Part 116
10.4 billion cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 20
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 163
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.54 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 22
Current account balance:
$37.39 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 13 $28.45 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$64.5 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 50 $46.97 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas, chemicals
Exports - partners:
Italy 38%, Germany 12%, France 7.4%, Spain 6.9%, US 6.4%, Switzerland 4.6% (2008)
Imports:
$26.55 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 67 $17.7 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, semi-finished goods, food, transport equipment, consumer products
Imports - partners:
Italy 22.2%, China 9.3%, Germany 8.6%, Turkey 6.1%, Tunisia 5.8%, South Korea 4.7%, US 4.1%, France 4.1% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$92.51 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 17 $79.6 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$6.223 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 99 $4.837 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$11.23 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 78 $8.775 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$5.15 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 57 $3.7 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
Libyan dinars (LYD) per US dollar - 1.2112 (2008 est.), 1.2604 (2007), 1.3108 (2006), 1.3084 (2005), 1.305 (2004)
Communications ::Libya
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.033 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 79
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.828 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 90
Telephone system:
general assessment: telecommunications system is state-owned and service is poor, but investment is being made to upgrade; state retains monopoly in fixed-line services; mobile cellular telephone system became operational in 1996; multiple providers for a mobile telephone system that is growing rapidly; combined fixed line and mobile telephone density is approaching 100 telephones per 100 persons
domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, cellular, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations
international: country code - 218; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat, NA Arabsat, and NA Intersputnik; submarine cables to France and Italy; microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 16, FM 3, shortwave 3 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
12 (plus 1 repeater) (1999)
Internet country code:
.ly
Internet hosts:
11,751 (2009) country comparison to the world: 115
Internet users:
323,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 123
Transportation ::Libya
Airports:
137 (2009) country comparison to the world: 41
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 59
over 3,047 m: 23
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 78
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 41
under 914 m: 17 (2009)
Heliports:
2 (2009)
Pipelines:
condensate 776 km; gas 2,860 km; oil 6,987 km (2008)
Roadways:
total: 100,024 km country comparison to the world: 41 paved: 57,214 km
unpaved: 42,810 km (2003)
Merchant marine:
total: 17 country comparison to the world: 101 by type: cargo 9, liquefied gas 3, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 4 (Kuwait 1, Norway 1, Syria 2)
registered in other countries: 3 (Malta 3) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
As Sidrah, Az Zuwaytinah, Marsa al Burayqah, Ra's Lanuf, Tripoli, Zawiyah
Military ::Libya
Military branches:
Armed Peoples on Duty (APOD, Army), Libyan Arab Navy, Libyan Arab Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriya al-Arabia al-Libyya, LAAF), Libyan Coast Guard (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,682,183
females age 16-49: 1,611,001 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,466,578
females age 16-49: 1,409,684 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 60,710
female: 58,219 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.9% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 29
Transnational Issues ::Libya
Disputes - international:
Libya has claimed more than 32,000 sq km in southeastern Algeria and about 25,000 sq km in the Tommo region of Niger in a currently dormant dispute; various Chadian rebels from the Aozou region reside in southern Libya
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 8,000 (Palestinian Territories) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Libya is a transit and destination country for men and women from sub-Saharan Africa and Asia trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Libya is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to address trafficking in persons in 2007 when compared to 2006, particularly in the area of investigating and prosecuting trafficking offenses; Libya did not publicly release any data on investigations or punishment of any trafficking offenses (2008)
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Liechtenstein (Europe)
Introduction ::Liechtenstein
Background:
The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719. Occupied by both French and Russian troops during the Napoleanic wars, it became a sovereign state in 1806 and joined the Germanic Confederation in 1815. Liechtenstein became fully independent in 1866 when the Confederation dissolved. Until the end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the economic devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to enter into a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since World War II (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral), the country's low taxes have spurred outstanding economic growth. In 2000, shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight resulted in concerns about the use of financial institutions for money laundering. However, Liechtenstein implemented anti-money-laundering legislation and a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US that went into effect in 2003.
Geography ::Liechtenstein
Location:
Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
Geographic coordinates:
47 16 N, 9 32 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 160 sq km country comparison to the world: 218 land: 160 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 76 km
border countries: Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km
Coastline:
0 km (doubly landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Terrain:
mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m
highest point: Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m
Natural resources:
hydroelectric potential, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 75% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
People ::Liechtenstein
Population:
34,761 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 210
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.6% (male 2,877/female 2,901)
15-64 years: 69.4% (male 11,917/female 12,220)
65 years and over: 13.9% (male 2,085/female 2,761) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 41 years
male: 40.4 years
female: 41.5 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.702% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 145
Birth rate:
9.75 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 197
Death rate:
7.39 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 124
Net migration rate:
4.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 23
Urbanization:
urban population: 14% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.25 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 205 male: 5.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.06 years country comparison to the world: 22 male: 76.59 years
female: 83.53 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.52 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 185
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Liechtensteiner(s)
adjective: Liechtenstein
Ethnic groups:
Liechtensteiner 65.6%, other 34.4% (2000 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2% (June 2002)
Languages:
German (official), Alemannic dialect
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 16 years
female: 13 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Liechtenstein
Country name:
conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein
conventional short form: Liechtenstein
local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein
local short form: Liechtenstein
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Vaduz
geographic coordinates: 47 08 N, 9 31 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz
Independence:
23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire)
National holiday:
Assumption Day, 15 August
Constitution:
5 October 1921; amended 15 September 2003
Legal system:
local civil and penal codes based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Prince HANS ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968); note - on 15 August 2004, HANS ADAM transferred the official duties of the ruling prince to ALOIS, but HANS ADAM retains status of chief of state
head of government: Head of Government Klaus TSCHUTSCHER (since 25 March 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch
elections: the monarch is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the Landtag is usually appointed the head of government by the monarch and the leader of the largest minority party in the Landtag is usually appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch if there is a coalition government
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected by popular vote under proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 8 February 2009 (next to be held February 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - VU 47.6%, FBP 43.5%, FL 8.9%; seats by party - VU 13, FBP 11, FL 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal or Obergericht
Political parties and leaders:
Die Freie Liste (The Free List) or FL [Claudia HEEB-FLECK and Egon MATT]; Fortschrittliche Buergerpartei (Progressive Citizens' Party) or FBP [Marcus VOGT]; Vaterlaendische Union (Fatherland Union) or VU [Adolf HEEB]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE
chancery: 2900 K Street, NW, Suite 602B, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 331-0590
FAX: [1] (202) 331-3221
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein; the US Ambassador to Switzerland is accredited to Liechtenstein
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band; the colors may derive from the blue and red livery design used in the principality's household in the 18th century; the prince's crown was introduced in 1937 to distinguish the flag from that of Haiti
Economy ::Liechtenstein
Economy - overview:
Despite its small size and limited natural resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital financial service sector and the highest per capita income in the world. The Liechtenstein economy is widely diversified with a large number of small businesses. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 20% - and easy incorporation rules have induced many holding companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein, providing 30% of state revenues. The country participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency. It imports more than 90% of its energy requirements. Liechtenstein has been a member of the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated Europe. In 2008 Liechtenstein came under renewed international pressure - particularly from Germany - to improve transparency in its banking and tax systems.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4.16 billion (2007) country comparison to the world: 165 $4.035 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.993 billion (2007)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 121
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$118,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 1
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 39%
services: 54% (2007)
Labor force:
32,440 of whom 13,900 commute from Austria, Switzerland, and Germany to work each day (2007) country comparison to the world: 194
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1.7%
industry: 43.5%
services: 55.4% (31 December 2006)
Unemployment rate:
1.5% (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 11 1.3% (September 2002)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $424.2 million
expenditures: $414.1 million (1998 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (2001) country comparison to the world: 8
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
Industries:
electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instruments
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Exports:
$2.47 billion
Exports - commodities:
small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical products
Imports:
$917.3 million
Imports - commodities:
agricultural products, raw materials, energy products, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
Debt - external:
$0 (2001) country comparison to the world: 203
Exchange rates:
Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - 1.0774 (2008 est.), 1.1973 (2007), 1.2539 (2006), 1.2452 (2005), 1.2435 (2004)
Communications ::Liechtenstein
Telephones - main lines in use:
19,600 (2008) country comparison to the world: 195
Telephones - mobile cellular:
34,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 201
Telephone system:
general assessment: automatic telephone system
domestic: fixed line and mobile-cellular services widely available; combined telephone service subscribership exceeds 150 per 100 persons
international: country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)
Internet country code:
.li
Internet hosts:
9,287 (2009) country comparison to the world: 118
Internet users:
23,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 187
Transportation ::Liechtenstein
Pipelines:
gas 20 km (2008)
Railways:
9 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)
note: belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and Switzerland (2008)
Roadways:
total: 380 km country comparison to the world: 198 paved: 380 km (2007)
Waterways:
28 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 107
Military ::Liechtenstein
Military branches:
no regular military forces (constitutionally prohibited); Principality of Liechtenstein National Police (Landespolizei, LP) (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 8,102 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,584
females age 16-49: 6,801 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 199
female: 222 (2009 est.)
Military - note:
Liechtenstein has no military forces, but is interested in European security policy and is an active member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
Transnational Issues ::Liechtenstein
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
has strengthened money laundering controls, but money laundering remains a concern due to Liechtenstein's sophisticated offshore financial services sector
page last updated on November 4, 2009
======================================================================
@Lithuania (Europe)
Introduction ::Lithuania
Background:
Lithuanian lands were united under MINDAUGAS in 1236; over the next century, through alliances and conquest, Lithuania extended its territory to include most of present-day Belarus and Ukraine. By the end of the 14th century Lithuania was the largest state in Europe. An alliance with Poland in 1386 led the two countries into a union through the person of a common ruler. In 1569, Lithuania and Poland formally united into a single dual state, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This entity survived until 1795, when its remnants were partitioned by surrounding countries. Lithuania regained its independence following World War I but was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. On 11 March 1990, Lithuania became the first of the Soviet republics to declare its independence, but Moscow did not recognize this proclamation until September of 1991 (following the abortive coup in Moscow). The last Russian troops withdrew in 1993. Lithuania subsequently restructured its economy for integration into Western European institutions; it joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.
Geography ::Lithuania
Location:
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia
Geographic coordinates:
56 00 N, 24 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 65,300 sq km country comparison to the world: 122 land: 62,680 sq km
water: 2,620 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,574 km
border countries: Belarus 680 km, Latvia 576 km, Poland 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km
Coastline:
90 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:
transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers
Terrain:
lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Juozapines Kalnas 294 m
Natural resources:
peat, arable land, amber
Land use:
arable land: 44.81%
permanent crops: 0.9%
other: 54.29% (2005)
Irrigated land:
70 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
24.5 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 3.33 cu km/yr (78%/15%/7%)
per capita: 971 cu m/yr (2003)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that are ancient glacial deposits
People ::Lithuania
Population:
3,555,179 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 130
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.2% (male 258,423/female 245,115)
15-64 years: 69.6% (male 1,214,743/female 1,261,413)
65 years and over: 16.2% (male 198,714/female 376,771) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.3 years
male: 36.8 years
female: 41.9 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.279% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 221
Birth rate:
9.11 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 208
Death rate:
11.18 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 45
Net migration rate:
-0.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 115
Urbanization:
urban population: 67% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.53 male(s)/female
total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.47 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 176 male: 7.73 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.9 years country comparison to the world: 86 male: 69.98 years
female: 80.1 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.23 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 215
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 117
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 138
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 109
Major infectious diseases: