@Iraq, Geography

Location: 

Middle East, between Iran and Saudi Arabia

Map references: 

Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World 

Area: 

total area: 

437,072 sq km 

land area: 

432,162 sq km 

comparative area: 

slightly more than twice the size of Idaho

Land boundaries: 

total 3,631 km, Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait 242 km, Saudi

Arabia 814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 331 km 

Coastline: 

58 km 

Maritime claims: 

continental shelf: 

not specified

territorial sea: 

12 nm

International disputes: 

Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic relations in 1990 but are still

trying to work out written agreements settling outstanding disputes

from their eight-year war concerning border demarcation,

prisoners-of-war, and freedom of navigation and sovereignty over the

Shatt al Arab waterway; in April 1991 official Iraqi acceptance of UN

Security Council Resolution 687, which demands that Iraq accept the

inviolability of the boundary set forth in its 1963 agreement with

Kuwait, ending earlier claims to Bubiyan and Warbah islands or to all

of Kuwait; the 20 May 1993 final report of the UN Iraq/Kuwait Boundary

Demarcation Commission was welcomed by the Security Council in

Resolution 833 of 27 May 1993, which also reaffirmed that the

decisions of the commission on the boundary were final, bringing to a

completion the official demarcation of the Iraq-Kuwait boundary; Iraqi

officials still refuse to unconditionally recognize Kuwaiti

sovereignty or the inviolability of the UN demarcated border; periodic

disputes with upstream riparian Syria over Euphrates water rights;

potential dispute over water development plans by Turkey for the

Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

Climate: 

mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers;

northernmost regions along Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold

winters with occasionally heavy snows

Terrain: 

mostly broad plains; reedy marshes in southeast; mountains along

borders with Iran and Turkey

Natural resources: 

petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur 

Land use: 

arable land: 

12% 

permanent crops: 

1% 

meadows and pastures: 

9% 

forest and woodland: 

3% 

other: 

75% 

Irrigated land: 

25,500 sq km (1989 est)

Environment: 

current issues: 

government water control projects drain inhabited marsh areas, drying

up or diverting the streams and rivers that support a sizable

population of Shi'a Muslims who have inhabited these areas for

thousands of years; the destruction of the natural habitat also poses

serious threats to the wildlife populations; damage to water treatment

and sewage facilities during Gulf war; inadequate supplies of potable

water; development of Tigris-Euphrates Rivers system contingent upon

agreements with upstream riparians (Syria, Turkey); air and water

pollution; soil degradation (salinization) and erosion;

desertification

natural hazards: 

NA 

international agreements: 

party to - Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified

- Environmental Modification

@Iraq, People

Population: 

19,889,666 (July 1994 est.) 

Population growth rate: 

3.73% (1994 est.) 

Birth rate: 

44.11 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Death rate: 

7.26 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Net migration rate: 

0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Infant mortality rate: 

67.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) 

Life expectancy at birth: 

total population: 

65.74 years 

male: 

64.87 years 

female: 

66.66 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 

6.71 children born/woman (1994 est.) 

Nationality: 

noun: 

Iraqi(s) 

adjective: 

Iraqi 

Ethnic divisions: 

Arab 75-80%, Kurdish 15-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian or other 5% 

Religions: 

Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60-65%, Sunni 32-37%), Christian or other 3% 

Languages: 

Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Assyrian, Armenian 

Literacy: 

age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

total population: 

60% 

male: 

70% 

female: 

49% 

Labor force: 

4.4 million (1989)

by occupation: 

services 48%, agriculture 30%, industry 22%

note: 

severe labor shortage; expatriate labor force was about 1,600,000

(July 1990); since then, it has declined substantially

@Iraq, Government

Names: 

conventional long form: 

Republic of Iraq 

conventional short form: 

Iraq 

local long form: 

Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah 

local short form: 

Al Iraq 

Digraph: 

IZ

Type: 

republic 

Capital: 

Baghdad 

Administrative divisions: 

18 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Anbar, Al Basrah,

Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah, An Najaf, Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, At

Ta'mim, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk, Dhi Qar, Diyala, Karbala', Maysan,

Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit

Independence: 

3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British

administration)

National holiday: 

Anniversary of the Revolution, 17 July (1968) 

Constitution: 

22 September 1968, effective 16 July 1970 (provisional Constitution);

new constitution drafted in 1990 but not adopted

Legal system: 

based on Islamic law in special religious courts, civil law system

elsewhere; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: 

chief of state: 

President SADDAM Husayn (since 16 July 1979); Vice President Taha

Muhyi al-Din MARUF (since 21 April 1974); Vice President Taha Yasin

RAMADAN (since 23 March 1991) 

head of government: 

Prime Minister Ahmad Husayn Khudayir al-SAMARRAI (since 5 September

1993); Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Mikhail AZIZ (since NA 1979) 

Revolutionary Command Council: 

Chairman SADDAM Husayn, Vice Chairman Izzat IBRAHIM al-Duri 

cabinet: 

Council of Ministers 

Legislative branch: 

unicameral

National Assembly (Majlis al-Watani): 

elections last held on 1 April 1989 (next to be held NA); results -

Sunni Arabs 53%, Shi'a Arabs 30%, Kurds 15%, Christians 2% est.; seats

- (250 total) number of seats by party NA

note: 

in northern Iraq, a "Kurdish Assembly" was elected in May 1992 and

calls for Kurdish self-determination within a federated Iraq; the

assembly is not recognized by the Baghdad government

Judicial branch: 

Court of Cassation 

Political parties and leaders: 

Ba'th Party 

Other political or pressure groups: 

political parties and activity severely restricted; opposition to

regime from disaffected members of the Baath Party, Army officers, and

Shi'a religious and ethnic Kurdish dissidents; the Green Party

(government-controlled)

Member of: 

ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA,

IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,

INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN,

UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO 

Diplomatic representation in US: 

chief of mission: 

Iraq has an Interest Section in the Algerian Embassy in Washington, DC

chancery: 

Iraqi Interests Section, 1801 P Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 

telephone: 

(202) 483-7500 

FAX: 

(202) 462-5066 

US diplomatic representation: 

chief of mission: 

(vacant); note - operations have been temporarily suspended; a US

Interests Section is located in Poland's embassy in Baghdad 

embassy: 

Masbah Quarter (opposite the Foreign Ministry Club), Baghdad 

mailing address: 

P. O. Box 2447 Alwiyah, Baghdad 

telephone: 

[964] (1) 719-6138 or 719-6139, 718-1840, 719-3791 

Flag: 

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with three

green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white

band; the phrase ALLAHU AKBAR (God is Great) in green Arabic script -

Allahu to the right of the middle star and Akbar to the left of the

middle star - was added in January 1991 during the Persian Gulf

crisis; similar to the flag of Syria that has two stars but no script

and the flag of Yemen that has a plain white band; also similar to the

flag of Egypt that has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band

@Iraq, Economy

Overview: 

The Ba'thist regime engages in extensive central planning and

management of industrial production and foreign trade while leaving

some small-scale industry and services and most agriculture to private

enterprise. The economy has been dominated by the oil sector, which

has traditionally provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. In

the 1980s, financial problems caused by massive expenditures in the

eight-year war with Iran and damage to oil export facilities by Iran,

led the government to implement austerity measures and to borrow

heavily and later reschedule foreign debt payments. After the end of

hostilities in 1988, oil exports gradually increased with the

construction of new pipelines and restoration of damaged facilities.

Agricultural development remained hampered by labor shortages,

salinization, and dislocations caused by previous land reform and

collectivization programs. The industrial sector, although accorded

high priority by the government, also was under financial constraints.

Iraq's seizure of Kuwait in August 1990, subsequent international

economic embargoes, and military action by an international coalition

beginning in January 1991 drastically changed the economic picture.

Industrial and transportation facilities suffered severe damage and

have been only partially restored. Oil exports remain at less than 10%

of the previous level. Shortages of spare parts continue. Living

standards deteriorated even further in 1993 and early 1994; consumer

prices at least tripled in 1993. The UN-sponsored economic embargo has

reduced exports and imports and has contributed to the sharp rise in

prices. The government's policies of supporting large military and

internal security forces and of allocating resources to key supporters

of the regime have exacerbated shortages. In brief, per capita output

in 1993-94 is far below the 1989-90 level, but no precise estimate is

available.

National product: 

GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $38 billion (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate: 

NA%

National product per capita: 

$2,000 (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 

200% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate: 

NA%

Budget: 

revenues: 

$NA

expenditures: 

$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Exports: 

$10.4 billion (f.o.b., 1990)

commodities: 

crude oil and refined products, fertilizer, sulfur

partners: 

US, Brazil, Turkey, Japan, Netherlands, Spain (1990)

Imports: 

$6.6 billion (c.i.f., 1990)

commodities: 

manufactures, food

partners: 

Germany, US, Turkey, France, UK (1990)

External debt: 

$45 billion (1989 est.), excluding debt of about $35 billion owed to

Arab Gulf states

Industrial production: 

growth rate NA%; manufacturing accounts for 10% of GNP (1989)

Electricity: 

capacity: 

7,300,000 kW available out of 9,902,000 kW due to Gulf war

production: 

12.9 billion kWh 

consumption per capita: 

700 kWh (1992)

Industries: 

petroleum production and refining, chemicals, textiles, construction

materials, food processing

Agriculture: 

accounted for 11% of GNP and 30% of labor force before the Gulf war;

principal products - wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, other

fruit, cotton, wool; livestock - cattle, sheep; not self-sufficient in

food output

Economic aid: 

recipient: 

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-80), $3 million; Western

(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $647

million; Communist countries (1970-89), $3.9 billion 

Currency: 

1 Iraqi dinar (ID) = 1,000 fils

Exchange rates: 

Iraqi dinars (ID) per US$1 - 3.2 (fixed official rate since 1982);

black-market rate (May 1994) US$1 = 370 Iraqi dinars

Fiscal year: 

calendar year

@Iraq, Communications

Railroads: 

2,457 km 1.435-meter standard gauge

Highways: 

total: 

34,700 km 

paved: 

17,500 km 

unpaved: 

improved earth 5,500 km; unimproved earth 11,700 km 

Inland waterways: 

1,015 km; Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for

about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3 meters and is in use;

Tigris and Euphrates Rivers have navigable sections for shallow-draft

watercraft; Shatt al Basrah canal was navigable by shallow-draft craft

before closing in 1991 because of the Persian Gulf war

Pipelines: 

crude oil 4,350 km; petroleum products 725 km; natural gas 1,360 km 

Ports: 

Umm Qasr reopened in November 1993; Khawr az Zubayr and Al Basrah have

been closed since 1980

Merchant marine: 

37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 805,205 GRT/1,444,810 DWT, cargo

15, oil tanker 16, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo

1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3 

note: 

none of the Iraqi flag merchant fleet was trading internationally as

of 1 January 1993

Airports: 

total: 

118 

usable: 

105 

with permanent-surface runways: 

76 

with runways over 3,659 m: 

10 

with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 

51 

with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 

17 

Telecommunications: 

reconstitution of damaged telecommunication facilities began after

Desert Storm, most damaged facilities have been rebuilt; the network

consists of coaxial cables and microwave radio relay links; 632,000

telephones; broadcast stations - 16 AM, 1 FM, 13 TV; satellite earth

stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1

Atlantic Ocean GORIZONT in the Intersputnik system and 1 ARABSAT;

coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and

Turkey, Kuwait line is probably non-operational

@Iraq, Defense Forces

Branches: 

Army and Republican Guard, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Border

Guard Force, Internal Security Forces 

Manpower availability: 

males age 15-49 4,428,193; fit for military service 2,487,319; reach

military age (18) annually 219,641 (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures: 

$NA, NA% of GNP

@Ireland, Geography

Location: 

Western Europe, in the North Atlantic Ocean, across the Irish Sea from

Great Britain

Map references: 

Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World 

Area: 

total area: 

70,280 sq km 

land area: 

68,890 sq km 

comparative area: 

slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries: 

total 360 km, UK 360 km 

Coastline: 

1,448 km 

Maritime claims: 

continental shelf: 

not specified

exclusive fishing zone: 

200 nm

territorial sea: 

12 nm

International disputes: 

Northern Ireland question with the UK; Rockall continental shelf

dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK

have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)

Climate: 

temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters,

cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time

Terrain: 

mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and

low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast

Natural resources: 

zinc, lead, natural gas, petroleum, barite, copper, gypsum, limestone,

dolomite, peat, silver 

Land use: 

arable land: 

14% 

permanent crops: 

0% 

meadows and pastures: 

71% 

forest and woodland: 

5% 

other: 

10% 

Irrigated land: 

NA sq km 

Environment: 

current issues: 

water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff

natural hazards: 

NA 

international agreements: 

party to - Air Pollution, Environmental Modification, Hazardous

Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,

Tropical Timber, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air

Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered

Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Note: 

strategic location on major air and sea routes between North American

and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 60

miles of Dublin

@Ireland, People

Population: 

3,539,296 (July 1994 est.) 

Population growth rate: 

0.3% (1994 est.) 

Birth rate: 

14.21 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Death rate: 

8.59 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Net migration rate: 

-2.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Infant mortality rate: 

7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) 

Life expectancy at birth: 

total population: 

75.68 years 

male: 

72.85 years 

female: 

78.68 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 

1.99 children born/woman (1994 est.) 

Nationality: 

noun: 

Irishman(men), Irishwoman(men), Irish (collective plural) 

adjective: 

Irish 

Ethnic divisions: 

Celtic, English 

Religions: 

Roman Catholic 93%, Anglican 3%, none 1%, unknown 2%, other 1% (1981)

Languages: 

Irish (Gaelic), spoken mainly in areas located along the western

seaboard, English is the language generally used

Literacy: 

age 15 and over can read and write (1981 est.)

total population: 

98% 

male: 

NA%

female: 

NA%

Labor force: 

1.37 million 

by occupation: 

services 57.0%, manufacturing and construction 28%, agriculture,

forestry, and fishing 13.5%, energy and mining 1.5% (1992)

@Ireland, Government

Names: 

conventional long form: 

none 

conventional short form: 

Ireland 

Digraph: 

EI

Type: 

republic 

Capital: 

Dublin 

Administrative divisions: 

26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway,

Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth,

Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford,

Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow

Independence: 

6 December 1921 (from UK)

National holiday: 

Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March 

Constitution: 

29 December 1937; adopted 1 July 1937 by plebecite

Legal system: 

based on English common law, substantially modified by indigenous

concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court; has

not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: 

chief of state: 

President Mary Bourke ROBINSON (since 9 November 1990); election last

held 9 November 1990 (next to be held November 1997); results - Mary

Bourke ROBINSON 52.8%, Brian LENIHAN 47.2%

head of government: 

Prime Minister Albert REYNOLDS (since 11 February 1992) 

cabinet: 

Cabinet; appointed by president with previous nomination of the prime

minister and approval of the House of Representatives

Legislative branch: 

bicameral Parliament (Oireachtas)

Senate (Seanad Eireann): 

elections last held on NA February 1992 (next to be held February

1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total, 49

elected) Fianna Fail 26, Fine Gael 16, Labor 9, Progressive Democrats

2, Democratic Left 1, independents 6

House of Representatives (Dail Eireann): 

elections last held on 25 November 1992 (next to be held by June

1995); results - Fianna Fail 39.1%, Fine Gael 24.5%, Labor Party

19.3%, Progressive Democrats 4.7%, Democratic Left 2.8%, Sinn Fein

1.6%, Workers' Party 0.7%, independents 5.9%; seats - (166 total)

Fianna Fail 68, Fine Gael 45, Labor Party 33, Progressive Democrats

10, Democratic Left 4, Greens 1, independents 5

Judicial branch: 

Supreme Court 

Political parties and leaders: 

Democratic Left, Proinsias DE ROSSA; Fianna Fail, Albert REYNOLDS;

Labor Party, Richard SPRING; Fine Gael, John BRUTON; Communist Party

of Ireland, Michael O'RIORDAN; Sinn Fein, Gerry ADAMS; Progressive

Democrats, Desmond O'MALLEY

note: 

Prime Minister REYNOLDS heads a coalition consisting of the Fianna

Fail and the Labor Party

Member of: 

Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, COCOM (cooperating), CSCE, EBRD, EC,

ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,

ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO,

MTCR, NEA, NSG, OECD, ONUSAL, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP,

UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNOSOM, UNPROFRO, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WEU

(observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC 

Diplomatic representation in US: 

chief of mission: 

Ambassador Dermot A. GALLAGHER 

chancery: 

2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 

telephone: 

(202) 462-3939 

consulate(s) general: 

Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco 

US diplomatic representation: 

chief of mission: 

Ambassador Jean Kennedy SMITH 

embassy: 

42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 

mailing address: 

use embassy street address 

telephone: 

[353] (1) 6687122 

FAX: 

[353] (1) 6689946 

Flag: 

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange;

similar to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the

colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green; also similar

to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has colors of green (hoist

side), white, and red

@Ireland, Economy

Overview: 

The economy is small and trade dependent. Agriculture, once the most

important sector, is now dwarfed by industry, which accounts for 37%

of GDP, about 80% of exports, and employs 28% of the labor force.

Since 1987, real GDP growth, led by exports, has averaged 4% annually.

Over the same period, inflation has fallen sharply and chronic trade

deficits have been transformed into annual surpluses. Unemployment

remains a serious problem, however, and job creation is the main focus

of government policy. To ease unemployment, Dublin aggressively courts

foreign investors and recently created a new industrial development

agency to aid small indigenous firms. Government assistance is

constrained by Dublin's continuing deficit reduction measures.

National product: 

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $46.3 billion (1993)

National product real growth rate: 

2.7% (1993)

National product per capita: 

$13,100 (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 

2.7% (1994 est.)

Unemployment rate: 

16% (1994 est.)

Budget: 

revenues: 

$16 billion 

expenditures: 

$16.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.6 billion (1992

est.)

Exports: 

$28.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992)

commodities: 

chemicals, data processing equipment, industrial machinery, live

animals, animal products

partners: 

EC 75% (UK 32%, Germany 13%, France 10%), US 9%

Imports: 

$23.3 billion (c.i.f., 1992)

commodities: 

food, animal feed, data processing equipment, petroleum and petroleum

products, machinery, textiles, clothing

partners: 

EC 66% (UK 41%, Germany 8%, Netherlands 4%), US 15%

External debt: 

$17.6 billion (1992)

Industrial production: 

growth rate 11.5% (1992); accounts for 37% of GDP

Electricity: 

capacity: 

5,000,000 kW

production: 

14.5 billion kWh 

consumption per capita: 

4,120 kWh (1992)

Industries: 

food products, brewing, textiles, clothing, chemicals,

pharmaceuticals, machinery, transportation equipment, glass and

crystal

Agriculture: 

accounts for 8% of GDP and 13% of the labor force; principal crops -

turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; livestock - meat and

dairy products; 85% self-sufficient in food; food shortages include

bread grain, fruits, vegetables

Illicit drugs: 

transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to the UK and

Netherlands

Economic aid: 

donor: 

ODA commitments (1980-89), $90 million 

Currency: 

1 Irish pound (#Ir) = 100 pence

Exchange rates: 

Irish pounds (#Ir) per US$1 - 0.6978 (January 1994), 0.6816 (1993),

0.5864 (1992), 0.6190 (1991), 0.6030 (1990), 0.7472 (1989)

Fiscal year: 

calendar year

@Ireland, Communications

Railroads: 

Irish National Railways (CIE) operates 1,947 km 1.602-meter gauge,

government owned; 485 km double track; 37 km electrified

Highways: 

total: 

92,294 km 

paved: 

87,422 km 

unpaved: 

gravel, crushed stone 4,872 km 

Inland waterways: 

limited for commercial traffic

Pipelines: 

natural gas 225 km 

Ports: 

Cork, Dublin, Waterford

Merchant marine: 

53 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 139,278 GRT/173,325 DWT, bulk 4,

cargo 32, chemical tanker 2, container 4, oil tanker 3, refrigerated

cargo 2, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 3 

Airports: 

total: 

44 

usable: 

42 

with permanent-surface runways: 

14 

with runways over 3,659 m: 

0 

with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 

2 

with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 

7 

Telecommunications: 

modern system using cable and digital microwave circuits; 900,000

telephones; broadcast stations - 9 AM, 45 FM, 86 TV; 2 coaxial

submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

@Ireland, Defense Forces

Branches: 

Army (including Naval Service and Air Corps), National Police (Garda

Siochana) 

Manpower availability: 

males age 15-49 914,052; fit for military service 739,288; reach

military age (17) annually 33,809 (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures: 

exchange rate conversion - $500 million, 1.3% of GDP (1993)

@Israel

Header

Affiliation: 

(also see separate Gaza Strip and West Bank entries) 

Note: 

The territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war are not included

in the data below. In keeping with the framework established at the

Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral negotiations are being

conducted between Israel and Palestinian representatives, Syria, and

Jordan to determine the final status of the occupied territories. On

25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the Sinai pursuant to the 1979

Israel-Egypt Peace treaty.

@Israel, Geography

Location: 

Middle East, bordering the eastern Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt

and Lebanon

Map references: 

Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World 

Area: 

total area: 

20,770 sq km 

land area: 

20,330 sq km 

comparative area: 

slightly larger than New Jersey

Land boundaries: 

total 1,006 km, Egypt 255 km, Gaza Strip 51 km, Jordan 238 km, Lebanon

79 km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km 

Coastline: 

273 km 

Maritime claims: 

continental shelf: 

to depth of exploitation

territorial sea: 

12 nm

International disputes: 

separated from Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank by the 1949 Armistice

Line; differences with Jordan over the location of the 1949 Armistice

Line that separates the two countries; the Gaza Strip and Jericho,

formerly occupied by Israel, are now administered by the Palestinian

Authority; other areas of the West Bank outside Jericho are Israeli

occupied; Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; Israeli troops in

southern Lebanon since June 1982; water-sharing issues with Jordan

Climate: 

temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas

Terrain: 

Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains;

Jordan Rift Valley

Natural resources: 

copper, phosphates, bromide, potash, clay, sand, sulfur, asphalt,

manganese, small amounts of natural gas and crude oil 

Land use: 

arable land: 

17% 

permanent crops: 

5% 

meadows and pastures: 

40% 

forest and woodland: 

6% 

other: 

32% 

Irrigated land: 

2,140 sq km (1989)

Environment: 

current issues: 

limited arable land and freshwater resources pose serious constraints;

deforestation; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions;

groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste, chemical

fertilizers, and pesticides

natural hazards: 

sandstorms may occur during spring and summer

international agreements: 

party to - Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone

Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Climate

Change, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation

Note: 

there are 200 Jewish settlements and civilian land use sites in the

West Bank, 40 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 24 in the Gaza

Strip, and 25 in East Jerusalem (April 1994)

@Israel, People

Population: 

5,050,850 (July 1994 est.) 

note: 

includes 110,500 Jewish settlers in the West Bank, 14,000 in the

Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 4,500 in the Gaza Strip, and 144,100

in East Jerusalem (1994 est.)

Population growth rate: 

2.22% (1994 est.) 

Birth rate: 

20.55 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Death rate: 

6.43 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Net migration rate: 

8.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Infant mortality rate: 

8.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) 

Life expectancy at birth: 

total population: 

77.96 years 

male: 

75.86 years 

female: 

80.16 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 

2.83 children born/woman (1994 est.) 

Nationality: 

noun: 

Israeli(s) 

adjective: 

Israeli 

Ethnic divisions: 

Jewish 83%, non-Jewish 17% (mostly Arab)

Religions: 

Judaism 82%, Islam 14% (mostly Sunni Muslim), Christian 2%, Druze and

other 2% 

Languages: 

Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English

most commonly used foreign language

Literacy: 

age 15 and over can read and write (1983)

total population: 

92% 

male: 

95% 

female: 

89% 

Labor force: 

1.9 million (1992)

by occupation: 

public services 29.3%, industry 22.1%, commerce 13.9%, finance and

business 10.4%, personal and other services 7.4%, construction 6.5%,

transport, storage, and communications 6.3%, agriculture, forestry,

and fishing 3.5%, other 0.6% (1992)

@Israel, Government

Names: 

conventional long form: 

State of Israel 

conventional short form: 

Israel 

local long form: 

Medinat Yisra'el 

local short form: 

Yisra'el 

Digraph: 

IS

Type: 

republic 

Capital: 

Jerusalem 

note: 

Israel proclaimed Jerusalem its capital in 1950, but the US, like

nearly all other countries, maintains its Embassy in Tel Aviv

Administrative divisions: 

6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz); Central, Haifa, Jerusalem,

Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv

Independence: 

14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British

administration)

National holiday: 

Independence Day, 14 May 1948 (Israel declared independence on 14 May

1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the holiday may occur in

April or May)

Constitution: 

no formal constitution; some of the functions of a constitution are

filled by the Declaration of Establishment (1948), the basic laws of

the parliament (Knesset), and the Israeli citizenship law

Legal system: 

mixture of English common law, British Mandate regulations, and, in

personal matters, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim legal systems; in

December 1985, Israel informed the UN Secretariat that it would no

longer accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: 

chief of state: 

President Ezer WEIZMAN (since 13 May 1993) election last held 24 March

1993 (next to be held NA March 1999); results - Ezer WEIZMAN elected

by Knesset

head of government: 

Prime Minister Yitzhak RABIN (since NA July 1992) 

cabinet: 

Cabinet; selected from and approved by the Knesset

Legislative branch: 

unicameral

parliament (Knesset): 

elections last held NA June 1992 (next to be held by NA 1996); results

- percent of vote by party NA; seats - (120 total) Labor Party 44,

Likud bloc 32, Meretz 12, Tzomet 8, National Religious Party 6, Shas

6, United Torah Jewry 4, Democratic Front for Peace and Equality

(Hadash) 3, Moledet 3, Arab Democratic Party 2; note - in 1994 three

new parties were formed, Yi'ud (from Tzomet), Histadrut List (from the

Labor Party), and Peace Guard (from Moledet), resulting in the

following new distribution of seats - Labor Party 41, Likud bloc 32,

Meretz 12, National Religious Party 6, Shas 6, Tzomet 5, United Torah

Jewry 4, Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (Hadash) 3, Yi'ud 3,

Histadrut List 3, Moledet 2, Arab Democratic Party 2, Peace Guard 1

Judicial branch: 

Supreme Court 

Political parties and leaders: 

members of the government: 

Labor Party, Prime Minister Yitzhak RABIN; MERETZ, Minister of

Communications Shulamit ALONI

not in coalition, but voting with the government: 

SHAS, Arieh DERI; Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (Hadash),

Hashim MAHAMID; Arab Democratic Party, Abd al Wahab DARAWSHAH;

Histadrut List, Haim RAMON

opposition parties: 

Likud Party, Binyamin NETANYAHU; Tzomet, Rafael EITAN; National

Religious Party, Zevulun HAMMER; United Torah Jewry, Avraham SHAPIRA;

Moledet, Rehavam ZEEVI; Yi'ud, Gonen SEGEV; Peace Guard, Shoul GUTMAN

note: 

Israel currently has a coalition government comprising 3 parties that

hold 56 seats of the Knesset's 120 seats

Other political or pressure groups: 

Gush Emunim, Jewish nationalists advocating Jewish settlement on the

West Bank and Gaza Strip; Peace Now, critical of government's West

Bank/Gaza Strip and Lebanon policies

Member of: 

AG (observer), CCC, CE (observer), CERN (oberver), EBRD, ECE, FAO,

GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,

IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, OAS (observer),

PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO 

Diplomatic representation in US: 

chief of mission: 

Ambassador Itamar RABINOVICH 

chancery: 

3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 

telephone: 

(202) 364-5500 

FAX: 

(202) 364-5610 

consulate(s) general: 

Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York,

Philadelphia, and San Francisco 

US diplomatic representation: 

chief of mission: 

Ambassador Edward DJEREJIAN (expected to resign in August 1994) 

embassy: 

71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv 

mailing address: 

PSC 98, Box 100, Tel Aviv; APO AE 09830 

telephone: 

[972] (3) 517-4338 

FAX: 

[972] (3) 663-449 

Flag: 

white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the

Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal

blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag

@Israel, Economy

Overview: 

Israel has a market economy with substantial government participation.

It depends on imports of crude oil, grains, raw materials, and

military equipment. Despite limited natural resources, Israel has

intensively developed its agricultural and industrial sectors over the

past 20 years. Industry employs about 22% of Israeli workers,

construction 6.5%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 3.5%, and

services most of the rest. Diamonds, high-technology equipment, and

agricultural products (fruits and vegetables) are leading exports.

Israel usually posts current account deficits, which are covered by

large transfer payments from abroad and by foreign loans. Roughly half

of the government's external debt is owed to the United States, which

is its major source of economic and military aid. To earn needed

foreign exchange, Israel has been targeting high-technology niches in

international markets, such as medical scanning equipment. The influx

of Jewish immigrants from the former USSR, which topped 450,000 during

the period 1990-93, increased unemployment, intensified housing

problems, and strained the government budget. At the same time, the

immigrants bring to the economy valuable scientific and professional

expertise. Economic problems have eased as immigration has declined,

but activity has slowed as the economy shifts from housing to

export-driven growth.

National product: 

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $65.7 billion (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate: 

3.5% (1993 est.)

National product per capita: 

$13,350 (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 

11.3% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate: 

10.4% (1993 est.)

Budget: 

revenues: 

$33.4 billion 

expenditures: 

$36.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $9.4 billion (FY93)

Exports: 

$14.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

commodities: 

machinery and equipment, cut diamonds, chemicals, textiles and

apparel, agricultural products, metals

partners: 

US, EC, Japan

Imports: 

$20.3 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.)

commodities: 

military equipment, investment goods, rough diamonds, oil, other

productive inputs, consumer goods

partners: 

US, EC

External debt: 

$24.8 billion (December 1993 est.)

Industrial production: 

growth rate 6.5% (1993 est.); accounts for about 30% of GDP

Electricity: 

capacity: 

5,835,000 kW

production: 

21.84 billion kWh 

consumption per capita: 

4,600 kWh (1992)

Industries: 

food processing, diamond cutting and polishing, textiles and apparel,

chemicals, metal products, military equipment, transport equipment,

electrical equipment, miscellaneous machinery, potash mining,

high-technology electronics, tourism

Agriculture: 

accounts for about 7% of GDP; largely self-sufficient in food

production, except for grains; principal products - citrus and other

fruits, vegetables, cotton; livestock products - beef, dairy, poultry

Illicit drugs: 

increasingly concerned about cocaine and heroin abuse and trafficking

Economic aid: 

recipient: 

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $18.2 billion; Western

(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2.8

billion 

Currency: 

1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot

Exchange rates: 

new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 2.9760 (February 1994), 2.8301

(1993), 2.4591 (1992), 2.2791 (1991), 2.0162 (1990), 1.9164 (1989)

Fiscal year: 

calendar year (since 1 January 1992)

@Israel, Communications

Railroads: 

600 km 1.435-meter gauge, single track; diesel operated

Highways: 

total: 

13,300 km 

paved: 

13,300 km 

Pipelines: 

crude oil 708 km; petroleum products 290 km; natural gas 89 km 

Ports: 

Ashdod, Haifa

Merchant marine: 

33 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 637,097 GRT/737,762 DWT, cargo

8, container 22, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 

note: 

Israel also maintains a significant flag of convenience fleet, which

is normally at least as large as the Israeli flag fleet; the Israeli

flag of convenience fleet typically includes all of its oil tankers

Airports: 

total: 

55 

usable: 

48 

with permanent-surface runways: 

30 

with runways over 3,659 m: 

1 

with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 

6 

with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 

13 

Telecommunications: 

most highly developed in the Middle East although not the largest;

good system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay; 1,800,000

telephones; broadcast stations - 14 AM, 21 FM, 20 TV; 3 submarine

cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1

Indian Ocean INTELSAT

@Israel, Defense Forces

Branches: 

Israel Defense Forces (including ground, naval, and air components)

note: 

historically, there have been no separate Israeli military services

Manpower availability: 

males age 15-49 1,257,345; females age 15-49 1,280,899; males fit for

military service 1,026,699; females fit for military service

1,049,998; males reach military age (18) annually 47,297 (1994 est.);

females reach military age (18) annually 45,214 (1994 est.); both

sexes are liable for military service

Defense expenditures: 

exchange rate conversion - $12.5 billion, 18% of GDP (1993)

@Italy, Geography

Location: 

Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean

Sea

Map references: 

Africa, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World 

Area: 

total area: 

301,230 sq km 

land area: 

294,020 sq km 

comparative area: 

slightly larger than Arizona

note: 

includes Sardinia and Sicily

Land boundaries: 

total 1,899.2 km, Austria 430 km, France 488 km, Holy See (Vatican

City) 3.2 km, San Marino 39 km, Slovenia 199 km, Switzerland 740 km 

Coastline: 

4,996 km 

Maritime claims: 

continental shelf: 

200-m depth or to depth of exploitation

territorial sea: 

12 nm

International disputes: 

none

Climate: 

predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south

Terrain: 

mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands

Natural resources: 

mercury, potash, marble, sulfur, dwindling natural gas and crude oil

reserves, fish, coal 

Land use: 

arable land: 

32% 

permanent crops: 

10% 

meadows and pastures: 

17% 

forest and woodland: 

22% 

other: 

19% 

Irrigated land: 

31,000 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment: 

current issues: 

air pollution from industrial emissions such as sulfur dioxide;

coastal and inland rivers polluted from industrial and agricultural

effluents; acid rain damaging lakes

natural hazards: 

regional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches, earthquakes,

volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venice

international agreements: 

party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air

Pollution-Sulphur, Antarctic Treaty, Endangered Species, Environmental

Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,

Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber, Wetlands;

signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,

Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of

the Sea

Note: 

strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as well as

southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe

@Italy, People

Population: 

58,138,394 (July 1994 est.) 

Population growth rate: 

0.21% (1994 est.) 

Birth rate: 

10.79 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Death rate: 

9.71 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Net migration rate: 

1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Infant mortality rate: 

7.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) 

Life expectancy at birth: 

total population: 

77.64 years 

male: 

74.44 years 

female: 

81.04 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 

1.39 children born/woman (1994 est.) 

Nationality: 

noun: 

Italian(s) 

adjective: 

Italian 

Ethnic divisions: 

Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and

Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and Greek-Italians

in the south), Sicilians, Sardinians 

Religions: 

Roman Catholic 98%, other 2% 

Languages: 

Italian, German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are predominantly

German speaking), French (small French-speaking minority in Valle

d'Aosta region), Slovene (Slovene-speaking minority in the

Trieste-Gorizia area)

Literacy: 

age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

total population: 

97% 

male: 

98% 

female: 

96% 

Labor force: 

23.988 million 

by occupation: 

services 58%, industry 32.2%, agriculture 9.8% (1988)

@Italy, Government

Names: 

conventional long form: 

Italian Republic 

conventional short form: 

Italy 

local long form: 

Repubblica Italiana 

local short form: 

Italia 

former: 

Kingdom of Italy 

Digraph: 

IT

Type: 

republic 

Capital: 

Rome 

Administrative divisions: 

20 regions (regioni, singular - regione); Abruzzi, Basilicata,

Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lazio,

Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise, Piemonte, Puglia, Sardegna,

Sicilia, Toscana, Trentino-Alto Adige, Umbria, Valle d'Aosta, Veneto

Independence: 

17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed)

National holiday: 

Anniversary of the Republic, 2 June (1946) 

Constitution: 

1 January 1948

Legal system: 

based on civil law system, with ecclesiastical law influence; appeals

treated as trials de novo; judicial review under certain conditions in

Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 

18 years of age, universal (except in senatorial elections, where

minimum age is 25)

Executive branch: 

chief of state: 

President Oscar Luigi SCALFARO (since 28 May 1992) 

head of government: 

Prime Minister Silvio BERLUSCONI (since 11 May 1994) 

cabinet: 

Council of Ministers; appointed by the president

Legislative branch: 

bicameral Parliament (Parlamento)

Senate (Senato della Repubblica): 

elections last held 27-28 March 1994 (next expected to be held by

spring 2001); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (326

total; 315 elected, 11 appointed senators-for-life) PDS 61, Northern

League 60, National Alliance 48, Forza Italia 36, Popular Party 31,

Communist Refounding 18, Greens and The Network 13, Socialist Party

13, Christian Democratic Center 12, Democratic Alliance 8, Christian

Socialists 5, Pact for Italy 4, Radical Party 1, others 5

Chamber of Deputies (Camera dei Deputati): 

elections last held 27-28 March 1994 (next expected to be held by

spring 2001); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (630

total) Northern League 117, PDS 114, Forza Italia 113, National

Alliance 109, Communist Refounding 39, Christian Democratic Center 33,

Popular Party 33, Greens and The Network 20, Democratic Alliance 18,

Socialist Party 16, Pact for Italy 13, Christian Socialists 5

Judicial branch: 

Constitutional Court (Corte Costituzionale) 

Political parties and leaders: 

Rightists: 

Forza Italia, Silvio BERLUSCONI; National Alliance (was Italian Social

Movement - MSI - until January 1994), Gianfranco FINI, party

secretary; Lega Nord (Northern League), Umberto BOSSI, president

Leftists: 

Democratic Party of the Left (PDS - was Communist Party, or PCI, until

January 1991), Achille OCCHETTO, secretary; Communist Refounding,

Fausto BERTINOTTI; Greens, Carlo RIPA di MEARA; Radical Party, Marco

PANNELLA; Italian Socialist Party, Ottaviano DELTURCO; The Network,

Leoluca ORLANDO; Christian Socialists, Ermanno GORRIERI

Centrists: 

Pact for Italy, Mario SEGNI; Popular Party, Rosa JERVOLINO; Christian

Democratic Center, Pier Ferdinando CASINI

Other political or pressure groups: 

the Roman Catholic Church; three major trade union confederations

(CGIL - formerly Communist dominated, CISL - Christian Democratic, and

UIL - Social Democratic, Socialist, and Republican); Italian

manufacturers and merchants associations (Confindustria,

Confcommercio); organized farm groups (Confcoltivatori,

Confagricoltura)

Member of: 

AfDB, AG (observer), Australia Group, AsDB, BIS, CCC, CDB

(non-regional), CE, CEI, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, ECLAC, EIB,

ESA, FAO, G-7, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA,

IFAD, IEA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM,

ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG,

OAS (observer), OECD, ONUSAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,

UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNOSOM, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO,

WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC 

Diplomatic representation in US: 

chief of mission: 

Ambassador Boris BIANCHERI-CHIAPPORI 

chancery: 

1601 Fuller Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 

telephone: 

(202) 328-5500 

consulate(s) general: 

Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia,

San Francisco 

consulate(s): 

Detroit, New Orleans, and Newark (New Jersey) 

US diplomatic representation: 

chief of mission: 

Ambassador Reginald BARTHOLOMEW 

embassy: 

Via Veneto 119/A, 00187-Rome 

mailing address: 

PSC 59, Box 100, Rome; APO AE 09624 

telephone: 

[39] (6) 46741 

FAX: 

[39] (6) 488-2672 

consulate(s) general: 

Florence, Milan, Naples 

Flag: 

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red;

similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and is green (hoist

side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of the Cote

d'Ivoire, which has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white,

and green

@Italy, Economy

Overview: 

Since World War II the Italian economy has changed from one based on

agriculture into a ranking industrial economy, with approximately the

same total and per capita output as France and the UK. The country is

still divided into a developed industrial north, dominated by private

companies, and an undeveloped agricultural south, dominated by large

public enterprises. Services account for 48% of GDP, industry 35%,

agriculture 4%, and public administration 13%. Most raw materials

needed by industry and over 75% of energy requirements must be

imported. After growing at an annual average rate of 3% in 1983-90,

growth slowed to about 1% in 1991 and 1992 and fell by 0.7% in 1993.

In the second half of 1992, Rome became unsettled by the prospect of

not qualifying to participate in EC plans for economic and monetary

union later in the decade; thus it finally began to address its huge

fiscal imbalances. Thanks to the determination of Prime Ministers

AMATO and CIAMPI, the government adopted a fairly stringent budget for

1993 and 1994, abandoned its highly inflationary wage indexation

system, and started to scale back its extremely generous social

welfare programs, including pension and health care benefits. Monetary

officials were forced to withdraw the lira from the European monetary

system in September 1992 when it came under extreme pressure in

currency markets. For the 1990s, Italy faces the problems of

refurbishing a tottering communications system, curbing pollution in

major industrial centers, and adjusting to the new competitive forces

accompanying the ongoing economic integration of the European Union.

National product: 

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $967.6 billion (1993)

National product real growth rate: 

-0.7% (1993)

National product per capita: 

$16,700 (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 

4.2% (1993)

Unemployment rate: 

11.3% (January 1994)

Budget: 

revenues: 

$302 billion 

expenditures: 

$391 billion, including capital expenditures of $48 billion (1993

est.)

Exports: 

$178.2 billion (f.o.b., 1992)

commodities: 

metals, textiles and clothing, production machinery, motor vehicles,

transportation equipment, chemicals, other

partners: 

EC 58.3%, US 6.8%, OPEC 5.1% (1992)

Imports: 

$188.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992)

commodities: 

industrial machinery, chemicals, transport equipment, petroleum,

metals, food, agricultural products

partners: 

EC 58.8%, OPEC 6.1%, US 5.5% (1992)

External debt: 

$67 billion (1993 est.)

Industrial production: 

growth rate -2.8% (1993 est.); accounts for almost 35% of GDP

Electricity: 

capacity: 

58,000,000 kW

production: 

235 billion kWh 

consumption per capita: 

4,060 kWh (1992)

Industries: 

machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor

vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics

Agriculture: 

accounts for about 4% of GDP and about 9.8% of the work force;

self-sufficient in foods other than meat, dairy products, and cereals;

principal crops - fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets,

soybeans, grain, olives; fish catch of 525,000 metric tons in 1990

Illicit drugs: 

important gateway country for Latin American cocaine and Southwest

Asian heroin entering the European market

Economic aid: 

donor: 

ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $25.9 billion 

Currency: 

1 Italian lira (Lit) = 100 centesimi

Exchange rates: 

Italian lire (Lit) per US$1 - 1,700.2 (January 1994), 1,573.7 (1993),

1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6 (1991), 1,198.1 (1990), 1,372.1 (1989)

Fiscal year: 

calendar year

@Italy, Communications

Railroads: 

20,011 km total; 16,066 km 1.435-meter government-owned standard gauge

(8,999 km electrified); 3,945 km privately owned - 2,100 km

1.435-meter standard gauge (1,155 km electrified) and 1,845 km

0.950-meter narrow gauge (380 km electrified)

Highways: 

total: 

298,000 km 

paved: 

270,000 km (including nearly 7,000 km of expressways)

unpaved: 

gravel, crushed stone 23,000 km; earth 5,000 km 

Inland waterways: 

2,400 km for various types of commercial traffic, although of limited

overall value

Pipelines: 

crude oil 1,703 km; petroleum products 2,148 km; natural gas 19,400 km

Ports: 

Cagliari (Sardinia), Genoa, La Spezia, Livorno, Naples, Palermo

(Sicily), Taranto, Trieste, Venice

Merchant marine: 

474 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,055,779 GRT/8,924,779 DWT,

bulk 50, cargo 72, chemical tanker 34, combination bulk 1, combination

ore/oil 5, container 20, liquefied gas 39, multifunction large-load

carrier 1, oil tanker 129, passenger 8, refrigerated cargo 2,

roll-on/roll-off cargo 62, short-sea passenger 34, specialized tanker

10, vehicle carrier 7 

Airports: 

total: 

137 

usable: 

132 

with permanent-surface runways: 

92 

with runways over 3,659 m: 

2 

with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 

36 

with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 

39 

Telecommunications: 

modern, well-developed, fast; 25,600,000 telephones; fully automated

telephone, telex, and data services; high-capacity cable and microwave

radio relay trunks; broadcast stations - 135 AM, 28 (1,840 repeaters)

FM, 83 (1,000 repeaters) TV; international service by 21 submarine

cables, 3 satellite earth stations operating in INTELSAT with 3

Atlantic Ocean antennas and 2 Indian Ocean antennas; also participates

in INMARSAT and EUTELSAT systems

@Italy, Defense Forces

Branches: 

Army, Navy, Air Force, Carabinieri 

Manpower availability: 

males age 15-49 14,921,411; fit for military service 12,982,445; reach

military age (18) annually 403,017 (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures: 

exchange rate conversion - $16.1 billion, 1.3% of GDP (1992)

@Jamaica, Geography

Location: 

Caribbean, in the northern Caribbean Sea, about 160 km south of Cuba

Map references: 

Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Standard Time Zones

of the World 

Area: 

total area: 

10,990 sq km 

land area: 

10,830 sq km 

comparative area: 

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries: 

0 km 

Coastline: 

1,022 km 

Maritime claims: 

exclusive economic zone: 

200 nm

territorial sea: 

12 nm

International disputes: 

none

Climate: 

tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior

Terrain: 

mostly mountains with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

Natural resources: 

bauxite, gypsum, limestone 

Land use: 

arable land: 

19% 

permanent crops: 

6% 

meadows and pastures: 

18% 

forest and woodland: 

28% 

other: 

29% 

Irrigated land: 

350 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment: 

current issues: 

deforestation; water pollution

natural hazards: 

subject to hurricanes (especially July to November)

international agreements: 

party to - Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation,

Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but

not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change

Note: 

strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the main

sea lanes for Panama Canal

@Jamaica, People

Population: 

2,555,064 (July 1994 est.) 

Population growth rate: 

1.02% (1994 est.) 

Birth rate: 

21.69 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Death rate: 

5.62 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Net migration rate: 

-5.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Infant mortality rate: 

16.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) 

Life expectancy at birth: 

total population: 

74.36 years 

male: 

72.16 years 

female: 

76.68 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 

2.41 children born/woman (1994 est.) 

Nationality: 

noun: 

Jamaican(s) 

adjective: 

Jamaican 

Ethnic divisions: 

African 76.3%, Afro-European 15.1%, East Indian and Afro-East Indian

3%, white 3.2%, Chinese and Afro-Chinese 1.2%, other 1.2% 

Religions: 

Protestant 55.9% (Church of God 18.4%, Baptist 10%, Anglican 7.1%,

Seventh-Day Adventist 6.9%, Pentecostal 5.2%, Methodist 3.1%, United

Church 2.7%, other 2.5%), Roman Catholic 5%, other, including some

spiritual cults 39.1% (1982)

Languages: 

English, Creole 

Literacy: 

age 15 and over having ever attended school (1990 est.)

total population: 

98% 

male: 

98% 

female: 

99% 

Labor force: 

1,062,100 

by occupation: 

services 41%, agriculture 22.5%, industry 19%, unemployed 17.5% (1989)

@Jamaica, Government

Names: 

conventional long form: 

none 

conventional short form: 

Jamaica 

Digraph: 

JM

Type: 

parliamentary democracy 

Capital: 

Kingston 

Administrative divisions: 

14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston, Manchester, Portland, Saint

Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint Elizabeth, Saint James,

Saint Mary, Saint Thomas, Trelawny, Westmoreland

Independence: 

6 August 1962 (from UK)

National holiday: 

Independence Day (first Monday in August) (1962) 

Constitution: 

6 August 1962

Legal system: 

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ

jurisdiction

Suffrage: 

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: 

chief of state: 

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor

General Sir Howard COOKE (since 1 August 1991) 

head of government: 

Prime Minister P. J. PATTERSON (since 30 March 1992); Deputy Prime

Minister Seymour MULLINGS (since NA) 

cabinet: 

Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime

minister

Legislative branch: 

bicameral Parliament

Senate: 

consists of a 21-member body appointed by the governor general

House of Representatives: 

elections last held 30 March 1993 (next to be held by February 1998);

results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total) PNP 52, JLP

8

Judicial branch: 

Supreme Court 

Political parties and leaders: 

People's National Party (PNP) P. J. PATTERSON; Jamaica Labor Party

(JLP), Edward SEAGA

Other political or pressure groups: 

Rastafarians (black religious/racial cultists, pan-Africanists); New

Beginnings Movement (NBM)

Member of: 

ACP, C, CARICOM, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-19, G-77, GATT, G-15, IADB,

IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,

IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,

UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO 

Diplomatic representation in US: 

chief of mission: 

Ambassador Richard Leighton BERNAL 

chancery: 

Suite 355, 1850 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20006 

telephone: 

(202) 452-0660 

FAX: 

(202) 452-0081 

consulate(s) general: 

Miami and New York 

US diplomatic representation: 

chief of mission: 

(vacant); Charge d'Affaires Lacy A. WRIGHT, Jr. 

embassy: 

Jamaica Mutual Life Center, 2 Oxford Road, 3rd floor, Kingston 

mailing address: 

use Embassy street address 

telephone: 

(809) 929-4850 through 4859 

FAX: 

(809) 926-6743 

Flag: 

diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles - green

(top and bottom) and black (hoist side and fly side)

@Jamaica, Economy

Overview: 

The economy is based on sugar, bauxite, and tourism. In September

1988, Hurricane Gilbert inflicted severe damage on crops and the

electric power system, a sharp but temporary setback to the economy.

By October 1989 the economic recovery from the hurricane was largely

complete, and real growth was up to about 3% for 1989. In 1991,

however, growth dropped to 0.2% as a result of the US recession, lower

world bauxite prices, and monetary instability. In 1992, growth was

1.2%, supported by a recovery in tourism and stabilization of the

Jamaican dollar in the second half of 1992.

National product: 

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $8 billion (1992 est.)

National product real growth rate: 

1.2% (1992 est.)

National product per capita: 

$3,200 (1992 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 

30% (1992 est.)

Unemployment rate: 

15.4% (1992)

Budget: 

revenues: 

$600 million 

expenditures: 

$736 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY91 est.)

Exports: 

$1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1992)

commodities: 

alumina, bauxite, sugar, bananas, rum

partners: 

US 40%, UK 14%, Germany 10%, Canada 10%, Norway 7%

Imports: 

$1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992)

commodities: 

fuel, other raw materials, construction materials, food, transport

equipment, other machinery and equipment

partners: 

US 53%, UK 5%, Venezuela 6%, Germany 5%, Japan 4.0%

External debt: 

$4.5 billion (1992 est.)

Industrial production: 

growth rate 2% (1990); accounts for almost 25% of GDP

Electricity: 

capacity: 

1,127,000 kW

production: 

2.736 trillion kWh 

consumption per capita: 

1,090 kWh (1992)

Industries: 

tourism, bauxite mining, textiles, food processing, light manufactures

Agriculture: 

accounts for about 7% of GDP, 23% of work force, and 17% of exports;

commercial crops - sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus, potatoes,

vegetables; livestock and livestock products include poultry, goats,

milk; not self-sufficient in grain, meat, and dairy products

Illicit drugs: 

transshipment point for cocaine from Central and South America to

North America and Europe; illicit cultivation of cannabis; government

has an active cannabis eradication program

Economic aid: 

recipient: 

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.2 billion; other

countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.6 billion 

Currency: 

1 Jamaican dollar (J$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: 

Jamaican dollars (J$) per US$1 -32.758 (31 December 1993), 22.960

(1992), 12.116 (1991), 7.184 (1990), 5.7446 (1989)

Fiscal year: 

1 April - 31 March

@Jamaica, Communications

Railroads: 

370 km, all 1.435-meter standard gauge, single track

Highways: 

total: 

18,200 km 

paved: 

12,600 km 

unpaved: 

gravel 3,200 km; improved earth 2,400 km 

Pipelines: 

petroleum products 10 km 

Ports: 

Kingston, Montego Bay, Port Antonio

Merchant marine: 

4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,618 GRT/16,215 DWT, bulk 2, oil

tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 

Airports: 

total: 

40 

usable: 

27 

with permanent-surface runways: 

10 

with runways over 3,659 m: 

0 

with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 

2 

with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 

1 

Telecommunications: 

fully automatic domestic telephone network; 127,000 telephones;

broadcast stations - 10 AM, 17 FM, 8 TV; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT

earth stations; 3 coaxial submarine cables

@Jamaica, Defense Forces

Branches: 

Jamaica Defense Force (including Ground Forces, Coast Guard and Air

Wing), Jamaica Constabulary Force 

Manpower availability: 

males age 15-49 664,122; fit for military service 469,982; reach

military age (18) annually 26,103 (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures: 

exchange rate conversion - $19.3 million, 1% of GDP (FY91/92)

@Jan Mayen

Header

Affiliation: 

(territory of Norway) 

@Jan Mayen, Geography

Location: 

Nordic State, Northern Europe, in the North Atlantic Ocean, north of

the Arctic Circle about 590 km north-northeast of Iceland, between the

Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea

Map references: 

Arctic Region 

Area: 

total area: 

373 sq km 

land area: 

373 sq km 

comparative area: 

slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 

0 km 

Coastline: 

124.1 km 

Maritime claims: 

contiguous zone: 

10 nm

continental shelf: 

200-m depth or to depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone: 

200 nm

territorial sea: 

4 nm

International disputes: 

dispute between Denmark and Norway over maritime boundary in Arctic

Ocean between Greenland and Jan Mayen has been settled by the

International Court of Justice

Climate: 

arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog

Terrain: 

volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers; Beerenberg is the highest

peak, with an elevation of 2,277 meters

Natural resources: 

none 

Land use: 

arable land: 

0% 

permanent crops: 

0% 

meadows and pastures: 

0% 

forest and woodland: 

0% 

other: 

100% 

Irrigated land: 

0 sq km 

Environment: 

current issues: 

NA 

natural hazards: 

volcanic activity resumed in 1970

international agreements: 

NA 

Note: 

barren volcanic island with some moss and grass

@Jan Mayen, People

Population: 

no permanent inhabitants; note - there are personnel who man the LORAN

C base and the weather and coastal services radio station

@Jan Mayen, Government

Names: 

conventional long form: 

none 

conventional short form: 

Jan Mayen 

Digraph: 

JN

Type: 

territory of Norway 

Capital: 

none; administered from Oslo, Norway, through a governor (sysselmann)

resident in Longyearbyen (Svalbard)

Independence: 

none (territory of Norway)

@Jan Mayen, Economy

Overview: 

Jan Mayen is a volcanic island with no exploitable natural resources.

Economic activity is limited to providing services for employees of

Norway's radio and meteorological stations located on the island.

Electricity: 

capacity: 

15,000 kW

production: 

40 million kWh 

consumption per capita: 

NA (1992)

@Jan Mayen, Communications

Highways: 

total: 

NA 

paved: 

NA 

unpaved: 

NA 

Ports: 

none; offshore anchorage only

Airports: 

total: 

1 

usable: 

1 

with permanent-surface runways: 

0 

with runways over 3,659 m: 

0 

with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 

0 

with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 

1 

Telecommunications: 

radio and meteorological station

@Jan Mayen, Defense Forces

Note: 

defense is the responsibility of Norway

@Japan, Geography

Location: 

Eastern Asia, off the southeast coast of Russia and east of the Korean

peninsula

Map references: 

Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World 

Area: 

total area: 

377,835 sq km 

land area: 

374,744 sq km 

comparative area: 

slightly smaller than California

note: 

includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto, Minami-jima,