Main page Compare countries Index countries Index fields

Query:
Jah-Jah.pl / Index countries / West Bank (2008) - Aruba (2001) / Compare countries
##ciekawa_strona##

Compare West Bank (2008) - Aruba (2001)

Compare West Bank (2008) z Aruba (2001)

 West Bank (2008)Aruba (2001)
 West BankAruba
Administrative divisions - none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Age structure 0-14 years: 42.4% (male 551,243/female 524,800)


15-64 years: 54.2% (male 704,209/female 670,382)


65 years and over: 3.4% (male 36,175/female 49,118) (2007 est.)
0-14 years:
21.29% (male 7,709; female 7,193)

15-64 years:
68.52% (male 23,111; female 24,859)

65 years and over:
10.19% (male 2,954; female 4,181) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products olives, citrus, vegetables; beef, dairy products aloes; livestock; fish
Airports 3 (2007) 1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2007)
total:
1

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1 (2000 est.)
Area total: 5,860 sq km


land: 5,640 sq km


water: 220 sq km


note: includes West Bank, Latrun Salient, and the northwest quarter of the Dead Sea, but excludes Mt. Scopus; East Jerusalem and Jerusalem No Man's Land are also included only as a means of depicting the entire area occupied by Israel in 1967
total:
193 sq km

land:
193 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Delaware slightly larger than Washington, DC
Background The September 1993 Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements provided for a transitional period of Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Under a series of agreements signed between May 1994 and September 1999, Israel transferred to the Palestinian Authority (PA) security and civilian responsibility for Palestinian-populated areas of the West Bank and Gaza. Negotiations to determine the permanent status of the West Bank and Gaza stalled following the outbreak of an intifada in September 2000, as Israeli forces reoccupied most Palestinian-controlled areas. In April 2003, the Quartet (US, EU, UN, and Russia) presented a roadmap to a final settlement of the conflict by 2005 based on reciprocal steps by the two parties leading to two states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. The proposed date for a permanent status agreement was postponed indefinitely due to violence and accusations that both sides had not followed through on their commitments. Following Palestinian leader Yasir ARAFAT's death in late 2004, Mahmud ABBAS was elected PA president in January 2005. A month later, Israel and the PA agreed to the Sharm el-Sheikh Commitments in an effort to move the peace process forward. In September 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew all its settlers and soldiers and dismantled its military facilities in the Gaza Strip and withdrew settlers and redeployed soldiers from four small northern West Bank settlements. Nonetheless, Israel controls maritime, airspace, and most access to the Gaza Strip. A November 2005 PA-Israeli agreement authorized the reopening of the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt under joint PA and Egyptian control. In January 2006, the Islamic Resistance Movement, HAMAS, won control of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). The international community refused to accept the HAMAS-led government because it did not recognize Israel, would not renounce violence, and refused to honor previous peace agreements between Israel and the PA. HAMAS took control of the PA government in March 2006, but President ABBAS had little success negotiating with HAMAS to present a political platform acceptable to the international community so as to lift economic sanctions on Palestinians. The PLC was unable to convene throughout most of 2006 as a result of Israel's detention of many HAMAS PLC members and Israeli-imposed travel restrictions on other PLC members. Violent clashes took place between Fatah and HAMAS supporters in the Gaza Strip in 2006 and early 2007, resulting in numerous Palestinian deaths and injuries. ABBAS and HAMAS Political Bureau Chief MISHAL in February 2007 signed the Mecca Agreement in Saudi Arabia that resulted in the formation of a Palestinian National Unity Government (NUG) headed by HAMAS member Ismail HANIYA. However, fighting continued in the Gaza Strip, and in June, HAMAS militants succeeded in a violent takeover of all military and governmental institutions in the Gaza Strip. ABBAS dismissed the NUG and through a series of presidential decrees formed a PA government in the West Bank led by independent Salam FAYYAD. HAMAS rejected the NUG's dismissal and has called for resuming talks with Fatah, but ABBAS has ruled out negotiations until HAMAS agrees to a return of PA control over the Gaza Strip and recognizes the FAYYAD-led government. FAYYAD and his PA government initiated a series of security and economic reforms to improve conditions in the West Bank. ABBAS participated in talks with Israel's Prime Minister OLMERT and secured the release of some Palestinian prisoners and previously withheld customs revenue. During a November 2007 international meeting in Annapolis Maryland, ABBAS and OLMERT agreed to resume peace negotiations with the goal of reaching a final peace settlement by the end of 2008. Discovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquired by the Dutch in 1636. The island's economy has been dominated by three main industries. A 19th century gold rush was followed by prosperity brought on by the opening in 1924 of an oil refinery. The last decades of the 20th century saw a boom in the tourism industry. Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and became a separate, autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba's request in 1990.
Birth rate 30.99 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) 12.64 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $1.149 billion


expenditures: $2.31 billion


note: includes Gaza Strip (2006)
revenues:
$NA

expenditures:
$541 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Capital - Oranjestad
Climate temperate; temperature and precipitation vary with altitude, warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 68.5 km
Constitution - 1 January 1986
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: West Bank
conventional long form:
none

conventional short form:
Aruba
Currency - Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)
Death rate 3.85 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) 6.21 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $NA $285 million (1996)
Dependency status - part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs
Diplomatic representation from the US - chief of mission:
Consul General Barbara J. STEPHENSON

embassy:
J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Curacao

mailing address:
P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao

telephone:
[599] (9) 461-3066

FAX:
[599] (9) 461-6489
Diplomatic representation in the US - none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Disputes - international West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; Israel continues construction of a "seam line" separation barrier along parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank; Israel withdrew from four settlements in the northern West Bank in August 2005; since 1948, about 350 peacekeepers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), headquartered in Jerusalem, monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from escalating, and assist other UN personnel in the region none
Economic aid - recipient $1.4 billion; (includes Gaza Strip) (2006 est.) $26 million (1995); note - the Netherlands provided a $127 million aid package to Aruba and Suriname in 1996
Economy - overview The West Bank - the larger of the two areas comprising the Palestinian Authority (PA) - has experienced a general decline in economic conditions since the second intifada began in September 2000. The downturn has been largely a result of Israeli closure policies - the imposition of closures and access restrictions in response to security concerns in Israel - which disrupted labor and trading relationships. In 2001, and even more severely in 2002, Israeli military measures in PA areas resulted in the destruction of capital, the disruption of administrative structures, and widespread business closures. International aid of at least $1.14 billion to the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 2004 prevented the complete collapse of the economy and allowed some reforms in the government's financial operations. In 2005, high unemployment and limited trade opportunities - due to continued closures both within the West Bank and externally - stymied growth. Israel's and the international community's financial embargo of the PA when HAMAS ran the PA during March 2006 - June 2007 has interrupted the provision of PA social services and the payment of PA salaries. Since June the Fayyad government in the West Bank has restarted salary payments and the provision of services but would be unable to operate absent high levels of international assistance. Tourism is the mainstay of the Aruban economy, although offshore banking and oil refining and storage are also important. The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Construction has boomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. In addition, the reopening of the country's oil refinery in 1993, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings, has further spurred growth. Aruba's small labor force and less than 1% unemployment rate have led to a large number of unfilled job vacancies, despite sharp rises in wage rates in recent years.
Electricity - consumption NA kWh 418.5 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports - 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports NA kWh 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production NA kWh; note - most electricity imported from Israel; East Jerusalem Electric Company buys and distributes electricity to Palestinians in East Jerusalem and its concession in the West Bank; the Israel Electric Company directly supplies electricity to most Jewish residents and military facilities; some Palestinian municipalities, such as Nablus and Janin, generate their own electricity from small power plants 450 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m


highest point: Tall Asur 1,022 m
lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point:
Mount Jamanota 188 m
Environment - current issues adequacy of fresh water supply; sewage treatment NA
Ethnic groups Palestinian Arab and other 83%, Jewish 17% mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%
Exchange rates new Israeli shekels per US dollar - 4.14 (2007), 4.4565 (2006), 4.4877 (2005), 4.482 (2004), 4.5541 (2003) Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar - 1.7900 (fixed rate since 1986)
Executive branch - chief of state:
Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Olindo KOOLMAN (since 1 January 1992)

head of government:
Prime Minister Jan (Henny) H. EMAN (since 29 July 1994) and Deputy Prime Minister Lili BEKE-MARTINEZ

cabinet:
Council of Ministers (elected by the Staten)

elections:
the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed for a six-year term by the monarch; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by the Staten for four-year terms; election last held 12 July 1997 (next to be held by December 2001)

election results:
Jan (Henny) H. EMAN elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA%; Lili BEKE-MARTINEZ elected deputy prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA%
Exports $301 million f.o.b.; (includes Gaza Strip) (2005) $2.2 billion (including oil reexports) (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities olives, fruit, vegetables, limestone live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment
Exports - partners Israel, Jordan, Gaza Strip (2006) US 42%, Colombia 20%, Netherlands 12% (1999)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description - blue, with two narrow, horizontal, yellow stripes across the lower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper hoist-side corner
GDP - purchasing power parity - $2 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 8%


industry: 13%


services: 79% (includes Gaza Strip) (2006 est.)
agriculture:
NA%

industry:
NA%

services:
NA%
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $28,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate -8% (includes Gaza Strip) (2006 est.) 3.5% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 32 00 N, 35 15 E 12 30 N, 69 58 W
Geography - note landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal aquifers; there are 242 West Bank settlements and 29 East Jerusalem settlements in addition to at least 20 occupied outposts (August 2005 est.) -
Highways - total:
800 km

paved:
513 km

unpaved:
287 km

note:
most coastal roads are paved, while unpaved roads serve large tracts of the interior (1995)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


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

highest 10%:
NA%
Illicit drugs - drug-money-laundering center and transit point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe
Imports $2.44 billion c.i.f.; (includes Gaza Strip) (2005) $2.5 billion (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities food, consumer goods, construction materials machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs
Imports - partners Israel, Jordan, Gaza Strip (2006) US 63%, Netherlands 11%, Netherlands Antilles 3%, Japan (1999)
Independence - none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Industrial production growth rate 2.4% (includes Gaza Strip) (2005) NA%
Industries generally small family businesses that produce cement, textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have established some small-scale, modern industries in the settlements and industrial centers tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining
Infant mortality rate total: 18.67 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 20.59 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 16.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
6.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3.6% (includes Gaza Strip) (2006) 4.2% (2000 est.)
International organization participation - Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WToO (associate)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - NA
Irrigated land 150 sq km; note - includes Gaza Strip (2003) 0.01 sq km
Judicial branch - Joint High Court of Justice (judges are appointed by the monarch)
Labor force 605,000 (2006) 41,501 (1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture: 18%


industry: 15%


services: 67% (2006)
most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair, followed by hotels and restaurants; oil refining
Land boundaries total: 404 km


border countries: Israel 307 km, Jordan 97 km
0 km
Land use arable land: 16.9%


permanent crops: 18.97%


other: 64.13% (2001)
arable land:
7% (including aloe 0.01%)

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
0%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
93% (1993 est.)
Languages Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many Palestinians), English (widely understood) Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish
Legal system - based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence
Legislative branch - unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:
last held 12 December 1997 (next to be held by NA December 2001)

election results:
percent of vote by party - AVP 43%, MEP 39%, OLA 9% PPA 4%, ADN 2%, PARA 1%, MAS 0.5%; seats by party - AVP 10, MEP 9, OLA 2
Life expectancy at birth total population: 73.46 years


male: 71.68 years


female: 75.35 years (2007 est.)
total population:
78.52 years

male:
75.16 years

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


total population: 92.4%


male: 96.7%


female: 88% (2004 est.)
definition:
NA

total population:
97%

male:
NA%

female:
NA%
Location Middle East, west of Jordan Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela
Map references Middle East Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims none (landlocked) territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine - total:
1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,120 GRT/3,635 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 1 (2000 est.)
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Military branches - Royal Dutch Navy and Marines, Coast Guard
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA -
National holiday - Flag Day, 18 March
Nationality noun: NA


adjective: NA
noun:
Aruban(s)

adjective:
Aruban; Dutch
Natural hazards droughts lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt
Natural resources arable land NEGL; white sandy beaches
Net migration rate 2.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) NEGL
Political parties and leaders - Aruba Solidarity Movement or MAS [leader NA]; Aruban Democratic Party or PDA [Leo BERLINSKI]; Aruban Liberal Party or OLA [Glenbert CROES]; Aruban Patriotic Party or PPA [Benny NISBET]; Aruban People's Party or AVP [Tico CROES]; Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Nelson ODUBER]; For a Restructured Aruba Now or PARA [leader NA]; National Democratic Action or ADN [Pedro Charro KELLY]
Political pressure groups and leaders - NA
Population 2,535,927


note: in addition, there are about 187,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank and fewer than 177,000 in East Jerusalem (July 2004 est.)
70,007 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 46% (2007 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 2.985% (2007 est.) 0.64% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors - Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas
Radio broadcast stations AM 0, FM 25, shortwave 0 (2008) AM 4, FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios - 50,000 (1997)
Railways - 0 km
Religions Muslim 75% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 17%, Christian and other 8% Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish
Sex ratio at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


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


65 years and over: 0.736 male(s)/female


total population: 1.038 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.07 male(s)/female

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

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

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


domestic: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL are responsible for fixed line services; the Palestinian JAWAL company provides cellular services


international: country code - 970 (2004)
general assessment:
NA

domestic:
more than adequate

international:
1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten (Netherlands Antilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
Telephones - main lines in use 349,000 (includes Gaza Strip) (2005) 33,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 1.095 million (includes Gaza Strip) (2005) 3,402 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 30 (2008) 1 (1997)
Terrain mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west, but barren in east flat with a few hills; scant vegetation
Total fertility rate 4.17 children born/woman (2007 est.) 1.8 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 18.6% (2006) 0.6% (1999 est.)
Waterways - none
Sitemap: Compare countries listing (map site) | Country listing (map site)
Links: Add to favorites | Information about this website | Stats | Polityka prywatnosci
This page was generated in ##czas## s. Size this page: ##rozmiar_strony## kB.