head of government: Administrator M. J. GRIMES (since NA) cabinet: Advisory Council
Legislative branch: none
Judicial branch: none
Political parties and leaders: none
Member of: none
Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of Australia)
US diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)
Flag: the flag of Australia is used
@Christmas Island:Economy
Overview: Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine as no longer economically viable. Plans have been under way to reopen the mine and also to build a casino and hotel to develop tourism.
National product: GDP $NA
National product real growth rate: NA%
National product per capita: $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports: $NA
commodities: phosphate
partners: Australia, NZ
Imports: $NA
commodities: consumer goods
partners: principally Australia
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 11,000 kW
production: 30 million kWh
consumption per capita: 17,800 kWh (1990)
Industries: phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Agriculture: NA
Economic aid: none
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 – 1.3058 (January 1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704, (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2836 (1991), 1.2799 (1990)
Fiscal year: 1 July – 30 June
@Christmas Island:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Ports: Flying Fish Cove
Merchant marine: none
Airports:
total: 1
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
@Christmas Island:Communications
Telephone system: NA telephones
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: NA
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 1
televisions: NA
@Christmas Island:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
________________________________________________________________________
CLIPPERTON ISLAND
(possession of France)
@Clipperton Island:Geography
Location: Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, southwest of Mexico
Map references: World
Area:
total area: 7 sq km
land area: 7 sq km
comparative area: about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 11.1 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: claimed by Mexico
Climate: tropical
Terrain: coral atoll
Natural resources: none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (all coral)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: NA
Note: reef about 8 km in circumference
@Clipperton Island:People
Population: uninhabited
@Clipperton Island:Government
Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Clipperton Island local long form: none
local short form: Ile Clipperton
former: sometimes called Ile de la Passion
Digraph: IP
Type: French possession administered by France from French Polynesia by High Commissioner of the Republic
Capital: none; administered by France from French Polynesia
Independence: none (possession of France)
@Clipperton Island:Economy
Overview: The only economic activity is a tuna fishing station.
@Clipperton Island:Transportation
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
@Clipperton Island:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of France
________________________________________________________________________
COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS
(territory of Australia)
@Cocos (keeling) Islands:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia, about one-half of the way from Australia to Sri Lanka
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total area: 14 sq km
land area: 14 sq km
comparative area: about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 2.6 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: pleasant, modified by the southeast trade wind for about nine months of the year; moderate rain fall
Terrain: flat, low-lying coral atolls
Natural resources: fish
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
meadows and pastures: NA%
forest and woodland: NA%
other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: there are no natural fresh water resources on the island, groundwater does accumulate in natural underground reservoirs natural hazards: cyclones may occur in the early months of the year international agreements: NA
Note: two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation
@Cocos (keeling) Islands:People
Population: 604 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 0.98% (1995 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 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality:
noun: Cocos Islander(s)
adjective: Cocos Islander
Ethnic divisions:
West Island: Europeans
Home Island: Cocos Malays
Religions: Sunni Muslims
Languages: English
Labor force: NA
@Cocos (keeling) Islands:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Digraph: CK
Type: territory of Australia
Capital: West Island
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
National holiday: NA
Constitution: Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955
Legal system: based upon the laws of Australia and local laws
Suffrage: NA
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Administrator B. CUNNINGHAM (since NA) cabinet: Islands Council; Chairman of the Islands Council Haji WAHIN bin Bynie (since NA)
Legislative branch: unicameral Islands Council
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: NA
Member of: none
Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of Australia)
US diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)
Flag: the flag of Australia is used
@Cocos (keeling) Islands:Economy
Overview: Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the sole cash crop. Copra and fresh coconuts are the major export earners. Small local gardens and fishing contribute to the food supply, but additional food and most other necessities must be imported from Australia.
National product: GDP $NA
National product real growth rate: NA%
National product per capita: $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports: $NA
commodities: copra
partners: Australia
Imports: $NA
commodities: foodstuffs
partners: Australia
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 1,000 kW
production: 2 million kWh
consumption per capita: 2,980 kWh (1990)
Industries: copra products
Agriculture: gardens provide vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
Economic aid: none
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 – 1.3058 (January 1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2836 (1991), 1.2799 (1990)
Fiscal year: 1 July – 30 June
@Cocos (keeling) Islands:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Ports: none; lagoon anchorage only
Merchant marine: none
Airports:
total: 1
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
@Cocos (keeling) Islands:Communications
Telephone system: NA telephones
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: linked by telephone, telex, and facsimile communications via satellite with Australia
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 radios: 250 (1985)
Television:
broadcast stations: 0
televisions: NA
@Cocos (keeling) Islands:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
________________________________________________________________________
COLOMBIA
@Colombia:Geography
Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama
Map references: South America
Area:
total area: 1,138,910 sq km
land area: 1,038,700 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Montana note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and Serranilla Bank
Land boundaries: total 7,408 km, Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km, Peru 2,900 km, Venezuela 2,050 km
Coastline: 3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 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: maritime boundary dispute with Venezuela in the Gulf of Venezuela; territorial dispute with Nicaragua over Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank
Climate: tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands
Terrain: flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds
Land use:
arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 2%
meadows and pastures: 29%
forest and woodland: 49%
other: 16%
Irrigated land: 5,150 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: deforestation; soil damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions natural hazards: highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts
international agreements: party to – Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83; signed, but not ratified – Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Note: only South American country with coastlines on both North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea
@Colombia:People
Population: 36,200,251 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32% (female 5,784,010; male 5,925,600) 15-64 years: 63% (female 11,642,870; male 11,245,235) 65 years and over: 5% (female 888,358; male 714,178) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.7% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 21.89 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 4.69 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 26.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.48 years
male: 69.68 years
female: 75.38 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.4 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Colombian(s)
adjective: Colombian
Ethnic divisions: mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Indian 3%, Indian 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
Languages: Spanish
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1985) total population: 88%
male: 88%
female: 88%
Labor force: 12 million (1990)
by occupation: services 46%, agriculture 30%, industry 24% (1990)
@Colombia:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Colombia conventional short form: Colombia
local long form: Republica de Colombia local short form: Colombia
Digraph: CO
Type: republic; executive branch dominates government structure
Capital: Bogota
Administrative divisions: 32 departments (departamentos, singular – departamento) and 1 capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico, Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas, Caqueta, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainia, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindio, Risaralda, San Andres y Providencia, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada
Independence: 20 July 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 20 July (1810)
Constitution: 5 July 1991
Legal system: based on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled after US procedures was enacted in 1992-93; judicial review of executive and legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Ernesto SAMPER Pizano (since 7 August 1994); election last held 29 May 1994 (next to be held May 1998) and resulted in no candidate receiving more than 50% of the total vote; a run-off election to select a president from the two leading candidates was held on 19 June 1994; results – Ernesto SAMPER Pizano (Liberal Party) 50.4%, Andres PASTRANA Arango (Conservative Party) 48.6%, blank votes 1%; Humberto de la CALLE was elected vice president in a new proceedure that replaces the traditional designation of vice presidents by newly elected presidents. cabinet: Cabinet
Legislative branch: bicameral Congress (Congreso) Senate (Senado): elections last held 13 March 1994 (next to be held NA March 1998); preliminary results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (102 total) Liberal Party 59, conservatives (includes PC, MSN, and NDF) 31, other 12
House of Representatives (Camara de Representantes): elections last held 13 March 1994 (next to be held NA March 1998); preliminary results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (161 total) Liberal Party 89, conservatives (includes PC, MSN, and NDF) 53, AD/M-19 2, other 17
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justical), Constitutional Court, Council of State
Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party (PL), Juan Guillermo ANGEL; Conservative Party (PC), Fabio VALENCIA Cossio; National Salvation Movement (MSN), Alvaro GOMEZ Hurtado; New Democratic Force (NDF), Andres PASTRANA Arango; Democratic Alliance M-19 (AD/M-19) is a coalition of small leftist parties and dissident liberals and conservatives; Patriotic Union (UP) is a legal political party formed by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and Colombian Communist Party (PCC), Carlos ROMERO
Other political or pressure groups: three insurgent groups are active in Colombia – Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Manuel MARULANDA and Alfonso CANO; National Liberation Army (ELN), Manuel PEREZ; and dissidents of the recently demobilized People’s Liberation Army (EPL), Francisco CARABALLO; Francisco CARABALLO was captured by the government in June 1994
Member of: AG, CCC, CDB, CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, ONUSAL, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos LLERAS de la Fuente chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338
FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Washington, DC
consulate(s): Atlanta and Tampa
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Myles R. R. FRECHETTE embassy: Calle 38, No. 8-61, Bogota
mailing address: Apartado Aereo 3831, Bogota; APO AA 34038 telephone: [57] (1) 320-1300
FAX: [57] (1) 288-5687
consulate(s): Barranquilla
Flag: three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red; similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center
@Colombia:Economy
Overview: Colombia’s economy has grown steadily since 1991, when the government implemented sweeping economic reform measures. President SAMPER, who took office in August 1994, has pledged to maintain those reforms while expanding government assistance for poor Colombians, who continue to make up about 40% of the population. In an effort to bring down inflation, SAMPER has arranged a “social pact” with business and labor to curtail price hikes and trim inflation to 18%. The rapid development of oil, coal, and other nontraditional industries, along with copious inflows of capital and strengthening of prices for coffee, have helped keep growth at 5%-6%. Development of the massive Cusiana oilfield provides the means to sustain this level over the next several years. Exporters say, however, that their sales have been hampered by the appreciation of the Colombian peso, and farmers have sought government help in adjusting to greater foreign competition. Moreover, increased foreign investment and even greater domestic growth have been hindered by an inadequate energy and transportation infrastructure and by violence stemming from drug trafficking and persistent rural insurgency.
National product: GDP – purchasing power parity – $172.4 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 5.7% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $4,850 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 22.6% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 7.9% (1994 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $16 billion (1995 est.)
expenditures: $21 billion (1995 est.)
Exports: $8.3 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: petroleum, coffee, coal, bananas, fresh cut flowers partners: US 39%, EC 25.7%, Japan 2.9%, Venezuela 8.5% (1992)
Imports: $10.6 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, paper products
partners: US 36%, EC 18%, Brazil 4%, Venezuela 6.5%, Japan 8.7% (1992)
External debt: $12.6 billion (1994 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 5% (1994 est.); accounts for about 20% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity: 10,220,000 kW
production: 33 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 890 kWh (1993)
Industries: textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, metal products, cement; mining – gold, coal, emeralds, iron, nickel, silver, salt
Agriculture: growth rate 3.8% (1994 est.); accounts for about 15% of GDP; crops make up two-thirds and livestock one-third of agricultural output; climate and soils permit a wide variety of crops, such as coffee, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseeds, vegetables; forest products and shrimp farming are becoming more important
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of coca, opium poppies, and cannabis; about 45,000 hectares of coca under cultivation; the world’s largest processor of coca derivatives into cocaine; supplier of cocaine to the US and other international drug markets; active eradication program against narcotics crop
Economic aid:
recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.6 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.3 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $399 million
Currency: 1 Colombian peso (Col$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Colombian pesos (Col$) per US$1 – 846.67 (January 1995), 844.84 (1994), 863.06 (1993), 759.28 (1992), 633.05 (1991), 502.26 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Colombia:Transportation
Railroads:
total: 3,386 km
standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 3,236 km 0.914-m gauge (2,611 km in use)
Highways:
total: 107,377 km (1991)
paved: 12,778 km
unpaved: gravel/earth 94,599 km
Inland waterways: 14,300 km, navigable by river boats
Pipelines: crude oil 3,585 km; petroleum products 1,350 km; natural gas 830 km; natural gas liquids 125 km
Ports: Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Leticia, Puerto Bolivar, San Andres, Santa Marta, Tumaco, Turbo
Merchant marine:
total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 104,577 GRT/142,617 DWT ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 9, container 4, oil tanker 3
Airports:
total: 1,307
with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 34 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 31
with paved runways under 914 m: 734 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 80 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 419
@Colombia:Communications
Telephone system: 1,890,000 telephones; modern system in many respects
local: NA
intercity: nationwide microwave radio relay system; 11 domestic earth stations
international: 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 413, FM 0, shortwave 28 radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 33
televisions: NA
@Colombia:Defense Forces
Branches: Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Marines and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Colombiana), National Police (Policia Nacional)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 9,851,980; males fit for military service 6,640,348; males reach military age (18) annually 349,599 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion – $1.2 billion (1992 est.)
________________________________________________________________________
COMOROS
@Comoros:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 2,170 sq km
land area: 2,170 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 340 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: claims French-administered Mayotte
Climate: tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Terrain: volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills
Natural resources: negligible
Land use:
arable land: 35%
permanent crops: 8%
meadows and pastures: 7%
forest and woodland: 16%
other: 34%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation natural hazards: cyclones and tsunamis possible during rainy season (December to April); Mount Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano
international agreements: party to – Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified – Desertification
Note: important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel
@Comoros:People
Population: 549,338 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 48% (female 131,334; male 132,327) 15-64 years: 49% (female 137,083; male 133,629) 65 years and over: 3% (female 7,860; male 7,105) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.56% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 46.22 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 10.6 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 77.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 58.27 years
male: 56.04 years
female: 60.57 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.73 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Comoran(s)
adjective: Comoran
Ethnic divisions: Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Religions: Sunni Muslim 86%, Roman Catholic 14%
Languages: Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a blend of Swahili and Arabic)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980) total population: 48%
male: 56%
female: 40%
Labor force: 140,000 (1982)
by occupation: agriculture 80%, government 3%
@Comoros:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros conventional short form: Comoros
local long form: Republique Federale Islamique des Comores local short form: Comores
Digraph: CN
Type: independent republic
Capital: Moroni
Administrative divisions: three islands; Grand Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali)
note: there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and Mutsamudu
Independence: 6 July 1975 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Constitution: 7 June 1992
Legal system: French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Said Mohamed DJOHAR (since 11 March 1990); election last held 11 March 1990 (next to be held March 1996); results – Said Mohamed DJOHAR (UDZIMA) 55%, Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim (UNDC) 45%
head of government: Prime Minister Halifa HOUMADI (since 13 October 1994); note – HOUMADI is the fifteenth prime minister appointed by President DJOHAR in the last three years cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral
Federal Assembly (Assemblee Federale): elections last held 12-20 December 1993 (next to be held by NA January 1998); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (42 total) Ruling Coalition: RDR 15, UNDC 5, MWANGAZA 2; Opposition: UDZIMA 8, other smaller parties 10; 2 seats remained unfilled
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: over 20 political parties are currently active, the most important of which are; Comoran Union for Progress (UDZIMA), Omar TAMOU; Islands’ Fraternity and Unity Party (CHUMA), Said Ali KEMAL; Comoran Party for Democracy and Progress (PCDP), Ali MROUDJAE; Realizing Freedom’s Capability (UWEZO), Mouazair ABDALLAH; Democratic Front of the Comoros (FDR), Moustapha CHELKH; Dialogue Proposition Action (DPA/MWANGAZA), Said MCHAWGAMA; Rally for Change and Democracy (RACHADE), Hassan HACHIM; Union for Democracy and Decentralization (UNDC), Mohamed Taki Halidi IBRAHAM; Rally for Democracy and Renewal (RDR); Comoran Popular Front (FPC), Mohamed HASSANALI, Mohamed El Arif OUKACHA, Abdou MOUSTAKIM (Secretary General)
Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AL, CCC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Ahamadu DJIMBANAO (ambassador to the US and Canada)
chancery: (temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of the Federal and Islamic Republic of the Comoros to the United Nations, 336 East 45th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 972-8010
FAX: [1] (212) 983-4712
US diplomatic representation: none; ambassador to Port Louis, Mauritius, is accredited to Comoros
Flag: green with a white crescent in the center of the field, its points facing upward; there are four white five-pointed stars placed in a line between the points of the crescent; the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam; the four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago – Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (a territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros); the design, the most recent of several, is described in the constitution approved by referendum on 7 June 1992
@Comoros:Economy
Overview: One of the world’s poorest countries, Comoros is made up of several islands that have poor transportation links, a young and rapidly increasing population, and few natural resources. The low educational level of the labor force contributes to a subsistence level of economic activity, high unemployment, and a heavy dependence on foreign grants and technical assistance. Agriculture, including fishing, hunting, and forestry, is the leading sector of the economy. It contributes 40% to GDP, employs 80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports. The country is not self-sufficient in food production; rice, the main staple, accounts for 90% of imports. The government is struggling to upgrade education and technical training, to privatize commercial and industrial enterprises, to improve health services, to diversify exports, and to reduce the high population growth rate. Continued foreign support is essential if the goal of 4% annual GDP growth is to be reached in the late 1990s.
National product: GDP – purchasing power parity – $370 million (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 0.9% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $700 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: 15.8% (1989)
Budget:
revenues: $83 million
expenditures: $92 million, including capital expenditures of $32 million (1992)
Exports: $13.7 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, copra partners: US 44%, France 40%, Germany 6%, Africa 5% (1992)
Imports: $40.9 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: rice and other foodstuffs, petroleum products, cement, consumer goods
partners: France 34%, South Africa 14%, Kenya 8%, Japan 4% (1992)
External debt: $160 million (1992 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate -6.5% (1989 est.); accounts for 6% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity: 16,000 kW
production: 17 million kWh
consumption per capita: 27 kWh (1993)
Industries: perfume distillation, textiles, furniture, jewelry, construction materials, soft drinks
Agriculture: accounts for 40% of GDP; most of population works in subsistence agriculture and fishing; plantations produce cash crops for export – vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra; principal food crops – coconuts, bananas, cassava; world’s leading producer of essence of ylang-ylang (for perfumes) and second-largest producer of vanilla; large net food importer
Economic aid:
recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY80-89), $10 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $435 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $22 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $18 million
Currency: 1 Comoran franc (CF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Comoran francs (CF) per US$1 – 297.07 (January 1995), 416.40 (1994), 254.57 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990)
note: beginning 12 January 1994, the Comoran franc was devalued to 75 per French franc from 50 per French franc at which it had been fixed since 1948
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Comoros:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways:
total: 750 km
paved: bituminous 210 km
unpaved: crushed stone, gravel 540 km
Ports: Fomboni, Moroni, Mutsamudo
Merchant marine: none
Airports:
total: 4
with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
@Comoros:Communications
Telephone system: over 1,800 telephones; sparse system of radio relay and high-frequency radio communication stations for interisland and external communications to Madagascar and Reunion local: NA
intercity: high frequency radio and microwave radio relay international: high frequency radio
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0 radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 0
televisions: NA
@Comoros:Defense Forces
Branches: Comoran Security Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 117,349; males fit for military service 70,178 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
________________________________________________________________________
CONGO
@Congo:Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 342,000 sq km
land area: 341,500 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries: total 5,504 km, Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km, Central African Republic 467 km, Gabon 1,903 km, Zaire 2,410 km
Coastline: 169 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
International disputes: long segment of boundary with Zaire along the Congo River is indefinite (no division of the river or its islands has been made)
Climate: tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); constantly high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator
Terrain: coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin
Natural resources: petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 29%
forest and woodland: 62%
other: 7%
Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1989)
Environment:
current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation
natural hazards: seasonal flooding international agreements: party to – Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83; signed, but not ratified – Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber 94
Note: about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe Noire, or along the railroad between them
@Congo:People
Population: 2,504,996 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44% (female 543,324; male 548,840) 15-64 years: 53% (female 682,927; male 645,045) 65 years and over: 3% (female 49,879; male 34,981) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.32% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 39.86 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 16.7 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 109.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 47.09 years
male: 45.23 years
female: 49 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.23 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Congolese (singular and plural) adjective: Congolese or Congo
Ethnic divisions:
south: Kongo 48%
north: Sangha 20%, M’Bochi 12%
center: Teke 17%, Europeans 8,500 (mostly French)
Religions: Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%
Languages: French (official), African languages (Lingala and Kikongo are the most widely used)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1984) total population: 60%
male: 71%
female: 49%
Labor force: 79,100 wage earners
by occupation: agriculture 75%, commerce, industry, and government 25%
@Congo:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Republic of the Congo conventional short form: Congo
local long form: Republique Populaire du Congo local short form: Congo
former: Congo/Brazzaville
Digraph: CF
Type: republic
Capital: Brazzaville
Administrative divisions: 9 regions (regions, singular – region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha
Independence: 15 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Congolese National Day, 15 August (1960)
Constitution: new constitution approved by referendum March 1992
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Pascal LISSOUBA (since August 1992); election last held August 1992 (next to be held August 1997); results – President Pascal LISSOUBA won with 61% of the vote head of government: Prime Minister Jacques Joachim YHOMBI-OPANGO (since 23 June 1993)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; named by the president
Legislative branch: bicameral
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): election last held 3 October 1993; results – percentage vote by party NA; seats – (125 total) UPADS 64, URD/PCT 58, others 3
Senate: election last held 26 July 1992 (next to be held July 1998); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (60 total) UPADS 23, MCDDI 14, RDD 8, RDPS 5, PCT 2, others 8
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: Congolese Labor Party (PCT), Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, president; Pan-African Union for Social Development (UPADS), Pascal LISSOUBA, leader; Association for Democracy and Development (RDD), Joachim Yhombi OPANGO, president; Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development (MCDDI), Bernard KOLELAS, leader; Association for Democracy and Social Progress (RDPS), Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA, president; Union of Democratic Forces (UFD), David Charles GANAO, leader; Union for Development and Social Progress (UDPS), Jean-Michael BOKAMBA-YANGOUMA, leader note: Congo has many political parties of which these are among the most important
Other political or pressure groups: Union of Congolese Socialist Youth (UJSC); Congolese Trade Union Congress (CSC); Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women (URFC); General Union of Congolese Pupils and Students (UGEEC)
Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Pierre Damien BOUSSOUKOU-BOUMBA chancery: 4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 726-0825
FAX: [1] (202) 726-1860
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador William C. RAMSEY embassy: Avenue Amilcar Cabral, Brazzaville mailing address: B. P. 1015, Brazzaville telephone: [242] 83 20 70
FAX: [242] 83 63 38
Flag: red, divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
@Congo:Economy
Overview: Congo’s economy is a mixture of village agriculture and handicrafts, an industrial sector based largely on oil, support services, and a government characterized by budget problems and overstaffing. A reform program, supported by the IMF and World Bank, ran into difficulties in 1990-91 because of problems in changing to a democratic political regime and a heavy debt-servicing burden. Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing about two-thirds of government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s rapidly rising oil revenues enabled Congo to finance large-scale development projects with growth averaging 5% annually, one of the highest rates in Africa. Subsequently, growth has slowed to an average of roughly 1.5% annually, only two-thirds of the population growth rate. Political turmoil and misguided government investment have derailed economic reform programs sponsored by the IMF and World Bank. Even with these difficulties Congo enjoys one of the highest incomes per capita in sub-Saharan Africa
National product: GDP – purchasing power parity – $6.7 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate: -2.1% (1993 est.)
National product per capita: $2,820 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $765 million
expenditures: $952 million, including capital expenditures of $65 million (1990)
Exports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: crude oil 83%, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds
partners: US, Italy, France, Spain, other EC countries
Imports: $472 million (c.i.f., 1991) commodities: intermediate manufactures, capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs
partners: France, US, Italy, Japan, other EC countries
External debt: $4 billion (1993)
Industrial production: growth rate 8% (1993 est.); accounts for 35% of GDP; includes petroleum
Electricity:
capacity: 120,000 kW
production: 400 million kWh
consumption per capita: 201 kWh (1993)
Industries: petroleum, cement, lumbering, brewing, sugar milling, palm oil, soap, cigarette
Agriculture: accounts for 12% of GDP (including fishing and forestry); cassava accounts for 90% of food output; other crops – rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables; cash crops include coffee and cocoa; forest products important export earner; imports over 90% of food needs
Economic aid:
recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $63 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-90), $2.5 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $15 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $338 million
Currency: 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 – 529.43 (January 1994), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990)
note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Congo:Transportation
Railroads:
total: 797 km (includes 285 km that are privately owned) narrow gauge: 797 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways:
total: 11,960 km
paved: 560 km
unpaved: gravel or crushed stone 850 km; improved earth 5,350 km; unimproved earth 5,200 km
Inland waterways: the Congo and Ubangi (Oubangui) Rivers provide 1,120 km of commercially navigable water transport; the rest are used for local traffic only
Pipelines: crude oil 25 km
Ports: Brazzaville, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire
Merchant marine: none
Airports:
total: 41
with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
with paved runways under 914 m: 11 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 8 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 18
@Congo:Communications
Telephone system: 18,100 telephones; 7 telephones/1,000 persons; services adequate for government use; key centers are Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo
local: NA
intercity: primary network consists of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable
international: 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 1, shortwave 0 radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 4
televisions: NA
@Congo:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, National Police
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 568,663; males fit for military service 289,335; males reach military age (20) annually 24,749 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion – $110 million, 3.8% of GDP (1993)
________________________________________________________________________
COOK ISLANDS
(free association with New Zealand)
@Cook Islands:Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total area: 240 sq km
land area: 240 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than 1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 120 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain: low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south
Natural resources: negligible
Land use:
arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 22%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 74%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: typhoons (November to March) international agreements: party to – Biodiversity, Climate Change; signed, but not ratified – Law of the Sea
@Cook Islands:People
Population: 19,343 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 1.13% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 23.05 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 24.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.14 years
male: 69.2 years
female: 73.1 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.27 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Cook Islander(s)
adjective: Cook Islander
Ethnic divisions: Polynesian (full blood) 81.3%, Polynesian and European 7.7%, Polynesian and other 7.7%, European 2.4%, other 0.9%
Religions: Christian (majority of populace members of Cook Islands Christian Church)
Languages: English (official), Maori
Literacy: NA%
Labor force: 5,810
by occupation: agriculture 29%, government 27%, services 25%, industry 15%, other 4% (1981)
@Cook Islands:Government
Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cook Islands
Digraph: CW
Type: self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand; Cook Islands is fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs, in consultation with the Cook Islands
Capital: Avarua
Administrative divisions: none
Independence: none (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on 4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 4 August
Constitution: 4 August 1965
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: universal adult at age NA
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Representative of the Queen Apenera SHORT (since NA); Representative of New Zealand Adrian SINCOCK (since NA) head of government: Prime Minister Geoffrey HENRY (since 1 February 1989); Deputy Prime Minister Inatio AKARURU (since 1 February 1989) cabinet: Cabinet; collectively responsible to the Parliament
Legislative branch: unicameral
Parliament: elections last held 24 March 1994 (next to be held NA); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (25 total) Cook Islands Party 20, Democratic Party 3, Alliance Party 2 note: the House of Arikis (chiefs) advises on traditional matters, but has no legislative powers
Judicial branch: High Court
Political parties and leaders: Cook Islands Party, Geoffrey HENRY; Democratic Party, Sir Thomas DAVIS; Cook Islands Labor Party, Rena JONASSEN; Cook Islands People’s Party, Sadaraka SADARAKA; Alliance Party, Norman GEORGE
Member of: AsDB, ESCAP (associate), ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), IOC, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US: none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
US diplomatic representation: none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
Flag: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large circle of 15 white five-pointed stars (one for every island) centered in the outer half of the flag
@Cook Islands:Economy
Overview: Agriculture provides the economic base. The major export earners are fruit, copra, and clothing. Manufacturing activities are limited to a fruit-processing plant and several clothing factories. Economic development is hindered by the isolation of the islands from foreign markets and a lack of natural resources and good transportation links. A large trade deficit is annually made up for by remittances from emigrants and from foreign aid, largely from New Zealand. Current economic development plans call for exploiting the tourism potential and expanding the fishing industry.
National product: GDP – purchasing power parity – $57 million (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate: NA%
National product per capita: $3,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.2% (1990)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $38 million
expenditures: $34.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.)
Exports: $3.4 million (f.o.b., 1990) commodities: copra, fresh and canned fruit, clothing partners: NZ 80%, Japan
Imports: $50 million (c.i.f., 1990)
commodities: foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber partners: NZ 49%, Japan, Australia, US
External debt: $124 million (1994)
Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for 5% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity: 14,000 kW
production: 21 million kWh
consumption per capita: 741 kWh (1993)
Industries: fruit processing, tourism
Agriculture: accounts for 12% of GDP, export crops – copra, citrus fruits, pineapples, tomatoes, bananas; subsistence crops – yams, taro
Economic aid:
recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $128 million; in 1994, Cook Islands received $4.3 million in budget support and $2.7 million in project aid from New Zealand, the country’s largest source of aid
Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 – 1.5601 (January 1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992), 1.7265 (1991), 1.6750 (1990)
Fiscal year: 1 April – 31 March
@Cook Islands:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways:
total: 187 km
paved: 35 km
unpaved: gravel 35 km; improved earth 84 km; unimproved earth 33 km (1980)
Ports: Avarua, Avatiu
Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,464 GRT/2,181 DWT
Airports:
total: 7
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 3 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
@Cook Islands:Communications
Telephone system: 2,052 telephones
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 radios: 11,000
Television:
broadcast stations: 1
televisions: 17,000 (1989)
@Cook Islands:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
________________________________________________________________________
CORAL SEA ISLANDS
(territory of Australia)
@Coral Sea Islands:Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total area: less than 3 sq km
land area: less than 3 sq km
comparative area: NA
note: includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea area of about 1 million sq km, with Willis Islets the most important
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 3,095 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical
Terrain: sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays)
Natural resources: negligible
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment:
current issues: no permanent fresh water resources natural hazards: occasional, tropical cyclones international agreements: NA
Note: important nesting area for birds and turtles
@Coral Sea Islands:People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note – there are 3 meteorologists
@Coral Sea Islands:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands
Digraph: CR
Type: territory of Australia administered by the Ministry for Environment, Sport, and Territories
Capital: none; administered from Canberra, Australia
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
Flag: the flag of Australia is used
@Coral Sea Islands:Economy
Overview: no economic activity
@Coral Sea Islands:Transportation
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
@Coral Sea Islands:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities of visitors
________________________________________________________________________
COSTA RICA
@Costa Rica:Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area: 51,100 sq km
land area: 50,660 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia note: includes Isla del Coco
Land boundaries: total 639 km, Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km
Coastline: 1,290 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November)
Terrain: coastal plains separated by rugged mountains
Natural resources: hydropower potential
Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 7%
meadows and pastures: 45%
forest and woodland: 34%
other: 8%
Irrigated land: 1,180 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: deforestation, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching; soil erosion
natural hazards: occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season; active volcanoes
international agreements: party to – Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified – Desertification, Marine Life Conservation
@Costa Rica:People
Population: 3,419,114 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35% (female 585,976; male 617,456) 15-64 years: 60% (female 1,013,491; male 1,036,195) 65 years and over: 5% (female 88,050; male 77,946) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.24% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 24.88 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 3.47 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 10.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.11 years
male: 76.21 years
female: 80.1 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.01 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Costa Rican(s)
adjective: Costa Rican
Ethnic divisions: white (including mestizo) 96%, black 2%, Indian 1%, Chinese 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
Languages: Spanish (official), English; spoken around Puerto Limon
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1984) total population: 93%
male: 93%
female: 93%
Labor force: 868,300
by occupation: industry and commerce 35.1%, government and services 33%, agriculture 27%, other 4.9% (1985 est.)
@Costa Rica:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica conventional short form: Costa Rica
local long form: Republica de Costa Rica local short form: Costa Rica
Digraph: CS
Type: democratic republic
Capital: San Jose
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias, singular – provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: 9 November 1949
Legal system: based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen (since 8 May 1994); First Vice President Rodrigo OREAMUNO Blanco (since 8 May 1994); Second Vice President Rebeca GRYNSPAN Mayufis (since 8 May 1994); election last held 6 February 1994 (next to be held February 1998); results – President FIGUERES (PLN party) 49.7%, Miquel Angel RODRIGUEZ (PUSC party) 47.5% cabinet: Cabinet; selected by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral
Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa): elections last held 6 February 1994 (next to be held February 1998); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (61 total) PLN 28, PUSC 29, minority parties 4
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
Political parties and leaders: National Liberation Party (PLN), Manuel AGUILAR Bonilla; Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC), Rafael Angel CALDERON Fournier; Marxist Popular Vanguard Party (PVP), Humberto VARGAS Carbonell; New Republic Movement (MNR), Sergio Erick ARDON Ramirez; Progressive Party (PP), Isaac Felipe AZOFEIFA Bolanos; People’s Party of Costa Rica (PPC), Lenin CHACON Vargas; Radical Democratic Party (PRD), Juan Jose ECHEVERRIA Brealey
Other political or pressure groups: Costa Rican Confederation of Democratic Workers (CCTD, Liberation Party affiliate); Confederated Union of Workers (CUT, Communist Party affiliate); Authentic Confederation of Democratic Workers (CATD, Communist Party affiliate); Chamber of Coffee Growers; National Association for Economic Development (ANFE); Free Costa Rica Movement (MCRL, rightwing militants); National Association of Educators (ANDE)
Member of: AG (observer), BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Sonia PICADO chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-2945
FAX: [1] (202) 265-4795
consulate(s) general: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Chicago, Durham, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Austin
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: US Ambassador to Costa Rica Peter DE VOS embassy: Pavas Road, San Jose
mailing address: APO AA 34020
telephone: [506] 220-3939
FAX: [506] 220-2305
Flag: five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white disk on the hoist side of the red band
@Costa Rica:Economy
Overview: Costa Rica’s basically stable and progressive economy depends especially on tourism and export of bananas, coffee, and other agricultural products. In 1994 the economy grew at an estimated 4.3%, compared with 6.5% in 1993, 7.7% in 1992, and 2.1% in 1991. Inflation in 1993 dropped to 9% from 17% in 1992 and 25% in 1991, an indication of basic financial stability. Unemployment is officially reported at only 4.0%, but there is much underemployment. Costa Rica signed a free trade agreement with Mexico in 1994.
National product: GDP – purchasing power parity – $16.9 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 4.3% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $5,050 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: 4% (1993); much underemployment
Budget:
revenues: $1.1 billion