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Compare Lebanon (2002) - Virgin Islands (2001)

Compare Lebanon (2002) z Virgin Islands (2001)

 Lebanon (2002)Virgin Islands (2001)
 LebanonVirgin Islands
Administrative divisions 6 governorates (mohafazat, singular - mohafazah); Beyrouth, Beqaa, Liban-Nord, Liban-Sud, Mont-Liban, Nabatiye none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three islands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas
Age structure 0-14 years: 27.3% (male 511,902; female 491,804)


15-64 years: 65.9% (male 1,157,688; female 1,267,106)


65 years and over: 6.8% (male 113,341; female 135,939) (2002 est.)
0-14 years:
27.27% (male 17,121; female 16,204)

15-64 years:
63.92% (male 35,391; female 42,727)

65 years and over:
8.81% (male 4,638; female 6,130) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products citrus, grapes, tomatoes, apples, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco; sheep, goats fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
Airports 8 (2001) 2

note:
international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 5


over 3,047 m: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2002)
total:
2

1,524 to 2,437 m:
2 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 1 (2002)
-
Area total: 10,400 sq km


land: 10,230 sq km


water: 170 sq km
total:
352 sq km

land:
349 sq km

water:
3 sq km
Area - comparative about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut twice the size of Washington, DC
Background Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political institutions since 1991 and the end of the devastating 16-year civil war. Under the Ta'if Accord - the blueprint for national reconciliation - the Lebanese have established a more equitable political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in the political process while institutionalizing sectarian divisions in the government. Since the end of the war, the Lebanese have conducted several successful elections, most of the militias have been weakened or disbanded, and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have extended central government authority over about two-thirds of the country. Hizballah, the radical Shi'a party, retains its weapons. Syria maintains about 20,000 troops in Lebanon based mainly in Beirut, North Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley. Syria's troop deployment was legitimized by the Arab League during Lebanon's civil war and in the Ta'if Accord. Damascus justifies its continued military presence in Lebanon by citing Beirut's requests and the failure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of the constitutional reforms in the Ta'if Accord. Israel's withdrawal from its security zone in southern Lebanon in May of 2000, however, has emboldened some Lebanese Christians and Druze to demand that Syria withdraw its forces as well. During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848.
Birth rate 19.96 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 15.9 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $4.6 billion


expenditures: $8.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
revenues:
$364.4 million

expenditures:
$364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)
Capital Beirut Charlotte Amalie
Climate Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November
Coastline 225 km 188 km
Constitution 23 May 1926, amended a number of times, most recently Charter of Lebanese National Reconciliation (Ta'if Accord) of October 1989 Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
Country name conventional long form: Lebanese Republic


conventional short form: Lebanon


local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah


local short form: Lubnan
conventional long form:
United States Virgin Islands

conventional short form:
Virgin Islands

former:
Danish West Indies
Currency Lebanese pound (LBP) US dollar (USD)
Death rate 6.35 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 5.47 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $8.4 billion (2001 est.) $NA
Dependency status - organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Vincent Martin BATTLE


embassy: Awkar, Lebanon


mailing address: P. O. Box 70840, Awkar, Lebanon; PSC 815, Box 2, FPO AE 09836-0002


telephone: 011-961-4-543-600/542-600


FAX: 011-961-4-544-136
none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Farid ABBOUD


chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 939-6320


FAX: [1] (202) 939-6324


consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles
none (territory of the US)
Disputes - international Syrian troops in northern, central, and eastern Lebanon since October 1976; Lebanese Government claims Shab'a Farms area of Israeli-occupied Golan Heights none
Economic aid - recipient $3.5 billion (pledges 1997-2001) $NA
Economy - overview The 1975-91 civil war seriously damaged Lebanon's economic infrastructure, cut national output by half, and all but ended Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and banking hub. Peace enabled the central government to restore control in Beirut, begin collecting taxes, and regain access to key port and government facilities. Economic recovery was helped by a financially sound banking system and resilient small- and medium-scale manufacturers. Family remittances, banking services, manufactured and farm exports, and international aid provided the main sources of foreign exchange. Lebanon's economy made impressive gains since the launch in 1993 of "Horizon 2000," the government's $20 billion reconstruction program. Real GDP grew 8% in 1994, 7% in 1995, 4% in 1996 and in 1997 but slowed to 2% in 1998, -1% in 1999, and -0.5% in 2000. Growth recovered slightly in 2001 to 1%. During the 1990s annual inflation fell to almost 0% from more than 100%. Lebanon has rebuilt much of its war-torn physical and financial infrastructure. The government nonetheless faces serious challenges in the economic arena. It has funded reconstruction by borrowing heavily - mostly from domestic banks. In order to reduce the ballooning national debt, the re-installed HARIRI government began an economic austerity program to reign in government expenditures, increase revenue collection, and privatize state enterprises. The Hariri government met with international donors at the Paris II conference in November 2002 to seek bilateral assistance in order to restructure its higher interest rate bearing domestic debt obligations at lower rates. While privatization of state-owned enterprises had not occurred by the end of 2002, the government had successfullly avoided a currency devaluation and debt default in 2002. Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The islands normally host 2 million visitors a year. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported. International business and financial services are a small but growing component of the economy. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The islands are subject to substantial damage from storms. The government is working to improve fiscal discipline, support construction projects in the private sector, expand tourist facilities, and protect the environment.
Electricity - consumption 8.643 billion kWh (2000) 948.6 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 1.25 billion kWh (2000) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 7.95 billion kWh (2000) 1.02 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 97%


hydro: 3%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m


highest point: Qurnat as Sawda' 3,088 m
lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point:
Crown Mountain 474 m
Environment - current issues deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills lack of natural freshwater resources
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
-
Ethnic groups Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1% black 80%, white 15%, other 5%

note:
West Indian (45% born in the Virgin Islands and 29% born elsewhere in the West Indies) 74%, US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 5%, other 8%
Exchange rates Lebanese pounds per US dollar - 1,507.5 (January 2002), 1,507.5 (2001), 1,507.5 (2000), 1,507.8 (1999), 1,516.1 (1998), 1,539.5 (1997) the US dollar is used
Executive branch chief of state: President Emile LAHUD (since 24 November 1998)


head of government: Prime Minister Rafiq HARIRI (since 23 October 2000); Deputy Prime Minister Issam FARES (since 23 October 2000)


cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president and members of the National Assembly


elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a six-year term; election last held 15 October 1998 (next to be held NA 2004); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president in consultation with the National Assembly; by custom, the president is a Maronite Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of the legislature is a Shi'a Muslim


election results: Emile LAHUD elected president; National Assembly vote - 118 votes in favor, 0 against, 10 abstentions
chief of state:
President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (Since 20 January 2001)

head of government:
Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5 January 1999) and Lieutenant Governor Gererd LUZ James II (since 5 January 1999)

cabinet:
NA

elections:
US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 3 November 1998 (next to be held NA November 2002)

election results:
Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL elected governor; percent of vote - Dr. Charles W. TURNBULL (Democrat) 58.9%, former Governor Roy L. SCHNEIDER (ICM) 41.1%
Exports $700 million f.o.b. (2001 est.) $NA
Exports - commodities foodstuffs and tobacco, textiles, chemicals, precious stones, metal and metal products, electrical equipment and products, jewelry, paper and paper products refined petroleum products
Exports - partners Saudi Arabia 11%, UAE 11%, Switzerland 7%, US 7%, France 5%, Iraq 4%, Jordan 4%, Kuwait 4%, Syria 4% (2000) US, Puerto Rico
Fiscal year calendar year 1 October - 30 September
Flag description three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double width), and red with a green cedar tree centered in the white band white, with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel
GDP purchasing power parity - $18.8 billion (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $1.8 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 12%


industry: 21%


services: 67% (2000)
agriculture:
NA%

industry:
NA%

services:
NA%
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $5,200 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 1% (2001 est.) NA%
Geographic coordinates 33 50 N, 35 50 E 18 20 N, 64 50 W
Geography - note Nahr el Litani only major river in Near East not crossing an international boundary; rugged terrain historically helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based on religion, clan, and ethnicity important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural, deepwater harbors in the Caribbean
Highways total: 7,300 km


paved: 6,350 km


unpaved: 950 km (1999 est.)
total:
856 km

paved:
NA km

unpaved:
NA km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


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

highest 10%:
NA%
Illicit drugs cannabis cultivation dramatically reduced to 2,500 hectares in 2002; opium poppy cultivation minimal; small amounts of Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin transit country on way to US and European markets -
Imports $6.6 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.) $NA
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, textiles, metals, fuels, agricultural foods crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
Imports - partners Italy 11%, France 8%, Germany 8%, US 7%, Switzerland 6%, China 5%, Syria 5%, UK 4% (2000) US, Puerto Rico
Independence 22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration) -
Industrial production growth rate NA% NA%
Industries banking; food processing; jewelry; cement; textiles; mineral and chemical products; wood and furniture products; oil refining; metal fabricating tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
Infant mortality rate 27.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) 9.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 0.5% (2001 est.) NA%
International organization participation ABEDA, ACCT, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer) ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 22 (2000) 50 (2000)
Irrigated land 1,200 sq km (1998 est.) NA sq km
Judicial branch four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercial cases and one court for criminal cases); Constitutional Council (called for in Ta'if Accord - rules on constitutionality of laws); Supreme Council (hears charges against the president and prime minister as needed) US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms)
Labor force 1.5 million


note: in addition, there are as many as 1 million foreign workers (1999 est.) (2001 est.)
47,443 (1990 est.)
Labor force - by occupation services NA%, industry NA%, agriculture NA% agriculture 1%, industry 20%, services 79% (1990 est.)
Land boundaries total: 454 km


border countries: Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km
0 km
Land use arable land: 17.6%


permanent crops: 12.51%


other: 69.89% (1998 est.)
arable land:
15%

permanent crops:
6%

permanent pastures:
26%

forests and woodland:
6%

other:
47% (1993 est.)
Languages Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian English (official), Spanish, Creole
Legal system mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code, and civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on US laws
Legislative branch unicameral National Assembly or Majlis Alnuwab (Arabic) or Assemblee Nationale (French) (128 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of sectarian proportional representation to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 27 August and 3 September 2000 (next to be held NA 2004)


election results: percent of vote by party - Muslim 57% (of which Sunni 25%, Sh'ite 25%, Druze 6%, Alawite less than 1%), Christian 43% (of which Maronite 23%); seats by party - Muslim 64 (of which Sunni 27, Sh'ite 27, Druze 8, Alawite 2), Christian 64 (of which Maronite 34)
unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)

elections:
last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2002)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Democratic Party 6, ICM 2, independents 7

note:
the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2002); results - Donna M. CHRISTIAN-CHRISTENSON (Democrat) elected
Life expectancy at birth total population: 71.79 years


male: 69.38 years


female: 74.32 years (2002 est.)
total population:
78.27 years

male:
74.38 years

female:
82.39 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 86.4%


male: 90.8%


female: 82.2% (1997 est.)
definition:
NA

total population:
NA%

male:
NA%

female:
NA%
Location Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Map references Middle East Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine total: 67 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 320,770 GRT/468,293 DWT


ships by type: bulk 8, cargo 38, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 1, container 4, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 7, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 3, vehicle carrier 3


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: France 1, Greece 10, Netherlands 4, Panama 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Spain 1, Syria 2 (2002 est.)
none (2000 est.)
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of the US
Military branches Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF; includes Army, Navy, and Air Force) -
Military expenditures - dollar figure $343 million (FY99/00) -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 4.8% (FY99/00) -
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 1,003,174 (2002 est.) -
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 618,129 (2002 est.) -
National holiday Independence Day, 22 November (1943) Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917)
Nationality noun: Lebanese (singular and plural)


adjective: Lebanese
noun:
Virgin Islander(s)

adjective:
Virgin Islander
Natural hazards dust storms, sandstorms several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
Natural resources limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit region, arable land sun, sand, sea, surf
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) 0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines crude oil 72 km (none in operation) -
Political parties and leaders political party activity is organized along largely sectarian lines; numerous political groupings exist, consisting of individual political figures and followers motivated by religious, clan, and economic considerations Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHON]; Republican Party [Gary SCROUVE]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 3,677,780 (July 2002 est.) 122,211 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 28% (1999 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 1.36% (2002 est.) 1.06% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Antilyas, Batroun, Beirut, Chekka, El Mina, Ez Zahrani, Jbail, Jounie, Naqoura, Sidon, Tripoli, Tyre Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix
Radio broadcast stations AM 20, FM 22, shortwave 4 (1998) AM 5, FM 11, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 2.85 million (1997) 107,000 (1997)
Railways total: 399 km


standard gauge: 317 km 1.435-m


narrow gauge: 82 km 1.050-m


note: entire system is unusable because of damage in civil war (2001)
0 km
Religions Muslim 70% (including Shi'a, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri), Christian 30% (including Orthodox Christian, Catholic, Protestant), Jewish NEGL% Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female


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


total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
at birth:
1.06 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.06 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.88 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized for women at age 21 with elementary education 18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Telephone system general assessment: telecommunications system severely damaged by civil war; rebuilding well underway


domestic: primarily microwave radio relay and cable


international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean) (erratic operations); coaxial cable to Syria; microwave radio relay to Syria but inoperable beyond Syria to Jordan; 3 submarine coaxial cables
general assessment:
NA

domestic:
modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay

international:
submarine cable and satellite communications; satellite earth stations - NA
Telephones - main lines in use 700,000 (1999) 62,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 580,000 (1999) 2,000 (1992)
Television broadcast stations 15 (plus 5 repeaters) (1995) 2 (1997)
Terrain narrow coastal plain; El Beqaa (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
Total fertility rate 2.02 children born/woman (2002 est.) 2.25 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 18% (1997 est.) 4.9% (March 1999)
Waterways none none
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