Background:

Singapore was founded as a British trading colony in 1819. It joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 but separated two years later and became independent. Singapore subsequently became one of the world’s most prosperous countries with strong international trading links (its port is one of the world’s busiest in terms of tonnage handled) and with per capita GDP equal to that of the leading nations of Western Europe.

Geography ::SINGAPORE
Location:

Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia
Geographic coordinates:

1 22 N, 103 48 E
Map references:

Southeast Asia
Area:

total: 697 sq km
country comparison to the world: 192
land: 687 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area – comparative:

slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:

0 km
Coastline:

193 km
Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: within and beyond territorial sea, as defined in treaties and practice
Climate:

tropical; hot, humid, rainy; two distinct monsoon seasons – Northeastern monsoon (December to March) and Southwestern monsoon (June to September); inter-monsoon – frequent afternoon and early evening thunderstorms
Terrain:

lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment area and nature preserve
Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Singapore Strait 0 m
highest point: Bukit Timah 166 m
Natural resources:

fish, deepwater ports
Land use:

arable land: 1.47%
permanent crops: 1.47%
other: 97.06% (2005)
Irrigated land:

NA
Total renewable water resources:

0.6 cu km (1975)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.19 cu km/yr (45%/51%/4%)
per capita: 44 cu m/yr (1975)
Natural hazards:

NA
Environment – current issues:

industrial pollution; limited natural freshwater resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal problems; seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia
Environment – international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography – note:

focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes

People and Society ::SINGAPORE
Nationality:

noun: Singaporean(s)
adjective: Singapore
Ethnic groups:

Chinese 76.8%, Malay 13.9%, Indian 7.9%, other 1.4% (2000 census)
Languages:

Mandarin (official) 35%, English (official) 23%, Malay (official) 14.1%, Hokkien 11.4%, Cantonese 5.7%, Teochew 4.9%, Tamil (official) 3.2%, other Chinese dialects 1.8%, other 0.9% (2000 census)
Religions:

Buddhist 42.5%, Muslim 14.9%, Taoist 8.5%, Hindu 4%, Catholic 4.8%, other Christian 9.8%, other 0.7%, none 14.8% (2000 census)
Population:

4,740,737 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Age structure:

0-14 years: 13.8% (male 338,419/female 314,704)
15-64 years: 77% (male 1,774,444/female 1,874,985)
65 years and over: 9.2% (male 196,101/female 242,084) (2011 est.)
Median age:

total: 40.1 years
male: 39.6 years
female: 40.6 years (2011 est.)
Population growth rate:

0.817% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Birth rate:

8.5 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
Death rate:

4.95 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Net migration rate:

4.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Urbanization:

urban population: 100% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.077 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:

9 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 148
Infant mortality rate:

total: 2.32 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 221
male: 2.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 82.14 years
country comparison to the world: 7
male: 79.53 years
female: 84.96 years (2011 est.)
Total fertility rate:

1.11 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220
Health expenditures:

3.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 168
Physicians density:

1.833 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 72
Hospital bed density:

3.14 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 69
Drinking water source:

improved:
urban: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)
Sanitation facility access:

improved:
urban: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2008)
HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS:

3,400 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
HIV/AIDS – deaths:

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Obesity – adult prevalence rate:

6.9% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 61
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:

3.3% (2000)
country comparison to the world: 103
Education expenditures:

3% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 131
Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.5%
male: 96.6%
female: 88.6% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

NA
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:

total: 12.9%
country comparison to the world: 87
male: 9.9%
female: 16.6% (2009)

Government ::SINGAPORE
Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Singapore
conventional short form: Singapore
local long form: Republic of Singapore
local short form: Singapore
Government type:

parliamentary republic
Capital:

name: Singapore
geographic coordinates: 1 17 N, 103 51 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:

none
Independence:

9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)
National holiday:

National Day, 9 August (1965)
Constitution:

3 June 1959; amended 1965 (based on pre-independence State of Singapore Constitution)
Legal system:

English common law
International law organization participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage:

21 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:

chief of state: President Tony TAN Keng Yam (since 1 September 2011)
head of government: Prime Minister LEE Hsien Loong (since 12 August 2004); Deputy Prime Minister TEO Chee Hean (since 1 April 2009) and Deputy Prime Minister THARMAN Shanmugaratnam (since 21 May 2011); Senior Minister HENG Chee How (since 21 May 2011)
cabinet: appointed by president, responsible to parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for six-year term; election last held on 27 August 2011 (next election to be held by August 2017); following legislative elections, leader of majority party or leader of majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by president; deputy prime ministers appointed by president
election results: Tony TAN Keng Yam elected president from a field of four candidates with 35.2% of the votes cast
Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament (87 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note – in addition, there are up to nine nominated members; up to three losing opposition candidates who came closest to winning seats may be appointed as “nonconstituency” members
elections: last held on 7 May 2011 (next to be held in May 2016)
election results: percent of vote by party – PAP 60.1%, WP 12.8%, NSP 12.1%, others 15%; seats by party – PAP 81, WP 6
Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president with the advice of the prime minister, other judges are appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice); Court of Appeals
Political parties and leaders:

National Solidarity Party or NSP [GOH Meng Seng]; People’s Action Party or PAP [LEE Hsien Loong]; Reform Party [NG Teck Siong]; Singapore Democratic Alliance or SDA [CHIAM See Tong]; Singapore Democratic Party or SDP [CHEE Soon Juan]; Workers’ Party or WP [Sylvia LIM Swee Lian]
note: SDA includes Singapore Justice Party or SJP, Singapore National Malay Organization or PKMS, Singapore People’s Party or SPP
Political pressure groups and leaders:

none
International organization participation:

ADB, AOSIS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, FATF, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIT, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador CHAN Heng Chee
chancery: 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 537-3100
FAX: [1] (202) 537-0876
consulate(s) general: San Francisco
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador David I. ADELMAN
embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508
mailing address: FPO AP 96507-0001
telephone: [65] 6476-9100
FAX: [65] 6476-9340
Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; near the hoist side of the red band, there is a vertical, white crescent (closed portion is toward the hoist side) partially enclosing five white five-pointed stars arranged in a circle; red denotes brotherhood and equality; white signifies purity and virtue; the waxing crescent moon symbolizes a young nation on the ascendancy; the five stars represent the nation’s ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice, and equality
National symbol(s):

lion
National anthem:

name: “Majulah Singapura” (Onward Singapore)
lyrics/music: ZUBIR Said
note: adopted 1965; the anthem, which was first performed in 1958 at the Victoria Theatre, is sung only in Malay

Economy ::SINGAPORE
Economy – overview:

Singapore has a highly developed and successful free-market economy. It enjoys a remarkably open and corruption-free environment, stable prices, and a per capita GDP higher than that of most developed countries. The economy depends heavily on exports, particularly in consumer electronics, information technology products, pharmaceuticals, and on a growing financial services sector. Real GDP growth averaged 7.1% between 2004 and 2007. The economy contracted 1.3% in 2009 as a result of the global financial crisis, but rebounded nearly 14.7% in 2010, on the strength of renewed exports. Over the longer term, the government hopes to establish a new growth path that focuses on raising productivity, which has sunk to 1% growth per year in the last decade. Singapore has attracted major investments in pharmaceuticals and medical technology production and will continue efforts to establish Singapore as Southeast Asia’s financial and high-tech hub.
GDP (purchasing power parity):

$291.9 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
$255.1 billion (2009 est.)
$257 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):

$222.7 billion (2010 est.)
GDP – real growth rate:

14.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
-0.8% (2009 est.)
1.5% (2008 est.)
GDP – per capita (PPP):

$62,100 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
$54,800 (2009 est.)
$55,800 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP – composition by sector:

agriculture: 0%
industry: 28.3%
services: 71.7% (2010 est.)
Labor force:

3.156 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Labor force – by occupation:

agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 30.2%
services: 69.7% (2010)
Unemployment rate:

2.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
3% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:

NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 4.4%
highest 10%: 23.2% (2008)
Distribution of family income – Gini index:

47.8 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 28
48.1 (2008)
Investment (gross fixed):

25% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Budget:

revenues: $32.7 billion
expenditures: $32.31 billion
note: expenditures include both operational and development expenditures (2010 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:

14.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):

0.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Public debt:

105.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
109.3% of GDP (2009 est.)
note: for Singapore, public debt consists largely of Singapore Government Securities (SGS) issued to assist the Central Provident Fund (CPF), which administers Singapore’s defined contribution pension fund; special issues of SGS are held by the CPF, and are non-tradeable; the government has not borrowed to finance deficit expenditures since the 1980s
Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
0.6% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:

NA% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
0.27% (31 December 2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:

5.38% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
5.38% (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of narrow money:

$87.35 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
$66.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of broad money:

$313.1 billion (30 November 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
$264.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:

$202.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
$172.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:

$620.5 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 20
$474.3 billion (31 December 2009)
$268.6 billion (31 December 2008)
Agriculture – products:

orchids, vegetables; poultry, eggs; fish, ornamental fish
Industries:

electronics, chemicals, financial services, oil drilling equipment, petroleum refining, rubber processing and rubber products, processed food and beverages, ship repair, offshore platform construction, life sciences, entrepot trade
Industrial production growth rate:

29.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Electricity – production:

39.21 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Electricity – consumption:

37.11 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Electricity – exports:

0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity – imports:

0 kWh (2009 est.)
Oil – production:

10,910 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Oil – consumption:

1.08 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Oil – exports:

1.374 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Oil – imports:

2.052 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Oil – proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Natural gas – production:

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Natural gas – consumption:

9.66 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Natural gas – exports:

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Natural gas – imports:

9.66 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Natural gas – proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Current account balance:

$46.27 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
$32.63 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:

$358.4 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
$273.4 billion (2009 est.)
Exports – commodities:

machinery and equipment (including electronics), consumer goods, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, mineral fuels
Exports – partners:

Malaysia 11.9%, Hong Kong 11.7%, China 10.4%, Indonesia 9.4%, US 6.5%, Japan 4.7%, South Korea 4.1% (2010)
Imports:

$310.4 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
$243.2 billion (2009 est.)
Imports – commodities:

machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports – partners:

Malaysia 11.7%, US 11.5%, China 10.8%, Japan 7.9%, South Korea 5.8%, Indonesia 5.4% (2010)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$225.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
$187.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt – external:

$21.82 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
$20.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment – at home:

$298.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
$260.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad:

$173.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
$167.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:

Singapore dollars (SGD) per US dollar -
1.3702 (2010)
1.4545 (2009)
1.415 (2008)
1.507 (2007)
1.5889 (2006)

Communications ::SINGAPORE
Telephones – main lines in use:

1.984 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 58
Telephones – mobile cellular:

7.307 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 86
Telephone system:

general assessment: excellent service
domestic: excellent domestic facilities; launched 3G wireless service in February 2005; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is more than 180 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code – 65; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and US; satellite earth stations – 4; supplemented by VSAT coverage (2008)
Broadcast media:

state controls broadcast media; 8 domestic TV stations operated by MediaCorp, wholly owned by a state investment company; broadcasts from Malaysian and Indonesian stations available; satellite dishes banned; multi-channel cable TV service is accessible; a total of 18 domestic radio stations broadcasting with MediaCorp operating more than a dozen and another 4 stations are closely linked to the ruling party or controlled by the Singapore Armed Forces Reservists Association; large number of Malaysian and Indonesian radio stations are available (2008)
Internet country code:

.sg
Internet hosts:

992,786 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 44
Internet users:

3.235 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 65

Transportation ::SINGAPORE
Airports:

8 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 166
Airports – with paved runways:

total: 8
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Pipelines:

gas 111 km (2010)
Roadways:

total: 3,356 km
country comparison to the world: 163
paved: 3,356 km (includes 161 km of expressways) (2009)
Merchant marine:

total: 1,422
country comparison to the world: 6
by type: bulk carrier 183, cargo 88, carrier 6, chemical tanker 233, container 321, liquefied gas 117, petroleum tanker 404, refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 13, vehicle carrier 52
foreign-owned: 850 (Australia 11, Bangladesh 2, Bermuda 21, Chile 7, China 26, Cyprus 3, Denmark 125, France 3, Germany 30, Greece 19, Hong Kong 38, India 19, Indonesia 53, Italy 3, Japan 146, Malaysia 27, Netherlands 1, Norway 132, Slovenia 1, South Africa 3, South Korea 9, Sweden 9, Switzerland 4, Taiwan 79, Thailand 30, UAE 10, UK 6, US 33)
note: this country allows large numbers of ships owned by foreign entities to be registered in its national shipping registry and to fly its flag; these ships operate under the laws of the flag state
registered in other countries: 327 (Australia 2, Bahamas 7, Bangladesh 3, Belize 7, Cambodia 4, Cyprus 1, Dominica 1, France 3, Gibraltar 1, Honduras 12, Hong Kong 13, Indonesia 42, Isle of Man 1, Kiribati 11, Liberia 27, Malaysia 19, Malta 3, Marshall Islands 28, Mongolia 1, North Korea 2, Panama 79, Philippines 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 5, Sierra Leone 5, Thailand 1, Tuvalu 25, US 17, unknown 6) (2010)
Ports and terminals:

Singapore
Transportation – note:

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift

Military ::SINGAPORE
Military branches:

Singapore Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (includes Air Defense) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:

18-21 years of age for male compulsory military service; 16 years of age for volunteers; 2-year conscript service obligation, with a reserve obligation to age 40 (enlisted) or age 50 (officers) (2008)
Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,255,902 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,018,839
females age 16-49: 1,087,134 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 27,098
female: 25,368 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:

4.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17

Transnational Issues ::SINGAPORE
Disputes – international:

disputes persist with Malaysia over deliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore’s extensive land reclamation works, bridge construction, and maritime boundaries in the Johor and Singapore Straits; in 2008, ICJ awards sovereignty of Pedra Branca (Pulau Batu Puteh/Horsburgh Island) to Singapore, and Middle Rocks to Malaysia, but does not rule on maritime regimes, boundaries, or disposition of South Ledge; Indonesia and Singapore continue to work on finalization of their 1973 maritime boundary agreement by defining unresolved areas north of Indonesia’s Batam Island; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait
Illicit drugs:

drug abuse limited because of aggressive law enforcement efforts; as a transportation and financial services hub, Singapore is vulnerable, despite strict laws and enforcement, as a venue for money laundering

Article Source: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sn.html

Background:

Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islam’s two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina. The king’s official title is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The modern Saudi state was founded in 1932 by ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman Al SAUD (Ibn Saud) after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian Peninsula. A male descendent of Ibn Saud, his son ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz, rules the country today as required by the country’s 1992 Basic Law. Following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia accepted the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its soil for the liberation of Kuwait the following year. The continuing presence of foreign troops on Saudi soil after the liberation of Kuwait became a source of tension between the royal family and the public until all operational US troops left the country in 2003. Major terrorist attacks in May and November 2003 spurred a strong on-going campaign against domestic terrorism and extremism. King ABDALLAH has continued the cautious reform program begun when he was crown prince. To promote increased political participation, the government held elections nationwide from February through April 2005 for half the members of 179 municipal councils. In December 2005, King ABDALLAH completed the process by appointing the remaining members of the advisory municipal councils. The king instituted an Inter-Faith Dialogue initiative in 2008 to encourage religious tolerance on a global level; in February 2009, he reshuffled the cabinet, which led to more moderates holding ministerial and judicial positions, and appointed the first female to the cabinet. The country remains a leading producer of oil and natural gas and holds more than 20% of the world’s proven oil reserves. The government continues to pursue economic reform and diversification, particularly since Saudi Arabia’s accession to the WTO in December 2005, and promotes foreign investment in the kingdom. A burgeoning population, aquifer depletion, and an economy largely dependent on petroleum output and prices are all ongoing governmental concerns. The 2010-11 uprising across Middle Eastern and North African countries sparked modest incidents in Saudi cities, predominantly by Shia demonstrators calling for the release of detainees and the withdrawal from Bahrain of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s Peninsula Shield Force. Other relatively minor, non-Shia demonstrations focused on labor, prisoner, and infrastructure complaints. Protests in general were met by a strong police presence, with some arrests, but not the bloodshed seen in protests elsewhere in the region. King ABDALLAH in February and March 2011 announced a series of benefits to Saudi citizens including funds to build affordable housing, salary increases for government workers, and unemployment benefits. The King also announced that Riyadh would begin preparations for a second round of municipal elections in September 2011.

Geography ::SAUDI ARABIA
Location:

Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen
Geographic coordinates:

25 00 N, 45 00 E
Map references:

Middle East
Area:

total: 2,149,690 sq km
country comparison to the world: 13
land: 2,149,690 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area – comparative:

slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US
Land boundaries:

total: 4,431 km
border countries: Iraq 814 km, Jordan 744 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman 676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km
Coastline:

2,640 km
Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: not specified
Climate:

harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes
Terrain:

mostly uninhabited, sandy desert
Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Sawda’ 3,133 m
Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
Land use:

arable land: 1.67%
permanent crops: 0.09%
other: 98.24% (2005)
Irrigated land:

17,310 sq km (2008)
Total renewable water resources:

2.4 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 17.32 cu km/yr (10%/1%/89%)
per capita: 705 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:

frequent sand and dust storms
volcanism: Despite Saudi Arabia’s many volcanic formations, there has been little activity in the past few centuries; volcanoes include Harrat Rahat, Harrat Khaybar, Harrat Lunayyir, and Jabal Yar
Environment – current issues:

desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills
Environment – international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography – note:

extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal

People and Society ::SAUDI ARABIA
Nationality:

noun: Saudi(s)
adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian
Ethnic groups:

Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
Languages:

Arabic (official)
Religions:

Muslim 100%
Population:

26,131,703 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals
Age structure:

0-14 years: 29.4% (male 3,939,377/female 3,754,020)
15-64 years: 67.6% (male 9,980,253/female 7,685,328)
65 years and over: 3% (male 404,269/female 368,456) (2011 est.)
Median age:

total: 25.3 years
male: 26.4 years
female: 23.9 years (2011 est.)
Population growth rate:

1.536% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Birth rate:

19.34 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Death rate:

3.33 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
Net migration rate:

-0.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Urbanization:

urban population: 82% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major cities – population:

RIYADH (capital) 4.725 million; Jeddah 3.234 million; Mecca 1.484 million; Medina 1.104 million; Ad Dammam 902,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.27 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1.17 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:

24 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 122
Infant mortality rate:

total: 16.16 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 111
male: 18.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.11 years
country comparison to the world: 108
male: 72.15 years
female: 76.16 years (2011 est.)
Total fertility rate:

2.31 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Health expenditures:

5% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 139
Physicians density:

0.939 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 105
Hospital bed density:

2.2 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 95
Drinking water source:

improved:
urban: 97% of population
rural: 63% of population
total: 89% of population
unimproved:
urban: 3% of population
rural: 37% of population
total: 11% of population (1990)
HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate:

0.01% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA
HIV/AIDS – deaths:

NA
Obesity – adult prevalence rate:

35.6% (2000)
country comparison to the world: 5
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:

5.3% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 82
Education expenditures:

5.6% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 40
Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 78.8%
male: 84.7%
female: 70.8% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 13 years (2009)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:

total: 28.2%
country comparison to the world: 17
male: 23.6%
female: 45.8% (2008)

Government ::SAUDI ARABIA
Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
conventional short form: Saudi Arabia
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
Government type:

monarchy
Capital:

name: Riyadh
geographic coordinates: 24 38 N, 46 43 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:

13 provinces (mintaqat, singular – mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah (Northern Border), Al Jawf, Al Madinah (Medina), Al Qasim, Ar Riyad (Riyadh), Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern), ‘Asir, Ha’il, Jizan, Makkah (Mecca), Najran, Tabuk
Independence:

23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)
National holiday:

Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)
Constitution:

governed according to Islamic law; the Basic Law that articulates the government’s rights and responsibilities was promulgated by royal decree in 1992
Legal system:

Islamic (sharia) legal system with some elements of Egyptian, French, and customary law; note – several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees
International law organization participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage:

21 years of age; male
Executive branch:

chief of state: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005); Heir Apparent Crown Prince; note – the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005); Deputy Prime Minister NAYIF bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch every four years and includes many royal family members
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; note – an Allegiance Commission created by royal decree in October 2006 established a committee of Saudi princes that will play a role in selecting future Saudi kings, but the system will not take effect until after Crown Prince SULTAN becomes king
Legislative branch:

Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (150 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch to serve four-year terms); note – though the Council of Ministers announced in October 2003 its intent to introduce elections for a third of the Majlis al-Shura incrementally over a period of four to five years, to date no such elections have been held or announced
Judicial branch:

Supreme Council of Justice
Political parties and leaders:

none
Political pressure groups and leaders:

Ansar Al Marah (supports women’s rights)
other: gas companies; religious groups
International organization participation:

ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, FAO, G-20, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Adil al-Ahmad al-JUBAYR
chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800
FAX: [1] (202) 944-3113
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador James B. SMITH
embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693
telephone: [966] (1) 488-3800
FAX: [966] (1) 488-7360
consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)
Flag description:

green, a traditional color in Islamic flags, with the Shahada or Muslim creed in large white Arabic script (translated as “There is no god but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God”) above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); design dates to the early twentieth century and is closely associated with the Al Saud family which established the kingdom in 1932; the flag is manufactured with differing obverse and reverse sides so that the Shahada reads – and the sword points – correctly from right to left on both sides
note: one of only three national flags that differ on their obverse and reverse sides – the others are Moldova and Paraguay
National symbol(s):

palm tree surmounting two crossed swords
National anthem:

name: “Aash Al Maleek” (Long Live Our Beloved King)
lyrics/music: Ibrahim KHAFAJI/Abdul Rahman al-KHATEEB
note: music adopted 1947, lyrics adopted 1984

Economy ::SAUDI ARABIA
Economy – overview:

Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. It possesses about 20% of the world’s proven petroleum reserves, ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 80% of budget revenues, 45% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. Saudi Arabia is encouraging the growth of the private sector in order to diversify its economy and to employ more Saudi nationals. Diversification efforts are focusing on power generation, telecommunications, natural gas exploration, and petrochemical sectors. Almost 6 million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, particularly in the oil and service sectors, while Riyadh is struggling to reduce unemployment among its own nationals. Saudi officials are particularly focused on employing its large youth population, which generally lacks the education and technical skills the private sector needs. Riyadh has substantially boosted spending on job training and education, most recently with the opening of the King Abdallah University of Science and Technology – Saudi Arabia’s first co-educational university. As part of its effort to attract foreign investment, Saudi Arabia acceded to the WTO in December 2005 after many years of negotiations. The government has begun establishing six “economic cities” in different regions of the country to promote foreign investment and plans to spend $373 billion between 2010 and 2014 on social development and infrastructure projects to advance Saudi Arabia’s economic development.
GDP (purchasing power parity):

$622 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
$599.5 billion (2009 est.)
$596 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):

$443.7 billion (2010 est.)
GDP – real growth rate:

3.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
0.6% (2009 est.)
4.2% (2008 est.)
GDP – per capita (PPP):

$24,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
$23,700 (2009 est.)
$23,900 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP – composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.6%
industry: 61.8%
services: 35.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:

7.337 million
country comparison to the world: 61
note: about 80% of the labor force is non-national (2010 est.)
Labor force – by occupation:

agriculture: 6.7%
industry: 21.4%
services: 71.9% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:

10.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
10.5% (2009 est.)
note: data are for Saudi males only (local bank estimates; some estimates range as high as 25%)
Population below poverty line:

NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):

22.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Budget:

revenues: $197.3 billion
expenditures: $167.1 billion (2010 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:

44.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):

6.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Public debt:

16.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
22.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
5.1% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:

2.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:

7.2% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
7.2% (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of narrow money:

$166.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
$139.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of broad money:

$288.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$274.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:

$2.693 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
$2.248 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:

$353.4 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 23
$318.8 billion (31 December 2009)
$246.3 billion (31 December 2008)
Agriculture – products:

wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs, milk
Industries:

crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), cement, fertilizer, plastics, metals, commercial ship repair, commercial aircraft repair, construction
Industrial production growth rate:

3.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Electricity – production:

194.4 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Electricity – consumption:

174.5 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Electricity – exports:

0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity – imports:

0 kWh (2009 est.)
Oil – production:

10.52 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Oil – consumption:

2.643 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Oil – exports:

7.635 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Oil – imports:

83,150 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Oil – proved reserves:

262.6 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Natural gas – production:

83.94 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Natural gas – consumption:

83.94 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Natural gas – exports:

0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Natural gas – imports:

0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Natural gas – proved reserves:

7.807 trillion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Current account balance:

$70.1 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
$21.43 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:

$237.9 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
$192.3 billion (2009 est.)
Exports – commodities:

petroleum and petroleum products 90%
Exports – partners:

Japan 14.3%, China 13.1%, US 13%, South Korea 8.8%, India 8.3%, Singapore 4.5% (2010)
Imports:

$88.35 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
$87.08 billion (2009 est.)
Imports – commodities:

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles
Imports – partners:

US 12.4%, China 11.1%, Germany 7.1%, Japan 6.9%, France 6.1%, India 4.7%, South Korea 4.2% (2010)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$445.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
$410.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt – external:

$80.95 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
$72.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment – at home:

$187.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
$159.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad:

$14.29 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
$10.38 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:

Saudi riyals (SAR) per US dollar -
3.75 (2010)
3.75 (2009)
3.75 (2008)
3.745 (2007)
3.745 (2006)

Communications ::SAUDI ARABIA
Telephones – main lines in use:

4.166 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 39
Telephones – mobile cellular:

51.564 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 24
Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system including a combination of extensive microwave radio relays, coaxial cables, and fiber-optic cables
domestic: mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing rapidly
international: country code – 966; landing point for the international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) and for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks providing connectivity to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and US; microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan; satellite earth stations – 5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region) (2008)
Broadcast media:

broadcast media are state-controlled; state-run TV operates 4 networks; Saudi Arabia is a major market for pan-Arab satellite TV broadcasters; state-run radio operates several networks; multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)
Internet country code:

.sa
Internet hosts:

488,598 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 51
Internet users:

9.774 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 30

Transportation ::SAUDI ARABIA
Airports:

217 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 27
Airports – with paved runways:

total: 81
over 3,047 m: 33
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 27
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (2010)
Airports – with unpaved runways:

total: 136
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 71
914 to 1,523 m: 41
under 914 m: 16 (2010)
Heliports:

9 (2010)
Pipelines:

condensate 212 km; gas 2,846 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,183 km; oil 4,232 km; refined products 1,151 km (2010)
Railways:

total: 1,378 km
country comparison to the world: 81
standard gauge: 1,378 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings) (2010)
Roadways:

total: 221,372 km
country comparison to the world: 23
paved: 47,529 km (includes 3,891 km of expressways)
unpaved: 173,843 km (2006)
Merchant marine:

total: 74
country comparison to the world: 58
by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 22, container 4, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 11, petroleum tanker 22, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 8
foreign-owned: 15 (Egypt 1, Greece 4, Kuwait 4, UAE 6)
registered in other countries: 55 (Bahamas 16, Dominica 3, Liberia 24, Norway 3, Panama (2010)
Ports and terminals:

Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Jeddah, Yanbu al Bahr

Military ::SAUDI ARABIA
Military branches:

Ministry of Defense and Aviation Forces: Royal Saudi Land Forces, Royal Saudi Naval Forces (includes Marine Forces and Special Forces), Royal Saudi Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Malakiya as-Sa’udiya), Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces, Royal Saudi Strategic Rocket Forces, Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG)
Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2004)
Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 8,644,522
females age 16-49: 6,601,985 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 7,365,624
females age 16-49: 5,677,819 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 261,105
female: 244,763 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:

10% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3

Transnational Issues ::SAUDI ARABIA
Disputes – international:

Saudi Arabia has reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the now fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal cross-border activities; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran; Saudi Arabia claims Egyptian-administered islands of Tiran and Sanafir
Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 240,015 (Palestinian Territories) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Saudi Arabia is a destination country for men and women subjected to forced labor and to a much lesser extent, forced prostitution; men and women from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, and many other countries voluntarily travel to Saudi Arabia as domestic servants or other low-skilled laborers, but some subsequently face conditions indicative of involuntary servitude; women, primarily from Asian and African countries, were believed to have been forced into prostitution in Saudi Arabia; others were reportedly kidnapped and forced into prostitution after running away from abusive employers; Yemeni, Nigerian, Pakistani, Afghan, Chadian, and Sudanese children were subjected to forced labor as beggars and street vendors in Saudi Arabia, facilitated by criminal gangs; some Saudi nationals travel to destinations including Morocco, Egypt, Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh to solicit prostitution
tier rating: Tier 3 – Saudi Arabia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; however, the government undertook some efforts to improve its response to the vast human trafficking problem in Saudi Arabia, including training government officials on its 2009 anti-trafficking law and conducting surprise visits to places where victims may be found; it also achieved its first conviction under its human trafficking law; nonetheless, the government did not prosecute and punish a significant number of trafficking offenders or significantly improve victim protection services (2011)
Illicit drugs:

death penalty for traffickers; improving anti-money-laundering legislation and enforcement

Article Source: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sa.html

Background:

Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari economy was crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum revenues by the Amir, who had ruled the country since 1972. His son, the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, overthrew him in a bloodless coup in 1995. In 2001, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. As of 2007, oil and natural gas revenues had enabled Qatar to attain the highest per capita income in the world. Qatar has not experienced the level of unrest or violence seen in other Near Eastern and North African countries in 2010-11, due in part to its immense wealth – it has the highest per capita income in the world. Qatar’s international image is bolstered in part by the Doha-based Al Jazirah news network, which has provided comprehensive coverage of the Near East and North African Arab revolutions. Additionally, Qatar played a significant role in the Libyan revolution by pressing the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League to assist the Libyan rebel movement.

Geography ::QATAR
Location:

Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:

25 30 N, 51 15 E
Map references:

Middle East
Area:

total: 11,586 sq km
country comparison to the world: 166
land: 11,586 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area – comparative:

slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:

total: 60 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km
Coastline:

563 km
Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line
Climate:

arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Terrain:

mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Tuwayyir al Hamir 103 m
Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, fish
Land use:

arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 0.27%
other: 98.09% (2005)
Irrigated land:

130 sq km (2008)
Total renewable water resources:

0.1 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.29 cu km/yr (24%/3%/72%)
per capita: 358 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:

haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
Environment – current issues:

limited natural freshwater resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
Environment – international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography – note:

strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits

People and Society ::QATAR
Nationality:

noun: Qatari(s)
adjective: Qatari
Ethnic groups:

Arab 40%, Indian 18%, Pakistani 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
Languages:

Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Religions:

Muslim 77.5%, Christian 8.5%, other 14% (2004 census)
Population:

848,016 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Age structure:

0-14 years: 21.8% (male 95,240/female 89,446)
15-64 years: 76.7% (male 460,673/female 189,914)
65 years and over: 1.5% (male 7,311/female 5,432) (2011 est.)
Median age:

total: 30.8 years
male: 32.9 years
female: 25.5 years (2011 est.)
Population growth rate:

0.81% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Birth rate:

15.48 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Death rate:

2.43 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221
Net migration rate:

-4.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Urbanization:

urban population: 96% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major cities – population:

DOHA (capital) 427,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.056 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 2.44 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.36 male(s)/female
total population: 1.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:

8 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 154
Infant mortality rate:

total: 12.05 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 133
male: 12.83 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.7 years
country comparison to the world: 84
male: 73.96 years
female: 77.53 years (2011 est.)
Total fertility rate:

2.43 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Health expenditures:

2.5% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 183
Physicians density:

2.757 physicians/1,000 population (2006)
country comparison to the world: 46
Hospital bed density:

1.4 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 127
Drinking water source:

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)
Sanitation facility access:

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)
HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS:

fewer than 200 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
HIV/AIDS – deaths:

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Education expenditures:

3.3% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 120
Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 89.1%
female: 88.6% (2004 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years
male: 11 years
female: 14 years (2009)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:

total: 1.6%
country comparison to the world: 129
male: 0.7%
female: 7.5% (2007)

Government ::QATAR
Country name:

conventional long form: State of Qatar
conventional short form: Qatar
local long form: Dawlat Qatar
local short form: Qatar
note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar
Government type:

emirate
Capital:

name: Doha
geographic coordinates: 25 17 N, 51 32 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:

7 municipalities (baladiyat, singular – baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Khawr wa adh Dhakhirah, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Ash Shamal, Az Za’ayin, Umm Salal
Independence:

3 September 1971 (from the UK)
National holiday:

Independence Day, 3 September (1971); also observed is National Day, 18 December (anniversary of Al Thani family accession to the throne)
Constitution:

ratified by public referendum 29 April 2003; endorsed by the Amir 8 June 2004, effective 9 June 2005
Legal system:

mixed legal system of civil law and Islamic law (in family and personal matters)
International law organization participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:

chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (since 27 June 1995); Heir Apparent TAMIM bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, fourth son of the amir (selected Heir Apparent by the amir on 5 August 2003); note – Amir HAMAD also holds the positions of Minister of Defense and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
head of government: Prime Minister HAMAD bin Jasim bin Jabir Al Thani (since 3 April 2007); Deputy Prime Ministers Abdallah bin Hamad al-ATIYAH (since 3 April 2007) and Ahmad bin Abdallah al-MAHMUD
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the amir
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the amir is hereditary
note: in April 2007, Qatar held nationwide elections for a 29-member Central Municipal Council (CMC), which has limited consultative powers aimed at improving the provision of municipal services; the first election for the CMC was held in March 1999
Legislative branch:

unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (45 seats; 15 members appointed; 30 members elected by popular vote)
note: no legislative elections have been held since 1970 when there were partial elections to the body; Council members have had their terms extended every year since the new constitution came into force on 9 June 2005; the constitution provides for a new 45-member Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura; the public would elect 30 members and the Amir would appoint 15; elections to the Majlis al-Shura have been rescheduled for 2013
Judicial branch:

Courts of First Instance, Appeal, and Cassation; an Administrative Court and a Constitutional Court were established in 2007; note – all judges are appointed by Amiri Decree based on the recommendation of the Supreme Judiciary Council for renewable three-year terms
Political parties and leaders:

none
Political pressure groups and leaders:

none
International organization participation:

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CICA (observer), FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ali Fahad al-Shahwany al-HAJRI
chancery: 2555 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600 and 274-1603
FAX: [1] (202) 237-0061
consulate(s) general: Houston
Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Susan L. ZIADEH
embassy: Al-Luqta District, 22 February Road, Doha
mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha
telephone: [974] 488 4161
FAX: [974] 488 4150
Flag description:

maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side; maroon represents the blood shed in Qatari wars, white stands for peace; the nine-pointed serrated edge signifies Qatar as the ninth member of the “reconciled emirates” in the wake of the Qatari-British treaty of 1916
note: the other eight emirates are the seven that compose the UAE and Bahrain; according to some sources, the dominant color was formerly red, but this darkened to maroon upon exposure to the sun and the new shade was eventually adopted
National anthem:

name: “Al-Salam Al-Amiri” (The Peace for the Anthem)
lyrics/music: Sheikh MUBARAK bin Saif al-Thani/Abdul Aziz Nasser OBAIDAN
note: adopted 1996; the anthem was first performed that year at a meeting of the Gulf Cooperative Council hosted by Qatar

Economy ::QATAR
Economy – overview:

Despite the global financial crisis, Qatar has prospered in the last several years – in 2010 Qatar had the world’s highest growth rate. Qatari authorities throughout the crisis sought to protect the local banking sector with direct investments into domestic banks. GDP rebounded in 2010 largely due to the increase in oil prices. Economic policy is focused on developing Qatar’s nonassociated natural gas reserves and increasing private and foreign investment in non-energy sectors, but oil and gas still account for more than 50% of GDP, roughly 85% of export earnings, and 70% of government revenues. Oil and gas likely have made Qatar the highest per-capita income country – ahead of Liechtenstein – and the country with the lowest unemployment. Proved oil reserves of 25 billion barrels should enable continued output at current levels for 57 years. Qatar’s proved reserves of natural gas exceed 25 trillion cubic meters, about 14% of the world total and third largest in the world. Qatar’s successful 2022 world cup bid will likely accelerate large-scale infrastructure projects such as Qatar’s metro system and the Qatar-Bahrain causeway.
GDP (purchasing power parity):

$150.6 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
$129.5 billion (2009 est.)
$119.2 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):

$129.5 billion (2010 est.)
GDP – real growth rate:

16.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
8.6% (2009 est.)
25.4% (2008 est.)
GDP – per capita (PPP):

$179,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
$155,400 (2009 est.)
$144,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP – composition by sector:

agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 71.8%
services: 28.1% (2010 est.)
Labor force:

1.242 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Unemployment rate:

0.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
0.5% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:

NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.3%
highest 10%: 35.9%
Distribution of family income – Gini index:

41.1 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 56
Investment (gross fixed):

29.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Budget:

revenues: $52.84 billion
expenditures: $31.61 billion (2010 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:

40.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):

16.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Public debt:

8.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
13.8% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):

-2.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
-4.9% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:

3.5% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
5.5% (31 December 2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:

7.34% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
7.27% (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of narrow money:

$18.77 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
$14.59 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of broad money:

$72.72 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
$59.09 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:

$89.61 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
$74.39 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:

$123.6 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 45
$87.86 billion (31 December 2009)
$76.31 billion (31 December 2008)
Agriculture – products:

fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish
Industries:

liquefied natural gas, crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship repair
Industrial production growth rate:

27.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Electricity – production:

19.18 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Electricity – consumption:

18.79 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Electricity – exports:

0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity – imports:

0 kWh (2009 est.)
Oil – production:

1.437 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Oil – consumption:

166,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Oil – exports:

1.038 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Oil – imports:

4,108 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Oil – proved reserves:

25.38 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Natural gas – production:

116.7 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Natural gas – consumption:

21.89 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Natural gas – exports:

94.81 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Natural gas – imports:

0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Natural gas – proved reserves:

25.37 trillion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Current account balance:

$15.04 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
$6.688 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:

$72.04 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
$48.31 billion (2009 est.)
Exports – commodities:

liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers, steel
Exports – partners:

Japan 30.3%, South Korea 13.1%, India 8%, Singapore 7.7%, UK 4.2% (2010)
Imports:

$20.94 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
$22.45 billion (2009 est.)
Imports – commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals
Imports – partners:

US 15.5%, Germany 9%, UAE 7.3%, South Korea 6.5%, UK 6.1%, Japan 5.6%, Saudi Arabia 5.4%, Italy 5.3%, France 4.5%, China 4.2% (2010)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$31.19 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
$18.81 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt – external:

$75.13 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
$70.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment – at home:

$26.38 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
$20.75 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad:

$19.49 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$14.27 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:

Qatari rials (QAR) per US dollar -
3.64 (2010)
3.64 (2009)
3.64 (2008)
3.64 (2007)
3.64 (2006)

Communications ::QATAR
Telephones – main lines in use:

298,100 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 116
Telephones – mobile cellular:

2.329 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 133
Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system centered in Doha
domestic: combined fixed and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership exceeds 300 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code – 974; landing point for the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and the US; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and the UAE; satellite earth stations – 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat (2009)
Broadcast media:

television and radio broadcast media are state controlled; home of the satellite TV channel Al-Jazeera, which was originally owned and financed by the Qatari Government; Al-Jazeera claims editorial independence in broadcasting; transmissions of several international broadcasters are accessible on FM in Doha (2007)
Internet country code:

.qa
Internet hosts:

822 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 170
Internet users:

563,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 117

Transportation ::QATAR
Airports:

6 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 172
Airports – with paved runways:

total: 4
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Airports – with unpaved runways:

total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Heliports:

1 (2010)
Pipelines:

condensate 145 km; condensate/gas 132 km; gas 980 km; liquid petroleum gas 90 km; oil 382 km (2010)
Roadways:

total: 7,790 km (2006)
country comparison to the world: 144
Merchant marine:

total: 29
country comparison to the world: 85
by type: bulk carrier 3, chemical tanker 2, container 14, liquefied gas 6, petroleum tanker 4
foreign-owned: 7 (Kuwait 7)
registered in other countries: 30 (Liberia 5, Marshall Islands 24, Panama 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:

Doha, Mesaieed (Umaieed), Ra’s Laffan

Military ::QATAR
Military branches:

Qatari Amiri Land Force (QALF), Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN), Qatari Amiri Air Force (QAAF) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)
Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 389,487
females age 16-49: 165,572 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 321,974
females age 16-49: 140,176 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 6,429
female: 5,162 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:

10% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2

Transnational Issues ::QATAR
Disputes – international:

none
Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Qatar is a destination country for men and women subjected to forced labor and, to a much lesser extent, forced prostitution; men and women from Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Sudan, Thailand, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and China voluntarily migrate to Qatar as low-skilled laborers and domestic servants, but some subsequently face conditions indicative of involuntary servitude as domestic workers and laborers, and, to a lesser extent, commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – the Government of Qatar does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; it did not demonstrate evidence of significant efforts to punish traffickers or proactively identify victims; however, the government has a written plan that, if implemented, would largely bring the country into compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; it is devoting sufficient resources to implementing the plan (2011)

Article Source: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/qa.html

Background:

The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. In 1935 the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. Manuel QUEZON was elected president and was tasked with preparing the country for independence after a 10-year transition. In 1942 the islands fell under Japanese occupation during World War II, and US forces and Filipinos fought together during 1944-45 to regain control. On 4 July 1946 the Republic of the Philippines attained its independence. A 20-year rule by Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986, when a “people power” movement in Manila (“EDSA 1″) forced him into exile and installed Corazon AQUINO as president. Her presidency was hampered by several coup attempts that prevented a return to full political stability and economic development. Fidel RAMOS was elected president in 1992. His administration was marked by increased stability and by progress on economic reforms. In 1992, the US closed its last military bases on the islands. Joseph ESTRADA was elected president in 1998. He was succeeded by his vice-president, Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, in January 2001 after ESTRADA’s stormy impeachment trial on corruption charges broke down and another “people power” movement (“EDSA 2″) demanded his resignation. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was elected to a six-year term as president in May 2004. Her presidency was marred by several corruption allegations but the Philippine economy was one of the few to avoid contraction following the 2008 global financial crisis, expanding each year of her administration. Benigno AQUINO III was elected to a six-year term as president in May 2010. The Philippine Government faces threats from several groups on the US Government’s Foreign Terrorist Organization list. Manila has waged a decades-long struggle against ethnic Moro insurgencies in the southern Philippines, which has led to a peace accord with the Moro National Liberation Front and on-again/off-again peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The decades-long Maoist-inspired New People’s Army insurgency also operates through much of the country.

Geography ::PHILIPPINES
Location:

Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates:

13 00 N, 122 00 E
Map references:

Southeast Asia
Area:

total: 300,000 sq km
country comparison to the world: 73
land: 298,170 sq km
water: 1,830 sq km
Area – comparative:

slightly larger than Arizona
Land boundaries:

0 km
Coastline:

36,289 km
Maritime claims:

territorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm from coastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also claimed polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea up to 285 nm in breadth
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
Climate:

tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)
Terrain:

mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands
Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m
Natural resources:

timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper
Land use:

arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 16.67%
other: 64.33% (2005)
Irrigated land:

152,500 sq km (2008)
Total renewable water resources:

479 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 28.52 cu km/yr (17%/9%/74%)
per capita: 343 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:

astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis
volcanism: the Philippines experience significant volcanic activity; Taal (elev. 311 m), which has shown recent unrest and may erupt in the near future, 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; Mayon (elev. 2,462 m), the country’s most active volcano, erupted in 2009 forcing over 33,000 to be evacuated; other historically active volcanoes include Biliran, Babuyan Claro, Bulusan, Camiguin, Camiguin de Babuyanes, Didicas, Iraya, Jolo, Kanlaon, Makaturing, Musuan, Parker, Pinatubo and Ragang
Environment – current issues:

uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in major urban centers; coral reef degradation; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps that are important fish breeding grounds
Environment – international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography – note:

the Philippine archipelago is made up of 7,107 islands; favorably located in relation to many of Southeast Asia’s main water bodies: the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, and Luzon Strait

People and Society ::PHILIPPINES
Nationality:

noun: Filipino(s)
adjective: Philippine
Ethnic groups:

Tagalog 28.1%, Cebuano 13.1%, Ilocano 9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%, Hiligaynon Ilonggo 7.5%, Bikol 6%, Waray 3.4%, other 25.3% (2000 census)
Languages:

Filipino (official; based on Tagalog) and English (official); eight major dialects – Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan
Religions:

Catholic 82.9% (Roman Catholic 80.9%, Aglipayan 2%), Muslim 5%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1% (2000 census)
Population:

101,833,938 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Age structure:

0-14 years: 34.6% (male 17,999,279/female 17,285,040)
15-64 years: 61.1% (male 31,103,967/female 31,097,203)
65 years and over: 4.3% (male 1,876,805/female 2,471,644) (2011 est.)
Median age:

total: 22.9 years
male: 22.4 years
female: 23.4 years (2011 est.)
Population growth rate:

1.903% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Birth rate:

25.34 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Death rate:

5.02 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Net migration rate:

-1.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Urbanization:

urban population: 49% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 2.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major cities – population:

MANILA (capital) 11.449 million; Davao 1.48 million; Cebu City 845,000; Zamboanga 827,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:

94 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 76
Infant mortality rate:

total: 19.34 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 100
male: 21.84 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.66 years
country comparison to the world: 133
male: 68.72 years
female: 74.74 years (2011 est.)
Total fertility rate:

3.19 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Health expenditures:

3.8% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 169
Physicians density:

1.153 physicians/1,000 population (2004)
country comparison to the world: 96
Hospital bed density:

0.5 beds/1,000 population (2006)
country comparison to the world: 169
Drinking water source:

improved:
urban: 93% of population
rural: 87% of population
total: 91% of population
unimproved:
urban: 7% of population
rural: 13% of population
total: 9% of population (2008)
Sanitation facility access:

improved:
urban: 80% of population
rural: 69% of population
total: 76% of population
unimproved:
urban: 20% of population
rural: 31% of population
total: 24% of population (2008)
HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS:

8,700 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
HIV/AIDS – deaths:

fewer than 200 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and Japanese encephalitis
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate:

4.3% (2003)
country comparison to the world: 62
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:

20.7% (2003)
country comparison to the world: 32
Education expenditures:

2.8% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 138
Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.6%
male: 92.5%
female: 92.7% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2008)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:

total: 17.4%
country comparison to the world: 67
male: 16.2%
female: 19.3% (2009)

Government ::PHILIPPINES
Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines
conventional short form: Philippines
local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas
local short form: Pilipinas
Government type:

republic
Capital:

name: Manila
geographic coordinates: 14 35 N, 121 00 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:

80 provinces and 120 chartered cities
provinces: Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay, Antique, Apayao, Aurora, Basilan, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Biliran, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cebu, Compostela, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Dinagat Islands, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Isabela, Kalinga, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, La Union, Leyte, Maguindanao, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain Province, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Samar, Sarangani, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tarlac, Tawi-Tawi, Zambales, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay
chartered cities: Alaminos, Angeles, Antipolo, Bacolod, Bago, Baguio, Bais, Balanga, Batac, Batangas, Bayawan, Bislig, Butuan, Cabadbaran, Cabanatuan, Cadiz, Cagayan de Oro, Calamba, Calapan, Calbayog, Candon, Canlaon, Cauayan, Cavite, Cebu, Cotabato, Dagupan, Danao, Dapitan, Davao, Digos, Dipolog, Dumaguete, Escalante, Gapan, General Santos, Gingoog, Himamaylan, Iligan, Iloilo, Isabela, Iriga, Kabankalan, Kalookan, Kidapawan, Koronadal, La Carlota, Laoag, Lapu-Lapu, Las Pinas, Legazpi, Ligao, Lipa, Lucena, Maasin, Makati, Malabon, Malaybalay, Malolos, Mandaluyong, Mandaue, Manila, Marawi, Marikina, Masbate, Mati, Meycauayan, Muntinlupa, Munoz, Naga, Navotas, Olongapo, Ormoc, Oroquieta, Ozamis, Pagadian, Palayan, Panabo, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, Passi, Puerto Princesa, Quezon, Roxas, Sagay, Samal, San Carlos (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos (in Pangasinan), San Fernando (in La Union), San Fernando (in Pampanga), San Jose, San Jose del Monte, San Juan, San Pablo, Santa Rosa, Santiago, Silay, Sipalay, Sorsogon, Surigao, Tabaco, Tacloban, Tacurong, Tagaytay, Tagbilaran, Taguig, Tagum, Talisay (in Cebu), Talisay (in Negros Occidental), Tanauan, Tangub, Tanjay, Tarlac, Toledo, Tuguegarao, Trece Martires, Urdaneta, Valencia, Valenzuela, Victorias, Vigan, Zamboanga (2009)
Independence:

12 June 1898 (independence proclaimed from Spain); 4 July 1946 (from the US)
National holiday:

Independence Day, 12 June (1898); note – 12 June 1898 was date of declaration of independence from Spain; 4 July 1946 was date of independence from US
Constitution:

2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987
Legal system:

mixed legal system of civil, common, Islamic, and customary law
International law organization participation:

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:

chief of state: President Benigno AQUINO (since 30 June 2010); Vice President Jejomar BINAY (since 30 June 2010); note – president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Benigno AQUINO (since 30 June 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with consent of Commission of Appointments
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets by popular vote for a single six-year term; election held on 10 May 2010; Benigno AQUINO declared winner and took office on 30 June 2010; next election to be held in May 2016
election results: Benigno AQUINO elected president; percent of vote – Benigno AQUINO 42.1%, Joseph ESTRADA 26.3%, seven others 31.6%; Jejomar BINAY elected vice president; percent of vote Jejomar BINAY 41.6%, Manuel ROXAS 39.6%, six others 18.8%
Legislative branch:

bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of the Senate or Senado (24 seats – one-half elected every three years; members elected at large by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Kapulungan Ng Nga Kinatawan; the House has 287 seats including 230 members in one tier representing districts and 57 sectoral party-list members in a second tier representing special minorities elected on the basis of one seat for every 2% of the total vote but with each party limited to three seats; a party represented in one tier may not hold seats in the other tier; all House members are elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms
note: the constitution limits the House of Representatives to 250 members; the number of members allowed was increased, however, through legislation when in April 2009 the Philippine Supreme Court ruled that additional party members could sit in the House of Representatives if they received the required number of votes
elections: Senate – elections last held on 10 May 2010 (next to be held in May 2013); House of Representatives – elections last held on 10 May 2010 (next to be held in May 2013)
election results: Senate – percent of vote by party – NA; seats by party – Lakas-Kampi CMD 4, LP 4, NP 4, NPC 2, PMP 2, LDP 1, PRP 1, independents 5; note – there are 23 rather than 24 sitting senators because one senator was elected mayor of Manila; House of Representatives – percent of vote by party – NA; seats by party – LP 119, Lakas-Kampi CMD 46, NPC 30, NP 22, others 10, independents 1, party-list 55; vacant seats – 1 district and 2 party-list
Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (15 justices are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council and serve until 70 years of age); Court of Appeals; Sandigan-bayan (special court for hearing corruption cases of government officials)
Political parties and leaders:

Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (Struggle of Filipino Democrats) or LDP [Edgardo ANGARA]; Lakas ng EDSA-Christian Muslim Democrats or Lakas-CMD [Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO]; Liberal Party or LP [Manuel ROXAS]; Nacionalista Party or NP [Manuel VILLAR]; Nationalist People’s Coalition or NPC [Frisco SAN JUAN]; PDP-Laban [Aquilino PIMENTEL]; People’s Reform Party [Miriam Defensor SANTIAGO]; Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (Force of the Philippine Masses) or PMP [Joseph ESTRADA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:

ABONO [Robert ESTRELLA]; AKBAYAN [Walden BELLO]; An Waray [Florencio NOEL]; Anak Mindanao [Mujiv HATAMIN]; ANAKPAWIS [Rafael MARIANO]; ARC [Narciso SANTIAGO III]; Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC) [Ponciano PAYUYO]; A TEACHER [Mariano PIAMONTE]; BAGON HENERASYON [Bernadette HERRERA-DY]; Bayan Muna [Teodoro CASINO, Jr.]; Black and White Movement [Vicente ROMANO]; BUHAY [Rene VELARDE]; BUTIL [Leonila CHAVEZ]; CIBAC [Cinchoa CRUZ-GONZALES]; COOP-NATCO [Jose PING-AY]; GABRIELA [Luzviminda ILAGAN]; KABATAAN [Raymon PALATINO]; Kilosbayan [Jovito SALONGA]; YACAP [Carol LOPEZ]
International organization participation:

ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, CD, CICA (observer), CP, EAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNMIT, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jose L. CUISIA Jr.
chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 467-9300
FAX: [1] (202) 467-9417
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands), San Francisco, Tamuning (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Harry K. THOMAS Jr.
embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita 1000, Manila
mailing address: PSC 500, FPO AP 96515-1000
telephone: [63] (2) 301-2000
FAX: [63] (2) 301-2399
Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red; a white equilateral triangle is based on the hoist side; the center of the triangle displays a yellow sun with eight primary rays; each corner of the triangle contains a small, yellow, five-pointed star; blue stands for peace and justice, red symbolizes courage, the white equal-sided triangle represents equality; the rays recall the first eight provinces that sought independence from Spain, while the stars represent the three major geographical divisions of the country: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao; the design of the flag dates to 1897
note: in wartime the flag is flown upside down with the red band at the top
National symbol(s):

Philippine eagle
National anthem:

name: “Lupang Hinirang” (Chosen Land)
lyrics/music: Jose PALMA (revised by Felipe PADILLA de Leon)/Julian FELIPE
note: music adopted 1898, original Spanish lyrics adopted 1899, Filipino (Tagalog) lyrics adopted 1956; although the original lyrics were written in Spanish, later English and Filipino versions were created; today, only the Filipino version is used

Economy ::PHILIPPINES
Economy – overview:

Philippine GDP grew 7.3% in 2010, spurred by consumer demand, a rebound in exports and investments, and election-related spending. The economy weathered the 2008-09 global recession better than its regional peers due to minimal exposure to troubled international securities, lower dependence on exports, relatively resilient domestic consumption, large remittances from four- to five-million overseas Filipino workers, and a growing business process outsourcing industry. Economic growth in the Philippines averaged 4.5% during the MACAPAGAL-ARROYO administration. Despite this growth, poverty worsened, because of a high population growth rate and inequitable distribution of income. The AQUINO administration is working to reduce the government deficit from 3.9% of GDP, when it took office, to 2% of GDP by 2013. The government has had little difficulty issuing debt both locally and internationally to finance the deficits. AQUINO’s first budget emphasizes education, health, conditional cash transfers for the poor, and other social spending programs, relying on the private sector to finance important infrastructure projects. Weak tax collection, exacerbated by new tax breaks and incentives, has limited the government’s ability to address major challenges. The AQUINO administration has vowed to focus on improving tax collection efficiency – rather than imposing new taxes – as a part of its good governance platform.
GDP (purchasing power parity):

$351.4 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
$327.4 billion (2009 est.)
$323.9 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):

$188.7 billion (2010 est.)
GDP – real growth rate:

7.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
1.1% (2009 est.)
3.7% (2008 est.)
GDP – per capita (PPP):

$3,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
$3,300 (2009 est.)
$3,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP – composition by sector:

agriculture: 12.3%
industry: 32.6%
services: 55.1% (2010 est.)
Labor force:

38.9 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Labor force – by occupation:

agriculture: 33%
industry: 15%
services: 52% (2010 est.)
Unemployment rate:

7.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
7.5% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:

32.9% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 31.2% (2006)
Distribution of family income – Gini index:

45.8 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 36
46.6 (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):

20.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Budget:

revenues: $26.78 billion
expenditures: $33.75 billion (2010 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:

14.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):

-3.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Public debt:

52.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
54.8% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
4.2% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:

3.8% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
3.5% (31 December 2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:

7.673% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
8.566% (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of narrow money:

$29.08 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
$24.86 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of broad money:

$97.35 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
$83.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:

$98.22 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
$85.54 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:

$202.3 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 36
$130.5 billion (31 December 2009)
$85.63 billion (31 December 2008)
Agriculture – products:

sugarcane, coconuts, rice, corn, bananas, cassavas, pineapples, mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish
Industries:

electronics assembly, garments, footwear, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food processing, petroleum refining, fishing
Industrial production growth rate:

23.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Electricity – production:

59.19 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Electricity – consumption:

54.4 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Electricity – exports:

0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity – imports:

0 kWh (2009 est.)
Oil – production:

33,110 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Oil – consumption:

310,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Oil – exports:

60,460 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Oil – imports:

338,400 bbl/day (September 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Oil – proved reserves:

138.5 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Natural gas – production:

3.15 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Natural gas – consumption:

3.15 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Natural gas – exports:

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Natural gas – imports:

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Natural gas – proved reserves:

98.54 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Current account balance:

$9.51 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
$9.358 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:

$50.68 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
$37.61 billion (2009 est.)
Exports – commodities:

semiconductors and electronic products, transport equipment, garments, copper products, petroleum products, coconut oil, fruits
Exports – partners:

China 19%, US 13.4%, Singapore 13.2%, Japan 12.8%, Hong Kong 7.6%, Germany 4.2%, South Korea 4.1% (2010)
Imports:

$61.07 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
$46.45 billion (2009 est.)
Imports – commodities:

electronic products, mineral fuels, machinery and transport equipment, iron and steel, textile fabrics, grains, chemicals, plastic
Imports – partners:

Japan 14.1%, China 13.6%, US 9.9%, Singapore 9.3%, Thailand 6.5%, South Korea 5.6%, Indonesia 4.1% (2010)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$62.37 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$44.24 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt – external:

$61.42 billion (30 June 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
$62.62 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment – at home:

$25.27 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
$23.56 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad:

$6.582 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
$6.095 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:

Philippine pesos (PHP) per US dollar -
45.11 (2010)
47.68 (2009)
44.439 (2008)
46.148 (2007)
51.246 (2006)

Communications ::PHILIPPINES
Telephones – main lines in use:

6.783 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 29
Telephones – mobile cellular:

79.896 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 15
Telephone system:

general assessment: good international radiotelephone and submarine cable services; domestic and interisland service adequate
domestic: telecommunications infrastructure includes the following platforms: fixed line, mobile cellular, cable TV, over-the-air TV, radio and Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT), fiber optic cable, and satellite; mobile-cellular communications now dominate the industry
international: country code – 63; a series of submarine cables together provide connectivity to Asia, US, the Middle East, and Europe; multiple international gateways (2010)
Broadcast media:

multiple national private TV and radio networks; multi-channel satellite and cable TV systems available; five national or major TV networks; three government-owned networks; five major cable TV networks and a government-operated national TV and radio network; about 300 analog television stations; more than 1,000 radio stations (2010)
Internet country code:

.ph
Internet hosts:

394,990 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 53
Internet users:

8.278 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 34

Transportation ::PHILIPPINES
Airports:

254 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 25
Airports – with paved runways:

total: 85
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 29
914 to 1,523 m: 34
under 914 m: 10 (2010)
Airports – with unpaved runways:

total: 169
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 66
under 914 m: 99 (2010)
Heliports:

2 (2010)
Pipelines:

gas 7 km; oil 107 km; refined products 181 km (2010)
Railways:

total: 995 km
country comparison to the world: 87
narrow gauge: 995 km 1.067-m gauge (484 km are in operation) (2010)
Roadways:

total: 213,151 km
country comparison to the world: 24
paved: 54,481 km
unpaved: 158,670 km (2009)
Waterways:

3,219 km (limited to vessels with draft less than 1.5 m) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 30
Merchant marine:

total: 428
country comparison to the world: 24
by type: bulk carrier 75, cargo 135, carrier 16, chemical tanker 26, container 13, liquefied gas 5, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 68, petroleum tanker 45, refrigerated cargo 17, roll on/roll off 12, vehicle carrier 9
foreign-owned: 156 (Bermuda 43, China 4, Greece 4, Japan 82, Malaysia 1, Netherlands 18, Singapore 1, South Korea 1, Taiwan 1, UAE 1)
registered in other countries: 7 (Cyprus 1, Panama 6) (2010)
Ports and terminals:

Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Liman, Manila
Transportation – note:

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift

Military ::PHILIPPINES
Military branches:

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps and Coast Guard), Air Force (2011)
Military service age and obligation:

18-25 years of age (officers 21-29) for compulsory and voluntary military service; applicants must be single male or female Philippine citizens (2010)
Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 25,614,135
females age 16-49: 25,035,061 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 20,142,940
females age 16-49: 21,427,792 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 1,060,319
female: 1,021,069 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:

0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137

Transnational Issues ::PHILIPPINES
Disputes – international:

Philippines claims sovereignty over Scarborough Reef (also claimed by China together with Taiwan) and over certain of the Spratly Islands, known locally as the Kalayaan (Freedom) Islands, also claimed by China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam; the 2002 “Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea,” has eased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally binding “code of conduct” desired by several of the disputants; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; Philippines retains a dormant claim to Malaysia’s Sabah State in northern Borneo based on the Sultanate of Sulu’s granting the Philippines Government power of attorney to pursue a sovereignty claim on his behalf; maritime delimitation negotiations continue with Palau
Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 300,000 (fighting between government troops and MILF and Abu Sayyaf groups) (2007)
Illicit drugs:

domestic methamphetamine production has been a growing problem in recent years despite government crackdowns; major consumer of amphetamines; longstanding marijuana producer mainly in rural areas where Manila’s control is limited

Article Source: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rp.html

Background:

The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world and dating back at least 5,000 years, spread over much of what is presently Pakistan. During the second millennium B.C., remnants of this culture fused with the migrating Indo-Aryan peoples. The area underwent successive invasions in subsequent centuries from the Persians, Greeks, Scythians, Arabs (who brought Islam), Afghans, and Turks. The Mughal Empire flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries; the British came to dominate the region in the 18th century. The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with West and East sections) and largely Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved, and India and Pakistan fought two wars – in 1947-48 and 1965 – over the disputed Kashmir territory. A third war between these countries in 1971 – in which India capitalized on Islamabad’s marginalization of Bengalis in Pakistani politics – resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998. India-Pakistan relations have been rocky since the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, but both countries are taking small steps to put relations back on track. In February 2008, Pakistan held parliamentary elections and in September 2008, after the resignation of former President MUSHARRAF, elected Asif Ali ZARDARI to the presidency. Pakistani government and military leaders are struggling to control domestic insurgents, many of whom are located in the tribal areas adjacent to the border with Afghanistan.

Geography ::PAKISTAN
Location:

Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north
Geographic coordinates:

30 00 N, 70 00 E
Map references:

Asia
Area:

total: 796,095 sq km
country comparison to the world: 36
land: 770,875 sq km
water: 25,220 sq km
Area – comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:

total: 6,774 km
border countries: Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912 km, Iran 909 km
Coastline:

1,046 km
Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:

mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north
Terrain:

flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and northwest; Balochistan plateau in west
Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m
Natural resources:

land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone
Land use:

arable land: 24.44%
permanent crops: 0.84%
other: 74.72% (2005)
Irrigated land:

198,700 sq km (2008)
Total renewable water resources:

233.8 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 169.39 cu km/yr (2%/2%/96%)
per capita: 1,072 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:

frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August)
Environment – current issues:

water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff; limited natural freshwater resources; most of the population does not have access to potable water; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification
Environment – international agreements:

party to: 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, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography – note:

controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent

People and Society ::PAKISTAN
Nationality:

noun: Pakistani(s)
adjective: Pakistani
Ethnic groups:

Punjabi 44.68%, Pashtun (Pathan) 15.42%, Sindhi 14.1%, Sariaki 8.38%, Muhajirs 7.57%, Balochi 3.57%, other 6.28%
Languages:

Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Saraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official; lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski, and other 8%
Religions:

Muslim 95% (Sunni 75%, Shia 20%), other (includes Christian and Hindu) 5%
Population:

187,342,721 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Age structure:

0-14 years: 35.4% (male 34,093,853/female 32,278,462)
15-64 years: 60.4% (male 58,401,016/female 54,671,873)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 3,739,647/female 4,157,870) (2011 est.)
Median age:

total: 21.6 years
male: 21.5 years
female: 21.6 years (2011 est.)
Population growth rate:

1.573% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Birth rate:

24.81 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Death rate:

6.92 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Net migration rate:

-2.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Urbanization:

urban population: 36% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 3.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major cities – population:

Karachi 13.125 million; Lahore 7.132 million; Faisalabad 2.849 million; Rawalpindi 2.026 million; ISLAMABAD (capital) 832,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:

260 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 51
Infant mortality rate:

total: 63.26 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 26
male: 66.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 59.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 65.99 years
country comparison to the world: 165
male: 64.18 years
female: 67.9 years (2011 est.)
Total fertility rate:

3.17 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Health expenditures:

2.6% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 182
Physicians density:

0.813 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 111
Hospital bed density:

0.6 beds/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 166
Drinking water source:

improved:
urban: 95% of population
rural: 87% of population
total: 90% of population
unimproved:
urban: 5% of population
rural: 13% of population
total: 10% of population (2008)
Sanitation facility access:

improved:
urban: 72% of population
rural: 29% of population
total: 45% of population
unimproved:
urban: 28% of population
rural: 71% of population
total: 55% of population (2008)
HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS:

98,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
HIV/AIDS – deaths:

5,800 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
animal contact disease: rabies
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:

31.3% (2001)
country comparison to the world: 17
Education expenditures:

2.7% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 142
Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 49.9%
male: 63%
female: 36% (2005 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 7 years
male: 8 years
female: 6 years (2009)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:

total: 7.7%
country comparison to the world: 114
male: 7%
female: 10.5% (2008)

Government ::PAKISTAN
Country name:

conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan
conventional short form: Pakistan
local long form: Jamhuryat Islami Pakistan
local short form: Pakistan
former: West Pakistan
Government type:

federal republic
Capital:

name: Islamabad
geographic coordinates: 33 42 N, 73 10 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:

4 provinces, 1 territory*, and 1 capital territory**; Balochistan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas*, Islamabad Capital Territory**, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly North-West Frontier Province), Punjab, Sindh
note: the Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed Jammu and Kashmir region consists of two administrative entities: Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan
Independence:

14 August 1947 (from British India)
National holiday:

Republic Day, 23 March (1956)
Constitution:

12 April 1973; suspended 5 July 1977, restored 30 December 1985; suspended 15 October 1999, restored in stages in 2002; amended 31 December 2003; suspended 3 November 2007; restored 15 December 2007; amended 19 April 2010
Legal system:

common law system with Islamic law influence
International law organization participation:

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal; joint electorates and reserved parliamentary seats for women and non-Muslims
Executive branch:

chief of state: President Asif Ali ZARDARI (since 9 September 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza GILANI (since 25 March 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president upon the advice of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the president elected by secret ballot through an Electoral College comprising the members of the Senate, National Assembly, and the provincial assemblies for a five-year term; election last held on 6 September 2008 (next to be held not later than 2013); note – any person who is a Muslim and not less than 45 years of age and is qualified to be elected as a member of the National Assembly can contest the presidential election; the prime minister selected by the National Assembly
election results: Asif Ali ZARDARI elected president; ZARDARI 481 votes, SIDDIQUE 153 votes, SYED 44 votes; Syed Yousuf Raza GILANI elected prime minister; GILANI 264 votes, Pervaiz ELAHI 42 votes; several abstentions
Legislative branch:

bicameral parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of the Senate (100 seats; members indirectly elected by provincial assemblies and the territories’ representatives in the National Assembly to serve six-year terms; one half are elected every three years) and the National Assembly (342 seats; 272 members elected by popular vote; 60 seats reserved for women; 10 seats reserved for non-Muslims; members serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate – last held on 3 March 2009 (next to be held in March 2012); National Assembly – last held on 18 February 2008 with by-elections on 26 June 2008 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: Senate – percent of vote by party – NA; seats by party – PPPP 27, PML 21, MMA 9, PML-N 7, ANP 6, MQM 6, JUI-F 4, BNP-A 2, JWP 1, NPP 1, PKMAP 1, PML-F 1, PPP 1, independents 13; National Assembly – percent of votes by party – NA; seats by party as of October 2010 – PPPP 127, PML-N 90, PML 51, MQM 25, ANP 13, JUI-F 8, PML-F 5, BNP-A 1, NPP 1, PPP-S 1, independents 18, unfilled seats – 2
Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (justices appointed by the president); Federal Islamic or Sharia Court
Political parties and leaders:

Awami National Party or ANP [Asfandyar Wali KHAN]; Balochistan National Party-Awami or BNP-A [Moheem Khan BALOCH]; Balochistan National Party-Hayee Group or BNP-H [Dr. Hayee BALOCH]; Balochistan National Party-Mengal or BNP-M [Sardar Ataullah MENGAL]; Jamaat-i Islami or JI [Syed Munawar HASAN]; Jamhoori Watan Party or JWP; Jamiat Ahle Hadith or JAH [Sajid MIR]; Jamiat Ulema-i Islam Fazl-ur Rehman or JUI-F [Fazl-ur REHMAN]; Jamiat Ulema-i Islam Sami-ul HAQ or JUI-S [Sami ul-HAQ]; Jamiat Ulema-i Pakistan or JUP [Shah Faridul HAQ]; Muttahida Majlis-e Amal or MMA [Qazi Hussain AHMED]; Muttahida Qaumi Movement or MQM [Altaf HUSSAIN]; National Alliance or NA [Ghulam Mustapha JATOI] (merged with PML); National Peoples Party or NPP; Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami Party or PKMAP [Mahmood Khan ACHAKZAI]; Pakistan Awami Tehrik or PAT [Tahir ul QADRI]; Pakistan Muslim League or PML [Chaudhry Shujaat HUSSAIN]; Pakistan Muslim League-Functional or PML-F [Pir PAGARO]; Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz or PML-N [Nawaz SHARIF]; Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians or PPPP [Bilawal Bhutto ZARDARI, chairman; Asif Ali ZARDARI, co-chairman]; Pakistan Peoples Party-SHERPAO or PPP-S [Aftab Ahmed Khan SHERPAO]; Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaaf or PTI [Imran KHAN]; Tehrik-i Islami [Allama Sajid NAQVI]
note: political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently
Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: military (most important political force); ulema (clergy); landowners; industrialists; small merchants
International organization participation:

ADB, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), C, CICA, CP, D-8, ECO, FAO, G-11, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, SCO (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: 3517 International Court, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 243-6500
FAX: [1] (202) 686-1544
consulate(s) general: Boston (Honorary Consulate General), Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York
consulate(s): Chicago, Houston
Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Cameron MUNTER
embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad
mailing address: P. O. Box 1048, Unit 62200, APO AE 09812-2200
telephone: [92] (51) 208-0000
FAX: [92] (51) 2276427
consulate(s) general: Karachi
consulate(s): Lahore, Peshawar
Flag description:

green with a vertical white band (symbolizing the role of religious minorities) on the hoist side; a large white crescent and star are centered in the green field; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam
National symbol(s):

star and crescent
National anthem:

name: “Qaumi Tarana” (National Anthem)
lyrics/music: Abu-Al-Asar Hafeez JULLANDHURI/Ahmed Ghulamali CHAGLA
note: adopted 1954; the anthem is also known as “Pak sarzamin shad bad” (Blessed Be the Sacred Land)

Economy ::PAKISTAN
Economy – overview:

Pakistan, an impoverished and underdeveloped country, has suffered from decades of internal political disputes and low levels of foreign investment. Between 2001-07, however, poverty levels decreased by 10%, as Islamabad steadily raised development spending. During 2004-07, GDP growth in the 5-8% range was spurred by gains in the industrial and service sectors – despite severe electricity shortfalls – but growth slowed in 2008-09 and unemployment rose. Inflation remains the top concern among the public, climbing from 7.7% in 2007 to more than 13% in 2010. In addition, the Pakistani rupee has depreciated since 2007 as a result of political and economic instability. The government agreed to an International Monetary Fund Standby Arrangement in November 2008 in response to a balance of payments crisis, but during 2009-10 its current account strengthened and foreign exchange reserves stabilized – largely because of lower oil prices and record remittances from workers abroad. Record floods in July-August 2010 lowered agricultural output and contributed to a jump in inflation, and reconstruction costs will strain the limited resources of the government. Textiles account for most of Pakistan’s export earnings, but Pakistan’s failure to expand a viable export base for other manufactures has left the country vulnerable to shifts in world demand. Other long term challenges include expanding investment in education, healthcare, and electricity production, and reducing dependence on foreign donors.
GDP (purchasing power parity):

$464.9 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$443.6 billion (2009 est.)
$429.2 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):

$174.9 billion (2010 est.)
GDP – real growth rate:

4.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
3.4% (2009 est.)
1.6% (2008 est.)
GDP – per capita (PPP):

$2,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
$2,400 (2009 est.)
$2,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP – composition by sector:

agriculture: 21.2%
industry: 25.4%
services: 53.4% (2010 est.)
Labor force:

55.77 million
country comparison to the world: 10
note: extensive export of labor, mostly to the Middle East, and use of child labor (2010 est.)
Labor force – by occupation:

agriculture: 43%
industry: 20.3%
services: 36.6% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:

15.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
14.4% (2009 est.)
note: substantial underemployment exists
Population below poverty line:

24% (FY05/06 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.9%
highest 10%: 26.5% (2005)
Distribution of family income – Gini index:

30.6 (FY07/08)
country comparison to the world: 114
41 (FY98/99)
Investment (gross fixed):

13.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Budget:

revenues: $24.75 billion
expenditures: $35.67 billion (2010 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:

14.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):

-6.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Public debt:

50.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
50.2% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):

13.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
13.6% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:

0.07% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
12.5% (31 December 2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:

13.462% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
14.189% (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of narrow money:

$53.08 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$45.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of broad money:

$85.22 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
$65.13 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:

$61.39 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
$56.11 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:

$38.17 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 55
$33.24 billion (31 December 2009)
$23.49 billion (31 December 2008)
Agriculture – products:

cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; milk, beef, mutton, eggs
Industries:

textiles and apparel, food processing, pharmaceuticals, construction materials, paper products, fertilizer, shrimp
Industrial production growth rate:

4.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Electricity – production:

89.23 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Electricity – consumption:

68.55 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Electricity – exports:

0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity – imports:

0 kWh (2009 est.)
Oil – production:

63,580 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Oil – consumption:

410,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Oil – exports:

29,840 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Oil – imports:

346,400 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Oil – proved reserves:

313 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Natural gas – production:

38.41 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Natural gas – consumption:

38.41 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Natural gas – exports:

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Natural gas – imports:

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Natural gas – proved reserves:

840.2 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Current account balance:

-$1.585 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
-$3.993 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:

$21.46 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
$18.35 billion (2009 est.)
Exports – commodities:

textiles (garments, bed linen, cotton cloth, yarn), rice, leather goods, sports goods, chemicals, manufactures, carpets and rugs
Exports – partners:

US 15.8%, Afghanistan 8.1%, UAE 7.9%, China 7.3%, UK 4.3%, Germany 4.2% (2010)
Imports:

$32.88 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
$28.62 billion (2009 est.)
Imports – commodities:

petroleum, petroleum products, machinery, plastics, transportation equipment, edible oils, paper and paperboard, iron and steel, tea
Imports – partners:

China 17.9%, Saudi Arabia 10.7%, UAE 10.6%, Kuwait 5.5%, US 4.9%, Malaysia 4.8% (2010)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$17.21 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
$13.77 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt – external:

$56.12 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
$53.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment – at home:

$30.06 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
$28.04 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad:

$1.148 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
$1.102 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:

Pakistani rupees (PKR) per US dollar -
85.27 (2010)
81.71 (2009)
70.64 (2008)
60.6295 (2007)
60.35 (2006)

Communications ::PAKISTAN
Telephones – main lines in use:

3.419 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 46
Telephones – mobile cellular:

103 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 10
Telephone system:

general assessment: the telecommunications infrastructure is improving dramatically with foreign and domestic investments in fixed-line and mobile-cellular networks; system consists of microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable, cellular, and satellite networks;
domestic: mobile-cellular subscribership has skyrocketed, exceeding 100 million in 2009, up from only about 300,000 in 2000; approximately 90 percent of Pakistanis live within areas that have cell phone coverage and more than half of all Pakistanis have access to a cell phone; fiber systems are being constructed throughout the country to aid in network growth; fixed line availability has risen only marginally over the same period and there are still difficulties getting fixed-line service to rural areas
international: country code – 92; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable systems that provide links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations – 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); 3 operational international gateway exchanges (1 at Karachi and 2 at Islamabad); microwave radio relay to neighboring countries (2009)
Broadcast media:

media is government regulated; 1 dominant state-owned TV broadcaster, Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV), operates a network consisting of 6 channels; private TV broadcasters are permitted and some foreign satellite channels are carried by cable TV operators; the state-owned radio network operates more than 40 stations; privately-owned radio stations mostly limit programming to music and talk shows (2007)
Internet country code:

.pk
Internet hosts:

330,466 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 57
Internet users:

20.431 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 20

Transportation ::PAKISTAN
Airports:

148 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 37
Airports – with paved runways:

total: 101
over 3,047 m: 15
2,438 to 3,047 m: 20
1,524 to 2,437 m: 39
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 9 (2010)
Airports – with unpaved runways:

total: 47
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 25 (2010)
Heliports:

20 (2010)
Pipelines:

gas 10,514 km; oil 2,013 km; refined products 787 km (2010)
Railways:

total: 7,791 km
country comparison to the world: 27
broad gauge: 7,479 km 1.676-m gauge (293 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 312 km 1.000-m gauge (2010)
Roadways:

total: 260,760 km
country comparison to the world: 20
paved: 180,910 km (includes 711 km of expressways)
unpaved: 79,850 km (2010)
Merchant marine:

total: 10
country comparison to the world: 116
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 4, petroleum tanker 5
registered in other countries: 14 (Comoros 3, Georgia 1, Marshall Islands 1, Panama 5, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:

Karachi, Port Muhammad Bin Qasim

Military ::PAKISTAN
Military branches:

Army (includes National Guard), Navy (includes Marines and Maritime Security Agency), Pakistan Air Force (Pakistan Fiza’ya) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:

17-23 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be deployed for combat until age 18; the Pakistani Air Force and Pakistani Navy have inducted their first female pilots and sailors (2009)
Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 48,453,305
females age 16-49: 44,898,096 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 37,945,440
females age 16-49: 37,381,549 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 2,237,723
female: 2,104,906 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:

3% of GDP (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47

Transnational Issues ::PAKISTAN
Disputes – international:

various talks and confidence-building measures cautiously have begun to defuse tensions over Kashmir, particularly since the October 2005 earthquake in the region; Kashmir nevertheless remains the site of the world’s largest and most militarized territorial dispute with portions under the de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas); UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) has maintained a small group of peacekeepers since 1949; India does not recognize Pakistan’s ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in 1964; India and Pakistan have maintained their 2004 cease fire in Kashmir and initiated discussions on defusing the armed stand-off in the Siachen glacier region; Pakistan protests India’s fencing the highly militarized Line of Control and construction of the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir, which is part of the larger dispute on water sharing of the Indus River and its tributaries; to defuse tensions and prepare for discussions on a maritime boundary, India and Pakistan seek technical resolution of the disputed boundary in Sir Creek estuary at the mouth of the Rann of Kutch in the Arabian Sea; Pakistani maps continue to show the Junagadh claim in India’s Gujarat State; by 2005, Pakistan, with UN assistance, repatriated 2.3 million Afghan refugees leaving slightly more than a million, many of whom remain at their own choosing; Pakistan has sent troops across and built fences along some remote tribal areas of its treaty-defined Durand Line border with Afghanistan, which serve as bases for foreign terrorists and other illegal activities; Afghan, Coalition, and Pakistan military meet periodically to clarify the alignment of the boundary on the ground and on maps
Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 1,043,984 (Afghanistan)
IDPs: undetermined (government strikes on Islamic militants in South Waziristan); 34,000 (October 2005 earthquake; most of those displaced returned to their home villages in the spring of 2006) (2007)
Illicit drugs:

significant transit area for Afghan drugs, including heroin, opium, morphine, and hashish, bound for Iran, Western markets, the Gulf States, Africa, and Asia; financial crimes related to drug trafficking, terrorism, corruption, and smuggling remain problems; opium poppy cultivation estimated to be 2,300 hectares in 2007 with 600 of those hectares eradicated; federal and provincial authorities continue to conduct anti-poppy campaigns that utilizes forced eradication, fines, and arrests

Article Source: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pk.html

Background:

The inhabitants of the area of Oman have long prospered on Indian Ocean trade. In the late 18th century, a newly established sultanate in Muscat signed the first in a series of friendship treaties with Britain. Over time, Oman’s dependence on British political and military advisors increased, but it never became a British colony. In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al-Said overthrew the restrictive rule of his father; he has ruled as sultan ever since. His extensive modernization program has opened the country to the outside world while preserving the longstanding close ties with the UK. Oman’s moderate, independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations with all Middle Eastern countries. Inspired by the popular uprisings that swept the Middle East and North Africa in 2010-11, Omanis began staging marches and demonstrations to demand economic benefits, an end to corruption, and greater political rights. In February and March 2011, in response to protester demands, QABOOS pledged to create more government jobs and promised to implement economic and political reforms, such as granting legislative and regulatory powers to the Council of Oman and the introduction of unemployment benefits. Also in March, the Gulf Cooperation Council pledged $20 billion in financial aid to Oman and Bahrain over a 10-year period to assist the two nations in their struggle with Arab protests. Amid concessions made to oppositionists, the government during the summer continued to crack down on protests and demonstrations, and increasingly clamped down on the media. In October 2011, QABOOS issued a royal decree expanding the legislative powers of the Council of Oman to amend and approve draft legislation.

Geography ::OMAN
Location:

Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE
Geographic coordinates:

21 00 N, 57 00 E
Map references:

Middle East
Area:

total: 309,500 sq km
country comparison to the world: 71
land: 309,500 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area – comparative:

slightly smaller than Kansas
Land boundaries:

total: 1,374 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km
Coastline:

2,092 km
Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:

dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
Terrain:

central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south
Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m
Natural resources:

petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
Land use:

arable land: 0.12%
permanent crops: 0.14%
other: 99.74% (2005)
Irrigated land:

590 sq km (2008)
Total renewable water resources:

1 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 1.36 cu km/yr (7%/2%/90%)
per capita: 529 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:

summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts
Environment – current issues:

rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; limited natural freshwater resources
Environment – international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography – note:

strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

People and Society ::OMAN
Nationality:

noun: Omani(s)
adjective: Omani
Ethnic groups:

Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African
Languages:

Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects
Religions:

Ibadhi Muslim 75%, other (includes Sunni Muslim, Shia Muslim, Hindu) 25%
Population:

3,027,959 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
note: includes 577,293 non-nationals
Age structure:

0-14 years: 31.2% (male 484,292/female 460,066)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 1,133,329/female 856,701)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 47,786/female 45,785) (2011 est.)
Median age:

total: 24.1 years
male: 25.5 years
female: 22.4 years (2011 est.)
Population growth rate:

2.023% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Birth rate:

24.15 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Death rate:

3.45 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
Net migration rate:

-0.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Urbanization:

urban population: 73% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 2.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major cities – population:

MUSCAT (capital) 634,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.34 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
total population: 1.23 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:

20 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 126
Infant mortality rate:

total: 15.47 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 116
male: 15.78 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.22 years
country comparison to the world: 104
male: 72.38 years
female: 76.16 years (2011 est.)
Total fertility rate:

2.87 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Health expenditures:

3% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 178
Physicians density:

1.901 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 69
Hospital bed density:

1.9 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 103
Drinking water source:

improved:
urban: 92% of population
rural: 77% of population
total: 88% of population
unimproved:
urban: 8% of population
rural: 23% of population
total: 12% of population (2008)
Sanitation facility access:

improved:
urban: 97% of population
rural: 61% of population
total: 87% of population
unimproved:
urban: 3% of population
rural: 39% of population
total: 13% of population (2000)
HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS:

1,100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
HIV/AIDS – deaths:

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Education expenditures:

3.9% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 108
Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 81.4%
male: 86.8%
female: 73.5% (2003 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 11 years (2009)

Government ::OMAN
Country name:

conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman
conventional short form: Oman
local long form: Saltanat Uman
local short form: Uman
former: Muscat and Oman
Government type:

monarchy
Capital:

name: Muscat
geographic coordinates: 23 37 N, 58 35 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:

5 regions (manatiq, singular – mintaqat) and 4 governorates* (muhafazat, singular – muhafazat) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Buraymi*, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat (Muscat)*, Musandam*, Zufar (Dhofar)*
Independence:

1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
National holiday:

Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)
Constitution:

none; note – on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal decree promulgating a basic law considered by the government to be a constitution which, among other things, clarifies the royal succession, provides for a prime minister, bars ministers from holding interests in companies doing business with the government, establishes a bicameral legislature, and guarantees basic civil liberties for Omani citizens
Legal system:

mixed legal system of Anglo-Saxon law and Islamic law
International law organization participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage:

21 years of age; universal; note – members of the military and security forces are not allowed to vote
Executive branch:

chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al-Said (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July 1972); note – the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al-Said (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July 1972)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary
Legislative branch:

bicameral Majlis Oman consists of Majlis al-Dawla or upper chamber (71 seats; members appointed by the monarch; has only advisory powers and Majlis al-Shura or lower chamber (84 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; body has only advisory powers)
elections: last held on 27 October 2007 (next to be held in October 2011)
election results: new candidates won 46 seats and 38 members of the outgoing Majlis kept their positions; none of the 20 female candidates was elected
Judicial branch:

Supreme Court
note: the nascent civil court system, administered by region, has judges who practice secular and sharia law
Political parties and leaders:

none
Political pressure groups and leaders:

none
International organization participation:

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Hunaina bint Sultan bin Ahmad al-MUGHAIRI
chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980
FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933
Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Richard J. SCHMIERER
embassy: Jameat A’Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat
mailing address: P. O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat Sultan Qaboos, Muscat
telephone: [968] 24-643-400
FAX: [968] 24-699771
Flag description:

three horizontal bands of white, red, and green of equal width with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the vertical band; white represents peace and prosperity, red recalls battles against foreign invaders, and green symbolizes the Jebel Akhdar (Green Mountains) and fertility
National symbol(s):

Khanjar dagger superimposed on two crossed swords
National anthem:

name: “Nashid as-Salaam as-Sultani” (The Sultan’s Anthem)
lyrics/music: Rashid bin Uzayyiz al KHUSAIDI/James Frederick MILLS, arranged by Bernard EBBINGHAUS
note: adopted 1932; new words were written after QABOOS bin Said al Said gained power in 1970; the anthem was first performed by the band of a British ship as a salute to the Sultan during a 1932 visit to Muscat; the bandmaster of the HMS Hawkins was asked to write a salutation to the Sultan on the occasion of his visiting the ship

Economy ::OMAN
Economy – overview:

Oman is a middle-income economy that is heavily dependent on dwindling oil resources. Because of declining reserves, Muscat has actively pursued a development plan that focuses on diversification, industrialization, and privatization, with the objective of reducing the oil sector’s contribution to GDP to 9% by 2020. Tourism and gas-based industries are key components of the government’s diversification strategy. By using enhanced oil recovery techniques, Oman succeeded in increasing oil production, giving the country more time to diversify, and the increase in global oil prices throughout 2010 provides the government greater financial resources to invest in non-oil sectors.
GDP (purchasing power parity):

$75.84 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
$72.77 billion (2009 est.)
$71.98 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):

$55.62 billion (2010 est.)
GDP – real growth rate:

4.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
1.1% (2009 est.)
12.9% (2008 est.)
GDP – per capita (PPP):

$25,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
$25,000 (2009 est.)
$25,200 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP – composition by sector:

agriculture: 1.6%
industry: 51%
services: 47.5% (2010 est.)
Labor force:

968,800
country comparison to the world: 142
note: about 60% of the labor force is non-national (2007)
Labor force – by occupation:

agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:

15% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Population below poverty line:

NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):

29.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Budget:

revenues: $20.59 billion
expenditures: $20.71 billion (2010 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:

37% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):

-0.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Public debt:

4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
5.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
3.5% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:

2% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
0.05% (31 December 2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:

6.835% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
7.442% (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of narrow money:

$53.08 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
$45.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of broad money:

$71.42 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
$63.16 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:

$21.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
$19.34 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:

$20.27 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 61
$17.3 billion (31 December 2009)
$14.91 billion (31 December 2008)
Agriculture – products:

dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish
Industries:

crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas (LNG) production; construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic fiber
Industrial production growth rate:

4.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Electricity – production:

17.63 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Electricity – consumption:

13.25 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Electricity – exports:

0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity – imports:

0 kWh (2009 est.)
Oil – production:

867,900 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Oil – consumption:

142,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Oil – exports:

592,300 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Oil – imports:

27,970 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Oil – proved reserves:

5.5 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Natural gas – production:

24.76 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Natural gas – consumption:

14.72 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Natural gas – exports:

11.54 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Natural gas – imports:

1.5 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Natural gas – proved reserves:

849.5 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Current account balance:

$2.007 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
-$603 million (2009 est.)
Exports:

$36.6 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
$27.65 billion (2009 est.)
Exports – commodities:

petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles
Exports – partners:

China 26.3%, South Korea 12.4%, Japan 12.1%, India 11.3%, UAE 10.8%, Thailand 6.6% (2010)
Imports:

$17.87 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
$16.05 billion (2009 est.)
Imports – commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants
Imports – partners:

UAE 25.1%, Japan 15.4%, India 5.6%, US 5.5%, China 4.7% (2010)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$13.03 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
$12.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt – external:

$7.921 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
$7.169 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment – at home:

$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad:

$NA
Exchange rates:

Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar -
0.3845 (2010)
0.3845 (2009)
0.3845 (2008)
0.3845 (2007)
0.3845 (2006)

Communications ::OMAN
Telephones – main lines in use:

283,900 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 118
Telephones – mobile cellular:

4.606 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 105
Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system consisting of open-wire, microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited coaxial cable; domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations
domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership both increasing with fixed-line phone service gradually being introduced to remote villages using wireless local loop systems
international: country code – 968; the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) and the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable provide connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations – 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat (2008)
Broadcast media:

1 state-run TV broadcaster; TV stations transmitting from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Yemen are accessible via satellite TV; state-run radio operates multiple stations; first private radio station began operation in 2007 and 2 additional stations now operating (2007)
Internet country code:

.om
Internet hosts:

9,114 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 126
Internet users:

1.465 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 83

Transportation ::OMAN
Airports:

130 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 44
Airports – with paved runways:

total: 11
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Airports – with unpaved runways:

total: 119
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 51
914 to 1,523 m: 33
under 914 m: 26 (2010)
Heliports:

3 (2010)
Pipelines:

condensate 107 km; gas 4,209 km; oil 3,558 km; refined products 263 km (2010)
Roadways:

total: 53,430 km
country comparison to the world: 78
paved: 23,223 km (includes 1,384 km of expressways)
unpaved: 30,207 km (2008)
Merchant marine:

total: 4
country comparison to the world: 134
by type: chemical tanker 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2
registered in other countries: 9 (Panama 8, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:

Mina’ Qabus, Salalah, Suhar

Military ::OMAN
Military branches:

Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF): Royal Army of Oman, Royal Navy of Oman, Royal Air Force of Oman (al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Sultanat) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:

18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)
Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 985,957
females age 16-49: 737,812 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 837,886
females age 16-49: 642,427 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 31,959
female: 30,264 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:

11.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1

Transnational Issues ::OMAN
Disputes – international:

boundary agreement reportedly signed and ratified with UAE in 2003 for entire border, including Oman’s Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah exclave, but details of the alignment have not been made public

Article Source: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mu.html

Background:

An independent kingdom for much of its long history, Korea was occupied by Japan beginning in 1905 following the Russo-Japanese War. Five years later, Japan formally annexed the entire peninsula. Following World War II, Korea was split with the northern half coming under Soviet-sponsored Communist control. After failing in the Korean War (1950-53) to conquer the US-backed Republic of Korea (ROK) in the southern portion by force, North Korea (DPRK), under its founder President KIM Il Sung, adopted a policy of ostensible diplomatic and economic “self-reliance” as a check against outside influence. The DPRK demonized the US as the ultimate threat to its social system through state-funded propaganda, and molded political, economic, and military policies around the core ideological objective of eventual unification of Korea under Pyongyang’s control. KIM Il Sung’s son, the current ruler KIM Jong Il, was officially designated as his father’s successor in 1980, assuming a growing political and managerial role until the elder KIM’s death in 1994. In 2010, KIM Jong Il began the process of preparing the way for his youngest son, KIM Jong Un, to succeed him in power. After decades of economic mismanagement and resource misallocation, the DPRK since the mid-1990s has relied heavily on international aid to feed its population. North Korea’s history of regional military provocations, proliferation of military-related items, long-range missile development, WMD programs including tests of nuclear devices in 2006 and 2009, and massive conventional armed forces are of major concern to the international community. The regime has marked 2012, the centenary of KIM Il Sung’s birth, a banner year; to that end, the country has been focused on development of the economy.

Geography ::KOREA, NORTH
Location:

Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea
Geographic coordinates:

40 00 N, 127 00 E
Map references:

Asia
Area:

total: 120,538 sq km
country comparison to the world: 99
land: 120,408 sq km
water: 130 sq km
Area – comparative:

slightly smaller than Mississippi
Land boundaries:

total: 1,671.5 km
border countries: China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, Russia 17.5 km
Coastline:

2,495 km
Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
note: military boundary line 50 nm in the Sea of Japan and the exclusive economic zone limit in the Yellow Sea where all foreign vessels and aircraft without permission are banned
Climate:

temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer
Terrain:

mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east
Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
highest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m
Natural resources:

coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, iron ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower
Land use:

arable land: 22.4%
permanent crops: 1.66%
other: 75.94% (2005)
Irrigated land:

14,600 sq km (2008)
Total renewable water resources:

77.1 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 9.02 cu km/yr (20%/25%/55%)
per capita: 401 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:

late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall
volcanism: Changbaishan (elev. 2,744 m) (also known as Baitoushan, Baegdu or P’aektu-san), on the Chinese border, is considered historically active
Environment – current issues:

water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; waterborne disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation
Environment – international agreements:

party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography – note:

strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated and sparsely populated

People and Society ::KOREA, NORTH
Nationality:

noun: Korean(s)
adjective: Korean
Ethnic groups:

racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese
Languages:

Korean
Religions:

traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian and syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way)
note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom
Population:

24,457,492 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Age structure:

0-14 years: 22.4% (male 2,766,006/female 2,700,378)
15-64 years: 68.6% (male 8,345,737/female 8,423,482)
65 years and over: 9.1% (male 738,693/female 1,483,196) (2011 est.)
Median age:

total: 32.9 years
male: 31.2 years
female: 34.6 years (2011 est.)
Population growth rate:

0.538% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Birth rate:

14.51 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Death rate:

9.08 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Net migration rate:

-0.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Urbanization:

urban population: 60% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.047 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:

250 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 53
Infant mortality rate:

total: 27.11 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 76
male: 30.04 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 24.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 68.89 years
country comparison to the world: 149
male: 65.03 years
female: 72.93 years (2011 est.)
Total fertility rate:

2.02 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Health expenditures:

2% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 189
Physicians density:

3.29 physicians/1,000 population (2003)
country comparison to the world: 32
Hospital bed density:

13.2 beds/1,000 population (2002)
country comparison to the world: 2
Drinking water source:

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)
Sanitation facility access:

improved:
urban: 58% of population
rural: 60% of population
total: 59% of population
unimproved:
urban: 42% of population
rural: 40% of population
total: 41% of population (2000)
HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate:

NA
HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA
HIV/AIDS – deaths:

NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:

20.6% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 33
Education expenditures:

NA
Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1991 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

NA

Government ::KOREA, NORTH
Country name:

conventional long form: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
conventional short form: North Korea
local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk
local short form: Choson
abbreviation: DPRK
Government type:

Communist state one-man dictatorship
Capital:

name: Pyongyang
geographic coordinates: 39 01 N, 125 45 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:

9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 2 municipalities (si, singular and plural)
provinces: Chagang-do (Chagang), Hamgyong-bukto (North Hamgyong), Hamgyong-namdo (South Hamgyong), Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae), Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae), Kangwon-do (Kangwon), P’yongan-bukto (North P’yongan), P’yongan-namdo (South P’yongan), Yanggang-do (Yanggang)
municipalities: Nason-si, P’yongyang-si (Pyongyang)
Independence:

15 August 1945 (from Japan)
National holiday:

Founding of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), 9 September (1948)
Constitution:

adopted 1948; revised several times most recently in 2009
Legal system:

civil law system based on the Prussian model; system influenced by Japanese traditions and Communist legal theory
International law organization participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage:

17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:

chief of state: KIM Jong Il (since July 1994); note – on 9 April 2009, rubberstamp Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) reelected KIM Jong Il chairman of the National Defense Commission, a position accorded nation’s “highest administrative authority”; SPA reelected KIM Yong Nam in 2009 president of its Presidium also with responsibility of representing state and receiving diplomatic credentials
head of government: Premier CHOE Yong Rim (since 7 June 2010); Vice Premier HAN Kwang Bok (since 7 June 2010), Vice Premier JO Pyong Ju (since 7 June 2010), Vice Premier JON Ha Chol (since 7 June 2010), Vice Premier KANG Nung Su (since 7 June 2010), Vice Premier KIM Rak Hui (since 7 June 2010), Vice Premier PAK Su Gil (since 18 September 2009), Vice Premier RI Mu Yong (since 31 May 2011); Vice Premier RO Tu Chol (since 3 September 2003)
cabinet: Naegak (cabinet) members, except for Minister of People’s Armed Forces, are appointed by SPA
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: last election held in September 2003; date of next election NA
election results: KIM Jong Il and KIM Yong Nam were only nominees for positions and ran unopposed
Legislative branch:

unicameral Supreme People’s Assembly or Ch’oego Inmin Hoeui (687 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 8 March 2009 (next to be held in March 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party – NA; seats by party – NA; ruling party approves a list of candidates who are elected without opposition; a token number of seats are reserved for minor parties
Judicial branch:

Central Court (judges are elected by the Supreme People’s Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:

major party – Korean Workers’ Party or KWP [KIM Jong Il]; minor parties – Chondoist Chongu Party [RYU Mi Yong] (under KWP control), Social Democratic Party [KIM Yong Dae] (under KWP control)
Political pressure groups and leaders:

none
International organization participation:

ARF, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:

none; North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:

none; note – Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang represents the US as consular protecting power
Flag description:

three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the red band is a white disk with a red five-pointed star; the broad red band symbolizes revolutionary traditions; the narrow white bands stands for purity, strength, and dignity; the blue bands signify sovereignty, peace, and friendship; the red star represents socialism
National symbol(s):

red star
National anthem:

name: “Aegukka” (Patriotic Song)
lyrics/music: PAK Se Yong/KIM Won Gyun
note: adopted 1947; both North Korea and South Korea’s anthems share the same name and have a vaguely similar melody but have different lyrics; the North Korean anthem is also known as “Ach’imun pinnara” (Let Morning Shine)

Economy ::KOREA, NORTH
Economy – overview:

North Korea, one of the world’s most centrally directed and least open economies, faces chronic economic problems. Industrial capital stock is nearly beyond repair as a result of years of underinvestment, shortages of spare parts, and poor maintenance. Large-scale military spending draws off resources needed for investment and civilian consumption. Industrial and power output have stagnated for years at a fraction of pre-1990 levels. Frequent weather-related crop failures aggravated chronic food shortages caused by on-going systemic problems, including a lack of arable land, collective farming practices, poor soil quality, insufficient fertilization, and persistent shortages of tractors and fuel. Large-scale international food aid deliveries have allowed the people of North Korea to escape widespread starvation since famine threatened in 1995, but the population continues to suffer from prolonged malnutrition and poor living conditions. Since 2002, the government has allowed private “farmers’ markets” to begin selling a wider range of goods. It also permitted some private farming – on an experimental basis – in an effort to boost agricultural output. In October 2005, the government tried to reverse some of these policies by forbidding private sales of grains and reinstituting a centralized food rationing system. By December 2005, the government terminated most international humanitarian assistance operations in North Korea (calling instead for developmental assistance only) and restricted the activities of remaining international and non-governmental aid organizations. In mid-2008, North Korea began receiving food aid under a US program to deliver 500,000 metric tons of food via the World Food Program and US nongovernmental organizations; but Pyongyang stopped accepting the aid in March 2009. In December 2009, North Korea carried out a redenomination of its currency, capping the amount of North Korean won that could be exchanged for the new notes, and limiting the exchange to a one-week window. A concurrent crackdown on markets and foreign currency use yielded severe shortages and inflation, forcing Pyongyang to ease the restrictions by February 2010. In response to the sinking of the South Korean destroyer Cheonan and the shelling of Yeonpyong Island, South Korea’s government cut off most aid, trade, and bilateral cooperation activities, with the exception of operations at the Kaesong Industrial Complex. The year 2012 will be the 100th anniversary of Kim Il-sung’s birthday. The North Korean government often highlights its 2012 goal of becoming a “strong and prosperous” nation. Attracting foreign investment, especially from neighboring China, will be a key factor for improving the overall standard of living. Nevertheless, firm political control remains the government’s overriding concern, which likely will inhibit changes to North Korea’s current economic system.
GDP (purchasing power parity):

$40 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
$40 billion (2009 est.)
$40 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars;
North Korea does not publish reliable National Income Accounts data; the data shown here are derived from purchasing power parity (PPP) GDP estimates for North Korea that were made by Angus MADDISON in a study conducted for the OECD; his figure for 1999 was extrapolated to 2009 using estimated real growth rates for North Korea’s GDP and an inflation factor based on the US GDP deflator; the results were rounded to the nearest $10 billion.
GDP (official exchange rate):

$28 billion (2009 est.)
GDP – real growth rate:

-0.9% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
3.7% (2008 est.)
GDP – per capita (PPP):

$1,800 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
$1,800 (2009 est.)
$1,900 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP – composition by sector:

agriculture: 20.7%
industry: 47.8%
services: 31.5% (2010 est.)
Labor force:

12.2 million
country comparison to the world: 41
note: estimates vary widely (2009 est.)
Labor force – by occupation:

agriculture: 35%
industry and services: 65% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:

NA%
Population below poverty line:

NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:

revenues: $3.2 billion
expenditures: $3.3 billion (2007 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:

11.4% of GDP
country comparison to the world: 201
note: excludes earnings from state operated enterprises (2007 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):

-0.4% of GDP (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Inflation rate (consumer prices):

NA%
Agriculture – products:

rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; cattle, pigs, pork, eggs
Industries:

military products; machine building, electric power, chemicals; mining (coal, iron ore, limestone, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and precious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food processing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:

NA%
Electricity – production:

22.52 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Electricity – consumption:

18.85 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Electricity – exports:

0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity – imports:

0 kWh (2009 est.)
Oil – production:

118 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Oil – consumption:

13,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Oil – exports:

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Oil – imports:

15,810 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Oil – proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Natural gas – production:

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Natural gas – consumption:

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Natural gas – exports:

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Natural gas – imports:

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Natural gas – proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Exports:

$1.997 billion (2009)
country comparison to the world: 135
$2.062 billion (2008)
Exports – commodities:

minerals, metallurgical products, manufactures (including armaments), textiles, agricultural and fishery products
Exports – partners:

China 50.3%, Brazil 5.7%, Lebanon 4.7%, Dominican Republic 4.2%, Netherlands 4.1% (2010)
Imports:

$3.096 billion (2009)
country comparison to the world: 138
$3.574 billion (2008)
Imports – commodities:

petroleum, coking coal, machinery and equipment, textiles, grain
Imports – partners:

China 40.6%, Algeria 34.2%, India 8.9% (2010)
Debt – external:

$12.5 billion (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Stock of direct foreign investment – at home:

$1.437 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
$1.475 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:

North Korean won (KPW) per US dollar (market rate)
1,800 (December 2010)
3,630 (December 2008)
140 (2007)
141 (2006)

Communications ::KOREA, NORTH
Telephones – main lines in use:

1.18 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 71
Telephones – mobile cellular:

431,900 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 167
Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate system; nationwide fiber-optic network; mobile-cellular service expanding beyond Pyongyang
domestic: fiber-optic links installed down to the county level; telephone directories unavailable; GSM mobile-cellular service initiated in 2002 but suspended in 2004; Orascom Telecom Holding, an Egyptian company, launched W-CDMA mobile service on December 15, 2008 for the Pyongyang area and has expanded service to several large cities
international: country code – 850; satellite earth stations – 2 (1 Intelsat – Indian Ocean, 1 Russian – Indian Ocean region); other international connections through Moscow and Beijing (2009)
Broadcast media:

no independent media; radios and televisions are pre-tuned to government stations; 4 government-owned television stations; the Korean Workers’ Party owns and operates the Korean Central Broadcasting Station, and the state-run Voice of Korea operates an external broadcast service; the government prohibits listening to and jams foreign broadcasts (2008)
Internet country code:

.kp
Internet hosts:

3 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 230

Transportation ::KOREA, NORTH
Airports:

79 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 70
Airports – with paved runways:

total: 37
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 23
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 4 (2010)
Airports – with unpaved runways:

total: 42
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 8 (2010)
Heliports:

22 (2010)
Pipelines:

oil 154 km (2010)
Railways:

total: 5,242 km
country comparison to the world: 33
standard gauge: 5,242 km 1.435-m gauge (3,500 km electrified) (2009)
Roadways:

total: 25,554 km
country comparison to the world: 104
paved: 724 km
unpaved: 24,830 km (2006)
Waterways:

2,250 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 38
Merchant marine:

total: 158
country comparison to the world: 42
by type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 129, carrier 1, container 3, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 19 (Belgium 1, China 1, Nigeria 1, Romania 1, Singapore 2, South Korea 1, Syria 6, UAE 6)
registered in other countries: 5 (Mongolia 1, Sierra Leone 1, unknown 3) (2010)
Ports and terminals:

Ch’ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung), Namp’o, Senbong, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Wonsan

Military ::KOREA, NORTH
Military branches:

North Korean People’s Army: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force; civil security forces (2005)
Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age (2004)
Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 6,515,279
females age 16-49: 6,418,693 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 4,836,567
females age 16-49: 5,230,137 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 207,737
female: 204,553 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:

NA

Transnational Issues ::KOREA, NORTH
Disputes – international:

risking arrest, imprisonment, and deportation, tens of thousands of North Koreans cross into China to escape famine, economic privation, and political oppression; North Korea and China dispute the sovereignty of certain islands in Yalu and Tumen rivers; Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic incidents in the Yellow Sea with South Korea which claims the Northern Limiting Line as a maritime boundary; North Korea supports South Korea in rejecting Japan’s claim to Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima)
Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: undetermined (flooding in mid-2007 and famine during mid-1990s) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:

current situation: North Korea is a source country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation; the most common form of trafficking involves North Korean women and girls who cross the border into China voluntarily; additionally, North Korean women and girls are lured out of North Korea to escape poor social and economic conditions by the promise of food, jobs, and freedom, only to be forced into prostitution, marriage, or exploitative labor arrangements once in China; within the country, North Koreans do not have a choice in the work the government assigns them and are not free to change jobs at will
tier rating: Tier 3 – North Korea does not fully comply with minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government does not acknowledge the existence of human rights abuses in the country or recognize trafficking, either within the country or transnationally (2011)
Illicit drugs:

for years, from the 1970s into the 2000s, citizens of the Democratic People’s Republic of (North) Korea (DPRK), many of them diplomatic employees of the government, were apprehended abroad while trafficking in narcotics, including two in Turkey in December 2004; police investigations in Taiwan and Japan in recent years have linked North Korea to large illicit shipments of heroin and methamphetamine, including an attempt by the North Korean merchant ship Pong Su to deliver 150 kg of heroin to Australia in April 2003

Article Source: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kn.html

Background:

In 1951, the Nepali monarch ended the century-old system of rule by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system of government. Reforms in 1990 established a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. An insurgency led by Maoist extremists broke out in 1996. The ensuing ten-year civil war between insurgents and government forces witnessed the dissolution of the cabinet and parliament and assumption of absolute power by the king. Several weeks of mass protests in April 2006 were followed by several months of peace negotiations between the Maoists and government officials, and culminated in a November 2006 peace accord and the promulgation of an interim constitution. Following a nation-wide election in April 2008, the newly formed Constituent Assembly declared Nepal a federal democratic republic and abolished the monarchy at its first meeting the following month. The Constituent Assembly elected the country’s first president in July. The Maoists, who received a plurality of votes in the Constituent Assembly election, formed a coalition government in August 2008, but resigned in May 2009 after the president overruled a decision to fire the chief of the army staff. The Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist-Leninist and the Nepali Congress party then formed a new coalition government with several smaller parties. The prime minister’s resignation in June 2010 ushered in seven months of political gridlock until Jhala Nath KHANAL was elected as replacement in February 2011. His pressing tasks are to conclude the drafting of a new constitution by the late May 2011 deadline and to determine the future of the former Maoist combatants.

Geography ::NEPAL
Location:

Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates:

28 00 N, 84 00 E
Map references:

Asia
Area:

total: 147,181 sq km
country comparison to the world: 94
land: 143,351 sq km
water: 3,830 sq km
Area – comparative:

slightly larger than Arkansas
Land boundaries:

total: 2,926 km
border countries: China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km
Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)
Climate:

varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south
Terrain:

Tarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north
Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m
highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m
Natural resources:

quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
Land use:

arable land: 16.07%
permanent crops: 0.85%
other: 83.08% (2005)
Irrigated land:

11,680 sq km (2008)
Total renewable water resources:

210.2 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 10.18 cu km/yr (3%/1%/96%)
per capita: 375 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:

severe thunderstorms; flooding; landslides; drought and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons
Environment – current issues:

deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions
Environment – international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography – note:

landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains eight of world’s 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga – the world’s tallest and third tallest – on the borders with China and India respectively

People and Society ::NEPAL
Nationality:

noun: Nepali (singular and plural)
adjective: Nepali
Ethnic groups:

Chhettri 15.5%, Brahman-Hill 12.5%, Magar 7%, Tharu 6.6%, Tamang 5.5%, Newar 5.4%, Muslim 4.2%, Kami 3.9%, Yadav 3.9%, other 32.7%, unspecified 2.8% (2001 census)
Languages:

Nepali (official) 47.8%, Maithali 12.1%, Bhojpuri 7.4%, Tharu (Dagaura/Rana) 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.6%, Magar 3.3%, Awadhi 2.4%, other 10%, unspecified 2.5% (2001 census)
note: many in government and business also speak English (2001 est.)
Religions:

Hindu 80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)
Population:

29,391,883 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Age structure:

0-14 years: 34.6% (male 5,177,264/female 4,983,864)
15-64 years: 61.1% (male 8,607,338/female 9,344,537)
65 years and over: 4.4% (male 597,628/female 681,252) (2011 est.)
Median age:

total: 21.6 years
male: 20.7 years
female: 22.5 years (2011 est.)
Population growth rate:

1.596% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Birth rate:

22.17 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Death rate:

6.81 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Net migration rate:

0.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Urbanization:

urban population: 19% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 4.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major cities – population:

KATHMANDU (capital) 990,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:

380 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 38
Infant mortality rate:

total: 44.54 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 55
male: 44.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 44.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 66.16 years
country comparison to the world: 163
male: 64.94 years
female: 67.44 years (2011 est.)
Total fertility rate:

2.47 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Health expenditures:

5.8% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 116
Physicians density:

0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2004)
country comparison to the world: 150
Hospital bed density:

5 beds/1,000 population (2006)
country comparison to the world: 39
Drinking water source:

improved:
urban: 93% of population
rural: 87% of population
total: 88% of population
unimproved:
urban: 7% of population
rural: 13% of population
total: 12% of population (2008)
Sanitation facility access:

improved:
urban: 51% of population
rural: 27% of population
total: 31% of population
unimproved:
urban: 49% of population
rural: 73% of population
total: 69% of population (2008)
HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate:

0.4% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS:

64,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
HIV/AIDS – deaths:

4,700 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: Japanese encephalitis, malaria, and dengue fever (2009)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:

38.8% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 7
Education expenditures:

4.6% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 79
Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 48.6%
male: 62.7%
female: 34.9% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 8 years (2003)

Government ::NEPAL
Country name:

conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
conventional short form: Nepal
local long form: Sanghiya Loktantrik Ganatantra Nepal
local short form: Nepal
Government type:

federal democratic republic
Capital:

name: Kathmandu
geographic coordinates: 27 43 N, 85 19 E
time difference: UTC+5.75 (10.75 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:

14 zones (anchal, singular and plural); Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi, Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti
Independence:

1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH)
National holiday:

Republic Day, 29 May; Democracy Day, 24 April
Constitution:

15 January 2007 (interim Constitution); note – in April 2008, a Constituent Assembly was elected to draft and promulgate a new constitution by May 2010, but the deadline has been extended
Legal system:

English common law and Hindu legal concepts
International law organization participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:

chief of state: President Ram Baran YADAV (since 23 July 2008); Vice President Paramananda JHA (since 23 July 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister Baburam BHATTARAI (since 29 August 2011); Deputy Prime Ministers Bijay Kumar GACHCHADAR (since 29 August 2011) and Narayan Kaji SHRESTHA
cabinet: cabinet was formed in May 2009 by a majority coalition made up of the Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist-Leninist, Nepali Congress, Madhesi People’s Rights Forum, Nepal-Democratic, and several smaller parties
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by Parliament; term extends until the new constitution is promulgated; election last held on 21 July 2008; date of next election NA
election results: Ram Baran YADAV elected president by the Constituent Assembly in a second round of voting on 21 July 2008; Ram Baran YADAV 308, Ram Jaja Prasad SINGH 282
Legislative branch:

unicameral Constituent Assembly (601 seats; 240 members elected by direct popular vote, 335 by proportional representation, and 26 appointed by the Cabinet (Council of Ministers))
elections: last held on 10 April 2008 (next to be held NA)
election results: percent of vote by party – CPN-M 38%, NC 19%, CPN-UML 18%,Madhesi People’s Right Forum 9%, other 11%; seats by party – CPN-M 229, NC 115, CPN-UML 108, Madhesi People’s Rights Forum 54, Terai Madhes Democratic Party 21, other smaller parties 74; note – 26 seats filled by the new Cabinet are included in the totals above
Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Sarbochha Adalat (the president appoints the chief justice on recommendation of the Constitutional Council; the chief justice appoints other judges on the recommendation of the Judicial Council)
Political parties and leaders:

Chure Bhawar Rastriya Ekata Party [Keshav Prasad MAINALI]; Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (inactive); Communist Party of Nepal-Marxist Leninist or CPN-ML [C.P. MAINALI]; Communist Party of Nepal-Unified [Raj Singh SHRIS]; Communist Party of Nepal-United [Chandra Dev JOSHI]; Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist or CPN-UML [Jhalanath KHANAL]; Dalit Janajati Party [Vishwendraman PASHWAN]; Federal Democratic National Forum; Madhesi People’s Rights Forum-Democratic [Bijay Kumar GACHHADAR]; Madhesi People’s Rights Forum-Nepal [Upendra YADAV]; Nepal Loktantrik Samajbadi Dal [Upendra GACHCHHADAR]; Nepal Pariwar Dal [Eknath DHAKAL]; Nepal Sadbhavana Party-Anandi Devi [Sarita GIRI]; Nepal Workers and Peasants Party or [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE]; Nepali Congress or NC [Sushil KOIRALA]; Nepali Janata Dal [Harish Chandra SHA]; Newa Rastriya Party [Keshav Man SHAKYA]; Rastriya Janamorcha [Chitra Bahadur K.C.]; Rastriya Janamukti Party [Malwar Singh THAPA]; Rastriya Janashakti Party or RJP [Surya Bahadur THAPA]; Rastriya Prajantantra Party [Pashupati Shumsher RANA]; Rastriya Prajantantra Party Nepal [Kamal THAPA]; Sadbhavana Party [Rajendra MAHATO]; Samajbadi Prajatantrik Janata Party Nepal [Prem Bahadur SINGH]; Terai Madhes Democratic Party [Mahantha THAKUR]; Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) [Pushpa Kamal DAHAL, also known as PRACHANDA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: several small armed Madhesi groups along the southern border with India; a variety of groups advocating regional autonomy for individual ethnic groups
International organization participation:

ADB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Shankar Prasad SHARMA
chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 667-4550
FAX: [1] (202) 667-5534
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Scott H. DELISI
embassy: Maharajgunj, Kathmandu
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [977] (1) 400-7200
FAX: [977] (1) 400-7272
Flag description:

red with a blue border around the unique shape of two overlapping right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylized moon and the larger, lower triangle displays a white 12-pointed sun; the color red represents the rhododendron (Nepal’s national flower) and is a sign of victory and bravery, the blue border signifies peace and harmony; the two right triangles are a combination of two single pennons (pennants) that originally symbolized the Himalaya Mountains while their charges represented the families of the king (upper) and the prime minister, but today they are understood to denote Hinduism and Buddhism, the country’s two main religions; the moon represents the serenity of the Nepalese people and the shade and cool weather in the Himalayas, while the sun depicts the heat and higher temperatures of the lower parts of Nepal; the moon and the sun are also said to express the hope that the nation will endure as long as these heavenly bodies
note: Nepal is the only country in the world whose flag is not rectangular or square
National symbol(s):

rhododendron blossom
National anthem:

name: “Sayaun Thunga Phool Ka” (Hundreds of Flowers)
lyrics/music: Pradeep Kumar RAI/Ambar GURUNG
note: adopted 2007; after the abolition of the monarchy in 2006, a new anthem was required because of the previous anthem’s praise for the king

Economy ::NEPAL
Economy – overview:

Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world, with almost one-quarter of its population living below the poverty line. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for three-fourths of the population and accounting for about one-third of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural products, including pulses, jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. Nepal has considerable scope for exploiting its potential in hydropower, with an estimated 42,000 MW of feasible capacity, but political instability hampers foreign investment. Additional challenges to Nepal’s growth include its landlocked geographic location, civil strife and labor unrest, and its susceptibility to natural disaster.
GDP (purchasing power parity):

$35.81 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
$34.25 billion (2009 est.)
$32.66 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):

$15.84 billion (2010 est.)
GDP – real growth rate:

4.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
4.9% (2009 est.)
6.1% (2008 est.)
GDP – per capita (PPP):

$1,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
$1,200 (2009 est.)
$1,200 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP – composition by sector:

agriculture: 32.8%
industry: 14.4%
services: 52.8% (2010 est.)
Labor force:

18 million
country comparison to the world: 32
note: severe lack of skilled labor (2009 est.)
Labor force – by occupation:

agriculture: 75%
industry: 7%
services: 18% (2010 est.)
Unemployment rate:

46% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
42% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:

24.7% (2008)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: 40.6% (2008)
Distribution of family income – Gini index:

47.2 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 30
36.7 (1996)
Investment (gross fixed):

3.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Budget:

revenues: $3 billion
expenditures: $4.6 billion (FY10)
Taxes and other revenues:

18.9% of GDP (FY10)
country comparison to the world: 163
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):

-10.1% of GDP (FY10)
country comparison to the world: 195
Inflation rate (consumer prices):

10% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
11.6% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:

6% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
6.5% (31 December 2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:

8% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
8% (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of narrow money:

$3.175 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
$2.587 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of broad money:

$10.34 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
$8.508 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:

$8.069 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
$6.695 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:

$4.843 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
$5.485 billion (31 December 2009)
$4.894 billion (31 December 2008)
Agriculture – products:

pulses, rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, jute, root crops; milk, water buffalo meat
Industries:

tourism, carpets, textiles; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarettes, cement and brick production
Industrial production growth rate:

1.8% (FY08)
country comparison to the world: 136
Electricity – production:

2.6 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Electricity – consumption:

2.525 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Electricity – exports:

0 kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity – imports:

70 million kWh (2008 est.)
Oil – production:

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Oil – consumption:

20,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Oil – exports:

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Oil – imports:

13,740 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Oil – proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Natural gas – production:

0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Natural gas – consumption:

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Natural gas – exports:

0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Natural gas – imports:

0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Natural gas – proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Current account balance:

-$449 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 108
-$227.4 million (2009)
Exports:

$901.9 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 155
$837.4 million (2008)
Exports – commodities:

clothing, pulses, carpets, textiles, juice, pashima, jute goods
Exports – partners:

India 61.7%, US 7.5%, Germany 4.6%, Bangladesh 4.1% (2010)
Imports:

$5.016 billion (2009)
country comparison to the world: 113
$4.266 billion (2009 est.)
Imports – commodities:

petroleum products, machinery and equipment, gold, electrical goods, medicine
Imports – partners:

India 56.2%, China 22.5% (2010)
Debt – external:

$4.5 billion (2009)
country comparison to the world: 117
$3.285 billion (2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment – at home:

$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad:

$NA
Exchange rates:

Nepalese rupees (NPR) per US dollar -
72.56 (2010)
77.44 (2009)
65.21 (2008)
70.35 (2007)
72.446 (2006)

Communications ::NEPAL
Telephones – main lines in use:

841,700 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 87
Telephones – mobile cellular:

9.196 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 74
Telephone system:

general assessment: poor telephone and telegraph service; fair radiotelephone communication service and mobile-cellular telephone network
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone service subscribership base only about 30 per 100 persons
international: country code – 977; radiotelephone communications; microwave landline to India; satellite earth station – 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2008)
Broadcast media:

state operates 2 television stations as well as national and regional radio stations; more than 60 independent radio stations and a small number of independent television stations (2007)
Internet country code:

.np
Internet hosts:

43,928 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 91
Internet users:

577,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 116

Transportation ::NEPAL
Airports:

47 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 93
Airports – with paved runways:

total: 11
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports – with unpaved runways:

total: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 31 (2010)
Railways:

total: 59 km
country comparison to the world: 130
narrow gauge: 59 km 0.762-m gauge (2010)
Roadways:

total: 17,282 km
country comparison to the world: 118
paved: 10,142 km
unpaved: 7,140 km (2007)

Military ::NEPAL
Military branches:

Nepal Army (2010)
Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of age for military training; no conscription (2011)
Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 6,941,152
females age 16-49: 7,618,397 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 5,260,878
females age 16-49: 5,947,512 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 380,172
female: 367,103 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:

1.6% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 92

Transnational Issues ::NEPAL
Disputes – international:

joint border commission continues to work on contested sections of boundary with India, including the 400 square kilometer dispute over the source of the Kalapani River; India has instituted a stricter border regime to restrict transit of Maoist insurgents and illegal cross-border activities; approximately 106,000 Bhutanese Lhotshampas (Hindus) have been confined in refugee camps in southeastern Nepal since 1990
Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 107,803 (Bhutan); 20,153 (Tibet/China)

IDPs: 50,000-70,000 (remaining from ten-year Maoist insurgency that officially ended in 2006; displacement spread across the country) (2007)
Illicit drugs:

illicit producer of cannabis and hashish for the domestic and international drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast Asia to the West

Article Source: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/np.html

Background:

The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under Chinggis KHAAN they established a huge Eurasian empire through conquest. After his death the empire was divided into several powerful Mongol states, but these broke apart in the 14th century. The Mongols eventually retired to their original steppe homelands and in the late 17th century came under Chinese rule. Mongolia won its independence in 1921 with Soviet backing and a Communist regime was installed in 1924. The modern country of Mongolia, however, represents only part of the Mongols’ historical homeland; more ethnic Mongolians live in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the People’s Republic of China than in Mongolia. Following a peaceful democratic revolution, the ex-Communist Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party (MPRP) won elections in 1990 and 1992, but was defeated by the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) in the 1996 parliamentary election. The MPRP won an overwhelming majority in the 2000 parliamentary election, but the party lost seats in the 2004 election and shared power with democratic coalition parties from 2004-08. The MPRP regained a solid majority in the 2008 parliamentary elections but nevertheless formed a coalition government with the Democratic Party. In 2010 the MPRP voted to retake the name of the Mongolian People’s Party (MPP), a name it used in the early 1920s. The prime minister and most cabinet members are MPP members.

Geography ::MONGOLIA
Location:

Northern Asia, between China and Russia
Geographic coordinates:

46 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references:

Asia
Area:

total: 1,564,116 sq km
country comparison to the world: 19
land: 1,553,556 sq km
water: 10,560 sq km
Area – comparative:

slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries:

total: 8,220 km
border countries: China 4,677 km, Russia 3,543 km
Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)
Climate:

desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)
Terrain:

vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central
Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Hoh Nuur 560 m
highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten Orgil) 4,374 m
Natural resources:

oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron
Land use:

arable land: 0.76%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.24% (2005)
Irrigated land:

840 sq km (2008)
Total renewable water resources:

34.8 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.44 cu km/yr (20%/27%/52%)
per capita: 166 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:

dust storms; grassland and forest fires; drought; “zud,” which is harsh winter conditions
Environment – current issues:

limited natural freshwater resources in some areas; the policies of former Communist regimes promoted rapid urbanization and industrial growth that had negative effects on the environment; the burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of environmental laws severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar; deforestation, overgrazing, and the converting of virgin land to agricultural production increased soil erosion from wind and rain; desertification and mining activities had a deleterious effect on the environment
Environment – international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography – note:

landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

People and Society ::MONGOLIA
Nationality:

noun: Mongolian(s)
adjective: Mongolian
Ethnic groups:

Mongol (mostly Khalkha) 94.9%, Turkic (mostly Kazakh) 5%, other (including Chinese and Russian) 0.1% (2000)
Languages:

Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999)
Religions:

Buddhist Lamaist 50%, Shamanist and Christian 6%, Muslim 4%, none 40% (2004)
Population:

3,133,318 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Age structure:

0-14 years: 27.3% (male 437,241/female 419,693)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 1,074,949/female 1,076,455)
65 years and over: 4% (male 54,415/female 70,565) (2011 est.)
Median age:

total: 26.2 years
male: 25.8 years
female: 26.6 years (2011 est.)
Population growth rate:

1.489% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Birth rate:

20.93 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Death rate:

6.04 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Urbanization:

urban population: 62% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 1.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major cities – population:

ULAANBAATAR (capital) 949,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:

65 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 87
Infant mortality rate:

total: 37.26 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 67
male: 40.26 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 34.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 68.31 years
country comparison to the world: 153
male: 65.85 years
female: 70.89 years (2011 est.)
Total fertility rate:

2.21 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Health expenditures:

9.3% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 39
Physicians density:

2.763 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 45
Hospital bed density:

5.89 beds/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 27
Drinking water source:

improved:
urban: 97% of population
rural: 49% of population
total: 76% of population
unimproved:
urban: 3% of population
rural: 51% of population
total: 24% of population (2008)
Sanitation facility access:

improved:
urban: 64% of population
rural: 32% of population
total: 50% of population
unimproved:
urban: 46% of population
rural: 68% of population
total: 50% of population (2008)
HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS:

fewer than 500 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
HIV/AIDS – deaths:

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Obesity – adult prevalence rate:

9.8% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 57
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:

5.3% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 83
Education expenditures:

5.6% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 39
Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8%
male: 98%
female: 97.5% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 15 years (2009)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:

total: 20%
country comparison to the world: 58
male: 19.5%
female: 20.7% (2003)

Government ::MONGOLIA
Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Mongolia
local long form: none
local short form: Mongol Uls
former: Outer Mongolia
Government type:

parliamentary
Capital:

name: Ulaanbaatar
geographic coordinates: 47 55 N, 106 55 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:

21 provinces (aymguud, singular – aymag) and 1 municipality* (singular – hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan, Darhan-Uul, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan (Zavkhan), Govi-Altay, Govisumber, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Orhon, Ovorhangay, Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs
Independence:

11 July 1921 (from China)
National holiday:

Independence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)
Constitution:

13 January 1992
Legal system:

civil law system influenced by Soviet and Romano-Germanic legal systems; constitution ambiguous on judicial review of legislative acts
International law organization participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:

chief of state: President Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ (since 18 June 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Sukhbaatar BATBOLD (since 29 October 2009); First Deputy Prime Minister (Norov ALTANKHUYAG (since 20 September 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Miegombyn ENKHBOLD (since 6 December 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister in consultation with the president and confirmed by the State Great Hural (parliament)
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: presidential candidates nominated by political parties represented in State Great Hural and elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 24 May 2009 (next to be held by May 2013); following legislative elections, leader of majority party or majority coalition usually elected prime minister by State Great Hural
election results: in elections in May 2009, Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ elected president; percent of vote – Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ 51.2%, Nambar ENKHBAYAR 47.4%, others 1.3%
Legislative branch:

unicameral State Great Hural 76 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms
elections: last held on 29 June 2008 (next to be held in June 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party – NA; seats by party – MPP 46, DP 27, others 3
Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (serves as appeals court for people’s and provincial courts but rarely overturns verdicts of lower courts; judges are nominated by the General Council of Courts and approved by the president)
Political parties and leaders:

Civil Will-Green Party or CWGP [Dangaasuren EHKHBAT]; Democratic Party or DP [Norov ALTANHUYAG]; Mongolian People’s Party or MPP [Sukhbaatar BATBOLD]; Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party or MPRP [Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR]
Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: human rights groups; women’s groups
International organization participation:

ADB, ARF, CD, CICA, CP, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SCO (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Khasbazar BEKHBAT
chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117
FAX: [1] (202) 298-9227
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jonathan ADDLETON
embassy: Big Ring Road, 11th Micro Region, Ulaanbaatar, 14171 Mongolia
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002; P.O. Box 1021, Ulaanbaatar-13
telephone: [976] (11) 329-095
FAX: [976] (11) 320-776
Flag description:

three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red; centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is the national emblem (“soyombo” – a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric representation for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang symbol); blue represents the sky, red symbolizes progress and prosperity
National symbol(s):

soyombo emblem
National anthem:

name: “Mongol ulsyn toriin duulal” (National Anthem of Mongolia)
lyrics/music: Tsendiin DAMDINSUREN/Bilegiin DAMDINSUREN and Luvsanjamts MURJORJ
note: music adopted 1950, lyrics adopted 2006; the anthem’s lyrics have been altered on numerous occasions

Economy ::MONGOLIA
Economy – overview:

Economic activity in Mongolia has traditionally been based on herding and agriculture – Mongolia’s extensive mineral deposits, however, have attracted foreign investors. The country holds copper, gold, coal, molybdenum, fluorspar, uranium, tin, and tungsten deposits, which account for a large part of foreign direct investment and government revenues. Soviet assistance, at its height one-third of GDP, disappeared almost overnight in 1990 and 1991 at the time of the dismantlement of the USSR. The following decade saw Mongolia endure both deep recession, because of political inaction and natural disasters, as well as economic growth, because of reform-embracing, free-market economics and extensive privatization of the formerly state-run economy. Severe winters and summer droughts in 2000-02 resulted in massive livestock die-off and zero or negative GDP growth. This was compounded by falling prices for Mongolia’s primary sector exports and widespread opposition to privatization. Growth averaged nearly 9% per year in 2004-08 largely because of high copper prices and new gold production. In 2008 Mongolia experienced a soaring inflation rate with year-to-year inflation reaching nearly 30% – the highest inflation rate in over a decade. By late 2008, as the country began to feel the effects of the global financial crisis, falling commodity prices helped lower inflation, but also reduced government revenues and forced cuts in spending. In early 2009, the International Monetary Fund reached a $236 million Stand-by Arrangement with Mongolia and the country has started to move out of the crisis. Although the banking sector remains unstable, the government is now enforcing stricter supervision regulations. In October 2009, the government passed long-awaited legislation on an investment agreement to develop Mongolia’s Oyu Tolgoi mine, considered to be one of the world’s largest untapped copper deposits. The economy grew 6.1% in 2010, largely on the strength of exports to nearby countries, and international reserves reached $1.6 billion in September, an all time high for Mongolia. Mongolia’s economy continues to be heavily influenced by its neighbors. Mongolia purchases 95% of its petroleum products and a substantial amount of electric power from Russia, leaving it vulnerable to price increases. Trade with China represents more than half of Mongolia’s total external trade – China receives more than three-fourths of Mongolia’s exports. Remittances from Mongolians working abroad are sizable, but have fallen due to the economic crisis; money laundering is a growing concern. Mongolia joined the World Trade Organization in 1997 and seeks to expand its participation in regional economic and trade regimes.
GDP (purchasing power parity):

$11.02 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
$10.38 billion (2009 est.)
$10.51 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):

$6.125 billion (2010 est.)
GDP – real growth rate:

6.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
-1.3% (2009 est.)
8.9% (2008 est.)
GDP – per capita (PPP):

$3,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
$3,400 (2009 est.)
$3,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP – composition by sector:

agriculture: 19.7%
industry: 35.1%
services: 45.2% (2010 est.)
Labor force:

1.068 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 140
Labor force – by occupation:

agriculture: 34%
industry: 5%
services: 61% (2008)
Unemployment rate:

11.5% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 123
2.8% (2008)
Population below poverty line:

36.1% (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 28.4% (2008)
Distribution of family income – Gini index:

36.5 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 85
32.8 (2002)
Investment (gross fixed):

36.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Budget:

revenues: $2.205 billion
expenditures: $2.089 billion (2010 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:

36% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):

1.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Inflation rate (consumer prices):

10.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
6.3% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:

10.99% (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 26
10.82% (31 December 2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:

17.9% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
20.8% (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of narrow money:

$921.3 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
$451.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of broad money:

$3.821 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
$2.047 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:

$1.973 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
$1.375 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:

$1.093 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 110
$430.2 million (31 December 2009)
$407 million (31 December 2008)
Agriculture – products:

wheat, barley, vegetables, forage crops; sheep, goats, cattle, camels, horses
Industries:

construction and construction materials; mining (coal, copper, molybdenum, fluorspar, tin, tungsten, and gold); oil; food and beverages; processing of animal products, cashmere and natural fiber manufacturing
Industrial production growth rate:

3% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Electricity – production:

3.896 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Electricity – consumption:

3.023 billion kWh (2010)
country comparison to the world: 128
Electricity – exports:

20.7 million kWh (2010)
Electricity – imports:

214.1 million kWh (2010)
Oil – production:

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Oil – consumption:

17,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Oil – exports:

5,834 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Oil – imports:

15,730 bbl/day (2010)
country comparison to the world: 126
Oil – proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Natural gas – production:

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Natural gas – consumption:

0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Natural gas – exports:

0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Natural gas – imports:

11,790 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Natural gas – proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Current account balance:

-$378.8 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
-$341.8 million (2009 est.)
Exports:

$2.899 billion (2010)
country comparison to the world: 123
$1.885 billion (2009 est.)
Exports – commodities:

copper, apparel, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals, coal
Exports – partners:

China 84.8%, Canada 3.6%, Russia 2.7% (2010 est.)
Imports:

$3.3 billion (2010)
country comparison to the world: 135
$2.074 billion (2009 est.)
Imports – commodities:

machinery and equipment, fuel, cars, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea
Imports – partners:

Russia 33.2%, China 30.5%, Japan 6%, South Korea 5.5% (2010 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.288 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
$1.327 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt – external:

$1.86 billion (2009)
country comparison to the world: 141
$1.6 billion (2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment – at home:

$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad:

$NA
Exchange rates:

togrog/tugriks (MNT) per US dollar -
1,357.5 (2010)
1,442.8 (2009)
1,170 (2007)
1,165 (2006)

Communications ::MONGOLIA
Telephones – main lines in use:

193,200 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 128
Telephones – mobile cellular:

2.51 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 128
Telephone system:

general assessment: network is improving with international direct dialing available in many areas; a fiber-optic network has been installed that is improving broadband and communication services between major urban centers with multiple companies providing inter-city fiber-optic cable services
domestic: very low fixed-line teledensity; there are multiple mobile- cellular providers and subscribership is increasing rapidly;
international: country code – 976; satellite earth stations – 7
Broadcast media:

following a law passed in 2005, Mongolia’s state-run radio and TV provider converted to a public service provider; also available are private radio and TV broadcasters, as well as multi-channel satellite and cable TV providers; more than 100 radio stations, including some 20 via repeaters for the public broadcaster; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2008)
Internet country code:

.mn
Internet hosts:

7,942 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 134
Internet users:

330,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 125

Transportation ::MONGOLIA
Airports:

46 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 95
Airports – with paved runways:

total: 14
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2010)
Airports – with unpaved runways:

total: 32
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Heliports:

1 (2010)
Railways:

total: 1,908 km
country comparison to the world: 74
broad gauge: 1,908 km 1.520-m gauge
note: the railway is 50 percent owned by the Russian State Railway (2010)
Roadways:

total: 49,249 km
country comparison to the world: 81
paved: 3,015 km
unpaved: 46,234 km (2010)
Waterways:

580 km (the only waterway in operation is Lake Hovsgol (135 km); Selenge River (270 km) and Orhon River (175 km) are navigable but carry little traffic; lakes and rivers freeze in winter, they are open from May to September) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 82
Merchant marine:

total: 58
country comparison to the world: 67
by type: bulk carrier 20, cargo 29, chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 1, roll on/roll off 3, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 44 (Indonesia 2, North Korea 1, Russia 4, Singapore 1, Turkey 1, Ukraine 1, Vietnam 34) (2010)

Military ::MONGOLIA
Military branches:

Mongolian Armed Forces: Mongolian Army, Mongolian Air Force; there is no navy (2010)
Military service age and obligation:

18-25 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation – 12 months in land or air defense forces or police; a small portion of Mongolian land forces (2.5 percent) is comprised of contract soldiers; women cannot be deployed overseas for military operations (2006)
Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 898,546
females age 16-49: 891,192 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 726,199
females age 16-49: 756,628 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 30,829
female: 29,648 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:

1.4% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 106

Transnational Issues ::MONGOLIA
Disputes – international:

none

Article Source: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mg.html

Background:

Maldives was long a sultanate, first under Dutch and then under British protection. It became a republic in 1968, three years after independence. President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM dominated the islands’ political scene for 30 years, elected to six successive terms by single-party referendums. Following riots in the capital Male in August 2004, the president and his government pledged to embark upon democratic reforms including a more representative political system and expanded political freedoms. Progress was sluggish, however, and many promised reforms were slow to be realized. Nonetheless, political parties were legalized in 2005. In June 2008, a constituent assembly – termed the “Special Majlis” – finalized a new constitution, which was ratified by the president in August. The first-ever presidential elections under a multi-candidate, multi-party system were held in October 2008. GAYOOM was defeated in a runoff poll by Mohamed NASHEED, a political activist who had been jailed several years earlier by the former regime. Challenges facing President NASHEED include strengthening democracy and combating poverty and drug abuse. Maldives officials have played a prominent role in the international climate change discussion (due to the islands’ low elevation and the threat from sea-level rise) and on the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Location:

Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India
Geographic coordinates:

3 15 N, 73 00 E
Map references:

Asia
Area:

total: 298 sq km
country comparison to the world: 209
land: 298 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area – comparative:

about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:

0 km
Coastline:

644 km
Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:

tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
Terrain:

flat, with white sandy beaches
Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Viligili in the Addu Atholhu 2.4 m
Natural resources:

fish
Land use:

arable land: 13.33%
permanent crops: 30%
other: 56.67% (2005)
Irrigated land:

NA
Total renewable water resources:

0.03 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.003 cu km/yr (98%/2%/0%)
per capita: 9 cu m/yr (1987)
Natural hazards:

tsunamis; low elevation of islands makes them sensitive to sea level rise
Environment – current issues:

depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching
Environment – international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography – note:

1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); archipelago with strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean

Nationality:

noun: Maldivian(s)
adjective: Maldivian
Ethnic groups:

South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs
Languages:

Dhivehi (official, dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English (spoken by most government officials)
Religions:

Sunni Muslim (official)
Population:

394,999 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Age structure:

0-14 years: 21.5% (male 43,332/female 41,642)
15-64 years: 74.4% (male 177,365/female 116,552)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 7,888/female 8,220) (2011 est.)
Median age:

total: 26.2 years
male: 26.8 years
female: 25.2 years (2011 est.)
Population growth rate:

-0.151% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Birth rate:

14.83 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Death rate:

3.71 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Net migration rate:

-12.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
Urbanization:

urban population: 40% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major cities – population:

MALE (capital) 120,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.57 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female
total population: 1.4 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:

37 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 107
Infant mortality rate:

total: 27.45 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 75
male: 29.93 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 24.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.45 years
country comparison to the world: 100
male: 72.22 years
female: 76.8 years (2011 est.)
Total fertility rate:

1.81 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Health expenditures:

5.6% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 124
Physicians density:

1.595 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
country comparison to the world: 77
Hospital bed density:

2.6 beds/1,000 population (2005)
country comparison to the world: 86
Drinking water source:

improved:
urban: 99% of population
rural: 86% of population
total: 91% of population
unimproved:
urban: 1% of population
rural: 14% of population
total: 9% of population (2008)
Sanitation facility access:

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 96% of population
total: 98% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 4% of population
total: 2% of population (2008)
HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS:

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
HIV/AIDS – deaths:

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:

25.7% (2001)
country comparison to the world: 25
Education expenditures:

11.2% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 5
Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.8%
male: 93%
female: 94.7% (2006 Census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years
male: 13 years
female: 12 years (2006)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:

total: 22.2%
country comparison to the world: 42
male: 15.5%
female: 30.5% (2006)

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Maldives
conventional short form: Maldives
local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa
local short form: Dhivehi Raajje
Government type:

republic
Capital:

name: Male
geographic coordinates: 4 10 N, 73 30 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:

7 provinces and 1 municipality*; Dhekunu (South), Maale*, Mathi Dhekunu (Upper South), Mathi Uthuru (Upper North), Medhu (Central), Medhu Dhekunu (South Central), Medhu Uthuru (North Central), Uthuru (North)
Independence:

26 July 1965 (from the UK)
National holiday:

Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
Constitution:

new constitution ratified 7 August 2008
Legal system:

Islamic religious legal system with English common law influences, primarily in commercial matters
International law organization participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:

chief of state: President Mohamed “Anni” NASHEED (since 11 November 2008); Vice President Mohamed WAHEED Hassan Maniku (since 11 November 2008); note – the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Mohamed “Anni” NASHEED (since 11 November 2008); Vice President Mohamed WAHEED Hassan Maniku (since 11 November 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers is appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
elections: under the new constitution, the president elected by direct vote; president elected for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 8 and 28 October 2008 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: Mohamed NASHEED elected president; percent of vote – Mohamed NASHEED 54.3%, Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 45.7%
Legislative branch:

unicameral People’s Council or People’s Majlis (77 seats; members elected by direct vote to serve five-year terms); note – the Majlis in February 2009 passed legislation that increased the number of seats to 77 from 50
elections: last held on 9 May 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote – DRP 36.4%, MDP 33.8 %, PA 9.1%, DQP 2.6% Republican Party 1.2%, independents 16.9%; seats by party as of 23 February 2011 – DRP 27, MDP 33, PA 7, DQP 1, Republican Party 2, independents 7
Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Supreme Court judges are appointed by the president with approval of voting members of the People’s Council; High Court; Trial Courts; all lower court judges are appointed by the Judicial Service Commission
Political parties and leaders:

Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP [Shaykh Hussein RASHEED Ahmed]; Dhivehi Quamee Party or DQP [Hassan SAEED]; Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (Maldivian People’s Party) or DRP [THASMEEN Ali]; Gaumii Ithihaad (National Alliance) or GI [Mohamed WAHEED]; Islamic Democratic Party or IDP; Maldivian Democratic Party or MDP [Mariya Ahmed DIDI]; Maldives National Congress or MNC; Maldives Social Democratic Party or MSDP; People’s Alliance or PA [Abdullah YAMEEN]; People’s Party or PP; Poverty Alleviation Party or PAP; Republican (Jumhooree) Party or JP [Gasim IBRAHIM]; Social Liberal Party or SLP [Ibrahim ISMAIL]
Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: various unregistered political parties
International organization participation:

ADB, AOSIS, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Abdul GHAFOOR Mohamed
chancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400E, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 599-6195
FAX: [1] (212) 661-6405
Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Ambassador Patricia A. BUTENIS, is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits
Flag description:

red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical white crescent moon; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag; red recalls those who have sacrificed their lives in defense of their country, the green rectangle represents peace and prosperity, and the white crescent signifies Islam
National symbol(s):

crescent moon
National anthem:

name: “Gaumee Salaam” (National Salute)
lyrics/music: Mohamed Jameel DIDI/Wannakuwattawaduge DON AMARADEVA
note: lyrics adopted 1948, music adopted 1972; between 1948 and 1972, the lyrics were sung to the tune of “Auld Lang Syne”

Economy – overview:

Tourism, Maldives’ largest economic activity, accounts for 28% of GDP and more than 60% of foreign exchange receipts. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. Fishing is the second leading sector, but the fish catch has dropped sharply in recent years. Agriculture and manufacturing continue to play a lesser role in the economy, constrained by the limited availability of cultivable land and the shortage of domestic labor. Most staple foods must be imported. In the last decade, real GDP growth averaged around 6% per year except for 2005, when GDP declined following the Indian Ocean tsunami, and in 2009, when GDP shrank by 3% as tourist arrivals declined and capital flows plunged in the wake of the global financial crisis. Falling tourist arrivals and fish exports, combined with high government spending on social needs, subsidies, and civil servant salaries contributed to a balance of payments crisis, which was eased with a December 2009, $79.3 million dollar IMF standby agreement. However, after the first two disbursements, the IMF withheld subsequent disbursements due to concerns over Maldives’ growing budget deficit. Maldives has had chronic budget deficits in recent years and the government’s plans to cut expenditures have not progressed well. A new Goods and Services Tax on Tourism (GST) was introduced in January 2011 and a new Business Profit Tax is to be introduced during the year. These taxes are expected to increase government revenue by about 25%. The government has privatized the main airport and is partially privatizing the energy sector. Tourism will remain the engine of the economy. The Government of the Maldives has aggressively promoted building new island resorts. Due to increasing tourist arrivals, the government expects GDP growth around 4.0% in 2011. Diversifying the economy beyond tourism and fishing, reforming public finance, and increasing employment opportunities are major challenges facing the government. Over the longer term Maldivian authorities worry about the impact of erosion and possible global warming on their low-lying country; 80% of the area is 1 meter or less above sea level.
GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.734 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
$2.532 billion (2009 est.)
$2.658 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.87 billion (2010 est.)
GDP – real growth rate:

8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
-4.8% (2009 est.)
12.8% (2008 est.)
GDP – per capita (PPP):

$6,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
$6,400 (2009 est.)
$6,900 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP – composition by sector:

agriculture: 5.6%
industry: 16.9%
services: 77.5% (2009 est.)
Labor force:

110,000 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 181
Labor force – by occupation:

agriculture: 11%
industry: 23%
services: 65% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:

14.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
14.4% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:

16% (2008)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:

revenues: $476 million
expenditures: $758 million (2010 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:

25.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):

-15.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
7.3% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:

2.75% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
16% (31 December 2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:

10.38% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
13% (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of narrow money:

$588 million (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 158
$581 million (31 December 2009)
Stock of broad money:

$1.239 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
$1.064 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:

$1.548 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
$1.08 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA
Agriculture – products:

coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish
Industries:

tourism, fish processing, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining
Industrial production growth rate:

-0.9% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Electricity – production:

542 million kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Electricity – consumption:

542 million kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Electricity – exports:

0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity – imports:

0 kWh (2009 est.)
Oil – production:

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Oil – consumption:

6,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Oil – exports:

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Oil – imports:

6,088 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Oil – proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Natural gas – production:

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Natural gas – consumption:

0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Natural gas – exports:

0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Natural gas – imports:

0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Natural gas – proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Current account balance:

-$463 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
-$419 million (2009 est.)
Exports:

$163 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
$331 million (2008 est.)
Exports – commodities:

fish
Exports – partners:

Thailand 17.9%, Sri Lanka 16.9%, France 14.2%, UK 12.1%, Italy 9.2%, Tanzania 4.9% (2010)
Imports:

$967 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
$1.388 billion (2008 est.)
Imports – commodities:

petroleum products, ships, foodstuffs, clothing, intermediate and capital goods
Imports – partners:

Singapore 24.7%, UAE 17.2%, India 8.6%, Malaysia 8.1%, Sri Lanka 5.7%, Thailand 5.7%, China 5.6% (2010)
Debt – external:

$943 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
$933 million (2009 est.)
Exchange rates:

rufiyaa (MVR) per US dollar -
12.8 (2010)
12.8 (2008)
12.8 (2007)
12.8 (2006)

Telephones – main lines in use:

48,000 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 165
Telephones – mobile cellular:

494,400 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 164
Telephone system:

general assessment: telephone services have improved; interatoll communication through microwave links; all inhabited islands and resorts are connected with telephone and fax service
domestic: each island now has at least 1 public telephone, and there are mobile-cellular networks with a rapidly expanding subscribership that exceeds 100 per 100 persons
international: country code – 960; linked to international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); satellite earth station – 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:

state-owned radio and television monopoly until recently; state-owned TV operates 2 channels; 2 privately-owned TV stations; state owns Voice of Maldives and operates both an entertainment and a music-based station; there are 5 privately-owned radio broadcast stations operating (2009)
Internet country code:

.mv
Internet hosts:

2,164 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 153
Internet users:

86,400 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 163

Airports:

5 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 180
Airports – with paved runways:

total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Airports – with unpaved runways:

total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2010)
Roadways:

total: 88 km
country comparison to the world: 214
paved roads: 88 km – 60 km in Male; 14 km on Addu Atolis; 14 km on Laamu
note: village roads are mainly compacted coral (2006)
Merchant marine:

total: 24
country comparison to the world: 94
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 20, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2
registered in other countries: 4 (Panama 3, Tuvalu 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:

Male

Military branches:

Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF): Marine Corps, Security Protection Group, Coast Guard (2010)
Military service age and obligation:

18-28 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)
Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 156,319
females age 16-49: 98,815 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 135,374
females age 16-49: 85,181 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 4,167
female: 3,595 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:

5.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Military – note:

the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), with its small size and with little serviceable equipment, is inadequate to prevent external aggression and is primarily tasked to reinforce the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and ensure security in the exclusive economic zone (2008)

Disputes – international:

none
Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 1,000-10,000 (December 2004 tsunami victims) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:

current situation: The Maldives is primarily a destination country for migrant workers from Bangladesh and, to a lesser extent, India, some of whom are subjected to forced labor primarily in the construction and service sectors; some women and girls also are subjected to sex trafficking; some underage Maldivian children are transported to Male from other islands for forced domestic service, and a small number were reportedly sexually abused
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – the government has not demonstrated increased efforts to address human trafficking and lacks systematic procedures for identifying victims of trafficking among vulnerable populations, and it did not investigate or prosecute trafficking-related offenses or take concrete actions to protect trafficking victims and prevent trafficking; counter-trafficking efforts are impeded by the lack of understanding of the issue, a legal structure, and a legal definition of trafficking (2011)

Article Source: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mv.html