Part 66

Chapter 663,670 wordsPublic domain

a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms featuring a shield supported by a laurel branch (left) and a palm branch (right) is at the center of the cross; above the shield a blue ribbon displays the motto, DIOS, PATRIA, LIBERTAD (God, Fatherland, Liberty), and below the shield, REPUBLICA DOMINICANA appears on a red ribbon; in the shield a bible is opened to a verse that reads "Y la verdad nos hara libre" (And the truth shall set you free); blue stands for liberty, white for salvation, and red for the blood of heroes

National anthem:

lyrics/music: Emilio PRUD"HOMME/Jose REYES

note: adopted 1934; also known as "Quisqueyanos valientes" (Valient Sons of Quisqueye); the anthem never refers to the people as Dominican but rather calls them "Quisqueyanos," a reference to the indigenous name of the island

Economy ::Dominican Republic

Economy - overview:

The Dominican Republic has long been viewed primarily as an exporter of sugar, coffee, and tobacco, but in recent years the service sector has overtaken agriculture as the economy's largest employer, due to growth in tourism and free trade zones. The economy is highly dependent upon the US, the destination for nearly 60% of exports. Remittances from the US amount to about a tenth of GDP, equivalent to almost half of exports and three-quarters of tourism receipts. The country suffers from marked income inequality; the poorest half of the population receives less than one-fifth of GDP, while the richest 10% enjoys nearly 40% of GDP. High unemployment and underemployment remains an important long-term challenge. The Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) came into force in March 2007, boosting investment and exports and reducing losses to the Asian garment industry. The growth of the Dominican Republic's economy slowed in 2008-09 because of the global recession, but still remained one of the fastest growing in the region.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$84.94 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 76 $81.52 billion (2009 est.)

$78.76 billion (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$50.87 billion (2010 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 72 3.5% (2009 est.)

5.3% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$8,600 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 119 $8,400 (2009 est.)

$8,200 (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 11.5%

industry: 21%

services: 67.5% (2010 est.)

Labor force:

4.498 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 14.6%

industry: 22.3%

services: 63.1% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:

14.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 14.9% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line:

42.2% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.5%

highest 10%: 38.7% (2005)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

49.9 (2005) country comparison to the world: 25 47.4 (1998)

Investment (gross fixed):

15.4% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Public debt:

41.7% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 64 40.8% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 166 1.4% (2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

18.14% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 18 19.95% (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$4.734 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 93 $4.079 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Stock of broad money:

$15.71 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 88 $14 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit:

$21.63 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 $18.91 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA

Agriculture - products:

sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef, eggs

Industries:

tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco

Industrial production growth rate:

1.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Electricity - production:

14.02 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

Electricity - consumption:

12.7 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Oil - consumption:

118,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 73

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 199

Oil - imports:

116,200 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 61

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 177

Natural gas - consumption:

470 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

Natural gas - imports:

470 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 60

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

Current account balance:

-$3.862 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 167 -$2.328 billion (2009 est.)

Exports:

$6.161 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102 $5.462 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities:

ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, meats, consumer goods

Exports - partners:

US 54.08%, Haiti 9.78% (2009)

Imports:

$14.53 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 79 $12.28 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners:

US 42.79%, Venezuela 7.04%, Mexico 6.17%, Colombia 5.59% (2009)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.705 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 88 $2.905 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt - external:

$13.09 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 82 $11.04 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$19.45 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 68 $17.95 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$NA (31 December 2010 est.)

$59 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates:

Dominican pesos (DOP) per US dollar - 36.92 (2010), 36.027 (2009), 34.775 (2008), 33.113 (2007), 33.406 (2006)

Communications ::Dominican Republic

Telephones - main lines in use:

965,400 (2009) country comparison to the world: 80

Telephones - mobile cellular:

8.63 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 71

Telephone system:

general assessment: relatively efficient system based on island-wide microwave radio relay network

domestic: fixed-line teledensity is about 10 per 100 persons; multiple providers of mobile-cellular service with a subscribership of roughly 75 per 100 persons

international: country code - 1-809; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1), Antillas 1, and the Fibralink submarine cables that provide links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)

Broadcast media:

combination of state-owned and privately-owned broadcast media; 1 state-owned television network and a number of private TV networks; networks operate repeaters to extend signals throughout country; combination of state-owned and privately-owned radio stations; more than 300 radio stations operating (2007)

Internet country code:

.do

Internet hosts:

283,298 (2010) country comparison to the world: 60

Internet users:

2.701 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 68

Transportation ::Dominican Republic

Airports:

35 (2010) country comparison to the world: 110

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 16

over 3,047 m: 3

2,438 to 3,047 m: 4

1,524 to 2,437 m: 4

914 to 1,523 m: 4

under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 19

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 17 (2010)

Railways:

total: 1,784 km country comparison to the world: 77 standard gauge: 375 km 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge: 1,409 km 1.076-m, 0.889-m, and 0.762-m gauges

note: 1,226 km operated by sugar companies in 1.076 m, 0.889 m, and 0.762-m gauges (2008)

Roadways:

total: 19,705 km country comparison to the world: 110 paved: 9,872 km

unpaved: 9,833 km (2002)

Merchant marine:

total: 1 country comparison to the world: 161 by type: cargo 1

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

Ports and terminals:

Andres (Boca Chica), Puerto Haina, Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo

Military ::Dominican Republic

Military branches:

Army, Navy (Marina de Guerra), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Dominicana, FAD) (2010)

Military service age and obligation:

16-21 years of age for compulsory military service; recruits must be Dominican Republic citizens; women may volunteer (2010)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,514,160

females age 16-49: 2,395,804 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,090,785

females age 16-49: 1,957,233 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 98,394

female: 94,576 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.7% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 154

Transnational Issues ::Dominican Republic

Disputes - international:

Haitian migrants cross the porous border into the Dominican Republic to find work; illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage each year to Puerto Rico to find better work

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: the Dominican Republic is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; a large number of Dominican women are trafficked into prostitution and sexual exploitation in Western Europe, Australia, Central and South America, and Caribbean destinations; a significant number of women, boys, and girls are trafficked within the country for sexual exploitation and domestic servitude

tier rating: Tier 3 - for its failure to show evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking, particularly in terms of not adequately investigating and prosecuting public officials who may be complicit with trafficking activity, and inadequate government efforts to protect trafficking victims; the government has taken measures to reduce demand for commercial sex acts with children through criminal prosecutions (2008)

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; has become a transshipment point for ecstasy from the Netherlands and Belgium destined for US and Canada; substantial money laundering activity in particular by Colombian narcotics traffickers; significant amphetamine consumption (2008)

page last updated on January 12, 2011

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@Ecuador (South America)

Introduction ::Ecuador

Background:

What is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire until the Spanish conquest in 1533. Quito became a seat of Spanish colonial government in 1563 and part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada in 1717. The territories of the Viceroyalty - New Granada (Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito - gained their independence between 1819 and 1822 and formed a federation known as Gran Colombia. When Quito withdrew in 1830, the traditional name was changed in favor of the "Republic of the Equator." Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999. Although Ecuador marked 30 years of civilian governance in 2004, the period has been marred by political instability. Protests in Quito contributed to the mid-term ouster of three of Ecuador's last four democratically elected Presidents. In September 2008, voters approved a new constitution; Ecuador's twentieth since gaining independence. General elections, under the new constitutional framework, were held in April 2009, and voters re-elected President Rafael CORREA.

Geography ::Ecuador

Location:

Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru

Geographic coordinates:

2 00 S, 77 30 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 283,561 sq km country comparison to the world: 73 land: 276,841 sq km

water: 6,720 sq km

note: includes Galapagos Islands

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Nevada

Land boundaries:

total: 2,010 km

border countries: Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km

Coastline:

2,237 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 200 nm

continental shelf: 100 nm from 2,500-m isobath

Climate:

tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands

Terrain:

coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m

note: due to the fact that the earth is not a perfect sphere and has an equatorial bulge, the highest point on the planet furthest from its center is Mount Chimborazo not Mount Everest, which is merely the highest peak above sea-level

Natural resources:

petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 5.71%

permanent crops: 4.81%

other: 89.48% (2005)

Irrigated land:

8,650 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

432 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 16.98 cu km/yr (12%/5%/82%)

per capita: 1,283 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

frequent earthquakes; landslides; volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughts

volcanism: Ecuador experiences volcanic activity in the Andes Mountains; Sangay (elev. 5,230 m, 17,159 ft), which erupted in 2010, is mainland Ecuador's most active volcano; other historically active volcanoes in the Andes include Antisana, Cayambe, Chacana, Cotopaxi, Guagua Pichincha, Reventador, Sumaco, and Tungurahua; Fernandina (elev. 1,476 m, 4,842 ft), a shield volcano that last erupted in 2009, is the most active of the many Galapagos volcanoes; other historically active Galapagos volcanoes include Wolf, Sierra Negra, Cerro Azul, Pinta, Marchena, and Santiago

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world

People ::Ecuador

Population:

14,790,608 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 65

Age structure:

0-14 years: 31.1% (male 2,312,610/female 2,220,378)

15-64 years: 62.7% (male 4,506,908/female 4,636,703)

65 years and over: 6.2% (male 432,144/female 464,358) (2010 est.)

Median age:

total: 25.3 years

male: 24.7 years

female: 25.9 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.466% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Birth rate:

20.32 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

Death rate:

5 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

Net migration rate:

-0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Urbanization:

urban population: 66% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 2.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 20.26 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 100 male: 23.7 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 16.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.52 years country comparison to the world: 81 male: 72.58 years

female: 78.6 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.46 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.3% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

26,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 73

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

1,400 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria

water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)

Nationality:

noun: Ecuadorian(s)

adjective: Ecuadorian

Ethnic groups:

mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish and others 7%, black 3%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%

Languages:

Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 91%

male: 92.3%

female: 89.7% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years

male: 14 years

female: 14 years (2008)

Education expenditures:

1% of GDP (2001) country comparison to the world: 182

Government ::Ecuador

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador

conventional short form: Ecuador

local long form: Republica del Ecuador

local short form: Ecuador

Government type:

republic

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 0 13 S, 78 30 W

time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

24 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Azuay, Bolivar, Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi, Morona-Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Santa Elena, Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe

Independence:

24 May 1822 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)

Constitution:

20 October 2008

Legal system:

based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

16 years of age; universal, compulsory for persons ages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15 January 2007); Vice President Lenin MORENO Garces (since 15 January 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15 January 2007); Vice President Lenin MORENO Garces (since 15 January 2007)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: the president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a four-year term and can be re-elected for another consecutive term; election last held on 26 April 2009 (next to be held in 2013)

election results: President Rafael CORREA Delgado reelected president; percent of vote - Rafael CORREA Delgado 52%; Lucio GUTIERREZ 28.2%; Alvaro NOBOA 11.4%; other 8.4%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (124 seats; members are elected through a party-list proportional representation system to serve four-year terms)

elections: last held on 26 April 2009 (next to be held in 2013)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PAIS 59, PSP 19, PSC 11, PRIAN 7, MPD 5, PRE 3, other 20; note - defections by members of National Assembly are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held by the various parties

Judicial branch:

National Court of Justice or Corte Nacional de Justicia (according to the Constitution, justices are elected through a procedure overseen by the Judiciary Council); Constitutional Court or Corte Constitucional (Constitutional Court justices are appointed by a commission composed of two delegates each from the Executive, Legislative, and Transparency branches of government)

Political parties and leaders:

Alianza PAIS movement [Rafael Vicente CORREA Delgado]; Christian Democratic Union or UDC [Luis ACOSTA Moreta]; Democratic Left or ID [Dalton BACIGALUPO]; Ethical and Democratic Network or RED [Martha ROLDOS]; Institutional Renewal and National Action Party or PRIAN [Vicente TAIANO]; Pachakutik Plurinational Unity Movement - New Country or MUPP-NP [Jorge GUAMAN Coronel]; Patriotic Society Party or PSP [Lucio GUTIERREZ Borbua]; Popular Democratic Movement or MPD [Luis VILLACIS]; Roldosist Party or PRE [Abdala BUCARAM Pulley, director]; Social Christian Party or PSC [Pascual DEL CIOPPO]; Socialist Party - Broad Front or PS-FA [Silvia SALGADO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador or CONAIE [Marlon SANTI, president]; Coordinator of Social Movements or CMS [F. Napoleon SALTOS]; Federation of Indigenous Evangelists of Ecuador or FEINE [Manuel CHUGCHILAN, president]; National Federation of Indigenous Afro-Ecuatorianos and Peasants or FENOCIN [Luis Alberto ANDRANGO Cadena, president]

International organization participation:

CAN, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Luis Benigno GALLEGOS Chiriboga

chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200

FAX: [1] (202) 667-3482

consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Newark (New Jersey), San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Heather HODGES

embassy: Avenida Avigiras E12-170 y Avenida Eloy Alfaro, Quito

mailing address: Avenida Guayacanes N52-205 y Avenida Avigiras

telephone: [593] (2) 398-5000

FAX: [593] (2) 398-5100

consulate(s) general: Guayaquil

Flag description:

three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and red with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag; the flag retains the three main colors of the banner of Gran Columbia, the South American republic that broke up in 1830; the yellow color represents sunshine, grain, and mineral wealth, blue the sky, sea, and rivers, and red the blood of patriots spilled in the struggle for freedom and justice

note: similar to the flag of Colombia, which is shorter and does not bear a coat of arms

National anthem:

lyrics/music: Juan Leon MERA/Antonio NEUMANE

note: adopted 1948; Juan Leon MERA wrote the lyrics in 1865; only the chorus and second verse are sung

Economy ::Ecuador

Economy - overview: