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Compare French Guiana (2001) - Venezuela (2004)

Compare French Guiana (2001) z Venezuela (2004)

 French Guiana (2001)Venezuela (2004)
 French GuianaVenezuela
Administrative divisions none (overseas department of France) 23 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 federal district* (distrito federal), and 1 federal dependency** (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, Vargas, Yaracuy, Zulia


note: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled island groups with a total of 72 individual islands
Age structure 0-14 years:
30.47% (male 27,669; female 26,428)

15-64 years:
64.05% (male 61,457; female 52,266)

65 years and over:
5.48% (male 4,937; female 4,805) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: 30.5% (male 3,930,413; female 3,687,744)


15-64 years: 64.5% (male 8,107,382; female 8,034,905)


65 years and over: 5% (male 571,289; female 685,654) (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products rice, manioc (tapioca), sugar, cocoa, vegetables, bananas; cattle, pigs, poultry corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish
Airports 11 (2000 est.) 368 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total:
4

over 3,047 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
2

under 914 m:
1 (2000 est.)
total: 127


over 3,047 m: 5


2,438 to 3,047 m: 11


1,524 to 2,437 m: 31


914 to 1,523 m: 61


under 914 m: 19 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
7

914 to 1,523 m:
2

under 914 m:
5 (2000 est.)
total: 242


1,524 to 2,437 m: 10


914 to 1,523 m: 88


under 914 m: 144 (2004 est.)
Area total:
91,000 sq km

land:
89,150 sq km

water:
1,850 sq km
total: 912,050 sq km


land: 882,050 sq km


water: 30,000 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Indiana slightly more than twice the size of California
Background First settled by the French in 1604, French Guiana was the site of notorious penal settlements until 1951. The European Space Agency launches its communication satellites from Kourou. Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Colombia and Ecuador). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959. Current concerns include: a polarized political environment, a divided military, drug-related conflicts along the Colombian border, increasing internal drug consumption, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that are endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples.
Birth rate 22.02 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 19.34 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget revenues:
$225 million

expenditures:
$390 million, including capital expenditures of $105 million (1996)
revenues: $19.33 billion


expenditures: $24.34 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.6 billion (2003)
Capital Cayenne Caracas
Climate tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Coastline 378 km 2,800 km
Constitution 28 September 1958 (French Constitution) 30 December 1999
Country name conventional long form:
Department of Guiana

conventional short form:
French Guiana

local long form:
none

local short form:
Guyane
conventional long form: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela


conventional short form: Venezuela


local long form: Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela


local short form: Venezuela
Currency French franc (FRF); euro (EUR) bolivar (VEB)
Death rate 4.77 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external $1.2 billion (1988) $32.51 billion (2003)
Dependency status overseas department of France -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas department of France) chief of mission: Ambassador William R. BROWNFIELD


embassy: Calle F con Calle Suapure, Urbanizacion Colinas de Valle Arriba, Caracas 1080


mailing address: P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037


telephone: [58] (212) 975-9234, 975-6411


FAX: [58] (212) 975-8991
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas department of France) chief of mission: Ambassador Bernardo ALVAREZ


chancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007


telephone: [1] (202) 342-2214


FAX: [1] (202) 342-6820


consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Disputes - international Suriname claims area between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa) claims all of the area west of the Essequibo River, preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana has expressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claims before UNCLOS that the Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela extends into their waters; maritime boundary dispute with Colombia in the Gulf of Venezuela and the Caribbean Sea; US, France and the Netherlands recognize Venezuela's claim to give full effect to Aves Island, which creates a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over a large portion of the Caribbean Sea; Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines protest Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation and other states' recognition of it
Economic aid - recipient $NA $74 million (2000)
Economy - overview The economy is tied closely to that of France through subsidies and imports. Besides the French space center at Kourou, fishing and forestry are the most important economic activities. The large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an expanding sawmill industry which provides sawn logs for export. Cultivation of crops is limited to the coastal area, where the population is largely concentrated; rice and manioc are the major crops. French Guiana is heavily dependent on imports of food and energy. Unemployment is a serious problem, particularly among younger workers. Venezuela continues to be highly dependent on the petroleum sector, which accounts for roughly one-third of GDP, around 80% of export earnings, and more than half of government operating revenues. Despite higher oil prices at the end of 2002 and into 2003, domestic political instability, culminating in a disastrous two-month national oil strike from December 2002 to February 2003, temporarily halted economic activity. The economy remained in depression in 2003, declining by 9.2% after an 8.9% fall in 2002. In late 2003, President CHAVEZ committed himself to $1 billion in new social programs, money the government does not have.
Electricity - consumption 409.2 million kWh (1999) 81.47 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 440 million kWh (1999) 87.6 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

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

highest point:
Bellevue de l'Inini 851 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m
Environment - current issues NA sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast; threat to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations
Environment - international agreements - party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
Ethnic groups black or mulatto 66%, white 12%, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian 12%, other 10% Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous people
Exchange rates Euros per US dollar - 1.0659 (January 2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs per US dollar - 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996) bolivares per US dollar - 1,607.79 (2003), 1,160.95 (2002), 723.666 (2001), 679.96 (2000), 605.717 (1999)
Executive branch chief of state:
President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Dominique VIAN (since NA January 1997)

head of government:
President of the General Council Andre LECANTE (since NA March 1998); President of the Regional Council Antoine KARAM (since 22 March 1992)

cabinet:
NA

elections:
French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; presidents of the General and Regional Councils are appointed by the members of those councils
chief of state: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); Vice President Jose Vicente RANGEL (since 28 April 2002); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); Vice President Jose Vicente RANGEL (since 28 April 2002); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president


elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 30 July 2000 (next to be held NA 2006)


election results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias reelected president; percent of vote - 60%


note: a special presidential recall vote on 15 August 2004 resulted in a victory for CHAVEZ; percent of vote - 58% in favor of CHAVEZ fulfilling the remaining two years of his term, 42% in favor of terminating his presidency immediately
Exports $155 million (f.o.b., 1997) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities shrimp, timber, gold, rum, rosewood essence, clothing petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures
Exports - partners France 62%, Switzerland 7%, US 2% (1997) US 52.9%, Netherlands Antilles 5%, Dominican Republic 3% (2003)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description the flag of France is used three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of seven white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band
GDP purchasing power parity - $1 billion (1998 est.) purchasing power parity - $117.9 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
NA%

industry:
NA%

services:
NA%
agriculture: 5%


industry: 50%


services: 45% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $6,000 (1998 est.) purchasing power parity - $4,800 (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA% -9.2% (2003 est.)
Geographic coordinates 4 00 N, 53 00 W 8 00 N, 66 00 W
Geography - note mostly an unsettled wilderness on major sea and air routes linking North and South America; Angel Falls in the Guiana Highlands is the world's highest waterfall
Highways total:
1,817 km

paved:
817 km

unpaved:
1,000 km (1998)
total: 96,155 km


paved: 32,308 km


unpaved: 63,847 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
lowest 10%: 0.8%


highest 10%: 36.5% (1998)
Illicit drugs small amount of marijuana grown for local consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe small-scale illicit producer of opium and coca for the processing of opiates and coca derivatives; however, large quantities of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana transit the country from Colombia bound for US and Europe; significant narcotics-related money-laundering activity, especially along the border with Colombia and on Margarita Island; active eradication program primarily targeting opium; increasing signs of drug-related activities by Colombian insurgents on border
Imports $625 million (c.i.f., 1997) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities food (grains, processed meat), machinery and transport equipment, fuels and chemicals raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials
Imports - partners France 52%, US 14%, Trinidad and Tobago 6% (1997) US 28.8%, Colombia 7%, Brazil 6.6%, Mexico 4.3% (2003)
Independence none (overseas department of France) 5 July 1811 (from Spain)
Industrial production growth rate NA% -15.4% (2003 est.)
Industries construction, shrimp processing, forestry products, rum, gold mining petroleum, iron ore mining, construction materials, food processing, textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly
Infant mortality rate 13.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) total: 22.99 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 26.18 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 19.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.5% (1992) 31.1% (2003 est.)
International organization participation FZ, WCL, WFTU CAN, CDB, FAO, G-3, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 2 (2000) -
Irrigated land 20 sq km (1993 est.) 540 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel (highest local court based in Martinique with jurisdiction over Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana) Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Tribuna Suprema de Justicia (magistrates are elected by the National Assembly for a single 12-year term)
Labor force 58,800 (1997) 11.38 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation services, government, and commerce 60.6%, industry 21.2%, agriculture 18.2% (1980) agriculture 13%, industry 23%, services 64% (1997 est.)
Land boundaries total:
1,183 km

border countries:
Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km
total: 4,993 km


border countries: Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km
Land use arable land:
0%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
0%

forests and woodland:
90%

other:
10% (1996 est.)
arable land: 2.95%


permanent crops: 0.92%


other: 96.13% (2001)
Languages French Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects
Legal system French legal system based on organic laws as of July 1999; open, adversarial court system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (31 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)

elections:
General Council - last held NA March 2000 (next to be held NA 2006); Regional Council - last held 15 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2004)

election results:
General Council - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; Regional Council - percent of vote by party - PS 28.28%, various left parties 22.56%, RPR 15.91%, independents 8.6%, Walwari Committee 6%; seats by party - PS 11, various left parties 9, RPR 6, independents 3, Walwari Committee 2

note:
one seat was elected to the French Senate on 27 September 1998 (next to be held NA September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; 2 seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 25 May - 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 1, PSG 1
unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (165 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; three seats reserved for the indigenous peoples of Venezuela)


elections: last held 30 July 2000 (next to be held July 2005)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - pro-government 108 (MVR 92, MAS 6, indigenous 3, other 7), opposition 57 (AD 33, COPEI 6, Justice First 5, other 13)
Life expectancy at birth total population:
76.3 years

male:
72.97 years

female:
79.79 years (2001 est.)
total population: 74.06 years


male: 71.02 years


female: 77.32 years (2004 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
83%

male:
84%

female:
82% (1982 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 93.4%


male: 93.8%


female: 93.1% (2003 est.)
Location Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana
Map references South America South America
Maritime claims exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 15 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Merchant marine none (2000 est.) total: 48 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 740,919 GRT/1,191,483 DWT


by type: bulk 6, cargo 7, container 2, liquefied gas 5, multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 16, roll on/roll off 8, short-sea/passenger 1


foreign-owned: Belgium 1, Denmark 2, Greece 2, Spain 1, United States 2


registered in other countries: 4 (2004 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of France -
Military branches French Forces, Gendarmerie National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales or FAN) includes Ground Forces or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or Ejercito), Naval Forces (Fuerzas Navales or Armada - including marines and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces of Cooperation or National Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperacion or Guardia Nacional)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $NA $1,125.6 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA% 1.3% (2003)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
49,495 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 6,886,775 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
32,052 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 4,953,803 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 250,730 (2004 est.)
National holiday Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) Independence Day, 5 July (1811)
Nationality noun:
French Guianese (singular and plural)

adjective:
French Guianese
noun: Venezuelan(s)


adjective: Venezuelan
Natural hazards high frequency of heavy showers and severe thunderstorms; flooding subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts
Natural resources bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered), cinnabar, kaolin, fish petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds
Net migration rate 10.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) -0.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Pipelines - extra heavy crude 992 km; gas 5,262 km; oil 7,360 km; refined products 1,681 km; unknown (oil/water) 141 km (2004)
Political parties and leaders Guianese Socialist Party or PSG [Antoine KARAM]; Guyana Democratic Forces or FDG [Georges OTHILY]; Rally for the Republic or RPR [Roland HO-WEN-SZE]; Socialist Party or PS [Pierre RIBARDIERE] (may be a subset of PSG); Walwari Committee [Christine TAUBIRA-DELANON] Democratic Action or AD [Henry RAMOS Allup]; Fifth Republic Movement or MVR [Hugo CHAVEZ]; Homeland for All or PPT [Jose ALBORNOZ]; Justice First [Julio BORGES]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Hector MUJICA]; National Convergence or Convergencia [Juan Jose CALDERA]; Radical Cause or La Causa R [Andres VELASQUEZ]; Social Christian Party or COPEI [Eduardo FERNANDEZ]; Venezuela Project or PV [Henrique SALAS Romer]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; VECINOS groups; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or CTV (labor organization dominated by the Democratic Action)
Population 177,562 (July 2001 est.) 25,017,387 (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 47% (1998 est.)
Population growth rate 2.74% (2001 est.) 1.44% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors Cayenne, Degrad des Cannes, Saint-Laurent du Maroni Amuay, Bajo Grande, El Tablazo, La Guaira, La Salina, Maracaibo, Matanzas, Palua, Puerto Cabello, Puerto la Cruz, Puerto Ordaz, Puerto Sucre, Punta Cardon
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 14 (including 6 repeaters), shortwave 6 (including 5 repeaters) (1998) AM 201, FM NA (20 in Caracas), shortwave 11 (1998)
Radios 104,000 (1997) -
Railways 0 km (1995) total: 682 km


standard gauge: 682 km 1.435-m gauge (2003)
Religions Roman Catholic nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%
Sex ratio at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1.13 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female


total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
NA

domestic:
fair open wire and microwave radio relay system

international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment: modern and expanding


domestic: domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations; recent substantial improvement in telephone service in rural areas; substantial increase in digitalization of exchanges and trunk lines; installation of a national interurban fiber-optic network capable of digital multimedia services


international: country code - 58; 3 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 PanAmSat; participating with Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia in the construction of an international fiber-optic network
Telephones - main lines in use 47,000 (1997) 2,841,800 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular NA 6,463,600 (2002)
Television broadcast stations 3 (plus eight low-power repeaters) (1997) 66 (plus 45 repeaters) (1997)
Terrain low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast
Total fertility rate 3.17 children born/woman (2001 est.) 2.31 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate 21.4% (1998) 18% (2003 est.)
Waterways 3,300 km navigable by native craft

note:
460 km navigable by small oceangoing vessels and coastal and river steamers
7,100 km


note: Orinoco River and Lake de Maracaibo navigable by oceangoing vessels, Orinoco for 400 km (2004)
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