Administrative divisions:
50 states and 1 district*; Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia*, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming Dependent areas:
American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Island
note:
since 18 July 1947, the US has administered the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, but recently entered into a new political relationship with three of the four political units; the Northern Mariana Islands is a Commonwealth in political union with the US (effective 3 November 1986); Palau concluded a Compact of Free Association with the US that was approved by the US Congress but to date the Compact process has not been completed in Palau, which continues to be administered by the US as the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; the Federated States of Micronesia signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 3 November 1986); the Republic of the Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 21 October 1986) Independence:
4 July 1776 (from England)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
Constitution:
17 September 1787, effective 4 March 1789 Legal system:
based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993); election last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 5 November 1996); results – William Jefferson CLINTON (Democratic Party) 43.2%, George BUSH (Republican Party) 37.7%, Ross PEROT (Independent) 19.0%, other 0.1% cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by the president with Senate approval Legislative branch:
bicameral Congress
Senate:
elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 8 November 1994); results – Democratic Party 53%, Republican Party 47%, other NEGL%; seats – (100 total) Democratic Party 57, Republican Party 43 House of Representatives:
elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 8 November 1994); results – Democratic Party 52%, Republican Party 46%, other 2%; seats – (435 total) Democratic Party 258, Republican Party 176, Independent 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Republican Party, Haley BARBOUR, national committee chairman; Jeanie AUSTIN, co-chairman; Democratic Party, David C. WILHELM, national committee chairman; several other groups or parties of minor political significance
Member of:
AfDB, AG (observer), ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, Australian Group, BIS, CCC, COCOM, CP, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, FAO, ESCAP, G-2, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, GATT, 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, OECD, PCA, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOSOM, UNRWA, UN Security Council, UNTAC, UN Trusteeship Council, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Flag:
thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small white five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; known as Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
@United States, Economy
Overview:
The US has the most powerful, diverse, and technologically advanced economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $24,700, the largest among major industrial nations. The economy is market oriented with most decisions made by private individuals and business firms and with government purchases of goods and services made predominantly in the marketplace. In 1989 the economy enjoyed its seventh successive year of substantial growth, the longest in peacetime history. The expansion featured moderation in wage and consumer price increases and a steady reduction in unemployment to 5.2% of the labor force. In 1990, however, growth slowed to 1% because of a combination of factors, such as the worldwide increase in interest rates, Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in August, the subsequent spurt in oil prices, and a general decline in business and consumer confidence. In 1991 output fell by 1%, unemployment grew, and signs of recovery proved premature. Growth picked up to 2.6% in 1992 and to 3.0% in 1993. Unemployment, however, declined only gradually, the increase in GDP being mainly attributable to gains in output per worker. Ongoing economic problems for the remainder of the 1990s include inadequate investment in economic infrastructure, rapidly rising medical costs, and sizable budget and trade deficits.
National product:
GDP – purchasing power equivalent – $6.379 trillion (1993) National product real growth rate:
3% (1993)
National product per capita:
$24,700 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (1993)
Unemployment rate:
6% (May 1994)
Budget:
revenues:
$1.1535 trillion
expenditures:
$1.4082 trillion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.) Exports:
$449 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
capital goods, automobiles, industrial supplies and raw materials, consumer goods, agricultural products
partners:
Western Europe 24.3%, Canada 22.1%, Japan 10.5% (1993 est.) Imports:
$582 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
commodities:
crude oil and refined petroleum products, machinery, automobiles, consumer goods, industrial raw materials, food and beverages partners:
Canada, 19.3%, Western Europe 18.1%, Japan 18.1% (1993 est.) External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate 4.6% (1993); accounts for 23% of GDP (1991) Electricity:
capacity:
780,000,000 kW
production:
3.23 trillion kWh
consumption per capita:
12,690 kWh (1992)
Industries:
leading industrial power in the world, highly diversified and technologically advanced; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining
Agriculture:
accounts for 2% of GDP and 2.8% of labor force; favorable climate and soils support a wide variety of crops and livestock production; world’s second largest producer and number one exporter of grain; surplus food producer; fish catch of 4.4 million metric tons (1990) Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis for domestic consumption with 1987 production estimated at 3,500 metric tons or about 25% of the available marijuana; ongoing eradication program aimed at small plots and greenhouses has not reduced production Economic aid:
donor:
commitments, including ODA and OOF, (FY80-89), $115.7 billion Currency:
1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents Exchange rates:
British pounds:
(#) per US$ – 0.6699 (January 1994), 0.6033 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989) Canadian dollars:
(Can$) per US$ – 1.3174 (January 1994), 1.2901 (1993), 1.2087 (1992), 1.1457 (1991), 1.1668 (1990), 1.1840 (1989) French francs:
(F) per US$ – 5.9205 (January 1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989) Italian lire:
(Lit) per US$ – 1,700.2 (January 1994), 1,573.7 (1993), 1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6 (1991), 1,198.1 (1990), 1.372.1 (1989) Japanese yen:
(Y) per US$ – 111.51 (January 1994), 111.20 (1993), 126.65 (1992), 134.71 (1991), 144.79 (1990), 137.96 (1989) German deutsche marks:
(DM) per US$ – 1.7431 (January 1994), 1.6533 (1993), 1.5617 (1992), 1.6595 (1991), 1.6157 (1990), 1.8800 (1989) Fiscal year:
1 October – 30 September
@United States, Communications
Railroads:
240,000 km of mainline routes, all standard 1.435 meter track, no government ownership (1989)
Highways:
total:
6,243,163 km
paved:
3,633,520 km (including 84,865 km of expressways) unpaved:
2,609,643 km (1990)
Inland waterways:
41,009 km of navigable inland channels, exclusive of the Great Lakes (est.)
Pipelines:
petroleum 276,000 km; natural gas 331,000 km (1991) Ports:
Anchorage, Baltimore, Beaumont, Boston, Charleston, Chicago, Cleveland, Duluth, Freeport, Galveston, Hampton Roads, Honolulu, Houston, Jacksonville, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Mobile, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Portland (Oregon), Richmond (California), San Francisco, Savannah, Seattle, Tampa, Wilmington Merchant marine:
385 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 12,567,000 GRT/19,511,000 DWT, bulk 23, cargo 36, intermodal 128, liquefied gas 13, passenger-cargo 3, tanker 169, tanker tug-barge 13
note:
in addition, there are 219 government-owned vessels Airports:
total:
14,177
usable:
12,417
with permanent-surface runways:
4,820
with runways over 3,659 m:
63
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
325
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
2,524
Telecommunications:
126,000,000 telephone access lines; 7,557,000 cellular phone subscribers; broadcast stations – 4,987 AM, 4,932 FM, 1,092 TV; about 9,000 TV cable systems; 530,000,000 radio sets and 193,000,000 TV sets in use; 16 satellites and 24 ocean cable systems in use; satellite ground stations – 45 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 16 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT (1990)
@United States, Defense Forces
Branches:
Department of the Army, Department of the Navy (including Marine Corps), Department of the Air Force
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion – $315.5 billion, 5.3% of GDP (1992)
@Uruguay, Geography
Location:
Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean between Argentina and Brazil
Map references:
South America, Standard Time Zones of the World Area:
total area:
176,220 sq km
land area:
173,620 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Washington State Land boundaries:
total 1,564 km, Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km Coastline:
660 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation territorial sea:
200 nm; overflight and navigation permitted beyond 12 nm International disputes:
short section of boundary with Argentina is in dispute; two short sections of the boundary with Brazil are in dispute – Arroyo de la Invernada (Arroio Invernada) area of the Rio Quarai and the islands at the confluence of the Rio Cuareim (Rio Quarai) and the Uruguay River Climate:
warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown Terrain:
mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland Natural resources:
soil, hydropower potential, minor minerals Land use:
arable land:
8%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
78%
forest and woodland:
4%
other:
10%
Irrigated land:
1,100 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
subject to seasonally high winds, droughts, floods international agreements:
party to – Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified – Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
@Uruguay, People
Population:
3,198,910 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.75% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
17.7 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate:
9.39 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate:
-0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate:
17.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
74.09 years
male:
70.88 years
female:
77.47 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.44 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality:
noun:
Uruguayan(s)
adjective:
Uruguayan
Ethnic divisions:
white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 66% (less than half adult population attends church regularly), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, nonprofessing or other 30% Languages:
Spanish, Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on the Brazilian frontier) Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population:
96%
male:
97%
female:
96%
Labor force:
1.355 million (1991 est.)
by occupation:
government 25%, manufacturing 19%, agriculture 11%, commerce 12%, utilities, construction, transport, and communications 12%, other services 21% (1988 est.)
@Uruguay, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Oriental Republic of Uruguay
conventional short form:
Uruguay
local long form:
Republica Oriental del Uruguay
local short form:
Uruguay
Digraph:
UY
Type:
republic
Capital:
Montevideo
Administrative divisions:
19 departments (departamentos, singular – departamento); Artigas, Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Paysandu, Rio Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San Jose, Soriano, Tacuarembo, Treinta y Tres Independence:
25 August 1828 (from Brazil)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 25 August (1828) Constitution:
27 November 1966, effective February 1967, suspended 27 June 1973, new constitution rejected by referendum 30 November 1980 Legal system:
based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Luis Alberto LACALLE (since 1 March 1990); Vice President Gonzalo AGUIRRE Ramirez (since 1 March 1990); election last held 26 November 1989 (next to be held NA November 1994); results – Luis Alberto LACALLE Herrera (Blanco) 37%, Jorge BATLLE Ibanez (Colorado) 29%, Liber SEREGNI Mosquera (Broad Front) 20% cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the president Legislative branch:
bicameral General Assembly (Asamblea General) Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores): elections last held 26 November 1989 (next to be held NA November 1994); results – Blanco 40%, Colorado 30%, Broad Front 23% New Space 7%; seats – (30 total) Blanco 12, Colorado 9, Broad Front 7, New Space 2
Chamber of Representatives (Camera de Representantes): elections last held NA November 1989 (next to be held NA November 1994); results – Blanco 39%, Colorado 30%, Broad Front 22%, New Space 8%, other 1%; seats – (99 total) number of seats by party NA Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
National (Blanco) Party; Colorado Party, Jorge BATLLE; Broad Front Coalition, Gen. Liber SEREGNI Mosquera; New Space Coalition, Hugo BATALLA
Member of:
AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, MERCOSUR, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNOMOZ, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Eduardo MACGILLYCUDDY
chancery:
1918 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20006 telephone:
telephone (202) 331-1313 through 1316 consulate(s) general:
Los Angeles, Miami, and New York
consulate(s):
New Orleans
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Thomas DODD
embassy:
Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo
mailing address:
APO AA 34035
telephone:
[598] (2) 23-60-61 or 48-77-77
FAX:
[598] (2) 48-86-11
Flag:
nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with blue; there is a white square in the upper hoist-side corner with a yellow sun bearing a human face known as the Sun of May and 16 rays alternately triangular and wavy
@Uruguay, Economy
Overview:
Uruguay is a small economy with favorable climate, good soils, and solid hydropower potential. Economic development has been held back by excessive government regulation of economic detail and 50% to 130% inflation. After several years of sluggish growth, real GDP jumped by about 7.5% in 1992. The rise is attributable mainly to an increase in Argentine demand for Uruguayan exports, particularly agricultural products and electricity. In a major step toward greater regional economic cooperation, Uruguay in 1991 had joined Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay in forming the Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur). A referendum in December 1992 overturned key portions of landmark privatization legislation, dealing a serious blow to President LACALLE’s broad economic reform plan. Hampered by a slowdown in the agricultural sector, the economy grew at only 2% in 1993 compared with 7.5% in 1992. Although inflation declined for the second consecutive year, a surge in the money supply, rising food prices, a record trade deficit, and an increase in the government deficit toward the end of the year foreshadowed troubles ahead in 1994. National product:
GDP – purchasing power equivalent – $19 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate:
2% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$6,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
50% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8.8% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$2.9 billion
expenditures:
$3 billion, including capital expenditures of $388 million (1991 est.) Exports:
$1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
wool and textile manufactures, beef and other animal products, leather, rice
partners:
Brazil, Argentina, US, China, Italy Imports:
$2 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles, chemicals, minerals, plastics partners:
Brazil, Argentina, US, Nigeria
External debt:
$4.2 billion (1993)
Industrial production:
growth rate 4.2% (1992 est.), accounts for almost 25% of GDP Electricity:
capacity:
2,168,000 kW
production:
5.96 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
1,900 kWh (1992)
Industries:
meat processing, wool and hides, sugar, textiles, footwear, leather apparel, tires, cement, fishing, petroleum refining, wine Agriculture:
accounts for 12% of GDP; large areas devoted to livestock grazing; wheat, rice, corn, sorghum; self-sufficient in most basic foodstuffs Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $105 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $420 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $69 million Currency:
1 Uruguayan peso ($Ur) = 100 centesimos Exchange rates:
Uruguayan pesos ($Ur) per US$1 – 4.4710 (January 1994), 3.9484 (1993); new Uruguayan pesos (N$Ur) per US$1 – 3,457.5 (December 1992), 3,026.9 (1992), 2,489 (1991), 1,594 (1990), 805 (1989) note:
on 1 March 1993 the former New Peso (N$Ur) was replaced as Uruguay’s unit of currency by the Peso which is equal to 1,000 of the New Pesos; consequently there is a major change in the peso/dollar exchange rate Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Uruguay, Communications
Railroads:
3,000 km, all 1.435-meter (standard) gauge and government owned Highways:
total:
49,900 km
paved:
6,700 km
unpaved:
gravel 3,000 km; earth 40,200 km
Inland waterways:
1,600 km; used by coastal and shallow-draft river craft Ports:
Montevideo, Punta del Este, Colonia Merchant marine:
4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 84,797 GRT/132,296 DWT, cargo 1, container 2, oil tanker 1
Airports:
total:
87
usable:
80
with permanent-surface runways:
16
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
14
Telecommunications:
most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide microwave network; 337,000 telephones; broadcast stations – 99 AM, no FM, 26 TV, 9 shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
@Uruguay, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy (including Naval Air Arm, Coast Guard, Marines), Air Force, Grenadier Guards, Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 765,490; fit for military service 621,629 Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion – $216 million, 2.3% of GDP (1991 est.)
@Uzbekistan, Geography
Location:
Central Asia, bordering the Aral Sea, between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan
Map references:
Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States – Central Asian States, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
447,400 sq km
land area:
425,400 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total 6,221 km, Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km Coastline:
0 km
note:
Uzbekistan borders the Aral Sea (420 km) Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
Russia may dispute current de facto maritime border to midpoint of Caspian Sea from shore
Climate:
mostly midlatitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east
Terrain:
mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad, flat intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya and Sirdaryo Rivers; Fergana Valley in east surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in west
Natural resources:
natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum
Land use:
arable land:
10%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
47%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
42%
Irrigated land:
41,550 sq km (1990)
Environment:
current issues:
drying up of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to desertification; water pollution from industrial wastes is the cause of many human health disorders; increasing soil salinization; soil contamination from agricultural chemicals, including DDT natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
party to – Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection
Note:
landlocked
@Uzbekistan, People
Population:
22,608,866 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.13% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
30.01 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate:
6.51 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate:
-2.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate:
53.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
68.58 years
male:
65.28 years
female:
72.04 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.73 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality:
noun:
Uzbek(s)
adjective:
Uzbek
Ethnic divisions:
Uzbek 71.4%, Russian 8.3%, Tajik 4.7%, Kazakh 4.1%, Tatar 2.4%, Karakalpak 2.1%, other 7%
Religions:
Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3% Languages:
Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1% Literacy:
age 9-49 can read and write (1970) total population:
100%
male:
100%
female:
100%
Labor force:
8.234 million
by occupation:
agriculture and forestry 43%, industry and construction 22%, other 35% (1992)
@Uzbekistan, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Uzbekistan
conventional short form:
Uzbekistan
local long form:
Uzbekiston Respublikasi
local short form:
none
former:
Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph:
UZ
Type:
republic
Capital:
Tashkent (Toshkent)
Administrative divisions:
12 wiloyatlar (singular – wiloyat), 1 autonomous republic* (respublikasi, singular – respublika), and 1 city** (shahri); Andijon Wiloyati, Bukhoro Wiloyati, Jizzakh Wiloyati, Farghona Wiloyati, Karakalpakstan* (Nukus), Qashqadaryo Wiloyati (Qarshi), Khorazm Wiloyati (Urganch), Namangan Wiloyati, Nawoiy Wiloyati, Samarqand Wiloyati, Sirdaryo Wiloyati (Guliston), Surkhondaryo Wiloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri**, Toshkent Wiloyati note:
an administrative division has the same name as its administrative center (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Independence:
31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 September (1991) Constitution:
new constitution adopted 8 December 1992 Legal system:
evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent judicial system Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Islam KARIMOV (since NA March 1990); election last held 29 December 1991 (next to be held NA December 1996); results – Islam KARIMOV 86%, Mukhammad SOLIKH 12%, other 2% head of government:
Prime Minister Abdulkhashim MUTALOV (since 13 January 1992), First Deputy Prime Minister Ismail Hakimovitch DJURABEKOV (since NA) cabinet:
Cabinet of Ministers; appointed by the president with approval of the Supreme Assembly
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Supreme Soviet:
elections last held 18 February 1990 (next to be held winter 1994); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (500 total) Communist 450, ERK 10, other 40; note – total number of seats will be reduced to 250 in next election
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
People’s Democratic Party (PDP; formerly Communist Party), Islam A. KARIMOV, chairman; Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party (EDP), Muhammad SOLIKH, chairman (in exile); note – ERK was banned 9 December 1992 Other political or pressure groups:
Birlik (Unity) People’s Movement (BPM), Abdul Rakhim PULATOV, chairman (in exile); Islamic Rebirth Party (IRP), Abdullah UTAYEV, chairman note:
PULATOV (BPM) and SOLIKH (EDP) are both in exile in the West; UTAYEV (IRP) is either in prison or in exile
Member of:
CCC, CIS, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IOC, ITU, NACC, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, WHO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Fatikh TESHABAYEV
chancery:
Suites 619 and 623, 1511 K Street NW, Washington DC, 20005 telephone:
(202) 638-4266/4267
FAX:
(202) 638-4268
consulate(s) general:
New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Henry L. CLARKE
embassy:
82 Chelanzanskaya, Tashkent
mailing address:
use embassy street address
telephone:
[7] (3712) 77-14-07, 77-11-32
FAX:
[7] (3712) 77-69-53
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated by red fimbriations with a crescent moon and 12 stars in the upper hoist-side quadrant
@Uzbekistan, Economy
Overview:
Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 20% is intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. It is one of the poorest states of the former USSR with 60% of its population living in overpopulated rural communities. Nevertheless, Uzbekistan is the world’s third largest cotton exporter, a major producer of gold and natural gas, and a regionally significant producer of chemicals and machinery. Since independence, the government has sought to prop up the Soviet-style command economy with subsidies and tight controls on prices and production. Such policies have buffered the economy from the sharp declines in output and high inflation experienced by many other former Soviet republics. By late 1993, however, they had become increasingly unsustainable as inflation soared and Russia forced the Uzbek Government to introduce its own currency. Faced with mounting economic problems, the government has increased its cooperation with international financial institutions, announced an acceleration of privatization, and stepped up efforts to attract foreign investors. Nevertheless, the regime is likely to resist full-fledged market reforms.
National product:
GDP – purchasing power equivalent – $53.7 billion (1993 estimate from the UN International Comparison Program, as extended to 1991 and published in the World Bank’s World Development Report 1993; and as extrapolated to 1993 using official Uzbek statistics, which are very uncertain because of major economic changes since 1990) National product real growth rate:
-3.5% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$2,430 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
18% per month (1993)
Unemployment rate:
0.2% includes only officially registered unemployed; large numbers of underemployed workers
Budget:
revenues:
$NA
expenditures:
$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Exports:
$706.5 million to outside the FSU countries (1993) commodities:
cotton, gold, natural gas, mineral fertilizers, ferrous metals, textiles, food products
partners:
Russia, Ukraine, Eastern Europe, US Imports:
$947.3 million from outside the FSU countries (1993) commodities:
grain, machinery and parts, consumer durables, other foods partners:
principally other FSU countries, Czech Republic External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate -7% (1993)
Electricity:
capacity:
11,950,000 kW
production:
50.9 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
2,300 kWh (1992)
Industries:
textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, natural gas Agriculture:
livestock, cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain Illicit drugs:
illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication programs; used as transshipment points for illicit drugs to Western Europe Economic aid:
recipient:
$125 million by yearend 1993; future commitments for about $500 million
Currency:
introduced provisional som-coupons 10 November 1993 which circulated parallel to the Russian rubles; became the sole legal currency 31 January 1994; will be replaced in July 1994 by the som currency Exchange rates:
NA
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Uzbekistan, Communications
Railroads:
3,460 km; does not include industrial lines (1990) Highways:
total:
78,400 km
paved and gravel:
67,000 km
unpaved:
earth 11,400 km (1990)
Pipelines:
crude oil 250 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural gas 810 km (1992) Ports:
none; landlocked
Airports:
total:
265
usable:
74
with permanent-surface runways:
30
with runways over 3,659 m:
2
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
20
with runways 1,060-2,439 m:
19
note:
a C-130 can land on a 1,060-m airstrip Telecommunications:
poorly developed; 1,458,000 telephone circuits with 68.75 circuits per 1,000 persons (1991); linked by landline or microwave with CIS member states and by leased connection via the Moscow international gateway switch to other countries; new INTELSAT links to Tokyo and Ankara give Uzbekistan international access independent of Russian facilities; satellite earth stations – Orbita and INTELSAT; NMT-450 analog cellular network established in Tashkent
@Uzbekistan, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, National Guard, Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 5,388,456; fit for military service 4,403,497; reach military age (18) annually 222,405 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA% of GDP
@Vanuatu, Geography
Location:
Oceania, Melanesia, 5,750 km southwest of Honolulu in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and Australia
Map references:
Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the World Area:
total area:
14,760 sq km
land area:
14,760 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than Connecticut
note:
includes more than 80 islands
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
2,528 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200 nm or the edge of continental margin exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds Terrain:
mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains Natural resources:
manganese, hardwood forests, fish Land use:
arable land:
1%
permanent crops:
5%
meadows and pastures:
2%
forest and woodland:
1%
other:
91%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
subject to tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanism causes minor earthquakes
international agreements:
party to – Biodiversity, Climate Change, Marine Dumping, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified – Law of the Sea
@Vanuatu, People
Population:
169,776 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.29% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
32.21 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate:
9.31 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate:
68.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
59.25 years
male:
57.51 years
female:
61.09 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.31 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality:
noun:
Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)
adjective:
Ni-Vanuatu
Ethnic divisions:
indigenous Melanesian 94%, French 4%, Vietnamese, Chinese, Pacific Islanders
Religions:
Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Catholic 15%, indigenous beliefs 7.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of Christ 3.8%, other 15.7% Languages:
English (official), French (official), pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1979) total population:
53%
male:
57%
female:
48%
Labor force:
NA
by occupation:
NA
@Vanuatu, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Vanuatu
conventional short form:
Vanuatu
former:
New Hebrides
Digraph:
NH
Type:
republic
Capital:
Port-Vila
Administrative divisions:
11 island councils; Ambrym, Aoba/Maewo, Banks/Torres, Efate, Epi, Malakula, Paama, Pentecote, Santo/Malo, Shepherd, Tafea Independence:
30 July 1980 (from France and UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
Constitution:
30 July 1980
Legal system:
unified system being created from former dual French and British systems
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Jean Marie LEYE (since 2 March 1994) head of government:
Prime Minister Maxime CARLOT Korman (since 16 December 1991); Deputy Prime Minister Sethy REGENVANU (since 17 December 1991) cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister, responsible to parliament
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Parliament:
elections last held 2 December 1991 (next to be held by November 1995); note – after election, a coalition was formed by the Union of Moderate Parties and the National United Party to form a new government on 16 December 1991, but political party associations are fluid; seats – (46 total) UMP 19; NUP 10; VP 10; MPP 4; TUP 1; Nagriamel 1; Friend 1
note:
the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom and land Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Vanuatu Party (VP), Donald KALPOKAS; Union of Moderate Parties (UMP), Serge VOHOR; Melanesian Progressive Party (MPP), Barak SOPE; National United Party (NUP), Walter LINI; Tan Union Party (TUP), Vincent BOULEKONE; Nagriamel Party, Jimmy STEVENS; Friend Melanesian Party, leader NA
Member of:
ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
Vanuatu does not have a mission in the US US diplomatic representation:
the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu Flag:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a boar’s tusk encircling two crossed namele leaves, all in yellow
@Vanuatu, Economy
Overview:
The economy is based primarily on subsistence farming which provides a living for about 80% of the population. Fishing and tourism are the other mainstays of the economy. Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleum deposits. A small light industry sector caters to the local market. Tax revenues come mainly from import duties.
National product:
GDP – exchange rate conversion – $142 million (1988 est.) National product real growth rate:
6% (1991)
National product per capita:
$1,050 (1990)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.3% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$90 million
expenditures:
$103 million, including capital expenditures of $45 million (1989 est.)
Exports:
$14.9 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
copra, beef, cocoa, timber, coffee partners:
Netherlands, Japan, France, New Caledonia, Belgium Imports:
$74 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
machines and vehicles, food and beverages, basic manufactures, raw materials and fuels, chemicals
partners:
Australia 36%, Japan 13%, NZ 10%, France 8%, Fiji 8% External debt:
$38 million (1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate 8.1% (1990); accounts for about 10% of GDP Electricity:
capacity:
17,000 kW
production:
30 million kWh
consumption per capita:
180 kWh (1990)
Industries:
food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning Agriculture:
accounts for 40% of GDP; export crops – coconuts, cocoa, coffee, fish; subsistence crops – taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, vegetables Economic aid:
recipient:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $606 million
Currency:
1 vatu (VT) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
vatu (VT) per US$1 – 123.48 (September 1993), 113.39 (1992), 111.68 (1991), 116.57 (1990), 116.04 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Vanuatu, Communications
Railroads:
none
Highways:
total:
1,027 km
paved:
240 km
unpaved:
787 km
Ports:
Port-Vila, Luganville, Palikoulo
Merchant marine:
131 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,992,201 GRT/2,909,381 DWT, bulk 57, cargo 23, chemical tanker 2, combination bulk 1, container 5, liquefied gas 3, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 8, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 19, vehicle carrier 11 note:
a flag of convenience registry
Airports:
total:
31
usable:
31
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:
2
Telecommunications:
broadcast stations – 2 AM, no FM, no TV; 3,000 telephones; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT ground station
@Vanuatu, Defense Forces
Branches:
Vanuatu Police Force (VPF), paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF) note:
no military forces
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA% of GDP
@Venezuela, Geography
Location:
Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea between Colombia and Guyana
Map references:
South America, Standard Time Zones of the World Area:
total area:
912,050 sq km
land area:
882,050 sq km
comparative area:
slightly more than twice the size of California Land boundaries:
total 4,993 km, Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km Coastline:
2,800 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
15 nm
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
claims all of Guyana west of the Essequibo River; maritime boundary dispute with Colombia in the Gulf of Venezuela Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands Terrain:
Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds
Land use:
arable land:
3%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
20%
forest and woodland:
39%
other:
37%
Irrigated land:
2,640 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast natural hazards:
subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts international agreements:
party to – Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified – Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping Note:
on major sea and air routes linking North and South America
@Venezuela, People
Population:
20,562,405 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.16% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
25.74 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate:
4.63 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate:
0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate:
27.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
73 years
male:
70.12 years
female:
76.03 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.05 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality:
noun:
Venezuelan(s)
adjective:
Venezuelan
Ethnic divisions:
mestizo 67%, white 21%, black 10%, Indian 2% Religions:
nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2% Languages:
Spanish (official), Indian dialects spoken by about 200,000 Amerindians in the remote interior
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population:
88%
male:
87%
female:
90%
Labor force:
5.8 million
by occupation:
services 56%, industry 28%, agriculture 16% (1985)
@Venezuela, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Venezuela
conventional short form:
Venezuela
local long form:
Republica de Venezuela
local short form:
Venezuela
Digraph:
VE
Type:
republic
Capital:
Caracas
Administrative divisions:
21 states (estados, singular – estado), 1 territory* (territorio), 1 federal district** (distrito federal), and 1 federal dependence*** (dependencia federal); Amazonas*, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales***, Distrito Federal**, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Yaracuy, Zulia note:
the federal dependence consists of 11 federally controlled island groups with a total of 72 individual islands Independence:
5 July 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 5 July (1811)
Constitution:
23 January 1961
Legal system:
based on Napoleonic code; judicial review of legislative acts in Cassation Court only; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Rafael CALDERA Rodriquez (since 2 February 1994); election last held 5 December 1993 (next to be held December 1998); results – Rafael CALDERA (National Convergence) 30.45%, Claudio FERMIN (AD) 23.59%, Oswaldo ALVAREZ PAZ (COPEI) 22.72%, Andres VELASQUEZ (Causa R) 21.94%, other 1.3%
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the president Legislative branch:
bicameral Congress of the Republic (Congreso de la Republica) Senate (Senado):
elections last held 5 December 1993 (next to be held December 1998); results – percent of vote by party NA; seats – (52 total) AD 18, COPEI 15, Causa R 9, MAS 5, National Convergence 5; note – 3 former presidents (2 from AD, 1 from COPEI) hold lifetime senate seats Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados): elections last held 5 December 1993 (next to be held December 1998); results – AD 27.9%, COPEI 26.9%, MAS 12.4%, National Convergence 12.9%, Causa R 19.9%; seats – (201 total) AD 55, COPEI 53, MAS 24, National Convergence 26, Causa R 40, other 3 Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia) Gonzalo RODRIGUEZ Corro, President
Political parties and leaders:
National Convergence (Convergencia), Jose Miguel UZCATEGUI, director; Social Christian Party (COPEI), Hilarion CARDOZO, president, and Jose CURIEL, secretary general; Democratic Action (AD), Pedro PARIS Montesinos, president, and Luis ALFARO Ucero, secretary general; Movement Toward Socialism (MAS), Argelia LAYA, president, and Freddy MUNOZ, secretary general; Radical Cause (La Causa R), Pablo MEDINA, secretary general
Other political or pressure groups: FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers (CTV, labor organization dominated by the Democratic Action); VECINOS groups
Member of:
AG, BCIE, CARICOM (observer), CDB, CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OAS, ONUSAL, OPANAL, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Pedro Luis ECHEVERRIA
chancery:
1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone:
(202) 342-2214
consulate(s) general:
Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Jeffrey DAVIDOW
embassy:
Avenida Francisco de Miranda and Avenida Principal de la Floresta, Caracas
mailing address:
P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A, or APO AA 34037 telephone:
[58] (2) 285-2222
FAX:
[58] (2) 285-0336
consulate(s):
Maracaibo (closed March 1994)
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of seven white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band
@Venezuela, Economy
Overview:
Petroleum is the backbone of the economy, accounting for 23% of GDP, 61% of central government ordinary revenues, and 77% of export earnings in 1993. Former President PEREZ introduced an economic readjustment program when he assumed office in February 1989. Lower tariffs and the removal of price controls, a free market exchange rate, and market-linked interest rates threw the economy into confusion, causing an 8% decline in GDP in 1989. The economy recovered part way in 1990 and grew by 9.7% in 1991 and 6.8% in 1992; economic activity fell by 1% in 1993, primarily because of business concerns over political instability.
National product:
GDP – purchasing power equivalent – $161 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate:
-1% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$8,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
46% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8.2% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$9.8 billion
expenditures:
$11.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $103 million (1993 est.)
Exports:
$14.2 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
petroleum 77%, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures
partners:
US and Puerto Rico 42%, Japan, Netherlands, Italy Imports:
$11 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials
partners:
US 50%, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Canada External debt:
$28.5 billion (1993)
Industrial production:
growth rate 6.1% (1992 est.); accounts for 40% of GDP, including petroleum
Electricity:
capacity:
21,130,000 kW
production:
58.541 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
2,830 kWh (1992)
Industries:
petroleum, iron-ore mining, construction materials, food processing, textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly Agriculture:
accounts for 6% of GDP and 16% of labor force; products – corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee, beef, pork, milk, eggs, fish; not self-sufficient in food other than meat Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis and coca leaf for the international drug trade on a small scale; however, large quantities of cocaine transit the country from Colombia; important money-laundering hub Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-86), $488 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $10 million
Currency:
1 bolivar (Bs) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates:
bolivares (Bs) per US$1 – 107.260 (January 1994), 90.826 (1993), 68.38 (1992), 56.82 (1991), 46.90 (1990), 34.68 (1989) Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Venezuela, Communications
Railroads:
542 km total; 363 km 1.435-meter standard gauge all single track, government owned; 179 km 1.435-meter gauge, privately owned Highways:
total:
81,000 km
paved:
31,200 km
unpaved:
gravel 24,800 km; earth and unimproved earth 25,000 km Inland waterways:
7,100 km; Rio Orinoco and Lago de Maracaibo accept oceangoing vessels Pipelines:
crude oil 6,370 km; petroleum products 480 km; natural gas 4,010 km Ports:
Amuay Bay, Bajo Grande, El Tablazo, La Guaira, Puerto Cabello, Puerto Ordaz
Merchant marine:
47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 741,688 GRT/1,204,233 DWT, bulk 4, cargo 16, combination bulk 1, container 1, liquefied gas 2, oil tanker 17, passenger cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, short-sea passenger 1
Airports:
total:
425
usable:
392
with permanent-surface runways:
139
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
15
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
92
Telecommunications:
modern and expanding; 1,440,000 telephones; broadcast stations – 181 AM, no FM, 59 TV, 26 shortwave; 3 submarine coaxial cables; satellite ground stations – 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 3 domestic
@Venezuela, Defense Forces
Branches:
National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales, FAN) includes – Ground Forces or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or Ejercito), Naval Forces (Fuerzas Navales or Armada), Air Forces (Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces of Cooperation or National Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperation or Guardia Nacional)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 5,341,855; fit for military service 3,875,523; reach military age (18) annually 224,550 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion – $1.95 billion, 4% of GDP (1991)
@Vietnam, Geography
Location:
Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea, between Laos and the Philippines
Map references:
Asia, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World Area:
total area:
329,560 sq km
land area:
325,360 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total 3,818 km, Cambodia 982 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 1,555 km Coastline:
3,444 km (excludes islands)
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200 nm or the edge of continental margin exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
maritime boundary with Cambodia not defined; involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and possibly Brunei; unresolved maritime boundary with Thailand; maritime boundary dispute with China in the Gulf of Tonkin; Paracel Islands occupied by China but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan Climate:
tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (mid-May to mid-September) and warm, dry season (mid-October to mid-March) Terrain:
low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest
Natural resources:
phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil deposits, forests
Land use:
arable land:
22%
permanent crops:
2%
meadows and pastures:
1%
forest and woodland:
40%
other:
35%
Irrigated land:
18,300 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
deforestation; soil degradation; water pollution and overfishing threatening marine life populations
natural hazards:
occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding international agreements:
party to – Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified – Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
@Vietnam, People
Population:
73,103,898 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.78% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
27.13 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate:
7.76 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate:
-1.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate:
45.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
65.41 years
male:
63.37 years
female:
67.58 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.33 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality:
noun:
Vietnamese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Vietnamese
Ethnic divisions:
Vietnamese 85-90%, Chinese 3%, Muong, Thai, Meo, Khmer, Man, Cham Religions:
Buddhist, Taoist, Roman Catholic, indigenous beliefs, Islamic, Protestant
Languages:
Vietnamese (official), French, Chinese, English, Khmer, tribal languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian) Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population:
88%
male:
93%
female:
83%
Labor force:
32.7 million
by occupation:
agricultural 65%, industrial and service 35% (1990 est.)
@Vietnam, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
conventional short form:
Vietnam
local long form:
Cong Hoa Chu Nghia Viet Nam
local short form:
Viet Nam
Abbreviation:
SRV
Digraph:
VM
Type:
Communist state
Capital:
Hanoi
Administrative divisions:
50 provinces (tinh, singular and plural), 3 municipalities* (thanh pho, singular and plural); An Giang, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Bac Thai, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Thuan, Can Tho, Cao Bang, Dac Lac, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Bac, Ha Giang, Ha Noi*, Ha Tay, Ha Tinh, Hai Hung, Hai Phong*, Ho Chi Minh*, Hoa Binh, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Minh Hai, Nam Ha, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam-Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La, Song Be, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phu, Yen Bai
Independence:
2 September 1945 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 2 September (1945) Constitution:
15 April 1992
Legal system:
based on Communist legal theory and French civil law system Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Le Duc ANH (since 23 September 1992) head of government:
Prime Minister Vo Van KIET (since 9 August 1991); First Deputy Prime Minister Phan Van KHAI (since 10 August 1991); Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen KHANH (since NA February 1987); Deputy Prime Minister Tran Duc LUONG (since NA February 1987)
cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by the president on proposal of the prime minister and ratification of the Assembly
Legislative branch:
unicameral
National Assembly (Quoc-Hoi):
elections last held 19 July 1992 (next to be held NA July 1997); results – VCP is the only party; seats – (395 total) VCP or VCP-approved 395
Judicial branch:
Supreme People’s Court
Political parties and leaders:
only party – Vietnam Communist Party (VCP), DO MUOI, general secretary Member of:
ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
none; Ambassador Le Van BANG is the Permanent Representative to the UN US diplomatic representation:
none
Flag:
red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center
@Vietnam, Economy
Overview:
Vietnam has made significant progress in recent years moving away from the planned economic model toward a more effective market-based economic system. Most prices are now fully decontrolled, and the Vietnamese currency has been effectively devalued and floated at world market rates. In addition, the scope for private sector activity has been expanded, primarily through decollectivization of the agricultural sector and introduction of laws giving legal recognition to private business. Nearly three-quarters of export earnings are generated by only two commodities, rice and crude oil. Led by industry and construction, the economy did well in 1993 with output rising perhaps 7%. However, the industrial sector remains burdened by uncompetitive state-owned enterprises the government is unwilling or unable to privatize. Unemployment looms as a serious problem with roughly 25% of the workforce without jobs and with population growth swelling the ranks of the unemployed yearly. National product:
GNP – purchasing power equivalent – $72 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate:
7% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$1,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.2% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
25% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$1.9 billion
expenditures:
$2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992) Exports:
$2.6 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
petroleum, rice, agricultural products, marine products, coffee partners:
Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Germany, Indonesia Imports:
$3.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
petroleum products, steel products, railroad equipment, chemicals, medicines, raw cotton, fertilizer, grain partners:
Hong Kong, Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, Taiwan External debt:
$3.4 billion Western countries; $4.5 billion CEMA debts primarily to Russia; $700 million commercial debts (1993 est.) Industrial production:
growth rate 15% (1992); accounts for 20% of GDP Electricity:
capacity:
3,300,000 kW
production:
9 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
130 kWh (1992)
Industries:
food processing, textiles, machine building, mining, cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil
Agriculture:
accounts for almost 40% of GDP; paddy rice, corn, potatoes make up 50% of farm output; commercial crops (rubber, soybeans, coffee, tea, bananas) and animal products 50%; since 1989 self-sufficient in food staple rice; fish catch of 943,100 metric tons (1989 est.) Illicit drugs:
minor opium producer and secondary transit point for Southeast Asian heroin destined for the US and Europe
Economic aid:
recipient:
$1.9 billion in credits and grants pledged by international donors for 1994, Japan largest contributor with $550 million Currency:
1 new dong (D) = 100 xu
Exchange rates:
new dong (D) per US$1 – 10,800 (November 1993), 8,100 (July 1991), 7,280 (December 1990), 3,996 (March 1990); note – 1985-89 figures are end of year
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Vietnam, Communications
Railroads:
3,059 km total; 2,454 1.000-meter gauge, 151 km 1.435-meter (standard) gauge, 230 km dual gauge (three rails), and 224 km not restored to service after war damage
Highways:
total:
85,000 km
paved:
9,400 km
unpaved:
gravel, improved earth 48,700 km; unimproved earth 26,900 km Inland waterways:
17,702 km navigable; more than 5,149 km navigable at all times by vessels up to 1.8 meter draft
Pipelines:
petroleum products 150 km
Ports:
Da Nang, Haiphong, Ho Chi Minh City Merchant marine:
101 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 460,225 GRT/741,231 DWT, bulk 3, cargo 86, oil tanker 8, refrigerated cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
Airports:
total:
100
usable:
100
with permanent-surface runways:
50
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
10
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
20
Telecommunications:
the inadequacies of the obsolete switching equipment and cable system is a serious constraint on the business sector and on economic growth, and restricts access to the international links that Vietnam has established with most major countries; the telephone system is not generally available for private use (25 telephones for each 10,000 persons); 3 satellite earth stations; broadcast stations – NA AM, 288 FM; 36 (77 repeaters) TV; about 2,500,000 TV receivers and 7,000,000 radio receivers in use (1991)
@Vietnam, Defense Forces
Branches:
People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN) including: Ground, Navy (including Naval Infantry), Air Force Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 18,281,483; fit for military service 11,602,318; reach military age (17) annually 762,943 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA% of GNP
@Virgin Islands
Header
Affiliation:
(territory of the US)
@Virgin Islands, Geography
Location:
Caribbean, in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 110 km east and southeast of Puerto Rico
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean Area:
total area:
352 sq km
land area:
349 sq km
comparative area:
slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
188 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:
none
Climate:
subtropical, tempered by easterly tradewinds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November Terrain:
mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land Natural resources:
sun, sand, sea, surf
Land use:
arable land:
15%
permanent crops:
6%
meadows and pastures:
26%
forest and woodland:
6%
other:
47%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
lack of natural freshwater resources natural hazards:
rarely affected by hurricanes; subject to frequent severe droughts, floods, earthquakes
international agreements:
NA
Note:
important location along the Anegada Passage – a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural, deepwater harbors in the Caribbean
@Virgin Islands, People
Population:
97,564 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.52% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
19.41 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate:
5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: