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Compare Virgin Islands (2004) - Guinea-Bissau (2001)

Compare Virgin Islands (2004) z Guinea-Bissau (2001)

 Virgin Islands (2004)Guinea-Bissau (2001)
 Virgin IslandsGuinea-Bissau
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 9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali; note - Bolama may have been renamed Bolama/Bijagos
Age structure 0-14 years: 23.8% (male 13,116; female 12,770)


15-64 years: 66% (male 33,944; female 37,870)


65 years and over: 10.2% (male 4,855; female 6,220) (2004 est.)
0-14 years:
42.09% (male 276,312; female 277,536)

15-64 years:
55.05% (male 344,493; female 379,889)

65 years and over:
2.86% (male 16,850; female 20,742) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle rice, corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, cotton; timber; fish
Airports 2 (2003 est.) 29 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)
total:
3

over 3,047 m:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total:
26

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
4

under 914 m:
21 (2000 est.)
Area total: 352 sq km


land: 349 sq km


water: 3 sq km
total:
36,120 sq km

land:
28,000 sq km

water:
8,120 sq km
Area - comparative twice the size of Washington, DC slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut
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. In 1994, 20 years after independence from Portugal, the country's first multiparty legislative and presidential elections were held. An army uprising that triggered a bloody civil war in 1998, created hundreds of thousands of displaced persons. The president was ousted by a military junta in May 1999. An interim government turned over power in February 2000 when opposition leader Koumba YALLA took office following two rounds of transparent presidential elections. Guinea-Bissau's transition back to democracy will be complicated by a crippled economy devastated by civil war and the military's predilection for governmental meddling.
Birth rate 14.49 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) 39.29 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $560


expenditures: NA (2003)
revenues:
$NA

expenditures:
$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Capital Charlotte Amalie Bissau
Climate subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
Coastline 188 km 350 km
Constitution Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954 16 May 1984, amended 4 May 1991, 4 December 1991, 26 February 1993, 9 June 1993, and 1996
Country name conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands


conventional short form: Virgin Islands


former: Danish West Indies
conventional long form:
Republic of Guinea-Bissau

conventional short form:
Guinea-Bissau

local long form:
Republica da Guine-Bissau

local short form:
Guine-Bissau

former:
Portuguese Guinea
Currency US dollar (USD) Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States; previously the Guinea-Bissau peso (GWP) was used
Death rate 6.1 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) 15.33 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external NA $964 million (1998 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) the US Embassy suspended operations on 14 June 1998 in the midst of violent conflict between forces loyal to then President VIEIRA and military-led junta
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of the US) chief of mission:
Ambassador Mario LOPES DA ROSA

chancery:
Suite 519, 1511 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005

telephone:
[1] (202) 347-3950

FAX:
[1] (202) 347-3954
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - recipient NA $115.4 million (1995)
Economy - overview Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for 80% of GDP and 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, to support construction projects in the private sector, to expand tourist facilities, to reduce crime, and to protect the environment. One of the 20 poorest countries in the world, Guinea-Bissau depends mainly on farming and fishing. Cashew crops have increased remarkably in recent years, and the country now ranks sixth in cashew production. Guinea-Bissau exports fish and seafood along with small amounts of peanuts, palm kernels, and timber. Rice is the major crop and staple food. However, intermittent fighting between Senegalese-backed government troops and a military junta destroyed much of the country's infrastructure and caused widespread damage to the economy in 1998; the civil war led to a 28% drop in GDP that year, with partial recovery in 1999-2000. Before the war, trade reform and price liberalization were the most successful part of the country's structural adjustment program under IMF sponsorship. The tightening of monetary policy and the development of the private sector had also begun to reinvigorate the economy. Because of high costs, the development of petroleum, phosphate, and other mineral resources is not a near-term prospect. However, unexploited offshore oil reserves could provide much-needed revenue in the long run.
Electricity - consumption 957.9 million kWh (2001) 51.2 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 1.03 billion kWh (2001) 55 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

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


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

highest point:
unnamed location in the northeast corner of the country 300 m
Environment - current issues lack of natural freshwater resources deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing
Environment - international agreements - party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups black 78%, white 10%, other 12%


note: West Indian 81% (49% born in the Virgin Islands and 32% born elsewhere in the West Indies), US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 4%, other 2%
African 99% (Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1%
Exchange rates the US dollar is used Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 699.21 (January 2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997); Guinea-Bissauan pesos per US dollar - 26,373 (1996)

note:
as of 1 May 1997, Guinea-Bissau adopted the CFA franc as the national currency; since 1 January 1999, the CFA franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro
Executive branch chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001)


head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (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 Koumba YALLA (since 18 February 2000)

head of government:
Prime Minister Faustino IMBALI (since 20 March 2001)

cabinet:
NA

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 28 November 1999 and 16 January 2000 (next to be held NA 2004); prime minister appointed by the president after consultation with party leaders in the legislature

election results:
Koumba YALLA elected president; percent of vote, second ballot - Koumba YALLA (PRS) 72%, Malan Bacai SANHA (PAIGC) 28%
Exports NA (2001) $80 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities refined petroleum products cashew nuts 70%, shrimp, peanuts, palm kernels, sawn lumber (1996)
Exports - partners US, Puerto Rico India 59%, Singapore 12%, Italy 10% (1998)
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 two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
GDP purchasing power parity - $2.5 billion (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $1.1 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 1%


industry: 19%


services: 80% (2003 est.)
agriculture:
54%

industry:
15%

services:
31% (1997 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $17,200 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $850 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 2% (2002 est.) 7.6% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 18 20 N, 64 50 W 12 00 N, 15 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 possession where driving on the left side of the road is practiced (2000)
total:
4,400 km

paved:
453 km

unpaved:
3,947 km (1996)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
lowest 10%:
0.5%

highest 10%:
42.4% (1991)
Imports NA (2001) $55.2 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products (1996)
Imports - partners US, Puerto Rico Portugal 26%, France 8%, Senegal 8%, Netherlands 7% (1998)
Independence - 24 September 1973 (unilaterally declared by Guinea-Bissau); 10 September 1974 (recognized by Portugal)
Industrial production growth rate NA 2.6% (1997 est.)
Industries tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks
Infant mortality rate total: 8.21 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 9.31 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 7.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
110.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.2% (2003) 3% (2000 est.)
International organization participation Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 1 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km 17 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 Supremo Tribunal da Justica (consists of nine justices who are appointed by the president and serve at his pleasure; final court of appeals in criminal and civil cases); Regional Courts (one in each of nine regions; first court of appeals for Sectoral Court decisions; hear all felony cases and civil cases valued at over $1,000); 24 Sectoral Courts (judges are not necessarily trained lawyers; they hear civil cases under $1,000 and misdemeanor criminal cases)
Labor force 48,900 (2003 est.) 480,000
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 1%, industry 19%, services 80% (2003 est.) agriculture 78%
Land boundaries 0 km total:
724 km

border countries:
Guinea 386 km, Senegal 338 km
Land use arable land: 11.76%


permanent crops: 2.94%


other: 85.29% (2001)
arable land:
11%

permanent crops:
1%

permanent pastures:
38%

forests and woodland:
38%

other:
12% (1993 est.)
Languages English (official), Spanish, Creole Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages
Legal system based on US laws NA
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 2 November 2004)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 10, ICM 2, independent 3


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 2 November 2004); results - Donna M. CHRISTIAN-CHRISTENSON (Democrat) reelected
unicameral National People's Assembly or Assembleia Nacional Popular (100 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve a maximum of four years)

elections:
last held 28 November 1999 (next to be held by NA 2003)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PRS 37, RGB 27, PAIGC 25, 11 remaining seats went to 5 of the remaining 10 parties that fielded candidates
Life expectancy at birth total population: 78.75 years


male: 74.91 years


female: 82.82 years (2004 est.)
total population:
49.42 years

male:
47.12 years

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


total population: NA


male: NA


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

total population:
53.9%

male:
67.1%

female:
40.7% (1997 est.)
Location Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Africa
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine none none (2000 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the US -
Military branches - People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP; includes Army, Navy, and Air Force), paramilitary force
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $8 million (FY96)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 2.8% (FY96)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49:
305,071 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49:
173,703 (2001 est.)
National holiday Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917) Independence Day, 24 September (1973)
Nationality noun: Virgin Islander(s)


adjective: Virgin Islander
noun:
Guinean (s)

adjective:
Guinean
Natural hazards several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season; brush fires
Natural resources sun, sand, sea, surf fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, unexploited deposits of petroleum
Net migration rate -8.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) -1.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Political parties and leaders Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE] African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde or PAIGC [Francisco BENANTE]; Front for the Liberation and Independence of Guinea or FLING [Francois MENDY]; Guinea-Bissau Resistance-Ba Fata Movement or RGB-MB [Helder Vaz LOPES]; Guinean Civic Forum or FCG [Antonieta Rosa GOMES]; International League for Ecological Protection or LIPE [Alhaje Bubacar DJALO, president]; National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Abubacer BALDE, secretary general]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Victor MANDINGA]; Social Renovation Party or PRS [Koumba YALLA]; Union for Change or UM [Jorge MANDINGA, president, Dr. Anne SAAD, secretary general]; United Social Democratic Party or PUSD [Victor Sau'de MARIA]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 108,775 (July 2004 est.) 1,315,822 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line NA 50% (1991 est.)
Population growth rate -0.05% (2004 est.) 2.23% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix Bissau, Buba, Cacheu, Farim
Radio broadcast stations AM 5, FM 11, shortwave 0 (2002) AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios - 49,000 (1997)
Railways - 0 km
Religions Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7% indigenous beliefs 50%, Muslim 45%, Christian 5%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female


total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1 male(s)/female

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

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

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


domestic: modern system with total digital switching, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay


international: country code - 1-340; submarine cable and satellite communications; satellite earth stations - NA
general assessment:
small system

domestic:
combination of microwave radio relay, open-wire lines, radiotelephone, and cellular communications

international:
NA
Telephones - main lines in use 69,400 (2002) 8,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 41,000 (2002) NA
Television broadcast stations 2 (2002) 2 (1997)
Terrain mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east
Total fertility rate 2.21 children born/woman (2004 est.) 5.2 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 9.3% (2003 est.) NA%
Waterways - several rivers are accessible to coastal shipping
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