Country Profiles
(Somalia thru Tajististan)
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- People: Population Density - 31 per sq. mi.
- Ethnic Groups - Somali (85%); Bantu, Arab
- Languages - Somali (official); Arabic, English,
Italian
- Religions - Sunni Muslim
- Geography: Area - 241, 900 sq. mi.
- Neighbors - Dijibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya
- Government: Type - In Transition
- Head of Government - Prime Minister Ali Khalif
Galaid (since Oct. 8, 2000)
- Capital - Mogadishu (1,219,000)
- Local Divisions - NA
- Spending - (Defense) $15 mil./ NA
- Economy: Industries - NA
- Minerals and Other Resources - Uranium, iron, tin,
gypsum, bauxite
- Arable Land - 2%
- Labor - 71% nomadic agric.; 29% industry and services
- Per Capita GNP - $600
- Imports and Exports - $327 mil. and $187 mil.
- Major Trading Partners - Dijibouti, Kenya, Saudi
Arabia, UAE, Belarus, Italy
- Communications: Telephones - 15,000 main lines
- Radios - 45 per 1,000 people
- Televisions - 18 per 1,000 people
- Social Services: Infant Mortality - 123.97 per 1,000
- Life Expectancy at Birth - 44.99 - male; 48.25 - female
- Natural Population Increase - 2.89%
- Literacy - 24%
- International Organization Memberships: UN (FAO, IBRD,
ILO, IMF, IMO, WHO), AL, OAU
- National Website
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- People: Population Density - 166 per sq. mi.
- Ethnic Groups - African (97%); European (3%)
- Languages - siSwati, English - both official
- Religions - Christian (60%); indigenous beliefs (40%)
- Geography: Area - 6,600 sq. mi.
- Neighbors - South Africa, Mozambique
- Government: Type - Constitutional monarchy
- Head of Government - Prime Minister Barnabas Sibusiso Diamini (since July 26, 1996)
- Capital - Mbabne (73,000)
- Local Divisions - 4 districts
- Spending - (Defense) NA
- Economy: Industries - Wood pulp, mining
- Minerals and Other Resources - Asbestos, clay, coal, forests
- Arable Land - 11%
- Labor - private sector (70%); public sector (30%)
- Per Capita GNP - $4,200
- Imports and Exports - $1.05 bil. and $825 mil.
- Major Trading Partners - South Africa, EU, Mozambique
- Communications: Telephones - 30,600 main lines
- Radios - 129 per 1,000 people
- Televisions - 96 per 1,000 people
- Social Services: Infant Mortality - 109.19 per 1,000
- Life Expectancy at Birth - 37.86 - male; 39.4 - female
- Natural Population Increase - 1.83%
- Literacy - 77%
- International Organization Memberships: UN (FAO, IBRD, ILO, IMF, WHO, WTrO), the Commonwealth, OAU
- National Website
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- People: Population Density - 93 per sq. mi.
- Ethnic Groups - Back (75.2%); white (13.6%);
colored (8.6%)
- Languages - 11 official languages incl. Afrikaans,
English, Ndebelle. Pedi. Sotho
- Religions - Christian (68%); traditional, animistic
(28.5%)
- Geography: Area - 470,900 sq. mi
- Neighbors - Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe,
Mozambique, Swaziland, Lesotho
- Government: Type - Republic
- Head of Government - President Thabo Mvuyelwa
Mbeki (sinc June 16, 1999)
- Capital - Cape Town - legislative (2,993,000)
- Local Divisions - 9 provinces
- Spending - (Defense) $2.1 bil./ $38 bil.
- Economy: Industries - Mining, steel, chemicals, vehicles,
machinery, textiles
- Minerals and Other Resources - Platnium, chromium,
antimoney, coal, iron, manganese, nickel, phosphates,
tin, uranium, gem diamonds, copper, vanadium,
gold, wood, dairy products
- Arable Land - 10%
- Labor - 45% services; 30% agric; 25% ind.
- Per Capita GNP - $6,900
- Imports and Exports - $26 bil. and $28 bil.
- Major Trading Partners - US, UK, Germany, Italy, Japan
- Communications: Telephones - 4,961,700 main lines
- Radios - 322 per 1,000 people
- Televisions - 128 per 1,000 people
- Social Services: Infant Mortality - 60.33 per 1,000
- Life Expectancy at Birth - 47.64 - male; 48.56 - female
- Natural Population Increase - .44%
- Literacy - 82%
- International Organization Memberships: UN (FAO, IBRD,
ILO, IMF, IMO, WHO, WTrO), the Commonwealth, OAU
- National Website
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- People: Population Density - 56 per sq. mi.
- Ethnic Groups - Swedish (89%); Finnish (2%)
- Languages - Swedish
- Religions - Evangelical Lutheran (94%)
- Geography: Area - 158,700 sq. mi.
- Neighbors - Norway, Denmarl, Finland
- Government: Type - Constitutional monarchy
- Head of Government - Prime Minister Goran Persson (since Mar. 21, 1996)
- Capital - Stockholm (1,583,000)
- Local Divisions - 21 counties
- Spending - (Defense) $4.8 bil./ $146.1 bil.
- Economy: Industries - Steel, precision equipment, vehicles, processed foods, paper
- Minerals and Other Resources - Zinc, iron, lead, copper, silver, forests
- Arable Land - 7%
- Labor - 74% services; 24% industry; 2% agric.
- Per Capita GNP - $20,700
- Imports and Exports - $67.9 bil. and $85.7 bil.
- Major Trading Partners - EU, Norway, US
- Communications: Telephones - 6,056,800 main lines
- Radios - 904 per 1,000 people
- Televisions - 531 per 1,000 people
- Social Services: Infant Mortality - 3.47 per 1,000
- Life Expectancy at Birth - 77.07 - male; 82.5 - female
- Natural Population Increase - -.07%
- Literacy - 100%
- International Organization Memberships: UN and all its specialized agencies, EU, OECD, OSCE
- National Website
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- People: Population Density - 208 per sq. mi.
- Ethnic Groups - Mix of Mediterranean and Nordic types
- Languages - Castillian Spanish (official); Catalan, Galician, Basque
- Religions - Roman Catholic (99%)
- Geography: Area - 192,600 sq. mi.
- Neighbors - Portugal, France
- Government: Type - Constitutional monarchy
- Head of Government - Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar (since May 5, 1996)
- Capital - Madrid (4,072,000)
- Local Divisions - 17 autonomous communities
- Spending - (Defense) $7.0 bil./ $139 bil.
- Economy: Industries - Machinery, metals, textiles, shoes, vehicles, processed foods, tourism
- Minerals and Other Resources - Lignite, uranium, iron, mercury, pyrites, fluospar, gypsum, zinc, lead, coal, forests
- Arable Land - 30%
- Labor - 64% serv.; 28% manuf., mining, constr.; 8% agric.
- Per Capita GNP - $17,300
- Imports and Exports - $137.5 bil./ $112.3 bil.
- Major Trading Partners - EU
- Communications: Telephones - 17,101,700 main lines
- Radios - 332 per 1,000 people
- Televisions - 500 per 1,000 people
- Social Services: Infant Mortality - 4.82 per 1,000
- Life Expectancy at Birth - 75.47 - male; 82.62 - female
- Natural Population Increase - .01%
- Literacy - 97%
- International Organization Memberships: UN and all its specialized agencies, EU, NATO, OECD, OSCE
- National Website
- External Territories
- Balearic Islands Located in the Western
Mediterranean, they include Majorca (Mallorca; Capital
- Palma de Mallorca), Minorca, Cabrere, Ibiza,
and Formentera. They are together one
Spanish province.
(Area: 1,927 sq. mi.)
- Canary Islands Located in the Atlantic
Ocean, north of Morocco. Includes the
islands of Tenerife, Palma, Gomera, Hierro,
Grand Canary, Fuerteventure, and Lanzarote.
Together they create two Spanish provinces.
Las Palmas and Santa Cruz are
thriving ports.
(Area: 2,807 sq. mi.)
- Ceuta and Melilla Two small enclaves
claimed by Spain on Morocco's
Medieterranean coast. They gained limited
autonomy in 1994.
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- People: Population Density - 475 per sq. mi.
- Ethnic Groups - German (65%); French (18%); Italian (10%); Romansch (1%)
- Languages - German, French, Italian, Romansch - all official
- Religions - Roman Catholic (46.1%); Protestant (40%)
- Geography: Area - 15,300 sq. mi.
- Neighbors - France, Italy, Austria, Germany
- Government: Type - Federal Republic
- Head of Government - The president is elected by the Federal Assembly to a non- renewable 1- year term
- Capital - Bern - administrative; Lausanne - judicial
- Local Divisions - 20 full cantons, 6 half cantons
- Spending - (Defense) $2.8 bil./ $34.89 bil.
- Economy: Industries - Machinery, chemicals, precision instruments, watches, textiles, foodstuffs, banking
- Minerals and Other Resources - Salt, hydropower potential, timber
- Arable Land - 10%
- Labor - 67% services; 28% manu. and const.
- Per Capita GNP - $27,100
- Imports and Exports - $99 bil. and $98.6 bil.
- Major Trading Partners - EU
- Communications: Telephones - 5,158,000 main lines
- Radios - 990 per 1,000 people
- Televisions - 536 per 1,000 people
- Social Services: Infant Mortality - 4.48 per 1,000
- Life Expectancy at Birth - 76.85 - male; 82.76 - female
- Natural Population Increase - .14%
- Literacy - 100%
- International Organization Memberships: Many UN specialized agencies (though not a member), EFTA, OECD, OSCE
- National Website
- Swiss Embassy
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- People: Population Density - 777 per sq. mi.
- Ethnic Groups - Sinhalese (74%); Tamil (18%); Moor (7%)
- Languages - Sinhalese (official); Tamil, English
- Religions - Buddhist (69%); Hindu (15%); Christian (8%); Muslim (8%)
- Geography: Area - 25,000 sq. mi.
- Neighbors - India
- Government: Type - Republic
- Head of Government - Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake (since Aug. 10, 2000)
- Capital - Colombo (690,000)
- Local Divisions - 8 provinces
- Spending - (Defense) $700 mil./ $4.2 bil.
- Economy: Industries - Clothing, agric., processing, oil refining, textiles
- Minerals and Other Resources - Graphite, limestone, gems, phosphates, forests, rubber
- Arable Land - 14%
- Labor - 45% services; 38% agric.
- Per Capita GNP - $2,600
- Imports and Exports - $5.3 bil. and $4.7 bil.
- Major Trading Partners - US, Japan, India, UK
- Communications: Telephones - 767,400 sq. mi.
- Radios - 210 per 1,000 people
- Televisions - 91 per 1,000 people
- Social Services: Infant Mortality - 16.08 per 1,000
- Life Expectancy at Birth - 69.85 - male; 74.73 - female
- Natural Population Increase - 1.02%
- Literacy - 88%
- International Organization Memberships: UN (FAO, IBRD, ILO, IMF, IMO, WHO, WTrO), the Commonwealth
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- People: Population Density - 236 per sq. mi.
- Ethnic Groups - Arab (90%)
- Languages - Arabic - official; Kurdish, Armenian
- Religions - Sunni Muslim (74%); other Muslim (16%); Christian (10%)
- Geography: Area - 71,000 sq. mi.
- Neighbors - Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Turkey
- Government: Type - Republic (under military regime)
- Head of Government - Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa Mero (since Mar. 13, 2000)
- Capital - Damascus (2,335,000)
- Local Divisions - 14 provinces
- Spending - (Defense) $1.8 bil./ $4.2 bil.
- Economy: Industries - Oil prod., textiles, food processing, tobacco, phosphate mining
- Minerals and Other Resources - Oil, phospahtes, chrome, manganese, asphalt, iron, wool, dairy prod.
- Arable Land - 28%
- Labor - 40% agric.; 40% services; 20% ind.
- Per Capita GNP - $2,500
- Imports and Exports - $3.2 bil. and $3.3 bil.
- Major Trading Partners - Germany, Ukraine, Turkey, Italy
- Communications: Telephones - 1,675,000 main lines
- Radios - 211 per 1,000 people
- Televisions - 49 per 1,000 people
- Social Services: Infant Mortality - 33.8 per 1,000
- Life Expectancy at Birth - 67.63 - male; 69.98 - female
- Natural Population Increase - 2.54%
- Literacy - 79%
- International Organization Memberships: UN (FAO, IBRD, ILO, IMF, IMO, WHO), AL
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- People: Population Density - 39 per sq. mi.
- Ethnic Groups - Black (52%); Arab (39%); Beja (6%)
- Languages - Arabic - official; Nubjan, Ta Bedawie
- Religions - Sunni Muslim (70%); indigenous beliefs (25%)
- Geography: Area - 916,300 sq. mi.
- Neighbors - Egypt, Libya, Chad, Central African Republic, Cong, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea
- Government: Type - Republic with strong military influence
- Head of Government - Presdient General Omar Hassan Ahmas Al Bashir (since June 30, 1989)
- Capital - Khartoum (2,731,000)
- Local Divisions - 26 states
- Spending - (Defense) $425 mil./ $1.5 bil.
- Economy: Industries - Cotton ginning, textiles, cement
- Minerals and Other Resources - Petroleum, iron, chromium, copper
- Arable Land - 5%
- Labor - 80% agric.; 10% ind. and commerce; 6% gov't
- Per Capita GNP - $940
- Imports and Exports - $1.4 bil. and $580 mil.
- Major Trading Partners - China, France, UK, Saudi Arabia, Italy
- Communications: Telephones - 386,800 main lines
- Radios - 182 per 1,000 people
- Televisions - 8.2 per 1,000 people
- Social Services: Infant Mortality - 68.67 per 1,000
- Life Expectancy at Birth - 55.85 - male; 58.08 - female
- Natural Population Increase - 2.79%
- Literacy - 46%
- International Organization Memberships: UN (FAO, IBRD, ILO, IMF, IMO, WHO), AL, OAU
- National Website
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- People: Population Density - 1,798 per sq. mi.
- Ethnic Groups - Taiwanese (84%); mainland Chinese (14%)
- Languages - Mandarin Chinese - offixial; Taiwanese
- Religions - Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian (93%); Christian (5%)
- Geography: Area - 12,400 sq. mi.
- Neighbors - China
- Government: Type - Democracy
- Head of Government - Prime Minister Chang Chun-hsiung (since Oct. 4, 2000)
- Capital - Taipei (2,595,699)
- Local Divisions - 16 counties, 5 municipalities, 2 special municipalities
- Spending - (Defense) $12.8 bil./ $55 bil.
- Economy: Industries - Textiles, clothing, electronics, processed foods, chemicals
- Minerals and Other Resources - Coal, gas, limestone, marble
- Arable Land - 24%
- Labor - 55% services; 37% ind.; 8% agric.
- Per Capita GNP - $16,100
- Imports and Exports - $101.7 bil. and $122.1 bil.
- Major Trading Partners - US, Japan, EU/ Europe, Hong Kong
- Communications: Telephones - 12,642,200 main lines
- Radios - 402 per 1,000 people
- Televisions - 327 per 1,000 people
- Social Services: Infant Mortality - 6.93 per 1,000
- Life Expectancy at Birth - 73.81 - male; 79.51 - female
- Natural Population Increase - .83%
- Literacy - 94%
- International Organization Memberships: APEC
- National Website
- External Territories
- Penghu Isls. Lies between Taiwan and mainland China.
(Area: 49 sq. mi.; Pop: 90,142)
- Quemoy and Matsu Lies just off the mainland.
(Pop: 53,286)
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- People: Population Density - 7 per sq. mi.
- Ethnic Groups - Hindustani (37%); Creole (31%); Javanese (15%)
- Languages - Dutch - official; Sranang Tongo, English, Hindustani
- Religions - Hindu (27%); Protestant (25%); Roman Catholic (23%); Muslim (20%)
- Geography: Area - 62,300 sq. mi.
- Neighbors - Guyana, Brazil, French Guiana
- Government: Type - Republic
- Head of Government - President Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan (since Aug. 12, 2000)
- Capital - Paramaribo (since 289,000)
- Local Divisions - 10 districts
- Spending - (Defense) $11 mil./ $403 mil.
- Economy: Industries - Aluminum, mining, food processing
- Minerals and Other Resources - Kaolin, bauxite, gold, forests, fish, shrimp
- Arable Land - NA
- Labor - NA
- Per Capita GNP - $3,400
- Imports and Exports - $461.4 mil. and $406.1 mil.
- Major Trading Partners - US, Norway, Netherlands
- Communications: Telephones - 75,300 sq. mi.
- Radios - 719 per 1,000 people
- Televisions - 146 per 1,000 people
- Social Services: Infant Mortality - 24.27 per 1,000
- Life Expectancy at Birth - 68.97 - male; 74.42 - female
- Natural Population Increase - 1.49%
- Literacy - 93%
- International Organization Memberships: UN (FAO, IBRD, ILO, IMF, IMO, WHO, WTrO), Caricom, OAS
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- People: Population Density - 119 per sq. mi.
- Ethnic Groups - Tajik (65%); Uzbek (25%)
- Languages - Tajik - official; Russian
- Religions - Sunni Muslim (80%)
- Geography: Area - 55,200 sq. mi.
- Neighbors - Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Afghanistan
- Government: Type - Republic
- Head of Government - Akil Akilov (since Dec. 20, 1999)
- Capital - Dushanbe (523,000)
- Local Divisions - 2 viloyates, 1 autonomous viloyat
- Spending - (Defense) $18 mil./ NA
- Economy: Industries - Aluminum, cement
- Minerals and Other Resources - Oil, uranium, mercury, coal, lead, zinc
- Arable Land - 6%
- Labor - 50% agric. and forestry; 30% services; 20% ind.
- Per Capita GNP - $1,020
- Imports and Exports - $770 mil. and $634 mil.
- Major Trading Partners - Netherlands, Uzbekistan, Switzerland
- Communications: Telephones - 218,500 main lines
- Radios - NA
- Televisions - 259 per 1,000 people
- Social Services: Infant Mortality - 116.09 per 1,000
- Life Expectancy at Birth - 61.09 - male; 67.42 - female
- Natural Population Increase - 2.47%
- Literacy - 100%
- International Organization Memberships: UN (FAo, IBRD, ILO, IMF, WHO), CIS, OSCE
- National Website
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