Part 67

Overview: The economy is based on subsistence agriculture, which occupies most of the labor force and contributes nearly 25% to GDP. Manufacturing, which includes a number of agroprocessing factories, accounts for another quarter 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 75% of its imports and to which it sends about half of its exports. GDP: exchange rate conversion - $563 million, per capita $725; real growth rate 5.0% (1990 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 13% (1990) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues $335.4 million; expenditures $360.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY93 est.) Exports: $557 million (f.o.b., 1990) commodities: soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, citrus, canned fruit partners: South Africa 50% (est.), EC, Canada Imports: $632 million (f.o.b., 1990) commodities: motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, chemicals partners: South Africa 75% (est.), Japan, Belgium, UK External debt: $290 million (1990) Industrial production: growth rate NA; accounts for 26% of GDP (1989) Electricity: 60,000 kW capacity; 155 million kWh produced, 180 kWh per capita (1991) 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, cotton, maize, tobacco, rice, citrus fruit, 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 (1970-89), $518 million Currency: lilangeni (plural - emalangeni); 1 lilangeni (E) = 100 cents Exchange rates: emalangeni (E) per US$1 - 2.7814 (January 1992), 2.7563 (1991), 2.5863 (1990), 2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988), 2.0350 (1987); note - the Swazi emalangeni is at par with the South African rand Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

:Swaziland 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: 4 major transport aircraft Airports: 23 total, 21 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 microwave links; 17,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 7 AM, 6 FM, 10 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

:Swaziland Defense Forces

Branches: Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force, Royal Swaziland Police Force Manpower availability: males 15-49, 197,654; 114,204 fit for military service Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $11 million, about 2% of GNP (1989)

:Sweden Geography

Total area: 449,964 km2 Land area: 410,928 km2 Comparative area: slightly smaller than California Land boundaries: 2,205 km total; Finland 586 km, Norway 1,619 km Coastline: 3,218 km Maritime claims: Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: none Climate: temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north Terrain: mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west Natural resources: zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber, uranium, hydropower potential Land use: arable land 7%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 2%; forest and woodland 64%; other 27%; includes irrigated NEGL% Environment: water pollution; acid rain Note: strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas

:Sweden People

Population: 8,602,157 (July 1992), growth rate 0.4% (1992) Birth rate: 13 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 11 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 2 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 75 years male, 81 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Swede(s); adjective - Swedish Ethnic divisions: homogeneous white population; small Lappish minority; foreign born or first-generation immigrants (Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks) about 12% Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 94%, Roman Catholic 1.5%, Pentecostal 1%, other 3.5% (1987) Languages: Swedish, small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities; immigrants speak native languages Literacy: 99% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write (1979 est.) Labor force: 4,552,000 community, social and personal services 38.3%, mining and manufacturing 21.2%, commerce, hotels, and restaurants 14.1%, banking, insurance 9.0%, communications 7.2%, construction 7.0%, agriculture, fishing, and forestry 3.2% (1991) Organized labor: 80% of labor force (1990 est.)

:Sweden Government

Long-form name: Kingdom of Sweden Type: constitutional monarchy Capital: Stockholm Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (lan, singular and plural); Alvsborgs Lan, Blekinge Lan, Gavleborgs Lan, Goteborgs och Bohus Lan, Gotlands Lan, Hallands Lan, Jamtlands Lan, Jonkopings Lan, Kalmar Lan, Kopparbergs Lan, Kristianstads Lan, Kronobergs Lan, Malmohus Lan, Norrbottens Lan, Orebro Lan, Ostergotlands Lan, Skaraborgs Lan, Sodermanlands Lan, Stockholms Lan, Uppsala Lan, Varmlands Lan, Vasterbottens Lan, Vasternorrlands Lan, Vastmanlands Lan Independence: 6 June 1809, constitutional monarchy established Constitution: 1 January 1975 Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations National holiday: Day of the Swedish Flag, 6 June Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, Cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral parliament (Riksdag) Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Hogsta Domstolen) Leaders: Chief of State: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973); Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter of the King (born 14 July 1977) Head of Government: Prime Minister Carl BILDT (since 3 October 1991) Political parties and leaders: ruling four-party coalition consists of the Moderate Party (conservative), Carl BILDT; Liberal People's Party, Bengt WESTERBERG; Center Party, Olof JOHANSSON; and the Christian Democratic Party, Alf SVENSSON; Social Democratic Party, Ingvar CARLSSON; New Democracy Party, Count Ian WACHTMEISTER; Left Party (VP; Communist), Lars WERNER; Swedish Communist Party (SKP), Rune PETTERSSON; Communist Workers' Party, Rolf HAGEL; Green Party, no formal leader Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: Riksdag: last held 15 September 1991 (next to be held NA September 1994); results - Social Democratic Party 37.6%, Moderate Party (conservative) 21.9%, Liberal People's Party 9.1%, Center Party 8.5%, Christian Democrats 7.1%, New Democracy 6.7%, Left Party (Communist) 4.5%, Green Party 3.4%, other 1.2%; seats - (349 total) Social Democratic 138, Moderate Party (conservative) 80, Liberal People's Party 33, Center Party 31, Christian Democrats 26, New Democracy 25, Left Party (Communist) 16; note - the Green Party has no seats in the Riksdag because it received less than the required 4% of the vote Communists: VP and SKP; VP, formerly the Left Party-Communists, is reported to have roughly 17,800 members and attracted 5.8% of the vote in the 1988 election; VP dropped the Communist label in 1990, but maintains a Marxist ideology

:Sweden Government

Member of: AfDB, AG (observer) AsDB, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-6, G-8, G-9, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTERPOL, INTELSAT, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIIMOG, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Anders THUNBORG; Chancery at Suite 1200, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037; telephone (202) 944-5600; there are Swedish Consulates General in Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and New York US: Ambassador Charles E. REDMAN; Embassy at Strandvagen 101, S-115 89 Stockholm; telephone [46] (8) 783-5300; FAX [46] (8) 661-1964 Flag: blue with a yellow cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

:Sweden Economy

Overview: Aided by a long period of peace and neutrality during World War I through World War II, Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living under a mixed system of high-tech capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. It has essentially full employment, a modern distribution system, excellent internal and external communications, and a skilled labor force. Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy that is heavily oriented toward foreign trade. Privately owned firms account for about 90% of industrial output, of which the engineering sector accounts for 50% of output and exports. In the last few years, however, this extraordinarily favorable picture has been clouded by inflation, growing absenteeism, and a gradual loss of competitiveness in international markets. The new center-right government, facing a sagging economic situation which is unlikely to improve until 1993, is pushing full steam ahead with economic reform proposals to end Sweden's recession and to prepare for possible EC membership in 1995. The free-market-oriented reforms are designed to spur growth, maintain price stability, lower unemployment, create a more efficient welfare state, and further adapt to EC standards. The measures include: cutting taxes, particularly the value-added tax (VAT) and levies on new and small business; privatization; liberalizing foreign ownership restrictions; and opening the welfare system to competition and private alternatives, which the government will still finance. Growth is expected to remain flat in 1992, but increase slightly in 1993, while inflation should remain around 3% for the next few years. On the down side, unemployment may climb to slightly over 4% in 1993, and the budget deficit will reach nearly $9 billion in 1992. GDP: purchasing power equivalent - $147.6 billion, per capita $17,200; real growth rate -1.1% (1991) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.0% (1991) Unemployment rate: 2.7% (1991) Budget: revenues $67.5 billion; expenditures $78.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92 est.) Exports: $54.5 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.) commodities: machinery, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products partners: EC, (FRG, UK, Denmark), US, Norway Imports: $50.2 billion (c.i.f., 1991 est.) commodities: machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles, foodstuffs, iron and steel, clothing partners: EC 55.3%, US 8.4% (1990) External debt: $10.7 billion (November 1991) Industrial production: growth rate -5.3% (1991) Electricity: 39,716,000 kW capacity; 142,000 million kWh produced, 16,700 kWh per capita (1991)

:Sweden Economy

Industries: iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles Agriculture: animal husbandry predominates, with milk and dairy products accounting for 37% of farm income; main crops - grains, sugar beets, potatoes; 100% self-sufficient in grains and potatoes, 85% self-sufficient in sugar beets Economic aid: donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $10.3 billion Currency: Swedish krona (plural - kronor); 1 Swedish krona (SKr) = 100 ore Exchange rates: Swedish kronor (SKr) per US$1 - 6.0259 (March 1992), 6.0475 (1991) 5.9188 (1990), 6.4469 (1989), 6.1272 (1988), 6.3404 (1987) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

:Sweden Communications

Railroads: 12,000 km total; Swedish State Railways (SJ) - 10,819 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 6,955 km electrified and 1,152 km double track; 182 km 0.891-meter gauge; 117 km rail ferry service; privately owned railways - 511 km 1.435-meter standard gauge (332 km electrified); 371 km 0.891-meter gauge (all electrified) Highways: 97,400 km (51,899 km paved, 20,659 km gravel, 24,842 km unimproved earth) Inland waterways: 2,052 km navigable for small steamers and barges Pipelines: natural gas 84 km Ports: Gavle, Goteborg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Kalmar, Malmo, Stockholm; numerous secondary and minor ports Merchant marine: 186 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,665,902 GRT/3,646,165 DWT; includes 10 short-sea passenger, 29 cargo, 3 container, 43 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 12 vehicle carrier, 2 railcar carrier, 33 petroleum tanker, 28 chemical tanker, 4 specialized tanker, 1 liquefied gas, 7 combination ore/oil, 12 bulk, 1 combination bulk, 1 refrigerated cargo Civil air: 115 major transports Airports: 254 total, 252 usable; 139 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 10 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 94 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: excellent domestic and international facilities; 8,200,000 telephones; mainly coaxial and multiconductor cables carry long-distance network; parallel microwave network carries primarily radio, TV and some telephone channels; automatic system; broadcast stations - 5 AM, 360 (mostly repeaters) FM, 880 (mostly repeaters) TV; 5 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 EUTELSAT

:Sweden Defense Forces

Branches: Swedish Army, Swedish Navy, Swedish Air Force Manpower availability: males 15-49, 2,129,996; 1,858,944 fit for military service; 57,492 reach military age (19) annually Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $6.2 billion, about 4% of GDP (FY91)

:Switzerland Geography

Total area: 41,290 km2 Land area: 39,770 km2 Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of New Jersey Land boundaries: 1,852 km total; Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km Coastline: none - landlocked Maritime claims: none - landlocked Disputes: none Climate: temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers Terrain: mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes Natural resources: hydropower potential, timber, salt Land use: arable land 10%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 40%; forest and woodland 26%; other 23%; includes irrigated 1% Environment: dominated by Alps Note: landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe

:Switzerland People

Population: 6,828,023 (July 1992), growth rate 0.6% (1992) Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 3 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 76 years male, 83 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Swiss (singular and plural); adjective - Swiss Ethnic divisions: total population - German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%; Swiss nationals - German 74%, French 20%, Italian 4%, Romansch 1%, other 1% Religions: Roman Catholic 47.6%, Protestant 44.3%, other 8.1% (1980) Languages: total population - German 65%, French 18%, Italian 12%, Romansch 1%, other 4%; Swiss nationals - German 74%, French 20%, Italian 4%, Romansch 1%, other 1% Literacy: 99% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.) Labor force: 3,310,000; 904,095 foreign workers, mostly Italian; services 50%, industry and crafts 33%, government 10%, agriculture and forestry 6%, other 1% (1989) Organized labor: 20% of labor force

:Switzerland Government

Long-form name: Swiss Confederation Type: federal republic Capital: Bern Administrative divisions: 26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; kantone, singular - kanton in German); Aargau, Ausser-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Inner-Rhoden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich Independence: 1 August 1291 Constitution: 29 May 1874 Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees of general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations National holiday: Anniversary of the Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291) Executive branch: president, vice president, Federal Council (German - Bundesrat, French - Conseil Federal, Italian - Consiglio Federale) Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly (German - Bundesversammlung, French - Assemblee Federale, Italian - Assemblea Federale) consists of an upper council or Council of States (German - Standerat, French - Conseil des Etats, Italian - Consiglio degli Stati) and a lower council or National Council (German - Nationalrat, French - Conseil National, Italian - Consiglio Nazionale) Judicial branch: Federal Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government: President Rene FELBER (1992 calendar year; presidency rotates annually); Vice President Adolf OGI (term runs concurrently with that of president) Political parties and leaders: Free Democratic Party (FDP), Bruno HUNZIKER, president; Social Democratic Party (SPS), Helmut HUBACHER, chairman; Christian Democratic People's Party (CVP), Eva SEGMULLER-WEBER, chairman; Swiss People's Party (SVP), Hans UHLMANN, president; Green Party (GPS), Peter SCHMID, president; Automobile Party (AP), DREYER; Alliance of Independents' Party (LdU), Dr. Franz JAEGER, president; Swiss Democratic Party (SD), NA; Evangelical People's Party (EVP), Max DUNKI, president; Workers' Party (PdA; Communist), Jean SPIELMANN, general secretary; Ticino League, leader NA Liberal Party (LPS), Gilbert COUTAU, president Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: Council of States: last held throughout 1991 (next to be held NA 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (46 total) FDP 18, CVP 16, SVP 4, SPS 3, LPS 3, LdU 1, Ticino League 1

:Switzerland Government

National Council: last held 20 October 1991 (next to be held NA October 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (200 total) FDP 44, SPS 42, CVP 37, SVP 25, GPS 14, LPS 10, AP 8, LdU 6, SD 5, EVP 3, PdA 2, Ticino League 2, other 2 Communists: 4,500 members (est.) Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-8, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IEA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM (guest), NEA, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Edouard BRUNNER; Chancery at 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 745-7900; there are Swiss Consulates General in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco US: Ambassador Joseph B. GILDENHORN; Embassy at Jubilaeumstrasse 93, 3005 Bern; telephone [41] (31) 437-011; FAX [41] (31) 437-344; there is a Branch Office of the Embassy in Geneva and a Consulate General in Zurich Flag: red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag

:Switzerland Economy

Overview: Switzerland's economic success is matched in few other nations. Per capita output, general living standards, education and science, health care, and diet are unsurpassed in Europe. Economic stability helps promote the important banking and tourist sectors. Since World War II, Switzerland's economy has adjusted smoothly to the great changes in output and trade patterns in Europe and presumably can adjust to the challenges of the 1990s,

## particularly to the further economic integration of Western Europe and the

amazingly rapid changes in East European political and economic prospects. After 8 years of growth, the economy experienced a mild recession in 1991 because monetary policy was tightened to combat inflation and because of the weak international economy. In the second half of 1992, however, Switzerland is expected to resume growth, despite inflation and unemployment problems. GDP growth for 1992 may be just under 1%, inflation should drop from 5.9% to 3.5%, and the trade deficit will continue to decline after dropping by over 15% to $5 billion, due to increased exports to Germany. Unemployment, however, is forecast to rise to 1.6% in 1992, up from 1.3% in 1991 and 0.5% in 1990. GDP: purchasing power equivalent - $147.4 billion, per capita $21,700; real growth rate -0.2% (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.9% (1991) Unemployment rate: 1.3% (1991) Budget: revenues $24.0 billion; expenditures $23.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990) Exports: $62.2 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, precision instruments, metal products, foodstuffs, textiles and clothing partners: Western Europe 64% (EC 56%, other 8%), US 9%, Japan 4% Imports: $68.5 billion (c.i.f., 1991 est.) commodities: agricultural products, machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals, textiles, construction materials partners: Western Europe 78% (EC 71%, other 7%), US 6% External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate 0.4% (1991 est.) Electricity: 17,710,000 kW capacity; 59,070 million kWh produced, 8,930 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments Agriculture: dairy farming predominates; less than 50% self-sufficient; food shortages - fish, refined sugar, fats and oils (other than butter), grains, eggs, fruits, vegetables, meat Economic aid: donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $3.5 billion

:Switzerland Economy

Currency: Swiss franc, franken, or franco (plural - francs, franken, or franchi); 1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes, rappen, or centesimi Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1 - 1.4037 (January 1992), 1.4340 (1991), 1.3892 (1990), 1.6359 (1989), 1.4633 (1988), 1.4912 (1987) Fiscal year: calendar year

:Switzerland Communications

Railroads: 5,174 km total; 2,971 km are government owned and 2,203 km are nongovernment owned; the government network consists of 2,897 km 1.435-meter standard gauge and 74 km 1.000-meter narrow gauge track; 1,432 km double track, 99% electrified; the nongovernment network consists of 710 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 1,418 km 1.000-meter gauge, and 75 km 0.790-meter gauge track, 100% electrified Highways: 62,145 km total (all paved), of which 18,620 km are canton and 1,057 km are national highways (740 km autobahn); 42,468 km are communal roads Inland waterways: 65 km; Rhine (Basel to Rheinfelden, Schaffhausen to Bodensee); 12 navigable lakes Pipelines: crude oil 314 km, natural gas 1,506 km Ports: Basel (river port) Merchant marine: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 325,234 GRT/576,953 DWT; includes 5 cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 3 chemical tanker, 2 specialized tanker, 9 bulk, 1 petroleum tanker Civil air: 89 major transport aircraft Airports: 66 total, 65 usable; 42 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways over 3,659 m; 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 18 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: excellent domestic, international, and broadcast services; 5,890,000 telephones; extensive cable and microwave networks; broadcast stations - 7 AM, 265 FM, 18 (1,322 repeaters) TV; communications satellite earth station operating in the INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean) system

:Switzerland Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Air Force, Frontier Guards, Fortification Guards Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,798,632; 1,544,191 fit for military service; 43,952 reach military age (20) annually Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $4.6 billion, about 2% of GDP (1990)

:Syria Geography

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

:Syria People

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

:Syria Government