Part 174
The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development aid, family remittances from overseas, agriculture, and fishing. The country is vulnerable to devastating storms. Agriculture employs two-thirds of the labor force and furnishes 90% of exports, featuring coconut cream, coconut oil, and copra. The manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural products. One factory in the Foreign Trade Zone employs 3,000 people to make automobile electrical harnesses for an assembly plant in Australia. Tourism is an expanding sector accounting for 25% of GDP; 122,000 tourists visited the islands in 2007. In late September 2009, an earthquake and the resulting tsunami severely damaged Samoa, and nearby American Samoa, disrupting transportation and power generation, and resulting in about 200 deaths. The Samoan Government has called for deregulation of the financial sector, encouragement of investment, and continued fiscal discipline, while at the same time protecting the environment. Observers point to the flexibility of the labor market as a basic strength for future economic advances. Foreign reserves are in a relatively healthy state, the external debt is stable, and inflation is low.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.002 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 200 $1.022 billion (2009 est.)
$1.059 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$550 million (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 206 -3.5% (2009 est.)
-3.4% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,200 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 143 $5,400 (2009 est.)
$5,600 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 11.6%
industry: 13.1%
services: 75.3% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
66,270 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 184
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 162
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
12.08% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 65 12.66% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$80.56 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 182 $60.13 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$283.2 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 178 $222.9 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$243 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 172 $208.9 million (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, bananas, taro, yams, coffee, cocoa
Industries:
food processing, building materials, auto parts
Industrial production growth rate:
2.8% (2000) country comparison to the world: 115
Electricity - production:
109 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 189
Electricity - consumption:
101.4 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 190
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 134
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 194
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 177
Oil - imports:
1,105 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 187
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 127
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 134
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 153
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 132
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 137
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 138
Current account balance:
-$24 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 66
Exports:
$131 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 186
Exports - commodities:
fish, coconut oil and cream, copra, taro, automotive parts, garments, beer
Exports - partners:
American Samoa 41.12%, Australia 24.74%, Taiwan 6.24%, China 5.61%, US 4.07% (2009)
Imports:
$324 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 193
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, industrial supplies, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
NZ 24.13%, Fiji 17.34%, Singapore 12.54%, China 10.02%, Australia 9.85%, US 5.95% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$70.15 million (FY03/04) country comparison to the world: 130
Debt - external:
$177 million (2004) country comparison to the world: 175
Exchange rates:
tala (SAT) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2.7594 (2006), 2.7103 (2005), 2.7807 (2004), 2.9732 (2003)
Communications ::Samoa
Telephones - main lines in use:
31,900 (2009) country comparison to the world: 176
Telephones - mobile cellular:
151,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 176
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 85 telephones per 100 persons; coverage extended to roughly 95 percent of the country
international: country code - 685; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Broadcast media:
state-owned television station privatized in 2008; 4 privately-owned television broadcast stations; about a half dozen privately-owned radio stations and one state-owned radio station; television and radio broadcasts of several stations from American Samoa are available (2009)
Internet country code:
.ws
Internet hosts:
17,044 (2010) country comparison to the world: 114
Internet users:
9,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 201
Transportation ::Samoa
Airports:
4 (2010) country comparison to the world: 187
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 2,337 km country comparison to the world: 170 paved: 332 km
unpaved: 2,005 km (2001)
Merchant marine:
total: 2 country comparison to the world: 143 by type: passenger/cargo 1, cargo 1
foreign-owned: 1 (NZ 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Apia
Military ::Samoa
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Samoa Police Force (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 47,423 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 37,674
females age 16-49: 37,492 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 2,219
female: 2,058 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Military - note:
Samoa has no formal defense structure or regular armed forces; informal defense ties exist with NZ, which is required to consider any Samoan request for assistance under the 1962 Treaty of Friendship
Transnational Issues ::Samoa
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@San Marino (Europe)
Introduction ::San Marino
Background:
The third smallest state in Europe (after the Holy See and Monaco), San Marino also claims to be the world's oldest republic. According to tradition, it was founded by a Christian stonemason named Marinus in A.D. 301. San Marino's foreign policy is aligned with that of Italy; social and political trends in the republic also track closely with those of its larger neighbor.
Geography ::San Marino
Location:
Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy
Geographic coordinates:
43 46 N, 12 25 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 61 sq km country comparison to the world: 228 land: 61 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about one third times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 39 km
border countries: Italy 39 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers
Terrain:
rugged mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Torrente Ausa 55 m
highest point: Monte Titano 755 m
Natural resources:
building stone
Land use:
arable land: 16.67%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 83.33% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution
Geography - note:
landlocked; smallest independent state in Europe after the Holy See and Monaco; dominated by the Apennines
People ::San Marino
Population:
31,477 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 212
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.9% (male 2,635/female 2,452)
15-64 years: 66.2% (male 9,538/female 10,429)
65 years and over: 16.9% (male 2,188/female 2,925) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 42.1 years
male: 41.3 years
female: 42.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.106% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 114
Birth rate:
9.18 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 209
Death rate:
7.75 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 114
Net migration rate:
9.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 8
Urbanization:
urban population: 94% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.086 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.79 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 188 male: 4.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 82.95 years country comparison to the world: 3 male: 80.45 years
female: 85.68 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.46 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 191
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Sammarinese (singular and plural)
adjective: Sammarinese
Ethnic groups:
Sammarinese, Italian
Religions:
Roman Catholic
Languages:
Italian
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 97%
female: 95%
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::San Marino
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of San Marino
conventional short form: San Marino
local long form: Repubblica di San Marino
local short form: San Marino
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: San Marino
geographic coordinates: 43 56 N, 12 25 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:
9 municipalities (castelli, singular - castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Montegiardino, San Marino Citta, Serravalle
Independence:
3 September 301
National holiday:
Founding of the Republic, 3 September (AD 301)
Constitution:
8 October 1600; electoral law of 1926 serves some of the functions of a constitution
Legal system:
based on civil law system with Italian law influences; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Co-chiefs of State Captain Regent Giovanni Francesco UGOLINI and Captain Regent Andrea ZAFFERANI (for the period 1 October 2010-1 April 2011)
head of government: Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs Antonella MULARONI (since 3 December 2008)
cabinet: Congress of State elected by the Great and General Council for a five-year term (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: co-chiefs of state (captains regent) elected by the Great and General Council for a six-month term; election last held in September 2009 (next to be held in March 2010); secretary of state for foreign and political affairs elected by the Great and General Council for a five-year term; election last held on 9 November 2008 (next to be held by 2013)
election results: Francesco MUSSONI and Stefano PALMIERI elected captains regent; percent of legislative vote - NA; Antonella MULARONI elected secretary of state for foreign and political affairs; percent of legislative vote - NA
note: the popularly elected parliament (Grand and General Council) selects two of its members to serve as the Captains Regent (co-chiefs of state) for a six-month period; they preside over meetings of the Grand and General Council and its cabinet (Congress of State), which has 10 other members, all are selected by the Grand and General Council; assisting the captains regent are 10 secretaries of state; the secretary of state for Foreign Affairs has assumed some prime ministerial roles
Legislative branch:
unicameral Grand and General Council or Consiglio Grande e Generale (60 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 9 November 2008 (next to be held by June 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - Pact for San Marino coalition 54.2%: PDCS 31.9%, AP 11.5%, Freedom List 6.3%, San Marino Union of Moderates 4.2%; Reforms and Freedom coalition 45.8%: Party of Socialists and Democrats 32%, United Left 8.6%, Democrats of the Center 4.9%; seats by party - Pact for San Marino coalition 35: PDCS 22, AP 7, the Freedom List 4, San Marino Union of Moderates 2; Reforms and Freedom coalition 25: Party of Socialists and Democrats 18, United Left 5, Democrats of the Center 2
Judicial branch:
Council of Twelve or Consiglio dei XII
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democrats or PDCS [Pasquale VALENTINI]; Communist Refoundation or RC [Ivan FOSHI]; Democrats of the Center or DdC [Giovanni LONGERNINI]; Freedom List (including NPS and We Sammarinesi) or NS [Gabriele GATTEI]; New Socialist Party or NPS [Augusto CASALI]; Party of Socialists and Democrats or PDS [Paride ANDREOLI]; Popular Alliance or AP [Carlo FRANCIOSI]; Union of Moderates (including National Alliance or ANS [Glcuco SANSOVINI] and San Marino Populars or pop [Romeo MORRI and Angela VENTURINI]; United Left of SU [Alessandro ROSSI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
CE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Paolo RONDELLI
chancery: 888 27th Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: 202-337-2260
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in San Marino; the ambassador to 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 main colors derive from the shield of the coat of arms, which features three white towers on three peaks on a blue field; the towers represent three castles built on San Marino's highest feature Mount Titano: Guaita, Cesta, and Montale; the coat of arms is flanked by a wreath, below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS (Liberty); the white and blue colors are also said to stand for peace and liberty respectively
National anthem:
name: "Inno Nazionale della Repubblica" (National Anthem of the Republic)
lyrics/music: none/Federico CONSOLO
note: adopted 1894; the music for the lyric-less anthem is based on a 10th century chorale piece
Economy ::San Marino
Economy - overview:
San Marino's economy relies heavily on its tourism and banking industries, as well as on the manufacture and export of ceramics, clothing, fabrics, furniture, paints, spirits, tiles, and wine. The per capita level of output and standard of living are comparable to those of the most prosperous regions of Italy, which supplies much of its food. San Marino boasts the world's longest life expectancy for men with 80 years. The economy benefits from foreign investment due to its relatively low corporate taxes and low taxes on interest earnings. San Marino has recently faced increased international pressure to improve cooperation with foreign tax authorities and transparency within its own banking sector, which generates about one-fifth of the country's tax revenues. Italy's implementation in October 2009 of a tax amnesty to repatriate untaxed funds held abroad has resulted in financial outflows from San Marino to Italy worth more than $4.5 billion. Such outflows, combined with a money-laundering scandal at San Marino's largest financial institution and the recent global economic downturn, have contributed to a deep recession and growing budget deficit. However, San Marino has no national debt, and an unemployment rate half the size of Italy's. The San Marino government has adopted measures to counter the downturn, including subsidized credit to businesses. San Marino also continues to work towards harmonizing its fiscal laws with EU members and international standards. In September 2009, the OECD removed San Marino from its list of tax havens that have yet to fully implement global tax standards.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.662 billion (2007) country comparison to the world: 191 $850 million (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.048 billion (2004)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.3% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 70
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$41,900 (2007) country comparison to the world: 16
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 46.5%
services: 53.4% (2007)
Labor force:
22,660 (2008) country comparison to the world: 208
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 37.7%
services: 62.2% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.1% (2008) country comparison to the world: 24
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-3.5% (2008) country comparison to the world: 1 -1.5% (2006)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$1.326 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of broad money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$4.584 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$7.875 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 103 $7.511 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
wheat, grapes, corn, olives; cattle, pigs, horses, beef, cheese, hides
Industries:
tourism, banking, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine
Industrial production growth rate:
3.1% (2007) country comparison to the world: 101
Exports:
$4.628 billion (2007) country comparison to the world: 110 $1.291 billion (2004)
Exports - commodities:
building stone, lime, wood, chestnuts, wheat, wine, baked goods, hides, ceramics
Imports:
$3.744 billion (2007) country comparison to the world: 130 $2.035 billion (2004)
Imports - commodities:
wide variety of consumer manufactures, food
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6734 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::San Marino
Telephones - main lines in use:
21,500 (2009) country comparison to the world: 191
Telephones - mobile cellular:
24,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 207
Telephone system:
general assessment: automatic telephone system completely integrated into Italian system
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity 150 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 378; connected to Italian international network
Broadcast media:
state-owned public broadcaster operates 1 TV station and 2 radio stations; receives radio and TV broadcasts from Italy (2008)
Internet country code:
.sm
Internet hosts:
8,895 (2010) country comparison to the world: 130
Internet users:
17,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 195
Transportation ::San Marino
Roadways:
total: 292 km country comparison to the world: 204 paved: 292 km (2006)
Military ::San Marino
Military branches:
no regular military forces; voluntary Military Force (Corpi Militari) performs ceremonial duties and limited police support functions (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
16-55 for voluntary service in Voluntary Military Force (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,893 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,564
females age 16-49: 6,068 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 176
female: 164 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Italy
Transnational Issues ::San Marino
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Sao Tome and Principe (Africa)
Introduction ::Sao Tome and Principe
Background:
Discovered and claimed by Portugal in the late 15th century, the islands' sugar-based economy gave way to coffee and cocoa in the 19th century - all grown with plantation slave labor, a form of which lingered into the 20th century. While independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the late 1980s. The country held its first free elections in 1991, but frequent internal wrangling between the various political parties precipitated repeated changes in leadership and two failed coup attempts in 1995 and 2003. The recent discovery of oil in the Gulf of Guinea promises to attract increased attention to the small island nation.
Geography ::Sao Tome and Principe
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: 964 sq km country comparison to the world: 184 land: 964 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
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 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, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 8.33%
permanent crops: 48.96%
other: 42.71% (2005)
Irrigated land:
100 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the smallest country in Africa; the two main islands form part of a chain of extinct volcanoes and both are mountainous
People ::Sao Tome and Principe
Population:
175,808 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 185
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.9% (male 50,475/female 49,188)
15-64 years: 49.7% (male 51,325/female 54,289)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 3,335/female 4,067) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.5 years
male: 17 years