The 1993 CIA World Factbook

Chapter 27

Chapter 273,366 wordsPublic domain

Overview: The economy is based on service activities connected with the country's strategic location and status as a free trade zone in northeast Africa. Djibouti provides services as both a transit port for the region and an international transshipment and refueling center. It has few natural resources and little industry. The nation is, therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance to help support its balance of payments and to finance development projects. An unemployment rate of over 30% continues to be a major problem. Per capita consumption dropped an estimated 35% over the last five years because of recession and a high population growth rate (including immigrants and refugees). National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $358 million (1990 est.) National product real growth rate: 1.2% (1990 est.) National product per capita: $1,030 (1990 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.7% (1991 est.) Unemployment rate: over 30% (1989) Budget: revenues $170 million; expenditures $203 million, including capital expenditures of $70 million (1991 est.) Exports: $186 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.) commodities: hides and skins, coffee (in transit) partners: Africa 50%, Middle East 40%, Western Europe 9% Imports: $360 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.) commodities: foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products partners: Western Europe 54%, Middle East 20%, Asia 19% External debt: $355 million (December 1990) Industrial production: growth rate 10.0% (1990); manufacturing accounts for 11% of GDP Electricity: 115,000 kW capacity; 200 million kWh produced, 580 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: limited to a few small-scale enterprises, such as dairy products and mineral-water bottling Agriculture: accounts for only 3% of GDP; scanty rainfall limits crop production to mostly fruit and vegetables; half of population pastoral nomads herding goats, sheep, and camels; imports bulk of food needs Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY78-89), $39 million; Western (non-US) countries, including ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $149 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $35 million Currency: 1 Djiboutian franc (DF) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Djiboutian francs (DF) per US$1 - 177.721 (fixed rate since 1973)

*Djibouti, Economy

Fiscal year: calendar year

*Djibouti, Communications

Railroads: the Ethiopian-Djibouti railroad extends for 97 km through Djibouti Highways: 2,900 km total; 280 km paved; 2,620 km improved or unimproved earth (1982) Ports: Djibouti Merchant marine: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,369 GRT/3,030 DWT Airports: total: 13 usable: 11 with permanent-surface runways: 2 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 5 Telecommunications: telephone facilities in the city of Djibouti are adequate as are the microwave radio relay connections to outlying areas of the country; international connections via submarine cable to Saudi Arabia and by satellite to other countries; one ground station each for Indian Ocean INTELSAT and ARABSAT; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV

*Djibouti, Defense Forces

Branches: Djibouti National Army (including Navy and Air Force), National Security Force (Force Nationale de Securite), National Police Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 97,943; fit for military service 57,187 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $26 million, NA% of GDP (1989)

*Dominica, Geography

Location: in the eastern Caribbean, about halfway between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago Map references: Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 750 km2 land area: 750 km2 comparative area: slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 148 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall Terrain: rugged mountains of volcanic origin Natural resources: timber Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 13% meadows and pastures: 3% forest and woodland: 41% other: 34% Irrigated land: NA km2 Environment: flash floods a constant hazard; occasional hurricanes

*Dominica, People

Population: 86,547 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 1.31% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 20.82 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 5.06 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: -2.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 10.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.72 years male: 73.89 years female: 79.71 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.03 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican Ethnic divisions: black, Carib Indians Religions: Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%), none 2%, unknown 1%, other 5% Languages: English (official), French patois Literacy: age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970) total population: 94% male: 94% female: 94% Labor force: 25,000 by occupation: agriculture 40%, industry and commerce 32%, services 28% (1984)

*Dominica, Government

Names: conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominica conventional short form: Dominica Digraph: DO Type: parliamentary democracy Capital: Roseau Administrative divisions: 10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter Independence: 3 November 1978 (from UK) Constitution: 3 November 1978 Legal system: based on English common law National holiday: Independence Day, 3 November (1978) Political parties and leaders: Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), (Mary) Eugenia CHARLES; Dominica Labor Party (DLP), Rosie DOUGLAS; United Workers Party (UWP), Edison JAMES Other political or pressure groups: Dominica Liberation Movement (DLM), a small leftist group Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: House of Assembly: last held 28 May 1990 (next to be held May 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (30 total; 9 appointed senators and 21 elected representatives) DFP 11, UWP 6, DLP 4 President: last held 20 December 1988 (next to be held December 1993); results - President Sir Clarence Augustus SEIGNORET was reelected by the House of Assembly Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State: President Sir Clarence Augustus SEIGNORET (since 19 December 1983) Head of Government: Prime Minister (Mary) Eugenia CHARLES (since 21 July 1980, elected for a third term 28 May 1990) Member of: ACCT, ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, LORCS, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US: there is no chancery in the US US diplomatic representation: no official presence since the Ambassador resides in Bridgetown (Barbados), but travels frequently to Dominica

*Dominica, Government

Flag: green with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white - the horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot encircled by 10 green five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)

*Dominica, Economy

Overview: The economy is dependent on agriculture and thus is highly vulnerable to climatic conditions. Agriculture accounts for about 30% of GDP and employs 40% of the labor force. Principal products include bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, and coconuts. In 1991, GDP grew by 2.1%. The tourist industry remains undeveloped because of a rugged coastline and the lack of an international airport. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $174 million (1991 est.) National product real growth rate: 2.1% (1991 est.) National product per capita: $2,100 (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (1991) Unemployment rate: 15% (1991) Budget: revenues $70 million; expenditures $84 million, including capital expenditures of $26 million (FY91 est.) Exports: $66.0 million (c.i.f., 1991) commodities: bananas, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges partners: UK 50%, CARICOM countries, US, Italy Imports: $110.0 million (c.i.f., 1991) commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals partners: US 27%, CARICOM, UK, Canada External debt: $87 million (1991) Industrial production: growth rate 4.5% in manufacturing (1988 est.); accounts for 18% of GDP Electricity: 7,000 kW capacity; 16 million kWh produced, 185 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes Agriculture: accounts for 26% of GDP; principal crops - bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts; bananas provide the bulk of export earnings; forestry and fisheries potential not exploited Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $120 million Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

*Dominica, Communications

Highways: 750 km total; 370 km paved, 380 km gravel and earth Ports: Roseau, Portsmouth Airports: total: 2 usable: 2 with permanent-surface runways: 2 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1 Telecommunications: 4,600 telephones in fully automatic network; VHF and UHF link to Saint Lucia; new SHF links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; broadcast stations - 3 AM, 2 FM, 1 cable TV

*Dominica, Defense Forces

Branches: Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force Manpower availability: NA Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

*Dominican Republic, Geography

Location: in the northern Caribbean Sea, about halfway between Cuba and Puerto Rico Map references: Central America and the Caribbean, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 48,730 km2 land area: 48,380 km2 comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire Land boundaries: total 275 km, Haiti 275 km Coastline: 1,288 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or the outer edge of continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 6 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation Terrain: rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed Natural resources: nickel, bauxite, gold, silver Land use: arable land: 23% permanent crops: 7% meadows and pastures: 43% forest and woodland: 13% other: 14% Irrigated land: 2,250 km2 (1989) Environment: subject to occasional hurricanes (July to October); deforestation Note: shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (western one-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)

*Dominican Republic, People

Population: 7,683,940 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 1.86% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 25.68 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 6.38 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: -0.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 53.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.98 years male: 65.87 years female: 70.21 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.89 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican Ethnic divisions: mixed 73%, white 16%, black 11% Religions: Roman Catholic 95% Languages: Spanish Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 83% male: 85% female: 82% Labor force: 2,300,000 to 2,600,000 by occupation: agriculture 49%, services 33%, industry 18% (1986)

*Dominican Republic, Government

Names: conventional long form: Dominican Republic conventional short form: none local long form: Republica Dominicana local short form: none Digraph: DR Type: republic Capital: Santo Domingo Administrative divisions: 29 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district* (distrito);, Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elias Pina, El, Seibo, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez Ramirez, San Cristobal, San Juan, San Pedro De Macoris, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Valverde Independence: 27 February 1844 (from Haiti) Constitution: 28 November 1966 Legal system: based on French civil codes National holiday: Independence Day, 27 February (1844) Political parties and leaders: Major parties: Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC), Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo; Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), Juan BOSCH Gavino; Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), Jose Franciso PENA Gomez; Independent Revolutionary Party (PRI), Jacobo MAJLUTA Minor parties: National Veterans and Civilian Party (PNVC), Juan Rene BEAUCHAMPS Javier; Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic (PLRD), Andres Van Der HORST; Democratic Quisqueyan Party (PQD), Elias WESSIN Chavez; National Progressive Force (FNP), Marino VINICIO Castillo; Popular Christian Party (PPC), Rogelio DELGADO Bogaert; Dominican Communist Party (PCD), Narciso ISA Conde; Dominican Workers' Party (PTD), Ivan RODRIGUEZ; Anti-Imperialist Patriotic Union (UPA), Ignacio RODRIGUEZ Chiappini; Alliance for Democracy Party (APD), Maximilano Rabelais PUIG Miller, Nelsida MARMOLEJOS, Vicente BENGOA note: in 1983 several leftist parties, including the PCD, joined to form the Dominican Leftist Front (FID); however, they still retain individual party structures Other political or pressure groups: Collective of Popular Organzations (COP), leader NA Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory or married persons regardless of age note: members of the armed forces and police cannot vote

*Dominican Republic, Government

Elections: Chamber of Deputies: last held 16 May 1990 (next to be held May 1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (120 total) PLD 44, PRSC 41, PRD 33, PRI 2 President: last held 16 May 1990 (next to be held May 1994); results - Joaquin BALAGUER (PRSC) 35.7%, Juan BOSCH Gavino (PLD) 34.4% Senate: last held 16 May 1990 (next to be held May 1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (30 total) PRSC 16, PLD 12, PRD 2 Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional) consists of an upper chamber or Senate (Senado) and lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados) Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema) Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government: President Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo (since 16 August 1986, fifth elected term began 16 August 1990); Vice President Carlos A. MORALES Troncoso (since 16 August 1986) Member of: ACP, CARICOM (observer), ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS, NAM (guest), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jose del Carmen ARIZA Gomez chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 332-6280 consulates general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulates: Charlotte Amalie (Virgin Islands), Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville, Minneapolis, Mobile, Ponce (Puerto Rico), and San Francisco US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Robert S. PASTORINO embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo mailing address: APO AA 34041-0008 telephone: (809) 541-2171 and 541-8100 FAX: (809) 686-7437 Flag: a centered white cross that extends to the edges, divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms is at the center of the cross

*Dominican Republic, Economy

Overview: The economy is largely dependent on trade; imported components average 60% of the value of goods consumed in the domestic market. Rapid growth of free trade zones has established a significant expansion of manufacturing for export, especially wearing apparel. Over the past decade, tourism has also increased in importance and is a major earner of foreign exchange and a source of new jobs. Agriculture remains a key sector of the economy. The principal commercial crop is sugarcane, followed by coffee, cotton, cocoa, and tobacco. Domestic industry is based on the processing of agricultural products, oil refining, minerals, and chemicals. Unemployment is officially reported at about 30%, but there is considerable underemployment. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $8.4 billion (1992 est.) National product real growth rate: 5% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $1,120 (1992 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: 30% (1992 est.) Budget: revenues $1.4 billion; expenditures $1.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.) Exports: $600 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: ferronickel, sugar, gold, coffee, cocoa partners: US 60%, EC 19%, Puerto Rico 8% (1990) Imports: $2 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals partners: US 50% External debt: $4.7 billion (1992 est.) Industrial production: growth rate -1.5% (1991); accounts for 20% of GDP Electricity: 2,283,000 kW capacity; 5,000 million kWh produced, 660 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco Agriculture: accounts for 15% of GDP and employs 49% of labor force; sugarcane is the most important commercial crop, followed by coffee, cotton, cocoa, and tobacco; food crops - rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; animal output - cattle, hogs, dairy products, meat, eggs; not self-sufficient in food Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY85-89), $575 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $655 million Currency: 1 Dominican peso (RD$) = 100 centavos

*Dominican Republic, Economy

Exchange rates: Dominican pesos (RD$) per US$1 - 12.7 (1992), 12.692 (1991), 8.525 (1990), 6.340 (1989), 6.113 (1988) Fiscal year: calendar year

*Dominican Republic, Communications

Railroads: 1,655 km total in numerous segments; 4 different gauges from 0.558 m to 1.435 m Highways: 12,000 km total; 5,800 km paved, 5,600 km gravel and improved earth, 600 km unimproved Pipelines: crude oil 96 km; petroleum products 8 km Ports: Santo Domingo, Haina, San Pedro de Macoris, Puerto Plata Merchant marine: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,587 GRT/1,165 DWT Airports: total: 36 usable: 30 with permanent-surface runways: 12 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 8 Telecommunications: relatively efficient domestic system based on islandwide microwave relay network; 190,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 120 AM, no FM, 18 TV, 6 shortwave; 1 coaxial submarine cable; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Dominican Republic, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,064,244; fit for military service 1,302,644; reach military age (18) annually 80,991 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $110 million, 0.7% of GDP (1993 est.)

*Ecuador, Geography

Location: Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator between Colombia and Peru Map references: South America, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 283,560 km2 land area: 276,840 km2 comparative area: slightly smaller than Nevada note: includes Galapagos Islands Land boundaries: total 2,010 km, Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km Coastline: 2,237 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: claims continental shelf between mainland and Galapagos Islands territorial sea: 200 nm International disputes: three sections of the boundary with Peru are in dispute Climate: tropical along coast becoming cooler inland Terrain: coastal plain (Costa), inter-Andean central highlands (Sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (Oriente) Natural resources: petroleum, fish, timber Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 3% meadows and pastures: 17% forest and woodland: 51% other: 23% Irrigated land: 5,500 km2 (1989 est.) Environment: subject to frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; periodic droughts Note: Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world

*Ecuador, People

Population: 10,461,072 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 2.07% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 26.54 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 5.8 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 40.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.61 years male: 67.09 years female: 72.25 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.19 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Ecuadorian(s) adjective: Ecuadorian Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Indian and Spanish) 55%, Indian 25%, Spanish 10%, black 10% Religions: Roman Catholic 95% Languages: Spanish (official), Indian languages (especially Quechua) Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 86% male: 88% female: 84% Labor force: 2.8 million by occupation: agriculture 35%, manufacturing 21%, commerce 16%, services and other activities 28% (1982)

*Ecuador, Government