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Compare Liberia (2001) - Virgin Islands (2002)

Compare Liberia (2001) z Virgin Islands (2002)

 Liberia (2001)Virgin Islands (2002)
 LiberiaVirgin Islands
Administrative divisions 13 counties; Bomi, Bong, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, Sinoe 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:
43.21% (male 698,178; female 695,599)

15-64 years:
53.34% (male 840,103; female 880,403)

65 years and over:
3.45% (male 56,073; female 55,481) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: 26.7% (male 16,926; female 16,012)


15-64 years: 64.2% (male 35,801; female 43,443)


65 years and over: 9.1% (male 4,851; female 6,465) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
Airports 46 (2000 est.) 2 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total:
2

over 3,047 m:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1 (2000 est.)
total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
44

1,524 to 2,437 m:
3

914 to 1,523 m:
5

under 914 m:
36 (2000 est.)
-
Area total:
111,370 sq km

land:
96,320 sq km

water:
15,050 sq km
total: 352 sq km


land: 349 sq km


water: 3 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than Tennessee twice the size of Washington, DC
Background Seven years of civil strife were brought to a close in 1996 when free and open presidential and legislative elections were held. President TAYLOR now holds strong executive power with no real political opposition. The years of fighting coupled with the flight of most businesses have disrupted formal economic activity. A still unsettled domestic security situation has slowed the process of rebuilding the social and economic structure of this war-torn country. 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 46.55 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 15.85 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues:
$NA

expenditures:
$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
revenues: $364.4 million


expenditures: $364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)
Capital Monrovia Charlotte Amalie
Climate tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November
Coastline 579 km 188 km
Constitution 6 January 1986 Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
Country name conventional long form:
Republic of Liberia

conventional short form:
Liberia
conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands


conventional short form: Virgin Islands


former: Danish West Indies
Currency Liberian dollar (LRD) US dollar (USD)
Death rate 16.36 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 5.58 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $3 billion (1999 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 Bismarck MYRICK

embassy:
111 United Nations Drive, P. O. Box 10-0098, Mamba Point, Monrovia

mailing address:
use embassy street address

telephone:
[231] 226-370 through 226-380

FAX:
[231] 226-148
none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador William BULL

chancery:
5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

telephone:
[1] (202) 723-0437

FAX:
[1] (202) 723-0436

consulate(s) general:
New York
none (territory of the US)
Disputes - international large refugee population from civil war in Sierra Leone none
Economic aid - recipient $200 million pledged (1998) $NA
Economy - overview A civil war in 1989-96 destroyed much of Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around Monrovia. Many businessmen fled the country, taking capital and expertise with them. Some returned during 1997. Many will not return. Richly endowed with water, mineral resources, forests, and a climate favorable to agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and exporter of basic products, while local manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope. The democratically elected government, installed in August 1997, inherited massive international debts and currently relies on revenues from its maritime registry to provide the bulk of its foreign exchange earnings. The restoration of the infrastructure and the raising of incomes in this ravaged economy depend on the implementation of sound macro- and micro-economic policies of the new government, including the encouragement of foreign investment. Recent growth has been from a low base, and continued growth will require major policy successes. 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, reduce crime, and protect the environment.
Electricity - consumption 401.8 million kWh (1999) 948.6 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 432 million kWh (1999) 1.02 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Mount Wuteve 1,380 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
Environment - current issues tropical rain forest subject to deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage lack of natural freshwater resources
Environment - international agreements party to:
Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94

signed, but not ratified:
Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
-
Ethnic groups indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, and Bella), Americo-Liberians 2.5% (descendants of immigrants from the US who had been slaves), Congo People 2.5% (descendants of immigrants from the Caribbean who had been slaves) 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 Liberian dollars per US dollar - 39.8100 (December 2000), 41.0483 (2000), 41.9025 (1999), 41.5075 (1998), 1.0000 (officially fixed rate 1940-97); market exchange rate: Liberian dollars per US dollar - 40 (December 1998), 50 (October 1995)

note:
until December 1997, rates were based on a fixed relationship with the US dollar; beginning in January 1998, rates are market determined
the US dollar is used
Executive branch chief of state:
President Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (since 2 August 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government:
President Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (since 2 August 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (renewable); election last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held NA July 2003)

election results:
Charles Ghankay TAYLOR elected president; percent of vote - Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (NPP) 75.3%, Ellen Johnson SIRLEAF (UP) 9.6%, Alhaji KROMAH (ALCOP) 4%, other 11.1%
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 5 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2006)


election results: Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL reelected governor; percent of vote - Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (Democrat) 50.5%, John de Jongh 24.4%
Exports $55 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) $NA
Exports - commodities diamonds, iron ore, rubber, timber, coffee, cocoa refined petroleum products
Exports - partners Belgium 53%, Switzerland 9%, US 6%, France 4% (1999) US, Puerto Rico
Fiscal year calendar year 1 October - 30 September
Flag description 11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the US flag 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 - $3.35 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $1.8 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
60%

industry:
10%

services:
30% (2000 est.)
agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 15% (2000 est.) NA%
Geographic coordinates 6 30 N, 9 30 W 18 20 N, 64 50 W
Geography - note - 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:
10,600 km

paved:
657 km

unpaved:
9,943 km

note:
(there is major deterioration on all highways due to heavy rains and lack of maintenance) (1996 est.)
total: 856 km


paved: NA km


unpaved: NA km


note: the only US posession where driving on the left side of the road is practiced (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
NA%

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


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs increasingly a transshipment point for Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine for the European and US markets -
Imports $170 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) $NA
Imports - commodities fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods; rice and other foodstuffs crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
Imports - partners South Korea 30%, Italy 24%, Japan 15%, Germany 9% (1999) US, Puerto Rico
Independence 26 July 1847 -
Industrial production growth rate NA NA%
Industries rubber processing, palm oil processing, diamonds tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
Infant mortality rate 132.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 9.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 5% (2000 est.) NA%
International organization participation ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 50 (2000)
Irrigated land 20 sq km (1993 est.) NA sq km
Judicial branch Supreme Court US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms)
Labor force - 48,356
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 70%, industry 8%, services 22% (1999 est.) agriculture 1%, industry 20%, services 79% (1990 est.)
Land boundaries total:
1,585 km

border countries:
Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone 306 km
0 km
Land use arable land:
1%

permanent crops:
3%

permanent pastures:
59%

forests and woodland:
18%

other:
19% (1993 est.)
arable land: 15%


permanent crops: 6%


other: 79% (1998 est.)
Languages English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages, of which a few can be written and are used in correspondence English (official), Spanish, Creole
Legal system dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American common law for the modern sector and customary law based on unwritten tribal practices for indigenous sector based on US laws
Legislative branch bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (26 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve nine-year terms) and the House of Representatives (64 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)

elections:
Senate - last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held in NA 2006); House of Representatives - last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held in NA 2003)

election results:
Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NPP 21, UP 3, ALCOP 2; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NPP 49, UP 7, ALCOP 3, Alliance of Political Parties 2, UPP 2, LPP 1; note - the Alliance of Political Parties was a coalition of the LAP and the Liberia Unification Party or LUP
unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)


elections: last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Democratic Party 8, ICM NA, no party affiliation NA


note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004); results - Donna M. CHRISTIAN-CHRISTENSON (Democrat) reelected
Life expectancy at birth total population:
51.41 years

male:
49.96 years

female:
52.91 years (2001 est.)
total population: 78.43 years


male: 74.55 years


female: 82.53 years (2002 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
38.3%

male:
53.9%

female:
22.4% (1995 est.)

note:
these figures are increasing because of the improving school system
definition: NA


total population: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
Location Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Map references Africa Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims territorial sea:
200 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine total:
1,478 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 49,456,361 GRT/76,620,648 DWT

ships by type:
barge carrier 3, bulk 324, cargo 97, chemical tanker 163, combination bulk 20, combination ore/oil 38, container 245, liquefied gas 97, multi-functional large-load carrier 4, passenger 24, petroleum tanker 310, refrigerated cargo 74, roll on/roll off 19, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 12, vehicle carrier 45

note:
includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Argentina 8, Australia 1, Ashmore and Cartier Islands 1, Austria 5, Bermuda 5, Belgium 5, Burma 1, Brazil 8, Canada 1, China 28, Chile 7, Costa Rica 8, Cyprus 27, Denmark 4, Ecuador 1, Germany 117, Greece 83, Hong Kong 54, Croatia 9, Indonesia 2, India 8, Israel 1, Italy 8, Japan 85, South Korea 8, Latvia 15, Monaco 28, Mexico 6, Malaysia 1, Nigeria 1, Netherlands 7, Norway 86, Netherlands Antilles 1, NZ 1, Poland 2, Portugal 2, Philippines 1, Russia 22, Saudi Arabia 20, South Africa 1, Slovenia 1, Singapore 30, Spain 1, Sweden 8, Switzerland 23, UAE 5, Taiwan 10, UK 15, US 85, Uruguay 1, Vietnam 1 (2000 est.)
none (2002 est.)
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of the US
Military branches Army, Air Force, Navy -
Military expenditures - dollar figure $1 million (FY98) -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 2% (FY98) -
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
715,753 (2001 est.)
-
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
385,460 (2001 est.)
-
National holiday Independence Day, 26 July (1847) Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917)
Nationality noun:
Liberian(s)

adjective:
Liberian
noun: Virgin Islander(s)


adjective: Virgin Islander
Natural hazards dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March) several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
Natural resources iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower sun, sand, sea, surf
Net migration rate -11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

note:
by the end of 1999, all Liberian refugees, who had fled the domestic strife, were assumed to have returned
0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Political parties and leaders All Liberia Coalition Party or ALCOP [Lusinee KAMARA]; Liberian Action Party or LAP [Cletus WOTORSON]; Liberian National Union or LINU [Henry MONIBA, chairman]; Liberian People's Party or LPP [Togba-Nah TIPOTEH, chairman]; National Democratic Party of Liberia or NDPL [Isaac DAKINAH]; National Patriotic Party or NPP [Charles Ghankay TAYLOR] - governing party; People's Progressive Party or PPP [Chea CHEAPOO, chairman]; Reformation Alliance Party or RAP [Henry Boimah FAHNBULLEH, chairman]; True Whig Party or TWP [Rudolph SHERMAN, chairman]; United People's Party or UPP [Gabriel Baccus MATTHEWS, chairman]; Unity Party or UP [Charles Clarke] Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 3,225,837 (July 2001 est.) 123,498 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line 80% NA%
Population growth rate 1.92% (2001 est.) 1.04% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Buchanan, Greenville, Harper, Monrovia Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix
Radio broadcast stations AM 0, FM 6, shortwave 4 (1999) AM 5, FM 11, shortwave 0 (2002)
Radios 790,000 (1997) 107,000 (1997)
Railways total:
490 km (328 km single track); note - three rail systems owned and operated by foreign steel and financial interests in conjunction with the Liberian Government; one of these, the Lamco Railroad, closed in 1989 after iron ore production ceased; the other two were shut down by the civil war; large sections of the rail lines have been dismantled; approximately 60 km of railroad track was exported for scrap

standard gauge:
345 km 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge:
145 km 1.067-m gauge
0 km
Religions indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20% Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
Sex ratio at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female


total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Telephone system general assessment:
telephone and telegraph service via microwave radio relay network; main center is Monrovia

domestic:
NA

international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
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 6,000 (1997) 62,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 0 (1995) 2,000 (1992)
Television broadcast stations 2 (plus four low-power repeaters) (2000) 2 (2002)
Terrain mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
Total fertility rate 6.36 children born/woman (2001 est.) 2.24 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 70% 4.9% (March 1999)
Waterways none none
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