Compare Spratly Islands (2003) - Dominican Republic (2003)

Compare Spratly Islands (2003) z Dominican Republic (2003)

	Spratly Islands (2003)	Dominican Republic (2003)

Administrative divisions	-	29 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez Ramirez, San Cristobal, San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Valverde
Age structure	-	0-14 years: 33.6% (male 1,497,777; female 1,431,104) 15-64 years: 61.2% (male 2,719,505; female 2,614,495) 65 years and over: 5.2% (male 212,045; female 240,676) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products	-	sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef, eggs
Airports	3 (2002)	30 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways	total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)	total: 13 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways	total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2002)	total: 17 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 10 (2002)
Area	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	total: 48,730 sq km land: 48,380 sq km water: 350 sq km
Area - comparative	NA	slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire
Background	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 50 islands are occupied by China (about 450 soldiers), Malaysia (70-90), the Philippines (about 100), and Vietnam (about 1,500). Brunei is a claimant but has no outposts. (2002)	Explored and claimed by Columbus on his first voyage in 1492, the island of Hispaniola became a springboard for Spanish conquest of the Caribbean and the American mainland. In 1697, Spain recognized French dominion over the western third of the island, which in 1804 became Haiti. The remainder of the island, by then known as Santo Domingo, sought to gain its own independence in 1821, but was conquered and ruled by the Haitians for 22 years; it finally attained independence as the Dominican Republic in 1844. A legacy of unsettled, mostly non-representative, rule for much of its subsequent history was brought to an end in 1966 when Joaquin BALAGUER became president. He maintained a tight grip on power for most of the next 30 years when international reaction to flawed elections forced him to curtail his term in 1996. Since then, regular competitive elections have been held in which opposition candidates have won the presidency. The Dominican economy has had one of the fastest growth rates in the hemisphere over the past decade.
Birth rate	-	23.94 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget	-	revenues: $2.9 billion expenditures: $3.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.1 billion (2001 est.)
Capital	-	Santo Domingo
Climate	tropical	tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall
Coastline	926 km	1,288 km
Constitution	-	28 November 1966
Country name	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Spratly Islands	conventional long form: Dominican Republic conventional short form: none local long form: Republica Dominicana local short form: none
Currency	-	Dominican peso (DOP)
Death rate	-	6.88 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external	-	$4.8 billion (2002 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US	-	chief of mission: Ambassador Hans H. HERTELL embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo mailing address: Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500 telephone: [1] (809) 221-2171 FAX: [1] (809) 686-7437
Diplomatic representation in the US	-	chief of mission: Ambassador Hugo GUILIANI Cury chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-6280 FAX: [1] (202) 265-8057 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Jacksonville, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Mobile and Ponce (Puerto Rico)
Disputes - international	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 island; claimants in November 2002 signed the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea", a mechanism to ease tension but which fell short of a legally binding "code of conduct"	despite efforts to control illegal migration, destitute Haitians continue to cross into the Dominican Republic
Economic aid - recipient	-	$239.6 million (1995)
Economy - overview	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, and there are no reliable estimates of potential reserves; commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.	The Dominican Republic's economy experienced dramatic growth over the last decade, even though the economy was hit hard by Hurricane Georges in 1998. Although the country has long been viewed primarily as an exporter of sugar, coffee, and tobacco, in recent years the service sector has overtaken agriculture as the economy's largest employer, due to growth in tourism and free trade zones. The country suffers from marked income inequality; the poorest half of the population receives less than one-fifth of GNP, while the richest 10% enjoy nearly 40% of national income. Growth probably will slow in 2003 with reduced tourism and expected low growth in the US economy, the source of 87% of export revenues.
Electricity - consumption	-	8.543 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports	-	0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports	-	0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production	-	9.186 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source	-	fossil fuel: 92% hydro: 7.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0.4% (2001)
Elevation extremes	lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m	lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m
Environment - current issues	NA	water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation; Hurricane Georges damage
Environment - international agreements	-	party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Ethnic groups	-	white 16%, black 11%, mixed 73%
Exchange rates	-	Dominican pesos per US dollar - 18.61 (2002), 16.95 (2001), 16.42 (2000), 16.03 (1999), 15.27 (1998)
Executive branch	-	chief of state: President Rafael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez (since 16 August 2000); Vice President Milagros ORTIZ-BOSCH (since 16 August 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Rafael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez (since 16 August 2000); Vice President Milagros ORTIZ-BOSCH (since 16 August 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 16 May 2000 (next to be held NA May 2004) election results: Raphael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez elected president; percent of vote - Rafael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez (PRD) 49.87%, Danilo MEDINA (PLD) 24.95%, Joaquin BALAGUER (PRSC) 24.6%
Exports	-	NA (2001)
Exports - commodities	-	ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, meats, consumer goods
Exports - partners	-	US 85%, Canada 1.6%, UK 1.6% (2002)
Fiscal year	-	calendar year
Flag description	-	a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms featuring a shield supported by an olive branch (left) and a palm branch (right) is at the center of the cross; above the shield a blue ribbon displays the motto, DIOS, PATRIA, LIBERTAD (God, Fatherland, Liberty), and below the shield, REPUBLICA DOMINICANA appears on a red ribbon
GDP	-	purchasing power parity - $53.78 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector	-	agriculture: 11% industry: 34% services: 55% (2001)
GDP - per capita	-	purchasing power parity - $6,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate	-	4.1% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates	8 38 N, 111 55 E	19 00 N, 70 40 W
Geography - note	strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs	shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti)
Highways	-	total: 12,600 km paved: 6,224 km unpaved: 6,376 km (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share	-	lowest 10%: 2.1% highest 10%: 37.9% (1998)
Illicit drugs	-	transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; has become a transshipment point for ecstasy from the Netherlands and Belgium destined for US and Canada; substantial money-laundering activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor the Dominican Republic for illicit financial transactions
Imports	-	NA (2001)
Imports - commodities	-	foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners	-	US 51.5%, Venezuela 9.6%, Mexico 5.1%, Spain 4% (2002)
Independence	-	27 February 1844 (from Haiti)
Industrial production growth rate	-	2% (2001 est.)
Industries	-	tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco
Infant mortality rate	-	total: 34.19 deaths/1,000 live births male: 36.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 31.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	-	5.3% (2002 est.)
International organization participation	-	ACP, Caricom (observer), ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)	-	24 (2000)
Irrigated land	0 sq km (1998 est.)	2,590 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch	-	Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are elected by a Council made up of members of the legislative and executive branches with the president presiding)
Labor force	-	2.3 million - 2.6 million
Labor force - by occupation	-	services and government 58.7%, industry 24.3%, agriculture 17% (1998 est.)
Land boundaries	0 km	total: 360 km border countries: Haiti 360 km
Land use	arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.)	arable land: 21.08% permanent crops: 9.92% other: 69% (1998 est.)
Languages	-	Spanish
Legal system	-	based on French civil codes
Legislative branch	-	bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (30 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (149 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 16 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2006); Chamber of Deputies - last held 16 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2006) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PRD 24, PLD 3, PRSC 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PRD 83, PLD 49, PRSC 17
Life expectancy at birth	-	total population: 67.96 years male: 66.41 years female: 69.58 years (2003 est.)
Literacy	-	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 84.7% male: 84.6% female: 84.8% (2003 est.)
Location	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	Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti
Map references	Southeast Asia	Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims	NA	contiguous zone: 24 NM continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 6 NM
Merchant marine	-	total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,587 GRT/1,165 DWT ships by type: cargo 1 (2002 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, Navy, Air Force, National Police
Military expenditures - dollar figure	-	$180 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP	-	1.1% (FY98)
Military manpower - availability	-	males age 15-49: 2,319,419 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service	-	males age 15-49: 1,453,705 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - military age	-	18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually	-	males: 89,073 (2003 est.)
National holiday	-	Independence Day, 27 February (1844)
Nationality	-	noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican
Natural hazards	typhoons; serious maritime hazard because of numerous reefs and shoals	lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts
Natural resources	fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential	nickel, bauxite, gold, silver
Net migration rate	-	-3.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Pipelines	-	crude oil 96 km; petroleum products 8 km
Political parties and leaders	-	Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna]; Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Hatuey DE CAMPS]; Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Eduardo ESTRELLA]
Political pressure groups and leaders	-	Collective of Popular Organizations or COP
Population	no indigenous inhabitants note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of several claimant states (July 2003 est.)	8,715,602 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line	-	25%
Population growth rate	-	1.36% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors	none; offshore anchorage only	Barahona, La Romana, Manzanillo, Puerto Plata, San Pedro de Macoris, Santo Domingo
Radio broadcast stations	-	AM 120, FM 56, shortwave 4 (1998)
Railways	-	total: 1,503 km standard gauge: 375 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 142 km 0.762-m gauge note:: 986 km also operated by sugar companies in 1.076-m, 0.889-m, and 0.762-m gauges (2002)
Religions	-	Roman Catholic 95%
Sex ratio	-	at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage	-	18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age note: members of the armed forces and police cannot vote
Telephone system	-	general assessment: NA domestic: relatively efficient system based on islandwide microwave radio relay network international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use	-	709,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular	-	130,149 (1997)
Television broadcast stations	-	25 (1997)
Terrain	flat	rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed
Total fertility rate	-	2.92 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate	-	14.5% (2002 est.)
Waterways	none	none

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