Part 85

Chapter 853,664 wordsPublic domain

state-owned TV station, 2 state-owned radio networks; several privately-owned TV stations and a large number of privately-owned radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are accessible; several cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable (2007)

Internet country code:

.gh

Internet hosts:

41,082 (2010) country comparison to the world: 93

Internet users:

1.297 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 93

Transportation ::Ghana

Airports:

11 (2010) country comparison to the world: 155

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 7

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 4

914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Pipelines:

oil 5 km; refined products 309 km (2009)

Railways:

total: 947 km country comparison to the world: 93 narrow gauge: 947 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

Roadways:

total: 62,221 km country comparison to the world: 74 paved: 9,955 km

unpaved: 52,266 km (2006)

Waterways:

1,293 km country comparison to the world: 58 note: 168 km for launches and lighters on Volta, Ankobra, and Tano rivers; 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways on Lake Volta (2008)

Merchant marine:

total: 4 country comparison to the world: 135 by type: petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3

foreign-owned: 2 (Brazil 1, South Korea 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals:

Takoradi, Tema

Military ::Ghana

Military branches:

Ghanaian Army, Ghanaian Navy, Ghanaian Air Force (2010)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service, with basic education certificate; no conscription (2010)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 6,126,707

females age 16-49: 6,058,958 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 4,022,056

females age 16-49: 4,101,964 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 270,993

female: 263,961 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.7% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 90

Transnational Issues ::Ghana

Disputes - international:

Ghana struggles to accommodate returning nationals who worked in the cocoa plantations and escaped fighting in Cote d'Ivoire

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 35,653 (Liberia); 8,517 (Togo) (2007)

Illicit drugs:

illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; major transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and, to a lesser extent, South American cocaine destined for Europe and the US; widespread crime and money laundering problem, but the lack of a well developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money laundering center; significant domestic cocaine and cannabis use

page last updated on January 20, 2011

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@Gibraltar (Europe)

Introduction ::Gibraltar

Background:

Strategically important, Gibraltar was reluctantly ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. In a referendum held in 1967, Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to remain a British dependency. The subsequent granting of autonomy in 1969 by the UK led to Spain closing the border and severing all communication links. A series of talks were held by the UK and Spain between 1997 and 2002 on establishing temporary joint sovereignty over Gibraltar. In response to these talks, the Gibraltar Government called a referendum in late 2002 in which the majority of citizens voted overwhelmingly against any sharing of sovereignty with Spain. Since late 2004, tripartite talks among Spain, the UK, and Gibraltar have been held with the aim of cooperatively resolving problems that affect the local population, and work continues on cooperation agreements in areas such as taxation and financial services; communications and maritime security; policy, legal and customs services; environmental protection; and education and visa services. Throughout 2009, a dispute over Gibraltar's claim to territorial waters extending out three miles gave rise to periodic non-violent maritime confrontations between Spanish and UK naval patrols. A new noncolonial constitution came into effect in 2007, and the European Court of First Instance recognized Gibraltar's right to regulate its own tax regime in December 2008, but the UK retains responsibility for defense, foreign relations, internal security, and financial stability.

Geography ::Gibraltar

Location:

Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain

Geographic coordinates:

36 08 N, 5 21 W

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 6.5 sq km country comparison to the world: 242 land: 6.5 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

more than 10 times the size of The National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Land boundaries:

total: 1.2 km

border countries: Spain 1.2 km

Coastline:

12 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate:

Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers

Terrain:

a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m

highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m

Natural resources:

none

Land use:

arable land: 0%

permanent crops: 0%

other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land:

Natural hazards:

Environment - current issues:

limited natural freshwater resources: large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rainwater (no longer used for drinking water) and adequate desalination plant

Geography - note:

strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

People ::Gibraltar

Population:

28,877 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 215

Age structure:

0-14 years: 20.9% (male 3,088/female 2,922)

15-64 years: 66.4% (male 9,667/female 9,467)

65 years and over: 12.7% (male 1,754/female 1,898) (2010 est.)

Median age:

total: 33.1 years

male: 32.2 years

female: 34.1 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.27% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

Birth rate:

14.2 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Death rate:

8.17 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

Net migration rate:

-3.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Urbanization:

urban population: 100% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 0.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.071 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

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

total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 6.82 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 168 male: 7.6 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 5.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.53 years country comparison to the world: 46 male: 75.69 years

female: 81.56 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.96 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

Nationality:

noun: Gibraltarian(s)

adjective: Gibraltar

Ethnic groups:

Spanish, Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, German, North Africans

Religions:

Roman Catholic 78.1%, Church of England 7%, other Christian 3.2%, Muslim 4%, Jewish 2.1%, Hindu 1.8%, other or unspecified 0.9%, none 2.9% (2001 census)

Languages:

English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese

Literacy:

definition: NA

total population: above 80%

male: NA

female: NA

Education expenditures:

Government ::Gibraltar

Country name:

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Gibraltar

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK

Government type:

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 36 08 N, 5 21 W

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:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Independence:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:

National Day, 10 September (1967); note - day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or join Spain

Constitution:

5 June 2006; came into force 2 January 2007

Legal system:

the laws of the UK where applicable apply

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal; and British citizens who have been residents six months or more

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Vice Admiral Sir Adrian JOHNS (since 26 October 2009)

head of government: Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the 17 elected members of the Parliament by the governor in consultation with the chief minister (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed chief minister by the governor

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament (18 seats: 17 members elected by popular vote, 1 for the speaker appointed by Parliament; members serve four-year terms)

elections: last held on 11 October 2007 (next to be held not later than October 2011)

election results: percent of vote by party - GSD 49.3%, GSLP 31.8%, Gibraltar Liberal Party 13.6%; seats by party - GSD 10, GSLP 4, Gibraltar Liberal Party 3

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders:

Gibraltar Liberal Party [Joseph GARCIA]; Gibraltar Social Democrats or GSD [Peter CARUANA]; Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or GSLP [Joseph John BOSSANO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization; Women's Association

International organization participation:

Interpol (subbureau), UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description:

two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band; the design is that of Gibraltar's coat of arms granted on 10 July 1502 by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain; the castle symbolizes Gibraltar as a fortress, while the key represents Gibraltar's strategic importance - the key to the Mediterranean

National anthem:

lyrics/music: Peter EMBERLEY

note: adopted 1994; serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" remains official (see United Kingdom)

Economy ::Gibraltar

Economy - overview:

Self-sufficient Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade, offshore banking, and its position as an international conference center. Tax rates are low to attract foreign investment. The British military presence has been sharply reduced and now contributes about 7% to the local economy, compared with 60% in 1984. The financial sector, tourism (almost 5 million visitors in 1998), gaming revenues, shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods also generate revenue. The financial sector, tourism, and the shipping sector contribute 30%, 30%, and 25%, respectively, of GDP. Telecommunications, e-commerce, and e-gaming account for the remaining 15%. In recent years, Gibraltar has seen major structural change from a public to a private sector economy, but changes in government spending still have a major impact on the level of employment.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.106 billion (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 199 $1.066 billion (2005 est.)

$769 million (2000 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.106 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.7% (2006) country comparison to the world: 91 7% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$38,400 (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 25 $38,200 (2005 est.)

$27,900 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 0%

industry: 0%

services: 100% (2008)

Labor force:

12,690 (including non-Gibraltar laborers) (2001) country comparison to the world: 214

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: negligible

industry: 40%

services: 60% (2001)

Unemployment rate:

3% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Public debt:

15.5% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 119 15.7% of GDP (2005 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.6% (2006) country comparison to the world: 83 2.9% (2005)

Agriculture - products:

none

Industries:

tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

146 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Electricity - consumption:

146 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

Oil - consumption:

21,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Oil - imports:

25,610 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 172

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 175

Exports:

$271 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Exports - commodities:

(principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods

Imports:

$2.967 billion (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Imports - commodities:

fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs

Debt - external:

$NA

Exchange rates:

Gibraltar pounds (GIP) per US dollar - 0.6494 (2009), 0.5302 (2008), 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006)

note: the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound

Communications ::Gibraltar

Telephones - main lines in use:

24,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 186

Telephones - mobile cellular:

28,600 (2009) country comparison to the world: 203

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate international facilities

domestic: automatic exchange facilities

international: country code - 350; radiotelephone; microwave radio relay; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Broadcast media:

Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) provides television and radio broadcasting services via 1 television station and 4 radio stations; British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) operates 1 radio station; broadcasts from Spanish radio and TV stations are accessible (2008)

Internet country code:

.gi

Internet hosts:

2,053 (2010) country comparison to the world: 154

Internet users:

20,200 (2009) country comparison to the world: 192

Transportation ::Gibraltar

Airports:

1 (2010) country comparison to the world: 222

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)

Roadways:

total: 29 km country comparison to the world: 218 paved: 29 km (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 265 country comparison to the world: 32 by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 139, chemical tanker 65, container 35, liquefied gas 2, petroleum tanker 11, roll on/roll off 4, vehicle carrier 8

foreign-owned: 250 (Belgium 2, Cyprus 1, Denmark 6, Finland 2, Germany 125, Greece 7, Iceland 1, Italy 4, Jersey 1, Morocco 4, Netherlands 33, Norway 42, Singapore 1, Sweden 12, UAE 5, UK 4)

registered in other countries: 6 (Liberia 5, Panama 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals:

Gibraltar

Military ::Gibraltar

Military branches:

Royal Gibraltar Regiment (2009)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 6,949 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 5,955

females age 16-49: 5,687 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 250

female: 233 (2010 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK; the Royal Gibraltar Regiment replaced the last British regular infantry forces in 1992

Transnational Issues ::Gibraltar

Disputes - international:

in 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement; the government of Gibraltar insists on equal participation in talks between the UK and Spain; Spain disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar even greater autonomy

page last updated on January 26, 2011

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@Greece (Europe)

Introduction ::Greece

Background:

Greece achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between supporters of the king and other anti-Communists and Communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. In 1967, a group of military officers seized power, establishing a military dictatorship that suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country. In 1974, democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy. In 1981, Greece joined the EC (now the EU); it became the 12th member of the European Economic and Monetary Union in 2001. In 2010, the prospect of a Greek default on its euro-denominated debt created severe strains within the EMU and raised the question of whether a member country might voluntarily leave the common currency or be removed.

Geography ::Greece

Location:

Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey

Geographic coordinates:

39 00 N, 22 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 131,957 sq km country comparison to the world: 96 land: 130,647 sq km

water: 1,310 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Alabama

Land boundaries:

total: 1,228 km

border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, Macedonia 246 km

Coastline:

13,676 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers

Terrain:

mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m

highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m

Natural resources:

lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential

Land use:

arable land: 20.45%

permanent crops: 8.59%

other: 70.96% (2005)

Irrigated land:

14,530 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

72 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 8.7 cu km/yr (16%/3%/81%)

per capita: 782 cu m/yr (1997)

Natural hazards:

severe earthquakes

volcanism: Santorini (elev. 367 m, 1,204 ft) has been deemed a "Decade Volcano" by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; although there have been very few eruptions in recent centuries, Methana and Nisyros in the Aegean are classified as historically active

Environment - current issues:

air pollution; water pollution

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds

Geography - note:

strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of about 2,000 islands

People ::Greece

Population:

10,749,943 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Age structure:

0-14 years: 14.3% (male 788,722/female 742,270)

15-64 years: 66.6% (male 3,568,660/female 3,578,344)

65 years and over: 19.2% (male 902,617/female 1,156,815) (2010 est.)

Median age:

total: 42.2 years

male: 41.1 years

female: 43.2 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.106% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

Birth rate:

9.34 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 206

Death rate:

10.6 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 48

Net migration rate:

2.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 36

Urbanization:

urban population: 61% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.064 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female

total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.08 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 185 male: 5.58 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 4.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.8 years country comparison to the world: 29 male: 77.24 years

female: 82.52 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.37 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 203

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

11,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 145

Nationality:

noun: Greek(s)

adjective: Greek

Ethnic groups:

population: Greek 93%, other (foreign citizens) 7% (2001 census)

note: percents represent citizenship, since Greece does not collect data on ethnicity

Religions:

Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%

Languages:

Greek 99% (official), other 1% (includes English and French)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 96%

male: 97.8%

female: 94.2% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 17 years

male: 16 years

female: 17 years (2007)

Education expenditures:

4% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 105

Government ::Greece

Country name:

conventional long form: Hellenic Republic

conventional short form: Greece

local long form: Elliniki Dhimokratia

local short form: Ellas or Ellada

former: Kingdom of Greece

Government type:

parliamentary republic

Capital: