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Compare Comoros (2001) - Latvia (2001)

Compare Comoros (2001) z Latvia (2001)

 Comoros (2001)Latvia (2001)
 ComorosLatvia
Administrative divisions 3 islands; Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali); note - there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and Moutsamoudou 26 counties (singular - rajons) and 7 municipalities*: Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons, Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons, Jurmala*, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Leipaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preilu Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons
Age structure 0-14 years:
42.81% (male 127,955; female 127,267)

15-64 years:
54.26% (male 159,560; female 163,949)

65 years and over:
2.93% (male 8,326; female 9,145) (2001 est.)
0-14 years:
16.55% (male 201,746; female 193,036)

15-64 years:
68.15% (male 776,509; female 848,908)

65 years and over:
15.3% (male 118,110; female 246,922) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca) grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs; fish
Airports 4 (2000 est.) 25 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total:
4

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
3 (2000 est.)
total:
13

2,438 to 3,047 m:
7

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
1

under 914 m:
4 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total:
12

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
2

914 to 1,523 m:
2

under 914 m:
7 (2000 est.)
Area total:
2,170 sq km

land:
2,170 sq km

water:
0 sq km
total:
64,589 sq km

land:
64,589 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC slightly larger than West Virginia
Background Unstable Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared their independence from Comoros. In 1999, military chief Col. AZALI seized power. He has pledged to resolve the secessionist crisis through the 2000 Fomboni Accord, a confederal arrangement that the Organization of African Unity has yet to recognize. After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars, Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940. It reestablished its independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 30% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia continues to revamp its economy for eventual integration into various Western European political and economic institutions.
Birth rate 39.52 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 8.03 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues:
$48 million

expenditures:
$53 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
revenues:
$1.33 billion

expenditures:
$1.27 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Capital Moroni Riga
Climate tropical marine; rainy season (November to May) maritime; wet, moderate winters
Coastline 340 km 531 km
Constitution 20 October 1996 the 1991 Constitutional Law which supplements the 1922 constitution, provides for basic rights and freedoms
Country name conventional long form:
Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros

conventional short form:
Comoros

local long form:
Republique Federale Islamique des Comores

local short form:
Comores
conventional long form:
Republic of Latvia

conventional short form:
Latvia

local long form:
Latvijas Republika

local short form:
Latvija

former:
Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
Currency Comoran franc (KMF) Latvian lat (LVL)
Death rate 9.35 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 14.8 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $197 million (1997 est.) $800 million (2000 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Comoros chief of mission:
Ambassador James H. HOLMES

embassy:
Raina Boulevard 7, LV-1510, Riga

mailing address:
American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE 09723

telephone:
[371] 721-0005

FAX:
[371] 782-0047
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Deputy Permanent Representative Mahmoud Mohamed ABOUD (acting)

chancery:
(temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of the Federal and Islamic Republic of the Comoros to the United Nations, 420 East 50th Street, New York, NY 10022

telephone:
[1] (212) 972-8010

FAX:
[1] (212) 983-4712
chief of mission:
Ambassador Aivis RONIS

chancery:
4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

telephone:
[1] (202) 726-8213, 8214

FAX:
[1] (202) 726-6785
Disputes - international claims French-administered Mayotte; the island of Anjouan (Nzwani) has moved to secede from Comoros draft treaty delimiting the boundary with Russia has not been signed; has not ratified 1998 maritime boundary agreement with Lithuania (primary concern is oil exploration rights)
Economic aid - recipient $28.1 million (1997) $96.2 million (1995)
Economy - overview One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is made up of three islands that have inadequate transportation links, a young and rapidly increasing population, and few natural resources. The low educational level of the labor force contributes to a subsistence level of economic activity, high unemployment, and a heavy dependence on foreign grants and technical assistance. Agriculture, including fishing, hunting, and forestry, is the leading sector of the economy. It contributes 40% to GDP, employs 80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports. The country is not self-sufficient in food production; rice, the main staple, accounts for the bulk of imports. The government is struggling to upgrade education and technical training, to privatize commercial and industrial enterprises, to improve health services, to diversify exports, to promote tourism, and to reduce the high population growth rate. Continued foreign support is essential if the goal of 4% annual GDP growth is to be met. Remittances from 150,000 Comorans abroad help supplement GDP. In 2000, Latvia's transitional economy recovered from the 1998 Russian financial crisis, largely due to the SKELE government's budget stringency and a gradual reorientation of exports toward EU countries, lessening Latvia's trade dependency on Russia. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization in February 1999 - the first Baltic state to join - and was invited at the Helsinki EU Summit in December 1999 to begin accession talks in early 2000. Unemployment fell to 7.8% in 2000, down from 9.6% in 1999, and 9.2% in 1998. Privatization of large state-owned utilities and the shipping industry faced more delays in 2000, and political instability will continue to delay completion of the privatization process over the next year. Latvia projects 6% GDP growth, 2.5%-3.0% inflation, and a 1.7% fiscal deficit in 2001. Preparing for EU membership over the next few years remains a top foreign policy goal.
Electricity - consumption 15.8 million kWh (1999) 4.316 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 400 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 1 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 17 million kWh (1999) 3.996 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
88.24%

hydro:
11.76%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
fossil fuel:
31.78%

hydro:
68.22%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Le Kartala 2,360 m
lowest point:
Baltic Sea 0 m

highest point:
Gaizinkalns 312 m
Environment - current issues soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation air and water pollution because of a lack of waste conversion equipment; Gulf of Riga and Daugava River heavily polluted; contamination of soil and groundwater with chemicals and petroleum products at military bases
Environment - international agreements party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
party to:
Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Ethnic groups Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava Latvian 56.5%, Russian 30.4%, Byelorussian 4.3%, Ukrainian 2.8%, Polish 2.6%, other 3.4%
Exchange rates Comoran francs per US dollar - 524.41 (January 2001), 533.98 (2000), 461.77 (1999), 442.46 (1998), 437.75 (1997), 383.66 (1996)

note:
prior to January 1999, the official rate was pegged to the French franc at 75 Comoran francs per French franc; since 1 January 1999, the Comoran franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 491.9677 Comoran francs per euro
lati per US dollar - 0.614 (January 2001), 0.607 (2000), 0.585 (1999), 0.590 (1998), 0.581 (1997), 0.551 (1996)
Executive branch chief of state:
President AZALI Assoumani (since 6 May 1999); note - the interim government of President Tajiddine Ben Said MASSOUNDE, which had assumed power on 6 November 1998 upon the death of President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim, was overthrown in a bloodless coup on 30 April 1999

head of government:
Prime Minister Hamada MADI (since late November 2000)

cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 6 and 16 March 1996 (next to be held NA); prime minister appointed by the president

note:
President AZALI claimed a one-year term at the time of the coup; but elections, promised for spring 2000, were not held

election results:
results of the last presidential election before the coup were: Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim elected president; percent of vote - 64.3%
chief of state:
President Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since 8 July 1999)

head of government:
Prime Minister Andris BERZINS (since 5 May 2000)

cabinet:
Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament

elections:
president elected by Parliament for a four-year term; election last held 17 June 1999 (next to be held by NA June 2003); prime minister appointed by the president

election results:
Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA elected as a compromise candidate in second phase of balloting, second round (after five rounds in first phase failed); percent of parliamentary vote - Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA 53%, Valdis BIRKAVS 20%, Ingrida UDRE 9%
Exports $7.9 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.) $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 2000)
Exports - commodities vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, copra wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs
Exports - partners France 50%, Germany 25% (1998) Germany 16%, UK 11%, Sweden 11%, Russia 7% (1999)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description green with a white crescent in the center of the field, its points facing downward; there are four white five-pointed stars placed in a line between the points of the crescent; the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam; the four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago - Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (a territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros); the design, the most recent of several, is described in the constitution approved by referendum on 7 June 1992 three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon
GDP purchasing power parity - $419 million (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $17.3 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
40%

industry:
4%

services:
56% (2000 est.)
agriculture:
5%

industry:
33%

services:
62% (1999)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $720 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $7,200 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 0.5% (2000 est.) 5.5% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 12 10 S, 44 15 E 57 00 N, 25 00 E
Geography - note important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel -
Highways total:
880 km

paved:
673 km

unpaved:
207 km (1996)
total:
59,178 km

paved:
22,843 km

unpaved:
36,335 km (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
lowest 10%:
2.9%

highest 10%:
25.9% (1998)
Illicit drugs - transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Central and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia and Latin American cocaine and some synthetics from Western Europe to CIS; limited production of illicit amphetamine, ephedrine, and ecstasy for export
Imports $55.1 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.) $3.2 billion (f.o.b., 2000)
Imports - commodities rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods; petroleum products, cement, transport equipment machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels
Imports - partners France 38%, Pakistan 13%, South Africa 8%, Kenya 8% (1998) Russia 15%, Germany 10%, Finland 9%, Sweden 7% (1999)
Independence 6 July 1975 (from France) 18 November 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Industrial production growth rate -2% (1999 est.) 6.3% (2000 est.)
Industries tourism, perfume distillation, textiles, furniture, jewelry, construction materials, soft drinks buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; note - dependent on imports for energy, raw materials, and intermediate products
Infant mortality rate 84.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 15.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3.5% (1999) 2.7% (2000)
International organization participation ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, CCC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant) BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 42 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km 160 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court or Cour Supremes (two members appointed by the president, two members elected by the Federal Assembly, one elected by the Council of each island, and others are former presidents of the republic) Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament)
Labor force 144,500 (1996 est.) 1.4 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 80% agriculture 10%, industry 25%, services 65% (2000 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km total:
1,150 km

border countries:
Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339 km, Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217 km
Land use arable land:
35%

permanent crops:
10%

permanent pastures:
7%

forests and woodland:
18%

other:
30% (1993 est.)
arable land:
27%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
13%

forests and woodland:
46%

other:
14% (1993 est.)
Languages Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a blend of Swahili and Arabic) Latvian or Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other
Legal system French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code based on civil law system
Legislative branch bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (15 seats: five from each island); members selected by regional councils for six-year terms) and a Federal Assembly or Assemblee Federale (43 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - the Federal Assembly was dissolved following the coup of 30 April 1999

elections:
Federal Assembly - last held 1 and 8 December 1996 (next to be held NA)

election results:
Federal Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RND 39, FNJ 3, independent 1

note:
the constitution stipulates that only parties that win six seats in the Federal Assembly (two from each island) are permitted to be in opposition, but if no party accomplishes that, the second most successful party will be in opposition; in the elections of December 1996 the FNJ appeared to qualify as opposition
unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:
last held 3 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2002)

election results:
percent of vote by party - People's Party 21%, LC 18%, TSP 14%, TB/LNNK 14%, Social Democrats 13%, New Party 7%; seats by party - People's Party 24, LC 21, TB/LNNK 17, TSP 16, Social Democrats 14, New Party 8
Life expectancy at birth total population:
60.41 years

male:
58.2 years

female:
62.68 years (2001 est.)
total population:
68.7 years

male:
62.8 years

female:
74.9 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
57.3%

male:
64.2%

female:
50.4% (1995 est.)
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
100%

male:
100%

female:
99% (1989 est.)
Location Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania
Map references Africa Europe
Maritime claims exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine total:
2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 19,122 GRT/29,817 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 2 (2000 est.)
total:
8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 27,984 GRT/29,978 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 2, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 3 (2000 est.)
Military branches Comoran Security Force Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Security Forces, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $NA $60 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA% 0.9% (FY99)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
141,120 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49:
590,784 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
83,920 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49:
463,944 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 18 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males:
19,114 (2001 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 6 July (1975) Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 is the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 18 November 1991 is the date of independence from the Soviet Union
Nationality noun:
Comoran(s)

adjective:
Comoran
noun:
Latvian(s)

adjective:
Latvian
Natural hazards cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano NA
Natural resources NEGL minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite, hydropower, arable land
Net migration rate NEGL migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) -1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines - crude oil 750 km; refined products 780 km; natural gas 560 km (1992)
Political parties and leaders Front National pour la Justice or FNJ (Islamic party in opposition) [Ahmed Abdallah MOHAMED, Ahmed ABOUBACAR, Soidiki M'BAPANOZA]; Rassemblement National pour le Development or RND (party of the government) [Ali Bazi SELIM] Anticommunist Union or PA [P. MUCENIEKS]; Christian Democrat Union or LKDS [Talavs JUNDZIS]; Christian People's Party or KTP [Uldis AUGSTKALNS]; Democratic Party "Saimnieks" or DPS [Ziedonis CEVERS, chairman]; For Fatherland and Freedom or TB [Maris GRINBLATS], merged with LNNK; For Human Rights in a United Latvia [Janis JURKANS], a coalition of the People's Harmony Party or TSP, the Latvian Socialist Party or LSP, and the Equal Rights Movement; Green Party or LZP [Olegs BATAREVSKI]; Latvian Liberal Party or LLP [J. DANOSS]; Latvian National Conservative Party or LNNK [Andrejs KRASTINS]; Latvian National Democratic Party or LNDP [A. MALINS]; Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDWU [Juris BOJARS and Janis ADAMSONS, leaders]; Latvian Unity Party or LVP [Alberis KAULS]; Latvia's Way or LC [Andrei PANTELEJEVS]; New Christian Party [Ainars SLESERS]; New Faction [Ingrida UDRE]; "Our Land" or MZ [M. DAMBEKALNE]; Party of Russian Citizens or LKPP [V. SOROCHIN, V. IVANOV]; People's Party [Andris SKELE]; Political Union of Economists or TPA [Edvins KIDE]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 596,202 (July 2001 est.) 2,385,231 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 3.02% (2001 est.) -0.81% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Fomboni, Moroni, Moutsamoudou Daugavpils, Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios 90,000 (1997) 1.76 million (1997)
Railways 0 km total:
2,412 km

broad gauge:
2,379 km 1.520-m gauge (271 km electrified) (1992)

narrow gauge:
33 km 0.750-m gauge (1994)
Religions Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2% Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Sex ratio at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.01 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.85 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens
Telephone system general assessment:
sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communication stations

domestic:
HF radiotelephone communications and microwave radio relay

international:
HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and Reunion
general assessment:
inadequate, but is being modernized to provide an international capability independent of the Moscow international switch; more facilities are being installed for individual use

domestic:
expansion underway in intercity trunk line connections, rural exchanges, and mobile systems; still many unsatisfied subscriber applications

international:
international connections are now available via cable and a satellite earth station at Riga, enabling direct connections for most calls (1998)
Telephones - main lines in use 6,000 (1997) 748,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular NA 77,100 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 0 (1998) 44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995)
Terrain volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills low plain
Total fertility rate 5.32 children born/woman (2001 est.) 1.15 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 20% (1996 est.) 7.8% (2000 est.)
Waterways none 300 km (perennially navigable)
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