Chapter XLVIII: Front Matter (48)

Military - note:
on 10 February 1990, the government of then President ENDARA
abolished Panama's military and reformed the security apparatus by
creating the Panamanian Public Forces; in October 1994, Panama's
Legislative Assembly approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting
the creation of a standing military force, but allowing the
temporary establishment of special police units to counter acts of
"external aggression"

Transnational Issues Panama

Disputes - international:
organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within
the border region with Panama

Illicit drugs:
major cocaine transshipment point and primary money-laundering
center for narcotics revenue; money-laundering activity is
especially heavy in the Colon Free Zone; offshore financial center;
negligible signs of coca cultivation; monitoring of financial
transactions is improving; official corruption remains a major
problem

This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006

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

@Papua New Guinea

Introduction Papua New Guinea

Background:
The eastern half of the island of New Guinea - second largest in
the world - was divided between Germany (north) and the UK (south)
in 1885. The latter area was transferred to Australia in 1902, which
occupied the northern portion during World War I and continued to
administer the combined areas until independence in 1975. A
nine-year secessionist revolt on the island of Bougainville ended in
1997 after claiming some 20,000 lives.

Geography Papua New Guinea

Location:
Oceania, group of islands including the eastern half of the island
of New Guinea between the Coral Sea and the South Pacific Ocean,
east of Indonesia

Geographic coordinates:
6 00 S, 147 00 E

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 462,840 sq km
land: 452,860 sq km
water: 9,980 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than California

Land boundaries:
total: 820 km
border countries: Indonesia 820 km

Coastline:
5,152 km

Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:
tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon
(May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:
mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m

Natural resources:
gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries

Land use:
arable land: 0.49%
permanent crops: 1.4%
other: 98.11% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

Natural hazards:
active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire"; the
country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud
slides; tsunamis

Environment - current issues:
rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing
commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining
projects; severe drought

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

Geography - note:
shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of world's largest
swamps along southwest coast

People Papua New Guinea

Population:
5,670,544 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.8% (male 1,090,879/female 1,054,743)
15-64 years: 58.3% (male 1,703,204/female 1,601,224)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 103,054/female 117,440) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 21.2 years
male: 21.4 years
female: 21.1 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
2.21% (2006 est.)

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

Death rate:
7.25 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: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 49.96 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 54.08 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 45.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 65.28 years
male: 63.08 years
female: 67.58 years (2006 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
16,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
600 (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: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in
some locations (2005)

Nationality:
noun: Papua New Guinean(s)
adjective: Papua New Guinean

Ethnic groups:
Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian

Religions:
Roman Catholic 22%, Lutheran 16%, Presbyterian/Methodist/London
Missionary Society 8%, Anglican 5%, Evangelical Alliance 4%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 1%, other Protestant 10%, indigenous beliefs
34%

Languages:
Melanesian Pidgin serves as the lingua franca, English spoken by
1%-2%, Motu spoken in Papua region
note: 820 indigenous languages spoken (over one-tenth of the world's
total)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 64.6%
male: 71.1%
female: 57.7% (2002)

Government Papua New Guinea

Country name:
conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea
conventional short form: Papua New Guinea
local short form: Papuaniugini
former: Territory of Papua and New Guinea
abbreviation: PNG

Government type:
constitutional parliamentary democracy

Capital:
name: Port Moresby
geographic coordinates: 9 30 S, 147 10 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
20 provinces; Bougainville, Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands,
East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay,
Morobe, National Capital, New Ireland, Northern, Sandaun, Southern
Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain

Independence:
16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 16 September (1975)

Constitution:
16 September 1975

Legal system:
based on English common law

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by governor general Sir Paulius MATANE (since 29 June
2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Sir Michael SOMARE (since 2
August 2002); deputy prime minister Don Polye (since 5 July 2006)
cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor
general on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the National Executive Council; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition usually is appointed prime minister by the
governor general

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Parliament - sometimes referred to as the House
of Assembly (109 seats, 89 elected from open electorates and 20 from
provincial electorates; members elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 15-29 June 2002 and April and May 2003;
completed in May 2003 (voting in the Southern Highlands was not
completed during the June 2002 election period); next to be held not
later than June 2007
election results: percent of vote by party - National Alliance 18%,
URP 13%, PDM 12%, PPP 8%, Pangu 6%, PAP 5%, PLP 4%, others 34%;
seats by party - National Alliance 19, URP 14, PDM 13, PPP 8, PANGU
6, PAP 5, PLP 4, others 40; as of January 2006 - National Alliance
25, URP 10, PNGP 9, PPP 9, PANGU 6, PAP 12, PLP 4, others 34
note: association with political parties is fluid (2005)

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor
general on the proposal of the National Executive Council after
consultation with the minister responsible for justice; other judges
are appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission)

Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Party [Dr. Banare BUN]; Melanesian Alliance
Party or MAP [Sir Moi AVEL]; National Alliance Party or NA [Michael
SOMARE]; National Party [Melcher PEP]; Papua and Niugini Union Party
or PANGU [Rabbie NAMALIU]; Papua New Guinea First Party [Cecilking
DORUBA]; Papua New Guinea Labor Party [Bob DANAYA]; Papua New Guinea
Party or PNGP (was People's Democratic Movement or PDM) [Sir Mekere
MORAUTA]; People's Action Party or PAP [Moses MALADINA]; People's
Labor Party or PLP [Ekis ROPENU]; People's National Congress or PNC
[Peter O'NEILL]; People's Progress Party or PPP [Byron CHAN]; Pipol
First Party [Luther WENGE]; United Party [Bire KIMASOPA]; United
Resources Party or URP [Tim NEVILLE] (2005)

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACP, APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD,
ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA,
NAM, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Evan Jeremy PAKI
chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 805, Washington, DC
20036
telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680
FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert W. FITTS
embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby
mailing address: 4240 Port Moresby PI, US Department of State,
Washington DC 20521-4240
telephone: [675] 321-1455
FAX: [675] 321-3423

Flag description:
divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangle
is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lower
triangle is black with five, white, five-pointed stars of the
Southern Cross constellation centered

Economy Papua New Guinea

Economy - overview:
Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, but
exploitation has been hampered by rugged terrain and the high cost
of developing infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistence
livelihood for 85% of the population. Mineral deposits, including
oil, copper, and gold, account for nearly two-thirds of export
earnings. The economy has improved over the past three years because
of high commodity prices following a prolonged period of
instability. The government of Prime Minister SOMARE has expended
much of its energy remaining in power and should be the first
government in decades to serve a full five-year term. The government
has also brought stability to the national budget thus far, largely
through expenditure control. Numerous challenges still face the
government including regaining investor confidence, restoring
integrity to state institutions, promoting economic efficiency by
privatizing moribund state institutions, and balancing relations
with Australia, the former colonial ruler. Other socio-cultural
challenges include the HIV/Aids epidemic, law and order, and land
tenure issues. Australia annually supplies $240 million in aid,
which accounts for nearly 20% of the national budget.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$14.37 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.924 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,600 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 35.3%
industry: 38.1%
services: 26.6% (2005 est.)

Labor force:
2.413 million (2004)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 85%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Unemployment rate:
2.8% up to 80% in urban areas (2004)

Population below poverty line:
37% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
50.9 (1996)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.7% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
19.2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.368 billion
expenditures: $1.354 billion; including capital expenditures of $344
million (2005 est.)

Public debt:
42.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products:
coffee, cocoa, copra, palm kernels, tea, sugar, rubber, sweet
potatoes, fruit, vegetables, vanilla; shell fish, poultry, pork

Industries:
copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip
production; mining of gold, silver, and copper; crude oil
production, petroleum refining; construction, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:
NA%

Electricity - production:
1.592 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 54.1%
hydro: 45.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
1.481 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)

Oil - production:
50,000 bbl/day (January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption:
18,000 bbl/day (January 2006 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves:
170 million bbl (2005 est.)

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

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

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

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

Natural gas - proved reserves:
345.5 billion cu m (2005)

Current account balance:
$482.1 million (2005 est.)

Exports:
$2.833 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, crayfish,
prawns

Exports - partners:
Australia 28.7%, Japan 8.6%, China 5.4% (2005)

Imports:
$1.651 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

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

Imports - partners:
Australia 54.6%, Singapore 13.4%, Japan 4.3%, Malaysia 4.2% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$748.8 million (2005 est.)

Debt - external:
$1.882 billion (2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$NA

Currency (code):
kina (PGK)

Currency code:
PGK

Exchange rates:
kina per US dollar - 3.08 (2005), 3.2225 (2004), 3.5635 (2003),
3.8952 (2002), 3.3887 (2001)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Papua New Guinea

Telephones - main lines in use:
62,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
26,000 (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: services are adequate; facilities provide
radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and
international radio communication services
domestic: mostly radiotelephone
international: country code - 675; submarine cables to Australia and
Guam; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean);
international radio communication service

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 28 (1998)

Radios:
410,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
3 (all in the Port Moresby area)
note: additional stations at Mt. Hagen, Goroka, Lae, and Rabaul are
planned (2004)

Televisions:
59,841 (1999)

Internet country code:
.pg

Internet hosts:
1,573 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2000)

Internet users:
170,000 (2005)

Transportation Papua New Guinea

Airports:
582 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 21
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 561
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 62
under 914 m: 488 (2006)

Heliports:
2 (2006)

Pipelines:
oil 264 km (2006)

Roadways:
total: 19,600 km
paved: 686 km
unpaved: 18,914 km (1999)

Waterways:
10,940 km (2003)

Merchant marine:
total: 24 ships (1000 GRT or over) 55,532 GRT/72,240 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 18, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum
tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 6 (UK 6) (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Kimbe, Lae, Rabaul

Military Papua New Guinea

Military branches:
Papua New Guinea Defense Force (includes Maritime Operations
Element, Air Operations Element)

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

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,264,728
females age 18-49: 1,167,188 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 902,432
females age 18-49: 894,759 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$16.9 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (FY02)

Transnational Issues Papua New Guinea

Disputes - international:
relies on assistance from Australia to keep out illegal
cross-border activities from primarily Indonesia, including goods
smuggling, illegal narcotics trafficking, and squatters and
secessionists

This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006

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@Paracel Islands

Introduction Paracel Islands

Background:
The Paracel Islands are surrounded by productive fishing grounds
and by potential oil and gas reserves. In 1932, French Indochina
annexed the islands and set up a weather station on Pattle Island;
maintenance was continued by its successor, Vietnam. China has
occupied the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops seized a
South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. The islands
are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.

Geography Paracel Islands

Location:
Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the South
China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the
northern Philippines

Geographic coordinates:
16 30 N, 112 00 E

Map references:
Southeast Asia

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

Area - comparative:
NA

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
518 km

Maritime claims:
NA

Climate:
tropical

Terrain:
mostly low and flat

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m

Natural resources:
none

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land:
0 sq km

Natural hazards:
typhoons

Environment - current issues:
NA

Geography - note:
composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the
northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group

People Paracel Islands

Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons

Government Paracel Islands

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

Economy Paracel Islands

Economy - overview:
China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism.

Transportation Paracel Islands

Airports:
1 (2006)

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

Ports and terminals:
small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island
being expanded

Military Paracel Islands

Military - note:
occupied by China

Transnational Issues Paracel Islands

Disputes - international:
occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam

This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006

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

@Paraguay

Introduction Paraguay

Background:
In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70), Paraguay
lost two-thirds of all adult males and much of its territory. It
stagnated economically for the next half century. In the Chaco War
of 1932-35, large, economically important areas were won from
Bolivia. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER was
overthrown in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in political
infighting in recent years, relatively free and regular presidential
elections have been held since then.

Geography Paraguay

Location:
Central South America, northeast of Argentina

Geographic coordinates:
23 00 S, 58 00 W

Map references:
South America

Area:
total: 406,750 sq km
land: 397,300 sq km
water: 9,450 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than California

Land boundaries:
total: 3,920 km
border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern
portions, becoming semiarid in the far west

Terrain:
grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco
region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river,
and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m
highest point: Cerro Pero (Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 m

Natural resources:
hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone

Land use:
arable land: 7.47%
permanent crops: 0.24%
other: 92.29% (2005)

Irrigated land:
670 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly
drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)

Environment - current issues:
deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal
pose health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population
concentrated in southern part of country

People Paraguay

Population:
6,506,464 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.7% (male 1,245,149/female 1,204,970)
15-64 years: 57.5% (male 1,878,761/female 1,862,266)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 145,899/female 169,419) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 21.3 years
male: 21.1 years
female: 21.6 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
2.45% (2006 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 24.78 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 29.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.1 years
male: 72.56 years
female: 77.78 years (2006 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
15,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
600 (2003 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Paraguayan(s)
adjective: Paraguayan

Ethnic groups:
mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, other 5%

Religions:
Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant 10%

Languages:
Spanish (official), Guarani (official)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94%
male: 94.9%
female: 93% (2003 est.)

Government Paraguay

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay
conventional short form: Paraguay
local long form: Republica del Paraguay
local short form: Paraguay

Government type:
constitutional republic

Capital:
name: Asuncion
geographic coordinates: 25 16 S, 57 40 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1
capital city*; Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion*,
Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Concepcion,
Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Paraguari,
Presidente Hayes, San Pedro

Independence:
14 May 1811 (from Spain)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 14 May 1811 (observed 15 May annually)

Constitution:
promulgated 20 June 1992

Legal system:
based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicial
review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS (since 15 August
2003); Vice President Luis CASTIGLIONI Joria (since 15 August 2003);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS (since 15 August
2003); Vice President Luis CASTIGLIONI Joria (since 15 August 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 27
April 2003 (next to be held April 2008)
election results: Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS elected president; percent
of vote - Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS 37.1%, Julio Cesar Ramon FRANCO
Gomez 23.9%, Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADUL Niella 21.3%, Guillermo
SANCHEZ Guffanti 13.5%, other 4.2%

Legislative branch:
bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Chamber of Senators
or Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara
de Diputados (80 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 27 April 2003 (next to be
held April 2008); Chamber of Deputies - last held 27 April 2003
(next to be held April 2008)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - ANR 16, PLRA 12, UNACE 7, PQ 7, PPS 2, PEN 1;
Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party
- ANR 37, PLRA 21, UNACE 10, PQ 10, PPS 2
note: as of January 2006, changes in party affiliation has led to
the composition of the legislature as follows: Chamber of Senators -
seats by party - ANR 18, PLRA 12, UNACE 5, PQ 7, PPS 2, PEN 1;
Chamber of Deputies - seats by party - ANR 39, PLRA 21, UNACE 8, PQ
10, PPS 2

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges
appointed on the proposal of the Council of Magistrates or Consejo
de la Magistratura)

Political parties and leaders:
Asociacion Nacional Republicana - Colorado Party or ANR [Herminio
CACERES, interim president]; Movimiento Union Nacional de Ciudadanos
Eticos or UNACE [Enrique GONZALEZ Quintana, acting chairman]; Patria
Querida (Beloved Fatherland Party) or PQ [Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADUL
Niella]; Partido Encuentro Nacional or PEN [Luis TORALES Kennedy];
Partido Liberal Radical Autentico or PLRA [Blas LLANO]; Partido Pais
Solidario or PPS [Carlos Alberto FILIZZOLA Pallares]
note: Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS on leave as party leader of the Colorado
Party or ANR while serving as President of Paraguay; Lino Cesar
OVIEDO Silva, leader of UNACE, is currently serving a ten-year
prison term

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Ahorristas Estafados or AE; National Coordinating Board of
Campesino Organizations or MCNOC [Luis AGUAYO]; National Federation
of Campesinos or FNC [Odilon ESPINOLA]; National Workers Central or
CNT [Secretary General Juan TORRALES]; Paraguayan Workers
Confederation or CPT; Roman Catholic Church; Unitary Workers Central
or CUT [Jorge Guzman ALVARENGA Malgarejo]

International organization participation:
CAN (associate), CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA,
MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James SPALDING Hellmers
chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962
FAX: [1] (202) 234-4508
consulate(s) general: Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
Ambassador James C. CASON
embassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncion
mailing address: Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001
telephone: [595] (21) 213-715
FAX: [595] (21) 213-728

Flag description:
three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with an
emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblem
is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left)
bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a
green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within
two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears the seal
of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the
words Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the words
REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles)

Economy Paraguay

Economy - overview:
Landlocked Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large informal
sector. This sector features both reexport of imported consumer
goods to neighboring countries, as well as the activities of
thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. Because of
the importance of the informal sector, accurate economic measures
are difficult to obtain. A large percentage of the population
derives its living from agricultural activity, often on a
subsistence basis. The formal economy grew by an average of about 3%
annually in 1995-97, but averaged near-zero growth in 1998-2001 and
contracted by 2.3 percent in 2002, in response to regional contagion
and an outbreak of hoof-and-mouth disease. On a per capita basis,
real income has stagnated at 1980 levels. Most observers attribute
Paraguay's poor economic performance to political uncertainty,
corruption, lack of progress on structural reform, substantial
internal and external debt, and deficient infrastructure. Aided by a
firmer exchange rate and perhaps a greater confidence in the
economic policy of the DUARTE FRUTOS administration, the economy
rebounded between 2003 and 2005, posting modest growth each year.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$29.11 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$7.281 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
2.7% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,600 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 22.4%
industry: 20.7%
services: 56.9% (2005 est.)

Labor force:
2.68 million (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 45%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Unemployment rate:
16% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:
32% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.5%
highest 10%: 43.8% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
56.8 (1999)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.8% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
19.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.334 billion
expenditures: $1.37 billion; including capital expenditures of $700
million (2005 est.)

Public debt:
36% of GDP (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products:
cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava
(tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber

Industries:
sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel,
metallurgic, electric power

Industrial production growth rate:
0% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:
51.29 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 0%
hydro: 99.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.1% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
3.528 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:
44.17 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)

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

Oil - consumption:
25,000 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:
$-255 million (2005 est.)

Exports:
$3.13 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils, electricity, wood,
leather

Exports - partners:
Uruguay 26.7%, Brazil 15.2%, Argentina 4.8%, Chile 4.7% (2005)

Imports:
$3.832 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities:
road vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products,
electrical machinery

Imports - partners:
Brazil 26.8%, Argentina 21.1%, US 20.8%, China 9.5% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.297 billion (2005 est.)

Debt - external:
$3.45 billion (2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$NA

Currency (code):
guarani (PYG)

Currency code:
PYG

Exchange rates:
guarani per US dollar - 6,178 (2005), 5,974.6 (2004), 6,424.3
(2003), 5,716.3 (2002), 4,105.9 (2001)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Paraguay

Telephones - main lines in use:
320,300 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.887 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: meager telephone service; principal switching
center is in Asuncion
domestic: fair microwave radio relay network
international: country code - 595; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 46, FM 27, shortwave 6 (three inactive) (1998)

Radios:
925,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
5 (2003)

Televisions:
990,000 (2001)

Internet country code:
.py

Internet hosts:
13,178 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
4 (2000)

Internet users:
200,000 (2005)

Transportation Paraguay

Airports:
881 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 12
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 869
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 325
under 914 m: 518 (2006)

Railways:
total: 36 km
standard gauge: 36 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 29,500 km
paved: 14,986 km
unpaved: 14,514 km (1999)

Waterways:
3,100 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 21 ships (1000 GRT or over) 34,749 GRT/39,280 DWT
by type: cargo 15, livestock carrier 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo
1, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 3 (Argentina 3)
registered in other countries: 1 (Ecuador 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion

Military Paraguay

Military branches:
Army, National Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Naval Aviation,
Marine Corps, General Naval Prefecture), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea
Paraguay, FAP) (2006)

Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24 months for
Navy (2004)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,345,022
females age 18-49: 1,342,725 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,109,166
females age 18-49: 1,135,046 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 63,058
females age 18-49: 62,217 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$53.1 million (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.9% (2003 est.)

Transnational Issues Paraguay

Disputes - international:
unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders
is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcotics
trafficking, and fundraising for extremist organizations

Illicit drugs:
major illicit producer of cannabis, most or all of which is
consumed in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile; transshipment country for
Andean cocaine headed for Brazil, other Southern Cone markets, and
Europe; corruption and some money-laundering activity, especially in
the Tri-Border Area; weak anti-money-laundering laws and enforcement

This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006

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

@Peru

Introduction Peru

Background:
Ancient Peru was the seat of several prominent Andean
civilizations, most notably that of the Incas whose empire was
captured by the Spanish conquistadors in 1533. Peruvian independence
was declared in 1821, and remaining Spanish forces defeated in 1824.
After a dozen years of military rule, Peru returned to democratic
leadership in 1980, but experienced economic problems and the growth
of a violent insurgency. President Alberto FUJIMORI's election in
1990 ushered in a decade that saw a dramatic turnaround in the
economy and significant progress in curtailing guerrilla activity.
Nevertheless, the president's increasing reliance on authoritarian
measures and an economic slump in the late 1990s generated mounting
dissatisfaction with his regime, which led to his ouster in 2000. A
caretaker government oversaw new elections in the spring of 2001,
which ushered in Alejandro TOLEDO as the new head of government -
the first democratically elected president of Quechua ethnicity. The
presidential election of 2006 saw the return of Alan GARCIA who,
after a disappointing presidential term from 1985 to 1990, returned
to the presidency with promises to improve social conditions.

Geography Peru

Location:
Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between
Chile and Ecuador

Geographic coordinates:
10 00 S, 76 00 W

Map references:
South America

Area:
total: 1,285,220 sq km
land: 1.28 million sq km
water: 5,220 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Alaska

Land boundaries:
total: 5,536 km
border countries: Bolivia 900 km, Brazil 1,560 km, Chile 160 km,
Colombia 1,496 km (est.), Ecuador 1,420 km

Coastline:
2,414 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate:
varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate to
frigid in Andes

Terrain:
western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center
(sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m

Natural resources:
copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal,
phosphate, potash, hydropower, natural gas

Land use:
arable land: 2.88%
permanent crops: 0.47%
other: 96.65% (2005)

Irrigated land:
12,000 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity

Environment - current issues:
deforestation (some the result of illegal logging); overgrazing of
the slopes of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion;
desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and
coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living
Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake,
with Bolivia; a remote slope of Nevado Mismi, a 5,316 m peak, is the
ultimate source of the Amazon River

People Peru

Population:
28,302,603 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.9% (male 4,456,195/female 4,300,233)
15-64 years: 63.7% (male 9,078,123/female 8,961,981)
65 years and over: 5.3% (male 709,763/female 796,308) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 25.3 years
male: 25 years
female: 25.5 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.32% (2006 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
-1.01 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: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 30.94 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 33.49 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 28.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.84 years
male: 68.05 years
female: 71.71 years (2006 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
82,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
4,200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Peruvian(s)
adjective: Peruvian

Ethnic groups:
Amerindian 45%, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%, white
15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%

Religions:
Roman Catholic 81%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.4%, other Christian
0.7%, other 0.6%, unspecified or none 16.3% (2003 est.)

Languages:
Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara, and a large number
of minor Amazonian languages

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.7%
male: 93.5%
female: 82.1% (2004 est.)

Government Peru

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Peru
conventional short form: Peru
local long form: Republica del Peru
local short form: Peru

Government type:
constitutional republic

Capital:
name: Lima
geographic coordinates: 12 03 S, 77 03 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

Administrative divisions:
25 regions (regiones, singular - region) and 1 province*
(provincia); Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho,
Cajamarca, Callao, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huanuco, Ica, Junin, La
Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Lima*, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua,
Pasco, Piura, Puno, San Martin, Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali

Independence:
28 July 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 28 July (1821)

Constitution:
31 December 1993

Legal system:
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70; note
- members of the military and national police may not vote

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Alan GARCIA Perez (since 28 July 2006);
First Vice President Luis GIAMPIETRI Rojas; Second Vice President
Lourdes MENDOZA del Solar (since 28 July 2006); note - the president
is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Alan GARCIA Perez (since 28 July
2006); First Vice President Luis GIAMPIETRI Rojas; Second Vice
President Lourdes MENDOZA del Solar (since 28 July 2006)
note: Prime Minister Jorge DEL CASTILLO Galvez (since 28 August
2006) does not exercise executive power; this power is in the hands
of the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); presidential and congressional
elections held 9 April 2006, with runoff election held 4 June 2006;
next to be held April 2011
election results: Alan GARCIA elected president in runoff election;
percent of vote - Alan GARCIA 52.5%, Ollanta HUMALA Tasso 47.5%

Legislative branch:
unicameral Congress of the Republic of Peru or Congreso de la
Republica del Peru (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote
to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 9 April 2006 (next to be held April 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - UPP 21.2%, PAP 20.6%,
UN 15.3%, AF 13.1%, FC 7.1%, PP 4.1%, RN 4.0%; seats by party - UPP
45, PAP 36, UN 17, AF 13, FC 5, PP 2, RN 2

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges are
appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary)

Political parties and leaders:
Alliance For Progress (Alianza Para El Progreso) [Cesar ACUNA
Peralta]; Alliance For The Future (Alianza Por El Futuro) or AF - a
coalition of pro-FUJIMORI parties including Cambio 90, Nueva
Mayoria, and Si Cumple [Martha CHAVEZ Cossio]; Centrist Front
(Frente Del Centro) or FC - a coalition of Accion Popular, Somos
Peru, and Coordinadora Nacional de Independientes [Valentin PANIAGUA
Corazoa]; Independent Moralizing Front (Frente Independiente
Moralizador) or FIM [Fernando OLIVERA Vega]; Nationalist Party
Uniting Peru (Partido Nacionalista Uniendo al Peru) or UPP - a
coalition of Union for Peru (UPP) and Peruvian Nationalist Party
(PNP) [Ollanta HUMALA Tasso]; National Restoration (Restauracion
Nacional) or RN [Humberto LAY Sun]; National Unity (Unidad Nacional)
or UN [Lourdes FLORES Nano]; Peru Possible (Peru Posible) or PP
[David WAISMAN]; Peruvian Aprista Party (Partido Aprista Peruano) or
PAP - also referred to by its original name Alianza Popular
Revolucionaria Americana or APRA [Alan GARCIA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
leftist guerrilla groups include Shining Path [Abimael GUZMAN
Reynoso (imprisoned), Gabriel MACARIO (top leader at-large)]; Tupac
Amaru Revolutionary Movement or MRTA [Victor POLAY (imprisoned),
Hugo AVALLENEDA Valdez (top leader at-large)]

International organization participation:
APEC, CAN, CSN, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA,
Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,
PCA, RG, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Felipe ORTIZ de Zevallos
chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 833-9860 through 9869
FAX: [1] (202) 659-8124
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Denver, Hartford, Houston,
Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey), San Francisco,
Washington, DC

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador J. Curtis STRUBLE
embassy: Avenida La Encalada, Cuadra 17s/n, Surco, Lima 33
mailing address: P. O. Box 1995, Lima 1; American Embassy (Lima),
APO AA 34031-5000
telephone: [51] (1) 434-3000
FAX: [51] (1) 618-2397

Flag description:
three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), white, and red
with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms
features a shield bearing a vicuna, cinchona tree (the source of
quinine), and a yellow cornucopia spilling out gold coins, all
framed by a green wreath

Economy Peru

Economy - overview:
Peru's economy reflects its varied geography - an arid coastal
region, the Andes further inland, and tropical lands bordering
Colombia and Brazil. Abundant mineral resources are found in the
mountainous areas, and Peru's coastal waters provide excellent
fishing grounds. However, overdependence on minerals and metals
subjects the economy to fluctuations in world prices, and a lack of
infrastructure deters trade and investment. After several years of
inconsistent economic performance, the Peruvian economy grew by more
than 4 percent per year during the period 2002-2005, with a stable
exchange rate and low inflation. Risk premiums on Peruvian bonds on
secondary markets reached historically low levels in late 2004,
reflecting investor optimism regarding the government's prudent
fiscal policies and openness to trade and investment. Despite the
strong macroeconomic performance, the TOLEDO administration remained
unpopular in 2005, and unemployment and poverty have stayed
persistently high. Economic growth will be driven by the Camisea
natural gas megaproject and by exports of minerals, textiles, and
agricultural products. Peru is expected to sign a free-trade
agreement with the United States in early 2006.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$167.3 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$69.81 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
6.4% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$6,000 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 27%
services: 65% (2003 est.)

Labor force:
9.06 million (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 9%
industry: 18%
services: 73% (2001)

Unemployment rate:
7.6% in metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:
54% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 37.2% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
49.8 (2000)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.6% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
18.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $21.87 billion
expenditures: $22.47 billion; including capital expenditures of $1.8
billion for general government, but excluding private enterprises
(2005 est.)

Public debt:
38% of GDP (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products:
coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, potatoes, corn, plantains, grapes,
oranges, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products; fish

Industries:
mining and refining of minerals; steel, metal fabrication;
petroleum extraction and refining, natural gas; fishing and fish
processing, textiles, clothing, food processing

Industrial production growth rate:
6.9% (2005 est.)

Electricity - production:
22.68 billion kWh (2003 est.)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 14.5%
hydro: 84.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.8% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
21.09 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)

Oil - production:
120,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
157,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:
49,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves:
370 million bbl (2005 est.)

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

Natural gas - consumption:
910 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
247.1 billion cu m (2005)

Current account balance:
$1.03 billion (2005 est.)

Exports:
$15.95 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
copper, gold, zinc, crude petroleum and petroleum products, coffee

Exports - partners:
US 31.1%, China 10.8%, Chile 6.6%, Canada 5.9%, Switzerland 4.6%
(2005)

Imports:
$12.15 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, plastics, machinery, vehicles,
iron and steel, wheat, paper

Imports - partners:
US 18.2%, China 8.5%, Brazil 8%, Ecuador 7.4%, Colombia 6.1%,
Argentina 5.1%, Chile 5.1%, Venezuela 4.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$14.18 billion (2005 est.)

Debt - external:
$30.94 billion (2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$491 million (2002)

Currency (code):
nuevo sol (PEN)

Currency code:
PEN

Exchange rates:
nuevo sol per US dollar - 3.2958 (2005), 3.4132 (2004), 3.4785
(2003), 3.5165 (2002), 3.5068 (2001)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Peru

Telephones - main lines in use:
2,250,500 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
5.583 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate for most requirements
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system and a domestic
satellite system with 12 earth stations
international: country code - 51; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); Pan American submarine cable

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 472, FM 198, shortwave 189 (1999)

Radios:
6.65 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
13 (plus 112 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:
3.06 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.pe

Internet hosts:
269,981 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
10 (2000)

Internet users:
4.6 million (2005)

Transportation Peru

Airports:
268 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 54
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 20
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 214
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 63
under 914 m: 124 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 983 km; gas/lpg 61 km; liquid natural gas 106 km; liquid
petroleum gas 517 km; oil 1,754 km; refined products 13 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 3,462 km
standard gauge: 2,962 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 500 km 0.914-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 78,672 km
paved: 10,314 km (including 276 km of expressways)
unpaved: 68,358 km (2003)

Waterways:
8,808 km
note: 8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon system and 208 km
of Lago Titicaca (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 4 ships (1000 GRT or over) 38,954 GRT/62,255 DWT
by type: cargo 3, petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 1 (US 1)
registered in other countries: 15 (Panama 15) (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Callao, Iquitos, Matarani, Pucallpa, Yurimaguas; note - Iquitos,
Pucallpa, and Yurimaguas are on the upper reaches of the Amazon and
its tributaries

Military Peru

Military branches:
Peruvian Army (Ejercito Peruano), Peruvian Navy (Marina de Guerra
del Peru; includes naval air, naval infantry, and coast guard),
Peruvian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea del Peru, FAP)

Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service (1999)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 6,647,874
females age 18-49: 6,544,408 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 4,938,417
females age 18-49: 5,278,511 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 277,105
females age 18-49: 269,799 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$829.3 million (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (2003 est.)

Transnational Issues Peru

Disputes - international:
Chile and Ecuador rejected Peru's November 2005 unilateral law to
shift the axis of their joint treaty-defined maritime boundary along
the parallel of latitude to an equidistance line which favors Peru;
organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia have penetrated
Peru's shared border; Peru does not support Bolivia's claim to
restore maritime access through a sovereign corridor through Chile
along the Peruvian border

Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 60,000 (civil war from 1980-2000; most IDPs are indigenous
peasants in Andean and Amazonian regions) (2005)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Peru is primarily a source country for women and
children trafficked internally for the purposes of sexual
exploitation and forced domestic labor; most victims are girls and
young women moved internally from rural to urban areas, or from city
to city, and lured or coerced into prostitution in nightclubs, bars,
and brothels; Peruvians have also been trafficked for sexual
exploitation to Spain, Japan, the United States, and Venezuela; the
government acknowledges that sex tourism occurs, particularly in the
Amazon region of the country
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Peru is placed on the Tier 2 Watch
List for failure to show evidence of increasing efforts to eliminate
trafficking in 2005

Illicit drugs:
until 1996 the world's largest coca leaf producer; cultivation of
coca in Peru fell 15% to 31,150 hectares between 2002 and the end of
2003; much of the cocaine base is shipped to neighboring Colombia
for processing into cocaine, while finished cocaine is shipped out
from Pacific ports to the international drug market; increasing
amounts of base and finished cocaine, however, are being moved to
Brazil and Bolivia for use in the Southern Cone or transshipped to
Europe and Africa

This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006

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

@Philippines

Introduction Philippines

Background:
The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th
century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the
Spanish-American War. In 1935 the Philippines became a
self-governing commonwealth. Manuel QUEZON was elected President and
was tasked with preparing the country for independence after a
10-year transition. In 1942 the islands fell under Japanese
occupation during WWII, and US forces and Filipinos fought together
during 1944-45 to regain control. On 4 July 1946 the Philippines
attained their independence. The 20-year rule of Ferdinand MARCOS
ended in 1986, when a widespread popular rebellion forced him into
exile and installed Corazon AQUINO as president. Her presidency was
hampered by several coup attempts, which prevented a return to full
political stability and economic development. Fidel RAMOS was
elected president in 1992 and his administration was marked by
greater stability and progress on economic reforms. In 1992, the US
closed its last military bases on the islands. Joseph ESTRADA was
elected president in 1998, but was succeeded by his vice-president,
Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, in January 2001 after ESTRADA's stormy
impeachment trial on corruption charges broke down and widespread
demonstrations led to his ouster. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was elected to a
six-year term in May 2004. The Philippine Government faces threats
from armed communist insurgencies and from Muslim separatists in the
south.

Geography Philippines

Location:
Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the
South China Sea, east of Vietnam

Geographic coordinates:
13 00 N, 122 00 E

Map references:
Southeast Asia

Area:
total: 300,000 sq km
land: 298,170 sq km
water: 1,830 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Arizona

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
36,289 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm from
coastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also
claimed polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea up to 285 nm in
breadth
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation

Climate:
tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest
monsoon (May to October)

Terrain:
mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m

Natural resources:
timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper

Land use:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 16.67%
other: 64.33% (2005)

Irrigated land:
15,500 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to
six cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active volcanoes;
destructive earthquakes; tsunamis

Environment - current issues:
uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed areas; soil
erosion; air and water pollution in major urban centers; coral reef
degradation; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps that
are important fish breeding grounds

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geography - note:
the Philippine archipelago is made up of 7,107 islands; favorably
located in relation to many of Southeast Asia's main water bodies:
the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, and
Luzon Strait

People Philippines

Population:
89,468,677 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 35% (male 15,961,365/female 15,340,065)
15-64 years: 61% (male 27,173,919/female 27,362,736)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 1,576,089/female 2,054,503) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 22.5 years
male: 22 years
female: 23 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.8% (2006 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate:
-1.48 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: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 22.81 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 25.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.21 years
male: 67.32 years
female: 73.24 years (2006 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
9,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 500 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in
some locations
animal contact disease: rabies (2005)

Nationality:
noun: Filipino(s)
adjective: Philippine

Ethnic groups:
Tagalog 28.1%, Cebuano 13.1%, Ilocano 9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%,
Hiligaynon Ilonggo 7.5%, Bikol 6%, Waray 3.4%, other 25.3% (2000
census)

Religions:
Roman Catholic 80.9%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%,
Aglipayan 2%, other Christian 4.5%, Muslim 5%, other 1.8%,
unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1% (2000 census)

Languages:
two official languages - Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English;
eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or
Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.6%
male: 92.5%
female: 92.7% (2002)

Government Philippines

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines
conventional short form: Philippines
local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas
local short form: Pilipinas

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Manila
geographic coordinates: 14 35 N, 121 00 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)