Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 238,540 sq km
land: 230,020 sq km
water: 8,520 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
total: 2,093 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 548 km, Cote d’Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km
Coastline: 539 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
Terrain: mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Afadjato 880 m
Natural resources: gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber
Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 7%
permanent pastures: 22%
forests and woodland: 35%
other: 24% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 60 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dry, dusty, harmattan winds occur from January to March; droughts
Environment-current issues: recent drought in north severely affecting agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography-note: Lake Volta is the world’s largest artificial lake; northeasterly harmattan wind (January to March)
@Ghana:People
Population: 18,497,206 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 3,985,219; female 3,947,640) 15-64 years: 54% (male 4,905,442; female 5,077,521) 65 years and over: 3% (male 275,192; female 306,192) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.13% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 32.81 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 10.63 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 77.53 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 56.82 years
male: 54.77 years
female: 58.92 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.27 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Ghanaian(s)
adjective: Ghanaian
Ethnic groups: black African 99.8% (major tribes-Akan 44%, Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga 8%), European and other 0.2%
Religions: indigenous beliefs 38%, Muslim 30%, Christian 24%, other 8%
Languages: English (official), African languages (including Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 64.5%
male: 75.9%
female: 53.5% (1995 est.)
@Ghana:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Ghana conventional short form: Ghana
former: Gold Coast
Data code: GH
Government type: constitutional democracy
National capital: Accra
Administrative divisions: 10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western
Independence: 6 March 1957 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
Constitution: new constitution approved 28 April 1992
Legal system: based on English common law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jerry John RAWLINGS (since 7 January 1993); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Jerry John RAWLINGS (since 7 January 1993); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers; president nominates members subject to approval by the Parliament
elections: president and vice president elected by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 7 December 1996 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: Jerry John RAWLINGS elected president; percent of vote-RAWLINGS 57%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (200 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 7 December 1996 (next to be held NA December 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-NDC 133, NPP 61, PCP 5, PNC 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Congress or NDC [Dr. Huudu YAHAYA, general secretary]; New Patriotic Party or NPP [Peter Ala ADJETY]; People’s Heritage Party or PHP [Emmanuel Alexander ERSKINE]; National Convention Party or NCP [Sarpong KUMA-KUMA]; Every Ghanian Living Everywhere or EGLE [Owuraku AMOFA, chairman]; Peoples Convention Party or PCP [P. K. DONKOH-AYIFI, acting chairman]; Peoples National Convention or PNC [Edward MAHAMA]
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kobena KOOMSON chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520
FAX: [1] (202) 686-4527
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Edward BRYNN embassy: Ring Road East, East of Danquah Circle, Accra mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra
telephone: [233] (21) 775348
FAX: [233] (21) 776008
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band
@Ghana:Economy
Economy-overview: Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has twice the per capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa. Even so, Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial and technical assistance. Gold, timber, and cocoa production are major sources of foreign exchange. The domestic economy continues to revolve around subsistence agriculture, which accounts for 41% of GDP and employs 60% of the work force, mainly small landholders. In 1995-97, Ghana made mixed progress under a three-year structural adjustment program in cooperation with the IMF. On the minus side, public sector wage increases and regional peacekeeping commitments have led to continued inflationary deficit financing, depreciation of the cedi, and rising public discontent with Ghana’s austerity measures.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$36.2 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 3% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$2,000 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 41%
industry: 14%
services: 45% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 27.7% (1997 est.)
Labor force:
total: NA
by occupation: agriculture and fishing 61%, industry 10%, services 29% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 20% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.39 billion
expenditures: $1.47 billion, including capital expenditures of $370 million (1996 est.)
Industries: mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (1996 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 1.3 million kW (1997)
Electricity-production: 600 million kWh (1996)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 373 kWh (1996)
Agriculture-products: cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber
Exports:
total value: $1.57 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: gold 39%, cocoa 35%, timber 9.4%, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, and diamonds (1996 est.) partners: UK, Germany, US, Netherlands, Japan, Nigeria
Imports:
total value: $1.84 billion (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: capital equipment, petroleum, consumer goods, foods, intermediate goods
partners: UK, Nigeria, US, Germany, Japan, Netherlands
Debt-external: $5.2 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $472 million (1993)
Currency: 1 new cedi (C) = 100 pesewas
Exchange rates: new cedis per US$1-2,271.70 (January 1998), 2,050.17 (1997), 1,637.23 (1996), 1,200.43 (1995), 956.71 (1994), 649.06 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 100,000 (1997 est.)
Telephone system: poor to fair system domestic: primarily microwave radio relay international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 23, shortwave 0 (1997)
Radios: 12.5 million (1997 est.)
Television broadcast stations: broadcast stations 3 (8 repeaters); pay per view (cable/satellite) 1 (1997)
Televisions: 1.9 million (1997 est.)
@Ghana:Transportation
Railways:
total: 953 km (undergoing major rehabilitation) narrow gauge: 953 km 1.067-m gauge (32 km double track) (1997 est.)
Highways:
total: 39,409 km
paved: 11,653 km (including 30 km of expressways) unpaved: 27,756 km (1997 est.)
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: 0 km
Ports and harbors: Takoradi, Tema
Merchant marine:
total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 17,037 GRT/22,747 DWT ships by type: cargo 1, oil tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2 (1997 est.)
Airports: 12 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (1997 est.)
@Ghana:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force, Palace Guard, Civil Defense
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability:
males age 15-49: 4,386,728 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 2,434,732 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 181,169 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $30 million (1994)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 0.8% (1994)
@Ghana:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Europe and the US
______________________________________________________________________
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
Geographic coordinates: 36 11 N, 5 22 W
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 6.5 sq km
land: 6.5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 1.2 km
border countries: Spain 1.2 km
Coastline: 12 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Terrain: a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 100% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: limited natural freshwater resources, so large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rain water
Environment-international agreements: party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography-note: strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
@Gibraltar:People
Population: 29,045 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 3,131; female 2,731) 15-64 years: 66% (male 10,835; female 8,262) 65 years and over: 14% (male 1,684; female 2,402) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.43% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 13.01 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 8.78 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.15 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.31 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.61 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.19 years
male: 74.9 years
female: 81.64 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.19 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Gibraltarian(s)
adjective: Gibraltar
Ethnic groups: Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, Spanish
Religions: Roman Catholic 74%, Protestant 11% (Church of England 8%, other 3%), Muslim 8%, Jewish 2%, none or other 5% (1981)
Languages: English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: above 95%
male: NA%
female: NA%
@Gibraltar:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Gibraltar
Data code: GI
Dependency status: dependent territory of the UK
Government type: NA
National capital: Gibraltar
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 of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Admiral Sir Richard LUCE (24 February 1997) head of government: Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the elected members of the House of Assembly by the governor in consultation with the chief minister
note: there is also a Gibraltar Council that advises the governor elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen; chief minister appointed by the governor
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (18 seats, 15 elected, the Speaker, and 2 ex officio; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 16 May 1996 (next to be held NA May 2000) election results: percent of vote by party-SD 53%, SL 42%, NP 3%; seats by party-SD 8, SL 7
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or SL [Joe BOSSANO]; Gibraltar Labor Party/Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights or GCL/AACR [Adolfo CANEPA]; Gibraltar Social Democrats or SD [Peter CARUANA]; Gibraltar National Party or NP [Joe GARCIA]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Housewives Association; Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization
International organization participation: Interpol (subbureau)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag description: 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
Economy-overview: Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade, offshore banking, and its position as an international conference center. The British military presence has been sharply reduced and now contributes about 11% to the local economy. The financial sector accounts for 15% of GDP; tourism (more than 5 million visitors in 1995), 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.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$500 million (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: NA%
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$17,500 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 2.1% (1996)
Labor force:
total: 14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers) by occupation: services 60%, industry 40%, agriculture NEGL
Unemployment rate: 13.5% (1996)
Budget:
revenues: $111.6 million
expenditures: $115.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995/96)
Industries: tourism, banking and finance, ship-building and repairing; support to large UK naval and air bases; tobacco, mineral waters, beer, canned fish
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: 30,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 85 million kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 2,667 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: none
Exports:
total value: $83.7 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: (principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other 8%
partners: UK, Morocco, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, US, FRG
Imports:
total value: $778 million (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs partners: UK, Spain, Japan, Netherlands
Debt-external: $NA
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Gibraltar pound (£G) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Gibraltar pounds (£G) per US$1-0.6115 (January 1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993); note – the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June
Communications
Telephones: 19,356 (1994)
Telephone system: adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate international facilities
domestic: automatic exchange facilities international: radiotelephone; microwave radio relay; satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 4
Televisions: NA
@Gibraltar:Transportation
Railways:
total: NA km; 1.000-m gauge system in dockyard area only
Highways:
total: 49.9 km (including 12.9 km public highways) paved: 49.9 km
unpaved: 0 km
Pipelines: 0 km
Ports and harbors: Gibraltar
Merchant marine:
total: 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 360,880 GRT/627,429 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 1, chemical tanker 2, container 1, oil tanker 12, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1997 est.)
Airports: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@Gibraltar:Military
Military branches: British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
@Gibraltar:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: source of friction between Spain and the UK
______________________________________________________________________
GLORIOSO ISLANDS
(possession of France)
@Glorioso Islands:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates: 11 30 S, 47 20 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 5 sq km
land: 5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock, and South Rock
Area-comparative: about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 35.2 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical
Terrain: NA
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 12 m
Natural resources: guano, coconuts
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: periodic cyclones
Environment-current issues: NA
@Glorioso Islands:People
Population: uninhabited
@Glorioso Islands:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Glorioso Islands local long form: none
local short form: Iles Glorieuses
Data code: GO
Dependency status: possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
Legal system: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (possession of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (possession of France)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
@Glorioso Islands:Economy
Economy-overview: no economic activity
@Glorioso Islands:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Airports: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@Glorioso Islands:Military
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of France
@Glorioso Islands:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: claimed by Madagascar
______________________________________________________________________
GREECE
@Greece:Geography
Location: Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 39 00 N, 22 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 131,940 sq km
land: 130,800 sq km
water: 1,140 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Alabama
Land boundaries:
total: 1,210 km
border countries: 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
Climate: temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain: mostly mountains with ranges extending into sea as peninsulas or chains of islands
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m
Natural resources: bauxite, lignite, magnesite, petroleum, marble
Land use:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 8%
permanent pastures: 41%
forests and woodland: 20%
other: 12% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 13,140 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: severe earthquakes
Environment-current issues: air pollution; water pollution
Environment-international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
Geography-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: 10,662,138 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16% (male 890,673; female 830,945) 15-64 years: 67% (male 3,602,473; female 3,577,961) 65 years and over: 17% (male 780,029; female 980,057) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.43% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 9.65 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 9.37 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.26 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.31 years
male: 75.76 years
female: 81.04 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.31 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Greek(s)
adjective: Greek
Ethnic groups: 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:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95%
male: 98%
female: 93% (1991 est.)
@Greece:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Hellenic Republic conventional short form: Greece
local long form: Elliniki Dhimokratia local short form: Ellas
former: Kingdom of Greece
Data code: GR
Government type: parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by referendum 8 December 1974
National capital: Athens
Administrative divisions: 51 prefectures (nomoi, singular-nomos)and 1 autonomous region*; Ayion Oros* (Mt. Athos), Aitolia kai Akarnania, Akhaia, Argolis, Arkadhia, Arta, Attiki, Dhodhekanisos, Drama, Evritania, Evros, Evvoia, Florina, Fokis, Fthiotis, Grevena, Ilia, Imathia, Ioannina, Irakleion, Kardhitsa, Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkyra, Khalkidhiki, Khania, Khios, Kikladhes, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lesvos, Levkas, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Preveza, Rethimni, Rodhopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakinthos
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 Konstandinos (Kostis) STEPHANOPOULOS (since 10 March 1995)
head of government: Prime Minister Konstandinos SIMITIS (since 19 January 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by Chamber of Deputies for a five-year term; election last held 10 March 1995 (next to be held by NA March 2000); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Konstandinos STEPHANOPOULOS elected president; percent of Chamber of Deputies vote-NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: elections last held 22 September 1996 (next to be held by NA September 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party-PASOK 41.5%, ND 38.1%, KKE 5.6%, Coalition of the Left and Progress 5.1%, DIKKI 4.4%, Political Spring 2.9%; seats by party-PASOK 162, ND 108, KKE 11, Coalition of the Left and Progress 10, DIKKI 9; note-seating has subsequently changed as a result of disciplinary actions by PASOK, ND, and DIKKI; as of 3 February 1998 seating is PASOK 159, ND 102, KKE 11, Coalition of the Left and Progress 10, DIKKI 8, independents 10
Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court, judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council; Special Supreme Tribunal, judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council
Political parties and leaders: New Democracy or ND (conservative) [Konstandinos KARAMANLIS]; Panhellenic Socialist Movement or PASOK [Konstandinos SIMITIS]; Communist Party or KKE [Aleka PAPARIGA]; Political Spring [Andonios SAMARAS]; Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) [Nikolaos KONSTANDOPOULOS]; Democratic Social Movement or DIKKI [Dhimitrios TSOVOLAS]; Rainbow Coalition [Pavlos VOSKOPOULOS]
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EU, FAO, G- 6, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UPU, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Loukas TSILAS chancery: 2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-5800
FAX: [1] (202) 939-5824
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco
consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, and New Orleans
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador R. Nicholas BURNS embassy: 91 Vasilissis Sophias Boulevard, 10160 Athens mailing address: PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108 telephone: [30] (1) 721-2951
FAX: [30] (1) 645-6282
consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki
Flag description: 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
Economy-overview: Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the public sector accounting for roughly half of GDP. Tourism provides a major portion of foreign exchange. Greece is among the poorest EU countries in terms of per capita income; Athens continues to rely heavily on EU aid, which currently amounts to about 4.5% of GDP. Macroeconomic problems include the huge public sector, substantial budget and balance of payments deficits, and 10% unemployment. Economic growth is strengthening, and the government’s strict fiscal and monetary policies are responsible for the decline in inflation and the budget deficit. Despite widespread protests from labor unions and farmers over austerity, the government is taking further steps to enhance revenue collection and reduce expenditures to prepare Greece for participation in the EU’s single currency by 2001. Greece entered the exchange rate mechanism-a requirement for European Monetary Union (EMU) membership-in March 1998. GDP growth is projected at 3.5% for 1998, inflation at 4%, and unemployment at 8.5%
GDP: purchasing power parity-$137.4 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 3.7% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$13,000 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 11%
industry: 25%
services: 64% (1994)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 6% (1997 est.)
Labor force:
total: 4.21 million
by occupation: services 52%, agriculture 23%, industry 25% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 10% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $37 billion (excluding privatization receipts) expenditures: $45 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries: tourism; food and tobacco processing, textiles; chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate: 0.5% (1997 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 8.606 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 38.814 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 3,720 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; meat, dairy products
Exports:
total value: $9.8 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.) commodities: manufactured goods 53%, foodstuffs 34%, fuels 5% (1994) partners: EU 60% (Germany 22%, Italy 14%, France 6%, UK 6%), US 3% (1995)
Imports:
total value: $27 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.) commodities: manufactured goods 72%, foodstuffs 15%, fuels 10% (1994) partners: EU 70% (Italy 18%, Germany 16%, France 8%, UK 6%) US 4% (1995)
Debt-external: $33 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: EU, $5.4 billion (1997 est.)
Currency: 1 drachma (Dr) = 100 lepta
Exchange rates: drachmae (Dr) per US$1-286.99 (January 1998), 273.06 (1997), 240.71 (1996), 231.66 (1995), 242.60 (1994), 229.26 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 5,571,293 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: adequate, modern networks reach all areas; microwave radio relay carries most traffic; extensive open-wire network; submarine cables to off-shore islands
domestic: microwave radio relay, open wire, and submarine cable international: tropospheric scatter; 8 submarine cables; satellite earth stations – 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean Region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 29, FM 17 (repeaters 20), shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 361 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 2.3 million (1993 est.)
@Greece:Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,474 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 (a rack type railway for steep grades)
Highways:
total: 117,000 km
paved: 107,406 km (including 470 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,594 km (1996 est.)
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 Peiraiefs (Piraeus) by 325 km; and three unconnected rivers
Pipelines: crude oil 26 km; petroleum products 547 km
Ports and harbors: Alexandroupolis, Elefsis, Irakleion (Crete), Kavala, Kerkyira, Chalkis, Igoumenitsa, Lavrion, Patrai, Peiraiefs (Piraeus), Thessaloniki, Volos
Merchant marine:
total: 875 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 25,264,916 GRT/45,188,813 DWT
ships by type: bulk 354, cargo 74, chemical tanker 22, combination bulk 13, combination ore/oil 15, container 43, liquefied gas tanker 4, multi-function large load carrier 1, oil tanker 229, passenger 14, passenger-cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 18, short-sea passenger 79, specialized tanker 3 note: Greece owns an additional 1,898 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 69,697,820 DWT operating under the registries of The Bahamas, Belize, Cayman Islands, Cyprus, Liberia, Malta, Panama, Philippines, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Syria, Vanuatu (1997 est.)
Airports: 78 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 63
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 9 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 11 (1997 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1997 est.)
@Greece:Military
Military branches: Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air Force, National Guard, Police
Military manpower-military age: 21 years of age
Military manpower-availability:
males age 15-49: 2,693,116 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 2,062,117 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 78,894 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $4.04 billion (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: NA%
@Greece:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: complex maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Turkey in Aegean Sea; Cyprus question with Turkey; dispute with The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia over name; in September 1995, Skopje and Athens signed an interim accord resolving their dispute over symbols and certain constitutional provisions; Athens also lifted its economic embargo on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Illicit drugs: 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; some South American cocaine transits or is consumed in Greece
______________________________________________________________________
GREENLAND
(part of the Kingdom of Denmark)
@Greenland:Geography
Location: Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada
Geographic coordinates: 72 00 N, 40 00 W
Map references: Arctic Region
Area:
total: 2,175,600 sq km
land: 2,175,600 sq km (341,600 sq km ice-free, 1,834,000 sq km ice-covered) (est.)
Area-comparative: 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
Climate: arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Terrain: flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Gunnbjorn 3,700 m
Natural resources: zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, gold, platinum, uranium, fish, seals, whales
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 99% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island
Environment-current issues: protection of the arctic environment; preservation of their traditional way of life, including whaling; note-Greenland participates actively in Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC)
Environment-international agreements: party to: Whaling (extended through Denmark) signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography-note: dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast
@Greenland:People
Population: 59,309 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26% (male 7,814; female 7,709) 15-64 years: 68% (male 22,099; female 18,487) 65 years and over: 6% (male 1,476; female 1,724) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.9% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 15.83 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 6.88 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.2 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 21.33 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.46 years
male: 65.29 years
female: 73.65 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.17 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Greenlander(s)
adjective: Greenlandic
Ethnic groups: Greenlander 87% (Eskimos and Greenland-born whites), Danish and others 13%
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran
Languages: Eskimo dialects, Danish, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect)
Literacy: NA
note: similar to Denmark proper
@Greenland:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Greenland
local long form: none
local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat
Data code: GL
Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979
Government type: NA
National capital: Nuuk (Godthab)
Administrative divisions: 3 districts (landsdele); Avannaa (Nordgronland), Tunu (Ostgronland), Kitaa (Vestgronland)
Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979)
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 of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Gunnar MARTENS (since NA 1995) head of government: Prime Minister Jonathan MOTZFELDT (since NA September 1997); note – named to post to replace Gunnar MARTENS, who retired ahead of scheduled election
cabinet: Landsstyre is formed from the Parliament on the basis of the strength of parties
elections: the queen is a constitutional monarch; high commissioner appointed by the queen; prime minister is elected by the Parliament (usually the leader of the majority party); election last held NA September 1997 (next to be held NA 1999) election results: Jonathan MOTZFELDT replaced Gunnar MARTENS who retired; percent of parliamentary vote-NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Landsting (31 seats; members are elected on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 4 March 1995 (next to be held by 5 March 1999) election results: percent of vote by party-Siumut 38.4%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 20.3%, Atassut Party 30.1%; seats by party-Siumut 12, Atassut Party 10, Inuit Ataqatigiit 6, conservative splinter grouping 2, independent 1
note: 2 representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketing on 21 September 1994 (next to be held by NA September 1998); percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-Liberals 1, Social Democrats 1; Greenlandic representatives are affiliated with Danish political parties
Judicial branch: High Court or 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 or 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 Party [Bjarne KREUTZMANN]; Issituup (Polar Party) [Nicolai HEINRICH]
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Flag description: 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
Economy-overview: Greenland suffered negative economic growth in the early 1990s, but since 1993 the economy has improved. The Greenland Home Rule Government (GHRG) has pursued a light fiscal policy since the late 1980s which has helped create surpluses in the public budget and low inflation. Since 1990, Greenland has registered a foreign trade deficit following the closure of the last remaining lead and zinc mine in 1989. Greenland today is critically dependent on fishing and fish exports; the shrimp fishery is by far the largest income earner. Despite resumption of several interesting hydrocarbon and minerals exploration activities, it will take several years before production can materialize. Tourism is the only sector offering any near-term potential and even this is limited due to a short season and high costs. The public sector, including publicly owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays the dominant role in Greenland’s economy. About half the government revenues come from grants from the Danish Government, an important supplement of GDP.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$945 million (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 0.6% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$16,100 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 0.6% (1997 est.)
Labor force:
total: 24,500 (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10.5% (1995 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $706 million
expenditures: $697 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)
Industries: fish processing (mainly shrimp), handicrafts, furs, small shipyards
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: 106,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 245 million kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 4,253 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: forage crops, small garden vegetables; sheep, fish
Exports:
total value: $363.4 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: fish and fish products 95%
partners: Denmark 89%, Japan 5%, UK 5%
Imports:
total value: $421 million (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: machinery and transport equipment 25%, manufactured goods 18%, food and live animals 11%, petroleum products 6% partners: Denmark 7.5%, Iceland 3.8%, Japan 3.3%, Norway 3.1%, US 2.4%, Germany 2.4%, Sweden 1.8%
Debt-external: $243 million (1995)
Economic aid: substantial annual subsidy from Denmark-$427 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1-6.916 (January 1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1996), 5.602 (1995), 6.361 (1994), 6.484 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 19,600 (1995 est.)
Telephone system: adequate domestic and international service provided by cables and microwave radio relay; totally digitalized in 1995 domestic: microwave radio relay
international: 2 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: one publicly-owned radio and television station (nationwide) and some local radio and TV stations
Radios: 23,000 (1991 est.)
Television broadcast stations: one publicly-owned radio and television station (nationwide) and some local radio and TV stations
Televisions: 12,000 (1991 est.)
@Greenland:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 150 km
paved: 60 km
unpaved: 90 km
Ports and harbors: Kangerluarsoruseq, Kangerlussuaq, Nanortalik, Narsarsuaq, Nuuk (Godthab), Sisimiut
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 10 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1997 est.)
@Greenland:Military
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of Denmark
@Greenland:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
______________________________________________________________________
GRENADA
@Grenada:Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 12 07 N, 61 40 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 340 sq km
land: 340 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 121 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds
Terrain: volcanic in origin with central mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Saint Catherine 840 m
Natural resources: timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors
Land use:
arable land: 15%
permanent crops: 18%
permanent pastures: 3%
forests and woodland: 9%
other: 55% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November
Environment-current issues: NA
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography-note: the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada
@Grenada:People
Population: 96,217 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 21,077; female 20,378) 15-64 years: 52% (male 26,959; female 23,403) 65 years and over: 5% (male 2,061; female 2,339) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.77% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 28.1 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 5.33 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -15.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 11.37 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.36 years
male: 68.77 years
female: 74 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.64 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Grenadian(s)
adjective: Grenadian
Ethnic groups: black
Religions: Roman Catholic 53%, Anglican 13.8%, other Protestant sects 33.2%
Languages: English (official), French patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1970 est.)
@Grenada:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Grenada
Data code: GJ
Government type: parliamentary democracy
National 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 of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Daniel WILLIAMS (since 9 August 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Keith MITCHELL (since 22 June 1995) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor general appointed by the queen; prime minister appointed by the governor general from among the members of the House of Assembly
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (a 13-member body, 10 appointed by the government and three by the leader of the opposition) and the House of Representatives (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 20 June 1995 (next to be held by NA October 2000)
election results: House of Representatives-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party – NNP 8, NDC 5, GULP 2
Judicial branch: West Indies Associate States Supreme Court, an associate judge resides in Grenada
Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Congress or NDC [George BRIZAN]; Grenada United Labor Party or GULP [Jerry SEALES]; The National Party or TNP [Ben JONES]; New National Party or NNP [Keith MITCHELL]; Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement or MBPM [Terrence MARRYSHOW]; The Democratic Labor Party or DLP [Francis ALEXIS]
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, 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, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Denis G. ANTOINE chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 265-2561
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: the ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Grenada embassy: Point Salines, Saint George’s
mailing address: P. O. Box 54, Saint George’s, Grenada, West Indies telephone: [1] (473) 444-1173 through 1178 FAX: [1] (473) 444-4820
Flag description: 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
Economy-overview: The agriculturally based economy was hurt in 1996 by the emergence of the pink mealy bug, which destroyed much of the cocoa harvest. Bananas, a major foreign exchange earner, also suffered due to falling prices, low production, and poor quality. Tourism, the leading foreign exchange earner, continued to do well, as did manufacturing. Construction boomed in 1996 due to concessions for low and middle income mortgages. The government introduced a 5% tax on electricity and telephones and doubled the general consumption tax, which caused a small rise in the inflation rate. The tourist industry faces stiff competition over the next few years.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$300 million (1996 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 3.1% (1996 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$3,200 (1996 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 10.2%
industry: 40.3%
services: 49.5% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 3.2% (1996 est.)
Labor force:
total: 36,000
by occupation: services 31%, agriculture 24%, construction 8%, manufacturing 5%, other 32% (1985)
Unemployment rate: 20% (1 October 1996)
Budget:
revenues: $75.7 million (1996 est.) expenditures: $126.7 million, including capital expenditures of $51 million (1996 est.)
Industries: food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism, construction
Industrial production growth rate: 1.8% (1992 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 9,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 70 million kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 741 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus, avocados, root crops, sugarcane, corn, vegetables
Exports:
total value: $24 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace
partners: Caricom 32.3%, UK 20%, US 13%, Netherlands 8.8% (1991)
Imports:
total value: $128 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: food 25%, manufactured goods 22%, machinery 20%, chemicals 10%, fuel 6% (1989)
partners: US 31.2%, Caricom 23.6%, UK 13.8%, Japan 7.1% (1991)
Debt-external: $97 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1-2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 5,650 (1988 est.)
Telephone system: automatic, islandwide telephone system domestic: interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone links international: new SHF radiotelephone links to Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to Trinidad
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 80,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1988 est.)
Televisions: 30,000 (1993 est.)
@Grenada:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 1,040 km
paved: 638 km
unpaved: 402 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Grenville, Saint George’s
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 3 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@Grenada:Military
Military branches: Royal Grenada Police Force, Coast Guard
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: NA%
@Grenada:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
Illicit drugs: small-scale cannabis cultivation; lesser transshipment point for marijuana and cocaine to US
______________________________________________________________________
GUADELOUPE
(overseas department of France)
@Guadeloupe:Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands in the eastern Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 16 15 N, 61 35 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 1,780 sq km
land: 1,706 sq km
water: 74 sq km
note: Guadeloupe is an archipelago of nine inhabited islands, including Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, Marie-Galante, La Desirade, Iles des Saintes, Saint Barthelemy, and part of Saint Martin
Area-comparative: 10 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 10.2 km
border countries: Netherlands Antilles (Sint Maarten) 10.2 km
Coastline: 306 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: subtropical tempered by trade winds; moderately high humidity
Terrain: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Soufriere 1,467 m
Natural resources: cultivable land, beaches and climate that foster tourism
Land use:
arable land: 14%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 14%
forests and woodland: 39%
other: 29% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hurricanes (June to October); Soufriere is an active volcano
Environment-current issues: NA
Environment-international agreements: party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
@Guadeloupe:People
Population: 416,439 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25% (male 53,239; female 51,148) 15-64 years: 66% (male 136,439; female 139,555) 65 years and over: 9% (male 15,243; female 20,815) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.1% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 16.73 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 5.61 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth : 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.79 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.8 years
male: 74.78 years
female: 80.97 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.84 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Guadeloupian(s)
adjective: Guadeloupe
Ethnic groups: black or mulatto 90%, white 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 4%, Protestant sects 1%
Languages: French (official) 99%, Creole patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90%
male: 90%
female: 90% (1982 est.)
@Guadeloupe:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Department of Guadeloupe conventional short form: Guadeloupe
local long form: Departement de la Guadeloupe local short form: Guadeloupe
Data code: GP
Dependency status: overseas department of France
Government type: NA
National 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 of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Jean FEDINI (since NA) head of government: President of the General Council Dominique LARIFLA (since NA); President of the Regional Council Lucette MICHAUX-CHEVRY (since 22 March 1992)
cabinet: NA
elections: prefect appointed by the president of France on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General and Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils