_@_United States Geography

Total area:
    9,372,610 km2
Land area:
    9,166,600 km2; includes only the 50 states and District of Colombia
Comparative area:
    about three-tenths the size of Russia; about one-third the size of Africa;
    about one-half the size of South America (or slightly larger than Brazil);
    slightly smaller than China; about two and one-half times the size of
    Western Europe
Land boundaries:
    12,248.1 km; Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with Alaska), Mexico 3,326
    km, Cuba (US naval base at Guantanamo) 29.1 km
Coastline:
    19,924 km
Maritime claims:
  Contiguous zone:
    12 nm
  Continental shelf:
    not specified
  Exclusive economic zone:
    200 nm
  Territorial sea:
    12 nm
Disputes:
    maritime boundary disputes with Canada (Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait
    of Juan de Fuca); US Naval Base at Guantanamo is leased from Cuba and only
    mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease;
    Haiti claims Navassa Island; US has made no territorial claim in Antarctica
    (but has reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims of
    any other nation; Marshall Islands claims Wake Island
Climate:
    mostly temperate, but varies from tropical (Hawaii) to arctic (Alaska); arid
    to semiarid in west with occasional warm, dry chinook wind
Terrain:
    vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low mountains in east;
    rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska; rugged, volcanic
    topography in Hawaii
Natural resources:
    coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron,
    mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, crude oil, natural gas,
    timber
Land use:
    arable land 20%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 26%; forest and
    woodland 29%; other 25%; includes irrigated 2%
Environment:
    pollution control measures improving air and water quality; acid rain;
    agricultural fertilizer and pesticide pollution; management of sparse
    natural water resources in west; desertification; tsunamis, volcanoes, and
    earthquake activity around Pacific Basin; continuous permafrost in northern
    Alaska is a major impediment to development
Note:
    world's fourth-largest country (after Russia, Canada, and China)

:United States People

Population:
    254,521,000 (July 1992), growth rate 0.8% (1992)
Birth rate:
    14 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
    9 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
    2 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
    10 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
    72 years male, 79 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
    1.8 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
    noun - American(s); adjective - American
Ethnic divisions:
    white 84.1%, black 12.4%, other 3.5% (1989)
Religions:
    Protestant 56%, Roman Catholic 28%, Jewish 2%, other 4%, none 10% (1989)
Languages:
    predominantly English; sizable Spanish-speaking minority
Literacy:
    98% (male 97%, female 98%) age 25 and over having completed 5 or more years
    of schooling (1989)
Labor force:
    126,867,000 (includes armed forces and unemployed); civilian labor force
    125,303,000 (1991)
Organized labor:
    16,568,000 members; 16.1% of total wage and salary employment which was
    102,786,000 (1991)

:United States Government

Long-form name:
    United States of America; abbreviated US or USA
Type:
    federal republic; strong democratic tradition
Capital:
    Washington, DC
Administrative divisions:
    50 states and 1 district*; Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California,
    Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia*, Florida, Georgia,
    Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine,
    Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri,
    Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York,
    North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode
    Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont,
    Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Independence:
    4 July 1776 (from England)
Constitution:
    17 September 1787, effective 4 June 1789
Dependent areas:
    American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island; Jarvis Island, Johnston
    Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana
    Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Island
Legal system:
    based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts
    compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
    Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
Executive branch:
    president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
    bicameral Congress consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or
    House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
    Supreme Court
Leaders:
  Chief of State and Head of Government:
    President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989); Vice President Dan QUAYLE
    (since 20 January 1989)
Political parties and leaders:
    Republican Party, Richard N. BOND, national committee chairman; Jeanie
    AUSTIN, co-chairman; Democratic Party, Ronald H. BROWN, national committee
    chairman; several other groups or parties of minor political significance
Suffrage:
    universal at age 18
Elections:
  President:
    last held 8 November 1988 (next to be held 3 November 1992); results -
    George BUSH (Republican Party) 53.37%, Michael DUKAKIS (Democratic Party)
    45.67%, other 0.96%
  Senate:
    last held 6 November 1990 (next to be held 3 November 1992); results -
    Democratic Party 51%, Republican Party 47%, other 2%; seats - (100 total)
    Democratic Party 56, Republican Party 44
  House of Representatives:
    last held 6 November 1990 (next to be held 3 November 1992); results -
    Democratic Party 52%, Republican Party 44%, other 4%; seats - (435 total)
    Democratic Party 267, Republican Party 167, Socialist 1

:United States Government

Communists:
    Communist Party (claimed 15,000-20,000 members), Gus HALL, general
    secretary; Socialist Workers Party (claimed 1,800 members), Jack BARNES,
    national secretary
Member of:
    AfDB, AG (observer), ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, BIS, CCC, COCOM, CP, CSCE, EBRD,
    ECE, ECLAC, FAO, ESCAP, G-2, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
    ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
    INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NATO, NEA, OAS, OECD, PCA, SPC, UN,
    UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UN Security Council, UN Trusteeship Council,
    UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation:
    US Representative to the UN, Ambassador Thomas R. PICKERING; Mission at 799
    United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017; telephone (212) 415-4050, after
    hours (212) 415-4444; FAX (212) 415-4443
Flag:
    thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with
    white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50
    small white five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of
    six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars
    represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies;
    known as Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a number
    of other flags including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
Note:
    since 18 July 1947, the US has administered the Trust Territory of the
    Pacific Islands, but recently entered into a new political relationship with
    three of the four political units; the Northern Mariana Islands is a
    Commonwealth in political union with the US (effective 3 November 1986);
    Palau concluded a Compact of Free Association with the US that was approved
    by the US Congress but to date the Compact process has not been completed in
    Palau, which continues to be administered by the US as the Trust Territory
    of the Pacific Islands; the Federated States of Micronesia signed a Compact
    of Free Association with the US (effective 3 November 1986); the Republic of
    the Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association with the US
    (effective 21 October 1986)

:United States Economy

Overview:
    The US has the most powerful, diverse, and technologically advanced economy
    in the world, with a per capita GDP of $22,470, the largest among major
    industrial nations. The economy is market oriented with most decisions made
    by private individuals and business firms and with government purchases of
    goods and services made predominantly in the marketplace. In 1989 the
    economy enjoyed its seventh successive year of substantial growth, the
    longest in peacetime history. The expansion featured moderation in wage and
    consumer price increases and a steady reduction in unemployment to 5.2% of
    the labor force. In 1990, however, growth slowed to 1% because of a
    combination of factors, such as the worldwide increase in interest rates,
    Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August, the subsequent spurt in oil prices, and
    a general decline in business and consumer confidence. In 1991 output failed
    to recover, unemployment grew, and signs of recovery proved premature.
    Ongoing problems for the 1990s include inadequate investment in economic
    infrastructure, rapidly rising medical costs, and sizable budget and trade
    deficits.
GDP:
    purchasing power equivalent - $5,673 billion, per capita $22,470; real
    growth rate -0.7% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
    4.2% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
    6.6% (1991)
Budget:
    revenues $1,054 billion; expenditures $1,323 billion, including capital
    expenditures of $NA (FY91)
Exports:
    $428.1 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
  commodities:
    capital goods, automobiles, industrial supplies and raw materials, consumer
    goods, agricultural products
  partners:
    Western Europe 27.3%, Canada 22.1%, Japan 12.1% (1989)
Imports:
    $499.4 billion (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
  commodities:
    crude and partly refined petroleum, machinery, automobiles, consumer goods,
    industrial raw materials, food and beverages
  partners:
    Western Europe 21.5%, Japan 19.7%, Canada 18.8% (1989)
External debt:
    NA
Industrial production:
    growth rate -1.9% (1991)
Electricity:
    776,550,000 kW capacity; 3,020,000 million kWh produced, 12,080 kWh per
    capita (1990)
Industries:
    leading industrial power in the world, highly diversified; petroleum, steel,
    motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food
    processing, consumer goods, fishing, lumber, mining
Agriculture:
    accounts for 2% of GDP and 2.8% of labor force; favorable climate and soils
    support a wide variety of crops and livestock production; world's second
    largest producer and number one exporter of grain; surplus food producer;
    fish catch of 5.0 million metric tons (1988)

:United States Economy

Illicit drugs:
    illicit producer of cannabis for domestic consumption with 1987 production
    estimated at 3,500 metric tons or about 25% of the available marijuana;
    ongoing eradication program aimed at small plots and greenhouses has not
    reduced production
Economic aid:
    donor - commitments, including ODA and OOF, (FY80-89), $115.7 billion
Currency:
    United States dollar (plural - dollars); 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100
    cents
Exchange rates:
  British pounds:
    (#) per US$ - 0.5599 (March 1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099
    (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987)
  Canadian dollars:
    (Can$) per US$ - 1.1926 (March 1992), 1.1457 (1991), 1.1668 (1990), 1.1840
    (1989), 1.2307 (1988), 1.3260 (1987)
  French francs:
    (F) per US$ - 5.6397, (March 1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801
    (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987)
  Italian lire:
    (Lit) per US$ - 1,248.4 (March 1992), 1,240.6 (1991), 1,198.1 (1990),
    1.372.1 (1989), 1,301.6 (1988), 1,296.1 (1987)
  Japanese yen:
    (Y) per US$ - 132.70 (March 1992), 134.71 (1991), 144.79 (1990), 137.96
    (1989), 128.15 (1988), 144.64 (1987)
  German deutsche marks:
    (DM) per US$ - 1.6611 (March 1992), 1.6595 (1991), 1.6157 (1990), 1.8800
    (1989), 1.7562 (1988), 1.7974 (1987)
Fiscal year:
    1 October - 30 September

:United States Communications

Railroads:
    270,312 km
Highways:
    6,365,590 km, including 88,641 km expressways
Inland waterways:
    41,009 km of navigable inland channels, exclusive of the Great Lakes (est.)
Pipelines:
    petroleum 275,800 km, natural gas 305,300 km (1985)
Ports:
    Anchorage, Baltimore, Beaumont, Boston, Charleston, Chicago, Cleveland,
    Duluth, Freeport, Galveston, Hampton Roads, Honolulu, Houston, Jacksonville,
    Long Beach, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Mobile, New Orleans, New York,
    Philadelphia, Portland (Oregon), Richmond (California), San Francisco,
    Savannah, Seattle, Tampa, Wilmington
Merchant marine:
    396 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 12,969 GRT/20,179 DWT; includes 3
    passenger-cargo, 38 cargo, 25 bulk, 174 tanker, 13 tanker tug-barge, 14
    liquefied gas, 129 intermodal; in addition, there are 231 government-owned
    vessels
Civil air:
    8,252 commercial multiengine transport aircraft (weighing 9,000 kg and over)
    including 6,036 jet, 831 turboprop, 1,382 piston (December 1989)
Airports:
    14,177 total, 12,417 usable; 4,820 with permanent-surface runways; 63 with
    runways over 3,659 m; 325 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2,524 with runways
    1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
    182,558,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 4,892 AM, 5,200 FM (including
    3,915 commercial and 1,285 public broadcasting), 7,296 TV (including 796
    commercial, 300 public broadcasting, and 6,200 commercial cable);
    495,000,000 radio receivers (1982); 150,000,000 TV sets (1982); satellite
    ground stations - 45 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 16 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT

:United States Defense Forces

Branches:
    Department of the Army, Department of the Navy (including Marine Corps),
    Department of the Air Force
Manpower availability:
    males 15-49, 66,458,000; NA fit for military service
Defense expenditures:
    exchange rate conversion - $323.5 billion, 5.7% of GNP (1991)

_@_Uruguay Geography

Total area:
    176,220 km2
Land area:
    173,620 km2
Comparative area:
    slightly smaller than Washington State
Land boundaries:
    1,564 km total; Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km
Coastline:
    660 km
Maritime claims:
  Continental shelf:
    200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation
  Territorial sea:
    200 nm (overflight and navigation permitted beyond 12 nm)
Disputes:
    short section of boundary with Argentina is in dispute; two short sections
    of the boundary with Brazil are in dispute (Arroyo de la Invernada area of
    the Rio Quarai and the islands at the confluence of the Rio Quarai and the
    Uruguay)
Climate:
    warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown
Terrain:
    mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland
Natural resources:
    soil, hydropower potential, minor minerals
Land use:
    arable land 8%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 78%; forest and
    woodland 4%; other 10%; includes irrigated 1%
Environment:
    subject to seasonally high winds, droughts, floods

:Uruguay People

Population:
    3,141,533 (July 1992), growth rate 0.6% (1992)
Birth rate:
    17 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
    10 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
    -1 migrant/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
    23 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
    69 years male, 76 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
    2.4 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
    noun - Uruguayan(s); adjective - Uruguayan
Ethnic divisions:
    white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%
Religions:
    Roman Catholic (less than half adult population attends church regularly)
    66%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, nonprofessing or other 30%
Languages:
    Spanish
Literacy:
    96% (male 97%, female 96%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Labor force:
    1,355,000 (1991 est.); government 25%, manufacturing 19%, agriculture 11%,
    commerce 12%, utilities, construction, transport, and communications 12%,
    other services 21% (1988 est.)
Organized labor:
    Interunion Workers' Assembly/National Workers' Confederation (PIT/CNT) Labor
    Federation

:Uruguay Government

Long-form name:
    Oriental Republic of Uruguay
Type:
    republic
Capital:
    Montevideo
Administrative divisions:
    19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Artigas, Canelones,
    Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado,
    Montevideo, Paysandu, Rio Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San Jose, Soriano,
    Tacuarembo, Treinta y Tres
Independence:
    25 August 1828 (from Brazil)
Constitution:
    27 November 1966, effective February 1967, suspended 27 June 1973, new
    constitution rejected by referendum 30 November 1980
Legal system:
    based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
    Independence Day, 25 August (1828)
Executive branch:
    president, vice president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
    bicameral General Assembly (Asamblea General) consists of an upper chamber
    or Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores) and a lower chamber or Chamber
    of Representatives (Camera de Representantes)
Judicial branch:
    Supreme Court
Leaders:
  Chief of State and Head of Government:
    President Luis Alberto LACALLE (since 1 March 1990); Vice President Gonzalo
    AGUIRRE Ramirez (since 1 March 1990)
Political parties and leaders:
    National (Blanco) Party, Carlos CAT; Colorado Party, Jorge BATLLE Ibanez;
    Broad Front Coalition, Liber SEREGNI Mosquera - includes Communist Party led
    by Jaime PEREZ and National Liberation Movement (MLN) or Tupamaros led by
    Eleuterio FERNANDEZ Huidobro; New Space Coalition consists of the Party of
    the Government of the People (PGP), Hugo BATALLA; Christian Democratic Party
    (PDC), leader NA; and Civic Union, Humberto CIGANDA
Suffrage:
    universal and compulsory at age 18
Elections:
  President:
    last held 26 November 1989 (next to be held NA November 1994); results -
    Luis Alberto LACALLE Herrera (Blanco) 37%, Jorge BATLLE Ibanez (Colorado)
    29%, Liber SEREGNI Mosquera (Broad Front) 20%
  Chamber of Senators:
    last held 26 November 1989 (next to be held NA November 1994); results -
    Blanco 40%, Colorado 30%, Broad Front 23% New Space 7%; seats - (30 total)
    Blanco 12, Colorado 9, Broad Front 7, New Space 2
  Chamber of Representatives:
    last held NA November 1989 (next to be held NA November 1994); results -
    Blanco 39%, Colorado 30%, Broad Front 22%, New Space 8%, other 1%; seats -
    (99 total) number of seats by party NA
Communists:
    50,000

:Uruguay Government

Member of:
    AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
    ICC, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO
    (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA,
    RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIIMOG, UNMOGIP, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
    WTO
Diplomatic representation:
    Ambassador Eduardo MACGILLICUDDY; Chancery at 1918 F Street NW, Washington,
    DC 20006; telephone (202) 331-1313 through 1316; there are Uruguayan
    Consulates General in Los Angeles, Miami, and New York, and a Consulate in
    New Orleans
  US:
    Ambassador Richard C. BROWN; Embassy at Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo
    (mailing address is APO AA 34035); telephone [598] (2) 23-60-61 or 48-77-77;
    FAX [598] (2) 48-86-11
Flag:
    nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with
    blue; there is a white square in the upper hoist-side corner with a yellow
    sun bearing a human face known as the Sun of May and 16 rays alternately
    triangular and wavy

:Uruguay Economy

Overview:
    The economy is slowly recovering from the deep recession of the early 1980s.
    In 1988 real GDP grew by only 0.5% and in 1989 by 1.5%. The recovery was led
    by growth in the agriculture and fishing sectors, agriculture alone
    contributing 20% to GDP, employing about 11% of the labor force, and
    generating a large proportion of export earnings. Raising livestock,
    particularly cattle and sheep, is the major agricultural activity. In 1991,
    domestic growth improved somewhat over 1990, but various government factors,
    including concentration on the external sector, adverse weather conditions,
    and greater attention to bringing down inflation and reducing the fiscal
    deficit kept output from expanding rapidly. In a major step toward greater
    regional economic cooperation, Uruguay joined Brazil, Argentina, and
    Paraguay in forming the Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur). President
    LACALLE continues to press ahead with a broad economic reform plan to reduce
    state intervention in the economy, but he faces strong opposition.
GDP:
    exchange rate conversion - $9.1 billion, per capita $2,935; real growth rate
    2.3% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
    60% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
    8.5% (1991 est.)
Budget:
    revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.4 billion, including capital
    expenditures of $165 million (1988)
Exports:
    $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
  commodities:
    hides and leather goods 17%, beef 10%, wool 9%, fish 7%, rice 4%
  partners:
    Brazil, US, Argentina, Germany
Imports:
    $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
  commodities:
    fuels and lubricants 15%, metals, machinery, transportation equipment,
    industrial chemicals
  partners:
    Brazil 23%, Argentina 17%, US 10%, EC 27.1% (1990)
External debt:
    $4.2 billion (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
    growth rate -1.4% (1990), accounts for almost 25% of GDP
Electricity:
    2,065,000 kW capacity; 5,677 million kWh produced, 1,819 kWh per capita
    (1991)
Industries:
    meat processing, wool and hides, sugar, textiles, footwear, leather apparel,
    tires, cement, fishing, petroleum refining, wine
Agriculture:
    large areas devoted to livestock grazing; wheat, rice, corn, sorghum;
    self-sufficient in most basic foodstuffs
Economic aid:
    US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $105 million; Western (non-US)
    countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $420 million;
    Communist countries (1970-89), $69 million
Currency:
    new Uruguayan peso (plural - pesos); 1 new Uruguayan peso (N$Ur) = 100
    centesimos

:Uruguay Economy

Exchange rates:
    new Uruguayan pesos (N$Ur) per US$1 - 2,732.8 (March 1992), 2,018.8 (1991),
    1,171.0 (1990), 605.5 (1989), 359.4 (1988), 226.7 (1987)
Fiscal year:
    calendar year

:Uruguay Communications

Railroads:
    3,000 km, all 1.435-meter (standard) gauge and government owned
Highways:
    49,900 km total; 6,700 km paved, 3,000 km gravel, 40,200 km earth
Inland waterways:
    1,600 km; used by coastal and shallow-draft river craft
Ports:
    Montevideo, Punta del Este
Merchant marine:
    3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 56,737 GRT/104,143 DWT; includes 1
    cargo, 1 container, 1 petroleum tanker
Civil air:
    11 major transport aircraft
Airports:
    90 total, 83 usable; 16 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways
    over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 16 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
    most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide microwave
    network; 337,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 99 AM, no FM, 26 TV, 9
    shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

:Uruguay Defense Forces

Branches:
    Army, Navy (including Naval Air Arm, Coast Guard, and Marines), Air Force,
    Grenadier Guards, Police
Manpower availability:
    males 15-49, 745,728; 605,392 fit for military service; no conscription
Defense expenditures:
    exchange rate conversion - $168 million, 2.2% of GDP (1988)

_@_Uzbekistan Geography

Total area:
    447,400 km2
Land area:
    425,400 km2
Comparative area:
    slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
    6,221 km total; Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,099
    km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km
Coastline:
    0 km
  note:
    Uzbekistan does border the Aral Sea (420 km)
Maritime claims:
    none - landlocked
Disputes:
    none
Climate:
    mostly mid latitude desert; semiarid grassland in east
Terrain:
    mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; Fergana valley in east
    surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in
    west
Natural resources:
    natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead and zinc,
    tungsten, molybdenum
Land use:
    NA% arable land; NA% permanent crops; NA% meadows and pastures; NA% forest
    and woodland; NA% other; includes NA% irrigated
Environment:
    drying up of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of chemical
    pesticides and natural salts
Note:
    landlocked

:Uzbekistan People

Population:
    21,626,784 (July 1992), growth rate 2.4% (1992)
Birth rate:
    34 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
    7 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
    -2 migrants/1,000 population (1992); note - 179,000 persons left Uzbekistan
    in 1990
Infant mortality rate:
    65 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
    64 years male, 70 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
    4.2 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
    noun - Uzbek(s); adjective - Uzbek
Ethnic divisions:
    Uzbek 71%, Russian 8%, Tajik 5%, other 16%; note - includes 70% of Crimean
    Tatars since their World War II deportation
Religions:
    Muslim (mostly Sunnis) 75-80%, other (includes Farsi) 20-25%
Languages:
    Uzbek 85%, Russian 5%, other 10%
Literacy:
    NA%
Labor force:
    7,941,000; agriculture and forestry 39%, industry and construction 24%,
    other 37% (1990)
Organized labor:
    NA

:Uzbekistan Government

Long-form name:
    Republic of Uzbekistan
Type:
    republic
Capital:
    Tashkent (Toshkent)
Administrative divisions:
    11 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast') and 1 autonomous republic*
    (avtomnaya respublika); Andizhan, Bukhara, Dzhizak, Fergana, Karakalpakstan*
    (Nukus), Kashkadar'ya (Karshi), Khorezm (Urgench), Namangan, Samarkand,
    Surkhandar'ya (Termez), Syrdar'ya (Gulistan), Tashkent; note - an
    administrative division has the same name as its administrative center
    (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Independence:
    31 August 1991 from the Soviet Union; note - formerly Uzbek Soviet Socialist
    Republic in the Soviet Union
Constitution:
    NA
Legal system:
    NA
National holiday:
    NA
Executive branch:
    president
Legislative branch:
    unicameral Supreme Soviet
Judicial branch:
    NA
Leaders:
  Chief of State:
    President Islam KARIMOV (since 29 December 1991)
  Head of Government:
    Prime Minister Abdulhashim MUTALOV (since 13 January 1992)
Political parties and leaders:
    People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (formerly Communist Party), Islam
    KARIMOV, chairman; ERK, Mukhammad SOLIKH, chairman
Suffrage:
    universal at age 18
Elections:
  President:
    last held 29 December 1991 (next to be held NA December 1996); results -
    Islam KARIMOV 86%, Mukhammad SOLIKH 12%, other 2%
  Supreme Soviet:
    last held NA March 1990 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by
    party NA; seats - (500 total) Communist 450, ERK 10, other 40
Communists:
    NA
Other political or pressure groups:
    Birlik (Unity) Abdurakhim PULATOV, chairman; Islamic Renaissance Party,
    Abdulljon UTAEV, chairman
Member of:
    CIS, CSCE, IMF, NACC, UN UNCTAD
Diplomatic representation:
    NA
  US:
    Charge d'Affaires Michael MOZUR; Embassy at Hotel Uzbekistan, ;55
    Chelendarskaya, Tashkent (mailing address is APO AE 09862); telephone [8]
    (011) 7-3712-33-15-74

:Uzbekistan Government

Flag:
    three equal horizontal bands - blue (top), white, and green with a crescent
    moon and 12 stars in the upper hoist-side quadrant

:Uzbekistan Economy

Overview:
    Although Uzbekistan accounted for only 3.4% of total Soviet output, it
    produced two-thirds of the USSR's cotton. Moscow's push for ever-increasing
    amounts of cotton included massive irrigation projects which caused
    extensive environmental damage to the Aral Sea and rivers of the republic.
    Furthermore, the lavish use of chemical fertilizers has caused extensive
    pollution and widespread health problems. Recently the republic has sought
    to encourage food production at the expense of cotton. The small industrial
    sector specializes in such items as agricultural machinery, mineral
    fertilizers, vegetable oil, and electrical cranes. Uzbekistan also has some
    important natural resources including gold (about 30% of Soviet production),
    uranium, and natural gas. The Uzbek government has encouraged land reform
    but has shied away from other aspects of economic reform.
GDP:
    purchasing power equivalent - $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate -0.9%
    (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
    83% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
    NA
Budget:
    revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
    $1.5 billion (1990)
  commodities:
    cotton, gold, textiles, chemical and mineral fertilizers, vegetable oil
  partners:
    Russia, Ukraine, Eastern Europe
Imports:
    $3.5 billion (1990)
  commodities:
    machinery and parts, consumer durables, grain, other foods
  partners:
    principally other former Soviet republics
External debt:
    $2 billion (end of 1991 est.)
Industrial production:
    growth rate 1.8% (1991)
Electricity:
    11,400,000 kW capacity; 54,100 million kWh produced, 2,662 kWh per capita
    (1991)
Industries:
    chemical and mineral fertilizers, vegetable oil, textiles
Agriculture:
    cotton, with much smaller production of grain, fruits, vegetables, and
    livestock
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

:Uzbekistan Communications

Railroads:
    3,460 km all 1.520-meter gauge (includes NA km electrified); does not
    include industrial lines (1990)
Highways:
    78,400 km total (1990); 67,000 km hard-surfaced, 11,400 km earth
Inland waterways:
    NA km
Pipelines:
    NA
Ports:
    none - landlocked
Civil air:
    NA
Airports:
    NA
Telecommunications:
    poorly developed; telephone density NA; linked by landline or microwave with
    CIS member states and by leased connection via the Moscow international
    gateway switch to other countries; satellite earth stations - Orbita and
    INTELSAT (TV receive only)

:Uzbekistan 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

_@_Vanuatu Geography

Total area:
    14,760 km2
Land area:
    14,760 km2; includes more than 80 islands
Comparative area:
    slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
    0 km
Coastline:
    2,528 km
Maritime claims:
    (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines)
  Contiguous zone:
    24 nm
  Continental shelf:
    edge of continental margin or 200 nm
  Exclusive economic zone:
    200 nm
  Territorial sea:
    12 nm
Disputes:
    none
Climate:
    tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds
Terrain:
    mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains
Natural resources:
    manganese, hardwood forests, fish
Land use:
    arable land 1%; permanent crops 5%; meadows and pastures 2%; forest and
    woodland 1%; other 91%
Environment:
    subject to tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanism
    causes minor earthquakes
Note:
    located 5,750 km southwest of Honolulu in the South Pacific Ocean about
    three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and Australia

:Vanuatu People

Population:
    174,574 (July 1992), growth rate 3.0% (1992)
Birth rate:
    35 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
    5 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
    0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
    30 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
    67 years male, 72 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
    5.1 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
    noun - Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural); adjective - Ni-Vanuatu
Ethnic divisions:
    indigenous Melanesian 94%, French 4%, remainder Vietnamese, Chinese, and
    various Pacific Islanders
Religions:
    Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Catholic 15%, indigenous beliefs 7.6%,
    Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of Christ 3.8%, other 15.7%
Languages:
    English and French (official); pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama)
Literacy:
    53% (male 57%, female 48%) age 15 and over can read and write (1979)
Labor force:
    NA
Organized labor:
    7 registered trade unions - largest include Oil and Gas Workers' Union,
    Vanuatu Airline Workers' Union

:Vanuatu Government

Long-form name:
    Republic of Vanuatu
Type:
    republic
Capital:
    Port-Vila
Administrative divisions:
    11 island councils; Ambrym, Aoba/Maewo, Banks/Torres, Efate, Epi, Malakula,
    Paama, Pentecote, Santo/Malo, Shepherd, Tafea
Independence:
    30 July 1980 (from France and UK; formerly New Hebrides)
Constitution:
    30 July 1980
Legal system:
    unified system being created from former dual French and British systems
National holiday:
    Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
Executive branch:
    president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers
    (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
    unicameral Parliament; note - the National Council of Chiefs advises on
    matters of custom and land
Judicial branch:
    Supreme Court
Leaders:
  Chief of State:
    President Frederick TIMAKATA (since 30 January 1989)
  Head of Government:
    Prime Minister Maxime CARLOT (since 16 December 1991); Deputy Prime Minister
    Sethy REGENVANU (since 17 December 1991)
Political parties and leaders:
    Vanuatu Party (VP), Donald KALPOKAS; Union of Moderate Parties (UMP), Serge
    VOHOR; Melanesian Progressive Party (MPP), Barak SOPE; National United Party
    (NUP), Walter LINI; Tan Union Party (TUP), Vincent BOULEKONE; Nagriamel
    Party, Jimmy STEVENS; Friend Melanesian Party, leader NA
Suffrage:
    universal at age 18
Elections:
  Parliament:
    last held 2 December 1991 (next to be held by November 1995); note - after
    election, a coalition was formed by the Union of Moderate Parties and the
    National United Party to form new government on 16 December 1991; seats -
    (46 total) UMP 19; NUP 10; VP 10; MPP 4; TUP 1; Nagriamel 1; Friend 1
Member of:
    ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, IMF, IMO,
    IOC, ITU, NAM, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation:
    Vanuatu does not have a mission in Washington
  US:
    the ambassador in Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu
Flag:
    two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green (bottom) with a black
    isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a black-edged
    yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face
    the hoist side and enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a
    boar's tusk encircling two crossed namele leaves, all in yellow

:Vanuatu Economy

Overview:
    The economy is based primarily on subsistence farming which provides a
    living for about 80% of the population. Fishing and tourism are the other
    mainstays of the economy. Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has
    no known petroleum deposits. A small light industry sector caters to the
    local market. Tax revenues come mainly from import duties.
GDP:
    exchange rate conversion - $142 million, per capita $900 (1988 est.); real
    growth rate 6% (1990)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
    5% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
    NA%
Budget:
    revenues $90.0 million; expenditures $103.0 million, including capital
    expenditures of $45.0 million (1989 est.)
Exports:
    $15.6 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
  commodities:
    copra 59%, cocoa 11%, meat 9%, fish 8%, timber 4%
  partners:
    Netherlands, Japan, France, New Caledonia, Belgium
Imports:
    $60.4 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
  commodities:
    machines and vehicles 25%, food and beverages 23%, basic manufactures 18%,
    raw materials and fuels 11%, chemicals 6%
  partners:
    Australia 36%, Japan 13%, NZ 10%, France 8%, Fiji 8%
External debt:
    $30 million (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
    growth rate NA%; accounts for about 10% of GDP
Electricity:
    17,000 kW capacity; 30 million kWh produced, 180 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
    food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
Agriculture:
    accounts for 40% of GDP; export crops - copra, cocoa, coffee, and fish;
    subsistence crops - copra, taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, and vegetables
Economic aid:
    Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
    $606 million
Currency:
    vatu (plural - vatu); 1 vatu (VT) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
    vatu (VT) per US$1 - 112.55 (March 1992), 111.68 (1991), 116.57 (1990),
    116.04 (1989), 104.43 (1988), 109.85 (1987)
Fiscal year:
    calendar year

:Vanuatu Communications

Railroads:
    none
Highways:
    1,027 km total; at least 240 km sealed or all-weather roads
Ports:
    Port-Vila, Luganville, Palikoulo, Santu
Merchant marine:
    121 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,093,443 GRT/3,168,822 DWT; includes
    26 cargo, 14 refrigerated cargo, 5 container, 11 vehicle carrier, 1
    livestock carrier, 5 petroleum tanker, 2 chemical tanker, 3 liquefied gas,
    51 bulk, 1 combination bulk, 1 passenger, 1 short-sea passenger; note - a
    flag of convenience registry
Civil air:
    no major transport aircraft
Airports:
    33 total, 31 usable; 2 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:
    broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, no TV; 3,000 telephones; satellite ground
    stations - 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT

:Vanuatu Defense Forces

Branches:
    no military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF), paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile
    Force (VMF)
Manpower availability:
    males 15-49, NA; NA fit for military service
Defense expenditures:
    $NA, NA% of GDP

_@_Venezuela Geography

Total area:
    912,050 km2
Land area:
    882,050 km2
Comparative area:
    slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
    4,993 km total; Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km
Coastline:
    2,800 km
Maritime claims:
  Contiguous zone:
    15 nm
  Continental shelf:
    200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation
  Exclusive economic zone:
    200 nm
  Territorial sea:
    12 nm
Disputes:
    claims all of Guyana west of the Essequibo river; maritime boundary dispute
    with Colombia in the Gulf of Venezuela
Climate:
    tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Terrain:
    Andes mountains and Maracaibo lowlands in northwest; central plains
    (llanos); Guyana highlands in southeast
Natural resources:
    crude oil, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower,
    diamonds
Land use:
    arable land 3%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 20%; forest and
    woodland 39%; other 37%; includes irrigated NEGL%
Environment:
    subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts; increasing
    industrial pollution in Caracas and Maracaibo
Note:
    on major sea and air routes linking North and South America

:Venezuela People

Population:
    20,675,970 (July 1992), growth rate 2.4% (1992)
Birth rate:
    27 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
    4 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
    1 migrant/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
    23 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
    71 years male, 78 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
    3.3 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
    noun - Venezuelan(s); adjective - Venezuelan
Ethnic divisions:
    mestizo 67%, white 21%, black 10%, Indian 2%
Religions:
    nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%
Languages:
    Spanish (official); Indian dialects spoken by about 200,000 Amerindians in
    the remote interior
Literacy:
    88% (male 87%, female 90%) age 15 and over can read and write (1981 est.)
Labor force:
    5,800,000; services 56%, industry 28%, agriculture 16% (1985)
Organized labor:
    32% of labor force

:Venezuela Government

Long-form name:
    Republic of Venezuela
Type:
    republic
Capital:
    Caracas
Administrative divisions:
    21 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 territory* (territorios, singular
    - territorio), 1 federal district** (distrito federal), and 1 federal
    dependence*** (dependencia federal); Amazonas*, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua,
    Barinas, Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias
    Federales***, Distrito Federal**, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda,
    Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Yaracuy,
    Zulia; note - the federal dependence consists of 11 federally controlled
    island groups with a total of 72 individual islands
Independence:
    5 July 1811 (from Spain)
Constitution:
    23 January 1961
Legal system:
    based on Napoleonic code; judicial review of legislative acts in Cassation
    Court only; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
    Independence Day, 5 July (1811)
Executive branch:
    president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
    bicameral Congress of the Republic (Congreso de la Republica) consists of an
    upper chamber or Senate (Senado) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies
    (Camara de Diputados)
Judicial branch:
    Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justica)
Leaders:
  Chief of State and Head of Government:
    President Carlos Andres PEREZ (since 2 February 1989)
Political parties and leaders:
    Social Christian Party (COPEI), Hilarion CARDOZO, president, and Eduardo
    FERNANDEZ, secretary general; Democratic Action (AD), Humberto CELLI,
    president, and Luis ALFARO Ucero, secretary general; Movement Toward
    Socialism (MAS), Argelia LAYA, president, and Freddy MUNOZ, secretary
    general
Suffrage:
    universal at age 18
Elections:
  President:
    last held 4 December 1988 (next to be held NA December 1993); results -
    Carlos Andres PEREZ (AD) 54.6%, Eduardo FERNANDEZ (COPEI) 41.7%, other 3.7%
  Senate:
    last held 4 December 1988 (next to be held NA December 1993); results -
    percent of vote by party NA; seats - (49 total) AD 23, COPEI 22, other 4;
    note - 3 former presidents (1 from AD, 2 from COPEI) hold lifetime senate
    seats
  Chamber of Deputies:
    last held 4 December 1988 (next to be held NA December 1993); results - AD
    43.7%, COPEI 31.4%, MAS 10.3%, other 14.6%; seats - (201 total) AD 97, COPEI
    67, MAS 18, other 19
Communists:
    10,000 members (est.)

:Venezuela Government

Other political or pressure groups:
    FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; Venezuelan Confederation of
    Workers, the Democratic Action - dominated labor organization
Member of:
    AG, CDB, CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-11, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA,
    IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
    IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN,
    UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation:
    Ambassador Simon Alberto CONSALVI Bottaro; Chancery at 1099 30th Street NW,
    Washington, DC 20007; telephone (202) 342-2214; there are Venezuelan
    Consulates General in Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New
    Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
  US:
    Ambassador Michael Martin SKOL; Embassy at Avenida Francisco de Miranda and
    Avenida Principal de la Floresta, Caracas (mailing address is P. O. Box
    62291, Caracas 1060-A, or APO AA 34037); telephone [58] (2) 285-2222; FAX
    [58] (2) 285-0336; there is a US Consulate in Maracaibo
Flag:
    three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the coat of
    arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of seven white
    five-pointed stars centered in the blue band

:Venezuela Economy

Overview:
    Petroleum is the cornerstone of the economy and accounted for 23% of GDP,
    80% of central government revenues, and 80% of export earnings in 1991.
    President PEREZ introduced an economic readjustment program when he assumed
    office in February 1989. Lower tariffs and price supports, a free market
    exchange rate, and market-linked interest rates threw the economy into
    confusion, causing an 8% decline in GDP in 1989. However, the economy
    recovered part way in 1990, and grew by 9.2% in 1991, led by the petroleum
    sector.
GDP:
    exchange rate conversion - $52.3 billion, per capita $2,590; real growth
    rate 9.2% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
    30.7% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
    9.3% (1991 est.)
Budget:
    revenues $13.2 billion; expenditures $13.1 billion, including capital
    expenditures of $NA (1991)
Exports:
    $15.1 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
  commodities:
    petroleum 80%, bauxite and aluminum, iron ore, agricultural products, basic
    manufactures
  partners:
    US 50.7%, Europe 13.7%, Japan 4.0% (1989)
Imports:
    $10.2 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
  commodities:
    foodstuffs, chemicals, manufactures, machinery and transport equipment
  partners:
    US 44%, FRG 8.0%, Japan 4%, Italy 7%, Canada 2% (1989)
External debt:
    $30.9 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
    growth rate 5.4% (1991 est.); accounts for one-fourth of GDP, including
    petroleum
Electricity:
    20,128,000 kW capacity; 55,753 million kWh produced, 2,762 kWh per capita
    (1991)
Industries:
    petroleum, iron-ore mining, construction materials, food processing,
    textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly
Agriculture:
    accounts for 6% of GDP and 16% of labor force; products - corn, sorghum,
    sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee, beef, pork, milk, eggs, fish;
    not self-sufficient in food other than meat
Illicit drugs:
    illicit producer of cannabis and coca leaf for the international drug trade
    on a small scale; however, large quantities of cocaine transit the country
    from Colombia
Economic aid:
    US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-86), $488 million; Communist countries
    (1970-89), $10 million
Currency:
    bolivar (plural - bolivares); 1 bolivar (Bs) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates:
    bolivares (Bs) per US$1 - 65.39 (March 1992), 56.82 (1991), 46.90 (1990),
    34.68 (1989), 14.50 (fixed rate 1987-88)

:Venezuela Economy

Fiscal year:
    calendar year

:Venezuela Communications

Railroads:
    542 km total; 363 km 1.435-meter standard gauge all single track, government
    owned; 179 km 1.435-meter gauge, privately owned
Highways:
    77,785 km total; 22,780 km paved, 24,720 km gravel, 14,450 km earth roads,
    and 15,835 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
    7,100 km; Rio Orinoco and Lago de Maracaibo accept oceangoing vessels
Pipelines:
    crude oil 6,370 km; petroleum products 480 km; natural gas 4,010 km
Ports:
    Amuay Bay, Bajo Grande, El Tablazo, La Guaira, Puerto Cabello, Puerto Ordaz
Merchant marine:
    57 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 790,108 GRT/1,257,637 DWT; includes 1
    short-sea passenger, 1 passenger cargo, 22 cargo, 1 container, 2
    roll-on/roll-off, 17 petroleum tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 8
    bulk, 1 vehicle carrier, 1 combination bulk
Civil air:
    56 major transport aircraft
Airports:
    308 total, 287 usable; 135 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways
    over 3,659 m; 14 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 88 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
    modern and expanding; 1,440,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 181 AM, no
    FM, 59 TV, 26 shortwave; 3 submarine coaxial cables; satellite ground
    stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 3 domestic

:Venezuela Defense Forces

Branches:
    Ground Forces (Army), Naval Forces (including Navy, Marines, Coast Guard),
    Air Forces, Armed Forces of Cooperation (National Guard)
Manpower availability:
    males 15-49, 5,365,880; 3,884,558 fit for military service; 210,737 reach
    military age (18) annually
Defense expenditures:
    exchange rate conversion - $1.95 billion, 4% of GDP (1991)