Chapter 173

Chapter 1733,667 wordsPublic domain

general assessment: poorly developed domestic: Turkmentelekom, in cooperation with foreign investors, is planning to upgrade the country's telephone exchanges and install a new digital switching system; mobile-cellular usage remains limited international: country code - 993; linked by cable and microwave radio relay to other CIS republics and to other countries by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; a new telephone link from Ashgabat to Iran has been established; a new exchange in Ashgabat switches international traffic through Turkey via Intelsat; satellite earth stations - 1 Orbita and 1 Intelsat (2006)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 16, FM 8, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:

1.225 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

4 (government-owned and programmed) (2004)

Televisions:

820,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.tm

Internet hosts:

640 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

Internet users:

70,000 (2007)

Transportation Turkmenistan

Airports:

28 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 22 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 6,441 km; oil 1,361 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 2,440 km broad gauge: 2,440 km 1.520-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 58,592 km paved: 47,577 km unpaved: 11,015 km (2002)

Waterways:

1,300 km (Amu Darya and Kara Kum canal important inland waterways) (2006)

Merchant marine:

total: 7 by type: cargo 4, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Turkmenbasy

Military Turkmenistan

Military branches:

Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces (2007)

Military service age and obligation:

18-30 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-year conscript service obligation (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,316,698 females age 16-49: 1,331,005 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,064,965 females age 16-49: 1,136,553 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 57,615 female: 55,426 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

3.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Turkmenistan

Disputes - international:

cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan creates water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river states; field demarcation of the boundaries with Kazakhstan commenced in 2005, but Caspian seabed delimitation remains stalled with Azerbaijan, Iran, and Kazakhstan due to Turkmenistan's indecision over how to allocate the sea's waters and seabed

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 11,173 (Tajikistan); less than 1,000 (Afghanistan) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and Western European markets; transit point for heroin precursor chemicals bound for Afghanistan

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Turks and Caicos Islands

Introduction Turks and Caicos Islands

Background:

The islands were part of the UK's Jamaican colony until 1962, when they assumed the status of a separate crown colony upon Jamaica's independence. The governor of The Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed and the islands remain a British overseas territory.

Geography Turks and Caicos Islands

Location:

Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti

Geographic coordinates:

21 45 N, 71 35 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 430 sq km land: 430 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

389 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry

Terrain:

low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Blue Hills 49 m

Natural resources:

spiny lobster, conch

Land use:

arable land: 2.33% permanent crops: 0% other: 97.67% (2005)

Irrigated land:

Natural hazards:

frequent hurricanes

Environment - current issues:

limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater

Geography - note:

about 40 islands (eight inhabited)

People Turks and Caicos Islands

Population:

22,352 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 30.7% (male 3,497/female 3,374) 15-64 years: 65.2% (male 7,640/female 6,929) 65 years and over: 4.1% (male 435/female 477) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 27.8 years male: 28.5 years female: 27 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.644% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

21.12 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

4.16 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

9.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 14.35 deaths/1,000 live births male: 16.56 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.19 years male: 72.91 years female: 77.59 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.98 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

Nationality:

noun: none adjective: none

Ethnic groups:

black 90%, mixed, European, or North American 10%

Religions:

Baptist 40%, Anglican 18%, Methodist 16%, Church of God 12%, other 14% (1990)

Languages:

English (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 98% male: 99% female: 98% (1970 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 12 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

People - note:

destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas, and the US

Government Turks and Caicos Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands abbreviation: TCI

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK

Government type:

Capital:

name: Grand Turk (Cockburn Town) geographic coordinates: 21 28 N, 71 08 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Independence:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:

Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)

Constitution:

Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Order 2006 (effective 9 August 2006)

Legal system:

based on laws of England and Wales, with a few adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Gordon WETHERELL (since 5 August 2008) head of government: Premier Michael Eugene MISICK (chief minister since 15 August 2003, sworn in as premier on 9 August 2006); note - the office of premier was created in the 2006 constitution cabinet: Cabinet consists of the governor, the premier, six ministers appointed by the governor from among the members of the House of Assembly, and the attorney general elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is appointed premier by the governor

Legislative branch:

unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats of which 15 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 9 February 2007 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - PNP 60%, PDM 40%; seats by party - PNP 13, PDM 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders:

People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Floyd SEYMOUR]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Michael Eugene MISICK]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

International organization participation:

Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description:

blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus

Economy Turks and Caicos Islands

Economy - overview:

The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, offshore financial services, and fishing. Most capital goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US is the leading source of tourists, accounting for more than three-quarters of the 175,000 visitors that arrived in 2004. Major sources of government revenue also include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$216 million (2002 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$NA

GDP - real growth rate:

4.9% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$11,500 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force:

4,848 (1990 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

note: about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services

Unemployment rate:

10% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $47 million expenditures: $33.6 million (1997-98 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4% (1995)

Agriculture - products:

corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish

Industries:

tourism, offshore financial services

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

10 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

9.3 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

80 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

83.78 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Exports:

$169.2 million (2000)

Exports - commodities:

lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells

Exports - partners:

US, UK (2006)

Imports:

$175.6 million (2000)

Imports - commodities:

food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials

Imports - partners:

US, UK (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$4.1 million (1997)

Debt - external:

$NA

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

USD

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is used

Communications Turks and Caicos Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

5,700 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,700 (1999)

Telephone system:

general assessment: fully digital system with international direct dialing domestic: full range of services available; GSM wireless service available international: country code - 1-649; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic telecommunications submarine cable provides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2003)

Radios:

8,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

0 (broadcasts received from The Bahamas; 2 cable television networks) (2003)

Televisions:

Internet country code:

.tc

Internet hosts:

2,352 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

14 (2000)

Internet users:

Transportation Turks and Caicos Islands

Airports:

8 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 121 km paved: 24 km unpaved: 97 km (2003)

Merchant marine:

registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Grand Turk, Providenciales

Military Turks and Caicos Islands

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 222 female: 214 (2008 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues Turks and Caicos Islands

Disputes - international:

have received Haitians fleeing economic and civil disorder

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Tuvalu

Introduction Tuvalu

Background:

In 1974, ethnic differences within the British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands caused the Polynesians of the Ellice Islands to vote for separation from the Micronesians of the Gilbert Islands. The following year, the Ellice Islands became the separate British colony of Tuvalu. Independence was granted in 1978. In 2000, Tuvalu negotiated a contract leasing its Internet domain name ".tv" for $50 million in royalties over a 12-year period.

Geography Tuvalu

Location:

Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Geographic coordinates:

8 00 S, 178 00 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 26 sq km land: 26 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

24 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)

Terrain:

very low-lying and narrow coral atolls

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Natural resources:

fish

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 66.67% other: 33.33% (2005)

Irrigated land:

Natural hazards:

severe tropical storms are usually rare, but, in 1997, there were three cyclones; low level of islands make them sensitive to changes in sea level

Environment - current issues:

since there are no streams or rivers and groundwater is not potable, most water needs must be met by catchment systems with storage facilities (the Japanese Government has built one desalination plant and plans to build one other); beachhead erosion because of the use of sand for building materials; excessive clearance of forest undergrowth for use as fuel; damage to coral reefs from the spread of the Crown of Thorns starfish; Tuvalu is concerned about global increases in greenhouse gas emissions and their effect on rising sea levels, which threaten the country's underground water table; in 2000, the government appealed to Australia and New Zealand to take in Tuvaluans if rising sea levels should make evacuation necessary

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

one of the smallest and most remote countries on Earth; six of the nine coral atolls - Nanumea, Nui, Vaitupu, Nukufetau, Funafuti, and Nukulaelae - have lagoons open to the ocean; Nanumaya and Niutao have landlocked lagoons; Niulakita does not have a lagoon

People Tuvalu

Population:

12,177 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 29.4% (male 1,826/female 1,754) 15-64 years: 65.4% (male 3,891/female 4,073) 65 years and over: 5.2% (male 236/female 397) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 25.2 years male: 24.2 years female: 26.4 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.577% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

22.75 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.98 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 18.97 deaths/1,000 live births male: 21.56 deaths/1,000 live births female: 16.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 68.97 years male: 66.7 years female: 71.36 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.94 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

Nationality:

noun: Tuvaluan(s) adjective: Tuvaluan

Ethnic groups:

Polynesian 96%, Micronesian 4%

Religions:

Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%

Languages:

Tuvaluan, English, Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui)

Literacy:

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2001)

Education expenditures:

Government Tuvalu

Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tuvalu local long form: none local short form: Tuvalu former: Ellice Islands note: "Tuvalu" means "group of eight," referring to the country's eight traditionally inhabited islands

Government type:

constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Funafuti geographic coordinates: 8 30 S, 179 12 E time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: administrative offices are located in Vaiaku Village on Fongafale Islet

Administrative divisions:

none

Independence:

1 October 1978 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 1 October (1978)

Constitution:

1 October 1978

Legal system:

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Filoimea TELITO (since 15 April 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Apisai IELEMIA (since 14 August 2006) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by and from the members of Parliament; election last held 14 August 2006 (next to be held following parliamentary elections in 2010) election results: Apisai IELEMIA elected Prime Minister in a Parliamentary election on 14 August 2006

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Fale I Fono, also called House of Assembly (15 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 3 August 2006 (next to be held in 2010) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 15

Judicial branch:

High Court (a chief justice visits twice a year to preside over its sessions; its rulings can be appealed to the Court of Appeal in Fiji); eight Island Courts (with limited jurisdiction)

Political parties and leaders:

there are no political parties but members of Parliament usually align themselves in informal groupings

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

ACP, ADB, C, FAO, IFRCS (observer), IMO, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

Tuvalu does not have an embassy in the US - the country's only diplomatic post is in Fiji - Tuvalu does, however, have a UN office located at 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, NY 10017, telephone: [1] (212) 490-0534

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Tuvalu; the US ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tuvalu

Flag description:

light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the outer half of the flag represents a map of the country with nine yellow five-pointed stars symbolizing the nine islands

Economy Tuvalu

Economy - overview:

Tuvalu consists of a densely populated, scattered group of nine coral atolls with poor soil. The country has no known mineral resources and few exports. Subsistence farming and fishing are the primary economic activities. Fewer than 1,000 tourists, on average, visit Tuvalu annually. Job opportunities are scarce and public sector workers make up the majority of those employed. About 15% of the adult male population work as seamen on merchant ships abroad and remittances are a vital source of income, contributing around $4 million in 2006. Substantial income is received annually from the Tuvalu Trust Fund (TTF), an international trust fund established in 1987 by Australia, NZ, and the UK and supported also by Japan and South Korea. Thanks to wise investments and conservative withdrawals, this fund grew from an initial $17 million to an estimated value of $77 million in 2006. The TFF contributed nearly $9 million towards the government budget in 2006 and is an important cushion for meeting shortfalls in the government's budget. The US Government is also a major revenue source for Tuvalu because of payments from a 1988 treaty on fisheries. In an effort to ensure financial stability and sustainability, the government is pursuing public sector reforms, including privatization of some government functions and personnel cuts. Tuvalu also derives royalties from the lease of its ".tv" Internet domain name, with revenue of more than $2 million in 2006. A minor source of government revenue comes from the sale of stamps and coins. With merchandise exports only a fraction of merchandise imports, continued reliance must be placed on fishing and telecommunications license fees, remittances from overseas workers, official transfers, and income from overseas investments. Growing income disparities and the vulnerability of the country to climatic change are among leading concerns for the nation.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$14.94 million (2002 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$14.94 million (2002)

GDP - real growth rate:

3% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,600 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 16.6% industry: 27.2% services: 56.2% (2002)

Labor force:

3,615 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

note: people make a living mainly through exploitation of the sea, reefs, and atolls and from wages sent home by those abroad (mostly workers in the phosphate industry and sailors)

Unemployment rate:

NA%

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $21.54 million expenditures: $23.05 million (2006)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.8% (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coconuts; fish

Industries:

fishing, tourism, copra

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: NA hydro: NA nuclear: NA other: NA

Current account balance:

-$11.68 million (2003)

Exports:

$1 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

copra, fish

Exports - partners:

Germany 60.5%, Italy 20.1%, Fiji 6.9% (2006)

Imports:

$12.91 million c.i.f. (2005)