Chapter M: Major infectious diseases (68)

bicameral; General Courts or Las Cortes Generales (National Assembly) consists of the Senate or Senado (264 seats as of 2008; 208 members directly elected by popular vote and the other 56 - as of 2008 - appointed by the regional legislatures; to serve four-year terms) and the Congress of Deputies or Congreso de los Diputados (350 seats; each of the 50 electoral provinces fills a minimum of two seats and the North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla fill one seat each with members serving a four-year term; the other 248 members are determined by proportional representation based on popular vote on block lists who serve four-year terms)

elections: Senate - last held on 9 March 2008 (next to be held not later than March 2012); Congress of Deputies - last held on 9 March 2008 (next to be held not later than March 2012)

election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PP 101, PSOE 88, Entesa Catalona de Progress 12, CiU 4, PNV 2, CC 1, members appointed by regional legislatures 56; Congress of Deputies - percent of vote by party - PSOE 43.6%, PP 40.1%, CiU 3.1%, PNV 1.2%, ERC 1.2%, other 10.8%; seats by party - PSOE 169, PP 154, CiU 10, PNV 6, ERC 3, other 8

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo

Political parties and leaders:

Aragonese Party or CHA [Bizen FUSTER]; Basque Nationalist Party or PNV or EAJ [Inigo URKULLU]; Basque Solidarity or EA [Begona ERRAZTI]; Canarian Coalition or CC [Jose Torres STINGA] (a coalition of five parties); Convergence and Union or CiU [Artur MAS i Gavarro] (a coalition of the Democratic Convergence of Catalonia or CDC [Artur MAS i Gavarro] and the Democratic Union of Catalonia or UDC [Josep Antoni DURAN i LLEIDA]); Entesa Catalonia de Progress (a Senate coalition grouping four Catalan parties - PSC, ERC, ICV, EUA); Galician Nationalist Bloc or BNG [Anxo Manuel QUINTANA Gonzalez]; Initiative for Catalonia Greens or ICV [Joan SAURA i Laporta]; Navarra yes or Na Bai [Uxue BARKOS Berruezo] (a coalition of four Navarran parties); Popular Party or PP [Mariano RAJOY Brey]; Republican Left of Catalonia or ERC [Joan RIDAO]; Spanish Socialist Workers Party or PSOE [Jose Luis Rodriguez ZAPATERO]; United Left or IU [Cayo LARA] (a coalition of parties including the Communist Party of Spain or PCE and other small parties)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Association for Victims of Terrorism or AVT (grassroots organization devoted primarily to opposing ETA terrorist attacks and supporting its victims); Basta Ya (Spanish for "Enough is Enough"; grassroots organization devoted primarily to opposing ETA terrorist attacks and supporting its victims); Nunca Mais (Galician for "Never Again"; formed in response to the oil Tanker Prestige oil spill); Socialist General Union of Workers or UGT and the smaller independent Workers Syndical Union or USO; Trade Union Confederation of Workers' Commissions or CC.OO.

other: business and landowning interests; Catholic Church; free labor unions (authorized in April 1977); university students

International organization participation:

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURCAT, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jorge DEZCALLAR de Mazarredo

chancery: 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037

telephone: [1] (202) 452-0100, 728-2340

FAX: [1] (202) 833-5670

consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Arnold A. CHACON

embassy: Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid

mailing address: PSC 61, APO AE 09642

telephone: [34] (91) 587-2200

FAX: [34] (91) 587-2303

consulate(s) general: Barcelona

Flag description:

three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width), and red with the national coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band; the coat of arms is quartered to display the emblems of the traditional kingdoms of Spain (clockwise from upper left, Castile, Leon, Navarre, and Aragon) while Granada is represented by the stylized pomegranate at the bottom of the shield; the arms are framed by two columns representing the Pillars of Hercules, which are the two promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar; the red scroll across the two columns bears the imperial motto of "Plus Ultra" (further beyond) referring to Spanish lands beyond Europe

Economy ::Spain

Economy - overview:

The Spanish economy grew every year from 1994 through 2008 before entering a recession that started in the third quarter of 2008. Spain's mixed capitalist economy supports a GDP that on a per capita basis is approaching that of the largest West European economies. The Socialist president, Jose Luis Rodriguez ZAPATERO, in office since 2004, has made mixed progress in carrying out key structural reforms. The economy was greatly affected, especially after Zapatero's second term began in April 2008, by the bursting of the housing bubble and construction boom that had fueled much of the economic growth between 2001 and 2007. The global financial crisis exacerbated the economic downturn. GDP growth in 2008 was 1.2%, well below the 3% or higher growth the country enjoyed from 1997 through 2007. The Spanish banking system is considered solid, thanks in part to conservative oversight by the European Central Bank, and government intervention to rescue banks on the scale seen elsewhere in Europe in 2008 was not necessary. After considerable success since the mid-1990s in reducing unemployment to a 2007 low of 8%, Spain suffered a major spike in unemployment in the last few months of 2008, finishing the year with an unemployment rate over 13%.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.402 trillion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 13 $1.39 trillion (2007 est.)

$1.341 trillion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.602 trillion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

0.9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 180 3.6% (2007 est.)

4% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$34,600 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 36 $34,400 (2007 est.)

$33,200 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.4%

industry: 29%

services: 67.6% (2008 est.)

Labor force:

22.85 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 4%

industry: 26.4%

services: 69.5% (2008 est.)

Unemployment rate:

11.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 133 8.3% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

19.8% (2005)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.6%

highest 10%: 26.6% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

32 (2005) country comparison to the world: 102 32.5 (1990)

Investment (gross fixed):

29.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 25

Budget:

revenues: $598.1 billion

expenditures: $659.1 billion (2008 est.)

Public debt:

40.7% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 52 53.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 68 2.8% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

3% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 102 5% (31 December 2007)

note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

11.02% (31 December 2008)

Stock of money:

$NA

note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders

Stock of quasi money:

$NA

Stock of domestic credit:

$3.45 trillion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 7 $2.976 trillion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$1.132 trillion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 10 $1.8 trillion (31 December 2007)

$1.323 trillion (31 December 2006)

Agriculture - products:

grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets, citrus; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish

Industries:

textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools, tourism, clay and refractory products, footwear, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment

Industrial production growth rate:

-2.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

Electricity - production:

283.2 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 14

Electricity - consumption:

276.1 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 14

Electricity - exports:

16.92 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

5.88 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

28,130 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 70

Oil - consumption:

1.562 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 18

Oil - exports:

226,900 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Oil - imports:

1.813 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 12

Oil - proved reserves:

150 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 61

Natural gas - production:

17 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

Natural gas - consumption:

38.18 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 20

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 113

Natural gas - imports:

38.59 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 8

Natural gas - proved reserves:

2.548 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Current account balance:

-$154.1 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 189 -$145.4 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$285.9 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 18 $256.7 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery, motor vehicles; foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, medicines, other consumer goods

Exports - partners:

France 18.4%, Germany 10.6%, Portugal 8.7%, Italy 8%, UK 6.7%, US 4.2% (2008)

Imports:

$415.5 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 11 $380.2 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, semifinished goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, measuring and medical control instruments

Imports - partners:

Germany 14.5%, France 11.1%, Italy 7.4%, China 6.3%, UK 4.6%, Netherlands 4.4% (2008)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$20.25 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 51 $19.05 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$2.317 trillion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 8 $2.299 trillion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$636.5 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 9 $570.7 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$605.3 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 10 $687.4 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Exchange rates:

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6827 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)

Communications ::Spain

Telephones - main lines in use:

20.2 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 15

Telephones - mobile cellular:

49.682 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 20

Telephone system:

general assessment: well developed, modern facilities; fixed-line teledensity is roughly 50 per 100 persons

domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is nearly 175 telephones per 100 persons

international: country code - 34; submarine cables provide connectivity to Europe, Middle East, Asia, and US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to adjacent countries

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 18, FM 250, shortwave 2 (2008)

Television broadcast stations:

379 (2008)

Internet country code:

.es

Internet hosts:

3.537 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 23

Internet users:

25.24 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 12

Transportation ::Spain

Airports:

153 (2009) country comparison to the world: 35

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 95

over 3,047 m: 18

2,438 to 3,047 m: 12

1,524 to 2,437 m: 18

914 to 1,523 m: 24

under 914 m: 23 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 58

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 17

under 914 m: 39 (2009)

Heliports:

9 (2009)

Pipelines:

gas 7,738 km; oil 560 km; refined products 3,445 km (2008)

Railways:

total: 15,288 km country comparison to the world: 18 broad gauge: 11,919 km 1.668-m gauge (6,950 km electrified)

standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (1,054 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 1,949 km 1.000-m gauge (815 km electrified); 28 km 0.914-m gauge (28 km electrified) (2008)

Roadways:

total: 681,224 km country comparison to the world: 10 paved: 681,224 km (includes 13,872 km of expressways) (2006)

Waterways:

1,000 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 65

Merchant marine:

total: 158 country comparison to the world: 41 by type: bulk carrier 9, cargo 14, chemical tanker 11, container 22, liquefied gas 11, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 47, petroleum tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 15, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 5

foreign-owned: 26 (Canada 4, Denmark 2, Germany 5, Italy 2, Mexico 3, Norway 5, UK 5)

registered in other countries: 110 (Angola 1, Argentina 2, Bahamas 14, Belize 1, Brazil 9, Cape Verde 1, Cuba 1, Cyprus 6, Malta 3, Marshall Islands 1, Nigeria 1, Panama 50, Portugal 11, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, UK 1, Uruguay 6, Venezuela 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Algeciras, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cartagena, Huelva, Tarragona, Valencia

Military ::Spain

Military branches:

Spanish Armed Forces: Army (Ejercito de Tierra), Spanish Navy (Armada Espanola, AE; includes Marine Corps), Spanish Air Force (Ejercito del Aire Espanola, EdA) (2009)

Military service age and obligation:

20 years of age (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 10,033,069

females age 16-49: 9,764,937 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 8,139,020

females age 16-49: 7,899,157 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 199,124

female: 187,224 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.2% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Transnational Issues ::Spain

Disputes - international:

in 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to remain a British colony and against a "total shared sovereignty" arrangement while demanding participation in talks between the UK and Spain; Spain disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar greater autonomy; Morocco protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla, and the islands of Penon de Velez de la Gomera, Penon de Alhucemas, and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; Morocco serves as the primary launching site of illegal migration into Spain from North Africa; Portugal does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over the territory of Olivenza based on a difference of interpretation of the 1815 Congress of Vienna and the 1801 Treaty of Badajoz

Illicit drugs:

despite rigorous law enforcement efforts, North African, Latin American, Galician, and other European traffickers take advantage of Spain's long coastline to land large shipments of cocaine and hashish for distribution to the European market; consumer for Latin American cocaine and North African hashish; destination and minor transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin; money-laundering site for Colombian narcotics trafficking organizations and organized crime

page last updated on November 11, 2009

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

@Spratly Islands (East & Southeast Asia)

Introduction ::Spratly Islands

Background:

The Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs. They are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and potentially by gas and oil deposits. They are claimed in their entirety by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, while portions are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines. About 45 islands are occupied by relatively small numbers of military forces from China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Brunei has established a fishing zone that overlaps a southern reef but has not made any formal claim.

Geography ::Spratly Islands

Location:

Southeastern Asia, group of reefs and islands in the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines

Geographic coordinates:

8 38 N, 111 55 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: less than 5 sq km country comparison to the world: 246 land: less than 5 sq km

water: 0 sq km

note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over an area of nearly 410,000 sq km of the central South China Sea

Area - comparative:

NA

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

926 km

Maritime claims:

NA

Climate:

tropical

Terrain:

flat

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m

highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m

Natural resources:

fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential

Land use:

arable land: 0%

permanent crops: 0%

other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

Natural hazards:

typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious maritime hazard

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs

People ::Spratly Islands

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants

note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of several claimant states

Government ::Spratly Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Spratly Islands

Economy ::Spratly Islands

Economy - overview:

Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. The proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests the potential for oil and gas deposits, but the region is largely unexplored. There are no reliable estimates of potential reserves. Commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.

Transportation ::Spratly Islands

Airports:

4 (2009) country comparison to the world: 188

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 1 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)

Heliports:

3 (2009)

Ports and terminals:

none; offshore anchorage only

Military ::Spratly Islands

Military - note:

Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs of which about 45 are claimed and occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam

Transnational Issues ::Spratly Islands

Disputes - international:

all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone that encompasses Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands but has not publicly claimed the reef; claimants in November 2002 signed the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," which has eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct"; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands

page last updated on September 24, 2009

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

@Sri Lanka (South Asia)

Introduction ::Sri Lanka

Background:

The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C. probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced in about the mid-third century B.C., and a great civilization developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (kingdom from circa 200 B.C. to circa A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about 1070 to 1200). In the 14th century, a south Indian dynasty established a Tamil kingdom in northern Sri Lanka. The coastal areas of the island were controlled by the Portuguese in the 16th century and by the Dutch in the 17th century. The island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was united under British rule by 1815. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. Tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in 1983. Tens of thousands have died in the ethnic conflict that continues to fester. After two decades of fighting, the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) formalized a cease-fire in February 2002 with Norway brokering peace negotiations. Violence between the LTTE and government forces intensified in 2006 and the government regained control of the Eastern Province in 2007. In May 2009, the government announced that its military had finally defeated the remnants of the LTTE and that its leader, Velupillai PRABHAKARAN, had been killed.

Geography ::Sri Lanka

Location:

Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India

Geographic coordinates:

7 00 N, 81 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 65,610 sq km country comparison to the world: 121 land: 64,630 sq km

water: 980 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

1,340 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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

Climate:

tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)

Terrain:

mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m

Natural resources:

limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 13.96%

permanent crops: 15.24%

other: 70.8% (2005)

Irrigated land:

7,430 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

50 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 12.61 cu km/yr (2%/2%/95%)

per capita: 608 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

occasional cyclones and tornadoes

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo

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, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes

People ::Sri Lanka

Population:

21,324,791 country comparison to the world: 53 note: since the outbreak of hostilities between the government and armed Tamil separatists in the mid-1980s, several hundred thousand Tamil civilians have fled the island and more than 200,000 Tamils have sought refuge in the West (July 2009 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 23.9% (male 2,594,815/female 2,493,002)

15-64 years: 68% (male 7,089,307/female 7,418,123)

65 years and over: 8.1% (male 803,172/female 926,372) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 30.9 years

male: 29.9 years

female: 31.8 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.904% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Birth rate:

16.26 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Death rate:

6.13 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Net migration rate:

-1.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Urbanization:

urban population: 15% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 0.5% 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: 0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female

total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 18.57 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 111 male: 20.33 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 16.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.14 years country comparison to the world: 84 male: 73.08 years

female: 77.28 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.99 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

3,800 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A

vectorborne disease: dengue fever and chikungunya

water contact disease: leptospirosis

animal contact disease: rabies (2009)

Nationality:

noun: Sri Lankan(s)

adjective: Sri Lankan

Ethnic groups:

Sinhalese 73.8%, Sri Lankan Moors 7.2%, Indian Tamil 4.6%, Sri Lankan Tamil 3.9%, other 0.5%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)

Religions:

Buddhist 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)

Languages:

Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8%

note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of the population

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 90.7%

male: 92.3%

female: 89.1% (2001 census)

Education expenditures:

NA

Government ::Sri Lanka

Country name:

conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

conventional short form: Sri Lanka

local long form: Shri Lamka Prajatantrika Samajaya di Janarajaya/Ilankai Jananayaka Choshalichak Kutiyarachu

local short form: Shri Lamka/Ilankai

former: Serendib, Ceylon

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Colombo

geographic coordinates: 6 56 N, 79 51 E

time difference: UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

note: Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital)

Administrative divisions:

8 provinces; Central, North Central, North Eastern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western

note: in October 2006, a Sri Lankan Supreme Court ruling voided a presidential directive merging the North and Eastern Provinces; many have defended the merger as a prerequisite for a negotiated settlement to the ethnic conflict; a parliamentary decision on the issue is pending

Independence:

4 February 1948 (from the UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 4 February (1948)

Constitution:

adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978; amended 20 December 2000

Legal system:

a highly complex mixture of English common law, Roman-Dutch, Kandyan, and Jaffna Tamil law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA (since 19 November 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; Ratnasiri WICKREMANAYAKE (since 21 November 2005) holds the largely ceremonial title of prime minister

head of government: President Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA (since 19 November 2005)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister

elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 17 November 2005 (next to be held in 2011)

election results: Mahinda RAJAPAKSA elected president; percent of vote - Mahinda RAJAPAKSA 50.3%, Ranil WICKREMESINGHE 48.4%, other 1.3%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament (225 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of an open-list, proportional representation system by electoral district to serve six-year terms)

elections: last held on 2 April 2004 (next to be held by 2010)

election results: percent of vote by party or electoral alliance - SLFP and JVP (no longer in United People's Freedom Alliance) 45.6%, UNP 37.8%, TNA 6.8%, JHU 6%, SLMC 2%, UPF 0.5%, EPDP 0.3%, other 1%; seats by party - UNP 68, SLFP 57, JVP 39, TNA 22, CWC 8, JHU 7, SLMC 6, SLMC dissidents 4, Communist Party 2, JHU dissidents 2, LSSP 2, MEP 2, NUA 2, UPF 2, EPDP 1, UNP dissident 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Court of Appeals; judges for both courts are appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders:

All Ceylon Tamil Congress or ACTC [G.PONNAMBALAM]; Ceylon Workers Congress or CWC [Arumugam THONDAMAN]; Communist Party or CP [D. GUNASEKERA]; Eelam People's Democratic Party or EPDP [Douglas DEVANANDA]; Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front or EPRLF [Suresh PREMACHANDRAN]; Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP [Somawansa AMARASINGHE]; Lanka Sama Samaja Party or LSSP [Tissa VITHARANA]; Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (People's United Front) or MEP [D. GUNAWARDENE]; National Heritage Party or JHU [Ellawala METHANANDA]; National Unity Alliance or NUA [Ferial ASHRAFF]; People's Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam or PLOTE [D. SIDHARTHAN]; Sri Lanka Freedom Party or SLFP [Mahinda RAJAPAKSA]; Sri Lanka Muslim Congress or SLMC [Rauff HAKEEM]; Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization or TELO [Selvam ADAIKALANATHAN]; Tamil National Alliance or TNA [R. SAMPANTHAN]; Tamil United Liberation Front or TULF [V. ANANDASANGAREE]; United National Party or UNP [Ranil WICKREMASINGHE]; Up-country People's Front or UPF [P. CHANDRASEKARAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or LTTE [Velupillai PRABHAKARAN](insurgent group fighting for a separate state); Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) or Karuna Faction [Vinayagamurthi MURALITHARAN] (paramilitary breakaway from LTTE and fighting LTTE)

other: Buddhist clergy; labor unions; radical chauvinist Sinhalese groups such as the National Movement Against Terrorism; Sinhalese Buddhist lay groups

International organization participation:

ADB, BIMSTEC, C, CP, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jaliya Chitran WICKRAMASURIYA

chancery: 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 483-4025 through 4028

FAX: [1] (202) 232-7181

consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert O. BLAKE, Jr.

embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3

mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombo

telephone: [94] (11) 249-8500

FAX: [94] (11) 243-7345

Flag description:

yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border around the entire flag and extends between the two panels

Economy ::Sri Lanka

Economy - overview:

In 1977, Colombo abandoned statist economic policies and its import substitution trade policy for more market-oriented policies, export-oriented trade, and encouragement of foreign investment. Recent changes in government, however, have brought some policy reversals. Currently, the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party has a more statist economic approach, which seeks to reduce poverty by steering investment to disadvantaged areas, developing small and medium enterprises, promoting agriculture, and expanding the already enormous civil service. The government has halted privatizations. Although suffering a brutal civil war that began in 1983, Sri Lanka saw GDP growth average 4.5% in the last 10 years with the exception of a recession in 2001. In late December 2004, a major tsunami took about 31,000 lives, left more than 6,300 missing and 443,000 displaced, and destroyed an estimated $1.5 billion worth of property. Government spending on development and fighting the LTTE drove GDP growth to about 7% per year in 2006-07 before the global recession slow growth in 2008, but high government spending and high oil and commodity prices also raised inflation to around 15% in 2008. Sri Lanka's most dynamic sectors now are food processing, textiles and apparel, food and beverages, port construction, telecommunications, and insurance and banking. In 2008, plantation crops made up only about 20% of exports (compared with more than 90% in 1970), while textiles and garments accounted for more than 40%. About 1.5 million Sri Lankans work abroad, 90% of them in the Middle East. They send home more than $2.5 billion a year. The 25-year civil conflict between LTTE and the government of Sri Lanka has been a serious impediment to economic activities. By mid February 2009, the LTTE remained in control of small and shrinking area in the North. The conflict continues to cast a shadow over the economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$92.09 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 68 $86.88 billion (2007 est.)

$81.35 billion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$39.6 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 62 6.8% (2007 est.)

7.7% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$4,400 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 150 $4,200 (2007 est.)

$3,900 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 13.4%

industry: 29.4%

services: 57.3% (2008 est.)

Labor force:

7.569 million country comparison to the world: 59 note: excludes northern and eastern provinces (2008 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 34.7%

industry: 26.1%

services: 39.2% (30 September 2008 est.)

Unemployment rate:

5.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 64 6% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

22% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.1%

highest 10%: 39.7% (2004)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

49 (2004) country comparison to the world: 28 34.4 (1995)

Investment (gross fixed):

24.5% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

Budget:

revenues: $7.8 billion

expenditures: $11 billion (2009 est.)

Public debt:

76.7% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 13 104.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

22.6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 208 15.8% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

15% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 13 15% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

18.89% (31 December 2008)

Stock of money:

$2.55 billion (30 September 2008) country comparison to the world: 65 $2.465 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$9.01 billion (30 September 2008) country comparison to the world: 54 $10.46 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$15.92 billion (30 September 2008) country comparison to the world: 65 $14.82 billion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$4.326 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 76 $7.553 billion (31 December 2007)

$7.769 billion (31 December 2006)

Agriculture - products:

rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef; fish

Industries:

processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural commodities; telecommunications, insurance, banking; clothing, textiles; cement, petroleum refining, information technology services

Industrial production growth rate:

5.9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 41

Electricity - production:

9.507 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Electricity - consumption:

7.946 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

Oil - consumption:

89,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Oil - exports:

968.4 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Oil - imports:

87,690 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 199

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 194

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 196

Current account balance:

-$3.876 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 153 -$1.464 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$8.137 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 $7.741 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

textiles and apparel, tea and spices; diamonds, emeralds, rubies; coconut products, rubber manufactures, fish

Exports - partners:

US 21.6%, UK 11.9%, India 6.8%, Germany 5.1%, Belgium 4.8%, Italy 4.7% (2008)

Imports:

$12.61 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 88 $10.17 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

textile fabrics, mineral products, petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and transportation equipment

Imports - partners:

India 20.3%, China 12.2%, Iran 7.6%, Singapore 7.4%, South Korea 4.7% (2008)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.655 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 99 $3.644 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$16.78 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 76 $12.2 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$250.2 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 19

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$NA

Exchange rates:

Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar - 108.33 (2008), 110.78 (2007), 103.99 (2006), 100.498 (2005), 101.194 (2004)

Communications ::Sri Lanka

Telephones - main lines in use:

3.446 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 44

Telephones - mobile cellular:

11.082 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 56

Telephone system:

general assessment: telephone services have improved significantly and are available in most parts of the country

domestic: national trunk network consists mostly of digital microwave radio relay; fiber-optic links now in use in Colombo area and fixed wireless local loops have been installed; competition is strong in mobile cellular systems and mobile cellular subscribership is increasing

international: country code - 94; the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cables provide connectivity to Asia, Australia, Middle East, Europe, US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 15, FM 52, shortwave 4 (2007)

Television broadcast stations:

14 (2006)

Internet country code:

.lk

Internet hosts:

6,090 (2009) country comparison to the world: 134

Internet users:

1.164 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 83

Transportation ::Sri Lanka

Airports:

18 (2009) country comparison to the world: 138

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 14

over 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 6

914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 4

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 3 (2009)

Railways:

total: 1,449 km country comparison to the world: 82 broad gauge: 1,449 km 1.676-m gauge (2007)

Roadways:

total: 97,286 km country comparison to the world: 44 paved: 78,802 km

unpaved: 18,484 km (2003)

Waterways:

160 km (primarily on rivers in southwest) (2008) country comparison to the world: 101

Merchant marine:

total: 26 country comparison to the world: 89 by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 18, chemical tanker 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 2

foreign-owned: 5 (Germany 5)

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

Ports and terminals:

Colombo

Military ::Sri Lanka

Military branches:

Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force (2009)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; 5-year service obligation (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 5,458,720

females age 16-49: 5,594,006 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 4,498,667

females age 16-49: 4,693,895 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 173,256

female: 167,645 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

2.6% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 63

Transnational Issues ::Sri Lanka

Disputes - international:

none

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 460,000 (both Tamils and non-Tamils displaced due to long-term civil war between the government and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)) (2007)

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Sri Lanka is a source and destination country for men and women trafficked for the purposes of involuntary servitude and commercial sexual exploitation; Sri Lankan men and women migrate willingly to the Persian Gulf, Middle East, and East Asia to work as construction workers, domestic servants, or garment factory workers, where some find themselves in situations of involuntary servitude when faced with restrictions on movement, withholding of passports, threats, physical or sexual abuse, and debt bondage; children are trafficked internally for commercial sexual exploitation and, less frequently, for forced labor

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for a second consecutive year, Sri Lanka is on the Tier 2 Watch List for failing to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat severe forms of human trafficking, particularly in the area of law enforcement; the government failed to arrest, prosecute, or convict any person for trafficking offenses and continued to punish some victims of trafficking for crimes committed as a result of being trafficked; Sri Lanka has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)

page last updated on November 11, 2009

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

@Sudan (Africa)

Introduction ::Sudan

Background:

Military regimes favoring Islamic-oriented governments have dominated national politics since independence from the UK in 1956. Sudan was embroiled in two prolonged civil wars during most of the remainder of the 20th century. These conflicts were rooted in northern economic, political, and social domination of largely non-Muslim, non-Arab southern Sudanese. The first civil war ended in 1972 but broke out again in 1983. The second war and famine-related effects resulted in more than four million people displaced and, according to rebel estimates, more than two million deaths over a period of two decades. Peace talks gained momentum in 2002-04 with the signing of several accords. The final North/South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), signed in January 2005, granted the southern rebels autonomy for six years. After which, a referendum for independence is scheduled to be held. A separate conflict, which broke out in the western region of Darfur in 2003, has displaced nearly two million people and caused an estimated 200,000 to 400,000 deaths. The UN took command of the Darfur peacekeeping operation from the African Union on 31 December 2007. As of early 2009, peacekeeping troops were struggling to stabilize the situation, which has become increasingly regional in scope, and has brought instability to eastern Chad, and Sudanese incursions into the Central African Republic. Sudan also has faced large refugee influxes from neighboring countries, primarily Ethiopia and Chad. Armed conflict, poor transport infrastructure, and lack of government support have chronically obstructed the provision of humanitarian assistance to affected populations.

Geography ::Sudan

Location:

Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea

Geographic coordinates:

15 00 N, 30 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 2,505,813 sq km country comparison to the world: 10 land: 2.376 million sq km

water: 129,813 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US

Land boundaries:

total: 7,687 km

border countries: Central African Republic 1,165 km, Chad 1,360 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 628 km, Egypt 1,273 km, Eritrea 605 km, Ethiopia 1,606 km, Kenya 232 km, Libya 383 km, Uganda 435 km

Coastline:

853 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 18 nm

continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season varies by region (April to November)

Terrain:

generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in far south, northeast and west; desert dominates the north

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Red Sea 0 m

highest point: Kinyeti 3,187 m

Natural resources:

petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 6.78%

permanent crops: 0.17%

other: 93.05% (2005)

Irrigated land:

18,630 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

154 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 37.32 cu km/yr (3%/1%/97%)

per capita: 1,030 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

dust storms and periodic persistent droughts

Environment - current issues:

inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification; periodic drought

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile and its tributaries

People ::Sudan

Population:

41,087,825 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 29

Age structure:

0-14 years: 40.7% (male 8,535,551/female 8,173,616)

15-64 years: 56.8% (male 11,745,683/female 11,603,906)

65 years and over: 2.5% (male 532,968/female 496,101) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 19.1 years

male: 18.9 years

female: 19.2 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.143% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 48

Birth rate:

33.74 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Death rate:

12.94 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 31

Net migration rate:

0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Urbanization:

urban population: 43% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 4.3% 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: 1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 1.07 male(s)/female

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

Infant mortality rate:

total: 82.43 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 16 male: 82.48 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 82.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 51.42 years country comparison to the world: 204 male: 50.49 years

female: 52.4 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.48 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 39

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.4% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 45

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

320,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 22

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

25,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 19

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, dengue fever, African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness)

water contact disease: schistosomiasis

respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis

animal contact disease: rabies

note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)

Nationality:

noun: Sudanese (singular and plural)

adjective: Sudanese

Ethnic groups:

black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other 1%

Religions:

Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), Christian 5% (mostly in south and Khartoum), indigenous beliefs 25%

Languages:

Arabic (official), English (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages

note: program of "Arabization" in process

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 61.1%

male: 71.8%

female: 50.5% (2003 est.)

Education expenditures:

6% of GDP (1991) country comparison to the world: 42

Government ::Sudan

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of the Sudan

conventional short form: Sudan

local long form: Jumhuriyat as-Sudan

local short form: As-Sudan

former: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan

Government type:

Government of National Unity (GNU) - the National Congress Party (NCP) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) formed a power-sharing government under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA); the NCP, which came to power by military coup in 1989, is the majority partner; the agreement stipulates national elections in 2009

Capital:

name: Khartoum

geographic coordinates: 15 36 N, 32 32 E

time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

25 states (wilayat, singular - wilayah); A'ali an Nil (Upper Nile), Al Bahr al Ahmar (Red Sea), Al Buhayrat (Lakes), Al Jazira (Gezira), Al Khartoum (Khartoum), Al Qadarif (Gedaref), Al Wahda (Unity), An Nil al Abyad (White Nile), An Nil al Azraq (Blue Nile), Ash Shimaliyya (Northern), Bahr al Jabal (Central Equatoria), Gharb al Istiwa'iyya (Western Equatoria), Gharb Bahr al Ghazal (Western Bahr el Ghazal), Gharb Darfur (Western Darfur), Janub Darfur (Southern Darfur), Janub Kurdufan (Southern Kordofan), Junqoley (Jonglei), Kassala (Kassala), Nahr an Nil (River Nile), Shimal Bahr al Ghazal (Northern Bahr el Ghazal), Shimal Darfur (Northern Darfur), Shimal Kurdufan (Northern Kordofan), Sharq al Istiwa'iyya (Eastern Equatoria), Sinnar (Sinnar), Warab (Warab)

Independence:

1 January 1956 (from Egypt and the UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 1 January (1956)

Constitution:

Interim National Constitution ratified 5 July 2005

note: under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the Interim National Constitution was ratified 5 July 2005; Constitution of Southern Sudan was signed December 2005

Legal system:

based on English common law and Islamic law; as of 20 January 1991, the now defunct Revolutionary Command Council imposed Islamic law in the northern states; Islamic law applies to all residents of the northern states regardless of their religion; however, the CPA establishes some protections for non-Muslims in Khartoum; some separate religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; the southern legal system is still developing under the CPA following the civil war; Islamic law will not apply to the southern states

Suffrage:

17 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Salva KIIR (since 4 August 2005), Vice President Ali Osman TAHA (since 20 September 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Salva KIIR (since 4 August 2005), Vice President Ali Osman TAHA (since 20 September 2005)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note - the National Congress Party or NCP (formerly the National Islamic Front or NIF) dominates al-BASHIR's cabinet

elections: election last held 13-23 December 2000; next to be held February 2010

election results: Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR reelected president; percent of vote - Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR 86.5%, Ja'afar Muhammed NUMAYRI 9.6%, three other candidates received a combined vote of 3.9%; election widely viewed as rigged; all popular opposition parties boycotted elections because of a lack of guarantees for a free and fair election

note: al-BASHIR assumed power as chairman of Sudan's Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation (RCC) in June 1989 and served concurrently as chief of state, chairman of the RCC, prime minister, and minister of defense until mid-October 1993 when he was appointed president by the RCC; he was elected president by popular vote for the first time in March 1996

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Legislature consists of a Council of States (50 seats; members indirectly elected by state legislatures to serve six-year terms) and a National Assembly (450 seats; members presently appointed, but in the future 60% from geographic constituencies, 25% from a women's list, and 15% from party lists; to serve six-year terms)

elections: last held 13-22 December 2000 (next to be held February 2010)

election results: NCP 355, others 5; note - replaced by appointments under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court of nine justices; National Supreme Court; National Courts of Appeal; other national courts; National Judicial Service Commission will undertake overall management of the National Judiciary

Political parties and leaders:

National Congress Party or NCP [Umar Hassan al-BASHIR]; Sudan People's Liberation Movement or SPLM [Salva KIIR]; and elements of the National Democratic Alliance or NDA including factions of the Democratic Union Party [Muhammad Uthman al-MIRGHANI] and Umma Party; Popular Congress Party or PCP [Hassan al-TURABI]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Umma Party [SADIQ Siddiq al-Mahdi]; Popular Congress Party or PCP [Hassan al-TURABI]; Darfur rebel groups including the Justice and Equality Movement or JEM [Khalil IBRAHIM] and the Sudan Liberation Movement or SLM [various factional leaders]

International organization participation:

ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Akec Khoc ACIEW Khoc

chancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 338-8565

FAX: [1] (202) 667-2406

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Robert E. WHITEHEAD

embassy: Sharia Ali Abdul Latif Street, Khartoum

mailing address: P.O. Box 699, Khartoum; APO AE 09829

telephone: [249] (183) 774700 through 704

FAX: [249] (183) 774137

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side

Economy ::Sudan

Economy - overview:

Until the second half of 2008, Sudan's economy boomed on the back of increases in oil production, high oil prices, and large inflows of foreign direct investment. GDP growth registered more than 10% per year in 2006 and 2007. From 1997 to date, Sudan has been working with the IMF to implement macroeconomic reforms, including a managed float of the exchange rate. Sudan began exporting crude oil in the last quarter of 1999. Agricultural production remains important, because it employs 80% of the work force and contributes a third of GDP. The Darfur conflict, the aftermath of two decades of civil war in the south, the lack of basic infrastructure in large areas, and a reliance by much of the population on subsistence agriculture ensure much of the population will remain at or below the poverty line for years despite rapid rises in average per capita income. In January 2007, the government introduced a new currency, the Sudanese Pound, at an initial exchange rate of $1.00 equals 2 Sudanese Pounds.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$88.37 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 71 $82.9 billion (2007 est.)

$75.22 billion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$58.03 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 45 10.2% (2007 est.)

11.3% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,200 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 185 $2,100 (2007 est.)

$1,900 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 31%

industry: 34.7%

services: 34.3% (2008 est.)

Labor force:

11.92 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 80%

industry: 7%

services: 13% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate:

18.7% (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Population below poverty line:

40% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Investment (gross fixed):

18.1% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Budget:

revenues: $11.55 billion

expenditures: $12.67 billion (2008 est.)

Public debt:

100% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 6 79.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

14.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 187 8% (2007 est.)

Stock of money:

$NA (31 December 2008)

$5.549 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$NA (31 December 2008)

$4.068 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$NA (31 December 2008)

$8.659 billion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA

Agriculture - products:

cotton, groundnuts (peanuts), sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca), mangos, papaya, bananas, sweet potatoes, sesame; sheep, livestock

Industries:

oil, cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, armaments, automobile/light truck assembly

Industrial production growth rate:

0.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Electricity - production:

4.341 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

Electricity - consumption:

3.438 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

480,200 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 32