Chapter 102
Executive branch: chief of state: cochiefs of state Captain Regent Pietro BERTI and Captain Regent Paolo BOLLINI (for the period 1 October 1998-31 March 1999) head of government: Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs Gabriele GATTI (since NA July 1986) cabinet: Congress of State elected by the Great and General Council for a five-year term elections: cochiefs of state (captain regents) elected by the Great and General Council for a six-month term; election last held NA September 1998 (next to be held NA March 1999); secretary of state for foreign and political affairs elected by the Great and General Council for a five-year term; election last held NA June 1998 (next to be held NA June 2003) election results: Pietro BERTI and Paolo BOLLINI elected captain regents; percent of legislative vote--NA; Gabriele GATTI reelected secretary of state for foreign and political affairs; percent of legislative vote--NA note: the popularly elected parliament (Great and General Council) selects two of its members to serve as the Captains Regent (cochiefs of state) for a six-month period; they preside over meetings of the Great and General Council and its cabinet (Congress of State) which has ten other members, all selected by the Great and General Council; assisting the captains regent are three secretaries of state--Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, and Finance--and several additional secretaries; the secretary of state for Foreign Affairs has assumed many of the prerogatives of a prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral Great and General Council or Consiglio Grande e Generale (60 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 31 May 1998 (next to be held by NA May 2003) election results: percent of vote by party--PDCS 40.8%, PSS 23.3%, PPDS 18.6%, AP 9.8%, RC 3.3%, Reformist Socialists 4.2%; seats by party--PDCS 25, PSS 14, PPDS 11, AP 6, RC 2, RS 2
Judicial branch: Council of Twelve or Consiglio dei XII
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party or PDCS MACINA, secretary general]; Reformist Socialists or RS (formerly San
International organization participation: CE, ECE, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: San Marino does not have an embassy in the US honorary consulate(s) general: Washington, DC, and New York honorary consulate(s): Detroit
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in San Marino; the US Consul General in Florence (Italy) is accredited to San Marino
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the coat of arms has a shield (featuring three towers on three peaks) flanked by a wreath, below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS (Liberty)
Economy
Economy--overview: The tourist sector contributes over 50% of GDP. In 1995 more than 3.3 million tourists visited San Marino. The key industries are banking, wearing apparel, electronics, and ceramics. Main agricultural products are wine and cheeses. The per capita level of output and standard of living are comparable to those of Italy, which supplies much of its food.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$500 million (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$20,000 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.3% (1995)
Labor force: 15,600 (1995)
Labor force--by occupation: services 55%, industry 43%, agriculture 2% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 3.6% (April 1996)
Budget: revenues: $320 million expenditures: $320 million, including capital expenditures of $26 million (1995 est.)
Industries: tourism, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: NA kWh
Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Electricity--exports: NA kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh note: electricity supplied by Italy
Agriculture--products: wheat, grapes, maize, olives; cattle, pigs, horses, beef, cheese, hides
Exports: trade data are included with the statistics for Italy
Exports--commodities: building stone, lime, wood, chestnuts, wheat, wine, baked goods, hides, and ceramics
Imports: trade data are included with the statistics for Italy
Imports--commodities: wide variety of consumer manufactures, food
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Italian lira (Lit) = 100 centesimi; note--also mints its own coins
Exchange rates: Italian lire (Lit) per US$1--1,668.7 (January 1998),1,736.2 (1998), 1,703.1 (1997), 1,542.9 (1996), 1,628.9 (1995), 1,612.4 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 15,000 (1995 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: automatic telephone system completely integrated into Italian system international: microwave radio relay and cable connections to Italian network; no satellite earth stations
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 15,000 (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (San Marino residents also receive broadcasts from Italy) (1997)
Televisions: 9,000 (1994 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km; note--there is a 1.5 km cable railway connecting the city of San Marino to Borgo Maggiore
Highways: total: 220 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: none
Military
Military branches: Voluntary Military Force, Police Force
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $3.7 million (1995)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1% (1995)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
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@Sao Tome and Principe ---------------------
Geography
Location: Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the Equator, west of Gabon
Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N, 7 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 1,000 sq km land: 1,000 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 209 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Terrain: volcanic, mountainous
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 36% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: NA% other: 61% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 100 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion
Environment--international agreements: party to: Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change
People
Population: 154,878 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 48% (male 37,322; female 36,423) 15-64 years: 48% (male 36,067; female 38,730) 65 years and over: 4% (male 2,876; female 3,460) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.14% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 43.31 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.08 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 52.93 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.71 years male: 63.18 years female: 66.28 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.14 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Sao Tomean(s) adjective: Sao Tomean
Ethnic groups: mestico, angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), forros (descendants of freed slaves), servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (children of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese)
Religions: Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day Adventist
Languages: Portuguese (official)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 73% male: 85% female: 62% (1991 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe conventional short form: Sao Tome and Principe local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe local short form: Sao Tome e Principe
Data code: TP
Government type: republic
Capital: Sao Tome
Administrative divisions: 2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome note: Principe has had self-government since 29 April 1995
Independence: 12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
Constitution: approved March 1990; effective 10 September 1990
Legal system: based on Portuguese legal system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Miguel TROVOADA (since 4 April 1991) head of government: Prime Minister Guilherma Posser da COSTA (since 30 December 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 30 June and 15 July 1996 (next to be held in 2001); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president election results: Miguel TROVOADA reelected president in Sao Tome's second multiparty presidential election; percent of vote--Miguel TROVOADA 52.74%, Manuel Pinto da COSTA 47.26%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (55 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 8 November 1998 (next to be held NA 2003) election results: percent of vote by party--MLSTP-PSD 56%, PCD 14.5%%, ADI 29%; seats by party--MLSTP-PSD 31, ADI 16, PCD 8
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the National Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Party for Democratic Convergence Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-Social Democratic Party or other small parties
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: Sao Tome and Principe does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to the UN, headed by First Secretary Domingos AUGUSTO Ferreira, located at 122 East 42nd Street, Suite 1604, New York, NY 10168, telephone
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Sao Tome and Principe; the Ambassador to Gabon is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe on a nonresident basis and makes periodic visits to the islands
Flag description: three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double width), and green with two black five-pointed stars placed side by side in the center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy
Economy--overview: This small poor island economy has become increasingly dependent on cocoa since independence over 20 years ago. However, cocoa production has substantially declined because of drought and mismanagement. The resulting shortage of cocoa for export has created a persistent balance-of-payments problem. Sao Tome has to import all fuels, most manufactured goods, consumer goods, and a significant amount of food. Over the years, it has been unable to service its external debt and has had to depend on concessional aid and debt rescheduling. Considerable potential exists for development of a tourist industry, and the government has taken steps to expand facilities in recent years. The government also has attempted to reduce price controls and subsidies, but economic growth has remained sluggish. Sao Tome is also optimistic that significant petroleum discoveries are forthcoming in its territorial waters in the oil-rich waters of the Gulf of Guinea. Corruption scandals continue to weaken the economy.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$164 million (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,100 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 23% industry: 19% services: 58% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 21% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing note: there are shortages of skilled workers
Unemployment rate: 50% in the formal business sector (1998 est.)
Budget: revenues: $58 million expenditures: $114 million, including capital expenditures of $54 million (1993 est.)
Industries: light construction, textiles, soap, beer; fish processing; timber
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 15 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 46.67% hydro: 53.33% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 15 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish
Exports: $5.3 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports--commodities: cocoa 90%, copra, coffee, palm oil (1997)
Exports--partners: Netherlands 51%, Germany 6%, Portugal 6% (1997)
Imports: $19.2 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products
Imports--partners: Portugal 26%, France 18%, Angola, Belgium, Japan (1997)
Debt--external: $267 million (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $57.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 dobra (Db) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates: dobras (Db) per US$1--6,873.5 (October 1998), 4,552.5 (1997), 2,203.2 (1996), 1,420.3 (1995), 732.6 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 2,200 (1986 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: minimal system international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 33,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 320 km paved: 218 km unpaved: 102 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Santo Antonio, Sao Tome
Merchant marine: total: 3 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,610 GRT/9,446 DWT (1998 est.)
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Security Police
Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 31,724 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 16,766 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $500,000 (1994)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.5% (1994)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
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@Saudi Arabia ------------
Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen
Geographic coordinates: 25 00 N, 45 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 1,960,582 sq km land: 1,960,582 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US
Land boundaries: total: 4,415 km border countries: Iraq 814 km, Jordan 728 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman 676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km
Coastline: 2,640 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: not specified territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: harsh, dry desert with great extremes of temperature
Terrain: mostly uninhabited, sandy desert
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 56% forests and woodland: 1% other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 4,350 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: frequent sand and dust storms
Environment--current issues: desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills
Environment--international agreements: party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal
People
Population: 21,504,613 (July 1999 est.) note: includes 5,321,938 non-nationals (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 4,705,724; female 4,543,918) 15-64 years: 54% (male 6,925,020; female 4,783,570) 65 years and over: 3% (male 291,449; female 254,932) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.39% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 37.38 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.86 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.45 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.14 male(s)/female total population: 1.24 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 38.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.55 years male: 68.67 years female: 72.53 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.34 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Saudi(s) adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian
Ethnic groups: Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
Religions: Muslim 100%
Languages: Arabic
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 62.8% male: 71.5% female: 50.2% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia conventional short form: Saudi Arabia local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
Data code: SA
Government type: monarchy
Capital: Riyadh
Administrative divisions: 13 provinces (mintaqat, singular--mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk
Independence: 23 September 1932 (unification)
National holiday: Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)
Constitution: governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law); the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was introduced in 1993
Legal system: based on Islamic law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: none
Executive branch: chief of state: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the monarch, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996); note--the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the monarch, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996); note--the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch and includes many royal family members elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
Legislative branch: a consultative council (90 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year terms)
Judicial branch: Supreme Council of Justice
Political parties and leaders: none allowed
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BIS, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador BANDAR bin Sultan bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Wyche FOWLER, Jr. embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh mailing address: American Embassy Riyadh, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693 consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)
Flag description: green with large white Arabic script (that may be translated as There is no God but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God) above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); green is the traditional color of Islam
Economy
Economy--overview: This is a well-to-do oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. Saudi Arabia has the largest reserves of petroleum in the world (26% of the proved total), ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 40% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. About 35% of GDP comes from the private sector. Roughly 4 million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, for example, in the oil and service sectors. The Saudi economy was severely hit by the large decline in world oil prices in 1998. GDP fell by nearly 11%; the budget deficit rose to $12.3 billion; and the current account recorded a $13 billion deficit--the first in three years. The government announced plans to implement large spending cuts in 1999 because of weak oil prices and will continue to call on greater private sector involvement in the economy. Shortages of water and rapid population growth will constrain government efforts to increase self-sufficiency in agricultural products.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$186 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -10.8% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$9,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 53% services: 41% (1996)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.2% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 7 million note: 35% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.)