Chapter M: Major infectious diseases (23)

total: 100 km (Djibouti segment of the 781 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway) country comparison to the world: 127 narrow gauge: 100 km 1.000-m gauge

note: railway is under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia but is largely inoperable (2008)

Roadways:

total: 3,065 km country comparison to the world: 165 paved: 1,226 km

unpaved: 1,839 km (2000)

Ports and terminals:

Djibouti

Transportation - note:

the International Maritime Bureau reports offshore waters in the Gulf of Aden are high risk for piracy; numerous vessels, including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crew, passengers, and cargo are held for ransom

Military ::Djibouti

Military branches:

Djibouti National Army (includes Navy and Air Force)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; 16-25 years of age for voluntary military training; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 111,274

females age 16-49: 105,168 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 55,173

females age 16-49: 52,825 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 5,778

female: 5,771 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

3.8% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 33

Transnational Issues ::Djibouti

Disputes - international:

Djibouti maintains economic ties and border accords with "Somaliland" leadership while maintaining some political ties to various factions in Somalia; Kuwait is chief investor in the 2008 restoration and upgrade of the Ethiopian-Djibouti rail link

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 8,642 (Somalia) (2007)

page last updated on November 11, 2009

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

@Dominica (Central America and Caribbean)

Introduction ::Dominica

Background:

Dominica was the last of the Caribbean islands to be colonized by Europeans due chiefly to the fierce resistance of the native Caribs. France ceded possession to Great Britain in 1763, which made the island a colony in 1805. In 1980, two years after independence, Dominica's fortunes improved when a corrupt and tyrannical administration was replaced by that of Mary Eugenia CHARLES, the first female prime minister in the Caribbean, who remained in office for 15 years. Some 3,000 Carib Indians still living on Dominica are the only pre-Columbian population remaining in the eastern Caribbean.

Geography ::Dominica

Location:

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about half way between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates:

15 25 N, 61 20 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 751 sq km country comparison to the world: 188 land: 751 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

148 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall

Terrain:

rugged mountains of volcanic origin

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point: Morne Diablatins 1,447 m

Natural resources:

timber, hydropower, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 6.67%

permanent crops: 21.33%

other: 72% (2005)

Irrigated land:

NA

Total renewable water resources:

NA

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.02 cu km/yr

per capita: 213 cu m/yr (1996)

Natural hazards:

flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months

Environment - current issues:

NA

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

known as "The Nature Island of the Caribbean" due to its spectacular, lush, and varied flora and fauna, which are protected by an extensive natural park system; the most mountainous of the Lesser Antilles, its volcanic peaks are cones of lava craters and include Boiling Lake, the second-largest, thermally active lake in the world

People ::Dominica

Population:

72,660 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 201

Age structure:

0-14 years: 24% (male 8,910/female 8,518)

15-64 years: 65.8% (male 24,532/female 23,301)

65 years and over: 10.2% (male 3,187/female 4,212) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 29.8 years

male: 29.4 years

female: 30.2 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.208% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 184

Birth rate:

15.73 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Death rate:

8.2 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Net migration rate:

-5.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

Urbanization:

urban population: 74% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 0.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female

total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 13.65 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 133 male: 18.34 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 8.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.55 years country comparison to the world: 76 male: 72.61 years

female: 78.64 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.09 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Dominican(s)

adjective: Dominican

Ethnic groups:

black 86.8%, mixed 8.9%, Carib Amerindian 2.9%, white 0.8%, other 0.7% (2001 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 61.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 6%, Pentecostal 5.6%, Baptist 4.1%, Methodist 3.7%, Church of God 1.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.2%, other Christian 7.7%, Rastafarian 1.3%, other or unspecified 1.6%, none 6.1% (2001 census)

Languages:

English (official), French patois

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population: 94%

male: 94%

female: 94% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 13 years

male: 13 years

female: 14 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

5% of GDP (1999) country comparison to the world: 70

Government ::Dominica

Country name:

conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominica

conventional short form: Dominica

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Roseau

geographic coordinates: 15 18 N, 61 24 W

time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter

Independence:

3 November 1978 (from the UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 3 November (1978)

Constitution:

3 November 1978

Legal system:

based on English common law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Nicholas J. O. LIVERPOOL (since October 2003)

head of government: Prime Minister Roosevelt SKERRIT (since 8 January 2004)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

elections: president elected by the House of Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 1 October 2003 (next to be held in 2013); prime minister appointed by the president

election results: Nicholas LIVERPOOL consented to a second term in 2008 at the request of the prime minister and leader of the opposition

Legislative branch:

unicameral House of Assembly (30 seats; 9 members appointed, 21 elected by popular vote; to serve five-year terms)

elections: last held 5 May 2005 (next to be held by 5 August 2010); note - tradition dictates that the election will be held within five years of the last election, but technically it is five years from the first seating of parliament (12 May 2005) plus a 90-day grace period

election results: percent of vote by party - DLP 52.1%, UWP 43.6%, DFP 3.2%, other 1.1%; seats by party - DLP 12, UWP 8, independent 1

Judicial branch:

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the Court of Appeal and the High Court (located in Saint Lucia; one of the six judges must reside in Dominica and preside over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction)

Political parties and leaders:

Dominica Freedom Party or DFP [Charles SAVARIN]; Dominica Labor Party or DLP [Roosevelt SKERRIT]; Dominica United Workers Party or UWP [Earl WILLIAMS]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Dominica Liberation Movement or DLM (a small leftist party)

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Judith Ann ROLLE

chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016

telephone: [1] (202) 364-6781

FAX: [1] (202) 364-6791

consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Dominica

Flag description:

green, with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white and the horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot encircled by 10 green, five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)

Economy ::Dominica

Economy - overview:

The Dominican economy depends on agriculture, primarily bananas, and remains highly vulnerable to climatic conditions and international economic developments. Tourism has increased as the government seeks to promote Dominica as an "ecotourism" destination and has developed a new tourism development plan with assistance from the EU. Hurricane Dean struck the island in August 2007 causing damages equivalent to 20% of GDP. In 2003, the government began a comprehensive restructuring of the economy - including elimination of price controls, privatization of the state banana company, and tax increases - to address Dominica's economic and financial crisis of 2001-02 and to meet IMF targets. This restructuring paved the way for the current economic recovery - real growth for 2006 reached a two-decade high - and will help to reduce the debt burden, which remains at about 100% of GDP. In order to diversify the island's production base, the government is attempting to develop an offshore financial sector and has signed an agreement with the EU to develop geothermal energy resources.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$726.3 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 209 $703.8 million (2007 est.)

$691.4 million (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$364 million (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 120 1.8% (2007 est.)

3.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$10,000 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 $9,700 (2007 est.)

$9,600 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 17.7%

industry: 32.8%

services: 49.5% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

25,000 (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 40%

industry: 32%

services: 28% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

23% (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 172

Population below poverty line:

30% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $73.9 million

expenditures: $84.4 million (2001)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.7% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 29

Central bank discount rate:

6.5% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 68 6.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

9.06% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 91 9.17% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$72.1 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 115 $73.71 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$289.9 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 114 $269.1 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$213.6 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 122 $193.1 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts, cocoa; forest and fishery potential not exploited

Industries:

soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

85 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Electricity - consumption:

79.05 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Oil - consumption:

1,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 191

Oil - imports:

838.2 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 191

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 189

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 189

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 187

Current account balance:

-$72 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 76

Exports:

$94 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 194

Exports - commodities:

bananas, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges

Exports - partners:

Japan 33.5%, China 17.8%, Antigua and Barbuda 6.7%, Guyana 5.7%, Jamaica 4.7%, UK 4.7% (2008)

Imports:

$296 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 195

Imports - commodities:

manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Japan 43.2%, US 17%, China 12.1%, Trinidad and Tobago 8.4% (2008)

Debt - external:

$213 million (2004) country comparison to the world: 179

Exchange rates:

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)

Communications ::Dominica

Telephones - main lines in use:

17,500 (2008) country comparison to the world: 197

Telephones - mobile cellular:

100,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 183

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA

domestic: fully automatic network

international: country code - 1-767; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad; microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint Lucia

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2003)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2004)

Internet country code:

.dm

Internet hosts:

485 (2009) country comparison to the world: 173

Internet users:

27,500 (2008) country comparison to the world: 182

Transportation ::Dominica

Airports:

2 (2009) country comparison to the world: 198

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2009)

Roadways:

total: 780 km country comparison to the world: 187 paved: 393 km

unpaved: 387 km (2000)

Merchant marine:

total: 53 country comparison to the world: 69 by type: bulk carrier 14, cargo 27, chemical tanker 3, petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 1

foreign-owned: 47 (Australia 2, Estonia 7, Greece 10, India 2, Latvia 1, Norway 1, Russia 3, Saudi Arabia 2, Singapore 7, Syria 2, Turkey 5, Ukraine 4, UAE 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Portsmouth, Roseau

Military ::Dominica

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Coast Guard) (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 18,584 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 15,821

females age 16-49: 15,291 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 776

female: 731 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

NA (2006)

Transnational Issues ::Dominica

Disputes - international:

Dominica is the only Caribbean state to challenge Venezuela's sovereignty claim over Aves Island and joins the other island nations in challenging whether the feature sustains human habitation, a criterion under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which permits Venezuela to extend its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf claims over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; minor cannabis producer (2008)

page last updated on November 11, 2009

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

@Dominican Republic (Central America and Caribbean)

Introduction ::Dominican Republic

Background:

Explored and claimed by Christopher COLUMBUS on his first voyage in 1492, the island of Hispaniola became a springboard for Spanish conquest of the Caribbean and the American mainland. In 1697, Spain recognized French dominion over the western third of the island, which in 1804 became Haiti. The remainder of the island, by then known as Santo Domingo, sought to gain its own independence in 1821 but was conquered and ruled by the Haitians for 22 years; it finally attained independence as the Dominican Republic in 1844. In 1861, the Dominicans voluntarily returned to the Spanish Empire, but two years later they launched a war that restored independence in 1865. A legacy of unsettled, mostly non-representative rule followed, capped by the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas TRUJILLO from 1930-61. Juan BOSCH was elected president in 1962 but was deposed in a military coup in 1963. In 1965, the United States led an intervention in the midst of a civil war sparked by an uprising to restore BOSCH. In 1966, Joaquin BALAGUER defeated BOSCH in an election to become president. BALAGUER maintained a tight grip on power for most of the next 30 years when international reaction to flawed elections forced him to curtail his term in 1996. Since then, regular competitive elections have been held in which opposition candidates have won the presidency. Former President (1996-2000) Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna won election to a second term in 2004 following a constitutional amendment allowing presidents to serve more than one term.

Geography ::Dominican Republic

Location:

Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti

Geographic coordinates:

19 00 N, 70 40 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 48,670 sq km country comparison to the world: 131 land: 48,320 sq km

water: 350 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire

Land boundaries:

total: 360 km

border countries: Haiti 360 km

Coastline:

1,288 km

Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines

territorial sea: 6 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall

Terrain:

rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m

highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m

Natural resources:

nickel, bauxite, gold, silver

Land use:

arable land: 22.49%

permanent crops: 10.26%

other: 67.25% (2005)

Irrigated land:

2,750 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

21 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 3.39 cu km/yr (32%/2%/66%)

per capita: 381 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti

People ::Dominican Republic

Population:

9,650,054 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Age structure:

0-14 years: 31.4% (male 1,543,141/female 1,488,016)

15-64 years: 62.7% (male 3,087,351/female 2,960,319)

65 years and over: 5.9% (male 264,476/female 306,751) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 24.9 years

male: 24.8 years

female: 25.1 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.489% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Birth rate:

22.39 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Death rate:

5.28 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Net migration rate:

-2.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Urbanization:

urban population: 69% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 2.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female

total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 25.96 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 83 male: 28 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 23.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.7 years country comparison to the world: 99 male: 71.88 years

female: 75.6 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.76 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

62,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 59

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

4,100 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 48

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria

water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)

Nationality:

noun: Dominican(s)

adjective: Dominican

Ethnic groups:

mixed 73%, white 16%, black 11%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%

Languages:

Spanish

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 87%

male: 86.8%

female: 87.2% (2002 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years

male: 12 years

female: 13 years (2004)

Education expenditures:

3.6% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 126

Government ::Dominican Republic

Country name:

conventional long form: Dominican Republic

conventional short form: The Dominican

local long form: Republica Dominicana

local short form: La Dominicana

Government type:

democratic republic

Capital:

name: Santo Domingo

geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 69 54 W

time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

31 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Bahoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, El Seibo, Elias Pina, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, San Cristobal, San Jose de Ocoa, San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, Sanchez Ramirez, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Santo Domingo, Valverde

Independence:

27 February 1844 (from Haiti)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 27 February (1844)

Constitution:

28 November 1966; amended 25 July 2002

Legal system:

based on French civil codes; Criminal Procedures Code modified in 2004 to include important elements of an accusatory system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age; note - members of the armed forces and national police cannot vote

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August 2004); Vice President Rafael ALBURQUERQUE de Castro (since 16 August 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August 2004); Vice President Rafael ALBURQUERQUE de Castro (since 16 August 2004)

cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president

elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second consecutive term); election last held 16 May 2008 (next to be held in May 2012)

election results: Leonel FERNANDEZ reelected president; percent of vote - Leonel FERNANDEZ 53.6%, Miguel VARGAS 41%, Amable ARISTY less than 5%

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (32 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Camara de Diputados (178 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections: Senate - last held 16 May 2006 (next to be held in May 2010); House of Representatives - last held 16 May 2006 (next to be held in May 2010)

election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLD 22, PRD 6, PRSC 4; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLD 96, PRD 60, PRSC 22

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are appointed by the National Judicial Council comprised of the president, the leaders of both chambers of congress, the president of the Supreme Court, and an additional non-governing party congressional representative)

Political parties and leaders:

Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna]; Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Ramon ALBURQUERQUE]; National Progressive Front [Vincent CASTILLO, Pelegrin CASTILLO]; Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Enrique ANTUN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Citizen Participation Group (Participacion Ciudadania); Collective of Popular Organizations or COP; Foundation for Institution-Building and Justice (FINJUS)

International organization participation:

ACP, BCIE, Caricom (observer), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (suspended), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), PCA, RG, SICA (associated member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Roberto SALADIN

chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 332-6280

FAX: [1] (202) 265-8057

consulate(s) general: Anchorage, Boston, Chicago, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Sun Valley (California)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador P. Robert FANNIN

embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo

mailing address: Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500

telephone: [1] (809) 221-2171

FAX: [1] (809) 686-7437

Flag description:

a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms featuring a shield supported by an olive branch (left) and a palm branch (right) is at the center of the cross; above the shield a blue ribbon displays the motto, DIOS, PATRIA, LIBERTAD (God, Fatherland, Liberty), and below the shield, REPUBLICA DOMINICANA appears on a red ribbon

Economy ::Dominican Republic

Economy - overview:

The Dominican Republic has enjoyed strong GDP growth since 2005 and continued to post sound gains through mid-2008. The global recession, however, had a significant impact on GDP growth in the latter half of the year as tourism and remittances, two of the Dominican Republic's most important economic contributors, showed signs of slowing. The economy is highly dependent upon the US, the destination for about two-thirds of exports. Remittances from the US amount to about a tenth of GDP, equivalent to almost half of exports and three-quarters of tourism receipts. The country has long been viewed primarily as an exporter of sugar, coffee, and tobacco but in recent years the service sector has overtaken agriculture as the economy's largest employer due to growth in tourism and free trade zones. Although 2007 saw inflation around 6%, the rate grew to over 12% in 2008. High food prices, driven by the effects of consecutive tropical storms on agricultural products, and education prices were significant contributors to the jump. The effects of the global financial crisis and the US recession are projected to negatively affect GDP growth in 2009 with a rebound expected in 2010. Although the economy is growing at a respectable rate, high unemployment and underemployment remains an important challenge. The country suffers from marked income inequality; the poorest half of the population receives less than one-fifth of GNP, while the richest 10% enjoys nearly 40% of national income. The Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) came into force in March 2007, which should boost investment and exports and reduce losses to the Asian garment industry.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$78.19 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 76 $74.25 billion (2007 est.)

$68.43 billion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$44.44 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 78 8.5% (2007 est.)

10.7% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$8,200 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 119 $7,900 (2007 est.)

$7,400 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 10.8%

industry: 22.9%

services: 66.3% (2008 est.)

Labor force:

4.119 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 14.6%

industry: 22.3%

services: 63.1% (2005)

Unemployment rate:

14.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 149 15.6% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

42.2% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.5%

highest 10%: 38.7% (2005)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

49.9 (2005) country comparison to the world: 25 47.4 (1998)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

Budget:

revenues: $7.46 billion

expenditures: $9.027 billion (2008 est.)

Public debt:

37.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 62 61.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

10.6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 155 6.1% (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

19.95% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 39 15.83% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$3.619 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 62 $4.074 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$5.902 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 61 $5.631 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$17.37 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 62 $15.92 billion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA

Agriculture - products:

sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef, eggs

Industries:

tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco

Industrial production growth rate:

1.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Electricity - production:

14.02 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Electricity - consumption:

12.7 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 76

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 181

Oil - consumption:

119,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Oil - imports:

116,200 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 63

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl country comparison to the world: 179

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Natural gas - consumption:

470 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 188

Natural gas - imports:

470 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 61

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

Current account balance:

-$4.436 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 155 -$2.068 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$6.95 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 99 $7.16 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, meats, consumer goods

Exports - partners:

US 58.1%, Haiti 9.3%, Netherlands 2.9% (2008)

Imports:

$16.1 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 $13.6 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners:

US 39.2%, Venezuela 7.7%, Mexico 5.4%, Colombia 4.9% (2008)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.288 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 $2.562 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$11.42 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 81 $10.21 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$15.59 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 70 $12.71 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$59 million (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Exchange rates:

Dominican pesos (DOP) per US dollar - 34.775 (2008 est.), 33.113 (2007), 33.406 (2006), 30.409 (2005), 42.12 (2004)

Communications ::Dominican Republic

Telephones - main lines in use:

985,700 (2008) country comparison to the world: 82

Telephones - mobile cellular:

7.21 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 70

Telephone system:

general assessment: relatively efficient system based on island-wide microwave radio relay network

domestic: fixed telephone line density is about 10 per 100 persons; multiple providers of mobile cellular service with a subscribership of roughly 75 per 100 persons

international: country code - 1-809; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber-optic telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 120, FM 56, shortwave 4 (1998)

Television broadcast stations:

25 (2003)

Internet country code:

.do

Internet hosts:

280,457 (2009) country comparison to the world: 56

Internet users:

2.147 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 68

Transportation ::Dominican Republic

Airports:

35 (2009) country comparison to the world: 108

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 16

over 3,047 m: 3

2,438 to 3,047 m: 4

1,524 to 2,437 m: 4

914 to 1,523 m: 4

under 914 m: 1 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 19

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 17 (2009)

Railways:

total: 1,784 km country comparison to the world: 77 standard gauge: 375 km 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge: 1,368 km 1.076-m, 0.889-m, and 0.762-m gauges

note: 1,226 km operated by sugar companies in 1.076 m, 0.889 m, and 0.762-m gauges (2008)

Roadways:

total: 19,705 km country comparison to the world: 110 paved: 9,872 km

unpaved: 9,833 km (2002)

Merchant marine:

total: 1 country comparison to the world: 149 by type: cargo 1

registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Boca Chica, Caucedo, Puerto Plata, Rio Haina, Santo Domingo

Military ::Dominican Republic

Military branches:

Army, Navy, Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Dominicana, FAD) (2009)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,440,203

females age 16-49: 2,326,694 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,056,774

females age 16-49: 1,921,836 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 97,766

female: 93,922 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.8% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 147

Transnational Issues ::Dominican Republic

Disputes - international:

Haitian migrants cross the porous border into the Dominican Republic to find work; illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage each year to Puerto Rico to find better work

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: the Dominican Republic is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; a large number of Dominican women are trafficked into prostitution and sexual exploitation in Western Europe, Australia, Central and South America, and Caribbean destinations; a significant number of women, boys, and girls are trafficked within the country for sexual exploitation and domestic servitude

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for a second consecutive year, the Dominican Republic is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to show evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking, particularly in terms of not adequately investigating and prosecuting public officials who may be complicit with trafficking activity, and inadequate government efforts to protect trafficking victims; the government has taken measures to reduce demand for commercial sex acts with children through criminal prosecutions (2008)

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; has become a transshipment point for ecstasy from the Netherlands and Belgium destined for US and Canada; substantial money laundering activity in particular by Colombian narcotics traffickers; significant amphetamine consumption (2008)

page last updated on November 11, 2009

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

@Ecuador (South America)

Introduction ::Ecuador

Background:

What is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire until the Spanish conquest in 1533. Quito became a seat of Spanish colonial government in 1563 and part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada in 1717. The territories of the Viceroyalty - New Granada (Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito - gained their independence between 1819 and 1822 and formed a federation known as Gran Colombia. When Quito withdrew in 1830, the traditional name was changed in favor of the "Republic of the Equator." Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999. Although Ecuador marked 25 years of civilian governance in 2004, the period has been marred by political instability. Protests in Quito have contributed to the mid-term ouster of Ecuador's last three democratically elected Presidents. In September 2008, voters approved a new constitution; Ecuador's twentieth since gaining independence. General elections, under the new constitutional framework, are expected in April 2009.

Geography ::Ecuador

Location:

Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru

Geographic coordinates:

2 00 S, 77 30 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 283,561 sq km country comparison to the world: 73 land: 276,841 sq km

water: 6,720 sq km

note: includes Galapagos Islands

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Nevada

Land boundaries:

total: 2,010 km

border countries: Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km

Coastline:

2,237 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 200 nm

continental shelf: 100 nm from 2,500-m isobath

Climate:

tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands

Terrain:

coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m

note: due to the fact that the earth is not a perfect sphere and has an equatorial bulge, the highest point on the planet furthest from its center is Mount Chimborazo not Mount Everest, which is merely the highest point above sea-level

Natural resources:

petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 5.71%

permanent crops: 4.81%

other: 89.48% (2005)

Irrigated land:

8,650 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

432 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 16.98 cu km/yr (12%/5%/82%)

per capita: 1,283 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

frequent earthquakes; landslides; volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world

People ::Ecuador

Population:

14,573,101 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

Age structure:

0-14 years: 31.1% (male 2,312,610/female 2,220,378)

15-64 years: 62.7% (male 4,506,908/female 4,636,703)

65 years and over: 6.2% (male 432,144/female 464,358) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 25 years

male: 24.4 years

female: 25.6 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.497% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Birth rate:

20.77 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Death rate:

4.99 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 191

Net migration rate:

-0.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Urbanization:

urban population: 66% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 2.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 20.9 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 103 male: 24.4 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 17.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.3 years country comparison to the world: 81 male: 72.37 years

female: 78.37 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.51 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.3% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

26,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 73

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

1,400 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria

water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)

Nationality:

noun: Ecuadorian(s)

adjective: Ecuadorian

Ethnic groups:

mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish and others 7%, black 3%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%

Languages:

Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 91%

male: 92.3%

female: 89.7% (2001 census)

Education expenditures:

1% of GDP (2001) country comparison to the world: 179

Government ::Ecuador

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador

conventional short form: Ecuador

local long form: Republica del Ecuador

local short form: Ecuador

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Quito

geographic coordinates: 0 13 S, 78 30 W

time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

24 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Azuay, Bolivar, Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi, Morona-Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Santa Elena, Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe

Independence:

24 May 1822 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)

Constitution:

20 October 2008

Legal system:

based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15 January 2007); Vice President Lenin MORENO Garces (since 15 January 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15 January 2007); Vice President Lenin MORENO Garces (since 15 January 2007)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president

elections: the president and vice president are elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a four-year term and can be re-elected for another consecutive term; election last held 26 April 2009 (next to be held 2013)

election results: President Rafael CORREA Delgado reelected president; percent of vote - Rafael CORREA Delgado 51.7%; Lucio GUTIERREZ 28%; Alvaro NOBOA 11.6%; other 8.7%; note - official results pending

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (100 seats; members are elected through a party-list proportional representation system to serve four-year terms)

elections: last held 15 October 2006 (next to be held 26 April 2009)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRIAN 28; PSP 24; PSC 13; ID 7; PRE 6; MUPP-NP 6; RED 5; UDC 5; other 6; note - defections by members of National Congress are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held by the various parties

note: when a Constituent Assembly was convened to draft a new constitution, the National Congress was placed on indefinite recess and replaced by a legislative committee; the legislative committee will continue to function until a new National Assembly is elected in April 2009

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (according to the Constitution, new justices are elected by the full Supreme Court; in December 2004, however, Congress successfully replaced the entire court by a simple majority resolution)

Political parties and leaders:

Alianza PAIS Movement [Rafael Vicente CORREA Delgado]; Christian Democratic Union or UDC [Diego ORDONEZ Guerrero]; Democratic Left or ID [Andres PAEZ Benalcazar]; Ethical and Democratic Network or RED [Leon ROLDOS]; Institutional Renewal and National Action Party or PRIAN [Alvaro NOBOA]; Pachakutik Plurinational Unity Movement - New Country or MUPP-NP [Jorge GUAMAN]; Patriotic Society Party or PSP [Lucio GUTIERREZ Borbua]; Popular Democratic Movement or MPD [Ciro GUZMAN Aldaz]; Roldosist Party or PRE [Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz, director]; Social Christian Party or PSC [Pascual DEL CIOPPO]; Socialist Party - Broad Front or PS-FA [Gustavo AYALA Cruz]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador or CONAIE [Marlon SANTI, president]; Coordinator of Social Movements or CMS [F. Napoleon SANTOS]; Federation of Indigenous Evangelists of Ecuador or FEINE [Marco MURILLO, president]; National Federation of Indigenous Afro-Ecuatorianos and Peasants or FENOCIN [Pedro DE LA CRUZ, president]

International organization participation:

CAN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINURCAT, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Luis Benigno GALLEGOS Chiriboga

chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200

FAX: [1] (202) 667-3482

consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Newark (New Jersey), San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Heather HODGES

embassy: Avenida Avigiras E12-170 y Avenida Eloy Alfaro, Quito

mailing address: Avenida Guayacanes N52-205 y Avenida Avigiras

telephone: [593] (2) 398-5000

FAX: [593] (2) 398-5100

consulate(s) general: Guayaquil

Flag description:

three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and red with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag; similar to the flag of Colombia, which is shorter and does not bear a coat of arms

Economy ::Ecuador

Economy - overview:

Ecuador is substantially dependent on its petroleum resources, which have accounted for more than half of the country's export earnings and one-fourth of public sector revenues in recent years. In 1999/2000, Ecuador suffered a severe economic crisis, with GDP contracting by more than 6%. Poverty increased significantly, the banking system collapsed, and Ecuador defaulted on its external debt later that year. In March 2000, Congress approved a series of structural reforms that also provided for the adoption of the US dollar as legal tender. Dollarization stabilized the economy, and positive growth returned in the years that followed, helped by high oil prices, remittances, and increased non-traditional exports. From 2002-06 the economy grew 5.5%, the highest five-year average in 25 years. The poverty rate declined but remained high at 38% in 2006. In 2006 the government imposed a windfall revenue tax on foreign oil companies, leading to the suspension of free trade negotiations with the US. These measures led to a drop in petroleum production in 2007. President Rafael CORREA raised the specter of debt default and followed through on those threats in December 2008 by defaulting on some commercial bond obligations. He also decreed a higher windfall revenue tax on private oil companies, then renegotiated their contracts to overcome the debilitating effect of the tax. This generated economic uncertainty; private investment has dropped and economic growth has slowed.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$108 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 65 $101.4 billion (2007 est.)

$98.93 billion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$54.69 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 46 2.5% (2007 est.)

3.9% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$7,500 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 123 $7,200 (2007 est.)

$7,100 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 6.7%

industry: 34.3%

services: 59% (2008 est.)

Labor force:

4.64 million (urban) (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 8.3%

industry: 21.2%

services: 70.4% (2005)

Unemployment rate:

7.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 92 8.8% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

38.3% (2006)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.2%

highest 10%: 43.3%

note: data for urban households only (2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

46 (2006) country comparison to the world: 39 43.7 (1995)

note: data are for urban households

Investment (gross fixed):

22.1% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Budget:

revenues: $21.09 billion

expenditures: planned $21.35 billion (2008 est.)

Public debt:

25.1% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

8.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 128 2.3% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

9.14% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 34 10.72% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

9.71% (31 December 2008)

Stock of money:

$5.907 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 53 $4.395 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$9.383 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 53 $7.974 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$10.13 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 71 $8.926 billion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$4.562 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 89 $4.266 billion (31 December 2007)

$4.04 billion (31 December 2006)

Agriculture - products:

bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca), plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; balsa wood; fish, shrimp

Industries:

petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals

Industrial production growth rate:

5.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 44

Electricity - production:

16.75 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Electricity - consumption:

9.888 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Electricity - exports:

38.53 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

861 million kWh (2007 est.)

Oil - production:

505,100 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 31

Oil - consumption:

178,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Oil - exports:

417,000 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 33

Oil - imports:

54,190 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Oil - proved reserves:

4.66 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 25

Natural gas - production:

260 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 73

Natural gas - consumption:

260 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 187

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Natural gas - proved reserves:

8.919 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Current account balance:

$1.194 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 45 $1.65 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$19.15 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 74 $14.87 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp, cacao, coffee, hemp, wood, fish

Exports - partners:

US 45.3%, Peru 9.2%, Chile 8.1%, Panama 4.8%, Colombia 4.2% (2008)

Imports:

$17.79 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 74 $13.05 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

industrial materials, fuels and lubricants, nondurable consumer goods

Imports - partners:

US 19.1%, Venezuela 13.8%, Colombia 9.9%, China 8.4%, Brazil 4.8%, Japan 4.1% (2008)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$4.473 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 82 $3.521 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$18.11 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 74 $NA (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$16.99 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 65 $16.31 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$8.487 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 48 $10.77 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is used; the sucre was eliminated in 2000

Communications ::Ecuador

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.91 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 58

Telephones - mobile cellular:

11.595 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 52

Telephone system:

general assessment: generally elementary but being expanded

domestic: fixed-line services provided by three state-owned enterprises; plans to transfer the state-owned operators to private ownership have repeatedly failed; fixed-line density stands at about 14 per 100 persons; mobile cellular use has surged and has a subscribership of nearly 85 per 100 persons

international: country code - 593; landing point for the PAN-AM submarine telecommunications cable that provides links to the west coast of South America, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, and extending onward to Aruba and the US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 392, FM 35, shortwave 29 (2001)

Television broadcast stations:

7 (plus 14 repeaters) (2000)

Internet country code:

.ec

Internet hosts:

57,785 (2009) country comparison to the world: 80

Internet users:

1.31 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 80

Transportation ::Ecuador

Airports:

420 (2009) country comparison to the world: 19

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 103

over 3,047 m: 3

2,438 to 3,047 m: 3

1,524 to 2,437 m: 18

914 to 1,523 m: 25

under 914 m: 54 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 317

914 to 1,523 m: 38

under 914 m: 279 (2009)

Heliports:

2 (2009)

Pipelines:

extra heavy crude 435 km; gas 5 km; oil 1,374 km; refined products 1,301 km (2008)

Railways:

total: 965 km country comparison to the world: 90 narrow gauge: 965 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

Roadways:

total: 43,670 km country comparison to the world: 84 paved: 6,472 km

unpaved: 37,198 km (2006)

Waterways:

1,500 km (most inaccessible) (2008) country comparison to the world: 54

Merchant marine:

total: 37 country comparison to the world: 80 by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 1, passenger 8, petroleum tanker 24, refrigerated cargo 1, specialized tanker 1

foreign-owned: 1 (US 1)

registered in other countries: 5 (China 1, Panama 4) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, Manta, Puerto Bolivar

Military ::Ecuador

Military branches:

Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry, Naval Aviation, Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana, FAE) (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

20 years of age for selective conscript military service; 12-month service obligation (2008)