Chapter 115
International organization participation: FZ, SPC
Diplomatic representation in US: none (overseas territory of France)
US diplomatic representation: none (overseas territory of France)
Flag: a white modified Maltese cross centered on a red background; the flag of France outlined in white on two sides is in the upper hoist quadrant; the flag of France is used for official occasions
Economy -------
Economic overview: The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with about 80% of the labor force earning its livelihood from agriculture (coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing. About 4% of the population is employed in government. Revenues come from French Government subsidies, licensing of fishing rights to Japan and South Korea, import taxes, and remittances from expatriate workers in New Caledonia. Wallis and Futuna imports food - particularly sugar, rice, and beef - fuel, clothing, machinery, and transport equipment, but its exports are negligible, consisting of copra and handicrafts.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $28.7 million (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: NA%
GDP per capita: $2,500 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: NA by occupation: agriculture, livestock, and fishing 80%, government 4% (est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $14.04 million expenditures: $14.04 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994 est.)
Industries: copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 1,200 kW production: 1 million kWh consumption per capita: 70 kWh (1990)
Agriculture: yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats
Exports: $370,000 (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: copra, handicrafts partners: NA
Imports: $13.5 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods, transportation equipment, fuel, clothing partners: France, Australia, New Zealand
External debt: $NA
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 91.00 (January 1996), 90.75 (1995), 100.94 (1994), 102.96 (1993), 96.24 (1992), 102.57 (1991); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation --------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 120 km (Ile Uvea 100 km, Ile Futuna 20 km) paved: 16 km (all on Ile Uvea) unpaved: 104 km (Ile Uvea 84 km, Ile Futuna 20 km)
Waterways: none
Ports: Leava, Mata-Utu
Merchant marine: total: 1 oil tanker (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 26,000 GRT/40,000 DWT (1995 est.)
Airports: total: 2 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications --------------
Telephones: 340 (1985 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 0
Televisions: NA
Defense -------
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of France
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@West Bank ---------
The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements ("the DOP"), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993, provides for a transitional period not exceeding five years of Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Permanent status negotiations began on 5 May 1996.
Map ---
Location: 32 00 N, 35 15 E -- Middle East, west of Jordan
Geography ---------
Location: Middle East, west of Jordan
Geographic coordinates: 32 00 N, 35 15 E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total area: 5,860 sq km land area: 5,640 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Delaware note: includes West Bank, Latrun Salient, and the northwest quarter of the Dead Sea, but excludes Mt. Scopus; East Jerusalem and Jerusalem No Man's Land are also included only as a means of depicting the entire area occupied by Israel in 1967
Land boundaries: total: 404 km border countries: Israel 307 km, Jordan 97 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation
Climate: temperate, temperature and precipitation vary with altitude, warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters
Terrain: mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west, but barren in east lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m highest point: Tall Asur 1,022 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: arable land: 27% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 32% forest and woodland: 1% other: 40%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA
Geographic note: landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal aquifers; there are 202 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the West Bank and 26 in East Jerusalem (August 1995 est.)
People ------
Population: 1,427,741 (July 1996 est.) note: in addition, there are 127,600 Israeli settlers in the West Bank and 153,700 in East Jerusalem (August 1995 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 45% (male 332,628; female 315,968) 15-64 years: 51% (male 368,180; female 362,880) 65 years and over: 4% (male 20,495; female 27,590) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 4.99% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 38.78 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 4.66 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 15.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 28.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.76 years male: 70.17 years female: 73.44 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.2 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: NA adjective: NA
Ethnic divisions: Palestinian Arab and other 83%, Jewish 17%
Religions: Muslim 75% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 17%, Christian and other 8%
Languages: Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers), English (widely understood)
Literacy: NA
Government ----------
Government note: Under the Israeli-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements ("the DOP"), Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, a Palestinian Legislative Council, elected in January 1996, as part of interim self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho has taken place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area. A transfer of powers and responsibilities in certain spheres for the rest of the West Bank has taken place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 29 August 1994 Agreement on Preparatory Transfer of Powers and Responsibilities. A transfer of powers and responsibilities in additional areas of the West Bank has taken place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28 September 1995 Interim Agreement. The DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility during the transitional period for external security and for internal security and public order of settlements and Israelis. Permanent status is to be determined through direct negotiations within five years.
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: West Bank
Data code: WE
Economy -------
Economic overview: Economic progress in the West Bank has been hampered by Israeli military administration and the effects of the Palestinian uprising (intifadah). Industries using advanced technology or requiring sizable investment have been discouraged by a lack of local capital and restrictive Israeli policies. Capital investment consists largely of residential housing, not productive assets that would enable local Palestinian firms to compete with Israeli industry. GDP has been substantially supplemented by remittances of workers employed in Israel and Persian Gulf states. Such transfers from the Gulf dropped after Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990. In the wake of the Persian Gulf crisis, many Palestinians have returned to the West Bank, increasing unemployment, and export revenues have dropped because of the decline of markets in Jordan and the Gulf states. The area's economic situation has worsened since Israel imposed stringent border restrictions in 1995 and 1996.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.7 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 3%-4% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $2,500 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 33% industry: 7% services: 60% (1995 est., includes Gaza Strip)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14% (1995 est.)
Labor force: NA by occupation: construction 28.2%, agriculture 21.8%, industry 14.5%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 12.6%, other services 22.9% (1991) note: excluding Israeli settlers
Unemployment rate: 25%-30% (1995 est.)
Budget: $NA
Industries: generally small family businesses that produce cement, textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have established some small-scale, modern industries in the settlements and industrial centers
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: NA kW production: NA kWh consumption per capita: NA kWh note: most electricity imported from Israel; East Jerusalem Electric Company buys and distributes electricity to Palestinians in East Jerusalem and its concession in the West Bank; the Israel Electric Company directly supplies electricity to most Jewish residents and military facilities; at the same time, some Palestinian municipalities, such as Nabulus and Janin, generate their own electricity from small power plants
Agriculture: olives, citrus and other fruits, vegetables; beef, dairy products
Exports: $116 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: olives, fruit, vegetables partners: Jordan, Israel
Imports: $791 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: food, consumer goods, construction materials partners: Jordan, Israel
External debt: $NA
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA note: $410 million (est.) disbursed from international aid pledged in 1995 (includes aid to Gaza Strip)
Currency: 1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot; 1 Jordanian dinar (JD) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 3.1295 (January 1996), 3.0113 (1995), 3.0111 (1994), 2.8301 (1993), 2.4591 (1992), 2.2791 (1991); Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1 - 0.7090 (January 1996), 0.7005 (1995), 0.6987 (1994), 0.6928 (1993), 0.6797 (1992), 0.6808 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year (since 1 January 1992)
Transportation --------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km note: small road network; Israelis have developed many highways to service Jewish settlements
Ports: none
Airports: total: 2 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications --------------
Telephones: NA note: 8% of Palestinian households have telephones (1992 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: NA note: Israeli company BEZEK is responsible for communication services in the West Bank
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA; note - 82% of Palestinian households have radios (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 note: 1 broadcast station is planned for Jericho
Televisions: NA; note - 54% of Palestinian households have televisions (1992 est.)
Defense -------
Branches: NA
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: NA males fit for military service: NA
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
======================================================================
@Western Sahara --------------
Map ---
Location: 24 30 N, 13 00 W -- Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco
Geography ---------
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco
Geographic coordinates: 24 30 N, 13 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area: total area: 266,000 sq km land area: 266,000 sq km comparative area: about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries: total: 2,046 km border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
Coastline: 1,110 km
Maritime claims: contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
International disputes: claimed and administered by Morocco, but sovereignty is unresolved and the UN is attempting to hold a referendum on the issue; the UN-administered cease-fire has been in effect since September 1991
Climate: hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew
Terrain: mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m highest point: unnamed location 463 m
Natural resources: phosphates, iron ore
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 19% forest and woodland: 0% other: 81%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment: current issues: sparse water and arable land natural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility international agreements: NA
People ------
Population: 222,631 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 2.46% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 46.51 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 18.02 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female all ages: NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: 145.82 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 47.01 years male: 46 years female: 48.34 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.85 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s) adjective: Sahrawian, Sahraouian
Ethnic divisions: Arab, Berber
Religions: Muslim
Languages: Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
Literacy: NA
Government ----------
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Western Sahara
Data code: WI
Type of government: legal status of territory and question of sovereignty unresolved; territory contested by Morocco and Polisario Front (Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), which in February 1976 formally proclaimed a government-in-exile of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR); territory partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania in April 1976, with Morocco acquiring northern two-thirds; Mauritania, under pressure from Polisario guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979; Morocco moved to occupy that sector shortly thereafter and has since asserted administrative control; the Polisario's government-in-exile was seated as an OAU member in 1984; guerrilla activities continued sporadically, until a UN-monitored cease-fire was implemented 6 September 1991
Capital: none
Administrative divisions: none (under defacto control of Morocco)
Executive branch: none
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in US: none
US diplomatic representation: none
Economy -------
Economic overview: Western Sahara, a territory poor in natural resources and having little rainfall, depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. Most of the food for the urban population must be imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan Government. Incomes and standards of living are substantially below the Moroccan level.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP real growth rate: NA%
GDP per capita: $NA
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 12,000 by occupation: animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: phosphate mining, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 60,000 kW production: 79 million kWh consumption per capita: 339 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by the nomads)
Exports: $NA commodities: phosphates 62% partners: Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts
Imports: $NA commodities: fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs partners: Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts
External debt: $NA
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1 - 8.607 (January 1996), 8.540 (1995), 9.203 (1994), 9.299 (1993), 8.538 (1992), 8.707 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation --------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 6,200 km paved: 0 km unpaved: 6,200 km
Ports: Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, El Aaiun
Airports: total: 12 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3 with paved runways under 914 m: 3 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications --------------
Telephones: 2,000
Telephone system: sparse and limited system domestic: NA international: tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 2
Televisions: NA
Defense -------
Branches: NA
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: NA males fit for military service: NA
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
======================================================================
@Western Samoa -------------
Map ---
Location: 13 35 S, 172 20 W -- Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Flag ----
Description: red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross constellation
Geography ---------
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 13 35 S, 172 20 W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total area: 2,860 sq km land area: 2,850 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 403 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; rainy season (October to March), dry season (May to October)
Terrain: narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mauga Silisili 1,857 m
Natural resources: hardwood forests, fish
Land use: arable land: 19% permanent crops: 24% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 47% other: 10%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment: current issues: soil erosion natural hazards: occasional typhoons; active volcanism international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
People ------
Population: 214,384 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 40% (male 43,540; female 42,185) 15-64 years: 56% (male 62,742; female 57,323) 65 years and over: 4% (male 4,089; female 4,505) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.37% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 31.12 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.75 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female all ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 34.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.73 years male: 66.35 years female: 71.24 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.93 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Western Samoan(s) adjective: Western Samoan
Ethnic divisions: Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians 7% (persons of European and Polynesian blood), Europeans 0.4%
Religions: Christian 99.7% (about one-half of population associated with the London Missionary Society; includes Congregational, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Latter-Day Saints, Seventh-Day Adventist)
Languages: Samoan (Polynesian), English
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1971 est.) total population: 97% male: 97% female: 97%
Government ----------
Name of country: conventional long form: Independent State of Western Samoa conventional short form: Western Samoa
Data code: WS
Type of government: constitutional monarchy under native chief
Capital: Apia
Administrative divisions: 11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua, Fa'asaleleaga, Gaga'emauga, Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga, Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano
Independence: 1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: National Day, 1 June (1962)
Constitution: 1 January 1962
Legal system: based on English common law and local customs; judicial review of legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Chief Susuga MALIETOA Tanumafili II (co-chief of state from 1 January 1962 until becoming sole chief of state 5 April 1963); upon his death, a new chief of state will be elected by the Legislative Assembly to serve a five-year term head of government: Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana (since 7 April 1988) was appointed by the chief of state with approval of the Legislative Assembly cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the chief of state with the prime minister's advice
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (Fono): elections last held 5 April 1991 (next to be held 26 April 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (47 total) HRPP 28, SNDP 18, independents 1 note: only matai (head of family) are able to run for the Legislative Assembly
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), TOFILAU Eti Alesana, chairman; Samoan National Development Party (SNDP), TAPUA Tamasese Efi, chairman; Samoan Progressive Conservative Party, LEOTA Ituau Ale; Samoa All People's Party (SAPP), Matatumua MAIMOAGA