Chapter LV: Front Matter (55)

Languages:
Slovak (official) 83.9%, Hungarian 10.7%, Roma 1.8%, Ukrainian 1%,
other or unspecified 2.6% (2001 census)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6% (2001 est.)

Government Slovakia

Country name:
conventional long form: Slovak Republic
conventional short form: Slovakia
local long form: Slovenska Republika
local short form: Slovensko

Government type:
parliamentary democracy

Capital:
name: Bratislava
geographic coordinates: 48 09 N, 17 07 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:
8 regions (kraje, singular - kraj); Banskobystricky, Bratislavsky,
Kosicky, Nitriansky, Presovsky, Trenciansky, Trnavsky, Zilinsky

Independence:
1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and
Slovakia)

National holiday:
Constitution Day, 1 September (1992)

Constitution:
ratified 1 September 1992, effective 1 January 1993; changed in
September 1998 to allow direct election of the president; amended
February 2001 to allow Slovakia to apply for NATO and EU membership

Legal system:
civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations; legal code modified
to comply with the obligations of Organization on Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal
theory

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ivan GASPAROVIC (since 15 June 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Robert FICO (since 4 July 2006);
Deputy Prime Ministers Dusan CAPLOVIC, Robert KALINAK, Stefan
HARABIN, Jan MIKOLAJ (since 4 July 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of
the prime minister
elections: president elected by direct, popular vote for a five-year
term (eligible for a second term); election last held 3 April and 17
April 2004 (next to be held April 2009); following National Council
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a
majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the
president
election results: Ivan GASPAROVIC elected president in runoff;
percent of vote - Ivan GASPAROVIC 59.9%, Vladimir MECIAR 40.1%

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Council of the Slovak Republic or Narodna Rada
Slovenskej Republiky (150 seats; members are elected on the basis of
proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 17 June 2006 (next to be held 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - Smer 29.1%, SDKU 18.4%,
SNS 11.7%, SMK 11.7%, LS-HZDS 8.8%, KDH 8.3%; seats by party - Smer
50, SDKU 31, SNS 20, SMK 20, LS-HZDS 15, KDH 14

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are elected by the National Council);
Constitutional Court (judges appointed by president from group of
nominees approved by the National Council); Special Court (judges
elected by a council of judges and appointed by president)

Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Movement or KDH [Pavol HRUSOVSKY];
Direction-Social Democracy or Smer-SD [Robert FICO]; Free Forum
[Zuzana MARTINAKOVA]; Movement for Democracy or HZD [Jozef GRAPA];
People's Party - Movement for a Democratic Slovakia or LS-HZDS
[Vladimir MECIAR]; New Citizens Alliance or ANO [Pavol RUSKO]; Party
of the Hungarian Coalition or SMK [Bela BUGAR]; People's Union or LU
[Gustav KRAJCI]; Slovak Communist Party or KSS [Vladimir DADO];
Slovak Democratic and Christian Union or SDKU [Mikulas DZURINDA];
Slovak National Party or SNS [Jan SLOTA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Federation of Employers' Associations of the Slovak Republic;
Association of Towns and Villages or ZMOS; Confederation of Trade
Unions or KOZ

International organization participation:
ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI,
CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security
Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNTSO,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rastislav KACER
chancery: 3523 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 237-1054
FAX: [1] (202) 237-6438
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rodolphe "Skip" M. VALLEE
embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava
mailing address: P.O. Box 309, 814 99 Bratislava
telephone: [421] (2) 5443-3338
FAX: [421] (2) 5443-0096

Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red
superimposed with the coat of arms of Slovakia (consisting of a red
shield bordered in white and bearing a white Cross of Lorraine
surmounting three blue hills); the coat of arms is centered
vertically and offset slightly to the hoist side

Economy Slovakia

Economy - overview:
Slovakia has mastered much of the difficult transition from a
centrally planned economy to a modern market economy. The DZURINDA
government made excellent progress during 2001-04 in macroeconomic
stabilization and structural reform. Major privatizations are nearly
complete, the banking sector is almost completely in foreign hands,
and the government has helped facilitate a foreign investment boom
with business-friendly policies, such as labor market liberalization
and a 19% flat tax. Foreign investment in the automotive sector has
been strong. Slovakia's economic growth exceeded expectations in
2001-05, despite the general European slowdown. Unemployment, at an
unacceptable 18% in 2003-04, dropped to 16.4% in 2005, but remains
the economy's Achilles heel. Slovakia joined the EU on 1 May 2004.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$88.78 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$43.07 billion (2005 est.)

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

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$16,300 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 29.4%
services: 67.2% (2005 est.)

Labor force:
2.24 million (30 September 2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 5.8%, industry 29.3%, construction 9%, services 55.9%
(2003)

Unemployment rate:
16.4% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:
At-risk-of-poverty rate after social transfers: 21%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 20.9% (1992)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
25.8 (1996)

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

Investment (gross fixed):
26% of GDP (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $22.7 billion
expenditures: $23.2 billion (2005 est.)

Public debt:
42.5% of GDP (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products:
grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, cattle, poultry;
forest products

Industries:
metal and metal products; food and beverages; electricity, gas,
coke, oil, nuclear fuel; chemicals and manmade fibers; machinery;
paper and printing; earthenware and ceramics; transport vehicles;
textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products

Industrial production growth rate:
3.8% (2005 est.)

Electricity - production:
30.57 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 30.3%
hydro: 16%
nuclear: 53.6%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
24.8 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
10.59 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
8.731 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
11,480 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
74,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
2,160 bbl/day NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
59,000 bbl/day bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves:
9 million bbl (1 January 2006)

Natural gas - production:
165 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
6.8 billion cu m (2004 est.)

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

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

Natural gas - proved reserves:
15.01 billion cu m (1 January 2003)

Current account balance:
$-4.066 billion (2005 est.)

Exports:
$30.7 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
vehicles 25.9%, machinery and electrical equipment 21.3%, base
metals 14.6%, chemicals and minerals 10.1%, plastics 5.4% (2004)

Exports - partners:
Germany 26.2%, Czech Republic 14.1%, Austria 7.1%, Italy 6.7%,
Poland 6.3%, Hungary 5.7% (2005)

Imports:
$32.9 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 41.1%, intermediate manufactured
goods 19.3%, fuels 12.3%, chemicals 9.8%, miscellaneous manufactured
goods 10.2% (2003)

Imports - partners:
Germany 25.1%, Czech Republic 19.3%, Russia 10.5%, Austria 6.1%,
Poland 4.7%, Hungary 4.6%, Italy 4.5% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$14.97 billion (2005 est.)

Debt - external:
$26.94 billion (2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$1.9 billion in committed EU structural adjustment and cohesion
funds (2004-06)

Currency (code):
Slovak koruna (SKK)

Currency code:
SKK

Exchange rates:
koruny per US dollar - 31.018 (2005), 32.257 (2004), 36.773 (2003),
45.327 (2002), 48.355 (2001)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Slovakia

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

Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.54 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: a modernization and privatization program is
increasing accessibility to telephone service, reducing the waiting
time for new subscribers, and generally improving service quality
domestic: predominantly an analog system that is now receiving
digital equipment and is being enlarged with fiber-optic cable,
especially in the larger cities; mobile cellular capability has been
added
international: country code - 421; three international exchanges
(one in Bratislava and two in Banska Bystrica) are available;
Slovakia is participating in several international
telecommunications projects that will increase the availability of
external services

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 15, FM 78, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:
3.12 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
6 national broadcasting, 7 regional, 67 local (2004)

Televisions:
2.62 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.sk

Internet hosts:
210,758 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6 (2000)

Internet users:
2.5 million (2005)

Transportation Slovakia

Airports:
36 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 18
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 8 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 8 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 6,769 km; oil 416 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 3,662 km
broad gauge: 100 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge: 3,512 km 1.435-m gauge (1,588 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 50 km (1.000-m or 0.750-m gauge) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 42,993 km
paved: 37,533 km (including 316 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,460 km (2003)

Waterways:
172 km (on Danube River) (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 43 ships (1000 GRT or over) 217,819 GRT/309,049 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 36, chemical tanker 1
foreign-owned: 40 (Bulgaria 7, Estonia 1, Greece 4, Israel 7, Poland
2, Syria 2, Turkey 8, UK 1, Ukraine 8)
registered in other countries: 2 (Cyprus 1, Georgia 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Bratislava, Komarno

Military Slovakia

Military branches:
Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Ozbrojene Sily Slovenskej
Republiky): Land Forces (Pozemne Sily), Air Forces (Vzdusne Sily),
Training and Support Forces (Vycviku a Podpory Sily) (2005)

Military service age and obligation:
complete transition to an all-volunteer professional force went
into effect at the beginning of 2006 after 140 years of mandatory
army service; volunteers include women, with minimum age of 17 years
(2005)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,351,848
females age 18-49: 1,322,647 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,089,645
females age 18-49: 1,093,077 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 41,544
females age 18-49: 40,183 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$406 million (2002)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.87% FY05 (2005)

Transnational Issues Slovakia

Disputes - international:
Hungary amended its status law extending special social and
cultural benefits to ethnic Hungarians in Slovakia, to which
Slovakia had protested; consultations continue between Slovakia and
Hungary over Hungary's completion of its portion of the
Gabcikovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric dam project along the Danube; as a
member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Slovakia
must implement the strict Schengen border rules

Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western
Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for regional market

This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006

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

@Slovenia

Introduction Slovenia

Background:
The Slovene lands were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until
the latter's dissolution at the end of World War I. In 1918, the
Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new multinational
state, which was named Yugoslavia in 1929. After World War II,
Slovenia became a republic of the renewed Yugoslavia, which though
Communist, distanced itself from Moscow's rule. Dissatisfied with
the exercise of power by the majority Serbs, the Slovenes succeeded
in establishing their independence in 1991 after a short 10-day war.
Historical ties to Western Europe, a strong economy, and a stable
democracy have assisted in Slovenia's transformation to a modern
state. Slovenia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of
2004.

Geography Slovenia

Location:
Central Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between
Austria and Croatia

Geographic coordinates:
46 07 N, 14 49 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 20,273 sq km
land: 20,151 sq km
water: 122 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries:
total: 1,382 km
border countries: Austria 330 km, Croatia 670 km, Hungary 102 km,
Italy 280 km

Coastline:
46.6 km

Maritime claims:
NA

Climate:
Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild
to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the
east

Terrain:
a short coastal strip on the Adriatic, an alpine mountain region
adjacent to Italy and Austria, mixed mountains and valleys with
numerous rivers to the east

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Triglav 2,864 m

Natural resources:
lignite coal, lead, zinc, mercury, uranium, silver, hydropower,
forests

Land use:
arable land: 8.53%
permanent crops: 1.43%
other: 90.04% (2005)

Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
flooding and earthquakes

Environment - current issues:
Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial waste; pollution
of coastal waters with heavy metals and toxic chemicals; forest
damage near Koper from air pollution (originating at metallurgical
and chemical plants) and resulting acid rain

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

Geography - note:
despite its small size, this eastern Alpine country controls some
of Europe's major transit routes

People Slovenia

Population:
2,010,347 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 13.8% (male 143,079/female 135,050)
15-64 years: 70.5% (male 714,393/female 702,950)
65 years and over: 15.7% (male 121,280/female 193,595) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 40.6 years
male: 39 years
female: 42.2 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
-0.05% (2006 est.)

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

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

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

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.99 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.33 years
male: 72.63 years
female: 80.29 years (2006 est.)

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

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

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
280 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Slovene(s)
adjective: Slovenian

Ethnic groups:
Slovene 83.1%, Serb 2%, Croat 1.8%, Bosniak 1.1%, other or
unspecified 12% (2002 census)

Religions:
Catholic 57.8%, Orthodox 2.3%, other Christian 0.9%, Muslim 2.4%,
unaffiliated 3.5%, other or unspecified 23%, none 10.1% (2002 census)

Languages:
Slovenian 91.1%, Serbo-Croatian 4.5%, other or unspecified 4.4%
(2002 census)

Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6%

Government Slovenia

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia
conventional short form: Slovenia
local long form: Republika Slovenija
local short form: Slovenija
former: People's Republic of Slovenia, Socialist Republic of Slovenia

Government type:
parliamentary republic

Capital:
name: Ljubljana
geographic coordinates: 46 03 N, 14 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:
182 municipalities (obcine, singular - obcina) and 11 urban
municipalities* (mestne obcine , singular - mestna obcina )
Ajdovscina, Beltinci, Benedikt, Bistrica ob Sotli, Bled, Bloke,
Bohinj, Borovnica, Bovec, Braslovce, Brda, Brezice, Brezovica,
Cankova, Celje*, Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Cerknica, Cerkno,
Cerkvenjak, Crensovci, Crna na Koroskem, Crnomelj, Destrnik, Divaca,
Dobje, Dobrepolje, Dobrna, Dobrova-Horjul-Polhov Gradec,
Dobrovnik-Dobronak, Dolenjske Toplice, Dol pri Ljubljani, Domzale,
Dornava, Dravograd, Duplek, Gorenja Vas-Poljane, Gorisnica, Gornja
Radgona, Gornji Grad, Gornji Petrovci, Grad, Grosuplje, Hajdina,
Hoce-Slivnica, Hodos-Hodos, Horjul, Hrastnik, Hrpelje-Kozina,
Idrija, Ig, Ilirska Bistrica, Ivancna Gorica, Izola-Isola, Jesenice,
Jezersko, Jursinci, Kamnik, Kanal, Kidricevo, Kobarid, Kobilje,
Kocevje, Komen, Komenda, Koper-Capodistria*, Kostel, Kozje, Kranj*,
Kranjska Gora, Krizevci, Krsko, Kungota, Kuzma, Lasko, Lenart,
Lendava-Lendva, Litija, Ljubljana*, Ljubno, Ljutomer, Logatec, Loska
Dolina, Loski Potok, Lovrenc na Pohorju, Luce, Lukovica, Majsperk,
Maribor*, Markovci, Medvode, Menges, Metlika, Mezica, Miklavz na
Dravskem Polju, Miren-Kostanjevica, Mirna Pec, Mislinja, Moravce,
Moravske Toplice, Mozirje, Murska Sobota*, Muta, Naklo, Nazarje,
Nova Gorica*, Novo Mesto*, Odranci, Oplotnica, Ormoz, Osilnica,
Pesnica, Piran-Pirano, Pivka, Podcetrtek, Podlehnik, Podvelka,
Polzela, Postojna, Prebold, Preddvor, Prevalje, Ptuj*, Puconci,
Race-Fram, Radece, Radenci, Radlje ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne na
Koroskem, Razkrizje, Ribnica, Ribnica na Pohorju, Rogasovci, Rogaska
Slatina, Rogatec, Ruse, Salovci, Selnica ob Dravi, Semic,
Sempeter-Vrtojba, Sencur, Sentilj, Sentjernej, Sentjur pri Celju,
Sevnica, Sezana, Skocjan, Skofja Loka, Skofljica, Slovenj Gradec*,
Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje pri Jelsah, Smartno ob
Paki, Smartno pri Litiji, Sodrazica, Solcava, Sostanj, Starse,
Store, Sveta Ana, Sveti Andraz v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Jurij,
Tabor, Tisina, Tolmin, Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trnovska Vas, Trzic,
Trzin, Turnisce, Velenje*, Velika Polana, Velike Lasce, Verzej,
Videm, Vipava, Vitanje, Vodice, Vojnik, Vransko, Vrhnika, Vuzenica,
Zagorje ob Savi, Zalec, Zavrc, Zelezniki, Zetale, Ziri, Zirovnica,
Zuzemberk, Zrece
note: there may be 45 more municipalities

Independence:
25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

National holiday:
Independence Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)

Constitution:
adopted 23 December 1991

Legal system:
based on civil law system

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Janez DRNOVSEK (since 22 December 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Janez JANSA (since 9 November
2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
elected by the National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 10 November and 1
December 2002 (next to be held in the fall of 2007); following
National Assembly elections, the leader of the majority party or the
leader of a majority coalition is usually nominated to become prime
minister by the president and elected by the National Assembly;
election last held 9 November 2004 (next National Assembly elections
to be held October 2008)
election results: Janez DRNOVSEK elected president; percent of vote
- Janez DRNOVSEK 56.5%, Barbara BREZIGAR 43.5%; Janez JANSA elected
prime minister; National Assembly vote - 57 to 27

Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consisting of a National Assembly or Drzavni
Zbor (90 seats; 40 are directly elected and 50 are selected on a
proportional basis; note - the numbers of directly elected and
proportionally elected seats varies with each election; members are
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the National
Council or Drzavni Svet (40 seats; this is primarily an advisory
body with limited legislative powers; it may propose laws, ask to
review any National Assembly decisions, and call national referenda;
members - representing social, economic, professional, and local
interests - are indirectly elected to five-year terms by an
electoral college)
elections: National Assembly - last held 3 October 2004 (next to be
held October 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - SDS 29.1%, LDS 22.8%,
ZLSD 10.2%, NSi 9%, SLS 6.8%, SNS 6.3%, DeSUS 4.1%, other 11.7%;
seats by party - SDS 29, LDS 23, ZLSD 10, NSi 9, SLS 7, SNS 6, DeSUS
4, Hungarian and Italian minorities 1 each

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are elected by the National Assembly on the
recommendation of the Judicial Council); Constitutional Court
(judges elected for nine-year terms by the National Assembly and
nominated by the president)

Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party of Retired (Persons) of Slovenia or DeSUS [Karl
ERJAVEC]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDS [Jelko KACIN]; New
Slovenia or NSi [Andrej BAJUK]; Slovenian Democratic Party or SDS
[Janez JANSA]; Slovene National Party or SNS [Zmago JELINCIC];
Slovene People's Party or SLS [Janez PODOBNIK]; Slovene Youth Party
or SMS [Darko KRANJC]; Social Democrats or SD [Borut PAHOR]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU
(new member), FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU,
MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU
(associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Samuel ZBOGAR
chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 667-5363
FAX: [1] (202) 667-4563
consulate(s) general: Cleveland, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas B. ROBERTSON
embassy: Presernova 31, 1000 Ljubljana
mailing address: American Embassy Ljubljana, US Department of State,
7140 Ljubljana Place, Washington, DC 20521-7140
telephone: [386] (1) 200-5500
FAX: [386] (1) 200-5555

Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red, with
the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav, Slovenia's
highest peak, in white against a blue background at the center;
beneath it are two wavy blue lines depicting seas and rivers, and
above it are three six-pointed stars arranged in an inverted
triangle, which are taken from the coat of arms of the Counts of
Celje, the great Slovene dynastic house of the late 14th and early
15th centuries); the seal is located in the upper hoist side of the
flag centered in the white and blue bands

Economy Slovenia

Economy - overview:
With its small transition economy and population of approximately
two million, Slovenia is a model of economic success and stability
for its neighbors in the former Yugoslavia. The country, which
joined the EU in 2004, has excellent infrastructure, a well-educated
work force, and an excellent central location. It enjoys a GDP per
capita substantially higher than any of the other transitioning
economies of Central Europe. In March 2004, Slovenia became the
first transition country to graduate from borrower status to donor
partner at the World Bank. Slovenia plans to adopt the euro by 2007
and has met the EU's Maastricht criteria for inflation. Despite its
economic success, Slovenia faces growing challenges. Much of the
economy remains in state hands and foreign direct investment (FDI)
in Slovenia is one of the lowest in the EU on a per capita basis.
Taxes are relatively high, the labor market is often seen as
inflexible, and legacy industries are losing sales to more
competitive firms in China, India, and elsewhere. The current
center-right government, elected in October 2004, has pledged to
accelerate privatization of a number of large state holdings and is
interested in increasing FDI in Slovenia. In late 2005, the
government's new Committee for Economic Reforms was elevated to
cabinet-level status. The Committee's program includes plans for
lowering the tax burden, privatizing state-controlled firms,
improving the flexibility of the labor market, and increasing the
government's efficiency.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$43.27 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$35.21 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
4% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$21,500 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.8%
industry: 36.9%
services: 60.3% (2005 est.)

Labor force:
920,000 (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 4.8%
industry: 39.1%
services: 56.1% (2004)

Unemployment rate:
6.3% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:
At-risk-of-poverty rate after social transfers: 10% (2003)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 21.4% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
28.4 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.5% (2005 est.)

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

Budget:
revenues: $16.02 billion
expenditures: $16.73 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)

Public debt:
28.5% of GDP (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products:
potatoes, hops, wheat, sugar beets, corn, grapes; cattle, sheep,
poultry

Industries:
ferrous metallurgy and aluminum products, lead and zinc smelting;
electronics (including military electronics), trucks, electric power
equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine tools

Industrial production growth rate:
3.1% (2005 est.)

Electricity - production:
14.02 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 35.2%
hydro: 27.3%
nuclear: 36.8%
other: 0.7% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
12.52 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:
5.811 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
5.975 billion kWh (2003)

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

Oil - consumption:
52,000 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:
1.1 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2003)

Natural gas - imports:
963 million cu m (2002)

Current account balance:
$-303 million (2005 est.)

Exports:
$18.53 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

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

Exports - partners:
Germany 19.9%, Italy 12.7%, Croatia 9.4%, Austria 8.1%, France 8.1%
(2005)

Imports:
$19.62 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

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

Imports - partners:
Germany 19.5%, Italy 18.6%, Austria 12%, France 7.2%, Croatia 4.2%
(2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$8.16 billion (2005 est.)

Debt - external:
$18.97 billion (2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$484 million in committed EU structural adjustment and cohesion
funds (2004-06)

Currency (code):
tolar (SIT)

Currency code:
SIT

Exchange rates:
tolars per US dollar - 192.71 (2005), 192.38 (2004), 207.11 (2003),
240.25 (2002), 242.75 (2001)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Slovenia

Telephones - main lines in use:
816,400 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.759 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: 100% digital (2000)
international: country code - 386

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 17, FM 160, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:
805,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
48 (2001)

Televisions:
710,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.si

Internet hosts:
61,735 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
11 (2000)

Internet users:
1.09 million (2005)

Transportation Slovenia

Airports:
14 (2006)

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

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 2,526 km; oil 11 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 1,229 km
standard gauge: 1,229 km 1.435-m gauge (504 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 38,400 km
paved: 38,400 km (including 477 km of expressways) (2003)

Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 26 (Antigua and Barbuda 6, Bahamas
1, Cyprus 4, Georgia 1, Liberia 2, Malta 3, Marshall Islands 3,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Singapore 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Koper

Military Slovenia

Military branches:
Slovenian Army (includes air and naval forces)

Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription
abolished in 2003 (2004)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 17-49: 496,929
females age 17-49: 483,959 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 17-49: 405,593
females age 17-49: 397,167 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 12,816
females age 17-49: 12,178 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$370 million (FY00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.7% (FY00)

Transnational Issues Slovenia

Disputes - international:
the Croatia-Slovenia land and maritime boundary agreement, which
would have ceded most of Piran Bay and maritime access to Slovenia
and several villages to Croatia, remains unratified and in dispute;
as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border,
Slovenia must implement the strict Schengen border rules to curb
illegal migration and commerce through southeastern Europe while
encouraging close cross-border ties with Croatia

Illicit drugs:
minor transit point for cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin bound
for Western Europe, and for precursor chemicals

This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006

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

@Solomon Islands

Introduction Solomon Islands

Background:
The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in the
1890s. Some of the bitterest fighting of World War II occurred on
this archipelago. Self-government was achieved in 1976 and
independence two years later. Ethnic violence, government
malfeasance, and endemic crime have undermined stability and civil
society. In June 2003, Prime Minister Sir Allen KEMAKEZA sought the
assistance of Australia in reestablishing law and order; the
following month, an Australian-led multinational force arrived to
restore peace and disarm ethnic militias. The Regional Assistance
Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has been very effective in
restoring law and order and rebuilding government institutions.

Geography Solomon Islands

Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua
New Guinea

Geographic coordinates:
8 00 S, 159 00 E

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 28,450 sq km
land: 27,540 sq km
water: 910 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
5,313 km

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

Climate:
tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather

Terrain:
mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Makarakomburu 2,447 m

Natural resources:
fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel

Land use:
arable land: 0.62%
permanent crops: 2.04%
other: 97.34% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

Natural hazards:
typhoons, but rarely destructive; geologically active region with
frequent earth tremors; volcanic activity

Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding coral reefs
are dead or dying

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

Geography - note:
strategic location on sea routes between the South Pacific Ocean,
the Solomon Sea, and the Coral Sea

People Solomon Islands

Population:
552,438 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.3% (male 116,370/female 111,834)
15-64 years: 55.4% (male 154,793/female 151,308)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 8,696/female 9,437) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 18.9 years
male: 18.7 years
female: 19 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
2.61% (2006 est.)

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

Death rate:
3.92 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: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 20.63 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 23.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.91 years
male: 70.4 years
female: 75.55 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
3.91 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: Solomon Islander(s)
adjective: Solomon Islander

Ethnic groups:
Melanesian 94.5%, Polynesian 3%, Micronesian 1.2%, other 1.1%,
unspecified 0.2% (1999 census)

Religions:
Church of Melanesia 32.8%, Roman Catholic 19%, South Seas
Evangelical 17%, Seventh-Day Adventist 11.2%, United Church 10.3%,
Christian Fellowship Church 2.4%, other Christian 4.4%, other 2.4%,
unspecified 0.3%, none 0.2% (1999 census)

Languages:
Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua franca; English
is official but spoken by only 1%-2% of the population
note: 120 indigenous languages

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

Government Solomon Islands

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Solomon Islands
local long form: none
local short form: Solomon Islands
former: British Solomon Islands

Government type:
parliamentary democracy

Capital:
name: Honiara
geographic coordinates: 9 26 S, 159 57 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
9 provinces and 1 capital territory*; Central, Choiseul,
Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Rennell and Bellona,
Temotu, Western

Independence:
7 July 1978 (from UK)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 7 July (1978)

Constitution:
7 July 1978

Legal system:
English common law, which is widely disregarded

Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Nathaniel WAENA (since 7 July 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Manasseh SOGAVARE (since 4 May
2006); note - Prime Minister Snyder RINI, elected on 18 April 2006
and sworn in on 20 April 2006, resigned on 26 April prior to no
confidence vote in parliament; SOGAVARE elected on 4 May
cabinet: Cabinet consists of 20 members appointed by the governor
general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members
of Parliament
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the monarch on the advice of Parliament for up to five
years (eligible for a second term); following legislative elections,
the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority
coalition is usually elected prime minister by Parliament; deputy
prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister from among the members of Parliament

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Parliament (50 seats; members elected from
single-member constituencies by popular vote to serve four-year
terms)
elections: last held 5 April 2006 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - National Party 6.9%,
SIPRA 6.3%, Democratic 4.9%, PAP 6.3%, LAFARI 2.8%, Liberal 5%,
SOCRED 4.3%, independents 60.3%; seats by party - National Party 4,
SIPRA 4, Democratic 3, PAP 3, LAFARI 2, Liberal 2, SOCRED 2,
independents 30

Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders:
Association of Independent Members or AIM [Thomas CHAN]; Christian
Alliance Solomon Islands or CASI [Edward RONIA]; LAFARI Party [John
GARO]; National Party [Francis HILLY]; People's Alliance Party or
PAP [Sir Allan KEMAKEZA]; Social Credit Party or SOCRED [Manasseh
Damukana SOGAVARE]; Solomon First Party [David QUAN]; Solomon
Islands Democratic Party [Gabriel SURI]; Solomon Islands Labor Party
or SILP [Joses TUHANUKU]; Solomon Islands Liberal Party [Bartholomew
ULUFA'ALU]; Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement or SIPRA
[Job D. TAUSINGA]; United Party [Sir Peter KENILOREA]
note: in general, Solomon Islands politics is characterized by fluid
coalitions

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Isatabu Freedom Movement (IFM); Malaita Eagle Force (MEF); note -
these rival armed ethnic factions crippled the Solomon Islands in a
wave of violence from 1999 to 2003

International organization participation:
ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF,
Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Collin David BECK
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400L, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 599-6192, 6193
FAX: [1] (212) 661-8925

Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Solomon Islands (embassy closed
July 1993); the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to the
Solomon Islands

Flag description:
divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower
hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five
white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the lower
triangle is green

Government - note:
June 2003 Prime Minister Sir Allan KEMAKEZA sought the intervention
of Australia to aid in restoring order; parliament approved the
request for intervention in July 2003; troops from Australia, NZ,
Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga arrived 24 July 2003; by 2006, the
Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) had been
scaled back to 259 police officers and 20 military, in addition to
civilian technical advisers; in response to rioting that broke out
in mid-April 2006, Australia dispatched an addtional 220 troops and
70 police officers to help restore order

Economy Solomon Islands

Economy - overview:
The bulk of the population depends on agriculture, fishing, and
forestry for at least part of its livelihood. Most manufactured
goods and petroleum products must be imported. The islands are rich
in undeveloped mineral resources such as lead, zinc, nickel, and
gold. Prior to the arrival of the Regional Assistance Mission to the
Solomon Islands (RAMSI), severe ethnic violence, the closing of key
businesses, and an empty government treasury culminated in economic
collapse. RAMSI has enabled a return to law and order, a new period
of economic stability, and modest growth as the economy rebuilds.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$800 million (2002 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$286 million

GDP - real growth rate:
4.4% (2005 est.)

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

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 42%
industry: 11%
services: 47% (2000 est.)

Labor force:
249,200 (1999)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 75%
industry: 5%
services: 20% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:
NA%

Population below poverty line:
NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.6% (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $49.7 million
expenditures: $75.1 million; including capital expenditures of NA
(2003)

Agriculture - products:
cocoa beans, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, potatoes, vegetables,
fruit; timber; cattle, pigs; fish

Industries:
fish (tuna), mining, timber

Industrial production growth rate:
NA%

Electricity - production:
55 million kWh (2003)

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

Electricity - consumption:
51.15 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)

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

Oil - consumption:
1,270 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

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

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

Exports:
$171 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
timber, fish, copra, palm oil, cocoa

Exports - partners:
China 40.7%, South Korea 13.2%, Thailand 6.9%, Japan 6.3%,
Philippines 4.5%, Italy 4.1% (2005)

Imports:
$159 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

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

Imports - partners:
Australia 25.8%, Singapore 25.3%, NZ 4.6%, Fiji 4.2%, Papua New
Guinea 4.1% (2005)

Debt - external:
$166 million (2004)

Economic aid - recipient:
$122 million annually, mainly from Australia (2004 est.)

Currency (code):
Solomon Islands dollar (SBD)

Currency code:
SBD

Exchange rates:
Solomon Islands dollars per US dollar - 7.5299 (2005), 7.4847
(2004), 7.5059 (2003), 6.7488 (2002), 5.278 (2001)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Solomon Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:
7,400 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
6,000 (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 677; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

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

Radios:
57,000 (1997)

Televisions:
3,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.sb

Internet hosts:
2,658 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)

Internet users:
8,400 (2005)

Transportation Solomon Islands

Airports:
35 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 33
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 23 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 1,360 km
paved: 34 km
unpaved: 1,326 km (1999)

Ports and terminals:
Honiara, Malloco Bay, Shortland Harbor, Viru Harbor, Yandina

Military Solomon Islands

Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 114,253 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 92,796 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 6,033 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA

Transnational Issues Solomon Islands

Disputes - international:
Australian Defense Force leads the Regional Assistance Mission to
the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) at the invitation of the Solomon
Islands' Government to maintain civil and political order and
reinforce regional security

This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006

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

@Somalia

Introduction Somalia

Background:
Britain withdrew from British Somaliland in 1960 in order to allow
its protectorate to join with Italian Somaliland and form the new
nation of Somalia. In 1969, a coup headed by Mohamed SIAD Barre
ushered in an authoritarian socialist rule that managed to impose a
degree of stability in the country for a couple of decades. After
the regime's overthrow early in 1991, Somalia descended into
turmoil, factional fighting, and anarchy. In May of 1991, northern
clans declared an independent Republic of Somaliland that now
includes the administrative regions of Awdal, Woqooyi Galbeed,
Togdheer, Sanaag, and Sool. Although not recognized by any
government, this entity has maintained a stable existence, aided by
the overwhelming dominance of a ruling clan and economic
infrastructure left behind by British, Russian, and American
military assistance programs. The regions of Bari, Nugaal, and
northern Mudug comprise a neighboring self-declared autonomous state
of Puntland, which has been self-governing since 1998, but does not
aim at independence; it has also made strides toward reconstructing
a legitimate, representative government, but has suffered some civil
strife. Puntland disputes its border with Somaliland as it also
claims portions of eastern Sool and Sanaag. Beginning in 1993, a
two-year UN humanitarian effort (primarily in the south) was able to
alleviate famine conditions, but when the UN withdrew in 1995,
having suffered significant casualties, order still had not been
restored. The mandate of the Transitional National Government (TNG),
created in August 2000 in Arta, Djibouti, expired in August 2003. A
two-year peace process, led by the Government of Kenya under the
auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD),
concluded in October 2004 with the election of Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed
as Transitional Federal President of Somalia and the formation of a
transitional government, known as the Somalia Transitional Federal
Institutions (TFIs). The Somalia TFIs include a 275-member
parliamentary body, known as the Transitional Federal Assembly
(TFA), a transitional Prime Minister, Ali Mohamed GHEDI, and a
90-member cabinet. The TFIs are currently divided between Mogadishu
and Jowhar, but discussions to co-locate the TFIs in one city are
ongoing. Suspicion of Somali links with global terrorism further
complicates the picture.

Geography Somalia

Location:
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean,
east of Ethiopia

Geographic coordinates:
10 00 N, 49 00 E

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 637,657 sq km
land: 627,337 sq km
water: 10,320 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:
total: 2,340 km
border countries: Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,600 km, Kenya 682 km

Coastline:
3,025 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm

Climate:
principally desert; northeast monsoon (December to February),
moderate temperatures in north and very hot in south; southwest
monsoon (May to October), torrid in the north and hot in the south,
irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between
monsoons

Terrain:
mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Shimbiris 2,416 m

Natural resources:
uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum,
bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves

Land use:
arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 0.04%
other: 98.32% (2005)

Irrigated land:
2,000 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in
summer; floods during rainy season

Environment - current issues:
famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human health
problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection

Geography - note:
strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to
Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal

People Somalia

Population:
8,863,338
note: this estimate was derived from an official census taken in
1975 by the Somali Government; population counting in Somalia is
complicated by the large number of nomads and by refugee movements
in response to famine and clan warfare (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.4% (male 1,973,294/female 1,961,083)
15-64 years: 53% (male 2,355,861/female 2,342,988)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 97,307/female 132,805) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 17.6 years
male: 17.5 years
female: 17.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
2.85% (2006 est.)

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

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

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

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 114.89 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 124.18 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 105.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 48.47 years
male: 46.71 years
female: 50.28 years (2006 est.)

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
43,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

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

Nationality:
noun: Somali(s)
adjective: Somali

Ethnic groups:
Somali 85%, Bantu and other non-Somali 15% (including Arabs 30,000)

Religions:
Sunni Muslim

Languages:
Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 37.8%
male: 49.7%
female: 25.8% (2001 est.)

Government Somalia

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Somalia
local long form: Jamhuuriyada Demuqraadiga Soomaaliyeed
local short form: Soomaaliya
former: Somali Republic; Somali Democratic Republic

Government type:
no permanent national government; transitional, parliamentary
federal government

Capital:
name: Mogadishu
geographic coordinates: 2 04 N, 45 22 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
18 regions (plural - NA, singular - gobolka); Awdal, Bakool,
Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe,
Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe, Shabeellaha
Hoose, Sool, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed

Independence:
1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which became
independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian Somaliland,
which became independent from the Italian-administered UN
trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to form the Somali Republic)

National holiday:
Foundation of the Somali Republic, 1 July (1960); note - 26 June
(1960) in Somaliland

Constitution:
25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979
note: the formation of transitional governing institutions, known as
the Transitional Federal Government, is currently ongoing

Legal system:
no national system; Shari'a (Islamic) and secular courts based on
Somali customary law (xeer) are present in some localities; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Transitional Federal President Abdullahi YUSUF
Ahmed (since 14 October 2004); note - a transitional governing
entity with a five-year mandate, known as the Transitional Federal
Institutions (TFIs), was established in October 2004; the TFI
relocated to Somalia in June 2004, but its members remain divided
between Mogadishu and Jowhar inside Somalia, and the government
continues to struggle to establish effective governance in the
country
head of government: Prime Minister Ali Mohamed GEDI (since 24
December 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by the
Transitional Federal Assembly
election results: Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed, the former leader of the
semi-autonomous Puntland region of Somalia, was elected president by
the Transitional Federal Assembly

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly
note: fledgling parliament; a 275-member Transitional Federal
Assembly; the new parliament consists of 61 seats assigned to each
of four large clan groups (Darod, Digil-Mirifle, Dir, and Hawiye)
with the remaining 31 seats divided between minority clans

Judicial branch:
following the breakdown of the central government, most regions
have reverted to local forms of conflict resolution, either secular,
traditional Somali customary law, or Shari'a (Islamic) law with a
provision for appeal of all sentences

Political parties and leaders:
none

Political pressure groups and leaders:
numerous clan and sub-clan factions are currently vying for power

International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), IPU, ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
Somalia does not have an embassy in the US (ceased operations on 8
May 1991); note - the TFG and other factions have representatives in
Washington and at the United Nations

Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Somalia; US interests are
represented by the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya at United Nations
Avenue, Nairobi; mailing address: Unit 64100, Nairobi; APO AE 09831;
telephone: [254] (20) 363-6000; FAX [254] (20) 363-6157

Flag description:
light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; blue
field influenced by the flag of the UN

Government - note:
although an interim government was created in 2004, other regional
and local governing bodies continue to exist and control various
cities and regions of the country, including the self-declared
Republic of Somaliland in northwestern Somalia, the semi-autonomous
State of Puntland in northeastern Somalia, and traditional clan and
faction strongholds

Economy Somalia

Economy - overview:
Somalia's economic fortunes are driven by its deep political
divisions. The northwestern area has declared its independence as
the "Republic of Somaliland"; the northeastern region of Puntland is
a semi-autonomous state; and the remaining southern portion is
riddled with the struggles of rival factions. Economic life
continues, in part because much activity is local and relatively
easily protected. Agriculture is the most important sector, with
livestock normally accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of
export earnings, but Saudi Arabia's ban on Somali livestock, due to
Rift Valley Fever concerns, has severely hampered the sector. Nomads
and semi-nomads, who are dependent upon livestock for their
livelihood, make up a large portion of the population. Livestock,
hides, fish, charcoal, and bananas are Somalia's principal exports,
while sugar, sorghum, corn, qat, and machined goods are the
principal imports. Somalia's small industrial sector, based on the
processing of agricultural products, has largely been looted and
sold as scrap metal. Despite the seeming anarchy, Somalia's service
sector has managed to survive and grow. Telecommunication firms
provide wireless services in most major cities and offer the lowest
international call rates on the continent. In the absence of a
formal banking sector, money exchange services have sprouted
throughout the country, handling between $500 million and $1 billion
in remittances annually. Mogadishu's main market offers a variety of
goods from food to the newest electronic gadgets. Hotels continue to
operate, and militias provide security. The ongoing civil
disturbances and clan rivalries, however, have interfered with any
broad-based economic development and international aid arrangements.
Somalia's arrears to the IMF continued to grow in 2005. Statistics
on Somalia's GDP, growth, per capita income, and inflation should be
viewed skeptically. In late December 2004, a major tsunami caused an
estimated 150 deaths and resulted in destruction of property in
coastal areas.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4.809 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.483 billion

GDP - real growth rate:
2.4% (2005 est.)

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

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 65%
industry: 10%
services: 25% (2000 est.)

Labor force:
3.7 million (very few skilled laborers)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 71%
industry and services: 29%

Unemployment rate:
NA%

Population below poverty line:
NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%; note - businesses print their own money, so inflation rates
cannot be easily determined

Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA

Agriculture - products:
bananas, sorghum, corn, coconuts, rice, sugarcane, mangoes, sesame
seeds, beans; cattle, sheep, goats; fish

Industries:
a few light industries, including sugar refining, textiles,
wireless communication

Industrial production growth rate:
NA%

Electricity - production:
235.6 million kWh (2003)

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

Electricity - consumption:
219.1 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)

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

Oil - consumption:
5,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2002)

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

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

Natural gas - proved reserves:
5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Exports:
$241 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
livestock, bananas, hides, fish, charcoal, scrap metal

Exports - partners:
UAE 52.6%, Yemen 14.6%, Oman 6.3%, India 4.2% (2005)

Imports:
$576 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
manufactures, petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction
materials, qat

Imports - partners:
Djibouti 30.1%, Kenya 13.7%, Brazil 8.4%, India 8%, Oman 5.3%, UAE
5% (2005)

Debt - external:
$3 billion (2001 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$60 million (1999 est.)

Currency (code):
Somali shilling (SOS)

Currency code:
SOS

Exchange rates:
Somali shillings per US dollar - 11,000 (November 2000), 2,620
(January 1999), 7,500 (November 1997 est.), 7,000 (January 1996
est.), 5,000 (1 January 1995)
note: the Republic of Somaliland, a self-declared independent
country not recognized by any foreign government, issues its own
currency, the Somaliland shilling

Fiscal year:
NA

Communications Somalia

Telephones - main lines in use:
100,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
500,000 (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: the public telecommunications system was almost
completely destroyed or dismantled by the civil war factions;
private wireless companies offer service in most major cities and
charge the lowest international rates on the continent
domestic: local cellular telephone systems have been established in
Mogadishu and in several other population centers
international: country code - 252; international connections are
available from Mogadishu by satellite

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 11, shortwave 1 in Mogadishu; 1 FM in Puntland, 1 FM in
Somaliland (2001)

Radios:
470,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
4; note - two in Mogadishu; two in Hargeisa (2001)

Televisions:
135,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.so

Internet hosts:
3 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (one each in Boosaaso, Hargeisa, and Mogadishu) (2000)

Internet users:
90,000 (2005)

Transportation Somalia

Airports:
65 (2006)

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