1,127,127 km2
land area:
1,119,683 km2
comparative area:
slightly less than twice the size of Texas Land boundaries:
total 5,311 km, Djibouti 337 km, Erithea 912 km, Kenya 830 km, Somalia 1,626 km, Sudan 1,606 km
Coastline:
none – landlocked
Maritime claims:
none – landlocked
International disputes:
southern half of the boundary with Somalia is a Provisional Administrative Line; possible claim by Somalia based on unification of ethnic Somalis; territorial dispute with Somalia over the Ogaden Climate:
tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation; some areas prone to extended droughts
Terrain:
high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley Natural resources:
small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash Land use:
arable land:
12%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
41%
forest and woodland:
24%
other:
22%
Irrigated land:
1,620 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; frequent droughts; famine
Note:
landlocked – entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 27 April 1993
*Ethiopia, People
Population:
53,278,446 (July 1993 est.)
note:
Ethiopian demographic data, except population and population growth rate, include Eritrea
Population growth rate:
3.41% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
45.37 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate:
14.23 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate:
2.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate:
108.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
52.21 years
male:
50.6 years
female:
53.88 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.88 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality:
noun:
Ethiopian(s)
adjective:
Ethiopian
Ethnic divisions:
Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigrean 32%, Sidamo 9%, Shankella 6%, Somali 6%, Afar 4%, Gurage 2%, other 1%
Religions:
Muslim 45-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox 35-40%, animist 12%, other 5% Languages:
Amharic (official), Tigrinya, Orominga, Guaraginga, Somali, Arabic, English (major foreign language taught in schools) Literacy:
age 10 and over can read and write (1983) total population:
62%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
18 million
by occupation:
agriculture and animal husbandry 80%, government and services 12%, industry and construction 8% (1985)
*Ethiopia, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Ethiopia
local long form:
none
local short form: Ityop’iya
Digraph:
ET
Type:
transitional government
note:
on 28 May 1991 the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) toppled the authoritarian government of MENGISTU Haile-Mariam and took control in Addis Ababa; the Transitional Government of Ethiopia (TGE), announced a two-year transitional period Capital:
Addis Ababa
Administrative divisions:
14 administrative regions (astedader akababiwach, singular – astedader akababi) Addis Ababa, Afar, Amhara, Benishangul, Gambela, Gurage-Hadiya-Kambata, Harer, Kefa, Omo, Oromo, Sidamo, Somali, Tigray, Wolayta
Independence:
oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world – at least 2,000 years
Constitution:
to be redrafted by 1993
Legal system:
NA
National holiday:
National Day, 28 May (1991) (defeat of Mengistu regime) Political parties and leaders:
NA
Other political or pressure groups: Oromo Liberation Front (OLF); Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party (EPRP); numerous small, ethnic-based groups have formed since Mengistu’s resignation, including several Islamic militant groups Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
last held 10 September 1987; next election planned after new constitution drafted; results – MENGISTU Haile-Mariam elected by the now defunct National Assembly, but resigned and left Ethiopia on 21 May 1991 Constituent Assembly:
now planned for January 1994 (to ratify constitution to be drafted by end of 1993)
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, Council of Ministers Legislative branch:
unicameral Constituent Assembly
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President MELES Zenawi (since 1 June 1991)
*Ethiopia, Government
Head of Government:
Prime Minister TAMIRAT Layne (since 6 June 1991) Member of:
ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador BERHANE Gebre-Christos
chancery:
2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone:
(202) 234-2281 or 2282
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Marc A. BAAS
embassy:
Entoto Street, Addis Ababa
mailing address:
P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa
telephone:
[251] (1) 550-666
FAX:
[251] (1) 551-166
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red; Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and the colors of her flag were so often adopted by other African countries upon independence that they became known as the pan-African colors
*Ethiopia, Economy
Overview:
With the independence of Eritrea on 27 April 1993, Ethiopia continues to face difficult economic problems as one of the poorest and least developed countries in Africa. (The accompanying analysis and figures predate the independence of Eritrea.) Its economy is based on subsistence agriculture, which accounts for about 45% of GDP, 90% of exports, and 80% of total employment; coffee generates 60% of export earnings. The manufacturing sector is heavily dependent on inputs from the agricultural sector. Over 90% of large-scale industry, but less than 10% of agriculture, is state run; the government is considering selling off a portion of state-owned plants. Favorable agricultural weather largely explains the 4.5% growth in output in FY89, whereas drought and deteriorating internal security conditions prevented growth in FY90. In 1991 the lack of law and order, particularly in the south, interfered with economic development and growth. In 1992, because of some easing of civil strife and aid from the outside world, the economy substantially improved.
National product:
GDP – exchange rate conversion – $6.6 billion (FY92 est.) National product real growth rate:
6% (FY92 est.)
National product per capita:
$130 (FY92 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.8% (1989)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $1.4 billion; expenditures $2.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $565 million (FY91)
Exports:
$276 million (f.o.b., FY90)
commodities:
coffee, leather products, gold, petroleum products partners:
EC, Djibouti, Japan, Saudi Arabia, US Imports:
$1.0 billion (c.i.f., FY90)
commodities:
capital goods, consumer goods, fuel partners:
EC, Eastern Europe, Japan, US
External debt:
$3.48 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate 2.3% (FY89 est.); accounts for 12% of GDP Electricity:
330,000 kW capacity; 650 million kWh produced, 10 kWh per capita (1991) Industries:
food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metals processing, cement Agriculture:
accounts for 47% of GDP and is the most important sector of the economy even though frequent droughts and poor cultivation practices keep farm output low; famines not uncommon; export crops of coffee and oilseeds grown partly on state farms; estimated 50% of agricultural production at subsistence level; principal crops and livestock – cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseeds, sugarcane, potatoes and other vegetables, hides and skins, cattle, sheep, goats
*Ethiopia, Economy
Illicit drugs:
transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest and Southeast Asia and destined for Europe and North America; cultivates qat (chat) for local use and regional export
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $504 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.4 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $8 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $2.0 billion
Currency:
1 birr (Br) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
birr (Br) per US$1 – 5.0000 (fixed rate) Fiscal year:
8 July – 7 July
*Ethiopia, Communications
Railroads:
781 km total; 781 km 1.000-meter gauge; 307 km 0.950-meter gauge linking Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) to Djibouti; control of railroad is shared between Djibouti and Ethiopia
Highways:
39,150 km total; 2,776 km paved, 7,504 km gravel, 2,054 km improved earth, 26,816 km unimproved earth (1993 est.)
Ports:
none; landlocked
Merchant marine:
none; landlocked
Airports:
total:
121
usable:
82
with permanent-surface runways:
9
with runways over 3,659 m:
1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
13
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
83 (1993 est.)
Telecommunications:
open-wire and radio relay system adequate for government use; open-wire to Sudan and Djibouti; microwave radio relay to Kenya and Djibouti; broadcast stations – 4 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 100,000 TV sets; 9,000,000 radios; satellite earth stations – 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT
*Ethiopia, Defense Forces
Branches:
Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 12,793,340; fit for military service 6,640,616; reach military age (18) annually 576,329 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion – $NA, NA% of GDP
*Europa Island, Header
Affiliation:
(possession of France)
*Europa Island, Geography
Location:
Southern Africa, in the southern Mozambique Channel about halfway between Madagascar and Mozambique
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total area:
28 km2
land area:
28 km2
comparative area:
about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
22.2 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
claimed by Madagascar
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
NA
Natural resources:
negligible
Land use:
arable land:
NA%
permanent crops:
NA%
meadows and pastures:
NA%
forest and woodland:
NA%
other:
NA% (heavily wooded)
Irrigated land:
0 km2
Environment:
wildlife sanctuary
*Europa Island, People
Population:
uninhabited
*Europa Island, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Europa Island
local long form:
none
local short form:
Ile Europa
Digraph:
EU
Type:
French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic; resident in Reunion
Capital:
none; administered by France from Reunion Independence:
none (possession of France)
*Europa Island, Economy
Overview:
no economic activity
*Europa Island, Communications
Ports:
none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
total:
1
usable:
1
with permanent-surface runways:
0
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,439-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
1
Telecommunications:
1 meteorological station
*Europa Island, Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of France
*Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Header
Affiliation:
(dependent territory of the UK)
*Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Geography
Location:
in the South Atlantic Ocean, off the southern coast of Argentina Map references:
Antarctic Region, South America
Area:
total area:
12,170 km2
land area:
12,170 km2
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Connecticut
note:
includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,288 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
100 m depth
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina Climate:
cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but does not accumulate
Terrain:
rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains Natural resources:
fish, wildlife
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
99%
forest and woodland:
0%
other: 1%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
poor soil fertility and a short growing season Note:
deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors
*Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), People
Population:
2,206 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.43% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
NA births/1,000 population
Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate:
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
NA years
male:
NA years
female:
NA years
Total fertility rate:
NA children born/woman
Nationality:
noun:
Falkland Islander(s)
adjective:
Falkland Island
Ethnic divisions:
British
Religions:
primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, Evangelist Church, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist Languages:
English
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
1,100 (est.)
by occupation:
agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding)
*Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Colony of the Falkland Islands
conventional short form:
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Digraph:
FA
Type:
dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
Stanley
Administrative divisions:
none (dependent territory of the UK) Independence:
none (dependent territory of the UK) Constitution:
3 October 1985
Legal system:
English common law
National holiday:
Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
Legislative Council:
last held 11 October 1989 (next to be held October 1994); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (10 total, 8 elected) number of seats by party NA
Executive branch:
British monarch, governor, Executive Council Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) Head of Government:
Governor David Everard TATHAM (since August 1992) Member of:
ICFTU
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (dependent territory of the UK) US diplomatic representation:
none (dependent territory of the UK) Flag:
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms in a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising is the major economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whose crew discovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT
*Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Economy
Overview:
The economy is based on sheep farming, which directly or indirectly employs most of the work force. A few dairy herds are kept to meet domestic consumption of milk and milk products, and crops grown are primarily those for providing winter fodder. Exports feature shipments of high-grade wool to the UK and the sale of postage stamps and coins. Rich stocks of fish in the surrounding waters are not presently exploited by the islanders. So far, efforts to establish a domestic fishing industry have been unsuccessful. In 1987 the government began selling fishing licenses to foreign trawlers operating within the Falklands exclusive fishing zone. These license fees amount to more than $40 million per year and are a primary source of income for the government. To encourage tourism, the Falkland Islands Development Corporation has built three lodges for visitors attracted by the abundant wildlife and trout fishing.
National product:
GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.4% (1980-87 average)
Unemployment rate:
NA%; labor shortage
Budget:
revenues $62.7 million; expenditures $41.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90)
Exports:
at least $14.7 million
commodities:
wool, hides and skins, and meat
partners:
UK, Netherlands, Japan (1987 est.) Imports:
at least $13.9 million
commodities:
food, clothing, fuels, and machinery partners:
UK, Netherlands Antilles (Curacao), Japan (1987 est.) External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
9,200 kW capacity; 17 million kWh produced, 8,940 kWh per capita (1992) Industries:
wool and fish processing
Agriculture:
predominantly sheep farming; small dairy herds; some fodder and vegetable crops
Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $277 million
Currency:
1 Falkland pound (#F) = 100 pence
Exchange rates:
Falkland pound (#F) per US$1 – 0.6527 (January 1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5604 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988); note – the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound
*Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Economy
Fiscal year:
1 April – 31 March
*Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Communications
Highways:
510 km total; 30 km paved, 80 km gravel, and 400 km unimproved earth Ports:
Stanley
Airports:
total:
5
usable:
5
with permanent-surface runways:
2
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
0
Telecommunications:
government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radio networks provide effective service to almost all points on both islands; 590 telephones; broadcast stations – 2 AM, 3 FM, no TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station with links through London to other countries
*Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Defense Forces
Branches:
British Forces Falkland Islands (including Army, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, and Royal Marines), Police Force
Note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
*Faroe Islands, Header
Affiliation:
(part of the Danish realm)
*Faroe Islands, Geography
Location:
in the north Atlantic Ocean, located half way between Norway and Iceland Map references:
Arctic Region
Area:
total area:
1,400 km2
land area:
1,400 km2
comparative area:
slightly less than eight times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
764 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
3 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy Terrain:
rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
arable land:
2%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
98%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands; archipelago of 18 inhabited islands and a few uninhabited islets Note:
strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic
*Faroe Islands, People
Population:
48,065 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.67% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
18.45 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate:
7.57 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate:
-4.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate:
8.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
77.92 years
male:
74.51 years
female:
81.45 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.52 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality:
noun:
Faroese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Faroese
Ethnic divisions:
Scandinavian
Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran
Languages:
Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
17,585
by occupation:
largely engaged in fishing, manufacturing, transportation, and commerce
*Faroe Islands, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Faroe Islands local long form:
none
local short form:
Foroyar
Digraph:
FO
Type:
part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark
Capital:
Torshavn
Administrative divisions:
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) Independence:
none (part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Constitution:
Danish
Legal system:
Danish
National holiday:
Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940) Political parties and leaders:
three-party ruling coalition:
Social Democratic Party, Marita PETERSEN; Republican Party, Signer HANSEN; Home Rule Party, Hilmar KASS
opposition:
Cooperation Coalition Party, Pauli ELLEFSEN; Progressive and Fishing Industry Party-Christian People’s Party (PFIP-CPP), leader NA; Progress Party, leader NA; People’s Party, Jogvan SUND-STEIN Suffrage:
20 years of age; universal
Elections:
Danish Parliament:
last held on 12 December 1990 (next to be held by December 1994); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (2 total) Social Democratic 1, People’s Party 1; note – the Faroe Islands elects two representatives to the Danish Parliament
Faroese Parliament:
last held 17 November 1990 (next to be held November 1994); results – Social Democratic 27.4%, People’s Party 21.9%, Cooperation Coalition Party 18.9%, Republican Party 14.7%, Home Rule 8.8%, PFIP-CPP 5.9%, other 2.4%; seats – (32 total) two-party coalition 17 (Social Democratic 10, People’s Party 7), Cooperation Coalition Party 6, Republican Party 4, Home Rule 3, PFIP-CPP 2 Executive branch:
Danish monarch, high commissioner, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet (Landsstyri)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (Lgting)
Judicial branch:
none
*Faroe Islands, Government
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Bent KLINTE (since NA)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Marita PETERSEN (since 18 January 1993) Member of:
none
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) US diplomatic representation:
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) Flag:
white with a red cross outlined in blue that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the DANNEBROG (Danish flag)
*Faroe Islands, Economy
Overview:
The Faroese, who have long enjoyed the affluent living standards of the Danes and other Scandinavians, now must cope with the decline of the all-important fishing industry and one of the world’s heaviest per capita external debts of nearly $30,000. When the nations of the world extended their fishing zones to 200 nautical miles in the early 1970s, the Faroese no longer could continue their traditional long-distance fishing and subsequently depleted their own nearby fishing areas. The government’s tight controls on fish stocks and its austerity measures have caused a recession, and subsidy cuts will force nationalization in the fishing industry, which has already been plagued with bankruptcies. Copenhagen has threatened to withhold its annual subsidy of $130 million – roughly one-third of the islands’ budget revenues – unless the Faroese make significant efforts to balance their budget. To this extent the Faroe government is expected to continue its tough policies, including introducing a 20% VAT in 1993, and has agreed to an IMF economic-political stabilization plan. In addition to its annual subsidy, the Danish government has bailed out the second largest Faroe bank to the tune of $140 million since October 1992. National product:
GDP – purchasing power equivalent – $662 million (1989 est.) National product real growth rate:
3% (1989 est.)
National product per capita:
$14,000 (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (1988)
Unemployment rate:
5%-6% (1991 est.)
Budget:
revenues $425 million; expenditures $480 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991 est.)
Exports:
$386 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
commodities:
fish and fish products 88%, animal feedstuffs, transport equipment (ships) (1989)
partners:
Denmark 20%, Germany 18.3%, UK 14.2%, France 11.2%, Spain 7.9%, US 4.5% Imports:
$322 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.)
commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 24.4%, manufactures 24%, food and livestock 19%, fuels 12%, chemicals 6.5% partners:
Denmark 43.8%, Norway 19.8%, Sweden 4.9%, Germany 4.2%, US 1.3% External debt:
$1.3 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
80,000 kW capacity; 280 million kWh produced, 5,760 kWh per capita (1992) Industries:
fishing, shipbuilding, handicrafts Agriculture:
accounts for 27% of GDP and employs 27% of labor force; principal crops – potatoes and vegetables; livestock – sheep; annual fish catch about 360,000 metric tons
Economic aid:
receives an annual subsidy from Denmark of about $130 million
*Faroe Islands, Economy
Currency:
1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 ore
Exchange rates:
Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 – 6.236 (January 1993), 6.036 (1992), 6.396 (1991), 6.189 (1990), 7.310 (1989), 6.732 (1988) Fiscal year:
1 April – 31 March
*Faroe Islands, Communications
Highways:
200 km
Ports:
Torshavn, Tvoroyri
Merchant marine:
10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,015 GRT/24,007 DWT; includes 1 short-sea passenger, 5 cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off, 2 refrigerated cargo; note – a subset of the Danish register
Airports:
total:
1
useable:
1
with permanent-surface runways:
1 with runways over 3659 m:
0
with runways 2440-3659 m:
0
with runways 1220-2439 m:
1
Telecommunications:
good international communications; fair domestic facilities; 27,900 telephones; broadcast stations – 1 AM, 3 (10 repeaters) FM, 3 (29 repeaters) TV; 3 coaxial submarine cables
*Faroe Islands, Defense Forces
Branches:
small Police Force, no organized native military forces Note:
defense is the responsibility of Denmark
*Fiji, Geography
Location:
Oceania, 2,500 km north of New Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean Map references:
Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the World Area:
total area:
18,270 km2
land area:
18,270 km2
comparative area:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,129 km
Maritime claims:
(measured from claimed archipelagic baselines) continental shelf:
200 m depth or to depth of exploitation; rectilinear shelf claim added exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation Terrain:
mostly mountains of volcanic origin Natural resources:
timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential Land use: arable land:
8%
permanent crops:
5%
meadows and pastures:
3%
forest and woodland:
65%
other:
19%
Irrigated land:
10 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
subject to hurricanes from November to January; includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited
*Fiji, People
Population:
756,762 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.95% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
24.74 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate:
6.59 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate:
-8.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate:
18.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
64.86 years
male:
62.62 years
female:
67.21 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.98 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality:
noun:
Fijian(s)
adjective:
Fijian
Ethnic divisions:
Fijian 49%, Indian 46%, European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5%
Religions:
Christian 52% (Methodist 37%, Roman Catholic 9%), Hindu 38%, Muslim 8%, other 2%
note:
Fijians are mainly Christian, Indians are Hindu, and there is a Muslim minority (1986)
Languages: English (official), Fijian, Hindustani Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1985) total population:
86%
male:
90%
female:
81%
Labor force:
235,000
by occupation:
subsistence agriculture 67%, wage earners 18%, salary earners 15% (1987)
*Fiji, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Fiji
conventional short form:
Fiji
Digraph:
FJ
Type:
republic
note:
military coup leader Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA formally declared Fiji a republic on 6 October 1987
Capital:
Suva
Administrative divisions:
4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western, Independence: 10 October 1970 (from UK)
Constitution:
10 October 1970 (suspended 1 October 1987); a new Constitution was proposed on 23 September 1988 and promulgated on 25 July 1990; the 1990 Constitution is currently still under review (February 1993) Legal system:
based on British system
National holiday:
Independence Day, 10 October (1970) Political parties and leaders:
Fijian Political Party (SVT – primarily Fijian), leader Maj. Gen. Sitivini RABUKA; National Federation Party (NFP; primarily Indian), Siddiq KOYA; Christian Fijian Nationalist Party (CFNP), Sakeasi BUTADROKA; Fiji Labor Party (FLP), Jokapeci KOROI; All National Congress (ANC), Apisai TORA; General Voters Party (GVP), Max OLSSON; Fiji Conservative Party (FCP), Isireli VUIBAU; Conservative Party of Fiji (CPF), Jolale ULUDOLE and Viliame SAVU; Fiji Indian Liberal Party, Swami MAHARAJ; Fiji Indian Congress Party, Ishwari BAJPAI; Fiji Independent Labor (Muslim), leader NA; Four Corners Party, David TULVANUAVOU
Suffrage:
none
Elections:
House of Representatives:
last held 23-29 May 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (70 total, with ethnic Fijians allocated 37 seats, ethnic Indians 27 seats, and independents and other 6 seats) number of seats by party NA
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, Cabinet, Great Councils of Chiefs (highest ranking members of the traditional chiefly system) Legislative branch:
the bicameral Parliament, consisting of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives, was dissolved following the coup of 14 May 1987; the Constitution of 23 September 1988 provides for a bicameral Parliament
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Ratu Sir Penaia Kanatabatu GANILAU (since 5 December 1987); Vice President Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA (since 14 April 1992); Vice President Ratu Sir Josaia TAIVAIQIA (since 14 April 1992)
*Fiji, Government
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Sitiveni RABUKA (since 2 June 1992); Deputy Prime Minister Filipe BOLE (since 11 June 1992); Deputy Prime Minister Ratu Timoci VESIKULA (since 11 June 1993)
Member of:
ACP, AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, PCA, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNOSOM, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Pita Kewa NACUVA
chancery:
Suite 240, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone:
(202) 337-8320
consulate:
New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Evelyn I. H. TEEGEN
embassy:
31 Loftus Street, Suva
mailing address:
P. O. Box 218, Suva
telephone:
[679] 314-466
FAX:
[679] 300-081
Flag:
light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the cross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove
*Fiji, Economy
Overview:
Fiji’s economy is primarily agricultural, with a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports are a major source of foreign exchange, and sugar processing accounts for one-third of industrial output. Industry, including sugar milling, contributes 13% to GDP. Fiji traditionally had earned considerable sums of hard currency from the 250,000 tourists who visited each year. In 1987, however, after two military coups, the economy went into decline. GDP dropped by 7.8% in 1987 and by another 2.5% in 1988; political uncertainty created a drop in tourism, and the worst drought of the century caused sugar production to fall sharply. In contrast, sugar and tourism turned in strong performances in 1989, and the economy rebounded vigorously. In 1990 the economy received a setback from cyclone Sina, which cut sugar output by an estimated 21%. Sugar exports recovered in 1991-92. National product:
GDP – exchange rate conversion – $1.4 billion (1992 est.) National product real growth rate:
3% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$1,900 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.9% (1991 est.)
Budget:
revenues $455 million; expenditures $546 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.)
Exports:
$435 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
sugar 40%, gold, clothing, copra, processed fish, lumber partners:
EC 31%, Australia 21%, Japan 8%, US 6% Imports:
$553 million (c.i.f., 1991)
commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 32%, food 15%, petroleum products, consumer goods, chemicals
partners:
Australia 30%, NZ 17%, Japan 13%, EC 6%, US 6% External debt:
$428 million (December 1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 8.4% (1991 est.); accounts for 13% of GDP Electricity:
215,000 kW capacity; 420 million kWh produced, 560 kWh per capita (1992) Industries:
sugar, tourism, copra, gold, silver, clothing, lumber, small cottage industries
Agriculture:
accounts for 23% of GDP; principal cash crop is sugarcane; coconuts, cassava, rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; small livestock sector includes cattle, pigs, horses, and goats; fish catch nearly 33,000 tons (1989) Economic aid:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $815 million
Currency:
1 Fijian dollar (F$) = 100 cents
*Fiji, Economy
Exchange rates:
Fijian dollars (F$) per US$1 – 1.5809 (January 1993), 1.5029 (1992), 1.4756 (1991), 1.4809 (1990), 1.4833 (1989), 1.4303 (1988) Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Fiji, Communications
Railroads:
644 km 0.610-meter narrow gauge, belonging to the government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation
Highways:
3,300 km total; 1,590 km paved; 1,290 km gravel, crushed stone, or stabilized soil surface; 420 unimproved earth (1984) Inland waterways:
203 km; 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges Ports:
Lambasa, Lautoka, Savusavu, Suva
Merchant marine:
7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 40,072 GRT/47,187 DWT; includes 2 roll-on/roll-off, 2 container, 1 oil tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 1 cargo Airports:
total:
25
usable:
22
with permanent-surface runways:
2
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
2
Telecommunications:
modern local, interisland, and international (wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone, telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio center; important COMPAC cable link between US-Canada and New Zealand-Australia; 53,228 telephones (71 telephones per 1,000 persons); broadcast stations – 7 AM, 1 FM, no TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station
*Fiji, Defense Forces
Branches:
Fiji Military Force (FMF; including a naval division, police) Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 194,634; fit for military service 107,304; reach military age (18) annually 7,834 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion – $22.4 million, about 2% of GDP (FY91/92)
*Finland, Geography
Location:
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Russia Map references:
Arctic Region, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area:
total area:
337,030 km2
land area:
305,470 km2
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries:
total 2,628 km, Norway 729 km, Sweden 586 km, Russia 1,313 km Coastline:
1,126 km (excludes islands and coastal indentations) Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
6 nm
continental shelf:
200 m depth or to depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone:
12 nm
territorial sea:
4 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
cold temperate; potentially subarctic, but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes
Terrain:
mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills Natural resources:
timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver Land use:
arable land:
8%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
76%
other:
16%
Irrigated land:
620 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
permanently wet ground covers about 30% of land; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain
Note:
long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent
*Finland, People
Population:
5,050,942 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.37% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
12.61 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate:
9.91 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate:
1.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate:
5.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
75.65 years
male:
71.85 years
female:
79.62 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.79 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality:
noun:
Finn(s)
adjective:
Finnish
Ethnic divisions:
Finn, Swede, Lapp, Gypsy, Tatar
Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Greek Orthodox 1%, none 9%, other 1% Languages:
Finnish 93.5% (official), Swedish 6.3% (official), small Lapp- and Russian-speaking minorities
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1980) total population: 100%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
2.533 million
by occupation:
public services 30.4%, industry 20.9%, commerce 15.0%, finance, insurance, and business services 10.2%, agriculture and forestry 8.6%, transport and communications 7.7%, construction 7.2%
*Finland, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Finland
conventional short form:
Finland
local long form:
Suomen Tasavalta
local short form:
Suomi
Digraph:
FI
Type:
republic
Capital:
Helsinki
Administrative divisions:
12 provinces (laanit, singular – laani); Ahvenanmaa, Hame, Keski-Suomi, Kuopio, Kymi, Lappi, Mikkeli, Oulu, Pohjois-Karjala, Turku ja Pori, Uusimaa, Vaasa
Independence:
6 December 1917 (from Soviet Union) Constitution:
17 July 1919
Legal system:
civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court may request legislation interpreting or modifying laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 December (1917) Political parties and leaders:
government coalition:
Center Party, Esko AHO; National Coalition (conservative) Party, Perti SALOLAINEN; Swedish People’s Party, (Johan) Ole NORRBACK; Finnish Christian League, Toimi KANKAANNIEMI
other parties:
Social Democratic Party, Antero KEKKONEN, Acting Chairman; Leftist Alliance (Communist) People’s Democratic League and Democratic Alternative, Claes ANDERSON; Green League, Pekka SAURI; Rural Party, Tina MAKELA; Liberal People’s Party, Kalle MAATTA
Other political or pressure groups: Finnish Communist Party-Unity, Yrjo HAKANEN; Constitutional Rightist Party;
Finnish Pensioners Party; Communist Workers Party, Timo LAHDENMAKI Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
last held 31 January – 1 February and 15 February 1988 (next to be held January 1994); results – Mauno KOIVISTO 48%, Paavo VAYRYNEN 20%, Harri HOLKERI 18%
Parliament:
last held 17 March 1991 (next to be held March 1995); results – Center Party 24.8%, Social Democratic Party 22.1%, National Coalition (Conservative) Party 19.3%, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 10.1%, Green League 6.8%, Swedish People’s Party 5.5%, Rural 4.8%, Finnish Christian League 3.1%, Liberal People’s Party 0.8%; seats – (200 total) Center Party 55, Social Democratic Party 48, National Coalition (Conservative) Party 40, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 19, Swedish People’s Party 12, Green League 10, Finnish Christian League 8, Rural 7, Liberal People’s Party 1
*Finland, Government
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council of State (Valtioneuvosto)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (Eduskunta)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Korkein Oikeus)
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Mauno KOIVISTO (since 27 January 1982) Head of Government:
Prime Minister Esko AHO (since 26 April 1991); Deputy Prime Minister Ilkka KANERVA (since 26 April 1991)
Member of:
AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM (cooperating country), CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA (associate), FAO, G-9, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Jukka VALTASAARI
chancery:
3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone:
(202) 363-2430
FAX:
(202) 363-8233
consulates general:
Los Angeles and New York
consulates: Chicago and Houston
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador John H. KELLY
embassy:
Itainen Puistotie 14A, SF-00140, Helsinki mailing address:
APO AE 09723
telephone:
[358] (0) 171931
FAX:
[358] (0) 174681
Flag:
white with a blue cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the DANNEBROG (Danish flag)
*Finland, Economy
Overview:
Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free market economy, with per capita output two-thirds of the US figure. Its key economic sector is manufacturing – principally the wood, metals, and engineering industries. Trade is important, with the export of goods representing about 30% of GDP. Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends on imports of raw materials, energy, and some components for manufactured goods. Because of the climate, agricultural development is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products. The economy, which experienced an average of 4.9% annual growth between 1987 and 1989, sank into deep recession in 1991 as growth contracted by 6.5%. The recession – which continued in 1992 with growth contracting by 3.5% – has been caused by economic overheating, depressed foreign markets, and the dismantling of the barter system between Finland and the former Soviet Union under which Soviet oil and gas had been exchanged for Finnish manufactured goods. The Finnish Government has proposed efforts to increase industrial competitiveness and efficiency by an increase in exports to Western markets, cuts in public expenditures, partial privatization of state enterprises, and changes in monetary policy. In June 1991 Helsinki had tied the markka to the EC’s European Currency Unit (ECU) to promote stability. Ongoing speculation resulting from a lack of confidence in the government’s policies forced Helsinki to devalue the markka by about 12% in November 1991 and to indefinitely break the link in September 1992. By boosting the competitiveness of Finnish exports, these measures presumably have kept the economic downturn from being even more severe. Unemployment probably will remain a serious problem during the next few years – monthly figures in early 1993 are approaching 20% – with the majority of Finnish firms facing a weak domestic market and the troubled German and Swedish export markets. Declining revenues, increased transfer payments, and extensive funding to bail out the banking system are expected to push the central government’s budget deficit to nearly 13% in 1993. Helsinki continues to harmonize its economic policies with those of the EC during Finland’s current EC membership bid.
National product:
GDP – purchasing power equivalent – $79.4 billion (1992) National product real growth rate:
-3.5% (1992)
National product per capita:
$15,900 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
13.1% (1992)
Budget:
revenues $26.8 billion; expenditures $40.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992)
Exports:
$24.0 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
timber, paper and pulp, ships, machinery, clothing and footwear partners:
EC 53.2% (Germany 15.6%, UK 10.7%), EFTA 19.5% (Sweden 12.8%), US 5.9%, Japan 1.3%, Russia 2.8% (1992)
Imports:
$21.2 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
commodities:
foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics, fodder grains
*Finland, Economy
partners:
EC 47.2% (Germany 16.9%, UK 8.7%), EFTA 19.0% (Sweden 11.7%), US 6.1%, Japan 5.5%, Russia 7.1% (1992)
External debt:
$25 billion (1992)
Industrial production:
growth rate 7.6% (1992 est.)
Electricity:
13,500,000 kW capacity; 55,300 million kWh produced, 11,050 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
metal products, shipbuilding, forestry and wood processing (pulp, paper), copper refining, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing Agriculture:
accounts for 5% of GDP (including forestry); livestock production, especially dairy cattle, predominates; forestry is an important export earner and a secondary occupation for the rural population; main crops – cereals, sugar beets, potatoes; 85% self-sufficient, but short of foodgrains and fodder grains; annual fish catch about 160,000 metric tons Economic aid:
donor – ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $2.7 billion Currency:
1 markkaa (FMk) or Finmark = 100 pennia Exchange rates:
markkaa (FMk) per US$1 – 5.4193 (January 1993), 4.4794 (1992), 4.0440 (1991), 3.8235 (1990), 4.2912 (1989), 4.1828 (1988) Fiscal year: calendar year
*Finland, Communications
Railroads:
5,924 km total; Finnish State Railways (VR) operate a total of 5,863 km 1.524-meter gauge, of which 480 km are multiple track and 1,445 km are electrified
Highways:
about 103,000 km total, including 35,000 km paved (bituminous, concrete, bituminous-treated surface) and 38,000 km unpaved (stabilized gravel, gravel, earth); additional 30,000 km of private (state-subsidized) roads Inland waterways:
6,675 km total (including Saimaa Canal); 3,700 km suitable for steamers Pipelines:
natural gas 580 km
Ports:
Helsinki, Oulu, Pori, Rauma, Turku Merchant marine:
87 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 935,260 GRT/973,995 DWT; includes 3 passenger, 11 short-sea passenger, 17 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 26 roll-on/roll-off, 14 oil tanker, 6 chemical tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 7 bulk Airports:
total:
160
usable:
157
with permanent-surface runways:
66
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
25
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
22
Telecommunications:
good service from cable and microwave radio relay network; 3,140,000 telephones; broadcast stations – 6 AM, 105 FM, 235 TV; 1 submarine cable; INTELSAT satellite transmission service via Swedish earth station and a receive-only INTELSAT earth station near Helsinki
*Finland, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Frontier Guard (including Coast Guard) Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,323,381; fit for military service 1,091,613; reach military age (17) annually 33,828 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion – $1.93 billion, about 2% of GDP (1992)
*France, Geography
Location:
Western Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Spain and Germany Map references:
Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area:
total area:
547,030 km2
land area:
545,630 km2
comparative area:
slightly more than twice the size of Colorado note:
includes Corsica and the rest of metropolitan France, but excludes the overseas administrative divisions
Land boundaries:
total 2,892.4 km, Andorra 60 km, Belgium 620 km, Germany 451 km, Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Spain 623 km, Switzerland 573 km Coastline:
3,427 km (mainland 2,783 km, Corsica 644 km) Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
12-24 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island; Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; Seychelles claims Tromelin Island; Suriname claims part of French Guiana; Mexico claims Clipperton Island; territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land); Saint Pierre and Miquelon is focus of maritime boundary dispute between Canada and France Climate:
generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean
Terrain:
mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east Natural resources:
coal, iron ore, bauxite, fish, timber, zinc, potash Land use:
arable land:
32%
permanent crops:
2%
meadows and pastures:
23%
forest and woodland:
27%
other:
16%
Irrigated land: 11,600 km2 (1989 est.) Environment:
most of large urban areas and industrial centers in Rhone, Garonne, Seine, or Loire River basins; occasional warm tropical wind known as mistral Note:
largest West European nation
*France, People
Population:
57,566,091 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.48% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
13.24 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate:
9.3 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate:
0.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate:
6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
78 years
male:
74.04 years
female:
82.16 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.8 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality:
noun:
Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women) adjective:
French
Ethnic divisions:
Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese, Basque minorities
Religions:
Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim (North African workers) 1%, unaffiliated 6%
Languages:
French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish) Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1980) total population:
99%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
24.17 million by occupation:
services 61.5%, industry 31.3%, agriculture 7.2% (1987)
*France, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
French Republic
conventional short form:
France
local long form:
Republique Francaise
local short form:
France
Digraph:
FR
Type:
republic
Capital:
Paris
Administrative divisions:
22 regions (regions, singular – region); Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne, Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse, Franche-Comte, Haute-Normandie, Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, Rhone-Alpes note:
the 22 regions are subdivided into 96 departments; see separate entries for the overseas departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion) and the territorial collectivities (Mayotte, Saint Pierre and Miquelon) Dependent areas:
Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, New Caledonia, Tromelin Island, Wallis and Futuna note:
the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica Independence:
486 (unified by Clovis)
Constitution:
28 September 1958, amended concerning election of president in 1962, ammended to comply with provisions of EC Maastricht Treaty in 1992 Legal system:
civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrative but not legislative acts
National holiday:
National Day, Taking of theBastille, 14 July (1789) Political parties and leaders:
Rally for the Republic (RPR), Jacques CHIRAC; Union for French Democracy (UDF, federation of UREI, UC, RDE), Valery Giscard d’ESTAING; Republican Party (PR), Gerard LONGUET; Center for Social Democrats (CDS), Pierre MEHAIGNERIE; Radical (RAD), Yves GALLAND; Socialist Party (PS), Michel ROCARD; Left Radical Movement (MRG), Emile ZUCCARELLI; Communist Party (PCF), Georges MARCHAIS; National Front (FN), Jean-Marie LE PEN; Union of Republican and Independents (UREI); Centrist Union (UC); (RDE) Other political or pressure groups:
Communist-controlled labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail) nearly 2.4 million members (claimed); Socialist-leaning labor union (Confederation Francaise Democratique du Travail or CFDT) about 800,000 members est.; independent labor union (Force Ouvriere) 1 million members (est.); independent white-collar union (Confederation Generale des Cadres) 340,000 members (claimed); National Council of French Employers (Conseil National du Patronat Francais – CNPF or Patronat)
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
*France, Government
Elections:
President:
last held 8 May 1988 (next to be held by May 1995); results – Second Ballot Francois MITTERRAND 54%, Jacques CHIRAC 46% Senate:
last held NA September 1992 (next to be held September 1995 – nine-year term, elected by thirds every three years); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (321 total; 296 metropolitan France, 13 for overseas departments and territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad) RPR 91, UDF 142 (UREI 51, UC 68, RDE 23), PS 66, PCF 16, independents 2, other 4 National Assembly:
last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (577 total) RPR 247, UDF 213, PS 67, PCF 24, independents 26
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet) Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament (Parlement) consists of an upper house or Senate (Senat) and a lower house or National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale) Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court (Cour Constitutionnelle) Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981) Head of Government:
Prime Minister Edouard BALLADUR (since 29 March 1993) Member of:
ACCT, AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECA (associate), ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, ESCAP, FAO, FZ, GATT, G-5, G-7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNPROFOR, UNRWA, UN Security Council, UNTAC, UN Trusteeship Council, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Jacques ANDREANI
chancery:
4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 944-6000
consulates general:
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Pamela HARRIMAN
embassy:
2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08, Unit 21551 mailing address:
APO AE 09777
telephone:
[33] (1) 4296-12-02 or 4261-80-75
FAX:
[33] (1) 4266-9783
consulates general:
Bordeaux, Marseille, Strasbourg
*France, Government
Flag:
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red; known as the French Tricouleur (Tricolor); the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags, including those of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote d’Ivoire, and Luxembourg; the official flag for all French dependent areas
*France, Economy
Overview:
One of the world’s most developed economies, France has substantial agricultural resources and a highly diversified modern industrial sector. Large tracts of fertile land, the application of modern technology, and subsidies have combined to make it the leading agricultural producer in Western Europe. France is largely self-sufficient in agricultural products and is a major exporter of wheat and dairy products. The industrial sector generates about one-quarter of GDP, and the growing services sector has become crucial to the economy. The French economy is entering its fourth consecutive year of sluggish growth after a strong expansion in the late 1980s. Growth averaged only 1.3% in 1990-92 and is expected to drop to between zero and -0.5% in 1993. The government budget deficit rose to 3.2% of GDP in 1992 and is expected to be far larger than planned in the 1993 budget. Paris remains committed to maintaining the franc-deutsch mark parity, which has kept French interest rates high despite France’s low inflation. Although the pace of economic integration within the European Community has slowed down, integration presumably will remain a major force shaping the fortunes of the various economic sectors. National product:
GDP – purchasing power equivalent – $1.08 trillion (1992) National product real growth rate:
1.1% (1992)
National product per capita:
$18,900 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
10.5% (end 1992)
Budget:
revenues $220.5 billion; expenditures $249.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $47 billion (1993 budget) Exports:
$212.7 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs, agricultural products, iron and steel products, textiles and clothing partners:
Germany 18.6%, Italy 11.0%, Spain 11.0%, Belgium-Luxembourg 9.1%, UK 8.8%, Netherlands 7.9%, US 6.4%, Japan 2.0%, former USSR 0.7% (1991 est.) Imports:
$230.3 billion (c.i.f., 1991)
commodities:
crude oil, machinery and equipment, agricultural products, chemicals, iron and steel products
partners:
Germany 17.8%, Italy 10.9%, US 9.5%, Netherlands 8.9%, Spain 8.8%, Belgium-Luxembourg 8.5%, UK 7.5%, Japan 4.1%, former USSR 1.3% (1991 est.) External debt:
$270 billion (December 1992)
Industrial production:
growth rate 0.2% (1992 est.)
Electricity:
110,000,000 kW capacity; 426,000 million kWh produced, 7,430 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
steel, machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics, mining, textiles, food processing, tourism
*France, Economy
Agriculture:
accounts for 4% of GDP (including fishing and forestry); one of the world’s top five wheat producers; other principal products – beef, dairy products, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; self-sufficient for most temperate-zone foods; shortages include fats and oils and tropical produce, but overall net exporter of farm products; fish catch of 850,000 metric tons ranks among world’s top 20 countries and is all used domestically Economic aid:
donor – ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $75.1 billion Currency:
1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
French francs (F) per US$1 – 5.4812 (January 1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988) Fiscal year:
calendar year
*France, Communications
Railroads:
French National Railways (SNCF) operates 34,322 km 1.435-meter standard gauge; 12,434 km electrified, 15,132 km double or multiple track; 99 km of various gauges (1.000-meter), privately owned and operated Highways:
1,551,400 km total; 33,400 km national highway; 347,000 km departmental highway; 421,000 km community roads; 750,000 km rural roads; 5,401 km of controlled-access divided autoroutes; about 803,000 km paved Inland waterways:
14,932 km; 6,969 km heavily traveled Pipelines:
crude oil 3,059 km; petroleum products 4,487 km; natural gas 24,746 km Ports:
coastal – Bordeaux, Boulogne, Brest, Cherbourg, Dunkerque, Fos-Sur-Mer, Le Havre, Marseille, Nantes, Sete, Toulon; inland – Rouen Merchant marine:
130 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,224,945 GRT/5,067,252 DWT; includes 7 short-sea passenger, 10 cargo, 20 container, 1 multifunction large-load carrier, 27 roll-on/roll-off, 36 oil tanker, 11 chemical tanker, 6 liquefied gas, 2 specialized tanker, 10 bulk; note – France also maintains a captive register for French-owned ships in the Kerguelen Islands (French Southern and Antarctic Lands) and French Polynesia Airports:
total:
471
usable:
461
with permanent-surface runways:
256
with runways over 3,659 m:
3
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
37
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
136
Telecommunications:
highly developed; extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks; large-scale introduction of optical-fiber systems; satellite systems for domestic traffic; 39,200,000 telephones; broadcast stations – 41 AM, 800 (mostly repeaters) FM, 846 (mostly repeaters) TV; 24 submarine coaxial cables; 2 INTELSAT earth stations (with total of 5 antennas – 2 for the Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 3 for the Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT); HF radio communications with more than 20 countries; INMARSAT service; EUTELSAT TV service
*France, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy (including Naval Air), Air Force, National Gendarmerie Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 14,662,761; fit for military service 12,247,950; reach