Part 72

Location: Eastern Africa in the western Indian Ocean northeast of Madagascar Map references: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 455 sq km land area: 455 sq km comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 491 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nm or the edge of continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: claims Tromelin Island Climate: tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May) Terrain: Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs Natural resources: fish, copra, cinnamon trees Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 18% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 18% other: 60% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: no fresh water, catchments collect rain water natural hazards: lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; short droughts possible international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling Note: 40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands

@Seychelles, People

Population: 72,113 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.84% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 21.88 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 6.93 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -6.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 11.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.67 years male: 66.05 years female: 73.39 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.23 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Seychellois (singular and plural) adjective: Seychelles Ethnic divisions: Seychellois (mixture of Asians, Africans, Europeans) Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Anglican 8%, other 2% Languages: English (official), French (official), Creole Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1971) total population: 58% male: 56% female: 60% Labor force: 27,700 (1985) by occupation: industry and commerce 31%, services 21%, government 20%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 12%, other 16% (1985) note: 57% of population of working age (1983)

@Seychelles, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles conventional short form: Seychelles Digraph: SE Type: republic Capital: Victoria Administrative divisions: 23 administrative districts; Anse aux Pins, Anse Boileau, Anse Etoile, Anse Louis, Anse Royale, Baie Lazare, Baie Sainte Anne, Beau Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand' Anse (on Mahe Island), Grand' Anse (on Praslin Island), La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe Larue, Port Glaud, Saint Louis, Takamaka Independence: 29 June 1976 (from UK) National holiday: National Day, 18 June (1993) ( adoption of new constitution) Constitution: 18 June 1993 Legal system: based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977); election last held 20- 23 July 1993; results - President France Albert RENE reelected by 59.5% of votes, MANCHAM (PS party) 36.72% cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly (Assemblee du Peuple): elections last held 20-23 July 1993; results - SPPF 82%, DP 15%, UO 3%; seats - (33 total, 22 elected) SPPF 22 Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: ruling party - Seychelles People's Progressive Front (SPPF), France Albert RENE; Democratic Party (DP), Sir James MANCHAM; United Opposition (UO) is a coalition of the following parties: Seychelles Party (PS), Wavel RAMKALAWAN; Seychelles Democratic Movement (MSPD), Jacques HONDOUL; Seychelles Liberal Party (SLP), Ogilvie BERLOUIS;; Other political or pressure groups: trade unions; Roman Catholic Church Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marc Michael Rogers MARENGO chancery: (temporary) 820 Second Avenue, Suite 900F, New York, NY 10017 telephone: (212) 687-9766 or 9767 FAX: (212) 922-9177 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Matthew F. MATTINGLY embassy: 4th Floor, Victoria House, Box 251, Victoria, Mahe mailing address: Box 148, Unit 62501, Victoria, Seychelles; APO AE 09815-2501 telephone: (248) 25256 FAX: (248) 25189 Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), white (wavy), and green; the white band is the thinnest, the red band is the thickest

@Seychelles, Economy

Overview: In this small, open, tropical island economy, the tourist industry employs about 30% of the labor force and provides more than 70% of hard currency earnings. In recent years the government has encouraged foreign investment in order to upgrade hotels and other services. At the same time, the government has moved to reduce the high dependence on tourism by promoting the development of farming, fishing, and small-scale manufacturing. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $407 million (1992 est.) National product real growth rate: 4% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $5,900 (1992 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.3% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: 9% (1987) Budget: revenues: $172 million expenditures: $181 million, including capital expenditures of $48 million (1991 est.) Exports: $47 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: fish, copra, cinnamon bark, petroleum products (re-exports) partners: UK 54% France 23%, Reunion 14%, (1991) Imports: $192 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: manufactured goods, food, petroleum products, tobacco, beverages, machinery and transportation equipment partners: South Africa 13%, Singapore 12%, UK 12% (1991) External debt: $201 million (1992 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 1.3% (1991); accounts for 12% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 30,000 kW production: 80 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,160 kWh (1991) Industries: tourism, processing of coconut and vanilla, fishing, coir rope factory, boat building, printing, furniture, beverage Agriculture: accounts for 5% of GDP, mostly subsistence farming; cash crops - coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla; other products - sweet potatoes, cassava, bananas; broiler chickens; large share of food needs imported; expansion of tuna fishing under way Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY78-89), $26 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1978-89), $315 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $5 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $60 million Currency: 1 Seychelles rupee (SRe) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Seychelles rupees (SRe) per US$1 - 5.2681 (January 1994), 5.1815 (1993), 5.1220 (1992), 5.2893 (1991), 5.3369 (1990), 5.6457 (1989) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Seychelles, Communications

Highways: total: 260 km paved: 160 km unpaved: crushed stone, earth 100 km Ports: Victoria Merchant marine: 1 refrigerated cargo (over 1,000 GRT) totaling 1,827 GRT/2,170 DWT Airports: total: 14 usable: 14 with permanent-surface runways: 8 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 0 Telecommunications: direct radio communications with adjacent islands and African coastal countries; 13,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 2 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station; USAF tracking station

@Seychelles, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, National Guard, Marines, Coast Guard, Presidential Protection Unit, Police Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 19,399; fit for military service 9,900 Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $12 million, 4% of GDP (1990 est.)

@Sierra Leone, Geography

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Guinea and Liberia Map references: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 71,740 sq km land area: 71,620 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than South Carolina Land boundaries: total 958 km, Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km Coastline: 402 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 200 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April) Terrain: coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east Natural resources: diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite Land use: arable land: 25% permanent crops: 2% meadows and pastures: 31% forest and woodland: 29% other: 13% Irrigated land: 340 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleting natural resources natural hazards: dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (November to May) international agreements: party to - Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea

@Sierra Leone, People

Population: 4,630,037 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 2.62% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 45.06 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 18.87 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 141.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.4 years male: 43.58 years female: 49.3 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 5.96 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Sierra Leonean(s) adjective: Sierra Leonean Ethnic divisions: 13 native African tribes 99% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 39%), Creole, European, Lebanese, and Asian 1% Religions: Muslim 60%, indigenous beliefs 30%, Christian 10% Languages: English (official; regular use limited to literate minority), Mende principal vernacular in the south, Temne principal vernacular in the north, Krio the language of the re-settled ex-slave population of the Freetown area and is lingua franca Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write English, Merde, Temne, or Arabic (1990 est.) total population: 21% male: 31% female: 11% Labor force: 1.369 million (1981 est.) by occupation: agriculture 65%, industry 19%, services 16% (1981 est.) note: only about 65,000 wage earners (1985); 55% of population of working age

@Sierra Leone, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone conventional short form: Sierra Leone Digraph: SL Type: military government Capital: Freetown Administrative divisions: 3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western* Independence: 27 April 1961 (from UK) National holiday: Republic Day, 27 April (1961) Constitution: 1 October 1991; suspended following 19 April 1992 coup Legal system: based on English law and customary laws indigenous to local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: Chairman of the Supreme Council of State Capt. Valentine E. M. STRASSER (since 29 April 1992) cabinet: Council of Secretaries; responsible to the NPRC Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (suspended after coup of 29 April 1992); Chairman STRASSER promises multi-party elections sometime in 1995 Judicial branch: Supreme Court (suspended after coup of 29 April 1992) Political parties and leaders: status of existing political parties is unknown following 29 April 1992 coup Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas Kahota KARGBO chancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 939-9261 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Lauralee M. PETERS embassy: Walpole and Siaka Stevens Street, Freetown mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [232] (22) 226-481 FAX: [232] (22) 225-471 Flag: three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and light blue

@Sierra Leone, Economy

Overview: The economic and social infrastructure is not well developed. Subsistence agriculture dominates the economy, generating about one-third of GDP and employing about two-thirds of the working population. Manufacturing, which accounts for roughly 10% of GDP, consists mainly of the processing of raw materials and of light manufacturing for the domestic market. Diamond mining provides an important source of hard currency. In 1990-93, the government, with the support of the IMF and the World Bank, has made substantial progress toward structural reform and better fiscal management. The government readily met all IMF/WB targets in December 1993. The budget deficit had been dramatically reduced; the government workforce had been cut by 25%; large amounts of domestic debt had been retired; arrears to the IMF, World Bank, and other creditors had been reduced. On the negative side, continued incursions by the Liberian rebels, bandits, and army deserters in southern and eastern Sierra Leone have severely strained the economy and threaten economically critical regions of the country. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $4.5 billion (FY93 est.) National product real growth rate: NA National product per capita: $1,000 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 35% (1992) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $68 million expenditures: $118 million, including capital expenditures of $28 million (1992 est.) Exports: $149 million (f.o.b., FY92) commodities: rutile 51%, bauxite 19%, diamonds 15%, coffee 5% partners: US, UK, Belgium, Germany, other Western Europe Imports: $131 million (c.i.f., FY92) commodities: foodstuffs 33%, machinery and equipment 19%, fuels 16% partners: US, EC countries, Japan, China, Nigeria External debt: $633 million (FY92 est.) Industrial production: growth rate -1.2% (FY91); accounts for 11% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 85,000 kW production: 185 million kWh consumption per capita: 45 kWh (1991) Industries: mining (diamonds, bauxite, rutile), small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear), petroleum refinery Agriculture: accounts for over 30% of GDP and two-thirds of the labor force; largely subsistence farming; cash crops - coffee, cocoa, palm kernels; harvests of food staple rice meets 80% of domestic needs; annual fish catch averages 53,000 metric tons Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $161 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $848 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $18 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $101 million Currency: 1 leone (Le) = 100 cents Exchange rates: leones (Le) per US$1 - 578.17 (January 1994), 567.46 (1993), 499.44 (1992), 295.34 (1991), 144.9275 (1990), 58.1395 (1989) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

@Sierra Leone, Communications

Railroads: 84 km 1.067-meter narrow-gauge mineral line is used on a limited basis because the mine at Marampa is closed Highways: total: 7,400 km paved: 1,150 km unpaved: crushed stone, gravel 490 km; improved earth 5,760 km Inland waterways: 800 km; 600 km navigable year round Ports: Freetown, Pepel, Bonthe Merchant marine: 1 cargo ship (over 1,000 GRT) totaling 5,592 GRT/9,107 DWT Airports: total: 11 usable: 7 with permanent-surface runways: 3 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 3 Telecommunications: marginal telephone and telegraph service; national microwave radio relay system unserviceable at present; 23,650 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

@Sierra Leone, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Police, Security Forces Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,006,280; fit for military service 487,158 Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $6 million, 0.7% of GDP (1988 est.)

@Singapore, Geography

Location: Southeastern Asia, between Malaysia and Indonesia Map references: Asia, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 632.6 sq km land area: 622.6 sq km comparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 193 km Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm territorial sea: 3 nm International disputes: two islands in dispute with Malaysia Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy; no pronounced rainy or dry seasons; thunderstorms occur on 40% of all days (67% of days in April) Terrain: lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment area and nature preserve Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 7% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 5% other: 84% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: industrial pollution; limited water supply; limited land availability presents waste disposal problems natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea Note: focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes

@Singapore, People

Population: 2,859,142 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 1.12% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 16.52 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 5.3 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.95 years male: 73.17 years female: 78.94 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.88 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Singaporean(s) adjective: Singapore Ethnic divisions: Chinese 76.4%, Malay 14.9%, Indian 6.4%, other 2.3% Religions: Buddhist (Chinese), Muslim (Malays), Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Taoist, Confucianist Languages: Chinese (official), Malay (official and national), Tamil (official), English (official) Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 88% male: 93% female: 84% Labor force: 1,485,800 by occupation: financial, business, and other services 30.2%, manufacturing 28.4%, commerce 22.0%, construction 9.0%, other 10.4% (1990)

@Singapore, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Singapore conventional short form: Singapore Digraph: SN Type: republic within Commonwealth Capital: Singapore Administrative divisions: none Independence: 9 August 1965 (from Malaysia) National holiday: National Day, 9 August (1965) Constitution: 3 June 1959, amended 1965; based on preindependence State of Singapore Constitution Legal system: based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal and compulsory Executive branch: chief of state: President ONG Teng Cheong (since 1 September 1993) election last held 28 August 1993 (next to be held NA August 1997); results - President ONG was elected with 59% of the vote in the country's first popular election for president head of government: Prime Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 28 November 1990); Deputy Prime Minister LEE Hsien Loong (since 28 November 1990) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president, responsible to parliament Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament: elections last held 31 August 1991 (next to be held 31 August 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (81 total) PAP 77, SDP 3, WP 1 Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: government: People's Action Party (PAP), GOH Chok Tong, secretary general opposition: Workers' Party (WP), J. B. JEYARETNAM; Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), CHIAM See Tong; National Solidarity Party (NSP), leader NA; Barisan Sosialis (BS, Socialist Front), leader NA Member of: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, C, CCC, COCOM (cooperating), CP, ESCAP, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNIKOM, UNTAC, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sellapan Rama NATHAN chancery: 1824 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 667-7555 FAX: (202) 265-7915 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: (vacant) embassy: 30 Hill Street, Singapore 0617 mailing address: FPO AP 96534 telephone: [65] 338-0251 FAX: [65] 338-5010 Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; near the hoist side of the red band, there is a vertical, white crescent (closed portion is toward the hoist side) partially enclosing five white five-pointed stars arranged in a circle

@Singapore, Economy

Overview: Singapore has an open entrepreneurial economy with strong service and manufacturing sectors and excellent international trading links derived from its entrepot history. The economy registered nearly 10% growth in 1993 while stemming inflation. The construction and financial services industries and manufacturers of computer-related components have led economic growth. Rising labor costs continue to be a threat to Singapore's competitiveness, but there are indications that productivity is keeping up. In applied technology, per capita output, investment, and labor discipline, Singapore has key attributes of a developed country. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $42.4 billion (1993) National product real growth rate: 9.9% (1993) National product per capita: $15,000 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.4% (1993) Unemployment rate: 2.7% (1993) Budget: revenues: $11.9 billion expenditures: $10.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.9 billion (1994 est.) Exports: $61.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: computer equipment, rubber and rubber products, petroleum products, telecommunications equipment partners: US 21%, Malaysia 12%, Hong Kong 8%, Japan 8%, Thailand 6% (1992) Imports: $66.4 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: aircraft, petroleum, chemicals, foodstuffs partners: Japan 21%, US 16%, Malaysia 15%, Saudi Arabia 5%, Taiwan 4% External debt: $0; Singapore is a net creditor Industrial production: growth rate 2.3% (1992); accounts for 28% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 4,860,000 kW production: 18 billion kWh consumption per capita: 6,420 kWh (1992) Industries: petroleum refining, electronics, oil drilling equipment, rubber processing and rubber products, processed food and beverages, ship repair, entrepot trade, financial services, biotechnology Agriculture: occupies a position of minor importance in the economy; self-sufficient in poultry and eggs; must import much of other food; major crops - rubber, copra, fruit, vegetables Illicit drugs: transit point for Golden Triangle heroin going to the US, Western Europe, and the Third World; also a major money-laundering center Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-83), $590 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1 billion Currency: 1 Singapore dollar (S$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Singapore dollars (S$) per US$1 - 1.6032 (January 1994), 1.6158 (1993), 1.6290 (1992), 1.7276 (1991), 1.8125 (1990), 1.9503 (1989) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

@Singapore, Communications

Railroads: 38 km of 1.000-meter gauge Highways: total: 2,644 km (1985) paved: NA unpaved: NA Ports: Singapore Merchant marine: 533 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 10,656,067 GRT/17,009,400 DWT, bulk 87, cargo 125, chemical tanker 14, combination bulk 3, combination ore/oil 8, container 80, liquefied gas 4, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 179, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 20 note: many Singapore flag ships are foreign owned Airports: total: 10 usable: 10 with permanent-surface runways: 10 with runways over 3,659 m: 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 3 Telecommunications: good domestic facilities; good international service; good radio and television broadcast coverage; 1,110,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 13 AM, 4 FM, 2 TV; submarine cables extend to Malaysia (Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia), Indonesia, and the Philippines; satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT

@Singapore, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, People's Defense Force, Police Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 857,824; fit for military service 630,055 Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.7 billion, 6% of GDP (1993 est.)

@Slovakia, Geography

Location: Central Europe, between Hungary and Poland Map references: Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 48,845 sq km land area: 48,800 sq km comparative area: about twice the size of New Hampshire Land boundaries: total 1,355 km, Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 215 km, Hungary 515 km, Poland 444 km, Ukraine 90 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: Gabcikovo Dam dispute with Hungary; unresolved property issues with Czech Republic over redistribution of former Czechoslovak federal property Climate: temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters Terrain: rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south Natural resources: brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: acid rain damaging forests natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur, Antarctic Treaty, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change Note: landlocked

@Slovakia, People

Population: 5,403,505 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.53% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 14.55 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 9.28 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 10.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.81 years male: 68.66 years female: 77.2 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.96 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Slovak(s) adjective: Slovak Ethnic divisions: Slovak 85.6%, Hungarian 10.8%, Gypsy 1.5% (the 1992 census figures underreport the Gypsy/Romany community, which could reach 500,000 or more), Czech 1.1%, Ruthenian 15,000, Ukrainian 13,000, Moravian 6,000, German 5,000, Polish 3,000 Religions: Roman Catholic 60.3%, atheist 9.7%, Protestant 8.4%, Orthodox 4.1%, other 17.5% Languages: Slovak (official), Hungarian Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 2.484 million by occupation: industry 33.2%, agriculture 12.2%, construction 10.3%, communication and other 44.3% (1990)

@Slovakia, Government