Part 57

_#_Climate: tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season (April to October)

_#_Terrain: generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in east and west

_#_Natural resources: small reserves of crude oil, iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, crude oil

_#_Land use: arable land 5%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 24%; forest and woodland 20%; other 51%; includes irrigated 1%

_#_Environment: dominated by the Nile and its tributaries; dust storms; desertification

_#_Note: largest country in Africa

_*_People _#_Population: 27,220,088 (July 1991), growth rate 3.0% (1991)

_#_Birth rate: 44 births/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Death rate: 13 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Net migration rate: - 1 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Infant mortality rate: 85 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

_#_Life expectancy at birth: 52 years male, 54 years female (1991)

_#_Total fertility rate: 6.4 children born/woman (1991)

_#_Nationality: noun--Sudanese (sing. and pl.); adjective--Sudanese

_#_Ethnic divisions: black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other 1%

_#_Religion: Sunni Muslim (in north) 70%, indigenous beliefs 20%, Christian (mostly in south and Khartoum) 5%

_#_Language: Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, and Sudanic languages, English; program of Arabization in process

_#_Literacy: 27% (male 43%, female 12%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

_#_Labor force: 6,500,000; agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 10%, government 6%; labor shortages for almost all categories of skilled employment (1983 est.); 52% of population of working age (1985)

_#_Organized labor: trade unions suspended following 30 June 1989 coup; now in process of being legalized anew

_*_Government _#_Long-form name: Republic of the Sudan

_#_Type: military; civilian government suspended and martial law imposed after 30 June 1989 coup

_#_Capital: Khartoum

_#_Administrative divisions: 9 states (wilayat, singular--wilayat or wilayah*); Aali an Nil, Al Wusta*, Al Istiwaiyah*, Al Khartum, Ash Shamaliyah*, Ash Sharqiyah*, Bahr al Ghazal, Darfur, Kurdufan

_#_Independence: 1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK; formerly Anglo-Egyptian Sudan)

_#_Constitution: 12 April 1973, suspended following coup of 6 April 1985; interim constitution of 10 October 1985 suspended following coup of 30 June 1989

_#_Legal system: based on English common law and Islamic law; as of 20 January 1991, the Revolutionary Command Council imposed Islamic law in the six northern states of Al Wusta, Al Khartum, Ash Shamaliyah, Ash Sharqiyah, Darfur, and Kurdufan; the council is still studying criminal provisions under Islamic law; Islamic law will apply to all residents of the six northern states regardless of their religion; some separate religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

_#_National holiday: Independence Day, 1 January (1956)

_#_Executive branch: executive and legislative authority vested in a 13-member Revolutionary Command Council (RCC); chairman of the RCC acts as prime minister; in July 1989 RCC appointed a predominately civilian 22-member cabinet to function as advisers

_#_Legislative branch: none

_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Special Revolutionary Courts

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--Revolutionary Command Council Chairman and Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 30 June 1989); Deputy Chairman of the Command Council and Deputy Prime Minister Maj. Gen. al-Zubayr Muhammad SALIH Ahmed (since 9 July 1989)

_#_Political parties and leaders: none; banned following 30 June 1989 coup

_#_Suffrage: none

_#_Elections: none

_#_Member of: ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

_#_Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Abdallah Ahmad ABDALLAH; Chancery at 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 338-8565 through 8570; there is a Sudanese Consulate General in New York;

US--Ambassador James R. CHEEK; Embassy at Shar'ia Ali Abdul Latif, Khartoum (mailing address is P. O. Box 699, Khartoum, or APO New York 09668); telephone 74700 or 74611

_#_Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side

_*_Economy _#_Overview: Sudan, one of the world's poorest countries, is buffeted by civil war, chronic political instability, adverse weather, and counterproductive economic policies. The economy is dominated by governmental entities that account for more than 70% of new investment. The private sector's main areas of activity are agriculture and trading, with most private industrial investment predating 1980. The economy's base is agriculture, which employs 80% of the work force. Industry mainly processes agricultural items. Sluggish economic performance over the past decade, attributable largely to declining annual rainfall, has reduced levels of per capita income and consumption. A high foreign debt and huge arrearages continue to cause difficulties. In 1990 the International Monetary Fund took the unusual step of declaring Sudan noncooperative on account of its nonpayment of arrearages to the Fund.

_#_GDP: $8.5 billion, per capita $330; real growth rate - 7% (FY90 est.)

_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 60% (FY90 est.)

_#_Unemployment rate: NA

_#_Budget: revenues $514 million; expenditures $1.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $183 million (FY89 est.)

_#_Exports: $465 million (f.o.b., FY90 est.);

commodities--cotton 52%, sesame, gum arabic, peanuts;

partners--Western Europe 46%, Saudi Arabia 14%, Eastern Europe 9%, Japan 9%, US 3% (FY88)

_#_Imports: $1.0 billion (c.i.f., FY90 est.);

commodities--petroleum products 28%, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, medicines and chemicals;

partners--Western Europe 32%, Africa and Asia 15%, US 13%, Eastern Europe 3% (FY88)

_#_External debt: $12.3 billion (December 1990 est.)

_#_Industrial production: growth rate 0.7% (FY89); accounts for 11% of GDP

_#_Electricity: 606,000 kW capacity; 900 million kWh produced, 37 kWh per capita (1989)

_#_Industries: cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining

_#_Agriculture: accounts for 35% of GNP and 80% of labor force; water shortages; two-thirds of land area suitable for raising crops and livestock; major products--cotton, oilseeds, sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic, sheep; marginally self-sufficient in most foods

_#_Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.5 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $4.8 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $3.1 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $588 million

_#_Currency: Sudanese pound (plural--pounds); 1 Sudanese pound (5Sd) = 100 piasters

_#_Exchange rates: official rate--Sudanese pounds (5Sd) per US$1--4.5004 (fixed rate since 1987), 2.8121 (1987), 2.5000 (1986), 2.2883 (1985); note--commercial exchange rate 12.2 (May 1990)

_#_Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

_*_Communications _#_Railroads: 5,500 km total; 4,784 km 1.067-meter gauge, 716 km 1.6096-meter-gauge plantation line

_#_Highways: 20,000 km total; 1,600 km bituminous treated, 3,700 km gravel, 2,301 km improved earth, 12,399 km unimproved earth and track

_#_Inland waterways: 5,310 km navigable

_#_Pipelines: refined products, 815 km

_#_Ports: Port Sudan, Suakin

_#_Merchant marine: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 42,277 GRT/59,588 DWT; includes 3 cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo

_#_Civil air: 14 major transport aircraft

_#_Airports: 78 total, 66 usable; 8 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 30 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

_#_Telecommunications: large, well-equipped system by African standards, but barely adequate and poorly maintained; consists of radio relay, cables, radio communications, and troposcatter; domestic satellite system with 14 stations; 73,400 telephones; stations--4 AM, 1 FM, 2 TV; earth stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 ARABSAT

_*_Defense Forces _#_Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force

_#_Manpower availability: males 15-49, 6,176,917; 3,792,635 fit for military service; 306,695 reach military age (18) annually

_#_Defense expenditures: $610 million, 7.2% of GDP (1989 est) _%_ _@_Suriname _*_Geography _#_Total area: 163,270 km2; land area: 161,470 km2

_#_Comparative area: slightly larger than Georgia

_#_Land boundaries: 1,707 km total; Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km

_#_Coastline: 386 km

_#_Maritime claims:

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

_#_Disputes: claims area in French Guiana between Litani Rivier and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa); claims area in Guyana between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Kutari Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)

_#_Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds

_#_Terrain: mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps

_#_Natural resources: timber, hydropower potential, fish, shrimp, bauxite, iron ore, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, gold

_#_Land use: arable land NEGL%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures NEGL%; forest and woodland 97%; other 3%; includes irrigated NEGL%

_#_Environment: mostly tropical rain forest

_*_People _#_Population: 402,385 (July 1991), growth rate 1.4% (1991)

_#_Birth rate: 26 births/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Net migration rate: - 6 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Infant mortality rate: 39 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

_#_Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 71 years female (1991)

_#_Total fertility rate: 2.9 children born/woman (1991)

_#_Nationality: noun--Surinamer(s); adjective--Surinamese

_#_Ethnic divisions: Hindustani (East Indian) 37.0%, Creole (black and mixed) 31.0%, Javanese 15.3%, Bush black 10.3%, Amerindian 2.6%, Chinese 1.7%, Europeans 1.0%, other 1.1%

_#_Religion: Hindu 27.4%, Muslim 19.6%, Roman Catholic 22.8%, Protestant (predominantly Moravian) 25.2%, indigenous beliefs about 5%

_#_Language: Dutch (official); English widely spoken; Sranan Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki) is native language of Creoles and much of the younger population and is lingua franca among others; also Hindi Suriname Hindustani (a variant of Bhoqpuri) and Javanese

_#_Literacy: 95% (male 95%, female 95%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

_#_Labor force: 104,000 (1984)

_#_Organized labor: 49,000 members of labor force

_*_Government _#_Long-form name: Republic of Suriname

_#_Type: republic

_#_Capital: Paramaribo

_#_Administrative divisions: 10 districts (distrikten, singular--distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica

_#_Independence: 25 November 1975 (from Netherlands; formerly Netherlands Guiana or Dutch Guiana)

_#_Constitution: ratified 30 September 1987

_#_Legal system: NA

_#_National holiday: Independence Day, 25 November (1975)

_#_Executive branch: president, vice president and prime minister, Cabinet of Ministers, Council of State; note--commander in chief of the National Army maintains significant power

_#_Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)

_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Ronald VENETIAAN (since 16 September 1991); Vice President and Prime Minister Jules AJODHIA (since 16 September 1991)

_#_Political parties and leaders:

traditional ethnic-based parties--The New Front (NF), Henck ARRON, a coalition formed of four parties following the 24 December 1990 military coup--Progressive Reform Party (VHP), Jaggernath LACHMON; National Party of Suriname (NPS), Henck ARRON; Indonesian Peasants Party (KTPI), Willy SOEMITA; and Suriname Labor Party (SLP), Frank DERBY;

promilitary New Democratic Party (NDP), Jules Albert WIJDENBOSCH, Frank PLAYFAIR;

Democratic Alternative '91 (DA '91), Gerard BRUNINGS, a coalition of five parties formed in January 1991--Alternative Forum, Gerard BRUNINGS, Winston JESSURUN; Reformed Progressive Party (HPP), Panalall PARMISSER; Party for Brotherhood and Unity in Politics (BEP), Caprino ALLENDY; Pendawalima, Marsha JAMIN; and Independent Progressive Group, Karam RAMSUNDERSINGH;

leftists--Revolutionary People's Party (RVP), Michael NAARENDORP; Progressive Workers and Farmers (PALU), Iwan KROLIS

_#_Suffrage: universal at age 18

_#_Elections:

President--last held 6 September 1991 (next to be held May 1996); results--elected by the National Assembly--Ronald VENETIAAN (NF) 80% (645 votes), Jules WIJDENBOSCH (NDP) 14% (115 votes), Hans PRADE (DA '91) 6% (49 votes)

National Assembly--last held 25 May 1991 (next to be held May 1996); results--percent of vote NA; seats--(51 total) NF 30, NDP 12, DA '91 9

_#_Member of: ACP, CARICOM (observer), ECLAC, FAO, GATT, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO

_#_Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Willem A. UDENHOUT; Chancery at Suite 108, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 244-7488 or 7490 through 7492; there is a Surinamese Consulate General in Miami;

US--Ambassador John (Jack) P. LEONARD; Embassy at Dr. Sophie Redmonstraat 129, Paramaribo (mailing address is P. O. Box 1821, Paramaribo); telephone [597] 72900, 77881, or 76459

_#_Flag: five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is a large yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band

_*_Economy _#_Overview: The economy is dominated by the bauxite industry, which accounts for about 70% of export earnings and 40% of tax revenues. The economy has been in trouble since the Dutch ended development aid in 1982. A drop in world bauxite prices that started in the late 1970s and continued until late 1986, was followed by the outbreak of a guerrilla insurgency in the interior. The guerrillas targeted the economic infrastructure, crippling the important bauxite sector and shutting down other export industries. These problems have created high inflation, high unemployment, widespread black market activity, and a bad climate for foreign investment. A small gain in economic growth of 2.0% was registered in 1989 due to reduced guerrilla activity and improved international markets for bauxite.

_#_GDP: $1.35 billion, per capita $3,400; real growth rate 2.0% (1989 est.)

_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 50% (1989 est.)

_#_Unemployment rate: 33% (1990)

_#_Budget: revenues $466 million; expenditures $716 million, including capital expenditures of $123 million (1989 est.)

_#_Exports: $425 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.);

commodities--alumina, bauxite, aluminum, rice, wood and wood products, shrimp and fish, bananas;

partners--Norway 33%, Netherlands 20%, US 15%, FRG 9%, Brazil 5%, UK 5%, Japan 3%, other 10%

_#_Imports: $370 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.);

commodities--capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods;

partners--US 37%, Netherlands 15%, Netherlands Antilles 11%, Trinidad and Tobago 9%, Brazil 5%, UK 3%, other 20%

_#_External debt: $138 million (1990 est.)

_#_Industrial production: growth rate 16.4% (1988 est.); accounts for 22% of GDP

_#_Electricity: 458,000 kW capacity; 2,018 million kWh produced, 5,090 kWh per capita (1990)

_#_Industries: bauxite mining, alumina and aluminum production, lumbering, food processing, fishing

_#_Agriculture: accounts for 11% of both GDP and labor force; paddy rice planted on 85% of arable land and represents 60% of total farm output; other products--bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts, beef, chicken; shrimp and forestry products of increasing importance; self-sufficient in most foods

_#_Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-83), $2.5 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $1.45 billion

_#_Currency: Surinamese guilder, gulden, or florin (plural--guilders, gulden, or florins); 1 Surinamese guilder, gulden, or florin (Sf.) = 100 cents

_#_Exchange rates: Surinamese guilders, gulden, or florins (Sf.) per US$1--1.7850 (fixed rate)

_#_Fiscal year: calendar year

_*_Communications _#_Railroads: 166 km total; 86 km 1.000-meter gauge, government owned, and 80 km 1.435-meter standard gauge; all single track

_#_Highways: 8,300 km total; 500 km paved; 5,400 km bauxite gravel, crushed stone, or improved earth; 2,400 km sand or clay

_#_Inland waterways: 1,200 km; most important means of transport; oceangoing vessels with drafts ranging from 4.2 m to 7 m can navigate many of the principal waterways

_#_Ports: Paramaribo, Moengo

_#_Merchant marine: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,472 GRT/8,914 DWT; includes 2 cargo, 1 container

_#_Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft

_#_Airports: 46 total, 42 usable; 6 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

_#_Telecommunications: international facilities good; domestic radio relay system; 27,500 telephones; stations--5 AM, 14 FM, 6 TV, 1 shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

_*_Defense Forces _#_Branches: National Army (including Navy which is company-size, small Air Force element), Civil Police

_#_Manpower availability: males 15-49, 107,544; 64,146 fit for military service

_#_Defense expenditures: $91 million, 7.2% of GDP (1990 est.) _%_ _@_Svalbard (territory of Norway) _*_Geography _#_Total area: 62,049 km2; land area: 62,049 km2; includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)

_#_Comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia

_#_Land boundaries: none

_#_Coastline: 3,587 km

_#_Maritime claims:

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway, not recognized by USSR;

Territorial sea: 4 nm

_#_Disputes: focus of maritime boundary dispute between Norway and USSR

_#_Climate: arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year

_#_Terrain: wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered; west coast clear of ice about half the year; fjords along west and north coasts

_#_Natural resources: coal, copper, iron ore, phosphate, zinc, wildlife, fish

_#_Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%; there are no trees and the only bushes are crowberry and cloudberry

_#_Environment: great calving glaciers descend to the sea

_#_Note: located 445 km north of Norway where the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea meet

_*_People _#_Population: 3,942 (July 1991), growth rate NA% (1991); about one-third of the population resides in the Norwegian areas (Longyearbyen and Svea on Vestspitsbergen) and two-thirds in the Soviet areas (Barentsburg and Pyramiden on Vestspitsbergen); about 9 persons live at the Polish research station

_#_Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Net migration rate: NA migrants/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

_#_Life expectancy at birth: NA years male, NA years female (1991)

_#_Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman (1991)

_#_Ethnic divisions: Russian 64%, Norwegian 35%, other 1% (1981)

_#_Language: Russian, Norwegian

_#_Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

_#_Labor force: NA

_#_Organized labor: none

_*_Government _#_Long-form name: none

_#_Type: territory of Norway administered by the Ministry of Industry, Oslo, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty was given to Norway

_#_Capital: Longyearbyen

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State--King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991);

Head of Government--Governor Leif ELDRING (since NA)

_#_Member of: none

_#_Flag: the flag of Norway is used

_*_Economy _#_Overview: Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. By treaty (9 February 1920), the nationals of the treaty powers have equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the only companies still mining are Norwegian and Soviet. Each company mines about half a million tons of coal annually. The settlements on Svalbard are essentially company towns. The Norwegian state-owned coal company employs nearly 60% of the Norwegian population on the island, runs many of the local services, and provides most of the local infrastructure. There is also some trapping of seal, polar bear, fox, and walrus.

_#_Budget: revenues $13.3 million, expenditures $13.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990)

_#_Electricity: 21,000 kW capacity; 45 million kWh produced, 11,420 kWh per capita (1989)

_#_Currency: Norwegian krone (plural--kroner); 1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 ore

_#_Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1--5.9060 (January 1991), 6.2597 (1990), 6.9045 (1989), 6.5170 (1988), 6.7375 (1987), 7.3947 (1986), 8.5972 (1985)

_*_Communications _#_Ports: limited facilities--Ny-Alesund, Advent Bay

_#_Airports: 4 total, 4 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 2,439 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

_#_Telecommunications: 5 meteorological/radio stations; stations--1 AM, 1 (2 relays) FM, 1 TV

_*_Defense Forces _#_Note: demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920) _%_ _@_Swaziland _*_Geography _#_Total area: 17,360 km2; land area: 17,200 km2

_#_Comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey

_#_Land boundaries: 535 km total; Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km

_#_Coastline: none--landlocked

_#_Maritime claims: none--landlocked

_#_Climate: varies from tropical to near temperate

_#_Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains

_#_Natural resources: asbestos, coal, clay, tin, hydropower, forests, and small gold and diamond deposits

_#_Land use: arable land 8%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 67%; forest and woodland 6%; other 19%; includes irrigated 2%

_#_Environment: overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion

_#_Note: landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa

_*_People _#_Population: 859,336 (July 1991), growth rate 2.7% (1991)

_#_Birth rate: 44 births/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Death rate: 12 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Net migration rate: - 5 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Infant mortality rate: 101 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

_#_Life expectancy at birth: 51 years male, 59 years female (1991)

_#_Total fertility rate: 6.2 children born/woman (1991)

_#_Nationality: noun--Swazi(s); adjective--Swazi

_#_Ethnic divisions: African 97%, European 3%

_#_Religion: Christian 60%, indigenous beliefs 40%

_#_Language: English and siSwati (official); government business conducted in English

_#_Literacy: 55% (male 57%, female 54%) age 15 and over can read and write (1976)

_#_Labor force: 195,000; over 60,000 engaged in subsistence agriculture; about 92,000 wage earners (many only intermittently), with agriculture and forestry 36%, community and social services 20%, manufacturing 14%, construction 9%, other 21%; 24,000-29,000 employed in South Africa (1987)

_#_Organized labor: about 10% of wage earners

_*_Government _#_Long-form name: Kingdom of Swaziland

_#_Type: monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth

_#_Capital: Mbabane (administrative); Lobamba (legislative)

_#_Administrative divisions: 4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni

_#_Independence: 6 September 1968 (from UK)

_#_Constitution: none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended on 12 April 1973; a new constitution was promulgated 13 October 1978, but has not been formally presented to the people

_#_Legal system: based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts, Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

_#_National holiday: Somhlolo (Independence) Day, 6 September (1968)

_#_Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, Cabinet

_#_Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament is advisory and consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Assembly

_#_Judicial branch: High Court, Court of Appeal

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State--King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Obed DLAMINI (since 12 July 1989)

_#_Political parties: none; banned by the Constitution promulgated on 13 October 1978

_#_Suffrage: none

_#_Elections: no direct elections

_#_Communists: no Communist party

_#_Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, PCA, SACU, SADCC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

_#_Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Absalom Vusani MAMBA; Chancery at 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 362-6683;

US--Ambassador Stephen H. ROGERS; Embassy at Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane (mailing address is P. O. Box 199, Mbabane); telephone [268] 46441 through 5

_#_Flag: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally

_*_Economy _#_Overview: The economy is based on subsistence agriculture, which occupies much of the labor force and contributes about 23% to GDP. Manufacturing, which includes a number of agroprocessing factories, accounts for another 26% of GDP. Mining has declined in importance in recent years; high-grade iron ore deposits were depleted in 1978, and health concerns cut world demand for asbestos. Exports of sugar and forestry products are the main earners of hard currency. Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short border with Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily dependent on South Africa, from which it receives 92% of its imports and to which it sends about 40% of its exports.

_#_GNP: $563 million, per capita $670; real growth rate 5.0% (1990 est.)

_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 13% (1990)

_#_Unemployment rate: NA%

_#_Budget: revenues $322.9 million; expenditures $325.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92 est.)

_#_Exports: $543 million (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, citrus, canned fruit;

partners--South Africa 40% (est.), EC, Canada

_#_Imports: $651 million (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities--motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, chemicals;

partners--South Africa 92% (est.), Japan, Belgium, UK

_#_External debt: $290 million (1990)

_#_Industrial production: growth rate NA; accounts for 26% of GDP (1989)

_#_Electricity: 50,000 kW capacity; 130 million kWh produced, 170 kWh per capita (1989)

_#_Industries: mining (coal and asbestos), wood pulp, sugar

_#_Agriculture: accounts for 23% of GDP and over 60% of labor force; mostly subsistence agriculture; cash crops--sugarcane, citrus fruit, cotton, pineapples; other crops and livestock--corn, sorghum, peanuts, cattle, goats, sheep; not self-sufficient in grain

_#_Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $142 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $488 million

_#_Currency: lilangeni (plural--emalangeni); 1 lilangeni (E) = 100 cents

_#_Exchange rates: emalangeni (E) per US$1--2.5625 (January 1991), 2.5863 (1990), 2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988), 2.0350 (1987), 2.2685 (1986), 2.1911 (1985); note--the Swazi emalangeni is at par with the South African rand

_#_Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

_*_Communications _#_Railroads: 297 km plus 71 km disused, 1.067-meter gauge, single track

_#_Highways: 2,853 km total; 510 km paved, 1,230 km crushed stone, gravel, or stabilized soil, and 1,113 km improved earth

_#_Civil air: 1 major transport aircraft

_#_Airports: 23 total, 22 usable; 1 with permanent-surfaced runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

_#_Telecommunications: system consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines and low-capacity radio relay links; 15,400 telephones; stations--6 AM, 6 FM, 10 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

_*_Defense Forces _#_Branches: Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force, Royal Swaziland Police Force