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Compare Australia (2001) - Western Sahara (2002)

Compare Australia (2001) z Western Sahara (2002)

 Australia (2001)Western Sahara (2002)
 AustraliaWestern Sahara
Administrative divisions 6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia none (under de facto control of Morocco)
Age structure 0-14 years:
20.64% (male 2,045,892; female 1,948,949)

15-64 years:
66.86% (male 6,538,096; female 6,405,014)

65 years and over:
12.5% (male 1,059,107; female 1,360,536) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: NA%


15-64 years: NA%


65 years and over: NA%
Agriculture - products wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep, poultry fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads)
Airports 411 (2000 est.) 11 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total:
271

over 3,047 m:
10

2,438 to 3,047 m:
12

1,524 to 2,437 m:
118

914 to 1,523 m:
122

under 914 m:
9 (2000 est.)
total: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
140

1,524 to 2,437 m:
17

914 to 1,523 m:
112

under 914 m:
11 (2000 est.)
total: 8


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Area total:
7,686,850 sq km

land:
7,617,930 sq km

water:
68,920 sq km

note:
includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island
total: 266,000 sq km


land: 266,000 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than the contiguous 48 states of the US about the size of Colorado
Background Australia became a commonwealth of the British Empire in 1901. It was able to take advantage of its natural resources to rapidly develop its agricultural and manufacturing industries and to make a major contribution to the British effort in World Wars I and II. Long-term concerns include pollution, particularly depletion of the ozone layer, and management and conservation of coastal areas, especially the Great Barrier Reef. A referendum to change Australia's status, from a commonwealth headed by the British monarch to an independent republic, was defeated in 1999. Morocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in a 1991 cease-fire; a referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed.
Birth rate 12.86 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) NA births/1,000 population
Budget revenues:
$94 billion

expenditures:
$103 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
revenues: $NA


expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Capital Canberra none
Climate generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew
Coastline 25,760 km 1,110 km
Constitution 9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901 -
Country name conventional long form:
Commonwealth of Australia

conventional short form:
Australia
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Western Sahara


former: Spanish Sahara
Currency Australian dollar (AUD) Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Death rate 7.18 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) NA deaths/1,000 population
Debt - external $220.6 billion (2000) $NA
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Edward W. GNEHM, Jr.

embassy:
Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600

mailing address:
APO AP 96549

telephone:
[61] (02) 6214-5600

FAX:
[61] (02) 6214-5970

consulate(s) general:
Sydney

consulate(s):
Melbourne and Perth
none
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Michael THAWLEY

chancery:
1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

telephone:
[1] (202) 797-3000

FAX:
[1] (202) 797-3168

consulate(s) general:
Atlanta, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco
none
Disputes - international territorial claim in Antarctica (Australian Antarctic Territory) Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, but sovereignty remains unresolved; UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since September 1991, but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties reject other proposals
Economic aid - donor ODA, $1.43 billion (FY97/98) -
Economic aid - recipient - $NA
Economy - overview Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP at the level of the four dominant West European economies. Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products, minerals, metals, and fossil fuels. Commodities account for 57% of the value of total exports, so that a downturn in world commodity prices can have a big impact on the economy. The government is pushing for increased exports of manufactured goods, but competition in international markets continues to be severe. While Australia has suffered from the low growth and high unemployment characterizing the OECD countries in the early 1990s and during the recent financial problems in East Asia, the economy has expanded at a solid 4% annual growth pace in the last five years. Canberra's emphasis on reforms is a key factor behind the economy's resilience to the regional crisis and its stronger than expected growth rate. Growth in 2001 will depend on key international commodity prices, the extent of recovery in nearby Asian economies, and the strength of US and European markets. Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural production, and most of the food for the urban population must be imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan Government. Moroccan energy interests in 2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western Sahara, which has angered the Polisario. Incomes and standards of living in Western Sahara are substantially below the Moroccan level.
Electricity - consumption 178.306 billion kWh (1999) 83.7 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 191.727 billion kWh (1999) 90 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
89.93%

hydro:
8.36%

nuclear:
0%

other:
1.71% (1999)
fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Lake Eyre -15 m

highest point:
Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m
lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m


highest point: unnamed location 463 m
Environment - current issues soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due to the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited natural fresh water resources sparse water and lack of arable land
Environment - international agreements party to:
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified:
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
party to: none of the selected agreements


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Caucasian 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1% Arab, Berber
Exchange rates Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.7995 (January 2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996) Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 11.584 (January 2002), 11.303 (2001), 10.626 (2000), 9.804 (1999), 9.604 (1998), 9.527 (1997)
Executive branch chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Rev. Peter HOLLINGSWORTH (since 29 June 2001)

head of government:
Prime Minister John Winston HOWARD (since 11 March 1996); Deputy Prime Minister John ANDERSON (since NA)

cabinet:
Cabinet selected from among the members of Federal Parliament by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general for a three-year term

note:
government coalition - Liberal Party and National Party
none
Exports $69 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) $NA
Exports - commodities coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, iron ore, wheat, machinery and transport equipment phosphates 62%
Exports - partners Japan 19%, EU 14%, ASEAN 12%, US 9%, South Korea, NZ, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China (1999) Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts
Fiscal year 1 July - 30 June calendar year
Flag description blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant; the remaining half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and four, larger, seven-pointed stars -
GDP purchasing power parity - $445.8 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
3%

industry:
26%

services:
71% (1999 est.)
agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: 40%-45% (1996 est.) (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $23,200 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - real growth rate 4.7% (2000 est.) NA%
Geographic coordinates 27 00 S, 133 00 E 24 30 N, 13 00 W
Geography - note world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; regular, tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as "the Doctor" occurs along the west coast in the summer the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas
Highways total:
913,000 km

paved:
353,331 km (including 1,363 km of expressways)

unpaved:
559,669 km (1996)
total: 6,200 km


paved: 1,350 km


unpaved: 4,850 km (1991 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
2%

highest 10%:
25.4% (1994)
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiate products; government maintains strict controls over areas of opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate -
Imports $77 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) $NA
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and petroleum products fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
Imports - partners EU 24%, US 22%, Japan 14%, ASEAN 13% (1999) Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts
Independence 1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies) -
Industrial production growth rate 1.5% (1999 est.) NA%
Industries mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel phosphate mining, handicrafts
Infant mortality rate 4.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) NA deaths/1,000 live births
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 1.4% (2000 est.) NA%
International organization participation ANZUS, APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMEE, UNTAET, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC none
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 264 (2000) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 21,070 sq km (1993 est.) NA sq km
Judicial branch High Court (the chief justice and six other justices are appointed by the governor general) -
Labor force 9.5 million (December 1999) 12,000
Labor force - by occupation services 73%, industry 22%, agriculture 5% (1997 est.) animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50%
Land boundaries 0 km total: 2,046 km


border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
Land use arable land:
6%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
54%

forests and woodland:
19%

other:
21% (1993 est.)
arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (1998 est.)
Languages English, native languages Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
Legal system based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations -
Legislative branch bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the Senate (76 seats - 12 from each of the six states and two from each of the two territories; one-half of the members elected every three years by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives (148 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve three-year terms; no state can have fewer than five representatives)

elections:
Senate - last held 3 October 1998 (next to be held by October 2001); House of Representatives - last held 3 October 1998 (next to be held by October 2001)

election results:
Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 35, Australian Labor Party 29, Australian Democratic Party 9, Green Party 1, One Nation Party 1, independent 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 80, Australian Labor Party 67, independent 1
-
Life expectancy at birth total population:
79.87 years

male:
77.02 years

female:
82.87 years (2001 est.)
total population: NA years


male: NA years


female: NA years
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
100%

male:
100%

female:
100% (1980 est.)
definition: NA


total population: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
Location Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco
Map references Oceania Africa
Maritime claims contiguous zone:
24 NM

continental shelf:
200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
Merchant marine total:
54 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,558,371 GRT/2,038,776 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 26, cargo 3, chemical tanker 5, container 1, liquefied gas 4, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 6 (2000 est.)
-
Military branches Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force -
Military expenditures - dollar figure $6.9 billion (FY98/99) $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.9% (FY98/99) NA%
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
4,990,107 (2001 est.)
-
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
4,303,966 (2001 est.)
-
Military manpower - military age 17 years of age -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
138,971 (2001 est.)
-
National holiday Australia Day, 26 January (1788) -
Nationality noun:
Australian(s)

adjective:
Australian
noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)


adjective: Sahrawian, Sahraouian
Natural hazards cyclones along the coast; severe droughts hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility
Natural resources bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum phosphates, iron ore
Net migration rate 4.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) -
Pipelines crude oil 2,500 km; petroleum products 500 km; natural gas 5,600 km -
Political parties and leaders Australian Democratic Party [Meg LEES]; Australian Labor Party [Kim BEAZLEY]; Green Party [Bob BROWN]; Liberal Party [John Winston HOWARD]; National Party [John ANDERSON]; One Nation Party [Pauline HANSON] -
Political pressure groups and leaders Australian Democratic Labor Party (anti-Communist Labor Party splinter group); Peace and Nuclear Disarmament Action (Nuclear Disarmament Party splinter group) none
Population 19,357,594 (July 2001 est.) 256,177 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 0.99% (2001 est.) NA (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Devonport (Tasmania), Fremantle, Geelong, Hobart (Tasmania), Launceston (Tasmania), Mackay, Melbourne, Sydney, Townsville Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, Laayoune (El Aaiun)
Radio broadcast stations AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 25.5 million (1997) 56,000 (1997)
Railways total:
33,819 km (2,540 km electrified)

broad gauge:
3,719 km 1.600-m gauge

standard gauge:
15,422 km 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge:
14,506 km 1.067-m gauge

dual gauge:
172 km NA gauges (1999)
0 km
Religions Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 24.3%, non-Christian 11% Muslim
Sex ratio at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
0.78 male(s)/female

total population:
0.99 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
NA
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal and compulsory none; a UN-sponsored voter identification campaign not yet completed
Telephone system general assessment:
excellent domestic and international service

domestic:
domestic satellite system; much use of radiotelephone in areas of low population density; rapid growth of mobile cellular telephones

international:
submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean), 2 Inmarsat (Indian and Pacific Ocean regions) (1998)
general assessment: sparse and limited system


domestic: NA


international: tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco
Telephones - main lines in use 9.58 million (1998) about 2,000 (1999 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular 6.4 million (1998) 0 (1999)
Television broadcast stations 104 (1997) NA
Terrain mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast
Total fertility rate 1.77 children born/woman (2001 est.) NA children born/woman
Unemployment rate 6.4% (2000) NA%
Waterways 8,368 km (mainly used by small, shallow-draft craft) none
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