Chapter 85
Highways: total: 32,105 km paved: 26,005 km (including 2,044 km of expressways) unpaved: 6,100 km (1994 est.) note : many of the roads reported as paved may be graveled
Waterways: 8,575 km consisting of the Niger and Benue rivers and smaller rivers and creeks
Pipelines: crude oil 2,042 km; petroleum products 3,000 km; natural gas 500 km
Ports and harbors: Calabar, Lagos, Onne, Port Harcourt, Sapele, Warri
Merchant marine: total : 30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 353,422 GRT/600,389 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 12, chemical tanker 3, oil tanker 13, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1996 est.)
Airports: 65 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 51 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m : 17 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m : 12 (1996 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary Police Force
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 24,465,233 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 14,015,140 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males : 1,209,386 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $243 million (1995 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: less than 1% (1995 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: demarcation of international boundaries in vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; dispute with Cameroon over land and maritime boundaries in the vicinity of the Bakasi Peninsula has been referred to the ICJ
Illicit drugs: facilitates movement of heroin en route from Southeast and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and North America; increasingly a transit route for cocaine from South America intended for European, East Asian, and North American markets ______________________________________________________________________
NIUE
(free association with New Zealand)
@Niue:Geography
Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga
Geographic coordinates: 19 02 S, 169 52 W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 260 sq km land: 260 sq km water : 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 64 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
Terrain: steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point : unnamed location near Mutalau settlement 68 m
Natural resources: fish, arable land
Land use: arable land: 19% permanent crops : 8% permanent pastures: 4% forests and woodland: 19% other: 50% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons
Environment - current issues: traditional methods of burning brush and trees to clear land for agriculture have threatened soil supplies which are not naturally very abundant
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note: one of world's largest coral islands
@Niue:People
Population: 1,708 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years : NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: -3.65% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
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 total population: NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female : NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality: noun: Niuean(s) adjective: Niuean
Ethnic groups: Polynesian (with some 200 Europeans, Samoans, and Tongans)
Religions: Ekalesia Nieue (Niuean Church) 75% - a Protestant church closely related to the London Missionary Society, Latter-Day Saints 10%, other 15% (mostly Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventist)
Languages: Polynesian closely related to Tongan and Samoan, English
Literacy: definition: NA total population: 95% male: NA% female: NA%
@Niue:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Niue
Data code: NE
Dependency status: in free association with New Zealand; Niue fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs
Government type: self-governing parliamentary democracy
National capital: Alofi
Administrative divisions: none
Independence: on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand
National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty)
Constitution: 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)
Legal system: English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952); the queen and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner Warren SEARELL (since NA August 1993) head of government: Premier Frank Fakaotimanava LUI (acting premier since NA December 1992, premier since 12 March 1993) cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and three ministers elections: the queen is a hereditary monarch; premier elected by the Legislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held 23 February 1996 (next to be held NA March 1999) election results: Frank Fakaotimanava LUI elected premier; percent of Legislative Assembly vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (20 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; six elected from a common roll and 14 are village representatives) elections : last held 23 February 1996 (next to be held NA March 1999) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NPP 9, independents 11
Judicial branch: Appeal Court of New Zealand; High Court
Political parties and leaders: Niue Peoples Party (NPP), Robert REX, Jr.
International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
Flag description: yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars - a large one on a blue disk in the center and a smaller one on each arm of the bold red cross
Economy
Economy - overview: The economy is heavily dependent on aid from New Zealand as Niue has no indigenous export product. Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, with the shortfall made up by grants from New Zealand - the grants are used to pay wages to public employees. Niue has cut government expenditures in 1994-96, however, by reducing the public service by almost half. The agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists primarily of small factories to process passion fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is an important source of revenue. The island in recent years has suffered a serious loss of population because of migration of Niueans to New Zealand.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.4 million (1993 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,200 (1993 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 5% (1992)
Labor force: total: 1,000 (1981 est.) by occupation: most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $5.5 million expenditures: $6.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1985 est.)
Industries: tourism, handicrafts, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - capacity: NA kW
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - consumption per capita: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle
Exports: total value: $117,500 (f.o.b., 1989) commodities: canned coconut cream, copra, honey, passion fruit products, pawpaw, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts partners: NZ 89%, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia
Imports: total value: $4.1 million (c.i.f., 1989) commodities: food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs partners : NZ 59%, Fiji 20%, Japan 13%, Western Samoa, Australia, US
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $5.9 million from NZ (FY95/96)
Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.4247 (January 1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Niue:Communications
Telephones: 276 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: domestic : single-line telephone system connects all villages on island international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1987 est.)
Radios: 1,000
Television broadcast stations: 0 note: there is cable television
Televisions: 312 (1991 est.)
@Niue:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 229 km paved: 0 km unpaved: 229 km
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 1 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Police Force
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________
NORFOLK ISLAND
(territory of Australia)
@Norfolk Island:Geography
Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
Geographic coordinates: 29 02 S, 167 57 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total : 34.6 sq km land: 34.6 sq km water : 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 32 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: subtropical, mild, little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Bates 319 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops : NA% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: NA% other: 75% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons (especially May to July)
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified : NA
@Norfolk Island:People
Population: 2,194 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: -0.68% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
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 total population : NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality: noun: Norfolk Islander(s) adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)
Ethnic groups: descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New Zealander, Polynesians
Religions: Anglican 39%, Roman Catholic 11.7%, Uniting Church in Australia 16.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 4.4%, none 9.2%, unknown 16.9%, other 2.4% (1986)
Languages: English (official), Norfolk a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian
@Norfolk Island:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island conventional short form: Norfolk Island
Data code: NF
Dependency status: territory of Australia
Government type: NA
National capital: Kingston (administrative center); Burnt Pine (commercial center)
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
National holiday: Pitcairners Arrival Day Anniversary, 8 June (1856)
Constitution: Norfolk Island Act of 1979
Legal system: based on the laws of Australia, local ordinances and acts; English common law applies in matters not covered by either Australian or Norfolk Island law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952); the queen and Australia are represented by Administrator Alan Gardner KERR (since NA April 1992) head of government: Assembly President and Chief Minister David Earnest BUFFETT (since NA 1995) cabinet: Executive Council is made up of executive members of the Legislative Assembly elections : the queen is a hereditary monarch; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia; chief minister elected by the Legislative Assembly for a term of not more than three years; election last held NA May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1998) election results : David Earnest BUFFETT elected chief minister; percent of Legislative Assembly vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (9 seats; members elected by electors who have nine equal votes each but only four votes can be given to any one candidate; members serve three-year terms) elections: last held NA May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1998) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of Australia)
Flag description: three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in the slightly wider white band
Economy
Economy - overview: The primary economic activity is tourism, which has brought a level of prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific islands. The number of visitors has increased steadily over the years and reached 29,000 in FY88/89. Revenues from tourism have given the island a favorable balance of trade and helped the agricultural sector to become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry : NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate - consumer price index: NA%
Labor force: total : 1,395 (1991 est.) by occupation: tourism NA%, subsistence agriculture NA%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues : $4.6 million expenditures: $4.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92/93)
Industries: tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - capacity: NA kW
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - consumption per capita: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry
Exports: total value : $1.5 million (f.o.b., FY91/92) commodities: postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados partners: Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe
Imports: total value : $17.9 million (c.i.f., FY91/92) commodities: NA partners: Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid: none
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.2835 (January 1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
@Norfolk Island:Communications
Telephones: 1,087 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: radiotelephone service with Sydney (Australia)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 2,000 (1991 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0
Televisions: 900 (1991 est.)
@Norfolk Island:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 80 km paved: 53 km unpaved: 27 km
Ports and harbors: none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 1 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total : 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
(commonwealth in political union with the US)
@Northern Mariana Islands:Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 477 sq km land: 477 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
Area - comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,482 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October
Terrain: southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point : unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m
Natural resources: arable land, fish
Land use: arable land : 21% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: 19% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November)
Environment - current issues: contamination of groundwater on Saipan by raw sewage contributes to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development
Environment - international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography - note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean
@Northern Mariana Islands:People
Population: 53,552 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years : NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 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 total population: NA male(s)/female
Life expectancy at birth: total population : NA male: NA female: NA
Nationality: noun: NA adjective : NA
Ethnic groups: Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians, Caucasian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean
Religions: Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)
Languages: English, Chamorro, Carolinian note: 86% of population speaks a language other than English at home
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 97% female : 96% (1980 est.)
@Northern Mariana Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands conventional short form : Northern Mariana Islands
Data code: CQ
Dependency status: commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Territorial and International Affairs
Government type: commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature
National capital: Saipan
Administrative divisions: none
Independence: none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
National holiday: Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
Constitution: Covenant Agreement effective 3 November 1986 and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Legal system: based on US system except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch: chief of state: President of the US William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993) head of government: Governor Froilan C. TENORIO (since NA January 1994) and Lieutenant Governor Jesus C. BORJA (since NA January 1994) cabinet: NA elections : governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held in NA November 1993 (next to be held NA November 1997) election results: Froilan C. TENORIO elected governor of Northern Mariana Islands; percent of vote - Froilan C. TENORIO (Democrat) 56%
Legislative branch: bicameral Legislature consists of the Senate (9 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (18 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections : Senate - last held NA November 1993 (next to be held NA November 1997); House of Representatives - last held NA November 1995 (next to be held NA November 1997) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA (Republicans retained a majority of the seats); House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA (Republicans retained a majority of the seats) note : the Commonwealth does not have a nonvoting delegate in Congress; instead, it has an elected official or "resident representative" located in Washington, DC; seats by party - Republican 1 (Juan N. BABAUTA)
Judicial branch: Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District Court
Political parties and leaders: Republican Party, Benigno R. FITIAL, leader; Democratic Party, Benigno SABLAN, chairman
International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), SPC
Flag description: blue with a white five-pointed star superimposed on the gray silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center, surrounded by a wreath
Economy
Economy - overview: The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from the US. The rate of funding has declined as locally generated government revenues have grown. An agreement for the years 1986 to 1992 entitled the islands to $228 million for capital development, government operations, and special programs. Since 1992, funding has been extended one year at a time. The commonwealth received $27.7 million from FY93/94 through FY95/96. For FY96/97 through FY02/03, funding of $11 million will be provided for infrastructure, with an equal local match. A rapidly growing major source of income is the tourist industry, which now employs about 50% of the work force. Japanese tourists predominate. The agricultural sector is of minor importance and is made up of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Industry is small scale, mostly handicrafts, light manufacturing, and garment production.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $524 million (1994 est.) note: GDP numbers reflect US spending
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,500 (1994 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 6.5% (1994 est.)