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Compare Sierra Leone (2001) - Christmas Island (2001)

Compare Sierra Leone (2001) z Christmas Island (2001)

 Sierra Leone (2001)Christmas Island (2001)
 Sierra LeoneChristmas Island
Administrative divisions 3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western* none (territory of Australia)
Age structure 0-14 years:
44.73% (male 1,190,207; female 1,237,326)

15-64 years:
52.12% (male 1,351,455; female 1,477,155)

65 years and over:
3.15% (male 84,364; female 86,111) (2001 est.)
0-14 years:
NA%

15-64 years:
NA%

65 years and over:
NA%
Agriculture - products rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish NA
Airports 11 (2000 est.) 1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total:
1

over 3,047 m:
1 (2000 est.)
total:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
10

914 to 1,523 m:
7

under 914 m:
3 (2000 est.)
-
Area total:
71,740 sq km

land:
71,620 sq km

water:
120 sq km
total:
135 sq km

land:
135 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than South Carolina about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Background Since 1991, civil war between the government and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (well over one-third of the population) many of whom are now refugees in neighboring countries. A peace agreement, signed in July 1999, collapsed in May 2000 after the RUF took over 500 UN peacekeepers hostage. The RUF stepped up attacks on Guinea in December 2000, despite a cease-fire that it signed with the Freetown government one month earlier. As of late 2000, up to 13,000 UN peacekeepers were protecting the capital and key towns in the south. A UK force of 750 was helping to reinforce security and train the Sierra Leone army. Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement was begun by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. The phosphate mine, closed in 1987, was reopened four years later, but the need for an alternative industry has spurred investment in tourism. Old mining areas are being restored, and almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.
Birth rate 45.11 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) NA births/1,000 population
Budget revenues:
$96 million

expenditures:
$351 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
revenues:
$NA

expenditures:
$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Capital Freetown The Settlement
Climate tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April) tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Coastline 402 km 138.9 km
Constitution 1 October 1991; subsequently amended several times Christmas Island Act of 1958
Country name conventional long form:
Republic of Sierra Leone

conventional short form:
Sierra Leone
conventional long form:
Territory of Christmas Island

conventional short form:
Christmas Island
Currency leone (SLL) Australian dollar (AUD)
Death rate 19.19 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) NA deaths/1,000 population
Debt - external $1.28 billion (1999) $NA
Dependency status - territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Joseph H. MELROSE, Jr.

embassy:
Corner of Walpole and Siaka Stevens Streets, Freetown

mailing address:
use embassy street address

telephone:
[232] (22) 226481 through 226485

FAX:
[232] (22) 225471
none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador John Ernest LEIGH

chancery:
1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone:
[1] (202) 939-9261 through 9263

FAX:
[1] (202) 483-1793
none (territory of Australia)
Disputes - international civil war has engendered massive refugee movements into neighboring Guinea and Liberia none
Economic aid - recipient $203.7 million (1995) $NA
Economy - overview Sierra Leone is an extremely poor African nation with tremendous inequality in income distribution. It does have substantial mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources. However, the economic and social infrastructure is not well developed, and serious social disorders continue to hamper economic development. About two-thirds of the working-age population engages in subsistence agriculture. Manufacturing consists mainly of the processing of raw materials and of light manufacturing for the domestic market. Bauxite and rutile mines have been shut down by civil strife. The major source of hard currency is found in the mining of diamonds, the large majority of which are smuggled out of the country. The resurgence of internal warfare in 1999 brought another substantial drop in GDP, with GNP recovering part of the way in 2000. The fate of the economy depends upon the maintenance of domestic peace and the continued receipt of substantial aid from abroad. Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened by union workers. With the support of the government, Australian-based Casinos Austria International Ltd. built a $34 million casino on Christmas Island, which opened in 1993. As of yearend 1999, gaming facilities at the casino were temporarily closed but were expected to reopen in early 2000. Another economic prospect is the possible location of a space-launching site on the island.
Electricity - consumption 223.2 million kWh (1999) NA kWh
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) -
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) -
Electricity - production 240 million kWh (1999) NA kWh
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

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

hydro:
NA%

nuclear:
NA%

other:
NA%
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m
lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Murray Hill 361 m
Environment - current issues rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleting natural resources; overfishing NA
Environment - international agreements party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
-
Ethnic groups 20 native African tribes 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%), Creole 10% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century), refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%, no indigenous population
Exchange rates leones per US dollar - 1,653.39 (January 2001), 2,092.13 (2000), 1,804.20 (1999), 1,563.62 (1998), 981.48 (1997), 920.73 (1996) Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.7995 (January 2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996)
Executive branch chief of state:
President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March 1996, reinstated 10 March 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government:
President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March 1996, reinstated 10 March 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet:
Ministers of State appointed by the president with the approval of the House of Representatives; the cabinet is responsible to the president

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election held 26-27 February and 15 March 1996 (next to be held NA September 2001); note - president's tenure of office is limited to two five-year terms

election results:
Ahmad Tejan KABBAH elected president; percent of vote - Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (SLPP) 59.5%, John KAREFA-SMART (UNPP) 40.5%
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general

head of government:
Administrator William Leonard TAYLOR (since 4 February 1999)

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
Exports $65 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) $NA
Exports - commodities diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish phosphate
Exports - partners Belgium 38%, US 6%, Italy 4%, UK 4% (1999) Australia, NZ
Fiscal year calendar year 1 July - 30 June
Flag description three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and light blue the flag of Australia is used
GDP purchasing power parity - $2.7 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
43%

industry:
26%

services:
31% (1999)
agriculture:
NA%

industry:
NA%

services:
NA%
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $510 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - real growth rate 4.2% (2000 est.) NA%
Geographic coordinates 8 30 N, 11 30 W 10 30 S, 105 40 E
Geography - note - located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
Heliports 1 (2000 est.) -
Highways total:
11,300 km

paved:
904 km

unpaved:
10,396 km (1997)
total:
140 km (not including 100 km that is maintained by private industry)

paved:
30 km

unpaved:
110 km (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
0.5%

highest 10%:
43.6% (1989)
lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
Imports $145 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) $NA
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals consumer goods
Imports - partners UK 34%, US 8%, Italy 7%, Nigeria 5% (1999) principally Australia
Independence 27 April 1961 (from UK) none (territory of Australia)
Industrial production growth rate NA% NA%
Industries mining (diamonds); small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Infant mortality rate 146.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) NA deaths/1,000 live births
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 15% (2000 est.) NA%
International organization participation ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO none
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 2 (2000)
Irrigated land 290 sq km (1993 est.) NA sq km
Judicial branch Supreme Court; Appeals Court; High Court Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court
Labor force 1.369 million (1981 est.)

note:
only about 65,000 wage earners (1985)
NA
Labor force - by occupation agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% tourism 400 people, mining 100 people (1995)
Land boundaries total:
958 km

border countries:
Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km
0 km
Land use arable land:
7%

permanent crops:
1%

permanent pastures:
31%

forests and woodland:
28%

other:
33% (1993 est.)
arable land:
NA%

permanent crops:
NA%

permanent pastures:
NA%

forests and woodland:
NA%

other:
NA%

note:
mainly tropical rainforest of which 60%-70% is in a national park
Languages English (official, regular use limited to literate minority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne (principal vernacular in the north), Krio (English-based Creole, spoken by the descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area, a lingua franca and a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%) English, Chinese, Malay
Legal system based on English law and customary laws indigenous to local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law
Legislative branch unicameral House of Representatives (80 seats - 68 elected by popular vote, 12 filled by paramount chiefs elected in separate elections; members serve five-year terms)

elections:
last held 26-27 February 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)

election results:
percent of vote by party - SLPP 36.1%, UNPP 21.6%, PDP 15.3%, APC 5.7%, NUP 5.3%, DCP 4.8%, other 11.2%; seats by party - SLPP 27, UNPP 17, PDP 12, APC 5, NUP 4, DCP 3; note - first elections since the former House of Representatives was shut down by the military coup of 29 April 1992
unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve one-year terms)

elections:
last held NA December 2000 (next to be held NA December 2001)

election results:
percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9
Life expectancy at birth total population:
45.6 years

male:
42.69 years

female:
48.61 years (2001 est.)
total population:
NA years

male:
NA years

female:
NA years
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic

total population:
31.4%

male:
45.4%

female:
18.2% (1995 est.)
-
Location Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
Map references Africa Southeast Asia
Maritime claims territorial sea:
200 NM

continental shelf:
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
contiguous zone:
12 NM

exclusive fishing zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
3 NM
Merchant marine total:
1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,057 GRT/3,498 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 1 (2000 est.)
none (2000 est.)
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of Australia
Military branches Army -
Military expenditures - dollar figure $46 million (FY96/97) -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 2% (FY96/97) -
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
1,161,790 (2001 est.)
-
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
563,631 (2001 est.)
-
National holiday Independence Day, 27 April (1961) NA
Nationality noun:
Sierra Leonean(s)

adjective:
Sierra Leonean
noun:
Christmas Islander(s)

adjective:
Christmas Island
Natural hazards dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Natural resources diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite phosphate
Net migration rate 10.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

note:
by the end of 1999 refugees from Sierra Leone are assumed to be returning
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Political parties and leaders All People's Congress or APC [Edward Mohammed TURAY, chairman]; Democratic Centre Party or DCP [Adu Aiah KOROMA]; National Democratic Alliance or NDA [Amadu M. B. JALLOH]; National Republican Party or NRP [Sahr Stephen MAMBU]; National Unity Party or NUP [Dr. John KARIMU, chairman]; People's Democratic Party or PDP [Thaimu BANGURA, chairman]; People's Progressive Party or PPP [Abass Chernok BUNDU, chairman]; Revolutionary United Front Party or RUFP [Foday SANKOH, chairman]; Sierra Leone People's Party or SLPP [President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH, chairman]; United National People's Party or UNPP [John KARIFA-SMART in exile, Raymond KAMARA, acting leader] none
Political pressure groups and leaders Trade Unions and Student Unions none
Population 5,426,618 (July 2001 est.) 2,771 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 68% (1989 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 3.61% (2001 est.) 7.77% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Bonthe, Freetown, Pepel Flying Fish Cove
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 9, shortwave 1 (1999) AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 1.12 million (1997) 1,000 (1997)
Railways total:
84 km used on a limited basis because the mine at Marampa is closed

narrow gauge:
84 km 1.067-m gauge
24 km to serve phosphate mines
Religions Muslim 60%, indigenous beliefs 30%, Christian 10% Buddhist 55%, Christian 15%, Muslim 10%, other 20% (1991)
Sex ratio at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
0.96 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.94 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
-
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal -
Telephone system general assessment:
marginal telephone and telegraph service

domestic:
national microwave radio relay trunk system, made unserviceable by military activities, is now operating from Freetown to Bo and Kenema (April 2001)

international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment:
NA

domestic:
NA

international:
satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service
Telephones - main lines in use 17,000 (1997) NA
Telephones - mobile cellular 650 (1999) 0 (1999)
Television broadcast stations 2 (1999) NA
Terrain coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Total fertility rate 6.01 children born/woman (2001 est.) NA children born/woman
Unemployment rate NA% NA%
Waterways 800 km (of which 600 km navigable year round) none
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