Part 68

Chapter 683,759 wordsPublic domain

chief of mission: Ambassador Sameh Hassan SHOUKRY

chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400

FAX: [1] (202) 244-4319

consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Margaret SCOBEY

embassy: 8 Kamal El Din Salah St., Garden City, Cairo

mailing address: Unit 64900, Box 15, APO AE 09839-4900; 5 Tawfik Diab Street, Garden City, Cairo

telephone: [20] (2) 2797-3300

FAX: [20] (2) 2797-3200

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the national emblem (a gold Eagle of Saladin facing the hoist side with a shield superimposed on its chest above a scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white)

note: similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars in the white band, Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band, and Yemen, which has a plain white band

National anthem:

lyrics/music: Younis-al QADI/Sayed DARWISH

note: adopted 1979; after the signing of the 1979 peace with Israel, Egypt sought to create an anthem less militaristic than its previous one; Sayed DARWISH, commonly considered the father of modern Egyptian music, composed the anthem

Economy ::Egypt

Economy - overview:

Occupying the northeast corner of the African continent, Egypt is bisected by the highly fertile Nile valley, where most economic activity takes place. Egypt's economy was highly centralized during the rule of former President Gamal Abdel NASSER but has opened up considerably under former President Anwar EL-SADAT and current President Mohamed Hosni MUBARAK. Cairo from 2004 to 2008 aggressively pursued economic reforms to attract foreign investment and facilitate GDP growth. The global financial crisis has slowed the reform efforts. The budget deficit climbed to over 8% of GDP and Egypt's GDP growth slowed to 4.6% in 2009, predominately due to reduced growth in export-oriented sectors, including manufacturing and tourism, and Suez Canal revenues. In 2010, the government spent more on infrastructure and public projects, and exports drove GDP growth to more than 5%, but GDP growth in 2011 is unlikely to bounce back to pre-global financial recession levels, when it stood at 7%. Despite the relatively high levels of economic growth over the past few years, living conditions for the average Egyptian remain poor.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$500.9 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 27 $475.7 billion (2009 est.)

$454.8 billion (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$216.8 billion (2010 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 49 4.6% (2009 est.)

7.2% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$6,200 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 136 $6,000 (2009 est.)

$5,900 (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 13.5%

industry: 37.9%

services: 48.6% (2010 est.)

Labor force:

26.1 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 21

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 32%

industry: 17%

services: 51% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:

9.7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 108 9.4% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line:

20% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.9%

highest 10%: 27.6% (2005)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

34.4 (2001) country comparison to the world: 90

Investment (gross fixed):

18.4% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Public debt:

80.5% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 17 80.9% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

12.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 210 11.9% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

8.5% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 36 11.5% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

11.98% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 71 12.33% (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$37.8 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 49 $33.42 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Stock of broad money:

$166.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 42 $146.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit:

$145.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 42 $131.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$89.95 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 40 $85.89 billion (31 December 2008)

$139.3 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats

Industries:

textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, hydrocarbons, construction, cement, metals, light manufactures

Industrial production growth rate:

5.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 60

Electricity - production:

118.4 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 28

Electricity - consumption:

104.1 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 29

Electricity - exports:

814 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

251 million kWh (2007 est.)

Oil - production:

680,500 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 29

Oil - consumption:

683,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 25

Oil - exports:

89,300 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Oil - imports:

48,450 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Oil - proved reserves:

4.3 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

Natural gas - production:

62.7 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 14

Natural gas - consumption:

42.5 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 20

Natural gas - exports:

8.55 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.656 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 22

Current account balance:

$270 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 -$3.195 billion (2009 est.)

Exports:

$25.34 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 64 $23.09 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities:

crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals, processed food

Exports - partners:

US 7.95%, Italy 7.26%, Spain 6.78%, India 6.69%, Saudi Arabia 5.53%, Syria 5.3%, France 4.39%, South Korea 4.27% (2009)

Imports:

$46.52 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 49 $45.56 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products, fuels

Imports - partners:

US 9.92%, China 9.63%, Germany 6.98%, Italy 6.88%, Turkey 4.94% (2009)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$35.72 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 32 $33.93 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt - external:

$30.61 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 65 $29.66 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$72.41 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 46 $66.71 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$4.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 59 $4.272 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates:

Egyptian pounds (EGP) per US dollar - 5.6124 (2010), 5.545 (2009), 5.4 (2008), 5.67 (2007), 5.725 (2006)

Communications ::Egypt

Telephones - main lines in use:

10.313 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 21

Telephones - mobile cellular:

55.352 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 19

Telephone system:

general assessment: underwent extensive upgrading during 1990s; principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah, Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable and microwave radio relay

domestic: largest fixed-line system in the region; as of 2010 there were three mobile-cellular networks with a total of more than 55 million subscribers

international: country code - 20; landing point for Aletar, the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks, Link Around the Globe (FLAG) Falcon and FLAG FEA; satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean, 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat); tropospheric scatter to Sudan; microwave radio relay to Israel; a participant in Medarabtel (2009)

Broadcast media:

mix of state-run and private broadcast media; state-run TV operates 2 national and 6 regional terrestrial networks as well as a few satellite channels; about 20 private satellite channels and a large number of Arabic satellite channels are available via subscription; state-run radio operates about 70 stations belonging to 8 networks; 2 privately-owned radio stations operational (2008)

Internet country code:

.eg

Internet hosts:

187,197 (2010) country comparison to the world: 67

Internet users:

20.136 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 21

Transportation ::Egypt

Airports:

86 (2010) country comparison to the world: 66

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 73

over 3,047 m: 15

2,438 to 3,047 m: 36

1,524 to 2,437 m: 15

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 5 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 13

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 4 (2010)

Heliports:

6 (2010)

Pipelines:

condensate 320 km; condensate/gas 13 km; gas 6,262 km; liquid petroleum gas 956 km; oil 4,319 km; oil/gas/water 3 km; refined products 895 km; unknown 59 km (2009)

Railways:

total: 5,500 km country comparison to the world: 33 standard gauge: 5,500 km 1.435-m gauge (62 km electrified) (2009)

Roadways:

total: 65,050 km country comparison to the world: 71 paved: 47,500 km

unpaved: 17,550 km (2009)

Waterways:

3,500 km country comparison to the world: 30 note: includes Nile River, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, and numerous smaller canals in delta; Suez Canal (193.5 km including approaches) navigable by oceangoing vessels drawing up to 17.68 m (2010)

Merchant marine:

total: 66 country comparison to the world: 63 by type: bulk carrier 11, cargo 24, container 3, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 12, roll on/roll off 9

foreign-owned: 13 (Denmark 1, France 1, Greece 8, Jordan 2, Lebanon 1)

registered in other countries: 52 (Cambodia 12, Cook Islands 1, Georgia 11, Honduras 2, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 1, Moldova 5, Panama 11, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4, Saudi Arabia 1, Sierra Leone 2, unknown 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals:

Ayn Sukhnah, Alexandria, Damietta, El Dekheila, Port Said, Sidi Kurayr, Suez

Military ::Egypt

Military branches:

Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command

Military service age and obligation:

18-30 years of age for male conscript military service; service obligation 12-36 months, followed by a 9-year reserve obligation (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 20,619,887

females age 16-49: 19,785,004 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 17,733,851

females age 16-49: 16,942,010 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 799,377

female: 764,602 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:

3.4% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 35

Transnational Issues ::Egypt

Disputes - international:

Sudan claims but Egypt de facto administers security and economic development of Halaib region north of the 22nd parallel boundary; Egypt no longer shows its administration of the Bir Tawil trapezoid in Sudan on its maps; Gazan breaches in the security wall with Egypt in January 2008 highlight difficulties in monitoring the Sinai border; Saudi Arabia claims Egyptian-administered islands of Tiran and Sanafir

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 60,000 - 80,000 (Iraq); 70,198 (Palestinian Territories); 12,157 (Sudan) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

transit point for cannabis, heroin, and opium moving to Europe, Israel, and North Africa; transit stop for Nigerian drug couriers; concern as money laundering site due to lax enforcement of financial regulations

page last updated on January 20, 2011

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@El Salvador (Central America and Caribbean)

Introduction ::El Salvador

Background:

El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and from the Central American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war, which cost about 75,000 lives, was brought to a close in 1992 when the government and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided for military and political reforms.

Geography ::El Salvador

Location:

Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras

Geographic coordinates:

13 50 N, 88 55 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 21,041 sq km country comparison to the world: 153 land: 20,721 sq km

water: 320 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Land boundaries:

total: 545 km

border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km

Coastline:

307 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands

Terrain:

mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m

Natural resources:

hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 31.37%

permanent crops: 11.88%

other: 56.75% (2005)

Irrigated land:

450 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

25.2 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 1.28 cu km/yr (25%/16%/59%)

per capita: 186 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanes

volcanism: El Salvador experiences significant volcanic activity; San Salvador (elev. 1,893 m, 6,211 ft), which last erupted in 1917, has the potential to cause major harm to the country's capital, which lies just below the volcano's slopes; San Miguel (elev. 2,130 m, 6,988 ft), which last erupted in 2002, is one of the most active volcanoes in the country; other historically active volcanoes include Conchaguita, Ilopango, Izalco, and Santa Ana

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes

Environment - international agreements:

party to: 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:

smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on Caribbean Sea

People ::El Salvador

Population:

6,052,064 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Age structure:

0-14 years: 35.4% (male 1,299,608/female 1,245,617)

15-64 years: 59.3% (male 2,033,423/female 2,225,810)

65 years and over: 5.3% (male 166,224/female 214,536) (2010 est.)

Median age:

total: 23.9 years

male: 22.5 years

female: 25.3 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.332% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

Birth rate:

18.06 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

Death rate:

5.61 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Net migration rate:

-9.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 212

Urbanization:

urban population: 61% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 1.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female

total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 20.97 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 98 male: 23.01 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 18.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.18 years country comparison to the world: 116 male: 69.91 years

female: 76.62 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.12 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.8% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 61

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

35,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

1,700 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high

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

vectorborne diseases: dengue fever

water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)

Nationality:

noun: Salvadoran(s)

adjective: Salvadoran

Ethnic groups:

mestizo 90%, white 9%, Amerindian 1%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 21.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.9%, Mormon 0.7%, other religions 2.3%, none 16.8% (2003 est.)

Languages:

Spanish (official), Nahua (among some Amerindians)

Literacy:

definition: age 5 and over can read and write

total population: 81.1%

male: 82.8%

female: 79.6% (2007 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years

male: 12 years

female: 12 years (2008)

Education expenditures:

3.6% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 128

Government ::El Salvador

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador

conventional short form: El Salvador

local long form: Republica de El Salvador

local short form: El Salvador

Government type:

republic

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 13 42 N, 89 12 W

time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, San Vicente, Santa Ana, Sonsonate, Usulutan

Independence:

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution:

20 December 1983

Legal system:

based on civil and Roman law with traces of common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Mauricio FUNES Cartagena (since 1 June 2009); Vice President Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN (since 1 June 2009); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Mauricio FUNES Cartagena (since 1 June 2009); Vice President Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN (since 1 June 2009)

cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held on 15 March 2009 (next to be held in March 2014)

election results: Mauricio FUNES Cartagena elected president; percent of vote - Mauricio FUNES Cartagena 51.3%, Rodrigo AVILA 48.7%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve three-year terms)

elections: last held on 18 January 2009 (next to be held in March 2012)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FMLN 35, ARENA 32, PCN 11, PDC 5, CD 1; note - as of 1 January 2011, the current composition of the legislature by seats is as follows: FMLN 35, ARENA 19, GANA 16, PCN 10, PDC 2, CD 1, Independent 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (15 judges are selected by the Legislative Assembly; the 15 judges are assigned to four Supreme Court chambers - constitutional, civil, penal, and administrative conflict)

Political parties and leaders:

Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Rodolfo PARKER]; Democratic Convergence or CD [Oscar KATTAN] (formerly United Democratic Center or CDU); Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN [Medardo GONZALEZ]; National Conciliation Party or PCN [Ciro CRUZ ZEPEDA]; Nationalist Republican Alliance or ARENA [Alfredo CRISTIANI]; Great Alliance for National Unity or GANA [Andres ROVIRA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

labor organizations - Electrical Industry Union of El Salvador or SIES; Federation of the Construction Industry, Similar Transport and other activities, or FESINCONTRANS; National Confederation of Salvadoran Workers or CNTS; National Union of Salvadoran Workers or UNTS; Port Industry Union of El Salvador or SIPES; Salvadoran Union of Ex-Petrolleros and Peasant Workers or USEPOC; Salvadoran Workers Central or CTS; Workers Union of Electrical Corporation or STCEL; business organizations - National Association of Small Enterprise or ANEP; Salvadoran Assembly Industry Association or ASIC; Salvadoran Industrial Association or ASI

International organization participation:

BCIE, CACM, CD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco Robert ALTSCHUL Fuentes

chancery: Suite 100, 1400 16th Street, Washington, DC 20036

telephone: [1] (202) 265-9671

FAX: [1] (202) 234-3763

consulate(s) general: Chicago, Dallas, Duluth (Georgia), Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York (2), Nogales (Arizona), Santa Ana (California), San Francisco, Washington (DC), Woodbridge (Virginia)

consulate(s): Boston, Elizabeth (New Jersey)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Robert BLAU

embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena Sur, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, San Salvador

mailing address: Unit 3450, APO AA 34023; 3450 San Salvador Place, Washington, DC 20521-3450

telephone: [503] 2501-2999

FAX: [503] 2501-2150

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; the banner is based on the former blue-white-blue flag of the Federal Republic of Central America; the blue bands symbolize the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, while the white band represents the land between the two bodies of water, as well as peace and prosperity

note: similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band - it features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band

National anthem:

lyrics/music: Juan Jose CANAS/Juan ABERLE

note: officially adopted 1953, in use since 1879; the anthem of El Salvador is one of the world's longest