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Compare Sierra Leone (2004) - Christmas Island (2008)

Compare Sierra Leone (2004) z Christmas Island (2008)

 Sierra Leone (2004)Christmas Island (2008)
 Sierra LeoneChristmas Island
Administrative divisions 3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western* none (territory of Australia)
Age structure 0-14 years: 44.8% (male 1,291,621; female 1,343,827)


15-64 years: 52% (male 1,458,610; female 1,599,109)


65 years and over: 3.2% (male 91,232; female 99,490) (2004 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 10 (2003 est.) 1 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 9


914 to 1,523 m: 7


under 914 m: 2 (2004 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 three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
Background The 1991 to 2002 civil war between the government and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) 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. With the support of the UN peacekeeping force and contributions from the World Bank and international community, demobilization and disarmament of the RUF and Civil Defense Forces (CDF) combatants has been completed. National elections were held in May 2002 and the government continues to slowly reestablish its authority. However, the gradual withdrawal of most UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) peacekeepers in 2004 and early 2005, deteriorating political and economic conditions in Guinea, and the tenuous security situation in neighboring Liberia may present challenges to the continuation of Sierra Leone's stability. Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement began by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.
Birth rate 43.34 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) NA
Budget revenues: $96 million


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


expenditures: $NA
Capital Freetown name: The Settlement


geographic coordinates: 10 25 S, 105 43 E


time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April) tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; 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 1958-59 (1 October 1958) as amended by the Territories Law Reform Act of 1992
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) -
Death rate 20.62 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) NA
Debt - external $1.5 billion (2002 est.) -
Dependency status - non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General's Department
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Peter Russell CHAVEAS


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 Ibrahim M. KAMARA


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 domestic fighting among disparate rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone have created insurgencies, street violence, looting, arms trafficking, ethnic conflicts, and refugees in border areas; in 2003, Guinea and Sierra Leone established a boundary commission to resolve a dispute over the town of Yenga none
Economic aid - recipient $103 million (2001 est.) $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, following a 11-year civil war. 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. Plans continue to reopen bauxite and rutile mines shut down during the conflict. The major source of hard currency consists of the mining of diamonds. The fate of the economy depends upon the maintenance of domestic peace and the continued receipt of substantial aid from abroad, which is essential to offset the severe trade imbalance and to supplement government revenues. 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. With the support of the government, a $34 million casino opened in 1993, but closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, expected to begin operations in the near future.
Electricity - consumption 232.6 million kWh (2001) -
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) -
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) -
Electricity - production 250.1 million kWh (2001) -
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 loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
-
Ethnic groups 20 native African tribes 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%), Creole (Krio) 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 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%


note: no indigenous population (2001)
Exchange rates leones per US dollar - 2,347.94 (2003), 2,099.03 (2002), 1,986.15 (2001), 2,092.12 (2000), 1,804.19 (1999) Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003)
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 last held 14 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2007); note - president's tenure of office is limited to two five-year terms


election results: Ahmad Tejan KABBAH reelected president; percent of vote - Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (SLPP) 70.6%, Ernest KOROMA (APC) 22.4%
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general


head of government: Administrator Neil LUCAS (since 30 January 2006)


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
Exports NA (2001) $NA
Exports - commodities diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish (1999) phosphate
Exports - partners Belgium 61.2%, Germany 14.2%, UK 4.5%, US 4.5% (2003) Australia, NZ (2006)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 July - 30 June
Flag description three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and light blue territorial flag; divided diagonally from upper hoist to lower fly; the upper triangle is green with a yellow image of the Golden Bosun Bird superimposed, while the lower triangle is blue with the Southern Cross constellation, representing Australia, superimposed; a centered yellow disk displays a green map of the island


note: the flag of Australia is used for official purposes
GDP purchasing power parity - $3.057 billion (2003 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 49%


industry: 31%


services: 21% (2001 est.)
-
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $500 (2003 est.) -
GDP - real growth rate 6.5% (2003 est.) -
Geographic coordinates 8 30 N, 11 30 W 10 30 S, 105 40 E
Geography - note rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 inches) a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal, western Africa located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
Heliports 2 (2003 est.) -
Highways total: 11,330 km


paved: 895 km


unpaved: 10,435 km (1999)
-
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 0.5%


highest 10%: 43.6% (1989)
-
Imports NA (2001) $NA
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals (1995) consumer goods
Imports - partners Germany 23.7%, UK 9.9%, Cote d'Ivoire 7.4%, France 7.4%, US 5.3%, Netherlands 5.1%, Ukraine 4.6% (2003) principally Australia (2006)
Independence 27 April 1961 (from UK) none (territory of Australia)
Industrial production growth rate NA -
Industries mining (diamonds); small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Infant mortality rate total: 145.24 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 162.64 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 127.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
total: NA


male: NA


female: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 1% (2002 est.) -
International organization participation ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO none
Irrigated land 290 sq km (1998 est.) NA
Judicial branch Supreme Court; Appeals Court; High Court Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court
Labor force 1.369 million (1981 est.) NA
Labor force - by occupation agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA -
Land boundaries total: 958 km


border countries: Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km
0 km
Land use arable land: 6.98%


permanent crops: 0.89%


other: 92.13% (2001)
arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park) (2005)
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 (official), 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 Parliament (124 seats - 112 elected by popular vote, 12 filled by paramount chiefs elected in separate elections; members serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 14 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - SLPP 70.06%, APC 22.35%, PLP 3%, others 4.59%; seats by party - SLPP 83, APC 27, PLP 2
unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held 20 October 2007 (next to be held in 2009)


election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9
Life expectancy at birth total population: 42.69 years


male: 40.23 years


female: 45.21 years (2004 est.)
total population: NA


male: NA


female: NA
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.)
NA
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: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 24 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 12 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Merchant marine total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 7,435 GRT/8,750 DWT


by type: cargo 2 (2004 est.)
-
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of Australia
Military branches Army (RSLAF) -
Military expenditures - dollar figure $11.7 million (2003) -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.5% (2003) -
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 1,265,140 (2004 est.) -
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 614,338 (2004 est.) -
National holiday Independence Day, 27 April (1961) Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
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, beaches
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population


note: refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly returning (2004 est.)
NA
Political parties and leaders All People's Congress or APC [Ben KANU]; Peace and Liberation Party or PLP [Darlington MORRISON, interim chairman]; Sierra Leone People's Party or SLPP [Sama BANYA]; numerous others none
Political pressure groups and leaders Trade Unions and Student Unions none
Population 5,883,889 (July 2004 est.) 1,402 (July 2006 est.) (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line 68% (1989 est.) -
Population growth rate 2.27% (2004 est.) 0% (2007 est.)
Ports and harbors Bonthe, Freetown, Pepel -
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 9, shortwave 1 (1999) AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2006)
Religions Muslim 60%, indigenous beliefs 30%, Christian 10% Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997)
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: 0.92 male(s)/female


total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
NA
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal -
Telephone system general assessment: marginal telephone and telegraph service


domestic: the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema


international: country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment: service provided by the Australian network


domestic: GSM mobile telephone service replaced older analog system in February 2005


international: country code - 61-8; satellite earth stations - 1 INTELSAT earth station provides telephone and telex service (2005)
Telephones - main lines in use 24,000 (2002) NA
Telephones - mobile cellular 67,000 (2002) -
Television broadcast stations 2 (1999) 0 (TV broadcasts received via satellite from mainland Australia) (2006)
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 5.79 children born/woman (2004 est.) NA
Unemployment rate NA -
Waterways 800 km (2003) -
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