_@_Syria Geography

Total area:
    185,180 km2
Land area:
    184,050 km2 (including 1,295 km2 of Israeli-occupied territory)
Comparative area:
    slightly larger than North Dakota
Land boundaries:
    2,253 km total; Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon 375 km,
    Turkey 822 km
Coastline:
    193 km
Maritime claims:
  Contiguous zone:
    6 nm beyond territorial sea limit
  Territorial sea:
    35 nm
Disputes:
    separated from Israel by the 1949 Armistice Line; Golan Heights is Israeli
    occupied; Hatay question with Turkey; periodic disputes with Iraq over
    Euphrates water rights; ongoing dispute over water development plans by
    Turkey for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Climate:
    mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy
    winters (December to February) along coast
Terrain:
    primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in
    west
Natural resources:
    crude oil, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock
    salt, marble, gypsum
Land use:
    arable land 28%; permanent crops 3%; meadows and pastures 46%; forest and
    woodland 3%; other 20%; includes irrigated 3%
Environment:
    deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Note:
    there are 38 Jewish settlements in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights

:Syria People

Population:
    13,730,436 (July 1992), growth rate 3.8% (1992); in addition, there are at
    least 14,500 Druze and 14,000 Jewish settlers in the Israeli-occupied Golan
    Heights (1992 est.)
Birth rate:
    44 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
    7 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
    0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
    45 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
    65 years male, 67 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
    6.9 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
    noun - Syrian(s); adjective - Syrian
Ethnic divisions:
    Arab 90.3%; Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%
Religions:
    Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%, Christian
    (various sects) 10%, tiny Jewish communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and
    Aleppo
Languages:
    Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian; French widely
    understood
Literacy:
    64% (male 78%, female 51%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Labor force:
    2,400,000; miscellaneous and government services 36%, agriculture 32%,
    industry and construction 32%; majority unskilled; shortage of skilled labor
    (1984)
Organized labor:
    5% of labor force

:Syria Government

Long-form name:
    Syrian Arab Republic
Type:
    republic; under leftwing military regime since March 1963
Capital:
    Damascus
Administrative divisions:
    14 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah,
    Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar`a, Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq, Halab,
    Hamah, Hims, Idlib, Rif Dimashq, Tartus
Independence:
    17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration);
    formerly United Arab Republic
Constitution:
    13 March 1973
Legal system:
    based on Islamic law and civil law system; special religious courts; has not
    accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
    National Day, 17 April (1946)
Executive branch:
    president, three vice presidents, prime minister, three deputy prime
    ministers, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
    unicameral People's Council (Majlis al-Chaab)
Judicial branch:
    Supreme Constitutional Court, High Judicial Council, Court of Cassation,
    State Security Courts
Leaders:
  Chief of State:
    President Hafiz al-ASAD (since 22 February 1971); Vice Presidents `Abd
    al-Halim KHADDAM, Vice President Rif`at al-ASAD, and Vice President Muhammad
    Zuhayr MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984)
  Head of Government:
    Prime Minister Mahmud ZU`BI (since 1 November 1987); Deputy Prime Minister
    Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March 1984); Deputy Prime Minister Salim
    YASIN (since NA December 1981); Deputy Prime Minister Mahmud QADDUR (since
    NA May 1985)
Political parties and leaders:
    ruling party is the Arab Socialist Resurrectionist (Ba`th) Party; the
    Progressive National Front is dominated by Ba`thists but includes
    independents and members of the Syrian Arab Socialist Party (ASP), Arab
    Socialist Union (ASU), Syrian Communist Party (SCP), Arab Socialist Unionist
    Movement, and Democratic Socialist Union Party
Suffrage:
    universal at age 18
Elections:
  President:
    last held 2 December 1991 (next to be held December 1998); results -
    President Hafiz al-ASAD was reelected for a fourth seven-year term with
    99.98% of the vote
  People's Council:
    last held 22-23 May 1990 (next to be held NA May 1994); results - Ba`th
    53.6%, ASU 3.2%, SCP 3.2%, Arab Socialist Unionist Movement 2.8%, ASP 2%,
    Democratic Socialist Union Party 1.6%, independents 33.6%; seats - (250
    total) Ba`th 134, ASU 8, SCP 8, Arab Socialist Unionist Movement 7, ASP 5,
    Democratic Socialist Union Party 4, independents 84; note - the People's
    Council was expanded to 250 seats total prior to the May 1990 election

:Syria Government

Communists:
    Syrian Communist Party (SCP)
Other political or pressure groups:
    non-Ba`th parties have little effective political influence; Communist party
    ineffective; conservative religious leaders; Muslim Brotherhood
Member of:
    ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
    ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU,
    LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
    WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation:
    Ambassador Walid MOUALEM; Chancery at 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC
    20008; telephone (202) 232-6313
  US:
    Ambassador Christopher W. S. ROSS; Embassy at Abu Rumaneh, Al Mansur Street
    No. 2, Damascus (mailing address is P. O. Box 29, Damascus); telephone [963]
    (11) 333052 or 332557, 330416, 332814, 332315, 714108, 337178, 333232; FAX
    [963] (11) 718-687
Flag:
    three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with two small
    green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
    similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band and of Iraq,
    which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal
    line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which
    has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band

:Syria Economy

Overview:
    Syria's state-dominated Ba`thist economy has benefited from the Gulf war,
    increased oil production, good weather, and economic deregulation. Economic
    growth averaged nearly 12% annually in 1990-91, buoyed by increased oil
    production and improved agricultural performance. The Gulf war of early 1991
    provided Syria an aid windfall of several billion dollars from Arab,
    European, and Japanese donors. These inflows more than offset Damascus's
    war-related costs and will help Syria cover some of its debt arrears,
    restore suspended credit lines, and initiate selected military and civilian
    purchases. For the long run, Syria's economy is still saddled with a large
    number of poorly performing public sector firms; investment levels remain
    low; and industrial and agricultural productivity is poor. A major long-term
    concern is the additional drain of upstream Euphrates water by Turkey when
    its vast dam and irrigation projects are completed by mid-decade.
GDP:
    exchange rate conversion - $30 billion, per capita $2,300; real growth rate
    11% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
    25% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
    NA%
Budget:
    revenues $5.4 billion; expenditures $7.5 billion, including capital
    expenditures of $2.9 billion (1991 est.)
Exports:
    $3.6 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
  commodities:
    petroleum 40%, farm products 13%, textiles, phosphates (1989)
  partners:
    USSR and Eastern Europe 42%, EC 31%, Arab countries 17%, US/Canada 2% (1989)
Imports:
    $2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
  commodities:
    foodstuffs and beverages 21%, metal and metal products 16%, machinery 14%,
    textiles, petroleum products (1989)
  partners:
    EC 42%, USSR and Eastern Europe 13%, other Europe 13%, US/Canada 8%, Arab
    countries 6% (1989)
External debt:
    $5.2 billion in hard currency (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
    growth rate 6% (1991 est.); accounts for 17% of GDP
Electricity:
    3,005,000 kW capacity; 8,800 million kWh produced, 680 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
    textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining,
    petroleum
Agriculture:
    accounts for 27% of GDP and one-third of labor force; all major crops
    (wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas) grown mainly on rainfed land
    causing wide swings in production; animal products - beef, lamb, eggs,
    poultry, milk; not self-sufficient in grain or livestock products
Economic aid:
    US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $538 million; Western (non-US)
    ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.23 billion; OPEC bilateral
    aid (1979-89), $12.3 billion; former Communist countries (1970-89), $3.3
    billion
Currency:
    Syrian pound (plural - pounds); 1 Syrian pound (#S) = 100 piasters

:Syria Economy

Exchange rates:
    Syrian pounds (#S) per US$1 - 22.0 (promotional rate since 1991), 11.2250
    (fixed rate 1987-90), 3.9250 (fixed rate 1976-87)
Fiscal year:
    calendar year

:Syria Communications

Railroads:
    2,350 km total; 2,035 km standard gauge, 315 km 1.050-meter (narrow) gauge
Highways:
    28,000 km total; 22,000 km paved, 3,000 km gravel or crushed stone, 3,000 km
    improved earth
Inland waterways:
    672 km; minimal economic importance
Pipelines:
    crude oil 1,304 km, petroleum products 515 km
Ports:
    Tartus, Latakia, Baniyas
Merchant marine:
    29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 85,417 GRT/138,078 DWT; includes 25
    cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 vehicle carrier, 2 bulk
Civil air:
    35 major transport aircraft
Airports:
    104 total, 100 usable; 24 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways
    over 3,659 m; 21 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 3 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
    fair system currently undergoing significant improvement; 512,600
    telephones; broadcast stations - 9 AM, 1 FM, 17 TV; satellite earth stations
    - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Intersputnik, 1 submarine cable; coaxial
    cable and radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey

:Syria Defense Forces

Branches:
    Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air Force, Syrian Arab Air
    Defense Forces, Police and Security Force
Manpower availability:
    males 15-49, 3,012,671; 1,691,660 fit for military service; 145,976 reach
    military age (19) annually
Defense expenditures:
    exchange rate conversion - $2.5 billion, 8% of GDP (1989)

_@_Taiwan Geography

Total area:
    35,980 km2
Land area:
    32,260 km2; includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy
Comparative area:
    slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:
    none
Coastline:
    1,448 km
Maritime claims:
  Exclusive economic zone:
    200 nm
  Territorial sea:
    12 nm
Disputes:
    involved in complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia,
    Philippines, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; Paracel Islands occupied by
    China, but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; Japanese-administered
    Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Tai) claimed by China and Taiwan
Climate:
    tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August);
    cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year
Terrain:
    eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rolling plains in
    west
Natural resources:
    small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, and asbestos
Land use:
    arable land 24%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 5%; forest and
    woodland 55%; other 15%; irrigated 14%
Environment:
    subject to earthquakes and typhoons

:Taiwan People

Population:
    20,878,556 (July 1992), growth rate 1.0% (1992)
Birth rate:
    16 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
    5 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
    NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
    6 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
    72 years male, 78 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
    1.8 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
    noun - Chinese (singular and plural); adjective - Chinese
Ethnic divisions:
    Taiwanese 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, aborigine 2%
Religions:
    mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%, Christian 4.5%, other 2.5%
Languages:
    Mandarin Chinese (official); Taiwanese (Miu) and Hakka dialects also used
Literacy:
    91.2% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
Labor force:
    7,900,000; industry and commerce 53%, services 22%, agriculture 15.6%, civil
    administration 7% (1989)
Organized labor:
    2,728,000 or about 44% (1991)

:Taiwan Government

Long-form name:
    none
Type:
    multiparty democratic regime; opposition political parties legalized in
    March, 1989
Capital:
    Taipei
Administrative divisions:
    the authorities in Taipei claim to be the government of all China; in
    keeping with that claim, the central administrative divisions include 2
    provinces (sheng, singular and plural) and 2 municipalities* (shih, singular
    and plural) - Fu-chien (some 20 offshore islands of Fujian Province
    including Quemoy and Matsu), Kao-hsiung*, T'ai-pei*, and Taiwan (the island
    of Taiwan and the Pescadores islands); the more commonly referenced
    administrative divisions are those of Taiwan Province - 16 counties (hsien,
    singular and plural), 5 municipalities* (shih, singular and plural), and 2
    special municipalities** (chuan-shih, singular and plural); Chang-hua,
    Chia-i, Chia-i*, Chi-lung*, Hsin-chu, Hsin-chu*, Hua-lien, I-lan,
    Kao-hsiung, Kao-hsiung**, Miao-li, Nan-t'ou, P'eng-hu, P'ing-tung,
    T'ai-chung, T'ai-chung*, T'ai-nan, T'ai-nan*, T'ai-pei, T'ai-pei**,
    T'ai-tung, T'ao-yuan, and Yun-lin; the provincial capital is at
    Chung-hsing-hsin-ts'un; note - Taiwan uses the Wade-Giles system for
    romanization
Constitution:
    25 December 1947, presently undergoing revision
Legal system:
    based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
    reservations
National holiday:
    National Day (Anniversary of the Revolution), 10 October (1911)
Executive branch:
    president, vice president, premier of the Executive Yuan, vice premier of
    the Executive Yuan, Executive Yuan
Legislative branch:
    unicameral Legislative Yuan, unicameral National Assembly
Judicial branch:
    Judicial Yuan
Leaders:
  Chief of State:
    President LI Teng-hui (since 13 January 1988); Vice President LI Yuan-zu
    (since 20 May 1990)
  Head of Government:
    Premier (President of the Executive Yuan) HAO Po-ts'un (since 2 May 1990);
    Vice Premier (Vice President of the Executive Yuan) SHIH Ch'i-yang (since NA
    July 1988)
Political parties and leaders:
    Kuomintang (Nationalist Party), LI Teng-hui, chairman; Democratic Socialist
    Party and Young China Party controlled by Kuomintang; Democratic Progressive
    Party (DPP); Labor Party; 27 other minor parties
Suffrage:
    universal at age 20
Elections:
  President:
    last held 21 March 1990 (next to be held NA March 1996); results - President
    LI Teng-hui was reelected by the National Assembly
  Vice President:
    last held 21 March 1990 (next to be held NA March 1996); results - LI
    Yuan-zu was elected by the National Assembly

:Taiwan Government

  Legislative Yuan:
    last held 2 December 1989 (next to be held NA December 1992); results - KMT
    65%, DPP 33%, independents 2%; seats - (304 total, 102 elected) KMT 78, DPP
    21, independents 3
Elections:
  National Assembly:
    first National Assembly elected in November 1947 with a supplementary
    election in December 1986; second National Assembly elected in December 1991
Member of:
    expelled from UN General Assembly and Security Council on 25 October 1971
    and withdrew on same date from other charter-designated subsidiary organs;
    expelled from IMF/World Bank group April/May 1980; seeking to join GATT;
    attempting to retain membership in INTELSAT; suspended from IAEA in 1972,
    but still allows IAEA controls over extensive atomic development; APEC,
    AsDB, ICC, ICFTU, IOC
Diplomatic representation:
    none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people of the US
    are maintained through a private instrumentality, the Coordination Council
    for North American Affairs (CCNAA) with headquarters in Taipei and field
    offices in Washington and 10 other US cities with all addresses and
    telephone numbers NA
  US:
    unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people of Taiwan are
    maintained through a private institution, the American Institute in Taiwan
    (AIT), which has offices in Taipei at #7, Lane 134, Hsiu Yi Road, Section 3,
    telephone [886] (2) 709-2000, and in Kao-hsiung at #2 Chung Cheng 3d Road,
    telephone [886] (7) 224-0154 through 0157, and the American Trade Center at
    Room 3207 International Trade Building, Taipei World Trade Center, 333
    Keelung Road Section 1, Taipei 10548, telephone [886] (2) 720-1550
Flag:
    red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a
    white sun with 12 triangular rays

:Taiwan Economy

Overview:
    Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with considerable government
    guidance of investment and foreign trade and partial government ownership of
    some large banks and industrial firms. Real growth in GNP has averaged about
    9% a year during the past three decades. Export growth has been even faster
    and has provided the impetus for industrialization. Agriculture contributes
    about 4% to GNP, down from 35% in 1952. Taiwan currently ranks as number 13
    among major trading countries. Traditional labor-intensive industries are
    steadily being replaced with more capital- and technology-intensive
    industries. Taiwan has become a major investor in China, Thailand,
    Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia. The tightening of labor markets
    has led to an influx of foreign workers, both legal and illegal.
GNP:
    purchasing power equivalent - $150.8 billion, per capita $7,380; real growth
    rate 5.2% (1990)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
    4.1% (1990); 3.8% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
    1.7% (1990); 1.5% (1991 est.)
Budget:
    revenues $30.3 billion; expenditures $30.1 billion, including capital
    expenditures of $NA (FY91 est.)
Exports:
    $67.2 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
  commodities:
    electrical machinery 18.2%, textiles 15.6%, general machinery and equipment
    14.8%, basic metals and metal products 7.8%, foodstuffs 1.7%, plywood and
    wood products 1.6% (1989)
  partners:
    US 36.2%, Japan 13.7% (1989)
Imports:
    $54.7 billion (c.i.f., 1990)
  commodities:
    machinery and equipment 15.3%, basic metals 13.0%, chemical and chemical
    products 11.1%, crude oil 5%, foodstuffs 2.2% (1989)
  partners:
    Japan 31%, US 23%, FRG 5% (1989)
External debt:
    $1.1 billion (December 1990 est.)
Industrial production:
    growth rate 6.5% (1991 est.)
Electricity:
    17,000,000 kW capacity; 76,900 million kWh produced, 3,722 kWh per capita
    (1991)
Industries:
    electronics, textiles, chemicals, clothing, food processing, plywood, sugar
    milling, cement, shipbuilding, petroleum
Agriculture:
    accounts for 4% of GNP and 16% of labor force (includes part-time farmers);
    heavily subsidized sector; major crops - vegetables, rice, fruit, tea;
    livestock - hogs, poultry, beef, milk, cattle; not self-sufficient in wheat,
    soybeans, corn; fish catch increasing, 1.4 million metric tons (1988)
Economic aid:
    US, including Ex-Im (FY46-82), $4.6 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA
    and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $500 million
Currency:
    New Taiwan dollar (plural - dollars); 1 New Taiwan dollar (NT$) = 100 cents

:Taiwan Economy

Exchange rates:
    New Taiwan dollars per US$1 - 25.000 (February 1992), 25.748 (1991), 27.108
    (1990), 26.407 (1989) 28.589 (1988), 31.845 (1987)
Fiscal year:
    1 July - 30 June

:Taiwan Communications

Railroads:
    about 4,600 km total track with 1,075 km common carrier lines and 3,525 km
    industrial lines; common carrier lines consist of the 1.067-meter gauge 708
    km West Line and the 367 km East Line; a 98.25 km South Link Line connection
    was completed in late 1991; common carrier lines owned by the government and
    operated by the Railway Administration under Ministry of Communications;
    industrial lines owned and operated by government enterprises
Highways:
    20,041 km total; 17,095 km bituminous or concrete pavement, 2,371 km crushed
    stone or gravel, 575 km graded earth
Pipelines:
    petroleum products 615 km, natural gas 97 km
Ports:
    Kao-hsiung, Chi-lung (Keelung), Hua-lien, Su-ao, T'ai-tung
Merchant marine:
    213 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,491,539 GRT/9,082,118 DWT; includes
    1 passenger, 42 cargo, 15 refrigerated cargo, 73 container, 17 petroleum
    tanker, 3 combination ore/oil, 1 specialized tanker, 58 bulk, 1
    roll-on/roll-off, 2 combination bulk
Airports:
    40 total, 39 usable; 36 with permanent-surface runways; 3 with runways over
    3,659 m; 16 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 8 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
    best developed system in Asia outside of Japan; 7,800,000 telephones;
    extensive microwave transmission links on east and west coasts; broadcast
    stations - 91 AM, 23 FM, 15 TV (13 repeaters); 8,620,000 radios; 6,386,000
    TVs (5,680,000 color, 706,000 monochrome); satellite earth stations - 1
    Pacific Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT; submarine cable links to
    Japan (Okinawa), the Philippines, Guam, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia,
    Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe

:Taiwan Defense Forces

Branches:
    Army, Navy (including Marines), Air Force, Taiwan General Garrison
    Headquarters, Ministry of National Defense
Manpower availability:
    males 15-49, 5,982,717; 4,652,586 fit for military service; about 180,706
    currently reach military age (19) annually
Defense expenditures:
    exchange rate conversion - $9.16 billion, 4.5% of GNP (FY92)

_@_Tajikistan Geography

Total area:
    143,100 km2
Land area:
    142,700 km2
Comparative area:
    slightly smaller than Wisconsin
Land boundaries:
    3,651 km total; Afghanistan 1,206 km, China 414 km, Kyrgyzstan 870 km,
    Uzbekistan 1,161 km
Coastline:
    none - landlocked
Maritime claims:
    none - landlocked
Disputes:
    boundary with China under dispute
Climate:
    midlatitude semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains
Terrain:
    Pamir and Alay Mountains dominate landscape; western Fergana Valley in
    north, Kafirnigan and Vakhsh Valleys in southeast
Natural resources:
    significant hydropower potential, petroleum, uranium, mercury, small
    production of petroleum, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten
Land use:
    6% arable land; NA% permanent crops; NA% meadows and pastures; NA% forest
    and woodland; NA% other; includes NA% irrigated
Environment:
    NA
Note:
    landlocked

:Tajikistan People

Population:
    5,680,242 (July 1992), growth rate 3.0% (1992)
Birth rate:
    40 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
    8 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
    -1 migrant/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
    74 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
    64 years male, 70 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
    5.3 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
    noun - Tajik(s); adjective - Tajik
Ethnic divisions:
    Tajik 62%, Uzbek 24%, Russian 8%, Tatar 2%, other 4%
Religions:
    Sunni Muslim approximately 80%, Shi`a Muslim 5%
Languages:
    Tajik (official) NA%
Literacy:
    NA% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write
Labor force:
    1,938,000; agriculture and forestry 43%, industry and construction 22%,
    other 35% (1990)
Organized labor:
    NA

:Tajikistan Government

Long-form name:
    Republic of Tajikistan
Type:
    republic
Capital:
    Dushanbe
Administrative divisions:
    3 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast') and one autonomous oblast*;
    Gorno-Badakhshan*; Kurgan-Tyube, Kulyab, Leninabad (Khudzhand); note - the
    rayons around Dushanbe are under direct republic jurisdiction; an oblast
    usually has the same name as its administrative center (exceptions have the
    administrative center name following in parentheses)
Independence:
    9 September 1991 (from Soviet Union); formerly Tajikistan Soviet Socialist
    Republic
Constitution:
    adopted NA April 1978
Legal system:
    based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
National holiday:
    NA
Executive branch:
    president, prime minister
Legislative branch:
    unicameral Supreme Soviet
Judicial branch:
    NA
Leaders:
  Chief of State:
    President Rakhman NABIYEV (since NA September 1991); note - a government of
    National Reconciliation was formed in May 1992; NABIYEV is titular head
  Head of Government:
    Prime Minister Akbar MIRZOYEV (since 10 January 1992); First Deputy Prime
    Minister Davlat USMON
Political parties and leaders:
    Tajik Democratic Party, Shodmon YUSUF, chairman; Rastokhez (Rebirth), Tohir
    ABDULJABAR, chairman; Islamic Revival Party, Sharif HIMMOT-ZODA, chairman
Suffrage:
    universal at age 18
Elections:
  President:
    last held 27 October 1991 (next to be held NA); results - Rakhman NABIYEV,
    Communist Party 60%; Daolat KHUDONAZAROV, Democratic Party, Islamic Rebirth
    Party and Rastokhoz Party 30%
  Supreme Soviet:
    last held 25 February 1990 (next to be held NA); results - Communist Party
    99%, other 1%; seats - (230 total) Communist Party 227, other 3
Communists:
    NA
Other political or pressure groups:
    Kazi Kolon, Akbar TURAJON-SODA, Muslim leader
Member of:
    CSCE, IMF, UN
Diplomatic representation:
    NA
  US:
    Ambassador-designate Stan ESCUDERO; Embassy at Interim Chancery, #39 Ainii
    Street; Residences: Oktyabrskaya Hotel, Dushanbe (mailing address is APO AE
    09862); telephone [8] (011) 7-3772-24-32-23

:Tajikistan Government

Flag:
    NA; still in the process of designing one

:Tajikistan Economy

Overview:
    Tajikistan has had the lowest standard of living and now faces the bleakest
    economic prospects of the 15 former Soviet republics. Agriculture is the
    main economic sector, normally accounting for 38% of employment and
    featuring cotton and fruits. Industry is sparse, bright spots including
    electric power and aluminum production based on the country's sizable
    hydropower resources and a surprising specialty in the production of
    metal-cutting machine tools. In 1991 and early 1992, disruptions in food
    supplies from the outside have severely strained the availability of food
    throughout the republic. The combination of the poor food supply, the
    general disruption of industrial links to suppliers and markets, and
    political instability have meant that the republic's leadership could make
    little progress in economic reform in 1991 and early 1992.
GDP:
    $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate -9% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
    84% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
    25% (1991 est.)
Budget:
    $NA
Exports:
    $706 million (1990)
  commodities:
    aluminum, cotton, fruits, vegetable oil, textiles
  partners:
    Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Imports:
    $1.3 billion (1990)
  commodities:
    chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, textiles, foodstuffs
  partners:
    NA
External debt:
    $650 million (end of 1991 est.)
Industrial production:
    growth rate -2.0% (1991)
Electricity:
    4,575,000 kW capacity; 17,500 million kWh produced, 3,384 kWh per capita
    (1991)
Industries:
    aluminum, zinc, lead, chemicals and fertilizers, cement, vegetable oil,
    metal-cutting machine tools, refrigerators and freezers
Agriculture:
    cotton, grain, fruits, grapes, vegetables; cattle, pigs, sheep and goats,
    yaks
Illicit drugs:
    illicit producers of cannabis and opium; mostly for domestic consumption;
    status of government eradication programs unknown; used as transshipment
    points for illicit drugs to Western Europe
Economic aid:
    NA
Currency:
    as of May 1992, retaining ruble as currency
Exchange rates:
    NA
Fiscal year:
    calendar year

:Tajikistan Communications

Railroads:
    480 km all 1.520-meter (broad) gauge (includes NA km electrified); does not
    include industrial lines (1990); 258 km between Dushanbe (Tajikistan) and
    Termez (Uzbekistan), connects with the railroad system of the other
    republics of the former Soviet Union at Tashkent in Uzbekistan
Highways:
    29,900 km total (1990); 24,400 km hard surfaced, 8,500 km earth
Inland waterways:
    NA km perennially navigable
Pipelines:
    NA
Civil air:
    NA
Airports:
    NA
Telecommunications:
    poorly developed; telephone density NA; linked by landline or microwave with
    other CIS member states and by leased connections via the Moscow
    international gateway switch to other countries; satellite earth stations -
    Orbita and INTELSAT (TV receive only)

:Tajikistan Defense Forces

Branches:
    Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard; CIS
    Forces (Ground, Air, and Air Defense)
Manpower availability:
    males 15-49, NA; NA fit for military service; NA reach military age (18)
    annually
Defense expenditures:
    $NA, NA% of GDP

_@_Tanzania Geography

Total area:
    945,090 km2
Land area:
    886,040 km2; includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar
Comparative area:
    slightly larger than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
    3,402 km total; Burundi 451 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi 475 km, Mozambique 756
    km, Rwanda 217 km, Uganda 396 km, Zambia 338 km
Coastline:
    1,424 km
Maritime claims:
  Exclusive economic zone:
    200 nm
  Territorial sea:
    12 nm
Disputes:
    boundary dispute with Malawi in Lake Nyasa; Tanzania-Zaire-Zambia tripoint
    in Lake Tanganyika may no longer be indefinite since it is reported that the
    indefinite section of the Zaire-Zambia boundary has been settled
Climate:
    varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands
Terrain:
    plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south
Natural resources:
    hydropower potential, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones,
    gold, natural gas, nickel
Land use:
    arable land 5%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 40%; forest and
    woodland 47%; other 7%; includes irrigated NEGL%
Environment:
    lack of water and tsetse fly limit agriculture; recent droughts affected
    marginal agriculture; Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa

:Tanzania People

Population:
    27,791,552 (July 1992), growth rate 3.4% (1992)
Birth rate:
    49 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
    15 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
    -1 migrant/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
    103 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
    50 years male, 55 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
    7.0 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
    noun - Tanzanian(s); adjective - Tanzanian
Ethnic divisions:
    mainland - native African consisting of well over 100 tribes 99%; Asian,
    European, and Arab 1%
Religions:
    mainland - Christian 33%, Muslim 33%, indigenous beliefs 33%; Zanzibar -
    almost all Muslim
Languages:
    Swahili and English (official); English primary language of commerce,
    administration, and higher education; Swahili widely understood and
    generally used for communication between ethnic groups; first language of
    most people is one of the local languages; primary education is generally in
    Swahili
Literacy:
    46% (male 62%, female 31%) age 15 and over can read and write (1978)
Labor force:
    732,200 wage earners; 90% agriculture, 10% industry and commerce (1986 est.)
Organized labor:
    15% of labor force

:Tanzania Government

Long-form name:
    United Republic of Tanzania
Type:
    republic
Capital:
    Dar es Salaam; some government offices have been transferred to Dodoma,
    which is planned as the new national capital by the end of the 1990s
Administrative divisions:
    25 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Iringa, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro,
    Lindi, Mara, Mbeya, Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza, Pemba North, Pemba South,
    Pwani, Rukwa, Ruvuma, Shinyanga, Singida, Tabora, Tanga, Zanzibar
    Central/South, Zanzibar North, Zanzibar Urban/West, Ziwa Magharibi
Independence:
    Tanganyika became independent 9 December 1961 (from UN trusteeship under
    British administration); Zanzibar became independent 19 December 1963 (from
    UK); Tanganyika united with Zanzibar 26 April 1964 to form the United
    Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; renamed United Republic of Tanzania 29
    October 1964
Constitution:
    15 March 1984 (Zanzibar has its own Constitution but remains subject to
    provisions of the union Constitution)
Legal system:
    based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to
    matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
    Union Day, 26 April (1964)
Executive branch:
    president, first vice president and prime minister of the union, second vice
    president and president of Zanzibar, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
    unicameral National Assembly (Bunge)
Judicial branch:
    Court of Appeal, High Court
Leaders:
  Chief of State:
    President Ali Hassan MWINYI (since 5 November 1985); First Vice President
    John MALECELA (since 9 November 1990); Second Vice President Salmin AMOUR
    (since 9 November 1990)
  Head of Government:
    Prime Minister John MALECELA (since 9 November 1990)
Political parties and leaders:
    only party - Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM or Revolutionary Party), Ali Hassan
    MWINYI, party chairman
Suffrage:
    universal at age 18
Elections:
  President:
    last held 28 October 1990 (next to be held NA October 1995); results - Ali
    Hassan MWINYI was elected without opposition
  National Assembly:
    last held 28 October 1990 (next to be held NA October 1995); results - CCM
    is the only party; seats - (241 total, 168 elected) CCM 168
Member of:
    ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, EADB, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-6, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
    IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS,
    NAM, OAU, SADCC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
    WTO

:Tanzania Government

Diplomatic representation:
    Ambassador-designate Charles Musama NYIRABU; Chancery at 2139 R Street NW,
    Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 939-6125
  US:
    Ambassador Edmund DE JARNETTE, Jr.; Embassy at 36 Laibon Road (off Bagamoyo
    Road), Dar es Salaam (mailing address is P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam);
    telephone [255] (51) 66010/13; FAX [255] (51)66701
Flag:
    divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band from the lower hoist-side
    corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is
    blue

:Tanzania Economy

Overview:
    Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The economy is
    heavily dependent on agriculture, which accounts for about 47% of GDP,
    provides 85% of exports, and employs 90% of the work force. Industry
    accounts for 8% of GDP and is mainly limited to processing agricultural
    products and light consumer goods. The economic recovery program announced
    in mid-1986 has generated notable increases in agricultural production and
    financial support for the program by bilateral donors. The World Bank, the
    International Monetary Fund, and bilateral donors have provided funds to
    rehabilitate Tanzania's deteriorated economic infrastructure. Growth in 1991
    was featured by a pickup in industrial production and a substantial increase
    in output of minerals led by gold.
GDP:
    exchange rate conversion - $6.9 billion, per capita $260 (1989 est.); real
    growth rate 4.5% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
    16.5% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
    NA%
Budget:
    revenues $495 million; expenditures $631 million, including capital
    expenditures of $118 million (FY90)
Exports:
    $478 million (f.o.b., FY91 est.)
  commodities:
    coffee, cotton, sisal, tea, cashew nuts, meat, tobacco, diamonds, gold,
    coconut products, pyrethrum, cloves (Zanzibar)
  partners:
    FRG, UK, Japan, Netherlands, Kenya, Hong Kong, US
Imports:
    $1.5 billion (c.i.f., FY91 est.)
  commodities:
    manufactured goods, machinery and transportation equipment, cotton piece
    goods, crude oil, foodstuffs
  partners:
    FRG, UK, US, Japan, Italy, Denmark
External debt:
    $5.2 billion (December 1991 est.)
Industrial production:
    growth rate 4.2% (1988); accounts for 8% of GDP
Electricity:
    405,000 kW capacity; 905 million kWh produced, 35 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
    primarily agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine),
    diamond and gold mining, oil refinery, shoes, cement, textiles, wood
    products, fertilizer
Agriculture:
    accounts for over 45% of GDP; topography and climatic conditions limit
    cultivated crops to only 5% of land area; cash crops - coffee, sisal, tea,
    cotton, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), cashews, tobacco,
    cloves (Zanzibar); food crops - corn, wheat, cassava, bananas, fruits, and
    vegetables; small numbers of cattle, sheep, and goats; not self-sufficient
    in food grain production
Economic aid:
    US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $400 million; Western (non-US)
    countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $9.8 billion; OPEC
    bilateral aid (1979-89), $44 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $614
    million

:Tanzania Economy

Currency:
    Tanzanian shilling (plural - shillings); 1 Tanzanian shilling (TSh) = 100
    cents
Exchange rates:
    Tanzanian shillings (TSh) per US$1 - 236.01 (February (1992), 219.16 (1991),
    195.06 (1990), 143.38 (1989), 99.29 (1988), 64.26 (1987)
Fiscal year:
    1 July-30 June

:Tanzania Communications

Railroads:
    3,555 km total; 960 km 1.067-meter gauge; 2,595 km 1.000-meter gauge, 6.4 km
    double track, 962 km Tazara Railroad 1.067-meter gauge; 115 km 1.000-meter
    gauge planned by end of decade
Highways:
    total 81,900 km, 3,600 km paved; 5,600 km gravel or crushed stone; remainder
    improved and unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
    Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, Lake Nyasa
Pipelines:
    crude oil 982 km
Ports:
    Dar es Salaam, Mtwara, Tanga, and Zanzibar are ocean ports; Mwanza on Lake
    Victoria and Kigoma on Lake Tanganyika are inland ports
Merchant marine:
    6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 19,185 GRT/22,916 DWT; includes 2
    passenger-cargo, 2 cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 petroleum tanker
Civil air:
    8 major transport aircraft
Airports:
    104 total, 94 usable; 12 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways
    over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3, 659 m; 43 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
    fair system operating below capacity; open wire, radio relay, and
    troposcatter; 103,800 telephones; broadcast stations - 12 AM, 4 FM, 2 TV; 1
    Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

:Tanzania Defense Forces

Branches:
    Tanzanian People's Defense Force (TPDF; including Army, Navy, and Air
    Force); paramilitary Police Field Force Unit; Militia
Manpower availability:
    males 15-49, 5,747,542; 3,319,116 fit for military service
Defense expenditures:
    exchange rate conversion - $119 million, about 2% of GDP (FY89 budget)

_@_Thailand Geography

Total area:
    514,000 km2
Land area:
    511,770 km2
Comparative area:
    slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
Land boundaries:
    4,863 km total; Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km, Malaysia 506
    km
Coastline:
    3,219 km
Maritime claims:
  Exclusive economic zone:
    200 nm
  Territorial sea:
    12 nm
Disputes:
    boundary dispute with Laos; unresolved maritime boundary with Vietnam
Climate:
    tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry,
    cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot
    and humid
Terrain:
    central plain; eastern plateau (Khorat); mountains elsewhere
Natural resources:
    tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum,
    lignite, fluorite
Land use:
    arable land 34%; permanent crops 4%; meadows and pastures 1%; forest and
    woodland 30%; other 31%; includes irrigated 7%
Environment:
    air and water pollution; land subsidence in Bangkok area
Note:
    controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore

:Thailand People

Population:
    57,624,180 (July 1992), growth rate 1.4% (1992)
Birth rate:
    20 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
    6 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
    0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
    35 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
    67 years male, 71 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
    2.2 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
    noun - Thai (singular and plural); adjective - Thai
Ethnic divisions:
    Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%
Religions:
    Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism 0.1%, other 0.6%
    (1991)
Languages:
    Thai; English is the secondary language of the elite; ethnic and regional
    dialects
Literacy:
    93% (male 96%, female 90%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Labor force:
    30,870,000; agriculture 62%, industry 13%, commerce 11%, services (including
    government) 14% (1989 est.)
Organized labor:
    309,000 union members (1989)

:Thailand Government

Long-form name:
    Kingdom of Thailand
Type:
    constitutional monarchy
Capital:
    Bangkok
Administrative divisions:
    72 provinces (changwat, singular and plural); Ang Thong, Buriram,
    Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai,
    Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen,
    Krabi, Krung Thep Mahanakhon, Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong
    Son, Maha Sarakham, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon
    Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat, Nong Khai,
    Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phayao,
    Phetchabun, Phetchaburi, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya,
    Phrae, Phuket, Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi,
    Rayong, Roi Et, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram,
    Sara Buri, Satun, Sing Buri, Sisaket, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri,
    Surat Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai
    Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon
Independence:
    1238 (traditional founding date); never colonized
Constitution:
    22 December 1978; new constitution approved 7 December 1991
Legal system:
    based on civil law system, with influences of common law; has not accepted
    compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; martial law in effect since 23 February 1991
    military coup
National holiday:
    Birthday of His Majesty the King, 5 December (1927)
Executive branch:
    monarch, interim prime minister, three interim deputy prime ministers,
    interim Council of Ministers (cabinet), Privy Council; following the
    military coup of 23 February 1991 a National Peace-Keeping Council was set
    up
Legislative branch:
    bicameral National Assembly (Rathasatha) consists of an upper house or
    Senate (Vuthisatha) and a lower house or House of Representatives
    (Saphaphoothan-Rajsadhorn)
Judicial branch:
    Supreme Court (Sarndika)
Leaders:
  Chief of State:
    King PHUMIPHON Adunlayadet (since 9 June 1946); Heir Apparent Crown Prince
    WACHIRALONGKON (born 28 July 1952)
  Head of Government:
    Prime Minister Anan PANYARACHUN (since 10 June 1992)
Political parties and leaders:
    Justice Unity Party (Samakki Tham); Chart Thai Party; Solidarity Party; Thai
    Citizens Party (TCP, Prachakorn Thai); Social Action Party (SAP); Democrat
    Party (DP); Force of Truth Party (Palang Dharma); New Aspiration Party;
    Rassadorn Party; Muanchon Party; Puangchon Chothai Party
Suffrage:
    universal at age 21

:Thailand Government

Elections:
  House of Representatives:
    last held 22 March 1992 (next to be held by NA); results - percent of vote
    by party NA; seats - (360 total) Samakki Tham 79, Chart Thai Party 74, New
    Aspiration Party 72, DP 44, Palang Dharma 41, SAP 31, TCP 7, Solidarity
    Party 6, Rassadorn 4, Muanchon 1, Puangchon Chotahi 1
Communists:
    illegal Communist party has 500 to 1,000 members; armed Communist insurgents
    throughout Thailand total 200 (est.)
Member of:
    APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
    ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO,
    ITU, LORCS, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation:
    Ambassador-designate PHIRAPHONG Kasemsi; Embassy at 2300 Kalorama Road NW,
    Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 483-7200; there are Thai Consulates
    General in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
  US:
    Ambassador David F. LAMBERTSON; Embassy at 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok
    (mailing address is APO AP 96546); telephone [66] (2) 252-5040; FAX [66] (2)
    254-2990; there is a US Consulate General in Chiang Mai and Consulates in
    Songkhla and Udorn
Flag:
    five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and
    red

:Thailand Economy

Overview:
    Thailand, one of the more advanced developing countries in Asia, enjoyed a
    year of 8% growth in 1991, although down from an annual average of 11%
    growth between 1987 and 1990. The increasingly sophisticated manufacturing
    sector benefited from export-oriented investment. The manufacturing and
    service sectors have accounted for the lion's share of economic growth.
    Thailand's traditional agricultural sector continued to become less
    important to the overall economy in 1991. The trade deficit continued to
    increase in 1991, to $11 billion; earnings from tourism and remittances grew
    marginally as a result of the Gulf War; and Thailand's import bill grew,
    especially for manufactures and oil. The government has followed fairly
    sound fiscal and monetary policies. Aided by increased tax receipts from the
    fast-moving economy; Bangkok recorded its fourth consecutive budget surplus
    in 1991. The government is moving ahead with new projects - especially for
    telecommunications, roads, and port facilities - needed to refurbish the
    country's overtaxed infrastructure. Political unrest and the military's
    shooting of antigovernment demonstrators in May 1992 have caused
    international businessmen to question Thailand's political stability.
    Thailand's general economic outlook remains good, however, assuming the
    continuation of the government's progrowth measures.
GNP:
    exchange rate conversion - $92.6 billion, per capita $1,630; real growth
    rate 8% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
    5.6% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
    4.1% (1991 est.)
Budget:
    revenues $17.9 billion; expenditures $17.9 billion, including capital
    expenditures of $5.0 billion (FY92 est.)
Exports:
    $27.5 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
  commodities:
    machinery and manufactures 62%, food 28%, crude materials 7% (1990)
  partners:
    US 23.4%, Japan 17.2%, Singapore 7.3%, Germany 5.3%, Hong Kong 4.8%, UK
    4.4%, Netherlands 4.3%, Malaysia, France, China (1990)
Imports:
    $39.0 billion (c.i.f., 1991)
  commodities:
    machinery and manufactures 67%, chemicals l0%, fuels 9%, crude materials 6%
    (1990)
  partners:
    Japan 30.2%, US 12%, Singapore 6.9%, Taiwan 5%, Germany 4.8%, China 3.2%,
    South Korea, Malaysia, UK (1990)
External debt:
    $25.1 billion (1990)
Industrial production:
    growth rate 14% (1990 est.); accounts for about 25% of GDP
Electricity:
    7,400,000 kW capacity; 37,500 million kWh produced, 660 kWh per capita
    (1991)
Industries:
    tourism is the largest source of foreign exchange; textiles and garments,
    agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, other light
    manufacturing, such as jewelry; electric appliances and components,
    integrated circuits, furniture, plastics; world's second-largest tungsten
    producer and third-largest tin producer

:Thailand Economy

Agriculture:
    accounts for 12% of GDP and 60% of labor force; leading producer and
    exporter of rice and cassava (tapioca); other crops - rubber, corn,
    sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans; except for wheat, self-sufficient in food
Illicit drugs:
    a minor producer, major illicit trafficker of heroin, particularly from
    Burma and Laos, and cannabis for the international drug market; eradication
    efforts have reduced the area of cannabis cultivation and shifted some
    production to neighboring countries; opium poppy cultivation has been
    affected by eradication efforts
Economic aid:
    US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $870 million; Western (non-US)
    countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $8.6 billion; OPEC
    bilateral aid (1979-89), $19 million
Currency:
    baht (plural - baht); 1 baht (B) = 100 satang
Exchange rates:
    baht (B) per US$1 - 25.614 (March 1992), 25.517 (1991), 25.585 (1990),
    25.702 (1989), 25.294 (1988), 25.723 (1987)
Fiscal year:
    1 October-30 September

:Thailand Communications

Railroads:
    3,940 km 1.000-meter gauge, 99 km double track
Highways:
    44,534 km total; 28,016 km paved, 5,132 km earth surface, 11,386 km under
    development
Inland waterways:
    3,999 km principal waterways; 3,701 km with navigable depths of 0.9 m or
    more throughout the year; numerous minor waterways navigable by
    shallow-draft native craft
Pipelines:
    natural gas 350 km, petroleum products 67 km
Ports:
    Bangkok, Pattani, Phuket, Sattahip, Si Racha
Merchant marine:
    151 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 628,225 GRT/957,095 DWT; includes 1
    short-sea passenger, 87 cargo, 11 container, 31 petroleum tanker, 9
    liquefied gas, 2 chemical tanker, 3 bulk, 4 refrigerated cargo, 2
    combination bulk, 1 passenger
Civil air:
    41 (plus 2 leased) major transport aircraft
Airports:
    115 total, 97 usable; 50 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over
    3,659 m; 13 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 28 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
    service to general public inadequate; bulk of service to government
    activities provided by multichannel cable and radio relay network; 739,500
    telephones (1987); broadcast stations - over 200 AM, 100 FM, and 11 TV in
    government-controlled networks; satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean
    INTELSAT and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT domestic satellite system being
    developed

:Thailand Defense Forces

Branches:
    Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy (including Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal
    Thai Air Force, Paramilitary Forces
Manpower availability:
    males 15-49, 16,361,393; 9,966,446 fit for military service; 612,748 reach
    military age (18) annually
Defense expenditures:
    exchange rate conversion - $2.7 billion, about 3% of GNP (1992 budget)