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Compare Virgin Islands (2002) - Nicaragua (2001)

Compare Virgin Islands (2002) z Nicaragua (2001)

 Virgin Islands (2002)Nicaragua (2001)
 Virgin IslandsNicaragua
Administrative divisions none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three islands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas 15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento), 2 autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular - region autonomista); Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas, Atlantico Norte*, Atlantico Sur*
Age structure 0-14 years: 26.7% (male 16,926; female 16,012)


15-64 years: 64.2% (male 35,801; female 43,443)


65 years and over: 9.1% (male 4,851; female 6,465) (2002 est.)
0-14 years:
38.98% (male 976,087; female 941,141)

15-64 years:
58.08% (male 1,418,555; female 1,438,096)

65 years and over:
2.94% (male 62,963; female 81,551) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame, soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products
Airports 2 (2001) 182 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)
total:
11

2,438 to 3,047 m:
2

1,524 to 2,437 m:
3

914 to 1,523 m:
3

under 914 m:
3 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total:
171

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
25

under 914 m:
145 (2000 est.)
Area total: 352 sq km


land: 349 sq km


water: 3 sq km
total:
129,494 sq km

land:
120,254 sq km

water:
9,240 sq km
Area - comparative twice the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than the state of New York
Background During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848. Settled as a colony of Spain in the 1520s, Nicaragua gained its independence in 1821. Violent opposition to governmental manipulation and corruption spread to all classes by 1978 and resulted in a short-lived civil war that brought the Marxist Sandinista guerrillas to power in 1979. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvador caused the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas through much of the 1980s. Free elections in 1990 and again in 1996 saw the Sandinistas defeated. The country has slowly rebuilt its economy during the 1990s, but was hard hit by Hurricane Mitch in 1998.
Birth rate 15.85 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 27.64 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $364.4 million


expenditures: $364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)
revenues:
$734 million

expenditures:
$836 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Capital Charlotte Amalie Managua
Climate subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
Coastline 188 km 910 km
Constitution Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954 9 January 1987, with reforms in 1995 and 2000
Country name conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands


conventional short form: Virgin Islands


former: Danish West Indies
conventional long form:
Republic of Nicaragua

conventional short form:
Nicaragua

local long form:
Republica de Nicaragua

local short form:
Nicaragua
Currency US dollar (USD) gold cordoba (NIO)
Death rate 5.58 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 4.82 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $NA $6.4 billion (2000 est.)
Dependency status organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (territory of the US) chief of mission:
Ambassador Oliver P. GARZA

embassy:
Apartado Postal 327, Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua

mailing address:
APO AA 34021

telephone:
[505] (2) 662298, 666010, 666012, 666013, 666015, 666018, 666026, 666027, 666032, 666033

FAX:
[505] (2) 669074
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of the US) chief of mission:
Ambassador Alfonso ORTEGA Urbina

chancery:
1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone:
[1] (202) 939-6570

FAX:
[1] (202) 939-6542

consulate(s) general:
Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York
Disputes - international none territorial disputes with Colombia over the Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank; with respect to the maritime boundary question in the Golfo de Fonseca, the ICJ referred to the line determined by the 1900 Honduras-Nicaragua Mixed Boundary Commission and advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua likely would be required; maritime boundary dispute with Honduras in the Caribbean Sea is before the ICJ; legal dispute over navigational rights of San Juan River on border with Costa Rica
Economic aid - recipient $NA NA
Economy - overview Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The islands normally host 2 million visitors a year. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported. International business and financial services are a small but growing component of the economy. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The islands are subject to substantial damage from storms. The government is working to improve fiscal discipline, support construction projects in the private sector, expand tourist facilities, reduce crime, and protect the environment. Nicaragua, one of the hemisphere's poorest countries, faces low per capita income, flagging socio-economic indicators, and huge external debt. While the country has made progress toward macro-economic stabilization over the past few years, a banking crisis and scandal has shaken the economy. Managua will continue to be dependent on international aid and debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Donors have made aid conditional on improving governability, the openness of government financial operation, poverty alleviation, and human rights. Nicaragua met the conditions for additional debt service relief in December 2000. Growth should remain moderate to high in 2001.
Electricity - consumption 948.6 million kWh (1999) 2.265 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 20 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 100 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 1.02 billion kWh (1999) 2.349 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (1999)
fossil fuel:
67.26%

hydro:
17.71%

nuclear:
0%

other:
15.03% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Mogoton 2,438 m
Environment - current issues lack of natural freshwater resources deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; Hurricane Mitch damage
Environment - international agreements - party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
Environmental Modification
Ethnic groups black 80%, white 15%, other 5%


note: West Indian (45% born in the Virgin Islands and 29% born elsewhere in the West Indies) 74%, US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 5%, other 8%
mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Amerindian 5%
Exchange rates the US dollar is used gold cordobas per US dollar - 12.96 (November 2000), 12.69 (2000 est.), 11.81 (1999), 10.58 (1998), 9.45 (1997), 8.44 (1996)
Executive branch chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (Since 20 January 2001)


head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5 January 1999) and Lieutenant Governor Gererd LUZ James II (since 5 January 1999)


cabinet: NA


elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2006)


election results: Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL reelected governor; percent of vote - Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (Democrat) 50.5%, John de Jongh 24.4%
chief of state:
President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (since 10 January 1997); Vice President Leopoldo NAVARRO (since 24 October 2000); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

head of government:
President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (since 10 January 1997); Vice President Leopoldo NAVARRO (since 24 October 2000); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president

elections:
president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 20 October 1996 (next to be held 4 November 2001); note - in July 1995 the term of the office of the president was amended to five years

election results:
Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (Liberal Alliance - ruling party - includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 51.03%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 37.75%, Guillermo OSORNO (PCCN) 4.10%, Noel VIDAURRE (PCN) 2.26%, Benjamin LANZAS (PRONAL) 0.53%, other (18 other candidates) 4.33%
Exports $NA $631 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities refined petroleum products coffee, shrimp and lobster, cotton, tobacco, beef, sugar, bananas; gold
Exports - partners US, Puerto Rico US 37.7%, El Salvador 12.5%, Germany 9.8%, Costa Rica 5.1%, Spain 2.5%, France 2.1% (1999)
Fiscal year 1 October - 30 September calendar year
Flag description white, with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
GDP purchasing power parity - $1.8 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $13.1 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
agriculture:
31.6%

industry:
22.8%

services:
45.6% (1999)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $2,700 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA% 5% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 18 20 N, 64 50 W 13 00 N, 85 00 W
Geography - note important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the Caribbean -
Highways total: 856 km


paved: NA km


unpaved: NA km


note: the only US posession where driving on the left side of the road is practiced (2000)
total:
16,382 km

paved:
1,818 km

unpaved:
14,564 km (1998)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%:
1.6%

highest 10%:
39.8% (1993)
Illicit drugs - transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US and transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing
Imports $NA $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials machinery and equipment, raw materials, petroleum products, consumer goods
Imports - partners US, Puerto Rico US 34.5%, Costa Rica 11.4%, Guatemala 7.3%, Panama 6.9%, Venezuela 5.9%, El Salvador 5.5% (1999)
Independence - 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 4.4% (2000 est.)
Industries tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, textiles, clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear, wood
Infant mortality rate 9.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) 33.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) NA% 11% (2000 est.)
International organization participation ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC BCIE, CACM, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 50 (2000) 3 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km 880 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms) Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (16 judges elected for seven-year terms by the National Assembly)
Labor force 48,356 1.7 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 1%, industry 20%, services 79% (1990 est.) services 43%, agriculture 42%, industry 15% (1999 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km total:
1,231 km

border countries:
Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km
Land use arable land: 15%


permanent crops: 6%


other: 79% (1998 est.)
arable land:
9%

permanent crops:
1%

permanent pastures:
46%

forests and woodland:
27%

other:
17% (1993 est.)
Languages English (official), Spanish, Creole Spanish (official)

note:
English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast
Legal system based on US laws civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts
Legislative branch unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)


elections: last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Democratic Party 8, ICM NA, no party affiliation NA


note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004); results - Donna M. CHRISTIAN-CHRISTENSON (Democrat) reelected
unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (93 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve five-year terms)

elections:
last held 20 October 1996 (next to be held 4 November 2001)

election results:
percent of vote by party - Liberal Alliance (ruling party - includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 46.03%, FSLN 36.55%, PCCN 3.73%, PCN 2.12%, MRS 1.33%; seats by party - Liberal Alliance 42, FSLN 36, PCCN 4, PCN 3, PRONAL 2, MRS 1, PRN 1, PC 1, PLI 1, AU 1, UNO-96 Alliance 1
Life expectancy at birth total population: 78.43 years


male: 74.55 years


female: 82.53 years (2002 est.)
total population:
69.05 years

male:
67.1 years

female:
71.11 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
65.7%

male:
64.6%

female:
66.6% (1995 est.)
Location Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf:
natural prolongation

territorial sea:
200 NM
Merchant marine none (2002 est.) none (2000 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the US -
Military branches - Army, Navy, Air Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $26 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 1.2% (FY98)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49:
1,269,322 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49:
779,267 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 18 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males:
58,232 (2001 est.)
National holiday Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917) Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Nationality noun: Virgin Islander(s)


adjective: Virgin Islander
noun:
Nicaraguan(s)

adjective:
Nicaraguan
Natural hazards several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and occasionally severe hurricanes
Natural resources sun, sand, sea, surf gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish
Net migration rate 0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) -1.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines - crude oil 56 km
Political parties and leaders Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE] Conservative Party of Nicaragua or PCN [Dr. Fernando AGUERO Rocha]; Independent Liberal Party or PLI [Virgilio GODOY]; Liberal Alliance (ruling alliance including Liberal Constitutional Party or PLC, New Liberal Party or PALI, Independent Liberal Party for National Unity or PLIUN, and Central American Unionist Party or PUCA) [leader NA]; National Conservative Party or PC [Pedro SOLARZANO, Noel VIDAURRE]; National Project or PRONAL [Benjamin LANZAS]; Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Path or PCCN [Guillermo OSORNO, Roberto RODRIGUEZ]; Nicaraguan Resistance Party or PRN [Salvador TALAVERA]; Sandinista National Liberation Front or FSLN [Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra]; Sandinista Renovation Movement or MRS [Sergio RAMIREZ]; Unity Alliance or AU [Alejandro SERRANO]; Union Nacional Opositora 96 or UNO-96 [Alfredo CESAR Aguirre]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA National Workers Front or FNT is a Sandinista umbrella group of eight labor unions including - Farm Workers Association or ATC, Health Workers Federation or FETASALUD, Heroes and Martyrs Confederation of Professional Associations or CONAPRO, National Association of Educators of Nicaragua or ANDEN, National Union of Employees or UNE, National Union of Farmers and Ranchers or UNAG, Sandinista Workers Central or CST, and Union of Journalists of Nicaragua or UPN; Permanent Congress of Workers or CPT is an umbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor unions including - Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers Central or CTN-A, Confederation of Labor Unification or CUS, Independent General Confederation of Labor or CGT-I, and Labor Action and Unity Central or CAUS; Nicaraguan Workers' Central or CTN is an independent labor union; Superior Council of Private Enterprise or COSEP is a confederation of business groups
Population 123,498 (July 2002 est.) 4,918,393 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 50% (2000 est.)
Population growth rate 1.04% (2002 est.) 2.15% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas, Puerto Sandino, Rama, San Juan del Sur
Radio broadcast stations AM 5, FM 11, shortwave 0 (2002) AM 63, FM 32, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios 107,000 (1997) 1.24 million (1997)
Railways 0 km -
Religions Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7% Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant
Sex ratio at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female


total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections 16 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: NA


domestic: modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay


international: submarine cable and satellite communications; satellite earth stations - NA
general assessment:
inadequate system being upgraded by foreign investment

domestic:
low-capacity microwave radio relay and wire system being expanded; connected to Central American Microwave System

international:
satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 62,000 (1997) 140,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular 2,000 (1992) 7,911 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 2 (2002) 3 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (1997)
Terrain mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes
Total fertility rate 2.24 children born/woman (2002 est.) 3.18 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 4.9% (March 1999) 20% plus considerable underemployment (1999 est.)
Waterways none 2,220 km (including 2 large lakes)
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