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Compare Guatemala (2001) - Taiwan (2002)

Compare Guatemala (2001) z Taiwan (2002)

 Guatemala (2001)Taiwan (2002)
 GuatemalaTaiwan
Administrative divisions 22 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Chiquimula, El Progreso, Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Jalapa, Jutiapa, Peten, Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu, Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez, Totonicapan, Zacapa the central administrative divisions include the provinces of Fu-chien (some 20 offshore islands of Fujian Province including Quemoy and Matsu) and Taiwan (the island of Taiwan and the Pescadores islands); Taiwan is further subdivided into 16 counties (hsien, singular and plural), 5 municipalities* (shih, singular and plural), and 2 special municipalities** (chuan-shih, singular and plural); Chang-hua, Chia-i, Chia-i*, Chi-lung*, Hsin-chu, Hsin-chu*, Hua-lien, I-lan, Kao-hsiung, Kao-hsiung**, Miao-li, Nan-t'ou, P'eng-hu, P'ing-tung, T'ai-chung, T'ai-chung*, T'ai-nan, T'ai-nan*, T'ai-pei, T'ai-pei**, T'ai-tung, T'ao-yuan, and Yun-lin; the provincial capital is at Chung-hsing-hsin-ts'un


note: Taiwan uses the Wade-Giles system for romanization
Age structure 0-14 years:
42.11% (male 2,789,189; female 2,674,747)

15-64 years:
54.25% (male 3,518,209; female 3,519,851)

65 years and over:
3.64% (male 220,640; female 251,725) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: 21% (male 2,464,290; female 2,268,627)


15-64 years: 70% (male 8,010,014; female 7,774,296)


65 years and over: 9% (male 1,053,975; female 976,807) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens rice, corn, vegetables, fruit, tea; pigs, poultry, beef, milk; fish
Airports 477 (2000 est.) 39 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total:
11

2,438 to 3,047 m:
3

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
5

under 914 m:
2 (2000 est.)
total: 37


over 3,047 m: 8


2,438 to 3,047 m: 8


1,524 to 2,437 m: 11


914 to 1,523 m: 8


under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
466

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
9

914 to 1,523 m:
124

under 914 m:
332 (2000 est.)
total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Area total:
108,890 sq km

land:
108,430 sq km

water:
460 sq km
total: 35,980 sq km


land: 32,260 sq km


water: 3,720 sq km


note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Tennessee slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined
Background Guatemala was freed of Spanish colonial rule in 1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced a variety of military and civilian governments as well as a 36-year guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement formally ending the conflict, which had led to the death of more than 100,000 people and had created some 1 million refugees. In 1895, military defeat forced China to cede Taiwan to Japan, however it reverted to Chinese control after World War II. Following the Communist victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 million Nationalists fled to Taiwan and established a government using the 1947 constitution drawn up for all of China. Over the next five decades, the ruling authorities gradually democratized and incorporated the native population within its governing structure. This culminated in 2000, when Taiwan underwent its first peaceful transfer of power from the Nationalist to the Democratic Progressive Party. Throughout this period, the island has prospered to become one of East Asia's economic "Tigers." The dominant political issues continue to be the relationship between Taiwan and China - specifically the question of eventual unification - as well as domestic political and economic reform.
Birth rate 34.61 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 14.21 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues:
$2.2 billion

expenditures:
$1.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
revenues: $36 billion


expenditures: $36.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2002 est.)
Capital Guatemala Taipei
Climate tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year
Coastline 400 km 1,566.3 km
Constitution 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986; note - suspended 25 May 1993 by former President SERRANO; reinstated 5 June 1993 following ouster of president; amended November 1993 1 January 1947, amended in 1992, 1994, 1997, and 1999
Country name conventional long form:
Republic of Guatemala

conventional short form:
Guatemala

local long form:
Republica de Guatemala

local short form:
Guatemala
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Taiwan


local long form: none


local short form: T'ai-wan


former: Formosa
Currency quetzal (GTQ), US dollar (USD), others allowed new Taiwan dollar (TWD)
Death rate 6.79 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 6.08 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $4.7 billion (2000 est.) $40 billion (2000)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Prudence BUSHNELL

embassy:
7-01 Avenida Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City

mailing address:
APO AA 34024

telephone:
[502] 331-1541/55

FAX:
[502] 334-8477
none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people on Taiwan are maintained through an unofficial instrumentality - the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) - which has offices in the US and Taiwan; US office located at 1700 N. Moore St., Suite 1700, Arlington, VA 22209-1996, telephone: [1] (703) 525-8474, FAX: [1] (703) 841-1385); Taiwan offices located at #7 Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road, Section 3, Taipei, Taiwan, telephone: [886] (2) 2709-2000, FAX: [886] (2) 2702-7675; #2 Chung Cheng 3rd Road, 5th Floor, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, telephone: [886] (7) 224-0154 through 0157, FAX: [886] (7) 223-8237; and the American Trade Center, Room 3208 International Trade Building, Taipei World Trade Center, 333 Keelung Road Section 1, Taipei, Taiwan 10548, telephone: [886] (2) 2720-1550, FAX: [886] (2) 2757-7162
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Ariel RIVERA Irias

chancery:
2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 745-4952

FAX:
[1] (202) 745-1908

consulate(s) general:
Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco
none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people of the US are maintained through an unofficial instrumentality, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the US with headquarters in Taipei and field offices in Washington and 12 other US cities
Disputes - international Guatemala periodically asserts claims to territory in southern Belize; to deter cross-border squatting, both states in 2000 agreed to a "line of adjacency" based on the de facto boundary, which is not recognized by Guatemala involved in complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; Paracel Islands occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam; claims Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Tai), as does China
Economic aid - recipient $212 million (1995) -
Economy - overview The agricultural sector accounts for about one-fourth of GDP, two-thirds of exports, and half of the labor force. Coffee, sugar, and bananas are the main products. Former President ARZU (1996-2000) worked to implement a program of economic liberalization and political modernization. The 1996 signing of the peace accords, which ended 36 years of civil war, removed a major obstacle to foreign investment. In 1998, Hurricane Mitch caused relatively little damage to Guatemala compared to its neighbors. Ongoing challenges include increasing government revenues, negotiating further assistance from international donors, and increasing the efficiency and openness of both government and private financial operations. Despite low international prices for Guatemala's main commodities, the economy grew by 3% in 2000 and is forecast to grow by 4% in 2001. Guatemala, along with Honduras and El Salvador, recently concluded a free trade agreement with Mexico and has moved to protect international property rights. However, the PORTILLO administration has undertaken a review of privatizations under the previous administration, thereby creating some uncertainty among investors. Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with gradually decreasing guidance of investment and foreign trade by government authorities. In keeping with this trend, some large government-owned banks and industrial firms are being privatized. Real growth in GDP has averaged about 8% during the past three decades. Exports have provided the primary impetus for industrialization. The trade surplus is substantial, and foreign reserves are the world's third largest. Agriculture contributes 2% to GDP, down from 35% in 1952. Traditional labor-intensive industries are steadily being moved offshore and replaced with more capital- and technology-intensive industries. Taiwan has become a major investor in China, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam; 50,000 Taiwanese businesses are established in China. Because of its conservative financial approach and its entrepreneurial strengths, Taiwan suffered little compared with many of its neighbors from the Asian financial crisis in 1998-99. The global economic downturn, however, combined with poor policy coordination by the new administration and increasing bad debts in the banking system, pushed Taiwan into recession in 2001, the first whole year of negative growth since 1947. Unemployment also reached a level not seen since the 1970s oil crisis.
Electricity - consumption 3.295 billion kWh (1999) 139.3 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 435 million kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 210 million kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 3.785 billion kWh (1999) 149.78 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
38.31%

hydro:
61.69%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
fossil fuel: 69%


hydro: 6%


nuclear: 25%


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

highest point:
Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m


highest point: Yu Shan 3,997 m
Environment - current issues deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; Hurricane Mitch damage air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in endangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal
Environment - international agreements party to:
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
party to: none of the selected agreements because of Taiwan's international status


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements because of Taiwan's international status
Ethnic groups Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish or assimilated Amerindian - in local Spanish called Ladino), approximately 55%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian, approximately 43%, whites and others 2% Taiwanese (including Hakka) 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, aborigine 2%
Exchange rates quetzales per US dollar - 7.8020 (January 2001), 7.7632 (2000), 7.3856 (1999), 6.3947 (1998), 6.0653 (1997), 6.0495 (1996), 5.8103 (1995) new Taiwan dollars per US dollar - 34.6 (2002), 34.49 (yearend 2001),, 33.08 (yearend 2000),, 31.4 (yearend 1999),, 32.22 (1998),, 32.05 (1997),, 27.5 (1996)
Executive branch chief of state:
President Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabrera (since 14 January 2000); Vice President Juan Francisco REYES Lopez (since 14 January 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government:
President Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabrera (since 14 January 2000); Vice President Juan Francisco REYES Lopez (since 14 January 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet:
Council of Ministers named by the president

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 7 November 1999; runoff held 26 December 1999 (next to be held NA November 2003)

election results:
Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabrera elected president; percent of vote - Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabrera (FRG) 68%, Oscar BERGER Perdomo (PAN) 32%
chief of state: President Shui-bian CHEN (since 20 May 2000) and Vice President Annette Hsiu-lien LU (since 20 May 2000)


head of government: Premier (President of the Executive Yuan) Shyi-kun YU (since 1 February 2002) and Vice Premier (Vice President of the Executive Yuan) Hsin-yi LIN (since 1 February 2002)


cabinet: Executive Yuan appointed by the president


elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 18 March 2000 (next to be held NA March 2004); premier appointed by the president; vice premiers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the premier


election results: Shui-bian CHEN elected president; percent of vote - Shui-bian CHEN (DPP) 39.3%, James SOONG (independent) 36.84%, LIEN Chan (KMT) 23.1%, HSU Hsin-liang (independent) 0.63%, LEE Ao (CNP) 0.13%
Exports $2.9 billion (f.o.b., 2000) $122 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities coffee, sugar, bananas, fruits and vegetables, cardamom, meat, apparel, petroleum, electricity machinery and electrical equipment 55%, metals, textiles, plastics, chemicals
Exports - partners US 51.4%, El Salvador 8.7%, Honduras 5%, Costa Rica 3.4%, Germany 2.7% (1998) US 23.5%, Hong Kong 21.1%, Europe 16%, ASEAN 12.2%, Japan 11.2% (2000)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 July - 30 June (up to FY98/99); 1 July 1999 - 31 December 2000 for FY00; calendar year (after FY00)
Flag description three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side), white, and light blue with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms includes a green and red quetzal (the national bird) and a scroll bearing the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from Spain) all superimposed on a pair of crossed rifles and a pair of crossed swords and framed by a wreath red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays
GDP purchasing power parity - $46.2 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $386 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
23%

industry:
20%

services:
57% (2000 est.)
agriculture: 2%


industry: 32%


services: 66% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $3,700 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $17,200 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 3% (2000 est.) -2.2% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 15 30 N, 90 15 W 23 30 N, 121 00 E
Geography - note no natural harbors on west coast strategic location adjacent to both the Taiwan Strait and the Luzon Strait
Heliports - 3 (2002)
Highways total:
13,856 km

paved:
4,370 km (including 140 km of expressways)

unpaved:
9,486 km (1998)
total: 34,901 km


paved: 31,271 km (including 538 km of expressways)


unpaved: 3,630 km (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
0.6%

highest 10%:
46.6% (1989)
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs transit country for cocaine and heroin; minor producer of illicit opium poppy and cannabis for the international drug trade; proximity to Mexico makes Guatemala a major staging area for drugs (cocaine and heroin shipments); money laundering is probably increasing regional transit point for heroin and methamphetamine; major problem with domestic consumption of methamphetamine and heroin
Imports $4.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000) $109 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Imports - commodities fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, grain, fertilizers, electricity machinery and electrical equipment 50%, minerals, precision instruments
Imports - partners US 42.8%, Mexico 9.9%, Japan 4.8%, El Salvador 4.3%, Venezuela 3.8% (1998) Japan 27.5%, US 17.9%, Europe 13.6%, South Korea 6.4% (2000)
Independence 15 September 1821 (from Spain) -
Industrial production growth rate 4.1% (1999) -5% (2001 est.)
Industries sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism electronics, petroleum refining, chemicals, textiles, iron and steel, machinery, cement, food processing
Infant mortality rate 45.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 6% (2000 est.) 0.5% (2001 est.)
International organization participation BCIE, CACM, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO APEC, AsDB, BCIE, ICC, ICFTU, IFRCS, IOC, WCL, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 5 (2000) 8 (2000)
Irrigated land 1,250 sq km (1993 est.) NA sq km
Judicial branch Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (thirteen members serve concurrent five-year terms and elect a president of the Court each year from among their number; the president of the Supreme Court of Justice also supervises trial judges around the country, who are named to five-year terms); Constitutional Court or Corte de Constitutcionalidad (five judges are elected for concurrent five-year terms by Congress, each serving one year as president of the Constitutional Court; one is elected by Congress, one elected by the Supreme Court of Justice, one appointed by the President, one elected by Superior Counsel of Universidad San Carlos de Guatemala, and one by Colegio de Abogados) Judicial Yuan (justices appointed by the president with consent of the National Assembly; note - beginning in 2003, justices will be appointed by the president with consent of the Legislative Yuan)
Labor force 4.2 million (1999 est.) 9.8 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 50%, industry 15%, services 35% (1999 est.) services 56%, industry 36%, agriculture 8% (2001 est.)
Land boundaries total:
1,687 km

border countries:
Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km
0 km
Land use arable land:
12%

permanent crops:
5%

permanent pastures:
24%

forests and woodland:
54%

other:
5% (1993 est.)
arable land: 24%


permanent crops: 1%


other: 75%
Languages Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (more than 20 Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca) Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects
Legal system civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Legislative branch unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica (113 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:
last held on 7 November 1999 (next to be held in November 2003)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FRG 63, PAN 37, ANN 9, DCG 2, UD/LOV 1, PLP 1

note:
for the 7 November 1999 election, the number of congressional seats was increased from 80 to 113
unicameral Legislative Yuan (225 seats - 168 elected by popular vote, 41 elected on the basis of the proportion of islandwide votes received by participating political parties, eight elected from overseas Chinese constituencies on the basis of the proportion of islandwide votes received by participating political parties, eight elected by popular vote among the aboriginal populations; members serve three-year terms) and unicameral National Assembly (300 seat nonstanding body; delegates nominated by parties and elected by proportional representation within three months of a Legislative Yuan call to amend the Constitution, impeach the president, or change national borders)


elections: Legislative Yuan - last held 8 December 2001 (next to be held NA December 2004); note - the National Assembly is a nonstanding body and is called into session


election results: Legislative Yuan - percent of vote by party - DPP 39%, KMT 30%, PFP 20%, TSU 6%, independents and other parties 5%; seats by party - DPP 87, KMT 68, PFP 46, TSU 13, independents and other parties 11
Life expectancy at birth total population:
66.51 years

male:
63.85 years

female:
69.31 years (2001 est.)
total population: 76.74 years


male: 73.99 years


female: 79.71 years (2002 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
63.6%

male:
68.7%

female:
58.5% (2000 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 86% (1980 est.)


male: 93% (1980 est.)


female: 79% (1980 est.)


note: literacy for the total population has reportedly increased to 94% (1998 est.)
Location Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Honduras and Belize and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea, Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the Philippines, off the southeastern coast of China
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Southeast Asia
Maritime claims continental shelf:
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine none (2000 est.) total: 152 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,262,451 GRT/6,596,950 DWT


ships by type: bulk 40, cargo 28, combination bulk 3, container 53, petroleum tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 9, roll on/roll off 2


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Hong Kong 3, Japan 1 (2002 est.)
Military branches Army, Navy, Air Force Army, Navy (including Marine Corps), Air Force, Coast Guard Administration, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Combined Service Forces Command
Military expenditures - dollar figure $120 million (FY99) $8,041.2 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 0.6% (FY99) 2.8% (FY01)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
3,092,050 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 6,575,625 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
2,018,636 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 5,018,882 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age 19 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
140,358 (2001 est.)
males: 198,766 (2002 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 15 September (1821) Republic Day (Anniversary of the Chinese Revolution), 10 October (1911)
Nationality noun:
Guatemalan(s)

adjective:
Guatemalan
noun: Chinese (singular and plural)


adjective: Chinese
Natural hazards numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms earthquakes and typhoons
Natural resources petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, and asbestos
Net migration rate -1.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) -0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Pipelines crude oil 275 km petroleum products 3,400 km; natural gas 1,800 km (1999)
Political parties and leaders Authentic Integral Development or DIA [Jorge Luis ORTEGA]; Democratic Union or UD [Jose Luis CHEA Urruela]; Green Party or LOV [Jose ASTURIAS Rudecke]; Guatemalan Christian Democracy or DCG [Vinicio CEREZO Arevalo]; Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity or URNG [Pablo MONSANTO, also known as Jorge SOTO]; Guatemalan Republican Front or FRG [Efrain RIOS Montt]; New Nation Alliance or ANN [leader NA], which includes the URNG; National Advancement Party or PAN [Leonel LOPEZ Rodas]; Progressive Liberator Party or PLP [Acisclo VALLADARES Molina] Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [Frank Chang-ting HSIEH, chairman]; Kuomintang or KMT (Nationalist Party) [LIEN Chan, chairman]; People First Party or PFP [James Chu-yu SOONG, chairman]; Taiwan Solidarity Union or TSU [Chu-wen HUANG, chairman]; other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders Agrarian Owners Group or UNAGRO; Alliance Against Impunity or AAI; Committee for Campesino Unity or CUC; Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations or CACIF; Mutual Support Group or GAM Taiwan independence movement, various business and environmental groups


note: debate on Taiwan independence has become acceptable within the mainstream of domestic politics on Taiwan; political liberalization and the increased representation of opposition parties in Taiwan's legislature have opened public debate on the island's national identity; a broad popular consensus has developed that Taiwan currently enjoys de facto independence and - whatever the ultimate outcome regarding reunification or independence - that Taiwan's people must have the deciding voice; advocates of Taiwan independence oppose the stand that the island will eventually unify with mainland China; goals of the Taiwan independence movement include establishing a sovereign nation on Taiwan and entering the UN; other organizations supporting Taiwan independence include the World United Formosans for Independence and the Organization for Taiwan Nation Building
Population 12,974,361 (July 2001 est.) 22,548,009 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line 60% (2000 est.) 1% (2000 est.)
Population growth rate 2.6% (2001 est.) 0.78% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Champerico, Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, San Jose, Santo Tomas de Castilla Chi-lung (Keelung), Hua-lien, Kao-hsiung, Su-ao, T'ai-chung
Radio broadcast stations AM 130, FM 487, shortwave 15 (2000) AM 218, FM 333, shortwave 50 (1999)
Radios 835,000 (1997) 16 million (1994)
Railways total:
884 km (102 km privately owned)

narrow gauge:
884 km 0.914-m gauge (single track)
total: 1,108 km


narrow gauge: 1,108 km 1.067-m gauge (519 km electrified)


note: in addition to the above routes in common carrier service, there are several thousand kilometers of 1.067-m gauge routes that are dedicated to industrial use (2001)
Religions Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%, Christian 4.5%, other 2.5%
Sex ratio at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female

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

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

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


under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female


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


65 years and over: 1.08 male(s)/female


total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal (active duty members of the armed forces may not vote) 20 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
fairly modern network centered in the city of Guatemala

domestic:
NA

international:
connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment: provides telecommunications service for every business and private need


domestic: thoroughly modern; completely digitalized


international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); submarine cables to Japan (Okinawa), Philippines, Guam, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe (1999)
Telephones - main lines in use 665,061 (June 2000) 12.49 million (September 2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular 663,296 (September 2000) 16 million (September 2000)
Television broadcast stations 26 (plus 27 repeaters) (1997) 29 (plus two repeaters) (1997)
Terrain mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau (Peten) eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rolling plains in west
Total fertility rate 4.58 children born/woman (2001 est.) 1.76 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 7.5% (1999 est.) 4.5% (2001 est.)
Waterways 990 km

note:
260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable during highwater season
NA
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