Part 19

Total area: 43,070 km2 Land area: 42,370 km2; includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest of metropolitan Denmark, but excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Massachusetts Land boundaries: 68 km; Germany 68 km Coastline: 3,379 km Maritime claims: Contiguous zone: 4 nm Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 3 nm Disputes: Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Iceland, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area); Denmark has challenged Norway's maritime claims between Greenland and Jan Mayen Climate: temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers Terrain: low and flat to gently rolling plains Natural resources: crude oil, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone Land use: arable land 61%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 6%; forest and woodland 12%; other 21%; includes irrigated 9% Environment: air and water pollution Note: controls Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas

:Denmark People

Population: 5,163,955 (July 1992), growth rate 0.2% (1992) Birth rate: 13 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 12 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 1 migrant/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 78 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Dane(s); adjective - Danish Ethnic divisions: Scandinavian, Eskimo, Faroese, German Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 91%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 2%, other 7% (1988) Languages: Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Eskimo dialect); small German-speaking minority Literacy: 99% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.) Labor force: 2,581,400; private services 36.4%; government services 30.2%; manufacturing and mining 20%; construction 6.8%; agriculture, forestry, and fishing 5.9%; electricity/gas/water 0.7% (1990) Organized labor: 65% of labor force

:Denmark Government

Long-form name: Kingdom of Denmark Type: constitutional monarchy Capital: Copenhagen Administrative divisions: metropolitan Denmark - 14 counties (amter, singular - amt) and 1 city* (stad); Arhus, Bornholm, Frederiksborg, Fyn, Kbenhavn, Nordjylland, Ribe, Ringkbing, Roskilde, Snderjylland, Staden Kbenhavn*, Storstrm, Vejle, Vestsjaelland, Viborg; note - see separate entries for the Faroe Islands and Greenland, which are part of the Danish realm and self-governing administrative divisions Independence: became a constitutional monarchy in 1849 Constitution: 5 June 1953 Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940) Executive branch: monarch, heir apparent, prime minister, Cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral parliament (Folketing) Judicial branch: Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State: Queen MARGRETHE II (since January 1972); Heir Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the Queen (born 26 May 1968) Head of Government: Prime Minister Poul SCHLUTER (since 10 September 1982) Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party, Paul Nyrup RASMUSSEN; Conservative Party, Poul SCHLUTER; Liberal Party, Uffe ELLEMANN-JENSEN; Socialist People's Party, Holger K. NIELSEN; Progress Party, Pia KJAERSGAARD; Center Democratic Party, Mimi Stilling JAKOBSEN; Radical Liberal Party, Marianne JELVED; Christian People's Party, Jam SJURSEN; Left Socialist Party, Elizabeth BRUN-OLESEN; Justice Party, Poul Gerhard KRISTIANSEN; Socialist Workers Party, leader NA; Communist Workers' Party (KAP), leader NA; Common Course, Preben Meller HANSEN; Green Party, Inger BORLEHMANN Suffrage: universal at age 21 Elections: Parliament: last held 12 December 1990 (next to be held by December 1994); results - Social Democratic Party 37.4%, Conservative Party 16.0%, Liberal 15.8%, Socialist People's Party 8.3%, Progress Party 6.4%, Center Democratic Party 5.1%, Radical Liberal Party 3.5%, Christian People's Party 2.3%, other 5.2%; seats - (179 total; includes 2 from Greenland and 2 from the Faroe Islands) Social Democratic 69, Conservative 30, Liberal 29, Socialist People's 15, Progress Party 12, Center Democratic 9, Radical Liberal 7, Christian People's 4

:Denmark Government

Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-9, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIIMOG, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WM, ZC Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Peter Pedersen DYVIG; Chancery at 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 234-4300; there are Danish Consulates General in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York US: Ambassador Richard B. STONE; Embassy at Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen O (mailing address is APO AE 09716); telephone [45] (31) 42-31-44; FAX [45] (35) 43-0223 Flag: red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side, and that design element of the (Danish flag) was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden

:Denmark Economy

Overview: This modern economy features high-tech agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry, extensive government welfare measures, comfortable living standards, and high dependence on foreign trade. Denmark probably will continue its successful economic recovery in 1992 with tight fiscal and monetary policies and export- oriented growth. Prime Minister Schluter's main priorities are to maintain a current account surplus in order to pay off extensive external debt and to continue to freeze public-sector expenditures in order to reduce the budget deficit. The rate of growth by 1993 - boosted by increased investment and domestic demand - may be sufficient to start to cut Denmark's high unemployment rate, which is expected to remain at about 11% in 1992. Low inflation, low wage increases, and the current account surplus put Denmark in a good competitive position for the EC's anticipated single market, although Denmark must cut its VAT and income taxes. GDP: purchasing power equivalent - $91.1 billion, per capita $17,700; real growth rate 2.0% (1991) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.4% (1991) Unemployment rate: 10.6% (1991) Budget: revenues $44.1 billion; expenditures $50 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA billion (1991 est.) Exports: $37.8 billion (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: meat and meat products, dairy products, transport equipment (shipbuilding), fish, chemicals, industrial machinery partners: EC 54.2% (Germany 22.5%, UK 10.3%, France 5.9%), Sweden 11.5%, Norway 5.8%, US 5.0%, Japan 3.6% (1991) Imports: $31.6 billion (c.i.f., 1991) commodities: petroleum, machinery and equipment, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, textiles, paper partners: EC 52.8% (Germany 22.5%, UK 8.1%), Sweden 10.8%, US 6.3% (1991) External debt: $45 billion (1991) Industrial production: growth rate 0% (1991 est.) Electricity: 11,215,000 kW capacity; 31,000 million kWh produced, 6,030 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: food processing, machinery and equipment, textiles and clothing, chemical products, electronics, construction, furniture, and other wood products Agriculture: accounts for 4.5% of GDP and employs 6% of labor force (includes fishing and forestry); farm products account for nearly 15% of export revenues; principal products - meat, dairy, grain, potatoes, rape, sugar beets, fish; self-sufficient in food production Economic aid: donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89) $5.9 billion Currency: Danish krone (plural - kroner); 1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 re

:Denmark Economy

Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 6.116 (January 1992), 6.396 (1991), 6.189 (1990), 7.310 (1989), 6.732 (1988), 6.840 (1987) Fiscal year: calendar year

:Denmark Communications

Railroads: 2,675 km 1.435-meter standard gauge; Danish State Railways (DSB) operate 2,120 km (1,999 km rail line and 121 km rail ferry services); 188 km electrified, 730 km double tracked; 650 km of standard- gauge lines are privately owned and operated Highways: 66,482 km total; 64,551 km concrete, bitumen, or stone block; 1,931 km gravel, crushed stone, improved earth Inland waterways: 417 km Pipelines: crude oil 110 km; petroleum products 578 km; natural gas 700 km Ports: Alborg, Arhus, Copenhagen, Esbjerg, Fredericia; numerous secondary and minor ports Merchant marine: 317 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,367,063 GRT/7,921,891 DWT; includes 13 short-sea passenger, 94 cargo, 21 refrigerated cargo, 38 container, 39 roll-on/roll-off, 1 railcar carrier, 42 petroleum tanker, 14 chemical tanker, 33 liquefied gas, 4 livestock carrier, 17 bulk, 1 combination bulk; note - Denmark has created its own internal register, called the Danish International Ship register (DIS); DIS ships do not have to meet Danish manning regulations, and they amount to a flag of convenience within the Danish register; by the end of 1990, 258 of the Danish-flag ships belonged to the DIS Civil air: 69 major transport aircraft Airports: 121 total, 108 usable; 27 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 9 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 6 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: excellent telephone, telegraph, and broadcast services; 4,509,000 telephones; buried and submarine cables and radio relay support trunk network; broadcast stations - 3 AM, 2 FM, 50 TV; 19 submarine coaxial cables; 7 earth stations operating in INTELSAT, EUTELSAT, and INMARSAT

:Denmark Defense Forces

Branches: Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air Force, Home Guard Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,372,878; 1,181,857 fit for military service; 38,221 reach military age (20) annually Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.5 billion, 2% of GDP (1991)

:Djibouti Geography

Total area: 22,000 km2 Land area: 21,980 km2 Comparative area: slightly larger than Massachusetts Land boundaries: 517 km; Ethiopia 459 km, Somalia 58 km Coastline: 314 km Maritime claims: Contiguous zone: 24 nm Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: possible claim by Somalia based on unification of ethnic Somalis Climate: desert; torrid, dry Terrain: coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains Natural resources: geothermal areas Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 9%; forest and woodland NEGL%; other 91% Environment: vast wasteland Note: strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia

:Djibouti People

Population: 390,906 (July 1992), growth rate 2.7% (1992) Birth rate: 43 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 16 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 115 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 47 years male, 50 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 6.3 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Djiboutian(s); adjective - Djiboutian Ethnic divisions: Somali 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian 5% Religions: Muslim 94%, Christian 6% Languages: French and Arabic (both official); Somali and Afar widely used Literacy: 48% (male 63%, female 34%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990) Labor force: NA, but a small number of semiskilled laborers at the port and 3,000 railway workers; 52% of population of working age (1983) Organized labor: 3,000 railway workers, General Union of Djiboutian Workers (UGTD), government affiliated; some smaller unions

:Djibouti Government

Long-form name: Republic of Djibouti Type: republic Capital: Djibouti Administrative divisions: 5 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); `Ali Sabih, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura Independence: 27 June 1977 (from France; formerly French Territory of the Afars and Issas) Constitution:

## partial constitution ratified January 1981 by the National Assembly

Legal system: based on French civil law system, traditional practices, and Islamic law National holiday: Independence Day, 27 June (1977) Executive branch: president, prime minister, Council of Ministers Legislative branch: National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale) Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme) Leaders: Chief of State: President Hassan GOULED Aptidon (since 24 June 1977) Head of Government: Prime Minister BARKAT Gourad Hamadou (since 30 September 1978) Political parties and leaders: only party - People's Progress Assembly (RPP), Hassan GOULED Aptidon Suffrage: universal adult at age NA Elections: National Assembly: last held 24 April 1987 (next scheduled for May 1992 but post- poned); results - RPP is the only party; seats - (65 total) RPP 65 President: last held 24 April 1987 (next to be held April 1993); results - President Hassan GOULED Aptidon was reelected without opposition Other political or pressure groups: Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy and affiliates Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNESCO, UNCTAD, UPU, WHO, WMO Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Roble OLHAYE; Chancery at Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005; telephone (202) 331-0270 US: Ambassador Charles R. BAQUET III; Embassy at Villa Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti (mailing address is B. P. 185, Djibouti); telephone [253] 35-39-95; FAX [253] 35-39-40 Flag: two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light green with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a red five-pointed star in the center

:Djibouti Economy

Overview: The economy is based on service activities connected with the country's strategic location and status as a free trade zone in northeast Africa. Djibouti provides services as both a transit port for the region and an international transshipment and refueling center. It has few natural resources and little industry. The nation is, therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance to help support its balance of payments and to finance development projects. An unemployment rate of over 30% continues to be a major problem. Per capita consumption dropped an estimated 35% over the last five years because of recession and a high population growth rate (including immigrants and refugees). GDP: exchange rate conversion - $340 million, $1,000 per capita; real growth rate -1.0% (1989 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (1989) Unemployment rate: over 30% (1989) Budget: revenues $131 million; expenditures $154 million, including capital expenditures of $25 million (1990 est.) Exports: $190 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.) commodities: hides and skins, coffee (in transit) partners: Middle East 50%, Africa 43%, Western Europe 7% Imports: $311 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.) commodities: foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products partners: EC 36%, Africa 21%, Asia 12%, US 2% External debt: $355 million (December 1990) Industrial production: growth rate 0.1% (1989); manufacturing accounts for 4% of GDP Electricity: 115,000 kW capacity; 200 million kWh produced, 580 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: limited to a few small-scale enterprises, such as dairy products and mineral-water bottling Agriculture: accounts for only 5% of GDP; scanty rainfall limits crop production to mostly fruit and vegetables; half of population pastoral nomads herding goats, sheep, and camels; imports bulk of food needs Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY78-89), $39 million; Western (non-US) countries, including ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $149 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $35 million Currency: Djiboutian franc (plural - francs); 1 Djiboutian franc (DF) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Djiboutian francs (DF) per US$1 - 177.721 (fixed rate since 1973) Fiscal year: calendar year

:Djibouti Communications

Railroads: the Ethiopian-Djibouti railroad extends for 97 km through Djibouti Highways: 2,900 km total; 280 km paved; 2,620 km improved or unimproved earth (1982) Ports: Djibouti Civil air: 1 major transport aircraft Airports: 13 total, 11 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 5 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: fair system of urban facilities in Djibouti and radio relay stations at outlying places; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station and 1 ARABSAT; 1 submarine cable to Saudi Arabia

:Djibouti Defense Forces

Branches: Djibouti National Army (including Navy and Air Force), National Security Force (Force Nationale de Securite), National Police Force Manpower availability: males 15-49, 96,150; 56,077 fit for military service Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $29.9 million, NA% of GDP (1986)

:Dominica Geography

Total area: 750 km2 Land area: 750 km2 Comparative area: slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: none Coastline: 148 km Maritime claims: Contiguous zone: 24 nm Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: none Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall Terrain: rugged mountains of volcanic origin Natural resources: timber Land use: arable land 9%; permanent crops 13%; meadows and pastures 3%; forest and woodland 41%; other 34% Environment: flash floods a constant hazard; occasional hurricanes Note: located 550 km southeast of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea

:Dominica People

Population: 87,035 (July 1992), growth rate 1.6% (1992) Birth rate: 24 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: -3 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 11 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 79 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 2.4 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Dominican(s); adjective - Dominican Ethnic divisions: mostly black; some Carib Indians Religions: Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%), none 2%, unknown 1%, other 5% Languages: English (official); French patois widely spoken Literacy: 94% (male 94%, female 94%) age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970) Labor force: 25,000; agriculture 40%, industry and commerce 32%, services 28% (1984) Organized labor: 25% of labor force

:Dominica Government

Long-form name: Commonwealth of Dominica Type: parliamentary democracy Capital: Roseau Administrative divisions: 10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter Independence: 3 November 1978 (from UK) Constitution: 3 November 1978 Legal system: based on English common law National holiday: Independence Day, 3 November (1978) Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State: President Sir Clarence Augustus SEIGNORET (since 19 December 1983) Head of Government: Prime Minister (Mary) Eugenia CHARLES (since 21 July 1980, elected for a third term 28 May 1990) Political parties and leaders: Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), (Mary) Eugenia CHARLES; Dominica Labor Party (DLP), Pierre CHARLES; United Workers Party (UWP), Edison JAMES Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: House of Assembly: last held 28 May 1990 (next to be held May 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (30 total; 9 appointed senators and 21 elected representatives) DFP 11, UWP 6, DLP 4 President: last held 20 December 1988 (next to be held December 1993); results - President Sir Clarence Augustus SEIGNORET was reelected by the House of Assembly Other political or pressure groups: Dominica Liberation Movement (DLM), a small leftist group Member of: ACCT, ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, LORCS, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO Diplomatic representation: there is no Chancery in the US US: no official presence since the Ambassador resides in Bridgetown (Barbados), but travels frequently to Dominica

:Dominica Government

Flag: green with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white - the horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot encircled by 10 green five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)

:Dominica Economy

Overview: The economy is dependent on agriculture and thus is highly vulnerable to climatic conditions. Agriculture accounts for about 30% of GDP and employs 40% of the labor force. Principal products include bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, and coconuts. In 1990, GDP grew by 7%, bouncing back from the 1.6% decline of 1989. The tourist industry remains undeveloped because of a rugged coastline and the lack of an international airport. GDP: purchasing power equivalent - $170 million, per capita $2,000; real growth rate 7.0% (1990 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.7% (1990) Unemployment rate: 10% (1989 est.) Budget: revenues $48 million; expenditures $85 million, including capital expenditures of $41 million (FY90) Exports: $59.9 million (f.o.b., 1990) commodities: bananas, coconuts, grapefruit, soap, galvanized sheets partners: UK 72%, Jamaica 10%, OECS 6%, US 3%, other 9% Imports: $103.9 million (c.i.f., 1990) commodities: food, oils and fats, chemicals, fuels and lubricants, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment partners: US 23%, UK 18%, CARICOM 15%, OECS 15%, Japan 5%, Canada 3%, other 21% External debt: $73 million (1990 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 4.5% in manufacturing (1988 est.); accounts for 11% of GDP Electricity: 7,000 kW capacity; 16 million kWh produced, 185 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: soap, beverages, tourism, food processing, furniture, cement blocks, shoes Agriculture: accounts for 30% of GDP; principal crops - bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, and coconuts; bananas provide the bulk of export earnings; forestry and fisheries potential not exploited Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $120 million Currency: East Caribbean dollar (plural - dollars); 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

:Dominica Communications

Highways: 750 km total; 370 km paved, 380 km gravel and earth Ports: Roseau, Portsmouth Civil air: NA Airports: 2 total, 2 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 2,439 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: 4,600 telephones in fully automatic network; VHF and UHF link to Saint Lucia; new SHF links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; broadcast stations - 3 AM, 2 FM, 1 cable TV

:Dominica Defense Forces

Branches: Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (including Coast Guard) Manpower availability: NA Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

:Dominican Republic Geography

Total area: 48,730 km2 Land area: 48,380 km2 Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire Land boundaries: 275 km; Haiti 275 km Coastline: 1,288 km Maritime claims: Contiguous zone: 24 nm Continental shelf: outer edge of continental margin or 200 nm Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 6 nm Disputes: none Climate: tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation Terrain: rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed Natural resources: nickel, bauxite, gold, silver Land use: arable land 23%; permanent crops 7%; meadows and pastures 43%; forest and woodland 13%; other 14%; includes irrigated 4% Environment: subject to occasional hurricanes (July to October); deforestation Note: shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (western one-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)

:Dominican Republic People

Population: 7,515,892 (July 1992), growth rate 1.9% (1992) Birth rate: 26 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: -1 migrant/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 56 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 70 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 3.0 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Dominican(s); adjective - Dominican Ethnic divisions: mixed 73%, white 16%, black 11% Religions: Roman Catholic 95% Languages: Spanish Literacy: 83% (male 85%, female 82%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) Labor force: 2,300,000 to 2,600,000; agriculture 49%, services 33%, industry 18% (1986) Organized labor: 12% of labor force (1989 est.)

:Dominican Republic Government