Part 74

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

:Uruguay People

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

:Uruguay Government

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

:Uruguay Government

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

:Uruguay Economy

Overview: The economy is slowly recovering from the deep recession of the early 1980s. In 1988 real GDP grew by only 0.5% and in 1989 by 1.5%. The recovery was led by growth in the agriculture and fishing sectors, agriculture alone contributing 20% to GDP, employing about 11% of the labor force, and generating a large proportion of export earnings. Raising livestock,

## particularly cattle and sheep, is the major agricultural activity. In 1991,

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

:Uruguay Economy

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

:Uruguay Communications

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

:Uruguay Defense Forces

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

:Uzbekistan Geography

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

:Uzbekistan People

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

:Uzbekistan Government

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

:Uzbekistan Government

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

:Uzbekistan Economy

Overview: Although Uzbekistan accounted for only 3.4% of total Soviet output, it produced two-thirds of the USSR's cotton. Moscow's push for ever-increasing amounts of cotton included massive irrigation projects which caused extensive environmental damage to the Aral Sea and rivers of the republic. Furthermore, the lavish use of chemical fertilizers has caused extensive pollution and widespread health problems. Recently the republic has sought to encourage food production at the expense of cotton. The small industrial sector specializes in such items as agricultural machinery, mineral fertilizers, vegetable oil, and electrical cranes. Uzbekistan also has some important natural resources including gold (about 30% of Soviet production), uranium, and natural gas. The Uzbek government has encouraged land reform but has shied away from other aspects of economic reform. GDP: purchasing power equivalent - $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate -0.9% (1991) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 83% (1991) Unemployment rate: NA Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Exports: $1.5 billion (1990) commodities: cotton, gold, textiles, chemical and mineral fertilizers, vegetable oil partners: Russia, Ukraine, Eastern Europe Imports: $3.5 billion (1990) commodities: machinery and parts, consumer durables, grain, other foods partners: principally other former Soviet republics External debt: $2 billion (end of 1991 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 1.8% (1991) Electricity: 11,400,000 kW capacity; 54,100 million kWh produced, 2,662 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: chemical and mineral fertilizers, vegetable oil, textiles Agriculture: cotton, with much smaller production of grain, fruits, vegetables, and livestock Illicit drugs: illicit producers of cannabis and opium; mostly for domestic consumption; status of government eradication programs unknown; used as transshipment points for illicit drugs to Western Europe Economic aid: $NA Currency: as of May 1992, retaining ruble as currency Exchange rates: NA Fiscal year: calendar year

:Uzbekistan Communications

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

:Uzbekistan Defense Forces

Branches: Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard; CIS Forces (Ground, Air and Air Defense) Manpower availability: males 15-49, NA; NA fit for military service; NA reach military age (18) annually Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

:Vanuatu Geography

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

:Vanuatu People

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

:Vanuatu Government

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

:Vanuatu Economy

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

:Vanuatu Communications

Railroads: none Highways: 1,027 km total; at least 240 km sealed or all-weather roads Ports: Port-Vila, Luganville, Palikoulo, Santu Merchant marine: 121 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,093,443 GRT/3,168,822 DWT; includes 26 cargo, 14 refrigerated cargo, 5 container, 11 vehicle carrier, 1 livestock carrier, 5 petroleum tanker, 2 chemical tanker, 3 liquefied gas, 51 bulk, 1 combination bulk, 1 passenger, 1 short-sea passenger; note - a flag of convenience registry Civil air: no major transport aircraft Airports: 33 total, 31 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, no TV; 3,000 telephones; satellite ground stations - 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT

:Vanuatu Defense Forces

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

:Venezuela Geography

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

:Venezuela People

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

:Venezuela Government

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

:Venezuela Government