meat, wheat, corn, oilseed, hides, wool

partners: 

US 12%, Brazil, Italy, Japan, Netherlands

Imports: 

$16 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.)

commodities: 

machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, fuels and lubricants,

agricultural products

partners: 

US 22%, Brazil, Germany, Bolivia, Japan, Italy, Netherlands

External debt: 

$73 billion (April 1994)

Industrial production: 

growth rate 10% (1992 est.); accounts for 31% of GDP

Electricity: 

capacity: 

17,911,000 kW

production: 

51.305 billion kWh 

consumption per capita: 

1,559 kWh (1992)

Industries: 

food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles,

chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel

Agriculture: 

accounts for 8% of GDP (including fishing); produces abundant food for

both domestic consumption and exports; among world's top five

exporters of grain and beef; principal crops - wheat, corn, sorghum,

soybeans, sugar beets

Illicit drugs: 

increasing use as a transshipment country for cocaine headed for the

US and Europe

Economic aid: 

recipient: 

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1 billion; Western

(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $4.4

billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $718 million 

Currency: 

1 nuevo peso argentino = 100 centavos

Exchange rates: 

pesos per US$1 - 0.99850 (January 1994), 0.99895 (1993), 0.99064

(1992), 0.95355 (1991), 0.48759 (1990), 0.04233 (1989)

Fiscal year: 

calendar year

@Argentina, Communications

Railroads: 

34,172 km total (includes 209 km electrified); includes a mixture of

1.435-meter standard gauge, 1.676-meter broad gauge, 1.000-meter

narrow gauge, and 0.750-meter narrow gauge

Highways: 

total: 

208,350 km 

paved: 

57,000 km 

unpaved: 

gravel 39,500 km; improved/unimproved earth 111,850 km 

Inland waterways: 

11,000 km navigable

Pipelines: 

crude oil 4,090 km; petroleum products 2,900 km; natural gas 9,918 km 

Ports: 

Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Comodoro Rivadavia, La Plata, Rosario,

Santa Fe

Merchant marine: 

57 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 656,289 GRT/1,008,792 DWT, bulk

3, cargo 29, container 4, oil tanker 14, railcar carrier 1,

refrigerated cargo 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 

Airports: 

total: 

1,649 

usable: 

1,394 

with permanent-surface runways: 

139 

with runways over 3,659 m: 

0 

with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 

31 

with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 

332 

Telecommunications: 

extensive modern system but many families do not have telephones;

2,650,000 telephones (12,000 public telephones); telephone density 78

per 1000 persons; microwave widely used; broadcast stations - 171 AM,

no FM, 231 TV, 13 shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations;

domestic satellite network has 40 earth stations

@Argentina, Defense Forces

Branches: 

Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic, Argentine Air Force,

National Gendarmerie, Argentine Naval Prefecture (Coast Guard only),

National Aeronautical Police Force 

Manpower availability: 

males age 15-49 8,417,880; fit for military service 6,825,795; reach

military age (20) annually 292,725 (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures: 

$NA, NA% of GDP

@Armenia, Geography

Location: 

Southwestern Asia, between Turkey and Azerbaijan

Map references: 

Africa, Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - European States,

Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World 

Area: 

total area: 

29,800 sq km 

land area: 

28,400 sq km 

comparative area: 

slightly larger than Maryland

Land boundaries: 

total 1,254 km, Azerbaijan (east) 566 km, Azerbaijan (south) 221 km,

Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km 

Coastline: 

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: 

none; landlocked

International disputes: 

violent and longstanding dispute with Azerbaijan over ethnically

Armenian exclave of Nagorno-Karabakh; traditional demands on former

Armenian lands in Turkey have greatly subsided

Climate: 

highland continental, hot summers, cold winters

Terrain: 

high Armenian Plateau with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing

rivers; good soil in Aras River valley

Natural resources: 

small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina 

Land use: 

arable land: 

17% 

permanent crops: 

3% 

meadows and pastures: 

20% 

forest and woodland: 

0% 

other: 

60% 

Irrigated land: 

3,050 sq km (1990)

Environment: 

current issues: 

soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; energy blockade, the

result of conflict with Azerbaijan, has led to deforestation as

citizens scavenge for firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras

Rivers; the draining of Lake Sevan, a result of its use as a source

for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; air pollution in

Yerevan

natural hazards: 

occasionally severe earthquakes (25,000 people killed in major quake

in 1988); subject to drought

international agreements: 

party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change

Note: 

landlocked

@Armenia, People

Population: 

3,521,517 (July 1994 est.) 

Population growth rate: 

1.08% (1994 est.) 

Birth rate: 

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

Death rate: 

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

Net migration rate: 

-6.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Infant mortality rate: 

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

Life expectancy at birth: 

total population: 

72.07 years 

male: 

68.65 years 

female: 

75.65 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 

3.19 children born/woman (1994 est.) 

Nationality: 

noun: 

Armenian(s) 

adjective: 

Armenian 

Ethnic divisions: 

Armenian 93%, Azeri 3%, Russian 2%, other 2% 

Religions: 

Armenian Orthodox 94% 

Languages: 

Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2% 

Literacy: 

age 9-49 can read and write (1970)

total population: 

100% 

male: 

100% 

female: 

100% 

Labor force: 

1.578 million 

by occupation: 

industry and construction 34%, agriculture and forestry 31%, other 35%

(1992)

@Armenia, Government

Names: 

conventional long form: 

Republic of Armenia 

conventional short form: 

Armenia 

local long form: 

Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun 

local short form: 

Hayastan 

former: 

Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic; Armenian Republic 

Digraph: 

AM

Type: 

republic 

Capital: 

Yerevan 

Administrative divisions: 

none (all rayons are under direct republic jurisdiction)

Independence: 

28 May 1918 (First Armenian Republic); 23 September 1991 (from Soviet

Union)

National holiday: 

Referendum Day, 21 September 

Constitution: 

adopted NA April 1978; post-Soviet constitution not yet adopted

Legal system: 

based on civil law system

Suffrage: 

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: 

chief of state: 

President Levon Akopovich TER-PETROSYAN (since 16 October 1991), Vice

President Gagik ARUTYUNYAN (since 16 October 1991); election last held

16 October 1991 (next to be held NA); results - Levon Akopovich

TER-PETROSYAN 86%; radical nationalists about 7%; note - Levon

Akopovich TER-PETROSYAN was elected Chairman of the Armenian Supreme

Soviet 4 August 1990 before becoming president

head of government: 

Prime Minister Hrant BAGRATYAN (since 16 February 1993); First Deputy

Prime Minister Vigen CHITECHYAN (since 16 February 1993) 

cabinet: 

Council of Ministers; appointed by the president

Legislative branch: 

unicameral

Supreme Soviet: 

elections last held 20 May 1990 (next to be held NA); results -

percent of vote by party NA; seats - (260 total) non-aligned 125, ANM

52, DPA 23, Democratic Liberal Party 17, ARF 17, NDU 9, Christian

Democratic Party 1, Constitutional Rights Union 1, UNSD 1, Republican

Party 1, Nagorno-Karabakh representatives 13

Judicial branch: 

Supreme Court 

Political parties and leaders: 

Armenian National Movement (ANM), Ter-Husik LAZARYAN, chairman;

National Democratic Union (NDU), David VARTANYAN, chairman; Armenian

Revolutionary Federation (ARF, Dashnaktsutyun), Arutyun ALISTAKESYAN,

chairman; Democratic Party of Armenia (DPA; Communist Party), Aram

SARKISYAN, chairman; Christian Democratic Party, Azat ARSHAKYAN,

chairman; Greens Party, Hakob SANASARIAN, chairman; Democratic Liberal

Party, Rouben MIRZAKHANYAN, chairman; Republican Party, Ashot

NAVARSARDYAN, chairman; Union for Self-Determination (UNSD), Paruir

AIRIKYAN, chairman

Member of: 

BSEC, CCC, CIS, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO,

IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NACC, NAM (observer), UN, UNCTAD,

UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO 

Diplomatic representation in US: 

chief of mission: 

Ambassador Rouben Robert SHUGARIAN 

chancery: 

Suite 210, 1660 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 

telephone: 

(202) 628-5766 

US diplomatic representation: 

chief of mission: 

Ambassador Harry J. GILMORE 

embassy: 

18 Gen Bagramian, Yerevan 

mailing address: 

use embassy street address 

telephone: 

7-8852-151-144 or 8852-524-661 

FAX: 

7-8852-151-138 

Flag: 

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and gold

@Armenia, Economy

Overview: 

Under the old central planning system, Armenia had built up a

developed industrial sector, supplying machine building equipment,

textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics in exchange

for raw materials and energy resources. Armenia is a large food

importer and its mineral deposits (gold, bauxite) are small. The

economic decline in the past three years (1991-93) has been

particularly severe due to the ongoing conflict over the Armenian

enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan and Turkey have

blockaded pipeline and railroad traffic to Armenia for its support of

the Karabakh Armenians. This has left Armenia with only sporadic

deliveries of natural gas through unstable Georgia, while other fuel

and raw materials are in critical short supply. Inflation, roughly 14%

per month in the first nine months of 1993, surged even higher in the

fourth quarter. In late 1993, most industrial enterprises were either

shut down or operating at drastically reduced levels. Only small

quantities of food were available (mostly humanitarian aid), heat was

nonexistent, and electricity strictly rationed. An economic recovery

cannot be expected until the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is settled and

until transportation through Georgia improves.

National product: 

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $7.1 billion (1993 estimate from

the UN International Comparison Program, as extended to 1991 and

published in the World Bank's World Development Report 1993; and as

extrapolated to 1993 using official Armenian statistics, which are

very uncertain because of major economic changes since 1990)

National product real growth rate: 

-9.9% (1993 est.)

National product per capita: 

$2,040 (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 

14% per month average (first 9 months, 1993)

Unemployment rate: 

6.5% of officially registered unemployed but large numbers of

underemployed (1993 est.)

Budget: 

revenues: 

$NA

expenditures: 

$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Exports: 

$31 million to countries outside the FSU (f.o.b., 1993)

commodities: 

machinery and transport equipment, light industrial products,

processed food items, alcoholic products (1991)

partners: 

NA

Imports: 

$87 million from countries outside the FSU (c.i.f., 1993)

commodities: 

grain, other foods, fuel, other energy (1991)

partners: 

Russia, US, EC

External debt: 

$NA

Industrial production: 

growth rate -11% (1993 est.)

Electricity: 

capacity: 

2,875,000 kW

production: 

9 billion kWh 

consumption per capita: 

2,585 kWh (1992)

Industries: 

traditionally diverse, including (as a percent of output of former

USSR) metalcutting machine tools (5.5%), forging-pressing machines

(1.9%), electric motors (9%), tires (1.5%), knitted wear (4.4%),

hosiery (3.0%), shoes (2.2%), silk fabric (0.8%), washing machines

(2.0%), chemicals, trucks, watches, instruments, and microelectronics

(1990); currently, much of industry is shut down

Agriculture: 

accounts for about 45% of GDP; only 17% of land area is arable;

employs 20%-30% of labor force as residents increasingly turn to

subsistence agriculture; fruits (especially grapes) and vegetable

farming, minor livestock sector; vineyards near Yerevan are famous for

brandy and other liqueurs

Illicit drugs: 

illicit cultivator of cannabis mostly for domestic consumption; used

as a transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe

Economic aid: 

recipient: 

considerable humanitarian aid, mostly food and energy products, from

US and EC; Russia has granted 60 billion rubles in technical credits

Currency: 

1 dram = 100 luma; introduced separate currency in November 1993

Exchange rates: 

NA

Fiscal year: 

calendar year

@Armenia, Communications

Railroads: 

840 km; does not include industrial lines (1990)

Highways: 

total: 

11,300 km 

paved: 

10,500 km 

unpaved: 

earth 800 km (1990)

Inland waterways: 

NA km

Pipelines: 

natural gas 900 km (1991)

Ports: 

none; landlocked

Airports: 

total: 

12 

usable: 

10 

with permanent-surface runways: 

6 

with runways over 3,659 m: 

1 

with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 

3 

with runways 1,060-2,439 m: 

2 

note: 

a C-130 can land on a 1,060-m airstrip

Telecommunications: 

progress on installation of fiber optic cable and construction of

facilities for mobile cellular phone service remains in the

negotiation phase for joint venture agreement; Armenia has about

650,000 telephones; average telephone density is 17.7 per 100 persons;

international connections to other former republics of the USSR are by

landline or microwave and to other countries by satellite and by

leased connection through the Moscow international gateway switch;

broadcast stations - 100% of population receives Armenian and Russian

TV programs; satellite earth station - INTELSAT

@Armenia, Defense Forces

Branches: 

Army, Air Force, National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border

troops)

Manpower availability: 

males age 15-49 862,921; fit for military service 690,113; reach

military age (18) annually 28,458 (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures: 

250 million rubles, NA% of GDP (1992 est.); note - conversion of the

military budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate could

produce misleading results

@Aruba

Header

Affiliation: 

(part of the Dutch realm) 

@Aruba, Geography

Location: 

Caribbean, in the southern Caribbean Sea, 28 km north of Venezuela and

125 km east of Colombia

Map references: 

Central America and the Caribbean 

Area: 

total area: 

193 sq km 

land area: 

193 sq km 

comparative area: 

slightly larger than Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 

0 km 

Coastline: 

68.5 km 

Maritime claims: 

exclusive fishing zone: 

12 nm

territorial sea: 

12 nm

International disputes: 

none

Climate: 

tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: 

flat with a few hills; scant vegetation

Natural resources: 

negligible; white sandy beaches 

Land use: 

arable land: 

0% 

permanent crops: 

0% 

meadows and pastures: 

0% 

forest and woodland: 

0% 

other: 

100% 

Irrigated land: 

NA sq km

Environment: 

current issues: 

NA 

natural hazards: 

lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt

international agreements: 

NA 

@Aruba, People

Population: 

65,545 (July 1994 est.) 

Population growth rate: 

0.65% (1994 est.) 

Birth rate: 

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

Death rate: 

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

Net migration rate: 

-2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Infant mortality rate: 

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

Life expectancy at birth: 

total population: 

76.43 years 

male: 

72.77 years 

female: 

80.27 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 

1.82 children born/woman (1994 est.) 

Nationality: 

noun: 

Aruban(s) 

adjective: 

Aruban 

Ethnic divisions: 

mixed European/Caribbean Indian 80% 

Religions: 

Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish 

Languages: 

Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English

dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish 

Literacy: 

total population: 

NA%

male: 

NA%

female: 

NA%

Labor force: 

NA

by occupation: 

most employment is in the tourist industry (1986)

@Aruba, Government

Names: 

conventional long form: 

none 

conventional short form: 

Aruba 

Digraph: 

AA

Type: 

part of the Dutch realm; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in

1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles

Capital: 

Oranjestad 

Administrative divisions: 

none (self-governing part of the Netherlands)

Independence: 

none (part of the Dutch realm; in 1990, Aruba requested and received

from the Netherlands cancellation of the agreement to automatically

give independence to the island in 1996)

National holiday: 

Flag Day, 18 March 

Constitution: 

1 January 1986

Legal system: 

based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law

influence

Suffrage: 

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: 

chief of state: 

Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980), represented by

Governor General Olindo KOOLMAN (since 1 January 1992) 

head of government: 

Prime Minister Nelson ODUBER (since 6 February 1989) 

cabinet: 

Council of Ministers; appointed with the advice and approval of the

legislature

Legislative branch: 

unicameral

Legislature (Staten): 

elections last held 8 January 1993 (next to be held by NA January

1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (21 total) MEP

9, AVP 8, ADN 1, PPA 1, OLA 1, other 1

Judicial branch: 

Joint High Court of Justice 

Political parties and leaders: 

Electoral Movement Party (MEP), Nelson ODUBER; Aruban People's Party

(AVP), Henny EMAN; National Democratic Action (ADN), Pedro Charro

KELLY; New Patriotic Party (PPN), Eddy WERLEMEN; Aruban Patriotic

Party (PPA), Benny NISBET; Aruban Democratic Party (PDA), Leo

BERLINSKI; Democratic Action '86 (AD '86), Arturo ODUBER; Organization

for Aruban Liberty (OLA), Glenbert CROES

note: 

governing coalition includes the MEP, PPA, and ADN

Member of: 

ECLAC (associate), INTERPOL, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WTO

(associate) 

Diplomatic representation in US: 

none (self-governing part of the Netherlands)

US diplomatic representation: 

none (self-governing part of the Netherlands)

Flag: 

blue with two narrow horizontal yellow stripes across the lower

portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper

hoist-side corner

@Aruba, Economy

Overview: 

Tourism is the mainstay of the economy, although offshore banking and

oil refining and storage are also important. Hotel capacity expanded

rapidly between 1985 and 1989 and nearly doubled in 1990 alone.

Unemployment has steadily declined from about 20% in 1986 to about 3%

in 1991 and to less than 1% in 1992. The reopening of the local oil

refinery, once a major source of employment and foreign exchange

earnings, promises to give the economy an additional boost.

National product: 

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.2 billion (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate: 

5% (1993)

National product per capita: 

$17,400 (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 

6.5% (1993)

Unemployment rate: 

0.6% (1992)

Budget: 

revenues: 

$145 million 

expenditures: 

$185 million, including capital expenditures of $42 million (1988)

Exports: 

$1.3 billion (including oil re-exports) (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

commodities: 

mostly petroleum products

partners: 

US 64%, EC

Imports: 

$1.6 billion including oil for processing and re-export (f.o.b., 1993

est.)

commodities: 

food, consumer goods, manufactures, petroleum products

partners: 

US 8%, EC

External debt: 

$81 million (1987)

Industrial production: 

growth rate NA%

Electricity: 

capacity: 

90,000 kW

production: 

375 million kWh 

consumption per capita: 

6,000 kWh (1990 est.)

Industries: 

tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining

Agriculture: 

poor quality soils and low rainfall limit agricultural activity to the

cultivation of aloes, some livestock, and fishing

Illicit drugs: 

drug money laundering center and transit point for narcotics bound for

the US and Europe

Economic aid: 

recipient: 

Western (non-US) countries ODA and OOF bilateral commitments

(1980-89), $220 million 

Currency: 

1 Aruban florin (Af.) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: 

Aruban florins (Af.) per US$1 - 1.7900 (fixed rate since 1986)

Fiscal year: 

calendar year

@Aruba, Communications

Highways: 

total: 

NA 

paved: 

NA 

unpaved: 

NA 

Ports: 

Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas

Airports: 

total: 

2 

usable: 

2 

with permanent-surface runways: 

2 

with runways over 3,659 m: 

0 

with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 

1 

with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 

0 

note: 

government-owned airport east of Oranjestad accepts transatlantic

flights

Telecommunications: 

more than adequate; telephone density - 1,100 telephones per 1,000

persons; extensive interisland microwave radio relay links; 72,168

telephones; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV; 1 submarine cable

to Saint Maarten

@Aruba, Defense Forces

Note: 

defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands

@Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Header

Affiliation: 

(territory of Australia) 

@Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Geography

Location: 

Southeastern Asia, in the Indian Ocean, 320 km off the northwest coast

of Australia, between Australia and Indonesia

Map references: 

Oceania, Southeast Asia 

Area: 

total area: 

5 sq km 

land area: 

5 sq km 

comparative area: 

about 8.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

note: 

includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier

Island

Land boundaries: 

0 km 

Coastline: 

74.1 km 

Maritime claims: 

contiguous zone: 

12 nm

continental shelf: 

200-m depth or to depth of exploration

exclusive fishing zone: 

200 nm

territorial sea: 

3 nm

International disputes: 

none

Climate: 

tropical

Terrain: 

low with sand and coral

Natural resources: 

fish 

Land use: 

arable land: 

0% 

permanent crops: 

0% 

meadows and pastures: 

0% 

forest and woodland: 

0% 

other: 

100% (all grass and sand)

Irrigated land: 

0 sq km 

Environment: 

current issues: 

NA 

natural hazards: 

surrounded by shoals and reefs

international agreements: 

NA 

Note: 

Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983

@Ashmore and Cartier Islands, People

Population: 

no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are only seasonal caretakers

@Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Government

Names: 

conventional long form: 

Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands 

conventional short form: 

Ashmore and Cartier Islands 

Digraph: 

AT

Type: 

territory of Australia administered by the Australian Ministry for the

Environment, Sport, and Territories

Capital: 

none; administered from Canberra, Australia

Administrative divisions: 

none (territory of Australia)

Independence: 

none (territory of Australia)

Legal system: 

relevant laws of the Northern Territory of Australia

Diplomatic representation in US: 

none (territory of Australia)

US diplomatic representation: 

none (territory of Australia)

@Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Economy

Overview: 

no economic activity

@Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Communications

Ports: 

none; offshore anchorage only

@Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Defense Forces

Note: 

defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the

Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force

@Atlantic Ocean, Geography

Location: 

body of water between the Western Hemisphere and Europe/Africa

Map references: 

Africa, Antarctic Region, Arctic Region, Central America and the

Caribbean, Europe, North America, South America, Standard Time Zones

of the World 

Area: 

total area: 

82.217 million sq km 

comparative area: 

slightly less than nine times the size of the US; second-largest of

the world's four oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, but larger than

Indian Ocean or Arctic Ocean)

note: 

includes Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait, Denmark

Strait, Drake Passage, Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea,

Norwegian Sea, Scotia Sea, Weddell Sea, and other tributary water

bodies

Coastline: 

111,866 km 

International disputes: 

some maritime disputes (see littoral states)

Climate: 

tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of Africa near

Cape Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea; hurricanes can

occur from May to December, but are most frequent from August to

November

Terrain: 

surface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea, Denmark Strait,

and Baltic Sea from October to June; clockwise warm water gyre (broad,

circular system of currents) in the north Atlantic, counterclockwise

warm water gyre in the south Atlantic; the ocean floor is dominated by

the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged north-south centerline for the entire

Atlantic basin; maximum depth is 8,605 meters in the Puerto Rico

Trench

Natural resources: 

oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales), sand and

gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, precious

stones 

Environment: 

current issues: 

endangered marine species include the manatee, seals, sea lions,

turtles, and whales; municipal sludge pollution off eastern US,

southern Brazil, and eastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean

Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea;

industrial waste and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea, North

Sea, and Mediterranean Sea

natural hazards: 

icebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, and the northwestern

Atlantic Ocean from February to August and have been spotted as far

south as Bermuda and the Madeira Islands; icebergs from Antarctica

occur in the extreme southern Atlantic Ocean

international agreements: 

NA 

Note: 

ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme north Atlantic from

October to May and extreme south Atlantic from May to October;

persistent fog can be a hazard to shipping from May to September;

major choke points include the Dardanelles, Strait of Gibraltar,

access to the Panama and Suez Canals; strategic straits include the

Strait of Dover, Straits of Florida, Mona Passage, The Sound

(Oresund), and Windward Passage; north Atlantic shipping lanes subject

to icebergs from February to August; the Equator divides the Atlantic

Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean

@Atlantic Ocean, Government

Digraph: 

ZH

@Atlantic Ocean, Economy

Overview: 

The Atlantic Ocean provides some of the world's most heavily

trafficked sea routes, between and within the Eastern and Western

Hemispheres. Other economic activity includes the exploitation of

natural resources, e.g., fishing, the dredging of aragonite sands (The

Bahamas), and production of crude oil and natural gas (Caribbean Sea,

Gulf of Mexico, and North Sea).

@Atlantic Ocean, Communications

Ports: 

Alexandria (Egypt), Algiers (Algeria), Antwerp (Belgium), Barcelona

(Spain), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Casablanca (Morocco), Colon

(Panama), Copenhagen (Denmark), Dakar (Senegal), Gdansk (Poland),

Hamburg (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), Las Palmas (Canary Islands,

Spain), Le Havre (France), Lisbon (Portugal), London (UK), Marseille

(France), Montevideo (Uruguay), Montreal (Canada), Naples (Italy), New

Orleans (US), New York (US), Oran (Algeria), Oslo (Norway), Piraeus

(Greece), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Saint

Petersburg (formerly Leningrad; Russia), Stockholm (Sweden)

Telecommunications: 

numerous submarine cables with most between continental Europe and the

UK, North America and the UK, and in the Mediterranean; numerous

direct links across Atlantic via INTELSAT satellite network

Note: 

Kiel Canal and Saint Lawrence Seaway are two important waterways

@Australia, Geography

Location: 

Southwestern Oceania, between Indonesia and New Zealand

Map references: 

Southeast Asia, Oceania, Antarctic Region, Standard Time Zones of the

World 

Area: 

total area: 

7,686,850 sq km 

land area: 

7,617,930 sq km 

comparative area: 

slightly smaller than the US

note: 

includes Macquarie Island

Land boundaries: 

0 km 

Coastline: 

25,760 km 

Maritime claims: 

contiguous zone: 

12 nm

continental shelf: 

200-m depth or to depth of exploitation

exclusive fishing zone: 

200 nm

territorial sea: 

12 nm

International disputes: 

territorial claim in Antarctica (Australian Antarctic Territory)

Climate: 

generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in

north

Terrain: 

mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast

Natural resources: 

bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver, uranium, nickel,

tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum 

Land use: 

arable land: 

6% 

permanent crops: 

0% 

meadows and pastures: 

58% 

forest and woodland: 

14% 

other: 

22% 

Irrigated land: 

18,800 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment: 

current issues: 

soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization,

and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due to the use of

poor quality water; desertification; clearing for agricultural

purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plant

species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest

coral reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping and its

popularity as a tourist site; limited freshwater availability

natural hazards: 

cyclones along the coast; subject to severe droughts

international agreements: 

party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental

Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life

Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship

Pollution, Tropical Timber, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not

ratified - Law of the Sea

Note: 

world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population

concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; regular,

tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as "the Doctor" occurs along

the west coast in the summer

@Australia, People

Population: 

18,077,419 (July 1994 est.) 

Population growth rate: 

1.38% (1994 est.) 

Birth rate: 

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

Death rate: 

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

Net migration rate: 

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

Infant mortality rate: 

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

Life expectancy at birth: 

total population: 

77.57 years 

male: 

74.45 years 

female: 

80.84 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 

1.83 children born/woman (1994 est.) 

Nationality: 

noun: 

Australian(s) 

adjective: 

Australian 

Ethnic divisions: 

Caucasian 95%, Asian 4%, aboriginal and other 1% 

Religions: 

Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 24.3% 

Languages: 

English, native languages 

Literacy: 

age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)

total population: 

100% 

male: 

100% 

female: 

100% 

Labor force: 

8.63 million (September 1991)

by occupation: 

finance and services 33.8%, public and community services 22.3%,

wholesale and retail trade 20.1%, manufacturing and industry 16.2%,

agriculture 6.1% (1987)

@Australia, Government

Names: 

conventional long form: 

Commonwealth of Australia 

conventional short form: 

Australia 

Digraph: 

AS

Type: 

federal parliamentary state 

Capital: 

Canberra 

Administrative divisions: 

6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South

Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania,

Victoria, Western Australia

Dependent areas: 

Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling)

Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk

Island 

Independence: 

1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)

National holiday: 

Australia Day, 26 January (1788) 

Constitution: 

9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901

Legal system: 

based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with

reservations

Suffrage: 

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch: 

chief of state: 

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

General William George HAYDEN (since 16 February 1989) 

head of government: 

Prime Minister Paul John KEATING (since 20 December 1991); Deputy

Prime Minister Brian HOWE (since 4 June 1991) 

cabinet: 

Cabinet; prime minister selects his cabinet from members of the House

and Senate

Legislative branch: 

bicameral Federal Parliament

Senate: 

elections last held 13 March 1993 (next to be held by NA 1996);

results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (76 total)

Liberal-National 36, Labor 30, Australian Democrats 7, Greens 2,

independents 1

House of Representatives: 

elections last held 13 March 1993 (next to be held by NA 1996);

results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (147 total) Labor 80,

Liberal-National 65, independent 2

Judicial branch: 

High Court 

Political parties and leaders: 

government: 

Australian Labor Party, Paul John KEATING

opposition: 

Liberal Party, John HEWSON; National Party, Timothy FISCHER;

Australian Democratic Party, Cheryl KERNOT; Green Party, leader NA

Other political or pressure groups: 

Australian Democratic Labor Party (anti-Communist Labor Party splinter

group); Peace and Nuclear Disarmament Action (Nuclear Disarmament

Party splinter group)

Member of: 

AfDB, AG (observer), ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC,

COCOM, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, GATT, G-8, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,

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

IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, PCA,

SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOSOM,

UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC 

Diplomatic representation in US: 

chief of mission: 

Ambassador Donald RUSSELL 

chancery: 

1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 

telephone: 

(202) 797-3000 

FAX: 

(202) 797-3168 

consulate(s) general: 

Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Pago Pago (American

Samoa), and San Francisco 

US diplomatic representation: 

chief of mission: 

Ambassador Edward PERKINS 

embassy: 

Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600 

mailing address: 

APO AP 96549 

telephone: 

[61] (6) 270-5000 

FAX: 

[61] (6) 270-5970 

consulate(s) general: 

Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney 

consulate(s): 

Brisbane 

Flag: 

blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a

large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant; the

remaining half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation

in white with one small five-pointed star and four, larger,

seven-pointed stars

@Australia, Economy

Overview: 

Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, with a

per capita GDP comparable to levels in industrialized West European

countries. Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major exporter of

agricultural products, minerals, metals, and fossil fuels. Primary

products account for more than 60% of the value of total exports, so

that, as in 1983-84, a downturn in world commodity prices can have a

big impact on the economy. The government is pushing for increased

exports of manufactured goods, but competition in international

markets continues to be severe. Australia has suffered from the low

growth and high unemployment characterizing the OECD countries in the

early 1990s. In 1992-93 the economy recovered slowly from the

prolonged recession of 1990-91, a major restraining factor being weak

world demand for Australia's exports. Unemployment has hovered around

10% and probably will remain at that level in 1994 as productivity

gains rather than more jobs account for growth.

National product: 

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $339.7 billion (1993)

National product real growth rate: 

4% (1993)

National product per capita: 

$19,100 (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 

1.1% (1993)

Unemployment rate: 

10% (December 1993)

Budget: 

revenues: 

$71.9 billion 

expenditures: 

$83.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY93)

Exports: 

$44.1 billion (1992)

commodities: 

coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and transport

equipment

partners: 

Japan 25%, US 11%, South Korea 6%, NZ 5.7%, UK, Taiwan, Singapore,

Hong Kong (1992)

Imports: 

$43.6 billion (1992)

commodities: 

machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines,

crude oil and petroleum products

partners: 

US 23%, Japan 18%, UK 6%, Germany 5.7%, NZ 4% (1992)

External debt: 

$141.1 billion (1993)

Industrial production: 

growth rate 1.9% (FY93); accounts for 32% of GDP

Electricity: 

capacity: 

40,000,000 kW

production: 

150 billion kWh 

consumption per capita: 

8,475 kWh (1992)

Industries: 

mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing,

chemicals, steel

Agriculture: 

accounts for 5% of GDP and over 30% of export revenues; world's

largest exporter of beef and wool, second-largest for mutton, and

among top wheat exporters; major crops - wheat, barley, sugarcane,

fruit; livestock - cattle, sheep, poultry

Illicit drugs: 

Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiate

products; government maintains strict controls over areas of opium

poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate

Economic aid: 

donor: 

ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $10.4 billion 

Currency: 

1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: 

Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4364 (January 1994), 1.4704

(1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989)

Fiscal year: 

1 July - 30 June

@Australia, Communications

Railroads: 

40,478 km total; 7,970 km 1.600-meter gauge, 16,201 km 1.435-meter

standard gauge, 16,307 km 1.067-meter gauge; 183 km dual gauge; 1,130

km electrified; government owned (except for a few hundred kilometers

of privately owned track) (1985)

Highways: 

total: 

837,872 km 

paved: 

243,750 km 

unpaved: 

gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 228,396 km; unimproved earth

365,726 km 

Inland waterways: 

8,368 km; mainly by small, shallow-draft craft

Pipelines: 

crude oil 2,500 km; petroleum products 500 km; natural gas 5,600 km 

Ports: 

Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Devonport, Fremantle, Geelong,

Hobart, Launceston, Mackay, Melbourne, Sydney, Townsville

Merchant marine: 

83 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,517,538 GRT/3,711,549 DWT,

bulk 30, cargo 8, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk 2, container 7,

liquefied gas 5, oil tanker 18, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea

passenger 2, vehicle carrier 1 

Airports: 

total: 

481 

usable: 

440 

with permanent-surface runways: 

241 

with runways over 3,659 m: 

1 

with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 

20 

with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 

268 

Telecommunications: 

good international and domestic service; 8.7 million telephones;

broadcast stations - 258 AM, 67 FM, 134 TV; submarine cables to New

Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia; domestic satellite service;

satellite stations - 4 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 6 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT

earth stations

@Australia, Defense Forces

Branches: 

Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force 

Manpower availability: 

males age 15-49 4,885,574; fit for military service 4,239,459; reach

military age (17) annually 133,337 (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures: 

exchange rate conversion - $7.1 billion, 2.4% of GDP (FY92/93)

@Austria, Geography

Location: 

Central Europe, between Germany and Hungary

Map references: 

Africa, Arctic Region, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World 

Area: 

total area: 

83,850 sq km 

land area: 

82,730 sq km 

comparative area: 

slightly smaller than Maine

Land boundaries: 

total 2,496 km, Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366 km,

Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 37 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 262 km,

Switzerland 164 km 

Coastline: 

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: 

none; landlocked

International disputes: 

none

Climate: 

temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain in

lowlands and snow in mountains; cool summers with occasional showers

Terrain: 

in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the eastern and

northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping

Natural resources: 

iron ore, petroleum, timber, magnesite, aluminum, lead, coal, lignite,

copper, hydropower 

Land use: 

arable land: 

17% 

permanent crops: 

1% 

meadows and pastures: 

24% 

forest and woodland: 

39% 

other: 

19% 

Irrigated land: 

40 sq km (1989)

Environment: 

current issues: 

some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil

pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air

pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stations

and industrial plants

natural hazards: 

NA 

international agreements: 

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

Pollution-Sulphur, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change, Endangered

Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test

Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber,

Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Volatile Organic

Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Law of the

Sea

Note: 

landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe

with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major river is

the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because of

steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere

@Austria, People

Population: 

7,954,974 (July 1994 est.) 

Population growth rate: 

0.45% (1994 est.) 

Birth rate: 

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

Death rate: 

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

Net migration rate: 

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

Infant mortality rate: 

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

Life expectancy at birth: 

total population: 

76.65 years 

male: 

73.44 years 

female: 

80.03 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 

1.48 children born/woman (1994 est.) 

Nationality: 

noun: 

Austrian(s) 

adjective: 

Austrian 

Ethnic divisions: 

German 99.4%, Croatian 0.3%, Slovene 0.2%, other 0.1% 

Religions: 

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 6%, other 9% 

Languages: 

German 

Literacy: 

age 15 and over can read and write (1974 est.)

total population: 

99% 

male: 

NA%

female: 

NA%

Labor force: 

3.47 million (1989)

by occupation: 

services 56.4%, industry and crafts 35.4%, agriculture and forestry

8.1%

note: 

an estimated 200,000 Austrians are employed in other European

countries; foreign laborers in Austria number 177,840, about 6% of

labor force (1988)

@Austria, Government

Names: 

conventional long form: 

Republic of Austria 

conventional short form: 

Austria 

local long form: 

Republik Oesterreich 

local short form: 

Oesterreich 

Digraph: 

AU

Type: 

federal republic 

Capital: 

Vienna 

Administrative divisions: 

9 states (bundeslander, singular - bundesland); Burgenland, Karnten,

Niederoesterreich, Oberoesterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol,

Vorarlberg, Wien

Independence: 

12 November 1918 (from Austro-Hungarian Empire)

National holiday: 

National Day, 26 October (1955) 

Constitution: 

1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1 May 1945)

Legal system: 

civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review of legislative

acts by a Constitutional Court; separate administrative and

civil/penal supreme courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ

jurisdiction

Suffrage: 

19 years of age, universal; compulsory for presidential elections

Executive branch: 

chief of state: 

President Thomas KLESTIL (since 8 July 1992); election last held 24

May 1992 (next to be held 1996); results of second ballot - Thomas

KLESTIL 57%, Rudolf STREICHER 43%

head of government: 

Chancellor Franz VRANITZKY (since 16 June 1986); Vice Chancellor

Erhard BUSEK (since 2 July 1991) 

cabinet: 

Council of Ministers; chosen by the president on the advice of the

chancellor

Legislative branch: 

bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung)

Federal Council (Bundesrat): 

consists of 63 members representing each of the provinces on the basis

of population, but with each province having at least 3

representatives

National Council (Nationalrat): 

elections last held 7 October 1990 (next to be held October 1994);

results - SPOE 43%, OEVP 32.1%, FPOE 16.6%, GAL 4.5%, KPOE 0.7%, other

3.1%; seats - (183 total) SPOE 80, OEVP 60, FPOE 33, GAL 10

Judicial branch: 

Supreme Judicial Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for civil and criminal

cases, Administrative Court (Verwaltungsgerichtshof) for bureaucratic

cases, Constitutional Court (Verfassungsgerichtshof) for

constitutional cases

Political parties and leaders: 

Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPOE), Franz VRANITZKY, chairman;

Austrian People's Party (OEVP), Erhard BUSEK, chairman; Freedom Party

of Austria (FPOE), Joerg HAIDER, chairman; Communist Party (KPOE),

Walter SILBERMAYER, chairman; Green Alternative List (GAL), Peter

PILZ, chairman; Liberal Forum (LF), Heidi SCHMIDT

Other political or pressure groups: 

Federal Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Austrian Trade Union

Federation (primarily Socialist); three composite leagues of the

Austrian People's Party (OEVP) representing business, labor, and

farmers; OEVP-oriented League of Austrian Industrialists; Roman

Catholic Church, including its chief lay organization, Catholic Action

Member of: 

AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN,

COCOM (cooperating), CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-9, GATT, IADB,

IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,

INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM

(guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUSAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,

UNESCO, UNDOF, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMIG, UNTAC, UNTSO,

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

Diplomatic representation in US: 

chief of mission: 

Ambassador Helmut TUERK 

chancery: 

3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035 

telephone: 

(202) 895-6700 

FAX: 

(202) 895-6750 

consulate(s) general: 

Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York 

US diplomatic representation: 

chief of mission: 

Ambassador Swanee G. HUNT 

chancery: 

Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1091, Vienna 

mailing address: 

Unit 27937, Vienna 

telephone: 

[43] (1) 313-39 

FAX: 

[43] (1) 513-43-51 

consulate(s) general: 

Salzburg 

Flag: 

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

@Austria, Economy

Overview: 

Austria boasts a prosperous and stable socialist market economy with a

sizable but falling proportion of nationalized industry and extensive

welfare benefits. Thanks to its raw material endowment, a technically

skilled labor force, and strong links to German industrial firms,

Austria occupies specialized niches in European industry and services

(tourism, banking) and produces almost enough food to feed itself with

only 8% of the labor force in agriculture. Increased export sales

resulting from German unification, boosted Austria's economy through

1991, but Austria's GDP growth slowed to 2% in 1992 and -0.5% in 1993

due to the weak international economy, particularly in Germany - its

largest trading partner. GDP growth will resume slowly in 1994, with

estimates ranging from a 0.5% to a 1% increase. Unemployment has risen

to 7% as a result of the slowdown and will continue to rise in 1994.

Problems for the l990s include an aging population, the high level of

subsidies, and the struggle to keep welfare benefits within budgetary

capabilities. Austria's government has taken measures to make the

economy more liberal and open by introducing a major tax reform,

privatizing state-owned firms, and liberalizing cross-border capital

movements. Although it will face increased competition, Austria should

benefit from the continued opening of eastern European markets, as

well as the 1 January 1994 start of the European Economic Area which

extends the European Union rules on the free movement of people,

capital, and goods and services to four members (including Austria) of

the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Austria has concluded

membership negotiations with the European Union and is expected to

join in early 1995, thus broadening European economic unity. The

government, however, plans to hold a national referendum on the matter

on 12 June 1994; support for and opposition to membership appears

about equal.

National product: 

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $134.4 billion (1993)

National product real growth rate: 

-0.5% (1993)

National product per capita: 

$17,000 (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 

3.7% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate: 

7% (1993 est.)

Budget: 

revenues: 

$52.2 billion 

expenditures: 

$60.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.)

Exports: 

$39.9 billion (f.o.b., 1993)

commodities: 

machinery and equipment, iron and steel, lumber, textiles, paper

products, chemicals

partners: 

EC 63.5% (Germany 38.9%), EFTA 9.0%, Eastern Europe/FSU 12.3%, Japan

1.5%, US 3.35% (1993)

Imports: 

$48.5 billion (f.o.b., 1993)

commodities: 

petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, vehicles, chemicals,

textiles and clothing, pharmaceuticals

partners: 

EC 66.8% (Germany 41.3%), EFTA 6.7%, Eastern Europe/FSU 7.5%, Japan

4.4%, US 4.4% (1993)

External debt: 

$16.2 billion (1993 est.)

Industrial production: 

growth rate -4.5% (1993 est.)

Electricity: 

capacity: 

17,600,000 kW

production: 

49.5 billion kWh 

consumption per capita: 

6,300 kWh (1992)

Industries: 

foods, iron and steel, machines, textiles, chemicals, electrical,

paper and pulp, tourism, mining, motor vehicles

Agriculture: 

accounts for 3.2% of GDP (including forestry); principal crops and

animals - grains, fruit, potatoes, sugar beets, sawn wood, cattle,

pigs, poultry; 80%-90% self-sufficient in food

Illicit drugs: 

transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the Balkan

route and Eastern Europe

Economic aid: 

donor: 

ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $2.4 billion 

Currency: 

1 Austrian schilling (S) = 100 groschen

Exchange rates: 

Austrian schillings (S) per US$1 - 12.255 (January 1994), 11.632

(1993), 10.989 (1992), 11.676 (1991), 11.370 (1990), 13.231 (1989)

Fiscal year: 

calendar year

@Austria, Communications

Railroads: 

5,749 km total; 5,652 km government owned and 97 km privately owned

(0.760-, 1.435- and 1.000-meter gauge); 5,394 km 1.435-meter standard

gauge of which 3,154 km is electrified and 1,520 km is double tracked;

339 km 0.760-meter narrow gauge of which 84 km is electrified

Highways: 

total: 

95,412 km 

paved: 

21,812 km (including 1,012 km of autobahn)

unpaved: 

mostly gravel and earth 73,600 km 

Inland waterways: 

446 km

Pipelines: 

crude oil 554 km; petroleum products 171 km; natural gas 2,611 km 

Ports: 

Vienna, Linz (Danube river ports)

Merchant marine: 

29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 158,724 GRT/259,594 DWT, bulk 3,

cargo 23, oil tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2 

Airports: 

total: 

55 

usable: 

55 

with permanent-surface runways: 

20 

with runways over 3,659 m: 

0 

with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 

6 

with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 

4 

Telecommunications: 

highly developed and efficient; 4,014,000 telephones; broadcast

stations - 6 AM, 21 (545 repeaters) FM, 47 (870 repeaters) TV;

satellite ground stations for Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, Indian Ocean

INTELSAT, and EUTELSAT systems

@Austria, Defense Forces

Branches: 

Army (including Flying Division) 

Manpower availability: 

males age 15-49 2,018,954; fit for military service 1,693,341; reach

military age (19) annually 48,710 (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures: 

exchange rate conversion - $1.7 billion, 0.9% of GDP (1993)

@Azerbaijan, Geography

Location: 

Southwestern Asia, between Armenia and Turkmenistan, bordering the

Caspian Sea

Map references: 

Africa, Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - Central Asian

States, Commonwealth of Independent States - European States, Middle

East, Standard Time Zones of the World 

Area: 

total area: 

86,600 sq km 

land area: 

86,100 sq km 

comparative area: 

slightly larger than Maine

note: 

includes the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic and the Nagorno-Karabakh

regions; regions' autonomy was abolished by Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet

on 26 November 1991

Land boundaries: 

total 2,013 km, Armenia (west) 566 km, Armenia (southwest) 221 km,

Georgia 322 km, Iran (south) 432 km, Iran (southwest) 179 km, Russia

284 km, Turkey 9 km 

Coastline: 

0 km (landlocked)

note: 

Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (800 km, est.)

Maritime claims: 

NA

note: 

Azerbaijani claims in Caspian Sea unknown; 10-nm fishing zone provided

for in 1940 treaty regarding trade and navigation between Soviet Union

and Iran

International disputes: 

violent and longstanding dispute with ethnic Armenians of

Nagorno-Karabakh over its status, lesser dispute concerns Nakhichevan;

some Azerbaijanis desire absorption of and/or unification with the

ethnic Azeri portion of Iran

Climate: 

dry, semiarid steppe

Terrain: 

large, flat Kur-Araz Lowland (much of it below sea level) with Great

Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag (Karabakh) Upland in west;

Baku lies on Abseron (Apsheron) Peninsula that juts into Caspian Sea

Natural resources: 

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, alumina 

Land use: 

arable land: 

18% 

permanent crops: 

4% 

meadows and pastures: 

25% 

forest and woodland: 

0% 

other: 

53% 

Irrigated land: 

14,010 sq km (1990)

Environment: 

current issues: 

local scientists consider the Abseron (Apsheron) Peninsula (including

Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be the ecologically most

devastated area in the world because of severe air, water, and soil

pollution; soil pollution results from the use of DDT as a pesticide

and also from toxic defoliants used in the production of cotton

natural hazards: 

subject to drought; some coastal areas threatened by rising levels of

the Caspian Sea

international agreements: 

signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change

Note: 

landlocked

@Azerbaijan, People

Population: 

7,684,456 (July 1994 est.) 

Population growth rate: 

1.41% (1994 est.) 

Birth rate: 

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

Death rate: 

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

Net migration rate: 

-2.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) 

Infant mortality rate: 

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

Life expectancy at birth: 

total population: 

70.85 years 

male: 

67.08 years 

female: 

74.8 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 

2.7 children born/woman (1994 est.) 

Nationality: 

noun: 

Azerbaijani(s) 

adjective: 

Azerbaijani 

Ethnic divisions: 

Azeri 82.7%, Russian 5.6%, Armenian 5.6%, Dagestani 3.2%, other 2.9%

(1989)

note: 

Armenian share is now approximately 0.3% because most Armenians have

fled the ethnic violence since 1989 census; Russian percentage is

probably half what it was for the same reason

Religions: 

Muslim 87%, Russian Orthodox 5.6%, Armenian Orthodox 5.6%, other 1.8% 

Languages: 

Azeri 82%, Russian 7%, Armenian 5%, other 6% 

Literacy: 

age 9-49 can read and write (1970)

total population: 

100% 

male: 

100% 

female: 

100% 

Labor force: 

2.789 million 

by occupation: 

agriculture and forestry 32%, industry and construction 26%, other 42%

(1990)

@Azerbaijan, Government

Names: 

conventional long form: 

Azerbaijani Republic 

conventional short form: 

Azerbaijan 

local long form: 

Azarbaycan Respublikasi 

local short form: 

none 

former: 

Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic 

Digraph: 

AJ

Type: 

republic 

Capital: 

Baku (Baky) 

Administrative divisions: 

1 autonomous republic (avtomnaya respublika); Nakhichevan

(administrative center at Nakhichevan)

note: 

all rayons except for the exclave of Nakhichevan are under direct

republic jurisdiction

Independence: 

30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: 

Novruz Bayram, 21-22 March 

Constitution: 

adopted NA April 1978; writing a new constitution mid-1993

Legal system: 

based on civil law system

Suffrage: 

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: 

chief of state: 

President Heydar ALIYEV (since 18 June 1993 after President ELCIBEY

left Baku for Nakhichevan); election last held 3 October 1993 (next to

be held NA); results - Heydar ALIYEV won 97% of vote

head of government: 

Prime Minister Surat HUSEYNOV (since 30 June 1993) 

cabinet: 

Council of Ministers; appointed by the president and confirmed by the

Mejlas

Legislative branch: 

unicameral

National Assembly (Milli Mejlis): 

elections last held 30 September and 14 October 1990 for the Supreme

Soviet (next expected to be held NA 1994 for the National Assembly);

seats for Supreme Soviet - (360 total) Communists 280, Democratic Bloc

45 (grouping of opposition parties), other 15, vacant 20; note - on 19

May 1992 the Supreme Soviet was prorogued in favor of a Popular

Front-dominated National Council; seats - (50 total) Popular Front 25,

opposition elements 25

Judicial branch: 

Supreme Court 

Political parties and leaders: 

Azerbaijan Popular Front (APF), Ebulfez ELCIBEY, chairman; Musavat

Party, Isa GAMBAR, chairman; National Independence Party, Etibar

MAMEDOV, chairman; Social Democratic Party (SDP), Araz ALIZADE,

chairman; Communist Party, Ramiz AKHMEDOV, chairman; People's Freedom

Party, Yunus OGUZ, chairman; Independent Social Democratic Party, Arif

YUNUSOV and Leila YUNOSOVA, cochairmen; New Azerbaijan Party, Heydar

ALIYEV, chairman; Boz Gurd Party, Iskander HAMIDOV, chairman;

Azerbaijan Democratic Party, Sardar MAMEDOV, chairman; Azerbaijan

Democratic Independence Party, Qabil HUSELNLI, chairman; Islamic Party

of Azerbaijan, Ali Akram, chairman

Other political or pressure groups: 

self-proclaimed Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh Republic; Talysh

independence movement

Member of: 

BSEC, CCC, CIS, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, ILO,

IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NACC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU,

WHO 

Diplomatic representation in US: 

chief of mission: 

Ambassador Hafiz Mir Jalal Ogly PASHAYEV 

chancery: 

Suite 700, 927 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 

telephone: 

(202) 842-0001 

FAX: 

(202) 842-0004 

US diplomatic representation: 

chief of mission: 

Ambassador Richard KAZLAURICH 

embassy: 

Hotel Intourist, Baku 

mailing address: 

use embassy street address 

telephone: 

7-8922-92-63-06 through 09, extension 441, 442, 446, 447, 448, 450 

FAX: 

Telex 142110 AMEMB SU 

Flag: 

three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a crescent

and eight-pointed star in white are centered in red band

@Azerbaijan, Economy

Overview: 

Azerbaijan is less developed industrially than either Armenia or

Georgia, the other Transcaucasian states. It resembles the Central

Asian states in its majority Muslim population, high structural

unemployment, and low standard of living. The economy's most prominent

products are oil, cotton, and gas. Production from the Caspian oil and

gas field has been in decline for several years. With foreign

assistance, the oil industry might generate the funds needed to spur

industrial development. However, civil unrest, marked by armed

conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region between Muslim Azeris and

Christian Armenians, makes foreign investors wary. Azerbaijan

accounted for 1.5% to 2% of the capital stock and output of the former

Soviet Union. Azerbaijan shares all the formidable problems of the

ex-Soviet republics in making the transition from a command to a

market economy, but its considerable energy resources brighten its

prospects somewhat. Old economic ties and structures have yet to be

replaced. A particularly galling constraint on economic revival is the

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said to consume 25% of Azerbaijan's

economic resources.

National product: 

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $15.5 billion (1993 estimate from

the UN International Comparison Program, as extended to 1991 and

published in the World Bank's World Development Report 1993; and as

extrapolated to 1993 using official Azerbaijani statistics, which are

very uncertain because of major economic changes since 1990)

National product real growth rate: 

-13.3% (1993 est.)

National product per capita: 

$2,040 (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 

20% per month (average 1993); above 50% per month (February 1994)

Unemployment rate: 

0.7% includes officially registered unemployed; also large numbers of

underemployed workers (December 1993)

Budget: 

revenues: 

$NA

expenditures: 

$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Exports: 

$355 million to outside the FSU countries (f.o.b., 1993)

commodities: 

oil and gas, chemicals, oilfield equipment, textiles, cotton (1991)

partners: 

mostly CIS and European countries

Imports: 

$240 million from outside the FSU countries (c.i.f., 1993)

commodities: 

machinery and parts, consumer durables, foodstuffs, textiles (1991)

partners: 

European countries

External debt: 

$NA

Industrial production: 

growth rate -7% (1993)

Electricity: 

capacity: 

6,025,000 kW

production: 

22,300 kWh 

consumption per capita: 

2,990 kWh (1992)

Industries: 

petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment;

steel, iron ore, cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles

iculture: 

cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle,

pigs, sheep and goats

Illicit drugs: 

illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for CIS

consumption; limited government eradication program; transshipment

point for illicit drugs to Western Europe

Economic aid: 

recipient: 

wheat from Turkey

Currency: 

1 manat = 100 gopik

Exchange rates: 

NA

Fiscal year: