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Compare Montserrat (2004) - Switzerland (2003)

Compare Montserrat (2004) z Switzerland (2003)

 Montserrat (2004)Switzerland (2003)
 MontserratSwitzerland
Administrative divisions 3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter 26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; kantone, singular - kanton in German); Aargau, Appenzell Ausser-Rhoden, Appenzell Inner-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich
Age structure 0-14 years: 23.3% (male 1,092; female 1,062)


15-64 years: 65.5% (male 2,889; female 3,162)


65 years and over: 11.2% (male 543; female 497) (2004 est.)
0-14 years: 16.6% (male 623,428; female 591,709)


15-64 years: 67.8% (male 2,519,302; female 2,439,560)


65 years and over: 15.6% (male 470,257; female 674,382) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers, livestock products grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs
Airports 1 (2003 est.) 66 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total: 41


over 3,047 m: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 5


1,524 to 2,437 m: 10


914 to 1,523 m: 9


under 914 m: 14 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 25


1524 to 2437 m: 1


under 914 m: 24 (2002)
Area total: 102 sq km


land: 102 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 41,290 sq km


land: 39,770 sq km


water: 1,520 sq km
Area - comparative about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Background Much of this island was devastated and two-thirds of the population fled abroad because of the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano that began on 18 July 1995. Switzerland's independence and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and Switzerland was not involved in either of the two World Wars. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations, but retains a strong commitment to neutrality.
Birth rate 17.63 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) 9.59 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $31.4 million


expenditures: $31.6 million, including capital expenditures of $8.4 million (1997 est.)
revenues: $30 billion


expenditures: $30 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
Capital Plymouth (abandoned in 1997 due to volcanic activity; interim government buildings have been built at Brades Estate, in the Carr's Bay/Little Bay vicinity at the northwest end of Montserrat) Bern
Climate tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
Coastline 40 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution present constitution came into force 19 December 1989 18 December 1998
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Montserrat
conventional long form: Swiss Confederation


conventional short form: Switzerland


local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German), Confederation Suisse (French), Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)


local short form: Schweiz (German), Suisse (French), Svizzera (Italian)
Currency East Caribbean dollar (XCD) Swiss franc (CHF)
Death rate 7.36 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) 8.82 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $8.9 million (1997) $NA
Dependency status overseas territory of the UK -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission: Ambassador Mercer REYNOLDS III


embassy: Jubilaeumsstrasse 93, 3005 Bern


mailing address: use embassy street address


telephone: [41] (031) 357 70 11


FAX: [41] (031) 357 73 44
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission: Ambassador Christian BLICKENSTORFER


chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900


FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564


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


consulate(s): Boston
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - donor - ODA, $1.1 billion (1995)
Economic aid - recipient As of 31 March 2003, UK's DFID had provided about $328 million in economic relief from volcanic activity, and by 31 March 2006, DFID aid is expected to total $411 million. -
Economy - overview Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995, has put a damper on this small, open economy. A catastrophic eruption in June 1997 closed the airports and seaports, causing further economic and social dislocation. Two-thirds of the 12,000 inhabitants fled the island. Some began to return in 1998, but lack of housing limited the number. The agriculture sector continued to be affected by the lack of suitable land for farming and the destruction of crops. Prospects for the economy depend largely on developments in relation to the volcano and on public sector construction activity. The UK has launched a three-year $122.8 million aid program to help reconstruct the economy. Half of the island is expected to remain uninhabitable for another decade. Switzerland is a prosperous and stable modern market economy with low unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and a per capita GDP larger than that of the big western European economies. The Swiss in recent years have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with the EU's to enhance their international competitiveness. Switzerland remains a safe haven for investors, because it has maintained a degree of bank secrecy and has kept up the franc's long-term external value. Reflecting the anemic economic conditions of Europe, GDP growth dropped in 2001 to about 0.8%, to 0.2% in 2002, and to -0.3% in 2003.
Electricity - consumption 2.325 million kWh (2001) 53.43 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 34.54 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 24.1 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 2.5 million kWh (2001) 68.68 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 1.3%


hydro: 59.5%


nuclear: 37.1%


other: 2% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Chances Peak (in the Soufriere Hills volcanic complex) 914 m
lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m


highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m
Environment - current issues land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity
Environment - international agreements - party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling


signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea
Ethnic groups black, white German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%
Exchange rates East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976) Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.56 (2002), 1.69 (2001), 1.69 (2000), 1.5 (1999), 1.45 (1998)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Deborah Barnes JONES (since 10 May 2004)


head of government: Chief Minister John OSBORNE (since 5 April 2001)


cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief minister, three other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary


elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually becomes chief minister
chief of state: President Pascal COUCHEPIN (since 1 January 2003); Vice President Ruth METZLER (since 1 January 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President Pascal COUCHEPIN (since 1 January 2003); Vice President Ruth METZLER (since 1 January 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


cabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal (in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) elected by the Federal Assembly usually from among its own members for a four-year term


elections: president and vice president elected by the Federal Assembly from among the members of the Federal Council for one-year terms that run concurrently; election last held NA December 2002 (next to be held NA December 2003)


election results: Pascal COUCHEPIN elected president; percent of Federal Assembly vote - NA%; Ruth METZLER elected vice president; percent of legislative vote - NA%
Exports NA (2001) 10,420 bbl/day (2001)
Exports - commodities electronic components, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products
Exports - partners US, Antigua and Barbuda Germany 19.2%, US 10.2%, Italy 9.6%, France 8.9%, UK 7.7% (2002)
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March calendar year
Flag description blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms features a woman standing beside a yellow harp with her arm around a black cross red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag
GDP purchasing power parity - $29 million (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $233.4 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 5.4%


industry: 13.6%


services: 81% (1996 est.)
agriculture: 2%


industry: 34%


services: 64% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $3,400 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $32,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate -1% (2002 est.) 0.1% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 16 45 N, 62 12 W 47 00 N, 8 00 E
Geography - note the island is entirely volcanic in origin and contains seven active volcanoes landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, has the highest elevations in the Alps
Heliports - 1 (2002)
Highways total: 227 km


paved: NA km


unpaved: NA km


note: volcanic eruptions beginning in 1995 destroyed most of the road system (2003)
total: 71,011 km


paved: 71,011 km (including 1,638 of expressways)


unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
lowest 10%: 2.6%


highest 10%: 25.2% (1992)
Illicit drugs transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe because of more stringent government regulations, used significantly less as a money-laundering center; transit country for and consumer of South American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin
Imports NA (2001) 289,500 bbl/day (2001)
Imports - commodities machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products, textiles
Imports - partners US, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Canada Germany 27.4%, France 11.4%, Italy 9.7%, US 8.5%, Russia 5.8%, UK 5.4%, Austria 4.6%, Netherlands 4.1% (2002)
Independence none (overseas territory of the UK) 1 August 1291 (Founding of the Swiss Confederation)
Industrial production growth rate NA 3.2% (2001)
Industries tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments
Infant mortality rate total: 7.56 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 8.8 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 6.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
total: 4.36 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 4.47 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 4.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.6% (2002 est.) 0.5% (2002 est.)
International organization participation Caricom, CDB, ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 44 (Switzerland and Liechtenstein) (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km 250 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia, one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court) Federal Supreme Court (judges elected for six-year terms by the Federal Assembly)
Labor force 4,521 ; note - lowered by flight of people from volcanic activity (2000 est.) 4 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA services 69.1%, industry 26.3%, agriculture 4.6% (1998)
Land boundaries 0 km total: 1,852 km


border countries: Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km
Land use arable land: 20%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 80% (2001)
arable land: 10.57%


permanent crops: 0.61%


other: 88.82% (1998 est.)
Languages English German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 19.2%, Italian (official) 7.6%, Romansch (official) 0.6%, other 8.9%
Legal system English common law and statutory law civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees of general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Legislative branch unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats, 9 popularly elected; members serve five-year terms)


note: expanded in 2001 from 7 to 9 elected members with attorney general and financial secretary sitting as ex-officio members


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


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NPLM 7, NPP 2


note: in 2001, the Elections Commission instituted a single constituency/voter-at-large system whereby all eligible voters cast ballots for all nine seats of the Legislative Council
bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung (in German), Assemblee Federale (in French), Assemblea Federale (in Italian) consists of the Council of States or Standerat (in German), Conseil des Etats (in French), Consiglio degli Stati (in Italian) (46 seats - members serve four-year terms) and the National Council or Nationalrat (in German), Conseil National (in French), Consiglio Nazionale (in Italian) (200 seats - members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)


elections: Council of States - last held NA 1999 (each canton determines when the next election will be held); National Council - last held 19 October 2003 (next to be held NA October 2007)


election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FDP 18, CVP 15, SVP 7, SPS 6; National Council - percent of vote by party - SVP 27.7%, SPS 24.2%, FDP 16%, CVP 12.9%, Greens 7.7%, other small parties all under 5%; seats by party - SVP 55, SPS 52, FDP 36, CVP 28, Green Party 13, other small parties 16
Life expectancy at birth total population: 78.53 years


male: 76.39 years


female: 80.78 years (2004 est.)
total population: 79.99 years


male: 77.11 years


female: 83.02 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school


total population: 97%


male: 97%


female: 97% (1970 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 99% (1980 est.)


male:


female:
Location Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Europe
Maritime claims territorial sea: 3 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
none (landlocked)
Merchant marine none total: 29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 597,049 GRT/1,051,380 DWT


ships by type: bulk 16, cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, container 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 1, specialized tanker 1


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: UK 6, US 1 (2002 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK -
Military branches no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force Army, Air Force, Frontier Guards, Fortification Guards
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $2.548 billion (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 1% (FY01)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 1,834,638 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 1,552,728 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 42,761 (2003 est.)
National holiday Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926) Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)
Nationality noun: Montserratian(s)


adjective: Montserratian
noun: Swiss (singular and plural)


adjective: Swiss
Natural hazards severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (Soufriere Hills volcano has erupted continuously since 1995) avalanches, landslides, flash floods
Natural resources negligible hydropower potential, timber, salt
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) 1.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Pipelines - gas 1,831 km; oil 212 km; refined products 7 km (2003)
Political parties and leaders National Progressive Party or NPP [Reuben T. MEADE]; New People's Liberation Movement or NPLM [John A. OSBORNE] Christian Democratic People's Party (Christichdemokratische Volkspartei der Schweiz or CVP, Parti Democrate-Chretien Suisse or PDC, Partito Democratico-Cristiano Popolare Svizzero or PDC, Partida Cristiandemocratica dalla Svizra or PCD) [Philipp STAEHELIN, president]; Green Party (Grune Partei der Schweiz or Grune, Parti Ecologiste Suisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi, Partida Ecologica Svizra or La Verda) [Ruth GENNER and Patrice MUGNY, co-presidents]; Radical Free Democratic Party (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz or FDP, Parti Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD, Partitio Liberal-Radicale Svizzero or PLR) [Christiane LANGENBERGER, president]; Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SPS, Parti Socialist Suisse or PSS, Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS, Partida Socialdemocratica de la Svizra or PSS) [Christiane BRUNNER, president]; Swiss People's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei or SVP, Union Democratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica de Centro or UDC, Uniun Democratica dal Center or UDC) [Ueli MAURER, president]; and other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 9,245


note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned (July 2004 est.)
7,318,638 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA NA%
Population growth rate 1.03% (2004 est.) 0.21% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Plymouth (abandoned), Little Bay (anchorages and ferry landing), Carr's Bay Basel
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 4, FM 113 (plus many low power stations), shortwave 2 (1998)
Railways - total: 4,511 km


standard gauge: 3,483 km 1.435-m gauge (3,472 km electrified)


narrow gauge: 982 km 1.000-m gauge (975 km electrified); 46 km 0.800-m gauge (46 km electrified) (2002)
Religions Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations Roman Catholic 46.1%, Protestant 40%, other 5%, none 8.9% (1990)
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


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


65 years and over: 1.09 male(s)/female


total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


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


65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: NA


domestic: NA


international: country code - 1-664
general assessment: excellent domestic and international services


domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks


international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use NA 4.82 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular 70 (1994) 1.967 million (1999)
Television broadcast stations 1 (1997) 115 (plus 1,919 repeaters) (1995)
Terrain volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
Total fertility rate 1.79 children born/woman (2004 est.) 1.48 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 6% (1998 est.) 1.9% (2002 est.)
Waterways - 65 km


note: The Rhine carries heavy traffic on the Basel-Rheinfelden and Schaffhausen-Bodensee stretches; there are also 12 navigable lakes
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