has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal (constitutional amendment, July 1997)
Executive branch:
chief of state: King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996, succeeded to the throne following the death of his father, King MOSHOESHOE II, on 16 January 1996); note-King LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne (November 1990 to February 1995) while his father was in exile head of government: Prime Minister Ntsu MOKHEHLE (since 2 April 1993) cabinet: Cabinet
elections: none; the king is a hereditary monarch, but, under the terms of the constitution which came into effect after the March 1993 election, he has no executive or legislative powers; moreover, under traditional law the king can be elected or deposed by a majority vote of the College of Chiefs; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats usually becomes prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (33 members-22 principal chiefs and 11 other members appointed by the ruling party) and the Assembly (65 seats; members elected for a five-year term by popular vote)
elections: last held 27 March 1993 (next to be held in May 1998) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-BCP 65 note: due to a schism in the BCP, Prime Minister Ntsu MOKHEHLE formed the new Lesotho Congress for Democracy or LCD in June 1997, taking 42 seats away from the BCP, reducing it to 23 seats and the role of an opposition party
Judicial branch: High Court, Chief Justice appointed by the king; Court of Appeal; Magistrate’s Court; customary or traditional court
Political parties and leaders:
ruling party: Lesotho Congress for Democracy or LCD [Dr. Ntsu MOKHEHLE, leader; Shakhane MOKHEHLE, secretary general] opposition party: Basotho National Party or BNP [Evaristus SEKHONYANA]; Basotholand Congress Party or BCP [Molapo QHOBELA]; Ha Reeng (‘Let’s Go’) Basotho Party or HBP [Khauta KHASU]; Lesotho Labor Party or LLP [Mamolefi RANTHIMO]; Marematlou Freedom Party or MFP [Vincent MALEBO]; National Progressive Party or NPP [Chief Peete Nkoebe PEETE, leader]; Sefate Democratic Union or SDU [Bofihla NKUEBE]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Charles MOFELI]
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFCTU, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Eunice M. BULANE chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 797-5533 through 5536 FAX: [1] (202) 234-6815
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bismarck MYRICK embassy: 254 Kingsway, Maseru West (Consular Section) mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho telephone: [266] 312666
FAX: [266] 310116
Flag description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper half is white, bearing the brown silhouette of a large shield with crossed spear and club; the lower half is a diagonal blue band with a green triangle in the corner
@Lesotho:Economy
Economy-overview: Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho has no important natural resources other than water. Its economy is based on agriculture, light manufacturing, and remittances from miners employed in South Africa. The number of such mine workers has declined steadily over the past five years; in 1996 their remittances added about 33% to GDP compared with the addition of roughly 67% in 1990. Manufacturing depends largely on farm products which support the milling, canning, leather, and jute industries. Recent foreign investments will enable Lesotho to export garments made from imported textiles. Although drought has decreased agricultural activity over the past few years, completion of a major hydropower facility in January 1998 now permits the sale of water to South Africa and will support the economy’s continued expansion. The pace of the privatization of state-owned firms increased toward the end of 1994.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$5.1 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 9% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$2,500 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 53%
services: 37% (1997)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 8.7% (1996 est.)
Labor force:
total: 689,000 economically active
by occupation: 86% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa
Unemployment rate: substantial unemployment and underemployment effecting more than half of the labor force (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $507 million
expenditures: $487 million, including capital expenditures of $170 million (FY96/97 est.)
Industries: food, beverages, textiles, handicrafts; construction; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 19.7% (1995)
Electricity-capacity: 0 kW (1995)
note: electricity supplied by South Africa
Electricity-production: 0 kWh (1995)
note: electricity supplied by South Africa
Electricity-consumption per capita: 163 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock
Exports:
total value: $218 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: clothing, wool, footwear, road vehicles, mohair (1995) partners: South African Customs Union 52%, North America 38%, EU 9% (1995)
Imports:
total value: $1.1 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities: corn, clothing, building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products (1993)
partners: South African Customs Union 90%, Asia 6%, EU 2% (1995)
Debt-external: $517 million (FY95/96 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 loti (L) = 100 lisente
note: maloti (M) is the plural form of loti
Exchange rates: maloti (M) per US$1-4.94193 (January 1998), 4.60796 (1997), 4.29935 (1996), 3.62709 (1995), 3.55080 (1994), 3.26774 (1993); note-the Basotho loti is at par with the South African rand
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
Communications
Telephones: 12,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: rudimentary system
domestic: consists of a few landlines, a small microwave radio relay system, and a minor radiotelephone communication system international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: 66,000
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: 11,000 (1992 est.)
@Lesotho:Transportation
Railways:
total: 2.6 km; note-owned by, operated by, and included in the statistics of South Africa
narrow gauge: 2.6 km 1.067-m gauge (1995)
Highways:
total: 4,955 km
paved: 887 km
unpaved: 4,068 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 29 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 22 (1997 est.)
@Lesotho:Military
Military branches: Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; includes Army and Air Wing), Royal Lesotho Mounted Police (RLMP)
Military manpower-availability:
males age 15-49: 490,128 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 264,255 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: NA%
@Lesotho:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
______________________________________________________________________
LIBERIA
Introduction
Current issues: The Abuja Peace Accords ended seven years of civil warfare in Liberia. More than 20,000 of the estimated 33,000 factional fighters gave up their arms to the Cease-Fire Monitoring Group of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOMOG). Free and open presidential and legislative elections were held 19 July 1997; former faction leader, Charles TAYLOR, and his National Patriotic Party won overwhelming victories. The years of civil strife coupled with the flight of most business people disrupted formal economic activity, but with peace restored and a popularly-elected government installed, the difficult task of rebuilding the social and economic structure of this war-torn country can proceed.
@Liberia:Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone
Geographic coordinates: 6 30 N, 9 30 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 111,370 sq km
land: 96,320 sq km
water: 15,050 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
total: 1,585 km
border countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d’Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone 306 km
Coastline: 579 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m
Natural resources: iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold
Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 59%
forests and woodland: 18%
other: 19% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)
Environment-current issues: tropical rain forest subject to deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of rivers from the dumping of iron ore tailings and of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage
Environment-international agreements: party to: Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
@Liberia:People
Population: 2,771,901 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 622,797; female 616,902) 15-64 years: 52% (male 734,425; female 700,124) 65 years and over: 3% (male 47,099; female 50,554) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 5.76% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 41.88 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 11.28 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 27.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.) note: until domestic peace is restored, many Liberian refugees will not return from exile
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 103.13 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 59.45 years
male: 56.81 years
female: 62.16 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.09 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Liberian(s)
adjective: Liberian
Ethnic groups: indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, and Bella), Americo-Liberians 2.5% (descendants of immigrants from the US who had been slaves)
Religions: traditional 70%, Muslim 20%, Christian 10%
Languages: English 20% (official), about 20 tribal languages, of which a few can be written and are used in correspondence
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 38.3%
male: 53.9%
female: 22.4% (1995 est.)
@Liberia:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Liberia conventional short form: Liberia
Data code: LI
Government type: republic
National capital: Monrovia
Administrative divisions: 13 counties; Bomi, Bong, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, Sinoe
Independence: 26 July 1847
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1847)
Constitution: 6 January 1986
Legal system: dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American common law for the modern sector and customary law based on unwritten tribal practices for indigenous sector
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (since 2 August 1997); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (since 2 August 1997); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: the president is elected by universal adult suffrage for a four-year term (renewable); election last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held NA July 2003)
election results: Charles Ghankay TAYLOR elected president; percent of vote-Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (NPP) 75.3%, Ellen Johnson SIRLEAF (UP) 9.6%, Alhaji KROMAH (ALCOP) 4%, other 11.1%
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (26 seats; members serve NA-year terms) and the House of Representatives (64 seats; members serve NA-year terms) elections: Senate-last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held in NA 2003); House of Representatives-last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held in NA 2003)
election results: Senate: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-NPP 21, UP 3, ALCOP 2; House of Representatives: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-NPP 49, UP 7, ALCOP 3, Alliance of Political Parties 2, UPP 2, LPP 1; note-the Alliance of Political Parties was a coalition of Liberian Action Party and Liberian Unification Party
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
ruling party: National Patriotic Party or NPP [Charles Ghankay TAYLOR, leader]
opposition party: All Liberia Coalition Party or ALCOP [Alhaji KROMAH, chairman]; Free Democratic Party or FDP [Fayah GBOLLIE, chairman]; Liberian Action Party or LAP [Cletis WOTORSON]; Liberian National Union or LINU [Harry MONIBA, chairman]; Liberian Peoples Party or LPP [Togba-Nah TIPOTEH, chairman]; Liberian Unification Party or LUP [Laveli SUPUWOOD]; National Democratic Party of Liberia or NDPL [Dr. George E. Saigbe BOLEY, chairman]; National Reformation Party or NRP [Martin SHERIF, chairman]; People’s Democratic Party of Liberia or PDPL [George Toe WASHINGTON, chairman]; People’s Progressive Party or PPP [Chea CHEAPOO, chairman]; Reformation Alliance Party or RAP [Henry Boimah FAHNBULLEH, chairman]; True Whig Party or TWP [Rudolph SHERMAN, chairman]; Unity Party or UP [Ellen JOHNSON-SIRLEAF, chairman]; United People’s Party or UPP [Gabriel Baccus MATTHEWS, chairman]
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador designate Rachel DIGGS; Charge d’Affaires ad interim Konah K. BLACKETT
chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chief of Mission William MILAM embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, Monrovia mailing address: P. O. Box 100098, Mamba Point, Monrovia telephone: [231] 226-370
FAX: [231] 226-148
Flag description: 11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the US flag
@Liberia:Economy
Economy-overview: Civil war since 1990 has destroyed much of Liberia’s economy, especially the infrastructure in and around Monrovia. Many businessmen have fled the country, taking capital and expertise with them. Some returned during 1997. Many will not return. Richly endowed with water, mineral resources, forests, and a climate favorable to agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and exporter of basic products, while local manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope. The democratically elected government, installed in August 1997, inherited massive international debts and currently relies on revenues from its maritime registry to provide the bulk of its foreign exchange earnings. The restoration of the infrastructure and the raising of incomes in this ravaged economy depends on continued disarmament of factions and the implementation of sound macro- and micro-economic policies of the new government.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$2.6 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: NA% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$1,000 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 30%
industry: 36%
services: 34%
Inflation rate-consumer price index: NA%
Labor force:
by occupation: agriculture 70%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA
Industries: rubber processing, food processing, construction materials, furniture, palm oil processing, iron ore, diamonds
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: 332,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 472 million kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 154 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber
Exports:
total value: $667 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: diamonds, iron ore, rubber, timber, coffee partners: US, EU, Netherlands, Singapore
Imports:
total value: $5.8 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: mineral fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods; rice and other foodstuffs partners: US, EU, Japan, China, Netherlands, ECOWAS, South Korea
Debt-external: $2 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Liberian dollar (L$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Liberian dollars (L$) per US$1-1.0000 (officially fixed rate since 1940); market exchange rate: Liberian dollars (L$) per US$1-50 (October 1995), 7 (January 1992); market rate floats against the US dollar
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: less than 25,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: telephone and telegraph service via microwave radio relay network; main center is Monrovia
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: 622,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1998)
Televisions: 51,000 (1992 est.)
@Liberia:Transportation
Railways:
total: 490 km (single track); note-three rail systems owned and operated by foreign steel and financial interests in conjunction with Liberian Government; one of these, the Lamco Railroad, closed in 1989 after iron ore production ceased; the other two were shut down by the civil war
standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 145 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways:
total: 10,600 km
paved: 657 km
unpaved: 9,943 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Buchanan, Greenville, Harper, Monrovia
Merchant marine:
total: 1,620 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 59,521,524 GRT/97,187,450 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 4, bulk 413, cargo 117, chemical tanker 143, combination bulk 28, combination ore/oil 54, container 168, liquefied gas tanker 89, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 424, passenger 35, refrigerated cargo 67, roll-on/roll-off cargo 21, short-sea passenger 4, specialized tanker 11, vehicle carrier 41
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 54 countries among which are Germany 198, US 181, Norway 153, Greece 148, Japan 137, Hong Kong 109, China 58, UK 48, Singapore 43, and Monaco 41 (1997 est.)
Airports: 46 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 44
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 35 (1997 est.)
@Liberia:Military
Military branches:
note: The new government of Liberia has developed a plan for the armed forces: total strength 5,000, of which Army 3,400, Navy 1,100, Air Force 500; note – the Navy is to have several small coastal patrol vessels and the Air Force is to comprise two air wings
Military manpower-availability:
males age 15-49: 631,546 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 337,744 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $14 million (1993)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 2.9% (1993)
@Liberia:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
Illicit drugs: increasingly a transshipment point for Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine for the European and US markets
______________________________________________________________________
LIBYA
@Libya:Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Tunisia
Geographic coordinates: 25 00 N, 17 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 1,759,540 sq km
land: 1,759,540 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundaries:
total: 4,383 km
border countries: Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,150 km, Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km
Coastline: 1,770 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
note: Gulf of Sidra closing line-32 degrees 30 minutes north
Climate: Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
Terrain: mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, gypsum
Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 8%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 91% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 4,700 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms
Environment-current issues: desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities
Environment-international agreements: party to: Desertification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea
@Libya:People
Population: 5,690,727 (July 1998 est.) note: includes 144,363 non-nationals (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 48% (male 1,399,354; female 1,351,442) 15-64 years: 49% (male 1,412,067; female 1,361,372) 65 years and over: 3% (male 81,711; female 84,781) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.68% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 43.95 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 7.15 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 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: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 55.81 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 65.44 years
male: 63.21 years
female: 67.78 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.18 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Libyan(s)
adjective: Libyan
Ethnic groups: Berber and Arab 97%, Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, Tunisians
Religions: Sunni Muslim 97%
Languages: Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the major cities
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 76.2%
male: 87.9%
female: 63% (1995 est.)
@Libya:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya conventional short form: Libya
local long form: Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah al Ishtirakiyah
local short form: none
Data code: LY
Government type: Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the populace through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship
National capital: Tripoli
Administrative divisions: 25 municipalities (baladiyah, singular-baladiyat); Ajdabiya, Al ‘Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, Al Kufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash Shati’, Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi, Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt, Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan
note: the 25 municipalities may have been replaced by 1,500 communes in 1992
Independence: 24 December 1951 (from Italy)
National holiday: Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)
Constitution: 11 December 1969, amended 2 March 1977
Legal system: based on Italian civil law system and Islamic law; separate religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: Revolutionary Leader Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969); note-holds no official title, but is de facto chief of state
head of government: Secretary of the General People’s Committee (Premier) Muhammad Ahmad al-MANQUSH (since NA January 1998) cabinet: General People’s Committee established by the General People’s Congress
elections: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of peoples’ committees; head of government elected by the General People’s Congress; election last held NA (next to be held NA) election results: Muhammad Ahmad al-MANQUSH elected head of government; percent of General People’s Congress vote-NA
Legislative branch: unicameral General People’s Congress (NA seats; members elected indirectly through a hierarchy of peoples’ committees)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: none
Political pressure groups and leaders: various Arab nationalist movements with almost negligible memberships may be functioning clandestinely, as well as some Islamic elements
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAU, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: Libya does not have an embassy in the US
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US suspended all embassy activities in Tripoli on 2 May 1980
Flag description: plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state religion)
@Libya:Economy
Economy-overview: The socialist-oriented economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oil sector, which contributes practically all export earnings and about one-third of GDP. Per capita GDP is the highest in Africa at $6,700, but disproportionately little of national income flows down to the lower orders of society. GDP growth fluctuates sharply in response to changes in the world oil market; GDP has either contracted or grown very sluggishly since 1992. Import restrictions and inefficient resource allocations have led to periodic shortages of basic goods and foodstuffs. The nonoil manufacturing and construction sectors, which account for about 20% of GDP, have expanded from processing mostly agricultural products to include the production of petrochemicals, iron, steel, and aluminum. Although agriculture accounts for only 5% of GDP, it employs 18% of the labor force. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit farm output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food requirements. The UN sanctions imposed in April 1992 do not have a major impact on the economy although they have increased transaction and transportation costs.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$38 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 0.5% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$6,700 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 55%
services: 40% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 30% (1997 est.)
Labor force:
total: 1 million
by occupation: industry 31%, services 27%, government 24%, agriculture 18%
note: 3% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: 25% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $10.4 billion
expenditures: $10.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.5 billion (1995 est.)
Industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: 4.6 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 17 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 3,239 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts; meat, eggs
Exports:
total value: $9 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas partners: Italy, Germany, Spain, France, Turkey, Greece, Egypt
Imports:
total value: $6.2 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: machinery, transport equipment, food, manufactured goods partners: Italy, Germany, UK, France, Spain, Turkey, Tunisia, Eastern Europe
Debt-external: $2.6 billion excluding military debt (1995 est.)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 Libyan dinar (LD) = 1,000 dirhams
Exchange rates: Libyan dinars (LD) per US$1-0.3902 (January 1998), 0.3891 (1997), 0.3651 (1996), 0.3532 (1995), 0.3596 (1994), 0.3250 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 370,000
Telephone system: modern telecommunications system domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations international: satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); planned Arabsat and Intersputnik satellite earth stations; submarine cables to France and Italy; microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel
Radio broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 1 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 12 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 500,000 (1993 est.)
@Libya:Transportation
Railways:
note: Libya has had no railroad in operation since 1965, all previous systems having been dismantled; current plans are to construct a 1.435-m standard gauge line from the Tunisian frontier to Tripoli and Misratah, then inland to Sabha, center of a mineral-rich area, but there has been no progress; other plans made jointly with Egypt would establish a rail line from As Sallum, Egypt, to Tobruk with completion set for mid-1994; no progress has been reported
Highways:
total: 83,200 km
paved: 47,590 km
unpaved: 35,610 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: none
Pipelines: crude oil 4,383 km; petroleum products 443 km (includes liquefied petroleum gas or LPG 256 km); natural gas 1,947 km
Ports and harbors: Al Khums, Banghazi, Darnah, Marsa al Burayqah, Misratah, Ra’s Lanuf, Tobruk, Tripoli, Zuwarah
Merchant marine:
total: 30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 615,505 GRT/1,044,175 DWT ships by type: cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 3, oil tanker 9, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, short-sea passenger 4 (1997 est.)
Airports: 145 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 60
over 3,047 m: 24
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 3 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 85
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 43
under 914 m: 20 (1997 est.)
@Libya:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Command
Military manpower-military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower-availability:
males age 15-49: 1,229,080 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 731,963 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 59,730 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $1.4 billion (1994 est.)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 6.1% (1994 est.)
@Libya:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: maritime boundary dispute with Tunisia; Libya claims about 19,400 sq km in northern Niger and part of southeastern Algeria
______________________________________________________________________
LIECHTENSTEIN
@Liechtenstein:Geography
Location: Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
Geographic coordinates: 47 10 N, 9 32 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 160 sq km
land: 160 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 76 km
border countries: Austria 35 km, Switzerland 41 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Terrain: mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m
highest point: Grauspitz 2,599 m
Natural resources: hydroelectric potential
Land use:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 16%
forests and woodland: 35%
other: 25% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: NA
Environment-international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography-note: along with Uzbekistan, one of the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
@Liechtenstein:People
Population: 31,717 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19% (male 3,058; female 2,926) 15-64 years: 70% (male 11,084; female 11,154) 65 years and over: 11% (male 1,442; female 2,053) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.05% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 12.64 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 7.31 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 5.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.28 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.96 years
male: 75.51 years
female: 80.52 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.61 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Liechtensteiner(s)
adjective: Liechtenstein
Ethnic groups: Alemannic 87.5%, Italian, Turkish, and other 12.5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 7.4%, unknown 7.7%, other 4.9% (1996)
Languages: German (official), Alemannic dialect
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (1981 est.)
@Liechtenstein:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein conventional short form: Liechtenstein
local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein local short form: Liechtenstein
Data code: LS
Government type: hereditary constitutional monarchy
National capital: Vaduz
Administrative divisions: 11 communes (gemeinden, singular-gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz
Independence: 23 January 1719 (Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein established)
National holiday: Assumption Day, 15 August
Constitution: 5 October 1921
Legal system: local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Prince Hans ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS von und zu Liechtenstein (born 11 June 1968)
head of government: Head of Government Mario FRICK (since 15 December 1993) and Deputy Head of Government Michael RITTER (since 2 February 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Diet; confirmed by the prince elections: none; the prince is a hereditary monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the Diet is usually appointed the head of government by the prince and the leader of the largest minority party in the Diet is usually appointed the deputy head of government by the prince
Legislative branch: unicameral Diet or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote under proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 2 February 1997 (next to be held by NA 2001) election results: percent of vote by party-VU 50.1%, FBPL 41.3%, FL 8.5%; seats by party – VU 13, FBPL 10, FL 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Superior Court or Obergericht
Political parties and leaders: Fatherland Union or VU [Dr. Oswald KRANZ]; Progressive Citizens’ Party or FBPL [Norbert SEEGER]; The Free List or FL
International organization participation: CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, IAEA, ICRM, IFRCS, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: Liechtenstein does not have an embassy in the US, but is represented by the Swiss embassy in routine diplomatic matters
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein, but the US Ambassador at Bern (Switzerland) is also accredited to Liechtenstein
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band
@Liechtenstein:Economy
Economy-overview: Despite its small size and limited natural resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital financial service sector and living standards on a par with the urban areas of its large European neighbors. Low business taxes-the maximum tax rate is 18%-and easy incorporation rules have induced about 73,700 holding or so-called letter box companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein, providing 30% of state revenues. The country participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency. It imports more than 90% of its energy requirements. Liechtenstein is a member of the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between EFTA and EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated Europe.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$713 million (1996 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: NA%
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$23,000 (1996 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 0.5% (1997 est.)
Labor force:
total: 22,891 of which 13,847 are foreigners; 8,231 commute from Austria and Switzerland to work each day by occupation: industry, trade, and building 46%, services 52%, agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture 2% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 1.6% (1997)
Budget:
revenues: $455 million
expenditures: $435 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
Industries: electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: 23,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 150 million kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 8,000 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture-products: wheat, barley, maize, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
Exports:
total value: $2.47 billion (1996)
commodities: small specialty machinery, dental products, stamps, hardware, pottery
partners: EU and EFTA countries 60.57% (Switzerland 15.7%) (1995)
Imports:
total value: $917.3 million (1996)
commodities: machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
partners: EU countries, Switzerland (1996)
Debt-external: $0 (1996)
Economic aid: none
Currency: 1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes, rappen, or centesimi
Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1-1.4757 (January 1998), 1.4513 (1997), 1.2360 (1996), 1.1825 (1995), 1.3677 (1994), 1.4776 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 22,857 subscribers (1996 est.)
Telephone system: automatic telephone system domestic: NA
international: linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay
Radio broadcast stations: 1 broadcast station in Triesen note: linked to Swiss networks
Radios: 12,134 license holders (1996)
Television broadcast stations: NA
note: linked to Swiss networks
Televisions: 11,785 license holders (1996)
@Liechtenstein:Transportation
Railways:
total: 18.5 km; note-owned, operated, and included in statistics of Austrian Federal Railways
standard gauge: 18.5 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)
Highways:
total: 250 km
paved: 250 km
unpaved: 0 km
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: none
@Liechtenstein:Military
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of Switzerland
@Liechtenstein:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: claims 1,600 sq km of territory in the Czech Republic confiscated from its royal family in 1918; the Czech Republic insists that restitution does not go back before February 1948, when the communists seized power
______________________________________________________________________
LITHUANIA
@Lithuania:Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 56 00 N, 24 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 65,200 sq km
land: 65,200 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,273 km
border countries: Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km
Coastline: 99 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers
Terrain: lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Juozapines/Kalnas 292 m
Natural resources: peat
Land use:
arable land: 35%
permanent crops: 12%
permanent pastures: 7%
forests and woodland: 31%
other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 430 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Lithuania:People
Population: 3,600,158 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 376,034; female 360,446) 15-64 years: 67% (male 1,155,733; female 1,238,671) 65 years and over: 13% (male 159,526; female 309,748) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.45% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 10.57 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 12.94 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.09 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: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 14.75 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.83 years
male: 62.76 years
female: 75.21 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.46 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Lithuanian(s)
adjective: Lithuanian
Ethnic groups: Lithuanian 80.6%, Russian 8.7%, Polish 7%, Byelorussian 1.6%, other 2.1%
Religions: primarily Roman Catholic, others include Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Protestant, evangelical Christian Baptist, Islam, Judaism
Languages: Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1989 est.)
@Lithuania:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania conventional short form: Lithuania
local long form: Lietuvos Respublika local short form: Lietuva
former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: LH
Government type: parliamentary democracy
National capital: Vilnius
Administrative divisions: 44 regions (rajonai, singular-rajonas) and 11 municipalities*: Akmenes Rajonas, Alytaus Rajonas, Alytus*, Anyksciu Rajonas, Birstonas*, Birzu Rajonas, Druskininkai*, Ignalinos Rajonas, Jonavos Rajonas, Joniskio Rajonas, Jurbarko Rajonas, Kaisiadoriu Rajonas, Kaunas*, Kauno Rajonas, Kedainiu Rajonas, Kelmes Rajonas, Klaipeda*, Klaipedos Rajonas, Kretingos Rajonas, Kupiskio Rajonas, Lazdiju Rajonas, Marijampole*, Marijampoles Rajonas, Mazeikiu Rajonas, Moletu Rajonas, Neringa* Pakruojo Rajonas, Palanga*, Panevezio Rajonas, Panevezys*, Pasvalio Rajonas, Plunges Rajonas, Prienu Rajonas, Radviliskio Rajonas, Raseiniu Rajonas, Rokiskio Rajonas, Sakiu Rajonas, Salcininku Rajonas, Siauliai*, Siauliu Rajonas, Silales Rajonas, Silutes Rajonas, Sirvintu Rajonas, Skuodo Rajonas, Svencioniu Rajonas, Taurages Rajonas, Telsiu Rajonas, Traku Rajonas, Ukmerges Rajonas, Utenos Rajonas, Varenos Rajonas, Vilkaviskio Rajonas, Vilniaus Rajonas, Vilnius*, Zarasu Rajonas
Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Statehood Day, 16 February (1918)
Constitution: adopted 25 October 1992
Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Valdes ADAMKUS (since 26 February 1998) head of government: Premier Gediminas VAGNORIUS (since 28 November 1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the nomination of the premier
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 21 December 1997 and 5 January 1998 (next to be held NA 2003); premier appointed by the president on the approval of the Parliament
election results: Valdas ADAMKUS elected president; percent of vote-Valdas ADAMKUS 50.37%, Arturas PAULAUSKAS 49.7%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats, 71 members are directly elected by popular vote, 70 are elected by proportional representation; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 20 October and 10 November 1996 (next to be held NA October 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-TS 69, LKDP 15, LCS 15, LDDP 12, LSDP 10, DP 2, independents 12, others 6
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the Parliament; Court of Appeal, judges appointed by the Parliament
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party or LKDP [Algirdas SAUDARGAS, chairman]; Democratic Labor Party of Lithuania or LDDP [Ceslovas JURSENAS, chairman]; Lithuanian Nationalist Union or LTS [Rimantas SMETONA, chairman]; Lithuanian Social Democratic Party or LSDP [Aloyzas SAKALAS, chairman]; Lithuanian Farmer’s Party or LUP (previously Farmers’ Union) [Albinas VAIZMUZIS, chairman]; Lithuanian Center Union or LCS [Romualdas OZOLAS, chairman]; Homeland Union/Conservative Party or TS [Vytautas LANDSBERGIS, chairman]; Lithuanian Polish Union or LLS [Rsztardas MACIEKIANIEC, chairman]; Democratic Party or DP [Lydie WURTH-POLFER, president]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Lithuanian Future Forum
International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stasys SAKALAUSKAS (appointed 30 September 1997)
chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860
FAX: [1] (202) 328-0466
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Keith C. SMITH embassy: Akmenu 6, Vilnius 2600
mailing address: American Embassy, Vilnius, PSC 78, Box V, APO AE 09723
telephone: [370] (2) 223-031, 227-224 FAX: [370] 670-6084
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red
@Lithuania:Economy
Economy-overview: Lithuania has benefited from its disciplined approach to market reform and its adherence to strict fiscal and monetary policies imposed by the IMF, measures that have helped constrain the growth of the money supply, reduce inflation to 8.6%, and support GDP growth of 6% in 1997. Inflation is expected to fall in 1998 to 6% and GDP to grow at close to 7%. Foreign direct investment in 1997 of some $430 million pushed the country over the $1 billion mark, the first Baltic state to reach this milestone. However, the current account deficit has hovered around 8% to 10% of GDP annually since 1995-the result of greater demand for consumer goods and falling growth in exports.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$15.4 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 6% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$4,230 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 9%
industry: 28%
services: 63% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 8.6% (1997 est.)
Labor force:
total: 1.8 million
by occupation: industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 20%, other 38% (1997)
Unemployment rate: 6.7% (January 1998)
Budget:
revenues: $1.5 billion
expenditures: $1.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industries: metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, television sets, refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small ships), furniture making, textiles, food processing, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, optical equipment, electronic components, computers, amber
Industrial production growth rate: 3.7% (1996)
Electricity-capacity: 5.463 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 14.33 billion kWh (1997 est.)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 2,398 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: grain, potatoes, sugar beets, vegetables; meat, milk, eggs; fish; flax fiber
Exports:
total value: $3.3 billion (1996)
commodities: agricultural products 16.9%, mineral products 15.7%, textiles 15.2%, machinery 11.4%, live animals 7.7% (1996) partners: Russia, Germany, Belarus, Latvia, Ukraine (1996)
Imports:
total value: $4.4 billion (1996)
commodities: mineral production 20%, machinery 16%, transport equipment 10%, chemicals 10%, textiles 8%, foodstuff 6% (1996) partners: Russia, Germany, Poland, Italy, Denmark (1996)
Debt-external: $895 million
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $144 million (1993) note: commitments from the West and international financial institutions, $765 million (1992-95)
Currency: 1 Lithuanian litas = 100 centas
Exchange rates: litai per US$1-4.000 (fixed rate since 1 May 1994), 3.978 (1994), 4.344 (1993), 1.773 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 1.012 million (1995)
Telephone system: telecommunications system ranks among the most modern of the former Soviet republics
domestic: an NMT-450 analog cellular telephone network operates in Vilnius and other cities; landlines and microwave radio relay connect switching centers
international: international connections no longer depend on the Moscow international gateway switch, but are established by satellite through Oslo from Vilnius and through Copenhagen from Kaunas; satellite earth stations-1 Eutelsat and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); cellular network linked internationally through Copenhagen by Eutelsat; international electronic mail is available; landlines or microwave radio relay to former Soviet republics
Radio broadcast stations: AM 13, FM 26, shortwave 1, longwave 1
Radios: 1.42 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3
Televisions: 1.77 million (1993 est.)
@Lithuania:Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,002 km
broad gauge: 2,002 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified) (1994)
Highways:
total: 65,135 km
paved: 57,058 km (including 404 km of expressways) unpaved: 8,077 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 600 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: crude oil, 105 km; natural gas 760 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Kaunas, Klaipeda
Merchant marine:
total: 51 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 307,947 GRT/341,733 DWT ships by type: cargo 25, combination bulk 11, oil tanker 2, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 8, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 3 (1997 est.)
Airports: 96 (1994 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 14 (1994 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 71
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 63 (1994 est.)
@Lithuania:Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard (Skat)
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability:
males age 15-49: 905,259 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 712,593 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 26,211 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $81.2 million (1997)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 0.9% (1997)
@Lithuania:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: ongoing talks over boundary dispute with Latvia (primary concern oil exploration rights); demarcation has begun on border with Belarus; 1997 border agreement with Russia not yet ratified
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from Southwest Asia and Latin America to Western Europe and Scandinavia
______________________________________________________________________
LUXEMBOURG
@Luxembourg:Geography
Location: Western Europe, between France and Germany
Geographic coordinates: 49 45 N, 6 10 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 2,586 sq km
land: 2,586 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
total: 359 km
border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: modified continental with mild winters, cool summers
Terrain: mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle floodplain in the southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Moselle River 133 m
highest point: Burgplatz 559 m
Natural resources: iron ore (no longer exploited)
Land use:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 21%
other: 34%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: air and water pollution in urban areas
Environment-international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
Geography-note: landlocked
@Luxembourg:People
Population: 425,017 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 39,565; female 37,824) 15-64 years: 67% (male 145,060; female 139,628) 65 years and over: 15% (male 25,449; female 37,491) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.02% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 11.12 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 9.29 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 8.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.04 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.49 years
male: 74.41 years
female: 80.68 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.63 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Luxembourger(s)
adjective: Luxembourg
Ethnic groups: Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian, and European (guest and worker residents)
Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant and Jewish 3%
Languages: Luxembourgian, German, French, English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (1980 est.)
@Luxembourg:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg conventional short form: Luxembourg
local long form: Grand-Duche de Luxembourg local short form: Luxembourg
Data code: LU
Government type: constitutional monarchy
National capital: Luxembourg
Administrative divisions: 3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
Independence: 1839
National holiday: National Day, 23 June (1921) (public celebration of the Grand Duke’s birthday)
Constitution: 17 October 1868, occasional revisions
Legal system: based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: Grand Duke JEAN (since 12 November 1964); Heir Apparent Prince HENRI (son of Grand Duke JEAN, born 16 April 1955) head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 1 January 1995) and Vice Prime Minister Jacques F. POOS (since 21 July 1984)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the sovereign, responsible to the Chamber of Deputies
elections: none; the grand duke is a hereditary monarch; prime minister and vice prime minister appointed by the sovereign but are responsible to the Chamber of Deputies
Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (60 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 12 June 1994 (next to be held by June 1999) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-CSV 21, LSAP 17, DP 12, Action Committee for Democracy and Pension Rights 5, Greens 5
note: the Council of State or Conseil d’Etat, which has 21 members who are appointed for life, is an advisory body whose views are considered by the Chamber of Deputies
Judicial branch: Superior Court of Justice or Cour Superieure de Justice, judges are appointed for life by the Grand Duke; Administrative Court or Tribunale Administratin, judges are appointed for life by the Grand Duke
Political parties and leaders: Christian Social People’s Party or CSV [Erna HENNICOT-SCHOEPGES]; Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party or LSAP [Ben FAYOT]; Democratic Party or DP [Lydie Wurth POLFER]; Action Committee for Democracy and Pension Rights [Roby MEHLEN]; the Green Alternative [Abbes JACOBY]; other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders: group of steel companies representing iron and steel industry; Centrale Paysanne representing agricultural producers; Christian and Socialist labor unions; Federation of Industrialists; Artisans and Shopkeepers Federation
International organization participation: ACCT, Australia Group, Benelux, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MTCR, NATO, NEA, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alphonse BERNS chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-4171
FAX: [1] (202) 328-8270
consulate(s) general: New York and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Clay CONSTANTINOU embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel-Servais, 2535 Luxembourg City mailing address: American Embassy Luxembourg, Unit 1410, APO AE 09126-1410 (official mail); American Embassy Luxembourg, PSC 9, Box 9500, APO AE 09123 (personal mail)
telephone: [352] 46 01 23
FAX: [352] 46 14 01
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue; similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue and is shorter; design was based on the flag of France
@Luxembourg:Economy
Economy-overview: The stable, prosperous economy features moderate growth, low inflation, and low unemployment. Agriculture is based on small family-owned farms. The industrial sector, until recently dominated by steel, has become increasingly more diversified. During the past decades, growth in the financial sector has more than compensated for the decline in steel. Services, especially banking, account for a growing proportion of the economy. Luxembourg participates in an economic union with Belgium on trade and most financial matters, is also closely connected economically to the Netherlands, and, as a member of the EU, enjoys the advantages of the open European market.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$13.48 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 3.6% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$33,700 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 21%
services: 74% (1995)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 2.3% (1995)
Labor force:
total: 213,100 (one-third of labor force is foreign workers, mostly from Portugal, Italy, France, Belgium, and Germany) by occupation: trade, restaurants, hotels 20%, mining, quarrying, manufacturing 16%, other market services 18%, community, social, personal services 14%, construction 11%, finance, insurance, real estate, business services 9%, transport, storage, communications 8%, agriculture, hunting, forestry, fishing 1%, electricity, gas, water 1% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: 3.5% (1997)
Budget:
revenues: $5.46 billion
expenditures: $5.44 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industries: banking, iron and steel, food processing, chemicals, metal products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum
Industrial production growth rate: 3.3% (1995 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 138,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 470 million kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 13,518 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine grapes; livestock products
Exports:
total value: $7.1 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: finished steel products, chemicals, rubber products, glass, aluminum, other industrial products partners: Germany 28%, France 18%, Belgium 15%, UK 7%, Netherlands 5%
Imports:
total value: $9.4 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods partners: Belgium 38%, Germany 25%, France 11%, Netherlands 4%
Debt-external: $NA
Economic aid:
donor: ODA, $50 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Luxembourg franc (LuxF) = 100 centimes; note-centimes no longer in use
Exchange rates: Luxembourg francs (LuxF) per US$1-37.459 (January 1998), 35.774 (1997), 30.962 (1996), 29.480 (1995), 33.456 (1994), 34.597 (1993); note-the Luxembourg franc is at par with the Belgian franc, which circulates freely in Luxembourg
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 221,900 (1994 est.)
Telephone system: highly developed, completely automated and efficient system, mainly buried cables
domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; buried cable international: 3 channels leased on TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable (Europe to North America)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: 230,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 plus 1 direct-broadcast satellite link
Televisions: 100,500 (1993 est.)
@Luxembourg:Transportation