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Compare Switzerland (2002) - Niue (2002)

Compare Switzerland (2002) z Niue (2002)

 Switzerland (2002)Niue (2002)
 SwitzerlandNiue
Administrative divisions 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 none; note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 14 villages at the second order
Age structure 0-14 years: 16.8% (male 629,513; female 597,472)


15-64 years: 67.7% (male 2,512,273; female 2,433,396)


65 years and over: 15.5% (male 461,722; female 667,618) (2002 est.)
0-14 years: NA%


15-64 years: NA%


65 years and over: NA%
Agriculture - products grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle
Airports 66 (2001) 1 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways 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)
total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 25


under 914 m: 24 (2002)
-
Area total: 41,290 sq km


land: 39,770 sq km


water: 1,520 sq km
total: 260 sq km


land: 260 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Background 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. Niue's remoteness, as well as cultural and linguistic differences between its Polynesian inhabitants and those of the rest of the Cook Islands, have caused it to be separately administered. The population of the island continues to drop (from a peak of 5,200 in 1966 to about 2,100 in 2002) with substantial emigration to New Zealand, 2,400 km to the southwest.
Birth rate 9.84 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) NA births/1,000 population
Budget revenues: $30 billion


expenditures: $30 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
revenues: $NA


expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Capital Bern Alofi
Climate temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 64 km
Constitution 29 May 1874 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)
Country name 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)
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Niue


former: Savage Island
Currency Swiss franc (CHF) New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Death rate 8.79 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) NA deaths/1,000 population
Debt - external $NA $NA
Dependency status - self-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1974; Niue fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs and defense; however, these responsibilities confer no rights of control and are only exercised at the request of the Government of Niue
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Mercer REYNOLDS III


embassy: Jubilaeumsstrasse 93, 3001 Bern


mailing address: use embassy street address


telephone: [41] (031) 357 70 11


FAX: [41] (031) 357 73 44
none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation in the US 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
none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - donor ODA, $1.1 billion (1995) (1995) -
Economic aid - recipient - $2.6 million from New Zealand (2002)
Economy - overview 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. Although the Swiss are not pursuing full EU membership in the near term, in 1999 Bern and Brussels signed agreements to further liberalize trade ties. They continue to discuss further areas for cooperation. 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% and to about 0% in 2002. The economy suffers from the typical Pacific island problems of geographic isolation, few resources, and a small population. Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, and the shortfall is made up by critically needed grants from New Zealand that are used to pay wages to public employees. Niue has cut government expenditures by reducing the public service by almost half. The agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists primarily of small factories to process passion fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is an important source of revenue. The island in recent years has suffered a serious loss of population because of migration of Niueans to New Zealand. Efforts to increase GDP include the promotion of tourism and a financial services industry, although Premier LAKATANI announced in February 2002 that Niue will shut down the offshore banking industry. Economic aid from New Zealand in 2002 will be about $2.6 million.
Electricity - consumption 52.62 billion kWh (2000) 2.79 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 31.4 billion kWh (2000) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 24.33 billion kWh (2000) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 64.182 billion kWh (2000) 3 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 4%


hydro: 57%


nuclear: 37%


other: 2% (2000)
fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m


highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location near Mutalau settlement 68 m
Environment - current issues air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture
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
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification


signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Ethnic groups German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6% Polynesian (with some 200 Europeans, Samoans, and Tongans)
Exchange rates Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.6668 (January 2002), 1.6876 (2001), 1.6888 (2000), 1.5022 (1999), 1.4498 (1998), 1.4513 (1997) New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.3535 (January 2002), 2.3776 (2001), 2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8629 (1998), 1.5082 (1997)
Executive branch 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%
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner John BRYAN (since NA May 2000)


head of government: Premier Young VIVIAN (since 1 May 2002)


cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and three ministers


elections: the monarch is hereditary; premier elected by the Legislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held 1 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2005)


election results: Young VIVIAN elected premier; percent of Legislative Assembly vote - Young VIVIAN (NPP) 70%, Hunukitama HUNUKI (AI)30%
Exports $100.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.) $137,200 (1999)
Exports - commodities machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products canned coconut cream, copra, honey, vanilla, passion fruit products, pawpaws, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts
Exports - partners EU 61% (Germany 22.2%, France 9%, Italy 8%, UK 5.3%), US 10.6%, Japan 3.9% (2001) NZ mainly, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia
Fiscal year calendar year 1 April - 31 March
Flag description red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars - a large one on a blue disk in the center and a smaller one on each arm of the bold red cross
GDP purchasing power parity - $231 billion (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $7.6 million (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 2%


industry: 34%


services: 64% (2002 est.)
agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: 55%
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $31,700 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $3,600 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 2% (2002 est.) -0.3% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 47 00 N, 8 00 E 19 02 S, 169 52 W
Geography - note landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, has the highest elevations in the Alps one of world's largest coral islands
Heliports 1 (2002) -
Highways total: 71,059 km (including 1,638 km of expressways)


paved: 71,059 km


unpaved: 0 km (1999)
total: 234 km


paved: 86 km


unpaved: 148 km (106 km of which is access and plantation road) (2001)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 3%


highest 10%: 25% (1992)
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs 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 $94.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.) $2.38 million (1999)
Imports - commodities machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products, textiles food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs
Imports - partners EU 79.9% (Germany 32.2%, France 11%, Italy 10.2%, Netherlands 5.9%, UK 4.6%), US 5.1% (2001) NZ mainly, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Australia, US
Independence 1 August 1291 (Founding of the Swiss Confederation) on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand
Industrial production growth rate 3.2% (2001) NA%
Industries machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments tourism, handicrafts, food processing
Infant mortality rate 4.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) NA deaths/1,000 live births
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 0.5% (2002 est.) 1% (1995) (1995)
International organization participation ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, 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 (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC ACP, ESCAP (associate), FAO, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 44 (Switzerland and Liechtenstein) (2000) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 250 sq km (1998 est.) NA sq km
Judicial branch Federal Supreme Court (judges elected for six-year terms by the Federal Assembly) Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue
Labor force 4 million (2001) NA
Labor force - by occupation services 69%, industry 26%, agriculture 5% (1998) most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board
Land boundaries total: 1,852 km


border countries: Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km
0 km
Land use arable land: 10.57%


permanent crops: 0.61%


other: 88.82% (1998 est.)
arable land: 19.23%


permanent crops: 7.69%


other: 73.08% (1998 est.)
Languages German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 19.2%, Italian (official) 7.6%, Romansch 0.6%, other 8.9% Niuean, a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and Samoan; English
Legal system 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 English common law


note: Niue is self-governing, with the power to make its own laws
Legislative branch 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 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA October 2003)


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 - SPS 22.5%, SVP 22.6%, FDP 19.9%, CVP 15.8%, other small parties all under 5%; seats by party - SPS 51, SVP 44, FDP 43, CVP 35, Green Party 9, other small parties 18
unicameral Legislative Assembly (20 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; six elected from a common roll and 14 are village representatives)


elections: last held 21 March 2002 (next to be held in March 2005)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NPP 9, independents 11; note - all 20 seats were reelected
Life expectancy at birth total population: 79.86 years


male: 76.98 years


female: 82.89 years (2002 est.)
total population: NA years


male: NA years


female: NA years
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 99% (1980 est.)


male: NA%


female: NA%
definition: NA


total population: 95%


male: NA%


female: NA%
Location Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga
Map references Europe Oceania
Maritime claims none (landlocked) exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine total: 26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 509,943 GRT/896,309 DWT


ships by type: bulk 15, cargo 6, chemical tanker 4, petroleum tanker 1


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience:, United Kingdom 6, United States 1 (2002 est.)
none (2002 est.)
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
Military branches Army, Air Force, Frontier Guards, Fortification Guards no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure $2.548 billion (FY01) -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1% (FY01) -
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 1,841,867 (2002 est.) -
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 1,561,689 (2002 est.) -
Military manpower - military age 20 years of age (2002 est.) -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 42,597 (2002 est.) -
National holiday Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291) Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Nationality noun: Swiss (singular and plural)


adjective: Swiss
noun: Niuean(s)


adjective: Niuean
Natural hazards avalanches, landslides, flash floods typhoons
Natural resources hydropower potential, timber, salt fish, arable land
Net migration rate 1.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Pipelines crude oil 314 km; natural gas 1,506 km -
Political parties and leaders 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) [Gerold BUEHRER, 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 Niue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]; Alliance of Independents or AI [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 7,301,994 (July 2002 est.) 2,134 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 0.24% (2002 est.) 0.5% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Basel none; offshore anchorage only
Radio broadcast stations AM 4, FM 113 (plus many low power stations), shortwave 2 (1998) AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 7.1 million (1997) 1,000 (1997)
Railways total: 4,406 km


standard gauge: 3,440 km 1.435-m gauge


narrow gauge: 900 km 1.000-m gauge; 10 km 0.800-m gauge


dual gauge: 56 km 1.435-m and 1.000-m gauges (3 rail system)


note: Swiss railways are virtually all electrified (2001)
0 km
Religions Roman Catholic 46.1%, Protestant 40%, other 5%, none 8.9% (1990) Ekalesia Niue (Niuean Church - a Protestant church closely related to the London Missionary Society) 75%, Latter-Day Saints 10%, other 15% (mostly Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventist)
Sex ratio 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: 0.69 male(s)/female


total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
NA
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system 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)
domestic: single-line telephone system connects all villages on island


international: NA
Telephones - main lines in use 4.82 million (1998) 376 (1991)
Telephones - mobile cellular 1.967 million (1999) 0 (1991)
Television broadcast stations 115 (plus 1,919 repeaters) (1995) 1 (1997)
Terrain mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau
Total fertility rate 1.47 children born/woman (2002 est.) NA children born/woman
Unemployment rate 1.9% (2002 est.) NA%
Waterways 65 km


note: The Rhine carries heavy traffic on the Basel-Rheinfelden and Schaffhausen-Bodensee stretches; there are also 12 navigable lakes
none
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