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Compare French Polynesia (2003) - Nicaragua (2005)

Compare French Polynesia (2003) z Nicaragua (2005)

 French Polynesia (2003)Nicaragua (2005)
 French PolynesiaNicaragua
Administrative divisions none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 5 archipelagic divisions named Archipel des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du Vent, and Iles Sous-le-Vent


note: Clipperton Island is administered by France from French Polynesia
15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 2 autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular - region autonomista); Atlantico Norte*, Atlantico Sur*, Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas
Age structure 0-14 years: 28.3% (male 37,804; female 36,249)


15-64 years: 66.3% (male 90,421; female 83,304)


65 years and over: 5.4% (male 7,226; female 7,121) (2003 est.)
0-14 years: 37.2% (male 1,036,487/female 999,226)


15-64 years: 59.7% (male 1,623,065/female 1,638,017)


65 years and over: 3.1% (male 73,935/female 94,370) (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits; poultry, beef, dairy products, coffee coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame, soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products
Airports 45 (2002) 176 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 37


over 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 5


914 to 1,523 m: 22


under 914 m: 8 (2002)
total: 11


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 3


under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 8


914 to 1,523 m: 3


under 914 m: 5 (2002)
total: 165


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 23


under 914 m: 141 (2004 est.)
Area total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls)


land: 3,660 sq km


water: 507 sq km
total: 129,494 sq km


land: 120,254 sq km


water: 9,240 sq km
Area - comparative slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut slightly smaller than the state of New York
Background The French annexed various Polynesian island groups during the 19th century. In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests by resuming nuclear testing on the Mururoa atoll after a three-year moratorium. The tests were suspended in January 1996. The Pacific Coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish colony from Panama in the early 16th century. Independence from Spain was declared in 1821 and the country became an independent republic in 1838. Britain occupied the Caribbean Coast in the first half of the 19th century, but gradually ceded control of the region in subsequent decades. Violent opposition to governmental manipulation and corruption spread to all classes by 1978 and resulted in a short-lived civil war that brought the Marxist Sandinista guerrillas to power in 1979. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvador caused the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas through much of the 1980s. Free elections in 1990, 1996, and again in 2001 saw the Sandinistas defeated. The country has slowly rebuilt its economy during the 1990s, but was hard hit by Hurricane Mitch in 1998.
Birth rate 17.74 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 24.88 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget revenues: $1 billion


expenditures: $900 million, including capital expenditures of $185 million (1996)
revenues: $725.5 million


expenditures: $1.039 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)
Capital Papeete Managua
Climate tropical, but moderate tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
Coastline 2,525 km 910 km
Constitution 28 September 1958 (French Constitution) 9 January 1987; reforms in 1995 and 2000
Country name conventional long form: Territory of French Polynesia


conventional short form: French Polynesia


local long form: Territoire de la Polynesie Francaise


local short form: Polynesie Francaise


former: French Colony of Oceania
conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua


conventional short form: Nicaragua


local long form: Republica de Nicaragua


local short form: Nicaragua
Currency Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF); note - may adopt the euro in 2003 -
Death rate 4.53 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 4.49 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external $NA $4.573 billion (2004 est.)
Dependency status overseas territory of France since 1946 -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of France) chief of mission: Ambassador Barbara Calandra MOORE


embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua


mailing address: APO AA 34021


telephone: [505] 266-6010


FAX: [505] 266-9074
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas territory of France) chief of mission: Ambassador Salvador STADTHAGEN (since 5 December 2003)


chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009


telephone: [1] (202) 939-6570, [1] (202) 939-6573


FAX: [1] (202) 939-6545


consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco
Disputes - international none Nicaragua filed a claim against Honduras in 1999 and against Colombia in 2001 at the ICJ over disputed maritime boundary involving 50,000 sq km in the Caribbean Sea, including the Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank; the 1992 ICJ ruling for El Salvador and Honduras advised a tripartite resolution to establish a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca, which considers Honduran access to the Pacific; legal dispute over navigational rights of San Juan River on border with Costa Rica
Economic aid - recipient $367 million (1997) $541.8 million (2003)
Economy - overview Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the region, French Polynesia has changed from a subsistence agricultural economy to one in which a high proportion of the work force is either employed by the military or supports the tourist industry. With the halt of French nuclear testing in 1996, the military contribution to the economy fell sharply. Tourism accounts for about one-fourth of GDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings. Other sources of income are pearl farming and deep-sea commercial fishing. The small manufacturing sector primarily processes agricultural products. The territory benefits substantially from development agreements with France aimed principally at creating new businesses and strengthening social services. Nicaragua, one of the hemisphere's poorest countries, faces low per capita income, massive unemployment, and huge external debt. Distribution of income is one of the most unequal on the globe. While the country has made progress toward macroeconomic stability over the past few years, GDP annual growth has been far too low to meet the country's needs. As a result of successful performance under its International Monetary Fund policy program and other efforts, Nicaragua qualified in early 2004 for some $4 billion in foreign debt reduction under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Even after this reduction, however, the government continues to bear a significant foreign and domestic debt burden. If ratified, the US-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) will provide an opportunity for Nicaragua to attract investment, create jobs, and deepen economic development. While President BOLANOS enjoys the support of the international financial bodies, his internal political base is meager.
Electricity - consumption 398.3 million kWh (2001) 2.318 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 6.8 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 15.3 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production 428.3 million kWh (2001) 2.553 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 60.7%


hydro: 39.3%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0%; note - sun, wind, biomass (2001)
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Elevation extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mogoton 2,438 m
Environment - current issues NA deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
Environment - international agreements - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Ethnic groups Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4% mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Amerindian 5%
Exchange rates Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 126.41 (2002), 133.26 (2001), 129.44 (2000), 111.93 (1999), 107.25 (1998)


note: pegged at the rate of 119.25 XPF to the euro
gold cordobas per US dollar - 15.937 (2004), 15.105 (2003), 14.251 (2002), 13.372 (2001), 12.684 (2000)
Executive branch chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Michel MATHIEU (since 24 October 2001)


head of government: President of the Territorial Government of French Polynesia Gaston FLOSSE (since 4 April 1991); President of the Territorial Assembly Lucette TAERO (since 17 May 2001)


cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as ministers


elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Government and the president of the Territorial Assembly are elected by the members of the assembly
chief of state: President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (since 10 January 2002); Vice President Jose RIZO Castellon (since 10 January 2002); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government


head of government: President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (since 10 January 2002); Vice President Jose RIZO Castellon (since 10 January 2002); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president


elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 4 November 2001 (next to be held by November 2006)


election results: Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (PLC) elected president - 56.3%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 42.3%, Alberto SABORIO (PCN) 1.4%; Jose RIZO Castellon elected vice president
Exports NA (2001) 738 bbl/day (2003)
Exports - commodities cultured pearls 50%, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat (1997) coffee, beef, shrimp and lobster, tobacco, sugar, gold, peanuts
Exports - partners France 37.4%, Japan 35.5%, US 17.5% (2002) US 64.8%, El Salvador 7%, Mexico 3.6% (2004)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white band; centered on the white band is a disk with blue and white wave pattern on the lower half and gold and white ray pattern on the upper half; a stylized red, blue and white ship rides on the wave pattern; the French flag is used for official occasions three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
GDP purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (2001 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 6%


industry: 18%


services: 76% (1997)
agriculture: 20.7%


industry: 24.7%


services: 54.6% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $2,300 (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4% (2001 est.) 4% (2004 est.)
Geographic coordinates 15 00 S, 140 00 W 13 00 N, 85 00 W
Geography - note includes five archipelagoes (4 volcanic, 1 coral); Makatea in French Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru largest country in Central America; contains the largest freshwater body in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua
Highways total: 2,590 km


paved: 1,735 km


unpaved: 855 km (1999)
total: 18,712 km


paved: 2,126 km


unpaved: 16,586 km (2002)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: 1.2%


highest 10%: 45% (2001)
Illicit drugs - transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US and transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing
Imports NA (2001) 27,950 bbl/day (2003)
Imports - commodities fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment consumer goods, machinery and equipment, raw materials, petroleum products
Imports - partners France 58.9%, Australia 12.2%, New Zealand 6.9%, US 6.6% (2002) US 22.6%, Costa Rica 8.5%, Venezuela 8.4%, Guatemala 6.8%, Mexico 5.8%, El Salvador 4.9%, South Korea 4.5% (2004)
Independence none (overseas territory of France) 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 4.4% (2000 est.)
Industries tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, textiles, clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear, wood
Infant mortality rate total: 8.78 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 10.12 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 7.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
total: 29.11 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 32.6 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 25.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 1.5% 9.3% (2004 est.)
International organization participation ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WMO BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 2 (2000) -
Irrigated land NA sq km 880 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (16 judges elected for five-year terms by the National Assembly)
Labor force 70,000 (1996) 1.93 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 13%, industry 19%, services 68% (1997) agriculture 30.5%, industry 17.3%, services 52.2% (2003 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km total: 1,231 km


border countries: Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km
Land use arable land: 1.64%


permanent crops: 6.01%


other: 92.35% (1998 est.)
arable land: 15.94%


permanent crops: 1.94%


other: 82.12% (2001)
Languages French (official), Tahitian (official) Spanish 97.5% (official), Miskito 1.7%, other 0.8% (1995 census)


note: English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast
Legal system based on French system civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts
Legislative branch unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (49 seats - changed from 41 seats for May 2001 election; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 6 May 2001 (next to be held NA May 2006)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 28, Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia 13, New Fatherland Party 7, other 1


note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on NA September 1998 (next to be held NA September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; two 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, UMP 1
unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (92 seats; members are elected by proportional representation and party lists to serve five-year terms; one seat for previous President, one seat for runner-up in previous Presidential election


elections: last held 4 November 2001 (next to be held by November 2006)


election results: percent of vote by party - Liberal Alliance (ruling party - includes PCCN, PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 46.03%, FSLN 36.55%, PCN 2.12%; seats by party - Liberal Alliance 53, FSLN 38, PCN 1
Life expectancy at birth total population: 75.45 years


male: 73.08 years


female: 77.93 years (2003 est.)
total population: 70.33 years


male: 68.27 years


female: 72.49 years (2005 est.)
Literacy definition: age 14 and over can read and write


total population: 98%


male: 98%


female: 98% (1977 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 67.5%


male: 67.2%


female: 67.8% (2003 est.)
Location Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from South America to Australia Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras
Map references Oceania Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
territorial sea: 200 nm


continental shelf: natural prolongation
Merchant marine total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 12,679 GRT/13,915 DWT


ships by type: cargo 2, passenger/cargo 3, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1 (2002 est.)
-
Military - note defense is the responsibility of France -
Military branches no regular indigenous military forces; French Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie Army (includes Navy, Air Force)
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $32.8 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 0.7% (2004)
National holiday Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Nationality noun: French Polynesian(s)


adjective: French Polynesian
noun: Nicaraguan(s)


adjective: Nicaraguan
Natural hazards occasional cyclonic storms in January destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides; extremely susceptible to hurricanes
Natural resources timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish
Net migration rate 2.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) -1.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Pipelines - oil 54 km (2004)
Political parties and leaders Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia (Tavini Huiraatira) [Oscar TEMARU]; New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api) [Emile VERNAUDON]; People's Rally for the Republic of Polynesia or RPR (Tahoeraa Huiraatira) [Gaston FLOSSE]; The New Star (Te Fetia Api) [leader NA] Alliance for the Republic or APRE [Miguel LOPEZ Baldizon, Oscar WENDOLYN Vargas, Karla WHITE]; Central American Unionist Party or PUCA [leader NA]; Christian Alternative Party or AC [Orlando TARDENCILLA Espinoza]; Conservative Party of Nicaragua or PCN [Mario RAPPACCIOLI]; Independent Liberal Party or PLI [Anibal MARTINEZ Nunez, Pedro REYES Vallejos]; Independent Liberal Party for National Unity or PLIUN [leader NA]; Liberal Constitutional Party or PLC [Jorge CASTILLO Quant]; Liberal Salvation Movement or MSL [Eliseo NUNEZ Hernandez]; New Liberal Party or PALI [leader NA]; Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Path or PCCN [Guillermo OSORNO Molina]; Nicaraguan Resistance Party or PRN [Salvador TALAVERA]; Sandinista National Liberation Front or FSLN [Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra]; Sandinista Renovation Movement or MRS [leader NA]; Unity Alliance or AU [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA National Workers Front or FNT is a Sandinista umbrella group of eight labor unions including - Farm Workers Association or ATC, Health Workers Federation or FETASALUD, Heroes and Martyrs Confederation of Professional Associations or CONAPRO, National Association of Educators of Nicaragua or ANDEN, National Union of Employees or UNE, National Union of Farmers and Ranchers or UNAG, Sandinista Workers Central or CST, and Union of Journalists of Nicaragua or UPN; Permanent Congress of Workers or CPT is an umbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor unions including - Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers Central or CTN-A, Confederation of Labor Unification or CUS, Independent General Confederation of Labor or CGT-I, and Labor Action and Unity Central or CAUS; Nicaraguan Workers' Central or CTN is an independent labor union; Superior Council of Private Enterprise or COSEP is a confederation of business groups
Population 262,125 (July 2003 est.) 5,465,100 (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 50% (2001 est.)
Population growth rate 1.62% (2003 est.) 1.92% (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors Mataura, Papeete, Rikitea, Uturoa Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998) AM 63, FM 32, shortwave 1 (1998)
Railways 0 km total: 6 km


narrow gauge: 6 km 1.067-m gauge (2004)
Religions Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 10%, no religion 6% Roman Catholic 72.9%, Evangelical 15.1%, Moravian 1.5%, Episcopal 0.1%, other 1.9%, none 8.5% (1995 census)
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female


total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female


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


total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 16 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: NA


domestic: NA


international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
general assessment: inadequate system being upgraded by foreign investment


domestic: low-capacity microwave radio relay and wire system being expanded; connected to Central American Microwave System


international: country code - 505; satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 52,000 (1997) 171,600 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular 5,427 (1997) 202,800 (2002)
Television broadcast stations 7 (plus 17 low-power repeaters) (1997) 3 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (1997)
Terrain mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes
Total fertility rate 2.14 children born/woman (2003 est.) 2.81 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate 11.8% (1994) 7.8% plus underemployment of 46.5% (2003 est.)
Waterways none 2,220 km (including lakes Managua and Nicaragua) (1997)
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