Chapter 51
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); submarine cables to US and Japan
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 206,000 (1994)
Television broadcast stations: 5 (1997)
Televisions: 97,000 (1994 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 885 km paved: 675 km unpaved: 210 km note: there is another 685 km of roads classified non-public, including roads located on federal government installations
Ports and harbors: Apra Harbor
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 5 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
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@Guatemala ---------
Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Honduras and Belize and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico
Geographic coordinates: 15 30 N, 90 15 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 108,890 sq km land: 108,430 sq km water: 460 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Tennessee
Land boundaries: total: 1,687 km border countries: Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km
Coastline: 400 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau (Peten)
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m
Natural resources: petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle
Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 24% forests and woodland: 54% other: 5% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,250 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms
Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; Hurricane Mitch damage
Environment--international agreements: party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertication, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: no natural harbors on west coast
People
Population: 12,335,580 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 2,688,402; female 2,578,934) 15-64 years: 54% (male 3,312,360; female 3,314,102) 65 years and over: 3% (male 207,014; female 234,768) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.68% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 35.57 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.8 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.93 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 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 46.15 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.45 years male: 63.78 years female: 69.24 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.74 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Guatemalan(s) adjective: Guatemalan
Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish--in local Spanish called Ladino) 56%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 44%
Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, traditional Mayan
Languages: Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 55.6% male: 62.5% female: 48.6% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala conventional short form: Guatemala local long form: Republica de Guatemala local short form: Guatemala
Data code: GT
Government type: republic
Capital: Guatemala
Administrative divisions: 22 departments (departamentos, singular--departamento); Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Chiquimula, El Progreso, Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Jalapa, Jutiapa, Peten, Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu, Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez, Totonicapan, Zacapa
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986 note: suspended 25 May 1993 by President SERRANO; reinstated 5 June 1993 following ouster of president
Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Alvaro Enrique ARZU Irigoyen (since 14 January 1996); Vice President Luis Alberto FLORES Asturias (since 14 January 1996); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Alvaro Enrique ARZU Irigoyen (since 14 January 1996); Vice President Luis Alberto FLORES Asturias (since 14 January 1996); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 12 November 1995; runoff held 7 January 1996 (next to be held NA November 1999) election results: Alvaro Enrique ARZU Irigoyen elected president; percent of vote--Alvaro Enrique ARZU Irigoyen (PAN) 51.2%, Jorge PORTILLO Cabrera (FRG) 48.8%
Legislative branch: unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica (80 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 12 November 1995 (next to be held in November 1999) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PAN 43, FRG 21, FDNG 6, DCG 4, UCN 3, UD 2, MLN 1 note: on 11 November 1993 the congress approved a procedure that reduced its number from 116 seats to 80; the procedure provided for a special election in mid-1994 to elect an interim congress of 80 members to serve until replaced in the November 1995 general election; the plan was approved in a general referendum in January 1994 and the special election was held on 14 August 1994
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia); additionally the Court of Constitutionality is presided over by the president of the Supreme Court, judges are elected for a five-year term by Congress
Political parties and leaders: National Centrist Union or UCN ARRIAGA Martinez]; Guatemalan National Revolutionary Union or URNG
Political pressure groups and leaders: Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations or CACIF; Mutual Support Group or GAM; Agrarian Owners Group or UNAGRO; Committee for Campesino Unity or CUC; Alliance Against Impunity or AAI
International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador William STIXRUD chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Donald J. PLANTY embassy: 7-01 Avenida de la Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City mailing address: APO AA 34024
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side), white, and light blue with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms includes a green and red quetzal (the national bird) and a scroll bearing the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from Spain) all superimposed on a pair of crossed rifles and a pair of crossed swords and framed by a wreath
Economy
Economy--overview: The agricultural sector accounts for one-fourth of GDP and two-thirds of exports and employs more than half of the labor force. Coffee, sugar, and bananas are the main products. Manufacturing and construction account for one-fifth of GDP. Since assuming office in January 1996, President ARZU has worked to implement a program of economic liberalization and political modernization. The signing of the peace accords in December 1996, which ended 36 years of civil war, removed a major obstacle to foreign investment. In 1998, Hurricane Mitch caused relatively little damage to Guatemala compared to its neighbors. Nevertheless, growth will be somewhat smaller due to the storm. Remaining challenges include increasing government revenues, and negotiating a program with the IMF.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$45.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,800 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector: agriculture: 24% industry: 21% services: 55% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.6% highest 10%: 46.6% (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.4% (1998)
Labor force: 3.32 million (1997 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 58%, services 14%, manufacturing 14%, commerce 7%, construction 4%, transport 2.6%, utilities 0.3%, mining 0.1% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 5.2% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA
Industries: sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 1.9% (1996)
Electricity--production: 3.1 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source: fossil fuel: 29.03% hydro: 70.97% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 3.1 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens
Exports: $2.9 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports--commodities: coffee, sugar, bananas, cardamom, petroleum
Exports--partners: US 37%, El Salvador 13%, Honduras 7%, Costa Rica 5%, Germany 5%
Imports: $3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.)
Imports--commodities: fuel and petroleum products, machinery, grain, fertilizers, motor vehicles
Imports--partners: US 44%, Mexico 10%, Venezuela 4.6%, Japan, Germany
Debt--external: $3.38 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $211.9 million (1995)
Currency: 1 quetzal (Q) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: quetzales (Q) per US$1--6.7284 (January 1999), 6.3947 (1998), 6.0653 (1997), 6.0495 (1996), 5.8103 (1995), 5.7512 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 210,000 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: fairly modern network centered in the city of Guatemala domestic: NA international: connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 91, FM 0, shortwave 15
Radios: 400,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 6 (in addition, there are 17 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 475,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: total: 884 km (102 km privately owned) narrow gauge: 884 km 0.914-m gauge (single track)
Highways: total: 13,100 km paved: 3,616 km (including 140 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,484 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable during high-water season
Pipelines: crude oil 275 km
Ports and harbors: Champerico, Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, San Jose, Santo Tomas de Castilla
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 478 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways: total: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 466 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 124 under 914 m: 332 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability: males age 15-49: 2,915,169 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,903,382 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually: males: 134,964 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $124 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.7% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: border with Belize in dispute
Illicit drugs: transit country for cocaine shipments; minor producer of illicit opium poppy and cannabis for the international drug trade; active eradication program of cannabis crop effectively eliminated in 1996
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@Guernsey --------
Geography
Location: Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France
Geographic coordinates: 49 28 N, 2 35 W
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 194 sq km land: 194 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 50 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast
Terrain: mostly level with low hills in southwest
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Sark 114 m
Natural resources: cropland
Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port
People
Population: 65,386 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 6,012; female 5,875) 15-64 years: 66% (male 21,287; female 22,165) 65 years and over: 16% (male 4,069; female 5,978) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.27% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 14.16 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.44 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 8.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.42 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.72 years male: 75.78 years female: 81.77 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.74 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander
Ethnic groups: UK and Norman-French descent
Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist
Languages: English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey conventional short form: Guernsey
Data code: GK
Dependency status: British crown dependency
Government type: NA
Capital: Saint Peter Port
Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency)
Independence: none (British crown dependency)
National holiday: Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Legal system: English law and local statute; justice is administered by the Royal Court
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Lieutenant Governor Sir John COWARD (since NA 1994) and Bailiff Sir Graham Martyn DOREY (since NA February 1992) cabinet: Advisory and Finance Committee appointed by the Assembly of the States elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch; bailiff appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the States (60 seats--33 elected by popular vote; members serve six-year terms) elections: last held 20 April 1994 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--all independents
Judicial branch: Royal Court
Political parties and leaders: none; all independents
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (British crown dependency)
Flag description: white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag
Economy
Economy--overview: Financial services?banking, fund management, insurance, etc.--account for about 55% of total income in this tiny Channel Island economy. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Light tax and death duties make Guernsey a popular tax haven. The evolving economic integration of the EU nations is changing the rules of the game under which Guernsey operates.
GDP: $NA
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: $NA
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): 7% (1988)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: 3%-4% (1994 est.)
Budget: revenues: $277.9 million expenditures: $248.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)
Industries: tourism, banking
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
Agriculture--products: tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit; Guernsey cattle
Exports: $NA
Exports--commodities: tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables
Exports--partners: UK (regarded as internal trade)
Imports: $NA
Imports--commodities: coal, gasoline, oil, machinery and equipment
Imports--partners: UK (regarded as internal trade)
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Guernsey (LG) pound = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Guernsey pounds (LG) per US$1--0.6057 (January 1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994); note--the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 41,850 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: 1 submarine cable
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Guinea ------
Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone
Geographic coordinates: 11 00 N, 10 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 245,860 sq km land: 245,860 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries: total: 3,399 km border countries: Guinea-Bissau 386 km, Cote d'Ivoire 610 km, Liberia 563 km, Mali 858 km, Senegal 330 km, Sierra Leone 652 km
Coastline: 320 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
Terrain: generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m
Natural resources: bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 22% forests and woodland: 59% other: 17% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 930 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season
Environment--current issues: deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region
Environment--international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People
Population: 7,538,953 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 44% (male 1,640,158; female 1,653,184) 15-64 years: 54% (male 1,974,849; female 2,068,221) 65 years and over: 2% (male 83,859; female 118,682) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.82% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 40.62 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 17.3 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -15.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.) note: over the years Guinea has received up to several hundred thousand refugees from the civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone, some of whom are now returning to their own countries
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 126.32 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.5 years male: 44.02 years female: 49.06 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.53 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Guinean(s) adjective: Guinean
Ethnic groups: Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller tribes 10%
Religions: Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%
Languages: French (official), each tribe has its own language
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 35.9% male: 49.9% female: 21.9% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Guinea conventional short form: Guinea local long form: Republique de Guinee local short form: Guinee former: French Guinea
Data code: GV
Government type: republic
Capital: Conakry
Administrative divisions: 4 administrative regions (regions administrative, singular--region administrative) and 1 special zone (zone speciale)*; Conakry*, Guinee, Guinee-Forestiere, Haute-Guinee, Moyen-Guinee
Independence: 2 October 1958 (from France)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Second Republic, 3 April (1984)