Chapter 113
GDP: purchasing power parity - $54.7 billion (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)
GDP real growth rate: -1% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $2,370 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.7% monthly average (January-October 1995 est.)
Labor force: 8.234 million by occupation: agriculture and forestry 43%, industry and construction 22%, other 35% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 0.4% includes only officially registered unemployed; large numbers of underemployed workers (December 1995)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, natural gas
Industrial production growth rate: 0% (1995 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 11,690,000 kW production: 47.5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,130 kWh (1994)
Agriculture: cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock
Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for CIS consumption; government eradication programs; used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe
Exports: $3.1 billion (1995) commodities: cotton, gold, natural gas, mineral fertilizers, ferrous metals, textiles, food products partners: Russia, Ukraine, Eastern Europe, US
Imports: $2.9 billion (1995) commodities: grain, machinery and parts, consumer durables, other foods partners: principally other FSU countries, Czech Republic
External debt: $1.285 billion (of which $510 million to Russia)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $71 million (1993) note: commitments, $2,915 million ($135 million in disbursements) (1992-95)
Currency: introduced provisional som-coupons 10 November 1993 which circulated parallel to the Russian rubles; became the sole legal currency 31 January 1994; was replaced in July 1994 by the som currency
Exchange rates: soms per US$1 - 35.8 (end December 1995), 25 (yearend 1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation --------------
Railways: total: 3,460 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 3,460 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)
Highways: total: 78,400 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (1990 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 250 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural gas 810 km (1992)
Ports: Termiz
Airports: total: 261 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 6 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 14 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 8 with paved runways under 914 m: 5 with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 7 with unpaved runways under 914 m: 216 (1994 est.)
Communications --------------
Telephones: 1.458 million (1995 est.)
Telephone system: poorly developed domestic: NMT-450 analog cellular network established in Tashkent international: linked by landline or microwave radio relay with CIS member states and to other countries by leased connection via the Moscow international gateway switch; new Intelsat links to Tokyo and Ankara give Uzbekistan international access independent of Russian facilities; satellite earth stations - NA Orbita and NA Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note - there is at least one state-owned broadcast station of NA type
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 2
Televisions: NA
Defense -------
Branches: Army, Air and Air Defense, Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 5,672,621 males fit for military service: 4,623,960 males reach military age (18) annually: 231,293 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: 164 million soms, 3.7% of GDP (1993); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
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@Vanuatu -------
Map ---
Location: 16 00 S, 167 00 E -- Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Flag ----
Description: 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
Geography ---------
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates: 16 00 S, 167 00 E
Map references: Oceania
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 to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: claims Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia
Climate: tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds
Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Tabwemasana 1,877 m
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: a majority of the population does not have access to a potable and reliable supply of water natural hazards: tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanism causes minor earthquakes international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea
People ------
Population: 177,504 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 40% (male 36,409; female 35,105) 15-64 years: 57% (male 51,969; female 48,901) 65 years and over: 3% (male 2,802; female 2,318) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.17% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 30.57 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 8.84 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.21 male(s)/female all ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 64.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 60.13 years male: 58.27 years female: 62.09 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.01 children born/woman (1996 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 est.) total population: 53% male: 57% female: 48%
Government ----------
Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu conventional short form: Vanuatu former: New Hebrides
Data code: NH
Type of government: republic
Capital: Port-Vila
Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba
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) was elected for a five-year term by an electoral college consisting of Parliament and the presidents of the regional councils head of government: Prime Minister Maxime Carlot KORMAN (since 23 February 1996) was elected by Parliament from among its members; Deputy Prime Minister Donald KALPOKAS (since 23 February 1996) was appointed by the prime minister from among members of Parliament; note - Prime Minister VOHOR resigned 7 February 1996 when faced with a no-confidence vote in Parliament; Parliament then convened an extraordinary session and voted 30 to 20 to elect Maxime Carlot KORMAN as the new prime minister cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister, responsible to Parliament
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament: elections last held 30 November 1995 (next to be held NA November 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (50 total) UMP 17, VP 14, NUP 9, MPP 5, TU 2, Na-Griamel Movement 1, Friend Melanesian Party 1, independent 1; note - after the election, a coalition was formed by the Union of Moderate Parties and the National United Party to form a new government on 14 December 1995, but political party associations are fluid note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom and land
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice is appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition, three other justices are appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission
Political parties and leaders: Union of Moderate Parties (UMP), Serge VOHOR; National United Party (NUP), Walter LINI; Unity Front (UF) includes the Vanuatu Party (VP), Donald KALPOKAS, Melanesian Progressive Party (MPP), Barak SOPE, Tan Union (TU), Vincent BOULEKONE, and the Na-Griamel Movement, Frankie STEVENS; Friend Melanesian Party, leader NA; People's Democratic Party (PDP), Sethy REGENVANU; Independence Front (IF), Patrick CROWBY
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US: Vanuatu does not have an embassy in the US
US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; 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
Economy -------
Economic overview: The economy is based primarily on subsistence farming which provides a living for the bulk of the population. Fishing and tourism are the other mainstays of the economy, with 43,000 visitors in 1992. 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.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $210 million (1994 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 2% (1994 est.)
GDP per capita: $1,220 (1994 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 66,597 (1989 est.) by occupation: agriculture 65%, services 32%, industry 3% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $74.8 million expenditures: $76.1 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994 est.)
Industries: food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
Industrial production growth rate: 3.4% (1993 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 17,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 181 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, vegetables; fish
Exports: $24.6 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: copra, beef, cocoa, timber, coffee partners: EU 32%, Japan 29%, Australia 11%, New Caledonia 7% (1993)
Imports: $78.6 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: machines and vehicles, food and beverages, basic manufactures, raw materials and fuels, chemicals partners: Australia 41%, France 15%, NZ 11%, Japan 9%, Fiji 6% (1992)
External debt: $38.2 million (yearend 1993)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 vatu (VT) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: vatu (VT) per US$1 - 114.40 (January 1996), 112.11 (1995), 116.41 (1994), 121.58 (1993), 113.39 (1992), 111.68 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation --------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,021 km paved: 238 km unpaved: 783 km (1987 est.)
Ports: Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo)
Merchant marine: total: 112 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,587,286 GRT/2,173,970 DWT ships by type: bulk 38, cargo 29, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk 1, container 3, liquefied gas tanker 5, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 6, refrigerated cargo 16, vehicle carrier 10 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 20 countries among which are Japan 37, US 19, Netherlands 10, Greece 6, Hong Kong 6, China 4, Canada 4, UAE 3, Russia 2, and Australia 2 (1995 est.)
Airports: total: 31 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 17 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 11 (1995 est.)
Communications --------------
Telephones: 3,000 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 2,000 (1992 est.)
Defense -------
Branches: no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF; includes the paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force or VMF)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: NA males fit for military service: NA
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
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@Venezuela ---------
Map ---
Location: 8 00 N, 66 00 W -- Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana
Flag ----
Description: 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
Geography ---------
Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 66 00 W
Map references: South America
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 border countries: 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 the 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 ======================================================================
@Vietnam -------
Map ---
Location: 16 00 N, 106 00 E -- Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, between China and Cambodia
Flag ----
Description: red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center
Geography ---------
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, between China and Cambodia
Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N, 106 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
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 border countries: 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 to the edge of the 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 in the South China Sea 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 in the South China Sea occupied by China but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; offshore islands and sections of boundary with Cambodia are in dispute
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 lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Ngoc Linh 3,143 m
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: logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices are contributing to deforestation; soil degradation; water pollution and overfishing threatening marine life populations; inadequate supplies of potable water because of groundwater contamination natural hazards: occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban
People ------
Population: 73,976,973 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 36% (male 13,739,304; female 12,988,929) 15-64 years: 59% (male 20,956,735; female 22,448,944) 65 years and over: 5% (male 1,548,513; female 2,294,548) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.57% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 23 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 6.95 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 38.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.02 years male: 64.69 years female: 69.48 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.69 children born/woman (1996 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, Islam, Protestant
Languages: Vietnamese (official), French, Chinese, English, Khmer, tribal languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 93.7% male: 96.5% female: 91.2%
Government ----------
Name of country: 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
Data code: VM
Type of government: Communist state
Capital: Hanoi
Administrative divisions: 50 provinces (tinh, singular and plural), 3 municipalities* (thu do, 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-Hue, 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) was elected for a five-year term by the National Assembly from among its members head of government: Prime Minister Vo Van KIET (since 9 August 1991) was appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly; First Deputy Prime Minister Phan Van KHAI (since 10 August 1991) and Deputy Prime Ministers Nguyen KHANH (since NA February 1987) and Tran Duc LUONG (since NA February 1987) were appointed by the prime minister cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president on proposal of the prime minister and ratification of the National Assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Quoc-Hoi): elections last held 19 July 1992 (next to be held NA July 1997); results - CPV is the only party; seats - (395 total) CPV or CPV-approved 395
Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court, chief justice is elected for a five-year term by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president
Political parties and leaders: only party - Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), DO MUOI, general secretary
International organization participation: ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, Mekong Group, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim Le Van BANG chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036, Suite 501 telephone: [1] (202) 861-0737 FAX: [1] (202) 861-0917 note: on 11 July 1995, President CLINTON announced the normalization of diplomatic relations with Vietnam; the liaison offices in both countries were upgraded to full embassies on 5 August 1995
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires L. Desaix ANDERSON embassy: 7 Lang Ha Road, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi mailing address: PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002 telephone: [84] (4) 431500 FAX: [84] (4) 350484 note: on 11 July 1995, President CLINTON announced the normalization of diplomatic relations with Vietnam; the liaison offices in both countries were upgraded to full embassies on 5 August 1995
Flag: red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center
Economy -------