current issues:
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; famine natural hazards:
geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts
international agreements:
party to – Endangered Species; signed, but not ratified – Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Note:
landlocked – entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 27 April 1993
@Ethiopia, People
Population:
54,927,108 (July 1994 est.)
note:
Ethiopian demographic data, except population and population growth rate, include Eritrea
Population growth rate:
3.4% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
45.01 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate:
13.89 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate:
2.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate:
106.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
52.67 years
male:
51 years
female:
54.38 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.81 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality:
noun:
Ethiopian(s)
adjective:
Ethiopian
Ethnic divisions:
Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigrean 32%, Sidamo 9%, Shankella 6%, Somali 6%, Afar 4%, Gurage 2%, other 1%
Religions:
Muslim 45%-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox 35%-40%, animist 12%, other 5% Languages:
Amharic (official), Tigrinya, Orominga, Guaraginga, Somali, Arabic, English (major foreign language taught in schools) Literacy:
age 10 and over can read and write (1984) total population:
24%
male:
33%
female:
16%
Labor force:
18 million
by occupation:
agriculture and animal husbandry 80%, government and services 12%, industry and construction 8% (1985)
@Ethiopia, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Ethiopia
local long form:
none
local short form:
Ityop’iya
Digraph:
ET
Type:
transitional government
note:
on 28 May 1991 the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) toppled the authoritarian government of MENGISTU Haile-Mariam and took control in Addis Ababa; the Transitional Government of Ethiopia (TGE), announced a two-year transitional period Capital:
Addis Ababa
Administrative divisions:
14 administrative regions (astedader akababiwach, singular – astedader akababi) Addis Ababa, Afar, Amhara, Benishangul, Gambela, Gurage-Hadiya-Kambata, Harer, Kefa, Omo, Oromo, Sidamo, Somali, Tigray, Wolayta
Independence:
oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world – at least 2,000 years
National holiday:
National Day, 28 May (1991) (defeat of Mengistu regime) Constitution:
to be redrafted by 1993
Legal system:
NA
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President MELES Zenawi (since 1 June 1991); election last held 10 September 1987; next election planned after new constitution drafted; results – MENGISTU Haile-Mariam elected by the now defunct National Assembly, but resigned and left Ethiopia on 21 May 1991 head of government:
Prime Minister TAMIRAT Layne (since 6 June 1991) cabinet:
Council of Ministers; designated by the chairman of the Council of Representatives
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Constituent Assembly:
elections were held on 5 June 1994 (next to be held NA); results – NA; a major task of the new Assembly will be to ratify the constitution to drafted by the end of 1994
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), MELES Zenawi; Oromo People’s Democratic Organization (OPDO), Kuma DEMEKSA Other political or pressure groups:
Oromo Liberation Front (OLF); Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party (EPRP); numerous small, ethnic-based groups have formed since Mengistu’s resignation, including several Islamic militant groups Member of:
ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador BERHANE Gebre-Christos chancery:
2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone:
(202) 234-2281 or 2282
FAX:
(202) 328-7950
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Marc A. BAAS
embassy:
Entoto Street, Addis Ababa
mailing address:
P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa
telephone:
[251] (1) 550-666
FAX:
[251] (1) 552-191
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red; Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and the colors of her flag were so often adopted by other African countries upon independence that they became known as the pan-African colors
@Ethiopia, Economy
Overview:
With the independence of Eritrea on 27 April 1993, Ethiopia continues to face difficult economic problems as one of the poorest and least developed countries in Africa. (The accompanying analysis and figures predate the independence of Eritrea.) Its economy is based on subsistence agriculture, which accounts for about 45% of GDP, 90% of exports, and 80% of total employment; coffee generates 60% of export earnings. The manufacturing sector is heavily dependent on inputs from the agricultural sector. Over 90% of large-scale industry, but less than 10% of agriculture, is state run; the government is considering selling off a portion of state-owned plants. Favorable agricultural weather largely explains the 4.5% growth in output in FY89, whereas drought and deteriorating internal security conditions prevented growth in FY90. In 1991 the lack of law and order, particularly in the south, interfered with economic development and growth. In 1992, because of some easing of civil strife and aid from the outside world, the economy substantially improved.
National product:
GDP – purchasing power equivalent – $22.7 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate:
7.8% (FY93 est)
National product per capita:
$400 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
21% (1992 est)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$NA
expenditures:
$1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.) Exports:
$189 million (f.o.b., FY91)
commodities:
coffee, leather products, gold, petroleum products partners:
Germany, Japan, Saudi Arabia, France, Italy Imports:
$472 million (c.i.f., FY91)
commodities:
capital goods, consumer goods, fuel partners:
US, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Japan External debt:
$3.48 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate -3.3% (FY92); accounts for 12% of GDP Electricity:
capacity:
330,000 kW
production:
650 million kWh
consumption per capita:
10 kWh (1991)
Industries:
food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metals processing, cement
Agriculture:
accounts for 47% of GDP and is the most important sector of the economy even though frequent droughts and poor cultivation practices keep farm output low; famines not uncommon; export crops of coffee and oilseeds grown partly on state farms; estimated 50% of agricultural production at subsistence level; principal crops and livestock – cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseeds, sugarcane, potatoes and other vegetables, hides and skins, cattle, sheep, goats Illicit drugs:
transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest and Southeast Asia and destined for Europe and North America as well as cocaine destined for southern African markets; cultivates qat (chat) for local use and regional export
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $504 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.4 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $8 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $2 billion
Currency:
1 birr (Br) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
birr (Br) per US$1 – 5.0000 (fixed rate since 1992); fixed at 2.070 before 1992
Fiscal year:
8 July – 7 July
@Ethiopia, Communications
Highways:
total:
24,127 km
paved:
3,289 km
unpaved:
gravel 6,664 km; improved earth 1,652 km; unimproved earth 12,522 km (1993)
Ports:
none; landlocked
Merchant marine:
12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 62,627 GRT/88,909 DWT, cargo 8, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 2, roll on/roll off cargo 1 Airports:
total:
120
usable:
84
with permanent-surface runways:
10
with runways over 3,659 m:
1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
15
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
83
Telecommunications:
open-wire and radio relay system adequate for government use; open-wire to Sudan and Djibouti; microwave radio relay to Kenya and Djibouti; broadcast stations – 4 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 100,000 TV sets; 9,000,000 radios; satellite earth stations – 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT
@Ethiopia, Defense Forces
Branches:
Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 13,229,078; fit for military service 6,867,582; reach military age (18) annually 596,691 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA% of GDP
@Europa Island
Header
Affiliation:
(possession of France)
@Europa Island, Geography
Location:
Southern Africa, in the southern Mozambique Channel about halfway between Madagascar and Mozambique
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total area:
28 sq km
land area:
28 sq km
comparative area:
about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
22.2 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
claimed by Madagascar
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
NA
Natural resources:
negligible
Land use:
arable land:
NA%
permanent crops:
NA%
meadows and pastures:
NA%
forest and woodland:
NA%
other:
NA% (heavily wooded)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
NA
Note:
wildlife sanctuary
@Europa Island, People
Population:
uninhabited
@Europa Island, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Europa Island
local long form:
none
local short form:
Ile Europa
Digraph:
EU
Type:
French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic; resident in Reunion
Capital:
none; administered by France from Reunion Independence:
none (possession of France)
@Europa Island, Economy
Overview:
no economic activity
@Europa Island, Communications
Ports:
none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
total:
1
usable:
1
with permanent-surface runways:
0
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,439-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
1
Telecommunications:
1 meteorological station
@Europa Island, Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of France
@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Header
Affiliation:
(dependent territory of the UK)
@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Geography
Location:
Southern South America, in the South Atlantic Ocean, off the southern coast of Argentina
Map references:
Antarctic Region, South America
Area:
total area:
12,170 sq km
land area:
12,170 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Connecticut
note:
includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,288 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
100-m depth
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina Climate:
cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but does not accumulate
Terrain:
rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains Natural resources:
fish, wildlife
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
99%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
1%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
NA
Note:
deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season
@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), People
Population:
2,261 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.43% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
NA
Death rate:
NA
Net migration rate:
NA
Infant mortality rate:
NA
Life expectancy at birth:
NA
Total fertility rate:
NA
Nationality:
noun:
Falkland Islander(s)
adjective:
Falkland Island
Ethnic divisions:
British
Religions:
primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, Evangelist Church, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist Languages:
English
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
1,100 (est.)
by occupation:
agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding)
@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Colony of the Falkland Islands
conventional short form:
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) Digraph:
FA
Type:
dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
Stanley
Administrative divisions:
none (dependent territory of the UK) Independence:
none (dependent territory of the UK) National holiday:
Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Constitution:
3 October 1985
Legal system:
English common law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government:
Governor David Everard TATHAM (since August 1992) cabinet:
Executive Council; 3 members elected by the Legislative Council, 2 ex-officio members (chief executive and the financial secretary), and the governor
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Legislative Council:
elections last held 11 October 1989 (next to be held October 1994); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (10 total, 8 elected) number of seats by party NA
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
NA
Member of:
ICFTU
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (dependent territory of the UK) US diplomatic representation:
none (dependent territory of the UK) Flag:
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms in a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising is the major economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whose crew discovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT
@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Economy
Overview:
The economy is based on sheep farming, which directly or indirectly employs most of the work force. A few dairy herds are kept to meet domestic consumption of milk and milk products, and crops grown are primarily those for providing winter fodder. Exports feature shipments of high-grade wool to the UK and the sale of postage stamps and coins. Rich stocks of fish in the surrounding waters are not presently exploited by the islanders. So far, efforts to establish a domestic fishing industry have been unsuccessful. In 1987 the government began selling fishing licenses to foreign trawlers operating within the Falklands exclusive fishing zone. These license fees amount to more than $40 million per year and are a primary source of income for the government. To encourage tourism, the Falkland Islands Development Corporation has built three lodges for visitors attracted by the abundant wildlife and trout fishing.
National product:
GDP $NA
National product real growth rate: NA%
National product per capita:
$NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.4% (1980-87 average)
Unemployment rate:
NA%; labor shortage
Budget:
revenues:
$62.7 million
expenditures:
$42.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90) Exports:
at least $14.7 million
commodities:
wool, hides and skins, and meat
partners:
UK, Netherlands, Japan (1987 est.) Imports:
at least $13.9 million
commodities:
food, clothing, fuels, and machinery partners:
UK, Netherlands Antilles (Curacao), Japan (1987 est.) External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
9,200 kW
production:
17 million kWh
consumption per capita:
8,940 kWh (1992)
Industries:
wool and fish processing
Agriculture:
predominantly sheep farming; small dairy herds; some fodder and vegetable crops
Economic aid:
recipient:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1992-93), $87 million
Currency:
1 Falkland pound (#F) = 100 pence
Exchange rates:
Falkland pound (#F) per US$1 – 0.6699 (January 1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5604 (1990), 0.6099 (1989); note – the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound Fiscal year:
1 April – 31 March
@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Communications
Highways:
total:
510 km
paved:
30 km
unpaved:
gravel 80 km; unimproved earth 400 km Ports:
Stanley
Airports:
total:
5
usable:
5
with permanent-surface runways:
2
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
0
Telecommunications:
government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radio networks provide effective service to almost all points on both islands; 590 telephones; broadcast stations – 2 AM, 3 FM, no TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station with links through London to other countries
@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Defense Forces
Branches:
British Forces Falkland Islands (including Army, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, and Royal Marines), Police Force Note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
@Faroe Islands
Header
Affiliation:
(part of the Danish realm)
@Faroe Islands, Geography
Location:
Nordic States, Northern Europe in the north Atlantic Ocean, located half way between Norway and Iceland
Map references:
Arctic Region
Area:
total area:
1,400 sq km
land area:
1,400 sq km
comparative area:
slightly less than eight times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
764 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
3 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy Terrain:
rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
arable land:
2%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
98%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
NA
Note:
archipelago of 18 inhabited islands and a few uninhabited islets; strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic; precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands
@Faroe Islands, People
Population:
48,427 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.83% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
17.97 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate:
7.56 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate:
-2.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate:
8.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
78.1 years
male:
74.71 years
female:
81.62 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.47 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality:
noun:
Faroese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Faroese
Ethnic divisions:
Scandinavian
Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran
Languages:
Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
17,585
by occupation:
largely engaged in fishing, manufacturing, transportation, and commerce
@Faroe Islands, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Faroe Islands
local long form:
none
local short form:
Foroyar
Digraph:
FO
Type:
part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark
Capital:
Torshavn
Administrative divisions:
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) Independence:
none (part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
National holiday:
Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940) Constitution:
5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
Legal system:
Danish
Suffrage:
20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Bent KLINTE (since NA)
head of government:
Prime Minister Marita PETERSEN (since 18 January 1993) cabinet:
Landsstyri; elected by the local legislature Legislative branch:
unicameral
Faroese Parliament (Lgting):
elections last held 17 November 1990 (next to be held November 1994); results – Social Democratic 27.4%, People’s Party 21.9%, Cooperation Coalition Party 18.9%, Republican Party 14.7%, Home Rule 8.8%, PFIP-CPP 5.9%, other 2.4%; seats – (32 total) two-party coalition 17 (Social Democratic 10, People’s Party 7), Cooperation Coalition Party 6, Republican Party 4, Home Rule 3, PFIP-CPP 2 Danish Parliament:
elections last held on 12 December 1990 (next to be held by December 1994); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (2 total) Social Democratic 1, People’s Party 1; note – the Faroe Islands elects two representatives to the Danish Parliament Judicial branch:
none
Political parties and leaders:
three-party ruling coalition:
Social Democratic Party, Marita PETERSEN; Republican Party, Signer HANSEN; Home Rule Party, Hilmar KASS
opposition:
Cooperation Coalition Party, Pauli ELLEFSEN; Progressive and Fishing Industry Party-Christian People’s Party (PFIP-CPP), leader NA; Progress Party, leader NA; People’s Party, Jogvan SUND-STEIN Member of:
none
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) US diplomatic representation:
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) Flag:
white with a red cross outlined in blue that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the DANNEBROG (Danish flag)
@Faroe Islands, Economy
Overview:
The Faroese, who have long enjoyed the affluent living standards of the Danes and other Scandinavians, now must cope with the decline of the all-important fishing industry and one of the world’s heaviest per capita external debts of nearly $30,000. When the nations of the world extended their fishing zones to 200 nautical miles in the early 1970s, the Faroese no longer could continue their traditional long-distance fishing and subsequently depleted their own nearby fishing areas. The government’s tight controls on fish stocks and its austerity measures have caused a recession, and subsidy cuts will force nationalization in the fishing industry, which has already been plagued with bankruptcies. Copenhagen has threatened to withhold its annual subsidy of $130 million – roughly one-third of the islands’ budget revenues – unless the Faroese make significant efforts to balance their budget. To this extent the Faroe government is expected to continue its tough policies, including introducing a 20% value-added tax (VAT) in 1993, and has agreed to an IMF economic-political stabilization plan. In addition to its annual subsidy, the Danish government has bailed out the second largest Faroe bank to the tune of $140 million since October 1992.
National product:
GDP – purchasing power equivalent – $662 million (1989 est.) National product real growth rate:
3% (1989 est.)
National product per capita:
$14,000 (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (1988)
Unemployment rate:
2.5% (1993 est)
Budget:
revenues:
$425 million
expenditures:
$480 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991 est.) Exports:
$386 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
commodities:
fish and fish products 88%, animal feedstuffs, transport equipment (ships) (1989)
partners:
Denmark 20%, Germany 18.3%, UK 14.2%, France 11.2%, Spain 7.9%, US 4.5%
Imports:
$322 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.)
commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 24.4%, manufactures 24%, food and livestock 19%, fuels 12%, chemicals 6.5% partners:
Denmark 43.8%, Norway 19.8%, Sweden 4.9%, Germany 4.2%, US 1.3% External debt:
$1.3 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
80,000 kW
production:
280 million kWh
consumption per capita:
5,760 kWh (1992)
Industries:
fishing, shipbuilding, handicrafts Agriculture:
accounts for 27% of GDP and employs 27% of labor force; principal crops – potatoes and vegetables; livestock – sheep; annual fish catch about 360,000 metric tons
Economic aid:
recipient:
receives an annual subsidy from Denmark of about $130 million Currency:
1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates:
Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 – 6.771 (January 1994), 6.484 (1993), 6.036 (1992), 6.396 (1991), 6.189 (1990), 7.310 (1989) Fiscal year:
1 April – 31 March
@Faroe Islands, Communications
Highways:
total:
200 km
paved:
NA
unpaved:
NA
Ports:
Torshavn, Tvoroyri
Merchant marine:
7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 19,943 GRT/18,399 DWT, cargo 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 1 note:
a subset of the Danish register
Airports:
total:
1
usable:
1
with permanent-surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
1
Telecommunications:
good international communications; fair domestic facilities; 27,900 telephones; broadcast stations – 1 AM, 3 (10 repeaters) FM, 3 (29 repeaters) TV; 3 coaxial submarine cables
@Faroe Islands, Defense Forces
Branches:
small Police Force, no organized native military forces Note:
defense is the responsibility of Denmark
@Fiji, Geography
Location:
Oceania, Melanesia, 2,500 km north of New Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean
Map references:
Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the World Area:
total area:
18,270 sq km
land area:
18,270 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,129 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines continental shelf:
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation; rectilinear shelf claim added exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation Terrain:
mostly mountains of volcanic origin Natural resources:
timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential Land use:
arable land:
8%
permanent crops:
5%
meadows and pastures:
3%
forest and woodland:
65%
other:
19%
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion
natural hazards:
cyclonic storms can occur from November to January international agreements:
party to – Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection Note:
includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited
@Fiji, People
Population:
764,382 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.05% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
24.18 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate:
6.5 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate:
-7.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate:
18.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
65.14 years
male:
62.88 years
female:
67.51 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.92 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality:
noun:
Fijian(s)
adjective:
Fijian
Ethnic divisions:
Fijian 49%, Indian 46%, European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5%
Religions:
Christian 52% (Methodist 37%, Roman Catholic 9%), Hindu 38%, Muslim 8%, other 2%
note:
Fijians are mainly Christian, Indians are Hindu, and there is a Muslim minority (1986)
Languages:
English (official), Fijian, Hindustani Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1985 est.) total population:
86%
male:
90%
female:
81%
Labor force:
235,000
by occupation:
subsistence agriculture 67%, wage earners 18%, salary earners 15% (1987)
@Fiji, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Fiji
conventional short form:
Fiji
Digraph:
FJ
Type:
republic
note:
military coup leader Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA formally declared Fiji a republic on 6 October 1987
Capital:
Suva
Administrative divisions:
4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western
Independence:
10 October 1970 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 10 October (1970) Constitution:
10 October 1970 (suspended 1 October 1987); a new Constitution was proposed on 23 September 1988 and promulgated on 25 July 1990; the 1990 Constitution is under review; the review will be complete by 1997 Legal system:
based on British system
Suffrage:
none
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA (since 12 January 1994); First Vice President Ratu Sir Josaia TAIVAIQIA (since 12 January 1994); Second Vice President Ratu Inoke TAKIVEIKATA (since 12 January 1994); note – President GANILAU died on 15 December 1993 and Vice President MARA became acting president; MARA was elected president by the Great Council of Chiefs on 12 January 1994
head of government:
Prime Minister Sitiveni RABUKA (since 2 June 1992) Presidential Council:
appointed by the governor general
Great Council of Chiefs:
(highest ranking members of the traditional chiefly system) cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by prime minister from members of Parliament and responsible to Parliament
Legislative branch:
the bicameral Parliament was dissolved following the coup of 14 May 1987
Senate:
nonelective body containing 34 seats, 24 reserved for Melanesians, 9 for Indians and others, 1 for the island of Rotuma House of Representatives:
elections last held 18-25 February 1994 (next to be held NA 1997); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (70 total, with ethnic Fijians allocated 37 seats, ethnic Indians 27 seats, and independents and other 6 seats) number of seats by party SVT 31, NFP 20, FLP 7, FA 5, GVP 4, independents 2, ANC 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Fijian Political Party (SVT – primarily Fijian), leader Maj. Gen. Sitivini RABUKA; National Federation Party (NFP; primarily Indian), Jai Ram REDDY; Christian Fijian Nationalist Party (CFNP), Sakeasi BUTADROKA; Fiji Labor Party (FLP), Mahendra CHAUDHRY; All National Congress (ANC), Apisai TORA; General Voters Party (GVP), Max OLSSON; Fiji Conservative Party (FCP), Isireli VUIBAU; Conservative Party of Fiji (CPF), Jolale ULUDOLE and Viliame SAVU; Fiji Indian Liberal Party, Swami MAHARAJ; Fiji Indian Congress Party, Ishwari BAJPAI; Fiji Independent Labor (Muslim), leader NA; Four Corners Party, David TULVANUAVOU; Fijian Association (FA), Josevata KAMIKAMICA Member of:
ACP, AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, PCA, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNOMUR, UNTAC, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Pita Kewa NACUVA
chancery:
Suite 240, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone:
(202) 337-8320
FAX:
(202) 337-1996
consulate(s):
New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
(vacant); Charge d’Affaires William ROPE embassy:
31 Loftus Street, Suva
mailing address:
P. O. Box 218, Suva
telephone:
[679] 314-466
FAX:
[679] 300-081
Flag:
light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the cross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove
@Fiji, Economy
Overview:
Fiji’s economy is primarily agricultural, with a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports and tourism are the major sources of foreign exchange. Industry contributes 13% to GDP, with sugar processing accounting for one-third of industrial activity. Roughly 250,000 tourists visit each year. Political uncertainty and drought, however, contribute to substantial fluctuations in earnings from tourism and sugar. In 1992, growth was approximately 3%, based on growth in tourism and a lessening of labor-management disputes in the sugar and gold-mining sectors. In 1993, the government’s budgeted growth rate of 3% was not achieved because of a decline in non-sugar agricultural output and damage from Cyclone Kina.
National product:
GDP – purchasing power equivalent – $3 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate:
1% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$4,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.6% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.9% (1991 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$455 million
expenditures:
$546 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.) Exports:
$417 million (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
sugar 40%, clothing, processed fish, gold, lumber partners:
EC 26%, Australia 15%, Pacific Islands 11%, Japan 6% Imports:
$517 million (c.i.f., 1992 est)
commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food, consumer goods, chemicals
partners:
Australia 30%, NZ 17%, Japan 13%, EC 6%, US 6% External debt:
$670 million (1994 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 7.5% (1992 est.); accounts for 13% of GDP Electricity:
capacity:
215,000 kW
production:
420 million kWh
consumption per capita:
560 kWh (1992)
Industries:
sugar, tourism, copra, gold, silver, clothing, lumber, small cottage industries
Agriculture:
accounts for 23% of GDP; principal cash crop is sugarcane; coconuts, cassava, rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; small livestock sector includes cattle, pigs, horses, and goats; fish catch nearly 33,000 tons (1989)
Economic aid:
recipient:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $815 million
Currency:
1 Fijian dollar (F$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
Fijian dollars (F$) per US$1 – 1.5239 (January 1994), 1.5418 (1993), 1.5030 (1992), 1.4756 (1991), 1.4809 (1990), 1.4833 (1989) Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Fiji, Communications
Railroads:
644 km 0.610-meter narrow gauge, belonging to the government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation
Highways:
total:
3,300 km
paved:
1,590 km
unpaved:
gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 1,290 km; unimproved earth 420 km (1984)
Inland waterways:
203 km; 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges Ports:
Labasa, Lautoka, Savusavu, Suva
Merchant marine:
8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 44,911 GRT/54,490 DWT, cargo 1, chemical tanker 2, container 2, oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 Airports:
total:
25
usable:
22
with permanent-surface runways:
3
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
2
Telecommunications:
modern local, interisland, and international (wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone, telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio center; important COMPAC cable link between US-Canada and NZ-Australia; 53,228 telephones (71 telephones per 1,000 persons); broadcast stations – 7 AM, 1 FM, no TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station
@Fiji, Defense Forces
Branches:
Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF; including a naval division, police)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 197,767; fit for military service 109,026; reach military age (18) annually 8,154 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion – $22.4 million, about 2% of GDP (FY91/92)
@Finland, Geography
Location:
Nordic State, Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Russia
Map references:
Arctic Region, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area:
total area:
337,030 sq km
land area:
305,470 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries:
total 2,628 km, Norway 729 km, Sweden 586 km, Russia 1,313 km Coastline:
1,126 km (excludes islands and coastal indentations) Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
6 nm
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone:
12 nm
territorial sea:
4 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
cold temperate; potentially subarctic, but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes
Terrain:
mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills
Natural resources:
timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver Land use:
arable land:
8%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
76%
other:
16%
Irrigated land:
620 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
party to – Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified – Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea Note:
long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain
@Finland, People
Population:
5,068,931 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.34% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
12.41 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate:
9.84 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate:
0.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate:
5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
75.93 years
male:
72.18 years
female:
79.86 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.79 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality:
noun:
Finn(s)
adjective:
Finnish
Ethnic divisions:
Finn, Swede, Lapp, Gypsy, Tatar
Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Greek Orthodox 1%, none 9%, other 1% Languages:
Finnish 93.5% (official), Swedish 6.3% (official), small Lapp- and Russian-speaking minorities
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.) total population:
100%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
2.533 million
by occupation:
public services 30.4%, industry 20.9%, commerce 15.0%, finance, insurance, and business services 10.2%, agriculture and forestry 8.6%, transport and communications 7.7%, construction 7.2%
@Finland, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Finland
conventional short form:
Finland
local long form:
Suomen Tasavalta
local short form:
Suomi
Digraph:
FI
Type:
republic
Capital:
Helsinki
Administrative divisions:
12 provinces (laanit, singular – laani); Ahvenanmaa, Hame, Keski-Suomi, Kuopio, Kymi, Lappi, Mikkeli, Oulu, Pohjois-Karjala, Turku ja Pori, Uusimaa, Vaasa
Independence:
6 December 1917 (from Soviet Union) National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 December (1917) Constitution:
17 July 1919
Legal system:
civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court may request legislation interpreting or modifying laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Martti AHTISAARI (since 1 March 1994); election last held 31 January – 6 February 1994 (next to be held January 2000); results – Martti AHTISAARI 54%, Elisabeth REHN 46% head of government:
Prime Minister Esko AHO (since 26 April 1991); Deputy Prime Minister Pertti SALOLAINEN (since at least January 1992) cabinet:
Council of State (Valtioneuvosto); appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Parliament (Eduskunta):
elections last held 17 March 1991 (next to be held March 1995); results – Center Party 24.8%, Social Democratic Party 22.1%, National Coalition (Conservative) Party 19.3%, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 10.1%, Green League 6.8%, Swedish People’s Party 5.5%, Rural 4.8%, Finnish Christian League 3.1%, Liberal People’s Party 0.8%; seats – (200 total) Center Party 55, Social Democratic Party 48, National Coalition (Conservative) Party 40, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 19, Swedish People’s Party 12, Green League 10, Finnish Christian League 8, Rural 7, Liberal People’s Party 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Korkein Oikeus)
Political parties and leaders:
government coalition:
Center Party, Esko AHO; National Coalition (conservative) Party, Perti SALOLAINEN; Swedish People’s Party, (Johan) Ole NORRBACK; Finnish Christian League, Toimi KANKAANNIEMI
other parties:
Social Democratic Party, Paavo LIPPONEN, acting chairman; Leftist Alliance (Communist) People’s Democratic League and Democratic Alternative, Claes ANDERSON; Green League, Pekka SAURI; Rural Party, Tina MAKELA; Liberal People’s Party, Kalle MAATTA Other political or pressure groups:
Finnish Communist Party-Unity, Yrjo HAKANEN; Constitutional Rightist Party; Finnish Pensioners Party; Communist Workers Party, Timo LAHDENMAKI
Member of:
AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM (cooperating), CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA (associate), FAO, G-9, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Jukka VALTASAARI
chancery:
3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone:
(202) 363-2430
FAX:
(202) 363-8233
consulate(s) general:
Los Angeles and New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador John H. KELLY
embassy:
Itainen Puistotie 14A, SF-00140, Helsinki mailing address:
APO AE 09723
telephone:
[358] (0) 171931
FAX:
[358] (0) 174681
Flag:
white with a blue cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the DANNEBROG (Danish flag)
@Finland, Economy
Overview:
Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free market economy, with per capita output two-thirds of the US figure. Its key economic sector is manufacturing – principally the wood, metals, and engineering industries. Trade is important, with the export of goods representing about 30% of GDP. Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends on imports of raw materials, energy, and some components for manufactured goods. Because of the climate, agricultural development is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products. The economy, which experienced an average of 4.9% annual growth between 1987 and 1989, sank into deep recession in 1991 as growth contracted by 6.5%. The recession – which continued in 1992 with growth contracting by 4.1% – has been caused by economic overheating, depressed foreign markets, and the dismantling of the barter system between Finland and the former Soviet Union under which Soviet oil and gas had been exchanged for Finnish manufactured goods. The Finnish Government has proposed efforts to increase industrial competitiveness and efficiency by an increase in exports to Western markets, cuts in public expenditures, partial privatization of state enterprises, and changes in monetary policy. In June 1991 Helsinki had tied the markka to the European Union’s (EU) European Currency Unit (ECU) to promote stability. Ongoing speculation resulting from a lack of confidence in the government’s policies forced Helsinki to devalue the markka by about 12% in November 1991 and to indefinitely break the link in September 1992. The devaluations have boosted the competitiveness of Finnish exports to the extent the recession bottomed out in 1993 with renewed economic growth expected in 1994. Unemployment probably will remain a serious problem during the next few years, with the majority of Finnish firms facing a weak domestic market and the troubled German and Swedish export markets. Declining revenues, increased transfer payments, and extensive funding to bail out the banking system pushed the central government’s budget deficit to nearly 13% in 1993. Helsinki continues to harmonize its economic policies with those of the EU during Finland’s current EU membership bid. In early 1995, Finland is expected to join the European Union (formerly the European Community), thus broadening European economic unity. National product:
GDP – purchasing power equivalent – $81.1 billion (1993) National product real growth rate:
-2.6% (1993)
National product per capita:
$16,100 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
22% (1993)
Budget:
revenues:
$26.8 billion
expenditures:
$40.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992) Exports:
$23.4 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities:
timber, paper and pulp, ships, machinery, clothing and footwear partners:
EC 53.2% (Germany 15.6%, UK 10.7%), EFTA 19.5% (Sweden 12.8%), US 5.9%, Japan 1.3%, Russia 2.8% (1992)
Imports:
$18 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
commodities:
foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics, fodder grains
partners:
EC 47.2% (Germany 16.9%, UK 8.7%), EFTA 19.0% (Sweden 11.7%), US 6.1%, Japan 5.5%, Russia 7.1% (1992)
External debt:
$30 billion (December 1993)
Industrial production:
growth rate 7.6% (1992 est.)
Electricity:
capacity:
13,500,000 kW
production:
55.3 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
11,050 kWh (1992)
Industries:
metal products, shipbuilding, forestry and wood processing (pulp, paper), copper refining, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing Agriculture:
accounts for 5% of GDP (including forestry); livestock production, especially dairy cattle, predominates; forestry is an important export earner and a secondary occupation for the rural population; main crops – cereals, sugar beets, potatoes; 85% self-sufficient, but short of foodgrains and fodder grains; annual fish catch about 160,000 metric tons
Economic aid:
donor:
ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $2.7 billion Currency:
1 markka (FMk) or Finmark = 100 pennia Exchange rates:
markkaa (FMk) per US$1 – 5.6920 (January 1994), 5.7123 (1993), 4.4794 (1992), 4.0440 (1991), 3.8235 (1990), 4.2912 (1989) Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Finland, Communications
Railroads:
5,924 km total; Finnish State Railways (VR) operate a total of 5,863 km 1,524-mm gauge, of which 480 km are multiple track and 1,710 km are electrified
Highways:
total:
76,631 km (1991)
paved:
bituminous concrete, bituminous treated soil 46,745 km unpaved:
gravel 29,886 km
Inland waterways:
6,675 km total (including Saimaa Canal); 3,700 km suitable for steamers
Pipelines:
natural gas 580 km
Ports:
Helsinki, Oulu, Pori, Rauma, Turku Merchant marine:
93 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,040,905 GRT/1,143,276 DWT, bulk 7, cargo 20, chemical tanker 5, liquefied gas 3, oil tanker 15, passenger 3, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 30, short-sea passenger 9
Airports:
total:
160
usable:
157
with permanent-surface runways:
66
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
26
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
20
Telecommunications:
good service from cable and microwave radio relay network; 3,140,000 telephones; broadcast stations – 6 AM, 105 FM, 235 TV; 1 submarine cable; INTELSAT satellite transmission service via Swedish earth station and a receive-only INTELSAT earth station near Helsinki
@Finland, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Frontier Guard (including Coast Guard) Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,323,322; fit for military service 1,089,300; reach military age (17) annually 33,594 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion – $1.6 billion, about 1.5% of GDP (1993)
@France, Geography
Location:
Western Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Spain and Germany
Map references:
Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area:
total area:
547,030 sq km
land area:
545,630 sq km
comparative area:
slightly more than twice the size of Colorado note:
includes Corsica and the rest of metropolitan France, but excludes the overseas administrative divisions
Land boundaries:
total 2,892.4 km, Andorra 60 km, Belgium 620 km, Germany 451 km, Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Spain 623 km, Switzerland 573 km
Coastline:
3,427 km (mainland 2,783 km, Corsica 644 km) Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
12-24 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island; Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; Seychelles claims Tromelin Island; Suriname claims part of French Guiana; Mexico claims Clipperton Island; territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land); Saint Pierre and Miquelon is focus of maritime boundary dispute between Canada and France
Climate:
generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean
Terrain:
mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east Natural resources:
coal, iron ore, bauxite, fish, timber, zinc, potash Land use:
arable land:
32%
permanent crops:
2%
meadows and pastures:
23%
forest and woodland:
27%
other:
16%
Irrigated land:
11,600 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
party to – Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified – Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Law of the Sea Note:
largest West European nation; occasional warm tropical wind known as mistral
@France, People
Population:
57,840,445 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.47% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
13.13 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate:
9.3 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate:
0.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate:
6.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
78.19 years
male:
74.27 years
female:
82.3 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.8 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality:
noun:
Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women) adjective:
French
Ethnic divisions:
Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese, Basque minorities
Religions:
Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim (North African workers) 1%, unaffiliated 6%
Languages:
French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish) Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.) total population:
99%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
24.17 million
by occupation:
services 61.5%, industry 31.3%, agriculture 7.2% (1987)
@France, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
French Republic
conventional short form:
France
local long form:
Republique Francaise
local short form:
France
Digraph:
FR
Type:
republic
Capital:
Paris
Administrative divisions:
22 regions (regions, singular – region); Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne, Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse, Franche-Comte, Haute-Normandie, Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, Rhone-Alpes note:
the 22 regions are subdivided into 96 departments; see separate entries for the overseas departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion) and the territorial collectivities (Mayotte, Saint Pierre and Miquelon)
Dependent areas:
Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, New Caledonia, Tromelin Island, Wallis and Futuna note:
the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica Independence:
486 (unified by Clovis)
National holiday:
National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789) Constitution:
28 September 1958, amended concerning election of president in 1962, amended to comply with provisions of EC Maastricht Treaty in 1992; amended to tighten immigration laws 1993 Legal system:
civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrative but not legislative acts
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981); election last held 8 May 1988 (next to be held by May 1995); results – Second Ballot Francois MITTERRAND 54%, Jacques CHIRAC 46% head of government:
Prime Minister Edouard BALLADUR (since 29 March 1993) cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the president on the suggestion of the prime minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament (Parlement)
Senate (Senat):
elections last held 27 September 1992 (next to be held September 1995 – nine-year term, elected by thirds every three years); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (321 total; 296 metropolitan France, 13 for overseas departments and territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad) RPR 91, UDF 142 (UREI 51, UC 68, RDE 23), PS 66, PCF 16, independents 2, other 4
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (577 total) RPR 247, UDF 213, PS 67, PCF 24, independents 26 Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court (Cour Constitutionnelle) Political parties and leaders:
Rally for the Republic (RPR), Jacques CHIRAC; Union for French Democracy (UDF, federation of UREI, UC, RDE), Valery Giscard d’ESTAING; Republican Party (PR), Gerard LONGUET; Center for Social Democrats (CDS), Pierre MEHAIGNERIE; Radical (RAD), Yves GALLAND; Socialist Party (PS), Henri EMMAMUELLI, interim party leader; Left Radical Movement (MRG), Jean-Francois HORY; Communist Party (PCF), Robert HUE; National Front (FN), Jean-Marie LE PEN; Union of Republican and Independents (UREI); Centrist Union (UC); Democratic Assembly (RDE); The Greens, Antoine WAECHTER, Jean-Louis VIDAL, Guy CAMBOT; Generation Ecology (GE), Brice LALONDE Other political or pressure groups:
Communist-controlled labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail – CGT) nearly 2.4 million members (claimed); Socialist-leaning labor union (Confederation Francaise Democratique du Travail or CFDT) about 800,000 members (est.); independent labor union (Force Ouvriere) 1 million members (est.); independent white-collar union (Confederation Generale des Cadres) 340,000 members (claimed); National Council of French Employers (Conseil National du Patronat Francais – CNPF or Patronat)
Member of:
ACCT, AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECA (associate), ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, ESCAP, FAO, FZ, GATT, G-5, G-7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUSAL, PCA, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNRWA, UN Security Council, UNTAC, UN Trusteeship Council, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Jacques ANDREANI
chancery:
4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone:
(202) 944-6000
consulate(s) general:
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Pamela C. HARRIMAN
embassy:
2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08 mailing address:
Unit 21551, Paris; APO AE 09777
telephone:
[33] (1) 4296-12-02 or 42-61-80-75 FAX:
[33] (1) 4266-9783
consulate(s) general:
Bordeaux, Marseille, Strasbourg
Flag:
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red; known as the French Tricouleur (Tricolor); the design and colors are similar to a number of other flags, including those of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote d’Ivoire, and Luxembourg; the official flag for all French dependent areas
@France, Economy
Overview:
One of the world’s most developed economies, France has substantial agricultural resources and a highly diversified modern industrial sector. Large tracts of fertile land, the application of modern technology, and subsidies have combined to make it the leading agricultural producer in Western Europe. Largely self-sufficient in agricultural products, France is a major exporter of wheat and dairy products. The industrial sector generates about one-quarter of GDP, and the growing services sector has become crucial to the economy. Although French GDP contracted by 0.7% in 1993, the economy showed signs of life by yearend. GDP growth, however, will remain sluggish in 1994 – perhaps reaching only 1.0%. Rapidly increasing unemployment will still pose a major problem for the government. Paris remains committed to maintaining the franc-deutsche mark parity, which has