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Compare Korea, South (2004) - Saudi Arabia (2008)

Compare Korea, South (2004) z Saudi Arabia (2008)

 Korea, South (2004)Saudi Arabia (2008)
 Korea, SouthSaudi Arabia
Administrative divisions 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 7 metropolitan cities (gwangyoksi, singular and plural)

provinces: Cheju-do, Cholla-bukto (North Cholla), Cholla-namdo (South Cholla), Ch'ungch'ong-bukto (North Ch'ungch'ong), Ch'ungch'ong-namdo (South Ch'ungch'ong), Kangwon-do, Kyonggi-do, Kyongsang-bukto (North Kyongsang), Kyongsang-namdo (South Kyongsang)

metropolitan cities: Inch'on-gwangyoksi (Inchon), Kwangju-gwangyoksi (Kwangju), Pusan-gwangyoksi (Pusan), Soul-t'ukpyolsi (Seoul), Taegu-gwangyoksi (Taegu), Taejon-gwangyoksi (Taejon), Ulsan-gwangyoksi (Ulsan)
13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk
Age structure 0-14 years: 20.4% (male 5,223,344; female 4,681,594)


15-64 years: 71.4% (male 17,625,302; female 17,072,029)


65 years and over: 8.2% (male 1,597,085; female 2,398,821) (2004 est.)
0-14 years: 38.2% (male 5,369,285/female 5,162,585)


15-64 years: 59.4% (male 9,316,694/female 7,089,370)


65 years and over: 2.4% (male 348,827/female 314,277) (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs, chickens, milk, eggs; fish wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs, milk
Airports 102 (2003 est.) 213 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total: 88


over 3,047 m: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 21


1,524 to 2,437 m: 14


914 to 1,523 m: 12


under 914 m: 38 (2004 est.)
total: 77


over 3,047 m: 32


2,438 to 3,047 m: 15


1,524 to 2,437 m: 26


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 91


914 to 1,523 m: 3


under 914 m: 88 (2004 est.)
total: 136


over 3,047 m: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 8


1,524 to 2,437 m: 73


914 to 1,523 m: 39


under 914 m: 15 (2007)
Area total: 98,480 sq km


land: 98,190 sq km


water: 290 sq km
total: 2,149,690 sq km


land: 2,149,690 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than Indiana slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US
Background Korea was an independent kingdom under Chinese suzerainty for most of the past millennium. Following its victory in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, Japan occupied Korea; five years later it formally annexed the entire peninsula. After World War II, a republic was set up in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula while a Communist-style government was installed in the north. During the Korean War (1950-1953), US and other UN forces intervened to defend South Korea from North Korean attacks supported by the Chinese. An armistice was signed in 1953, splitting the peninsula along a demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. Thereafter, South Korea achieved rapid economic growth with per capita income rising to roughly 18 times the level of North Korea. In 1987, South Korean voters elected ROH Tae-woo to the presidency, ending 26 years of military dictatorships. South Korea today is a fully functioning modern democracy. In June 2000, a historic first North-South summit took place between the South's President KIM Tae-chung and the North's leader KIM Jong Il. Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina. The king's official title is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The modern Saudi state was founded in 1932 by ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman AL SAUD (Ibn Saud) after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian Peninsula. A male descendent of Ibn Saud, his son ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz, rules the country today as required by the country's 1992 Basic Law. Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia accepted the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its soil for the liberation of Kuwait the following year. The continuing presence of foreign troops on Saudi soil after the liberation of Kuwait became a source of tension between the royal family and the public until all operational US troops left the country in 2003. Major terrorist attacks in May and November 2003 spurred a strong on-going campaign against domestic terrorism and extremism. King ABDALLAH has continued the cautious reform program begun when he was crown prince. To promote increased political participation, the government held elections nationwide from February through April 2005 for half the members of 179 municipal councils. In December 2005, King ABDALLAH completed the process by appointing the remaining members of the advisory municipal councils. The country remains a leading producer of oil and natural gas and holds approximately 25% of the world's proven oil reserves. The government continues to pursue economic reform and diversification, particularly since Saudi Arabia's accession to the WTO in December 2005, and promotes foreign investment in the kingdom. A burgeoning population, aquifer depletion, and an economy largely dependent on petroleum output and prices are all ongoing governmental concerns.
Birth rate 12.33 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) 29.1 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Budget revenues: $135.5 billion


expenditures: $128.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $23.5 billion (2003)
revenues: $193.7 billion


expenditures: $122.2 billion (2007 est.)
Capital Seoul name: Riyadh


geographic coordinates: 24 38 N, 46 43 E


time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes
Coastline 2,413 km 2,640 km
Constitution 17 July 1948 governed according to Islamic law; the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was promulgated by royal decree in 1992
Country name conventional long form: Republic of Korea


conventional short form: South Korea


local long form: Taehan-min'guk


local short form: none


note: the South Koreans generally use the term "Han'guk" to refer to their country


abbreviation: ROK
conventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia


conventional short form: Saudi Arabia


local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah


local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
Currency South Korean won (KRW) -
Death rate 6.13 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) 2.55 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Debt - external $130.3 billion (2003 est.) $52.89 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher R. HILL


embassy: 82 Sejong-no, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-710


mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 15550, APO AP 96205-5550


telephone: [82] (2) 397-4114


FAX: [82] (2) 738-8845
chief of mission: Ambassador Ford FRAKER


embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh


mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693


telephone: [966] (1) 488-3800


FAX: [966] (1) 488-7360


consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador HONG Seok-hyun


chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600


FAX: [1] (202) 387-0205


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


consulate(s): New York, Tamuning (Guam)
chief of mission: Ambassador Adil al-Ahmad al-JUBAYR


chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037


telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800


FAX: [1] (202) 944-3113


consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, New York
Disputes - international Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic maritime disputes with North Korea over the Northern Limit Line; unresolved dispute with Japan over Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima) and occasional protests over fishing rights in grounds also claimed by Japan Saudi Arabia has reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the now fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal cross-border activities; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran
Economic aid - donor ODA $200 million since 2002, Saudi Arabia has provided more than $480 million in budgetary support to the Palestinian Authority, supported Palestinian refugees through contributions to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), provided more than $250 million to Arab League funds for the Palestinians, and pledged $500 million in assistance over the next three years at the Donors Conference in Dec 2007; pledged $230 million to development in Afghanistan; pledged $1 billion in export guarantees and soft loans to Iraq; pledged $133 million in direct grant aid, $187 million in concessional loans, and $153 million in export credits for Pakistan earthquake relief; pledged a total of $1.59 billion to Lebanon in assistance and deposits to the Central Bank of Lebanon in 2006 and pledged an additional $1.1 billion in early 2007
Economic aid - recipient - $26.29 million (2005)
Economy - overview Since the early 1960s, South Korea has achieved an incredible record of growth and integration into the high-tech modern world economy. Four decades ago GDP per capita was comparable with levels in the poorer countries of Africa and Asia. Today its GDP per capita is 18 times North Korea's and equal to the lesser economies of the European Union. This success through the late 1980s was achieved by a system of close government/business ties, including directed credit, import restrictions, sponsorship of specific industries, and a strong labor effort. The government promoted the import of raw materials and technology at the expense of consumer goods and encouraged savings and investment over consumption. The Asian financial crisis of 1997-99 exposed longstanding weaknesses in South Korea's development model, including high debt/equity ratios, massive foreign borrowing, and an undisciplined financial sector. Growth plunged to a negative 6.6% in 1998, then strongly recovered to 10.8% in 1999 and 9.2% in 2000. Growth fell back to 3.3% in 2001 because of the slowing global economy, falling exports, and the perception that much-needed corporate and financial reforms had stalled. Led by consumer spending and exports, growth in 2002 was an impressive 6.2%, despite anemic global growth, followed by moderate 2.8% growth in 2003. In 2003 the National Assembly approved legislation reducing the six-day work week to five days. Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. It possesses more than 20% of the world's proven petroleum reserves, ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 45% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. About 40% of GDP comes from the private sector. Roughly 5.5 million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, particularly in the oil and service sectors. High oil prices have boosted growth, government revenues, and Saudi ownership of foreign assets, while enabling Riyadh to pay down domestic debt. The government is encouraging private sector growth - especially in power generation, telecommunications, natural gas exploration, and petrochemicals - to lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil exports and to increase employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi population, 40% of which are youths under 15 years old. Unemployment is high, and the large youth population generally lacks the education and technical skills the private sector needs. Riyadh has substantially boosted spending on job training and education, infrastructure development, and government salaries. As part of its effort to attract foreign investment and diversify the economy, Saudi Arabia acceded to the WTO in December 2005 after many years of negotiations. The government has announced plans to establish six "economic cities" in different regions of the country to promote development and diversification.
Electricity - consumption 270.3 billion kWh (2001) 146.9 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - production 290.7 billion kWh (2001) 165.6 billion kWh (2005)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m


highest point: Halla-san 1,950 m
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m


highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m
Environment - current issues air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills
Environment - international agreements party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese) Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
Exchange rates South Korean won per US dollar - 1,191.61 (2003), 1,251.09 (2002), 1,290.99 (2001), 1,130.96 (2000), 1,188.82 (1999) Saudi riyals per US dollar - 3.745 (2007), 3.745 (2006), 3.747 (2005), 3.75 (2004), 3.75 (2003)
Executive branch chief of state: President ROH Moo-hyun (since 25 February 2003)


head of government: Prime Minister LEE Hae-chan (since 25 May 2004); Deputy Prime Ministers KIM Jin-pyo (since 28 January 2005), LEE Hun-jai (since 10 February 2004), and OH Myung (since 18 October 2004)


cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation


elections: president elected by popular vote for single five-year term; election last held 19 December 2002 (next to be held in December 2007); prime minister appointed by president with consent of National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by president on prime minister's recommendation


election results: results of the 19 December 2002 election - ROH Moo-hyun elected president; percent of vote - ROH Moo-hyun (MDP) 48.9%; LEE Hoi-chang (GNP) 46.6%; other 4.5%
chief of state: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SULTAN bin Abd al- Aziz Al Saud (half brother of the monarch, born 5 January 1928) note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005)


cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch every four years and includes many royal family members


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; note - a new Allegiance Commission created by royal decree in October 2006 established a committee of Saudi princes that will play a role in selecting future Saudi kings, but the new system will not take effect until after Crown Prince Sultan becomes king
Exports 804,700 bbl/day (2001) 8.9 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities Semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment, motor vehicles, computers, steel, ships, petrochemicals petroleum and petroleum products 90%
Exports - partners China 18.2%, US 17.8%, Japan 9%, Hong Kong 7.6% (2003) Japan 17.7%, US 15.8%, South Korea 9%, China 7.2%, Taiwan 4.6%, Singapore 4.4% (2006)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in the center; there is a different black trigram from the ancient I Ching (Book of Changes) in each corner of the white field green, a traditional color in Islamic flags, with the Shahada or Muslim creed in large white Arabic script (translated as "There is no god but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God") above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); design dates to the early twentieth century and is closely associated with the Al Saud family which established the kingdom in 1932
GDP purchasing power parity - $857.8 billion (2003 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 3.6%


industry: 36.4%


services: 60% (2003 est.)
agriculture: 3%


industry: 61.8%


services: 35.2% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $17,800 (2003 est.) -
GDP - real growth rate 3.1% (2003 est.) 4.7% (2007 est.)
Geographic coordinates 37 00 N, 127 30 E 25 00 N, 45 00 E
Geography - note strategic location on Korea Strait extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal
Heliports 206 (2003 est.) 8 (2007)
Highways total: 86,990 km


paved: 64,808 km (including 1,996 km of expressways)


unpaved: 22,182 km (1999 est.)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 2.9%


highest 10%: 22.5% (1999 est.)
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs - death penalty for traffickers; improving anti-money-laundering legislation and enforcement
Imports 2.965 million bbl/day (2001) 0 bbl/day (2004)
Imports - commodities machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel, transport equipment, organic chemicals, plastics machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles
Imports - partners Japan 20.3%, US 13.9%, China 12.3%, Saudi Arabia 5.2% (2003) US 12.2%, Germany 9.1%, China 7.9%, Japan 7.3%, UK 4.8%, Italy 4.8%, South Korea 4.1% (2006)
Independence 15 August 1945 (from Japan) 23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)
Industrial production growth rate 5.1% (2003 est.) 0.2% (2007 est.)
Industries electronics, telecommunications, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding, steel crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), cement, fertilizer, plastics, metals, commercial ship repair, commercial aircraft repair, construction
Infant mortality rate total: 7.18 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 7.64 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 6.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
total: 12.41 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 14.24 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 10.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3.6% (2003 est.) 3.4% (2007 est.)
International organization participation AfDB, APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CP, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, BIS, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Irrigated land 11,590 sq km (1998 est.) 16,200 sq km (2003)
Judicial branch Supreme Court (justices appointed by president with consent of National Assembly); Constitutional Court (justices appointed by president based partly on nominations by National Assembly and Chief Justice of the court) Supreme Council of Justice
Labor force 22.92 million (2003) 6.488 million


note: more than 35% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 8.8%, industry 19.1%, services 72.1% (2001) agriculture: 12%


industry: 25%


services: 63% (1999 est.)
Land boundaries total: 238 km


border countries: North Korea 238 km
total: 4,431 km


border countries: Iraq 814 km, Jordan 744 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman 676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km
Land use arable land: 17.18%


permanent crops: 1.95%


other: 80.87% (2001)
arable land: 1.67%


permanent crops: 0.09%


other: 98.24% (2005)
Languages Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high school Arabic
Legal system combines elements of continental European civil law systems, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought based on Shari'a law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral National Assembly or Kukhoe (299 seats -- members elected for four-year terms; 243 in single-seat constituencies, 56 by proportional representation


elections: last held 15 April 2004 (next to be held in April 2008; by-elections scheduled for April 2005))


election results: percent of vote by party - Uri 51%, GNP 41%, DLP 3%, MDP 3%, others 2%; seats by party - Uri 152, GNP 121, DLP 10, MDP 9, others 7 (2004)
Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (150 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year terms); note - though the Council of Ministers announced in October 2003 its intent to introduce elections for half of the members of local and provincial assemblies and a third of the members of the national Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura, incrementally over a period of four to five years, to date no such elections have been held or announced
Life expectancy at birth total population: 75.58 years


male: 71.96 years


female: 79.54 years (2004 est.)
total population: 75.88 years


male: 73.85 years


female: 78.02 years (2007 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 97.9%


male: 99.2%


female: 96.6% (2002)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 78.8%


male: 84.7%


female: 70.8% (2003 est.)
Location Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen
Map references Asia Middle East
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the Korea Strait


contiguous zone: 24 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: not specified
territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 18 nm


continental shelf: not specified
Merchant marine total: 535 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,978,949 GRT/9,761,699 DWT


by type: bulk 97, cargo 174, chemical tanker 61, combination bulk 10, container 60, liquefied gas 19, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 73, refrigerated cargo 20, roll on/roll off 7, short-sea/passenger 2, specialized tanker 6, vehicle carrier 3


foreign-owned: Bahrain 1, China 1, Gibraltar 1, Honduras 1, Indonesia 1, Japan 3, Malaysia 1, Panama 1, Philippines 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, United Kingdom 1, United States 1


registered in other countries: 442 (2004 est.)
total: 59 ships (1000 GRT or over) 847,094 GRT/1,059,026 DWT


by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 15, container 4, passenger/cargo 8, petroleum tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 8


foreign-owned: 10 (Egypt 1, Greece 2, Kuwait 6, UAE 1)


registered in other countries: 63 (Bahamas 15, Comoros 1, Dominica 1, France 1, Liberia 24, Marshall Islands 4, Norway 3, Panama 14) (2007)
Military branches Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Maritime Police (Coast Guard) Land Forces (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National Guard, Ministry of Interior Forces (paramilitary)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $14.522 billion (FY03) -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 2.7% (FY03) 10% (2005 est.)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 14,233,895 (2004 est.) -
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 8,966,241 (2004 est.) -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 341,697 (2004 est.) -
National holiday Liberation Day, 15 August (1945) Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)
Nationality noun: Korean(s)


adjective: Korean
noun: Saudi(s)


adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian
Natural hazards occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; low-level seismic activity common in southwest frequent sand and dust storms
Natural resources coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) -5.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Pipelines gas 1,433 km; refined products 827 km (2004) condensate 212 km; gas 1,880 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,183 km; oil 4,521 km; refined products 1,148 km (2007)
Political parties and leaders Democratic Labor Party or DLP [KIM Hye-kyung, chairwoman]; Grand National Party or GNP [PARK Geun-hye, chairwoman]; Millennium Democratic Party or MDP [HAHN Hwa-kap, chairman]; United Liberal Democrats or ULD [KIM Hak-won, chairman]; Uri Party [LIM Chae-jung, interim chairman] none
Political pressure groups and leaders Federation of Korean Industries; Federation of Korean Trade Unions; Korean Confederation of Trade Unions; Korean National Council of Churches; Korean Traders Association; Korean Veterans' Association; National Council of Labor Unions; National Democratic Alliance of Korea; National Federation of Farmers' Associations; National Federation of Student Associations none
Population 48,598,175 (July 2004 est.) 27,601,038


note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line 4% (2001 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 0.62% (2004 est.) 2.06% (2007 est.)
Ports and harbors Chinhae, Inch'on, Kunsan, Masan, Mokp'o, P'ohang, Pusan, Tonghae-hang, Ulsan, Yosu -
Radio broadcast stations AM 58, FM 150, shortwave 2 (2004) AM 43, FM 31, shortwave 2 (1998)
Railways total: 3,125 km


standard gauge: 3,125 km 1.435-m gauge (661 km electrified) (2003)
total: 1,392 km


standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings) (2006)
Religions no affiliation 46%, Christian 26%, Buddhist 26%, Confucianist 1%, other 1% Muslim 100%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.12 male(s)/female


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


65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female


total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.314 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 1.11 male(s)/female


total population: 1.196 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Suffrage 20 years of age; universal 21 years of age; male
Telephone system general assessment: excellent domestic and international services


domestic: NA


international: country code - 82; fiber-optic submarine cable to China; the Russia-Korea-Japan submarine cable; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean region)
general assessment: modern system


domestic: extensive microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and fiber-optic cable systems; mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing rapidly


international: country code - 966; landing point for the international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) and for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks providing connectivity to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and US; microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)
Telephones - main lines in use 22.877 million (2003) 4.5 million (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular 33,591,800 (2003) 19.663 million (2006)
Television broadcast stations 64 (additionally 119 Cable Operators; 239 Relay Cable Operators) (2004) 117 (1997)
Terrain mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south mostly uninhabited, sandy desert
Total fertility rate 1.56 children born/woman (2004 est.) 3.94 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate 3.4% (2003 est.) 13% among Saudi males only (local bank estimate; some estimates range as high as 25%) (2004 est.)
Waterways 1,608 km


note: most navigable only by small craft (2004)
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