechtenstein and Switzerland) (2000)

Internet users:
20,000 (2002)

Transportation Liechtenstein

Pipelines:
gas 20 km (2006)

Railways:
9 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)
note: belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and
Switzerland (2006)

Roadways:
total: 380 km
paved: 380 km (2006)

Waterways:
28 km (2005)

Ports and terminals:
none

Military Liechtenstein

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 7,736 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 6,250 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 208 (2005 est.)

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Switzerland

Transnational Issues Liechtenstein

Disputes - international:
in February 2005, the ICJ refused to rule on the restitution of
Liechtenstein's land and property assets in the Czech Republic
confiscated in 1945 as German property

Illicit drugs:
has strengthened money-laundering controls, but money laundering
remains a concern due to Liechtenstein's sophisticated offshore
financial services sector

This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006

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

@Lithuania

Introduction Lithuania

Background:
Independent between the two World Wars, Lithuania was annexed by
the USSR in 1940. On 11 March 1990, Lithuania became the first of
the Soviet republics to declare its independence, but Moscow did not
recognize this proclamation until September of 1991 (following the
abortive coup in Moscow). The last Russian troops withdrew in 1993.
Lithuania subsequently restructured its economy for integration into
Western European institutions; it joined both NATO and the EU in the
spring of 2004.

Geography Lithuania

Location:
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia

Geographic coordinates:
56 00 N, 24 00 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 65,200 sq km
land: NA sq km
water: NA sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries:
total: 1,613 km
border countries: Belarus 653.5 km, Latvia 588 km, Poland 103.7 km,
Russia (Kaliningrad) 267.8 km

Coastline:
90 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate:
transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate
winters and summers

Terrain:
lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Juozapines Kalnas 293.6 m

Natural resources:
peat, arable land, amber

Land use:
arable land: 44.81%
permanent crops: 0.9%
other: 54.29% (2005)

Irrigated land:
70 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
NA

Environment - current issues:
contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and
chemicals at military bases

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of
the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geography - note:
fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that are
ancient glacial deposits

People Lithuania

Population:
3,585,906 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.5% (male 284,888/female 270,458)
15-64 years: 69.1% (male 1,210,557/female 1,265,542)
65 years and over: 15.5% (male 190,496/female 363,965) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 38.2 years
male: 35.7 years
female: 40.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
-0.3% (2006 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
-0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female
total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.78 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.2 years
male: 69.2 years
female: 79.49 years (2006 est.)

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

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

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,300 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Lithuanian(s)
adjective: Lithuanian

Ethnic groups:
Lithuanian 83.4%, Polish 6.7%, Russian 6.3%, other or unspecified
3.6% (2001 census)

Religions:
Roman Catholic 79%, Russian Orthodox 4.1%, Protestant (including
Lutheran and Evangelical Christian Baptist) 1.9%, other or
unspecified 5.5%, none 9.5% (2001 census)

Languages:
Lithuanian (official) 82%, Russian 8%, Polish 5.6%, other and
unspecified 4.4% (2001 census)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6% (2003 est.)

Government Lithuania

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania
conventional short form: Lithuania
local long form: Lietuvos Respublika
local short form: Lietuva
former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:
parliamentary democracy

Capital:
name: Vilnius
geographic coordinates: 54 41 N, 25 19 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:
10 counties (apskritys, singular - apskritis); Alytaus, Kauno,
Klaipedos, Marijampoles, Panevezio, Siauliu, Taurages, Telsiu,
Utenos, Vilniaus

Independence:
11 March 1990 (independence declared from Soviet Union); 6
September 1991 (Soviet Union recognizes Lithuania's independence)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 16 February (1918); note - 16 February 1918 is
the date Lithuania declared its independence from Soviet Russia and
established its statehood; 11 March 1990 is the date it declared its
independence from the Soviet Union

Constitution:
adopted 25 October 1992

Legal system:
based on civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the
constitutional court

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Valdas ADAMKUS (since 12 July 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Gediminas KIRKILAS (since 4 July
2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
nomination of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 13 and 27 June 2004
(next to be held June 2009); prime minister appointed by the
president on the approval of the Parliament
election results: Valdas ADAMKUS elected president; percent of vote
- Valdas ADAMKUS 52.2%, Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE 47.8%; Gediminas
KIRKILAS approved by Parliament 85-13, with 5 abstentions

Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats, 71 members are directly
elected by popular vote, 70 are elected by proportional
representation; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 10 and 24 October 2004 (next to be held October
2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - Labor 28.6%, Working
for Lithuania (Social Democrats and Social Liberals) 20.7%, TS
14.6%, For Order and Justice (Liberal Democrats and Lithuanian
People's Union) 11.4%, Liberal and Center Union 9.1%, Farmers and
New Democracy Union 6.6%, other 9%; seats by faction - Labor 29,
Homeland Union 26, Social Democrats 23, Civil Democracy (split from
Labor) 11, Liberal Movement (formerly Liberal Political Group) 11,
National Farmer's Union (formerly Farmers and New Democracy Union)
11, Social Liberal 10, Liberal Democrats 9, Liberal and Center
Political Group 8, independents 3 (as of late-July 2006)

Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; judges for
all courts appointed by the President

Political parties and leaders:
Civil Democracy Party [Viktor MUNTIANAS, chairman]; Electoral
Action of Lithuanian Poles [Valdemar TOMASZEVSKI, chairman];
National Farmer's Union [Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE, chairman]; Homeland
Union/Conservative Party or TS [Andrius KUBILIUS, chairman]; Labor
Party; Liberal and Center Political Group [Arturas ZUOKAS,
chairman]; Liberal Democratic Party [Valentinas MAZURONIS,
chairman]; Liberal Movement; Lithuanian Christian Democrats or LKD
[Valentinas STUNDYS, chairman]; Lithuanian People's Union for a Fair
Lithuania; Lithuanian Social Democratic Coalition [Algirdas
BRAZAUSKAS, chairman] consists of the Lithuanian Democratic Labor
Party or LDDP and the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party or LSDP;
Social Liberal/New Union [Arturas PAULAUSKAS, chairman]; Social
Union of Christian Conservatives [Gediminas VAGNORIUS, chairman];
Young Lithuania and New Nationalists

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD,
EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OIF (observer), OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate
partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Kornelija
JURGAITIENE
chancery: 4590 MacArthur Blvd. NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860
FAX: [1] (202) 328-0466
consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John A. CLOUD
embassy: Akmenu Gatve 6, Vilnius, LT-03106
mailing address: American Embassy, Almeny gatve 6, Vilnius LT-03106
telephone: [370] (5) 266 5500
FAX: [370] (5) 266 5510

Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red

Economy Lithuania

Economy - overview:
Lithuania, the Baltic state that has conducted the most trade with
Russia, has slowly rebounded from the 1998 Russian financial crisis.
Unemployment dropped from 11% in 2003 to about 8% in 2005. Growing
domestic consumption and increased investment have furthered
recovery. Trade has been increasingly oriented toward the West.
Lithuania has gained membership in the World Trade Organization and
joined the EU in May 2004. Privatization of the large, state-owned
utilities, particularly in the energy sector, is nearing completion.
Overall, more than 80% of enterprises have been privatized. Foreign
government and business support have helped in the transition from
the old command economy to a market economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$49.41 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$23.5 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
7.5% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$14,100 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.5%
industry: 32.5%
services: 62% (2005 est.)

Labor force:
1.61 million (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 15.8%
industry: 28.2%
services: 56% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:
8.2% (2005)

Population below poverty line:
Less than $2.15 per day (PPP): 4%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 24.9% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32.5 (2003)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.7% (2005)

Investment (gross fixed):
21.8% of GDP (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $8.429 billion
expenditures: $9.103 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2004 est.)

Public debt:
18.7% of GDP (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products:
grain, potatoes, sugar beets, flax, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs;
fish

Industries:
metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, television sets,
refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small
ships), furniture making, textiles, food processing, fertilizers,
agricultural machinery, optical equipment, electronic components,
computers, amber jewelry

Industrial production growth rate:
7.3% (2005 est.)

Electricity - production:
19 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 16.5%
hydro: 5.7%
nuclear: 77.7%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
12.079 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
11.7 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
4.144 billion kWh (2003)

Oil - production:
14,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
52,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
93,000 bbl/day bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves:
12 million bbl (2004)

Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2004)

Natural gas - consumption:
3.1 billion cu m (2004)

Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2004)

Natural gas - imports:
3.1 billion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:
$-1.771 billion (2005)

Exports:
$11.8 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
mineral products 23%, textiles and clothing 16%, machinery and
equipment 11%, chemicals 6%, wood and wood products 5%, foodstuffs
5% (2001)

Exports - partners:
Russia 10.4%, Latvia 10.2%, Germany 9.4%, France 7%, Estonia 5.9%,
Poland 5.5%, Sweden 5%, US 4.7%, UK 4.7%, Denmark 4.3% (2005)

Imports:
$15.5 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities:
mineral products, machinery and equipment, transport equipment,
chemicals, textiles and clothing, metals

Imports - partners:
Russia 27.9%, Germany 15.2%, Poland 8.3% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$3.815 billion (2005)

Debt - external:
$11.7 billion (2 February 2006)

Economic aid - recipient:
$1.6 billion in committed EU structural and cohesion funds (2004-06)

Currency (code):
litas (LTL)

Currency code:
LTL

Exchange rates:
litai per US dollar - 2.774 (2005), 2.7806 (2004), 3.0609 (2003),
3.677 (2002), 4 (2001)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Lithuania

Telephones - main lines in use:
801,100 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.353 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to provide
an improved international capability and better residential access
domestic: a national, fiber-optic cable, interurban, trunk system is
nearing completion; rural exchanges are being improved and expanded;
mobile cellular systems are being installed; access to the Internet
is available; still many unsatisfied telephone subscriber
applications
international: country code - 370; landline connections to Latvia
and Poland; major international connections to Denmark, Sweden, and
Norway by submarine cable for further transmission by satellite

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 29, FM 142, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios:
1.9 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
27
note: Lithuania has approximately 27 broadcasting stations, but may
have as many as 100 transmitters, including repeater stations (2001)

Televisions:
1.7 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.lt

Internet hosts:
148,675 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
32 (2001)

Internet users:
1,221,700 (2005)

Transportation Lithuania

Airports:
91 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 34
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 20 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 57
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 53 (2006)