Chapter 101
Area--comparative: twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 84 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Terrain: volcanic, mountainous
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Soufriere 1,234 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 18% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: 36% other: 31% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat
Environment--current issues: pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive
Environment--international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada
People
Population: 120,519 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 30% (male 18,160; female 17,524) 15-64 years: 65% (male 39,448; female 38,672) 65 years and over: 5% (male 2,762; female 3,953) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.57% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 18.34 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.23 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -7.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 15.16 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.8 years male: 72.29 years female: 75.36 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.94 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s) adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
Ethnic groups: black, white, East Indian, Carib Amerindian
Religions: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Seventh-Day Adventist
Languages: English, French patois
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 96% male: 96% female: 96% (1970 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Data code: VC
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Kingstown
Administrative divisions: 6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick
Independence: 27 October 1979 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 October (1979)
Constitution: 27 October 1979
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General David JACK (since NA) head of government: Prime Minister James F. MITCHELL (since 30 July 1984) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats, 15 elected representatives and 6 appointed senators; representatives are elected by popular vote from single-member constituencies to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 15 June 1998 (next to be held by NA May 2003) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NDP 8, ULP 7
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia); one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Vincent
Political parties and leaders: New Democratic Party or NDP [James Party or SVLP and the Movement for National Unity or MNU)
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kingsley C. A. LAYNE chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the Ambassador to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines resides in Bridgetown (Barbados)
Flag description: three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double width), and green; the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged in a V pattern
Economy
Economy--overview: Agriculture, dominated by banana production, is the most important sector of this lower-middle-income economy. The services sector, based mostly on a growing tourist industry, is also important. The government has been relatively unsuccessful at introducing new industries, and high unemployment rates of 35%-40% continue. The continuing dependence on a single crop represents the biggest obstacle to the islands' development; tropical storms wiped out substantial portions of crops in both 1994 and 1995. The tourism sector has considerable potential for development over the next decade. Recent growth has been stimulated by strong activity in the construction sector and an improvement in tourism.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$289 million (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,400 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 10.6% industry: 17.5% services: 71.9% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.6% (1996)
Labor force: 67,000 (1984 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 26%, industry 17%, services 57% (1980 est.)
Unemployment rate: 35%-40% (1994 est.)
Budget: revenues: $85.7 million expenditures: $98.6 million, including capital expenditures of $25.7 million (1997 est.)
Industries: food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch
Industrial production growth rate: -0.9% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 62 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 67.74% hydro: 32.26% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 62 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices; small numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats; fish
Exports: $47.3 million (1997)
Exports--commodities: bananas 39%, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch, tennis racquets
Exports--partners: Caricom countries 49%, UK 16%, US 10% (1995)
Imports: $158.8 million (1997)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels
Imports--partners: US 36%, Caricom countries 28%, UK 13% (1995)
Debt--external: $83.6 million (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $47.5 million (1995); note?Stabex (EU), $34.5 million (1998)
Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 6,189 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: islandwide, fully automatic telephone system; VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to the other islands of the Grenadines international: VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to Barbados; new SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and to Saint Lucia; access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 76,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are three repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 20,600 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,040 km paved: 320 km unpaved: 720 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Kingstown
Merchant marine: total: 814 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,726,930 GRT/11,835,144 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 138, cargo 402, chemical tanker 26, combination bulk 11, combination ore/oil 7, container 47, liquefied gas tanker 3, livestock carrier 4, multifunction large-load carrier 2, oil tanker 64, passenger 2, refrigerated cargo 40, roll-on/roll-off cargo 51, short-sea passenger 10, specialized tanker 5, vehicle carrier 1 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 20 countries among which are Croatia 17, Slovenia 7, China 5, Greece 5, UAE 3, Norway 2, Japan 2, and Ukraine 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 6 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways: total: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (includes Special Service Unit), Coast Guard
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe
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@Samoa -----
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: 2,860 sq km land: 2,850 sq km water: 10 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 403 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; rainy season (October to March), dry season (May to October)
Terrain: narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior
Elevation extremes: 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% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 47% other: 10%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons; active volcanism
Environment--current issues: soil erosion
Environment--international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
People
Population: 229,979 (July 1999 est.) note: other estimates range as low as 162,000
Age structure: 0-14 years: 39% (male 45,647; female 44,141) 15-64 years: 57% (male 68,054; female 62,612) 65 years and over: 4% (male 4,477; female 5,048) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.3% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 28.81 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.4 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 30.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.82 years male: 67.43 years female: 72.33 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.61 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Samoan(s) adjective: Samoan
Ethnic groups: 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: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 97% female: 97% (1971 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Independent State of Samoa conventional short form: Samoa former: Western Samoa
Data code: WS
Government type: 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 (cochief of state from 1 January 1962 until becoming sole chief of state 5 April 1963) head of government: Prime Minister TUILA'EPA Sailele Malielegaoi (since 24 November 1998); note--TUILA'EPA served as deputy prime minister since 1992; he assumed the prime ministership in November 1998 when former Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana resigned in poor health; the post of deputy prime minister is currently vacant cabinet: Cabinet consists of 12 members, appointed by the chief of state with the prime minister's advice elections: upon the death of Chief Susuga MALIETOA Tanumafili II, a new chief of state will be elected by the Legislative Assembly to serve a five-year term; prime minister appointed by the chief of state with the approval of the Legislative Assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (49 seats--47 elected by Samoans, 2 elected by non-Samoans; only chiefs (matai) may stand for election to the Fono; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 26 April 1996 (next to be held by NA April 2001) election results: percent of vote by party--HRPP 45.17%, SNDP 27.1%, independents 23.7%; seats by party--HRPP 25, SNDP 13, independents 11
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Human Rights Protection Party or
International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tuiloma Neroni SLADE chancery: 820 Second Avenue, Suite 800D, New York, NY 10017
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Josiah Horton BEEMAN (Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, resides in Wellington, New Zealand) embassy: 5th floor, Beach Road, Apia mailing address: P.O. Box 3430, Apia
Flag description: red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross constellation
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development aid, private family remittances from overseas, and agricultural exports. The country is vulnerable to devastating storms. Agriculture employs two-thirds of the labor force, and furnishes 90% of exports, featuring coconut cream, coconut oil, and copra. Outside of a large automotive wire harness factory, the manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural products. Tourism is an expanding sector; more than 70,0000 tourists visited the islands in 1996. The Samoan Government has called for deregulation of the financial sector, encouragement of investment, and continued fiscal discipline. Observers point to the flexibility of the labor market as a basic strength for future economic advances.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$470 million (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3.4% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,100 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 40% industry: 25% services: 35% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 82,500 (1991 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 65%, services 30%, industry 5% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $52 million expenditures: $99 million, including capital expenditures of $37 million (FY96/97 est.)
Industries: timber, tourism, food processing, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: 14% (1996 est.)
Electricity--production: 65 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 61.54% hydro: 38.46% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 65 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coconuts, bananas, taro, yams
Exports: $14.6 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: coconut oil and cream, copra, fish, beer
Exports--partners: Australia 82%, New Zealand 6%, Slovakia, Germany, American Samoa (1996)
Imports: $99.7 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports--commodities: intermediate goods, food, capital goods
Imports--partners: Australia 33%, New Zealand 25%, Japan 15%, Fiji 8%, US 8% (1996)
Debt--external: $167 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $42.9 million (1995)
Currency: 1 tala (WS$) = 100 sene
Exchange rates: tala (WS$) per US$1--2.9011 (January 1999), 2.9429 (1998), 2.5562 (1997), 2.4618 (1996), 2.4722 (1995), 2.5349 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 7,500 (1988 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 76,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 6 (1997)
Televisions: 6,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 790 km paved: 332 km unpaved: 458 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Apia, Asau, Mulifanua, Salelologa
Airports: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: no regular armed services; Samoa Police Force
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Military--note: Samoa has no formal defense structure or regular armed forces; informal defense ties exist with NZ, which is required to consider any Samoan request for assistance under the 1962 Treaty of Friendship
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
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@San Marino ----------
Geography
Location: Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy
Geographic coordinates: 43 46 N, 12 25 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 60 sq km land: 60 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 39 km border countries: Italy 39 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers
Terrain: rugged mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Torrente Ausa 55 m highest point: Monte Titano 749 m
Natural resources: building stone
Land use: arable land: 17% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: 83% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution
Geography--note: landlocked; smallest independent state in Europe after the Holy See and Monaco; dominated by the Apennines
People
Population: 25,061 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 16% (male 2,008; female 2,036) 15-64 years: 67% (male 8,501; female 8,294) 65 years and over: 17% (male 1,774; female 2,448) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.64% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 10.41 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.22 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.39 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 81.47 years male: 77.59 years female: 85.35 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.51 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Sammarinese (singular and plural) adjective: Sammarinese
Ethnic groups: Sammarinese, Italian
Religions: Roman Catholic
Languages: Italian
Literacy: definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 96% male: 97% female: 95% (1976 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of San Marino conventional short form: San Marino local long form: Repubblica di San Marino local short form: San Marino
Data code: SM
Government type: republic
Capital: San Marino
Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (castelli, singular--castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Monte Giardino, San Marino, Serravalle
Independence: 301 (by tradition)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Foundation of the Republic, 3 September
Constitution: 8 October 1600; electoral law of 1926 serves some of the functions of a constitution
Legal system: based on civil law system with Italian law influences; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal