_@_Sudan Geography

Total area:
    2,505,810 km2
Land area:
    2,376,000 km2
Comparative area:
    slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US
Land boundaries:
    7,697 km total; Central African Republic 1,165 km, Chad 1,360 km, Egypt
    1,273 km, Ethiopia 2,221 km, Kenya 232 km, Libya 383 km, Uganda 435 km,
    Zaire 628 km
Coastline:
    853 km
Maritime claims:
  Contiguous zone:
    18 nm
  Continental shelf:
    200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation
  Territorial sea:
    12 nm
Disputes:
    administrative boundary with Kenya does not coincide with international
    boundary; administrative boundary with Egypt does not coincide with
    international boundary
Climate:
    tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season (April to October)
Terrain:
    generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in east and west
Natural resources:
    small reserves of crude oil, iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten,
    mica, silver, crude oil
Land use:
    arable land 5%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 24%; forest and
    woodland 20%; other 51%; includes irrigated 1%
Environment:
    dominated by the Nile and its tributaries; dust storms; desertification
Note:
    largest country in Africa

:Sudan People

Population:
    28,305,046 (July 1992), growth rate 3.1% (1992)
Birth rate:
    44 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
    13 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
    NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
    83 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
    53 years male, 54 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
    6.3 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
    noun - Sudanese (singular and plural); adjective - Sudanese
Ethnic divisions:
    black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other 1%
Religions:
    Sunni Muslim (in north) 70%, indigenous beliefs 20%, Christian (mostly in
    south and Khartoum) 5%
Languages:
    Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic,
    Nilo-Hamitic, and Sudanic languages, English; program of Arabization in
    process
Literacy:
    27% (male 43%, female 12%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Labor force:
    6,500,000; agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 10%, government 6%; labor
    shortages for almost all categories of skilled employment (1983 est.); 52%
    of population of working age (1985)
Organized labor:
    trade unions suspended following 30 June 1989 coup; now in process of being
    legalized anew

:Sudan Government

Long-form name:
    Republic of the Sudan
Type:
    military; civilian government suspended and martial law imposed after 30
    June 1989 coup
Capital:
    Khartoum
Administrative divisions:
    9 states (wilayat, singular - wilayat or wilayah*); A'ali an Nil, Al Wusta*,
    Al Istiwa'iyah*, Al Khartum, Ash Shamaliyah*, Ash Sharqiyah*, Bahr al
    Ghazal, Darfur, Kurdufan
Independence:
    1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK; formerly Anglo-Egyptian Sudan)
Constitution:
    12 April 1973, suspended following coup of 6 April 1985; interim
    constitution of 10 October 1985 suspended following coup of 30 June 1989
Legal system:
    based on English common law and Islamic law; as of 20 January 1991, the
    Revolutionary Command Council imposed Islamic law in the six northern states
    of Al Wusta, Al Khartum, Ash Shamaliyah, Ash Sharqiyah, Darfur, and
    Kurdufan; the council is still studying criminal provisions under Islamic
    law; Islamic law will apply to all residents of the six northern states
    regardless of their religion; some separate religious courts; accepts
    compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
    Independence Day, 1 January (1956)
Executive branch:
    executive and legislative authority vested in a 12-member Revolutionary
    Command Council (RCC); chairman of the RCC acts as prime minister; in July
    1989, RCC appointed a predominately civilian 22-member cabinet to function
    as advisers
Legislative branch:
    appointed 300-member Transitional National Assembly; note - as announced 1
    January 1992 by RCC Chairman BASHIR, the Assembly assumes all legislative
    authority for Sudan until the eventual, unspecified resumption of national
    elections
Judicial branch:
    Supreme Court, Special Revolutionary Courts
Leaders:
  Chief of State and Head of Government:
    Revolutionary Command Council Chairman and Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Umar
    Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 30 June 1989); Deputy Chairman of the Command
    Council and Deputy Prime Minister Maj. Gen. al-Zubayr Muhammad SALIH Ahmed
    (since 9 July 1989)
Political parties and leaders:
    none; banned following 30 June 1989 coup
Suffrage:
    none
Elections:
    none
Member of:
    ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
    ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
    ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU,
    WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation:
    Ambassador `Abdallah Ahmad `ABDALLAH; Chancery at 2210 Massachusetts Avenue
    NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 338-8565 through 8570; there is a
    Sudanese Consulate General in New York

:Sudan Government

  US:
    Ambassador James R. CHEEK (will be replaced summer of 1992); Embassy at
    Shar'ia Ali Abdul Latif, Khartoum (mailing address is P. O. Box 699,
    Khartoum, or APO AE 09829); telephone 74700 or 74611; Telex 22619
Flag:
    three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a green
    isosceles triangle based on the hoist side

:Sudan Economy

Overview:
    Sudan is buffeted by civil war, chronic political instability, adverse
    weather, high inflation, and counterproductive economic policies. The
    economy is dominated by governmental entities that account for more than 70%
    of new investment. The private sector's main areas of activity are
    agriculture and trading, with most private industrial investment predating
    1980. The economy's base is agriculture, which employs 80% of the work
    force. Industry mainly processes agricultural items. Sluggish economic
    performance over the past decade, attributable largely to declining annual
    rainfall, has reduced levels of per capita income and consumption. A high
    foreign debt and huge arrearages continue to cause difficulties. In 1990 the
    International Monetary Fund took the unusual step of declaring Sudan
    noncooperative because of its nonpayment of arrearages to the Fund. Despite
    subsequent government efforts to implement reforms urged by the IMF and the
    World Bank, the economy remained stagnant in FY91 as entrepreneurs lack the
    incentive to take economic risks.
GDP:
    exchange rate conversion - $12.1 billion, per capita $450; real growth rate
    0% (FY91 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
    95% (FY91 est.)
Unemployment rate:
    15% (FY91 est.)
Budget:
    revenues $1.3 billion; expenditures $2.1 billion, including capital
    expenditures of $505 million (FY91 est.)
Exports:
    $325 million (f.o.b., FY91 est.)
  commodities:
    cotton 52%, sesame, gum arabic, peanuts
  partners:
    Western Europe 46%, Saudi Arabia 14%, Eastern Europe 9%, Japan 9%, US 3%
    (FY88)
Imports:
    $1.40 billion (c.i.f., FY91 est.)
  commodities:
    foodstuffs, petroleum products, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment,
    medicines and chemicals, textiles
  partners:
    Western Europe 32%, Africa and Asia 15%, US 13%, Eastern Europe 3% (FY88)
External debt:
    $14.6 billion (June 1991 est.)
Industrial production:
    growth rate NA%; accounts for 11% of GDP (FY89)
Electricity:
    610,000 kW capacity; 905 million kWh produced, 40 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
    cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling,
    shoes, petroleum refining
Agriculture:
    accounts for 35% of GDP and 80% of labor force; water shortages; two-thirds
    of land area suitable for raising crops and livestock; major products -
    cotton, oilseeds, sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic, sheep; marginally
    self-sufficient in most foods
Economic aid:
    US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.5 billion; Western (non-US)
    countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $5.1 billion; OPEC
    bilateral aid (1979-89), $3.1 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $588
    million

:Sudan Economy

Currency:
    Sudanese pound (plural - pounds); 1 Sudanese pound (#Sd) = 100 piasters
Exchange rates:
    official rate - Sudanese pounds (#Sd) per US$1 - 90.1 (March 1992), 5.4288
    (1991), 4.5004 (fixed rate since 1987), 2.8121 (1987); note - free market
    rate 83 (December 1991)
Fiscal year:
    1 July - 30 June

:Sudan Communications

Railroads:
    5,500 km total; 4,784 km 1.067-meter gauge, 716 km 1.6096-meter-gauge
    plantation line
Highways:
    20,000 km total; 1,600 km bituminous treated, 3,700 km gravel, 2,301 km
    improved earth, 12,399 km unimproved earth and track
Inland waterways:
    5,310 km navigable
Pipelines:
    refined products 815 km
Ports:
    Port Sudan, Swakin
Merchant marine:
    5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 42,277 GRT/59,588 DWT; includes 3
    cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo
Civil air:
    18 major transport aircraft
Airports:
    72 total, 57 usable; 8 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways
    over 3,659 m; 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 31 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
    large, well-equipped system by African standards, but barely adequate and
    poorly maintained by modern standards; consists of microwave, cable, radio
    communications, and troposcatter; domestic satellite system with 14
    stations; broadcast stations - 11 AM, 3 TV; satellite earth stations - 1
    Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 ARABSAT

:Sudan Defense Forces

Branches:
    Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force
Manpower availability:
    males 15-49, 6,432,270; 3,949,518 fit for military service; 302,696 reach
    military age (18) annually
Defense expenditures:
    exchange rate conversion - $610 million, 7.2% of GDP (1989 est.)

_@_Suriname Geography

Total area:
    163,270 km2
Land area:
    161,470 km2
Comparative area:
    slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries:
    1,707 km total; Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km
Coastline:
    386 km
Maritime claims:
  Exclusive economic zone:
    200 nm
  Territorial sea:
    12 nm
Disputes:
    claims area in French Guiana between Litani Rivier and Riviere Marouini
    (both headwaters of the Lawa); claims area in Guyana between New (Upper
    Courantyne) and Courantyne/Kutari Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)
Climate:
    tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
    mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps
Natural resources:
    timber, hydropower potential, fish, shrimp, bauxite, iron ore, and small
    amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, gold
Land use:
    arable land NEGL%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures NEGL%; forest
    and woodland 97%; other 3%; includes irrigated NEGL%
Environment:
    mostly tropical rain forest

:Suriname People

Population:
    410,016 (July 1992), growth rate 1.5% (1992)
Birth rate:
    26 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
    6 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
    -5 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
    34 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
    66 years male, 71 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
    2.9 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
    noun - Surinamer(s); adjective - Surinamese
Ethnic divisions:
    Hindustani (East Indian) 37.0%, Creole (black and mixed) 31.0%, Javanese
    15.3%, Bush black 10.3%, Amerindian 2.6%, Chinese 1.7%, Europeans 1.0%,
    other 1.1%
Religions:
    Hindu 27.4%, Muslim 19.6%, Roman Catholic 22.8%, Protestant (predominantly
    Moravian) 25.2%, indigenous beliefs about 5%
Languages:
    Dutch (official); English widely spoken; Sranan Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes
    called Taki-Taki) is native language of Creoles and much of the younger
    population and is lingua franca among others; also Hindi Suriname Hindustani
    (a variant of Bhoqpuri) and Javanese
Literacy:
    95% (male 95%, female 95%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Labor force:
    104,000 (1984)
Organized labor:
    49,000 members of labor force

:Suriname Government

Long-form name:
    Republic of Suriname
Type:
    republic
Capital:
    Paramaribo
Administrative divisions:
    10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne,
    Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini,
    Wanica
Independence:
    25 November 1975 (from Netherlands; formerly Netherlands Guiana or Dutch
    Guiana)
Constitution:
    ratified 30 September 1987
Legal system:
    NA
National holiday:
    Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
Executive branch:
    president, vice president and prime minister, Cabinet of Ministers, Council
    of State; note - Commander in Chief of the National Army maintains
    significant power
Legislative branch:
    unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)
Judicial branch:
    Supreme Court
Leaders:
  Chief of State and Head of Government:
    President Ronald VENETIAAN (since 16 September 1991); Vice President and
    Prime Minister Jules AJODHIA (since 16 September 1991)
Political parties and leaders:
  traditional ethnic-based parties:
    The New Front (NF), a coalition formed of four parties following the 24
    December 1990 military coup - Progressive Reform Party (VHP), Jaggernath
    LACHMON; National Party of Suriname (NPS), Henck ARRON; Indonesian Peasants
    Party (KTPI), Willie SOEMITA; and Suriname Labor Party (SPA) Fred DERBY;
  promilitary:
    National Democratic Party (NDP), Orlando VAN AMSON; Democratic Alternative
    '91 (DA '91), Winston JESSURUN, a coalition of five parties formed in
    January 1991 - Alternative Forum (AF), Gerard BRUNINGS, Winston JESSURUN;
    Reformed Progressive Party (HPP), Panalal PARMESSAR; Party for Brotherhood
    and Unity in Politics (BEP), Cipriano ALLENDY; Pendawalima, Marsha JAMIN;
    and Independent Progressive Group, Karam RAMSUNDERSINGH;
  leftists:
    Revolutionary People's Party (RVP), Michael NAARENDORP; Progressive Workers
    and Farmers (PALU), Iwan KROLIS
Suffrage:
    universal at age 18
Elections:
  President:
    last held 6 September 1991 (next to be held NA May 1996); results - elected
    by the National Assembly - Ronald VENETIAAN (NF) 80% (645 votes), Jules
    WIJDENBOSCH (NDP) 14% (115 votes), Hans PRADE (DA '91) 6% (49 votes)
  National Assembly:
    last held 25 May 1991 (next to be held NA May 1996); results - percent of
    vote NA; seats - (51 total) NF 30, NDP 12, DA '91 9

:Suriname Government

Member of:
    ACP, CARICOM (observer), ECLAC, FAO, GATT, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
    IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN,
    UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation:
    Ambassador Willem A. UDENHOUT; Chancery at Suite 108, 4301 Connecticut
    Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 244-7488 or 7490 through
    7492; there is a Surinamese Consulate General in Miami
  US:
    Ambassador John (Jack) P. LEONARD; Embassy at Dr. Sophie Redmonstraat 129,
    Paramaribo (mailing address is P. O. Box 1821, Paramaribo); telephone [597]
    472900, 477881, or 476459; FAX [597] 410025
Flag:
    five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red (quadruple
    width), white, and green (double width); there is a large yellow
    five-pointed star centered in the red band

:Suriname Economy

Overview:
    The economy is dominated by the bauxite industry, which accounts for about
    70% of export earnings and 40% of tax revenues. The economy has been in
    trouble since the Dutch ended development aid in 1982. A drop in world
    bauxite prices which started in the late 1970s and continued until late 1986
    was followed by the outbreak of a guerrilla insurgency in the interior that
    crippled the important bauxite sector. Although the insurgency has since
    ebbed and the bauxite sector recovered, a military coup in December 1990
    reflected continued political instability and deterred investment and
    economic reform. High inflation, high unemployment, widespread black market
    activity, and hard currency shortfalls continue to mark the economy.
GDP:
    exchange rate conversion - $1.4 billion, per capita $3,400; real growth rate
    0% (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
    50% (1989 est.)
Unemployment rate:
    33% (1990)
Budget:
    revenues $466 million; expenditures $716 million, including capital
    expenditures of $123 million (1989 est.)
Exports:
    $549 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.)
  commodities:
    alumina, bauxite, aluminum, rice, wood and wood products, shrimp and fish,
    bananas
  partners:
    Norway 33%, Netherlands 20%, US 15%, FRG 9%, Brazil 5%, UK 5%, Japan 3%,
    other 10%
Imports:
    $331 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.)
  commodities:
    capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods
  partners:
    US 37%, Netherlands 15%, Netherlands Antilles 11%, Trinidad and Tobago 9%,
    Brazil 5%, UK 3%, other 20%
External debt:
    $138 million (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
    growth rate NA; accounts for 22% of GDP
Electricity:
    458,000 kW capacity; 2,018 million kWh produced, 5,015 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
    bauxite mining, alumina and aluminum production, lumbering, food processing,
    fishing
Agriculture:
    accounts for 11% of GDP; paddy rice planted on 85% of arable land and
    represents 60% of total farm output; other products - bananas, palm kernels,
    coconuts, plantains, peanuts, beef, chicken; shrimp and forestry products of
    increasing importance; self-sufficient in most foods
Economic aid:
    US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-83), $2.5 million; Western (non-US)
    countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.5 billion
Currency:
    Surinamese guilder, gulden, or florin (plural - guilders, gulden, or
    florins); 1 Surinamese guilder, gulden, or florin (Sf.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
    Surinamese guilders, gulden, or florins (Sf.) per US$1 - 1.7850 (fixed rate)

:Suriname Economy

Fiscal year:
    calendar year

:Suriname Communications

Railroads:
    166 km total; 86 km 1.000-meter gauge, government owned, and 80 km
    1.435-meter standard gauge; all single track
Highways:
    8,300 km total; 500 km paved; 5,400 km bauxite gravel, crushed stone, or
    improved earth; 2,400 km sand or clay
Inland waterways:
    1,200 km; most important means of transport; oceangoing vessels with drafts
    ranging up to 7 m can navigate many of the principal waterways
Ports:
    Paramaribo, Moengo
Merchant marine:
    3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,472 GRT/8,914 DWT; includes 2 cargo,
    1 container
Civil air:
    1 major transport aircraft
Airports:
    46 total, 40 usable; 6 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways
    over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
    international facilities good; domestic microwave system; 27,500 telephones;
    broadcast stations - 5 AM, 14 FM, 6 TV, 1 shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean
    INTELSAT earth stations

:Suriname Defense Forces

Branches:
    National Army (including Navy which is company-size, small Air Force
    element), Civil Police, People's Militia
Manpower availability:
    males 15-49, 109,551; 65,250 fit for military service
Defense expenditures:
    $NA, NA% of GDP

_@_Svalbard Geography

Total area:
    62,049 km2
Land area:
    62,049 km2; includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)
Comparative area:
    slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
    none
Coastline:
    3,587 km
Maritime claims:
  Exclusive fishing zone:
    200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway, not recognized by Russia
  Territorial sea:
    4 nm
Disputes:
    focus of maritime boundary dispute in the Barents Sea between Norway and
    Russia
Climate:
    arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, cold winters;
    North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts of Spitsbergen,
    keeping water open and navigable most of the year
Terrain:
    wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered; west coast clear of
    ice about half the year; fjords along west and north coasts
Natural resources:
    coal, copper, iron ore, phosphate, zinc, wildlife, fish
Land use:
    arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and
    woodland 0%; other 100%; there are no trees and the only bushes are
    crowberry and cloudberry
Environment:
    great calving glaciers descend to the sea
Note:
    located 445 km north of Norway where the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea,
    Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea meet

:Svalbard People

Population:
    3,181 (July 1992), growth rate -3.9% (1992); about one-third of the
    population resides in the Norwegian areas (Longyearbyen and Svea on
    Vestspitsbergen) and two-thirds in the Russian areas (Barentsburg and
    Pyramiden on Vestspitsbergen); about 9 persons live at the Polish research
    station
Birth rate:
    NA births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
    NA deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
    NA migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
    NA deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
    NA years male, NA years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
    NA children born/woman (1992)
Ethnic divisions:
    Russian 64%, Norwegian 35%, other 1% (1981)
Languages:
    Russian, Norwegian
Literacy:
    NA% (male NA%, female NA%)
Labor force:
    NA
Organized labor:
    none

:Svalbard Government

Long-form name:
    none
Type:
    territory of Norway administered by the Ministry of Industry, Oslo, through
    a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9
    February 1920) sovereignty was given to Norway
Capital:
    Longyearbyen
Leaders:
  Chief of State:
    King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991)
  Head of Government:
    Governor Leif ELDRING (since NA)
Member of:
    none
Flag:
    the flag of Norway is used

:Svalbard Economy

Overview:
    Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. By treaty (9
    February 1920), the nationals of the treaty powers have equal rights to
    exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK,
    Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the only companies
    still mining are Norwegian and Russian. The settlements on Svalbard are
    essentially company towns. The Norwegian state-owned coal company employs
    nearly 60% of the Norwegian population on the island, runs many of the local
    services, and provides most of the local infrastructure. There is also some
    trapping of seal, polar bear, fox, and walrus.
Budget:
    revenues $13.3 million, expenditures $13.3 million, including capital
    expenditures of $NA (1990)
Electricity:
    21,000 kW capacity; 45 million kWh produced, 11,420 kWh per capita (1989)
Currency:
    Norwegian krone (plural - kroner); 1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 ore
Exchange rates:
    Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1 - 6.5189 (March 1992), 6.4829 (1991), 6.2597
    (1990), 6.9045 (1989), 6.5170 (1988), 6.7375 (1987)

:Svalbard Communications

Ports:
    limited facilities - Ny-Alesund, Advent Bay
Airports:
    4 total, 4 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over
    2,439 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
    5 meteorological/radio stations; local telephone service; broadcast stations
    - 1 AM, 1 (2 repeaters) FM, 1 TV; satellite communication with Norwegian
    mainland

:Svalbard Defense Forces

Note:
    demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920)

_@_Swaziland Geography

Total area:
    17,360 km2
Land area:
    17,200 km2
Comparative area:
    slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
    535 km total; Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km
Coastline:
    none - landlocked
Maritime claims:
    none - landlocked
Disputes:
    none
Climate:
    varies from tropical to near temperate
Terrain:
    mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
Natural resources:
    asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and
    diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Land use:
    arable land 8%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 67%; forest and
    woodland 6%; other 19%; includes irrigated 2%
Environment:
    overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion
Note:
    landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa

:Swaziland People

Population:
    913,008 (July 1992), growth rate 2.6% (1992)
Birth rate:
    44 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
    12 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
    -6 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
    98 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
    52 years male, 60 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
    6.2 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
    noun - Swazi(s); adjective - Swazi
Ethnic divisions:
    African 97%, European 3%
Religions:
    Christian 60%, indigenous beliefs 40%
Languages:
    English and siSwati (official); government business conducted in English
Literacy:
    55% (male 57%, female 54%) age 15 and over can read and write (1976)
Labor force:
    195,000; over 60,000 engaged in subsistence agriculture; about 92,000 wage
    earners (many only intermittently), with agriculture and forestry 36%,
    community and social services 20%, manufacturing 14%, construction 9%, other
    21%; 16,800 employed in South Africa mines (1990)
Organized labor:
    about 10% of wage earners

:Swaziland Government

Long-form name:
    Kingdom of Swaziland
Type:
    monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth
Capital:
    Mbabane (administrative); Lobamba (legislative)
Administrative divisions:
    4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni
Independence:
    6 September 1968 (from UK)
Constitution:
    none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended on 12 April 1973; a new
    constitution was promulgated 13 October 1978, but has not been formally
    presented to the people
Legal system:
    based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts, Swazi
    traditional law and custom in traditional courts; has not accepted
    compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
    Somhlolo (Independence) Day, 6 September (1968)
Executive branch:
    monarch, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
    bicameral Parliament is advisory and consists of an upper house or Senate
    and a lower house or House of Assembly
Judicial branch:
    High Court, Court of Appeal
Leaders:
  Chief of State:
    King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)
  Head of Government:
    Prime Minister Obed DLAMINI (since 12 July 1989)
Political parties and leaders:
    none; banned by the Constitution promulgated on 13 October 1978
Suffrage:
    none
Elections:
    indirect parliamentary election through Swaziland's Tinkhundala System
    scheduled for November 1992
Member of:
    ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO,
    IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, PCA, SACU, SADCC, UN,
    UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation:
    Ambassador Absalom Vusani MAMBA; Chancery at 3400 International Drive NW,
    Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 362-6683
  US:
    Ambassador Stephen H. ROGERS; Embassy at Central Bank Building, Warner
    Street, Mbabane (mailing address is P. O. Box 199, Mbabane); telephone [268]
    46441 through 5; FAX [268] 45959
Flag:
    three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red
    band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large black and white
    shield covering two spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all
    placed horizontally

:Swaziland Economy

Overview:
    The economy is based on subsistence agriculture, which occupies most of the
    labor force and contributes nearly 25% to GDP. Manufacturing, which includes
    a number of agroprocessing factories, accounts for another quarter of GDP.
    Mining has declined in importance in recent years; high-grade iron ore
    deposits were depleted in 1978, and health concerns cut world demand for
    asbestos. Exports of sugar and forestry products are the main earners of
    hard currency. Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short border with
    Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily dependent on South Africa, from which it
    receives 75% of its imports and to which it sends about half of its exports.
GDP:
    exchange rate conversion - $563 million, per capita $725; real growth rate
    5.0% (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
    13% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
    NA%
Budget:
    revenues $335.4 million; expenditures $360.5 million, including capital
    expenditures of $NA (FY93 est.)
Exports:
    $557 million (f.o.b., 1990)
  commodities:
    soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, citrus, canned fruit
  partners:
    South Africa 50% (est.), EC, Canada
Imports:
    $632 million (f.o.b., 1990)
  commodities:
    motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, petroleum products,
    foodstuffs, chemicals
  partners:
    South Africa 75% (est.), Japan, Belgium, UK
External debt:
    $290 million (1990)
Industrial production:
    growth rate NA; accounts for 26% of GDP (1989)
Electricity:
    60,000 kW capacity; 155 million kWh produced, 180 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
    mining (coal and asbestos), wood pulp, sugar
Agriculture:
    accounts for 23% of GDP and over 60% of labor force; mostly subsistence
    agriculture; cash crops - sugarcane, cotton, maize, tobacco, rice, citrus
    fruit, pineapples; other crops and livestock - corn, sorghum, peanuts,
    cattle, goats, sheep; not self-sufficient in grain
Economic aid:
    US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $142 million; Western (non-US)
    countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $518 million
Currency:
    lilangeni (plural - emalangeni); 1 lilangeni (E) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
    emalangeni (E) per US$1 - 2.7814 (January 1992), 2.7563 (1991), 2.5863
    (1990), 2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988), 2.0350 (1987); note - the Swazi
    emalangeni is at par with the South African rand
Fiscal year:
    1 April - 31 March

:Swaziland Communications

Railroads:
    297 km (plus 71 km disused), 1.067-meter gauge, single track
Highways:
    2,853 km total; 510 km paved, 1,230 km crushed stone, gravel, or stabilized
    soil, and 1,113 km improved earth
Civil air:
    4 major transport aircraft
Airports:
    23 total, 21 usable; 1 with permanent-surfaced runways; none with runways
    over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
    system consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines and low-capacity
    microwave links; 17,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 7 AM, 6 FM, 10 TV;
    1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

:Swaziland Defense Forces

Branches:
    Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force, Royal Swaziland Police Force
Manpower availability:
    males 15-49, 197,654; 114,204 fit for military service
Defense expenditures:
    exchange rate conversion - $11 million, about 2% of GNP (1989)

_@_Sweden Geography

Total area:
    449,964 km2
Land area:
    410,928 km2
Comparative area:
    slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries:
    2,205 km total; Finland 586 km, Norway 1,619 km
Coastline:
    3,218 km
Maritime claims:
  Continental shelf:
    200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation
  Exclusive fishing zone:
    200 nm
  Territorial sea:
    12 nm
Disputes:
    none
Climate:
    temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy
    summers; subarctic in north
Terrain:
    mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
Natural resources:
    zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber, uranium, hydropower potential
Land use:
    arable land 7%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 2%; forest and
    woodland 64%; other 27%; includes irrigated NEGL%
Environment:
    water pollution; acid rain
Note:
    strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas

:Sweden People

Population:
    8,602,157 (July 1992), growth rate 0.4% (1992)
Birth rate:
    13 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
    11 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
    2 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
    6 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
    75 years male, 81 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
    1.9 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
    noun - Swede(s); adjective - Swedish
Ethnic divisions:
    homogeneous white population; small Lappish minority; foreign born or
    first-generation immigrants (Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks,
    Turks) about 12%
Religions:
    Evangelical Lutheran 94%, Roman Catholic 1.5%, Pentecostal 1%, other 3.5%
    (1987)
Languages:
    Swedish, small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities; immigrants speak
    native languages
Literacy:
    99% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write (1979 est.)
Labor force:
    4,552,000 community, social and personal services 38.3%, mining and
    manufacturing 21.2%, commerce, hotels, and restaurants 14.1%, banking,
    insurance 9.0%, communications 7.2%, construction 7.0%, agriculture,
    fishing, and forestry 3.2% (1991)
Organized labor:
    80% of labor force (1990 est.)

:Sweden Government

Long-form name:
    Kingdom of Sweden
Type:
    constitutional monarchy
Capital:
    Stockholm
Administrative divisions:
    24 provinces (lan, singular and plural); Alvsborgs Lan, Blekinge Lan,
    Gavleborgs Lan, Goteborgs och Bohus Lan, Gotlands Lan, Hallands Lan,
    Jamtlands Lan, Jonkopings Lan, Kalmar Lan, Kopparbergs Lan, Kristianstads
    Lan, Kronobergs Lan, Malmohus Lan, Norrbottens Lan, Orebro Lan,
    Ostergotlands Lan, Skaraborgs Lan, Sodermanlands Lan, Stockholms Lan,
    Uppsala Lan, Varmlands Lan, Vasterbottens Lan, Vasternorrlands Lan,
    Vastmanlands Lan
Independence:
    6 June 1809, constitutional monarchy established
Constitution:
    1 January 1975
Legal system:
    civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ
    jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
    Day of the Swedish Flag, 6 June
Executive branch:
    monarch, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
    unicameral parliament (Riksdag)
Judicial branch:
    Supreme Court (Hogsta Domstolen)
Leaders:
  Chief of State:
    King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973); Heir Apparent Princess
    VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter of the King (born 14 July 1977)
  Head of Government:
    Prime Minister Carl BILDT (since 3 October 1991)
Political parties and leaders:
    ruling four-party coalition consists of the Moderate Party (conservative),
    Carl BILDT; Liberal People's Party, Bengt WESTERBERG; Center Party, Olof
    JOHANSSON; and the Christian Democratic Party, Alf SVENSSON; Social
    Democratic Party, Ingvar CARLSSON; New Democracy Party, Count Ian
    WACHTMEISTER; Left Party (VP; Communist), Lars WERNER; Swedish Communist
    Party (SKP), Rune PETTERSSON; Communist Workers' Party, Rolf HAGEL; Green
    Party, no formal leader
Suffrage:
    universal at age 18
Elections:
  Riksdag:
    last held 15 September 1991 (next to be held NA September 1994); results -
    Social Democratic Party 37.6%, Moderate Party (conservative) 21.9%, Liberal
    People's Party 9.1%, Center Party 8.5%, Christian Democrats 7.1%, New
    Democracy 6.7%, Left Party (Communist) 4.5%, Green Party 3.4%, other 1.2%;
    seats - (349 total) Social Democratic 138, Moderate Party (conservative) 80,
    Liberal People's Party 33, Center Party 31, Christian Democrats 26, New
    Democracy 25, Left Party (Communist) 16; note - the Green Party has no seats
    in the Riksdag because it received less than the required 4% of the vote
Communists:
    VP and SKP; VP, formerly the Left Party-Communists, is reported to have
    roughly 17,800 members and attracted 5.8% of the vote in the 1988 election;
    VP dropped the Communist label in 1990, but maintains a Marxist ideology

:Sweden Government

Member of:
    AfDB, AG (observer) AsDB, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA,
    FAO, G-6, G-8, G-9, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA,
    IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTERPOL, INTELSAT, IOC, IOM
    (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, PCA, UN,
    UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIIMOG, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU,
    WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation:
    Ambassador Anders THUNBORG; Chancery at Suite 1200, 600 New Hampshire Avenue
    NW, Washington, DC 20037; telephone (202) 944-5600; there are Swedish
    Consulates General in Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and New York
  US:
    Ambassador Charles E. REDMAN; Embassy at Strandvagen 101, S-115 89
    Stockholm; telephone [46] (8) 783-5300; FAX [46] (8) 661-1964
Flag:
    blue with a yellow cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical
    part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog
    (Danish flag)

:Sweden Economy

Overview:
    Aided by a long period of peace and neutrality during World War I through
    World War II, Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living under a
    mixed system of high-tech capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. It has
    essentially full employment, a modern distribution system, excellent
    internal and external communications, and a skilled labor force. Timber,
    hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy that is
    heavily oriented toward foreign trade. Privately owned firms account for
    about 90% of industrial output, of which the engineering sector accounts for
    50% of output and exports. In the last few years, however, this
    extraordinarily favorable picture has been clouded by inflation, growing
    absenteeism, and a gradual loss of competitiveness in international markets.
    The new center-right government, facing a sagging economic situation which
    is unlikely to improve until 1993, is pushing full steam ahead with economic
    reform proposals to end Sweden's recession and to prepare for possible EC
    membership in 1995. The free-market-oriented reforms are designed to spur
    growth, maintain price stability, lower unemployment, create a more
    efficient welfare state, and further adapt to EC standards. The measures
    include: cutting taxes, particularly the value-added tax (VAT) and levies on
    new and small business; privatization; liberalizing foreign ownership
    restrictions; and opening the welfare system to competition and private
    alternatives, which the government will still finance. Growth is expected to
    remain flat in 1992, but increase slightly in 1993, while inflation should
    remain around 3% for the next few years. On the down side, unemployment may
    climb to slightly over 4% in 1993, and the budget deficit will reach nearly
    $9 billion in 1992.
GDP:
    purchasing power equivalent - $147.6 billion, per capita $17,200; real
    growth rate -1.1% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
    8.0% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
    2.7% (1991)
Budget:
    revenues $67.5 billion; expenditures $78.7 billion, including capital
    expenditures of $NA (FY92 est.)
Exports:
    $54.5 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
  commodities:
    machinery, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel
    products, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products
  partners:
    EC, (FRG, UK, Denmark), US, Norway
Imports:
    $50.2 billion (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
  commodities:
    machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles,
    foodstuffs, iron and steel, clothing
  partners:
    EC 55.3%, US 8.4% (1990)
External debt:
    $10.7 billion (November 1991)
Industrial production:
    growth rate -5.3% (1991)
Electricity:
    39,716,000 kW capacity; 142,000 million kWh produced, 16,700 kWh per capita
    (1991)

:Sweden Economy

Industries:
    iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts,
    armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles
Agriculture:
    animal husbandry predominates, with milk and dairy products accounting for
    37% of farm income; main crops - grains, sugar beets, potatoes; 100%
    self-sufficient in grains and potatoes, 85% self-sufficient in sugar beets
Economic aid:
    donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $10.3 billion
Currency:
    Swedish krona (plural - kronor); 1 Swedish krona (SKr) = 100 ore
Exchange rates:
    Swedish kronor (SKr) per US$1 - 6.0259 (March 1992), 6.0475 (1991) 5.9188
    (1990), 6.4469 (1989), 6.1272 (1988), 6.3404 (1987)
Fiscal year:
    1 July - 30 June

:Sweden Communications

Railroads:
    12,000 km total; Swedish State Railways (SJ) - 10,819 km 1.435-meter
    standard gauge, 6,955 km electrified and 1,152 km double track; 182 km
    0.891-meter gauge; 117 km rail ferry service; privately owned railways - 511
    km 1.435-meter standard gauge (332 km electrified); 371 km 0.891-meter gauge
    (all electrified)
Highways:
    97,400 km (51,899 km paved, 20,659 km gravel, 24,842 km unimproved earth)
Inland waterways:
    2,052 km navigable for small steamers and barges
Pipelines:
    natural gas 84 km
Ports:
    Gavle, Goteborg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Kalmar, Malmo, Stockholm; numerous
    secondary and minor ports
Merchant marine:
    186 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,665,902 GRT/3,646,165 DWT; includes
    10 short-sea passenger, 29 cargo, 3 container, 43 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 12
    vehicle carrier, 2 railcar carrier, 33 petroleum tanker, 28 chemical tanker,
    4 specialized tanker, 1 liquefied gas, 7 combination ore/oil, 12 bulk, 1
    combination bulk, 1 refrigerated cargo
Civil air:
    115 major transports
Airports:
    254 total, 252 usable; 139 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways
    over 3,659 m; 10 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 94 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
    excellent domestic and international facilities; 8,200,000 telephones;
    mainly coaxial and multiconductor cables carry long-distance network;
    parallel microwave network carries primarily radio, TV and some telephone
    channels; automatic system; broadcast stations - 5 AM, 360 (mostly
    repeaters) FM, 880 (mostly repeaters) TV; 5 submarine coaxial cables;
    satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 EUTELSAT

:Sweden Defense Forces

Branches:
    Swedish Army, Swedish Navy, Swedish Air Force
Manpower availability:
    males 15-49, 2,129,996; 1,858,944 fit for military service; 57,492 reach
    military age (19) annually
Defense expenditures:
    exchange rate conversion - $6.2 billion, about 4% of GDP (FY91)

_@_Switzerland Geography

Total area:
    41,290 km2
Land area:
    39,770 km2
Comparative area:
    slightly more than twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries:
    1,852 km total; Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein
    41 km, Germany 334 km
Coastline:
    none - landlocked
Maritime claims:
    none - landlocked
Disputes:
    none
Climate:
    temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool
    to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
Terrain:
    mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau
    of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
Natural resources:
    hydropower potential, timber, salt
Land use:
    arable land 10%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 40%; forest and
    woodland 26%; other 23%; includes irrigated 1%
Environment:
    dominated by Alps
Note:
    landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe

:Switzerland People

Population:
    6,828,023 (July 1992), growth rate 0.6% (1992)
Birth rate:
    12 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
    9 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
    3 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
    6 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
    76 years male, 83 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
    1.6 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
    noun - Swiss (singular and plural); adjective - Swiss
Ethnic divisions:
    total population - German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other
    6%; Swiss nationals - German 74%, French 20%, Italian 4%, Romansch 1%, other
    1%
Religions:
    Roman Catholic 47.6%, Protestant 44.3%, other 8.1% (1980)
Languages:
    total population - German 65%, French 18%, Italian 12%, Romansch 1%, other
    4%; Swiss nationals - German 74%, French 20%, Italian 4%, Romansch 1%, other
    1%
Literacy:
    99% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
Labor force:
    3,310,000; 904,095 foreign workers, mostly Italian; services 50%, industry
    and crafts 33%, government 10%, agriculture and forestry 6%, other 1% (1989)
Organized labor:
    20% of labor force

:Switzerland Government

Long-form name:
    Swiss Confederation
Type:
    federal republic
Capital:
    Bern
Administrative divisions:
    26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular -
    cantone in Italian; kantone, singular - kanton in German); Aargau,
    Ausser-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve,
    Glarus, Graubunden, Inner-Rhoden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden,
    Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino,
    Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich
Independence:
    1 August 1291
Constitution:
    29 May 1874
Legal system:
    civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative
    acts, except with respect to federal decrees of general obligatory
    character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
    Anniversary of the Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)
Executive branch:
    president, vice president, Federal Council (German - Bundesrat, French -
    Conseil Federal, Italian - Consiglio Federale)
Legislative branch:
    bicameral Federal Assembly (German - Bundesversammlung, French - Assemblee
    Federale, Italian - Assemblea Federale) consists of an upper council or
    Council of States (German - Standerat, French - Conseil des Etats, Italian -
    Consiglio degli Stati) and a lower council or National Council (German -
    Nationalrat, French - Conseil National, Italian - Consiglio Nazionale)
Judicial branch:
    Federal Supreme Court
Leaders:
  Chief of State and Head of Government:
    President Rene FELBER (1992 calendar year; presidency rotates annually);
    Vice President Adolf OGI (term runs concurrently with that of president)
Political parties and leaders:
    Free Democratic Party (FDP), Bruno HUNZIKER, president; Social Democratic
    Party (SPS), Helmut HUBACHER, chairman; Christian Democratic People's Party
    (CVP), Eva SEGMULLER-WEBER, chairman; Swiss People's Party (SVP), Hans
    UHLMANN, president; Green Party (GPS), Peter SCHMID, president; Automobile
    Party (AP), DREYER; Alliance of Independents' Party (LdU), Dr. Franz JAEGER,
    president; Swiss Democratic Party (SD), NA; Evangelical People's Party
    (EVP), Max DUNKI, president; Workers' Party (PdA; Communist), Jean
    SPIELMANN, general secretary; Ticino League, leader NA Liberal Party (LPS),
    Gilbert COUTAU, president
Suffrage:
    universal at age 18
Elections:
  Council of States:
    last held throughout 1991 (next to be held NA 1995); results - percent of
    vote by party NA; seats - (46 total) FDP 18, CVP 16, SVP 4, SPS 3, LPS 3,
    LdU 1, Ticino League 1

:Switzerland Government

  National Council:
    last held 20 October 1991 (next to be held NA October 1995); results -
    percent of vote by party NA; seats - (200 total) FDP 44, SPS 42, CVP 37, SVP
    25, GPS 14, LPS 10, AP 8, LdU 6, SD 5, EVP 3, PdA 2, Ticino League 2, other
    2
Communists:
    4,500 members (est.)
Member of:
    AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA,
    FAO, G-8, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IEA, IFAD, ILO, IMF,
    IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM (guest),
    NEA, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
    UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation:
    Ambassador Edouard BRUNNER; Chancery at 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW,
    Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 745-7900; there are Swiss Consulates
    General in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San
    Francisco
  US:
    Ambassador Joseph B. GILDENHORN; Embassy at Jubilaeumstrasse 93, 3005 Bern;
    telephone [41] (31) 437-011; FAX [41] (31) 437-344; there is a Branch Office
    of the Embassy in Geneva and a Consulate General in Zurich
Flag:
    red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not
    extend to the edges of the flag

:Switzerland Economy

Overview:
    Switzerland's economic success is matched in few other nations. Per capita
    output, general living standards, education and science, health care, and
    diet are unsurpassed in Europe. Economic stability helps promote the
    important banking and tourist sectors. Since World War II, Switzerland's
    economy has adjusted smoothly to the great changes in output and trade
    patterns in Europe and presumably can adjust to the challenges of the 1990s,
    particularly to the further economic integration of Western Europe and the
    amazingly rapid changes in East European political and economic prospects.
    After 8 years of growth, the economy experienced a mild recession in 1991
    because monetary policy was tightened to combat inflation and because of the
    weak international economy. In the second half of 1992, however, Switzerland
    is expected to resume growth, despite inflation and unemployment problems.
    GDP growth for 1992 may be just under 1%, inflation should drop from 5.9% to
    3.5%, and the trade deficit will continue to decline after dropping by over
    15% to $5 billion, due to increased exports to Germany. Unemployment,
    however, is forecast to rise to 1.6% in 1992, up from 1.3% in 1991 and 0.5%
    in 1990.
GDP:
    purchasing power equivalent - $147.4 billion, per capita $21,700; real
    growth rate -0.2% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
    5.9% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
    1.3% (1991)
Budget:
    revenues $24.0 billion; expenditures $23.8 billion, including capital
    expenditures of $NA (1990)
Exports:
    $62.2 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
  commodities:
    machinery and equipment, precision instruments, metal products, foodstuffs,
    textiles and clothing
  partners:
    Western Europe 64% (EC 56%, other 8%), US 9%, Japan 4%
Imports:
    $68.5 billion (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
  commodities:
    agricultural products, machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals,
    textiles, construction materials
  partners:
    Western Europe 78% (EC 71%, other 7%), US 6%
External debt:
    $NA
Industrial production:
    growth rate 0.4% (1991 est.)
Electricity:
    17,710,000 kW capacity; 59,070 million kWh produced, 8,930 kWh per capita
    (1991)
Industries:
    machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments
Agriculture:
    dairy farming predominates; less than 50% self-sufficient; food shortages -
    fish, refined sugar, fats and oils (other than butter), grains, eggs,
    fruits, vegetables, meat
Economic aid:
    donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $3.5 billion

:Switzerland Economy

Currency:
    Swiss franc, franken, or franco (plural - francs, franken, or franchi); 1
    Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes, rappen, or centesimi
Exchange rates:
    Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1 - 1.4037 (January 1992),
    1.4340 (1991), 1.3892 (1990), 1.6359 (1989), 1.4633 (1988), 1.4912 (1987)
Fiscal year:
    calendar year

:Switzerland Communications

Railroads:
    5,174 km total; 2,971 km are government owned and 2,203 km are nongovernment
    owned; the government network consists of 2,897 km 1.435-meter standard
    gauge and 74 km 1.000-meter narrow gauge track; 1,432 km double track, 99%
    electrified; the nongovernment network consists of 710 km 1.435-meter
    standard gauge, 1,418 km 1.000-meter gauge, and 75 km 0.790-meter gauge
    track, 100% electrified
Highways:
    62,145 km total (all paved), of which 18,620 km are canton and 1,057 km are
    national highways (740 km autobahn); 42,468 km are communal roads
Inland waterways:
    65 km; Rhine (Basel to Rheinfelden, Schaffhausen to Bodensee); 12 navigable
    lakes
Pipelines:
    crude oil 314 km, natural gas 1,506 km
Ports:
    Basel (river port)
Merchant marine:
    22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 325,234 GRT/576,953 DWT; includes 5
    cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 3 chemical tanker, 2 specialized tanker, 9
    bulk, 1 petroleum tanker
Civil air:
    89 major transport aircraft
Airports:
    66 total, 65 usable; 42 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways over
    3,659 m; 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 18 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
    excellent domestic, international, and broadcast services; 5,890,000
    telephones; extensive cable and microwave networks; broadcast stations - 7
    AM, 265 FM, 18 (1,322 repeaters) TV; communications satellite earth station
    operating in the INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean) system

:Switzerland Defense Forces

Branches:
    Army, Air Force, Frontier Guards, Fortification Guards
Manpower availability:
    males 15-49, 1,798,632; 1,544,191 fit for military service; 43,952 reach
    military age (20) annually
Defense expenditures:
    exchange rate conversion - $4.6 billion, about 2% of GDP (1990)