male:
64.3 years
female:
69.18 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.08 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality:
noun:
Nauruan(s)
adjective:
Nauruan
Ethnic divisions:
Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%, Chinese 8%, European 8% Religions:
Christian (two-thirds Protestant, one-third Roman Catholic) Languages:
Nauruan (official; a distinct Pacific Island language), English widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial purposes
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
by occupation:
NA
@Nauru, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Nauru
conventional short form:
Nauru
former:
Pleasant Island
Digraph:
NR
Type:
republic
Capital:
no official capital; government offices in Yaren District Administrative divisions:
14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare, Baiti, Boe, Buada, Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren Independence:
31 January 1968 (from UN trusteeship under Australia, New Zealand, and UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 31 January (1968) Constitution:
29 January 1968
Legal system:
own Acts of Parliament and British common law Suffrage:
20 years of age; universal and compulsory Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Bernard DOWIYOGO (since 12 December 1989); election last held 19 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1995); results – Bernard DOWIYOGO elected by Parliament
cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by the president from the parliament Legislative branch:
unicameral
Parliament:
elections last held on 14 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1995); results – percent of vote NA; seats – (18 total) independents 18
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
none
Member of:
AsDB, C (special), ESCAP, ICAO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, ITU, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UPU Diplomatic representation in US:
consulate(s):
Agana (Guam)
US diplomatic representation:
the US Ambassador to Australia is accredited to Nauru Flag:
blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe across the center and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side; the star indicates the country’s location in relation to the Equator (the yellow stripe) and the 12 points symbolize the 12 original tribes of Nauru
@Nauru, Economy
Overview:
Revenues come from the export of phosphates, the reserves of which are expected to be exhausted by the year 2000. Phosphates have given Nauruans one of the highest per capita incomes in the Third World – $10,000 annually. Few other resources exist, so most necessities must be imported, including fresh water from Australia. The rehabilitation of mined land and the replacement of income from phosphates are serious long-term problems. Substantial amounts of phosphate income are invested in trust funds to help cushion the transition. National product:
GNP – exchange rate conversion – $90 million (1989 est.) National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$10,000 (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Unemployment rate:
0%
Budget:
revenues:
$69.7 million
expenditures:
$51.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1986 est.) Exports:
$93 million (f.o.b., 1984)
commodities:
phosphates
partners:
Australia, NZ
Imports:
$73 million (c.i.f., 1984)
commodities:
food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery partners:
Australia, UK, NZ, Japan
External debt:
$33.3 million
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
14,000 kW
production:
50 million kWh
consumption per capita:
5,430 kWh (1990)
Industries:
phosphate mining, financial services, coconut products Agriculture:
coconuts; other agricultural activity negligible; almost completely dependent on imports for food and water Economic aid:
recipient:
Western (non-US) countries (1970-89), $2 million Currency:
1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents Exchange rates:
Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 – 1.4364 (January 1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2834 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989) Fiscal year:
1 July – 30 June
@Nauru, Communications
Railroads:
3.9 km; used to haul phosphates from the center of the island to processing facilities on the southwest coast Highways:
total:
27 km
paved:
21 km
unpaved:
improved earth 6 km
Ports:
Nauru
Merchant marine:
1 bulk ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,426 GRT/5,750 DWT 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:
adequate local and international radio communications provided via Australian facilities; 1,600 telephones; 4,000 radios; broadcast stations – 1 AM, no FM, no TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station
@Nauru, Defense Forces
Branches:
Directorate of the Nauru Police Force note:
no regular armed forces
Defense expenditures:
$NA – no formal defense structure
@Navassa Island
Header
Affiliation:
(territory of the US)
@Navassa Island, Geography
Location:
Caribbean, in the Caribbean Sea, 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay (Cuba), between Cuba, Haiti, and Jamaica Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean Area:
total area:
5.2 sq km
land area:
5.2 sq km
comparative area:
about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
8 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
claimed by Haiti
Climate:
marine, tropical
Terrain:
raised coral and limestone plateau, flat to undulating; ringed by vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 meters high) Natural resources:
guano
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
10%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
90%
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
NA
Note:
strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock, but enough grassland to support goat herds; dense stands of fig-like trees, scattered cactus
@Navassa Island, People
Population:
uninhabited; note – transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the island
@Navassa Island, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Navassa Island
Digraph:
BQ
Type:
unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Coast Guard Capital:
none; administered from Washington, DC
@Navassa Island, Economy
Overview:
no economic activity
@Navassa Island, Communications
Ports:
none; offshore anchorage only
@Navassa Island, Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
@Nepal, Geography
Location:
Southern Asia, in the Himalayas, between China and India Map references:
Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World Area:
total area:
140,800 sq km
land area:
136,800 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than Arkansas
Land boundaries:
total 2,926 km, China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
none
Climate:
varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south
Terrain:
Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north
Natural resources:
quartz, water, timber, hydroelectric potential, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore Land use:
arable land:
17%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
13%
forest and woodland:
33%
other:
37%
Irrigated land:
9,430 sq km (1989)
Environment:
current issues:
the almost total dependence on wood for fuel and cutting down trees to expand agricultural land without replanting has resulted in widespread deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution (use of contaminated water presents human health risks)
natural hazards:
vulnerable to severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons
international agreements:
party to – Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Tropical Timber, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified – Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation Note:
landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains eight of world’s 10 highest peaks
@Nepal, People
Population:
21,041,527 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.44% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
37.63 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate:
13.28 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate:
83.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
52.53 years
male:
52.35 years
female:
52.73 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.24 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality:
noun:
Nepalese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Nepalese
Ethnic divisions:
Newars, Indians, Tibetans, Gurungs, Magars, Tamangs, Bhotias, Rais, Limbus, Sherpas
Religions:
Hindu 90%, Buddhist 5%, Muslim 3%, other 2% (1981) note:
only official Hindu state in world, although no sharp distinction between many Hindu and Buddhist groups
Languages:
Nepali (official), 20 languages divided into numerous dialects Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population:
26%
male:
38%
female:
13%
Labor force:
8.5 million (1991 est.)
by occupation:
agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry 2% note:
severe lack of skilled labor
@Nepal, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Kingdom of Nepal
conventional short form:
Nepal
Digraph:
NP
Type:
parliamentary democracy as of 12 May 1991 Capital:
Kathmandu
Administrative divisions:
14 zones (anchal, singular and plural); Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi, Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti
Independence:
1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah) National holiday:
Birthday of His Majesty the King, 28 December (1945) Constitution:
9 November 1990
Legal system:
based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
head of government:
Prime Minister Girija Prasad KOIRALA (since 29 May 1991) chief of state:
King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev (since 31 January 1972, crowned King 24 February 1985); Heir Apparent Crown Prince DIPENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev, son of the King (born 21 June 1971) cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by the king on recommendation of the prime minister Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament
National Council:
consists of a 60-member body, 50 appointed by House of Representatives and 10 by the King
House of Representatives:
elections last held on 12 May 1991 (next to be held May 1996); results – NCP 38%, CPN/UML 28%, NDP/Chand 6%, UPF 5%, NDP/Thapa 5%, Terai Rights Sadbhavana Party 4%, Rohit 2%, CPN (Democratic) 1%, independents 4%, other 7%; seats – (205 total) NCP 110, CPN/UML 69, UPF 9, Terai Rights Sadbhavana Party 6, NDP/Chand 3, Rohit 2, CPN (Democratic) 2, NDP/Thapa 1, independents 3; note – the new Constitution of 9 November 1990 gave Nepal a multiparty democracy system for the first time in 32 years
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Sarbochha Adalat)
Political parties and leaders:
Nepali Congress Party (NCP), president Krishna Prasad BHATTARAI, Prime Minister Girija Prasad KOIRALA, Supreme Leader Ganesh Man SINGH; The Conservative National Democratic Party (NDP/Thapa), Surya Bahadur THAPA; Communist Party of Nepal/United Marxist and Leninist (CPN/UML), Man Mohan ADHIKARI; Terai Rights Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party, Gajendra Narayan SINGH; United People’s Front (UPF), Lila Mani POKHREL; Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP), Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE; National Democratic Party/Chand (NDP/Chand), Lokendra Bahadur CHAND; Rohit Party, N. M. BIJUKCHHE; Communist Party of Nepal (Democratic-Manandhar), B. B. MANANDHAR Other political or pressure groups:
numerous small, left-leaning student groups in the capital; several small, radical Nepalese antimonarchist groups Member of:
AsDB, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
(vacant)
chancery:
2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone:
(202) 667-4550
consulate(s) general:
New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Sandra VOGELGESANG
embassy:
Pani Pokhari, Kathmandu
mailing address:
use embassy street address
telephone:
[977] (1) 411179 or 412718, 411613, 413890 FAX:
[977] (1) 419963
Flag:
red with a blue border around the unique shape of two overlapping right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylized moon and the larger, lower triangle bears a white 12-pointed sun
@Nepal, Economy
Overview:
Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for over 90% of the population and accounting for 60% of GDP. Industrial activity is limited, mainly involving the processing of agricultural produce (jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain). Production of textiles and carpets has expanded recently and accounted for 85% of foreign exchange earnings in FY94. Apart from agricultural land and forests, exploitable natural resources are mica, hydropower, and tourism. Agricultural production in the late 1980s grew by about 5%, as compared with annual population growth of 2.6%. More than 40% of the population is undernourished. Since May 1991, the government has been encouraging trade and foreign investment, e.g., by eliminating business licenses and registration requirements in order to simplify domestic and foreign investment. The government also has been cutting public expenditures by reducing subsidies, privatizing state industries, and laying off civil servants. Prospects for foreign trade and investment in the 1990s remain poor, however, because of the small size of the economy, its technological backwardness, its remoteness, and susceptibility to natural disaster. Nepal experienced severe flooding in August 1993 which caused at least $50 million in damage to the country’s infrastructure.
National product:
GDP – purchasing power equivalent – $20.5 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate:
2.9% (FY93)
National product per capita:
$1,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9% (September 1993)
Unemployment rate:
5%; underemployment estimated at 25%-40% (1987) Budget:
revenues:
$457 million
expenditures:
$725 million, including capital expenditures of $427 million (FY93 est.)
Exports:
$369 million (f.o.b., FY93) but does not include unrecorded border trade with India
commodities:
carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain partners:
US, Germany, India, UK
Imports:
$789 million (c.i.f., FY93 est.)
commodities:
petroleum products 20%, fertilizer 11%, machinery 10% partners:
India, Singapore, Japan, Germany
External debt:
$2 billion (FY93 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 6% (FY91 est.); accounts for 16% of GDP Electricity:
capacity:
300,000 kW
production:
1 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
50 kWh (1992)
Industries:
small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarette, textile, carpet, cement, and brick production; tourism Agriculture:
accounts for 60% of GDP and 93% of work force; farm products – rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops, milk, buffalo meat; not self-sufficient in food, particularly in drought years Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic and international drug markets; transit point for heroin from Southeast Asia to the West Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $304 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $2.23 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $30 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $286 million
Currency:
1 Nepalese rupee (NR) = 100 paisa
Exchange rates:
Nepalese rupees (NRs) per US$1 – 49.240 (January 1994), 48.607 (1993), 42.742 (1992), 37.255 (1991), 29.370 (1990), 27.189 (1989) Fiscal year:
16 July – 15 July
@Nepal, Communications
Railroads:
52 km (1990), all 0.762-meter narrow gauge; all in Terai close to Indian border; 10 km from Raxaul to Birganj is government owned Highways:
total:
7,080 km
paved:
2,898 km
unpaved:
gravel, crushed stone 1,660 km; seasonally motorable tracks 2,522 km (1990)
Airports:
total:
37
usable:
37
with permanent-surface runways:
5
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
8
Telecommunications:
poor telephone and telegraph service; fair radio communication and broadcast service; international radio communication service is poor; 50,000 telephones (1990); broadcast stations – 88 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station
@Nepal, Defense Forces
Branches:
Royal Nepalese Army, Royal Nepalese Army Air Service, Nepalese Police Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 5,003,661; fit for military service 2,598,507; reach military age (17) annually 241,405 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion – $34 million, 2% of GDP (FY91/92)
@Netherlands,
@Netherlands, Geography
Location:
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany Map references:
Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area:
total area:
37,330 sq km
land area:
33,920 sq km
comparative area:
slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey Land boundaries:
total 1,027 km, Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km Coastline:
451 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
not specified
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters Terrain:
mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast
Natural resources:
natural gas, petroleum, fertile soil Land use:
arable land:
26%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
32%
forest and woodland:
9%
other:
32%
Irrigated land:
5,500 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities; acid rain
natural hazards:
the extensive system of dikes and dams, protects nearly one-half of the total area from being flooded
international agreements:
party to – Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change, 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 – Biodiversity, Law of the Sea Note:
located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, Schelde)
@Netherlands, People
Population:
15,367,928 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.58% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
12.62 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate:
8.5 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate:
1.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate:
6.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
77.75 years
male:
74.69 years
female:
80.97 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.58 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality:
noun:
Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)
adjective:
Dutch
Ethnic divisions:
Dutch 96%, Moroccans, Turks, and other 4% (1988) Religions:
Roman Catholic 34%, Protestant 25%, Muslim 3%, other 2%, unaffiliated 36% (1991)
Languages:
Dutch
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1979 est.) total population:
99%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
6.7 million (1991)
by occupation:
services 50.1%, manufacturing and construction 28.2%, government 15.9%, agriculture 5.8% (1986)
@Netherlands, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Kingdom of the Netherlands
conventional short form:
Netherlands
local long form:
Koninkrijk de Nederlanden
local short form:
Nederland
Digraph:
NL
Type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government Administrative divisions:
12 provinces (provincien, singular – provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland Dependent areas:
Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
Independence:
1579 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Queen’s Day, 30 April (1938)
Constitution:
17 February 1983
Legal system:
civil law system incorporating French penal theory; judicial review in the Supreme Court of legislation of lower order rather than Acts of the States General; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER, Prince of Orange, son of Queen Beatrix (born 27 April 1967)
head of government:
Prime Minister RUDOLPHUS (Ruud) F. M. LUBBERS (since 4 November 1982); Vice Prime Minister Willem (Wim) KOK (since 2 November 1989) – resigned after 3 May 1994 parliamentary elections; no new government has been formed to date
cabinet:
Ministry of General Affairs; appointed by the prime minister Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature (Staten Generaal) First Chamber (Eerste Kamer):
elections last held on 9 June l991 (next to be held 9 June 1995); results – elected by the country’s 12 provincial councils; seats – (75 total) percent of seats by party NA
Second Chamber (Tweede Kamer):
elections last held on 3 May 1994 (next to be held in May 1999); results – PvdA 24.3%, CDA 22.3%, VVD 20.4%, D’66 16.5%, other 16.5%; seats – (150 total) PvdA 37, CDA 34, VVD 31, D’66 24, other 24 Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (De Hoge Raad)
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), Elco BRINKMAN; Labor (PvdA), Wim KOK; Liberal (VVD), Frits BOLKESTEIN; Democrats ’66 (D’66), Hans van MIERLO; a host of minor parties
Other political or pressure groups: large multinational firms; Federation of Netherlands Trade Union Movement (comprising Socialist and Catholic trade unions) and a Protestant trade union; Federation of Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations; the nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises; and Interchurch Peace Council (IKV) Member of:
AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, ESCAP, FAO, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOMUR, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Adriaan Pieter Roetert JACOBOVITS DE SZEGED chancery:
4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone:
(202) 244-5300
FAX:
(202) 362-3430
consulate(s) general:
Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Manila (Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands), New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Kirk Terry DORNBUSH
embassy:
Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ The Hague mailing address:
PSC 71, Box 1000, the Hague; APO AE 09715 telephone:
[31] (70) 310-9209
FAX:
[31] (70) 361-4688
consulate(s) general:
Amsterdam
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer
@Netherlands, Economy
Overview:
This highly developed and affluent economy is based on private enterprise. The government makes its presence felt, however, through many regulations, permit requirements, and welfare programs affecting most aspects of economic activity. The trade and financial services sector contributes over 50% of GDP. Industrial activity provides about 25% of GDP and is led by the food-processing, oil-refining, and metalworking industries. The highly mechanized agricultural sector employs only 5% of the labor force, but provides large surpluses for export and the domestic food-processing industry. Rising unemployment and a sizable budget deficit are currently the most serious economic problems. Many of the economic issues of the 1990s will reflect the course of European economic integration. National product:
GDP – purchasing power equivalent – $262.8 billion (1993) National product real growth rate:
-0.2% (1993)
National product per capita:
$17,200 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.5% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
9.1% (March 1994)
Budget:
revenues:
$109.9 billion
expenditures:
$122.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.) Exports:
$139 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
metal products, chemicals, processed food and tobacco, agricultural products
partners:
EC 77% (Germany 27%, Belgium-Luxembourg 15%, UK 10%), US 4% (1991) Imports:
$130.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
raw materials and semifinished products, consumer goods, transportation equipment, crude oil, food products partners:
EC 64% (Germany 26%, Belgium-Luxembourg 14%, UK 8%), US 8% (1991) External debt:
$0
Industrial production:
growth rate -1.5% (1993 est.); accounts for 25% of GDP Electricity:
capacity:
22,216,000 kW
production:
63.5 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
4,200 kWh (1992)
Industries:
agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, fishing, construction, microelectronics
Agriculture:
accounts for 4.6% of GDP; animal production predominates; crops – grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; shortages of grain, fats, and oils
Illicit drugs:
gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe; European producer of illicit amphetamines and other synthetic drugs Economic aid:
donor:
ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $19.4 billion Currency:
1 Netherlands guilder, gulden, or florin (f.) = 100 cents Exchange rates:
Netherlands guilders, gulden, or florins (f.) per US$1 – 1.9508 (January 1994), 1.8573 (1993), 1.7585 (1992), 1.8697 (1991), 1.8209 (1990), 2.1207 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Netherlands, Communications
Railroads:
2,828 km 1.435-meter standard gauge operated by Netherlands Railways (NS) (includes 1,957 km electrified and 1,800 km double track) Highways:
total:
104,590 km
paved:
92,525 km (including 2,185 km of expressway) unpaved:
gravel, crushed stone 12,065 km (1990) Inland waterways:
6,340 km, of which 35% is usable by craft of 1,000 metric ton capacity or larger
Pipelines:
crude oil 418 km; petroleum products 965 km; natural gas 10,230 km Ports:
coastal – Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Den Helder, Dordrecht, Eemshaven, Ijmuiden, Rotterdam, Scheveningen, Terneuzen, Vlissingen; inland – 29 ports
Merchant marine:
324 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,507,112 GRT/3,208,838 DWT, bulk 3, cargo 180, chemical tanker 21, combination bulk 3, container 32, liquefied gas 12, livestock carrier 1, multifunction large-load carrier 4, oil tanker 27, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 20, roll-on/roll-off cargo 15, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 2 note:
many Dutch-owned ships are also registered on the captive Netherlands Antilles register
Airports:
total:
28
usable:
28
with permanent-surface runways:
19
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
10
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
7
Telecommunications:
highly developed, well maintained, and integrated; extensive redundant system of multiconductor cables, supplemented by microwave radio relay microwave links; 9,418,000 telephones; broadcast stations – 3 (3 relays) AM, 12 (39 repeaters) FM, 8 (7 repeaters) TV; 5 submarine cables; 1 communication satellite earth station operating in INTELSAT (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean antenna) and EUTELSAT systems; nationwide mobile phone system
@Netherlands, Defense Forces
Branches:
Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (including Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Constabulary
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 4,180,745; fit for military service 3,667,212; reach military age (20) annually 98,479 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion – $6.8 billion, 2.3% of GDP (1993)
@Netherlands Antilles
Header
Affiliation:
(part of the Dutch realm)
@Netherlands Antilles, Geography
Location:
Caribbean, two island groups – Curacao and Bonaire in the southern Caribbean Sea are about 70 km north of Venezuela near Aruba and the rest of the country is about 800 km to the northeast about one-third of the way between Antigua and Barbuda and Puerto Rico Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean Area:
total area:
960 sq km
land area:
960 sq km
comparative area:
slightly less than 5.5 times the size of Washington, DC note:
includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin) Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
364 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone:
12 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds Terrain:
generally hilly, volcanic interiors Natural resources:
phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only) Land use:
arable land:
8%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
92%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean hurricane belt, so rarely threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October
international agreements:
party to – Whaling
@Netherlands Antilles, People
Population:
185,790 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.47% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
16.62 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate:
5.5 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate:
-6.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate:
9.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
76.32 years
male:
74.1 years
female:
78.66 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.96 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality:
noun:
Netherlands Antillean(s)
adjective:
Netherlands Antillean
Ethnic divisions:
mixed African 85%, Carib Indian, European, Latin, Oriental Religions:
Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Seventh-Day Adventist Languages:
Dutch (official), Papiamento a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect predominates, English widely spoken, Spanish Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1981) total population:
94%
male:
94%
female:
93%
Labor force:
89,000
by occupation:
government 65%, industry and commerce 28% (1983)
@Netherlands Antilles, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Netherlands Antilles
local long form:
none
local short form:
Nederlandse Antillen
Digraph:
NA
Type:
part of the Dutch realm; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954
Capital:
Willemstad
Administrative divisions:
none (part of the Dutch realm)
Independence:
none (part of the Dutch realm)
National holiday:
Queen’s Day, 30 April (1938)
Constitution:
29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the Netherlands, as amended Legal system:
based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Jaime SALEH (since NA October 1989) head of government:
Prime Minister Miguel POURIER (since 25 February 1994) cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed with the advice and approval of the unicameral legislature
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Staten:
elections last held on 25 February 1994 (next to be held March 1998); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (23 total) PAR 8, PNP 3, SPA 2, PDB 2, UPB 1, MAN 2, DP 1, WIPM 1, DP-St. E 1, DP-St. M 1, Nos Patria 1
note:
the government of Miguel POURIER is a coalition of several parties Judicial branch:
Joint High Court of Justice
Political parties and leaders:
political parties are indigenous to each island Bonaire:
Patriotic Union of Bonaire (UPB), Rudy ELLIS; Democratic Party of Bonaire (PDB), Franklin CRESTIAN
Curacao:
Antillean Restructuring Party (PAR), Miguel POURIER; National People’s Party (PNP), Maria LIBERIA-PETERS; New Antilles Movement (MAN), Domenico Felip Don MARTINA; Workers’ Liberation Front (FOL), Wilson (Papa) GODETT; Socialist Independent (SI), George HUECK and Nelson MONTE; Democratic Party of Curacao (DP), Augustin DIAZ; Nos Patria, Chin BEHILIA
Saba:
Windward Islands People’s Movement (WIPM Saba), Will JOHNSON; Saba Democratic Labor Movement, Vernon HASSELL; Saba Unity Party, Carmen SIMMONDS
Sint Eustatius:
Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius (DP-St.E), K. Van PUTTEN; Windward Islands People’s Movement (WIPM); St. Eustatius Alliance (SEA), Ralph BERKEL
Sint Maarten:
Democratic Party of Sint Maarten (DP-St.M), Claude WATHEY; Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten (SPA), Vance JAMES Member of:
CARICOM (observer), ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, INTERPOL, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WMO, WTO (associate) Diplomatic representation in US:
none (self-governing part of the Netherlands) US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Consul General Bernard J. WOERZ
consulate general:
Saint Anna Boulevard 19, Willemstad, Curacao mailing address:
P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao telephone:
[599] (9) 613066
FAX:
[599] (9) 616489
Flag:
white with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed on a vertical red band also centered; five white five-pointed stars are arranged in an oval pattern in the center of the blue band; the five stars represent the five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten
@Netherlands Antilles, Economy
Overview:
Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the mainstays of the economy. The islands enjoy a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure as compared with other countries in the region. Unlike many Latin American countries, the Netherlands Antilles has avoided large international debt. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with Venezuela and the US being the major suppliers.
National product:
GDP – exchange rate conversion – $1.8 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate:
2% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$9,700 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
16.4% (1991 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$209 million
expenditures:
$232 million, including capital expenditures of $8 million (1992 est.) Exports:
$240 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities:
petroleum products 98%
partners:
US 39%, Brazil 9%, Colombia 6%
Imports:
$1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities:
crude petroleum 64%, food, manufactures partners:
Venezuela 26%, US 18%, Colombia 6%, Netherlands 6%, Japan 5% External debt:
$701 million (December 1987)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
125,000 kW
production:
365 million kWh
consumption per capita:
1,980 kWh (1992)
Industries:
tourism (Curacao and Sint Maarten), petroleum refining (Curacao), petroleum transshipment facilities (Curacao and Bonaire), light manufacturing (Curacao)
Agriculture:
hampered by poor soils and scarcity of water; chief products – aloes, sorghum, peanuts, fresh vegetables, tropical fruit; not self-sufficient in food
Illicit drugs:
money-laundering center; transshipment point for South American cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and Europe Economic aid:
recipient:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $513 million
Currency:
1 Netherlands Antillean guilder, gulden, or florin (NAf.) = 100 cents Exchange rates:
Netherlands Antillean guilders, gulden, or florins (NAf.) per US$1 – 1.79 (fixed rate since 1989; 1.80 fixed rate 1971-88) Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Netherlands Antilles, Communications
Highways:
total:
950 km
paved:
300 km
unpaved:
gravel, earth 650 km
Ports:
Willemstad, Philipsburg, Kralendijk Merchant marine:
113 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 966,797 GRT/1,251,871 DWT, bulk 1, cargo 43, chemical tanker 7, combination ore/oil 1, container 3, liquefied gas 5, multifunction large-load carrier 18, oil tanker 1, passenger 4, refrigerated cargo 23, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7 note:
all but a few are foreign owned, mostly in the Netherlands Airports:
total:
5
usable:
4
with permanent-surface runways:
4
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
3
Telecommunications:
generally adequate facilities; extensive interisland microwave radio relay links; broadcast stations – 9 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV; 2 submarine cables; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
@Netherlands Antilles, Defense Forces
Branches:
Royal Netherlands Navy, Marine Corps, Royal Netherlands Air Force, National Guard, Police Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 48,866; fit for military service 27,421; reach military age (20) annually 1,595 (1994 est.) Note:
defense is responsibility of the Netherlands
@New Caledonia
Header
Affiliation:
(overseas territory of France)
@New Caledonia, Geography
Location:
Oceania, Melanesia, in the South Pacific Ocean, 1,750 km east of Australia
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total area:
19,060 sq km
land area:
18,760 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
2,254 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid Terrain:
coastal plains with interior mountains Natural resources:
nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
14%
forest and woodland:
51%
other:
35%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
typhoons most frequent from November to March international agreements:
NA
@New Caledonia, People
Population:
181,309 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.79% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
22.39 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate:
4.96 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate:
0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate:
15.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
73.62 years
male:
70.32 years
female:
77.09 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.62 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality:
noun:
New Caledonian(s)
adjective:
New Caledonian
Ethnic divisions:
Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3% Religions:
Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10% Languages:
French, 28 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1976) total population:
91%
male:
91%
female:
90%
Labor force:
50,469 foreign workers for plantations and mines from Wallis and Futuna, Vanuatu, and French Polynesia (1980 est.) by occupation:
NA
@New Caledonia, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies conventional short form:
New Caledonia
local long form:
Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances local short form:
Nouvelle-Caledonie
Digraph:
NC
Type:
overseas territory of France since 1956 Capital:
Noumea
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 provinces named Iles Loyaute, Nord, and Sud Independence:
none (overseas territory of France; a referendum on independence will be held in 1998)
National holiday:
National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789) Constitution:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution) Legal system:
the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands; formerly under French law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981) head of government:
High Commissioner and President of the Council of Government Alain CHRISTNACHT (since 15 January 1991; appointed by the French Ministry of the Interior); President of the Territorial Congress Simon LOUECKHOTE (since 26 June 1989)
cabinet:
Consultative Committee
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Territorial Assembly:
elections last held 11 June 1989 (next to be held 1993); results – RPCR 44.5%, FLNKS 28.5%, FN 7%, CD 5%, UO 4%, other 11%; seats – (54 total) RPCR 27, FLNKS 19, FN 3, other 5; note – election boycotted by FULK
French Senate:
elections last held 27 September 1992 (next to be held September 2001); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (1 total) RPCR 1 French National Assembly:
elections last held 21 March 1993 (next to be held 21 and 28 March 1998); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (2 total) RPCR 2 Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
white-dominated Rassemblement pour la Caledonie dans la Republique (RPCR), conservative, Jacques LAFLEUR – affiliated to France’s Rassemblement pour la Republique (RPR); Melanesian proindependence Kanaka Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), Paul NEAOUTYINE; Melanesian moderate Kanak Socialist Liberation (LKS), Nidoish NAISSELINE; National Front (FN), extreme right, Guy GEORGE; Caledonie Demain (CD), right-wing, Bernard MARANT; Union Oceanienne (UO), conservative, Michel HEMA; Front Uni de Liberation Kanak (FULK), proindependence, Clarence UREGEI; Union Caledonian (UC), Francois BURCK
Member of:
ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WFTU, WMO Diplomatic representation in US:
none (overseas territory of France) US diplomatic representation:
none (overseas territory of France) Flag:
the flag of France is used
@New Caledonia, Economy
Overview:
New Caledonia has more than 25% of the world’s known nickel resources. In recent years the economy has suffered because of depressed international demand for nickel, the principal source of export earnings. Only a negligible amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 25% of imports. National product:
GNP – exchange rate conversion – $1 billion (1991 est.) National product real growth rate:
2.4% (1988)
National product per capita:
$6,000 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.4% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
16% (1989)
Budget:
revenues:
$224 million
expenditures:
$211 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1985 est.) Exports:
$671 million (f.o.b., 1989)
commodities:
nickel metal 87%, nickel ore
partners:
France 32%, Japan 23.5%, US 3.6%
Imports:
$764 million (c.i.f., 1989)
commodities:
foods, fuels, minerals, machines, electrical equipment partners:
France 44.0%, US 10%, Australia 9% External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
400,000 kW
production:
2.2 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
12,790 kWh (1990)
Industries:
nickel mining and smelting
Agriculture:
large areas devoted to cattle grazing; coffee, corn, wheat, vegetables; 60% self-sufficient in beef Illicit drugs:
illicit cannabis cultivation is becoming a principal source of income for some families
Economic aid:
recipient:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $4.185 billion
Currency:
1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
Comptoirs Francais duPacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 – 107.63 (January 1994), 102.96 (1993), 96.24 (1992), 102.57 (1991), 99.00 (1990), 115.99 (1989); note – linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@New Caledonia, Communications
Highways:
total:
6,340 km
paved:
634 km
unpaved:
5,706 km (1987)
Ports:
Noumea, Nepoui, Poro, Thio
Airports:
total:
30
usable:
28
with permanent-surface runways:
4
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
1
Telecommunications:
32,578 telephones (1987); broadcast stations – 5 AM, 3 FM, 7 TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station
@New Caledonia, Defense Forces
Branches:
Gendarmerie, Police Force
Note:
defense is the responsibility of France
@New Zealand, Geography
Location:
Southwestern Oceania, southeast of Australia in the South Pacific Ocean
Map references:
Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the World Area:
total area:
268,680 sq km
land area:
268,670 sq km
comparative area:
about the size of Colorado
note:
includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
15,134 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
200 nm or the edge of continental margin exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency) Climate:
temperate with sharp regional contrasts Terrain:
predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains Natural resources:
natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone Land use:
arable land:
2%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
53%
forest and woodland:
38%
other:
7%
Irrigated land:
2,800 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by species introduced from outside
natural hazards:
earthquakes are common, though usually not severe international agreements:
party to – Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified – Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation Note:
about 80% of the population lives in cities
@New Zealand, People
Population:
3,388,737 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.57% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
15.52 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate:
8.06 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate:
-1.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate:
8.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
76.38 years
male:
72.76 years
female:
80.18 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.03 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality:
noun:
New Zealander(s)
adjective:
New Zealand
Ethnic divisions:
European 88%, Maori 8.9%, Pacific Islander 2.9%, other 0.2% Religions:
Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 9% (1986) Languages:
English (official), Maori
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.) total population:
99%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
1,603,500 (June 1991)
by occupation:
services 67.4%, manufacturing 19.8%, primary production 9.3% (1987)
@New Zealand, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
New Zealand
Abbreviation:
NZ
Digraph:
NZ
Type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Wellington
Administrative divisions:
93 counties, 9 districts*, and 3 town districts**; Akaroa, Amuri, Ashburton, Bay of Islands, Bruce, Buller, Chatham Islands, Cheviot, Clifton, Clutha, Cook, Dannevirke, Egmont, Eketahuna, Ellesmere, Eltham, Eyre, Featherston, Franklin, Golden Bay, Great Barrier Island, Grey, Hauraki Plains, Hawera*, Hawke’s Bay, Heathcote, Hikurangi**, Hobson, Hokianga, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt, Inangahua, Inglewood, Kaikoura, Kairanga, Kiwitea, Lake, Mackenzie, Malvern, Manaia**, Manawatu, Mangonui, Maniototo, Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata, Mount Herbert, Ohinemuri, Opotiki, Oroua, Otamatea, Otorohanga*, Oxford, Pahiatua, Paparua, Patea, Piako, Pohangina, Raglan, Rangiora*, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua*, Runanga, Saint Kilda, Silverpeaks, Southland, Stewart Island, Stratford, Strathallan, Taranaki, Taumarunui, Taupo, Tauranga, Thames-Coromandel*, Tuapeka, Vincent, Waiapu, Waiheke, Waihemo, Waikato, Waikohu, Waimairi, Waimarino, Waimate, Waimate West, Waimea, Waipa, Waipawa*, Waipukurau*, Wairarapa South, Wairewa, Wairoa, Waitaki, Waitomo*, Waitotara, Wallace, Wanganui, Waverley**, Westland, Whakatane*, Whangarei, Whangaroa, Woodville
Dependent areas:
Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
Independence:
26 September 1907 (from UK)
National holiday:
Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty)
Constitution:
no formal, written constitution; consists of various documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand Parliaments; Constitution Act 1986 was to have come into force 1 January 1987, but has not been enacted
Legal system:
based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts for Maoris; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dame Catherine TIZARD (since 12 December 1990) head of government:
Prime Minister James BOLGER (since 29 October 1990); Deputy Prime Minister Donald McKINNON (since 2 November 1990) cabinet:
Executive Council; appointed by the governor general on recommendation of the prime minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral
House of Representatives:
(commonly called Parliament) elections last held on 6 November 1993 (next to be held NA November 1996); results – NP 35.2%, NZLP 34.7%, Alliance 18.3%, New Zealand First 8.3%; seats – (99 total) NP 50, NZLP 45, Alliance 2, New Zealand First Party 2 Judicial branch:
High Court, Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
National Party (NP; government), James BOLGER; New Zealand Labor Party (NZLP; opposition), Helen CLARK; Alliance, Jim ANDERTON; Democratic Party, Dick RYAN; New Zealand Liberal Party, Hanmish MACINTYRE and Gilbert MYLES; Green Party, no official leader; Mana Motuhake, Martin RATA; Socialist Unity Party (SUP; pro-Soviet), Kenneth DOUGLAS; New Zealand First, Winston PETERS
note:
the New Labor, Democratic, and Mana Motuhake parties formed a coalition called the Alliance Party, Jim ANDERTON, president, in September 1991; the Green Party joined the coalition in May 1992 Member of:
ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, C, CCC, CP, COCOM (cooperating), EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NAM (guest), OECD, PCA, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Lionel John WOOD
chancery:
37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone:
(202) 328-4800
consulate(s) general:
Los Angeles
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Josiah BEEMAN
embassy:
29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington mailing address:
P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, FPO AP 96531-1001 telephone:
[64] (4) 472-2068
FAX:
[64] (4) 472-3537
consulate(s) general:
Auckland
Flag:
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation
@New Zealand, Economy
Overview:
Since 1984 the government has been reorienting an agrarian economy dependent on a guaranteed British market to a more industrialized, open free market economy that can compete on the global scene. The government has hoped that dynamic growth would boost real incomes, broaden and deepen the technological capabilities of the industrial sector, reduce inflationary pressures, and permit the expansion of welfare benefits. The results have been mixed: inflation is down from double-digit levels, but growth was sluggish in 1988-91. In 1992-93, growth picked up to 3% annually, a sign that the new economic approach is beginning to pay off. Business confidence has strengthened, and the inflation remains among the lowest in the industrial world. Unemployment, down from 11% in 1991, remains unacceptably high at 9%. National product:
GDP – purchasing power equivalent – $53 billion (1993) National product real growth rate:
3% (1993)
National product per capita:
$15,700 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (1993)
Unemployment rate:
9.1% (September 1993)
Budget:
revenues:
$NA
expenditures:
$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA note:
deficit $345 million (October 1993) Exports:
$10.3 billion (FY93)
commodities:
wool, lamb, mutton, beef, fruit, fish, cheese, manufactures, chemicals, forestry products
partners:
Australia 18.9%, Japan 15.1%, US 12.5%, South Korea 4.1% Imports:
$9.4 billion (FY93)
commodities:
petroleum, consumer goods, motor vehicles, industrial equipment partners:
Australia 21.1%, US 19.6%, Japan 14.7%, UK 6.3%, Germany 4.2% External debt:
$35.3 billion (March 1993)
Industrial production:
growth rate 1.9% (1990); accounts for about 20% of GDP Electricity:
capacity:
8,000,000 kW
production:
31 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
9,250 kWh (1992)
Industries:
food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining Agriculture:
accounts for about 9% of GDP and about 10% of the work force; livestock predominates – wool, meat, dairy products all export earners; crops – wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; surplus producer of farm products; fish catch reached a record 503,000 metric tons in 1988
Economic aid:
donor:
ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $526 million Currency:
1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 – 1.7771 (January 1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992), 1.7265 (1991), 1.6750 (1990), 1.6711 (1989) Fiscal year:
1 July – 30 June
@New Zealand, Communications
Railroads:
4,716 km total; all 1.067-meter gauge; 274 km double track; 113 km electrified; over 99% government owned
Highways:
total:
92,648 km
paved:
49,547 km
unpaved:
gravel, crushed stone 43,101 km
Inland waterways:
1,609 km; of little importance to transportation Pipelines:
petroleum products 160 km; natural gas 1,000 km; condensate (liquified petroleum gas – LPG) 150 km
Ports:
Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington, Tauranga Merchant marine:
18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 165,514 GRT/218,699 DWT, bulk 6, cargo 2, liquefied gas 1, oil tanker 3, railcar carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 5
Airports:
total:
108
usable:
108
with permanent-surface runways:
39
with runways over 3,659 m:
1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
39
Telecommunications:
excellent international and domestic systems; 2,110,000 telephones; broadcast stations – 64 AM, 2 FM, 14 TV; submarine cables extend to Australia and Fiji; 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
@New Zealand, Defense Forces
Branches:
New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 880,576; fit for military service 741,629; reach military age (20) annually 28,242 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion – $792 million, 2% of GDP (FY90/91)
@Nicaragua, Geography
Location:
Middle America, between Costa Rica and Honduras Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean, South America Area:
total area:
129,494 sq km
land area:
120,254 sq km
comparative area: