Chapter 53
Electricity - capacity: 10.32 million kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 25.14 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 3,716 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: fresh vegetables; poultry
Exports: total value : $197.2 billion (including reexports; f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: clothing, textiles, yarn and fabric, footwear, electrical appliances, watches and clocks, toys partners: China 33%, US 22%, Japan 6%, Germany 4%, UK 3%, Singapore 3% (1995)
Imports: total value: $217.2 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, transport equipment, raw materials, semimanufactures, petroleum; a large share is reexported partners: China 36%, Japan 15%, Taiwan 9%, US 8%, Singapore 5%, South Korea 5% (1995)
Debt - external: none (1996)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 Hong Kong dollar (HK$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Hong Kong dollars (HK$) per US$ - 7.730 (1996), 7.800 (1995), 7.800 (1994), 7.800 (1993), 7.741 (1992); note - linked to the US dollar at the rate of about 7.8 HK$ per 1 US$
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Hong Kong:Communications
Telephones: 3.31 million (1996)
Telephone system: modern facilities provide excellent domestic and international services domestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic network international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China; access to 5 international submarine cables providing connections to ASEAN member nations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: 3 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (British Broadcasting Corporation repeater 1; British Forces Broadcasting Service repeater 1)
Televisions: 1.75 million (1992 est.)
@Hong Kong:Transportation
Railways: total : 34 km standard gauge: 34 km 1.435-m gauge (1996 est.) note: also has 43 km of metro with 38 stations
Highways: total: 1,717 km paved : 1,717 km unpaved: 0 km (1995 est.)
Ports and harbors: Hong Kong
Merchant marine: total: 221 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,908,237 GRT/13,580,012 DWT ships by type: bulk 124, cargo 31, combination bulk 4, combination ore/oil 2, container 38, liquefied gas tanker 2, multifunction large load carrier 2, oil tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 3 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 15 countries among which are UK 50, South Africa 12, Belgium 10, China 9, Japan 8, Bermuda 5, US 5, Israel 4, Germany 3, and Switzerland 3; Hong Kong owns an additional 498 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 18,810,794 DWT that operate under the registries of The Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Cyprus, Liberia, Malta, Panama, Philippines, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Vanuatu
Airports: 2 (1996 est.) note: new international airport under construction and will open in 1998
Airports - with paved runways: total : 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Headquarters of British Forces, Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force, Royal Hong Kong Police Force
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,884,488 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 1,427,567 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 46,601 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $207 million (FY92/93); note - this represents 65% of the total cost of defending the colony, the remainder being paid by the UK
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 0.2% (FY92/93)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK until 1 July 1997, when China will assume command
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: a hub for Southeast Asian heroin trade; transshipment and money-laundering center; increasing indigenous amphetamine abuse ______________________________________________________________________
HOWLAND ISLAND
(territory of the US)
@Howland Island:Geography
Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates: 0 48 N, 176 38 W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 1.6 sq km land : 1.6 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 6.4 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea : 12 nm
Climate: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain: low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef; depressed central area
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point : unnamed location 3 m
Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops : 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 5% other: 95%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Environment - current issues: no natural fresh water resources
Environment - international agreements: party to : NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography - note: almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife; feral cats
@Howland Island:People
Population: uninhabited note: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit only and generally restricted to scientists and educators
@Howland Island:Government
Country name: conventional long form : none conventional short form: Howland Island
Data code: HQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System
National capital: none; administered from Washington, DC
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
Economy
Economy - overview: no economic activity
@Howland Island:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one boat landing area along the middle of the west coast
Airports: airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling stop on the round-the-world flight of Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan - they left Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never seen again; the airstrip is no longer serviceable
Transportation - note: Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast that was partially destroyed during World War II, but has since been rebuilt; named in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart
Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________
HUNGARY
@Hungary:Geography
Location: Central Europe, northwest of Romania
Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 93,030 sq km land: 92,340 sq km water: 690 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries: total: 2,009 km border countries: Austria 366 km, Croatia 329 km, Romania 443 km, Serbia and Montenegro 151 km (all with Serbia), Slovakia 515 km, Slovenia 102 km, Ukraine 103 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on the Slovakian border
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Tisza River 78 m highest point: Kekes 1,014 m
Natural resources: bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils
Land use: arable land: 51% permanent crops : 2% permanent pastures: 13% forests and woodland: 19% other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,060 sq km (1993 est.)
Environment - current issues: an early-1996 government study identified 179 areas that suffer from air pollution, 54 areas with polluted soil, and 32 areas with polluted underground water; the study estimated clean-up costs at $350 million, but the 1996 government budget allocated only about $7 million for this purpose
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography - note: landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between Ukraine and Mediterranean basin
@Hungary:People
Population: 10,232,404 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 924,864; female 881,728) 15-64 years: 68% (male 3,419,485; female 3,541,823) 65 years and over: 14% (male 549,091; female 915,413) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.25% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 10.73 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 13.67 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.48 years male : 66.06 years female: 75.13 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.47 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun : Hungarian(s) adjective: Hungarian
Ethnic groups: Hungarian 89.9%, Gypsy 4%, German 2.6%, Serb 2%, Slovak 0.8%, Romanian 0.7%
Religions: Roman Catholic 67.5%, Calvinist 20%, Lutheran 5%, atheist and other 7.5%
Languages: Hungarian 98.2%, other 1.8%
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female : 98% (1980 est.)
@Hungary:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Hungary conventional short form: Hungary local long form: Magyar Koztarsasag local short form: Magyarorszag
Data code: HU
Government type: republic
National capital: Budapest
Administrative divisions: 19 counties (megyek, singular - megye), 20 urban counties* (singular - megyei varos), and 1 capital city** (fovaros); Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Bekescsaba*, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Budapest**, Csongrad, Debrecen*, Dunaujvaros*, Eger*, Fejer, Gyor*, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves, Hodmezovasarhely*, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Kaposvar*, Kecskemet*, Komarom-Esztergom, Miskolc*, Nagykanizsa*, Nograd, Nyiregyhaza*, Pecs*, Pest, Somogy, Sopron*, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Szeged*, Szekesfehervar*, Szolnok*, Szombathely*, Tatabanya*, Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Veszprem*, Zala, Zalaegerszeg*
Independence: 1001 (unification by King Stephen I)
National holiday: St. Stephen's Day (National Day), 20 August (commemorates the coronation of King Stephen in 1000 AD)
Constitution: 18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949, revised 19 April 1972; 18 October 1989 revision ensured legal rights for individuals and constitutional checks on the authority of the prime minister and also established the principle of parliamentary oversight
Legal system: in process of revision, moving toward rule of law based on Western model
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Arpad GONCZ (since 3 August 1990; previously interim president since 2 May 1990) head of government : Prime Minister Gyula HORN (since 15 July 1994) cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a four-year term; election last held 19 June 1995 (next to be held NA 1999); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president election results: Arpad GONCZ elected president; a total of 335 votes were cast by the National Assembly, Arpad GONCZ received 259; Gyula HORN elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Orszaggyules (386 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a system of proportional and direct representation to serve four-year terms) elections : last held on 8 and 29 May 1994 (next to be held May 1998) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MSzP 209, SzDSz 70, MDF 37, FKgP 26, KDNP 22, FiDeSz 20, other 2
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the National Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Hungarian Democratic Forum or MDF [Sandor LEZSAK, chairman]; Independent Smallholders or FKgP [Jozsef TORGYAN, president]; Hungarian Socialist Party or MSzP [Gyula HORN, president]; Christian Democratic People's Party or KDNP [Gyorgy GICZY, president]; Federation of Young Democrats or FiDeSz [Viktor ORBAN, chairman]; Alliance of Free Democrats or SzDSz [Gabor KUNCZE, chairman]; Hungarian Democratic People's Party or MDNP [Ivan SZABO, chairman] note: the Hungarian Socialist (Communist) Workers' Party or MSzMP renounced Communism and became the Hungarian Socialist Party or MSzP in October 1989; there is still a small MMP (Communist Party); the MDNP was formed in March 1996 by breakaway members of the Hungarian Democratic Forum
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UNU, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Gyorgy BANLAKI chancery: 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 362-6730 FAX : [1] (202) 966-8135 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Donald M. BLINKEN embassy: V. Szabadsag Ter 12, Budapest mailing address: American Embassy Budapest, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5270 telephone : [36] (1) 267-4400, 269-9331 FAX: [36] (1) 269-9326
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green
Economy
Economy - overview: Hungary probably had the most Western-oriented economy in East Europe before the transition to a market system began in 1990, and Budapest made good progress in the initial years of transition. The reform process slowed in 1993-94, however, in part because of the May 1994 elections and the resulting change in government. By 1994 the privatization of state firms had ground to a halt, while both the budget and current account deficits soared to unsustainable levels - about 8% and 10% of GDP, respectively. The situation improved sharply in 1995: an austerity program introduced in March reduced both deficits; and a renewed privatization effort later in the year resulted in more than $3 billion worth of sales of state firms to foreign investors - money used mostly to reduce Hungary's large foreign debt. Real GDP increased 2.9% in 1994 - following several years of steep decline - and about 1.5% in 1995 and only 0.5% in 1996. Unemployment reached 14% in early 1993 before gradually falling back to 11% in 1996. Inflation has oscillated; it reached 40% in mid-1991, dropped to 17% in early 1994, jumped back to 31% by mid-1995, and settled at 20% in 1996. Prospects for 1997 and 1998 are good compared with the situation earlier. Most forecasters expect 2% to 3% GDP growth in 1997 and slightly higher growth in 1998. Inflation and unemployment are edging down. With the government still committed to reform, both the budget and current account deficits are at IMF target levels - about 4% of GDP. Budapest also is making good progress in restructuring the pension, health, tax, education, and other systems as part of the effort to decrease the role of government. This dramatic shift in economic policy was rewarded in 1996 by the IMF, which finally signed the standby agreement Budapest had sought, and by the OECD, which welcomed Hungary as a member.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $74.7 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 0.5% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $7,500 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 7.3% industry : 31.9% services: 60.8% (1994)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 20% (1996 est.)
Labor force: total: 6.2 million (1996) by occupation: services 58.7%, industry 34.7%, agriculture 6.6 (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 11% (1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $10.2 billion expenditures : $11 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)
Industries: mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods, textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor vehicles
Industrial production growth rate: 2% (1996 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 6.98 million kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 31.63 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 3,200 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, sunflower seed, potatoes, sugar beets; pigs, cattle, poultry, dairy products
Exports: total value: $14.2 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: raw materials 39.5%, consumer goods 25.0%, agriculture and food products 21.8%, machinery and equipment 11.3%, fuels and electricity 2.4% (1995) partners : EU 63.3% (Germany 28.8%, Austria 10.0%), Eastern Europe 19.7%, Russia 10.7% (1995)
Imports: total value : $16.8 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: raw materials 42.3%, consumer goods 20.9%, machinery and equipment 20.1%, fuels and electricity 10.8%, agricultural and food products 5.9% (1995) partners: EU 61.6% (Germany 23.6%, Austria 11.9%), Eastern Europe 22.2%, Russia 14.7% (1995)
Debt - external: $27.5 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $136 million (1993) note : assistance received from OECD countries and international organizations, $3,700 million (1990-93)
Currency: 1 forint (Ft) = 100 filler
Exchange rates: forints per US$1 - 166.100 (January 1997), 152.647 (1996), 125.681 (1995),105.160 (1994), 91.933 (1993), 78.988 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Hungary:Communications
Telephones: 2.16 million (1 January 1996) - there are 21.1 per 100 inhabitants, 54.1 per 100 households; mobile telephone services are used by 267,000 subscribers
Telephone system: 14,213 telex lines; automatic telephone network based on microwave radio relay system; the average waiting time for telephones is expected to drop to one year by the end of 1997 (down from over 10 years in the early 1990's); note - the former state-owned telecommunications firm MATAV - now privatized and managed by a US/German consortium - has ambitious plans to upgrade the inadequate system, including a contract with the German firm Siemens and the Swedish firm Ericsson to provide 600,000 new phone lines during 1996-98 domestic : microwave radio relay international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 32, FM 15, shortwave 0
Radios: 6 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 41 (Russian repeaters 8)
Televisions: 4.38 million (1993 est.)
@Hungary:Transportation
Railways: total: 7,619 km broad gauge: 35 km 1.524-m gauge standard gauge: 7,408 km 1.435-m gauge (2,216 km electrified; 1,236 km double track) narrow gauge : 176 km 0.760-m gauge (1995) note: Hungry and Austria jointly manage the cross-border standard-gauge railway between Gyor, Sopron, Ebenfurti, and Vasut, a distance of about 100 km
Highways: total: 158,633 km paved: 69,957 km (including 378 km of expressways) unpaved: 88,676 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 1,622 km (1988)
Pipelines: crude oil 1,204 km; natural gas 4,387 km (1991)
Ports and harbors: Budapest, Dunaujvaros
Merchant marine: total: 11 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 51,076 GRT/67,498 DWT (1996 est.)
Airports: 78 (1994 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total : 14 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (1994 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 64 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m : 34 (1994 est.)
Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Guard, Territorial Defense
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,631,781 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males : 2,099,109 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 78,828 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $550 million (1996)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.5% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Gabcikovo Dam dispute with Slovakia
Illicit drugs: major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and cannabis and transit point for South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; limited producer of precursor chemicals, particularly for amphetamines and methamphetamines ______________________________________________________________________
ICELAND
@Iceland:Geography
Location: Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK
Geographic coordinates: 65 00 N, 18 00 W
Map references: Arctic Region
Area: total: 103,000 sq km land: 100,250 sq km water: 2,750 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Kentucky
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 4,988 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone : 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers
Terrain: mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,119 m
Natural resources: fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops : 0% permanent pastures: 23% forests and woodland: 1% other: 76% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: earthquakes and volcanic activity
Environment - current issues: water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note: strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe
@Iceland:People
Population: 269,697 (July 1997 est.) note: population data estimates based on average growth rate may differ slightly from official population data because of volatile migration rates
Age structure: 0-14 years: 24% (male 32,931; female 31,390) 15-64 years: 64% (male 87,993; female 86,107) 65 years and over: 12% (male 14,107; female 17,169) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.47% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 15.35 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 6.93 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)