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Compare Christmas Island (2001) - Sierra Leone (2005)

Compare Christmas Island (2001) z Sierra Leone (2005)

 Christmas Island (2001)Sierra Leone (2005)
 Christmas IslandSierra Leone
Administrative divisions none (territory of Australia) 3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western*
Age structure 0-14 years:
NA%

15-64 years:
NA%

65 years and over:
NA%
0-14 years: 44.7% (male 1,318,508/female 1,371,164)


15-64 years: 52% (male 1,494,068/female 1,637,276)


65 years and over: 3.3% (male 93,047/female 103,580) (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products NA rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
Airports 1 (2000 est.) 10 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1 (2000 est.)
total: 1


over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 9


914 to 1,523 m: 7


under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Area total:
135 sq km

land:
135 sq km

water:
0 sq km
total: 71,740 sq km


land: 71,620 sq km


water: 120 sq km
Area - comparative about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than South Carolina
Background Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement was begun by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. The phosphate mine, closed in 1987, was reopened four years later, but the need for an alternative industry has spurred investment in tourism. Old mining areas are being restored, and almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park. The 1991 to 2002 civil war between the government and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (about one-third of the population), many of whom are now refugees in neighboring countries. With the support of the UN peacekeeping force and contributions from the World Bank and international community, demobilization and disarmament of the RUF and Civil Defense Forces (CDF) combatants has been completed. National elections were held in May 2002 and the government continues to slowly reestablish its authority. However, the gradual withdrawal of most UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) peacekeepers in 2004 and early 2005, deteriorating political and economic conditions in Guinea, and the tenuous security situation in neighboring Liberia may present challenges to the continuation of Sierra Leone's stability.
Birth rate NA births/1,000 population 42.84 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget revenues:
$NA

expenditures:
$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
revenues: $96 million


expenditures: $351 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000 est.)
Capital The Settlement Freetown
Climate tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)
Coastline 138.9 km 402 km
Constitution Christmas Island Act of 1958 1 October 1991; subsequently amended several times
Country name conventional long form:
Territory of Christmas Island

conventional short form:
Christmas Island
conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone


conventional short form: Sierra Leone
Currency Australian dollar (AUD) -
Death rate NA deaths/1,000 population 20.61 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external $NA $1.5 billion (2002 est.)
Dependency status territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (territory of Australia) chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas N. HULL


embassy: Corner of Walpole and Siaka Stevens Streets, Freetown


mailing address: use embassy street address


telephone: [232] (22) 226481 through 226485


FAX: [232] (22) 225471
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of Australia) chief of mission: Ambassador Ibrahim M. KAMARA


chancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009


telephone: [1] (202) 939-9261 through 9263


FAX: [1] (202) 483-1793
Disputes - international none domestic fighting among disparate rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs in Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone perpetuate insurgencies, street violence, looting, arms trafficking, ethnic conflicts, and refugees in border areas; UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) has maintained over 4,000 peacekeepers in Sierra Leone since 1999; Sierra Leone pressures Guinea to remove its forces from the town of Yenga occupied since 1998
Economic aid - recipient $NA $103 million (2001 est.)
Economy - overview Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened by union workers. With the support of the government, Australian-based Casinos Austria International Ltd. built a $34 million casino on Christmas Island, which opened in 1993. As of yearend 1999, gaming facilities at the casino were temporarily closed but were expected to reopen in early 2000. Another economic prospect is the possible location of a space-launching site on the island. Sierra Leone is an extremely poor African nation with tremendous inequality in income distribution. While it possesses substantial mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources, its economic and social infrastructure is not well developed, and serious social disorders continue to hamper economic development. About two-thirds of the working-age population engages in subsistence agriculture. Manufacturing consists mainly of the processing of raw materials and of light manufacturing for the domestic market. Plans to reopen bauxite and rutile mines shut down during an 11 year civil war have not been implemented due to lack of foreign investment. Alluvial diamond mining remains the major source of hard currency earnings. The fate of the economy depends upon the maintenance of domestic peace and the continued receipt of substantial aid from abroad, which is essential to offset the severe trade imbalance and supplement government revenues. International financial institutions contributed over $600 million in development aid and budgetary support in 2003.
Electricity - consumption NA kWh 237.4 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports - 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports - 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - production NA kWh 255.3 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
NA%

hydro:
NA%

nuclear:
NA%

other:
NA%
-
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Murray Hill 361 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m
Environment - current issues NA rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleting natural resources; overfishing
Environment - international agreements - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Ethnic groups Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%, no indigenous population 20 native African tribes 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%), Creole (Krio) 10% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century), refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians
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) leones per US dollar - 2,701.3 (2004), 2,347.9 (2003), 2,099 (2002), 1,986.2 (2001), 2,092.1 (2000)
Executive branch chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general

head of government:
Administrator William Leonard TAYLOR (since 4 February 1999)

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
chief of state: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March 1996, reinstated 10 March 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March 1996, reinstated 10 March 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president with the approval of the House of Representatives; the cabinet is responsible to the president


elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 14 May 2002 (next to be held May 2007); note - president's tenure of office is limited to two five-year terms


election results: Ahmad Tejan KABBAH reelected president; percent of vote - Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (SLPP) 70.6%, Ernest KOROMA (APC) 22.4%
Exports $NA NA
Exports - commodities phosphate diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish (1999)
Exports - partners Australia, NZ Belgium 61.6%, Germany 11.8%, US 5.4% (2004)
Fiscal year 1 July - 30 June calendar year
Flag description the flag of Australia is used three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and light blue
GDP purchasing power parity - $NA -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
NA%

industry:
NA%

services:
NA%
agriculture: 49%


industry: 30%


services: 21% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $NA purchasing power parity - $600 (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA% 6% (2004 est.)
Geographic coordinates 10 30 S, 105 40 E 8 30 N, 11 30 W
Geography - note located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 inches) a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal, western Africa
Heliports - 2 (2004 est.)
Highways total:
140 km (not including 100 km that is maintained by private industry)

paved:
30 km

unpaved:
110 km (1999)
total: 11,300 km


paved: 904 km


unpaved: 10,396 km (2002)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
lowest 10%: 0.5%


highest 10%: 43.6% (1989)
Imports $NA NA
Imports - commodities consumer goods foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals (1995)
Imports - partners principally Australia Germany 14%, Cote d'Ivoire 10.7%, UK 9.1%, US 8.4%, China 5.6%, Netherlands 5%, South Africa 4.1% (2004)
Independence none (territory of Australia) 27 April 1961 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate NA% NA
Industries tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion) diamonds mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining, small commercial ship repair
Infant mortality rate NA deaths/1,000 live births total: 143.64 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 161.06 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 125.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) NA% 1% (2002 est.)
International organization participation none ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 2 (2000) -
Irrigated land NA sq km 290 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court Supreme Court; Appeals Court; High Court
Labor force NA 1.369 million (1981 est.)
Labor force - by occupation tourism 400 people, mining 100 people (1995) agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA
Land boundaries 0 km total: 958 km


border countries: Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km
Land use arable land:
NA%

permanent crops:
NA%

permanent pastures:
NA%

forests and woodland:
NA%

other:
NA%

note:
mainly tropical rainforest of which 60%-70% is in a national park
arable land: 6.98%


permanent crops: 0.89%


other: 92.13% (2001)
Languages English, Chinese, Malay English (official, regular use limited to literate minority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne (principal vernacular in the north), Krio (English-based Creole, spoken by the descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area, a lingua franca and a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)
Legal system under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law based on English law and customary laws indigenous to local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve one-year terms)

elections:
last held NA December 2000 (next to be held NA December 2001)

election results:
percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9
unicameral Parliament (124 seats - 112 elected by popular vote, 12 filled by paramount chiefs elected in separate elections; members serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 14 May 2002 (next to be held May 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - SLPP 70.06%, APC 22.35%, PLP 3%, others 4.59%; seats by party - SLPP 83, APC 27, PLP 2
Life expectancy at birth total population:
NA years

male:
NA years

female:
NA years
total population: 39.87 years


male: 37.74 years


female: 42.06 years (2005 est.)
Literacy - definition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic


total population: 29.6%


male: 39.8%


female: 20.5% (2000 est.)
Location Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia
Map references Southeast Asia Africa
Maritime claims contiguous zone:
12 NM

exclusive fishing zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
3 NM
territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 24 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200 nm
Merchant marine none (2000 est.) total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 7,435 GRT/8,750 DWT


by type: petroleum tanker 2 (2005)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of Australia -
Military branches - Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF): Army (includes Air Wing, Maritime Wing)
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $13.2 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 1.7% (2004)
National holiday NA Independence Day, 27 April (1961)
Nationality noun:
Christmas Islander(s)

adjective:
Christmas Island
noun: Sierra Leonean(s)


adjective: Sierra Leonean
Natural hazards the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms
Natural resources phosphate diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite
Net migration rate NA migrant(s)/1,000 population 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population


note: refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly returning (2005 est.)
Political parties and leaders none All People's Congress or APC [Ben KANU]; Peace and Liberation Party or PLP [Darlington MORRISON, interim chairman]; Sierra Leone People's Party or SLPP [Sama BANYA]; numerous others
Political pressure groups and leaders none trade unions and student unions
Population 2,771 (July 2001 est.) 6,017,643 (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 68% (1989 est.)
Population growth rate 7.77% (2001 est.) 2.22% (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors Flying Fish Cove Freetown, Pepel, Sherbro Islands
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 1, FM 9, shortwave 1 (1999)
Radios 1,000 (1997) -
Railways 24 km to serve phosphate mines -
Religions Buddhist 55%, Christian 15%, Muslim 10%, other 20% (1991) Muslim 60%, indigenous beliefs 30%, Christian 10%
Sex ratio - at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female


total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Suffrage - 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
NA

domestic:
NA

international:
satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service
general assessment: marginal telephone and telegraph service


domestic: the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema


international: country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use NA 24,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular 0 (1999) 67,000 (2002)
Television broadcast stations NA 2 (1999)
Terrain steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east
Total fertility rate NA children born/woman 5.72 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% NA
Waterways none 800 km (2003)
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