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Compare Vanuatu (2004) - Gabon (2001)

Compare Vanuatu (2004) z Gabon (2001)

 Vanuatu (2004)Gabon (2001)
 VanuatuGabon
Administrative divisions 6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba 9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem
Age structure 0-14 years: 34.1% (male 35,281; female 33,785)


15-64 years: 62.4% (male 64,669; female 61,829)


65 years and over: 3.5% (male 3,740; female 3,305) (2004 est.)
0-14 years:
33.29% (male 203,677; female 202,833)

15-64 years:
60.77% (male 373,828; female 368,282)

65 years and over:
5.94% (male 35,867; female 36,688) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, vegetables; fish, beef cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber; cattle; okoume (a tropical softwood); fish
Airports 30 (2003 est.) 59 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1524 to 2437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total:
10

over 3,047 m:
1

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
7

914 to 1,523 m:
1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 27


914 to 1,523 m: 10


under 914 m: 17 (2004 est.)
total:
49

1,524 to 2,437 m:
8

914 to 1,523 m:
17

under 914 m:
24 (2000 est.)
Area total: 12,200 sq km


land: 12,200 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes more than 80 islands, about 65 of which are inhabited
total:
267,667 sq km

land:
257,667 sq km

water:
10,000 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than Connecticut slightly smaller than Colorado
Background The British and French, who settled the New Hebrides in the 19th century, agreed in 1906 to an Anglo-French Condominium, which administered the islands until independence in 1980. Ruled by autocratic presidents since independence from France in 1960, Gabon introduced a multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s that allowed for a more transparent electoral process and for reforms of governmental institutions. A small population, abundant natural resources, and foreign private investment have helped make Gabon one of the more prosperous black African countries.
Birth rate 23.67 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) 27.42 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $94.4 million


expenditures: $99.8 million, including capital expenditures of $30.4 million (1996 est.)
revenues:
$1.5 billion

expenditures:
$1.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $302 million (1996 est.)
Capital Port-Vila (Efate) Libreville
Climate tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds from May to October; moderate rainfall from November to April; may be affected by cyclones from December to April tropical; always hot, humid
Coastline 2,528 km 885 km
Constitution 30 July 1980 adopted 14 March 1991
Country name conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu


conventional short form: Vanuatu


former: New Hebrides
conventional long form:
Gabonese Republic

conventional short form:
Gabon

local long form:
Republique Gabonaise

local short form:
Gabon
Currency vatu (VUV) Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States
Death rate 8.02 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) 17.22 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $65.8 million (2001 est.) $3.9 billion (2000 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu chief of mission:
Ambassador James V. LEDESMA

embassy:
Boulevard de la Mer, Libreville

mailing address:
B. P. 4000, Libreville

telephone:
[241] 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, 74 34 92

FAX:
[241] 74 55 07
Diplomatic representation in the US Vanuatu does not have an embassy in the US; it does, however, have a Permanent Mission to the UN chief of mission:
Ambassador Paul BOUNDOUKOU-LATHA

chancery:
Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone:
[1] (202) 797-1000

FAX:
[1] (202) 332-0668

consulate(s):
New York
Disputes - international Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by Vanuatu and France maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial Guinea because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay
Economic aid - recipient $45.8 million (1995) $331 million (1995)
Economy - overview This South Pacific island economy is based primarily on small-scale agriculture, which provides a living for 65% of the population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with about 50,000 visitors in 1997, are other mainstays of the economy. Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleum deposits. A small light industry sector caters to the local market. Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Economic development is hindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports, vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from main markets and between constituent islands. A severe earthquake in November 1999 followed by a tsunami, caused extensive damage to the northern island of Pentecote and left thousands homeless. Another powerful earthquake in January 2002 caused extensive damage in the capital, Port-Vila, and surrounding areas, and also was followed by a tsunami. GDP growth rose less than 3% on average in the 1990s. In response to foreign concerns, the government has promised to tighten regulation of its offshore financial center. In mid-2002 the government stepped up efforts to boost tourism. Agriculture, especially livestock farming, is a second target for growth. Australia and New Zealand are the main suppliers of tourists and foreign aid. Growth expanded moderately in 2003. Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most nations of sub-Saharan Africa. This has supported a sharp decline in extreme poverty; yet because of high income inequality a large proportion of the population remains poor. Gabon depended on timber and manganese until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s. The oil sector now accounts for 50% of GDP. Gabon continues to face fluctuating prices for its oil, timber, manganese, and uranium exports. Despite the abundance of natural wealth, the economy is hobbled by poor fiscal management. In 1992, the fiscal deficit widened to 2.4% of GDP, and Gabon failed to settle arrears on its bilateral debt, leading to a cancellation of rescheduling agreements with official and private creditors. Devaluation of its Francophone currency by 50% on 12 January 1994 sparked a one-time inflationary surge, to 35%; the rate dropped to 6% in 1996. The IMF provided a one-year standby arrangement in 1994-95, a three-year Enhanced Financing Facility (EFF) at near commercial rates beginning in late 1995, and stand-by credit of $119 million in October 2000. Those agreements mandate progress in privatization and fiscal discipline. France provided additional financial support in January 1997 after Gabon had met IMF targets for mid-1996. In 1997, an IMF mission to Gabon criticized the government for overspending on off-budget items, overborrowing from the central bank, and slipping on its schedule for privatization and administrative reform. The rebound of oil prices in 1999-2000 helped growth, but drops in production hampered Gabon from fully realizing potential gains. An expected decline in oil output may lead to contraction in GDP in 2001-02.
Electricity - consumption 40.42 million kWh (2001) 948.6 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 43.46 million kWh (2001) 1.02 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel:
29.9%

hydro:
70.1%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Mont Iboundji 1,575 m
Environment - current issues a majority of the population does not have access to a potable and reliable supply of water; deforestation deforestation; poaching
Environment - international agreements party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups indigenous Melanesian 98%, French, Vietnamese, Chinese, other Pacific Islanders Bantu tribes including four major tribal groupings (Fang, Eshira, Bapounou, Bateke), other Africans and Europeans 154,000, including 10,700 French and 11,000 persons of dual nationality
Exchange rates vatu per US dollar - 122.189 (2003), 139.198 (2002), 145.312 (2001), 137.643 (2000), 129.075 (1999) Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 699.21 (January 2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996); note - from 1 January 1999, the XAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XAF per euro
Executive branch chief of state: President Kalkot Matas KELEKELE (since 16 August 2004)


head of government: Prime Minister Ham LINI (since 11 December 2004); Deputy Prime Minister Sato KILMAN (since 11 December 2004); Prime Minister Serge VOHOR ousted in no-confidence vote on 11 December 2004


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, responsible to Parliament


elections: president elected for a five-year term by an electoral college consisting of Parliament and the presidents of the regional councils; election for president last held 16 August 2004 (next to be held in 2009); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by Parliament from among its members; election for prime minister last held 29 July 2004 (next to be held following general elections in 2008)


election results: Kalkot Matas KELEKELE elected president, with 49 votes out of 56, after several ballots on 16 August 2004
chief of state:
President El Hadj Omar BONGO (since 2 December 1967)

head of government:
Prime Minister Jean-Francois NTOUTOUME-EMANE (since 23 January 1999)

cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA 2005); prime minister appointed by the president

election results:
President El Hadj Omar BONGO reelected; percent of vote - El Hadj Omar BONGO 66.6%, Pierre MAMBOUNDOU 16.5%, Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE 13.4%
Exports NA (2001) $3.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee crude oil 75%, timber, manganese, uranium (1998)
Exports - partners India 32.8%, Thailand 25.5%, Indonesia 9.6%, Japan 7.6%, Australia 4%, Poland 4% (2003) US 47%, France 19%, China 8%, Japan 1.3% (1999)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed namele leaves, all in yellow three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue
GDP purchasing power parity - $563 million (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $7.7 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 26%


industry: 12%


services: 62% (2000 est.)
agriculture:
10%

industry:
60%

services:
30% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $2,900 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $6,300 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate -0.3% (2002 est.) 1.2% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 16 00 S, 167 00 E 1 00 S, 11 45 E
Geography - note a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller islands; several of the islands have active volcanoes -
Highways total: 1,070 km


paved: 256 km


unpaved: 814 km (1999 est.)
total:
7,670 km

paved:
629 km (including 30 km of expressways)

unpaved:
7,041 km (1996)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
Imports NA (2001) $1 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, petroleum products, construction materials
Imports - partners Australia 15.3%, Japan 10.6%, Singapore 7.4%, New Zealand 6%, Fiji 5.1% (2003) France 64%, US 4%, UK 2%, Netherlands 2%, (1999)
Independence 30 July 1980 (from France and UK) 17 August 1960 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate 1% (1997 est.) 2.3% (1995)
Industries food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning food and beverage; textile; lumbering and plywood; cement; petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, uranium, and gold mining; chemicals; ship repair
Infant mortality rate total: 56.63 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 59.25 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 53.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
94.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2% (2002 est.) 1.5% (2000 est.)
International organization participation ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (observer) ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 1 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km 40 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition, three other justices are appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission) Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consisting of three chambers - Judicial, Administrative, and Accounts; Constitutional Court; Courts of Appeal; Court of State Security; County Courts
Labor force NA 600,000
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 65%, industry 5%, services 30% (2000 est.) agriculture 60%, services and government 25%, industry and commerce 15%
Land boundaries 0 km total:
2,551 km

border countries:
Cameroon 298 km, Republic of the Congo 1,903 km, Equatorial Guinea 350 km
Land use arable land: 2.46%


permanent crops: 7.38%


other: 90.16% (2001)
arable land:
1%

permanent crops:
1%

permanent pastures:
18%

forests and woodland:
77%

other:
3% (1993 est.)
Languages three official languages: English, French, pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama), plus more than 100 local languages French (official), Fang, Myene, Bateke, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
Legal system unified system being created from former dual French and British systems based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 6 July 2004 (next to be held 2008)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP 8, VP 8, NUP 10, VRP 4, MPP 3, VGP 3, other and independent 16; note - political party associations are fluid


note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of culture and language
bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (91 seats) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats); members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms

elections:
National Assembly - last held 15 and 29 December 1996 (next to be held NA December 2001); Senate - last held 26 January and 9 February 1997 (next to be held in January 2002)

election results:
National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PDG 89, PGP 9, RNB 6, CLR 3, UPG 2, USG 2, independents 4, others 5; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PDG 53, RNB 20, PGP 4, ADERE 3, RDP 1, CLR 1, independents 9
Life expectancy at birth total population: 62.1 years


male: 60.64 years


female: 63.63 years (2004 est.)
total population:
49.59 years

male:
48.47 years

female:
50.75 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 53%


male: 57%


female: 48% (1979 est.)
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
63.2%

male:
73.7%

female:
53.3% (1995 est.)
Location Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
Map references Oceania Africa
Maritime claims measured from claimed archipelagic baselines


territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 24 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
contiguous zone:
24 NM

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine total: 51 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,192,474 GRT/1,560,828 DWT


by type: bulk 28, cargo 2, combination bulk 3, container 2, liquefied gas 2, multi-functional large load carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 6, roll on/roll off 2, vehicle carrier 5


foreign-owned: Australia 2, Canada 1, Estonia 1, Germany 1, Japan 25, Monaco 4, New Zealand 2, Panama 1, Poland 7, Switzerland 3, United Kingdom 5, United States 2


registered in other countries: 1 (2004 est.)
-
Military branches no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF; including the paramilitary Mobile Force or VMF) Army, Navy, Air Force, Republican Guard (charged with protecting the president and other senior officials), National Gendarmerie, National Police
Military expenditures - dollar figure NA $91 million (FY96)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA 1.6% (FY96)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49:
281,218 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49:
145,062 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 20 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males:
11,304 (2001 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 30 July (1980) Founding of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), 12 March (1968)
Nationality noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)


adjective: Ni-Vanuatu
noun:
Gabonese (singular and plural)

adjective:
Gabonese
Natural hazards tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanism causes minor earthquakes; tsunamis NA
Natural resources manganese, hardwood forests, fish petroleum, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines - crude oil 270 km; petroleum products 14 km
Political parties and leaders Jon Frum Movement [Song KEASPAI]; Melanesian Progressive Party or MPP [Barak SOPE]; National United Party or NUP [NA]; Union of Moderate Parties or UMP [Serge VOHOR]; Vanua'aku Pati (Our Land Party) or VP [Edward NATAPEI]; Vanuatu Republican Party or VRP [Maxime Carlot KORMAN]; Greens (Vanuatu) [Moana CARCASSES] African Forum for Reconstruction or FAR [Leon MBOU-YEMBI]; Circle of Liberal Reformers or CLR [General Jean Boniface ASSELE]; Democratic and Republican Alliance or ADERE [Divungui-di-Ndinge DIDJOB]; Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG, former sole party [Simplice Nguedet MANZELA, secretary general]; Gabonese Party for Progress or PGP [Pierre-Louis AGONDJO-OKAWE, president]; Gabonese People's Union or UPG [Pierre MAMBOUNDOU]; Gabonese Socialist Union or USG [Serge MBA BEKALE]; National Rally of Woodcutters (Bucherons) or RNB [Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE]; People's Unity Party or PUP [Louis Gaston MAYILA]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Pierre EMBONI]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Pierre Claver MAGANGA-MOUSSAVOU]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 202,609 (July 2004 est.) 1,221,175

note:
estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line NA NA%
Population growth rate 1.57% (2004 est.) 1.02% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo) Cap Lopez, Kango, Lambarene, Libreville, Mayumba, Owendo, Port-Gentil
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 1 (2002) AM 6, FM 7, shortwave 6 (1998)
Radios - 208,000 (1997)
Railways - total:
649 km (Gabon State Railways or OCTRA)

standard gauge:
649 km 1.435-m gauge; single track (1994)
Religions Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Roman Catholic 15%, indigenous beliefs 7.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of Christ 3.8%, other 15.7% (including Jon Frum Cargo cult) Christian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female


total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1.01 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 21 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: NA


domestic: NA


international: country code - 678; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
general assessment:
NA

domestic:
adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations

international:
satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 6,500 (2003) 37,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 7,800 (2003) 9,500 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 1 (2002) 4 (plus five low-power repeaters) (1997)
Terrain mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south
Total fertility rate 2.87 children born/woman (2004 est.) 3.69 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate NA 21% (1997 est.)
Waterways - 1,600 km (perennially navigable)
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