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Compare Sierra Leone (2004) - Spratly Islands (2004)

Compare Sierra Leone (2004) z Spratly Islands (2004)

 Sierra Leone (2004)Spratly Islands (2004)
 Sierra LeoneSpratly Islands
Administrative divisions 3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western* -
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.)
-
Agriculture - products rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish -
Airports 10 (2003 est.) 3 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 1


less than 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 9


914 to 1,523 m: 7


under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
total: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Area total: 71,740 sq km


land: 71,620 sq km


water: 120 sq km
total: less than 5 sq km


land: less than 5 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over an area of nearly 410,000 sq km of the central South China Sea
Area - comparative slightly smaller than South Carolina NA
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. The Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs. They are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and potentially by gas and oil deposits. They are claimed in their entirety by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, while portions are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines. About 45 islands are occupied by relatively small numbers of military forces from China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Brunei has established a fishing zone that overlaps a southern reef, but has not made any formal claim.
Birth rate 43.34 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) -
Budget revenues: $96 million


expenditures: $351 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000 est.)
-
Capital Freetown -
Climate tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April) tropical
Coastline 402 km 926 km
Constitution 1 October 1991; subsequently amended several times -
Country name conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone


conventional short form: Sierra Leone
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Spratly Islands
Currency leone (SLL) -
Death rate 20.62 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) -
Debt - external $1.5 billion (2002 est.) -
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
-
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
-
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 all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone that encompasses Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands but has not publicly claimed the reef; claimants in November 2002 signed the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," which has eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct"
Economic aid - recipient $103 million (2001 est.) -
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. Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. The proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests the potential for oil and gas deposits, but the region is largely unexplored; there are no reliable estimates of potential reserves; commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.
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: South China Sea 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 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, 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 -
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) -
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%
-
Exports NA (2001) -
Exports - commodities diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish (1999) -
Exports - partners Belgium 61.2%, Germany 14.2%, UK 4.5%, US 4.5% (2003) -
Fiscal year calendar year -
Flag description three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and light blue -
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 8 38 N, 111 55 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 strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs
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) -
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals (1995) -
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) -
Independence 27 April 1961 (from UK) -
Industrial production growth rate NA -
Industries mining (diamonds); small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining -
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.)
-
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 -
Irrigated land 290 sq km (1998 est.) 0 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court; Appeals Court; High Court -
Labor force 1.369 million (1981 est.) -
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% (2001)
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%) -
Legal system based on English law and customary laws indigenous to local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction -
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
-
Life expectancy at birth total population: 42.69 years


male: 40.23 years


female: 45.21 years (2004 est.)
-
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, group of reefs and islands in the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines
Map references Africa Southeast Asia
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 24 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200 nm
NA
Merchant marine total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 7,435 GRT/8,750 DWT


by type: cargo 2 (2004 est.)
-
Military - note - Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs, of which about 45 are claimed and occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam
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) -
Nationality noun: Sierra Leonean(s)


adjective: Sierra Leonean
-
Natural hazards dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms typhoons; serious maritime hazard because of numerous reefs and shoals
Natural resources diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population


note: refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly returning (2004 est.)
-
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 -
Political pressure groups and leaders Trade Unions and Student Unions -
Population 5,883,889 (July 2004 est.) no indigenous inhabitants


note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of several claimant states (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line 68% (1989 est.) -
Population growth rate 2.27% (2004 est.) -
Ports and harbors Bonthe, Freetown, Pepel none; offshore anchorage only
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 9, shortwave 1 (1999) -
Religions Muslim 60%, indigenous beliefs 30%, Christian 10% -
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.)
-
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)
-
Telephones - main lines in use 24,000 (2002) -
Telephones - mobile cellular 67,000 (2002) -
Television broadcast stations 2 (1999) -
Terrain coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east flat
Total fertility rate 5.79 children born/woman (2004 est.) -
Unemployment rate NA -
Waterways 800 km (2003) -
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