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Compare French Guiana (2003) - Switzerland (2002)

Compare French Guiana (2003) z Switzerland (2002)

 French Guiana (2003)Switzerland (2002)
 French GuianaSwitzerland
Administrative divisions none (overseas department of France) 26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; kantone, singular - kanton in German); Aargau, Appenzell Ausser-Rhoden, Appenzell Inner-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich
Age structure 0-14 years: 29.9% (male 28,565; female 27,280)


15-64 years: 64.4% (male 64,836; female 55,498)


65 years and over: 5.7% (male 5,455; female 5,283) (2003 est.)
0-14 years: 16.8% (male 629,513; female 597,472)


15-64 years: 67.7% (male 2,512,273; female 2,433,396)


65 years and over: 15.5% (male 461,722; female 667,618) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products corn, rice, manioc (tapioca), sugar, cocoa, vegetables, bananas; cattle, pigs, poultry grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs
Airports 11 (2002) 66 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 4


over 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 1 (2002)
total: 41


over 3,047 m: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 5


1,524 to 2,437 m: 10


914 to 1,523 m: 9


under 914 m: 14 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 7


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 5 (2002)
total: 25


under 914 m: 24 (2002)
Area total: 91,000 sq km


land: 89,150 sq km


water: 1,850 sq km
total: 41,290 sq km


land: 39,770 sq km


water: 1,520 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Indiana slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
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. Switzerland's independence and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers and Switzerland was not involved in either of the two World Wars. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations, but retains a strong commitment to neutrality.
Birth rate 21.33 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 9.84 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues: $225 million


expenditures: $390 million, including capital expenditures of $105 million (1996)
revenues: $30 billion


expenditures: $30 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
Capital Cayenne Bern
Climate tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
Coastline 378 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution 28 September 1958 (French Constitution) 29 May 1874
Country name conventional long form: Department of Guiana


conventional short form: French Guiana


local long form: none


local short form: Guyane
conventional long form: Swiss Confederation


conventional short form: Switzerland


local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German), Confederation Suisse (French), Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)


local short form: Schweiz (German), Suisse (French), Svizzera (Italian)
Currency euro (EUR); French franc (FRF) Swiss franc (CHF)
Death rate 4.8 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 8.79 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $1.2 billion (1988) $NA
Dependency status overseas department of France -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas department of France) chief of mission: Ambassador Mercer REYNOLDS III


embassy: Jubilaeumsstrasse 93, 3001 Bern


mailing address: use embassy street address


telephone: [41] (031) 357 70 11


FAX: [41] (031) 357 73 44
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas department of France) chief of mission: Ambassador Christian BLICKENSTORFER


chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900


FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564


consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco


consulate(s): Boston
Disputes - international Suriname claims area between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa) none
Economic aid - donor - ODA, $1.1 billion (1995) (1995)
Economic aid - recipient $NA -
Economy - overview The economy is tied closely to the larger French economy through subsidies and imports. Besides the French space center at Kourou (which accounts for 25% of GDP), fishing and forestry are the most important economic activities. Forest and woodland cover 90% of the country. The large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an expanding sawmill industry that 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. Switzerland is a prosperous and stable modern market economy with low unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and a per capita GDP larger than that of the big western European economies. The Swiss in recent years have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with the EU's to enhance their international competitiveness. Although the Swiss are not pursuing full EU membership in the near term, in 1999 Bern and Brussels signed agreements to further liberalize trade ties. They continue to discuss further areas for cooperation. Switzerland remains a safe haven for investors, because it has maintained a degree of bank secrecy and has kept up the franc's long-term external value. Reflecting the anemic economic conditions of Europe, GDP growth dropped in 2001 to about 0.8% and to about 0% in 2002.
Electricity - consumption 423.2 million kWh (2001) 52.62 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 31.4 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 24.33 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 455 million kWh (2001) 64.182 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
fossil fuel: 4%


hydro: 57%


nuclear: 37%


other: 2% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Bellevue de l'Inini 851 m
lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m


highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m
Environment - current issues NA air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity
Environment - international agreements - party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, 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: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea
Ethnic groups black or mulatto 66%, white 12%, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian 12%, other 10% German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%
Exchange rates Euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94 (1999) Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.6668 (January 2002), 1.6876 (2001), 1.6888 (2000), 1.5022 (1999), 1.4498 (1998), 1.4513 (1997)
Executive branch chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Ange MANCINI (since 31 July 2002)


head of government: President of the General Council Joseph HO-TEN-YOU (since 26 March 2001); President of the Regional Council Antoine KARAM (since 22 March 1992)


cabinet: NA


elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-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 Pascal COUCHEPIN (since 1 January 2003); Vice President Ruth METZLER (since 1 January 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President Pascal COUCHEPIN (since 1 January 2003); Vice President Ruth METZLER (since 1 January 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


cabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal (in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) elected by the Federal Assembly usually from among its own members for a four-year term


elections: president and vice president elected by the Federal Assembly from among the members of the Federal Council for one-year terms that run concurrently; election last held NA December 2002 (next to be held NA December 2003)


election results: Pascal COUCHEPIN elected president; percent of Federal Assembly vote - NA%; Ruth METZLER elected vice president; percent of legislative vote - NA%
Exports NA (2001) $100.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities shrimp, timber, gold, rum, rosewood essence, clothing machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products
Exports - partners France 62%, Switzerland 7%, US 2% (2001) EU 61% (Germany 22.2%, France 9%, Italy 8%, UK 5.3%), US 10.6%, Japan 3.9% (2001)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description the flag of France is used red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag
GDP purchasing power parity - $2.26 billion (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $231 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
agriculture: 2%


industry: 34%


services: 64% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $14,400 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $31,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA% 2% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 4 00 N, 53 00 W 47 00 N, 8 00 E
Geography - note mostly an unsettled wilderness; the only non-independent portion of the South American continent landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, has the highest elevations in the Alps
Heliports - 1 (2002)
Highways total: 722 km


paved: NA km


unpaved: NA km (1996)
total: 71,059 km (including 1,638 km of expressways)


paved: 71,059 km


unpaved: 0 km (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: 3%


highest 10%: 25% (1992)
Illicit drugs small amount of marijuana grown for local consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe because of more stringent government regulations, used significantly less as a money-laundering center; transit country for and consumer of South American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin
Imports NA (2001) $94.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities food (grains, processed meat), machinery and transport equipment, fuels and chemicals machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products, textiles
Imports - partners France 63%, US, Trinidad and Tobago, Italy (2002) EU 79.9% (Germany 32.2%, France 11%, Italy 10.2%, Netherlands 5.9%, UK 4.6%), US 5.1% (2001)
Independence none (overseas department of France) 1 August 1291 (Founding of the Swiss Confederation)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 3.2% (2001)
Industries construction, shrimp processing, forestry products, rum, gold mining machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments
Infant mortality rate total: 12.84 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 13.68 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 11.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
4.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 1.5% (2002 est.) 0.5% (2002 est.)
International organization participation FZ, WCL, WFTU ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 2 (2000) 44 (Switzerland and Liechtenstein) (2000)
Irrigated land 20 sq km (1998 est.) 250 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) Federal Supreme Court (judges elected for six-year terms by the Federal Assembly)
Labor force 58,800 (1997) 4 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation services, government, and commerce 60.6%, industry 21.2%, agriculture 18.2% (1980) services 69%, industry 26%, agriculture 5% (1998)
Land boundaries total: 1,183 km


border countries: Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km
total: 1,852 km


border countries: Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km
Land use arable land: 0.11% NEGL


permanent crops: 0.03%


other: 99.86% (90% forest, 10% other) (1998 est.)
arable land: 10.57%


permanent crops: 0.61%


other: 88.82% (1998 est.)
Languages French German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 19.2%, Italian (official) 7.6%, Romansch 0.6%, other 8.9%
Legal system French legal system civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees of general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
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 - PSG 5, various left-wing parties 5, independents 7, other 2; 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 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP/RPR 1, Walwari Committee 1
bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung (in German), Assemblee Federale (in French), Assemblea Federale (in Italian) consists of the Council of States or Standerat (in German), Conseil des Etats (in French), Consiglio degli Stati (in Italian) (46 seats - members serve four-year terms) and the National Council or Nationalrat (in German), Conseil National (in French), Consiglio Nazionale (in Italian) (200 seats - members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)


elections: Council of States - last held NA 1999 (each canton determines when the next election will be held); National Council - last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA October 2003)


election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FDP 18, CVP 15, SVP 7, SPS 6; National Council - percent of vote by party - SPS 22.5%, SVP 22.6%, FDP 19.9%, CVP 15.8%, other small parties all under 5%; seats by party - SPS 51, SVP 44, FDP 43, CVP 35, Green Party 9, other small parties 18
Life expectancy at birth total population: 76.69 years


male: 73.36 years


female: 80.18 years (2003 est.)
total population: 79.86 years


male: 76.98 years


female: 82.89 years (2002 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: 99% (1980 est.)


male: NA%


female: NA%
Location Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy
Map references South America Europe
Maritime claims exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
none (landlocked)
Merchant marine none (2002 est.) total: 26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 509,943 GRT/896,309 DWT


ships by type: bulk 15, cargo 6, chemical tanker 4, petroleum tanker 1


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience:, United Kingdom 6, United States 1 (2002 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of France -
Military branches no regular indigenous military forces; French Forces, Gendarmerie Army, Air Force, Frontier Guards, Fortification Guards
Military expenditures - dollar figure $NA $2.548 billion (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA% 1% (FY01)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 51,444 (2003 est.) males age 15-49: 1,841,867 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 33,345 (2003 est.) males age 15-49: 1,561,689 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 20 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 42,597 (2002 est.)
National holiday Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)
Nationality noun: French Guianese (singular and plural)


adjective: French Guianese
noun: Swiss (singular and plural)


adjective: Swiss
Natural hazards high frequency of heavy showers and severe thunderstorms; flooding avalanches, landslides, flash floods
Natural resources bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered), cinnabar, kaolin, fish hydropower potential, timber, salt
Net migration rate 7.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) 1.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Pipelines - crude oil 314 km; natural gas 1,506 km
Political parties and leaders Guyanese Democratic Action or ADG [Andre LECANTE]; Guyanese Socialist Party or PSG [Marie-Claude VERDAN]; Guyana Democratic Forces or FDG [Georges OTHILY]; Popular National Guyanese Party or PNPG [Jose DORCY]; Rally for the Republic or RPR [Roland HO-WEN-SZE]; Socialist Party or PS [Pierre RIBARDIERE]; Walwari Committee [Christine TAUBIRA-DELANON] Christian Democratic People's Party (Christichdemokratische Volkspartei der Schweiz or CVP, Parti Democrate-Chretien Suisse or PDC, Partito Democratico-Cristiano Popolare Svizzero or PDC, Partida Cristiandemocratica dalla Svizra or PCD) [Philipp STAEHELIN, president]; Green Party (Grune Partei der Schweiz or Grune, Parti Ecologiste Suisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi, Partida Ecologica Svizra or La Verda) [Ruth GENNER and Patrice MUGNY, co-presidents]; Radical Free Democratic Party (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz or FDP, Parti Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD, Partitio Liberal-Radicale Svizzero or PLR) [Gerold BUEHRER, president]; Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SPS, Parti Socialist Suisse or PSS, Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS, Partida Socialdemocratica de la Svizra or PSS) [Christiane BRUNNER, president]; Swiss People's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei or SVP, Union Democratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica de Centro or UDC, Uniun Democratica dal Center or UDC) [Ueli MAURER, president]; and other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 186,917 (July 2003 est.) 7,301,994 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 2.4% (2003 est.) 0.24% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Cayenne, Degrad des Cannes, Saint-Laurent du Maroni Basel
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 14 (including 6 repeaters), shortwave 6 (including 5 repeaters) (1998) AM 4, FM 113 (plus many low power stations), shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios - 7.1 million (1997)
Railways 0 km total: 4,406 km


standard gauge: 3,440 km 1.435-m gauge


narrow gauge: 900 km 1.000-m gauge; 10 km 0.800-m gauge


dual gauge: 56 km 1.435-m and 1.000-m gauges (3 rail system)


note: Swiss railways are virtually all electrified (2001)
Religions Roman Catholic Roman Catholic 46.1%, Protestant 40%, other 5%, none 8.9% (1990)
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.17 male(s)/female


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


total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female


total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2002 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: excellent domestic and international services


domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks


international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 47,000 (1997) 4.82 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular NA 1.967 million (1999)
Television broadcast stations 3 (plus eight low-power repeaters) (1997) 115 (plus 1,919 repeaters) (1995)
Terrain low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
Total fertility rate 3.09 children born/woman (2003 est.) 1.47 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 22% (2001) 1.9% (2002 est.)
Waterways 3,300 km navigable by native craft


note: 460 km navigable by small oceangoing vessels and coastal and river steamers
65 km


note: The Rhine carries heavy traffic on the Basel-Rheinfelden and Schaffhausen-Bodensee stretches; there are also 12 navigable lakes
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