self-sufficient in food
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin destined for Europe and the US
Economic aid:
recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $455 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2.6 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $78 million; Communist countries (1970-89) $106 million
Currency: 1 new cedi (C) = 100 pesewas
Exchange rates: new cedis per US$1 – 1,046.74 (December 1994), 936.71 (1994), 649.06 (1993), 437.09 (1992), 367.83 (1991), 326.33 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Ghana:Transportation
Railroads:
total: 953 km; note – undergoing major renovation narrow gauge: 953 km 1.067-m gauge (32 km double track)
Highways:
total: 32,250 km
paved: concrete, bituminous 6,084 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, improved earth 26,166 km
Inland waterways: Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers provide 168 km of perennial navigation for launches and lighters; Lake Volta provides 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways
Pipelines: none
Ports: Takoradi, Tema
Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 27,427 GRT/35,894 DWT ships by type: cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1
Airports:
total: 12
with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2 with paved runways under 914 m: 2
with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
@Ghana:Communications
Telephone system: 42,300 telephones; poor to fair system; telephone density – 2.4/1,000 persons
local: NA
intercity: primarily microwave radio relay international: 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 1, shortwave 0 radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 4 (translators 8) televisions: NA
@Ghana:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force, Palace Guard, Civil Defense
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 3,975,767; males fit for military service 2,217,032; males reach military age (18) annually 170,723 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion – $108 million, 1.5% of GDP (1993)
________________________________________________________________________
GIBRALTAR
(dependent territory of the UK)
@Gibraltar:Geography
Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain
Map references: Europe
Area:
total area: 6.5 sq km
land area: 6.5 sq km
comparative area: about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total 1.2 km, Spain 1.2 km
Coastline: 12 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: source of occasional friction between Spain and the UK
Climate: Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Terrain: a narrow coastal lowland borders The Rock
Natural resources: negligible
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: limited natural freshwater resources, so large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rain water natural hazards: NA
international agreements: NA
Note: strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
@Gibraltar:People
Population: 31,874 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24% (female 3,757; male 3,835) 15-64 years: 63% (female 9,730; male 10,485) 65 years and over: 13% (female 2,360; male 1,707) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.62% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 15 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 8.85 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.61 years
male: 73.7 years
female: 79.48 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.29 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Gibraltarian(s)
adjective: Gibraltar
Ethnic divisions: Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, Spanish
Religions: Roman Catholic 74%, Protestant 11% (Church of England 8%, other 3%), Moslem 8%, Jewish 2%, none or other 5% (1981)
Languages: English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian
Literacy: NA%
Labor force: 14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers) note: UK military establishments and civil government employ nearly 50% of the labor force
@Gibraltar:Government
Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Gibraltar
Digraph: GI
Type: dependent territory of the UK
Capital: Gilbraltar
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday: Commonwealth Day (second Monday of March)
Constitution: 30 May 1969
Legal system: English law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal, plus other UK subjects resident six months or more
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor and Commander in Chief Gen. Sir John CHAPPLE (since NA March 1993)
head of government: Chief Minister Joe BOSSANO (since 25 March 1988) Gibraltar Council: advises the governor cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed from the elected members of the Assembly by the governor in consultation with the chief minister
Legislative branch: unicameral
House of Assembly: elections last held on 16 January 1992 (next to be held January 1996); results – SL 73.3%; seats – (18 total, 15 elected) number of seats by party NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party (SL), Joe BOSSANO; Gibraltar Labor Party/Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights (GCL/AACR), leader NA; Gibraltar Social Democrats, Peter CARUANA; Gibraltar National Party, Joe GARCIA
Other political or pressure groups: Housewives Association; Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization
Member of: INTERPOL (subbureau)
Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag: two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band
@Gibraltar:Economy
Overview: Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade and offshore banking. The British military presence has been severely reduced and now only contributes about 11% to the local economy. The financial sector accounts for 15% of GDP; tourism, shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods also generate revenue. Because more than 70% of the economy is in the public sector, changes in government spending have a major impact on the level of employment.
National product: GDP – purchasing power parity – $205 million (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate: NA%
National product per capita: $6,600 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.6% (1988)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $116 million
expenditures: $124 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992-93)
Exports: $57 million (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities: (principally re-exports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other 8%
partners: UK, Morocco, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, US, FRG
Imports: $420 million (c.i.f., 1992) commodities: fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs partners: UK, Spain, Japan, Netherlands
External debt: $318 million (1987)
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 47,000 kW
production: 90 million kWh
consumption per capita: 2,539 kWh (1993)
Industries: tourism, banking and finance, construction, commerce; support to large UK naval and air bases; transit trade and supply depot in the port; light manufacturing of tobacco, roasted coffee, ice, mineral waters, candy, beer, and canned fish
Agriculture: none
Economic aid:
recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $800,000; Western (non-US) countries and ODA bilateral commitments (1992-93), $2.5 million
Currency: 1 Gibraltar pound (#G) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Gibraltar pounds (#G) per US$1 – 0.6350 (January 1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990); note – the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year: 1 July – 30 June
@Gibraltar:Transportation
Railroads:
total: NA km; 1.000-m gauge system in dockyard area only
Highways:
total: 50 km
paved: 50 km
Pipelines: none
Ports: Gibraltar
Merchant marine:
total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 419,707 GRT/721,110 DWT ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 3, chemical tanker 1, container 2, oil tanker 14
Airports:
total: 1
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
@Gibraltar:Communications
Telephone system: 9,400 telephones; adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate international radiocommunication and microwave facilities
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0 radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 4
televisions: NA
@Gibraltar:Defense Forces
Branches: British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
________________________________________________________________________
GLORIOSO ISLANDS
(possession of France)
@Glorioso Islands:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Madagascar
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 5 sq km
land area: 5 sq km
comparative area: about 8.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
note: includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock, and South Rock
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 35.2 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: claimed by Madagascar
Climate: tropical
Terrain: NA
Natural resources: guano, coconuts
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: periodic cyclones international agreements: NA
@Glorioso Islands:People
Population: uninhabited
@Glorioso Islands:Government
Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Glorioso Islands local long form: none
local short form: Iles Glorieuses
Digraph: GO
Type: French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
Capital: none; administered by France from Reunion
Independence: none (possession of France)
@Glorioso Islands:Economy
Overview: no economic activity
@Glorioso Islands:Transportation
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
total: 1
with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
@Glorioso Islands:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of France
________________________________________________________________________
GREECE
@Greece:Geography
Location: Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
Map references: Europe
Area:
total area: 131,940 sq km
land area: 130,800 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Alabama
Land boundaries: total 1,210 km, Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 228 km
Coastline: 13,676 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 6 nm
International disputes: complex maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Turkey in Aegean Sea; Cyprus question; dispute with The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia over name, symbols, and certain constitutional provisions; Greece is involved in a bilateral dispute with Albania over border demarcation, the treatment of Albania’s ethnic Greek minority, and migrant Albanian workers in Greece
Climate: temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain: mostly mountains with ranges extending into sea as peninsulas or chains of islands
Natural resources: bauxite, lignite, magnesite, petroleum, marble
Land use:
arable land: 23%
permanent crops: 8%
meadows and pastures: 40%
forest and woodland: 20%
other: 9%
Irrigated land: 11,900 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: air pollution; water pollution natural hazards: severe earthquakes
international agreements: party to – Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified – Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea
Note: strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of about 2,000 islands
@Greece:People
Population: 10,647,511 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (female 904,374; male 947,494) 15-64 years: 67% (female 3,601,029; male 3,565,931) 65 years and over: 15% (female 919,044; male 709,639) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.72% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 10.56 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 9.31 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 5.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.92 years
male: 75.39 years
female: 80.59 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.46 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Greek(s)
adjective: Greek
Ethnic divisions: Greek 98%, other 2% note: the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions in Greece
Religions: Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Languages: Greek (official), English, French
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1991) total population: 95%
male: 98%
female: 93%
Labor force: 4.077 million
by occupation: services 52%, agriculture 23%, industry 25% (1994)
@Greece:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Hellenic Republic conventional short form: Greece
local long form: Elliniki Dhimokratia local short form: Ellas
former: Kingdom of Greece
Digraph: GR
Type: presidential parliamentary government; monarchy rejected by referendum 8 December 1974
Capital: Athens
Administrative divisions: 52 prefectures (nomoi, singular – nomos); Aitolia kai Akarnania, Akhaia, Argolis, Arkadhia, Arta, Attiki, Dhodhekanisos, Dhrama, Evritania, Evros, Evvoia, Florina, Fokis, Fthiotis, Grevena, Ilia, Imathia, Ioannina, Iraklion, Kardhitsa, Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkira, Khalkidhiki, Khania, Khios, Kikladhes, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lesvos, Levkas, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Piraievs, Preveza, Rethimni, Rodhopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakinthos, autonomous region: Agion Oros (Mt. Athos)
Independence: 1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 March (1821) (proclamation of the war of independence)
Constitution: 11 June 1975
Legal system: based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and administrative courts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Konstantinos (Kostis) STEPHANOPOULOS (since 10 March 1995) election last held 10 March 1995 (next to be held by NA 2000); results – Konstantinos STEPHANOPOULOS was elected by Parliament
head of government: Prime Minister Andreas PAPANDREOU (since 10 October 1993)
cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president on recommendation of the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral
Chamber of Deputies (Vouli ton Ellinon): elections last held 10 October 1993 (next to be held by NA October 1997); results – PASOK 46.88%, ND 39.30%, Political Spring 4.87%, KKE 4.54%, and Progressive Left (replaced by Coalition of the Left and Progress) 2.94%; seats – (300 total) PASOK 170, ND 111, Political Spring 10, KKE 9
Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court, Special Supreme Tribunal
Political parties and leaders: New Democracy (ND; conservative), Miltiades EVERT; Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), Andreas PAPANDREOU; Communist Party (KKE), Aleka PAPARIGA; Ecologist-Alternative List, leader rotates; Political Spring, Antonis SAMARAS; Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos), Nikolaos KONSTANTOPOULOS
Member of: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, FAO, G- 6, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UPU, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Loucas TSILAS chancery: 2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-5800
FAX: [1] (202) 939-5824
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco
consulate(s): New Orleans
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas M.T. NILES embassy: 91 Vasilissis Sophias Boulevard, 10160 Athens mailing address: PSC 108, Athens; APO AE 09842 telephone: [30] (1) 721-2951, 8401
FAX: [30] (1) 645-6282
consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki
Flag: nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; there is a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of the country
@Greece:Economy
Overview: Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the basic entrepreneurial system overlaid in 1981-89 by a socialist system that enlarged the public sector from 55% of GDP in 1981 to about 70% in 1989. Since then, the public sector has been reduced to about 60% of GDP. Tourism continues as a major source of foreign exchange, and agriculture is self-sufficient except for meat, dairy products, and animal feedstuffs. Over the last decade, real GDP growth has averaged 1.6% a year, compared with the European Union average of 2.2%. Inflation continues to be well above the EU average, and the national debt has reached 140% of GDP, the highest in the EU. Prime Minister PAPANDREOU will probably make only limited progress correcting the economy’s problems of high inflation, large budget deficit, and decaying infrastructure. His economic program suggests that although he will shun his expansionary policies of the 1980s, he will avoid tough measures needed to slow inflation or reduce the state’s role in the economy. He has limited the previous government’s privatization plans, for example, and has called for generous welfare spending and real wage increases. Athens continues to rely heavily on EU aid, which recently has amounted to about 6% of GDP. Greece almost certainly will not meet the EU’s Maastricht Treaty convergence targets of public deficit held to 3% of GDP and national debt to 60% of GDP by 1999. Per capita GDP has fallen below Portugal’s level, the lowest among EU members.
National product: GDP – purchasing power parity – $93.7 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 0.4% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $8,870 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.9% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10.1% (1994 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $28.3 billion
expenditures: $37.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.2 billion (1994)
Exports: $9 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: manufactured goods 53%, foodstuffs 34%, fuels 5% partners: Germany 24%, Italy 14%, France 7%, UK 6%, US 4% (1993)
Imports: $19.2 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: manufactured goods 72%, foodstuffs 15%, fuels 10% partners: Germany 16%, Italy 14%, France 7%, Japan 7%, UK 6% (1993)
External debt: $26.9 billion (1993)
Industrial production: growth rate 3.2% (1993 est.); accounts for 18% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity: 8,970,000 kW
production: 35.8 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 3,257 kWh (1993)
Industries: tourism, food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal products, mining, petroleum
Agriculture: including fishing and forestry, accounts for 12% of GDP; principal products – wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; self-sufficient in food except meat, dairy products, and animal feedstuffs
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis and limited opium; mostly for domestic production; serves as a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling cannabis and heroin from the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the West and precursor chemicals to the East; transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the Balkan route
Economic aid:
recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $525 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.39 billion
Currency: 1 drachma (Dr) = 100 lepta
Exchange rates: drachmae (Dr) per US$1 – 238.20 (January 1995), 242.60 (1994), 229.26 (1993), 190.62 (1992), 182.27 (1991), 158.51 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Greece:Transportation
Railroads:
total: 2,503 km
standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge (36 km electrified; 100 km double track)
narrow gauge: 887 km 1,000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge; 29 km 0.600-m gauge
Highways:
total: 130,000 km
paved: 119,210 km (116 km expressways) unpaved: 10,790 km (1990)
Inland waterways: 80 km; system consists of three coastal canals; including the Corinth Canal (6 km) which crosses the Isthmus of Corinth connecting the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf and shortens the sea voyage from the Adriatic to Piraievs (Piraeus) by 325 km; and three unconnected rivers
Pipelines: crude oil 26 km; petroleum products 547 km
Ports: Alexandroupolis, Elevsis, Iraklion (Crete), Kavala, Kerkira, Khalkis, Igoumenitsa, Lavrion, Patrai, Piraievs (Piraeus), Thessaloniki, Volos
Merchant marine:
total: 1,046 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 29,076,911 GRT/53,618,024 DWT
ships by type: bulk 469, cargo 105, chemical tanker 22, combination bulk 21, combination ore/oil 31, container 40, liquefied gas tanker 5, oil tanker 239, passenger 14, passenger-cargo 3, refrigerated cargo 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 16, short-sea passenger 67, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 1
note: ethnic Greeks also own 125 ships under Liberian registry, 323 under Panamanian, 705 under Cypriot, 351 under Maltese, and 100 under Bahamian
Airports:
total: 79
with paved runways over 3,047 m: 5 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 17
with paved runways under 914 m: 22 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
@Greece:Communications
Telephone system: 4,080,000 telephones; adequate, modern networks reach all areas; microwave radio relay carries most traffic; extensive open-wire network; submarine cables to off-shore islands local: NA
intercity: microwave radio relay and open wire international: tropospheric links, 8 submarine cables; 2 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 EUTELSAT ground station
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 29, FM 17 (repeaters 20), shortwave 0 radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 361
televisions: NA
@Greece:Defense Forces
Branches: Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air Force, National Guard, Police
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,676,152; males fit for military service 2,046,996; males reach military age (21) annually 75,857 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion – $4.1 billion, 5.4% of GDP (1994)
________________________________________________________________________
GREENLAND
(part of the Danish realm)
@Greenland:Geography
Location: Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada
Map references: Arctic Region
Area:
total area: 2,175,600 sq km
land area: 383,600 sq km (ice free) comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 44,087 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Terrain: flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast
Natural resources: zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, cryolite, uranium, fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 1%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 99%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island
international agreements: NA
Note: dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast
@Greenland:People
Population: 57,611 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27% (female 7,664; male 7,881) 15-64 years: 68% (female 17,761; male 21,580) 65 years and over: 5% (female 1,500; male 1,225) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.05% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 17.7 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 7.2 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 25.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.65 years
male: 63.33 years
female: 71.98 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.25 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Greenlander(s)
adjective: Greenlandic
Ethnic divisions: Greenlander 86% (Eskimos and Greenland-born Caucasians), Danish 14%
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran
Languages: Eskimo dialects, Danish
Literacy: NA%
Labor force: 22,800
by occupation: largely engaged in fishing, hunting, sheep breeding
@Greenland:Government
Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Greenland local long form: none
local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat
Digraph: GL
Type: part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division
Capital: Nuuk (Godthab)
Administrative divisions: 3 municipalities (kommuner, singular – kommun); Nordgronland, Ostgronland, Vestgronland
Independence: none (part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division)
National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
Constitution: 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
Legal system: Danish
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Steen SPORE (since NA 1993) head of government: Home Rule Chairman Lars Emil JOHANSEN (since 15 March 1991)
cabinet: Landsstyre; formed from the Landsting on basis of strength of parties
Legislative branch: unicameral
Parliament (Landsting): elections last held on 4 March 1995 (next to be held 5 March 1999); results – Siumut 38.5%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 20.3%, Atassut Party 29.7%; seats – (31 total) Siumut 12, Atassut Party 10, Inuit Ataqatigiit 6, conservative splinter grouping 2, independent 1
Danish Folketing: last held on 21 September 1994 (next to be held by September 1998); Greenland elects two representatives to the Folketing; results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (2 total) Liberals 1, Social Democrats 1; note – Greenlandic representatives are affiliated with Danish political parties
Judicial branch: High Court (Landsret)
Political parties and leaders: two-party ruling coalition; Siumut (Forward Party, a moderate socialist party that advocates more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark), Lars Emil JOHANSEN, chairman; Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA) (Eskimo Brotherhood, a Marxist-Leninist party that favors complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule), Josef MOTZFELDT; Atassut Party (Solidarity, a more conservative party that favors continuing close relations with Denmark), Daniel SKIFTE; AKULLIIT, Bjarne KREUTZMANN; Issituup (Polar Party), Nicolai HEINRICH
Diplomatic representation in US: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
US diplomatic representation: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Flag: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a large disk slightly to the hoist side of center – the top half of the disk is red, the bottom half is white
@Greenland:Economy
Overview: Greenland’s economic situation at present is difficult. Unemployment is increasing, and prospects for economic growth in the immediate future are dim. Following the closing of the Black Angel lead and zinc mine in 1989, Greenland became almost completely dependent on fishing and fish processing, the sector accounting for 95% of exports. Prospects for fisheries are not bright, as the important shrimp catches will at best stabilize and cod catches have dropped. Resumption of mining and hydrocarbon activities is not around the corner, thus leaving only tourism with some potential for the near future. The public sector in Greenland, i.e., the central government and its commercial entities and the municipalities, plays a dominant role in Greenland accounting for about two-thirds of total employment. About half the government’s revenues come from grants from the Danish Government.
National product: GDP – purchasing power parity – $NA
National product real growth rate: NA%
National product per capita: $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: 6.6% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $667 million
expenditures: $635 million, including capital expenditures of $103.8 million (1993 est.)
Exports: $330.5 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: fish and fish products 95% partners: Denmark 79%, Benelux 9%, Germany 5%
Imports: $369.6 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.) commodities: manufactured goods 28%, machinery and transport equipment 24%, food and live animals 12.4%, petroleum products 12% partners: Denmark 65%, Norway 8.8%, US 4.6%, Germany 3.8%, Japan 3.8%, Sweden 2.4%
External debt: $297.1 million (1993)
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 84,000 kW
production: 210 million kWh
consumption per capita: 3,361 kWh (1993)
Industries: fish processing (mainly shrimp), lead and zinc mining, handicrafts, some small shipyards, potential for platinum and gold mining
Agriculture: sector dominated by fishing and sheep raising; crops limited to forage and small garden vegetables; 1988 fish catch of 133,500 metric tons
Economic aid: none
Currency: 1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 – 6.034 (January 1995), 6.361 (1994), 6.484 (1993), 6.036 (1992), 6.396 (1991), 6.189 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Greenland:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways:
total: 150 km
paved: 60 km
unpaved: 90 km
Ports: Faeringehavn, Frederikshaab, Holsteinsborg, Nanortalik, Narsaq, Nuuk (Godthaab), Sondrestrom
Merchant marine: none
Airports:
total: 10
with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 2
with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
@Greenland:Communications
Telephone system: 17,900 telephones; adequate domestic and international service provided by cables and microwave radio relay local: NA
intercity: microwave radio relay
international: 2 coaxial submarine cables; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 7 (repeaters 35), shortwave 0 radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 4 (repeaters 9) televisions: NA
@Greenland:Defense Forces
Note: defense is responsibility of Denmark
________________________________________________________________________
GRENADA
@Grenada:Geography
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area: 340 sq km
land area: 340 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 121 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds
Terrain: volcanic in origin with central mountains
Natural resources: timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors
Land use:
arable land: 15%
permanent crops: 26%
meadows and pastures: 3%
forest and woodland: 9%
other: 47%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November
international agreements: party to – Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
Note: the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada
@Grenada:People
Population: 94,486 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (female 20,076; male 20,824) 15-64 years: 52% (female 23,123; male 25,828) 65 years and over: 5% (female 2,514; male 2,121) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.45% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 29.69 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 5.95 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -19.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 12.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.67 years
male: 68.2 years
female: 73.17 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.85 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Grenadian(s)
adjective: Grenadian
Ethnic divisions: black African
Religions: Roman Catholic, Anglican, other Protestant sects
Languages: English (official), French patois
Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970) total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98%
Labor force: 36,000
by occupation: services 31%, agriculture 24%, construction 8%, manufacturing 5%, other 32% (1985)
@Grenada:Government
Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Grenada
Digraph: GJ
Type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Saint George’s
Administrative divisions: 6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petit Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick
Independence: 7 February 1974 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 7 February (1974)
Constitution: 19 December 1973
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Reginald Oswald PALMER (since 6 August 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister George BRIZAN (since 1 February 1994)
cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on advice of the prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament Senate: consists of a 13-member body, 10 appointed by the government and 3 by the Leader of the Opposition
House of Representatives: elections last held on 13 March 1990 (next to be held by NA July 1995); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (15 total) NDC 7, GULP 4, TNP 2, NNP 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Congress (NDC), George BRIZAN; Grenada United Labor Party (GULP), Sir Eric GAIRY; The National Party (TNP), Ben JONES; New National Party (NNP), Keith MITCHELL; Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement (MBPM), Terrence MARRYSHOW
Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Denneth MODESTE chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 265-2561
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d’Affaires Ollie P. ANDERSON, Jr. embassy: Point Salines, Saint George’s
mailing address: P. O. Box 54, Saint George’s, Grenada, W.I. telephone: [1] (809) 444-1173 through 1178 FAX: [1] (809) 444-4820
Flag: a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top and bottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side) with a red border around the flag; there are seven yellow five-pointed stars with three centered in the top red border, three centered in the bottom red border, and one on a red disk superimposed at the center of the flag; there is also a symbolic nutmeg pod on the hoist-side triangle (Grenada is the world’s second-largest producer of nutmeg, after Indonesia); the seven stars represent the seven administrative divisions
@Grenada:Economy
Overview: The economy is essentially agricultural and centers on the traditional production of spices and tropical plants. Agriculture accounts for about 15% of GDP and 80% of exports and employs 24% of the labor force. Tourism is the leading foreign exchange earner, followed by agricultural exports. Manufacturing remains relatively undeveloped, but is expected to grow, given a more favorable private investment climate since 1983. The economy achieved an impressive average annual growth rate of 5.5% in 1986-91 but has stalled since 1992. Unemployment remains high at about 25%.
National product: GDP – purchasing power parity – $258 million (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate: 0.5% (1993 est.)
National product per capita: $2,750 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: 25% (1994 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $82.2 million (1993 est.) expenditures: $74.3 million, including capital expenditures of $11.8 million (1993 est.)
Exports: $18.6 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace
partners: Netherlands, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, United States
Imports: $133.8 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: food 25%, manufactured goods 22%, machinery 20%, chemicals 10%, fuel 6% (1989)
partners: US 29%, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Canada (1989)
External debt: $89.9 million (1993)
Industrial production: growth rate 1.8% (1992 est.); accounts for 9% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity: 12,500 kW
production: 60 million kWh
consumption per capita: 639 kWh (1993)
Industries: food and beverage, textile, light assembly operations, tourism, construction
Agriculture: accounts for 14% of GDP and 80% of exports; bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, and mace account for two-thirds of total crop production; world’s second-largest producer and fourth-largest exporter of nutmeg and mace; small-sized farms predominate, growing a variety of citrus fruits, avocados, root crops, sugarcane, corn, and vegetables
Economic aid:
recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY84-89), $60 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $70 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $32 million
Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 – 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Grenada:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways:
total: 1,000 km
paved: 600 km
unpaved: otherwise improved 300 km; unimproved earth 100 km
Ports: Grenville, Saint George’s
Merchant marine: none
Airports:
total: 3
with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 1
@Grenada:Communications
Telephone system: 5,650 telephones; automatic, islandwide telephone system; new SHF radio links to the islands of Trinidad, Tobago, and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to the islands of Trinidad and Carriacou
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: SHF, VHF, and UHF radio communications
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 1
televisions: NA
@Grenada:Defense Forces
Branches: Royal Grenada Police Force, Coast Guard
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
________________________________________________________________________
GUADELOUPE
(overseas department of France)
@Guadeloupe:Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands in the eastern Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area: 1,780 sq km
land area: 1,706 sq km
comparative area: 10 times the size of Washington, DC note: Guadeloupe is an archipelago of nine inhabited islands, of which Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, and Marie-Galante are the three largest
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 306 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: subtropical tempered by trade winds; relatively high humidity
Terrain: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grand-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin
Natural resources: cultivable land, beaches and climate that foster tourism
Land use:
arable land: 18%
permanent crops: 5%
meadows and pastures: 13%
forest and woodland: 40%
other: 24%
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: hurricanes (June to October); La Soufriere is an active volcano
international agreements: NA
@Guadeloupe:People
Population: 402,815 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26% (female 51,069; male 52,922) 15-64 years: 66% (female 134,328; male 130,875) 65 years and over: 8% (female 19,318; male 14,303) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.24% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 18.15 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 5.58 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.2 years
male: 74.16 years
female: 80.38 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.95 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Guadeloupian(s)
adjective: Guadeloupe
Ethnic divisions: black or mulatto 90%, white 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 5%
Languages: French, creole patois
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1982) total population: 90%
male: 90%
female: 90%
Labor force: 120,000
by occupation: services, government, and commerce 53.0%, industry 25.8%, agriculture 21.2%
@Guadeloupe:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Department of Guadeloupe conventional short form: Guadeloupe
local long form: Departement de la Guadeloupe local short form: Guadeloupe
Digraph: GP
Type: overseas department of France
Capital: Basse-Terre
Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)
Independence: none (overseas department of France)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French legal system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981) head of government: Prefect Franck PERRIEZ (since NA 1992); President of the General Council Dominique LARIFLA (since NA); President of the Regional Council Lucette MICHAUX-CHEVRY (since 22 March 1992) cabinet: Council of Ministers
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council and unicameral Regional Council
General Council: elections last held NA March 1992 (next to be held by NA 1996); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (43 total) FRUI.G 13, RPR/DUD 13, PPDG 8, FGPS 3, PCG 3, UPLG 1, PSG 1, independent 1
Regional Council: elections last held on 31 January 1993 (next to be held by 16 March 1998); results – RPR/DUD 48.30%, FGPS 17.09%, FRUI.G 7.44%, PPDG 8.90%, UPLG 7.75% PCG 6.05%; seats – (41 total) seats by party NA
French Senate: elections last held in September 1986 (next to be held September 1995); Guadeloupe elects two representatives; results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (2 total) PCG 1, FGPS 1 French National Assembly: elections last held on 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held March 1998); Guadeloupe elects four representatives; results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (4 total) FGPS 1, RPR 1, PPDG 1, independent 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (Cour d’Appel) with jurisdiction over Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique
Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic (RPR), Aldo BLAISE; Communist Party of Guadeloupe (PCG), Christian Medard CELESTE; Socialist Party (FGPS), Georges LOUISOR; Popular Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (UPLG), Lucien PERATIN; FGPS Dissidents (FRUI.G); Union for French Democracy (UDF), Simon BARLAGNE; Progressive Democratic Party (PPDG), Henri BANGOU
Other political or pressure groups: Popular Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (UPLG); Movement for Independent Guadeloupe (MPGI); General Union of Guadeloupe Workers (UGTG); General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers (CGT-G); Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (KLPG)
Member of: FZ, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in US: none (overseas department of France)
US diplomatic representation: none (overseas department of France)
Flag: the flag of France is used
@Guadeloupe:Economy
Overview: The economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light industry, and services. It is also dependent upon France for large subsidies and imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most tourists from the US. In addition, an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit the islands. The traditionally important sugarcane crop is slowly being replaced by other crops, such as bananas (which now supply about 50% of export earnings), eggplant, and flowers. Other vegetables and root crops are cultivated for local consumption, although Guadeloupe is still dependent on imported food, which comes mainly from France. Light industry consists mostly of sugar and rum production. Most manufactured goods and fuel are imported. Unemployment is especially high among the young.
National product: GDP – purchasing power parity – $3.8 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate: NA%
National product per capita: $9,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 31.3% (1990)
Budget:
revenues: $400 million
expenditures: $671 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989)
Exports: $130 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: bananas, sugar, rum
partners: France 70%, Martinique 17% (1991)
Imports: $1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1992) commodities: foodstuffs, fuels, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods, construction materials
partners: France 60%, EC, US, Japan (1991)
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 320,000 kW
production: 650 million kWh
consumption per capita: 1,421 kWh (1993)
Industries: construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism
Agriculture: cash crops – bananas, sugarcane; other products include tropical fruits and vegetables; livestock – cattle, pigs, goats; not self-sufficient in food
Economic aid:
recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $4 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $8.235 billion
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 – 5.9243 (January 1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Guadeloupe:Transportation
Railroads:
total: NA km; privately owned, narrow-gauge plantation lines
Highways:
total: 1,940 km
paved: 1,600 km
unpaved: gravel, earth 340 km
Ports: Basse-Terre, Gustavia, Marigot, Pointe-a-Pitre
Merchant marine: none
Airports:
total: 9
with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
with paved runways under 914 m: 6
@Guadeloupe:Communications
Telephone system: 57,300 telephones; domestic facilities inadequate local: NA
intercity: NA
international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station; interisland microwave radio relay to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Martinique
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 8 (private stations licensed to broadcast FM 30), shortwave 0
radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 9
televisions: NA
@Guadeloupe:Defense Forces
Branches: French Forces, Gendarmerie
Note: defense is responsibility of France
________________________________________________________________________
GUAM
(territory of the US)
@Guam:Geography
Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total area: 541.3 sq km
land area: 541.3 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 125.5 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season from July to December; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat coraline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water) with steep coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low-rising hills in center, mountains in south
Natural resources: fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially from Japan)
Land use:
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: 11%
meadows and pastures: 15%
forest and woodland: 18%
other: 45%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in August)
international agreements: NA
Note: largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean
@Guam:People
Population: 153,307 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 2.42% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 25.01 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 3.86 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 15.17 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.29 years
male: 72.42 years
female: 76.13 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.32 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Guamanian(s)
adjective: Guamanian
Ethnic divisions: Chamorro 47%, Filipino 25%, Caucasian 10%, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other 18%
Religions: Roman Catholic 98%, other 2%
Languages: English, Chamorro, Japanese
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99%
Labor force: 46,930 (1990)
by occupation: federal and territorial government 40%, private 60% (trade 18%, services 15.6%, construction 13.8%, other 12.6%) (1990)
@Guam:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Territory of Guam conventional short form: Guam
Digraph: GQ
Type: organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between Guam and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Capital: Agana
Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)
Independence: none (territory of the US)
National holiday: Guam Discovery Day (first Monday in March) (1521); Liberation Day, 21 July
Constitution: Organic Act of 1 August 1950
Legal system: modeled on US; federal laws apply
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993) head of government: Governor Carl GUTIERREZ (since 8 November 1994); Lieutenant Governor Madeleine BORDALLO (since 8 November 1994); election last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998); results – Carl GUTIERREZ (Democrat) was elected Governor and Madeleine BORDALLO (Democrat) was elected Lieutenant Governor cabinet: executive departments; heads appointed by the governor with the consent of the Guam legislature
Legislative branch: unicameral
Legislature: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1996); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (21 total) Democrats 14, Republican 7
US House of Representatives: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1996); Guam elects one delegate; results – Robert UNDERWOOD was reelected as delegate; seats – (1 total) Democrat 1
Judicial branch: Federal District Court, Territorial Superior Court
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party (controls the legislature); Republican Party (party of the Governor)
Member of: ESCAP (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC, SPC
Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of the US)
US diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US)
Flag: territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on all four sides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipse containing a beach scene, outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm tree with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; US flag is the national flag
@Guam:Economy
Overview: The economy depends mainly on US military spending and on revenues from tourism. Over the past 20 years the tourist industry has grown rapidly, creating a construction boom for new hotels and the expansion of older ones. Visitors numbered about 900,000 in 1992. The slowdown in Japanese economic growth has been reflected in less vigorous growth in the tourism sector. About 60% of the labor force works for the private sector and the rest for government. Most food and industrial goods are imported, with about 75% from the US. Guam faces the problem of building up the civilian economic sector to offset the impact of military downsizing.
National product: GDP – purchasing power parity – $2 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate: NA%
National product per capita: $14,000 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate: 2% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $525 million
expenditures: $395 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991)
Exports: $34 million (f.o.b., 1984)
commodities: mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products, construction materials, fish, food and beverage products partners: US 25%, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands 63%, other 12%
Imports: $493 million (c.i.f., 1984) commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods
partners: US 23%, Japan 19%, other 58%
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 300,000 kW
production: 750 million kWh
consumption per capita: 4,797 kWh (1993)
Industries: US military, tourism, construction, transshipment services, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles
Agriculture: relatively undeveloped with most food imported; fruits, vegetables, eggs, pork, poultry, beef, copra
Economic aid: although Guam receives no foreign aid, it does receive large transfer payments from the general revenues of the US Federal Treasury into which Guamanians pay no income or excise taxes; under the provisions of a special law of Congress, the Guamanian Treasury, rather than the US Treasury, receives federal income taxes paid by military and civilian Federal employees stationed in Guam
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October – 30 September
@Guam:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways:
total: 674 km (all-weather roads)
paved: NA
unpaved: NA
Ports: Apra Harbor
Merchant marine: none
Airports:
total: 5
with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 1
@Guam:Communications
Telephone system: 26,317 telephones (1989) local: NA
intercity: NA
international: 2 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth stations
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 0 radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 3
televisions: NA
@Guam:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US
________________________________________________________________________
GUATEMALA
@Guatemala:Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Honduras and Belize and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area: 108,890 sq km
land area: 108,430 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Tennessee
Land boundaries: total 1,687 km, Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km
Coastline: 400 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: border with Belize in dispute; talks to resolve the dispute are stalled
Climate: tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau (Peten)
Natural resources: petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle
Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 4%
meadows and pastures: 12%
forest and woodland: 40%
other: 32%
Irrigated land: 780 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution natural hazards: numerous volcanoes in mountains, with frequent violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms
international agreements: party to – Antarctic Treaty, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified – Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea
Note: no natural harbors on west coast
@Guatemala:People