Chapter 93
Terrain: mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m
Natural resources: some copper and nickel, potential for onshore and offshore oil
Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops : 5% permanent pastures: 26% forests and woodland: 16% other: 49% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 390 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: the recent drought has caused water levels in reservoirs to drop and prompted water rationing for more than one-half of the population
Environment - international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography - note: important location along the Mona Passage - a key shipping lane to the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north
@Puerto Rico:People
Population: 3,828,506 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 25% (male 485,782; female 463,226) 15-64 years: 65% (male 1,192,306; female 1,298,256) 65 years and over : 10% (male 170,170; female 218,766) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.93% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 17.21 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 7.87 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth : 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.49 years male : 70.04 years female: 79.22 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.08 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens) adjective: Puerto Rican
Ethnic groups: Hispanic
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant denominations and other 15%
Languages: Spanish, English
Literacy: definition : age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89% male: 90% female: 88% (1980 est.)
@Puerto Rico:Government
Country name: conventional long form : Commonwealth of Puerto Rico conventional short form: Puerto Rico
Data code: RQ
Dependency status: commonwealth associated with the US
Government type: commonwealth
National capital: San Juan
Administrative divisions: none (commonwealth associated with the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 78 municipalities
Independence: none (commonwealth associated with the US)
National holiday: US Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
Constitution: ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952; effective 25 July 1952
Legal system: based on Spanish civil code
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 Pedro ROSSELLO (since 2 January 1993) cabinet: NA elections : governor of Puerto Rico elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000) election results: Pedro ROSSELLO reelected governor of Puerto Rico; percent of vote - NA
Legislative branch: bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (28 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (54 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections : Senate - last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000); House of Representatives - last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 19, PPD 8, PIP 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 37, PPD 16, PIP 1 note: Puerto Rico elects one representative to the US House of Representatives; elections last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 1 (Carlos Romero BARCELO)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate; Superior Courts, justices appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate; Municipal Courts, justices appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate
Political parties and leaders: National Republican Party of Puerto Rico, Luis FERRE; Popular Democratic Party (PPD), Hector ACEVEDO; New Progressive Party (PNP), Pedro ROSSELLO; Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP), Ruben BERRIOS Martinez; Puerto Rican Communist Party (PCP), leader(s) unknown
Political pressure groups and leaders: Armed Forces for National Liberation (FALN); Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution; Boricua Popular Army (also known as the Macheteros); Armed Forces of Popular Resistance
International organization participation: Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), FAO (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, WCL, WFTU, WHO (associate), WToO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Flag description: five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a large white five-pointed star in the center; design based on the US flag
Economy
Economy - overview: Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region. A diverse industrial sector has surpassed agriculture as the primary locus of economic activity and income. Encouraged by duty-free access to the US and by tax incentives, US firms have invested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s. US minimum wage laws apply. Sugar production has lost out to dairy production and other livestock products as the main source of income in the agricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an important source of income for the island, with estimated arrivals of nearly 3.9 million tourists in 1993.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $31.6 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $8,200 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 5.1% (1996 est.)
Labor force: total: 1.3 million (1996) by occupation: government 22%, manufacturing 17%, trade 20%, construction 6%, communications and transportation 5%, other 30% (1993)
Unemployment rate: 14% (FY95/96 est.)
Budget: revenues : $5.1 billion expenditures: $5.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY94/95)
Industries: pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1994 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 4.47 million kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 16.82 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 4,231 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: livestock products, chickens; sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas
Exports: total value : $22.9 billion (f.o.b. 1996) commodities: pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment partners: US 88% (1995 est.)
Imports: total value: $19.1 billion (c.i.f. 1996) commodities: chemicals, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products partners : US 62% (1995 est.)
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid: none
Currency: 1 US dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
@Puerto Rico:Communications
Telephones: 1,166,231 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: modern system, integrated with that of the US by high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed data capability domestic: digital telephone system with about 1 million lines (1990 est.); cellular telephone service international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat; submarine cable to US
Radio broadcast stations: AM 50, FM 63, shortwave 0
Radios: 2.565 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 9 note: cable television available with US programs (1990 est.)
Televisions: 952,000 (1992 est.)
@Puerto Rico:Transportation
Railways: total: 96 km narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge, rural, narrow-gauge system for hauling sugarcane; no passenger service
Highways: total: 14,100 km paved : 14,100 km unpaved: 0 km (1995 est.
Ports and harbors: Guanica, Guayanilla, Guayama, Playa de Ponce, San Juan
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 22 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 20 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m : 7 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: paramilitary National Guard, Police Force
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________
QATAR
@Qatar:Geography
Location: Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 25 30 N, 51 15 E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 11,437 sq km land: 11,437 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries: total: 60 km border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km
Coastline: 563 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone : 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: desert; hot, dry; humid and sultry in summer
Terrain: mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Qurayn Aba al Bawl 103 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish
Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops : NA% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: NA% other: 94% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 80 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
Environment - international agreements: party to : Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note: strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits
@Qatar:People
Population: 670,274 (July 1997 est.) note : includes 516,508 non-nationals (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 28% (male 95,145; female 91,338) 15-64 years : 70% (male 339,892; female 131,429) 65 years and over: 2% (male 8,567; female 3,903) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 4.04% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 17.26 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 3.5 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 26.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth : 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years : 2.59 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 2.2 male(s)/female total population: 1.96 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 18.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.56 years male: 71.06 years female: 76.18 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.57 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Qatari(s) adjective: Qatari
Ethnic groups: Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
Religions: Muslim 95%
Languages: Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 79.4% male : 79.2% female: 79.9% (1995 est.)
@Qatar:Government
Country name: conventional long form: State of Qatar conventional short form : Qatar local long form: Dawlat Qatar local short form: Qatar note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls between cutter and gutter, but not like ka-tar (rhymes with guitar)
Data code: QA
Government type: traditional monarchy
National capital: Doha
Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batnah, Ash Shamal, Umm Salal
Independence: 3 September 1971 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
Constitution: provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972
Legal system: discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant in personal matters
Suffrage: none
Executive branch: chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (since 27 June 1995 when, as crown prince, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad Al Thani, in a bloodless coup); Crown Prince JASSIM bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, third son of the amir (selected crown prince by the amir 22 October 1996); note - Amir HAMAD also holds the positions of minister of defense and commander-in-chief of the armed forces head of government: Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the amir (since 30 October 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the amir elections: none; the amir is an absolute monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members appointed by the amir) note: the constitution calls for elections for part of this consultative body, but no elections have been held since 1970, when there were partial elections to the body; Council members have had their terms extended every four years since
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Saad Muhammad al-KUBAYSI chancery: Suite 200, 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Patrick N. THEROS embassy: 149 Ahmed Bin Ali St., Fariq Bin Omran (opposite the television station), Doha mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha; pouch address - AMEMB Doha, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-6130 telephone: [974] 864701 through 864703 FAX: [974] 861669
Flag description: maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side
Economy
Economy - overview: Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 80% of export earnings, and 66% of government revenues. Proved oil reserves of 3.7 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for about 23 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to the leading West European industrial countries. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 7 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the world total, third largest in the world. Production and export of natural gas are becoming increasingly important. Long-term goals feature the development of off-shore petroleum and the diversification of the economy.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $11.7 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.5% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $21,300 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 45% services: 54% (1993 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 1.2% (1995)
Labor force: total: 233,000 (1993 est.) note: 83.49% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues : $3 billion expenditures: $3.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY96/97)
Industries: crude oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - capacity: 1.3 million kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 5.5 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 10,095 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish (all on small scale)
Exports: total value: $4 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: petroleum products 80%, steel, fertilizers partners: Japan 54%, Singapore 7%, South Korea 6%, Australia 3%, UAE 3% (1995 est.)
Imports: total value: $4.4 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities : machinery and equipment, consumer goods, food, chemicals partners: Italy 16%, Germany 11%, Japan 10%, UK 9%, France 9% (1995 est.)
Debt - external: $5.7 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams
Exchange rates: Qatari riyals (QR) per US$1 - 3.6400 riyals (fixed rate)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Qatar:Communications
Telephones: 160,717 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: modern system centered in Doha domestic: NA international : tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and UAE; submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 201,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (1988 est.)
Televisions: 205,000 (1992 est.)
@Qatar:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,210 km paved : 1,089 km unpaved: 121 km (1995 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km
Ports and harbors: Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id
Merchant marine: total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 512,456 GRT/850,858 DWT ships by type : combination ore/oil 2, container 3, cargo 11, oil tanker 3 (1996 est.)
Airports: 3 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m : 1 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 286,178 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 150,398 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 5,432 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $400 million (1996 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 3.5% (1996 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: territorial dispute with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands; maritime boundary with Bahrain; in 1996, agreed with Saudi Arabia to demarcate border per 1992 accord; that process is ongoing ______________________________________________________________________
REUNION
(overseas department of France)
@Reunion:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates: 21 06 S, 55 36 E
Map references: World
Area: total: 2,510 sq km land: 2,500 sq km water : 10 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 201 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea : 12 nm
Climate: tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool and dry from May to November, hot and rainy from November to April
Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Piton des Neiges 3,069 m
Natural resources: fish, arable land
Land use: arable land: 17% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland : 35% other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 60 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic, devastating cyclones (December to April); Piton de la Fournaise on the southeastern coast is an active volcano
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
@Reunion:People
Population: 692,204 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years : 32% (male 114,655; female 109,301) 15-64 years: 62% (male 211,112; female 217,897) 65 years and over: 6% (male 16,211; female 23,028) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.87% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 23.4 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 4.71 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 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: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.08 years male: 72.03 years female: 78.29 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.69 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Reunionese (singular and plural) adjective : Reunionese
Ethnic groups: French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani, Indian
Religions: Roman Catholic 94%, Hindu, Islam, Buddhist
Languages: French (official), Creole widely used
Literacy: definition : age 15 and over can read and write total population: 79% male: 76% female: 80% (1982 est.)
@Reunion:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Department of Reunion conventional short form: Reunion local long form: none local short form : Ile de la Reunion
Data code: RE
Dependency status: overseas department of France
Government type: NA
National capital: Saint-Denis
Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but there are four arrondissements, 24 communes, and 47 cantons
Independence: none (overseas department of France)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Robert POMMIES (since NA 1996) head of government : President of the General Council Christophe PAYET (since 4 April 1994) and President of the Regional Council Margarite SUDRE (since 25 June 1993) cabinet: NA elections: prefect appointed by the president of France on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the General and Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils, who vote on party lines
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council (47 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve six-year terms) and unicameral Regional Council (45 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve six-year terms) elections : General Council - last held NA March 1994 (next to be held NA 2000); Regional Council - last held 25 June 1993 (next to be held NA 1999) election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PCR 12, PS 12, UDF 11, RPR 5, others 7; Regional Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UPF 17, Free-Dom Movement 13, PCR 9, PS 6 note : Reunion elects 3 representatives to the French Senate; elections last held 24 September 1992 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 1, FRA 1, independent 1; Reunion also elects 5 deputies to the French National Assembly; elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held as a special election on 25 May - 1 June 1997); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PS 1, PCR 1, UPF 1, RPR 1, UDF-CDS 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel